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Lyndonville/Yates

Lyndonville Area Foundation boosts scholarships, commits to other community causes

Posted 4 May 2018 at 4:49 pm

Press Release, Lyndonville Area Foundation

Photos by Tom Rivers: Fireworks on July 4, 2015 are shown through the through the row of trees by the sports fields in Lyndonville.

LYNDONVILLE – The Board of Directors of the Lyndonville Area Foundation is pleased to announce that distribution of funding is off to a brisk start for 2018.

In addition to sponsoring a Program Day for the newly inaugurated Leadership Orleans program through Orleans Community Action, the Lyndonville Area Foundation proudly continues its support of the Orleans County Adult Learning Service with an additional $4,500 donation made earlier this year.

The Lyndonville Area Foundation continues its annual support and cooperation alongside the Town Of Yates with a $7,500 contribution towards the Summer Recreation Program at Lyndonville Central School. The Foundation has generously contributed to the summer program since its inception a number of years ago.

With its long-standing close-knit ties to the Lyndonville Lion’s Club, the Foundation’s Directors unanimously agreed to assist the Lyndonville Lion’s efforts towards their creation of another memorable 4th of July event. The Lyndonville Area Foundation was pleased to honor the Lion’s request for $4,000 to assist in their 4th of July fireworks spectacular plus an additional $3,500 contribution to the Lion’s for their Main Street parade and afternoon music entertainment.

“The Lyndonville Lion’s Club creates a remarkable day-long 4th of July festival,” said Foundation President Darren Wilson. “Their efforts make the 4th of July truly the highlight of the year for Lyndonville and the behind-the-scenes work of the Lyndonville Lion’s Club is unquestionably deserving of our full support.”

Additional funding by the Foundation in the amount of $5,000 was recently provided in support of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Ag-In-The-Classroom program at Lyndonville Central School. And for the second year in a row, the Foundation’s Board of Directors agreed to funding for the “Shake On The Lake” event, a professional live performance of Shakespearean interpretations.  This year’s contribution of $3,000 will support Shake-On-The-Lake performances at outdoor venues in Lyndonville and the Town of Yates later this year.

A 14-member cast from Shake on the Lake performed Romeo & Juliet behind the Yates Community Library last August. This signs directs people to the play.

The Lyndonville Area Foundation is also pleased to announce a $1,000 increase in three of the Foundation’s annual college scholarships available to graduating seniors at Lyndonville Central School. The Josie Gracey, Mabel Stroyan and Director’s scholarships will now be $5,000 each while the Foundation also voted to increase the number of  Frank B. Housel Jr. scholarships from two to three. The Frank B. Housel Jr. scholarships are $4,000 each.

The Foundation also introduced the addition of two brand new scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each and which are designated as the Founders Memorial Scholarships. The Foundation also administers the Trevor Cook Memorial scholarships and the Skinner-Wilson scholarship through the Cook family of Lyndonville and the Donald O. Skinner family of Oneida, New York respectively.

The Lyndonville Area Foundation may be reached at P.O. Box 545, Lyndonville, NY 14098.

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Million-dollar winner hasn’t been identified

Photo by Ginny Kropf: The E-Z Shop in Lyndonville has sold two large winning lottery tickets in the last three months, the first being a $65,000 Take 5 ticket in January, followed by a $1 million scratch-off last month.

Posted 2 May 2018 at 10:59 am

E-Z Shop in Lyndonville sold the ticket last month

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent

LYNDONVILLE – John and Barb Champlin thought it was pretty exciting when a $65,000 Take 5 ticket was sold in January at their convenience store, the E-Z Shop in Lyndonville.

But that didn’t compare with their excitement to learn a $1 million scratch-off had been sold there in April.

“We’ve owned Champs in Ridgeway for 20 years and the E-Z Shop for 17, and never have we had a really big winner,” Barb Champlin said. “Now we’ve had two in three months. It is quite exciting.”

The Take 5 ticket in January was won by Ron Coon of the Lyndonville/Barker area, according to Champlin.

The $1 million winner has yet to be identified. The chances of winning the $1 million prize are 1 in 2,039,400, according to NY Lottery. The winning scratch-off ticket cost $10 in the Winner Cashword.

Champlin said the lucky tickets have upped sales of lottery tickets at the E-Z Shop by 10 to 15 percent.

She also said the store receives a percentage of wins on Power Ball and Mega drawings, but not on lottery tickets.

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Lyndonville native has grand plans to revive Main Street in his hometown

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Lyndonville native Robert Smith has purchased this block on Main Street from the Webber Building at left to the c. 1899 building at right, and is in the process of restoring it for use as a hotel and shops.

Posted 1 May 2018 at 3:53 pm

Robert Smith is working to open hotel, café and shops

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent

LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville native’s love for his home town is creating a buzz throughout the community.

“This is a great uplift for the village and maybe what we needed to bring back Main Street,” said Lyndonville mayor John Belson, speaking of Robert John Smith’s intent to restore a c.1899 historic block encompassing the Webber Building.

Robert Smith stands in what used to be the kitchen of the Lyn-D-Lounge on Main Street in Lyndonville, the establishment which his mother operated for years while he was growing up. Smith, a financial adviser in California, has purchased the block and is renovating it for a hotel and shops.

Smith grew up in Lyndonville, where he often helped his mom in her restaurant/bar, Barb’s Lyn-D-Lounge.

Smith graduated from Lyndonville High School, attended Niagara University to obtain a degree in transportation, travel and tourism, and then took a job with Sheraton Hotels, working in New York City, New Orleans and San Diego.

“I soon realized unless you have somebody mentoring you, it’s tough to move up the ladder,” Smith said.

He quit his job and moved to Palm Springs, Calif., where he began a new career in insurance and financial services with New York Life. After retiring from there in 2011, he went to work for Mass Mutual Financial Group.

Then at age 59, his career path took another turn.

“I had come home in August for Mom’s 84th birthday and ran into a friend from school,” Smith said. “We saw all the boarded up stores on Main Street and I thought, ‘This is the result of the big box stores’ dumbing down of America. Their race to be the cheapest has been at the expense of destroying villages like ours.”

The boarded up stores encompass a block on Main Street north of Eagle Street, where once thriving businesses included Henry Pawlak’s Penny Saver Market, Stelianou’s Candy, Bates Liquor and the Lyn-D-Lounge.

As businesses closed over the years, the block changed ownership several times, ending up in foreclosure.

Lyndonville native Robert Smith stands in front of the Main Street block which he has purchased with the intent to renovate and create a hotel, café and shops. The historic building dates back to 1899.

With an idea in his head, Smith arranged a tour of the buildings last summer and went back to California to put some numbers together. He returned at Thanksgiving, motivated by three factors: His mom doesn’t travel any more, so he would be coming home more often to see her; the opportunity to give back to the community in which he grew up; and the economics of what could be accomplished.

Smith closed on the 18,000-square-foot property March 1, and wanting to further support his home town, he hired local contractor Hansler Home Renovations to do the work.

He has pretty ambitious ideas for the block, including a café, wine tasting room, a bakery and taco shop, a small book store, barbershop, drop-off for dry cleaners and retail space for small business owners looking to get established. He would also like to see arts and crafts vendors there.

Upstairs, which used to house an opera house, Smith is planning to have a six-room hotel, something Lyndonville has never had. Right now, anyone staying at the lake has to drive at least 20 miles to find a hotel, he said.

“This would be so convenient for people coming to town for a wedding or reunion at White Birch Golf Course, or even fishermen,” Smith said.

His ultimate goal is to renovate the buildings to what they used to be, with plans to have the hotel completed by the fourth quarter of this year.

“We have been waiting years for this type of project,” Belson said. “This is an exciting time for Lyndonville, with the block from the creek to Maple Street having been declared a Historic District, and having one of our own come home and invest in his home town. Our people are fixing up their homes and we already have one of the best schools in the area.”

Smith said he expects to be home for a week to 10 days every 10 weeks to keep tabs on the building’s progress.

This corner of Main Street has been vacant in recent years. Robert Smith is working to bring economic and cultural life back to the site.

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Lyndonville school district recognized for safety efforts

Posted 1 May 2018 at 11:25 am

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School District is one of 152 school districts and Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in New York State to receive the Utica National Insurance Group’s School Safety Excellence Award for 2018 at the Titanium with Honors level.

The honor is presented annually and recognizes school districts’ safety efforts as they work to help keep students, staff and visitors safe. Lyndonville Central School District received its award at Utica National’s 38th annual school safety seminar.

Lyndonville officials accepted a certificate to commemorate the district’s safety efforts and a $500 award for use in furthering those efforts from Utica National representatives.

Utica National’s School Safety Excellence Award Program has three levels (titanium, platinum, and gold) in which schools can earn a meritorious distinction by meeting specific criteria to enhance overall safety. Through the program, schools with their own transportation, schools with contract transportation, and BOCES are evaluated. Categories covered include bullying prevention programs, playground safety and other areas, and are measured using specific, quantifiable surveys.

“Safety and health concerns continue to be a priority in our school districts,” explained Brian Saville, Resident Senior Vice President in Utica National’s Educational Institutions Unit. “Districts that go ‘above and beyond’ to provide a safe, healthy and focused culture for learning are to be applauded, and we’re pleased to count Lyndonville Central School District among them.”

Saville noted that, beyond the recognition itself, an added benefit of following the safety program is the chance to pinpoint specific threats to safety. “The time to address those threats is before a loss happens, which really helps contribute to the safety culture that districts are working toward.”

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Lyndonville district wants to add full-time school resource officer

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2018 at 9:25 am

File photo: Jason Barnum, a school resource officer for Lyndonville Central School for the last two months of the 2016-17 school year, visits the school’s health classes in May 2017 to teach drug prevention education. Barnum is a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

LYNDONVILLE – The Board of Education has approved a budget for 2018-19 that includes $100,000 for a full-time school resource officer.

The district had a school resource officer the last two months of the 2016-17 school year, but didn’t include the position this past school year due to budget concerns.

The district has received a boost in state aid and school leaders want to have the officer working out of the district next school year. Lyndonville would contract with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to have a deputy assigned to the district throughout the school year. (Kendall also is proposing to contract with the Sheriff’s Office for a deputy to work as a school resource officer.)

The Lyndonville Board of Education has approved a $14,006,982 proposed budget that will go before district voters on May 15. The vote will be from noon to 8 p.m. at Stroyan Auditorium.

The budget represents a 3 percent spending increase. Taxes, however, would increase by 1 percent. Lyndonville has reduced taxes in recent years. In 2014-15 the tax rate was $18.34 per $1,000 of assessed property. The rate then went to $17.26 in 2015-16, $16.36 in 2016-17, $16.41 in 2017-18 and now an estimated $16.57 in 2018-19.

The vote on May 15 also includes:

• A proposition to collect $100,888 for Yates Community Free Library, which is up by 3.5 percent;

• Authorization to build the transportation reserve fund up to $700,000 over eight years;

• Authorization to purchase two 64-seat passenger buses to replace ones from 2007, not to exceed $250,000. Money already in transportation reserve;

• The community will elect four school board members, three for 3-year terms and one for a 2-year term.

There are eight candidates including three incumbents – Ted Lewis (board president), Kelly Cousins and Susan Hrovat. Russ Martino, who was recently appointed to the board to fill a vacancy when Penny Barry resigned, also is running for a board seat. Other candidates include Stephanie Hargrave, Bill Jurinich, Tara Neace and Steven Vann.

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Million-dollar Lotto ticket sold in Lyndonville at EZ Shop

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2018 at 5:03 pm

A customer of the EZ Shop won $1 million with the Winner Cashword lottery game.

Winning scratch-off ticket turned in on April 17

LYNDONVILLE – The owner of the EZ Shop in Lyndonville is confirming speculation in the community that the store sold a $1 million winning Lotto ticket that was turned in on April 17.

Barbara Champlin, owner of the store, said she received confirmation from New York Lottery today that the ticket was purchased at the store and turned in on Tuesday.

The chances of winning the $1 million prize are 1 in 2,039,400, according to NY Lottery.

The winning scratch-off ticket cost $10 in the Winner Cashword. Champlin said the winner hasn’t been announced and a press conference hasn’t been set yet.

The EZ Shop in Lyndonville also sold a Take Five ticket worth $64,269 on Jan. 9.

With Cashword, the boxes should be scratched off to reveal 18 letters. “Scratch each letter in both Cashword games and both BONUS WORDS that corresponds to YOUR LETTERS,” NY Lottery states on its website. “Complete 3 or more words in either Cashword game using YOUR LETTERS to win prize shown in the corresponding Prize Key. Complete a BONUS WORD and win that BONUS WORD’s prize automatically.”

For more on the Winner Cashword, click here.

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Many contested races for the Board of Education in Orleans County

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2018 at 2:28 pm

Lyndonville has the most candidates, 8, seeking election on May 15

Monday was the deadline to submit petitions to run for the Board of Election at the five school districts in Orleans County. Four of the five districts have contested races for the election on May 15.

Here is a breakdown for each school district:

• ALBION– Margy Brown, the current board president, and Linda Weller are both seeking re-election to five-year terms. Elissa Nesbitt also will be on the ballot. She is currently on the board for Hoag Library.

• HOLLEY – There are five candidates running for three positions, including the incumbents – Mark Porter, Anne Winkley and Melissa Ierlan. Nancy Manard MacPhee and Anne Smith also are running for a three-year term on the board.

• KENDALL – The district has one candidate running for a five-year term. Jason ReQua is currently serving on the board.

• LYNDONVILLE – There are eight candidates seeking four open seats on the board. Three incumbents – Ted Lewis (board president), Kelly Cousins and Susan Hrovat – are seeking election. Russ Martino, who was recently appointed to the board to fill a vacancy when Penny Barry resigned, also is running for a board seat.

Other candidates include Stephanie Hargrave, Bill Jurinich, Tara Neace and Steven Vann. The top three vote-getters will be elected to three-year terms, while the fourth-leading candidate will be elected to a two-year term.

• MEDINA – Voters last May approved shrinking the board from nine to seven seats. The reduced board takes effect on July 1 so this will be the first election since the change. Medina normally has three board seats up for election. This time there will only be one spot as the district eliminates two seats.

Two incumbents, Brian Koch and Dr. Ann Bunch (current board vice president), are seeking re-election. Renee Paser-Paull has decided against another term on the board.

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Kendall, Yates will share $812,450 in state funds for flood protection

Posted 17 April 2018 at 12:52 pm

File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from last December shows waves bearing down on a new breakwall along Lomond Shores in Kendall.

Press Release, Gov. Cuomo’s Office

Two towns in Orleans County have been approved for state funding for flood relief projects.

The Town of Yates has been awarded $414,500 in Community Development Block Grant Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to make repairs and reconstruct approximately 700 feet of Lake Ontario shoreline that was damaged as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event at various locations.

The Town of Kendall has been awarded $397,950 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to mitigate future shoreline erosion along Lake Ontario as well as stabilize the existing shoreline with the use of stone rip rap and other geotextile material.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Monday the funding of $2.9 million in Lake Ontario Flood Relief funds to local governments in Wayne, Orleans, Niagara, Cayuga, and Jefferson counties. The projects are dedicated to restoration resiliency and recovery efforts following last year’s flooding and to protect the community from the damage of future storms. The state has committed $95 million to recovery efforts to support homeowners, small businesses, and community infrastructure, Cuomo said.

“The Lake Ontario shoreline experienced historic and damaging flooding last year, and we continue to stand with New Yorkers whose communities are still recovering,” Cuomo said. “This funding supports our mission to build back stronger and smarter and help every impacted town and resident get back on their feet.”

The window for applications for the recovery program has closed. The deadline for homeowner applications for assistance in relief and recovery was September 29, 2017. The deadline for municipality applications was December 29, 2017 and the deadline for small businesses was December 31, 2017. Homeowners wishing to appeal a determination regarding eligibility should email LakeOntario@nyshcr.org.

“Our state made a promise and a commitment to the residents, small businesses, and local governments of Orleans, Monroe and Niagara counties that we would help them rebuild,” Senator Robert G. Ortt said on Monday. “Today, we’re taking an important step. Significant work remains, especially for recovering homeowners, but these funds will help municipalities rebuild critical infrastructure damaged in last year’s flooding and upgrade moving forward. We’ll continue to advocate for relief funding until residents, businesses, and municipalities receive the resources that they need to rebuild.”

“This support represents an important step in the state’s ongoing commitment to shouldering the burden of recovery brought on by last year’s devastating flooding,” said Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson. “With the lake already high, we are thankful to Governor Cuomo for his leadership in delivering these funds, which will help our communities reinforce their shorelines so that we are prepared for the next flood.”

Besides Orleans County, the funding approved includes:

• Wayne County $1 million

The Town of Wolcott has been awarded $1,000,000 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to make construct an approximately 200-foot revetment along the Lake Ontario shoreline that will mitigate future flood damage and protect the most critical Town infrastructure.

• Niagara County: $558,440

Niagara County has been awarded $199,865 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event. The expenses incurred included funds for shoreline restoration and reconstruction, from Youngstown to the Niagara County line, as well as funds related to materials and labor.

The Village of Wilson has been awarded $10,263 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred, including the purchase of a new trash pump for the Village’s wastewater treatment plant, as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event.

The Town of Porter has been awarded $348,312 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to mitigate future shoreline erosion along the Town’s Fort Niagara Beach as well as stabilize up to 300-feet of the existing shoreline with the construction of stone rip-rap and rubble.

• Cayuga County: $400,000

The Village of Fair Haven has been awarded $400,000 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to make repairs to village infrastructure that was damaged as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event at various locations. The Town will reconstruct protective seawalls surrounding several public parks along the Lake Ontario shoreline and will also make necessary infrastructure repairs around and adjacent to the shoreline.

• Jefferson County: $215,468

The Town of Lyme has been awarded $215,468 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to both reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event and to make future repairs to the Town’s public infrastructure. The expenses incurred included funds related to materials and labor. The future repairs include the reconstruction of roads and culverts.

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400 lose power in Lyndonville after tree falls on Main Street

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2018 at 2:09 pm

Photos courtesy of Amy Lewis

LYNDONVILLE – There were 400 National Grid customers without power in the Lyndonville area after a tree fell on South Main Street near the village line this morning around 11.

National Grid is estimating power will be restored for the affected area by 3:15 p.m. By 2 p.m., the number without power was down to 142.

National Grid has more than 2,000 line, tree and service workers on alert due to the ice storm in upstate. The company reports there are 1,525 customers without power in upstate out of 1.6 million customers.

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Local schools say far fewer students refusing state tests

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 April 2018 at 5:21 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: The percentage of students who are refusing to take state assessments has dropped significantly at Holley Central School.

The tests aren’t nearly as lengthy and the student scores are no longer tied to teacher evaluations. Those might be big factors in why fewer students are refusing to take state tests.

Two years ago, all local schools had at least 20 percent of their students in grades 3 to 8 “opt out” of taking state assessments for math and English language arts.

Today was the beginning of the testing for the ELA assessments. Those tests used to be over three days. Now they are over two days with the tests taking about 90 minutes each day, although students aren’t under a time limit as long as they are working productively. The math tests follow next week for some schools.

Lyndonville had 8 percent of its students, 17 out of 212, refuse the tests today. Last year it was closer to 25 to 30 percent, said Jason Smith, the district superintendent.

“As a school district, we have tried to not make these tests stand out as anything special, just another way to measure student progress, like any other assessment,” Smith said. “The tests are important, we don’t discount that, but we also tried hard to not elevate either, as we want students to take these tests to see where we are doing well and where need to improve.”

Holley has had the highest refusal rate among the Orleans County districts, topping 40 percent in 2015, and then 36 percent for Math and 32 percent for English in 2016. Today the district had near 90 percent participation, said Karri Schiavone, the elementary school principal.

Medina had about 10 percent of the students refuse the tests, while Kendall was less than 15 percent and Albion was 14 percent, according to school superintendents at those districts.

The students who refuse the tests aren’t penalized. They typically stay in the classroom and have reading materials.

Here are the opt out rates for the districts in 2015:

• Albion, 29.0 percent for Math; 22.0 percent for ELA

• Holley, 43.0 percent for Math; 40.0 percent for ELA

• Kendall, 34 percent for Math; 30 percent for ELA

• Lyndonville, 26 percent Math; 19 percent for ELA

• Medina, 30 percent for Math; 21 percent for ELA

These are the rates for 2016:

• Albion, 21 percent Math; 21 percent ELA

• Holley, 36 percent Math; 32 percent ELA

• Kendall, 23 percent Math; 23 percent ELA

• Lyndonville, 29 percent Math; 29 percent ELA

• Medina, 25 percent Math; 23 percent ELA

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Lyndonville and Medina students will perform The Addams Family

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2018 at 10:49 am

A zany cast of characters hits the stage in Lyndonville

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Qasim Huzair stars as Uncle Fester in the upcoming production of The Addams family by Lyndonville and Medina students. Huzair is shown at rehearsal on Wednesday. The people in the back are the “Ancestors.” Uncle Fester sings about his love for the Moon.

The show features 38 students from the two schools, plus another 17 in the stage crew. In addition, the superintendents from both school districts are playing in the pit band. Jason Smith of Lyndonville is playing the trombone and Mark Kruzynski of Medina is on the drums.

The performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 pm. The shows are at Lyndonville High School’s Stroyan Auditorium, 25 Housel Ave. Tickets are available at the door.

Shelby Green plays Grandma, who is 102. She calls out to a 90-year-old man in the crowd and welcomes a get together.

Jennifer Trupo is director of the musical. She held auditions in November and students have been rehearsing for about four months.

She wanted to do the show because it is zany and features several character actors. She knew the cast had the talent to pull off the show.

“They have embraced it and they are having fun with it,” Trupo said. “We have a lot of phenomenal character actors. Most of the leads are in 9th or 10th grade. They’re very young but they are very amazing.”

It’s a love story, really. There may be some dark themes and an obsession with death, but the latest musical by Lyndonville and Medina students is also a love story between Wednesday Addams (Layna Viloria) and Lucas Beineke (Jacob Corser), who come from two very different families.

Christian Hahn portrays Gomez Addams, the patriarch of the family. He is shown while the Addams family welcomes the Beineke family for dinner. The Beinekes increasingly grow alarmed by the ghoulishness of the Addams family.

Cora Payne plays Morticia Addams, the family matriarch who fears, with her daughter’s engagement, that Morticia is less needed to her family. She is shown with two Dancing Ancestors, Sawyer Wilson (left) and Trenton Crews.

The Ancestors make many appearances during the show.

Brian Cunningham plays Pugsley Addams. He steals a potion from Grandma and intends to give it to his sister, hoping she wouldn’t go through with the wedding. The potion is supposed to bring out someone’s dark nature.

Tamara Huzair stars as Alice Beineke, the mother of Lucas. She drinks the potion intended for Wednesday and in front of everyone declares her marriage is passionless.

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Darren Wilson elected trustee in Lyndonville

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 March 2018 at 10:51 pm

LYNDONVILLE – Darren Wilson won a close race for village trustee, 33-30, over Anne Marie Holland in today’s village election.

Darren Wilson

Holland was appointed to the board in September. The election was to fill the remaining year of the term as trustee.

Holland and Wilson are both friends who said good things about each other.

Wilson serves as president of the Lyndonville Area Foundation, and Holland is a member of that board. She is also president of the Lions Club and director of special programs, staff development and pupil services at Lyndonville Central School.

Wilson is a Florida native who works as a graphic and industrial designer with a focus in the automotive industry. His office is on Route 63. His wife Wendy is general manager of LynOaken Farms and president of Leonard Oakes Estate Winery.

He sees lots of potential for the community, and is pleased to see progress on Main Street with a new grocery store opening and a new owner for the Pennysaver building. Wilson, in his role on the Village Planning Board, favored a tax exemption for the downtown that would not increase a building’s assessment for five years if there were upgrades, and then would phase in the assessment 20 percent from years 6 through 10.

Lyndonville has 485 registered voters. The 63 who voted represents 13 percent of the registered voters.

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2 running for trustee have proven commitment to Lyndonville community

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2018 at 8:30 pm

Anne Marie Holland and Darren Wilson seek one-year on Village Board

LYNDONVILLE – Two candidates running to fill a one-year term on the Village Board are well established leaders in Lyndonville.

Anne Marie Holland

Anne Marie Holland, who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in September, is currently president of the Lyndonville Lions Club. She is also a Lyndonville school administrator, serving as director of special programs, staff development and pupil services.

She is challenged in the village election on Tuesday by Darren Wilson, who is president of the Lyndonville Area Foundation. Wilson is a Florida native who works as a graphic and industrial designer with a focus in the automotive industry. His office is on Route 63. His wife Wendy is general manager of LynOaken Farms and president of Leonard Oakes Estate Winery.

Holland, in her role as Lions Club president, also is a member of the Foundation board of directors. Wilson has been a member of Foundation since 2002. As president, he leads the board’s meetings. The Foundation distributes about $100,000 to the community each year for scholarships and projects.

Wilson is also on the Village Planning Board and is a member of the Lions Club.

Neither Holland or Wilson has anything bad to say about the other. In fact, they both say the other candidate is well qualified and would be a good choice.

Darren Wilson

Both say they want to serve the community in another way by being on the Village Board.

Holland has worked in education for 33 years, including the past 25 at Lyndonville. She and her husband Roy moved to the community when they bought the Green Harbor Campground and Marina. They sold the business about 15 years ago but have stayed in Lyndonville. Their two grown children have also moved back to Lyndonville.

“We were made to feel very welcome in the community,” Holland said about when they first moved to Lyndonville. “I want to be able to contribute and give back to the community.”

She said bringing more vitality to Main Street is a priority. She supported the recent decision to offer a tax exemption to downtown buildings. If the owners upgrade the sites, they wouldn’t see their tax assessments go up for five years, and then the taxes would be phased in from years 6 to 10. Wilson also pushed for that exemption and presented it to the Village Board as an alternative for enticing projects to the downtown.

“I want to see some life on Main Street again,” she said. “I want it to stay a positive place to raise children. I think it’s a beautiful community.”

She is pleased the Pennysaver building has recently been purchased and the owner has plans for utilizing the building. Ultimately, she said local residents need to support the businesses for them to succeed in the community.

Holland also praised the efforts of the Lions Club, library, the town, village and other community groups for bringing concerts to the downtown, the Fourth of July festival and other events. The Lions Club last week voted to purchase new patriotic banners for Main Street.

“I have the best interests of the community at heart,” Holland said. “I’m willing to listen and work hard. I’m running to keep Lyndonville a nice place to live.”

Wilson moved to Lyndonville about 20 years ago. He sees lots of potential in the community. The school district is a source of pride, and so are the nearby apple farms.

His service on the Foundation has given him insight into the assets of the community and some of the challenges and budget shortfalls. The Foundation can often bridge a funding gap for a program. The Foundation’s board includes many community leaders, including representatives from the school, the village mayor and town supervisor, and several others.

Wilson said his 30 years of business experience would be an asset to the Village Board. He said the village has been struggling in recent years, particularly with increased vacancies on Main Street.

We wants to be part of the solution. That’s why he favored the tax exemption in the downtown. He wants to do more to assist business owners with projects.

“I’m willing to do the hands-on with these owners and help them jump through hoops,” he said.

Holland said Wilson is “an excellent candidate” for the board. Wilson also praised Holland’s skills and commitment.

“We both have a vested interest in the community and we’re probably both running for much of the same reasons,” Wilson said.

The election on Tuesday will be from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Hall. Holland is running under the “Lyndonville Party” while Wilson is under the “Main Street Party.”

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Store with discounted groceries opens in downtown Lyndonville

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2018 at 5:18 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Mike Boring and his daughter Shelby are pictured Saturday at Discount Groceries and More, which opened on March 1 at 11 South Main St.

Boring wanted to bring a business to downtown Lyndonville, which has experienced an increasing number of vacancies in recent years.

“I remember when all of these buildings were filled up,” he said about Main Street. “Hopefully we can get more businesses down here.”

He sells many grocery items at deep discounts. Many of the groceries are past their “best by” date, but Boring said they are still fresh and good to eat.

Boring works with suppliers at Amish-owned stores in Ohio and Mennonite-owned stores in Pennsylvania. He has established many relationships with those communities through his work as a driver for local Amish and Mennonite, who return to their home communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio for weddings, funerals and other events. Boring has driven the local Amish and Mennonite about 100,000 miles a year.

He has 25 years in the trucking business and also runs a small farm in Lyndonville with beef, sheep and horses.

He will be looking to expand the inventory at the new store, adding bread, dairy products and soda, and possibly more in the future.

Discount Groceries and More is currently open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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American Legion in Lyndonville selects delegates for Boys’ State

Staff Reports Posted 11 March 2018 at 8:18 am

Provided photo

LYNDONVILLE – The Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post 1603 in Lyndonville selected delegates for the American Legion Boys State which will be held at SUNY Morrisville from June 24 through June 29.

Kane Flynn and James Wachob will be the two delegates. They are currently juniors in high school and will be seniors next school year at Lyndonville Central School.

Pictured, from left, include: John Follman, Post Chairman Joe Hausler, delegates James Wachob and Kane Flynn, Post Commander Steve Goodrich and Carl Boyle.

At Boys’ State, students learn about government operation and structure. The delegates run for government offices in the different levels of state government. They operate the level of state government which they are elected. The draft legislation, vote on bills, and make and pass budgets.

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