LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Legislature has agreed to donate a 2013 Chevy Tahoe road patrol vehicle to the Village of Lyndonville’s police department.

The vehicle was determined to have no value to the county and has been declared surplus.

However, Lyndonville wants to replace a patrol car with 350,000 miles “at least,” said Mayor John Belson.

The village operates a part-time police department with Bill Larkin, a retired deputy sheriff, as the officer. He works about 20 to 24 hours a week.

Belson said the village couldn’t justify spending $30,000 or more for a new patrol car.

“We really appreciate it,” he said about the county donating the Chevy Tahoe.

Press Release, Yates Town Board

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.

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.”

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

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.

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

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!

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.

Here are some more photos of the trees:

‘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.”

For more on Johnson Farms, click here.

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.