By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2022 at 5:05 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
YATES – The Town of Yates hosted a bicentennial celebration on Saturday at the Yates Town Park, which has received $2.5 million in upgrades.
The top photos shows Town Supervisor Jim Simon cutting a cake with Mary Scarlett, the town’s oldest resident at age 96; and Sandra Houseman Gapa, who is descended from George Houseman, one of the town’s first residents in 1809. He was Gapa’s great-great-great-great grandfather.
Saturday’s event was the third and final bicentennial party for the town. The “Grand Finale Lake Fair” followed the “Family Fair” in July and the “Street Dance” in August.
Sandra Houseman Gapa, 63, said George Houseman moved to Yates in 1809 and died in 1814. (Yates was originally part of the town of Ridgeway before forming its own town in 1822.)
Houseman Gapa said she is grateful her family has stayed in the town for more than 200 years. She raised three children in Lyndonville and Yates.
“It’s a great school system,” she said. “We’re all neighbors here.”
Town Supervisor Jim Simon tries some of the new playground equipment with his granddaughter, 2 ½-year-old Adelaide.
The new playground was designed by Parkitects, which is owned by Lyndonville native Ben Frasier, a 1988 Lyndonville graduate. The playground equipment includes several handicapped accessible features. The playground is on a rubber surface.
The cedar pavilion was named in honor of Russ Martino, a former town supervisor who led the town government when the 5 acres was acquired 25 years ago for the park.
State Sen. Rob Ortt is speaking in this photo. He said the park’s location by the lake offered a striking location for residents and families to get some recreation and respite.
“This has to be one of the most beautiful views from a park in all of New York State.”
The Simon brothers – John Paul, Elijah and Sharbel – sang the first and fourth verses of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” Their father is the town supervisor.
American Legion members Scott Goetze and Bob Burtwell, left, were part of the Honor Guard for the ceremony.
State Sen. Rob Ortt presents a proclamation to Simon in honor of the town’s 200th anniversary. Eileen Banker, right, is chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley who also had a proclamation for the town’s bicentennial from the State Assembly.
Ortt also praised Simon and the Town Board for pushing for the park upgrades which were 95 percent funded through the New York State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature supported the $300 million in REDI projects along the southshore to help fight erosion and flooding, and also boost tourism and recreation opportunities for residents, Ortt said.
The Yates projects at the park also include a kayak launch, bolstered shoreline, pier and walking trail, as well as the playground and pavilion.
Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, a Yates resident, presents a proclamation from the County Legislature on behalf of Yates’ bicentennial.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Town of Yates, Orleans County and state officials join in a ribbon-cutting celebration today at Yates Town Park in front of a new pavilion. Pictured from left: Hannah Hinman, daughter of town engineer Jon Hinman of the MRB Group; Father Steven Soares, pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyndonville; Town Councilman Harold Suhr; former Town Supervisor Russ Martino; Councilwoman Sue Hrovat; Kisha Santiago-Martinez, deputy secretary of State for Development, Planning, and Community Infrastructure at NYS Department of State; Jim Simon, Yates town supervisor; State Sen. Rob Ortt; Eileen Banker, chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman; and Jon Hinman, town engineer with MRB Group.
Posted 24 September 2022 at 9:18 pm
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced construction is complete on a $2.5 million resiliency project awarded to the Town of Yates, Orleans County, as part of New York State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.
The Yates Town Park serves as the Town’s only public recreation space with direct access to Lake Ontario, with more than one acre of open space for recreation, including a pavilion and picnic area, and the new project will be instrumental in helping prevent future flood damage to the park and safeguard the local economy.
“Many of New York’s communities continue to be at risk of the effects of climate change, and projects like these better protect our shoreline communities,” Governor Hochul said. “The Town of Yates Park expansion project will increase flood protection measures and enhance shoreline resilience to help protect businesses and residents, enhance public safety, and spur economic development.”
The park is a popular destination for both residents and visitors and during the historic flooding of 2019, the park experienced substantial erosion along the shoreline. The recreational space was inundated with water due to poor drainage, posing safety risks for parkgoers and inhibiting use of the park. The resiliency project completed through the REDI Program will stabilize the shoreline, mitigate future flooding, and ensure continued access to Yates Town Park during periods of high water. Resiliency measures and park improvements in the project include:
Upgrades to the parks drainage and stormwater management systems to resolve the serious drainage and ponding challenges;
Shoreline stabilization at the boat launch;
Installation of a cartop boat launch;
Construction of an ADA compliant fishing/water access pier;
Installation of new playground equipment, a walking trail, new pavilion, and bathroom facilities;
Expansion of the park’s parking area; and
Improvements to landscaping and greenspace.
New York State Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez said, “Making our waterways accessible to residents and tourists is vital to any local economy. Thanks to the REDI program, the improvements and upgrades to Yates Town Park will ensure the shoreline is protected from future flooding but also make for a better recreational experience to all its visitors for generations to come.”
A new kayak launch is part of the improvements at the Town Park. The launch also provides easy pedestrian access to the shoreline.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and REDI Commission Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, “With Governor Hochul’s support, New York’s REDI investments are successfully reimagining and reconstructing flood-damaged infrastructure, helping to promote tourism and developing new economic opportunities in Lake Ontario shoreline communities. The improved Yates Park will provide years of enjoyment for residents, while also attracting new visitors to the region.”
State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “This is great news for the Yates community. I congratulate the state and local partners for working to make Yates Town Park safer, more resilient and more accessible for the community.”
Economic Development Initiative Co-Chair and Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Placemaking is an important pillar of New York’s economic development strategy. Making Yates Town Park more resilient not only enhances this magnificent public space for residents and visitors to access Lake Ontario, but also ensures the region’s waterfront continues to contribute to the local economy.”
A 60-foot-long pier will soon be built extending out into the lake and providing fishing access.
State Senator Robert Ortt said, “As we celebrate the bicentennial of the Town of Yates, we also celebrate the completion and opening of a wonderful new greenspace for the families in our community. Not only will the Yates Town Park serve as a great location for residents to gather and spend time together, but it will also provide protection against Lake Ontario flooding thanks to the shoreline stabilization incorporated in this REDI project. The completion of this project is a great example of how the REDI Commission can implement shoreline stabilization while combining it with a great community-use project.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley said, “These upgrades to Yates Town Park will help it be a more accessible, safe and fun family destination than ever. I am glad that these projects will soon be completed for people near and far to enjoy and hope they’ll encourage locals to spend a day at the park with people they love sometime soon.”
Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson said, “As we continue to wrap up REDI projects in Orleans County, I want to thank the Governor and the REDI Commission for their continued support as we fortify our lakefront infrastructure to make it more resilient to future Lake Ontario high water events. This project not only improved our resiliency to high water events but improved the quality of life for the members of our community by providing reliable and useable recreational infrastructure for everyone to enjoy.”
Town of Yates Supervisor James Simon said, “What better way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Yates than to cut the ribbon at our beautifully renovated town park on Lake Ontario? We are grateful for the partnership and support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the REDI Commission as we navigated this project from design to completion.”
State Sen. Rob Ortt speaks at today’s celebration at the Yates Town Park for the town’s 200th anniversary and for the park improvements. Town officials also announced the pavilion would be named in honor of former Town Supervisor Russ Martino, who pushed to acquire the land for the park by Lake Ontario 25 years ago.
In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, New York State established REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million, to benefit communities and improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Since the creation of the State’s REDI program in the Spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway, including 52 projects in the design phase, 40 projects in the construction phase, and 42 projects completed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2022 at 5:37 pm
Martino served as town supervisor when Yates acquired land for Town Park by Lake Ontario
Photos by Tom Rivers
YATES – Russ Martino, a former Yates town supervisor, speaks at today’s bicentennial celebration for the Town of Yates at the town park by Lake Ontario on Morrison Road.
The event also was a celebration of $2.5 million in upgrades to the park. One of the big additions to the park is a new pavilion. Town officials announced the pavilion will be named in honor of Martino.
Russ Martino thanks the town officials for honoring him with the “Russ Martino Pavilion.”
Martino served as town supervisor from 1996 to 2009. He was the supervisor when two members of the Planning Board – Jeanne Whipple and Chairman Lou Salen – urged him to acquire the land for the park in 1997. It was for sale and the town used $100,000 from the state to acquire 5 acres of waterfront property, Martino recalled.
Martino also served the community as an industrial arts teacher at the high school for 16 years, beginning in 1964. He then was the elementary school principal for 17 years.
Russ Martino sits with family and friends during today’s celebration at the town park.
Town Supervisor Jim Simon praised Martino for his community service of nearly 60 years.
Martino during his remarks congratulated the Town Board for seeing the many projects to completion at the town park. The state is paying 95 percent of the costs, with the Lyndonville Area Foundation chipping in $100,000 and in-kind services from the highway department covering the remaining local share.
The park upgrades also include a new playground, walking trail, kayak launch and parking lot. A new pier going about 60 feet out into the lake will be installed in the next couple weeks.
Martino marveled at how the park has been transformed from a grassy area to so many amenities.
“We’ve come from nowhere to this,” Martino said. “And they did it the correct way.”
YATES – On Saturday, the Town of Yates will celebrate its bicentennial with the last of its three fairs – the “Grand Finale Lake Fair.”
The event will be from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Yates Town Park at the northern terminus of Morrison Road on Lake Ontario, and will be free to all.
After the “Family Fair” in July and the “Street Dance” in August, this final event of the bicentennial year for Yates will feature the unveiling of the newly renovated town park.
“We are very grateful for the NYS Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative and the Lyndonville Area Foundation grants,” Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon said.
The $2.5-million dollar upgrade to the park includes a new pavilion, playground, kayak launch, pier and walking path.
The event will begin at 1 p.m. under the new pavilion with proclamations and brief speeches from state and local officials, followed by a ribbon and cake cutting.
Throughout the afternoon, food will be provided by the Polish Cadets and Mrs. Ribs food trucks (pay as you go), and free cake and cookies from Case-Nic Cookies will be available. There will also be several craft vendors.
The new pavilion features handicap accessible bathrooms, and the new playground for kids ages 2-12 will be officially opened.
There will be several scavenger hunts with bicentennial commemorative prizes. There will also be chalk drawing on the new kayak launch. Weather permitting there will be stone skipping competitions on the lake. Eagle Creek band will be playing live music from 3 to 5 p.m.
The event will take place rain or shine and, although there are a number of picnic tables available, organizers recommend bringing lawn chairs.
“Our 200th Anniversary Committee has worked hard for over a year to provide these three events, and we are very excited to see the culmination of our efforts,” Simon said.
Members of the committee are Brad Bentley, Kelly Cousins, Cindy Grabowski, Susan Hrovat, Ginny Hughes, Russ Martino, Dawn Metty, Jim Simon, Cal Stinson, Georgette Stockman, Joanne Suhr, Valerie Wells, Tom Wenhold and Katie Whipple.
Simon also acknowledged the important contribution of the town government, especially the Highway Department, and the Yates Town Park Task Force including Linda Fisk, Jon Hinman, Ann Marie Holland, Paul Lauricella, Russ Martino, John Riggi, Jim Simon, Georgette Stockman and Roger Wolfe.
For more information go to the Town of Yates website: townofyates.org, or call Town Supervisor Jim Simon, 716-946-2075.
Provided photo: GateSwingers’ vocalist Allison Eberhardt performs the 1954 hit, “Teach Me Tonight,” on the patio of Yates Community Library on Monday evening.
LYNDONVILLE – The Yates Community Library hosted a rescheduled concert on Monday featuring GateSwingers, a19-piece dance band from Rochester.
The group played crowd favorites from eras’ past. The final concert of this summer’s “More Than Just Books” series will happen on Friday evening, when the popular all-Beatles group Mr. Mustard will perform from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The concert is free, and support for the series provided from the NYS Council on the Arts, through a regrant program administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
Mr. Mustard was scheduled to perform on Aug. 22, but was rescheduled due to rain.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 August 2022 at 8:20 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has renewed agreements with the Lyndonville and Kendall school districts to have an Orleans County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to each school district.
The agreements are both for two school years and run from Sept. 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024. The agreements call for Lyndonville and Kendall to pay the county at $501.10 per day in the 2022-23 school year and $510.26 in the 2023-24 school year.
Any additional time for after-school events will be billed at $61.05 per hour in 2022-23 and $62.53 the second school year.
The agreement also matches the terms between the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the Albion School District. When that agreement was approved by the Albion Board of Education on Aug. 1, district superintendent Mickey Edwards said the annual cost to the school district in the first year would be about $91,000.
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School will be hosting an on-campus, all-district (PreK-Grade 12) back-to-school family celebration on Wednesday, August 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Families and students are invited to join in the fun as the school district celebrates the start of the 2022-23 school year. Students will be able to meet their teachers, drop off supplies, receive class schedules (grades 7-12), pick-up a 2022-23 calendar and play family-friendly games with our physical education staff.
Families may purchase food at the various food trucks (Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, Baby Ribs, Blue Groove Coffee and ice cream) or bring a picnic from home, if they desire. Any family that completes the 2022-23 Free/Reduced Meal Application will receive a coupon for a free treat from the cafeteria.
Other community organizations will join in with the festivities. Deputy Jason Barnum and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will conduct child car-seat checks and distribute Child Identification and Yellow-Dot kits. The Yates Community Library will issue library cards. Representatives from Orleans County Mental Health, Orleans Community Health and the Lyndonville Sports and Music Boosters will also be on campus to discuss their organizations and the services they provide.
The district looks forward to welcoming everyone back with this celebration. Families are encouraged to enjoy the campus and playgrounds, socialize, meet district staff, gather school and community information and have fun. Lyndonville students officially return to school on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 August 2022 at 5:24 pm
YATES – A concert this evening outside by the Yates Community Library featuring Mr. Mustard won’t happen today due to the threat of rain.
The concert featuring the Rochester band that plays Beatles music will be rescheduled, Library Director Emily Cebula said.
The Celtic Spirit Pipe Band’s rescheduled concert will take place this Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the library’s back yard. The concert is free with the support of GO Art!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 August 2022 at 9:50 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
YATES – A section of Main Street was closed off to traffic so the Town of Yates could celebrate its 200th anniversary on Friday evening.
The local band Who Dats performed from 7 to 9 p.m. after deejay JT Thomas played music in the downtown.
The Who Dats include John Borello on guitar, Alona Kuhns on bass, Alex DeSmit on drums, lead singer Lonnie Froman and Ed Hilfiker on guitar.
The street was closed between Maple and Eagle, with food trucks and tables and chairs on the street.
The “street fair” was the second of three bicentennial celebrations for Yates. The “Grand Finale Lake Fair” will be on Sept. 24 from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Town Park by Lake Ontario on Morrison Road.
Joanne Suhr helped organize the street fair. She was pleased with the attendance. Organizers estimated about 1,000 people came for parts of the celebration.
“The turnout was more than I expected,” she said.
She recalled a street dance back in the 1980s and thought the public would respond to the event.
Suhr, a recently retired Lyndonville teacher, was happy to see different generations coming together for the event.
There were 20 different food and craft vendors for the celebration. There were also two tours of the Lynhaven Cemetery on Friday evening.
There are 200th anniversary T-shirts available for Town of Yates.
There are also bicentennial magnets and other Yates merchandise.
Jack Buckner of Medina brought his grandson Logan to see a Civil War encampment by Johnson Creek near the back of the municipal parking lot.
Jack Buckner and his grandson Logan are silhouettes as the sun sets. They looked over a Civl War cannon.
Myron Woolston of Corning and six other Civil War re-enactors answered questions from the public during a Civil War encampment. The re-enactors spent the night outside at their camp.
Who Dats lead singer Lonnie Froman, right, and Ed Hilfiker on guitar play in front of a crowd on a closed-off part of Main Street.
Alex DeSmit plays the drums for the Who Dats.
Alona Kuhns plays the bass guitar for the Who Dats with the Village Hall in the background.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Yates town officials walk by the new concrete kayak launch and access point at the Yates Town Park off Morrison Road by Lake Ontario. Pictured from left include Town Councilman John Riggi, engineer Jon Hinman of the MRB Group, and Town Supervisor Jim Simon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 August 2022 at 5:01 pm
YATES – The Town Park by Lake Ontario is “no longer an afterthought,” Town Councilman John Riggi said.
The site has added a pavilion with bathrooms, new playground equipment, a kayak launch, a crusher-run walking trail, and new parking lot with sidewalks. More upgrades will follow, including a pier and a horse-and-buggy turnaround with hitching posts.
“This is really nice,” Riggi said Saturday morning while giving a tour of the improvements with Town Supervisor Jim Simon and engineer Jon Hinman of the MRB Group.
The town is pushing to have the $2.5 million project complete in time for the Sept. 24th bicentennial celebration at the park. The “Grand Finale Lake Fair” from 1 to 9 p.m. that day is the third in a series of 200th anniversary celebrations for the town. This Friday there will be a street fair as part of the 200th on Main Street from 5 to 9 p.m.
Town Supervisor Jim Simon greets participants Saturday morning who were on a charity bike ride for Bike MS to support people with multiple sclerosis. Saturday’s bike ride started at Lakeside Beach State Park and included options for 16, 30 or 62 miles.
The town park improvements are 95 percent funded by the state, which made $300 million available to southshore communities through the state’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative or REDI. That was in response to historic flooding along the shore in 2017 and 2019. That flooding destroyed part of the shoreline at the park and the town used a separate $400,000 grant from the state to put in a massive breakwall. Simon said about 25 feet of shoreline was chewed away from the high waters.
The local share is about $126,000. The Lyndonville Area Foundation gave $100,000 towards the local portion, with the town highway department providing in-kind services to meet the remaining local contribution. The highway department has removed trees, hauled stone and milled the driveway.
New playground equipment was installed by Landscape Structures. The new pavilion with bathrooms in the back. The playground is handicapped accessible.
Families can now bring their children to the park to use the playground.
The park itself has long lacked in amenities. Before there were some grills and port-a-johns.
The Town Board welcomed the chance for state funding to fortify the park from future flooding and erosion, and also create a destination for residents and visitors by the lake.
Simon said there is already interest from residents in renting the pavilion for weddings and special events. The board will soon create a policy for reserving the facility.
Community members already have asked about reserving the pavilion for special events.
Keeler Construction in Barre is the general contractor for the project. It put in a concrete kayak launch that Hinman believes is unusual for Lake Ontario. That ramp also gives easy access for people to the shoreline, instead of having to climb down the breakwall.
The launch is a sizable ramp, which was needed to withstand the waves from Lake Ontario that often can be 3 to 4 feet, Hinman said.
The pier is the last big piece of the project to be constructed. It will go 75 feet out into the lake for people to enjoy sightseeing and fishing. Boats won’t be allowed to tie up to the pier unless it’s an emergency.
Volunteers wait for cyclists on Saturday who stopped by the new pavilion for refreshments.
Town Supervisor Jim Simon said the park is better protected from high waters in the future. Simon said the town also is interested in land next door owned by NYSEG. That 100-acre site would make a great nature preserve, Simon said.
Photos and information from Lyndonville Youth Commission
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Youth Commission has sponsored a summer recreation and activity program for the youth of the Lyndonville Central School District for over 50 years.
Recently the commission partnered with the district summer reading/math camp with programming using the school facilities. The Town of Yates, Village of Lyndonville and the Lyndonville Area Foundation sponsor the program.
Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon for five weeks there were over 100 children a day at the school facilities for athletic activities, arts and crafts, playground opportunities and boardgame fun.
Students attending the academic enrichment program also participated in the recreation program.
The community is grateful to the Lyndonville Area Foundation, the town and village government, and the school district for providing socialization and physical activities for our youth during the summer.
YATES – On Friday, August 19th, the Town of Yates will celebrate its bicentennial with the second of its three fairs, dubbed by committee coordinator Joanne Suhr as, “A Street Fair.”
The event will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Main Street in Lyndonville between Maple and Eagle Streets. There is no charge for admission.
After the “Family Fair” in July featuring live music from a Lyndonville school chorus, a church choir comprised of some of the churches in town, and a barbershop quartet, this second of three events should have the feel of a street dance.
Although thru traffic – especially all trucks – will be diverted around downtown Lyndonville, local traffic and people attending the fair will be allowed to park closer to the event. Main Street will be closed between Maple and Eagle, and the Town will have food trucks and tables and chairs on the street.
Several vendors will be set-up in the parking lot behind the Town Hall, and of course the Friday evening farmer’s market will be running at the old Pennysaver.
From 5 to 7 p.m., there will be a DJ and music in front of the Town Hall, and then from 7 to 9 p.m., the Who Dats will be performing live at that same location.
There will be a Civil War encampment in Patterson Park, southwest of the Town Hall parking lot along the reservoir, which will include several cannon fire demonstrations during the evening.
At 6 p.m., Catherine Cooper, the Orleans County Historian, will guide a cemetery tour at Lynhaven Cemetery on Housel Avenue. At 7 p.m., Steve Goodrich, American Legion Lyndonville Post Commander, will lead a cemetery tour. Both tours will begin at the flag pole in the cemetery.
Joanne Suhr is hoping that everyone comes out for the fun gathering, “What better way is there to celebrate the Town’s bicentennial than to have a street party?!”
As a reminder, please mark your calendars for the “Grand Finale Lake Fair” on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Town Park.
For more information go to the Town of Yates website: townofyates.org, or call Town Supervisor Jim Simon, 716-946-2075.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 August 2022 at 11:25 am
LYNDONVILLE – A concert that was cancelled last night due to the threat of rain will be this evening on the lawn behind the Yates Community Library, 15 North Main St.
The trio called Mystic Sisters will be performing from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in a concert that is free to the public. People are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Emily Cebula, the library director, said the group from Rochester is popular with the local crowd. The Mystic Sisters have been members of the popular group Blue Sky.
Provided photos: The band Crash Cadillac performed outside the Yates Community Library on Thursday evening. Members of the Lyndonville Lions Club served up grilled hot dogs and iced cold beverages during the event.
Posted 8 July 2022 at 3:34 pm
Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – Just off the heels of a very successful July 4th celebration the Lyndonville Lions Club closed out the first week of July with their 13th Annual Community Appreciation Concert.
The outdoor concert event was held at the Yates Community Library outdoor stage on Thursday evening and featured Crash Cadillac as the musical headliner. The annual event is free of charge and is meant to show the clubs appreciation for all those who attended the recent July 4th celebration.
Lions Club President Harold Suhr stated that the club had a record turnout for the 4th of July event and thanked everyone who attended and for their efforts in keeping the event safe, clean and family-friendly. Suhr recognized and thanked the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
“They were tremendous with traffic control and security throughout the entire day and worked well into the evening getting people home safely after the fireworks display,” Suhr said. “The Lions are extremely grateful for all the people and organizations that sponsored the fireworks display.”
This years’ effort to upgrade the evening concert series seems to have been met with much approval and again Suhr thanked the Concert Series Sponsors. Sponsors included at the Bronze Level: Dr. Thomas Madejski, Paul Mullane and Shelby Crushed Stone; Silver Level: The White Birch Golf Club, Steven Vann from Burger King, Drum Oil and Propane and the Johnson/Feigl Families; Gold Level: Baxter International; Platinum Level: Batavia Downs Race Track and Gaming.
“The concert was well attended and social media feedback shows a positive response to the Lions Clubs efforts to bringing in top name local entertainment for the evening concert,” Suhr said.
The concert headliner band DoubleShot gets a picture with Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia just before they honored him with their rendition of “American Soldier” by Toby Keith.
The club further expressed their gratitude to Medal of Honor Recipient David Bellavia, who served as grand marshal of the parade.
“It was nice to have Sgt. David Bellavia back home to allow Lyndonville to express their appreciation for his service and sacrifice,” said Russ Martino, one of Lyndonville Lions Club’s senior members for over 45 years.
Last of all, the Lions are extremely appreciative for the voluntary efforts of the men and women of the 911th United States Air Force Reserve from Pittsburgh. This unit was responsible for the military flyover tribute to our local veterans just before the parade.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Main Street was packed just before noon with people waiting for the parade and also a military flyover. The parade returned for the first time since 2019.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2022 at 8:49 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Members of the Lyndonville school band play patriotic music during the parade in Lyndonville on Monday. The parade returned for the first time since 2019.
The community festival was cancelled in 2020 and last year was back in a scaled-down format without a parade.
Eric Villalta, the Lyndonville grades 7-12 band teacher, leads the group during the parade. The students and crowd wore lots of red, white and blue.
It was a packed Main Street for Monday’s parade, especially in the Lyndonville downtown. The procession started at noon and ended at about 1:10 p.m. This photo shows a float from the Class of 1982, followed by Weed Man Lawn Care Services based in Albion.
Kim Recco, from the Class of 1982, passes out candy along the parade route.
A young parade watcher takes in the action from a higher perch in the parade.
A lineup of classic cars heads down Main Street.
About 10 vehicles in the Peoples Convoy-NY decorated their vehicles in patriotic displays. They were seeking to “End the Mandates!”
These two girls are draped in American flags while walking along the Peoples Convoy, which featured several tractor trailers and other vehicles.
The fire trucks were a little too loud for these parade spectators.
These veterans acknowledge the crowd. They are riding on a trolley that debuted on Memorial Day.
State Sen. Rob Ortt, left, and Assemblyman Steve Hawley had lots of fun in the parade.
A bear holds a flag as part of a float from Wandering Trails Taxidermy by Ashley.
Gordon-Fisk Inc. on Ridge Road in Medina brought several lawn mowers for the parade procession.
A group of motorcyclists from the Albion and Brockport Elk Riders and Old Crow Motorcycle Club were part of the parade.
Lyndonville Fire Department members marched in their hometown.
Debbie Taylor, fire chief for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, tosses candy.
These veterans – Tom Snyder in Navy uniform and Issac Robinson at right, wave to the crowd from a patriotic float.
The Oak Orchard Assembly of God promoted its upcoming “Kid’s Krusade” program.
