By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 December 2013 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – Downtown Lyndonville has new decorations this season thanks to donations from the Lyndonville Lions Club and the Lyndonville Area Foundation. The following are pictured, from left: Wes Bradley (Foundation and Lions Club), Darren Wilson (Lyndonville Area Foundation President), Dan Fuller (Village of Lyndonville DPW), John Belson (Town of Yates Supervisor, Lions Club and Foundation) and Terry Woodworth (Village Superintendent of Public Works).
Photo by Tom Rivers
Lyndonville will celebrate its first “Christmas in Lyndonville” celebration this Saturday with events from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The celebration includes the lighting of 26 Christmas trees in Veterans Park. Residents, businesses and organizations are all decorating the trees. Those decorations are scheduled to be up by Friday.
The lineup of events on Saturday includes a community breakfast buffet at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church from 8 to 11 a.m.; a mini mall at the United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; games at the Yates Community Library from 3 to 4 p.m.; and caroling at Vets Park from 4 to 5 p.m.
Santa will arrive at 5 p.m. and flip the switch to light the trees. Santa will then be at the Village Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m. to visit with children and their families. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available at the Village Hall.
There will be a Christmas Choir “LaLaPalooza” at the Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Harriger
YATES – A church pastor who faces felony charges of sex abuse against children has been jailed on $250,000 bail. The state police is asking possible victims of the Roy Harriger Sr. to step forward and contact police.
Harriger, 70, of Middleport was processed at the State Police barracks in Albion today. He was arraigned in the Town of Yates before Judge Donald Grabowski, who set bail at $250,000. Harriger is scheduled to return to town court on Dec. 3.
Harriger is currently the pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in the town of Hartland in Niagara County. He was arrested for two counts of Course of Sexual Conduct (B Felony), two counts of Incest (E Felony), and four counts of Sodomy 1st (B Felony). These crimes occurred between September 2000 and September 2001 in the town of Yates, when Harriger was the pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville.
A state police investigation revealed the alleged crimes were perpetrated in New York, as well as the states of Michigan and Pennsylvania between 1974 and 2003.The alleged incidents in Michigan and Pennsylvania have been referred to their respective State Police agencies, the New York State Police said.
State Police request that anyone with any information, or if they believe they may have been the victim of sexual abuse in this case, to contact the State Police in Albion at (585) 589-4244.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2013 at 12:00 am
YATES – A well-known pastor in the Lyndonville community has been charged with several sexual abuse crimes against nine children, crimes that allegedly occurred between September 2010 and September 2011 when he was the pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church.
State police announced today that Roy Harriger, 70, has been charged with two counts of course of sexual conduct, a B felony; two counts of incest, an E felony; and four counts of first-degree sodomy, another B felony, the Buffalo News is reporting.
Harriger was the pastor at Ashwood Wesleyan for 12 years before he was terminated by the church in 2009 after a falling out with denomination leaders.
Harriger then started a new church, Community Fellowship Church in Johnson Creek.
Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone is prosecuting the charges against Harriger, who police say has a history abusing children, as far back as 1974.
Harriger is a visible pastor in Orleans County. On many occasions he has led opening prayers at County Legislature meetings.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2013 at 12:00 am
26 Christmas trees will be lighted at Veterans Park
LYNDONVILLE – Residents, community organizations and the village are teaming for a debut “Christmas in Lyndonville” celebration on Dec. 7.
Several events are planned for that day. In addition, Veterans Park by the library will be decorated with 26 Christmas trees that are sponsored by residents and businesses. Some of the trees have been sponsored as memorials. Those trees will be decorated from Nov. 28 to Dec. 5 and will be displayed during the holiday season.
“A lot of people have pitched in,” said Village Clerk Teri Woodworth. “We think it will be a nice event.”
The lineup of events on Dec. 7 includes a community breakfast buffet at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church from 8 to 11 a.m.; a mini mall at the United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; games at the Yates Community Library from 3 to 4 p.m.; and caroling at Vets Park from 4 to 5 p.m.
Santa will arrive at 5 p.m. and flip the switch to light the trees. Santa will then be at the Village Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m. to visit with children and their families. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available at the Village Hall.
There will be a Christmas Choir “LaLaPalooza” at the Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m.
The downtown decorations for the holidays have been upgraded thanks to funds from the Lyndonville Lions Club and the Lyndonville Area Foundation.
The Dec. 7 event is sponsored by the village, the Lyndonville Fire Department/Auxilary and the Lions Club.
Provided photos – Some of the cast members of “The Ransom of Miss Elverna Dower” are pictured at a dress rehearsal for the play. The group includes, from left: Abigail Feldman, Heather Mufford, Cheyenne Button and Alyssa Mahnke.
Press release, Lyndonville Central School
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville senior class will show off their acting chops tonight at 7 p.m. in the Stroyan Auditorium.
Students are putting on a play, “The Ransom of Miss Elverna Dower.” This is a comedy about the kidnapping of a feared English teacher.
Hannah Albone and Brennen O’Connor are part of the cast.
Contributed Story Posted 19 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
LYNDONVILLE – State Sen. George Maziarz was the guest speaker Monday for the Young Entrepreneurs’ Class at Lyndonville Central School. Maziarz spoke about business development in Western New York.
In addition to the Young Entrepreneurs’ Class, Lyndonville is offering a career exploration program for students this school year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 October 2013 at 12:00 am
LYNDONVILLE – Some smoke in an art storage room in the primary wing of the Lyndonville Central School triggered a fire alarm and kept students and staff out of the building for more than an hour this morning.
Lyndonville and Medina firefighters both investigated the storage room and the entire building, and deemed the site safe, said Jason Smith, Superintendent of Schools.
The alarm went off at 9:12 a.m. Students and staff left the school building on Housel Avenue and went to the former elementary school building while firefighters investigated for about 40 minutes.
Firefighters and the school haven’t determined a specific cause or source of the smoke. The area has been on watch throughout the school day since students and staff returned to the building at about 10:30 a.m., Smith said.
He thanked the firefighters for their response and said students and staff were cooperative during the alarm.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Cindy Ames, director of the Niagara Region PTA, met with about 25 Lyndonville community members on Monday, urging the community to relaunch its PTA after it was dormant last year.
LYNDONVILLE – School officials have a four-year plan for the district that raises the academic performance for students, including setting a goal that all students graduate on time.
Lyndonville already boasts a high graduation rate – 96 percent graduated with their four-year cohort in 2013. But the district wants every member of each class of roughly 50 students to complete high school in four years.
A four-year strategic plan also would significantly raise student performance on state standardized tests for grades 3 to 8, with the district determined to have about two thirds of its students master the material.
Lyndonville only had 28 percent achieve that for English and 19 percent for math with the 2013 state tests, where only about 31 percent attained mastery levels state-wide. Lyndonville wants 65 percent of its students at that level by 2016.
At the high school level, Lyndonville wants to increase the percentage of students who graduate with an advanced Regents diploma from 28 percent in 2013 to 40 percent in 2016. A committee of school teachers, administrators and parents also established a higher threshold for the number of graduates who attain at least a 75 in English and 80 in math – key indicators of success in college – from 30 percent in 2013 to 45 percent in 2016.
“We want college-ready graduates,” said High School Principal Aaron Slack. He said the district is setting “ambitious targets.”
Lyndonville’s new strategic plan calls for every high school student to graduate on time.
The plan will be presented to the Board of Education on Oct. 14. District Superintendent Jason Smith said the BOE will be asked to back the “road map” for the district.
Smith also is supporting an effort to revive the PTA in the district. The Parent-Teacher Association was dormant last year. Smith said the PTA and involved parents are critical for students and the district to boost their classroom achievement.
“When you have a PTA, you have a built-in partner,” Smith said.
Lyndonville started a PTA in 1984. The group was once very active, said Cindy Ames, director of the Niagara-Region PTA.
The Newfane resident touted the benefits of a PTA as the country’s “premier advocacy group” for parents in education. Lyndonville can restart its PTA by forming nominating and bylaws committees, groups that only need three members.
The PTA can help raise money for school trips and other initiatives at the school. It can also be a voice for parents at the local, state and national level.
Ames said the PTA, which has 5,000 members in the Niagara region, has expressed its concern about the new state tests. The group has reached out to state legislators, including Sen. George Maziarz, to develop a “smarter way” of testing the students.
The PTA will have a regional training Oct. 17 in Kendall. The other four districts in Orleans County – Albion, Holley Kendall and Medina – currently have active PTAs, Ames said.
She urged Lyndonville to reactivate its PTA. Interested community members should contact the district office at 765-2251 if they are interested in the PTA.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The town of Yates and village of Lyndonville split the costs for a shed that will be used as an electronic waste recycling site. Town Supervisor John Belson, left, is pictured with Deputy Mayor Jim Tuk at the shed that opened today behind the Lyndonville fire hall, 148 North Main St.
LYNDONVILLE – Terry Woodworth feared they would start to show up on the side of the road or in his brush pile behind the DPW garage. He didn’t want to have to fish out discarded television sets and other unwanted electronics.
Residents can’t get rid of them with their trash. There isn’t a drop site in the community to dispose of recyclable E-Waste or electronics – until today.
The town of Yates and village of Lyndonville split the costs for having a shed built for $2,800. The small building is behind the Lyndnville fire hall. A big TV and other electronics were dropped at the site today, the first day it was open.
Woodworth and the DPW will have it open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The TVs, microwave ovens, toner cartridges, radio and CD players, video equipment and rechargeable batteries will all be picked up for free by the Albion Redemption Center. The business will drive to Lyndonville weekly to pick up the recyclable electronics.
Terry Woodworth, Lyndonville DPW superintendent, is pictured inside the shed with some of the electronic items that will be picked up by the Albion Redemption Center.
“It wasn’t a lot of money and it was something we could do for the town,” said Yates Town Supervisor John Belson.
Residents used to be able to drop off the E-Waste at the Pennysaver Market, but that store closed in April, leaving the community without a site to drop the waste.
“We have been looking for a place,” Belson said. “We were struggling as a town with what to do.”
He praised Lyndonville village officials for helping to make the project a reality.
The town of Shelby also accepts electronic equipment and other E-waste. Belson doesn’t think any other municipalities in Orleans have sites for residents to dispose of unwanted electronics.
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School has been awarded a $100,000 New York State Performance Improvement Grant.
The district was a recipient last year, and in order to qualify for funding this year, Lyndonville had to demonstrate significant academic gains and growth, as well as meeting the goals of the grant.
The Performance Improvement Grant is used to support Lyndonville’s mission of ensuring that its students are college and career ready. Specifically, the grant will be used to support the AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) Program. AVID is a college readiness system for elementary through higher education that is designed to increase school-wide learning and performance.
The AVID College Readiness System (ACRS) accelerates student learning, uses research based methods of effective instruction, provides meaningful and motivational professional learning, and acts as a catalyst for systemic reform and change.
“This second year of grant funding will allow our district to continue to provide exceptional learning opportunities for our students as well as meaningful professional development for our teachers,” said Jason Smith, superintendent of schools.
Anne Marie Holland, director of Special Programs for the district, said the grant gives teachers additional staff development in AVID strategies, and will increase college opportunities for students.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – Rachael Kiefer is pictured with Gemma, a purebred Blue Merle Sheltie. They won grand champion at the State Fair for dog agility.
LYNDONVILLE – A 16-year-old from Lyndonville and her dog Gemma, a purebred Blue Merle Sheltie, were named Grand Champion at the State Fair in the dog agility competition.
Rachael Kiefer has been training with Gemma for nearly two years. Last year she was named the novice grand champion at the State Fair.
Dog agility is a timed obstacle course for dogs with colorful tunnels, jumps, teeters and walks. Rachael and Gemma started in the Orleans County 4-H program under the direction of Ron and Pat Leight.
Gemma was purchased at a breeder and has a champion show dog bloodline, but is too small for show dog requirements.
“Gemma was the puppy hiding in the back of the litter, very timid and unsure,” said Rachael’s father George Kiefer. “Rachael took a liking to her and took the challenge to work with a timid puppy.”
Rachael met her trainer, Jim Sliker of Agility Dream Dogs, during an agility demonstration during the Lyndonville July 4 celebration. Sliker helped Rachael and Gemma become Orleans County and State Fair champions.
Rachael and Gemma also competed at Nationals in Springfield, Ohio, in June, winning several first and second place finishes for trials in the junior dog ability handler division.
“Rachael and Gemma have formed a bond that goes beyond agility and is rooted in friendship,” Rachael’s father said. “Gemma waits patiently at the door every day for Rachael to come home from school. Rachael lights up at the sight of Gemma.”
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Central School District will be hosting two information meetings for parents and community members on Sept. 16, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Stroyan Auditorium.
Representatives from the Niagara Region PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) will present information at on the re-launching the local Lyndonville PTA.
“Not all decisions affecting a child’s school happen at the local level. It has been a mission of National PTA to address the needs of all children,” according to a statement from the Niagara Region PTA.
“PTA has been a driving force in establishing school lunch programs, after-school care, school bus safety, and TV rating standards before they became law. With several million members, its voice is heard. The PTA shares our commitment to strengthening the bridge between home and school.”
Following the PTA presentation, members of the district’s Strategic Planning Committee will present the 2013-2016 Strategic Plan. This plan is the culmination of efforts by many district stakeholdersincluding parents and community membersand provides direction and organization in ensuring that students are college and career ready.
“I hope many of our parents and community members will join us to learn more about the renewed direction of our district,” Lyndonville Superintendent Jason Smith said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Robin Hill Nature Preserve features sandstone home, 250 varieties of trees
Photo by Tom Rivers
Photo by Tom Rivers – Doug Pratt has returned to the nature preserve and sandstone home built by his grandparents from 1948 to 1952 on Platten Road in Lyndonville. Pratt has created a foundation for the nature preserve.
Photo by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – When he was a kid, Jerome Pawlak remembers William Smith leading Boy Scouts through a 45-acre nature preserve in Lyndonville.
Smith would stop and take photographs along the way. He was particularly enamored with mushrooms. But he also loved birds, swans, trees and Medina sandstone.
Smith, owner of a canning factory in Lyndonville, built a nature preserve with 450 varieties of trees at his property on Platten Road. In 1948, he and his wife Mary began work on a Medina sandstone home, doing much of the work themselves with some help from family and employees at the canning factory. It took several years to build the house. It remains a cherished site in the community.
But until recently, few people set foot on the grounds. That is changing now that the Smiths’ grandson, Doug Pratt, has returned to the community. He continues to spend time in Virginia, but Pratt wants to live full-time in the house where he spent his childhood.
“I love it,” Pratt said. “I feel we have something special here and we need to share it.”
Photo courtesy of Doug Pratt – William Smith, right, was beloved in Lyndonville for his enthusiasm in showing off a 45-acre nature preserve. This photo shows him giving one of the tours. William and his wife Mary kept swans. Many Lyndonville youths from two generations ago grew up feeding the swans.
On Thursday, Pratt opened the property to the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce for a “Mix and Mingle.” Pawlak, owner of the Save-A-Lot stores in Albion and Holley, was eager to have a chance to see the property.
He remembers the Smiths as very gracious hosts, eager to show the property to people who often showed up unannounced at the door.
“They were wonderful people,” Pawlak recalled. “They were very hospitable people.”
Pawlak hadn’t been inside the house in about 40 years until Thursday. It is largely unchanged, he said.
Pawlak was a Boy Scout growing up in Lyndonville and the Smiths welcomed Scouts to use their pond for fishing derbies. Scouts helped clear walking trails. Many Lyndonville residents have fond memories of feeding the swans at Smith’s Pond.
Pratt, a 1974 graduate of Lyndonville, lived in the Midwest for six years and then the past 20 years in northern Virginia. He is planning to move back full-time to Lyndonville. In his travels he said he has never encountered a place like his grandparents’ home. William and Mary Smith created the site after their daughter Lucille died from Scarlet Fever at age 19. They named it Robin Hill.
Photo by Tom Rivers – William and Mary Smith created a nature preserve on their property with 250 varieties of trees that still survive at the site. William Smith planted a variety of trees to attract birds to the property.
Pratt worked with family to establish the Robin Hill Foundation with an educational mission. He is reaching out to colleges, offering the site for research and observation. Many of the trees and plants are rare and exotic, and they attract numerous varieties of birds.
“I’m looking for ideas,” Pratt said about uses for the property. “I want to develop more educational things here. Granddad created something unique here.”
The site has already been used for weddings. Pratt said the property may need a visitor center to help explain all the natural resources.
While Pratt spoke from his office on Thursday evening, two humming birds were a couple feet away, outside at a bird feeder. Pratt marveled at the natural wonders that are so accessible at the site.
He has worked in the hobbying industry, writing books and creating kits about model rockets and other hobbies. He was an editor for the Model Retailer magazine. Lately, he has been in demand as a narrator for audio books. He will soon narrate a lengthy book on the War of 1812 – “The Forgotten Conflict.”
Robin Hill is a perfect work area for Pratt. The building with thick stone walls and the nature preserve provide a quiet work space for audio recording. And Pratt said if he needs to feel inspired, he only has to look out the window or take a short walk through the woods.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Julie Zimmerman opened Sixes and Sevens Spirits at 2 North Main St. in Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – After working two decades as an office administrator, first for an insurance company in Virginia and then for a fertilizer business in Knowlesville, Julie Zimmerman decided to follow a life-long dream of opening her own business.
The Medina native lives in Lyndonville. She thought there was a need for a liquor store in the community that would also draw customers from along the lake, especially for nearby customers from Barker to Kendall.
She opened Sixes and Sevens Spirits on June 28, offering wines from the Niagara and Finger Lakes wine trails, as well as a selection of rum, whiskey, vodka and other liquor products.
“It’s gone well so far,” she said during an interview at the 2 North Main St. “I thank the community for their support.”
The name “Sixes and Sevens” is an old English expression for being “crazy.” Zimmerman admits some of her friends doubted the wisdom of opening a liquor store in Lyndonville.
“I wanted to own my own business and I think there is a need for it in the community,” Zimmerman said.
She has been drawing customers from the many campgrounds near the lake, as well as local clientele who previously were driving to Medina, Albion or sites in Niagara County.
Zimmerman, 43, moved back to area in 2005 after 16 years in Virginia.
“I missed the small town atmosphere and I missed the snow,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Heck family in Lyndonville hosted Swantje Lagediek, 17, of Germany since Thanksgiving eve. “Swan” returned home on Monday. Pictured with Swan, middle, include: T.J., Bonnie, Lindsay and Tom.
LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville family said an emotional good-bye on Monday to a foreign exchange student, who was accepted into the family as a sibling and daughter the past eight months.
The Heck family didn’t expect they would ever host a foreign exchange student. But in November, a day before Thanksgiving, they welcomed Swantje Lagediek into their home.
“Swan” is from a small city, Bremen, in Germany. She immediately connected with Lindsay Heck, 17, and received lots of friendly teasing from Lindsay’s brother T.J., 22.
“This was one of the best things we have ever done,” Bonnie Heck said at the family’s home on Platten Road. “She fit right in with us.”
When Swan envisioned spending time in the United States, she immediately thought of New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
“But a small town is better,” she said. “A huge city is too busy.”
Swantje Lagediek, left, is pictured with her “sister,” Lindsay Heck.
She experienced famed tourism sites at Niagara Falls, Boston and Fort Worth, Texas. Locally she laughed about the Shoe Tree in Lyndonville, a row of four trees that have hundreds of shoes nailed to the bark or hanging from branches. Swan tossed her own pair of shoes into one of the trees.
She took a year of classes at Lyndonville, and enjoyed photography, digital literacy, art and a forensics class. She ran track and worked the spotlight in the school musical.
“I was open to new things,” she said.
Swan is used to public transportation in Germany, taking a bus or train to most destinations. Some days, she preferred to just walk to the Hecks’ home after school.
The annual Fourth of July parade passed by the Hecks’ and Swan joined then in their front lawn, watching the candy-throwing spectacle.
Lindsay and Swan were born two weeks apart, and they have connected like sisters. The two often joined in pranking Lindsay’s older brother. T.J. returned the banter. He also taught Swan the mechanical workings of cars and lawn mowers.
Swan’s parents visited Lyndonville about three weeks ago and the families felt a sense of camaraderie.
“We highly recommend it,” Mr. Heck, a state Department of Transportation employee, said about hosting an exchange student. “It has broadened our horizons. It made us realize there is a whole big dynamic world out there.”
