Photos by Tom Rivers: Firefighters respond to the scene of a fatal fire this morning on Route 18, east of Route 63.

YATES – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim in this morning’s fatal fire in Yates. Minnie Holt, 80, was killed at about 5 a.m. in a fire at 11848 Roosevelt Highway (Route 18).

Firefighters and Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene to find a house on fire in the rear and the inside full of thick black smoke.

Holt likely died from smoke inhalation. She was on the phone with an Orleans County public safety dispatcher as she tried to get out of the house. The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office is doing an autopsy.

About 50 firefighters responded to the call from Lyndonville, Carlton, Ridgeway, Shelby, Middleport and Medina.

Orleans County and state fire investigators are on scene to determine the cause of the fire. The road remains closed to traffic as of noon today.

The Town of Yates and Orleans County highway departments will help take down the house today.

First responders are shown at the scene at about 7:30 this morning.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

YATES – A woman, 80, died this morning in a fire at her home on Route 18, Orleans County Undersheriff Chris Bourke said at the scene.

Firefighters and deputies were dispatched to the house at 4:54 a.m. The house was full of thick black smoke. The fire appears to have started in the rear of the house.

The woman likely died of smoke inhalation. She was on the phone with an Orleans County dispatcher, trying to get out of the house, when she likely passed away.

The woman’s name isn’t being released, pending family notifications.

Deputies arrived to the scene on Route 18, just west of Breeze and Foss roads, nine minutes after the 911 call. The doors were locked. One deputy injured his hand, breaking the glass on a  door to gain entry. That isn’t a serious injury, Bourke said.

About 50 firefighters responded to the call from Lyndonville, Carlton, Ridgeway, Shelby, Middleport and Medina.

Orleans County and state fire investigators are on scene to determine the cause of the fire. Dale Banker, the Emergency Management Office coordinator for the county, said he expects the Yates highway department will be on the scene later today to help tear down the house.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – A mourner holds a candle outside Bill’s Sub Shop while a procession passes on Main Street at about 7:30 this evening.

About 250 people attended the candlelight walk in honor of Brooke Allen, 21, and Ricky Forder, 20, two recent Lyndonville graduates who were killed in a car accident on Oct. 10 on their way to work at Lake Ridge Fruit, an apple packing facility on Route 104 in Gaines.

The group walks down Main Street. They had an escort in a sheriff’s patrol car driven by Deputy John Doyle.

The walk began at the school on Housel Avenue and then proceeded to the baseball field on Lake Ave. Many brought their own candles and balloons.

“It ripples through the whole community,” one of the mourners said of the tragic deaths.

Amanda Howell, second from right in front, is Brooke’s mother. Howell thanked the community for its support since the car accident.

“I don’t have the words to express,” she said. “Thank you. Thank you.”

Brooke graduated from Lyndonville in 2016. Among her survivors is a 1-year-old son, River.

“She was one of the sweetest people you ever knew,” said her friend, Meghan Gapa, 28, of Lyndonville. “She could also be sassy and tell it like it is.”

Forder graduated from Lyndonville in 2018. He played on the school’s basketball and baseball teams. He enjoyed making his friends and family happy, going fishing and dancing to music.

This candle is outside Bill’s Sub Shop on Main Street.

Wes Bradley, a member of the Lyndonville Fire Department, helped direct traffic. He removed his hat and stood at attention out of respect when the mourners walked by.

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Brooke Allen

Calling hours and funeral services are set for two Lyndonville graduates who were killed in a car accident last Thursday on their way to work at Lake Ridge Fruit, an apple packing facility on Route 104.

Brooke Allen, 21, was driving when she struck a deer at 6:49 a.m. on Route 104. The car swerved, hit a guardrail and landed upside down in Beardsley Creek in about 5-foot-deep water.

Allen and her passenger, Richard “Ricky” Forder, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Allen graduated from Lyndonville in 2016. Among her survivors is a 1-year-old son, River.

Richard Forder

Relatives and friends may call on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Oak Orchard Assembly of God Church, 12111 Ridge Rd., Medina, where her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the Rev. Andy Sass officiating. Burial will follow immediately at Lynhaven Cemetery.

Memorials for Brooke may be made to the family for the loving care and support of her son.

Ricky Forder graduated from Lyndonville in 2018. He played on the school’s basketball and baseball teams. He enjoyed spending time with friends and family, going fishing, and dancing to music.

Ricky’s relatives and friends may call from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home, 21 West Ave., Albion. His funeral service will be from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at the funeral home.

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Photo by Ginny Kropf: Lyndonville United Methodist Church Pastor Olga Gonzalez and member Ruth Hedges display some of the items which will be available during the church’s fourth annual Harvest Festival on Oct. 12.

LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville United Methodist Church’s pastor, Olga Gonzalez, is anxiously awaiting the church’s fourth annual Autumn Festival this Saturday.

Gonzalez began serving as pastor at the Lyndonville church July 1, 2018. She had heard such nice things last year about the festival and was looking forward to it, when she realized she would be in Cuba on a mission trip.

“Now I want to invite all the people this year to come and shop,” she said.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature homemade baked goods, a room full of craft items and fresh produce on the lawn, said organizer Ruth Hedges.

Many donated gift certificates and baskets will be up for bids during a silent auction, which will end at 1:30 p.m.

Hedges urges everyone who attends to “think Christmas presents, while helping the church as well.”

Lunch will be available, consisting of beef on weck or Salen’s hot dogs with macaroni salad, baked beans and a beverage. There will also be cups of chili.

Other activities include face painting for children and shopping in the church’s thrift store.

Resales Thrift Store opened on March 31 and will be open during the Autumn Festival. The store has had an outpouring of support from the surrounding community, both with donations and customers, Hedges said.

The store could always use more volunteers. It is open 15 hours a week, she said, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Anyone interested in helping can call Hedges at (585) 866-9133 or by e-mail at recanham@yahoo.com.

The Harvest Festival is just one of many activities and programs which the church is sponsoring.

The church this past Monday began a six-week study of Adam Hamilton’s book Creed: What Christians Believe and Why. Used in conjunction with a six-session DVD, the book explores the Apostles’ Creed and Foundational Christian truths, such as the purpose of life. The group meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Wesley Lounge upstairs, led by Anne Hyndman. The study is open to anyone. Those planning to attend are asked to contact the church office to make sure they have enough books.

Darcy Brabon has organized Lyndonville Youth Serving Seniors, a group of youngsters who want to help seniors in the Lyndonville area. In September, the group went to the Lyndonville cemetery and cleaned the headstones of veterans. Each month they will work on a new project, such as raking leaves for people or taking paper products to those who might need help making cards. This group is looking for new ideas on who or how to help seniors. It is open to any young person who would like to participate.

The church will still continue to have its Mini Mall for children during the Lyndonville Christmas celebration on Dec. 7. Festivities will be relocated to the Fellowship Hall this year, so Hope Resales may remain open in the basement.

Divorce Care meetings led by Sharon Allen continue to run periodically throughout the year, when interest is shown. Help, hope and healing are offered through this support group which meets weekly.

Anyone interested in any of the church’s projects may contact the church office at (585) 765-9313.

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Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville school district celebrated homecoming last week. The homecoming court was recognized during a pep rally on Friday afternoon. Pictured from left include: Ethan Bowie, Evan Horn, Mario Fidanza (king), Faith Chaffee, Kaci Wittmeyer, Megan Krisher (queen), Kaylee Nesbitt, Prezli Silversmith, Tessa Heideman (princess), Nathan Dillenbeck (prince), Jacob Corser and Russel Stephens.

The junior-senior high school had a float parade on Friday. The seventh- and eighth-graders had an orange and black theme.

High schoolers decorated their floats to different movie themes.

Ninth-graders had a “Grease” theme for their float.

Sophomores decorated to the “Up” movie.

Juniors decorated a float to “Toy Story.”

Seniors had a theme of “Finding Dory.”

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Photos courtesy of Yates Community Library: Lyndonville first-graders on Monday check out the new story walk at Veterans Memorial Park.

Press Release, Yates Community Library

LYNDONVILLE – The Yates Community Library has found a way to reinforce and promote literacy outdoors at the scenic Veterans Memorial Park, which is right beside the library in downtown Lyndonville.

A reproduced children’s story has its pages spaced out along the park’s pathway. The story that was chosen is a great interactive sing-along and dance story. There are instructions at the beginning of the walk to show how to play the story and music on a cell phone, to enjoy as the children walk along.

This week, the first-graders at Lyndonville Central School took a mini field trip to the park to enjoy the story, and were then welcomed inside the library for seasonal stories and music with librarian, Emily Cebula.

The story walk will be on display until mid-October, and then in the spring and summer months ahead for families to enjoy. The library is grateful to the Lyndonville Department of Public Works crew for its assistance in setting up the story walk.

Emily Cebula, director of Yates Community Library, reads a story to first-graders after they saw the story walk.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – David Bittner and his wife Krys McCarthy of Lyndonville were among 100 people who attended a wine walk on Thursday evening at the Robin Hill Nature Preserve in Lyndonville. Tricia Daluisio of 810 Meadworks gives them a sample of mead.

810 Meadworks was one of three wineries or meaderies at the event organized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

Bittner and McCarthy have lived in Lyndonville for 9 years and welcomed the chance to see the 45-acre nature preserve which includes 250 varieties of trees on Platten Road.

The Chuck Wagon, a food truck operated by 39 Problems in Albion, served food at the wine walk.

Valerie Pratt offered tours of the 45-acre nature preserve. She lives at the site with her father, Doug Pratt. She is pictured with a dawn redwood and metasequoia.

William and Mary Smith, Doug’s grandparents, built a Medina sandstone house from 1948 to 1952 at the property, and developed the nature preserve.

A group gathers at the wine-tasting stop by Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, where Kelly Kiebala, left, offered tastings from the winery on Ridge Road in Medina.

Paul Schwenk of Schwenk Wine Cellars in Kent serves wine at the Chamber event.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Members of the American Legion in Lyndonville ride on a trailer and wave to the crowd during the Fourth of July parade on July 4, 2015.

LYNDONVILLE – Veterans in Lyndonville are raising money to replace a trolley car used in parades. The current trolley car has become unserviceable, said Steve Goodrich, commander of the American Legion Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 in Lyndonville.

The post will be holding a yard sale on Friday, Aug. 30, and possibly the next day.

“We are raising monies to replace the old trolley car used in local parades,” Goodrich said. “The new one will also be ADA handicapped accessible. It will be much lower and easier for our older veterans to use.”

The trolley car will also have space for wheelchairs and scooters, and a ramp will be included.

The yard sale will be at 11517 Roosevelt Highway in Lyndonville. The Legion welcomes donated items to be sold during this event.

People wanting to donate should call Joseph Hausler at 585-967-2934. The items can be dropped off at the location or the Legion can arrange to pick them up by Aug. 28.

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Melissa Ostrom’s book focused on pioneers who settled in WNY

Photos by Tom Rivers: Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Library, holds a copy of The Beloved Wild, which is featured in a community reading project.

LYNDONVILLE – A book by an Orleans County author will be featured in a community reading effort in Lyndonville.

Melissa Ostrom of Holley wrote The Beloved Wild, which was published by Macmillan in March 2018. It honors the courage and resourcefulness of pioneer settlers in Orleans County and Western New York.

“They will feel like they themselves are traveling into this territory, going from New England to Batavia and then into our territory,” said Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Library.

Melissa Ostrom’s book will be featured for the first time in a community reading effort.

Ostrom, in the fictional account, brings life to pioneer characters. The pioneers were typically just teen-agers when they set out from New England to brave a hard journey by wagon, through dense forests, to get to Orleans County and Western New York.

There wasn’t a map. The pioneers followed markings on trees as they made their way west. The pioneer settlers tamed the land, and built homes and farms in the frontier. The obstacles were many – sickness, uninvited strangers, alcoholism, abuse.

Ostrom, a former Kendall high school English teacher, writes about those challenges and the indomitable spirit of pioneer settlers.

The book has earned some lofty recognition, including a 2019 Amelia Bloomer selection by the American Library Association. The Amelia Bloomer Project creates an annual booklist of the best feminist books for young readers. The Beloved Wild also is a Junior Library Guild selection.

Cebula said the book is a chance to vividly imagine life in Orleans County two centuries ago, and to be inspired by those pioneer settlers.

Ostrom will be speaking at the community library in Lyndonville  at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 9, and again at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12. The latter event is part of the 4^thannual Orleans County Heritage Festival.

Ostrom will also be meeting with Lyndonville students that week. Robert Smith, a Lyndonville native working on redeveloping part of the downtown, paid for copies of The Beloved Wild to be given to students.

Ostrom said she is “super excited” the Lyndonville community will be reading the book. This is the first time The Beloved Wild is featured in a community read, although Ostrom said many book clubs have picked the novel.

This is the second community reading effort in Lyndonville where the author of the book will meet residents and answer questions.

The debut “Lyndonville Reads” featured The Queen of the Bremen by Marlies Adams DiFante of Rochester. The book is her memoir of travelling from Naples at age 5 to Nazi Germany during World War II. Her family left to see her mother’s ailing father. They expected to be gone three months. It turned into seven years of struggling to stay alive.

Ostrom this spring also had her second book published by Macmillan. Unleaving highlights the courage and resilience of a 19-year-old sexual assault victim. That book will be featured in the upcoming school year by high school classes in Holley and Brockport.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A fruit farm that started in 1919 in Lyndonville celebrated 100 years in business on Sunday with a party at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, 10609 Ridge Rd.

Leonard Oakes began LynOaken Farms. The Oakes family started the winery 11 years ago and named it in honor of the farm’s founder.

Members and some employees of the Oakes family gathered for a photo under the pavilion at the winery, which also includes a retail store and U-pick operation.

From left include: Dan Thurber, Diane Thurber, Jerod Thurber, Jonathan Oakes, Chris Oakes, Steve Songer, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Darelyn Songer, Linda Oakes, Darrel Oakes, Wendy Oakes Wilson, Wanda Oakes, Jeff Oakes, Dawn Oakes and Katie Oakes.

Hawley presented the family with a proclamation in recognition of a century in business.

Wendy Oakes Wilson, general manager of LynOaken and the winery, thanks the farming community, LynOaken employees and industry specialists for helping the farm to succeed the past century. About 150 people attended the celebration.

There will be a party open to the community on Aug. 7 at the winery, featuring a large birthday cake and musician Dave Viterna.

The Who Dats performed at Sunday’s party. Pictured include drummer Aaron Robinson and guitarist John Borrello.

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Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Central School District is joining 50 rural schools as a part of the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks (NCRERN), an initiative of the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University.

Funded by the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education, the district will have the opportunity to apply the Proving Ground model of evidence-based improvement to address chronic absenteeism, college readiness, and college enrollment.

“We are proud that Lyndonville has long been recognized as a leader in finding new ways to support our students,” says Jason Smith, Lyndonville Central School District Superintendent. “This new partnership with the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks is yet another valuable resource for our educational community can tap. We will also be able to learn from successes in other rural districts and share with them the extraordinary efforts our students and staff put forth every day.”

NCRERN will produce tools for identifying students most at risk for absenteeism and being unprepared for college as well as change management resources designed to guide rural schools in addressing chronic absenteeism, college readiness, and college enrollment. Throughout the five years, the Center’s member districts will collaborate on shared challenges, learning from each other to guide future work on school improvement.

“The network brings together our expertise in strategic management and analytics and our partners’ expertise in supporting rural students,” says Bi Vuong, Proving Ground director and NCRERN interim director. “We are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with districts committed to learning with us and sharing their expertise with each other.”

Applicants were chosen based on alignment between the district’s strategic goals and the work of the Center, capacity to utilize data for decision making, commitment to continuous improvement practices, and geographic distribution. The following districts from New York will join the rural education center: Andover, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Broadalbin-Perth, Canastota, Cato- Meridian, Crown Point, Fallsburg, Fredonia, Gouverneur, Gowanda, Greenville, Hammondsport, Harpursville, LaFayette, Lyndonville, Mexico, Monticello, Pulaski, Randolph, Salmon River, Sandy Creek, Sharon Springs, Sherman, Susquehanna Valley, Taconic Hills, Thousand Islands, Unadilla Valley, Webutuck, Wells, and Windsor.

“The districts selected to be part of the National Center for Rural Education Research Network deserve congratulations,” said Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent Anita Murphy. “Their selection represents a uniquely valuable opportunity for them to bring the power of evidence and the Proving Ground improvement model to bear on some of the most pressing issues facing rural districts including chronic absenteeism and college readiness and enrollment. I look forward to learning alongside our districts as they work to improve student outcomes together.”

Funding: The Institute of Education Sciences is awarding $10 million to support the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks (NCRERN); it is being cost shared by IES (91%) and the Center of Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University and its partners, New York and Ohio (9%).

About NCRERN leadership: Thomas J. Kane is an economist and Walter H. Gale Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as well as faculty director of the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR). Douglas O. Staiger is the John French Professor in Economics at Dartmouth College. Christopher Avery is the Roy E. Larsen Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Bi Vuong, Proving Ground Director (CEPR), will act as interim director of the Center.

About the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University: The Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University seeks to transform education through quality research and evidence. CEPR and its partners believe all students will learn and thrive when education leaders make decisions using facts and findings, rather than untested assumptions. Learn more at cepr.harvard.edu.

About Proving Ground: Proving Ground, a CEPR initiative, works to make evidence-gathering and evidence-use an intuitive part of how education agencies conduct their daily work. Proving Ground utilizes a continuous improvement framework to help agencies rapidly identify and test solutions to specific challenges. Learn more at provingground.cepr.harvard.edu.

About the Institute of Education Sciences: The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the independent and non-partisan statistics, research, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Education. Their mission is to provide scientific evidence on which to ground education practice and policy and to share this information in formats that are useful and accessible to educators, parents, policymakers, researchers, and the public. Learn more at https://ies.ed.gov.

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