School to focus on English for grades 3 through 8

Photo by Tom Rivers – Lyndonville Central School Superintendent Jason Smith is pictured with teacher Laura Moore, center, and Elementary School Principal Kathy Stewart.

LYNDONVILLE – The school district has received a $63,000 “Common Core Institute” grant to bolster English performance for students in grades 3 through 8.

The State Education Department announced that Lyndonville and nine other school districts in the state were approved for the grants. Lyndonville will have one of its teachers, Laura Moore, go on special assignment from January through June. She will work with Lyndonville teachers and administrators, as well as state education officials to identify effective teaching strategies and emphasize them with the local district.

Moore is a fifth grade teacher. Her class will be led by a long-term substitute beginning in January. Moore will serve as an SED fellow. Elementary School Principal Kathy Stewart will serve as supervisor and administrator of the grant.

Stewart said Moore is well suited to lead the project for Lyndonville.

“Laura is a master teacher,” Stewart said. “She is well respected by her colleagues.”

The grant will pay for the cost of a long-term teaching substitute, as well as travel and other costs for the grant.

Lyndonville made gains in boosting the mastery levels, students who score 3s and 4s, in the math portion of the Common Core for grades 3 through 8. The district jumped from 20 to 38 percent at that level from 2013 to 2014, District Superintendent Jason Smith said.

Moore and “Common Core Institute” grant will focus on raising the English proficiency for students in grades 3 to 8, where 23 percent were at a 3 or 4 in 2014. The district is pushing to have 43 percent at the higher scores by 2017, Smith said.

“The focus will be on literacy,” Stewart said.

Moore will help teachers develop effective lesson plans and other teaching strategies, including connections for students with disabilities or who speak English as a second language.

Smith said it will be a rigorous six months in meeting the objectives of the grant. The goal will be in establishing a sustainable program. As part of the grant, Moore and the district also need to be available to share best practices and their successes with other schools.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Dan Fitzgerald (second from left), project manager for Apex Clean Energy, meets with residents during a public meeting today at the Yates Town Hall. He is joined by Dahvi Wilson, Apex communications manager, at left.

LYNDONVILLE – Apex Clean Energy would like to build 60 to 68 wind turbines Yates and Somerset, structures that could tower nearly 600 feet in the two rural lakeshore towns.

The projects would bring the prospect of significant revenue to the towns, school districts and Orleans and Niagara counties, while also paying landowners to have the turbines on their land.

“Both the landowners and towns stand to profit,” said Taylor Quarles, development manager for Apex.

“Lighthouse Wind” would generate 200 megawatts of power, enough to power 59,000 homes. Each turbine would generate about 3 megawatts of power, up from the 1.5 to 1.8 megawatts with turbines about a decade ago.

The company is in the early stages of the project. It has lined up leases with some landowners, but will need more to make the project a reality, Quarles said.

Dudley Chaffee is a dairy farmer with land in both towns. He has been approached to lease land for turbines. He hasn’t signed off on a 30-year lease.

“It looks like a good deal,” he said at an informational meeting today at the Yates Town Hall.

Chaffee has dairy farmer friends in Wyoming County. They told him the construction portion of the projects can be disruptive to the land. But once the turbines are up, they take up a small footprint and the farms coexist with the structures.

“One guy in Wyoming County told me he’d do it again in a minute,” Chaffee said.

More than 60 people attended to the meeting to look over information from Apex Clean Energy.

Cathi Orr lived in Orangeville, a Wyoming County town. She moved to Somerset last January to get away from the turbines, which she said are noisy.

“They go ‘thump, thump,” she said. “They make a creaky noise.”

She had 21 within a 1 ½ miles of her house. She was part of the Clear Skies Over Orangeville group that opposed the turbines. She knew Somerset had been approached before about a wind farm, but she thought that project had gone away.

Apex wasn’t involved the other project. The company is eyeing a different project with taller turbines. The added height allows the turbines to reach faster moving wind.

Turbines with blades that peak abut 400 to 450 feet, like many in Wyoming County, weren’t quite tall enough to get the stronger, more consistent wind, Apex said.

At a higher distance, there is likely enough wind, Apex officials said. They have one meteorological tower up on Lakeshore Road in Somerset to test wind strength. Quarles said they could put up four or five more in the target area that is west of Route 63 in Yates and most of Somerset. The project eyes the northern half of the towns, where there is lots of open farmland, another plus for the project, said Dan Fitzgerald, project manager.

A major transmission line also runs through Somerset, which would allow Apex to tap in and get its power to the market. That is another attraction for siting the project in Somerset and western Yates, he said.

Fitzgerald was one of four Apex officials at a public information meeting today at Yates Town Hall. The company had a similar meeting in Barker in October. Apex will have more informational meetings to explain the project and its benefits to the community, Fitzgerald said.

“This is in the very beginning of the project,” he said today at the Yates meeting. “We’re still a ways out.”

The company is going through a required 150-day public involvement effort. To see that 60-page public involvement plan, click here.

Fitzgerald said the company will continue to meet with the public after the 150-day period, which started Oct. 31. The company will reach out to the Amish and Mennonite communities, as well as other residents and officials.

“The goal is to make sure everyone in the community knows about the project,” Quarles said.

Apex will follow the public involvement period with a preliminary scoping document that would assess environmental impacts, including potential harm to birds, wildlife and other issues. The company will need to consult with the FFA on flight pattern impacts, especially with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

The company will need to secure approvals through local, state and federal agencies. Fitzgerald said construction on the project could start in 2018 if the agencies, landowners and experts all see Yates and Somerset as a good spot for the project.

For more on Apex, click here.

Photos by Peggy Barringer

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Music Boosters put on a basket raffle and craft show on Saturday, an event that included performances from the Junior/Senior High School Chorus and also the Jazz Band. (The chorus is shown singing in the top photo.)

The Lyndonville Jazz Band performs for the craft fair-goers.

The Lyndonville school gym was transformed into a craft fair. Linda Karp, one of the organizers of the event, said that proceeds from the craft fair and basket raffle benefit the Lyndonville Music Boosters. The funds raised will assist with various activities and travel costs for the school’s music groups.

Santa took some time from his busy schedule to attend the craft show for a few hours on Saturday. Hunter Sachanowski of Alexander is shown posing with Santa for a photo.

There were many basket lined up for people to take a chance on.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville community this evening lighted 43 Christmas trees that were donated by residents and community organizations.

Last year in the debut of the Christmas tree event there were 26 trees decorated and sponsored by the community.

Santa arrived by sleigh with a Lyndonville fire truck providing an escort.

Santa pulled the lever at the “North Pole Electric Company” to turn on the power for the trees at Veterans Park.

Members of the Lyndonville Select Chorus, led by teacher Jennifer Trupo, sang Christmas carols on the front lawn by Yates Community Library. Three of the members include, from left: Rebekah Hoffee, Trevor Thaine and Jessica Harling.

Many community organizations sponsored and decorated a tree. The trees will stay lit in the evenings until after New Year’s Day. The Village of Lyndonville teamed to put on the event with the Lyndonville Fire Department/Auxiliary, Lyndonville Lions Club and Lyndonville United Methodist Women.

“It’s been an awesome community event,” said Carla Woodworth, one of the organizers. “I want to thank everyone who came and who made this possible.”

The Lyndonville Fire Department decorated this tree.

After Santa arrived at the park, the action shifted to inside the Village Hall where Santa met with youngsters and cookies and hot chocolate were served.

Santa poses for a picture with Madalyn Mack, 6, and her brother Lucas, both of Lyndonville.

Jaiden Cecchini, 6, of Albion is all smiles in sharing his wish list with Santa.

Provided photo

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Area Foundation presented two scholarship checks of $2,000 apiece to the recipients of the Trevor Cook Memorial Scholarship recently.

Justin Edwards and Alex Murphy, both Lyndonville graduates, recently completed basic training at USMC Parris Island. They were home on leave to accept their checks.

Pictured from left to right, Dave Cook, LAF board member and father of Sgt. Trevor Cook; Lyndonville natives and US Marines Justin Edwards and Alex Murphy; LAF Treasurer Doug Hedges; and President Darren Wilson.

The Lyndonville Area Foundation gives $29,000 in scholarships annually.

Sgt. Trevor Cook was a 25-year-old newlywed when he died in a July 6, 2011 training accident when a helicopter crashed at Camp Pendleton in California.

Provided photo – Terry Woodworth, Village of Lyndonville DPW superintendent, and his granddaughter Haley put up trees in Veterans Park last Saturday along with assistance from the Lyndonville Fire Department, Carla Woodworth and Teri M. Woodworth (Village Clerk-Treasurer).

LYNDONVILLE – There are 42 Christmas trees in Veterans Park, and they will be decorated with lights and other themes in time for a Dec. 6 Christmas celebration in Lyndonville.

The Village of Lyndonville is teaming to put on the event with the Lyndonville Fire Department/Auxiliary, Lyndonville Lions Club and Lyndonville United Methodist Women.

Lyndonville debuted the celebration last year with 27 trees. There are 42 this year.

The events on Dec. 6 begin from 8 to 11 a.m. with a community breakfast at the Presbyterian Church. Other activities are planned throughout the day, including games and crafts at the library, horse-drawn carriages, a mini mall at the United Methodist Church, a wine tasting at Sixes & Sevens Spirits, caroling at Veterans Park, and Santa’s arrival and the lighting of the trees at the park at 5 p.m.

Santa will then move to the Village Hall to greet children from 5 to 7 p.m. The day will be capped with a Christmas choir “LaLaPalooza” at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m.

For more information on the day’s events, click here.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Community members gather around the decorated trees during the debut celebration last December at Veterans Park.

File photo by Tom Rivers – This house at 8 Eagle St. was decked out for the holidays last year.

Press Release
Lyndonville Lions Club

LYNDONVILLE – Bright holiday lights and happy decorations will soon line the streets of Lyndonville, as they will in most towns and cities. In an effort to encourage and thank the residents for their decoration skills, the Lyndonville Lions Club will sponsor its annual “Spirit of Christmas” lights and decoration contest.

Plaques awarded to the homes that are picked as the winners of the contest. Residents do not need to pre-register their homes for contest entry. Committee members will be the judges of the contest.

In order to have your home included in the judging you need to have your lights and decorations turned on by 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 8. The judges will canvas the entire Lyndonville area.

LYNDONVILLE – The sun came out at about 4 p.m. after a rain and a giant double rainbow soon followed.

Several Orleans Hub readers sent us photos of the rainbow, including the top photo by Jason Smith, Lyndonville Central School superintendent. That picture shows the flag pole by the school district.

Smith also took this photo of the rainbow stretched high over the community, including the church steeples.

Ralph Smith was by the Lake Ontario shoreline in Yates when he took this picture of the double rainbow at about 4:10 p.m.

Dena Bradshaw-Scribner sent in this photo of the rainbow, arcing over the DPW garage in Lyndonville.

Village Clerk Teri Woodworth sent in this photo taken outside the Village Hall.

George Snell was out in the country in Waterport and took this photo of a rainbow over a fruit orchard.

Apex Clean Energy will have open house in Yates on Dec. 9

Apex Clean Energy – A 200-megawatt wind farm is eyed for the towns of Yates and Somerset along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

YATES – A company is eyeing the lakeshore towns of Yates in Orleans County and Somerset in Niagara for a 200-megawatt wind farm called “Lighthouse Wind.”

Apex Clean Energy hasn’t made an official proposal for the project yet, but it is connecting with landowners and local officials in the communities. The company had an open house last month at the Barker Fire Hall and will be available for another open house from 3 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the Yates Town Hall.

The company is considering 60 to 75 of the wind turbines that tower about 500 feet. The Orleans Economic Development Agency discussed the project this morning at its monthly board meeting.

The EDA would like to be a part of the project to ensure revenue from the wind farm is directed to Yates, the county and the Lyndonville school district. Jim Whipple, the EDA executive director, said the potential revenue for the community has Yates town officials “excited.”

The electricity from the wind turbines would be tied into the grid near the Somerset power plant, Whipple said.

For more on the project, click here.

Colin Cousins, Emily Dill won fire prevention contest

Photos by Tom Rivers

As the fire truck turned off Main Street and headed down Housel Avenue to Lyndonville Central School this morning, firefighters sounded the horn.

Ashton Lang meets first-graders in Mary Ann Kelly’s class.

LYNDONVILLE – Two first graders, Colin Cousins and Emily Dill, have big smiles after riding a Lyndonville fire truck to school this morning with firefighters Ashton Lang, left, and Larry Lonigan.

Colin and Emily are the winners of a fire prevention contest for the first grade. For the first time ever, the Lyndonville Fire Department gave children a ride to school.

“We thought it was an opportunity to get the kids excited,” said firefighter Ashton Lang.

First-graders are studying fire safety. They were encouraged to design a fire escape plan with their parents and practice the plan. Students who completed the assignment were eligible for the ride on the fire truck. The firefighters drew two names to determine who would ride the fire truck.

Lang and Lonigan pulled up at each student’s house this morning and drove them to the school.

Colin and Emily wore red firefighter helmets made of plastic. They hooked their back packs on the truck where firefighters put their gear.

“He’s very excited,” said Kelly Cousins, Colin’s mother. “He called all of his grandparents and aunts and uncles.”

Two classes of first-graders waited with a sense of awe by the sidewalk in front of the school. The fire truck pulled up and two first-graders hopped out.

All of the first-graders will be at the fire hall around noon to tour the fire trucks, see a hose line, hear the pagers go off and learn more about fire prevention.

The Fire Department wanted to give the kids a ride on the truck after hearing about that incentive provided by the North Greece Fire District. Pete Sidari of Albion is the fire safety officer for North Greece. He helped Lyndonville develop the protocol for this morning’s ride, which needed permission from the Village Board.

Lang said the department will talk about expanding the effort next year, perhaps giving more kids rides from other grade levels.

“They were both super excited when we rolled up,” he said.