Organization honors firefighters, supporters at annual banquet

Fire Chief Andy Benz gets emotional as he presents Hunter Sturtevant with his Chief’s Award at Shelby’s Firemen’s Banquet Saturday night. Sturtevant is the first four-generation member of the 70-year-old fire department.

MEDINA – Shelby Volunteer Fire Company celebrated two milestones at its annual installation banquet Saturday night.

The banquet was the fire company’s 50 annual event and also marked the 70th anniversary of the forming of the fire department.

A special feature was the attendance of Congressman Chris Collins, who presented chief Andy Benz with a certificate commemorating the 70th anniversary. Collins said his support of fire companies goes back a long way, having supported building fire towers for training in Erie County. He also co-sponsored the first firefighters’ cancer registry act, which directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect data on cancer incidence among firefighters and launch research into the connection between their work and the disease. It provides for tracing the residue of chemicals a firefighter might encounter while fighting a fire.

Assemblyman Mike Norris said this is the third year he has represented the town of Shelby. He praised volunteer firefighters, saying they save taxpayers $3 to $4 million a year by their service.

Guests were welcomed by fire company president Tim Petry and auxiliary president Patricia Fuller, followed by introduction of special guests by Dale Banker, director of Orleans County Emergency Management.

Fire company officers installed by Dale Watts are chief, Andy Benz; deputy chief, David Moden; assistant chief, Scott Petry; firematic captain, Crystal Luckman; firematic lieutenant, Zach Petry; and EMS captain Jeff Lyons.

Trustees for one year include Marcus Watts; two years, Lee Hellert; and three years, Jason Watts. Executive board members are president, Tim Petry; vice president, Gary Lamar; treasurer, Kirk Myhill; secretary, Serena Blair; sergeant-at-arms, Hunter Sturtevant; chaplain, Phil Keppler; assistant chaplain, Karl Haist Jr.; and steward, Gary Watts.

Congressman Chris Collins presents a certificate to Fire Chief Andy Benz in honor of the fire company’s 70th year. At right is master of ceremonies and longtime member Howard Watts of Medina.

Town Justice Dawn Keppler installed officers of the ladies auxiliary. They are president, Patricia Fuller; vice president, Cindy Robinson; secretary, Robin Watts; sergeant-at-arms, Brianna Wheeler; chaplain, Elaine Watts; three-year trustee, Delores Wolters; two-year trustee, Sharon Wright; and one-year trustee, Rosemary Pray.

Junior firefighters installed by Andy Benz are president, Alex Benz; vice president, Mark Riegle; treasurer, Andrea Benz; secretary, Sydney Watts; and sergeant-at-arms, Jacob Miller.

Dawn Keppler swears in members of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s Auxiliary during their annual banquet Saturday.

Fire company president Tim Petry said the fire company is an active and large group, and any one of several members could be eligible for an award.

Tim Petry, president of Shelby Fire Company, chose Marcus Scribner as the Junior Firefighter of the Year.

“Everyone does more than one thing, so I knew after last year’s banquet who I was going to recognize,” Petry said, calling Steve Seitz, Jason Watts, Tim Fearby and Howard Watts, with their wives to the podium. There the men all received plaques and their wives bouquets of roses.

For his Chief’s Award, Andy Benz selected a younger member, who he said is always begging to sign up for training and bugging the chief to allow him to drive the truck.

“He is always challenging older members and is the first four-generation member of Shelby Fire Company,” Benz said, presenting the award to Hunter Sturtevant.

Three members re-certified as EMTs, Joe Kyle, Lori Kyle and Miranda Miller.

EMTs Jeff Lyons, Gary LaMar and Tiffany Petry received medic bags.

Benz reported that Jeff Lyons, Scott Petry and Jason Watts were sent to Ohio for auto extrication training.

Petry chose Marcus Scribner as Junior Firefighter of the Year.

“Since the day he walked into this fire company, he has been an outstanding member,” Petry said.

It is customary for the Junior Firefighters to present a gift to the fire company each year, and this year they chose to donate a search kit for large area searches.

Auxiliary awards were presented by Pat Fuller to Rosemary Pray for 66 years of membership and Shirley Fuller for 62 years.

“We owe them a lot of gratitude,” Pat Fuller said. “They have worked and worked to make us what we are today.”

Fire chief Andy Benz swears in officers of the Shelby Junior Firefighters during their banquet Saturday night.

Fuller also thanked other auxiliary members who work all year long at fundraisers and keeping the kitchen clean. It is customary for the auxiliary to adopt a fireman who lives at the Firemen’s Home on the Hudson, and she encouraged other members to consider adopting a fireman who might not have family and send him cards or little gifts.

The auxiliary each year earns money with various fundraisers, which enables them to give a monetary gift to the fire company in appreciation of all they do for the auxiliary and the community. This year, Fuller presented Petry and Benz with a check for $10,000.

The final award of the evening was Petry’s President’s Award, which he gave to a group he called “Friends of the Fire Company.”

Jeff Lyons, his sister Kim and niece Alexa received the award for Lyons’ help with new fire police equipment.

Shelby Fire Department president Tim Petry chose several active members to receive his President’s Award at the annual installation dinner Saturday night. Honored with plaques were Steve Seitz, Jason Watts, Tim Fearby and Howard Watts, shown here with their wives, who all received bouquets of roses.

Fire Chief Andy Benz, left, presents medic’s bags to EMTs Gary Lamar, Jeff Lyons and Tiffany Petry.

Shelby Ladies Auxiliary president Patricia Fuller presented Shelby Fire Company President Tim Petry, left, and Fire Chief Andy Benz with a check for $10,000 during the annual installation dinner.

Shirley Fuller, left, and Rosemary Pray were recognized at the annual installation dinner for 62 and 66 years of membership, respectively, in Shelby Fire Company Women’s Auxiliary. At left rear is auxiliary president Patricia Fuller.

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A seamstress works on her handicraft last year at the Old Fashioned Christmas sponsored by East Shelby Community Bible Church. This year’s event on Sunday will follow an old-fashioned church service at 10:30 a.m.

EAST SHELBY – The East Shelby Community Bible Church will sponsor its annual Old Fashioned Christmas from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The festive day will have a very special feature this year. The celebration is designed to give visitors the true meaning of Christmas and will follow an old-fashioned Christmas service at 10:30 a.m. in the historic church, with a giant Christmas tree donated by Stephen and Patricia Morse of Medina.

In 1992, the Morse’s daughter got a sapling with a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Her folks planted it in the garden at the front corner of their house, where it has been growing all these years.

The Morse’s have become dedicated followers of the East Shelby Church, where they sit in the front pew every Sunday. They decided to donate the 35-foot tree for the church’s Christmas celebration, where it sits proudly, all covered with festive lights and ornaments.

The day will feature a Christmas concert by the church’s band, known as the Band of Renown, followed by swag and garland making, demonstrations of old-time handicrafts, Dickens-style Christmas caroling in the miniature village of West Jackson Corners, horse and buggy rides, sampling of foods cooked over an open fire, kids’ crafts and hot chocolate and other Christmas treats.

A visit from Santa at 4 p.m. will conclude the day.

Pastor Erik Olsen leads the signing of Christmas carols during last year’s Old Fashioned Christmas celebration in West Jackson Corners, the miniature village built by the East Shelby Community Bible Church. This year’s celebration will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the church at 5278 East Shelby Rd.

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MEDINA – The Western Orleans Comprehensive Plan has eyes on the future for the villages of Medina and Lyndonville, and the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates.

Municipal leaders from the those five municipalities have been working on updating the comprehensive plan for about 18 months. The final document was approved by the committee and now the five municipalities are having public hearings on the plan, with each municipality needing to vote to accept the changes for the plan to be official as a guide for future zoning and community priorities.

Courtesy of the Orleans EDA: This map shows the 300 acres for the Medina Business Park and the Keppler Site near Maple Ridge Road. A comprehensive plan calls for expanding the business park south and adding 1,067 acres that could be used for businesses.

The Shelby Town Board had a hearing last Wednesday and discussed how the plan would impact the town.

The biggest change would be expanding the Medina Business Park by 1,067 acres south on Route 63 past Sanderson Road. That expansion would be south of the Keppler site, where the current Medina Business Park ends. The Business Park already has about 300 vacant acres.

“These are visions of the future, not guarantees,” Ed Houseknecht, the Shelby town supervisor, said during a public hearing.

The municipalities sent out surveys to 5,500 people and more business and job opportunities was a frequent high priority for respondents.

If the land was to become available for development, it would likely be a gradual process. The municipalities and Orleans Economic Development Agency would need to work to have infrastructure, zoning and other issues resolved to entice a company to that area.

“It doesn’t have to happen all right away,” said Jim Bensley, the county’s director of planning and development.

That county department worked with the three towns and two villages on updating the plan, which would replace one that was last updated in 2002.

“This is a blueprint for where you want to go in the future,” Bensley said.

The plan calls for greater walkability and improved sidewalks in the village, and better walkways along Maple Ridge Road, which has added several new businesses and the Genesee Community College campus center since the plan was last updated 16 years ago.

That road with its increasing traffic may need more turning lanes. Bensley said the local leaders are pushing for turning lane studies from the state Department of Transportation.

The plan also calls for an improved walkway and bikeway at Butts Park, especially near the Oak Orchard Creek.

Andina Barone of the Mindful Media Group said the plan should also address climate change and that anticipated impact on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge could face increased droughts. A proposal by Frontier Stone for a new quarry near the refuge calls for pumping water to the refuge and helping to manage the water flows.

Barone, whose company works for Frontier, said the quarry would help prevent the marshes from drying up.

She also said the comprehensive plan should give farmers more freedom with their land, especially with using solar energy and pursuing other business opportunities.

The survey showed that high property taxes were a top concern for residents, Barone said at the hearing.

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EAST SHELBY – The 30th annual Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run will probably be their most successful yet, Sue Knights said Saturday, as she checked the number of participants.

There were 201 runners and walkers who signed up for the event, said Dawn Meland, who volunteered at the registration desk.

“I think people held off when it was raining so hard this morning, but when it stopped, they came out,” she said.

Walkers are off Saturday morning as the gun sounded to start the 30th annual Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run to benefit cancer patients and their families in Orleans County .

The race is named for two Medina residents, Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli, both of whom died of cancer. Each of their families started fundraisers in their names, and then decided to join forces.

Since its inception, the Knights-Kaderli fund has assisted 575 cancer patients and/or their families, Knights said.

“This year alone, we have given $62,000 to help Orleans County residents who are battling cancer,” she said.

These six friends participated in the Knights-Kaderli Run/Walk Saturday as a show of support for several in their church who are fighting cancer. From left are Mary Zangerle, Carol Bellack, Robin Wehling, Jan Toale, Bev Woodward and Judy Hipes.

The annual event brings people from throughout the area, such as the Gary and Karen Barber family of Brockport and the Jay and Julie Mersdorf family of Webster.

Son Brett Mersdorf and Karen ran the race, while Julie, Jay and Gary walked and ran with the younger kids, including Paxton Barber, 2, who pedaled his little kiddie car.

“We would have come rain or shine,” Julie said.

Chris and Stephanie McAdoo pushed their 1-year-old daughter Alana in her stroller in the Knights-Kaderli Walk Saturday morning. They usually run, but Chris has his arm in a sling, so they’ll be a little slower this year, he said.

They also take part in the David Millis Golf Tournament each year at Batavia Country Club, whose proceeds are  donated to the Knights-Kaderli Fund, Julie said.

“We started the golf tournament as a little fun thing in honor of our dad, who died of pancreatic cancer,” she said. “In 11 years, it has grown to where we have donated more than $130,000 to the Knights-Kaderli Fund.”

Both Karen and Julie attended Lyndonville school together and when they grew up and heard about the Knights-Kaderli Fund, they liked what they saw, Karen said.

“With the Knights-Kaderli Fund, all the money stays in Orleans County and goes right back to someone who needs it,” she said.

Sue Zinkievich sells raffle tickets to benefit the Knights-Kaderli Fund during the annual walk/run Saturday at East Shelby Fire Hall. At right are Phil Dauria and Shirley Printup.

Debbie Taylor, a member of East Shelby Fire Company, hopes one of her tickets will be a winner in the basket raffle to benefit the Knights-Kaderli Fund. The raffle was part of the annual Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run Saturday at East Shelby Fire Hall.

Three runners pick up their speed as they enter the home stretch in the Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run Saturday.

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Ed Spence of Oakfield, left, talks with Floyd Hurlburt of Watertown, during Saturday’s gathering at the Warrior House in support of veterans. An Army veteran, Hurlburt was one of seven veterans who spent the weekend at the Warrior House.

SHELBY – Saturday’s event at the Warrior House in support of veterans was a resounding success, and the second in which ABATE motorcycle club participated.

Ed Spence of Oakfield, former Northeast director of Operation Injured Soldier, and Peter Zeliff Jr. of Middleport organized the day, which began with a motorcycle run from Medina’s VFW, and ended back at the Warrior House, a farmhouse on Salt Works Road donated by Zeliff as a retreat for veterans. There, the more than 230 who registered for the motorcycle run, local veterans and supporters from the community gathered to listen to several bands, enjoy a pig roast and support a huge basket raffle.

To conclude the day, members of the Medina VFW, American Legion, their Honor Guard and the Patriot Guard participated in a patriotic ceremony, which included playing of Taps, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, a 21-gun salute and the proper folding of an American flag which had been draped on a casket.

The casket and flag are part of a float created by the VFW and American Legion for local parades and celebrations.

Todd Wilcox of Medina is a road captain for ABATE, who said the event was very successful.

“Last year, we raised more than $13,000, and this year is going to top that,” he said.

A sea of motorcycles filled the yard of the Warrior House on Salt Works Road, Medina, during Saturday’s Cycle Run/Pig Roast/ Basket Raffle event to honor veterans. The day was part of a weekend of special activities, which began early in the morning with a goose hunt.

Wilcox’s wife Beverly was in charge of the basket raffle. She said support of that was phenomenal, with everyone she asked willing to donate a basket.

Saturday’s celebration was part of a two-day event, which included a goose hunt early each morning.

Artist Carol Culhane of Albion brought the Purple Heart ornaments she designed for wounded veterans.

Artist Carol Culhane and her husband Gerry had a booth set up with the ornaments she originally designed for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Gerry is a Vietnam veteran, which is one of the reasons Carol has been a longtime supporter of veterans. The couple is hoping to have a hunt at their home in Gaines.

Seven veterans from across New York state were hosted at the Warrior House for the weekend. One was Floyd Hurlburt of Watertown, an Army veteran who was based at Fort Drum.

“I come on these hunts and help where I can,” he said. “I love the concept here.”

Shawn Latour of Schenectady first came to the Warrior House last year for a goose hunt and a deer hunt with bow. He was eager to return again.

“It piqued my interest,” Latour said. “I really had fun.”

He served with the U.S. Army from 1988 to 1991 during Operation Desert Storm and in Germany.

The day was a fruitful one for Donna Bushover of West Shelby, who came with her son Randy, who is news director at WBEN Radio.

Donna was looking to donate her late husband David’s wheelchair, and really wanted a veteran to have it.

She met up with Spence, who told her he knew of a very ill veteran in the area who needed a wheelchair immediately.

Dave Kusmierczak, left, and Steve Johnson, right, stand at attention with other veterans as Jim Freas from Medina VFW places a properly folded American flag on the casket displayed during a ceremony at the Warrior House on Saturday.

While Donna’s husband was not a veteran, her brother Robert Burgess of Attica and brother-in-law Lee Buckland of Attica are Navy veterans and her niece’s husband of Attica is an Air Force veteran.

She was happy to know the wheelchair would stay in Orleans County.

In one final presentation, Dan Anderson, commander of the Medina VFW, presented a check for $1,000 to Spence to help maintain the Warrior House.

Dan Anderson, commanded of the VFW in Medina, presented a check for $1,000 to Ed Spence for the Warrior House at the conclusion of Saturday’s event in support of veterans.

Members of the Patriot Guard joined members of the Medina VFW, American Legion and Honor Guard during a patriotic ceremony at the celebration to honor veterans Saturday at the Warrior House.

The veterans’ Honor Guard from Medina VFW and American Legion fires a salute during a patriotic ceremony at a celebration to honor veterans at the Warrior House.

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Kneeling before the helmet, rifle and boots of a deceased soldier is how a soldier pays tribute to a fallen comrade, as depicted in this statue on the lawn of the Warrior House.

SHELBY – It may not look like much – an old farmhouse surrounded by cornfields.

But to the veterans who get to come there, it is a paradise.

The home on Salt Works Road is called the Warrior House where, on Sept. 14 and 15, a weekend of events has been planned for a handful of veterans.

After purchasing the farm on Salt Works Road, Pete Zeliff Jr. knew he didn’t want the farmhouse. It didn’t take him long to find a use for the old home.

Zeliff knew Joe Pionessa of Oakfield, who in turn introduced him to Ed Spence of South Alabama. Spence, a  Marine and Army veteran, at the time was New York state director of Operation Injured Soldier, and was actively involved in developing events to support veterans.

Soon after meeting, the three came up with the idea of a retreat, where veterans could come and spend quality time, just relaxing or enjoying sporting events.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Warrior House in West Shelby hosted six veterans in early November 2015 for hunting and fellowship. These three include, from left: Albert Gonzalez from Theresa, near Fort Drum in northern New York; Shannon Girard from Lafayette, La.; and Shane Weyant from Holidaysburg, Pa.

The Warrior House became a reality in 2015.

Zeliff fixed up the interior and had 12 beds built to fill the downstairs.

The first event was a hunt, set up by Operation Injured Soldier, which paid to bring veterans from all over the country to the Warrior House. Three more sporting events were sponsored the first year, including a string of chartered fishing trips on Lake Ontario.

The Sept. 14 and 15 event will be a goose hunt, and will include participation by ABATE, an Albion-based motorcycle group that will sponsor a dice run. The dice run will begin at the Medina VFW at 10 a.m. and continue to other VFWs in the area, ending with a pig roast, live band and basket raffle at the Warrior House.  Last year’s event raised about $13,000. For more information, contact dice run leader Todd Wilcox at (716) 566-0365.

The Warrior House is now a 501-3C, and donations of cash, food and raffle baskets is always welcome.

They are also looking for volunteers, and anyone interested can call (716) 560-0697.

Spence said they recently took in some homeless veterans and gave them temporary shelter at the Warrior House.

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