MEDINA – The Village Board has approved a two-year contract with the school district where the Medina Police Department will provide a resource officer.

The contract increases the amount paid to the village from $60,000 this past school year to $65,000 in 2019-20, and then $70,000 in 2020-21.

Medina police officer Corey Ambrose served as the school resource officer the past two years. This school year, Stephen Gross will be the resource officer.

The Medina contract is less than what other school districts pay for the service.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is receiving $100,000 to provide a school resource officer in Lyndonville and Kendall. In Albion, the school district is paying the village $81,250 annually for an officer.

In other action at Monday’s Village Board meeting:

• The board approved borrowing up to $50,000 for a computer overhaul for the Police Department. That includes a new server and laptops.

• The board also agreed to have Martin Busch continue in a part-time role as code enforcement officer. Busch has retired after 24 years in the job. He has agreed to work in a limited role helping to review building plans and do some inspections. Busch will be paid $30 an hour. He is expected to work about three hours a week.

• The village is giving about 20 water customers until the end of October to have new water meters in place. More than 2,000 meters have been replaced with a new software installed for reading the meters.

But about 20 water customers have the old meters. Most of them need to make plumbing upgrades for the new meters because their pipes are corroded or brittle.

The village has been working to replace meters the past three years. The village is paying extra expense keeping the old software system for the 20 meters.

The board voted to give those customers until the end of October to have the meters replaced or else their water will be shut off.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Lyons Collision in Medina this evening hosted about 200 firefighters from three counties so they could experiment with extrication tools and other equipment from multiple manufacturers.

The top photo shows Holley firefighters, including Chris Chilson (left) with a cutter. The firefighters used the tools to remove the tops of vehicles, as well as doors and other steel pieces.

Holmatro, Genesis and Hurst all had extrication tools – cutters and spreaders – for firefighters to use.

Marc Major of the Clarendon uses a spreader to pry off the roof of a vehicle. He is assisted by Eddie Sharp.

Bob Freida, the Clarendon assistant fire chief, said the opportunity at Lyons is very beneficial for the firefighters to try the tools, and also to work alongside firefighters from other departments.

“It’s an opportunity to use different brands side by side,” Freida said. “Each brand brings something different to the table.”

Firefighters from Orleans, Genesee and Niagara bring fire trucks to the event, and that is a chance for the firefighters to see how the trucks are set up and how departments mount their tools and equipment.

“Everybody has different ideas on how to do things,” Freida said.

Ryan Thompson of the Alabama Fire Department uses a spreader tool to pop open a door. The Alabama FD also has a rescue jack in place to help stabilize the vehicle.

Jeff Lyons of Lyons Collision organized the seventh annual event at Lyons which included demonstrations and drills. Lyons is now a dealer for Genesis Rescue Systems.

A Middleport firefighter uses a spreader to open a car door.

Albion and Barre firefighters worked together on drills with this car.

The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company had a crew of firefighters practicing with extrication equipment.

Rusiniak’s Service in Buffalo brought a machine with a 360-degree boom. The powerful “rotator” can grab vehicles that weigh up to 115,000 pounds and swing them out of the way so rescue personnel can work on patients or free trapped people in a vehicle. Rusiniak’s uses a mini crane to move a heavy high lift.

Lyndonville firefighters stabilize a truck on its side by using rescue jacks. The new jacks are quicker to get in place than wooden blocks, which were used for many years to stabilize vehicles at crash sites.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Zelaya, a mariachi band, performed during a “Day of the Dead” celebration in downtown Medina last Nov. 1. They are performing under a big tent that was set up in the parking lot on West Center Street across from the Post Office. This Nov. 1, many of the performers will be at the Orleans County YMCA.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board agreed to have some village streets closed to traffic for a short time to accommodate upcoming special events.

That includes demonstrations this evening at Lyons Collision on Orient Street. About 200 firefighters will be there from 6 to 8 p.m. to see extrications and other demonstrations.

The northern section of Main Street will then be blocked off on Wednesday from 3 to 8 p.m. for the Super Cruise.

On Sept. 7., Prospect Avenue near the YMCA and Pearl Street will be closed to traffic for the dedication of the bronze statue in front of the Y, which was originally an Armory and training site for soldiers. The dedication will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Sept. 7.

Medina businesses last year teamed with the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council on Nov. 1  for the Day of the Dead, with many of the events under a tent at the parking lot on West Center Street across from the Post Office.

This time many events are planned downtown from 3 to 6 p.m., with a processional at 6 to the YMCA. The Y will host most of the performances. A section of West Avenue will be closed to traffic from approximately 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Karen Canning of GO Art! asked the Village Board for the short-term street closure. She expects there will be about 100 people in the processional.

Police Chief Chad Kenward said it will take about three police officers to keep the street closed and the participants safe. That will include some overtime for officers.

The board gave the OK for the overtime and blocked-off street.

“It’s something new and we want to encourage people to come into our town,” said Trustee Marguerite Sherman.

The board also approved use of Boxwood Cemetery for two Medina cross country meets, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8. The high school course is off-limits due to construction at the school campus.

Village officials said they would push to have some older trees pruned in the historic cemetery before the two races.

Photo courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County: This tomato from a home garden in Carlton has been confirmed to have Late Blight.

CARLTON – Late Blight was confirmed in Orleans County on August 23. It was found in a tomato from a home garden in Carlton, the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County reported.

Late Blight is a serious disease of tomatoes and potatoes and can kill plants in less than two weeks. Disease spots are often dark gray to brown in color and tend to be surrounded by pale green tissue. Disease lesions can be found on all parts of the plant – stems, leaves, fruit, tubers.

“If you find late blight it is probably too late to save your plants,” said Katie Oakes, Extension horticulture educator.

Bag up diseased plants ASAP, preferably when the sun is shining and if possible, when the plants are dry. Let them cook in the sun in garbage bags, then dispose of them. Do not compost plants.

The spores are airborne so leaving your plants alive will infect your neighbors as well as local farmers whose livelihoods will be severely affected, the Extension said in an advisory.

For help identifying Late Blight, bring a sample to a Cornell Cooperative Extension office – preferably in a clear, plastic bag.

Since this disease is aggressive, spreads easily, and can be very damaging to area farmers, Cornell Cooperative Extension asks that anyone suspecting they have Late Blight please contact their local CCE office for assistance.

In Orleans County, the office can be reached at 585-798-4265.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jim Whipple, Orleans Economic Development Agency chief executive officer, discusses how to promote the Medina Business Park during a meeting in January 2017. The 300-acre site is one of the largest certified shovel-ready sites in the state.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation today that will require economic development agencies to live-stream their meetings, including public hearings. Videos of the meetings also need to be posted on the agencies’ websites within five days.

The legislation pertains to all industrial development agencies, including the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

Jim Whipple, chief executive officer of the Orleans EDA, said he is waiting details from the state on how to meet the new guidelines. The Orleans EDA has its monthly meeting the second Fridays each month at 8 a.m. at 121 North Main St., Albion, in the conference room of the Albion Visitors’ Center.

The meetings are open to the public but usually only include the board of directors, EDA staff and a news reporter. An agenda and other documents from the meetings are posted on the Orleans EDA website.

Public hearings move around the county, usually at the village hall or town hall in a community where a tax incentive plan is being proposed.

Whipple is one of three staff members for the Orleans EDA, which is much smaller than many other IDAs in the state. He doesn’t expect it will be a big effort to meet the new state guidelines. However, he thinks it will stifle some conversation among the board members and staff.

“It might restrict some of the interplay and people might be less likely to share ideas outside of the box,” he said. “I think our meetings will be more stodgy.”

Cuomo signed the legislation (S.88/A.3002) that he said will make the IDAs more transparent with the public, and also allow more community members to see the boards and staff at work.

“Industrial development agencies are tasked with revitalizing communities and fostering economic growth at the local level, but most New Yorkers don’t have time to attend meetings and participate in the process,” Governor Cuomo said in a news release. “This new measure will help foster civic engagement and get more residents involved in the meetings and hearings that will ultimately have a huge impact on the future of their communities.”

The new legislation takes effect on Jan. 1.

The video recordings need to remain available to the public for five years.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department has a new 4-wheel drive Suburban, which the department can use to take a utility trailer to the many unsanctioned recreation areas in the community by the canal, creeks and Glenwood Lake.

Pictured from left include Fire Chief Tom Lupo, State Sen. Robert Ortt, Mayor Michael Sidari, Lt. Steve Cooley and firefighter Jacob Crooks.

Ortt secured a $64,000 grant through Dormitory Authority of the State of New York for the vehicle and a utility trailer. The trailer will house and haul rope rescue equipment as well as cold and swift water rescue gear.

Lupo, the fire chief, said there has been a big increase in kayakers using the local waterways.

The village is paying about $3,000 towards the vehicle and trailer. Lupo said the new Suburban replaces a Durango from 2007 that has a lot of rust.

Photo courtesy of Cindy Perry: Tyler Fuller, a member of the maintenance and security staff at Orleans Community Health, directs people to the North Door of Medina Memorial Hospital on Monday.

Press Release, Orleans Community Health

MEDINA – The final phase of the parking lot repaving at Medina Memorial Hospital will continue this week through Thursday.

Maintenance and security staff have been available since 6:30 this morning to direct patients and visitors coming to the hospital. People will be directed to the North Door entrance (wheel chairs will be available).

On Thursday, the front circle (main entrance) will reopen for patients and visitors.

All deliveries will be directed to the Shop Door/Maintenance.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation in the final phase of the parking lot project. If you have any questions, please call Maintenance at 585.798.8012.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Beef cattle graze in a field at the corner of Route 98 and Waterport-Carlton Road in Carlton on a recent evening.

There will be some rain in the next few days, the last week before a new school year starts.

Today there is a slight chance for showers before 1 p.m., while it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 78 in Orleans County, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. Tonight there will be showers with a chance of a thunderstorm with heavy rain.

On Wednesday, there is a chance for more showers before 10 a.m. It will be cloudy and then sunny, with a high near 78.

Thursday will be sunny with a high near 75, with a chance of showers at night.

Friday morning there is a chance of showers before noon. It will be partly sunny with a high near 75.

Saturday is forecast to be sunny with a high near 71, according to the Weather Service.

Several sites featured in Orleans and Niagara counties

The Cobblestone Society’s Tour of Homes will branch out this year to include several examples of cobblestone masonry in Orleans and Niagara counties.

Scheduled Sept. 28, this year’s tour will offer both self-driving and bus tour options.

Artist Arthur Barnes purchased this cobblestone building in Millville for use as an art studio and meeting place. It was formerly a Quaker Meeting House.

The tour will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-drive tickets are $15 for Cobblestone Society members and $20 for non-members. Bus tour tickets are $40 for members and $45 for all others.

The Cobblestone Society’s first tour of homes was in 1960, the first year the Society was formed, said executive director Doug Farley. They have not been done every year, but for many recent years.

“This will be the first time we’ve offered the bus option for the Cobblestone Tour,” Farley said. “We tried it last year for the Christmas Tour and people really appreciated it.”

This year’s stops in Orleans County will include the exterior and interior of the Ward House (1840s), 14393 Ridge Rd., Childs; exterior of the Lake/Hurd House (1846), 3505 Butts Rd., Albion; exterior and interior of Arthur Barnes Art Studio (1841), 12387 Maple Ridge Rd., Medina; and exterior and interior of Stewart/Ciechanowicz House (1830s), 12387 Ridge Road, Medina.

• Ward House – No written records exist for the Ward House, however, it is believed to have been constructed around 1836 under the direction of John Proctor. It remained under his ownership until 1861 was likely intended to serve as a parsonage for the Cobblestone Church. It is constructed in the Federal style, with a hip roof, which is rare for Western New York.

The house was next owned by Benjamin and Mary Anne Woodburn Dwinnell. Mary Anne was the aunt of New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley, who held the mortgage until 1863.

Peter and Patricia Hurd own this 1846 cobblestone home at 3505 Butts Rd., Albion, one of several historic buildings on the Cobblestone Society’s Cobblestone Tour of Homes Sept. 28.

• Lake/Hurd House – For many years, this home which Nathaniel Lake had built in 1846, was known as “Lake Manse,” because of the lake-smooth cobbles which face the walls. Stones in herringbone pattern can be seen on the lower part of the wall between the grade and first floor. A wooden porch of Italianate style fronts the north wing and offers a pleasant contrast to the more sober original Green Revival details.

• Arthur Barnes Art Studio – The building used by Arthur Barnes as his art studio was built in 1841 as a Quaker Meeting House. In 1896 it was converted to a general store and post office. When Barnes acquired the property, it was his goal for it to become a meeting house for artists and others.

• Stewart/Ciechanowicz House – Wilber and Betsey Stewart came to Orleans County from Connecticut in 1831. Their cobblestone house was built in the late 1830s as a Greek Revival cottage. The quoins and lintels are sandstone, while the sills are wood. A one-story wing extends to the west, faced with water-rounded smaller stones.

John Amos purchased the home in 1864. His descendents lived there for 100 years, after which Sheri Egeli owned and made many interior restorations. Current owner Margaret Ciechanowicz has made recent repairs to the cobblestone home.

The Cobblehurst was built in 1836 on Ridge Road in Gasport.

Continuing in Niagara County, the tour includes the exterior and interior of Cobblehurst (1836), 8856 Ridge Rd., Gasport; exterior and interior of Hartland Schoolhouse No. 10 (1845), 9713  Seaman and Carmen Road, Gasport; exterior and interior of the Babcock House Museum (1848), 7449 Lower Lake Rd., Barker; exterior of Morgan Johnson/Schwarzmueller House (1844-45), 2533 Wilson Cambria Rd., Wilson; exterior of Morse/Gallagher House, 2773 Maple Rd., Wilson; and the final stop at Wilson House Restaurant (1844), 300 Lake Rd., Wilson.

• Cobblehurst/Monter House – This building was erected in 1836 as a Friends’ Meeting House. The outside walls are faced with large field cobbles of varying sizes, shapes and colors. It was originally a simple building in the true Quaker tradition. To the west can be seen the old Friends Cemetery.

After the Great War, the house was acquired by Emma Reed, who later gifted another architectural treasure, the Tousley-Church House in Albion, to the Daughters of the American Revolution.

In 1919-20, with the help of architect Walter Landephear, Reed turned the Meeting House into a resort for the wealthy. Its interior is in the “Mission” style popularized by Elbert Hubbard and the Roycroft movement in East Aurora. Several of its light fixtures came from the Roycroft workshops, as did the wrought iron andirons and large living room fireplace. Dormers and an indoor swimming pool were added by a later owner. Current owner, Victor Monter, is credited with restoring and saving the structures, which was vacant for many years and in serious disrepair. He and his family reside here and operate it as an Airbnb.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Hartland Historical Society is the caretaker of a one-room schoolhouse built in 1845. The building was used as a school for more than a century until 1947. This site is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s at the corner of Carmen and Seaman roads.

• District No. 10 Cobblestone Schoolhouse – This historic one-room schoolhouse is a one-story cobblestone structure built about 1845 in the Greek Revival style. It features smooth, slightly irregularly shaped and variously colored cobbles in its construction. It operated as a school until 1947, when it was converted into a private residents. It was recently acquired by the Hartland Historical Society, and is one of 47 cobblestone structures in Niagara County.

• Babcock House Museum – This cobblestone Greek Revival home was built in 1848 by Jeptha Babcock near the shores of Lake Ontario. He was a farmer, first postmaster in the town of Somerset and a New York State Assemblyman.

After a succession of owners, the New York State Electric and Gas eventually acquired the property in 1982 as part of its news electric generating plant on the shores of Lake Ontario in Somerset. An agreement was signed in 1987 allowing the town of Somerset Historical Society to operate the Babcock House Museum and Visitors’ Center.

Most of these homes were erected prior to the Civil War. Stepping over the threshold propels visitors into a world gone by. A brick bread oven and bee hive cook fireplace are focal points. It is completely furnished with vintage antiques, china, light fixtures and pump organ.

The barn on the property is one of the largest barns in Niagara County. Square dances, storytelling and old-fashioned potluck meals are held there several times a year by the Somerset Historical Society.

• Morgan Johnson/Schwarzmueller House – This majestic house built for Captain Morgan Johnson is probably the most elaborate of Niagara County’s cobblestone homes. He was captain of the ship  “Milly Cook,” which caught fire and burned in Wilson Harbor. The area is still known as Milly Cook Cove.

The home is constructed with a very interesting herringbone design.Unique belly windows with grill facings under the steps and two stone columns at the front door can be observed. It is also known as the “Anchor House,” because of the 500-pound anchor on the front lawn, which was lost from the Schooner Franklin Pierce during a storm in 1840, and found near the Wilson pier around 1897.

Current owners Anton and Arlene Schwarzmueller purchased the home in 2001. The house had fallen into disrepair and was even foreclosed on at one point in its history. Anton describes the condition of the home when they purchased it – covered with blue tarps to protect damaged areas from further degradation. All the window panes were cracked. The wood had no paint and was covered with staples and remnants of plastic.

• Morse/Gallagher House – Built circa 1840, this home is a well-preserved example of middle-period cobblestone construction. The style is Greek Revival with a couple of interesting features. There are a number of “belly” or eyebrow windows on the west and south sides. The large stone lintels above the windows have a “Holland Hat” look which is English Gothic. They were made in Lockport and delivered to the site for $10 each.

Shortly after moving into the home, current owner town of Wilson historian Francis Gallagher applied for State and National Register status. This was granted in September 2010. The most noticeable modern feature of the home is the large array of solar panels on the south side of the home. This was added in September 2014 and supplies about 95% of the home’s electrical needs.

• Wilson House Restaurant – Mike and Loretta White and Sons have newly remodeled this cobblestone home originally built in 1844 by Luther Wilson. It is built on the site of the village’s first schoolhouse, which had been erected in 1820. The two-story structure with hip roof and half windows was built with small water-washed stones. It later became the Wilsonian Club, a private club for area businessmen, with a bowling alley in the basement and dance hall on the second floor.

Eventually, in 1947, it became a bar/restaurant, which it has continued to be under several different managements.

Those on the bus will be given time to order a meal at the restaurant, where the White family has arranged several menu specials for the tour.

ALBION – The Orleans County District Attorney’s Office will have two training sessions on Tuesday for school administrators, police officers and prosecutors regarding Extreme Risk Protection Orders.

Those sessions are closed to the public and will be at the 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the County Administration Building.

Joe Cardone, the Orleans County DA, said there will be public forums at dates to be announced about the state legislation, which creates a mechanism to take guns away from people who are likely to hurt themselves or others.

Under the newly enacted Article 63-A of New York’s Civil Practice Law and Rules, the New York Supreme Court can issue an ERPO against a person who possesses or has access to certain types of guns.

Police officers, school administrators, or district attorneys, or family or household members of the person are permitted to file a petition in Supreme Court, seeking an ERPO. After a hearing, if the court determines that the person is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to the person or to others, the court may issue an ERPO.

The order would require that firearms, rifles, or shotguns that the person possesses, or has access to, be surrendered to police, and would permit police to seize guns of those types from the person. There are time limits on the length of an ERPO, and the order may be renewed under certain circumstances.

“While I fully support an individual’s constitutional right to bear arms, each of you need to be aware of this change in the law,” Cardone said. “Through this training, we hope to provide our police, school administrators, and our prosecutors with the information they will need to understand this recent change in the law.”

CORFU – A Medina man has been charged with driving while intoxicated in Genesee County after he allegedly left his pickup truck on the train tracks after it bottomed out and got stuck. A train then hit the truck at about 12:29 a.m. on Sunday. The truck wasn’t occupied when it was hit, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is reporting.

The Sheriff’s Office charged Brendan M. Kotarski, 27, with DWI. He and his passenger, Amber M. Fortunato, 25, of Medina, were located after the accident between the train and a 2015 GMC Sierra.

Kotarski was later identified as the operator and was administered standard field sobriety tests. He was found to allegedly be intoxicated and was charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08% or more, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and reckless endangerment 2nd.

He was released and will appear in the Village of Corfu Court on Sept. 9.

The truck was struck by a train on the railroad tracks between Depot Street and Water Street. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the driver of the GMC attempted to cross over the tracks and bottomed out coming to rest on the north railroad track. That is when a CSX freight train struck the rear of the truck, pushing it off the tracks.

Photo courtesy of Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s Office: State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, right, was given a tour last Thursday of Kludt Brothers Farms in Kendall by Gary Kludt, left. Hawley is looking at crates of sweet corn ready for shipment. The Kludts are in their third generation as as growers of beets, corn, wheat, sweet corn and cabbage, which is shipped all over the Northeast.

KENDALL – During a three-county tour of farms last Thursday, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said he heard from farmers they are concerned the legislation will increase their operating costs and also make it more difficult to find workers.

The Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month and takes effect on Jan. 1.

“As a former farm operator, it was great to meet so many dedicated families that are driving New York’s agricultural sector here in Western New York,” Hawley said. “A consistent theme at all of the farms we visited was the new labor regulations pushed by downstate politicians and their detrimental effect on family farms throughout the state. Many owners are concerned about labor shortage during an already short growing season and the possibility of migrant workers leaving to earn more money in other states.”

The legislation will require overtime pay after 60 hours in one week. The Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act also provides unemployment insurance, 24 consecutive hours of rest each week, and a sanitary code for all farm and food processing labor camps intended to house farm laborers. It also gives workers the rights to collective bargaining.

Hawley toured CY Farms in Elba, Zuber Farms LLC in Churchville, Kludt Bros Farm in Kendall, and Lynn-ette & Sons Inc. in Kent.

“I want to thank all the farm owners and their families for having me on a tour of their facilities,” Hawley said. “I understand how detrimental these new labor regulations can be to our agriculture sector and I will be pushing very hard to have a seat at the table for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Farm Bureau members on the new wage board.”

The farm owners are concerned the legislation will result in workers going to other states with fewer hourly and wage restrictions, Hawley said.

Photos  by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A group of volunteers spent a few hours this morning at Bullard Park, working on the field that has been off limits for home games so far this season for the youth football teams.

Mark and Tom Keeler of Barre Stone Products donated about 20 tons of topsoil had it delivered it for free to the park. Today, a group of coaches and parents of the players put the dirt on some of the uneven spots on the field and also filled in ruts.

The Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program had to move its home games about two weeks ago, but should be able to play the rest of their home games this season at Bullard, starting on Saturday versus Holley.

The group of volunteers raked the dirt in low spots on the field. Jeff Gifaldi came later and used a roller to smooth it out and compact the soil.

The volunteers were at the field starting at 8 a.m. and worked until about noon.

Some of the volunteers include Tim Monaghan, Eric Jones, Joe Fuller, Rocky Sidari, Geno Allport, Tim McMurray, Bryden McMurray, Ron Croft, John Livingston, Scott Snook, Brian Schomske and Matthew Schomske. Ralph Messura and Lewis Turner also brought over equipment to move the dirt from a pile on the side of the field. Otherwise, it would have been many wheelbarrow loads and might have taken all day.

Lewis Turner uses a Kubota to haul the dirt. Tim McMurray, right center, was among the group of volunteers helping to get the field ready for the youth football teams.

The AYSAP program includes about 100 kids, ages 6 to 14, in four teams of football and cheerleading.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The Albion Lions Club celebrated its 95^th anniversary with a dinner on Saturday evening at Hickory Ridge Golf Resort.

Ron Albertson, a past president of the club and current vice president, is shown speaking during the dinner.

Other people at the head table include, from left: Lloyd Wright, club treasurer; Kevin Howard, the club’s tail twister; Howard’s wife, Vicki; Dee Robinson; Bill Robinson, club president and Dee’s husband; District Governor Rick Whitney; Whitney’s wife, Lois; Ron Albertson; and Ron’s wife, Jill.

Albertson said the Lions Club has many long-term dedicated members and also recently has welcomed several new ones.

District Governor Rick Whitney, right, congratulates Bill Robinson, Albion Lions Club president, on the club’s 95^th anniversary.

The club currently has 22 members. They are active in the annual Rock the Park music fest, which raises funds for Bullard Park. The Albion Lions also gives out scholarships to graduating seniors, sponsors a youth baseball team and works on other community projects, raising money with a sausage booth at the Strawberry Festival, and by selling roses on Mother’s Day and geraniums during Memorial Day.

Rick Whitney, the district governor, is also the Allegany County sheriff. He has been a Lions Club member for 36 years. He urged people to volunteer in some way through community service.

“There are so many people out there who need our help,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be the Lions Club. It can be any community service.”

The club in Albion is the second oldest in the region between Niagara Falls and Rochester. Only the Lions Club in Rochester predates the club in Albion.

The Lions organization started in 1917 and has grown to 1.4 million members in 48,000 clubs in more than 200 countries.

Sarah Gardner, a member of the Hickory Ridge staff, cuts the celebratory cake for the Lions Club. Jill Albertson is at left.

What About Jane provided the musical entertainment during the celebration. The band includes, from left: Tom Smith, Ronda Smith, Jan Erakare and Gary Smith. Tom and Gary are brothers and Ronda is married to Gary Smith.

The Rev. Wilfred Moss, a past president of the Lions Club and a member since 1997, leads the group in a closing prayer during the Club’s 95th anniversary celebration.