By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 December 2019 at 11:16 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Erik Goodrich, right, sings while Josh Jones dances to “Step By Step” by the New Kids on the Block during the fourth annual talent show on Saturday for the Arc of Genesee Orleans.
There were about 25 acts from Genesee and Orleans counties in the talent show, which was held at the Medina Theatre.
Nick Fuller sings and dances to “Twist and Shout.” Nick won a third place award and $25.
Randy Seager tells some jokes during a stand-up comedy routine.
Erik Goodrich sings the theme song from the Dukes of hazard. He also won a third place award and $25.
Robert Greer did a talk show routine and won a third place award.
Jared Gilbert sings “ Welcome to my Life” by Simple Plan.
Provided photo: Jonathan Doherty won first place and $75 for his performance of “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion. Carl Jerrings won second place and $50.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 December 2019 at 11:48 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Liam McGill, 5, sits on Santa’s lap at Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning at Medina Memorial Hospital. He came with his aunt, Caroline Way of Medina. Liam is hoping for an Xbox and a gift card from Walmart.
MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital rolled out the red carpet for Santa Claus this morning during their fifth annual Breakfast with Santa.
The event annually attracts up to 170 children, said Cindy Perry, director of outreach, education and marketing for the hospital’s Community Partners.
“We do this so kids can become familiar with the hospital in a non-threatening way,” Perry said. “It’s like the Teddy Bear Clinic we do several times a year. All the Orleans County schools come, and this year Elba came for the first time. Like that event, this one has a lot of hospital staff and students who volunteer.”
Rebecca Mannella, left, and Christine Walczak pose with Mrs. Claus (Valerie Rush) at Medina Memorial Hospital’s Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning.
Early Saturday morning, Jessica Downey, health educator with Community Partners, laid out stickers on the hallways directing children to Santa Claus, a craft table manned by GCASA volunteers where children made reindeer antler glasses, a cookie decorating station and breakfast in the cafeteria.
After greeting Santa and getting a free gift and candy cane, children were greeting by Mrs. Claus, who handed out Christmas stickers.
The gift this year was a snowman, in honor of 3-year-old Leon Sidari, who loved snowmen and died two years ago on Christmas Day from the flu.
There was also a mail box and table where children could write a letter to Santa.
Tammy Pritchard, left, administrative assistant at Medina Memorial Hospital, and Jessica Downey, health educator, are ready to welcome children to the fifth annual Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning at the hospital.
Parents received a tote bag filled with information on the flu, lead poisoning and hospital services, along with crayons which children could use to color the picture on the front of the tote bag.
Dan Capurso of Albion said this was the third year he had brought his daughter, Esmae, 5.
“We love this event,” he said. “It has become a Christmas tradition.”
April Walls of Albion said this was the first time she had brought her children, Owen Pelzer, 3, and Payton Babcock, 8.
“They just love it,” Walls said. “They are having such a good time.”
Amanda Luckman loved that the event was for children of all ages. She and Tyler Fending of Lyndonville brought their children Madilinn, 6, and Daniel, 3.
“We come every year,” Luckman said. “Daniel hasn’t sat on Santa’s lap yet without crying. We’re hoping it will be different this year.”
Madilinn Fending, 6, of Lyndonville and her brother Daniel, 3, enjoy breakfast during Medina Memorial Hospital’s Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 December 2019 at 9:08 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Dave Burke of Bergen and his daughter Fiona Burke look over the artwork on display at the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council’s gallery in Albion. The Salih Studio at 24 E. Bank serves as a gallery space for GO Art!
Burke painted an acrylic on canvas of “Sax Man.”
The arts organization is having its first juried art show at Albion. Artists were invited to submit pieces with a holiday theme.
Chris Manaseri of Kent won first place and $75 with this oil painting of “Christmas at Kuerner’s.”
Lori Laine, right, and Courtney DePalma check out the artwork. Laine is a member of the GO Art! board of directors.
Gregory Hallock, GO Art! director, hosted an opening reception for the exhibit. The gallery is open from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 7 December 2019 at 8:14 am
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 5, No. 45
Another year has passed, and another volume of Overlooked Orleans has concluded. To write another article about Charlie Howard and his Santa Claus School is perhaps cliché for the Christmas season.
Those years of perfecting the spirit of Santa, dating back to his childhood days when as “a short fat boy” his mother sewed a suit for him to play the role, brought about a more meaningful understanding to the holiday season. A man whose passions rested with the children, who anticipated the abundance of gifts and dolefully observed the quick passing of this festive time of year.
While perusing old issues of the Orleans Republican, I was drawn to a column which appeared during the month of December in which the newspaper accepted letters to Santa Claus for publication. The short notes written to Kris Kringle during the Great Depression reflect a gentle consciousness of the hardships associated with the time. Amidst the friendly but firm requests for the latest toy or the nicest doll came appeals for family support and gifts for siblings. I thought it might be worth sharing some of those stories this year.
“Dear Santa Claus, I am a little girl 2 ½ years old. I have long curls and blue eyes. Dear Santa, please bring me a big doll, a doll buggy and a choo choo train and some aggets. Thank you very much. Don’t forget my brother Junior, my cousins Bobby and Richard DeCarlo. Your pal, DeLois Marie DeCarlo, 63 West Ave.” (1936).
“Dear Santa Claus, I am writing my letter to you for Christmas. I bet you are very busy and some of your little elves…I am going to ask for a nice little type writter and a real one too. And I want a sled. That is all I want because you have other children that want and need them…My name is Eleanor Louise Brooks and my age is 11 years old.” (1936)
“Dear Santa Claus, My name is Leona Marcks I am 11 years old. I have been a good girl and help my mother. I want shoes rubber gloves, my sister Frances is 8 years old. She want shoes rubber gloves, my brother Edward is 10 years old he want a hat, gloves. Peter is 5 years old he want a suit and stocking. Stanley is 4 years old and want suit and stocking. My baby brother Valentine is 1 ½ years old and want shoes and a suit and he want an orange. Thank you very much. Yours truly, Leona Marcks.” (1931)
“Dear Santa, We always rite you at Xmas but we wonder why you don’t bring us what we ask for, so this year I’m going to ask you again if you can find a doll buggy will you bring one for my little sister Marjorie she wants a buggy real bad also some shoes and rubbers size 12 shoes…please Santa try and think of us if you possibly can because Daddy has been sick so he can’t work and he don’t have enough money to buy us things at all now. We like oranges and candy too if you have some to spare…With love from Evelyn Durrant” (1933)
One can only imagine little Evelyn’s frustrations that her requests for gifts appeared to go unnoticed; thankfully she did not realize the impact of her father’s illness and work situation on the family’s Christmas plans. This is a season for being thankful for everything we have!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 December 2019 at 10:01 pm
Photos courtesy of Melissa Ierlan
BARRE – The historical marker on Route 98 in Barre, next to the Barre Center Presbyterian Church, was reset on Thursday after getting new coats of paint by Melissa Ierlan of Clarendon.
This is the 20th local historical marker she has repainted since 2015.
Many of the markers had flaked off paint and could barely be read by passing motorists.
Ierlan starts by removing the top of the sign and then taking it home to give it a fresh look. She scrapes off the paint. This sign had bubbled paint and was peeling, and had a chunk missing from the bottom, which Ierlan repaired with some J-B Weld material.
After stripping off the paint to the bare metal, she gives it a coat of gray primer.
Then she paints the sign with two coats of blue.
Ierlan gives the sign two coats of yellow and a final clear coat.
The Orleans County Historical Association has given Ierlan a grant of $400 to cover the cost of materials for four signs.
She has started work on her 21st sign, the one in front of the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Medina.
Ierlan is looking for more signs to paint. Anyone with suggestions for signs in need of paint, can contact Ierlan at the Clarendon Town Hall, 638-6371 ext. 104.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 December 2019 at 4:01 pm
Bill Oliver praised for being ‘level-headed’ in demanding job
ALBION – Bill Oliver was commended by his co-workers today on his last day of work as an Orleans County public safety dispatcher.
Oliver has worked as a dispatcher for 28 years, following five years as an Albion police officer. Oliver made the switch to dispatch after having a brain tumor removed in his late 20s. Three weeks after brain surgery, he took the exam to be a dispatcher and passed.
He has earned the respect of his co-workers and the first responders in the community. Many stopped by the Sheriff’s Office today to thank him for his professionalism in dispatch.
“He is very level-headed, very calm and patient with people,” said Allen Turner, 9-1-1 communication director for Orleans County.
Oliver, 63, of Medina said he has enjoyed working with the dispatchers, firefighters, police officers and other community members.
He fielded numerous calls for people reporting fires, crimes and lost pets. Others would call wondering about the start times for community events, or seeking random information.
Increasingly, in recent years, Oliver said he would get more calls for people in a mental health crisis. He was able to talk one person down from wanting to commit suicide, and connected that person to help.
One particularly memorable call for Oliver was on Sept. 4, 2001, when Medina Lt. Michael Russell was shot on duty at Rosenkrans Pharmacy. Oliver was the dispatcher on duty, who directed first responders to the scene.
When he started as a dispatcher, there weren’t computers in the office or cell phone calls coming in to dispatch.
The 9-1-1 center was also at the jail. It moved about 20 years ago to the Public Safety Building on Route 31. The technology today is far more advanced, and dispatchers can quickly send detailed information to law enforcement officers in the field, Oliver said.
“The job has become more specialized,” said Undersheriff Chris Bourke, who worked in dispatch near the start of his career.
The incoming calls run the gamut, Bourke said.
“You never know what that call will be,” he said.
The dispatchers deserve appreciation from the community for their important work.
“They’re the bridge between victims and the first responders,” Bourke said. “They feel the same stresses as law enforcement officers because they have people’s lives in their hands. We wouldn’t be able to do our jobs without the public safety dispatchers.”
Bill Oliver is pictured with some of his colleagues in the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, including, from left: Sgt. Don Draper, Undersheriff Chris Bourke, 9-1-1 Communications Director Allen Turner, Oliver, and Chief Deputy Michael Mele.
ALBION/MEDINA – Each semester, GCC Campus Centers in Albion and Medina recognize one instructor and one student from each campus center for their outstanding instructional and/or academic performances.
The nominations have been made, the committee has decided and James Simon, associate dean at Medina and Albion Campus Centers, proudly announces the Fall 2019 Instructors and Students of the Semester.
From the Albion Campus Center, located at 456 West Ave.
Kevin Gardner
Mr. Kevin Gardner has been named Instructor of the Semester. Students who nominated Kevin appreciated his ability to make learning fun stating, “Mr. Gardner makes his students feel comfortable asking questions… I have learned so much in his class and realize now how much I enjoy writing,” and “He does his best to help us understand why things are the way they are.”
Gardner is a graduate of Albion High School and received his BA and MA in English/Creative Writing through GCC and SUNY Brockport. He is married and enjoys family time at his home in Brockport with four children, two grandchildren and two cats. One of his cats, Chester, is often used as the subject of his lessons and his students find it “comical but informational.” When he’s not teaching, Kevin enjoys writing, woodworking and watching Empire Boulevard. In this holiday season you may also find him reading his current favorite, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.
In his teaching tenure, Gardner has taught at SUNY Brockport and GCC, tutored for Pearson Smarthinking Services, edited the Oak Orchard Review and he currently serves as test proctor at GCC’s Orleans County Campus Centers. When asked if he would change his career choice, he simply stated that he might have started teaching sooner. He is a big fan of GCC and all it has to offer, calling it “a great place to start the rest of your life.” His advice to new instructors? “Be kind. Be fair.” Words he, himself, tries to live by.
Laurie Marchner
The Albion Campus Center Student of the Semester has been awarded to Laurie Marchner of Medina. Laurie is an adult student pursuing an AAS degree in Business Administration and is expected to graduate in the Fall of 2020. She chose to further her education at GCC so that she could have more opportunities. Her hobbies include spending time with her pets, reading, crafting and helping others. She currently serves as a volunteer emergency medical technician.
On the nomination form, one of Laurie’s instructors wrote, “Laurie brings wisdom and positive energy into the classroom every day. Not only does she have valuable things to say, but her approach often contains humor and makes us laugh… Her light presents the foundation for building a creative environment so that everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow.” Her instructor concluded, “I look forward to hearing about the positive impact she has yet to make on the world.”
From the Medina Campus Center, located at 11470 Maple Ridge Rd.
Dr. Melinda Grube
• Dr. Melinda Grube has been named Instructor of the Semester for the Fall 2019 semester. This is her first semester at GCC as a Western Civilization instructor. She also teaches history at Cayuga Community College and performs historical impressions of famous people including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Abigail Adams. Dr. Grube earned her Ph.D. from Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dr. Grube’s students reported that she “has opened a new way of learning in such an exciting manner” and “she challenges our minds and challenges us to listen to other ideas and beliefs, to see things in a new perspective, and to allow us to step out of our comfort zone to see that maybe there are other ways and more solutions.” One of the nominations forms read, “I was not looking forward to a three-hour history class. I was completely shocked and very engaged in the materiel due to the way she uses her teaching strategies.”
“The world is astonishingly beautiful, exquisitely painful and fabulously complex. The best moments in teaching are when students are not afraid to explore it with me,” Dr. Grube said. “I tell any new instructor, never take yourself too seriously. It isn’t actually about you.”
Outside of the classroom, Dr. Grube enjoys reading everything from Quest and Friends Journal to the Nature Conservancy, and her favorite TV program is Star Trek. She is married with three children and resides in Medina with an unidentified number of pets. When asked about her first semester as part of GCC’s Medina Campus Center, she responded, “The Medina Campus Center is the most supportive and friendly environment I have ever encountered.”
Uriah Allis
• The Student of the Semester in Medina for the Fall 2019 is Uriah Allis from Gasport. Uriah is pursuing an AAS in Nursing and after he completes his degree, he plans to work as a pediatric nurse and write novels and screenplays for the television industry. He would also like to travel around the world and bike the Great Wall of China. In his spare time, Uriah volunteers at a homeless shelter in Lockport.
Instructors who nominated Uriah observed he is an exceptionally hard worker but also he goes out of his way to organize a variety of study groups that are open to everyone, noting, “Uriah has taken a sincere interest in ensuring the success of his fellow classmates. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it.” Another nominee noted: “He is a mature student who will make an amazing nurse someday.”
Uriah has made a difference at the Medina Campus Center not only as a student in class, but as a concerned citizen at the Medina Campus Center, overall. His presence inspires kindness and compassion from everyone.
When asked why he decided to attend college, Uriah shared, “I’ve heard great things about GCC’s Nursing Program, which is what I ultimately wanted to get into. I also took a lovely summer class at the GCC Albion Campus Center in 2017 with Derek Maxfield.”
Uriah enjoys writing novels and short stories, reading of any kind, running and cycling, listening to a variety of music and podcasts, as well as roasting and making “pour-over coffee.” Major influences in his life include and start with Jesus Christ, and of course parents and friends, but also admittedly film directors such as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Wes Anderson.
Uriah’s advice to new students is to greet everyone you meet, whether faculty, staff or your fellow students with a smile and “how-do-you-do.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced today that he earned a 92 percent rating from the Conservative Party based on his legislative voting record in 2019, placing him in the upper echelon of all New York State legislators. The Conservative Party ranked legislators based on 25 bills that passed the Assembly and Senate, and evaluated lawmakers’ votes on crucial pieces of legislation.
“Being conservative isn’t about a party or a label, it’s about standing by the principles of smaller government, less taxes and economic freedom, no matter the cost,” Hawley said. “Here in Western New York, we know what’s best for us, our families and our businesses, and some bureaucrat or politician who has never stepped foot on a farm or been on a thrilling hunt has no right to tell us how to live.”
Among the bills at question were allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver’s licenses, sweeping subsidized housing protections, early voting, farm unionization and expansion of abortion deep into the third trimester – all of which Hawley voted against.
“Conservatism is about an individual’s right to govern themselves above all else and those principles guide me each day,” Hawley said. “Thank you to the Conservative Party and its leadership for issuing these evaluations and holding all lawmakers accountable to liberty and freedom.”
Provided photo: Dominick Whiting and Evie Schultz hold their team’s prized shawls.
Press Release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – A group of 12 Medina FFA students attended the Empire Alpaca Association Showtacular at the New York State Fairgrounds from Nov. 7-10.
The event is hosted by the Empire Alpaca Association and the New England Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association.
“It is the first time we have participated as part of an education piece,” said Todd Eick, Medina’s FFA advisor. “We had the students set up a display. Every day the kids were engaged in learning and were able to talk to breeders, professional artists and retailers who were vending. They got a good perspective on the fiber industry.”
The students got a lot of encouragement from the people passing by.
Two teams also took part in the Fleece to Finished Product competition. They used yarn that was at least 80 percent alpaca and used a triangle loom that was 5 feet. Third and fourth place ribbons were awarded to the teams for the shawls they wove.
“The third place team lost to a woman who does this for a living and lost by a point and a half,” Eick said. “For them to be rookies and perform as well as they did, I was very impressed by them. They did a really good job. It was a good experience for them and hopefully that will translate into different things the kids can be making, marketing and selling.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 December 2019 at 8:08 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE — The Lyndonville community has decorated 76 Christmas trees that will be lighted up on Saturday during an annual Christmas celebration at Veterans Park.
Santa will arrive at 5 p.m. and he will flip the switch, turning on the electricity for the lights on the trees.
This tree by Boy Scouts in Pack 25 includes the names of scouts with ornaments listing scouting values.
The 76 trees is a new record for Lyndonville, which started the tree display in 2013 with 26 trees in the first celebration. There were 75 last year. Each year the number of trees has grown.
This group checks out the trees when they were lighted up last December during the celebration at Veterans Park. The trees stay up until right after Jan. 1.
Community organizations and residents pay $30 to decorate a tree. The $30 fee covers the cost of the tree, materials for the sign, lead cords, replacement cords and adapters as needed. Participants provide lights and decorations.
The celebration on Saturday starts at 8 a.m. with a community breakfast at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. There are many activities throughout the day, including horse-drawn carriage rides, a basket raffle, craft sale, beef on weck, caroling, a petting zoo, and other events, including Santa’s arrival at 5 p.m.
Santa will then be available to meet children in the Village Hall from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
The day is capped at 7 p.m. with a Christmas Choir LaLaPalooza at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church.
The event is sponsored by the Village of Lyndonville, Lyndonville Fire Department/Auxiliary, Lyndonville Lions Club and Lyndonville United Methodist Women.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 December 2019 at 6:08 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION — Kay Walter and John Denniston, both members of the Class of 1959, were among several class members who took turns ringing the bell for the Red Kettle on Wednesday at Tops.
This is the first time the class volunteered to ring the bell as a class. Sharon Howard, one of the class leaders, organized the effort for the Class of 1959. Many of the class members get together monthly. This month they decided to do a service project.
Press Release, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. – Western District of New York
BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Oliver Kimmons, 52, of Lockport, who was convicted of sex trafficking, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan A. Tokash, Douglas A.C. Penrose, and Joel L. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that over the course of three years, the defendant solicited and coerced young and opiate-addicted women to have sex with paying customers in exchange for drugs.
Kimmons drove the victims to Western New York farms, dairies, and Indian reservations where they engaged in sex acts with paying customers. The defendant collected the money from customers and then “paid” his victims in heroin. Kimmons also had sex with the victims in exchange for drugs.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour; the Erie County Sherriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Steven Preisch; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in Charge Kevin Kelly.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 December 2019 at 4:47 pm
Health center’s Albion complex named in honor of Karen Watt, with wellness center named for the late David Pike
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Oak Orchard Health this morning celebrated the opening of a new wellness center at 317 West Ave., a building that was the long-time site of an Off-Track Betting parlor.
Oak Orchard bought the property and spent about $500,000 in renovating the site, adding offices for two primary care rooms, two rooms for mental or behavioral health counseling, a group therapy room for music and massage therapy, a lab, and also offices for staff.
The wellness center is named in memory of David Pike, a physician’s assistant at Oak Orchard for 24 years. He passed away on April 6, 2013.
Pike’s grandchildren – Charlotte, left, and Lillian – are in front. Others in the photo include, from left: Karen Watt, vice chair of the OOH board; Julia Hopkins, Chad Pike’s fiancé; Dr. Nancy Ciavarri, family physician and chief medical officer for OOH; Charlene Pike, David Pike’s wife; Chad Pike, David Pike’s son; Mary Ann Pettibon, Chief Executive Officer for OOH; Gary Skoog, chairman of the OOH board; Lorienda Smith (in back), OOH board member; Kathy Williams, OOH board member; and David Jewell, Ph. D., an OOH board member.
The new wellness center started serving patients about three weeks ago. There was an open house today as part of the grand opening.
The wellness center has primary care, behavioral health, and music and massage therapy. The new center will work closely with the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, with the two agencies referring patients. GCASA will do the initial addiction treatment while Oak Orchard will help patients maintain their health.
Oak Orchard Health unveiled a new sign in front of the Albion health center and the wellness center, naming the complex in honor of Karen Watt, an Albion fruit grower who has served on the Oak Orchard Health board for nearly 20 years, including many years as the board chairwoman.
During that time, Oak Orchard expanded the Albion health center and pushed to develop the wellness center. It also acquired Dr. David Bell’s former medical office in Lyndonville, and expanded with health care sites in Warsaw and Hornell. Oak Orchard has facilities in Brockport, and also runs a mobile dental unit that visits local school districts and is available to community members.
Mary Ann Pettibon (left), Chief Executive Officer for OOH, announces Oak Orchard’s Albion healthcare facilities will be named in honor of Karen Watt. Before joining the Oak Orchard board, Watt served as a president of the Orleans County Farm Bureau and was on the state board of directors for the New York Farm Bureau.
Watt also served as the chairwoman of the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health. In 2013, she received the Outstanding Migrant Health Center Board Member Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers.
Watt is also an advocate for breast cancer research and organized the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Orchard Walk at Watt Farms each fall from 2005-2017. For 11 years, the event raised over $350,000 for the American Cancer Society and in 2016-17 raised money for the local Genesee-Orleans Cancer Services Program.
Watt said she has enjoyed working the Oak Orchard staff and board members to expand services in Orleans County and in Oak Orchard’s other communities.
She said David Pike, the late physician’s assistant who was dedicated to the Oak Orchard patients, is far more deserving of recognition from Oak Orchard.
“David epitomizes wellness in our community,” Watt said. “He wanted to serve rural community healthcare. It really tugs at the heart strings because the need is so great.”
Charlene Pike and her son Chad Pike of Albion accept a plaque that recognizes the service of David Pike.
“He really enjoyed being a part of the community,” Chad said about his father. “We would go to the grocery store for what should have been a 5-minute trip and it would be over an hour and half because of all the people stopping him and thanking him.”
Charlotte and Lillian, David Pike’s grandchildren, check out some of the musical instruments in the music therapy room. This is the first of Oak Orchard’s six sites that offers music and massage therapy, as well as behavioral health treatment.
Gary Skoog, a Brockport farmer and OOH board chairman, said the organization is committed to serving Orleans County.
“We’re in continual growth mode at Oak Orchard,” Skoog said. “We’re trying to increase opportunities for wellness in Orleans County.”
Oak Orchard Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center and receives about 30 percent of its budget from the federal government. Oak Orchard started in 1966, initially focused on farmworkers’ health. The center has expanded since then and is available to the entire community.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 5 December 2019 at 2:30 pm
Kyle and Anneliese Wroblewski are Mary and Joseph during Old Fashioned Christmas on Sunday.
MEDINA – An Old Fashioned Christmas has become an annual tradition at the East Shelby Community Bible Church.
This year’s event will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and will feature a variety of activities which honor Christmas celebrations from the past.
Old Fashioned Christmas takes place in the historic 1800s miniature village of West Jackson Corners. Named for what East Shelby was called in the 1800s, West Jackson Corners is across from the church at 5278 East Shelby Rd.
The annual event features Dickens-style caroling, horse and buggy rides, hands-on activities, (such as making your own swag) and enjoying hot chocolate and other homemade Christmas treats.
The day will begin with a Christmas concert at 12:30 p.m. by the church’s Band of Renown. As always, there is a visit from Santa.
Visitors this year will be glad to learn the church has a new, larger parking lot which will accommodate all of their guests, while keeping them closer to the festivities.
