By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2019 at 8:27 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – A kangaroo draws a crowd at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on Thursday evening. This kangaroo is 3 years old and isn’t fully grown yet.
Spirit Wind Farms in Sanborn has brought kangaroos, a tortoise, a macaw and other animals to the fair.
Laura Kagel from Spirit Wind Farms gives a talk about the kangaroos. She is holding Spencer, a baby kangaroo that is bottle fed with a special formula from Australia. Kagel carries the baby kangaroo in a pouch.
Spirit Wind Farms let the public pet and hold the baby kangaroo.
The tortoise from Spirit Wind Farms also was popular with the public. He is petted while chewing grass near the cattle barn.
Thursday was the chicken barbecue dinner with 1,000 meals prepared by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Laura Olinger, president of the Cooperative Extension, moves a big container of cherries.
Nicole Dresser, left, serves chicken to Darlene Hartway. The dinner drew a big crowd to the Curtis Pavilion.
Jaxson Narburgh, 4, of Carlton shows his pedal power in the small-fry pedal tractor pull. Bentley Brothers in Albion donates the tractor for the competition.
Richard Feasley Jr., the sheep judge from Holland in Erie County, inspects the animals and the 4-H’ers’ showmanship skills. Emma Mathes, left, of Barre won the competition and was named the master showman. She is eligible to compete in the grand master showman competition today, featuring the top showmen in eight different breeds of livestock. Other showmen pictured include Nicole Mrzywka of Holley, Cecilia Farrugglia of Holley, and Matthew Mathes of Barre.
Lyric Wallenda, a seventh-generation circus performer with the Wallenda family, swings upside down from more than 30 feet high to cap a show from Circus Incredible.
Lyric Wallenda also spins while hanging from her feet in front of a crowd on the south lawn by the Knights Building.
Simon Arestov, who is originally from Moscow and is married to Wallenda, balances on a cylinder while holding his son Alex on his shoulders.
Alex Arestov, 2, waves the American flag while his father holds him after their routine.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Aidan Kirby, 4, of Albion competes in the small-fry pedal tractor pull on Thursday. He was first in the 45 pounds and under group.
Visit our new Ag Education and Activities areas in the Lartz Commercial Exhibit Building.
8 a.m. – Senior Council Stand opens
8 a.m. – Western Dressage. Carlos Marcello Arena
9 a.m. – Dog Show, Agility Competition (Classes 23-30) Show Arena
9:30 a.m. – Youth Ag Olympics Fun Activities. South Lawn
10 a.m. – $7 Admission per car starts
Lewis Hofman, 14, of Albion leads a Shetland sheepdog while it weaves during an agility competition on Thursday.
10 a.m. – All Buildings open
10 a.m. – Grand Master Showman Workshop. Starting in Show Arena
12 p.m. – Leader’s Pie Stand opens
12 to 6 p.m. – WNY PRISM, invasive species experts at the flower show. Lartz Building
3 to 10 p.m. – Main Event Amusements $20 Unlimited Ride Wristband. Midway
3 p.m. – Horse Judging Contest. Carlos Marcello Arena
Cecelia Farruggia, 13, of Holley keeps her sheep under control during the Sheep Show on Thursday. Behind her are Shania Mathes and Matthew Mathes of Barre.
4 p.m. – Royalty Questionnaires Due. Fair Office
4 p.m. – Circus Incredible. Lawn South of the Knights Building
4:30 p.m. – Lew-E the Clown. Clown Stage
5:30 p.m. – Classic Car Cruise-In. Education Center Lot
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Heritage Windblade STEM Challenge. Center Stage
6 to 7 p.m. – AITC Youth Ag Education Dairy Bracelets. Trolley Building
6 p.m. – Registration ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull. Fair Office
Chloe Luxon, 7, of Medina holds a baby kangaroo, Spencer, brought to the fair by Spirit Wind Farms in Sanborn.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2019 at 4:40 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator John DeFilipps, left, presents a “Special Recognition Award” on Wednesday to Jack Welch, the county’s director of personnel and self insurance.
Welch has served the past two years as president of the New York State Association of Personnel and Civil Service Officers.
Last month he was honored with a “Civil Service Ambassador Award” for his “commitment to the principles of merit and fitness, and the effective and efficient administration of the merit system in Orleans County.”
That award was given on June 4 by Lola W. Brabham, acting commissioner of the NYS Department of Civil Service.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2019 at 4:13 pm
ALBION – A Michigan man was sentenced to a year in the Orleans County Jail this afternoon for having concentrated cannabis in the form of edible chocolate and edible candies.
William Q. Nowak, 41, was sentenced for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
He was stopped in Orleans County on Nov. 20. Nowak said in a previous court appearance he planned to sell the concentrated cannabis products in the county.
Nowak asked to be sentenced to jail rather than a longer sentence of probation.
“I just want to get this over with,” he told County Court Judge Sanford Church.
In another case, a Rochester woman was praised for completing a judicial diversion, where she stayed off drugs and completed a treatment program.
Adrienne Williams, 53, battled addictions for many years. The diversion program, which requires treatment, gives her a chance for breaking the cycle.
She faced a felony charge for bringing 49 pills to the Albion Correctional Facility. That was reduced to a misdemeanor of promoting prison contraband in the second degree. She will be on probation for three years and will serve that in Monroe County.
She thanked the local court for the opportunity to be on the diversion program.
“Thank you, your honor,” she said. “I am very proud of myself. There are successes with this program and I am one of them.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2019 at 10:11 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Urb Bennett, a veteran from Kendall, speaks to the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday, including chairwoman Lynne Johnson, in back. Bennett asked the county to continue the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Program, which provides social opportunities for veterans and their families.
ALBION – A program that provides social opportunities and community connections for veterans and their families is expected to continue despite a verbal altercation at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on Monday during the opening day ceremony.
State Sen. Robert Ortt attended the ceremony and was yelled at by a veteran and also the volunteer coordinator of the program, Catherine Schmidt. She is also the wife of Earl Schmidt, the county’s Veterans Service Agency director.
Ortt was chastised after the flag-raising ceremony for not getting more money for the program. The county initially was awarded a $185,000 grant for the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Program. Ortt secured the funding. The grant was reduced to $52,500 for Orleans, with the rest of the grant shared by Genesee and Wyoming counties.
Orleans has about 40,000 people. The grants for the program are $185,000. That is how much Erie County received with a population of nearly 1 million.
“Other counties receive more than we do but we appreciate our funding,” said Lynne Johnson, Legislature chairwoman.
She thanked Ortt for securing money for the program for Orleans, one of 22 counties in the state with a Dwyer program. There are 35 counties without the program.
Legislators also said the county’s per capita allotment is higher than most counties with the program.
David Kusmierczak of Medina also speaks in support of the Dwyer program.
Many veterans attended the Wednesday Legislature meeting to show their support for Catherine Schmidt and her husband Earl, who is on administrative leave and remains a county employee. Nancy Traxler is serving as interim director of the Veterans Service Agency.
“It is our expectation the Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Program will continue and will be reorganized,” Johnson said at the meeting.
She again defended Ortt, who served in the Army and was deployed to Afghanistan. He wore his veteran’s cap during the ceremony on Monday.
Karen Dawley of Albion reads a letter from her husband Pat Dawley in support of the Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Program. Dawley said he made many friends through the program. “It provides a place to talk about problems and demons in a safe place.”
“No one will ever disrespect a man in uniform, not under my watch,” she said.
Urb Bennett, a Vietnam War veteran from Kendall, said Cathy Schmidt did “a great job” leading the program as a volunteer. She organized many outings for veterans and their families to museums, professional sports games, as well as going fishing and having a picnic.
Bennett said an “unfortunate incident” shouldn’t derail the program or its leaders.
Jennifer VanWyke of Carlton said the Dwyer program has helped build a strong network among veterans and their families in Orleans County. She made new friends through the program.
Nancy Traxler, the interim director of the Veterans Service Agency in the county, asked for help in planning and putting on some of the upcoming programs through Dwyer. VanWycke was the first to say she would help.
The state budget for 2019-20 includes $3.75 million for Dwyer. The money wasn’t in the governor’s proposed budget, but county officials said Ortt helped to get the funding restored.
Johnson said the county awaits details on how the funding will be allocated.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2019 at 9:32 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – A four-man team tries to climb the grease pole Wednesday night at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Jacob Hering of Albion is on top with Zachary Evans of Albion below.
Joseph Ambs, not pictured, was at the base. Ambs works for the amusement company and runs the roller-coaster.
Kenny Scholes of Medina, left, waits to be the last man up the pole but he didn’t get the chance because the team slipped and fell off.
Janie Schutz, 23, and her sister Rylie Lear, 19, were part of the Greasy Heifers team that got close, but couldn’t quite get to the top of the grease pole.
The two were on a team last year that also was close, but didn’t get all the way to the top. Janie said the team will likely try again later this week. She wants to compete in the finals on Saturday.
The grease pole caps the fair each night at either 10 or 10:30 p.m.
The Greasy Heifers include many current and former 4-H’ers who showed beef or dairy animals. Natalie Mrzywka, bottom left, and Liz Jurs served as the base for the team while Adam Eick helped push people upward. Justin Robinson is the second person on top in the red shirt, with Rylie Lear climbing on his back. Nicole Mrzywka tried to be the fourth person up but the team slipped and didn’t make it all the way up.
Jeremy Neal, right, goes over the rules with the Greasy Heifers. Neal is the event chairman.
The Greasy Heifers include, front row, from left: Nicole Mrzywka, Natalie Mrzywka and Adam Eick. Back row: Rylie Lear, Janie Schutz, Liz Jurs and Justin Robinson.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Victoria Rotoli, 11, of Oakfield leads a llama around the arena during “Llama and Alpaca Meet and Greet” on Wednesday afternoon at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Visit the new Ag Education and Activities Areas in the Lartz Commercial Exhibit Building.
8 a.m. – Senior Council Stand Opens
8 a.m. – Western Horse Show and Ranch Division. Carlos Marcello Arena
8 a.m. – Llama and Alpaca Show. Show Arena
10 a.m. – $7 Admission per Car Starts
10 a.m. – All Buildings Open
10 a.m. – Wildlife I.D. Contest. Log Cabin
Emily Mergler, 15, of Albion gives her horse, Dixieland Quest, a wash after competing in the English dressage competition on Wednesday.
12 p.m. – Leader’s Pie Stand Opens
12 to 6 p.m. – WNY PRISM, invasive species experts at the flower show. Lartz Building
2 p.m. – Dog Show Grooming and Handling/Showmanship, Classes 1-4 and C1. Show Arena
2 to 4 p.m. – Family and Consumer Science Knowledge Bowl. Trolley Building
2 p.m. – Circus Incredible. Lawn South of the Knights Building
2:30 p.m. – Lew-E the Clown. Clown Stage
3 to 10 p.m. – Midway Rides by Main Event Amusements $20 Unlimited Ride Wristband. Midway
3 to 8 p.m. – Red Cross of WNY Blood Drive. Education Center
4:30 p.m. – Lew-E the Clown. Clown Stage
Aubrey Bruning, 8, of Barre fluffs the tail of her calf Jenny before the Dairy Show on Wednesday afternoon at the fair.
4:30 p.m. – Chicken BBQ Sponsored by Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension – No Presale. Curtis Pavilion
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Heritage Windblade STEM Challenge. Center Stage
6 p.m. – Sheep Show (Costume class at end). Knight’s Building
6 p.m. – Registration for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Ends. Fair Office
Isaac Becker, 16, of Lyndonville uses controls to direct a robot to throw a ball through one of the three holes set up like an arcade game. The 4-H robotics group, Hardwired, is giving the public a chance at the controls this week in the Lartz Building.
6:30 p.m. – Lew-E the Clown. Clown Stage
7 p.m. – Circus Incredible. Lawn South of the Knights Building
8 p.m. – Hot Country Liners Dance Group. OrleansHub.com Stage
8 p.m. – Small Animal Grand Master Information Session. Wachob Pavilion
9 p.m. – Circus Incredible. Lawn South of the Knights Building
10 p.m. – Buildings Close
10 p.m. – Greased Pole Climbing Contest. Greased Pole (Teams must pre-register at the Fair Office)
William Grimble of Albion sings, “American Pie,” during karaoke on Wednesday. Grimble was one of three Wednesday night to qualify for the karaoke finals on Saturday, which will feature the top 15 qualifiers during the week. There will be $1,000 in prizes among the top 5 on Saturday, with $500 for the winner.
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating complaints of ghost phone calls that appear to be coming from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office’s non-emergency phone number. The person claims to be an Orleans County Sheriff deputy.
The unknown subject requests personal information in the form of Social Security numbers.
Please do not provide personal information to anyone identifying themselves over the phone as an Orleans County deputy. This is not how the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office conducts proper investigations.
Please contact our office via 911 if you receive a fraudulent phone call in this manner.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2019 at 5:57 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
GAINES – A driver hauling an excavator on a flatbed truck for a local farm took out many wires on Eagle Harbor Road, north of Ridge Road, at about 5 p.m.
State troopers and Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and the driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
National Grid is on scene restoring the electricity.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2019 at 2:03 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A worker is shown at about 1:30 p.m. today repainting the dome on the Orleans County Courthouse. Garland/DBS Inc. of Cleveland is doing the work for $108,916.
Besides a fresh coat of paint, the dome is being coated with a rubberized material to prevent leaks in one of the county’s most iconic structures. The dome has had several leaks. Inside the dome are about a dozen buckets to collect the dripping water after it rains.
The courthouse, which was built in 1858, is the focal point of the Courthouse Square, a district on the National Register of Historic Places.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 July 2019 at 12:46 pm
MEDINA – After graduating from Medina High School in 1974, Donna Graves sat around a year, wondering what to do.
Out of the blue, she decided to join the Navy, but the day she went to the recruiting office, they hadn’t come back from lunch, but the Air Force recruiter was there and said, “You don’t want to join the Navy.”
This picture from the 1950s is the gas station formerly owned by Donna Graves’ parents, George and Gertrude Williams. It hangs on the wall of Rudy’s Restaurant on West Center Street in Medina, where the Sinclair Station was located.
So even though she had never seen an airplane up close, she joined the Air Force.
She grew up in Medina, a daughter of George and Gertrude Williams. The Williams were well known in Medina as owners of the Sinclair Station on West Center Street, now Rudy’s Restaurant.
Graves left Medina in January 1976 for Lackland Air Force Base, where she did her basic training. She completed four years in the Air Force.
After retiring from the military, Graves took a job as a budget analyst for the government, working in England. There, she met her first husband, an American military man. After they divorced, she married a man who worked for General Colin Powell in Georgia.
When both bases in Georgia were closed, Graves went to work for Delta as an international customer service agent out of Atlanta. She was working with Delta when 9-11 occurred, she said.
Graves was 52 when Delta was trying to downsize and offered her a package “I couldn’t resist,” she said. “I still had a few years until I could get my pension from the government, so I put my name out to the whole world and got a Civil Service job with the Air Force.”
She was sent to Elmandorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, where she worked as a budget analyst for three years, until she was transferred to Leavenworth.
Donna Graves, a Medina native, has always had an interest in aviation. Here, she holds a picture of a World War II-era plane whose owner uses it as a crop duster.
“I retired for the second time from there,” she said.
Her career path has always thrust her toward aviation. While she was working for Delta, she met a Georgia cropduster, who let her ride with him for two years in his Stearman.
“That was my first time in a small plane, and I learned a lot about radial engines,” Graves said.
She said Delta Airlines actually started as a crop services company called Delta Air Service.
When she came home after her second retirement to attend a funeral of a co-worker, she met the owner of Rochester Air Center. He runs a flight school and told her, “You’re always talking about airplanes, why don’t you come and volunteer at the Rochester Air Center.”
She did, and that probably influenced her to pursue and received her student pilot’s certificate.
Graves’ retirement was short-lived.
After returning to Medina, she was contacted in the spring by the government and offered a job with the U.S. Army Central Command as a systems accountant. USARCCENT, which is responsible for all of the Middle East activities, is known as “Patton’s Third Army.” She is working with the Third Army and many World War II veterans marched through Europe with General George Patton. Graves ex-father-in law was one of them.
Medina native Donna Graves has this envelope in which the widow of General George Patton sent a letter to Graves’ ex-father-in-law after the general’s death in December 1945. Charles Graves served with Patton and marched through Europe with the Third Army during World War II.
“After General Patton died in December 1945, my father-in-law wrote a letter to his widow Beatrice Patton about his passing,” Graves said. “She wrote a wonderful letter back to him and I have a photo of the envelope. I am not sharing the letter, which is beautiful, because I want to respect my ex-husband’s family. The stamp on the letter is sideways, which meant ‘friendship, thinking of you.’ It means so much to me that I even have the envelope, and now I work here where his portraits and memorabilia are housed.”
“I share my birthday with General Patton on Nov. 11,” Graves said.
When Graves, now 62, was hired it was for a six-month deal, she said. She left Medina in June to begin her new job in Georgia in a federal budget contracting position supporting operations in Kuwait. When she arrived, she learned her company had won a contract for an additional five years. She is now being transferred to South Carolina, but will come home at the end of the month to attend her 45th high school reunion and close her apartment.
“I need to work a few more years while I’m able to do so, and this will put me in a good position to buy a house when I’m ready to retire – for the third time,” she said.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 July 2019 at 11:28 am
MEDINA – A unique business in Medina with a goal to provide peace and hope to those who walk through the door has opened a Himalayan salt room.
Bonnie Heck started Herbalty Cottage at 415 Main St. in 2015, after finding inspiration for the business following an automobile accident.
Her path of purified eating actually began back when her mother started an herb garden.
“I know traditional medications don’t always work and often leave side effects,” Heck said.
She was a piano teacher for 19 years, but after sustaining serious injuries in an automobile accident, she required treatment by a chiropractor. She eventually went to work for the chiropractor.
“I used to see patients come in for treatment and saw how small changes they made were improving their health,” Heck said. “But people had to travel to the city for many services and not all could do that.”
Heck decided to become a certified herbalist, a decision she doesn’t regret.
When she talks about the benefits of herbal remedies, she is talking from experience.
Several years ago, she was slicing vegetables on her mandolin when she slipped and cut off the end of her finger. Her husband immediately wanted to take her to the emergency room, but instead she made a list and sent him to her store. She made up a mixture of herbs and began drinking them daily, after securely bandaging her finger back on with gauze and tape.
“In a few days, I could see the finger was beginning to re-attach itself,” Heck said.
Now she extends her finger for anyone to see, pointing out there is barely a scar.
Herbalty Cottage at 415 Main St., Medina, recently opened this Himalayan salt room, in which 45 minutes results in the same health benefits as three days by the sea.
The Himalayan salt room is her latest addition of services.
Herbalty Cottage already offered Far Infrared saunas with light therapy, nutrition and wellness consultations and interactive wellness classes. Her daughter Lindsay is a certified reflexologist and performs reflexology, an ancient practice which helps professionals determine health and wellness of clients by working the hands and feet.
“By massaging the hands or feet and working the vita-flex points, a reflexologist can determine what is going on with every system and organ in your body,” Heck said.
Herbalty Cottage carries a full line of purely organic herbs, teas, gourmet olive oils, balsamic vinegars, essential oils and body butters, soaps and scrubs, in addition to the Himalayan salt products, which Heck imports from Pakistan.
The salt comes from rock mined near the foothills of the Himalayas, and some people say it is one of the purest salts available. Himalayan salt has 84 percent of trace minerals, which everyone is lacking in, Heck said. It is not only used like regular salt for cooking, but is used in bath salts, which claim to improve skin conditions and soothe sore muscles.
Heck carries salt lamps, which she claims remove air pollutants and relieve asthma, allergies, sinus and COPD.
“No matter how you use our products – whether eating, drinking or breathing them, it is going to help in some way,” Heck said.
She is excited about the Himalayan salt room. A 45-minute session in the salt room brings the same benefits as being on the beach for three days, Heck said.
“It brings peace and relieves depression,” she said.
Heck said Medina is a wonderful community in which to do business.
“The businesses are amazing and everyone works well together,” she said.
Herbalty Cottage is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Extended hours are available on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for the salt room.
For more information or to book sauna or salt room appointments, call 798-5800.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2019 at 9:06 am
Photo courtesy of Andrew Szatkowski
ALBION – A group of 25 kids from Orleans County headed to camp this morning. They met at 6:30 a.m. at the parking lot for the Main Street Store in Albion. They are headed to the Salvation Army Camp in Penn Yan.
The 25 kids is up from the 22 last year. They will be at camp until Monday.
“We have had a great response in the communities, with many of the families being first time campers, so the awareness is spreading,” said Andrew Szatkowski, who volunteered to help families complete the online paperwork to apply for camp.
A donation from the Medina Area Association of Churches helped cover the cost of transportation for the kids to camp. Mackenzie Sullivan and Lu Ann Moriarty volunteered as nurses for medical checks before the trip. Andrew Szatkowski and his wife Sara are volunteering as chaperones.
Salvation Army’s Long Point Camp is open for kids ages 6 to 12 with no fee. The camp is funded through donations from the Red Kettle drive.
Szatkowski urges families to consider the camp next year and be on the look out for the camp signups in the spring.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Lyric Wallenda does aerial acrobatics from about 30 feet up high during a routine with Circus Incredible, which performs daily at 7 and 9 p.m.
Special Events: Senior Citizen Coffee – free coffee for senior citizens from 1 to 4 p.m., compliments of the Orleans County 4-H Senior Council.
Visit our new Ag Education and Activities Areas in the Lartz Commercial Exhibit Building.
8 a.m. – Senior Council Stand opens
8 a.m. – English Dressage Horse Show. Carlos Marcello Arena
9 a.m. – Poultry Show and Knowledge Contest. Wachob Pavilion
10 a.m. – $7 Admission per car starts
Emma Mathes, 17, of Barre and her mother Merri give one of Emma’s sheep a bath on Tuesday evening. Emma gave her sheep two baths on Tuesday. Today they will be shorn ahead on Thursday’s sheep show at 5:30 p.m. Emma has been showing sheep since she was 5. Her mother also showed sheep and beef cows at the fair when she was a 4-H’er.
10 a.m. – All buildings open
10 a.m. – Goat Show (Dairy, Companion and Pack). Knights Building
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Nutrifare Senior Luncheon with the sing-along music of David Marchione (Food will be served at 12 pm w/ticket). Curtis Pavilion
12 p.m. – Leader’s Pie Stand Opens
1:30 – 3 p.m. – Bread & Butter Making Demo and Tasting. Trolley Building
2 p.m. – Meat Goat Show. Knight’s Building
Lew-E the Clown juggles flaming torches during his show on Tuesday. He performs three times each day at the fair.
2:30 p.m. – Llama and Alpaca Meet and Greet. Show Arena
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2019 at 4:20 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
BATAVIA – David Bellavia of Batavia steps outside City Hall at Batavia this afternoon during a homecoming. He was presented the Medal of Honor on June 25 by President Trump during a ceremony at the White House.
Bellavia is a 1994 graduate of Lyndonville Central School. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. He led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit.
Eugene Jankowski Jr., president of the Batavia City Council, presents the key of the city to Bellavia for his “surpassing valor” that Jankowski said has brought honor on the country, state and city.
State Assembly Steve Hawley presents a proclamation to Bellavia.
State Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer also has a citation for Bellavia. Ranzenhofer called Ballavia “an American hero” who has been humble in receiving the nation’s highest military honor.
“David is as down to earth as they come,” Ranzenhofer said.
Robert Bausch, chairman of the Genesee County Legislature, presents a proclamation to Bellavia from the County Legislature.
“The citizens of Genesee County are proud to recognize one of their own who has distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against the enemy of the United States,” the proclamation states.
Bellavia was leading a squad don Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah when the group was trapped by insurgents. Bellavia “displayed bravery and courage by entering and re-entering a house known to have armed insurgents.”
The Genesee County Legislature said Bellavia’s action have generated “renewed patriotism” among the community.
(The Orleans County Legislature is planning to recognize Bellavia at an upcoming meeting.)
Members of St. Joe’s Brass play the national anthem during the homecoming celebration.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley serves as emcee for the event. Hawley said the event was a chance for the community to collectively thank Bellavia for “his valor, citizenship and for standing up for the United States of America.”
The flags are a half-mast in honor of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who died at the age of 99 on July 15.
David Bellavia urged new graduates and young adults to consider serving in the military. He said the Army gave him purpose and direction.
He said the United States remains the greatest force for peace on Earth.
“If you truly care about the troops teach your children the imperative of national service,” Bellavia told the crowd. “America is still the shining city on the hill.”
Before his remarks Bellavia asked all the veterans in the crowd to stand and be recognized. He then asked the Vietnam War vets to accept appreciation for their service.
Bellavia urged the community to respect everyone who has served in the military.
“Treat all veterans as if they are the recipient of the Medal of Honor,” he said.
