LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Central School District is currently accepting applications for the 4th Annual Educator of the Year Award, to be named in June 2020.
Parents, students, and community members are eligible to nominate a Lyndonville educator for this special honor. Applications need to be submitted by Feb. 7.
The Educator of the Year will also receive a $1,000 grant to be used for special programming in his or her department or grade level.
John Bailey, an elementary music teacher, was the first recipient of the award in 2017, second grade teacher Shannon Arlington was the second recipient, and Math teacher Jeff Qamoos was honored last year.
Nominees for the award must have completed at least four years of teaching at Lyndonville.
Nominees should also:
• Be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher;
• Inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn;
• Have a strong sense of values, integrity and professional ethics;
• Actively collaborate with colleagues, administration, parents and families;
• Demonstrate innovative 21st century skills and continuing professional growth;
• Have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues;
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 January 2020 at 10:25 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Ruth Hedges arranges merchandise in the newly expanded room of Hope Resales, the thrift shop she helped start at the Lyndonville United Methodist Church last March. The shop has become so successful they had to expand into another room in the basement of the church. Hedges said recent national surveys have shown more people are shopping in thrift stores.
Shoppers are setting a new trend in America, with more people buying at thrift stores.
A report by ThredUp said the resale market continues to grow at a rate expected to reach $51 billion by 2023. In fact the trend is becoming so popular, traditional department stores like Macy’s and JCPenney have started to team up with ThredUp to sell thrift finds in select stores.
Not only are they finding fine quality merchandise at drastically reduced prices, but the money spent at thrift stores usually goes to helping worthy causes in their communities.
Such is the case with the MAAC Thrift Depot in Medina, Community Action’s Main Street Store in Albion and Hope Resales in Lyndonville.
Annually, MAAC donates about $35,000 to local organizations such as Community Action, Vacation Bible School, Long Point Camp, Boy Scouts in Medina, Medina Police Department, Aglow, Orleans County Christian School, Hands 4 Hope, scholarships for Medina High School seniors, Oak Orchard Bike Rodeo, missions of local churches, fire victims, Tricounty Clergy Fellowship Workshop, Praising Kids Preschool, Senior Citizens of Western Orleans, Hospice, war orphans, GCASA roller skating, Christian Bowhunters, postage for Christmas Shoebox project, Medina National Honor Society veterans’ dinner, Orleans Recovery Hope, Parade of Lights, Veterans’ Christmas project, PACT, Empire State Special Olympics, MOPS, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, Orleans County Summer Recreation Program, Camp Rainbow and National Night Out.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Community Action of Orleans & Genesee opened of the Main Street Thrift Store in October 2014 at the former American Legion at 131 South Main St.
The Main Street Store in Albion has targeted their profits for a job training program. Michelle George oversees the store at the former American Legion building. The store is a public resource for quality, gently pre-owned merchandise and apparel, and is a designated job skill training site for the community.
The profits from the store allow them to offer enrollment for “on the job” retail training, as well as partner with several local agencies for referrals. Store merchandise is donated and all proceeds from sales support employment services, including resumes, internet job searching, interview techniques, business and retail training and business communications. On completion of training, the store assists participants with job searches, work apparel (Dress for Success project) and references.
Hope Resales in Lyndonville has only been open about 10 months, yet sales have exceeded all expectations, said Ruth Hedges, one of the active volunteers who run the site.
Donations also have been so abundant the Lyndonville United Methodist Church has had to expand into another room in the basement.
During the past year, Hope Resales has given monetary donations not only to the church, but to Lyndonville Fire Department, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Camp Rainbow, Lyndonville Food Pantry, Care Net of Orleans, Lockport Cares Homeless Shelter, Hospice of Orleans and to a young missionary who traveled to India. They also are sponsoring on a monthly basis a United Methodist minister and her family in Cuba.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: he MAAC Clothing Depot moved from a spot in the former Medina High School to the former Mic-Jac store at the corner of Starr and Orient streets in July 2018. The new home has more space to display and sell merchandise.
In addition, Hope Resales has been able to provide free clothing to several families in need, who have been referred to the store, Hedges said.
Hedges quoted a study by The Wall Street Journal, in which they reported more than half of respondents said they would consider gifting second-hand presents, while 56 percent said they would welcome thrifted gifts.
Whether it’s called a thrift shop, second-hand store or consignment shop, Hedges shared several reasons for shopping at a thrift store.
They include supporting a charitable cause, saving money, reducing waste and helping to save the environment, obtaining gently or never used items at a bargain, acquiring hard-to-find items one might only use occasionally, discovering a hidden treasure and buying something you forgot on vacation without paying full price.
Hope Resales is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. A new feature is offering one-half off select merchandise in the store on the last Wednesday of every month. Other sales can be found on their Facebook page during the month.
The MAAC Thrift Depot moved into new quarters in the summer of 2018. They are located at the corner of Orient and Starr streets. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. The first Tuesday of each month is “one-half price day.”
Drop-off chutes for donations are located outside the building on Orient Street. MAAC accepts good, clean clothing; shoes and jewelry; clean household items in good condition, including small appliances and small furniture; books, toys and linens; DVDs and CDs; kitchen items and holiday decorations.
The Main Street Store is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
File photo: About 200 people attended a concert at the Yates Town Park by Lake Ontario in July 2014. The park is at the end of Morrison Road. The town was awarded a $2.5 million state grant for the park.
YATES – The Town of Yates is exploring how best to take advantage of the $2.531 million grant awarded for the Yates Town Park by the NY State Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Commission.
The REDI grant authorizes the Town of Yates to develop shoreline resiliency upgrades such as jetties, a kayak launch, and a safe harbor for watercraft, and to add park amenities such as a handicap-accessible playground, additional parking for cars and horse-drawn carriages, safety and security measures, a nature walkway, restrooms and a pavilion.
The Town of Yates was in the process of expending a $414,500 state grant for shoreline remediation caused by the 2017 flooding when the REDI Commission called for proposals in June for enhancing resiliency and economic development initiatives along the Lake Ontario shoreline due to additional flooding in 2019.
“This grant provides a much-needed shoreline resiliency upgrade and comes at a time when the Town of Yates is poised to take advantage of the fruits of multiple community-wide planning efforts to enhance the park experience for future generations,” said Jim Simon, Town Supervisor.
“The Town’s REDI grant application was based on ideas generated from the recently revised and adopted Yates-Lyndonville-Ridgeway-Medina-Shelby Western Orleans Comprehensive Plan, the ongoing Yates-Carlton-Kendall-Lyndonville Local Waterfront Revitalization Program revision efforts, and the work of the Yates Town Park Task Force,” Supervisor Simon said.
The Yates Town Park Task Force has met several times since June 2019 to help develop and refine the park proposal. Members include Russ Martino, Georgette Stockman, Paul Lauricella, Anne Marie Holland, Linda Fisk, Highway Superintendent Roger Wolfe, Town Engineer Jon Hinman (MRB Group), Councilman John Riggi, and Supervisor Jim Simon.
The goal of the task force is to make recommendations to the Town Board for final design and related suggestions. The final meeting of the Task Force is January 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Yates Town Hall at 8 South Main St. The meeting is open to the public but only Task Force members will participate, with an option for the public to ask questions once the meeting adjourns.
The Town of Yates is tentatively planning on a public forum followed by a public hearing on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., at the Town Hall. Yates residents can get the latest updates about the park proposal on the town website (townofyates.org) and may submit ideas about the town park via email to jamesjsimon11@gmail.com.
The Yates Town Board will vote on the final design of the project no later than its March 12 board meeting in order to meet the REDI Commission grant acceptance deadline of March 16.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2019 at 8:33 am
LYNDONVILLE – The school district was awarded $540,392 state grant this week to expand prekindergarten.
Lyndonville a decade ago started a half-day PreK program. The state funding will allow the district to expand the hours for 4-year-olds and also will allow Lyndonville to start a new program for 3-year-olds.
“It is such exciting news for us, and a phenomenal opportunity to support our community!” said Dr. Elissa Smith, the elementary school principal.
Lyndonville will be partnering with the Orleans County YMCA for the new program for 3-year-olds.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the funding for Lyndonville on Wednesday, as part of $15 million to 26 school districts.
“New York is making an unprecedented commitment to universal pre-kindergarten for children living in high-need and underserved school districts,” Cuomo said. “This funding will help ensure more children than ever before are able to attend pre-k and enjoy the proven benefits of early childhood education into adulthood.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 20 December 2019 at 5:35 pm
Provided photos
LYNDONVILLE/MEDINA – Volunteers last Saturday set nearly 700 wreaths at veterans’ graves in Lyndonville and Medina, including this one pictured at top at the grave of James Whipple, a Korean War veteran who died on April 25 at age 91.
There were 402 wreaths placed at veterans’ graves at six cemeteries in Lyndonville. Seven memorial wreaths were laid in honor of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force and POWs. Veterans buried in Lyndonville are from every conflict the United States starting with the Revolutionary War.
This is the first time Lyndonville participated in the Wreaths Across America. The event was made possible by an endowment fund established by Miss Anna Stelianou in memory of her parents and her five brothers. Those brothers all served in the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War.
Approximately 50 volunteers helped to lay the wreaths in Lyndonville, including at Lynhaven Cemetery.
Boxwood Cemetery in Medina also is participating in Wreaths Across America, one of 2,100 cemeteries involved in the effort this year.
Boxwood first took part in Wreaths Across America in 2013. Only nine wreaths were placed that first year, said Kathy Blackburn, who has organized the event each year.
“This year, we had 261 wreaths, the largest number yet,” she said. “It grows every year, and this year was so successful because of a $1,900 donation from the veterans’ program called Peer to Peer. The VFW, American Legion, Junior Wilson’s Club and Sacred Heart Club are all generous donors to this program, along with individual supporters.”
Veteran Jim Freas of Medina salutes as wreaths are placed on veterans’ graves at Boxwood Cemetery on Dec. 14 as part of the national celebration of Wreaths Across America.
Even with the terrible weather, with rain and cold, the turnout was bigger than ever, and even included Medina Girl Scouts, Blackburn said.
“We saw many more families who brought their children to help place wreaths,” she added. “It was very moving to see these kids learning what it takes to have our freedom, and I can’t thank the parents enough for bringing their children to learn and honor.”
Members of the Boxwood Commission placed ceremonial wreaths for each branch of the service. In addition, Assemblyman Stephen Hawley from Batavia placed the POW wreath.
A veterans’ honor guard was led by Jim Freas of Medina.
The national Wreaths Across America organization is sponsoring a program from now until Jan. 15. If anyone goes online and orders a wreath for the December 2020 ceremony, the organization will match each donation.
A young girl prepares to place a wreath on a veteran’s grave at Boxwood Cemetery, during Wreaths Across America on Dec. 14. Organizer Kathy Blackburn said more people participated this year, especially young people.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 December 2019 at 10:24 pm
Funds also approved for lake dredging, canal bikeshare program
File photo: Lyndonville native Robert Smith wants to turn this block on Main Street, including the Webber Building at left, into a café, hotel and retail shops.
LYNDONVILLE – Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $761 million in economic and community development funding today in the ninth round of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
The funding in Orleans County included $500,000 towards the redevelopment of Main Street building in Lyndonville, $40,000 for a bikeshare program along the canal, and $62,500 for a dredging plan for harbors in Orleans, Niagara, Monroe, Cayuga and Wayne counties.
• The $500,000 for the Lyndonville Gateway Anchor Revitalization will assist in the renovation of 29 South Main Street, a mixed-use anchor project in the village’s downtown.
Robert Smith, a Lyndonville native who works as a financial advisor in California, has plans to turn vacant Main Street structures into a café, a six-room hotel and retail shops at the former Pennysaver building.
Smith will replace windows so they aren’t mismatched, and make other façade improvements, including new steps and doors.
Smith lives in Palm Springs, Calif. He returns to Lyndonville to see family. He is tackling the project to help his hometown. He also thinks the project will be a financial success.
• The state funding also includes $40,000 to the Orleans County YMCA to establish biking, snowshoeing and kayaking classes, and “meet-ups” on the Erie Canal and at the Oak Orchard River.
It will place racks of “bikeshare” bikes in the community to be borrowed by YMCA members outside of club activities at no cost or by other community members for a nominal fee. Bike racks will be located in the villages of Medina and Albion around the canal, according to the announcement from the state.
• The state is also providing $62,500 for a Lake Ontario Shared Regional Harbor Dredging Program.
Niagara, Orleans, Cayuga, Wayne, and Monroe counties have joined together to form the Lake Ontario Regional Dredging Management Council to collaboratively and cost effectively manage the dredging of 19 harbors located along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
Funding will advance preliminary planning, legal, engineering, permitting, and community outreach costs associated with developing a framework for implementation of the 2014 Regional Dredging Management Plan.
To see the full list of projects funded by the state through the Regional Economic Development Council process, click here.
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LYNDONVILLE – Bruce Schmidt, the Lyndonville Lions Club president, announces the club’s annual “Spirit of Christmas” awards.
“Lyndonville has some of the best Christmas-decorated homes around during this wonderful time of year,” he said.
The Lions are happy to recognize the community efforts to add beauty to the town. Schmidt said judges will be out checking for the best decorations on Dec. 18. All lights should be on by 5 p.m.
Provided photo: Senior Investigator Thomas Gibbons of the State Police spoke during Lyndonville High School health classes this week to discuss sexual assaults on college campuses.
Press Release, Lyndonville Central School
LYNDONVILLE – High school students at Lyndonville met with Senior Investigator Thomas Gibbons of the State Police this week during their health classes to discuss sexual assaults on college campuses.
This discussion is part of the NYS Police Campus Sexual Assault Victims Unit’s prevention education program. Their mission is to reduce the incidents and facilitate the reporting of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking at colleges and universities.
Investigator Gibbons explained the problem of sexual assaults on campuses to the students. He provided prevention and bystander strategies and emphasized the importance of reporting sexual assault crimes to law enforcement. The investigator stressed that everyone has a role to play in keeping friends, peers and family safe.
“Educating the students about these topics will allow them to make responsible decisions now and later in life,” said Shane Phillips, health teacher at Lyndonville. “Collectively the students agreed that learning more about healthy relationships and how to identify common signs of an unhealthy relationship was very helpful.”
The second part of the presentation will take place near the end of the school year and will continue its focus on identifying positive and negative relationships.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2019 at 10:02 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville community turned on the lights on Saturday evening for the 76 Christmas trees that are decorated at Veterans Park on Main Street, next to Johnson Creek near the dam.
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.
(Click here to see a video of Santa flipping a switch to light up the trees.)
Chris Borner walks with her granddaughter to look at the trees at the park. Many of the trees are decorated as memorials or tributes to family members.
The lights were turned on at about 5 p.m. after Santa arrived and flipped a switch to light up all the trees.
Lorna Klotzbach, Don Gramlich and the Atwater family teamed up to provide horse-drawn carriage rides.
Claire, 4, of Lyndonville pets a sheep as part of a petting zoo that also included goats and a donkey.
There were many activities throughout the day, including a basket raffle, craft sale, beef on weck, caroling, a community breakfast and Christmas Choir LaLaPalooza.
Lyndonville Lions Club members served up hot dogs. Roy Holland is at left and John Belson, the Lyndonville mayor, is working the grill.
Here are a few more photos of the trees, which will be lighted up until after Jan. 1.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 December 2019 at 8:08 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE — The Lyndonville community has decorated 76 Christmas trees that will be lighted up on Saturday during an annual Christmas celebration at Veterans Park.
Santa will arrive at 5 p.m. and he will flip the switch, turning on the electricity for the lights on the trees.
This tree by Boy Scouts in Pack 25 includes the names of scouts with ornaments listing scouting values.
The 76 trees is a new record for Lyndonville, which started the tree display in 2013 with 26 trees in the first celebration. There were 75 last year. Each year the number of trees has grown.
This group checks out the trees when they were lighted up last December during the celebration at Veterans Park. The trees stay up until right after Jan. 1.
Community organizations and residents pay $30 to decorate a tree. The $30 fee covers the cost of the tree, materials for the sign, lead cords, replacement cords and adapters as needed. Participants provide lights and decorations.
The celebration on Saturday starts at 8 a.m. with a community breakfast at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. There are many activities throughout the day, including horse-drawn carriage rides, a basket raffle, craft sale, beef on weck, caroling, a petting zoo, and other events, including Santa’s arrival at 5 p.m.
Santa will then be available to meet children in the Village Hall from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
The day is capped at 7 p.m. with a Christmas Choir LaLaPalooza at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church.
The event is sponsored by the Village of Lyndonville, Lyndonville Fire Department/Auxiliary, Lyndonville Lions Club and Lyndonville United Methodist Women.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 November 2019 at 10:05 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: Wreaths are shown on veterans’ graves at Boxwood Cemetery in Medina in January 2018. Boxwood has been part of Wreaths Across America since 2013.
LYNDONVILLE – The community is welcome to be part of a new tradition at Lyndonville, where 401 wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves at five cemeteries over the holiday season.
Lyndonville resident Anna Stelianou is paying for the wreaths and has set up an endowment with the Lyndonville Area Foundation to cover the costs for perpetuity. Stelianou made the donation in honor of her parents, Ary and Konstantina, who emigrated to Lyndonville from Greece after WWI. Stelianou also donated the money for the program in honor of her five brothers who served in WWII and the Korean War.
Steve Goodrich, commander of Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post 1603 in Lyndonville, is grateful for Stelianou’s donation. Goodrich identified and mapped put the location of the veterans’ graves.
He is asking the community to help place the wreaths on the gravesites the morning of Dec. 14.
Lynhaven Cemetery on Housel Avenue will be the site of a noon ceremony that day.
“We are not looking for donations,” Goodrich said. “What we need are volunteers to help place the wreaths. No one is too young or too old. If there is a family member you want to specifically place a wreath on, we will be happy to help.”
To sign up to help place the wreaths, click here to be directed to Lyndonville’s link on the Wreaths Across America website.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2019 at 11:40 am
BATAVIA – The Lyndonville school superintendent is one of three finalists to be the next leader of the Batavia City School District.
Jason Smith
Jason Smith is a Batavia resident. He has served as Lyndonville superintendent the past eight years.
Smith grew up in Batavia and has worked as a teacher and vice principal in Albion, and then as a principal in Elba, before going to Lyndonville.
The Batavia district held community meetings this week for the public to meet the finalists. Besides Smith, Batavia is considering Anibal Soler, Jr., an associate superintendent for the Buffalo Public Schools; and Joleen Dimitroff, principal of Sweet Home’s Glendale Elementary School.
The district wants to have the new superintendent in place by Feb. 3, according to The Daily News in Batavia.
In a press release from the Batavia school district, Smith is praised for leading extensive curriculum work at Lyndonville in math and English Language Arts with full alignment to the Common Core. Those changes resulted in a near 100 percent increase in math scores from 2013 to 2014.
Smith implemented APPR requirements with alignment to the Framework for Teaching and Leadership standards and provided on-going administrator professional development to ensure consistency of teacher observations.
At Lyndonville, he supervises over 100 staff and faculty members, and a student body of about 650.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2019 at 8:42 am
Medal of Honor recipient returns to alma mater with message of thanksgiving for small-town life
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – David Bellavia, a 1994 Lyndonville graduate, returned to his alma mater on Thursday. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 25 during a ceremony at the White House.
In this photo, he shows the medal to fourth-grader Christopher Atkins. Elementary students lined the hallway for Bellavia, who was a staff sergeant in the Army.
David Bellavia speaks to about 400 students in grades 5 to 12 during an assembly at the school. Students were shown a video of him while he was deployed to Iraq.
He received the nation’s highest military honor for risking his life on Nov. 10, 2004 – his 29th birthday. Bellavia defended his fellow soldiers while serving in the second battle of Fallujah, Iraq.
As a squad leader in Operation Phantom Fury, a 2004 American offensive on the western Iraqi City of Fallujah, Bellavia saved his entire squad when he cleared a housing block of enemy combatants who had pinned down his unit. Once Bellavia secured the safety of his squad, he re-engaged with the enemy combatants, re-entered the house where enemy fire was located, proceeded to kill four enemy insurgents, and wounded a fifth.
During a speech to 400 Lyndonville students in grades 5 to 12, Bellavia said he often thought of his time at Lyndonville school while he was deployed. He thought of teachers and classmates, and those memories gave him comfort and courage in battle.
During battle, he said he would think of his soccer coach, teachers and classmates.
“What gives you the energy and drive to face fear? This is what you think about,” he said scanning the crowd of students and teachers. “It’s right here. This is my safe space when I get freaked out.”
Lyndonville students and staff met with Bellaria after his speech and he accommodated the many requests for photos.
He told the students they live in a great community, where people are engaged in service to others. They can be in multiple school activities – several sports, the band, the musical and more. They know their classmates and the kids in the grade levels above them and below them.
It’s a great place, the greatest town in the world, but Bellavia didn’t realize when he was in school.
“I spent my childhood just wanting to get out of here,” he said. “You get out in the world and you realize I have the best hometown in the world.”
Bellavia told the students receiving the Medal of Honor is like “being struck by a comet.” He is grateful for the attention it has brought to the unit he served with in Iraq, and he is happy when the media highlight his hometown.
He urged people to consider serving in the military. If they don’t follow that path, they can contribute to the community and society in so many others ways. Being from Lyndonville isn’t a deterrence in pursuing their dreams. The school district has produced doctors, lawyers, innovative farmers, and top performers in many fields.
“There are no excuses to not launch of Lyndonville and go into the next stratosphere,” he told the students. “That is what we’re doing here.”
Students lined the hallway for David Bellavia in his return to the school on Thursday.
He encouraged the students to always give an honest effort, even when the outcome seems bleak.
Bellavia played varsity soccer and basketball for the Tigers. The basketball teams struggled during his era, but Bellavia said the team played hard in their games, even in blowouts. The opponents knew they Lyndonville wouldn’t just lie down despite a disadvantage in size. (Bellavia said the team had a 5-foot, 8-inch center.)
“In Lyndonville, we’re never going to let you beat us,” he said. “We don’t quit.”
He is proud of the effort from those basketball and soccer teams. He even recalled a win over the powerful Kendall boys soccer team.
Before the student assembly, Bellavia met with Lyndonville community leaders, including Jim Simon, the Yates town supervisor. Simon had a long career in the Air Force. He and Bellavia are saluting each other.
Bellavia said people often thank him for his military service. He wasn’t sure how to respond. But a Vietnam War veteran told him he should tell people, “You are worth it.” That is what he often tells people now while he is traveling around the country.
David Bellavia embraces math teacher Jim O’Connor after Bellavia’s presentation. Jeff Gress is another teacher at left.
Bellavia was asked if he could do anything different if he could go back in time when he was a student. Besides a better haircut instead of the long hair he had then, he said he wished he had thanked the teachers and staff for their dedication. He wished he had let his friends know how much they meant to him.
“Tell people you care,” he said. “Tell your mom and dad, your granddad that you love them.”
After Bellavia concluded his presentation, one of his former teachers – Jeff Gress – yelled out, “You were worth it, Dave.”
David Bellavia had many funny comments during his presentation. Jason Smith, the school district superintendent, laughs at one of Bellavia’s one-liners.
Each student had a chance to hold the Medal of Honor. Bellavia is the first living Iraq War veteran to receive the nation’s highest military honor.
Dr. Clark Godshall, superintendent of the Orleans-Niagara BOCES, holds the Medal of Honor during a meet and greet with Bellavia before the student assembly.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2019 at 9:16 am
Provided photos
LYNDONVILLE – These Lyndonville students had the top 3 “Peace Posters” in an annual contest by the Lyndonville Lion’s Club. From left include Justin Higgins, first place; Katelynn Breeze, second place; and Daniel Barry, third place.
There were 37 Lyndonville 8th-graders who participated in the contest with the theme, “Journey of Peace.” The Lion’s Club voted on 10 posters and narrowed it down to the top 3 selections.
First place went to Justin Higgins, whose poster will now go on to compete at the district level for the Lion’s Club.
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville students interview Bob DeMallie on Friday as part of an oral history project.
The school district welcomed and honored about 40 veterans. There were veterans from each branch of the military who met with middle and high school students to discuss their lives before, during and after the military.
Students listened intently as veterans shared memories and answered questions. The students will create a report for each interview and incorporate them into a book to share with the district.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley was among the veterans who shared some of his experiences. He served seven years in the Ohio Army National Guard and the US Army Reserves.
He has been a member the past nine years of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee and sponsored legislation to aid veterans and current service personnel. During his keynote speech, Hawley reflected on his father’s military service in World War II and discussed his annual Patriot Trip to Washington D.C.
Hawley presented Lyndonville Central School with a NYS Assembly Citation in recognition of the district’s First Annual Veterans Day Program. The district also received recognition from NYS Senator Robert Ortt for celebrating Veterans Day and honoring those who have served the country.
Local veterans check in on Friday morning for the event at the former elementary school.
“The project was a meaningful way for students to understand the dedication of our military personnel and the sacrifices they have made for our freedom,” said Superintendent Jason Smith.
The district would like to thank all the veterans who participated in this year’s Veterans Day Project and Laura Moore, fifth-grade teacher, and local veteran Bob DeMallie for project coordination and assistance. The district looks forward to hosting the event again next year.
Lyndonville students welcomed veterans for the event on Friday.
(Editor’s Note: There is 5K run and walk this morning at 11 to benefit the Veterans Van Service in Orleans County. This second annual event starts at the Junior Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club on Bates Road in Medina. Click here for more information.)
