U..S. Sen. Charles Schumer wants the federal government to increase mental health resources in rural communities, especially for farmers, who have a suicide rate 3.5 times the general population.
Sen. Schumer
Schumer was at a Wyoming County dairy farm on Nov. 27 for a news conference about the issue. Schumer said farmers face a number of stressors that can negatively impact mental health, including financial issues, climate and weather challenges, farm or business problems, and fear of losing their farm.
To address this escalating issue, which is doing real damage to farmers in the GLOW Region of Upstate New York, Schumer launched a two-pronged plan. First, he called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive study of suicides among farmers. Second, he called on Congress to expediently pass the Seeding Rural Resilience Act, which would establish a number of initiatives designed to quell farmer suicides.
“On a good day our family farmers work long hours on tight margins,” Schumer said. “Our farmers are beset by enormous pressures, and so many factors out of their control—from bad weather to bad government policy to giant swings in the economic cycle—that for too many it becomes too much and tragedy ensues. That is why we need to break through the silence, and why we must together confront this challenge, offer better avenues for our farmers who are hurting to getting help, and do more studies so we have a real handle on the depth of the mental health challenge we face,” said Senator Schumer.
Schumer explained that suicide has increasingly become a major public health crisis in Upstate New York and the GLOW Region. In New York State, the suicide rate has increased by more than 28 percent over the past two decades. Specifically, Wyoming County has the 8th highest suicide rate in New York State, and the highest in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region.
According to the New York State Department of Health, 22 individuals died by suicide in Wyoming County from 2015 to 2017, representing a rate of 18 deaths per 100,000 people. Nationwide, a total of 47,173 Americans died by suicide in 2017, well above 2016’s recorded total of 44,695. Schumer said that this follows an alarming trend that has seen the national suicide rate increase by 33 percent since 1999.
“Farmers face a number of unique circumstances that can negatively influence mental health, including a constant fear of losing their farm,” Schumer said. “These stressors, which can be exacerbated by stigma and inadequate access to mental health services in underserved, rural areas, have manifested in a disproportionate rate of suicide among farmers. We need better mental health care for farmers, better information on how they can access that care, and better data on the nature and extent of the problem.”
The CDC has previously acknowledged that its 2018 report on suicides was limited in scope, as it only considered data from 17 states participating in the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) in both 2012 and 2015. Also, it is estimated that the 17 states included in the 2018 study only represented roughly one quarter of farms across the country. Now that all 50 states participate in the NVDRS, Schumer explained the CDC now has data that is representative of the entire nation and the farmer population.
Second, Schumer urged Congress to expediently consider and pass the Seeding Rural Resilience Act. Introduced in the Senate by Senators Jon Tester [D-MT] and Chuck Grassley [R-IA], this bipartisan legislation would establish three initiatives designed to help farmers cope with issues of mental health, including:
• Establish a requirement for USDA to offer voluntary stress management training to employees of the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and National Resources Conservation Service.
• Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and USDA to execute a $3 million public awareness campaign about mental health issues on farms and ranches and to destigmatize mental health care in rural areas
• Require the Secretary of Agriculture to collaborate with stakeholders from state and local governments, as well as the agricultural industry, to issue best practices to address mental health issues on farms and ranches.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2019 at 9:29 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: This tree in Lyndonville is shown on Saturday while the Sun goes down. This was taken on the Lyndonville school campus near Main Street, next to Johnson Creek.
3 to 5 inches expected in Batavia, Buffalo
The National Weather Service said 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected in Orleans and Niagara counties from mid-morning to mid-afternoon Wednesday.
Even more snow – 3 to 5 inches – is expected Wednesday in the Batavia and Buffalo areas, with the most persistent lake snows across northern Erie and western Genesee counties.
Today is forecast for a high of 38, with temperatures dropping to 22 tonight.
Wednesday and Thursday will both reach highs of 30, according to the National Weather Service.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2019 at 10:29 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – The Kendall community last Wednesday had a tree-lighting celebration for this Christmas tree at the town gazebo across from the elementary school on Kendall Road.
These photos, taken this evening, also show the new war memorial that was dedicated on Sept. 29. The war memorial was led by four Boy Scouts who each took charge of part of the memorial for their Eagle Scout project.
The 39-foot-long brick wall features granite plaques highlighting the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War and the War on Terror. Alternating the granite plaques are concrete medallions representing the five branches of the military.
Three flag poles stand tall behind the brick wall. The center American flag pole is 35 feet high, with two 30-foot flag poles representing the State of New York and Orleans County standing on either side. The memorial is lit from dusk to dawn.
There is a bench by the memorial. The bench includes a quote by Joseph Campbell: “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
The war memorial project was led by four Boy Scouts – Ryan Barrett, Noah Rath, Jayden Pieniaszek and Brian Shaw.
The tree-lighting celebration last Wednesday included a supper with Santa at the elementary school cafeteria. The Kendall Community Band also performed at the event.
MEDINA – The Medina school district invites the community to come in and see the improvements that have been made to the school district as a result of capital improvement project.
Many areas have had improvements, such as windows, auditorium seating, bathrooms, cafeterias, the pool and other parts of the campus.
The district will be hosting tours at each of the buildings on the following dates: (The public is welcome to stay for the event that follows.)
• December 11 – Wise Middle School – 5:30 p.m. (Before Grade 4/5 Holiday Concert)
• December 17 – Oak Orchard Elementary School – 5:30 p.m. (Before Family Fun Night)
• December 18 – High School – 6 p.m. (Before HS Holiday Concert)
A’Cappella Choir concert set for Dec. 15 at St. Mary’s
The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir, under the direction of Rachel Trillizio, also has been diligently practicing for one of the choir’s biggest concerts of the year.
The annual Christmas concert for the community will be held on Sunday, Dec/ 15, at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on the corner of West Avenue and Eagle Street.
BATAVIA – Christen Ferraro has been hired by Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse as project coordinator of the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force.
GCASA Executive Director John Bennett announced the appointment of Ferraro, who received her bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary with a concentration in community and mental health from the University of Buffalo earlier this year.
A Batavia High School graduate, Ferraro said she recently moved back to Batavia from Buffalo and is excited to connect with task force stakeholders in the tri-county area.
“I missed the community and am thankful to be able to have a role in bringing agencies and people together to take on this epidemic,” Ferraro said. “Our goal is to continue the momentum that Allison (Parry-Gurak) has developed.”
Ferraro is replacing Parry-Gurak, who accepted the director of treatment position at GCASA’s Albion clinic.
As part of her college program, Ferraro served as an intern with the Genesee-Orleans Youth Bureau from August 2018 through May 2019, assisting with event planning, supervision, Youth Court and Youth Lead.
The GOW Opioid Task Force currently has over 350 members from across the tri-county region.
Members represent various sectors of the community, including public health, mental health, human services, local government, substance use disorder treatment and recovery agencies, law enforcement, EMS, faith-based groups, health systems and medical practitioners, education, businesses, concerned individuals, families, and individuals in recovery.
The task force project coordinator oversees six “work groups” – access to care, community education, data, family & loved ones, law enforcement and Naloxone, and two sub-committees – hospital policies and faith-based – and provides periodic progress reports to a steering committee.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that opioid overdose deaths among New York State residents, outside New York City, declined 15.9 percent in 2018 compared to 2017, the first decrease in 10 years.
While close to 2,000 people tragically died from opioid overdoses last year, the decrease remains a significant milestone and is the result of several aggressive actions taken the past several years to combat opioid addiction.
These actions are outlined in the new Heroin and Opioid Task Force Progress Report detailing three years of work and improvements to expand and enhance services aimed at combatting the opioid crisis. The Task Force recommendations were signed into law in 2016.
“New York’s first reduction in opioid overdose deaths in over ten years is an important milestone and demonstrates our work to combat this deadly scourge is working,” Governor Cuomo said. “And while New York has taken the most aggressive actions to combat the opioid crisis of any other state in the country, the opioid epidemic continues to devastate too many families and we will not rest until we put an end to it once and for all.”
After years of rising opioid-related overdoses deaths among New York State residents, 2018 finally saw a drop, from 2,170 deaths in 2017, to 1,824 deaths – a 15.9 percent decrease – according to preliminary State Health Department data covering areas outside New York City. Furthermore, hospitalizations for opioid related overdoses decreased 7.1 percent – from 3,260 in 2017 to 3,029 in 2018. Overdose deaths, hospitalization and other data are included in the most recent New York State County Opioid Quarterly Report, available here.
(Editor’s Note: In Orleans County the overdose deaths increased from 4 in 2017 to 6 in 2018, according the state data. The number of emergency room visits due to opioid overdoses increased from 36 in 2017 to 40 last year.
The state report also says the number of Orleans County residents admitted to certified chemical dependence programs for opioid addiction increased from 224 in 2017 to 234 in 2018.
The state also tracks how many times Naloxone is administered by EMS and law enforcement. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, helps stop an overdose. Naloxone was administered 48 times in 2017 by EMS in Orleans, and 30 times in 2018. Naloxone was administered 1 time by law enforcement in 2017 and 13 times in 2018, according to the state report.)
The progress announced today is the direct result of recommendations from the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which Governor Cuomo convened in 2016. The Governor reconvened the Task Force in his 2019 State of the State proposals. Co-Chaired by Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul and Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez, the Task Force proposed new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, Centers of Treatment Innovation, mobile treatment, telehealth and 24/7 open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2019 at 12:03 pm
‘Five to Revive’ designation could help bring resources to historic district
GAINES – The recent “Five to Revive” designation by the Landmark Society of Western New York should bring attention to the historic district in Gaines, where there are cobblestone and brick buildings from before 1850.
The Cobblestone Museum is hopeful the designation will galvanize local and state officials to look for ways to make the district more pedestrian friendly, while also promoting the area as a tourism destination.
The routes 98 and 104 intersection is a busy spot in Orleans County. Not only are there several businesses and a museum in the hamlet, but motorists pass through on their way to other destinations.
The museum would like to see sidewalks in the district, better signage, historic-looking street lights and a reduced speed limit.
“This area has so much history,” said Doug Farley, the museum director. “The (Five to Revive) will do nothing but help us if we promote it right.”
Mark Tillman, owner of Tillman’s Village Inn, would like to see a reduced speed limit, and more ambitious marketing plan for the historic cobblestone district. The businesses and museum do a lot of their own marketing, and would benefit from a bigger collective push about the historic district, he said.
The district is highlighted by three cobblestone buildings – a church, a residence and a schoolhouse – that were designated as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1993. This is the only site in Orleans County ranked as a National Historic Landmark.
This ranking means the sites have national importance, including such nearby sites as the George Eastman House and Susan B. Anthony House in Rochester, the Holland Land Office Museum in Batavia, and the Darwin R. Martin House and U.S.S. The Sullivans in Buffalo.
Farley said the historic district is at a main crossroads in the county, with routes 98 and 104. The museum is exploring having a visitor’s site at the district and would welcome the county as a partner in the project, Farley told county legislators last month.
The Five to Revive has been critical in bringing attention and funding to the former Holley High School (being renovated for $17 million into apartments and the village offices) and the chapel at Hillside Cemetery.
Farley said the historic district is not well marked with signs and he is concerned about the 45 mile per hour speed limit.
“The cars travel past us at a very high clip,” Farley told the county legislators.
There isn’t much parking in the hamlet for larger tractor trailers and trucks. Many park on the edge of Route 104 near the Crosby’s convenience store.
The museum will often bring out traffic cones and have road marshals during events to make it safer for pedestrians.
Carol Culhane, the former town supervisor, manages Fairhaven Treasures at a brick building owned by Ray Burke at the routes 98 and 104 intersection. She said a reduced speed limit should be a top priority.
The speed limit drops to 40 mph near the Gaines Town Hall to past the intersection with Gaines Basin Road. Culhane would like the speed limit to go down to 35 in the historic district. But she said it isn’t an easy process to petition the state Department of Transportation and get DOT approval for a reduction in speed.
“To lower the speed limit would be wonderful,” she said. “But the state is very particular. It is a very long, arduous journey to get them to change that.”
The museum buildings are spread out on Route 104, with several buildings also on Route 98, south of Ridge Road. The museum could use more parking, and the sidewalks would make it safer for the visitors on foot, Culhane said.
Farley urged the local elected officials to work with the museum, businesses and residents in the district to develop a plan to better promote the district, and make it safer for pedestrians.
“We certainly have a wonderful historic product here that we can be proud of,” he said. “The sky is really the limit if we put on our thinking cap with the resources we have.”
In a personal meeting with Consul General of Canada, Phyllis Yaffe, and her successor, Deputy Consul General Khawar Nasim, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer recently expressed his concerns over Lake Ontario’s above-average water levels for this time of the year and urged the officials to do everything possible to mitigate the risk of a repeat of last year’s historic flooding.
Specifically, Schumer called for the officials to advocate for enhanced shipping safety maneuvers and concomitant increased outflows at the Moses-Saunders Dam to both the Canadian Seaway and to the Canadian commissioners of the International Joint Commission (IJC).
Schumer argued that while the outflows are already significant, there is further room to increase them when done in conjunction with enhanced shipping safety measures. Schumer said this would continue safe shipping along the Seaway and help ensure that both residents of Upstate New York and Canada have their sky-high risk of future flooding mitigated. Last month, Schumer also urged the St. Lawrence Seaway and American commissioners of the IJC to support increased outflows at the Moses-Saunders Dam.
“During our meeting, I told Consul General Yaffe and Deputy Consul General Nasim that we need to do more—now—to mitigate flooding risks in the spring, especially increasing outflows at the Moses-Saunders Dam in conjunction with enhanced shipping safety maneuvers,” Schumer said. “After experiencing record flooding in two of the last three years and already seeing sky-high water levels this season, there is an urgent need to act now to prevent the worst.”
With Lake Ontario’s water level currently 19 inches higher than the average for this time of the year and a repeat of last year’s historic flooding looking likely, Schumer called for the immediate institution of all the enhanced security protocols to enable increased dam outflows.
“That’s why I called on our Canadian partners to support the further increase of outflows at the Moses-Saunders Dam and to express that support to the Canadian Seaway and Canadian Commissioners of the IJC, as I have done on the American side,” Schumer said. “With the risk of a repeat of these immense damages looming, we must take every sensible measure possible to protect communities along Lake Ontario.”
Schumer explained that last summer, in the midst of flooding season, when the Moses-Saunders Dam outflows were increased to 200 cubic meters per second (m3/s) above the normal safe navigation flow limit (L), the Saint Lawrence Seaway accommodated the increased outflows by employing additional operational and navigation safety precautions such as speed controls in sections of the Seaway, a prohibition on meeting or passing vessels in certain areas, positioning a tug boat at some locks to assist vessels if needed, and reduced speeds to minimize vessel wakes.
Schumer explained that while outflows now remain at L+200 m3/s, not all of these same enhanced precautions are still being employed, indicating that outflows could be safely increased now above L+200 m3/s if these measures are reinstated. Schumer added that in order for outflows to be further increased, the measure must be supported by the Canadian Commissioners of the IJC and the Canadian Seaway.
Kendall’s FIRST LEGO team, only in its second year, won the “Innovative Solution Award” on Sunday during a regional competition at the University of Rochester with 44 teams.
Team members include Madison Hults, Alek Odalovic, Dominic Dellaquila, Caleb Schumacher, Caleb Schneider, Robert Henry, Cody Johnstone, Alex King, Seth Pray and Carter Alt. The student coach is David Elliott, and adult coaches are Jackie Nielsen and Wendy O’Hearn.
The team also won the “Champions” award in November during a qualifier tournament in Churchville-Chili. That award recognizes the team that most embodies the FIRST LEGO League experience by fully embracing their Core Values of discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork and fun, while also achieving excellence in both the robot game and innovation project.
Kendall started the program last year. For this year’s competition, students were tasked with finding a problem with a local building or public space. The Kendall students first believed that there wasn’t a town library, but after completing some research, they discovered there is a small one located in the Kendall Town Hall.
They visited the library and met Eileen Grah, the librarian, along with town officials Barb Flow and Tony Cammarata. They discussed with them the importance of a library and book access for kids in Kendall, especially over school breaks. Through these discussions, they discovered that one problem the library faces is lack of exposure. Many students and their parents are unaware of the library’s existence as a resource in our community. There is no way to know what books are in the library since they do not have a public database.
Students decided that the best way to raise awareness of the library and increase patronage was to create a website for the library with a searchable database of books. The students learned how to code a website in HTML, CSS and Javascript, and they created the following website www.kendallreads.com. The team hopes this website will be a helpful tool in promoting literacy in Kendall.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 December 2019 at 8:14 pm
KNOWLESVILLE – The decision to sell the former Knowlesville United Methodist Church, now called the United Methodist Church of Abundant Harvest, was not an easy one, but one members understand was necessary.
According to the Rev. Garry McCaffery, who just became pastor July 1, said after the furnace went out, the decision was made at a church conference the end of June to sell the building.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Ruth Higgins, left, a lifelong member of the Knowlesville United Methodist Church, Lorraine Luckman, also a longtime member, and Kathy Leuscher prepare vegetables in the kitchen of the recreation hall which the church owns.
The church had already come to the conclusion four years ago more could be done with two congregations meeting as one, and they began holding services with the Millville location for the United Methodist Church of Abundant Harvest, the Rev. McCaffery said.
The Knowlesville church had purchased the recreation hall from Ridgeway Fire Company across the road about 25 years ago, so they are able to hold church events there.
Because the church is not handicapped accessible, and so many of their members are aging, attendance has been dwindling. The cost of making the church accessible, coupled with the need for a new furnace, made the decision to sell the most logical one, although not easy to accept for some of the longtime members.
Nancy Smith and her brother Ron Schompart are lifelong members of the church. Smith recalled growing up in the church and how active their youth group was. Its leaders included Smith’s aunt and uncle, Verona and Don Pritchard, then Butch and Charlene Seitzer and lastly, Nelson and Rose Schlegel.
She especially remembers the hay rides, the active women’s group, the Mother and Daughter, and Father and Son banquets.
“The year I was a senior, we did a skit, pretending we were the Beatles,” Smith said.
There were also dances, pot luck dinners and scavenger hunts. Later, the church started an Apple Festival, making apple butter and other homemade apple treats, an event which they still carry on.
Smith said she was upset they were selling the church, but understands it’s for the best.
Ruth Higgins, who started attending the church when she and her husband moved to Knowlesville in 1977, has been one of the most active members. She feels selling the church is the only chance the congregation has with the building.
“The church used to be the center of people’s lives, but not any more,” Higgins said. “I actually liked worshiping in the Fellowship Hall. It was kind of cozy.”
The Knowlesville congregation now has adult Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. in the Recreation Hall, then travels to Millville for worship at 11 a.m.
“Selling the church gives people the opportunity to say goodbye to one chapter of God’s work in our lives and to receive and open the next chapter,” the Rev. McCaffery said.
The church is planning a ceremony of deconsecration for the Knowlesville church building at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 in the Fellowship Hall.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 8 December 2019 at 3:31 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Joe Cecchini and his Mustang teammates will begin defense of their Niagara-Orleans League title at Barker on Friday.
Niagara-Orleans League boys and girls basketball and swimming competition will get underway this week.
Medina will open defense of its boys basketball title at Barker on Friday. The Mustangs, who are seeking a school record fifth straight title, return five regulars from last year’s 12-0 N-O title squad including Nate Sherman, Brian Fry, Joe Cecchini, Jarin Rhim and Tyler Chinn.
Albion will begin N-O action at Akron on Tuesday and then visit Roy-Hart on Thursday. The Purple Eagles are led by senior Deyonci Farley who was named N-O Player of the Year last year.
The Lyndonville boys will face a key Genesee Region League opener at Notre Dame on Tuesday.
N-O girls basketball competition begins on Tuesday with Medina at Barker, Roy-Hart at Albion and Akron at defending champion Wilson.
Tuesday’s N-O swim openers will have Medina at Albion, Barker at Roy-Hart and Akron at Newfane.
The week’s wrestling competition will feature the second annual Fred Large Memorial Tournament on Saturday at Lyndonville.
Weekly Schedule Monday Boys Basketball: South Park at Medina, 6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Rochester Prep at Kendall, 6 p.m.
Tuesday Boys Basketball: Albion at Akron, Barker at Tonawanda, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Notre Dame, Holley at Oakfield-Alabama, 7 p.m.; Roy-Hart at East Aurora, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Medina at Barker, Akron at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Albion, 7 p.m.; Notre Dame at Lyndonville (game changed to January 6) Swimming: Medina at Albion, Barker at Roy-Hart, Akron at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Basketball: Medina at CCA, 6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Oakfield-Alabama at Holley, 7 p.m. Wrestling: Medina at Roy-Hart/Barker, Albion at Akron, Newfane at Wilson, 6 p.m.
Thursday Boys Basketball: Wilson at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Albion at Roy-Hart, 7 p.m. Swimming: Albion at Roy-Hart, Newfane at Barker, 4:30 p.m. Wrestling: Alexander at Albion, Holley-Kendall at McQuaid, 6 p.m.
Friday Boys Basketball: Medina at Barker, 6 p.m.; Newfane at Lyndonville, Barker at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Attica at Holley, Elba at Kendall, 7 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Salamanca, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Barker at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Medina at Albion, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 7 p.m. Swimming: Akron at Medina, 4:45 p.m.
Saturday Girls Basketball: Elba at Kendall, 12:30 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2019 at 10:02 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville community turned on the lights on Saturday evening for the 76 Christmas trees that are decorated at Veterans Park on Main Street, next to Johnson Creek near the dam.
The village started the tradition in 2013 with 26 trees, and it has grown each year since. Community members and organization pay $30 to decorate a tree. The fee covers the cost of the tree, materials for the sign, lead cords, replacement cords and adapters as needed. Participants provide lights and decorations.
(Click here to see a video of Santa flipping a switch to light up the trees.)
Chris Borner walks with her granddaughter to look at the trees at the park. Many of the trees are decorated as memorials or tributes to family members.
The lights were turned on at about 5 p.m. after Santa arrived and flipped a switch to light up all the trees.
Lorna Klotzbach, Don Gramlich and the Atwater family teamed up to provide horse-drawn carriage rides.
Claire, 4, of Lyndonville pets a sheep as part of a petting zoo that also included goats and a donkey.
There were many activities throughout the day, including a basket raffle, craft sale, beef on weck, caroling, a community breakfast and Christmas Choir LaLaPalooza.
Lyndonville Lions Club members served up hot dogs. Roy Holland is at left and John Belson, the Lyndonville mayor, is working the grill.
Here are a few more photos of the trees, which will be lighted up until after Jan. 1.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2019 at 9:14 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The village celebrated the holiday and Christmas season with a lighted parade and other community events on Saturday.
The Village of Holley DPW carries an inflatable Frosty the Snowman in this float, heading through the Public Square.
This fire truck was decorated in lights, with a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on top.
Girl Scouts from Troop 82204 put a lot of effort in this float.
The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company paid tribute to the first responders who died in the Sept. 11, 2011 terrorist attacks.
Santa enthusiastically greeted the crowd. He rode in Holley’s bucket truck.
People lined up along North Main Street, Route 31 and the Public Square to watch the floats, including one that brought in Santa.
There were many other activities in the downtown, including children’s programs in the Community Free Library, wine-tasting, food and games at the eastern Orleans Community Center, and holiday music.
There also was a tree-lighting to cap the events.
Paul Strom serves chili at the Eastern Orleans Community Center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2019 at 8:55 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Dan Mawn, left, was recognized by Holley’s Deputy Mayor Kevin Lynch as the 2019 Citizen of the Year during Saturday’s “Night of Lights.”
Mawn, a life-long Holley resident, worked 36 years for the Holley water and electric departments, retiring in 2005.
“Even after retirement to say he is an active member of our community is an understatement,” Lynch said.
Mawn is active with the Holley Fire Department, the American Legion, the VFW, and the Murray-Holley Historical Society. In 2003, he received a lifetime membership for the Historical Society for his many years of dedication, including serving as president.
“This year’s recipient exemplifies the award for all of his time he selflessly donates to organizations,” Lynch said. “He is a fixture at just about every community event — spaghetti dinners, Flag Day celebrations, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the list goes on.”
Holley also turned on the lights for its community Christmas tree in the Public Square. The tree has blue lights again this year in honor of the emergency services and law enforcement personnel.
Many community members purchased memory bulbs in honor of local loved ones. Deputy Mayor Lynch read those names for the crowd gathered at the tree lighting.
The tree was donated by Mike Bower of Erie Way Tree Farm in memory of his late brother, Edwin Bower.
I was unpacking my Christmas decorations and came across this bell I was gifted a few years back by my Mom. It is a signed bell by Karolyn Grimes who played ZuZu Bailey in the 1946 classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.
The bell is pretty plain, but the sound that comes from it is Angelic. Rightly so, because as ZuZu so sweetly told her Daddy, “Teacher says, every time a bell rings an Angel gets It’s wings.”
If you have seen this classic you know that the Angel she refers to is Clarence, an (AS2) Angel Second Class. Most people see George as the heart of the story, but I am leaning towards Clarence, because Clarence touched George’s heart in a way that allowed him to believe in himself again.
Even though Clarence had been trying to get his wings for over 200 years and was sent as a last resort Angel, he did not allow that truth to lessen his resolve or desire to inspire. He resolved to show George that George’s life had a positive impact on many people and hopefully inspire George to want to live.
After jumping off a bridge into cold water and granting George his wish to see his world as if he had never been born, Clarence completed his mission. George saw that even though life gives us challenges we need to appreciate all of life’s blessings and successes.
Clarence’s ability to show one person why they have value is as powerful as a person realizing that they themselves have value. If you stumble upon someone who is struggling to know their worth, take a lesson from Clarence and show them chapters of their story where they had true value, were appreciated and needed.
No matter the struggle, many times the struggle is worth it, not only for yourself, but for those who’s lives you have blessed. We don’t need to be an AS2 or jump off a bridge to reach out and show compassion. This Holiday Movie encourages us to show appreciation in hopes everyone has a Wonderful Life. As we go on our daily steps know that what we do touches others in ways we may never now. Resolve to inspire and give hope.
Happy Perks to Everyone! To view My Blog live online and hear ZuZu’s Bell the moment Clarence earned his wings just go to https://www.positiveperksposts.com were you can also join in, like and share your comments.
Truly,
Debbie Burgoon London
Your Sassy Small Town Missus from Albion
Team members include Madison Hults, Alek Odalovic, Dominic Dellaquila, Caleb Schumacher, Caleb Schneider, Robert Henry, Cody Johnstone, Alex King, Seth Pray and Carter Alt. The student coach is David Elliott, and adult coaches are Jackie Nielsen and Wendy O’Hearn.
