Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation (S.1668/A.4915) requiring that death certificates in cases of opioid overdose specify which opioid was involved in the death, if known. This new law requires that information be recorded so that more data will be available to better address the opioid crisis.

“New York has taken the most aggressive actions to combat the opioid crisis of any other state in the country,” Governor Cuomo said. “This commonsense law will go a great length to ensure we have the most accurate information to be able to stop this public health scourge once and for all.”

Under current law, if a person dies of an opioid overdose, there is no requirement that the death certificate specify which opioid was involved. The legislation signed today takes effect immediately.

Senator John Brooks said, “The opioid crisis we are facing has been a significant problem for far too long. Currently there is no requirement that the death certificate include the specific opioid involved. This has led to a lack of information about which types of opioids are the most deadly. By recording this information, more data will be available to better track which opioids are causing the most deaths and more communities in need will be better equipped to combat this crisis. I applaud Governor Cuomo for signing this bill and thank him for his leadership on this issue.”

Assembly Member Kimberly Jean-Pierre said, “By requiring death certificates to list the specific types of opioids causing overdose deaths, we will have another tool in our arsenal to help combat and end the opioid epidemic once and for all. I thank Governor Cuomo for his support and for signing this critical legislation into law.”

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s quintet of, from left, Thomas Furmanski, Michael DiCureia, Brillance Johnson, Tyray White and Cody Wilson get together just before the start of this morning’s Media Day program at New Era Field where the Purple Eagles will face WNY Maritime for the Section VI Class B championship at 5 p.m. Friday.

Come Friday Albion will be in the Western New York football spotlight as the Purple Eagles take on WNY Maritime for the Section VI Class B championship at New Era Field, the home of the Buffalo Bills.

This morning five senior members of the Albion squad joined with representatives of the other nine competing teams for the annual Media Day program at New Era Field in preparation for the weekend’s sectional championships.

Albion, which will face Maritime at 5 p.m. Friday, was represented by quarterback Thomas Furmanski, running backs Brillance Johnson and Tyray While and linemen Michael DiCureia and Cody Wilson.

“It will be fun to go out there as a team and compete,” said Furmanski. “I’m just trying to treat this like a regular season game. You don’t want to get too excited or hyped up.”

Interestingly Furmanski, along with some of the other members of the Albion squad, have played on the stadium’s turf once before during their Albion youth football days at the half-time of a Bills game.

“It’s an exciting moment for me,” said White of Albion’s first trip to the stadium in nearly two full decades.

DiCureia agreed saying, “I’m just excited and hope to go out and compete well.”

“I’m definitely excited for our team and for my family and friends. It’s big for them,” added Johnson.

“It’s been a while since Albion has won here so we’ll try to do it this year,” said Wilson. “I’m just excited for it.”

In fact, it was been 32 years since Albion last captured a section title at the stadium when the Purple Eagles downed Salamanca 15-8 in 1987. And it’s been 17 years since the Purple Eagles last appearance at the stadium in 2002.

Orleans Hub has four videos from Media Day. Click here to see Albion players walk up the tunnel from the field.

(Click here to see Ken Stoldt, head of Section 6 football, give a speech to the teams representatives.)

(Click here to see the what the visitor’s locker room looks like at New Era Field.)

(Click here to see some of the Albion players in a suite, looking out on the football field.)

The Purple Eagles quintet took a few minutes to test out the stadium’s turf. In front are Wilson and DiCureia. In back are Johnson, Furmanski and White.

Tree experts value Albion’s municipal forest at $7.9 million

ALBION – A tree firm hired to do an inventory of the village’s urban forest estimates the 2,070 trees on public land in Albion at $7.9 million.

“This is infrastructure that gives back to you,” said Lori Brockelbank, a certified arborist and project manager with the Davey Resource Group.

However, she said 57 percent of the trees are maples, and that makes the forestry vulnerable if an invasive bug or disease were to spread among those trees. Brockelbank addressed  the Village Board during a recent meeting, and presented a final tree management plan and inventory. Ideally, the village would have less than 30 percent of a variety.

Davey Resource Group was paid $41,450 for the project. The village received a $38,260 state grant for the tree inventory and management plan.

Davey identified 719 planting sites for new trees in the village. The firm recommended varieties for the locations. Brockelbank urged Albion to avoid more maples.

Davey rated the health of trees and assigned a risk – low, moderate, high or extreme. The firm identified 204 trees that are in poor health and should be removed or have dead spots pruned. Taking down 105 trees identified for removal would cost an estimated $42,000, Brockelbank said.

The streets at the cemetery are lined with towering maple trees.

She urged the village to keep the trees healthy and plant more. The trees consume storm water, which reduces that demands on the village’s sewer plant, and slow down erosion, preserving soil, among their many benefits, she said.

Davey is suggesting the village commit to planting at least 42 new trees a year, and remove at least 21.

The village should also be structurally pruning at least 76 of its younger trees annually, and 279 other trees should be cleaned each year as part of a routine pruning cycle.

Davey looked at 2,794 sites where there could be trees – with 2,070 trees, 5 stumps and 719 planting sites. These locations were at the public right-of-way on village streets and at parks and public facilities, including Mount Albion Cemetery, Bullard Park, Lafayette H. Beach Park, St. Joe’s Park, Veterans Memorial Park, the former County Fairgrounds on Washington Street, and Carosol Park.

Some highlights from the report:

• The overall condition of the village’s urban forest is rated as fair.

• The tree inventory is skewed with a greater number of mature trees compared to younger ones.

• Approximately 41 percent of the inventoried trees have dead or dying parts.

• Overhead utilities interfere with street trees among 32 percent of the population.

• Granulate ambrosia beetle, Xm ambrosia beetle and Asian longhorned beetle pose the biggest threats to the health of the trees in Albion.

• The Albion trees provide approximately $13,310 in the following annual benefits: Air quality – 1,100 pounds of pollutants removed valued at $4,241; Net total carbon sequestered and avoided – 27.60 tons valued at $4,707; Stormwater peak flow reductions – 488,071.3 gallons valued at $4,361 for the year.

• New trees should be planted in areas that promote economic growth, such as business districts, recreational areas, trails, parking lots, areas near buildings with insufficient shade and areas where there are gaps in the existing canopy.

• Estimated cost is first year of implementing tree planting. High priority pruning and management plan is $141,320 for the first year with cost dropping to $124,057 in second year, $87,549 in the third year, $79,675 in fourth year and $79,145 in fifth year.

• Davey is providing village with TreeKeeper software to help manage the urban forest, tracking conditions of trees.

• Albion’s ratio of street trees per capita is 0.13, which falls significantly below the mean ratio of 0.37 reported for 22 U.S. cities. According to the Albion study, there is one tree for every 7.8 residents. Albion’s potential is one tree for every 4.1 residents.

• New plantings should have priority in southwest census block of Albion, where the neighborhoods are near correctional facility, railroad and busy Route 31. Trees would help mitigate the impact from those sites.

MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES has named Dr. Michael Weyrauch as new director of Career and Technical Education and Instructional Services.

Dr. Michael Weyrauch

Before taking over the reins of the two programs, Dr. Weyrauch was the principal at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Orleans Career and Technical Education Center in Medina. He has been with BOCES for nearly eight years.

“I have loved every moment of being here,” he said. “It is a great building with a great staff.”  He said what makes BOCES exceptional is that it not only allows students opportunities to discover what they want to do with their lives, it allows districts to tap into resources that they could normally not afford.

“Putting all the resources in one area allows the students from our 13 school districts the opportunity to experience a wide range of educational pathways while still in high school,” Weyrauch  said. “Our state approved programs allow the districts more flexibility and different pathways to graduate students from high school.”

The other half of his role is as director of instructional services.

“The focus of our Instructional Services Department is to help our districts grow by offering resources to them and their communities.  We offer services such as tutoring for students who are suspended or medically excused, organizing and facilitating drivers education classes and the Regional Summer School programs that allow students a second chance at a course or exam they failed. We also offer a verity of professional development to local educators through Reading Recovery, Center for School Improvement and Professional Development, and our Teacher Center.”

Weyrauch has an associate’s degree from SUNY Canton, a bachelors and master’s degree in Technology Education from SUNY Oswego.

“After teaching a few years, I decided I wanted to have a larger impact on those around me so I continued my education and got my administration certification at SUNY Brockport,” he said. “Shortly after that I went on and completed my doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Rochester.”

Prior to coming to BOCES he was employed as an assistant principal at the Middle School of the Medina Central School District for 3 1/2 years. Prior to that, he was a Medina High School technology teacher.

“I am grateful to Medina because they allowed me the opportunity to move up from a classroom teacher into my first administrative role,” he said.

Weyrauch says one of his main focuses in his new leadership position is to continue to provide support to students and staff.

“In education, the goal is to inspire those around you, to understand what opportunities and challenges they have to face on a daily basis,” he said. “Working with students at any age can be truly challenging, but once you realize what your efforts and focus can achieve in the life of an individual student it is truly inspiring. I was lucky enough to have three outstanding teachers – an elementary teacher, a middle school technology teacher and a ninth grade English teacher – who truly did push me to be successful even on the days that I didn’t feel that I could be. I have never forgotten those individuals. Even though I am no longer in the classroom, I still want to be able to encourage and inspire students and give them every opportunity to be successful. As educators that should be our primary focus.”

Weyrauch is married to his wife Jennifer and has three daughters, Kayla (12), Hannah (9), and Victoria (3). He enjoys spending time with them in the outdoors and doing home remodeling projects. He said he is lucky and blessed to have their continued love and support.

Press release, GCASA

BATAVIA – The executive director of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse is aiming to have the agency’s new recovery recreation center on Clinton Street Road up and running by the end of the year.

“We’re hoping to be open sometime around Christmas or possibly New Year’s Eve,” John Bennett said. “We have started minor renovations and we’re also looking for a name for the building.”

Bennett said he and his staff are excited about the potential of the Recovery WOW program’s new home – the former Bohn’s Restaurant at 5256 Clinton Street Rd., just a stone’s throw from the intersection of Seven Springs Road.

GCASA closed on the purchase of the building last month and is gearing up for what Bennett called “a big kickoff” leading to consistent and effective programming to support those on their road to sobriety.

“The plan is to partner with other agencies and groups in the community to have events there and also to offer the large conference room for others to use,” said Bennett, adding that GCASA intends to hold an open house for nearby residents and business owners.

The floor plan, after conversion, will feature offices for program staff and Peer Recovery Advocates along with a computer room, meeting room with a riser for live music, training/conference room to hold up to 40 people, exercise center, game room (pool, ping pong, foosball, and video games), living room with large-screen TV and a large commercial kitchen.

Bennett said the long-term plan is to move the Prevention Education Department and the Western New York Resource Center offices to the building.

“I think it would be a good fit to have Prevention there,” he said. “Plus, we have just run out of room at the main campus (430 East Main St.).”

He said that renovations on the inside are ongoing and that volunteers will be enlisted to clean up the outside of the building. Springtime plans include putting in an outdoor basketball court in the parking area.

Currently, the Recovery WOW (With Out Walls) program under the supervision of Sue Gagne has a full schedule of events each month for those in recovery.

The recovery recreation center is being set up as a destination where those dealing with drug and alcohol use issues can interact through sober living activities.

For more on Recovery WOW, click here.

ALBION – There were 374 residents in Orleans County who cast ballots in early voting, in nine days prior to today’s election.

That is 1.6 percent of about 23,000 registered voters. The busiest day was Oct. 30 when 61 people voted at the early voting polling site at the Board of Elections. On Sunday, the last day for early voting, there were 54 voters.

The new option is part of a state mandate to allow greater access to the polls. The state is providing Orleans County with $27,251 towards the cost of implementing the reform.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today ordered flags on state government buildings to be flown at half-staff today in honor of former Getzville Fire Company Chief and President Irving Isenberg, who died from an illness resulting from his work at the World Trade Center site following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

“Chief Isenberg dedicated his life to serving his community and fellow New Yorkers and put his own wellbeing at risk in the wake of one of the darkest tragedies in our nation’s history,” Governor Cuomo said. “His passing is a reminder of the great heroism of our first responders on that day and every day that followed. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend our deepest gratitude to Chief Isenberg and direct flags be flown at half-staff to honor his memory.”

Chief Isenberg served his community for 35 years, including as part of a detachment of ambulances from Western New York that rescued survivors at Ground Zero in the days following the September 11th terrorist attacks. He served the Getzville Fire Company for 29 years including as Chief and President before his retirement. He was a native of Erie County.

Press Release, State Sen. Robert Ortt

State Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I,Ref-North Tonawanda) is advocating for the security of elections in New York State. Since the results of the 2016 Presidential Election, accusations of Russian hacking and interference has created doubt among millions of American citizens about the validity of the election results. Sen. Ortt is calling for increased security in upcoming elections by requiring eligible voters to produce a valid form of identification when attempting to vote.

“Our republic is founded upon the principle of free and fair elections,” said Sen. Ortt. “To ensure that those who are casting votes are the ones allowed to do so is of the utmost importance. The security of our elections should not be taken lightly. A valid form of identification is required to buy something as simple as cough medicine at the grocery store, so some form of identification should be needed to protect one of the foundations of our society.”

This past June, Democrats in the New York State Legislature approved the “Green Light Bill,” which would grant drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens and passed legislation that would have automatically register illegal aliens to vote in upcoming elections. As Senate Democrats passed this bill in the early hours of the morning, opponents pointed out the flaw.

While the initial oversight was addressed, Ortt said it highlights the need to secure our elections. He is advocating for his legislation (S.2091) to require a valid government-issued photo identification card to be presented when casting a ballot. To ensure low-income voters’ abilities to cast ballots are not restricted, the cost of non-drivers IDs for those who qualify for Medicaid would be waived.

“With the proposed changes to automatic voter registration and the granting of licenses to illegal aliens, ensuring we place safeguards in our electoral process is crucial,” said Sen. Ortt. “Simply presenting a valid form of identification creates no burden for those eligible voters, and it ensures that the results of future elections in New York State are valid. Those who would oppose electoral safeguards are fostering an environment that encourages electoral interference.”

Valid forms of identification would include driver’s licenses, passports, military ID cards, and any other form of photo identification issued by a U.S. state or federal agency such as an employee ID card.

Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C,I,Ref-Lockport) said, “Providing a valid form of identification is required for the most basic functions of society today. Whether it is purchasing alcohol or tobacco, cashing a check, numerous retail transactions, or simply entering a school building, identification is a standard security measure to verify an individual. Given the gravity and reverence in which we hold the right to vote in the United States of America, it is frankly perplexing that identification is not required to cast a ballot. Why wouldn’t we take this opportunity to ensure the full sanctity of our democratic process and to make sure there is no fraud or illegalities in our elections?”

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for Tuesday’s election at 11 locations in Orleans County.

Most of the polling sites are at town halls, although Albion votes at Hoag Library and part of Ridgeway uses the Volunteer Fire Company.

Here is a list of the polling sites:

• Albion – Districts 1 through 6 – Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.

• Barre – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.

• Carlton – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 14341 Waterport-Carlton Rd.

• Clarendon – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 16385 Church St.

• Gaines – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.

• Kendall – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.

• Murray – Districts 1 through 6 – Murray Town Hall, 3840 Fancher Rd. (Route 31)

• Ridgeway – Districts 1, 3, 6, 7 – Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, 11392 Ridge Rd.

• Ridgeway – Districts 2, 4, 5 – Town Hall, 410 West Ave.

• Shelby – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 4062 Salt Works Rd.

• Yates – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 8 South Main St.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Firefighters respond to blaze on Oct. 22 on Route 18 in Yates, a fire that caused the death of Minnie Holt, 80. There were several tragedies in the community last month.

Orleans Hub has a new high for unique visitors and pageviews for a month. In October, the Hub averaged 9,394 unique visitors each day, passing the 9,302 in June 2019, and 9,235 in February.

For the year we are averaging 8,550 unique visitors each day, compared to 7,463 in 2018.

We had 875,006 pageviews for the month, which passed the 853,765 in January 2019. The 875,006 was over 31 days for a daily pageview average 28,226. That is actually third highest in the Hub’s 6 1/2 year-history, behind the 28,457 in June 2019 and the 29,068 this past February.

Last month we had 9 days over 30,000 and one over 50,000. With the daily average of 9,394, we had 10 days over 10,000, and one over 20,000.

We never hit 800,000 pageviews in a month until this year. We’ve topped 800,000 five months so far in 2019.

We’ve been doing more YouTube videos with sports and news. Two of those videos have topped 2,000 views, including a Kendall soldier who came home and surprised his kids at lunch at school and a video of a fire in Albion.

Press Release, Medina Area Association of Churches

Firefighters Adam Vanderheite and Steve Miller load a Medina ambulance for Red Barrel deliveries.

MEDINA – Firefighters this morning delivered 32 red barrels to locations throughout Medina and Knowlesville.

The MAAC bright red barrels have been placed in local churches, banks, the YMCA, Lee- Whedon Memorial Library, and many businesses throughout the community.  Donations of new toys, games, puzzles, books and gifts for teenagers are greatly appreciated.

The MAAC (Medina Area Association of Churches) Christmas program serves children up to age 18, their parents/guardians, and senior citizens age 62-plus.

Families may apply for holiday assistance at Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God Church, 324 Catherine St., from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14, and from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 12 and Nov. 19 at  St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1355 West Ave., Nov.12 and Nov.19, 10:00am-noon.

Applicants must bring proof of household (birth certificates, Social Security cards); proof of residence (gas, electric, phone, or water bill); and proof of income (Social Services award letter, SSD or SSI award letter, SNAP letter, or recent pay stubs).

Last year we served 250 individuals throughout the Medina community. This included 136 children, their parents/guardians, and 26 senior citizens.

The children receive age appropriate gifts and everyone receives warm hats, mittens or gloves, and socks.  Boxes are also packed with Christmas dinner which consists of a ham, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, and dessert.  Other various food items are also included.

This year the MAAC Christmas Program will have a peanut butter and jelly drive.  Donations may be dropped off at Lee Whedon Memorial Library, 620 West Ave. Medina.

Christmas boxes will be delivered on December 14th between 9:00am-noon by our local fire departments.

Sherry Tuohey, chairperson says “this community tradition began many years ago as a toy drive by the Medina fire department. Today with their assistance and many dedicated volunteers throughout the community we continue to help make Christmas a brighter holiday for those less fortunate than ourselves.”

Cash donations noted “Christmas Box Program” can be mailed to MAAC, 536 Orient Street, Medina, NY 14103.

The law raises legal age for purchasing these products from 18 to 21

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced New York’s law raising the minimum sales age for tobacco and electronic cigarette products is in effect beginning Nov. 13. The law raises the legal age for purchasing these products from 18 to 21, building on the Governor’s comprehensive efforts to combat health threats from tobacco and e-cigarette products.

“The goal of this law is simple – to prevent cigarettes and vaping products from getting into the hands of our youth, creating an addiction to a deadly habit,” Governor Cuomo said. “We are taking aggressive action to make sure the decades of progress we’ve made to combat tobacco addiction is not undone by a sharp rise in e-cigarette use among younger New Yorkers.”

According to Department of Health data, nearly 40 percent of 12th grade students and 27 percent of high school students in New York State are now using e-cigarettes, and this increase is largely driven by flavored e-liquids.

High school use in 2018 (27.4%) is 160 percent higher than it was in 2014 (10.5%). While New York’s high school student smoking rate dropped from 27.1% in 2000 to a record low of 4.3% in 2016, aggressive marketing promoting flavored e-cigarettes stands to turn that trend.

Flavoring is a key youth marketing strategy of the vaping/aerosol industry just as it is in the cigarette, cigar, and smokeless tobacco markets. E-cigarette marketing highlights flavors such as mint chocolate, bubblegum and cherry cola, and creates a mistaken belief that they are not harmful to users. Studies show nearly 78% of high school students, and 75% of middle school students report being exposed to pro-tobacco marketing in 2016.

To further crack down on retailers selling tobacco and vaping products to underage youth, State Police is partnering with the Department of Health to conduct undercover investigations across the state under The Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act, which enlists underage youth to attempt to buy tobacco and e-cigarette products. As of November 1, over 1,700 inspections have occurred since July outside of New York City focusing on youth 18 years and under. Retailers found selling tobacco and vaping products to underage individuals will now face criminal penalties in addition to civil penalties.

Because tobacco use persists among youth and adults, New York State continues to prevent young adults from starting smoking. According to the Surgeon General, 88% of adult smokers started using tobacco before age 18 and 90% of the people who purchase cigarettes for minors are between the ages of 18 and 20. By raising the legal purchase age to 21, this legislation will help prevent underage children from obtaining tobacco products from their friends, reducing the likelihood young adults ever start smoking and become addicted, and ultimately save thousands of lives.

Many of the names on the tablets have become worn and are difficult to read.

ALBION – Many of the names on marble tablets inside the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery are difficult to read, worn down after nearly 150 years.

Diana Augspurger of Buffalo noticed the condition about a year ago and has been considering options to prevent further decay. She brought out a glass specialist who looked at putting glass coverings in front of the tablets, with room for air.

That would likely top $20,000, and could be difficult to put inside the Medina sandstone tower, which was built in 1876 as a memorial to the nearly 500 soldiers from Orleans County who died in the war. The community had the tower dedicated on the 100^thanniversary of the country’s founding.

Augspurger also suggested there be lights inside the tower to illuminate the tablets.

Jason Zicari, cemetery foreman, and local officials, including County Historian Matt Ballard, recently were at the tower to consider options.

Zicari said putting lights inside the tower wouldn’t be practical. The main culprit in corroding the names seems to be water infiltration. Zicari said recent work by mason Neal Muscarella to repoint the tower should keep water away from the tablets.

If the goal is to help people know the 463 names on the tablets, Ballard suggested a kiosk near the with the names and also its history as a Civil War memorial. He also said brochures with the names could be produced.

Mayor Eileen Banker and the Village Board like those ideas. The board will work Augspurger and other interested community members to raise funding and create the kiosk and brochures.

Ballard, during a recent meeting with the board, said he is concerned about the condition for the chapel near the entrance of the cemetery. He said that should be a pressing concern.

Mayor Banker said the village will likely to be pursuing grant funding for work at the chapel.

Provided photo: Ariana and Tom Sylvester have co-authored, Lifestyle Builders: Build Your Business, Quit Your Job, and Live Your Ideal Lifestyle.

HOLLEY – A Holley graduate and her husband have co-authored a book, Lifestyle Builders: Build Your Business, Quit Your Job, and Live Your Ideal Lifestyle.

The book, published by Morgan James, is a practical and entertaining guide to living a better life and building a business to support it.

Ariana and Tom Sylvester overcame the obstacles of building three businesses with one spouse still in a 9 to 5 job and working together as a married couple while raising two young kids. They say they have cracked the code and developed a framework on how to successfully do business and life together.

The family lives in Gates. Ariana and Tom Sylvester have run a real estate, a small wine and liquor store, and an online coaching and training for entrepreneurs.

“We are helping people to figure out their business,” Ariana Sylvester said. “There is a lot of noise, people telling you how to live your lives. It’s really your choice.”

The former Ariana Cuadrado graduated from Holley in 2002. She is in the school’s athletic hall of fame. She played three sports for Holley – soccer, basketball and track, and qualified for the state meet in the long jump.

She went to Oswego State College to play soccer. That’s where she met her future husband, a Perry native who also played soccer.

They graduated together from Oswego in 2006, with Tom earning bachelor’s in computer science and Ariana with bachelor’s in zoology. They married in 2008. They now have two young children.

They have run a real estate company, Sylvester Enterprises, the past 12 years. They have owned Warsaw Wine and Spirits for 7 years. Since 2015, they have been helping entrepreneurs. The past two years they have been Lifestyle Builders, helping people find careers they are passionate about, while maintaining a life balance.

The 285-page book has six sections: Plan With a Purpose, Find Your Freedom, Concept to Cash, Setup & Scale Your Systems, Quit Your Cubicle, and Stop Self Sabotage.

Lifestyle Builders incorporates the often-missed aspect of entrepreneur books: how to prepare your personal life for entrepreneurship. Tom and Ariana show adults seeking a career change how to create their ideal life through entrepreneurship.

“What is needed is having more open conservations with young people that there are a lot of path to what you’re passionate about,” Mrs. Sylvester, 34, said in an interview. “It doesn’t have to be a straight and narrow path.”

The Sylvesters provide a systematic approach to creating a successful business which includes visualizing personal goals, mapping out business financial details, and planning out daily expectations and realities of running a business.

Co-written to provide perspectives from both spouses on building a business while raising a family, Lifestyle Builders shares the Sylvesters’ personal experiences as a model for those seeking the entrepreneurial lifestyle.

Tom and Ariana teach fledgling entrepreneurs how to organize and run their business by providing steps that men and women seeking financial freedom can implement immediately. They explain how to unlock the secrets to making the ideal life a reality, even for those who are busy and seriously lacking time and money.

For more information on the Sylvesters and their book, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

The light at sunset was striking Friday evening in Medina, especially on the Sandstone apartment building on West Center Street. This photo also shows some of the scaffolding by the Bent’s Opera House.

The low temperatures this week will be in the 30s most days, and will plunge to 25 on Thursday and 22 on Friday night. The daytime highs in Orleans County will be 52 on Monday, 48 on Tuesday, 44 on Wednesday, 38 on Thursday and 33 on Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

This photo on Tuesday shows part of the veterans’ section at Mount Albion Cemetery.

This photo from Oct. 26 shows the playground at Lakeside Beach State Park in Carlton. The youngsters were there for the Niagara-Orleans cross country championship.

John Coke of Lyndonville sent in this recent photo of a fawn in an apple orchard in his backyard.