Provided photo, front row, from left: Kevin Clayton (Medina), Miguel Aybar (Lockport), JoJo McCanna (Lockport), Madison Bale (Medina), Eliza Church (Lockport) and Shyanne Ettinger (Newfane). Middle Row: Mr. Stacy Hale (NASA), Skyler Munn (Lyndonville), Luke Smeal (Lockport), Coy Loyzelle (Lockport), Cal Stinson Jr. (Lyndonville) and Caleb Boyce (Medina). Back row: Canyon Wood (Royalton-Hartland), Trey VerCruysse (Lyndonville), Matt Borowiak (Lockport) and Mr. Gene Gordon (NASA).
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Students in Bill Rakonczay’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program, at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, are getting ready to continue their partnership with NASA’s HUNCH (High Schools United with NASA) program.
Stacy Hale, Founder and NASA Project Manager, and Gene Gordon, a retired physics teacher and NASA Project Manager, stopped by the Orleans/Niagara BOCES classroom and talked to the students about their role in making hardware for the International Space Station.
They are one of 150 schools in the country who are producing hardware for flight and training with their mission being manufacturing a part for stowage lockers for the astronauts to keep food, equipment and personal items in.
Mr. Hale said when they had first put the request out there for high school students to participate, that Mr. Rakonczay was one of the first teachers to contact him.
“I was so excited to offer my students this opportunity,” says Mr. Rakonczay. “It is a great experience for them and a great thing for them to put on their resumes and college applications.”
Mr. Gordon says he knows of several colleges that when they see that the students have HUNCH experience it gets their applications to the top of the pile.
“Especially if the students are going on to any engineering or STEM degrees,” he said. “It makes a huge difference if they will get accepted.”
The students are excited about the role they will have in NASA’s mission and can’t wait to get started.
ALBION – The annual Ghost Walk at Mount Albion Cemetery, featuring many Albion High School students, returns on Sept. 28 with students portraying 16 people at the cemetery, including three who haven’t been highlighted before.
This is the 11th annual Ghost Walk, and the tours typically attract about 400 to 500 people. The tours start at 5:30 and go until 8:30. There are tours every 15 minutes and they last about an hour.
RSVPs are required and can be made by calling Sue Starkweather Miller at the school, 589-2087. There is a $5 suggested donation. Everyone will be bused in and out of the cemetery from the elementary school.
High school students will perform as actors, singers and tour guides. Students also perform technical duties, making sure there are batteries, lights and microphones.
New ghosts on the tour include:
• George Bullard, a former NYS Assemblyman who donated 24 acres of land to the Village of Albion it what is known as Bullard Park.
• Hank Porter, an Albion graduate, worked for Walt Disney and created illustrations for the full length film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” He also updated the image of Donald Duck, was responsible for the “Disney” design, and sketched numerous emblems and insignias for all military branches to be used on war planes, tanks, and ships. It built comradery and identity with the troops.
• Anna Dann Mason will tell the story of her time as Susan B. Anthony’s housekeeper and personal secretary. She was married in Anthony’s parlor and the famous suffragette was her maid of honor. Mason’s husband, Gilbert Mason, lived in Albion.
Other ghosts featured on the tour include:
• Charles Howard opened his Santa Claus School in 1937. There he taught people from all over the world how to play Santa. In addition, he opened Christmas Park which included many attractions and a toy shop. He was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa and a consultant on the movie Miracle on 34th Street.
• Virginia Sheret will share the story of her brothers James, Andrew and Eugene as their Company F broke through the Hindenberg Line. Two of her brothers paid the ultimate price for their efforts.
• The Barnum brothers and their stint in WWII will be highlighted
• Alice Wilson will tell the story of her death by strangulation. Her philandering husband was her killer. He was the only person ever hanged in Orleans County.
• Sidney Eddy played an important role during WWI. He was stationed in France and was an ambulance driver, putting himself and his Model T in danger as he transported the wounded from the front lines to hospital.
• Emma Hunt will share how she was murdered by the jilted William Lake. Then Sheriff Rice will tell how he put together a posse to apprehend Lake, who was on the lam. He was caught, tried and put to death at Auburn State Prison. At the time, he was the 7th person to die by the electric chair.
• David Jones will share how he and his brother Claudius patented the Delusion Mousetrap. What made is special was the fact that it was a multi-catch mousetrap that would repeatedly kill mice. It was “always set and never out of order.” At its peak of popularity, they were producing over 1,000 traps a day!
• Isaac Signor, Orleans County Judge who wrote the book Landmarks of Orleans County (a resource used for the Albion ghost walks).
• C. Royce Sawyer, a 30-year member of the Dye Hose Company (Albion Fire Department). As Fire Chief, he worked to have the entire company motorized. Albion was the 2nd department in NYS to become motorized, with NYC was the first.
• Emma Ingersoll will show off her family statue and share details of her will, which gifted the water fountain and bench to Mount Albion Cemetery – as long as they promised to supply the water.
• Robert Capstick, a down and out Civil War soldier, gave Sarah Harling his prized possession, a George Washington button, for taking him in and nursing him back to health when he was so destitute.
• Charles Nelson Brown was a minor league baseball player who suffered from severe depression. He was institutionalized in Batavia, but left the facility on snowy night, walked home to Albion and took his own life.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 September 2019 at 8:44 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
YATES – Channel 7 newsman Mike Randall was in Lyndonville recently for a feature on Lyndonville’s Shoe Tree, a row of four ash trees that are loaded with shoes. People throw them high to hang from branches, or they nail them to the trees.
Randall told me he spotted the Shoe Tree on a camping trip to Golden Hill State Park, just across the Orleans County line in Barker.
Randall does many features for WKBW (Channel 7) in Buffalo. He likes whimsical stories in Western New York, and thought the Shoe Tree stood out as a peculiar countryside sensation.
He called me on Sept. 3, asking if I would go on camera to talk about the Shoe Tree. I gave him numbers of some local people who I thought could tell the tale.
Randall reached out to them, but no one was available or willing. After some arm-twisting and little time to prep, I headed to the corner of Foss and Lakeshore roads. I talked my daughter Lucy into joining me for the occasion. It was the last day of summer vacation and she seemed restless. She gets some air time on the segment when one of my wayward shoe tosses lands on her.
Courtesy of WKBW
I’ve done several stories on the Shoe Tree over the years, including when I was at The Daily News in Batavia. Earl Baun turned this into a craze in 1986 when he threw 8 to 10 pairs of shoes in the trees. He was cleaning out his girlfriend’s closet and grabbed a pile of her shoes.
Many people say the Shoe Tree was a “thing” before that, with people heaving footwear high into the trees a decade or two before Baun did. However, people have told me Baun’s exploits catapulted the site into a phenomenon.
Randall told me he’s open to highlighting other peculiar spots in Orleans County. I suggested the five-seat outhouse at the Cobblestone Museum.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 September 2019 at 5:03 pm
‘It would have been a shame to see it knocked down.’ – Roger Hungerford, developer of project
Charlie Spencer, project manager of the restoration of Bent’s Hall for LeChase Construction, shows how the second floor has been reinforced. Spencer said the Bent’s project is the most challenging of his 12-year career in construction
MEDINA – In hindsight, Roger Hungerford might have thought twice about purchasing Bent’s Hall.
“I had no idea what I was getting into,” Hungerford said. “What I expected to be a several million dollar project turned out to be much more. Still, it is on a key corner of my hometown and I knew I could develop multiple businesses within it that would result in it being economically rebirthed.”
Bent’s Hall was built in 1864-65 by well-known sandstone builder and Medina native, Patrick O’Grady. Built at the height of the Civil War and the Lincoln presidency, it is one of the oldest surviving opera houses in the United States.
It was named for a local farmer who owned the property and had the structure erected. For many years it was a prominent venue for concerts, plays, shows, commencements, elections and other public functions. P.T. Barnum and “Buffalo Bill” Cody were among the hundreds of touring performers who entertained on Bent’s stage.
With the advent of movies, the opera house as a performance venue gradually fell into disuse. Over the years, Medina Elks Lodge had quarters on the second floor and beginning in 1970, the first floor became home to the first of several banks, the last of which was Bank of America.
By the early 2000’s Orleans Renaissance Group had taken an interest in the building, particularly the third-floor opera house, and began correspondence with Bank of America to take it over. In 2010, BOA announced it was leaving Medina and agreed to donate the entire building to ORG.
“We immediately set out to determine the condition of the structure and what might be needed to restore it, and to do an extensive study of its history,” said Chris Busch, president of ORG.
They completed some basic engineering assessments of the structure and discovered the building was in severe distress. It was in need of substantial and extensive structural remediation, Busch said.
The most pressing need was the rapid deterioration of the main beam carrying the entire Main Street façade, most notably the southeast corner of the building. The beam had deteriorated to a point where the corner was visibly shifting and in danger of collapsing. With help from the Preservation League of New York and a “Seven to Save” designation, ORG was able to secure funding to address that issue, stabilize the façade and prevent collapse temporarily.
“However, we were fully aware that there was an enormous amount of additional structural work that would be needed in the future,” Busch said. “This project had only scratched the surface.”
‘We’ve watched the project unfold with untold gratitude and joy. Bent’s Opera House is arguably the most important building on Main Street and certainly one of the top five in Medina.’ – Chris Busch, president of ORG
ORG had also begun developing concepts for adaptive reuse of the structure in the hope a developer could be found to complete the restoration. ORG is a 501(c)3 arts and cultural organization and did not have the resources to undertake a project of the magnitude required.
There have been about 20-25 construction workers at Bent’s for more than a year. “It’s like a city inside here,” said Tessa Hartway, director of marketing for Talis Equity. Contractors have been doing demolition, structural repairs, framing, plumbing and electrical work.
ORG arrived at the conclusion that what might be the best use for the venue would be an event center with restaurant and hotel space or office space. In seeking a potential developer, the most obvious choice would be Roger Hungerford.
“His love of the community and its history are well known, and such a person would have more than just a business interest in the Bent’s project,” Busch said. “It would be a labor of love for his hometown.”
Tessa Hartway, director of Marketing for Hungerford’s medical technology venture capital firm, Talis Equity, said they never intended to be involved in historic restoration.
“It just evolved,” she said.
Bent’s Hall is a dominant structure at the intersection of routes 63 and 31 in Medina’s historic downtown business district.
A conversation was initiated with Hungerford and the sale of Bent’s Opera House came to fruition in 2016, Busch said.
“Since then, we’ve watched the project unfold with untold gratitude and joy,” Busch said. “Bent’s Opera House is arguably the most important building on Main Street and certainly one of the top five in Medina. But its historic significance goes far beyond our community. The people and events appearing on that stage were of vital importance to our nation’s history and culture – not just one person or one event as is usual for any given place – but dozens. As such, this preservation effort by Roger Hungerford is without equal. Among the many historic places in Western New York, Bent’s Opera House is among the few that matter most.”
Since buying the building Hungerford has discovered it is an engineering nightmare. A structural engineer said a section of the building (the southeast corner) was within a decade of falling into Main Street.
“However, the repurposing things we are making it into are a delight,” Hungerford said. “It would have been a shame to see it knocked down.”
This stairway was built in Bent’s Hall for construction purposes, and will be replaced with a grand stairway when renovations are complete.
Hungerford praised the talents of builder Patrick O’Grady. O’Grady lived in a sandstone home at the corner of Catherine and West Center Street. Within two blocks of the former O’Grady home, Hungerford is restoring an 1865 Medina sandstone mansion, as well as his former 1922-built high school. The mansion is to be a bed and breakfast guest house and the high school will be higher-end loft apartments.
“O’Grady was an incredible builder,” Hungerford said. “I can’t account for how he got those huge beams at Bent’s Opera House up three floors using horses and pulleys.”
Hungerford said their first effort in restoring Bent’s Hall was a design phase which started three years ago, and getting approval from the New York State and Federal Historical Restoration Agency approvals. Actual restoration work has been ongoing for a year and a half.
Le Chase Construction was selected by Hungerford’s team to be the general contractor. Charlie Spencer of Clarendon is project superintendent.
“This is the most challenging job of my career,” Spencer said. “I’m honored to be involved in this project, but I wake up in the night thinking about it. This is a great community and Roger is a great client to work for.”
He said their plumber was working outside and two girls stopped by, handed him a bottle of water and said, “Thank you.”
The second floor will be a boutique hotel with 10 rooms.
Recently, media were given a tour of the building by Hartway; Lisa Tombari, director of Talis Historic Restoration; and Kaitlyn Delamarter, marketing associate and graphic designer with Talis Equity.
Hartway said they have uncovered evidence of restoration from all periods from the 1940s to the 1970s, some of which have contributed to the decline of the building.
Delamarter said the history of the building had disappeared over the years, and they want to bring it back.
“We could write a novel on the lessons we’ve learned here,” she said.
While masonry restoration continues outside, work continues inside. All the floor joists in the building have been reinforced or replaced. The entire roof structure, including new steel beams, have been installed, a process which took six months.
“The things we’ve done should last 100 years,” Spencer said.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: The rafters have been reinforced with wood and steel.
Hungerford has also purchased the 10,000 square foot building adjacent to the 20,000 square foot Bent’s Hall. A corridor will connect the buildings.
On the first floor of Bent’s, there will be a farm-to-table restaurant called Harvest. Chefs Lionel Heydel and Jose Ocasio have already been hired and are planning their menus for a late spring 2020 opening.
Next door, a gourmet food store is planned.
A grand stairway will lead to a boutique hotel on the second floor.
An elevator is being built where the bank vault used to be. A dumbwaiter will accommodate catering staffs to transport food and drink to the third-floor Bent’s Opera, which will be an event space.
Spencer said all the time-consuming things are behind them, but there is still a lot to be done. No firm completion date has been identified yet.
Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a series on the redevelopment projects in Medina led by Roger Hungerford and his companies, Talis Equity and Talis Historic Restoration.
The door is open for the many construction workers who have been working to save the Bent’s Opera House and transform it into its new purpose as a restaurant, hotel and events center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2019 at 3:57 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – The driver of a pickup truck went off Ridge Road just after 3 this afternoon when he swatted at a bee inside the vehicle, Albion firefighters said.
The man driving the pickup and his passenger, a boy, weren’t injured after the truck struck a utility pole, between Gaines Basin and Eagle Harbor roads.
The pole snapped in half and wires were knocked on the ground. The section of Ridge Road was closed to traffic. National Grid is expected on scene to make the restoration.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2019 at 12:24 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: These deer are pictured in March 2015 on Route 98 in Gaines, south of 104.
Hunters in Orleans County have been given permanent permission to use rifles for big game hunting.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed the legislation that was backed by the Orleans County Legislature and local sportsmen’s clubs.
Legislation was first approved to allow rifles for big game hunting in 2017. That legislation was due to expire on Oct. 1.
Cuomo and the State Legislature agreed to permanently authorize pistols, rifles, crossbows, longbows, muzzle-loaded firearms and shotguns to be used when hunting big game, including rifle hunting between Nov. 16 and Dec. 8 this year.
State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, issued this statement:
“I am glad that this legislation was passed and signed in a timely manner to allow for big game rifle hunting this upcoming season, and I want to thank my colleague, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, for his work in helping to get this legislation passed. For many, hunting is a way of life and provides generations of families a chance to bond, learn about nature, and educate the younger generations about what it means to hunt. This legislation will ensure the practice of hunting and outdoor education continues in Orleans County for decades to come.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued this statement:
“I am proud to announce that big game rifle hunting has been permanently authorized in Orleans County – paving the way for this year’s season to open on November 16. Hunting is such an important staple of our culture here in Western New York and a fall tradition that many families look forward to each year. Permanently protecting this tradition is very important to me and the thousands of hunters I represent across the 139th Assembly District. I will always stand by our right to hunt, fish and exercise the Second Amendment and I wish all hunters a safe and productive season this year!”
Local sportsmen leaders said hunters have discovered fewer wounded animals since rifles were allowed. Terry Williams of Carlton told county legislators at a recent meeting that shotguns often require multiple shots, and sometimes don’t take down an animal, leaving them hurt.
“It has been a very clean and prosperous year for those of us with rifle hunting,” Wiliams told legislators last December. “It’s one shot and it’s over with. It’s very clean and neat.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 September 2019 at 11:15 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Robby Klino of Medina shows some of the items in his extensive collection of Halloween memorabilia, including black birds, bats and skeleton heads at his stairway in his West Center Street.
MEDINA – When most kids were looking forward to Christmas, Robby Klino was anticipating Halloween.
Klino, who grew up in Medina, lived and worked in Atlanta for 25 years, until moving back home in September 2018.
Visitors to Robby Klino’s home in Medina are greeted by this ghoulish wreath, a preview of what waits inside his home.
“I always loved Halloween,” Klino said. “When living in Atlanta, I always flew back home to Medina for Christmas. Because I wasn’t able to decorate my home for Christmas, I decorated for Halloween.”
Klino has amassed an overwhelming collection of Halloween decorations. It began when his mother started giving him pumpkins of all kinds. He has pumpkins made of plaster of Paris, paper mache, wood, glass and chenille.
“It just grew from there,” Klino said. “I travel a lot for work, and I’m a shopper. I love garage sales and craft shows.”
Klino has decorated his home with MacKenzie-Childs, a line of ceramics, hand-painted imported furniture and home décor.
Last year he decided to share his Halloween-themed home with friends and neighbors by having a Halloween open house. He invited half a dozen vendors to set up in his home, and it was a huge success, he said.
“People love to come into someone else’s home, just to see their house,” Klino said.
This year, he has scheduled his open house, which he calls “The Happy Halloween House,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 5 and 6. His home is at 650 West Center St. in Medina.
He already has nearly a dozen vendors signed up who will have unique Halloween décor, antiques, soaps, primitives, quilts and a Pop-Up Show.
Klino will also have a raffle for a piece of Mac-Kenzie Childs during the weekend. Money will go to PAWS, an animal shelter on Gaines basin Road in Albion.
“My Happy Halloween House is just a way to bring the community together and celebrate Halloween,” Klino said.
Staff Reports Posted 16 September 2019 at 10:48 am
New Yorkers will vote in the presidential primary on April 28. That is sooner than usual in the presidential primary schedule, but not as early as Gov. Andrew Cuomo had hoped for.
“Although I believe that New Yorkers would be better served, and more empowered, by a presidential primary occurring earlier in the year, I recognize that certain national political realities prevent the state legislature from passing legislation to accomplish that goal,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Therefore, in light of the State’s interest in an orderly election administration process, and out of concern for the uncertainty that would likely ensue if I were to veto this bill, I am signing this bill.”
The governor wants to see a combined primary for the presidential, federal and state races. That would mean moving those primaries up from June.
Cuomo is asking the State Legislature to move up the federal and state primaries to align with the presidential primary, which he said would save $20 million and result in a bigger voter turnout.
“At least 15 other states have a single combined primary for presidential, federal and state races, and it is time for New York to do the same,” Cuomo said. “Sadly, New York has at times lagged behind the rest of the nation in terms of voting laws and voter accessibility.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2019 at 10:11 am
Déjà Vu Ballooning in Gasport provided tethered hot-air balloon rides on Aug. 31 at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds for the Steampunk Festival. Déjà Vu will have a balloon at the upcoming Walk for Life on Sept. 29 in Albion.
ALBION – The Walk for Life, a fundraiser for Care Net of Greater Orleans, is going to be at a different location this year, and will offer tethered hot-air balloon rides for the first time.
Walk for Life is usually at Mount Albion Cemetery. That location didn’t have a big enough open spot for Déjà Vu Ballooning in Gasport to offer the tethered balloon rides.
Care Net has moved the Sept. 29 to Albion Central School with the balloon rides in front of the track/football stadium.
“I thought it would add a nice fun dimension to the walk,” said Wende Swick, Care Net’s executive director.
Tickets are $25 for a ride in the tethered balloon. The top 2 fundraisers for the walk will get a full ride in the balloon.
The Walk for Life will include a 1-mile route in the nature trail/woods. If it’s muddy or rainy, the course will shift to the track.
Participants can walk or run the course as individuals or as a team. Swick encouraged youth groups, Bible study groups or families to be part of the event, which goes from 5 to 8 p.m.
There will be prizes for the teams with the best costume, most spirit, largest team, and in other categories.
Care Net has set a $15,000 fundraising goal for the event. For more information, call Care Net at 589-7505, or click here.
Care Net Center of Greater Orleans provides free services which include pregnancy and STI testing, limited ultrasounds, classes in parenting, Bible study and life skills, material aid, an earn while you learn program.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2019 at 9:36 am
Albion DPW will repair road, while DOT works on bridge this week
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Crews from the Village of Albion Department of Public Works work on a section of Route 98, just north of the Main Street lift bridge, this morning.
The village is working this week to restore the road which had to be torn up in January after a water main leak.
With the road closed for the repair, the state Canal Corp. is using it as an opportunity for maintenance on the bridge, keeping it in the upright position so boats can pass through.
The bridge is expected to be closed to traffic for approximately five days.During the closure, vehicular traffic will be detoured using East State Street, Ingersoll and Caroline Streets.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2019 at 8:10 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The former Rite Aid store in Albion opened Friday as a Walgreens for the first time.
ALBION – The former Rite Aid stores in Albion and Medina are now officially Walgreens stores following renovations, new signs and other branding and integration.
Medina was the first to be transitioned from Rite Aid, with the Albion store opening as a Walgreens for the first time on Friday. (The pharmacies switched to Walgreens in February 2018.) The employees are largely unchanged during the transition.
The Albion store was originally an Eckerd when it was built about 15 years ago at 10 East Ave. Medina’s store is located at 1422 South Main St.
Walgreens about two years ago agreed to buy more than 1,900 Rite Aid stores and three distribution centers for $4.4 billion. Walgreens didn’t have a presence in Orleans County, prior to buying Rite Aid.
Retailers that sell tobacco and vaping products to underage individuals will face criminal penalties
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Sunday an emergency executive action to ban the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes in New York State – the latest in a series of actions to combat the increasing number of youth using vape products, largely driven by e-cigarette companies marketing flavors that are intended to get children addicted to nicotine.
DOH Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker will hold an emergency meeting with the Public Health and Health Planning Council, or PHHPC, this week to ban flavored e-cigarettes. The Governor directed State Police and DOH to immediately partner to ramp up enforcement efforts against retailers who sell to underage youth, with the possibility of criminal penalties. Finally, the Governor announced he will advance legislation to ban deceptive marketing of e-cigarettes to teens and children.
“Manufacturers of fruit and candy-flavored e-cigarettes are intentionally and recklessly targeting young people, and today we’re taking action to put an end to it,” Cuomo said on Sunday. “At the same time, unscrupulous stores are knowingly selling vaping products to underage youth – those retailers are now on notice that we are ramping up enforcement and they will be caught and prosecuted.”
To further crack down on retailers selling tobacco and vaping products to underage youth, State Police is partnering with DOH 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. Retailers found selling tobacco and vaping products to underage individuals will now face criminal penalties in addition to civil penalties. When the legislation signed in July is effective on November 13, these sweeps and compliance efforts will continue with a renewed focus on sales to those under age 21.
State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “Retailers who sell E-cigarettes and vaping products must ensure they are checking IDs and only selling to those who are old enough to purchase. State Troopers will partner with the Department of Health to crack down on those who sell to minors and will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
These efforts follow a series of actions taken by the Governor aimed at addressing the growing use of vaping products, which have come under national scrutiny following a rising number of cases of vaping-associated respiratory illnesses.
On September 12, Governor Cuomo signed an executive order that directs state agencies to deploy education awareness programs on vaping and include vaping and e-cigarette prevention and cessation measures in their educational programs and employee trainings. The order also directs DOH to work with the State Education Department to immediately develop and deploy these measures for school districts to incorporate into their curriculums. The Governor also signed legislation to expand current school-based programs and marketing campaigns aimed at reducing tobacco use to include e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine.
On September 9, the Governor directed DOH to launch an investigation into companies that produce vaping substances. DOH served three subpoenas so that DOH can determine the ingredient mix in their diluent-thickeners. DOH also passed emergency regulations to require shops that sell e-cigarettes to post a warning that lets people know that it poses a significant health risk. Regulations are now in place to do this.
On July 16, Governor Cuomo signed legislation to raise the age to purchase tobacco and electronic cigarette products from 18 to 21, effective November 13, 2019. The Governor also signed legislation in October 2017 to ban the use of electronic cigarettes on all school grounds and everywhere that smoking products are prohibited.
New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “E-cigarettes have been implicated as a key indicator in the upward trend of the use of tobacco products among youths in recent years. These regulations will help curb this dangerous trend and will further safeguard the health of all New Yorkers, especially among underage youths.”
Anyone experiencing symptoms who uses vape products should contact their healthcare provider immediately. Healthcare providers should report possible cases to the local poison control center (1-800-222-1222). If you are concerned at all with your vaping device or products or just want more information, call the NYSDOH’s Vaping Hotline at 1-888-364-3046.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 15 September 2019 at 5:09 pm
First place in the Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer standings will be on the line when 3-0 Akron visits 3-0 Roy-Hart at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, Holley will host rival Kendall in boys soccer at 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, a key N-O field hockey game will have co-leader Roy-Hart (3-0) visiting Akron (3-1) at 4:45 p.m.
In Genesee Region League girls soccer competition, undefeated (4-0) Kendall visits unbeaten (3-0) Wheatland-Chili in a key contest at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
In football action on Friday Albion will be at Depew, Medina/Lyndonvile/Barker at Maryvale and Roy-Hart at Alden, all at 7 p.m.
Weekly Schedule Monday Boys Soccer: Wheatland-Chili at Kendall, Holley at Attica, 6:30 p.m. Girls Soccer: Notre Dame at Albion, 6:30 p.m. Golf: Albion at Newfane, Wilson at Medina ,4 p.m. Volleyball: Albion at Wilson, Newfane at Roy-Hart, Medina at Akron, 6 p.m.
Tuesday Boys Soccer: Medina/Lyndonville at Akron, Albion at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; Newfane at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m. Girls Soccer: Pembroke at Holley, 6:30 p.m. Field Hockey: Roy-Hart at Akron, Newfane at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; Kenmore at Barker, 5 p.m. Volleyball: Oakfield-Alabama/Elba at Kendall, Holley at Notre Dame, Alexander at Lyndonville, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Soccer: Kendall at Holley, 6:30 p.m. Girls Soccer: Wilson at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; Barker at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m. Golf: Barker at Roy-Hart, Akron at Wilson, Medina at Newfane, 4 p.m. Volleyball: Medina at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Newfane, 6 p.m.
Thursday Girls Soccer: Lyndonville/Medina at Notre Dame, Holley at Alexander, 4:30 p.m.; Kendall at Wheatland-Chili 6:30 p.m. Field Hockey: Barker at Newfane, Wilson at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; Akron at Medina, 7 p.m. Volleyball: Wheatland-Chili at Lyndonville, 6:30 p.m.
Friday Football: Albion at Depew, Medina/Lyndonville/Barker at Maryvale, Roy-Hart at Alden, 7 p.m. Boys Soccer: Wilson at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; Medina/Lyndonville at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart, Kendall at Attica, Pembroke at Holley, 6:30 p.m. Girls Soccer: CCA at Barker, 4:30 p.m. Field Hockey: Barker at Clarence, Sacred Heart at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m. Golf: Albion at Barker, Roy-Hart at Wilson, Newfane at Akron, 4 p.m. Volleyball: Rochester Prep at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Albion at Lyndonville, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday Boys Soccer: Cal-Mum at Medina/Lyndonville at Lyndonville, 10 a.m. Girls Soccer: Akron at Albion, 6:30 p.m.
HILTON – Medina opened its marching band season on Saturday at Hilton, competing with seven other bands from the Western New York region.
Also present was The Pride of Rochester marching band who performed their show “Heroes” in exhibition. One of the instructors in this ensemble is Matt Jaeger, a Medina graduate.
In SS1 Medina earned 1st place with a score of 75.0 followed by East Irondequoit in 2nd with 70.85.
Other competitors include Leroy in SS3 with 61.85, Greece in LS3 with 67.75 and Corning Painted Post in LS2 with 70.65.
Next Saturday, Sept. 21, is Medina’s Fall Festival of Bands which will be held in the newly renovated Veterans’ Memorial Park. The gates open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. A total of nine bands will perform.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 September 2019 at 8:33 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL — Oak Orchard Health held its first farm-to-table dinner on Saturday with 150 people attending the event at Partyka Farms.
Proceeds from the first-time fundraiser, called Rootstock, will go towards Oak Orchard’s new health and wellness center that is opening in Albion next month at the former OTB, next to Oak Orchard’s doctor’s offices at 301 West Ave.
The new center will offer behavior health (mental health), alternative pain therapy and substance abuse.
Mary Ann Pettibon, Oak Orchard Health chief executive officer, was pleased with the event, and expects it will be back next year.
Staff from The Farmer’s Table in Hamlin, which is owned by the Partyka family, prepared the meal, led by chef Guy Warren. This photo shows Bob Ryan, a friend of the family, scooping ice cream on the baked fruit desserts.
The dinner buffet included beef tenderloin, chicken saltimbocca, gourmet pasta and cheese, smashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and roasted corn on the cob from the farm.
Chris Wilson provided music during the dessert time.
Oak Orchard shared testimonials during the dinner from doctors who serve Oak Orchard’s 22,000 patients at sites in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport, Warsaw and Hornell.
The display at the dinner included cards showing milestone events in Oak Orchard’s history, including its founding in 1966 in Albion. Oak Orchard initially was focused on provided healthcare and services for farmworkers. Oak Orchard has expanded many times since it started. Farmworkers remain an important focus of the organization’s mission, with Oak Orchard serving about 1,500.
Oak Orchard serves the general population, including many people without insurance or who are underinsured. The organization also provides dental and eye care, and has a mobile dental unit that goes to local school districts.
Oak Orchard Health in 1991 built a new site at 301 West Ave.
Lora Partyka helps scoop ice cream for the desserts during the dinner. The family was happy to host the big event. The field for the dinner was next to Partyka’s Farm Market on Monroe-Orleans Countyline Road. The farm has two kitchens which were used to cook the meals.
The field for the dinner was in an apple orchard.
Oak Orchard Health presented an award to Lora’s husband, Jeff, who served on the OOH board of directors for several years.
Adam Krenning, who led Albion’s FFA and agriculture program for about 20 years, also was recognized with an Agricultural Connection Award during the event.
Jerry Archibald brought these five classic cars to add to the ambiance to the farm-to-table dinner at Partyka Farms. Archibald works with Oak Orchard Health through his job as a partner and CPA with the Bonadio Group.
