Photos by Ginny Kropf: A seasoned flyer glides to a landing in his paramotor after a short flight. The public is welcome to bring their lawn chairs and watch the flying activity most evenings.

LYNDONVILLE – A new flying school has gotten off the ground on Lakeshore Road, near Lyndonville.

Airborne Acres is a passion of Kayla “Kale” Browning, 28, who is a jet pilot, but recently became interested in paramotors.

“I grew up thinking aviation was not an option for me, because you either had to be rich or ‘know somebody’,” Browning said.” With more research, I found out a career in aviation was very possible. You just needed to get creative and be willing to work hard while staying consistent.”

Browning is from Williamsfield, an Amish community in Ohio, where after graduating from high school, decided she wanted some excitement in her life.

“I woke up one day, put everything I owned in my car and researched ‘cheapest flight school in America,’” Browning said. “One in Miami came up and I left. I made ends meet working three jobs while going to flight school. This was back in 2017.”

(Left) Kayla Browning sits in the hanger she outfitted with a classroom to teach people how to fly a paramotor. (Right) Kayla “Kale” Browning watches a paramotor in the air from a landing strip carved out of a farmer’s field on Lakeshore Road, Lyndonville. She opened Airborne Acres, a flying school, this summer.

Browning first flew in gliders and got her pilot’s license when she was 18. That would lead to a job flying a jump plane for parachutists, until she advanced to jet planes. She now flies jets for private owners, in addition to running Airborne Acres.

When she became interested in paramotors, 2-cylinder gas-powered flying machines that strap on the flyers back, she started looking for a place to start a paramotor school. A friend in Youngstown told her of the property at 10954 Lakeshore Rd., which already had an airstrip built by Robert Williams for his private plane.

She arrived here in April 2024, purchased the 38-acre property and started making improvements. She mowed the 3,000-foot landing strip, which took her three days, cleaned out the hangar on the property and built a classroom and shower.  She also built a patio, dug the trench for water lines and put in water and electricity herself.

Instructor Chris Holbert straps Robin Boyle of Medina into a paramotor rigged to teach people how to fly one.

To get the word out, Browning began advertising the adventure on Facebook. Last November, she entered a float in Medina’s Parade of Lights. She had 11 students last year and this year her class has more than doubled. Her project has drawn attention from paramotor owners from around the country, including Chris Holbert, a paramotor instructor from Ohio who also has a school there.

“He is one of the best pilots in the world,” Browning said.

He sees the venture as a great way to get the community together. Friends and neighbors are invited to bring their lawn chairs and watch the activity, usually starting at about 6 p.m. most days.

“A paramotor is an incredibly unique way to fly,” Browning said. “It is the fastest and cheapest way to learn to fly.”

It’s possible to be able to fly in 10-14 days, at a cost of about $3,000, and own an aircraft for $8,000, plus $3,000 for wings, she said.

She has had students from Maine and Texas, and currently has one from Canada. Visitors have come from Tennessee, California and Norway, in addition to local visitors from all over Western New York.

Scott Julius of Hamburg also contributes to the success of Airborne Acres, as a discovery flight/tandem pilot. Tandem flights are available in a 55 h.p. aircraft.

 On Friday night, Alexis Hyman of Strykersville came to take a discovery flight.

“My sister tried it a year ago and now has her own paramotor,” Hyman said.

It is possible to do aerobatics, including rolls, in a paramotor, as a pilot demonstrated Friday night.

“He is one of the best pilots in the world,” Browning said.

A paramotor is capable of flying to 12,000 feet, however, flights are usually no more than 1,500 feet.

Weather permitting, flying is usually going on early in the morning and after 6 p.m. The typical season is April to October.

Anyone interested in learning to fly a paramotor can contact Airborne Acres at (305) 923-4238 or at flyairborneacres@gmail.com.

A student comes in for a landing in his paramotor at Airborne Acres on Lakeshore Road.

Photos courtesy of Andrea Farwell: Adults have fun at a beanbag toss earlier this year, just one of many events the church sponsors for young and old. A free Family Carnival for the community is planned next Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

YATES – Fun-filled family-oriented events for members and the community are a top priority for the Yates Baptist Church.

Earlier this summer their members decided they wanted to host a free event for the community where the Gospel could be presented, and they decided to host a Family Carnival, with events for the entire family.

A committee was set up, with Corrine Mt. Pleasant as chair.

The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 29 at the church on Yates Center Road.

The afternoon will feature games, crafts, animals, prizes, caricatures, face painting, food and archery by Merle Fredericks, a member of the church.

Andrea Farwell, one of the members of the carnival committee, said they had a similar event when they celebrated the church’s bicentennial in 2022 and they are hoping for a large turnout on Saturday as well.

Programs for youth are popular at Yates Baptist Church. Here the youth and leaders pose after a creek float, which was followed by a bonfire.

Yates Baptist Church was founded 204 years ago. She has been a member for nine years, while her husband has attended there his entire life. They are now raising their three children there, Farwell said.

She said it was almost two years ago when Pastor Lyell Drake retired and Pastor Eric Wolbert took the role of lead pastor.

“He has been an answer to our prayers,” she said. “The transition was seamless. The Bible, as God’s inerrant Word, is the foundation of our church and is preached weekly.”

The church has a thriving Wednesday night Family Night program which meets throughout the school year.  Many families join in for dinner, worship, games and Bible study, Farwell said. This year’s Family Night starts Sept. 16 and runs from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m.

The Youth Group at YBC is also very active and gathered throughout the summer for bonfires, pool nights, kickball, bowling and floating down the creek.

The community is also invited to attend worship at 9:45 a.m. Sundays, followed by Sunday School and a family hour at 11:15 a.m.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Joanne Suhr leads the Lyndonville Board of Education meeting on Tuesday.

LYNDONVILLE – When Joanne Suhr was elected to serve as president of the Lyndonville Board of Education last month, school officials thought she might be making history as the first woman to serve in the role.

After digging deep in district history, it turns out Suhr is the second woman to serve as board president. Elaine Wilson was the first back in 1958-’59.

Suhr was elected by the other board members on July 14 to serve as board president this school year. She joined the board about a year ago. She was elected as a board member on May 20, 2025.

Suhr retired in June 2022 after working 30 years as an elementary school teacher. Her final year she was honored as the district’s “Educator of the Year” when she was a third grade teacher who specialized in teaching math.

She also has served on the Town of Yates Planning Board and the Town of Yates Bicentennial Committee.

During this past Tuesday’s meeting, she said the district is getting ready for the new school year, with contractors working long hours on a capital project. Some of that construction work will extend into the school year with crews working after the school day is over, Suhr said.

Some of the work includes new ADA-compliant bathrooms, new HVAC and air conditioning, and new windows for the upstairs of the schools.

Suhr succeeds Patrick Whipple as the board president.

Joanne Suhr leads the meeting on Tuesday in the school cafeteria. Next to her are Dr. Heather Lyon, the district superintendent at left, and Tanya Marek, administrative assistant to the superintendent at right.

Parkitects will install phase 1 of new playground in October

Photos by Tom Rivers: Ben Frasier, owner and president of Parkitects, goes over the layout of a playground to be built in phases at Lyndonville Central School, with phase 1 to be constructed in early October. Frasier is a 1988 Lyndonville graduate.

LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville graduate who owns a company that designs and installs playgrounds wants to build the “greatest playground in the land” in his hometown.

Ben Frasier, owner and president of Parkitects, shared his vision of the playground with the Lyndonville Board of Education on Tuesday. Frasier said the funds are already in place for phase 1 of the playground. Parkitects will install the first phase in early October.

The company based in Buffalo has built million-dollar playgrounds at several school districts, including one in Kendall last year. He wants the best one for his hometown, and he said Parkitects will be doing it at a discount with some donated apparatus and in-kind services.

Phase 1 includes a We-Go-Round, Sway Fun Glider, We-Saw and other equipment that will be accessible to kids of all abilities and mobilities. Lyndonville two years ago approved using $160,000 in its federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus funds toward the project, with Parkitects donating other features, including a sensory dome.

The new playgrounds are inclusive for people of abilities and mobilities. He highlighted several new playgrounds including the one at Kendall Elementary School. As he showed photos of those elaborate playgrounds, Frasier asked, “Why can’t the kids in Lyndonville have this?”

Frasier said he has profound memories of growing up in Lyndonville and playing on the former wooden playground at the school. The community came together nearly 50 years ago to build that playground.

“This playground taught me about the power of community,” he said showing a photo of the former site.

Ben Frasier shared a photo of the former wooden playground at the school. He said he was 10 when it was constructed at Lyndonville and the community helped install it. “I played on that playground everyday for two years,” he said. “I was really shaped by play.”

Lyndonville already has $160,000 set aside for phase 1. The Board of Education about two years ago approved that amount in federal stimulus money towards the first phase of the new playground. Parkitects also is donating some extra pieces to the first phase and company will install it in early October.

Frasier will be at a back-to-school open house to share his plans for an even bigger playground. He also will be attending two school assemblies in September to build excitement with students for phase 1.

On September 10, there will be a meeting for the community from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss the playground plans and how it will be designed for inclusive play for children of all abilities.

Frasier wants the larger project and he believes through fund-raising, grants and donations Lyndonville can make it a reality.

Phase 2 would include some larger equipment including Super Netplex Towers, ZipKrooz, Oodles Swing, Sensory Tunnel, Rollerslide with Exit Bench, and a 7-Post Hex Net.

He would like to see phase 2 be constructed next year. He also would like to see a phase 3 for a full buildout that would include a shelter for parents and grandparents to stay in the shade while children are on the playground.

Dr. Heather Lyon, the district superintendent, thanked Frasier for bringing a strong passion and commitment to the project, which she said will not include any local school funding. She looks forward to seeing kids of all abilities on the playground.

“Students who have never been able to use our playgrounds will be able to and that is something to celebrate,” Lyon said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dr. Aaron Slack, Lyndonville’s junior-senior high school principal, shares data from the recent Regents with the Lyndonville Board of Education on Tuesday evening. Slack informed the district he will be retiring on June 30.

LYNDONVILLE – The junior-senior high school at Lyndonville will have a new principal after this school year.

Dr. Aaron Slack, the school’s principal the past 15 years, informed the district and Board of Education he will be retiring on June 30.

Slack told the board he has been grateful to serve at the district and is proud so many students have taken college-level and AP classes. There were 58 students in 2025-26 who earned 393 college credit hours.

Board President Joanne Suhr told Slack he has made a positive difference for the district.

“Everybody knows you,” she said at Tuesday’s Board meeting. “The teachers appreciate you. You will be missed.”

District superintendent, Dr. Heather Lyon, has worked with Slack the past year.

“It makes me sad,” she said on Tuesday when she shared about Slack’s intention to retire on June 30.

She said Slack remains deeply engaged in the school and working on students’ opportunities and achievement.

“Aaron is running through the finish line,” she said.

Slack, a Medina resident, said he looks forward to having more time for his family. He has been heavily involved at Lyndonville, and even was a part of the 2025 school musical of Newsies, when he played the role of Theodore Roosevelt.

Slack said his first job was at age 15 when he worked as a counselor at Camp Rainbow in Lyndonville. After working in the Greece school district as an eighth grade English teacher and then a middle school administrator, he welcomed the chance to work in Lyndonville 15 years ago.

Agency celebrates upgraded pavilion in memory of Marcy Mruczek

Photos courtesy of Arc GLOW: Arc GLOW staff, donors and community members gather under the Marcy Mruczek Pavilion for the dedication ceremony.

Press Release, Arc GLOW

LYNDONVILLE — Making their way across the paved paths and between laughing children as they ran and played, Camp Rainbow donors and community partners had a chance to see the difference their support has made in the lives of local children and young adults.

Founded in 1970, Camp Rainbow provides an inclusive summer day camp available to all children ages 5 to 21 of all abilities. Located in Lyndonville, the camp was established through the generosity of the Shenberger family, who donated the property to create a place where children with disabilities could experience recreation, friendship and belonging in a supportive environment.

Joan Grein, daughter of the Shenbergers, attended the event with a photograph of her brother, the late Jim Shenberger, who was the reason the camp exists in the first place. His legacy continues through Camp Rainbow, where generations of children have had the opportunity to experience recreation, friendship and belonging. The Shenberger family was also among the founding members of the Arc of Orleans County. Peter Bartula and Arc GLOW Board President Eric Parker was also in attendance.

Jen Batt, director of Community Services for Arc GLOW, provided a tour of Camp Rainbow alongside Jill Pegelow, vice president of Community Services and Self-Direction for Arc GLOW. The tour gave donors and community partners an opportunity to see firsthand the programs, facilities and experiences made possible through community support.

Prior to the tour, attendees gathered for a dedication ceremony at the Marcy Mruczek Pavilion, whose construction was organized by Dr. Arthur and Donna Mruczek, and built by the late Terry Garigen, represented by his wife, Nancy, at the dedication. The pouring of the concrete for the pavilion improvements was made possible through a generous donation from Orleans Ready Mix, owned by Reggie Cichocki.

(Left) A camper shows donors and community members a fairy home they made. (Right) Joan Grein with a picture of her late brother, Jim Shenberger, who passed away in March.

Originally dedicated in 2012 in memory of Marcy Mruczek, who served as a Camp Rainbow counselor for three summers, the pavilion recently underwent improvements thanks to the completion of a new ADA-compliant sidewalk and concrete patio. A commemorative plaque was unveiled recognizing the many individuals and organizations that contributed to the project.

“The support of our community is what makes Camp Rainbow possible,” said Lisa Bors, vice president of Public Relations and Development for Arc GLOW. “Camp Rainbow depends on the generosity of our community to give campers this opportunity to make friends, build confidence, enjoy new experiences and, most importantly, feel that they belong. Every donation, partnership and volunteer effort help make this special place possible.”

The Children’s Guild Foundation, represented by its Board Chair Darci Cramer, provided a grant to repair and replace the pool’s return line and sand filter. This upgrade allowed Camp Rainbow to double the number of swimmers during the day, providing more campers with the opportunity to enjoy the pool.

Aug. 7 was the last day of Camp Rainbow for the 2026 season.

For more information on Camp Rainbow, visit ArcGLOW.org. Arc GLOW is a nonprofit organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Fireworks are shot off in front of the Lyndonville school buildings on Saturday night to cap the fifth annual Town of Yates Street Dance.

The fireworks were more visible from Main Street rather than from the July Fourth launch area behind the school.

These people watched the fireworks behind the Yates Community Library near Johnson Creek.

Tables were set up on Main Street for people to enjoy food, fellowship and the music.

Nick Goodwin plays the bass for the band Vinyl Recovery which entertained the crowd with classic rock from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.

Vinyl Recovery also includes Nick Ciaramella on lead vocals, bass and harmonica; Mike Scanlan on drums, and Mike Zelazny on guitar and vocals.

Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon welcomed people to the fifth annual Street Dance.

The event was partially funded by the Town of Yates, and also sponsored by Plummer Orchards, Signature Styles, RLW Cattle Company, and a New York 250 grant.

Jim Simon sings “God Bless America” with his sons Elijah (with son Theodore) and Sharbell (with daughter Esther).

Ellen LaBerth is shown with some of the iron works made by her and her son Leo LaBerth.

The Lyndonville Sports Boosters served tacos in the bag and other snacks. The group includes, from left: Alisha Schwarzott, Emily Aydelotte, Emily Costello, Stephanie Freas and Teri Buffin. The meat for the tacos was donated by RLW Cattle Co.

Best of Tymes Party Rentals brought this bounce house for kids to enjoy.

The fireworks go off behind Main Street near the “Hometown Hero” banners for the two Medal of Honor recipients from Lyndonville.

David Bellavia received the medal on June 26, 2019 in the East Room of the White House. Bellavia is the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest military medal.

Bellavia was honored for his acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. Bellavia led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit.

Forrest Vosler was a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II. On Dec. 20, 1943, Vosler’s fourth combat mission, the plane was under fire and had two engines knocked out with the aircraft windmilling out of control. When a fellow aviator was knocked unconscious, Vosler maneuvered himself into the tailgun.

Vosler, severely wounded and floating in and out of consciousness, begged the crew to throw him out of the plane to reduce weight. As the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing. A passing Norwegian trawler quickly picked up the crew and transferred them to a British rescue vessel. One of Vosler’s eyes had one of his to be removed, and the other required extensive surgery.

Fireworks go off over the Yates Town Hall on Main Street.

Town leader kept out turbines, added large park by Lake Ontario

Photos by Tom Rivers: Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon is shown near his office after Thursday’s Town Board meeting. Simon has been the town supervisor for nearly 11 years.

YATES – Jim Simon pulled off a shocking upset 11 years again when he was elected Yates town supervisor through a write-in campaign.

He had the backing of voters in an effort to fight wind turbines proposed for Yates and Somerset. Simon and two towns ultimately were successful in keeping out that project.

He would continue as town supervisor, and led the town’s effort to create a new $2.5 million park by the lakeshore. That project was 95 percent funded by the state.

Simon, 66, will be retiring as town supervisor after Dec. 31. He isn’t seeking re-election. Current councilwoman Sue Hrovat has the Republican endorsement as town supervisor and won’t see any opposition on the ballot.

“I’m thinking 11 years is enough,” Simon said after Thursday’s Town Board meeting. “The board and the town are in a really good position.”

Simon, his wife Paula and their family moved to the Yates community when he was hired as associate dean of the GCC campus centers in Albion and Medina. When he retired from that job, he worked as a headmaster of a Catholic high school in Buffalo.

Simon also retired from that full-time job. He is looking forward to be fully retired to have more time for his family and other community service.

He has seven grandchildren with two more on the way. He and his wife also lead the food pantry based at the Presbyterian Church in Lyndonville. He is an active member at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medina (the Holy Trinity Parish).

Before his term ends, Simon said he wants to approve a local law for short-term rentals (Airbnbs and Vrbos) in the town.

He also wants to reach an agreement with the county that gives the town a significant boost for plowing and mowing county roads.

Yates, Ridgeway and Shelby also are negotiating with the Village of Medina about a new ambulance contract. Each town has contributed $35,000 towards the ambulance service, but the village wants more. Medina officials are asking for $135,000 each from the three towns in a new contract that starts 2027.

Simon said he wants to reach an agreement before his term ends, but not with Yates paying $135,000 a year. He also has talked with Mercy Flight EMS about providing ambulance services in Yates.

Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon speaks during a Sept. 24, 2022 ribbon cutting for upgrades at the Yates Town Park. Simon announced that day the new pavilion at the park would be dedicated in honor of Russ Martino, the retired town supervisor and elementary school principal.

The $2.5 million park upgrades include a 75-foot-long pier, a pavilion with bathrooms, new playground equipment, a kayak launch, a crusher-run walking trail, and new parking lot with sidewalks.

The project was 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 Yates park and the town used a separate $400,000 grant from the state to put in a massive breakwall.

The park upgrades included a new elevated platform or pier that extends out into Lake Ontario.

Fireworks will cap event at 8:45 p.m.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The Buffalo-based band, Bleeding Hearts, played many popular classic rock songs during last year’s 4th annual Street Dance organized by the Town of Yates.

Press Release, Town of Yates

The Town of Yates is very excited to welcome our friends and neighbors to the 5th Annual Street Dance on Saturday, August 15th, from 6 to 9 p.m.  The festivities will be held on Main Street in front of the Yates Town Hall in the Village of Lyndonville.

Main Street in the village will be closed to traffic between Maple Avenue and Eagle Street starting at 4 p.m.

“We are very proud to host this increasingly popular street dance on Main Street,” said Susan Hrovat , deputy town supervisor for the Town of Yates.  “It is a lovely party with lots of fun, food and fellowship!”

This year’s festivities include: music by the Vinyl Recovery band featuring Classic Rock from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, kids’ games, a bounce house, Eula’s Baby Ribs, Lyndonville Sports Boosters tacos in a bag, Lyndonville Lions Club hotdogs, and a fireworks display at 8:45 p.m.

The street dance is partially funded by the Town of Yates, and also sponsored by Plummer Orchards, Signature Styles, RLW Cattle Company, and a New York 250 grant.