By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2019 at 3:19 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Ted Lewis, president of the Lyndonville Board of Education, uses a sledgehammer to break into a wall above the elementary school library. The district is creating two new classrooms above the library as part of a $10.7 million capital project.
The district had a ground-breaking celebration this morning for the project. The project was approved by voters, 106-19, on Feb. 13, 2017.
Lyndonville has already completed two components of the project, with a section of a new roof put on in 2017 and new LED lights put in the gym.
Ritajane Isaacson, left, is president of the High School Student Council and Hannah Marker, right, is the president of the Elementary School Student Council. They pull back the carpet that will be replaced as part of an upgrade to the library. The space will be remade with two classrooms above the library, which was formerly used by the middle school but was most recently the elementary school library.
In back are Board of Education member Harold Suhr, BOE President Ted Lewis, and Jason Smith, superintendent of the school district.
In addition to the two new classrooms, there will be mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades. Other work to be done includes:
• Air-conditioning in 95 percent of the school campus
• A revamped and upgraded kitchen, serving and dining area
• An improved parking lot with safety upgrades and more efficient pickup and dropoff procedures, with the parking lot to be expanded behind the school.
• Major improvements to the locker rooms
The work is expected to be complete in 10 months.
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.
Ted Lewis, the BOE president, speaks to a group during the groundbreaking celebration.
Jason Smith, the district superintendent, thanks school staff for helping get the project to the construction stage. He also praised SEI Design Group for its design work and Campus Construction for its upcoming work overseeing the construction project until November.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2019 at 2:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Sheri Dent, left, and Linda Fisk take ornaments off a Christmas tree this morning that was decorated at Veterans Park for Fisk’s granddaughter, the late Christina Ashton.
It is one of 75 trees that was decorated for Lyndonville’s sixth annual display of trees. The number has grown each year since Lyndonville started it in 2013 with 26 trees.
Fisk has decorated a tree for her late granddaughter the past three years.
“Christina loved Christmas and Christmas trees,” Fisk said. “I don’t want to forget her and I don’t want other people to forget about her.”
Dent also decorated a tree for her parents, the late Howard and Gloria Dix. Her father was a long-time mechanic across the street at Crosby-Whipple. He also enjoyed canning. She decorated the tree with canning lids, and Hot Wheels cars and trucks.
Her mother loved sewing and Dent put thimbles on the tree in her mother’s honor.
Paul and Paulette Daigler remove ornaments and lights from their tree. Their daughter Kelly Mana and her husband Tony also sponsored the tree.
The families and organizations pay $30 for a tree and then decorate it. Some of the trees were vandalized, including Daigler’s.
Mr. Daigler said it was discouraging to have some of the ornaments taken, including a Santa hat.
The family isn’t sure if they will have a tree again next year at the park, although Mr. Daigler said he is leaning towards being back. The family has had a tree at the community display the past two years.
“We just thought it was a nice thing to do,” he said.
The participants have until Sunday to remove the lights and ornaments from the trees.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2019 at 8:16 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: A capitol project will add parking spaces and a separate drop-off zone to the parking lot and driveway at Lyndonville Central School.
LYNDONVILLE – The school district will have a ground-breaking ceremony this morning for a $10.7 million capitol project.
District voters on Feb. 13, 2017 gave their approval for the project, 106-19, to allow a series of improvements to go forward.
State aid will pay for most of the costs. The district already has the local share in a capitol reserve account so local taxes won’t be raised because of the project.
The projects involved include roof work, new air-conditioning (currently only 1/3 of school has AC), interior renovations (including removing a wall and adding two classrooms), lighting improvements, and site work that will add parking spaces and improve traffic flow. It will also add a clearly designated drop-off spot for parents taking their children to school.
The athletic fields will also be improved with drainage, new dugouts, fencing and electric service.
Photo courtesy of Christmas in Lyndonville: This photo shows one of the Christmas trees where ornaments and lights were removed by a vandal.
Press Release, Christmas in Lyndonville Committee
LYNDONVILLE – The Village Clerk’s Office was made aware on Dec. 6 that a patron’s tree in the Christmas in Lyndonville event had been vandalized. Upon reviewing the village surveillance cameras, video was able to be obtained to assist Village Police Officer William Larkin in the investigation.
It is believed that approximately 7-10 trees were affected, stripping trees completely of lights and ornaments and some tree toppers.
The village is able to report that an individual was apprehended early this morning, thanks to Officer W. Larkin with assistance from Orleans County Sheriff’s Department’s Sgt. John Doyle and Deputy Rob Riemer.
The village along with Officer Larkin are working to obtain back any stolen or damaged items. If you have not already reported any stolen or damage items please contact the Village Clerk’s Office at 585-765-9385 by Monday, Dec. 17.
Christmas in Lyndonville Chairperson Carla Woodworth has issued the following statement to all those participants:
“It deeply saddens us that we have had a piece of our hearts stolen from multiple trees in the Park at Christmas in Lyndonville, including our own. I’m truly sorry that this has happened at the most precious time of the year!
“It is our deepest desire to recover all that has been removed and return it to you! Please if anyone has had things removed from their tree make us aware by calling the Village Clerk’s Office at 585-765-9385.
“God bless all who have been touched by this hurtful action!!! May the Peace of Christ shine in all, this Christmas and remember decorations can be replaced!
“Our deepest gratitude to Officer Larkin for his dedication and actions in addressing this situation.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2018 at 10:47 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Lyndonville has 75 trees decorated and lighted up at Veterans Park during the holiday season. The 75 is the most since Lyndonville started the tree display in 2013.
LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville man was arrested last night after he was observed taking ornaments and lights off Christmas trees in Veterans Park, Lyndonville police officer Bill Larkin said today.
There are 75 trees in the park for Lyndonville’s sixth annual display of trees. Many families and organizations pay $30 for a tree and then decorate it. Larkin said several trees had items taken from them since they were first lighted up on Dec. 1.
He was watching the park last night and saw a man pull items off a tree. He was arrested for petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor, at 1 a.m. He was arraigned by Yates Town Justice Donald Grabowski, who set bail at $1,000 and remanded the man to the Orleans County Jail.
Not only was the man taking ornaments and lights form the trees, but Larkin said the man was in a village park after hours, which is also a violation.
The man has charged over the summer for pulling flowers out of the planter in front of the Village Office on Main Street.
LYNDONVILLE – The Village of Lyndonville on Saturday turned on the power for 75 Christmas trees that have been decorated by the community.
This is the sixth annual Christmas celebration in Lyndonville with the trees at Veterans Park. Each year the number of trees has grown. It started with 26 in 2013. Last year there were 68.
Santa arrives by horse-drawn sleigh.
The fire department also served as an escort for Santa down Main Street. Santa was given a ride to Veterans Memorial Park. Then he flipped the switch to turn on the lights at the park. He then went inside the Village hall to meet with children and their families.
A youngster enjoys one of the new Christmas-themed cutouts at the park.
A tree is pictured through the Santa cutout.
Community organizations and residents pay $30 to decorate a tree. The trees will be displayed until early January.
There were activities throughout the day beginning at 8 a.m. A petting zoo, including these goats, was new to the festival.
Jennifer Neroni-Trupo, director of the Lyndonville High School chorus, joins her students in singing Christmas carols outside the Yates Community Library.
Ellie Barry, 11, of Lyndonville peeks through one of the three new cutouts made by Stanton Signs.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Albion native Martha Mitchell has been called as the new pastor of Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. She is shown here with some of the food which has been collected for the 80 food baskets the church will give away for the holiday, in cooperation with the Foodlink Food Pantry.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2018 at 1:55 pm
Martha Mitchell, new pastor at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, stands at the altar, which has been prepared for the church’s LaLaPoolaza Community Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday.
LYNDONVILLE – Retirement has afforded Martha Mitchell to follow a career path which has been a long-time dream – to become a pastor.
“The opportunity to serve here in Lyndonville and follow my second career is a real blessing,” said Mitchell, who has been called as pastor of the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. “This is a calling I’ve had since I was young.”
Mitchell began her duties at the Lyndonville church Oct. 9, after the death of the Rev. Catherine Benjamin.
Mitchell grew up in Albion, where she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Tom Gardner, pastor of the Holley Presbyterian Church, also grew up there with her.
After high school, she attended college and became a teacher at Albion High School, where the Rev. Sue Thaine, now moderator of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley and pastor at the Albion First Presbyterian Church, was a student of hers.
“We are a faith family, and after all these years it is wonderful to have the opportunity to do ministry together,” Mitchell said. “It’s a coming home.”
After retiring as a teacher, Mitchell attended Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. She did two internships, one in Batavia with the Rev. Roula Alkhari and the second with the Rev. Benjamin in Lyndonville.
She was preaching in Stone Church Presbyterian Church in Bergen when she got the call to come to Lyndonville.
Having done the six-month internship with the Rev. Benjamin, Mitchell said the people already knew her.
“They have been very welcoming,” she said. “I am very fortunate to step into such a vibrant ministry.”
The Lyndonville Presbyterian Church houses the Foodlink Food Pantry, which is run by the Lyndonville-Yates Ministerial Association. All the churches in the area collect food for the pantry, which will provide baskets of food and gifts for 80 families this Christmas. The Presbyterian church buys the turkeys.
“This church makes such a big difference in the community,” Mitchell said.
The first Saturday of every month, the church puts on a community breakfast, starting at 8 a.m.
She said it is her goal to grow the church, but with purpose.
“We will listen to how the Holy Spirit leads us forward,” the pastor said. “We want to be a welcoming, safe place for all people to worship.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2018 at 3:39 pm
Village and Water District No. 4 in Yates will increase testing
LYNDONVILLE – The Village of Lyndonville recently took 10 water samples and two showed elevated lead levels.
The samples were taken from the sink at a laundry room and outside a house at a hose bib. Those two elevated samples have triggered a public notification response and more testing.
Terry Woodworth, the Lyndonville water and DPW superintendent, said the village and town water lines, as well as the source of water, are safe.
The two tests with elevated levels are a result of lead in the faucets, he said.
“The town and village do not use lead in the service lines,” Woodworth said. “They are either copper or plastic.”
The village took 10 samples in September. It takes samples every three years, testing for lead and copper. The federal Environmental Protection Agency EPA action level for lead is 15 parts per billion (ppb) at the 90th percentile of samples.
“The Lyndonville/Yates 90th percentile was 15.6 ppb,” Woodworth said in a news release. “Most of the samples collected were well below the action level for lead demonstrating that the two positive samples were most likely the result of improper collection points within the certified/approved sample sites. One sample was collected from an outside hose bib and the other was collected from a laundry room sink.”
Lyndonville and Yates are submitting a sampling plan to the Department of Health, which includes a reevaluation of the sample pool to capture all high-risk customers. Sampling frequency will be increased to 20 samples every six months until 12 months without a sample above the action level.
Woodworth has been sampling water since 1993, and there has never been a sample above 15 ppb at the 90th percentile.
“Lyndonville/Yates is confident that the next two rounds of testing will prove the September 2018 action level exceedance was due to the collection of samples from improper taps,” he said in the news release.
Lyndonville also is performing a corrosion control study to identify possible treatment to better protect high-risk customers, Woodworth said. The results will be shared with the Department of Health and an optimal corrosion control treatment will be recommended and implemented if deemed necessary.
Lyndonville and Yates have suggested these steps to reduce exposure to lead in water:
• Run your water to flush out lead. Run water for 15 to 30 seconds or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking, if it hasn’t been used for several hours. This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes.
• Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
• Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
• Replace your plumbing fixtures if they are found to contain lead. Plumbing materials including brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may contribute lead to drinking water.
The law previously allowed end-use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 8 percent lead to be labeled as “lead free.” As of January 4, 2014, end-use brass fixtures, such as faucets, fittings and valves, must meet the new “lead-free” definition of having no more than 0.25 percent lead on a weighted average. Visit the National Sanitation Foundation website by clicking here.
Call the Village of Lyndonville at 585-765-9312 or 585-765-9385, or the Town of Yates at 585-765-9735 or 585-765-9716. Or visit the Lyndonville website by clicking here or the Town of Yates by clicking here.
For more information on lead in drinking water, contact the Orleans County Department of Health at 585-589-3278 or the New York State Department of Health directly by calling the toll-free number (within New York State) 1 800-458-1158, extension 27650, or out of state at (518) 402-7650, or by email at bpwsp@health.state.ny.us.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2018 at 9:54 am
75 trees will be lighted up on Saturday at Veterans Park
Photo courtesy of Teri Woodworth: There are 75 trees at Veterans Park that will be decorated and then lighted for the first time on Saturday at 5 p.m.
LYNDONVILLE – The village’s Christmas celebration returns on Saturday and the number of decorated Christmas trees continues to grow.
Lyndonville started the celebration in 2013 with 26 trees. It has grown to 75 this year.
The trees are decorated by residents, organizations and businesses. The trees will all be lighted up at 5 p.m. on Saturday when Santa arrives and flips the switch to turn on the electricity.
Community organizations and residents pay $30 to decorate a tree. The 75 trees are up from the 68 last year, and the 61 in 2016.
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, wine tasting, caroling, 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.
A petting zoo is new this year, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Yates Community Library.
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.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Torry Dames looks at some of the Christmas trees that were lighted on Dec. 3, 2016 in Lyndonville. There will be 75 trees in the display on Saturday. The trees will be there until early January.
Provided photo: The Lakeshore Mothers and Others Out Front attended a forum on Oct. 2 at Lyndonville Central School, where Apex Clean Energy officials discussed the proposed Lighthouse Wind.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 November 2018 at 1:30 pm
LYNDONVILLE – A group of mothers “and others” are stepping out in support of the proposed Lighthouse Wind in Yates and Somerset, saying the large-scale wind turbine project is renewable energy and these types of developments are needed to fight climate change.
Susan Campbell of Lyndonville is co-leader of the Lakeshore Mothers and Others Out Front Team. Mark Crosby is the other co-leader.
“We want to make it possible and safe for people who support the project to state their support without being shouted down,” Campbell said.
The local group expanded its name to “Mothers and Others” because it includes several men who are concerned about the planet, Campbell said.
There are other Mothers Out Front chapters in New York, Massachusetts, Alabama, California, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia and Washington.
The organization started more than five years ago in Massachusetts. Neely Kelley of Rochester was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts then and attended a house party for Mothers Out Front.
“I was feeling panicked about climate change,” she said last week in Lyndonville.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Neely Kelley (left) is the New York State senior organizer for Mothers Out Front, a group that supports renewable energy projects, including he proposed Lighthouse Wind in Yates and Somerset. Susan Campbell is the co-leader of the Lakeshore Mothers and Others Out Front Team.
She and her family moved to Rochester, and Kelley is now the senior organizer for Mothers Out Front in New York. There are nine community teams in the state, including the Lakeshore Mothers and Others. That group also includes supporters of the proposed Heritage Wind in Barre.
“These projects are good not just for our towns but the world in general,” Campbell said. “It is something that needs to be done, and has needed to be done.”
She is the mother of four grown children and also has 14 grandchildren. She said a warming earth poses great danger to the future.
“We owe it to the next generation to do something about climate change,” Campbell said during an interview last week at Yates Community Library.
She is encouraging supporters of the project to attend town meetings, write letters to the editor and letters of support to the NYS Department of Public Service.
“Right now the letters are lopsided,” Campbell said, noting that many of the public comments about the project are against Lighthouse Wind. “We’re trying to bring new voices to it.”
Campbell said Lakeshore Mothers and Others also want to support other projects that they see as good for the community, including dredging of the Johnson Creek pond, improved access by the Johnson Creek dam, and improved fishing access along the creek.
Campbell said supporters of Lighthouse Wind are often told they are “greedy” or “ignorant.” She is a village resident and has no financial stake in the project, which would include 39 turbines in Somerset and 8 in Yates. The project has been bitterly opposed the past four years by many in the community, including Save Ontario Shores, a citizens’ group.
Campbell and Kelley both said there is a need for respectful dialogue about the project. They said Save Ontario Shores has concerns that should be heard. And supporters of the project should also be able to state their views without feeling public pressure.
“We want to create the space for dialogue,” Kelley said. “We want to respect and honor peoples’ thoughts and questions.”
Mothers Out Front is a not-for-profit organization funded with donations. Kelley said the group isn’t financially supported by Apex Clean Energy, which is proposing Lighthouse Wind and Heritage Wind, the two local projects.
“Clean energy is our main goal,” Kelley said. “The purpose of Mothers Out Front is to lift the voices of mothers about climate change.”
She acknowledged that “climate change” has become polarizing. She said using the word “sustainable” may be better for engaging people to work together in solving the crisis of a warming planet.
People know there is a problem with a warming planet, she said. She noted the recent destructive wildfires and hurricanes that have decimated communities in the United States.
Campbell became involved in Mothers Out Front in October 2017 when she attended a meeting in Rochester. She has led the efforts in forming the Lakeshore group.
“We want people to know there is a growing number of community members who support the project,” she said. “We tell them how important it is to do something about climate change before it is too late.”
Campbell welcomes more members in the local group. For more information, send her an email at brighteyes563@yahoo.com.
LYNDONVILLE – These three Lyndonville students were the top three in a recent Lions Club Peace Poster Contest. Lorelei Dillenbeck, left, placed first with Grace Russo, center, and Haley Shaffer taking second and third, respectively.
Forty students from Lyndonville Middle High School participated in the contest with the theme of Kindness Matters. The local Lions Club members voted on 10 of the posters and the top three were chosen.
The top three students were presented with certificates by Anne Marie Holland, Lyndonville Lions Club President.
Dillenbeck’s poster will move on to the district-level competition at the district convention held in Brockport. One International Grand Prize Winner will receive a $5,000 and an award and 23 merit winners will receive $500 and a certificate of achievement.
Provided photos: Medina Lions Club member Ann McElwee, back left, and Lyndonville Lions Club members Lynne Johnson, center, and Bruce Schmidt, right, assisted with the vision screenings.
Press Release, Lyndonville Central School
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville students recently had their vision screened by members of the Lions Club with assistance of the school’s LEO Club.
In one day, 103 students were screened. Parents of those needing additional follow up were notified via letter. The students screened received a sticker from the Lions Club and a pencil, much to their liking.
The LEO Club members were a great asset to this process. They were kind to the younger students, cooperative, polite to the guest screeners and hard working. They were neat and clean and looked very professional in their LEO Club shirts. Gratitude was expressed to the group for its help to make the process go smoothly.
If any of the families need assistance with eye exams or necessary eye glasses, the Lion’s Club would be happy to assist and those in need should contact Anne Marie Holland, the Lions Club president and the school district’s director of special programs, at 585-765-3107.
Press Release and photos, Lyndonville Central School
LYNDONVILLE – National PTA has recognized Lyndonville Elementary School and Lyndonville Centralized PTSA as a 2018-2020 School of Excellence for their commitment to building an inclusive and welcoming school community where all families contribute to enriching the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.
“Research shows that when families and schools work together, students do better in school and schools improve,” said Jim Accomando, president of National PTA. “Lyndonville Elementary School and Lyndonville Centralized PTSA have worked hard to strengthen their family-school partnership and create an environment where all families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success. We are pleased to recognize them as a National PTA School of Excellence.”
National PTA’s School of Excellence program helps PTAs become partners in identifying and implementing school improvement initiatives based on PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. Schools that exhibit improvement at the end of the school year are honored as a National PTA School of Excellence, a distinction that spans two years.
Lyndonville Elementary School and Lyndonville Centralized PTSA are one of only 278 PTAs and schools nationwide recognized as a 2018-2020 School of Excellence.
“We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our families and the community,” said Dr. Elissa Smith, PreK-6 principal at Lyndonville. “I am truly thankful for the collaboration between our PTSA and our school. We are very fortunate that we have so many involved families, staff members and community members.”
With the help of staff and parent support, Lyndonville Elementary School hosted a February Boost and nearly 100 students attended school on the Wednesday over February Break. Staff members worked with students on a variety of hands on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) based projects.
Through the Lyndonville PTSA, we began a Watch DOGS program at school, which is designed to increase positive male role models at school. Mr. Vern Fonda, Lyndonville Centralized PTSA President, was instrumental in getting this program up and running, helping the PTSA to host Donuts With Dads and Pizza Party events to get male volunteers to take an active role at school.
Extra-curricular activities were also increased at Lyndonville Elementary last school year, through the support of our PTSA, community and staff. The elementary school showcased a K-2 mini-musical, 3rd & 4th grade chorus, soccer club, Minecraft Club, Taekwondo Club, 4H, storytelling and extended ages for After School Reading Program! Special thanks to Cornell Cooperative Extension, Yates Community Library, the Lyndonville United Methodist Church, OCALS and Kwandran’s Taekwondo for their help with these initiatives!
To celebrate their achievements, National PTA presented Lyndonville Elementary School and Lyndonville Centralized PTSA with a National PTA School of Excellence banner. For more information about the National PTA School of Excellence program, visit PTA.org/Excellence.
LYNDONVILLE — The New York State School Boards Association sets Oct. 22-26 as School Board Recognition Week. This is a time to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by school board members.
Lyndonville is joining all public school districts across the state to celebrate School Board Recognition Week to honor local board members for their commitment to Lyndonville and its children.
“It takes strong schools to build a strong community, and these men and women devote countless hours to making sure our schools are helping every child learn at a higher level,” said Jason Smith, the district superintendent. “They make the tough decisions every month and spend many hours studying education issues and regulations in order to provide the kind of accountability our citizens expect.”
Smith said the key work of the school boards is to raise student achievement by:
• Creating a shared vision for the future of education
• Setting the direction of the school district to achieve the highest student performance
• Providing accountability for student achievement results
• Developing a budget that aligns district resources to improve achievement
• Supporting a healthy school district culture in which to work and to learn
“School board members give the Lyndonville citizens a voice in education decision making,” Smith said. “Even though we make a special effort to show our appreciation in October, their contribution is a year-round commitment.”
The members serving our district and their years of service are as follows:
