By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2024 at 9:55 pm
LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce honored several businesses and community leaders during the 26th annual Chamber awards celebration last Thursday at the White Birch Golf Course.
Camber Director Darlene Hartway said the award winners all show tremendous “tenacity” in running successful businesses and completing projects for the community.
The following were recognized during the awards celebration:
Matt Burch, owner of Chop’s Shop Bar and Grilled North, accepts the award for new business of the year. He is joined at the podium by his wife Marisa, left, and Darlene Hartway, the Chamber director.
New Business of the Year – Chop’s Shop Bar and Grilled North in Lyndonville
Matt Burch opened Chop’s Shop Bar and Grilled North in the former Curly’s location on April 22.
Burch opened his first pizzeria in Gasport in 2008. He expanded that site in 2017, adding a bar. He is looking to add more to the Lyndonville site.
He thanked his employees for getting off to a good start in Lyndonville at 16 North Main St.
“It’s been a blessing so far in Lyndonville,” Burch said at the award dinner, which was attended by about 125 people. “The community has been so supportive.”
Darlene Hartway, the Chamber director, praised Burch for choosing Lyndonville for the new pizzeria.
“I’m always in awe of people willing to take that leap, especially in a small town,” she said.
Brian and Lisa Christiaansen accept the Phoenix Award for their extensive renovations to create Tapped on Main in Medina.
Phoenix Award – Tapped on Main at Mark’s Pizzeria in Medina
Brian and Lisa Christiaansen completed an extensive remodeling at at 549 Main St., Medina, in December 2019, opening a bar at Mark’s Pizzeria. The bar was forced to close due to Covid restrictions in March 2020.
The Christiaansens reopened Tapped on Main in 2021, and last year added a game and party room that can accommodate groups of up to about 50.
Brian Chriastiaansen opened his first Mark’s Pizzerias in Hamlin about 30 years ago, and followed with Mark’s in Bushnell’s Basin and then Brockport. He now has stores in Medina, Albion and Newfane.
He and his wife wanted to have a space for customers to sit down and dine and he and Lisa had always wanted a bar. They decided to combine a bar with the pizzeria, and became the first Mark’s franchise to serve beer and wine from a bar.
As part of the renovations they kept the original ceiling and brick walls in the historic building.
Agricultural Business of the Year – Roberts Farm Market
Gary and Maggie Roberts of Roberts Farm Market accept the award for Agricultural Business of the Year. The farm market is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The Roberts family has been farming since 1931 in Medina. In 1974, the family started a farm market on Maple Ridge Road, which has expanded and includes a greenhouse and apple cider press.
Gary and Maggie Roberts and two of their children, son Patrick and daughter Jenna Bruning, all have key roles in the operation today.
Gary praised his wife for the success of the farm market over many years.
“She has brought the market to where it is today,” Gary said during the awards banquet.
He said he is fortunate to have two of his children alongside him working in the business.
The farm began when Gary’s grandparents, Justin and Lorraine Roberts, purchased their home and 166 acres of land on Maple Ridge Road in 1931, just across from the farm market.
The family grows fruit on about 200 acres, yielding about 175,000 bushels. Of those 20,000 bushels are sold at the farm market or are used for making cider.
George Lacey, owner of Captain’s Cove in Carlton, accepts the Hidden Gem award. He is joined by Captain’s Cove manager Samantha Tillman, center, and Dawn Borchert, Orleans County tourism director.
Hidden Gem – Captain’s Cove Motel & Marina
The Chamber honors a business as a “Hidden Gem” for its role promoting and supporting Orleans County tourism, often without much fanfare.
George lacey has overcome many challenges since he purchased Captain’s Cove Motel & Marina in 2015. His wife passed away three weeks after Lacey bought the business, which was they flooded in 2017 and 2019.
He has rebuilt the store with improved parking on the upper level. All the wood in the new building came from the trees up on the hill.
Lacey recently obtained his beer license for the new store, and has groceries, fishing tackle, live bait and hunting licenses.
The property also includes a 14-unit motel and 32 slips. Captain’s Cove rents pontoons, fishing boats, kayaks and canoes. He has refrigerators available for fisherman to store their catch.
The entire west wall of the new building facing the river also has a new look. Mural artist Michelle Cryer of Clarendon is painting a large mural showing the lake and the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.
Lacey was praised by Dawn Borchert, the county’s tourism director, for his hard work to make Captain’s Cove and Point Breeze a destination.
Lacey urged more people to invest in Point Breeze and local community.
“I see lots of opportunity in Orleans County,” he said.
Businessperson of the Year – Bob Gibbs of Environmental Construction Group
Bob Gibbs, owner of the Environmental Construction Group, is presented with the award of “Businessperson of the Year.” He accepts it from Lindsay Ward, regional director of the SUNY Brockport SBDC.
Bob Gibbs owns the Environmental Construction Group, a full-service abatement, remediation and selective demolition company. ECG is based in Albion and employs about 50 people.
Gibbs has worked in the environmental field for more than 30 years, starting when he was 23. Most of the company’s work in is Monroe County, doing remediation and demo work in some of the biggest construction projects in the Rochester area, including several school districts, Strong Memorial Hospital, Innovation Square (former Xerox Tower).
ECG also has taken on projects in New Jersey, Arkansas, Virginia, Texas and Wisconsin.
Gibbs has also bought distressed properties in Albion, done major renovations and sold them as homes. He is has cleared some vacant land, turning them into ready-to-build lots, and is currently transforming 101 East Bank St. into a place that can be rented out for parties.
Gibbs thanked his wife and two grown daughters for their support, and for riding “the emotional journey with me.”
He grew up helping his father, the late Robert Gibbs Sr., who was a contractor. Gibbs was 19 when he bought a house at age 19 and completely renovated it by age 21.
Brody Hoffmeister and his wife Jenna Pangrazio were honored with the Small Business of the Year for their commitment to Rudy’s Diner in Medina.
Small Business of the Year – Rudy’s Diner
Brody Hoffmeister was thrust into ownership of Rudy’s Diner following the death of his mother, Kelly Duffield, from cancer in October 2019.
Hoffmeister is the third generation to lead the establishment. In March 2020 he faced an unexpected challenge. The business was forced to close to in-person customers due to Covid restrictions. Rudy’s and other diners had to shift to takeout-only.
The pandemic sliced away a big chunk of Rudy’s business, and some customers did not return. They preferred the comfy booths, nostalgia and friendly faces at the popular diner.
Hoffmeister and his wife Jenna Pangrazio have retooled the operation, keeping the 1950s feel of the diner while offering a pared down but popular menu.
Hoffmeister urges the community to continue to support Rudy’s, where he said the focus on food is quality over quantity.
Rudy’s currently operates with 10 employees, down from a peak of 25 before Covid hit.
“We’ve had an uphill climb but we’re still here,” Hoffmeister said during the Chamber event.
Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, accepts the Community Service Award on behalf of the agency that assists about 5,000 people a year. Mary Lou Tuohey, last year’s winner, is at right.
Community Service Award – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is an agency dedicated to helping people become self sufficient. The agency offers numerous services to help build a stronger community.
Community Action has more than 100 employees and the agency assists families of very young children through Early Head Start and Head Start, and has numerous other programs, including ACT (helping youth ACT responsibly), Stone Soup Success/Food Rx (educating to prepare healthy meals), Child Care Resource and Referral, Weatherization and Energy Services, Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More store, a credit recovery program for Albion seniors, emergency services, holiday meals and gifts, the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley, which provides daily meals, a clothing depot and food giveaway.
Community Action is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Renee Hungerford, the executive director, said Community Action has been on a journey of transformation as an agency, embracing new technology while staying true to the mission of uplifting the community.
She said many people can find themselves thrust into poverty, whether from a tragic event or an illness. Sometimes, a rise in income from a higher minimum wage can lead to hardship, disqualifying people for some assistance and making their rent unaffordable. She urged compassion and understanding for some of the challenges of lower-income people in the community.
Tom Laine, owner of Frontier Heating & A/C Service, accepts the award for “Business of the Year.” Behind him are his son Ray Laine, left, and son-in-law, Rex Harvey, and Darlene Hartway from the Chamber. Ray and Rex are both key leaders at Frontier.
Business of the Year – Frontier Heating & A/C Service
In 1991, Tom Laine started Frontier Heating and AC Service in his garage. The business has grown to over 7,000 customers.
After four years in his garage, Frontier moved to East Bank Street in Albion. Last year, the business moved to a 12,000-square-foot facility on Route 31A.
The site has more parking and a larger a showroom to display the products they sell. Frontier services all brands and sell Amana and Mitsubishi equipment, as well as boilers, water heaters, air conditioning units and heat pumps. In addition they install Generac and Honeywell generators, and deal with all types of fuel, including natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and propane.
Frontier offers “around the clock service.” The business employs 15 to 20 people at any given time, nearly all Orleans County residents. Over the years, their service area has expanded to include Orleans, Monroe, Genesee, Niagara and Erie counties.
‘They’re not happy until you’re happy,” said Hartway, the Chamber director.
David Mitchell, left, is congratulated on the Lifetime Achievement Award by Darlene Hartway, center, and Mark Tillman, last year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement.
Lifetime Achievement Award – David Mitchell of Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals
David Mitchell wanted a career where he could make an impact with local families going through a tough time in life. He considered being a police officer, but chose to be a funeral director.
The community is grateful for that decision, said Mark Tillman, last year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement for his long career running Tillman’s Village Inn.
Mitchell has served Orleans County for 40 years as a funeral director. He took over as owner of Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes after his father Rho retired. Mitchell has expanded to owning funeral homes in Middleport, Gasport and Medina, and has the business set up with local ownership long into the future with his son Josh Mitchell and Jake Hebdon from Cooper Funeral Home in Medina. Christopher Mitchell has been rebranded as Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals.
David Mitchell has maintained and grown the local ownership of the funeral homes in an era when corporate conglomerates have been buying up funeral homes in smaller towns.
Tillman said David Mitchell has been a trusting presence for the community during times of immense grief.
“Compassion, dignity, professionalism, community service and, most of all, kindness,” Tillman said in listing some of Mitchell’s attributes.
Mitchell has been active in many community organizations – as a member of the Holley Rotary Club and Albion Lions Club, as a board member for Community Action, United Way, Ministry of Concern and the Curtis Foundation.
He sponsors many local events and gives to other community causes and projects, including donating two vans to the Orleans Joint Veterans Council to transport veterans to medical appointments.
Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals has eight employees, including two long-time funeral directors: Paula Fuller with 30 years and Scott Schmidt with 27. Mitchell said the employees are committed to the community and are instrumental to the business’s success.
Tillman quoted the late Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
Tillman followed that by saying, “David, the love shows.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 October 2024 at 9:02 pm
Jimmer Szatkowski, a Medina native with ALS, sits in a wheelchair after being pushed the entire 26.2 miles in a marathon Sunday in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE – Andrew Szatkowski of Medina called Sunday an incredible day, when many people joined his brother Jimmer and pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair to complete a marathon in Syracuse.
Andrew is the brother of Jimmer Szatkowski, a Medina native and current resident of Cicero near Syracuse. Three years ago Jimmer was diagnosed with ALS, a neurological disease that causes muscle weakness. Jimmer is paralyzed from the disease and on a ventilator
Having run two marathons before his diagnosis, Jimmer was determined to cross the finish line in Sunday’s race, which benefitted ALS research.
In total, Szatkowski raised more than $112,000, more than double his original goal.
Andrew said many Medina friends made donations and even make the trip to Syracuse to help push Jimmer over the finish line.
Several marathon runners from out of state also came for the event to support Jimmer, who owns a Chick-fil-A in Cicero.
Four people, including Jimmer, completed the entire race. Another dozen or so along the way stepped in to take turns pushing Jimmer’s wheelchair, including nurses.
“It was an incredible day,” Andrew said.
For more information about donating to ALS research, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2024 at 5:58 pm
HOLLEY – The lift bridge in Holley was recently named best overall lift bridge in the state’s canal system, which includes 16 lift bridges.
The bridges are inspected each fall. Holley won best overall bridge based on the 2023 inspections.
Each lock and lift bridge across the canal system is inspected by engineers and Canal Corp. personnel. They use a scoring system, evaluating the condition of the maintenance of the operating machinery, safety protocols and the upkeep of the buildings and grounds at each site.
“Awards are given to the highest scoring locks and lift bridges,” Shane Mahar, director of public engagement for the Canal Corp., wrote in a message to Holley Mayor Mark Bower. “The inspection awards recognize the dedication and excellence of our employees that maintain the Canal system’s vital infrastructure.”
This year’s inspections recently were completed and awards will be announced next year.
Holley’s lift bridge recently was closed to traffic for some repairs. The bridge closed on Sept. 10 and reopened on Oct. 11.
MIDDLEPORT – Lake Plains Players are proud to announce our membership in the Western New York Alliance of Community Theaters or “WNY ACTS!”
The organization was formed in 2023 with just three community theaters – Aurora Players, Inclusive Theater of WNY and Rocking Horse Productions – and has expanded to include 12 theaters in communities located in Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties.
WNY ACTS! is focused on elevating and promoting community theatre as a cultural destination. The group meets regularly to share knowledge, success stories and discuss common challenges. The goal is to leave each meeting with steps every member can make toward improving their theater – including the experience for their audiences and the participants who make theatre.
Outside experts are also brought in to talk about improving not only productions, but also the operational aspects of running a theater such as marketing, selecting ticketing software vendors and encouraging volunteerism. The group has shared resources ranging from props and set furnishings to costumes and advertising space.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Lake Plains Players do a full-length musical every fall, as well as other productions, including a children’s theater program in the summer. This photo from November 2022 shows a scene from Mamma Mia. Here three long-time close friends – in front from left: Rosie (Eden Villanueva), Donna (Jennifer Neroni-Trupo) and Tanya (Sarah Geer) – perform “Super Trouper.” The Lake Plains Players will be performing Seussical from Nov. 8-10.
Founding member, Laurie Oravec of Aurora Players said, “Our theaters don’t have the high profile of professional Buffalo beltway theaters like Shea’s, Alleyway and Kavinoky, for example. But there is a lot of high-quality, very entertaining and deeply moving theatre being performed by community theaters. We want audiences to know about it.”
She also noted that community theater tickets are usually more affordable than theaters downtown and parking is accessible as well as free.
Explained Gabrielle Montgomery of Lake Plains Players: “For us, WNY ACTS! provides a place to work together and build a powerful community for passionate local artists and audiences. While community theaters often operate on shoestring budgets, we know that working together, we are stronger than we could be on our own.”
Members range from theaters that are just opening to theaters having over 90 years of history, and include: Lake Plains Players, Aurora Players, Evangola Community Theater, Inclusive Theatre of WNY, Main St. 56 Theater, Open Door Productions, Opera-Lytes, Raiders of Niagara, Rocking Horse Productions, Towne Players of Ken-Ton, Unique Theatre and Western Door Playhouse.
“Community theaters are often the starting point for professional actors and directors,” said Douglas Kern of Rocking Horse Productions, another founding member. “We’ve had people work with our theater and go on to be ARTIE award winners and even perform on Broadway. In fact, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) has said he started in community theater. If you haven’t already been to one of our theaters, maybe it’s time to give one a try.”
Aimee Levesque of Inclusive Theater of WNY, another founding member, points out that “there are over 6,000 community theaters in the U.S. and they involve more participants, present more performances and play to more people than any other performing art in the country. Community theaters provide an outlet for actors and creatives of differing experiences and abilities. That’s important to the cultural fabric of a community.”
Lake Plains Players next production, “Seussical the Musical”, plays November 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m. and November 10 and 2 p.m. at Royalton-Hartland High School Auditorium, located at 54 State St., Middleport, NY 14105. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
MEDINA – GO Art! is happy to invite you to our Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration, co-sponsored by the Orleans County YMCA, Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill, and Maizal Mexican Kitchen.
Join us on Saturday, October 26, at the Orleans County YMCA, 306 Pearl St., Medina, from 3 to 7 p.m. Come learn about and enjoy this holiday that remembers ancestors, with free activities for the whole family.
The festivities will include Mexican crafts, face painting, dance and music performances, ofrenda displays, and special food tastings. All activities will continue throughout the day: a full schedule can be found at www.MedinaDoD.com
The Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration is a time of joyful remembrance of deceased loved ones, filled with an array of colors, scents, sounds and stories. Centered around the observance of All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1 and 2, the celebration also includes images and ideas about the roles of ancestors in our lives that trace back to Mexico’s indigenous peoples.
Tradition holds that this is the one time of the year when souls can return to earth for a day and commune with their families and friends. Many people now have been introduced to the holiday through the movie, Coco.
“We love to partner with the Orleans County YMCA for this event, along with local Medina businesses and community members,” said Karen Canning, director of GLOW Traditions at GO Art!
Photo by Karen Canning: These two decorate sugar skull during the 2022 Day of the Dead at the YMCA in Medina.
Mexican celebrations often include animated skeletons, colorfully decorated skulls (calaveras), and elaborately cut tissue paper banners, emphasizing life’s continuing vibrancy. Local business owners and community groups are hosting workshops in such arts, including sugar skulls, paper flowers, flags, and banners, and paper masks.
Hosts and volunteers include Della’s Chocolates, The Downtown Browsery, Oak Orchard Girl Scouts, Orleans Head Start, and Medina High School students. Canalside Tattoos will offer temporary tattoos, Case-Nic Cookies will have Day of the Dead themed cookies for sale, and vendors including Las Toxicas will feature Mexican jewelry and clothing for purchase. Candy Creations Facepaint of Medina will host face painting, and Mariachi de Oro will provide samples of Mexican hot chocolate and pan de muerto (bread of the dead), a typical food of the holiday. Maizal Mexican Kitchen will offer several items for sale, including tamales, fruit with tajin, and snacks.
Beautiful altars (ofrendas) in homes welcome the returning souls and feature candles, wild marigolds, incense, photographs, mementos and loved ones’ favorite foods like fruit, tortillas, tamales, chocolate, and bread.
Members of the Rosario family will again create a large ofrenda at the YMCA in the style of their hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico. Attendees can contribute to a community ofrenda, by placing a candle (electric, provided) and adding a remembrance of loved ones. Attendees can also bring copies of a photo to add to the ofrenda.
Mexican dance and music performances will be presented at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. by Alma de México, led by Karla Alcalá. A former member of a folkloric dance group in Mexico, Karla now teaches community members traditional dance from a variety of regions. Live music will also be provided by La Marimba from Buffalo, led by Tiffany Nicely. Everyone is invited to join in the fun, and feel free to come in Day of the Dead-themed outfits.
The event is co-sponsored by GO Art!, the Orleans County YMCA, Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill, and Maizal Mexican Kitchen, with partial funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2024 at 10:05 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Volunteers joined staff at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee this morning in a pop-up pantry in the Platt Street parking lot in Albion.
Foodlink delivered the food and the distribution started around 9 a.m. There is enough food to give away to about 200 people in vehicles.
The state has been funding these distributions since soon after the Covid pandemic hit in March 20202. There are also distributions in Orleans County at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville and the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church.
Tiffany Keifer, right, and Tonya Ferris, back left, both work with M & T Bank in Brockport and have been helping at the distributions in Albion for about two years. Elaine Kovaleski, left, also has been a consistent volunteer for the events.
The Albion distributions tend to be the third Mondays each month. The next ones in Albion are at 9 a.m. on Nov. 18 and Dec. 9.
Candace Casey, right, was back at the distribution today with two of her co-workers at the Iroquois Job Corps Center in Shelby. Casey is coordinator of work-based learning at the Job Corps.
A group of Albion students in the Interact Club also assisted today as well as other volunteers in the community, including Jim Adduci (tall man with hat).
Other upcoming distributions in the county include:
Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension, 12690 State Route 31, Albion (Knowlesville) –Monday, November 4 at 10 a.m. (Those who preregister will be assigned timeslots for pickup (10-10:30, 10:30-11, 11-11:30, 11:30-12). Preregister at 585-798-4265. Walk-ins may start at 12 p.m.
Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, 107 North Main St. – Friday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2024 at 8:18 am
It’s going to be unseasonably warm in Orleans County most of this week. After a sunny Sunday with temperatures in the 70s, today will be mostly sunny with a high of 75, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Tuesday will be sunny with a high near 82, followed by a mostly sunny Wednesday with a high near 73.
The high temp then drops to 51 on Thursday, followed by 60 on Friday and 56 on Saturday.
This photo is looking up from a dirt road at the Archery Club on Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 October 2024 at 8:32 pm
Photos courtesy of Chuck Baker
ORCHARD PARK – The Medina Mustang Marching Band competed in Orchard Park on Saturday and took first in the Small School I division with a score of 85.550.
The band will conclude the season on Sunday in Syracuse at the NYS Field Band Conference Championships.
The scores on Saturday include:
Large School 2 – Orchard Park, first at 86.350; West Seneca, second at 83.800.
Small School 3 – Chippewa, first at 75.350; Pioneer, second at 75.250; Girard, third at 70.650.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 20 October 2024 at 8:13 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Bill Dunn and Kathie McMoil are longtime members of the Grove United Methodist Church, where they work together on fundraising dinners for the church. Dunn is the chief cook in the kitchen, while McMoil oversees the dining room. They will be heading up the church’s first turkey dinner since before Covid on Oct. 26.
MEDINA – Turkey dinners were a major fundraiser for the former Medina United Methodist Church, now the Grove United Methodist Church, until Covid hit in March 2022. And every meal for several decades always found Bill Dunn in the kitchen and Kathie McMoil taking care of business in the dining room as events coordinator.
The church is resuming its turkey dinner on Oct. 26, and Dunn and McMoil are already busy making plans.
Dunn got interested in cooking while in college in Kentucky and he worked at several restaurants there, including one at Churchill Downs, to pay his way through college.
When he returned to Medina intending to teach, he found he needed several more credits, and not wanting to go back to college, he went to work at Kodak. That lasted about a year and a half and he decided it wasn’t for him.
“I was in the dark room and I never knew if it was day or night,” Dunn said. “I liked to cook got a job at a restaurant in Clarence, and I also worked at the Basket Factory in Middleport.”
Then his parents told him there was an opening at the Apple Grove Inn, and he applied. He would work as an assistant chef for four owners of the Apple Grove Inn, including Walt Hilger.
When he started attending the Methodist Church, he stepped right in to cook for their dinners, which are major fundraisers for the church. Proceeds of this year’s dinner will help to pay off their debt, particularly the mortgage on the church, McMoil said.
The church had drive-through pulled pork and brisket dinners during the summer, but the turkey dinner will be the first to include sit-down dining since before Covid. The date is five years to the day since the last one. A spaghetti dinner is in the works for November.
Dunn and McMoil are thankful for the support they get from church members and the community. The congregation donated half the bread for the turkey dressing, while another 30 loaves of bread and 27 dozen dinner rolls was donated by Tim Oswald and Son, a neighbor who works for a bread distributing company.
The turkey dinner will be available for takeout from 3:30 to 7 p.m., while dine-in will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12. They can be purchased at the church office from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday or by calling (585) 798-2142.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 20 October 2024 at 8:01 pm
Provided photo: Teen billiards champ Jake Jackson, a Lyndonville sophomore, gives a thumbs-up after a successful tournament. He is currently ranked in the top 10, which qualifies him to compete in the final Junior Championship Nov. 20 in Florida.
LYNDONVILLE – Local teen billiards champ Jake Jackson is preparing for a trip to Florida in November, after qualifying to play in the final Junior Championship.
Ranked in the top 10, Jake has had a busy and rewarding summer, said his father Roger Jackson.
Several of his competitions were the U.S. Open in Atlantic City and the Junior Nationals in Illinois, where Jake finished fourth in the 8-Ball Division.
Jake has been on a streak, his father said, winning three 9-Ball tournaments in a row. He just went undefeated in the Bison Billiards in Williamsville. Bison Billiards is also one of Jake’s sponsors.
In the last two weekends, Jake won the 2nd Chance Tournament in Utica, and repeated the win in Syracuse in the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Stop #4 and #5. This was against some of the toughest adult players throughout the entire Northeast, Roger said.
Jake is already entered in the Joss Tours final $25,000 money added championship at Turning Stone Casino Resort in January, with a field of 128 players and some of the world’s best competitors.
This week, Jake will be traveling to Roanoke, Va. for the Predator Junior American Series at Wolfs Den Billiards. This will be his last chance to win this division. He will also complete in the 19 and under division there.
The George L. Burrows Nurses’ Home was built in Albion in 1926. (Photograph by Louis M. Monacelli)
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 4, Number 32
ALBION – Located at 239 South Main Street in Albion, this fine building, familiar to many as the Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance (COVA) headquarters, was in fact, built specifically in 1924 as a Nurses’ Home, a place where the nurses and medical staff of the adjacent Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital “should be able to spend their hours of rest and diversion somewhere apart and separate from the scene and atmosphere of their labors”…..having contended with “Long hours of service, the patient ministry at the bedside in a critical hour, the welcoming of a new-born life.”
Funding for the facility was provided by the family of the late George L. Burrows who had died in 1921. In a letter dated March 19, 1923, his six children offered to finance the building of a Nurses’ Home as a memorial to their father. Their offer was graciously accepted by the Hospital directors.
George L. Burrows
Born in Albion in 1836, George L. Burrows was the son of Louisa (Lord) and the Hon. Lorenzo Burrows, a prominent Albion banker and New York State politician who served as State Comptroller from 1855-1857.
An engineer by profession, George L. worked with the Engineering Corps on enlarging the Erie Canal and later at the Bank of Albion. He moved to Saginaw, Michigan in 1862 and successfully pursued interests in lumbering, banking and engineering there though he maintained his connections with Albion. He died in 1921 and is buried in Mt. Albion Cemetery along with his wife, Julia, and two children who predeceased them.
The Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital which had opened in 1916 was also funded by local philanthropists.
A retired farmer, Arnold Gregory provided $8,000 to purchase the Ezra T. Coann home and $30,000 to adapt it for use as a hospital and for use as an endowment. Mrs. Emma Reed Nelson financed the construction of the three-story addition in memory of her parents. Miss Julia E. Barker assumed the finishing costs of the addition in memory of her brother. Donations from Albion residents and former residents funded the purchase of furnishings and equipment for the rooms. The operating rooms were funded by George M. Waterman, the X-Ray laboratory by the Albion Chapter of the American Red Cross.
In his address at the Corner Stone Laying ceremony for the George L. Burrows Nurses’ Home on May 28, 1924, Lafayette H. Beach, editor of the Orleans Republican newspaper, included some interesting details on the construction of the now 100-year-old building.
Frederick C. Backus of Buffalo was engaged as the architect. The construction contract was awarded to Earl J. Sullivan of Albion. The three-story building which was “to present a pleasing and dignified appearance” was constructed of tile with a facing of yellow pressed brick. It had a slate roof, wood floors, was wired for electricity, piped for gas, and was heated by steam.
The main entrance opened onto a spacious hall with a winding staircase. A superintendent’s suite of three rooms which included a large living room with a roomy fireplace and mantel, a kitchenette and a sunporch on the south occupied the first floor. There were six bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor, two bedrooms and a bathroom for maids on the third floor.
When completed, six rooms at the hospital formerly occupied by nurses were then available for use by patients, thus increasing the hospital capacity from 22 beds to 28.
Lafayette Beach eloquently characterized this memorial gift as “more beautiful and more eloquent than marble of bronze because it is dedicated to service.” This gift to Albion has not been forgotten by the family – a fourth-generation descendant of George L. Burrows recently contacted the Historian’s Office enquiring about the Nurses’ Home.
Attitude is everything! This past Sunday I began preaching a sermon series about the first part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, commonly referred to as The Beatitudes, and I shared that if we want to change our habits we must first change our mindset. Subsequently, if we want to change the way we think we must first change our attitude.
Think about it. Too often we simply wait to see how things go in any given situation before we know how we will feel or respond. However, if instead of simply reacting to our circumstances or allowing the actions of others to decide our mood, we have the power to predetermine how we will act based on our own values.
Chuck Swindoll has famously said, “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.”
I can personally attest to the truth behind these words having learned from personal experience, often the hard way. One such time was back in 2001 when I went on my first overseas missions’ trip to the Dominican Republic. To say that my first experience with culture shock did not start off well is an understatement. After having the original trip leader step down I accepted the role of co-leader with another pastor not long before the trip was supposed to take place. Neither of us had ever been on, let alone, led a trip like this before and we had a group made up of 25 people had hadn’t either, talk about having the blind lead the blind. I should also note that the trip took place in November, just two short months after the terrorist attack on 9/11, so there was a certain level of anxiety associated with traveling by airplane.
Jumping ahead to our departure date, we actually took a bus to Toronto the evening prior assuming that between the border crossing and going through TSA with such a large group that it would be quite a delay. Ironically, we flew right through both which meant that we just sat around the airport all night with nothing to do and nowhere to sleep. Come morning we boarded the plane, I was seated between two strangers of course, and then proceeded to sit on the runway for nearly 2 hours before taking off.
After being squished all the way to Santo Domingo I was excited to exit the plane until I stepped out into the airport and found it filled with cigarette smoke and people trying to take our bags. One thing it did not have was air conditioning, which may not seem too bad since the ground was covered with snow when we left home but the problem was that it was very hot and everyone in the airport was sweaty and more than a little stinky.
By the time we had exchanged money, and found where we were supposed to wait for our ride, I was overheated, dehydrated, and had a splitting headache. After a while an old van that would fit 15-18 comfortably rolled up and we did our best to squeeze in for a long trek to where we would be staying. Did I mention that at least a half dozen men also rode with us playing a guiro, imagine a metal hair pick being dragged across what looked like a cheese grater, and singing.
By the time we arrived at our quarters it was too late to unpack so we went straight to the church where we would be participating in a worship service. By this time my headache was through the roof and I could add hunger and exhaustion to my growing list of complaints. Once again, I anticipated some relief when the van came to a stop but no sooner had I stepped out to stretch my legs when a young man motioned for me to get into his compact car and before I knew it we were off.
It happened so fast that I did not fully consider how problematic the situation was. I spoke very little Spanish and he spoke no English. I had no idea who he was, where we were going, or what we were doing. To make matters worse it was pitch black out when we finally stopped at a small village and apparently the electric had gone out there as well. The driver jumped out and I tried my best to keep up for fear of losing him and not being able to find my way back.
Thankfully, as it turned out, we were just picking up food for a meal we would be having together after the church service and we made it back just fine. The service, which we were told was supposed to start soon, began almost 2 hrs. later once the local congregation had arrived and after a lengthy time of worship we ate something on a spit, I am pretty sure it was goat, and then went back to take a very cold shower and get ready for bed.
I was not a happy camper, to say the least, and I was not alone. A man from my church was also grumbling and once we started feeding off one another we were fully ready to call it quits and head back home. And that was when we realized that our circumstances were not likely to change but our attitudes had to if we were going to be able to accomplish what we had come there for in the first place. And so we prayed.
The next morning was a new day, a fresh start, and we both approached it with a new mindset. I can honestly say that that trip turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life and it wasn’t because everything went smoothly after that. We had days when our supplies didn’t show up, times when our tools were useless because the electric went out at least a few times each day, lots of piling into, and onto, vehicles and then waiting forever in traffic because there were no signs or stop lights. I had a first-time translator when preaching on Sunday which was difficult enough but was then made even worse when a goat and pig kept wandering in and out of the half-built church. I threw my back out bending rebar and if course there was Black Wednesday, the night everyone fighting for the bathroom thanks to food poisoning.
No, it was not smooth sailing but the work that was done, the lives that were touched, the relationships formed, and the ministry that took place made it all worth it and by simply praying for a better attitude I was able to enjoy every bit of it. Friends, I pray that whatever comes your way that instead of reacting to it you will be able to adjust your attitude and act accordingly.
Grant available in GLOW counties to help remediate lead in apartments and homes
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
This year, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) takes place from October 20-26.
NLPPW is a call to unite individuals, organizations, and government to reduce childhood lead exposure by raising awareness about lead poisoning prevention. This week emphasizes various ways parents, caregivers, and communities can reduce children’s exposure to lead and protect them from its harmful effects.
“Lead poses a significant danger to children because their developing bodies absorb more lead than adults, and their brains and nervous systems are more vulnerable to its harmful effects,” stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department (GO Health).
These effects can include developmental delays, learning disabilities, weight loss, hearing loss, seizures, and more. Children can be exposed to lead from paint used in homes before 1978, contaminated water or soil, and products from other countries (spices, pottery, toys, etc.).
According to the 2023 American Community Survey, approximately 73.6% of housing units in Genesee County and 73.0% of housing units in Orleans County were built before 1978 and may have lead exposure hazards. Homes built before this year are at higher risk for having contaminated lead-based paint, which can deteriorate over time and release toxic lead dust or chips, posing significant health risks, especially to young children.
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. We encourage parents and community members to learn about the dangers of lead exposure by exploring the three key messages of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week:
1. Get the Facts
Any exposure to lead hazards can be dangerous, particularly for children.
The only safe blood lead level is zero!
The most common way children are exposed to lead is by ingesting tiny dust particles or paint chips, often too small to see.
Other potential sources of lead include metal toys, wooden toys or furniture painted with lead-based paint, metal jewelry, lead-glazed pottery, certain candles, spices, and even makeup.
2. Get Your Child Tested
A blood test is the way to determine if your child has lead poisoning.
Most children with detectable levels of lead in their blood show no noticeable symptoms.
If you think your child may have been exposed to lead, talk to their healthcare provider about getting a blood lead test.
Blood lead tests are also recommended for pregnant women who believe they may have been exposed to lead.
3. Get Your Home Tested
Many homes built before 1978 contain lead-based paint. If your home was built before that year it is important to have it tested for lead paint.
If you rent, request that your landlord have the home or apartment tested.
For more information on testing your home, contact GO Health.
The Genesee County Health Department has a Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grant, funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), that can address lead-based paint hazards and other health concerns in homes and apartments in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.
“This funding is designated for lead-based paint remediation as well as other health-related home repairs,” said Gabrielle Lanich, Lead Program Coordinator for GO Health. “Eligible homeowners and property managers with qualifying tenants can apply for these funds.”
For more information or to determine eligibility for these programs, contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or Health.GOlead@geneseeny.gov.
For more information about GO Health Programs and services and eligibility details for lead programs, visit GOHealthNY.org or contact your local health department:
Provided photo: Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt speaks during a news conference in Buffalo on Friday.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
BUFFALO – State Senator Rob Ortt on Friday was joined by elected officials and community activists to boldly oppose the ballot measure Proposition 1.
The proposition is a far overreaching amendment championed by liberal Democrats that would, among other things, open the door for stripping away parental rights, allow biological boys to play on girls sports teams, and allow illegal immigrants and non-citizens to receive the same state benefits as New Yorkers with full citizenship.
“Proposition 1 is a radical attack on the rights of women and girls, especially in sports,” said Ortt, the State Senate Republican leader. “New York Democrats are using this measure to push an extreme agenda that undermines fairness and common sense, and strips parents of their rights. We need every voter to step up, get to the polls, and protect the future of girls’ sports and parental rights by voting against Proposition 1.”
On Wednesday, Politifact confirmed that a passage of Prop 1 would strengthen transgender athletes’ attempts to compete in girls sports – mandating that schools allow biological boys to compete against biological girls.
Voters can choose either Yes or No to Proposition 1, which can be found on the back of the ballot.
“The passing of this bill will ignore the differences between men and women,” said Olivia Bell, a student athlete at SUNY Erie. “This bill ignores the beauty and specialty of women and men being unique. Prop 1 wants to make us all be the same but we aren’t. We are all children of God but we are all different, we all have different motivations, passions and stories that make us who we are but Proposition 1 will turn a blind eye to everything we’ve gone through as people. If this bill is passed we will all be seen as statistics and numbers, not the individuals God created us to be.”
Other speakers included Dennis Hannon, committee Chair of the Coalition to Protect Kids; State Senator George Borrello; and Erie County GOP chairman Michael Kracker.
“I’m a father in New York who saved his kindergarten age child from a forced gender conversion,” Hannon said. “Proponents of this amendment want you to think this isn’t happening, but parents like myself are a testimony it can, and it is. Prop 1 would empower and protect the people who did this to my son. Your child could be next. Vote NO to Prop 1 to prevent this from happening to your family.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) has repeatedly reached out to the Office of Gov. Hochul regarding his concerns on the implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulation. The ACT regulation aims to phase in the sale and use of zero-emission trucks to reduce emissions.
Currently, this regulation is set to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2025, which will require manufacturers to sell zero-emission trucks as an increasing percentage of their annual sales for Class 2b through Class 8 vehicles in New York state.
However, many New Yorkers in the 139th Assembly District and beyond—particularly small business owners and local governments—have voiced their concerns about the feasibility, affordability and strain these trucks will place on infrastructure, leaving numerous questions unanswered. Hawley asserts more information is needed before the ACT regulation is implemented.
“Before the ACT regulation is implemented, Gov. Hochul must work with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to complete a thorough evaluation of the regulation in order to address the concerns shared by my constituents,” Hawley said. “If vehicle retailers, business owners and local governments are already facing challenges as a result of the impending red tape associated with this regulation, clearly more research must be conducted before moving forward.”
Hawley wants Gov. Hochul to delay the implementation date, evaluate the “ins and outs of the ACT regulation” and communicate with all New Yorkers on how it will affect their businesses and day-to-day lives.
“We have a duty to hear the concerns of our constituents, take them seriously and find solutions—I respectfully implore the governor to fulfill that duty and rethink the ACT regulation,” Hawley said. “While I am not against reducing vehicle emissions in our state, I am against proceeding with a regulation that wreaks havoc on our small businesses. Forcing the hand of vehicle manufacturers before zero-emission technology is properly scaled could carry dire consequences for our state’s economy and rural communities.”
ALBION – Located at 239 South Main Street in Albion, this fine building, familiar to many as the Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance (COVA) headquarters, was in fact, built specifically in 1924 as a Nurses’ Home, a place where the nurses and medical staff of the adjacent Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital “should be able to spend their hours of rest and diversion somewhere apart and separate from the scene and atmosphere of their labors”…..having contended with “Long hours of service, the patient ministry at the bedside in a critical hour, the welcoming of a new-born life.”
By Randy LeBaron
This year, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) takes place from October 20-26.
