By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Cali Pietroboni, 19, was just promoted to private first class
Photos by Tom Rivers – Chelsea Hare, right, recognizes the person taking the order at Tim Hortons in Albion this afternoon.
ALBION – Cali Pietroboni told her closest friends she would get a few days off around Easter but would be spending that time in Miami.
Pietroboni, 19, is a Marine from Lyndonville. She was home for 10 days in January. That’s been it since leaving for Boot Camp last October. Her decision to go to Florida didn’t sit well with her best friend, Chelsea Hare.
Pietroboni and Hare have been close friends since elementary school at Lyndonville. They both graduated in 2013. They like to tease and surprise each other.
Pietroboni pulled off a shocker this afternoon. Hare’s mother Tina Hare was at the Tim Hortons in Albion. She had her daughter and another friend Rachael Allen come over at 1:30 p.m.
When they went to the counter to order, they saw a familiar face in the Tim Hortons uniform. Chelsea stood for a minute in disbelief and with a blank expression. They she broke out in a smile and in tears.
Cali Pietroboni and Chelsea Hare embrace at Tim Hortons in Albion.
Pietroboni met her at the end of the counter and the two had a long embrace.
“I thought there’s no way that’s Cali right now,” Hare said.
Pietroboni completed Boot Camp at Parris Island in South Carolina in January. She has been at Camp Johnson in North Carolina most of the past three months. She was recently promoted to private first class. She graduates from a personal administration school at Camp Johnson on June 3. She is eager to see her assignment. Many of the Marines at Camp Johnson have been assigned to service in foreign countries, she said.
Pietroboni also wanted to come home this weekend to see her parents, Derek and Vickie Dix, and her little brother Connor Dell.
“It’s been a great opportunity to travel and meet new people,” Pietroboni said. “There’s also pride in being a part of the world’s most elite fighting force.”
Cali Pietroboni hugs her friend Rachael Allen while Chelsea Hare watches.
Tina Hare helped orchestrate the surprise this afternoon. She has known Pietroboni for more than a decade. Despite Pietroboni’s diminutive stature – she’s only 4’ 11’’ – she has proven her strength and determination in recent months, Hare said.
“Ever since she was a little girl she wouldn’t back down,” Hare said. “And she’s always liked to joke around.”
Rachel Godfrey, the Tim Hortons manager, was happy to loan a uniform to Pietroboni for the surprise.
“I give her a lot of credit for going into the Marines,” Godfrey said.
Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steve Smith
LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville man is facing numerous traffic charges after crashing his car Friday evening in the Town of Yates.
The incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. in the 12400 block of Platten Road. Antonio F. Lopez, 23, was operating a 2005 Chevrolet SUV. He was travelling east when he lost control. The vehicle crossed the center line, left the north side of the roadway and struck a fire hydrant. Lopez, the sole occupant, was not injured.
He is charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, and numerous other vehicle and traffic charges. He is scheduled to appear in Town of Yates Court on April 16.
The incident was investigated by Deputy K.J. Colonna, assisted by Deputy D.S. Klips and Deputy J.J. Cole.
Photos by Sue Cook – The Witch (Heather Mufford) places a curse on The Baker (Cameron Morgan) and his wife (Rebekah Hoffee) so that they can’t have children.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
LYNDONVILLE – The story of a fractured fairy tale comes to the Lyndonville auditorium stage as Lyndonville and Medina schools join efforts for the third year to give students a chance to perform and shine.
Medina cut its musical program due to budget constraints after the 2010-11 school year. That left no opportunity for the student performers in drama. However, administration from the two schools agreed that coordinating efforts would be a great opportunity for students from Lyndonville and Medina.
“I work with the music teachers at Medina, primarily Lisa Roeseler, and principal Mark Kruzynski,” said Jennifer Trupo of Lyndonville. She is both the overall director and the vocal director. “They help send messages and make announcements to their students.”
Cinderella (Hannah Albone) pleads to go to the festival, but her stepsisters, Florinda (Madison Boyle) and Lucinda (Madison Holland) and her stepmother (Briana Bellan) stop her. Seated on the steps during the practice was the narrator, seventh-grader Roy John Follman.
Kristina Best, Lyndonville band director for 7th to 12th grade, is the pit conductor for the second year in a row. She said the musicians practice as much as the cast and crew do. In the background Jack (Thomas Follman) is singing.
The schools also found that declining student enrollment meant a two-school production would have a bigger and better cast, crew and orchestra. The musical for this year is “Into the Woods.”
“There’s a spin to it,” Trupo said. “It’s several fairy tales combined into one.”
A baker and his wife want to have a baby, but a witch placed a curse on them, causing them to be barren. They must lift the curse in order to have a family. The witch requires four items to be collected on the third midnight from that day. The couple must find a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold.
The items are found throughout the story with the appearance from the fairy tale characters of Jack of the tale Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Cinderella. Together, the baker and his wife attempt to get the items which are reluctant to be surrendered.
After the audition process, there would normally be call-backs to narrow down the roles for the students, but Trupo said that this year call-backs weren’t necessary and that each ended up cast in a part that was declared perfect based on individual strengths.
“The kids speak for themselves,” Trupo said. “They are very well suited for their roles.”
Cinderella’s Prince (Nate Pace) and Rapunzel’s Prince (Joseph Mangiola) sing about each of their chosen princesses and how magnificent the two women are.
The Wolf (Christian Hahn) is attempting to lure Little Red Riding Hood (Regan Stacey) into being eaten in the woods. The two perform an energetic dance number together as Red tries to escape his clutches.
Anyone who wants to participate is welcome. There was so much interest in the musical that an ensemble song was arranged to accommodate a large number of characters. Many characters that are not normally a part of this production were pulled from other “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” stories such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The cast includes 41 students, with 14 in the crew 14, and eight students in the pit orchestra joined by music teachers. Trupo said the whole group is a good mix of Medina and Lyndonville students from seventh grade through the seniors.
The Medina students all carpooled together to rehearsal performances, as no alternative transportation is provided by the school. The rehearsals are also scheduled by Trupo as best as she can manage around the schools’ sports schedules.
Medina senior Deanna Mangiola plays Jack’s Mother. She is overbearing and insists that Jack (Thomas Follman) sell his cow Milky White (Devon Allen), his best friend in the whole world. “I had laryngitis during auditions,” Mangiola said. “Luckily, the week before we had a workshop and I got the nerves out.” She performed at the auditions anyway and was much more prepared and had a sense of confidence with her.
Senior Heather Mufford is a Lyndonville student cast in the role of The Witch. Mufford has been in theater since she was 11, and has been performing in any high school musical she possibly could, but still felt nervous when she went in for her audition.
“I went in with confidence after practicing the voice and scream of the witch,” said Mufford. She is looking to minor in theater in college. “I think I will always be doing community theater.”
Rapunzel (Jenna Brien) sings in her tower which alerts a prince to her presence.
As for the two schools working together, Mufford commented,” There is no school rivalry. I have some closer friends from Medina than Lyndonville.” She says that many of the students from both schools will meet to hang out outside of the performance season because they have bonded so well together.
The stage crew is also enthusiastic to be part of the performance. Lyndonville ninth-grader and first-time crew member Michael Busch is one of the students responsible for moving props between scenes. “I’m excited,” he said. “I was going to audition, but I was too busy the two days of auditions. I wanted to be on crew then because then I know I can still sort of be on the stage.”
Trupo is also excited that the school will have adjudicators from the Rochester Broadway Theatre League in the audience rating students on their acting, singing and dancing.
The students with the highest scores will receive Tony-style awards. The schools with the highest scores are given the opportunity to perform at the Rochester Auditorium Theatre, which is used for professional Broadway performances.
There will be three performances of “Into the Woods” this coming weekend in the Lyndonville school auditorium. On Friday and Saturday, the show will be at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the performance will be at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door. The school is located at 25 Housel Ave. in Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE The Lyndonville Central School District will host a Common Core Night at 7 p.m. today at the Middle-High School Library.
Lyndonville school officials will discuss how the district has implemented new standards for elementary and secondary math and English-language arts classes, as well as the district’s expanding AVID program and special education annual reviews.
The meeting tonight will begin with a brief overview at 7. Parents will then move on to their choice of two of the following 20 minute sessions: Common Core Math and ELA 7-12, Common Core Math and ELA Elementary, AVID Elementary, AVID Secondary, and Special Education Annual Reviews.
Babysitting and refreshments will be available, but the district requires that babysitting services will be requested ahead of time at 585-765-3107.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2014 at 12:00 am
LYNDONVILLE – It was a quiet election in Lyndonville with only one candidate on the ballot. Charles Covell was elected with all 19 of the votes cast on Tuesday.
Covell was elected to serve the remaining year of a trustee term originally won by James Whipple. He resigned after moving outside the village last year. Covell was appointed by Mayor Stephen McAvoy.
Covell, the owner of Creekside Laundromat in Lyndonville, was appointed to the Village Board on Oct. 14.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 18 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Contributed Photo – Some of the volunteers playing a game of scooter basketball during this past weekend’s Hoops For Heart event at Lyndonville.
It was a fun, fitness event that saw Lyndonville elementary students take part in the annual Hoops for Heart this past weekend.
A total of over 50 individuals – students, their parents and volunteers – took part in the event at the Large Gymnasium at the high school which raised $1,812 for the American Heart Association.
“It continues to amaze me how willing our small community is to donate money to help fight heart disease, and rally together for a cause that may not directly impact us,” said Lyndonville varsity basketball Coach Brian Lang who helped to organize the event. “It is important for these students to learn at a young age the benefits of giving and donating to others, and they seem to fully embrace it.”
During the event students did a variety of different basketball activities, ranging from shooting stations to dizzy bat relays with their parents.
Lang noted that there were several donations from the community and staff which were used as prizes and food for the event.
“We also had a tremendous amount of parents and staff that volunteered their time and were able to engage in the activities with the kids,” said Lang. “Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time this year and donated, we couldn’t have done it without you.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Residents at three villages in Orleans County will go to the polls today from noon to 9 p.m. to elect members to the Village Board. Two villages have mayor positions on the ballot and in both cases the top elected official is unopposed.
In Albion, Dean London has both the Republican and Democratic Party endorsements for mayor. London, Albion’s retired police chief, has been campaigning with a Republican team that includes Eileen Banker and Stan Farone for four-year trustee positions, and Gary Katsanis for a two-year term.
Democrats are running Terry Wilbert and Patricia Cammarata for four-year trustee positions, and Sandra Walter for the two-year term.
Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Hall on East Bank Street.
In Medina, three incumbents appeared to be unopposed. Andrew Meier is running for mayor with David Barhite and Patricia Crowley seeking re-election as village trustees. They are seeking two-year terms under the Village Party.
Michael Sidari and Marguerite Sherman are mounting a write-in campaign for village trustees.
Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. at the senior center, 615 West Ave.
In Lyndonville, Charles Covell is seeking a one-year as village trustee. Covell, the owner of Creekside Laundromat in Lyndonville, was appointed to the Village Board on Oct. 14, filling a vacancy created when Jim Whipple resigned after moving outside the village. Covell was appointed by Mayor Stephen McAvoy.
Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. at Village Hall, 2 South Main St.
Holley, the other village in Orleans County, has its election in June.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Nearly 200 turn out for Farmer to Neighbor Night
Photos by Tom Rivers
The Orleans-Niagara Dairy Princess Liz Meyer of Medina, right, serves up some milk punch with assistance from Jayne Bannister of Waterport, a dairy ambassador. They were part of the 16th annual Farmer to Neighbor Night on Saturday at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.
The event was sponsored by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, OC Soil and Water Conservation District, OC Farm Bureau and OC Chamber of Commerce.
Sara Millspaugh, president of the Albion FFA, delivers a prepared speech in front of about 200 people at Saturday’s Farmer to Neighbor Night. Millspaugh spoke about the need to battle hunger and highlighted the FFA’s effort to bring 19,000 pounds of produce to Community Action last December. FFA was formerly known as Future Farmers of America. It has expanded to become a leadership program.
Jack Hill, a junior FFA member in Medina, recites the FFA creed.
Haley Maier, 11, of Gasport was recognized during the banquet as one of two winners state-wide with a “Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.”
Tom Healy, a certified financial planner for Prudential, tells the crowd how Haley makes necklaces that she sells to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Haley was nominated for the award by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Association. She is a member of the Lyndonville Mogrels 4-H Club.
Haley makes the necklaces in honor of her grandmother. Haley said she wants to expand her line of merchandise for the Alzheimer’s Association. She will be honored during a conference in Washington, D.C., where two winners from each state will be recognized. During the trip in May, 10 of 102 youth volunteers from around the country will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2014.
Todd Eick, FFA advisor in Medina, thanked the community for supporting the FFA program. Medina will be hosting the state convention in May. Eick said he welcomes volunteers and judges, as well as donations for the event.
About 1,500 FFA students will be in Medina for the three-day convention, which was in Albion in May 2013.
“It’s a huge honor for Orleans County to host the convention two years in a row,” said Adam Krenning, Albion’s FFA advisor.
One nearby school – Roy-Hart – announced in January it was starting an FFA program.
State Sen. George Maziarz addressed the group and touted state legislation to encourage young farmers to pursue agriculture. That legislation would vastly reduce the estate tax, making it easier for farms to be transferred to a younger generation.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley also addressed the group. He said the “Farm Death Bill,” which would force farmers to pay overtime and give workers collective bargaining rights, could again be brought up in Albany. Hawley opposes the bill, as does New York Farm Bureau. They say it would put NY farms at a competitive disadvantage with other states that don’t have overtime requirements.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Abigail Feldman
LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville student has been named to a list of the top 100 high school seniors in the eight-county Western New York region.
Business First of Buffalo announced Abigail Feldman will receive Special Mention honors for the 2014 All-Western New York Academic Team. An eight-member selection committee put Feldman on the list.
Business First’s Academic Team puts the spotlight students who pursue excellence both in and out of the classroom.
Feldman in January won the Distinguished Woman of New York during a competition at SUNY Albany. She advances to the national competition in June in Mobile, Ala.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2014 at 12:00 am
‘Common Core’ will entertain at intermission, playing AC/DC, Johnny Cash and more
Photo by Tom Rivers – The “Common Core” band of Lyndonville teachers and a principal gets together Monday. Pictured from left include Brian Lang on guitar, Jason Wilhelm as lead singer and guitar, Kristina Best on drums and Aaron Slack on guitar. John Bailey is also part of the group.
LYNDONVILLE – The annual talent show at Lyndonville Central School is a much-anticipated event, with several hundred people packing into the school’s Stroyan Auditorium.
The event, in the past, has included teachers, but that participation had tapered off in recent years. However, the teachers will be back on stage for Thursday’s talent show, and they’ll be back in a big way.
Four teachers plus Middle/High School Principal Dr. Aaron Slack will perform in a rock band, “Common Core.” The band will make its debut and play about 10 songs during intermission, and the audience will hear a variety of music from hard-rocking AC/DC to contemporary Christian.
The band is led by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Jason Wilhelm, who is also the district’s information technology director. He is part of a U2 cover band.
“I think when the kids see us up on the stage it will excite them to get more involved in the school,” Wilhelm said.
The Lyndonville band will also perform songs by Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Imagine Dragons, and Darius Rucker.
Courtesy of Lyndonville Central School – This doctored poster hangs in the Lyndonville community promoting a performance by Common Core, which includes from left: PE and health teacher Brian Lang, high school band teacher Kristina Best, school district IT director Jason Wilhelm, elementary music teacher John Bailey and middle/high school principal Dr. Aaron Slack.
Wilhelm and Slack are joined in “Common Core” by elementary physical education and health teacher Brian Lang, high school band teacher Kristina Best, and elementary music teacher John Bailey. The teachers are busy leading extracurricular programs at Lyndonville, including coaching sports and playing in the high school musical. Slack also has been busy working on the district’s budget.
The busy schedules have made it a challenge for the band to practice for Thursday’s show. But they have found time. After a final rehearsal on Wednesday, Slack said the group will be ready.
“We want to show students that they can pursue musicianship when they are older,” said Slack, who is a freelance guitar player for different bands.
Lang, the PE teacher, also hopes the band’s willingness to perform for a big crowd will encourage students to try more activities in school, even ones that are outside their comfort zones.
“We hope the kids will see us in a different way outside of normal roles at school,” Lang said. “I think we might be able to motivate the kids to be more involved.”
“Common Core” was picked as a name for the band. That is also the name for the state’s new standardized testing program.
The talent show begins at 7 p.m. and includes 15 student acts that include dancing, singing, tumbling and cheerleading, and various musical ensembles. Tickets are available at the door. Proceeds will go towards the junior/senior prom.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2014 at 12:00 am
LYNDONVILLE – The 16th Annual Orleans County Farmer to Neighbor Night will be Saturday on March 15. The event will include awards, a silent auction, a showcase of FFA students, and dinner and dancing.
The event will celebrate the county’s leading industry. Agriculture generates more than $100 million in sales to the farms, and that doesn’t count the spinoff economic impact with tractor dealerships, veterinarians and other businesses.
Farmer to neighbor night begins at 6 p.m. at the White Birch Golf Course, 1515 North Lyndonville Rd. The event is sponsored by Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Farm Bureau, Soil & Water Conservation District, Chamber of Commerce and Albion FFA Alumni.
Reservations are due by March 12 and can be made by calling the Cooperative Extension at 585-798-4265 ext. 26.
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Central School District is planning a special celebration at graduation ceremonies on June 27.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of L.A. Webber High School, members of the Lyndonville Central Class of 1964 are invited to participate in graduation ceremonies.
Class of 1964 Valedictorian John Woodworth and Salutatorian Connie Maines will be offering comments at the ceremony.
If you are member of the Class of 1964 or know someone who is, please contact Diane Thurber at 765-3122.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 February 2014 at 12:00 am
LYNDONVILLE – Only one candidate has stepped forward to run in the March 18 village election.
Charles Covell is seeking the position, a one-year as village trustee. Covell, the owner of Creekside Laundromat in Lyndonville, was appointed to the Village Board on Oct. 14, filling a vacancy created when Jim Whipple resigned after moving outside the village. Covell was appointed by Mayor Stephen McAvoy.
The one-year term for trustee is the only position that will be on the ballot March 18. Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. at Village Hall, 2 South Main St.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Austin Buzard, a freshman at Lyndonville, cozies up with a Nook e-reader last week in the school library.
Buzard shows how the text is displayed on the Nook e-reader. Students can highlight text, and increase the font size.
LYNDONVILLE – When a popular book is borrowed at Lyndonville Central School’s library that used to mean the book would be off limits for another student for at least two weeks.
That could be be frustrating for students who were reading a series, a Harry Potter adventure or other Young Adult fiction.
“Gone With The Wind could be out for a month before I got it back,” said Bob Santella, the district librarian.
Lyndonville has embraced technology to drastically increase its supply of books, without needing more shelf space.
The school district about two years ago purchased 40 Nook e-readers. They have been so popular that Lyndonville now has 108 e-readers. Some include books that are required for classes, book such as Ayn Rand’s “The Anthem.”
“This is a medium that attracts the kids’ attention,” said Aaron Slack, the middle-high school principal.
The Nook e-readers hold numerous titles of books, allowing the school district to easily provide multiple copies of popular books.
Many school districts don’t have any e-readers or only a few. Lyndonville has used some of its state aid for hardware to buy the e-readers. They are loaned out just like any other book in the library.
None of the devices, which can hold hundreds of book titles, have been lost or damaged in nearly two years, a sign that students value the Nooks, Slack said.
Jason Smith, the superintendent at Lyndonville Central School, wants to promote reading among students at the district. He sensed some students might not want a thick book to read. Students may not like lugging around another book when their backpacks are already full.
He was having lunch with seventh- and eighth-graders about two years ago when he proposed adding Nooks to the library.
The students, who are well acquainted with Smart Phones and other technology, urged the district to give e-readers a try.
“This technology is no longer a gimmick,” Smith said.
Barnes and Noble gave the district a discount on the Nooks, selling them for $138 each, down from the usual price of $216. The e-books are cheaper than buying printed copies.
The e-books also typically arrive within 15 minutes after they are ordered. The printed books can take six weeks to get shipped to the district.
“The kids are becoming very proficient,” said Santella, the librarian.
Lyndonville has embraced technology in the schools. This group of second-graders is working in the computer lab.
Some print books with several hundred pages can intimidate students, he said. With e-books, students just click on a cover image of the book. The e-readers each have a thesaurus and dictionary if students want to look up words. They can highlight text and make the type bigger. Lyndonville also has audio versions of some of the books.
Students are introduced to the e-readers in elementary school. Santella said many students are already comfortable with devices, even in the younger grades, when they first work on an e-reader.
“These kids are becoming very proficient with technology,” Santella said.
LYNDONVILLE – Samuel Martin, a Mennonite and owner of Lake Winds Metal Working in Lyndonville, helps clear out Doug Jordan’s driveway on Route 18 in Lyndonville on Thursday.
Martin uses horses to pull a plow. He has a diesel powered motor to blow the snow. Martin plows driveways for several of his neighbors in the Lyndonville area. A lot of the snow blows back on him. Terri Jordan said Martin looked like a snowman when he was done plowing the drive.
