YATES – Unlike the NYS Department of Education, the Town of Yates will immediately implement the order of Nassau County Supreme Court Judge Thomas Rademaker declaring the statewide mask mandate unconstitutional.
The Yates Town Supervisor, Jim Simon, was pleased with the judge’s decision but dismayed at the state’s response.
“It is heartening to see that Judge Rademaker had the wisdom and the fortitude to curtail the executive overreach of Governor Hochul. However, it is unsettling to learn that our state education department will not comply,” Simon said. “Every New Yorker – whether politically left, right or center – should be worried about state agencies ignoring our state judiciary.”
Yates Town Board members Harold Suhr and Susan Hrovat, also members of the Lyndonville School Board, called for the school to lift the mask mandate, “Masks should be optional, period,” they said.
Editor’s Note: The Town Board said masks will no longer be mandated at all town facilities for employees and visitors to the Town Hall and Highway Garage.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 December 2021 at 7:36 pm
Lynn-Ette & Sons also awarded $148K in state funding
HOLLEY/LYNDONVILLE – The state has awarded grants to upgrade the sewer or wastewater treatment plants for both Holley and Lyndonville.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the awards earlier this month as part of $196 million for 488 projects identified through Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
The Village of Holley was awarded $783,016 to install ultraviolet effluent disinfection at the village’s wastewater treatment plant. This project will improve water quality by reducing pathogens in the plant’s discharge to East Branch Sandy Creek.
The Village of Lyndonville was approved for $483,460 to install an effluent disinfection system at the village’s wastewater treatment plant. This project will improve the quality of treated effluent entering the Johnson Creek.
Gov. Hochul also announced $148,050 to assist Lynn-Ette & Sons, a vegetable, produce and grain farm in Carlton. Lynn-Ette will invest in a new snap bean processing line and will add cold storage capacity to increase the amount of cabbage that can be stored for sale later into the season.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2021 at 8:52 am
Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Central School
LYNDONVILLE – Jason Smith gets a hug from a Lyndonville elementary student on Thursday, his last day in school with students as the district superintendent.
Smith starts a new job on Jan. 3 as superintendent at Batavia City School District, his alma mater.
Smith received plenty of high-fives from students and staff in a walk through the halls. Smith posted on Twitter that he is thankful for his 10 years at Lyndonville, “a gem of a place in beautiful Orleans County!”
Ted Lewis, president of the Board of Education, presents Smith with an engraved during a holiday concert Thursday morning at the school auditorium.
Smith, in a letter to the community on Wednesday, said the district is in good hands with Sharon Smith as interim superintendent. She was worked the past two years at Lyndonville as director of instruction and student services.
“Mrs. Smith is a well-respected educational leader in our region, and the Board has made a wise choice,” Smith said in his letter. “I can personally attest to Mrs. Smith’s commitment to ensuring a high quality educational program for all students, and she has quickly become a visible member of the Lyndonville community.”
Jason Smith was given a fond farewell from students and staff on Thursday.
Smith, in his letter to the community, said it was an honor to lead the Lyndonville district the past 10 years. He thanked the teachers, staff and Board of Education for providing a strong academic program the past two years of the Covid pandemic.
“However, our District is not defined by dealing with Covid,” Smith wrote. “Instead, our District is defined by wonderful students, a supportive community, talented and dedicated faculty and staff, a high quality leadership team, and a committed Board of Education. These attributes existed long before Covid and will exist long after Covid.”
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Board of Education formally appointed Sharon Smith as the district’s interim superintendent during Monday’s board meeting.
Sharon Smith
Mrs. Smith has been Lyndonville’s director of Instruction and Student Services for the last two years. Her focus has been on the district’s students and families and ensuring best-practice, individualized educational services and strategies are implemented to ensure the highest level of student achievement.
“Sharon is a true asset to our district,” said BOE President Theodore Lewis. “She takes the time to really connect with and understand our students and families. We believe she will do a great job as our interim superintendent.”
Previously, Mrs. Smith worked as Kendall’s elementary principal for seven years. She also was a curriculum coordinator for Frontier Schools and assistant principal, and CIO and grants coordinator for Newfane schools. Prior to her administrative career, she worked as an elementary teacher for 22 years.
“I am honored to be appointed as interim superintendent of Lyndonville Central Schools,” she said. “I have been fortunate to work with, and learn from, Jason Smith, and I wish him the very best. I promise the community, the students, the faculty and staff to give my best every day in fulfilling our vision to strive to lead in academic excellence, safety and community pride.”
Mrs. Smith will begin serving as interim superintendent on Jan. 3, when Jason Smith leaves for his new position as superintendent for Batavia CSD. The Board will continue with its search for a superintendent for the district.
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School District’s fitness center will open to the community beginning Dec. 14.
District residents are welcome Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost for use is $10 a month or $2 per visit. All attendees must sign-in upon arrival, and masks are required.
Lyndonville’s fitness facility includes treadmills, ellipticals, arc trainers, adaptive motion trainers, expresso bikes, Cybex machines, free weights, heart rate monitors, a tri-fit machine and a dance/exercise room.
Our fitness center is a great way to start or maintain a healthier and more active life!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 December 2021 at 8:59 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – This group checks out some of the Christmas trees that were lighted up for the first time this evening at Lyndonville’s Veterans Park.
A crowd gathered at just after 5 p.m. today when Lyndonville lighted up 88 Christmas trees at the park. Lyndonville village officials would like to reach 100 trees next year.
The tradition started in 2013 with 26 trees and has grown each year. The trees are decorated by local families, businesses and organizations.
“It’s quite a tribute to our little village and what great things we can do here,” said Wes Bradley, emcee for the event.
Before the electricity was turned on, Santa arrived in a horse-drawn carriage that was behind a Lyndonville fire truck.
Santa pulled a candy cane to turn on the power for the trees.
Meghan Gapa of Lyndonville wore a Grinch costume to add to the holiday fun.
There were events throughout the day. The trees will be out until about Jan. 1.
Santa met with kids in a setting outside the Yates Community Library. He used to meet with kids in the village hall and they could sit on his lap, but with Covid concerns the meet-and-greet was shifted outside with the children sitting down a few feet away from Santa.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 December 2021 at 4:00 pm
‘Wilson’ was bred by Johnson Farms in Lyndonville
Photos courtesy of Clancy Johnson: Wilson, a Saint Bernard bred by Johnson Farms, is shown with a beer can featuring his face as part of nation-wide holiday promotion.
LYNDONVILLE – A happy dog on the can of Budweiser beer for a holiday promotion was bred by Johnson Farms in Lyndonville.
Wilson the Saint Bernard was chosen by Budweiser over about 100,000 other entries. He is nationwide this holiday season as part of a promotion for Budweiser.
“We were really excited about it,” said Clancy Johnson, owner of the Johnson Farms.
Wilson lives with a family in Liberty Township, Ohio.
Johnson Farms also bred the two Saint Bernards – Saint and Maggie – that are the mascots at D’Youville College. The college in 2020 adopted the “Saints” as the mascot for the school. This photo shows Maggie.
The 160-pound dog is the latest celebrity canine bred by the farm. Two of their Saint Bernards were picked to be mascots for D’Youville College in Buffalo. That school announced in 2020 it would adopt “Saints” for its mascot as part of a move from Division III to Division II athletics. Those two dogs – Saint and Maggie – are very popular on campus and Maggie has an active social media account tracking her movements and work as a D’Youville goodwill ambassador.
Another one of the Johnson dogs was featured as Beethoven in the movie, Beethoven’s Big Break.
“We’ve got really lucky,” Johnson said today.
Her dogs also compete in shows around the country. Those events have catapulted Johnson Farms to one of the top breeders of Saint Bernards in the world.
Clancy Johnson has been running the business since 2002, not long after graduating from high school. Her parents, Jeff and Lynne Johnson, have owned Saints since 1976. Clancy Johnson also breeds Newfoundlands.
The farm has “great lines” of genetics in their dogs, and has connected with many leading breeders. She praised the handler and groomer for helping the dogs to excel at the shows.
The holiday promotion from Budweiser with one of their dogs faces is a fun confirmation they have been giving families quality dogs.
“My goal here is to produce the finest quality Saint Bernards and Newfoundlands,” Johnson writes on the business’s website. “Temperament is of the utmost importance. I am very active in conformation, obedience training and rescue work. I strive for correct health and structure, conforming to the AKC written standard.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 December 2021 at 9:10 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Aurora Avery portrays Rafiki and holds up a baby lion named Simba during the opening scene of the Lion King. The cast is singing the “Circle of Life.”
Fifth- and sixth-graders at Lyndonville are performing The Lion King Kids. There were performances on Thursday and there is another show today at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
There are about 40 students in the cast, and the production is led by teachers Kelly Follman and Jennifer Trupo.
Lane Woodworth plays the role of Simba, and sings “I just can’t wait to be king.”
Scar, who is brother to Mufasa the king, is jealous of Mufasa and his son Simba. Amir Zimmerman plays the role of Scar, who is shown here plotting with the hyenas and singing, “Be Prepared.”
Mufasa (Jake Gidley) is killed when he attempts to rescue Simba from a stampede of wildebeests. Here Mufasa is mourned by Sarabi (Grace Kenyon) and Nala (Jena Ferguson).
Simba flees the scene in shame and meets new friends in the jungle. Gavyn Draper, left, plays Timon and Logan Fonda is Pumbaa. Timon is a meerkat lacking confidence and Pumbaa is a very sensitive warthog. They are singing “Hakuna Matata” and urging Simba to take it easy and have no worries.
A wise madrill guides Simba on his journey home to reclaim his role as king of the Pridelands.
Scar is confronted for his acts of treachery against Mufasa and Simba.
Photo by Tom River: A grandmother walks with her granddaughter to see the 76 lighted up trees at Veterans Park on Dec. 7, 2019. Many of the trees are decorated as memorials or tributes to family members.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2021 at 2:46 pm
LYNDONVILLE — There will be 88 Christmas trees decorated at Veterans Park for Lyndonville’s annual community Christmas celebration. That is the most since Lyndonville started the tradition in 2013, and up from the previous high of 79 last year.
The power will be turned on at 5 p.m. on Saturday with Santa flipping the switch.
The village started the tradition in 2013 with 26 trees, and it has grown each year since. Community members and organization pay $30 to decorate a tree. The fee covers the cost of the tree, materials for the sign, lead cords, replacement cords and adapters as needed. Participants provide lights and decorations.
Saturday’s event has activities from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The schedule includes:
8 to 11 a.m. – Community breakfast at Lyndonville Presbyterian Church
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Music Boosters Craft Sae at Lyndonville school
11 a.m. until sold out – Music Boosters beef on deck dinner at Lyndonville school
2 to 4:45 p.m. – Horse-drawn carriage rides, meet at Village Hall
2 to 4 p.m. – Hot chocolate at library parking lot
2 to 4 p.m. – Petting zoo at library parking lot
2 to 6:30 p.m. – NYS Child ID at Village Hall, led by Orleans County Sheriff’s Office
3 to 4:30 p.m. – Crafts and games at Yates Community Library
3 to 6 p.m. – Cookies, popcorn and $1 sodas at the library
3 to 6 p.m. – Cup of chili at library parking lot
4:30 to 5 p.m. – Caroling at Veterans Park
5 p.m. – Santa’s arrival and light of trees at Veterans Park
5:15 to 6:30 p.m. – Visit with Santa at the Yates Community Library
6 to 8 p.m. – Nativity Walk at Lyndonville Presbyterian Church
The day’s events are sponsored by the Village of Lyndonville, Lyndonville Fire Department/Auxiliary, Lyndonville Lions Club and Lyndonville United Methodist Women.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2021 at 9:55 am
Jason Smith praised for pushing high standards and support for students
Photos by Tom Rivers: Jason Smith, Lyndonville’s district superintendent the past 10 years, is shown in August 2020 before the start of the school year. The desks in the classroom were all spaced at least six feet apart to meet Covid guidelines. Lyndonville was able to offer in-person education all five school days in the 2020-21 school year.
LYNDONVILLE – Jason Smith proved to be an asset to the Lyndonville school district and the community during his 10 years as district superintendent, said Ted Lewis, president of the Board of Education.
Smith is leaving Lyndonville to start as superintendent at the Batavia City School District on Jan. 3. Batavia is Smith’s hometown.
“We’re happy for him and wish him the best in his next chapter,” Lewis said.
Lyndonville will have an interim superintendent while the district searches for Smith’s successor.
“The Board will do our due diligence to pick the right person,” Lewis said.
Lewis has been on the board during Smith’s entire time with Lyndonville. He praised Smith for his connections in the community, for making more opportunities available for Lyndonville students, and for keeping Lyndonville residents aware of what’s happening in the district, especially during the Covid pandemic.
“He is a very likable person who is very responsive to the board and students,” Lewis said.
Smith often meets with student clubs, has lunch with officers and welcomed a student as an ex-offico member of the Board of Education.
He is a member of the Lyndonville Lions Club and Lyndonville Area Foundation, helping to connect those organizations to students and the school district. Foundation funding has supported many programs at the school, including recent grants towards a baby grand piano, relocating the elementary school playground, more than $30,000 annually in scholarships and other academic and literacy initiatives.
Lyndonville has a graduation rate nearly 100 percent, and for many years offered a college readiness program, AVID, to help students enroll in four-year colleges.
Diana Fulcomer, a prevention educator with the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, is pictured with Jason Smith in this photo from January 2018. Lyndonville increased the presence of prevention educators at the district. Fulcomer in some of her presentations focuses on making healthy choices, which includes getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods and not spending too much time on social media. Smith said he supports the expanded message – coping skills and making good choices. “If the students are having issues with anxiety, we don’t want them turning to substances,” he said.
Smith also pushed to bring outside services into the district to support students, including mental health professionals and prevention specialists from the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse.
Lewis praised Smith for leading the district’s efforts to keep students in-person all five days of school in the 2020-21 school year. The district reopened part of the elementary school and was able to reconfigure classrooms and other space to accommodate all students and meet the state guideline of at least 6 feet apart to help prevent the spread of Covid.
In developing that plan, Smith put in “countless hours” working with local health officials and the State Education Department, as well as local stakeholders – teachers, administrators, the Board of Education and other community members, Lewis said.
Smith came to Lyndonville after working as a principal at Albion and Elba. He started his career as a social studies teacher in Albion.
“We saw the potential in him,” Lewis said about Smith when he joined the district a decade ago. “He has always been thorough, conscientious and very communicative to the board, the administrative team and the community.”
Hannah Marker gets some help from Jason Smith in swinging the sledgehammer at a wall to be knocked out as part of the capital project. This photo was taken on Jan. 2, 2019 for a ground-breaking of a $10.7 million project at the district with included creating two new classrooms above the library, putting a new section of a new roof on in 2017 and adding LED lights in the gym.
Smith also pushed forward a $10.7 million capital project in the district, as well as other technology upgrades through the Smart School Bond Act. Those Bond Act funds allowed each student in the district to have a Chromebook laptop.
Lewis said Smith took a hands-on approach to leading the district, and would even fill in at a classroom if a substitute teacher wasn’t available.
The district’s enrollment has been shrinking in recent years, like many of the rural districts in Upstate New York. Smith and Lyndonville school officials worked out an agreement with Medina to have some merged sports teams and also the school musical so those programs would be available at both districts. Lyndonville is teaming with Barker and Roy-Hart in a football program. The team is called the RBL Silverbacks.
“He has really worked hard to increase opportunities for students,” Lewis said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2021 at 8:20 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jason Smith, Lyndonville Central School superintendent, welcomes the audience to a patriotic concert on Sept. 15, 2017 featuring World War I songs sung by students from Albion, Medina and Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – Jason Smith, Lyndonville school district superintendent the past 10 years, is leaving to take a job in Batavia.
Smith lives in Batavia and is a Batavia High School graduate. He will start on Jan. 3 as the new superintendent for the Batavia City School District.
“This was a challenging decision for me, yet the temptation to serve my home community was strong, especially coupled with an invitation to do so,” Smith said in a message to the Lyndonville community.
Smith has worked 20 of 27 years as a educational professional in Orleans County, with his first 10 years in Albion. He started there as a social studies teacher before becoming an administrator.
“During my time at Lyndonville, it has been my honor and joy to develop positive relationships with many of you for the benefit of our District, including our dedicated booster groups, our wonderful community partners, such as the Lions Club, the Lyndonville Area Foundation, the Yates Community Library, and our committed local legislative and community leaders,” Smith wrote in his message to the Lyndonville community.
He said he is committed to a smooth transition to his successor at Lyndonville.
Batavia announced Smith’s hiring this afternoon.
“The Board of Education is thrilled to welcome Jason Smith as the new superintendent of the Batavia City School District,” said Alice Ann Benedict, Batavia Board of Education president. “We’re confident that his years of previous superintendent and administrative experience will serve our district well, not to mention he’s a BHS grad himself. As a local Batavian with children in our district, Jason understands the unique challenges and opportunities within our community, and we’re certain he will be a strong and dedicated leader for our students, staff, and families.”
A Batavia High School graduate of the class of 1990, Smith followed his 10 years at Albion with seven years in various principal positions in the Elba Central School.
He received his Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration and his Masters of Science in Education from the State University of New York College at Brockport. He is also a graduate of The State University of New York at Geneseo, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Sociology.
“First, I would like to thank the Batavia Board of Education for entrusting me with this tremendous opportunity,” Smith said in a statement posted on the Batavia district website. “As a proud BHS grad, I am thrilled to be returning to Batavia in this new leadership role. Batavia is a very special place to me, and I look forward to working alongside the incredible and inspiring students, staff, and community members. I can’t wait to hit the ground running in the new year.”
Provided photo: New members and leaders of the Leo’s Club at Lyndonville Central School include, from left, front row: Leo Treasurer, Hanna Marker; Leo President, Elizabeth Whipple; Leo Vice President, Amber Grabowski and Leo Secretary, Maddie Baker. Top right: Gina Marker, Aiden Allen, Safia Delobbe, Zachary Freas, Emma Freas, Owen Mank, Kylie Reisman, Molly Ingersoll. (Alexandria Carvalho not pictured)
Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club on Nov. 10 was proud and honored to host the induction of the latest chapter of its Leos club.
The Leo’s are a youth organization of Lions Club International. Leo Clubs encourage youths to develop leadership qualities by participating in social services and activities while fostering a commitment to community service. The Leo’s are dependent on a Lions club to initiate and sponsor them, however the Leo’s otherwise conduct themselves as an independent organization.
Leadership, experience and opportunity are the qualities that make a Leo and together with their Lions sponsor form a powerful partnership while simultaneously exploring and initiating their own independent power of action. The Lyndonville Leo’s club has already performed several community services within Lyndonville and the Town of Yates.
The current Leo’s are guided by Lyndonville Central School instructor, Gina Marker.
“Mrs. Marker is simply the perfect fit,” said Darren Wilson, the current Lions president. “I’m certain our entire Lions club agrees that no one better could have stepped into this role.”
And for the Leo’s, Wilson added, “They are a truly admirable talented group of young people who sync well together.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2021 at 1:54 pm
YATES — The Town Board on Nov. 11 went on the record opposing Covid vaccine and testing mandates, saying town employees and residents have “the inalienable right to refuse medical treatments and the right to privacy of their medical status with regard to Covid vaccinations and testing.”
The Town Board, in a resolution passed unanimously, said individuals have the right to make personal and private decisions regarding their health care, and also have the right to refuse medical treatment.
“The Covid-19 virus is a serious threat to public health but so too are the shockingly repressive governmental restrictions of individual liberties under the guise of public health,” according to the resolution.
The Town Board said the government shouldn’t mandate Covid vaccinations or testing “if such measures will severely restrict or possibly eliminate an individual’s right to work, to travel, and to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which comes with participation in U.S. civil society.”
The resolution was sent to Paul Pettit, the public health director in Orleans County; Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature; Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Assemblyman Mike Norris; State Sen. Robert Ortt and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2021 at 10:12 am
The absentee ballots were counted Tuesday for two close races in Orleans County. Those ballots increased the lead for Sean Pogue in Barre and Harold Suhr in Yates.
Pogue received 18 absentees and Gerald Solazzo had 13 for Barre town supervisor. Pogue, the incumbent Republican, led Solazzo 289 to 258 after the in-person ballots were counted from early voting and on Nov. 9. With the absentees, Pogue is now at 307 votes to 271 for Solazzo who ran under the independent “Voice of the Citizens.” The results are still unofficial.
There are also about 20 affidavit ballots to be counted throughout Orleans County. The deadline to certify the results is Nov. 26.
The town of Yates also had a very close race that was up in the air until the absentees were counted.
Harold Suhr had a 3-vote lead over Paul Lauricella, 256 to 253, after the early voting and Nov. 2 ballots were counted.
With the absentees, Suhr picked up 11 more votes and Lauricella gained 3 more, putting Suhr ahead 267 to 256.
Those results are unofficial and there will be a manual recount.
The write-in results from other races in the county also are still be tabulated with the results unavailable at this time.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2021 at 8:56 am
Village welcomes decorated trees for annual holiday display at Veterans Park
Photo by Tom Rivers: People gather at Veterans Park on Dec. 7, 2019 for the annual tree-lighting celebration. Last year there were 79 trees decorated, the most since Lyndonville started the display in 2013.
LYNDONVILLE – The village will continue its popular Christmas display at Veterans Park and also has added a North Pole Post for people to send letters to Santa. The Post is located inside the Yates Community Library.
Last year there were 79 trees decorated by community members. That is the most since Lyndonville started the tradition in 2013, with 26 trees in that first year.
Residents have until Nov. 18 to apply to decorate a tree. A $30 fee covers the cost of the tree, materials for the sign, lead cords, replacement cords and adapters as needed. Participants need to provide lights and decorations.
The trees will be lighted up for the first time on Dec. 4 by Santa as part of a Christmas in Lyndonville celebration. The trees will be out until about Jan. 1.
For more information, check the village website (click here) or call the village office at 585-765-9385.
Photo courtesy of Teri Woodworth: The North Pole Post is at Yates Community Library, where kids can send letters to Santa.
