Lyndonville/Yates

Lyndonville church will open new thrift store

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Ruth Hedges, a member of the Lyndonville Methodist Church, shows off the sign her son Curtis Canham designed for the new clothing depot the church will open in March.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 6 February 2019 at 9:07 am

LYNDONVILLE – Opening a thrift store in Lyndonville is fulfilling a vision God has for the Lyndonville United Methodist Church, pastor Olga Gonzalez said.

“The first time I met with Ruth Hedges and she shared with me the vision God was giving her about a thrift store, I knew that was God’s plan for the Lyndonville community and beyond,” Gonzalez said.

The church had 1,000 square feet of space in its basement which was not being utilized, and that’s where the thrift store will be located. Entrance will be on the north side of the church.

Plans are shaping up and support is overwhelming for the project. They have been collecting donations of goods since last summer. They were able to get free racks and hangars from the Bon Ton in Lockport when it closed.

Hedges, a member of the church, started searching for a name.

“We went through a lot of names and had a lot of suggestions,” Hedges said.

Olga Gonzalez started as pastor of the Lyndonville United Methodist Church in July.

One day, recalling a verse from the Bible in Romans 12:9-13, she decided on Hope Resales: A Community Thrift Store. Her son, Curtis Canham, is a graphic designer and came up with a logo for the thrift store.

The church plans to open Hope Resales on March 30.

They are looking to the community for donations to stock the store.

The annual winter rummage sale is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and suitable merchandise left from the sale will help to stock the thrift store.

Valerie Wells, church secretary, is a lifelong resident of Lyndonville and remembers when there used to be a thrift store in Lyndonville.

“But that was years ago,” she said.

The church welcomes donations of good, clean clothing and household items. They cannot accommodate large appliances or furniture.

Gonzalez’ wish is that Hope Resales will benefit the Lyndonville community and beyond. As a Hispanic, Puerto Rican pastor, Gonzalez also hopes to reach out to the Hispanic people in the area.

“I want everyone to come and see God’s love through Hope Resales,” she said.

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Lyndonville FD honors outstanding members, installs officers for 2019

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2019 at 9:31 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Fire Department held its annual awards banquet on Saturday evening at the Carlton Recreation Hall and honored several firefighters, including Wes Bradley, right, who was recognized for 40 years of service to the department.

Bradley is congratulated by Eileen Banker, chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Dale Banker, the Orleans County emergency management coordinator, and State Sen. Robert Ortt.

Bradley, who also serves as the department’s chaplain, gave the invocation and benediction at the event.

Other firefighters were recognized for milestones for years of service, including Emerson “Tinker” Young with 20 years and Jason Gerety for 25 years.

Mike Heideman and Anna Schuner were both named “Firefighter of the Year” for 2018 by Chief Ben Bane. The chief said the two are dedicated behind the scenes in the keeping the fire department running, and also respond to many of the department’s fire calls.

“They’re always there willing to help,” Bane said.

Heideman, 48, has been active with the fire department for 33 years, since he was 15. His son, T.J., was firefighter of the year in 2016.

Heideman said he enjoys helping the community. He works in Lyndonville at Monroe Electronics.

Schuner, 49, became an active firefighter seven years ago. She also has been in the Auxiliary for 15 years. Her husband has been a firefighter for about 40 years.

Schuner, like Heideman, is trained to be an interior firefighter. When she took the class, she said she was the oldest in the group.

“We’re always looking for members,” she said.

She urged people, even those without a background in the fire department, to consider joining the fire department.

“I enjoy it,” she said. “I love helping and it’s a need. It makes you feel good.”

Schuner, who works in research and development at Associated Brands in Medina, also was presented the President’s Award from Gary White, who just finished his first year as the department’s president. Schuner has filled that role before. She was helpful to White with the business side of the department, from paying bills to getting permits for different events.

Ken Starr received the Chief’s Award for his service to the fire department. Ben Bane, second from right, is Lyndonville fire chief.

Cindy Grabowski gets a hug from Nicole Kistner, Auxiliary president, after Grabowski received the Auxiliary President’s Award. She stepped up to serve as secretary last year.

State Sen. Robert Ortt said the community is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers in the fire departments. Not only do they serve their community, but they often assist neighboring departments when he needed. He noted Lyndonville responded after midnight on Jan. 21 in the bitter cold when Barker’s village office and library were consumed by fire.

Dale Banker, right, the county’s emergency management coordinator, administers the oath of office to the fire department and auxiliary officers.

The fire officers for 2019 include: Ben Bane, chief; Steve Bane Jr., first assistant chief; Mike Heideman, second assistant chief; TJ Heideman, fire captain; DJ Woodward, fire lieutenant; Wally Snyder, EMS captain; Harold Scribner, fire police captain; and Wes Bradley, chaplain.

The executive officers include: Gary White, president; Greg Schuner, vice president; Peter Kage, secretary; and Jim Wells, treasurer.

The Auxiliary officers include Nicole Kistner, president; Cheryl Mapes, vice president; Cindy Grabowski, secretary; and Anna Schuner, treasurer.

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Petitions are out for candidates in Lyndonville, Medina village elections

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 February 2019 at 3:16 pm

Two villages in Orleans County will have elections for village trustees on March 19.

Medina has two positions for two years on the ballot. The spots are currently filled by Todd Bensley and Owen Toale. They have both taken out petitions to seek re-election. A village resident 18 and older can submit petitions to run for the board. The petitions need to be signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village.

The petitions are due at the village office by Feb. 13.

Voting for the March 19 election will be from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center, the former railroad depot on West Avenue.

Lyndonville also has two trustee positions for four-year terms on the ballot. The spots are currently filled by Darren Wilson and Mary Kage. They have both taken out petitions to run for the board again.

Candidates need to submit petitions signed by at least 25 registered voters in the village. The petitions are due by Feb. 13.

Voting will be from noon to 9 a.m. on March 19 at the Village Hall on Main Street.

The two other villages in the county don’t have elections this March. Albion is in an off election year and Holley has its elections in June.

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Lyndonville urged to bring back varsity boys soccer team

Photo by Tom Rivers: Patrick Whipple presents data to the Lyndonville Board of Education on Monday which he said shows at least 19 Lyndonville boys want to play varsity soccer for Lyndonville. Those boys are currently in grades 9 to 11, and would be sophomores, juniors or seniors next fall.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 January 2019 at 9:34 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Nate Dillenbeck, a Lyndonville student who plays on the combined Medina/Lyndonville team, is shown on Oct. 1 during a game at Lyndonville when Dillenbeck scored 4 goals against Global Concepts. Typically, the Medina/Lyndonville team plays its home games at Medina and wears Medina uniforms.

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Board of Education was asked to bring back its own varsity boys soccer team on Monday, instead of being part of a shared team with Medina.

The two schools have played as a joint team for six seasons, starting in the fall of 2013. Both schools at the time would have struggled to field their own team.

But now both schools have enough players to field competitive teams on their own, according to two parents who spoke at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Lyndonville and Medina both had strong JV teams this fall, and should be in good shape for players on the varsity level for at least the next two to three seasons, some of the Lyndonville parents said.

Lyndonville is discussing its shared sports with Medina. The board hasn’t made a decision about next school year.

Penny Barry, parent of Lyndonville soccer player, said the “overwhelmingly consensus” of the JV soccer players and their parents is not to continue with the merger next school year.

Lyndonville has at least 19 players who would like to play on a Lyndonville-only team.

“Why would we do this again?” she asked the Board of Education on Monday. “We have the numbers.”

Lyndonville boys are part of teams based in Medina for football and soccer in the fall. The schools also have a combined volleyball team in the fall. The football and soccer players wear the Medina Mustang uniforms, except for two home soccer games at Lyndonville.

Patrick Whipple, another soccer parent, presented data to the board that showed at least 19 Lyndonville boys, currently in grades 9 to 11, played soccer this fall. There are 11 players on the field at a time, and teams need to have several substitutes.

Other parents who spoke to Orleans Hub said a Lyndonville-only team would help build school spirit. Right now there are only a few games for Lyndonville boy athletes to play in front of the home crowd in the fall.

Ted Lewis, the BOE president, said the board expects to make a decision next month on 2-year agreements with Medina for sharing different sports programs, as well as the musical which is based in Lyndonville, and the marching band which is based in Medina.

Lewis said the partnership with Medina has been positive for both districts by maintaining opportunities for students. In some cases, it has created new opportunities. Neither school had a volleyball team until that was added.

The board welcomes feedback from the community about the issue. The district website (click here) has a “Let’s Talk” feature where the community, including current and former Lyndonville athletes, can share an opinion about the merged sports.

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Lyndonville looks to buy 300 laptops next school year for students in grades 7-12

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dr. Aaron Slack, junior-senior high school principal at Lyndonville, holds a Chromebook laptop at a Board of Education meeting this evening. He gave a presentation about Phase 4 of the school district’s Smart Schools initiative which would include buying 300 of the laptops for students in grades 7 through 12 next school year.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 January 2019 at 10:37 pm

LYNDONVILLE – The school district wants to make laptops available for all students in grades 7 through 12 next school year, using state funds through the Smart Schools initiative.

Lyndonville was approved for $733,151 in Smart Schools funding in 2014. The 300 new Google Chromebooks would be part of Phase 4 of the Smart Schools in Lyndonville and would cost about $90,000.

Lyndonville held a public hearing about the proposal on Monday evening. The plan needs to get final approval from the State Education Department.

Lyndonville has already worked to upgrade its server and network through earlier phases of the Smart Schools.

The district has used some of the laptops in classes, but students haven’t been assigned their own computer to take home. That will change in September, as part of Phase 4.

Some teachers are using the computers in class, and students can do assignments and take tests on the laptops.

Dr. Aaron Slack, junior-senior high school principal at Lyndonville, has been working on the Phase 4 proposal with the computers. He said using the Chromebooks will help students transition to college, where many students are expected to complete homework and write papers and submit them electronically to their professors.

Slack said the district now has a strong enough network and wireless Internet access to handle students and teachers using the Chromebooks.

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Lyndonville student creates artwork for book cover to honor vets from community

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 January 2019 at 8:53 am

Provided photos

LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville veterans and members of the American Legion, Joseph Hausler (left) and Steve Goodrich (right), are pictured with Gvani Rodriguez, an eighth grade student at Lyndonville who created the artwork to be used as a book for the American Legion in Lyndonville.

The American Legion in Lyndonville reached out to the school’s Art Department to have a student create a cover for a book the Legion is making that holds documentation for any service member that resided in Lyndonville throughout history.

Gvani used an image of the iconic shoe tree to represent Lyndonville as well as to show the roots of all the servicemen and women who have come through the town.

Joseph Hausler presents Gvani with a certificate. There will be another presentation to honor the Gvani and his artwork on Jan. 24 at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church.

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Yates submits action plan to state comptroller after critical audit

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2019 at 8:35 am

YATES – The Yates Town Board approved a corrective action plan last month and sent it to the Office of the State Comptroller after a critical audit in October.

The comptroller’s audit said there isn’t missing money or misappropriated funds in Yates. However, the comptroller said Yates hasn’t kept adequate financial records or provided adequate oversight to the town bookkeeper.

The town spends about $1.3 million each year. The report covered Jan. 1, 2016 to July 17, 2018. (Click here to see the audit.)

The Office of Comptroller said the town’s fund balance had a deficit of $86,345 as of December 31, 2016 and should have been better monitored. The Office of the Comptroller issued the following recommendations:

• Ensure that financial records are complete, accurate and up-to-date.

• Provide effective oversight of the bookkeeper.

• Provide the Town Board adequate, comprehensive and up-to-date monthly financial reports.

• Address the financial problems affecting the general town-wide fund when adopting the 2019 budget.

Town Supervisor James Simon said in an Oct. 5 letter to the Office of the State Comptroller that he and the town had already implemented some of the recommendations. Simon, for example, now does an expanded Supervisor’s Monthly Report. Yates has also eliminated the bookkeeper position in favor of a professional services contract with Millennium Roads LLC in Lyndonville. It has approved a fund balance policy to address the general town-wide fund.

“As a relatively new town supervisor, I appreciate the recommendations,” Simon wrote to the Office of the State Comptroller on Oct. 5. “I understand that the audit did not find any hint of misappropriated or missing funds, and that the town’s overall financial condition is sound. I recognize the importance of providing more comprehensive financial management, of ensuring better oversight of the bookkeeping function, and of developing a viable fund balance policy.”

The Town Board on Dec. 27 approved a corrective action plan and submitted it to the Office of the Comptroller.

The plan of action includes additional monthly reports about the town’s financial records that include revenue/expense control and balance sheets (assets, liabilities, reserves and fund balance) reports. (This has already been implemented by the town.)

The town worked with Millennium Roads to utilize accounting software so Yates isn’t maintaining two cash ledgers. That was implemented last month.

The comptroller said the town needs to ensure bank reconciliations for all amounts are performed timely and properly. Simon said Millennium will provide summaries of the bank reconciliation for all accounts and will review for accuracy and to resolve any discrepancies. That is to be implemented by Jan. 31.

The town supervisor’s monthly reports now include all money received and disbursed, cash balances and detailed year-to-date budget-to-actual comparisons of revenues and expenditures for each fund, according to the corrective action plan.

The Town Board on Dec. 13 also passed a new fund balance policy in coordination with the Office of the State Comptroller. The town said it will take about three years to build up the fund balance. That time is needed so Yates can stay under the state tax cap, town officials wrote in the corrective action plan.

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Lyndonville Foundation makes final payment towards school auditorium

Provided photo: The Lyndonville Area Foundation presented its final payment today towards the Stroyan Auditorium. Pictured from left include: Darren D. Wilson, president of the Lyndonville Area Foundation; Douglas Hedges, Foundation treasurer; and Jason Smith, superintendent of Lyndonville Central School District.

Staff Reports Posted 4 January 2019 at 6:34 pm

Organization paid $361K over 20 years for Foundation’s biggest commitment in its history

LYNDONVILLE – This morning the Lyndonville Area Foundation was proud to present its final payment on Lyndonville Central School’s Stroyan Auditorium.

This payment represents a 20-year capstone on an agreement begun in 1998 by then-school superintendent, the late Richard Pucher, and the Lyndonville Area Foundation.

The agreement reached at that time called for 20 consecutive annual payments to the school district by the Foundation representing the public portion cost of the auditorium’s construction. The public portion would have been the amount taxpayers of the school district were responsible for if the Lyndonville Area Foundation had chosen not to cover this cost.

“At that time, the Foundation had recently benefitted from a substantial bequest by the estate of the late Mabel Stroyan, a life-long Lyndonville resident,” said Darren D. Wilson, the Foundation’s current president, “It was her bequest that enabled the Foundation to fund the public portion of this project – a cost that eventually exceeded $361,000.”

The commitment to the auditorium is the largest contribution since the Foundation started in 1967.

“As the mission of the Foundation is to provide for cultural, educational and civic projects within Lyndonville and the Town of Yates, the Stroyan Auditorium was a perfect fit,” said Doug Hedges, the Foundation’s treasurer.

Hedges and Wilson praised the “enormous generosity, gifting and legacy to the Foundation by individuals such as the late Mable Stroyan that make this all possible.”

Now that the 20-year commitment has been met for the auditorium, the Foundation has more flexibility for funding other initiatives in the community.

“While this final payment is a milestone for us, it also eases the Foundation’s annual obligations to allow for the possible consideration towards even more projects in the future,” Wilson said.

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Lyndonville seeks nominations for Educator of the Year

Posted 3 January 2019 at 11:41 am

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Central School District is currently accepting applications for the 3rd Annual Educator of the Year Award, to be named in June 2019.

Parents, students, and community members are eligible to nominate a Lyndonville educator for this special honor. Applications need to be submitted by February 8, 2019.

The Educator of the Year will also receive a $1,000 grant to be used for special programming in his or her department or grade level.

John Bailey, an elementary music teacher, was the first recipient of the award in 2017, and second grade teacher Shannon Arlington was last year’s honoree.

Nominees for the award must have completed at least four years of teaching at Lyndonville.

Nominees should also:

• Be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher;

• Inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn;

• Have a strong sense of values, integrity and professional ethics;

• Actively collaborate with colleagues, administration, parents and families;

• Demonstrate innovative 21st century skills and continuing professional growth;

• Have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues;

• Play an active role in the school community

Applications can be found by clicking here.

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Lyndonville working to address erosion problems by dam

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Village of Lyndonville has a fence on the north side of the Lyndonville because water is eroding the soil.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 January 2019 at 9:13 am

LYNDONVILLE – The village is working to replace two flood gates by the Lyndonville dam to keep water flowing through Johnson Creek.

The gates are corroded and water is backing up, washing out soil on the north side of the dam. The village has a section of land by the north wall fenced off due to the erosion.

The Village Board is working with engineer Paul Chatfield of the MRB Group on the project. The board last month on MRB’s recommendation approved a bid CPE Service System Solutions for two new flood gates.

The board has to approve an upcoming bid for installation of the gates. The entire project could be about $175,000, Mayor John Belson said.

The village has approved two new flood gates for a the dam in a repair project that should keep the water from washing out soil by the north wall of the dam.

The village has been approved for $100,000 from state Sen. Robert Ortt through the State and Municipal Facilities Capital Funding Program or SAM. The money will come through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.

The Lyndonville Area Foundation has also approved $65,000 toward the project.

The village will cover any remaining cost over $165,000.

Once the new gates are received by Lyndonville, the village will need to declare the repair an emergency to allow 30 days to make the repair, the mayor said.

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