Alayna Trautman named New York State SkillsUSA President; Michael Huntington wins $5,000 scholarship

MEDINA – Two students at Orleans Career and Technical Education Center has received high recognition.

Alayna Trautman

Alayna Trautman, a junior at Royalton Hartland High School and an Electricity/Electronic student at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, has been named the New York State SkillsUSA President.

Orleans/Niagara BOCES has not had a NYS president for many years. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.  SkillsUSA helps each student to excel by empowering them to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

“This will be a great opportunity to be able to network with other state and national leaders,” Trautman said. “I really could not have done this without my great Electricity and Electronics teacher, Mr. Bill Leggett. He challenges me every day and is always there for me. I am also fortunate to have great classmates and wonderful SkillsUSA advisors: Mrs. Sarah Ivory and Mrs. Anne Carnahan who have supported me 100 percent and spent countless hours running me through mock interviews and helping me to settle my nerves.”

Trautman was chosen president of the New York State SkillsUSA organization for her dedication to the organization, excellent communication skills, her display of professionalism, her ability to work well as part of a team, her sense of responsibility and the way she represents Orleans/Niagara BOCES in different situations.

“A good leader communicates clearly, delegates, has a positive attitude, displays confidence and is creative,” she said.

At Orleans/Niagara BOCES, she was elected to serve as the chapter’s SkillsUSA Officer Vice President by her peers, teachers and principal. Trautman vows to be a great leader and live by the Skills USA Motto, “Preparing for Leadership in the World of Work.”

“We have all been impacted by the current health pandemic surrounding COVID-19, as the future workforce of America we must remain on track to fill the essential careers that support the American economy,” she said. “This crisis has quickly taught us the values of our SkillsUSA framework of being flexible, adaptable, organized, self-motivated, to communicate clearly, and most importantly computer and technology literacy. My goal as your New York State SkillsUSA president is to ensure that we are confident and prepared meet America’s need.”

When asked why career and technical education she says, “Career and technical education is a great opportunity to gain skills, make new friends and prepare for college and/or a career. It has been a great opportunity for me in helping me achieve my goals.”

Alayna is the daughter of Anedda and Don Trautman. Her future goals are to be gainfully employed in the skilled trades field of electricity. She is exploring attending a two-year technical school or a four-year university after graduation next year. Her ultimate goal is to own her own contracting company.

She has been active with the American Legion Post #1593 for 16 years and Girls Scouts Troop #70257 for the past 11 years.

In figure skating, she has represented New York State in the State Games of America in both 2017 and 2019, and medaled at the NYS Empire State Games every year since 2015.

Michael Huntington

Michael Huntington, a Building Trades student at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Construction Exchange of Buffalo and Western New York.

The Construction Exchange is a not-for-profit organization that has served the local construction industry since 1981 and is the largest construction association in Western New York.

Michael, a senior from Royalton-Hartland, will be attending Alfred State College this fall to get his associate’s degree in Building and Construction. After Alfred, he hopes to work for a construction or development company building homes. He will also decide if he will continue on to complete the four-year program in Construction Management while working in the field.  His long-term goal is to build his own business designing and building custom homes.

His Building Trades teacher Matt Anastasi says, “I am so proud of Mike and this is incredible news from our new partners at the Construction Exchange.   wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.”

Michael’s mother Nicole Huntington said. “We are so incredibly proud of Michael.  Mr. Anastasi has been fantastic and I am certainly confident in saying that he is Michael’s favorite teacher.”

Michael also recently took home a silver medal at the Regional SkillsUSA competition in Carpentry.

New enhanced safety measures include plexiglass at cash toll lanes to protect toll collectors and motorists

Press Release, New York State Thruway Authority

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced cash toll collection will resume along the Thruway’s ticketed-system tonight at 11:59 p.m.

After this time, the emergency toll procedures that have been in place since March 22 will be suspended, and drivers will receive a toll ticket upon entry and be able to pay their tolls with cash at a staffed lane when exiting the Thruway.

Drivers with E-ZPass will continue to experience contactless travel and payment at all tolling locations.

“During these unprecedented times, we thank all of our toll collection staff and customers who have seamlessly adjusted to the ever-changing conditions that COVID-19 has presented,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said. “As we move forward, we will be taking every step possible to protect our workforce and drivers while continuing a high level of service our customers have come to expect.”

As the collection of cash tolls resumes, drivers will notice enhanced safety measures in place at all toll plazas for the protection of toll collectors and motorists. This includes the installation of plexiglass that will separate collectors and motorists to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Toll collection staff will continue to wear face coverings and sanitize workstations periodically throughout their shifts. Cash customers may experience delays at toll plazas as regions across the state begin the new phases of the reopening process.

The Thruway Authority urges motorists to sign up for E-ZPass, which is the only contactless method to pay tolls, and provides the added benefits of saving time and money. Construction continues on the Authority’s systemwide transition to cashless tolling by the end of 2020 when cash payment will no longer be accepted. Motorists can sign up for E-ZPass online (click here).

In order to create the most streamlined and efficient payment method possible, non-E-ZPass customers who traveled the Thruway’s ticketed-system between March 22 and May 31 at 8:59 p.m. will receive one toll bill which includes all accumulated tolls and no additional fees. Toll bills will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle at the address on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Customers can pay with a credit card through the Thruway Authority’s website or by mail.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Dakota Morris of Holley swings at Camp Rainbow in Ridgeway in this photo from August 2015. Camp Rainbow is owned and operated by the Arc of Genesee Orleans

RIDGEWAY – Camp Rainbow is taking the summer off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The site on Townline Road is owned and operated by the Arc of Genesee Orleans. The summer day camp was founded in 1970. It serves children with and without disabilities.

After careful deliberation and review of the guidance available, Arc officials determined that the safety of our campers and staff would remain a concern if camp were to open.

Arc managers also decided that the free-spirited, close-knit experience of summer camp could not be achieved during social distancing. Camp Rainbow was scheduled for July 6 through Aug. 7.

“It just wouldn’t be fun or safe,” said Jenifer Batt, camp director. “Campers would have to wear masks in the summer heat. We would have to keep everybody 6 feet apart during activities.”  Camp Rainbow serves children ages 5-21, offering programming that helps campers develop and maintain communication and social skills, fitness, creativity, and leadership.

The postponement is especially unfortunate with Camp Rainbow celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer. Families and funders have been notified of the change for this summer.

CARLTON – Six baby swans born about 10 days ago have gained a lot of admirers at Lake Alice. Nancy Good sent in this photo of the family of swans on May 24.

Meghan Snook sent in these photos todays of the six babies with their parents.

Regan Todd, right, and her mother Trisha Stacey of Medina sing “What is this Feeling?” from Wicked as part of the Living Room Concert series by the Lake Plains Players. Their video was posted on May 18 and has more than 1,500 views.

Jen Neroni-Trupo sings “To Build a Home” from The Bridges of Madison County.

Lake Plains Players, a local community theater group that has performing musicals and shows for about 40 years, hasn’t let the Covid-19 pandemic sideline its performers.

The group has turned to posting videos during the week in a series called, “Living Room Concerts.” Each of the videos tend to get more than 1,000 views. (Click here for the LPP Facebook page to see the videos.)

“It just helps people and brightens their day,” said Lance Anderson, the LPP president and an Albion native.

Anderson is one of the performers, singing “Sweet Zoo” by Jeffrey D. Harris from Barbra Streisand’s “My Name is Barbra” album. His video was posted on April 17.

The videos are posted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They feature many of the LPP stars, from children to people who have been on stage for decades.

Anderson is amazed by the views for the videos and the many positives comments.

“We’re getting a bigger following,” he said. “We’re reaching more people.”

Anderson said recent videos have included instrumentalists. LPP may add snippets from past musicals as well. There many been monologues and readings. And there could be a second round for the performers already featured.

Lance Anderson, an Albion native and the LPP president, performs “Sweet Zoo” by Jeffrey D. Harris from Barbra Streisand’s “My Name is Barbra” album. His video was posted on April 17.

“We thought it might give people something to look forward to and give some of our members a chance to perform even though they are recording their songs from home,” Anderson said. “We have adults who have played leads in our shows and high schoolers who have played leads in the summer kids productions. We have performers from Rochester to Buffalo and all the places in between, including Orleans County. We just wanted to give back in some small way to the communities we hold so dear.”

Annabella Salisbury, a high school junior at Albion, sings “Waiting for Life” from Once on This Island.

Jennifer Neroni Trupo, Lyndonville’s K-12 vocal teacher, kicked off the Living Room Concerts on March 26, singing “To Build a Home” from The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown.

She said the Covid-19 pandemic has been hard on musicians, with musicals and concerts all cancelled for the foreseeable future.

She welcomed the chance to be part of the Living Room Concert series.

“During this time of people being stuck at home the arts are a soothing thing,” Trupo said. “This is a great outlet for performers to share with other people.”

She said many of her students are disappointed the school musical was cancelled, especially after many weeks of rehearsing.

“A lot of the students are struggling because they have lost their shows and their concerts,” she said.

She has enjoyed the variety in the Living Room Concerts, and the varied backgrounds. Some people, like her, have performed while their pets watched.

“We have people of all ages and the song selections are so uplifting,” she said.

Leah Kania, a sophomore at Albion, sings “Mr. Snow” from Carousel in a video posted on April 24.

Some of the performers so far have included Tamara Huzair, Angela Dray & Jeanette Sheliga, Lizzie Hopkins, Regan Todd (Stacy) and Trisha Stacy, Matt Mayne, Gary Simboli, Jackie Bleich, Beck Witty, Annabella Salisbury, Theresa Jones, Danielle and Eric Glynn, Leah Kania, Matt Barry, Carissa Clarcq, Joe Kusmierczak, Jennifer Neroni-Trupo, Gabriele Montgomery, Brian Wilson, Debbie Tompkins, Marissa Parker, Anthony Chavers, Tyler Weymouth, Johna Weigand, Hilda Myer-Post, Scott Weber, Lance Anderson and Sara Hill.

One of the performers, Anthony Chavers of Newfane, sings “Pulled” from The Addams Family by Andrew Lippa. Chavers is the recipient of the annual $250 scholarship given by the LPP to a graduating senior who has excelled in the arts.

The Lake Plains Players were planning to do a summer children’s theater camp, capped by a performance of Frozen Jr. That has been pushed to 2021.

Instead, Trupo and Anderson will do a “cabaret kids” program, providing singing lessons for some children who will perform in a virtual cabaret each week in July. Click here for more information.

Orleans and Genesee today both are reporting a death from Covid-19.

In Orleans County, the person who passed away was a resident of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, which has now had 27 of its residents die from Covid-19. Orleans has now had 38 people die from Covid-19.

In Genesee County, a person over age 65 died from Covid-19. That person was in the hospital, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

Genesee has now had five residents die after contracting the coronavirus.

Both counties are also reporting new confirmed cases of Covid-19. In Orleans County, the Health Department said there are two new cases – a community member form Ridgeway and a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina. (Orchard has had 46 residents test positive.)

Of the new positive cases in the county, one of the individuals is in the 50s, and the other is in the 70s. The new positive community case was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

The county has now had 236 people test positive for Covid-19.

Orleans also has two more recoveries, bringing that total to 77. There are 18 residents from Orleans hospitalized with Covid-19.

Genesee County has one new confirmed case of Covid-19, a person in the 50s who lives in Byron. Genesee has now had 190 cases of Covid-19.

The new positive case was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also has had two more recoveries in the community, bringing that total to 126. (With the four recoveries in the two counties, Genesee and Orleans have topped 200 recoveries – 203.)

Genesee County currently doesn’t have any residents hospitalized from Covid-19.

Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

The facility breakdown shows the total positive cases from facilities where the Health Departments have received a positive swab for Covid-19.

Press Release, International Joint Commission

Lake Ontario levels peaked early this year at 247.38 feet on May 5, which was 4 inches below the general flood stage and 20 inches lower than the peak in 2019.

Lake levels are expected to continue their seasonal decline through summer, and have fallen 2 inches from the crest to date.

Lower Lake Ontario levels and the continuing high outflows are causing increased currents in the upper St. Lawrence River and also extremely low levels on Lake St. Lawrence, the forebay just upstream of the Moses-Saunders Power Dam. The International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board has assessed the situation carefully and, if necessary, will act to augment low levels at this location over the coming weeks.

The Board’s extended general deviation authority (as granted by the International Joint Commission on October 9, 2019) has ended. The Board is no longer deviating by releasing outflows above Plan 2014 prescribed flows, since Lake Ontario reached its peak and began its seasonal decline.

The peak level of Lake Ontario is still well above average, but was reduced by 7 inches owing to deviations from Plan 2014. These deviation totals accumulated over the past several months as the Board attempted to remove as much water as possible from Lake Ontario, prior to spring.

Drier conditions have prevailed in recent weeks, including around Lake Ontario and in the Ottawa and lower St. Lawrence River basins. These are the primary reasons for the recent decline in Lake Ontario levels, which has occurred despite very high inflows from the extremely high upper Great Lakes. These high inflows will continue for the foreseeable future and, in response, Plan 2014 will continue to prescribe very high outflows, which will enhance Lake Ontario’s seasonal decline.

However, the lower and declining levels on Lake Ontario combined with the high outflows through the Moses-Saunders Power Dam that will continue are resulting in very low levels on Lake St. Lawrence that are anticipated to persist for months to come.

This will be the fourth straight summer of well-below-average levels of Lake St. Lawrence, which responds much more rapidly and significantly to increases in outflows than the much larger Lake Ontario upstream. Had the Board not deviated and removed water from Lake Ontario since last spring, Lake St. Lawrence would currently be approximately 6 inches higher.

‘I know our small business community in particular has been patiently awaiting this outcome. We must support them as they struggle during these uncertain times.’ – Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul

The Western New York Region was given the go-ahead today to enter into Phase 2 of reopening the economy.

The WNY Region includes five counties: Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus.

Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region, which includes nine counties. The Finger Lakes was approved for Phase 2 last Friday.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who heads the reopening effort for the WNY region, issued the following statement:

“I’m proud that Western New York has moved on to Phase 2 of reopening. But we must remember that the Covid-19 virus is still among us, and we have come too far as a community to lose momentum and undo the progress we’ve made together.

“Eligible Phase Two businesses include — offices; real estate; in-store retail; vehicle sales, leases and rentals; retain rental, repair and cleaning; commercial building management; and hair salons and barbershops.

“Prior to opening, businesses must certify that they will follow the guidelines to ensure that we protect the health of their employees and the public.

“I know our small business community in particular has been patiently awaiting this outcome. We must support them as they struggle during these uncertain times.

“I want to thank my fellow Western New Yorkers for adhering to the social distancing rules and wearing masks. It is because of you, we are poised to enter this new era.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Current and former students of Ami Sidari rehearse a routine Monday night on Sidari’s lawn, which was marked off to ensure safe distancing.  Laiken Ricker, left, leads a group of dancers during rehearsal Monday night on Amy Sidari’s lawn. Ricker and Janie Schultz (center), who are both cousins of Sidari, choreographed the routine in preparation for making a video. Rehearsals will continue this week and parents and the public are invited to park across the street in the bowling alley or on Sidari’s lawn to watch.

ALBION – Amy Sidari has had enough of sitting around and decided her students have too. The pandemic has taken its toll and she has decided to do something about it.

“I have dozens of students uniting for the first time since March 12,” said the dance instructor and owner of Gotta Dance Studio in Albion. “Some of these students I haven’t seen in years, but they are making the effort to attend and dance. We are going to make a music video, and are following all the rules and guidelines to do this.”

Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, chats with her cousins Janie Schultz, left,  and Laiken Ricker prior to rehearsal on Sidari’s lawn Monday night to prepare for making a video.

Sidari said she checked with the health officials and is following all their guidelines, wearing masks and dancing apart in spots marked off on her lawn. Spectators are watching from a distance in their cars, or may sit apart on their own lawn chairs if the weather is warm enough.

Sidari put the word out and expected 25 students to participate. She ended up with 39.

“Some of these alumni I haven’t seen in six years,” Sidari said through her mask Monday night, the first night of rehearsal.

Today’s practice has been postponed until Wednesday at 6:30. She hopes the group will be prepared to shoot the video soon.

“It will be entertaining and educating to see how we create a film,” Sidari said. “For me, the most difficult thing is not hugging everyone I see.”

Jennifer Viza of Albion, whose daughter Maleah, 16, is one of the dancers, said she was ecstatic about getting the kids back together again.

“Maleah has missed her lessons big time,” Viza said. “I’m not worried about them getting together, because these girls are big enough to know how to follow the guidelines.”

Sidari chose the music of the song “A Different Beat” for their routine.

“It is symbolic of our times and the title and lyrics go further, to the individual person,” Sidari said. “I sum up the song as ‘all about being yourself,’ which is different than anyone else. ‘Different’ is accepted, respected and anything done with love is a winner.”

Two of Sidari’s cousins, Laiken Ricker, a senior at Albion High School and teacher at Gotta Dance, and Janie Schultz a former dance instructor and currently a high school special education teacher, choreographed the routine. Schultz actually came home from Nebraska to take part in the dance routine.

Ricker and Schultz said they based the routine on the skill level of the dancers.

“It will be cool to see what Amy does on the music video,” they said.

Sidari said she plans to post the video on Facebook, the studio website and in a mass e-mailing.

As the dancers began their routine, learning eight beats at a time, cars began pulling up across the street. Sidari recognized them as some of her Cabaret regulars.

“It’s a joy to give them something to watch,” she said.

Kiarra Schuler, a sophomore at Albion Central School, is one of Sidari’s dance students who said she has been “very, very bored” not being able to attend dance lessons, and she was thrilled with the opportunity to dance again.

Alumni students came from Albany, as well as from all over the local area, to participate in making the video, Sidari said.

“It’s a heartbreaking situation to be separated so long,” Sidari said. “I want to get their mind and body working, like we used to do in the studio, but my priority is making it safe.”

“I was thrilled to see so many alumni students of mine and the parent support for the students I am still teaching,” Sidari said. “Anyone is welcome to come and watch this week from the safety of their own car. There is no harm to the community to watch from their car. We have tried to keep the kids busy via website instruction and fun activities. Now that the government is reopening gradually, phase by phase, I can really get the kids moving. This would not be possible at this time in our studio, but the outside works.  My yard is big enough to bring goodness to everyone.”

Sidari lives at 3300 Oak Orchard Road, across from Oak Orchard Bowling.

Provided photo

The new Niagara-Orleans dairy princess was crowned on Sunday. Sadie Klumpp of Newfane, left, will serve as an ambassador for the dairy industry. Hayley Roehling of Akron, right, is the dairy princess alternate.

Both Sadie and Hayley are sophomores in college and attend Morrisville State College for Agricultural Science. They both have shown dairy cattle in 4-H for many years. They are eager to promote dairy and share knowledge with the public.

Dairy princesses attend events and meetings to promote dairy products and to talk about the dairy industry, including the nutritional value of milk.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Community Action employees distribute Foodlink boxes and also bags of apples from LynOaken Farms on May 1 in Albion.

Food distributions will continue in Orleans County and will be expanded from one to three boxes.

The Orleans County Office for the Aging, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, and the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God will team up for the distributions.

There have been Foodlink distributions in April and May, with 300 boxes available for the distributions in Albion and Medina.

The distributions will expand from one to three boxes and Holley will be included this month. The schedule includes:

• Friday, June 5 – Community Action, Main Street Store, Albion, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Friday, June 12 – Medina Calvary Cupboard, Medina, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Friday, June 19 – Community Action, Main Street Store, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Friday, June 26 – Holley Community Center, Through Community Action, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The new round of food distributions will introduce a new state-funded program called Nourish New York. This funding allows Foodlink to purchase local product.

On a federal level, the USDA has implemented a new initiative called CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program). In this program, distributors who would normally serve schools, restaurants, and municipal programs are able to pre-pack boxes of perishable product and deliver to distributions being done all over the country, said Melissa Blanar, OFA director in Orleans County.

These boxes will be packed in three types: Mixed Dairy, Cooked Meat and Produce. Each box will be approximately 25 lbs. and is meant for a family, Blanar said.

During the food distributions in June, each vehicle with have three boxes set in a trunk or back of a truck. There will be 900 boxes at each one, with enough for 300 different families.

The OFA and Community Action want to continue the food distributions in July and August, but they need volunteers to help with the distributions.

Volunteers need to be able to lift 20- to 25-pound boxes. People interested should contact Blanar at the Office for the Aging at 589-3191 or Annette Finch at Community Action, 589-5605.

Blanar said the groups would like to have the food distributions the first and third Fridays in Albion, the second Friday in Medina, and the fourth Friday possibly rotating to other spot sin the county.

The guidelines for the events includes:

• This will be a drive-thru model with no walk-ins. People must stay in car and have their ID visible and do not roll your window down.
• Please have trunk cleaned out so boxes of emergency food can be put into it. Have your trunk open and ready. Once your trunk is closed and tapped, you may drive away.
• This will be a no-touch distribution and proper social distancing must be maintained at all time.

KENDALL – The school will have a drive-through celebration for retirees on June 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The community is welcome to attend the event at the elementary school bus loop.

This year’s retirees are Rosemary Childs, Peggy Warren, Tonya Lustumbo, Becky Joseph, Katie Koutras and Kevin Murray.

Participants are urged to remain in their vehicles and maintain social distancing during this event. A rain date will be June 18.

MURRAY – The Town of Murray is hosting a meeting through Zoom videoconferencing today, welcoming feedback on how Murray could better utilize agricultural, historic assets and other natural resources in the community.

The Erie Canal, streams and lakes, historic sites and agriculture support the region’s tourism economy, including agri-tourism, providing recreational opportunities, and represent the natural, historic and cultural richness of the Town of Murray.

As part of its Comprehensive Plan Update, the Town of Murray has organized a “virtual” public forum from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today to explore opportunities to build on these resources to benefit the Town and region.

The forum will include presentations from representatives of businesses and county government, who will share their perspective about these resources and how the Town can leverage them to improve the area’s quality of life and support local businesses. The Town’s planning consultants will describe the Town’s natural, agricultural and historic resources and their significance to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

Panelists include James Bensley, Orleans County Planning Director who is working on the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for the Erie Canal; Dawn Borchert, Orleans County Tourism Director who will discuss tourism promotion; Ken DeRoller, Orleans County Legislator who will offer a county government perspective and share ideas to better utilize the Erie Canal; Max Han of Red Rocks Ponds RV Resort; Amy Machamer, Hurd Orchards owner who will discuss agri-tourism; and Cindy Diehl, owner of the Hickory Ridge Golf Course and Resort.

LaBella Associates will host the meeting an offer an overview presentation.

The agenda includes:

5:30 – 5:35: Joe Sidonio, Town Supervisor, and Chad Fabry, Chairman of Comprehensive Planning Committee, will open the meeting and welcome the participants.

5:35 – 5:45: Barbara Johnston, Planning Consultant for the Comprehensive Plan, will give an overview of the Comprehensive Plan process, briefly summarize the natural, historic, agricultural, recreational and tourism resources in the Town and existing programs and regulations, and present the objectives of this workshop.

5:45 – 6:15: Panelist presentations (5-10 minutes each.) Each panelist will address the following questions from their perspective:

• What assets or resources in the Town of Murray are most valuable for recreation or tourism?
• How do these resources or assets support business development and/or recreational opportunities for residents?
• What are some of the challenges or obstacles affecting tourism and recreation in the Town?
• Are you aware of any Town zoning regulations that may unreasonably restrict business development relating to recreation or tourism, including agri-tourism?
• How can the Town or other entities support business development relating to its natural, historic and agricultural resources? Do you have any ideas for specific projects or programs?

6:15 – 6:30: Questions/Discussion with Comprehensive Plan Committee members

6:30 – 6:55: Questions/Discussion with the public

6:55 – 7:00: Wrap-up/Next steps

Check the town’s website (click here) for the Zoom instructions.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The Medina Department of Public Works put out flowers today along Main Street. Mary Lewis, left, and Kathy Blackburn, right, of the Medina Area Partnership’s Beautification Committee and Mayor Mike Sidari were there when the first planters were placed. The Beautification Committee said they are still accepting donations. Stop by Creekside Floral to see Lewis for an application to donate.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Susan Daiss, a lay leader at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion, speaks at a vigil for peace and justice on the church’s lawn this evening.

About 20 people attended the vigil that lasted about a half hour. Darrel Dykes of Medina holds a Black Lives Matter sign.

He attended a march on Saturday in Buffalo. He said the event was “overwhelmingly positive and peaceful” in the beginning. He could tell the atmosphere was changing later in the evening and he left before there was widespread vandalism.

He regrets that most of the news coverage and social media attention on the marches has focused on the looting and detracted from the message of peace and justice.

The church wanted to offer “safe space” to pray and send energy for justice, peace and healing “during these troubling and chaotic times in our nation and communities, as well as observe a moment of silence for all of those lost to racial violence so far this year.”

The group gathers outside the church on East Park Street. They responded to the death of George Floyd, an African-American man who died a week ago after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes despite Floyd’s anguish and pleas that he couldn’t breathe.

That death led to nationwide protests, with many resulting in damage to businesses and public spaces, including in nearby Buffalo and Rochester.

Lance Zink, 18, right and his mother Jennifer Bagley light a candle at the vigil. They are from Gaines and recently moved to the area. Bagley said she was grateful there was an opportunity for a gathering to express remorse about George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. She said she supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

Jessica Geroge, chairwoman of the board for the Pullman Church, shared a reflection during the vigil.

“Our world needs so much right now. So much love, and compassion, and kindness, and justice, and peace, and understanding.  We are called here tonight as people of conscience. People outraged by the disregard for human lives that we are seeing, outraged by the divisiveness we see in our communities, and by the dehumanization we are seeing from people in positions of power and authority.”

She urged the group to “love radically”  and challenge “systemic oppression.”

The Pullman church wanted to offer a place during a scary time for the country. Besides the death of Floyd, the country has seen the images of looters, and has endured nearly three months of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are called here tonight to seek a more compassionate, peaceful, and kind world,” George said. “We are moved to be here as people that are committed to seeing our world, our nation, and our society be better for all of us.  We are moved to search not only for justice, but for equality, fairness, equity and peace.”

Al Capurso also sang a song during the vigil – “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.