The State Assembly has passed the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act, also known as the Green Light Bill. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said the legislation will create safer roads for all New Yorkers, boost the state’s economy and protect hardworking New Yorkers and their families.

“While opponents continue to spread misinformation and stoke fears about the bill’s intent and consequences, the Assembly Majority will continue to put the needs of New Yorkers first,” Heastie said. “The legislation passed today will promote public safety, protect our state’s economy and ensure every New Yorker can integrate into their community and care for their family. Making sure that every driver is trained, tested and insured will make New York’s roads safer for everyone and ensure that our industries have the labor they need to keep our economy moving.”

The Driver’s License and Privacy Act would expand the types of proof of identity that could be submitted with an application for a non-commercial driver’s license that does not meet federal standards for identification. An applicant without a Social Security Number could instead submit a signed affidavit that they have not been issued a Social Security Number.

Twelve states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license, many of which have reported fewer accidents and traffic fatalities, Heastie said in a news release.

A 2017 Stanford University study found that California’s law expanding access to drivers’ licenses led to a drop in hit-and-run accidents between seven and 10 percent, or approximately 4,000 fewer hit-and-run accidents, and saving not-at-fault drivers $3.5 million in out-of-pocket expenses for car repairs.

Today’s legislation would make everyday tasks such as getting to work, shopping for groceries or picking up kids from school vastly easier for an estimated 265,000 people in New York, including 64,000 north of New York City. The policy change would generate an estimated $57 million in combined government revenues that would recur annually, as well as a $26 million one-time boost in revenues as more people get licenses.

“What many people do not realize is that undocumented immigrants are already on the road, but they are doing so without a license or insurance. Safe roads mean every driver is properly licensed, informed of traffic laws, passes a driver’s test, and is operating a registered, inspected and insured vehicle,” said Transportation Committee Chairman William Magnarelli. “Today’s legislation will also allow police to verify motorist identity and review their traffic record. It is truly in the best interest of traffic safety for all New Yorkers.”

Two local Assembly members opposed the legislation.

“Being in the United States is a privilege, and having a driver’s license is something that should only be allowed for those who are here legally,” said Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Lockport. “This bill to provide driver’s licenses to illegal undocumented immigrants poses a litany of serious concerns, especially in terms of law enforcement, voter fraud and licenses being used to purchase long gun firearms like shotguns or rifles. For these reasons, I proudly voted against the bill when it came up for a vote in the Assembly committee process and I will be voting no again on it today.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued this statement: “This sends a dangerous message to society – it’s acceptable to enter our country illegally and continue to break the law because you will be rewarded.

“Downstate politicians continue to peddle handouts and shortcuts for everyone but the middle class. Felons get pay raises, illegals get driver’s licenses and sex offenders get voting rights. Make no mistake, this is a step toward allowing illegals to vote in our elections.

“Recent polling shows the majority of the state opposes this radical proposal but New York City politicians are more concerned with scoring political points against President Trump than following public sentiment – a disgraceful day in Albany.”

ALBION – The new recycling carts are being distributed in Orleans County. There are about 15,000 to be delivered.

It will take about three weeks for Rehrig Pacific Company of Erie, Pa. to deliver them the 15,000 addresses in the county. The task will be completed by June 30, county officials said.

The new 96-gallon capacity wheeled cart are replacing 18-gallon bins. The new totes can be used right away.

The smaller bins can be kept by residents, or they can put them out to be taken by Modern Recycling. The bins should be labelled “Take Me” if residents don’t want them.

Modern said the bins can be handy to collect recyclables inside a house and then dumped into the cart.

The new recycling totes replace the smaller 18-gallon bins. The new totes have green covers to make it clear the totes hold recycling.

The county contracts with Modern for garbage and recycling pickup. The company will switch to every other week collection for recycling beginning July 1. Garbage will still be picked up weekly.

The County Legislature in February approved spending $776,500 for 15,444 recycling carts. Those costs are coming out of the fee in the county taxes for garbage and recycling for residents. The county is seeking a state grant for half of the costs. If the grant comes through, the county will use that to pay off a lease payment it took out to cover half of the expense.

The new carts, at $50.28 each, hold 96 gallons. Rehrig Pacific Company of Erie, Pa. is the contractor for the new totes.

Each tote has a number with bar code and an RFID so the totes can be tracked. Residents should write down their totes’ identification numbers to make sure they aren’t mixed up with their neighbors’.

The switch to the larger carts will make it easier for Modern Disposal to pick up recycling, and should hold off increases in the costs for picking up garbage and recycling for the next few years, county officials said.

For more information, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Tim Tierney fills a bird feeder at The Village of Orleans, a nursing home in Albion. Tierney stops by weekly to fill two bird feeders at the nursing home. He is shown today at the birdfeeder in front of the nursing home near Route 31. There is another birdfeeder in the garden of the nursing home.

The Orleans County Bluebird Society and the Albion Betterment Committee have been working to add birdhouses and birdfeeders. The Bluebird Society is April added 16 bird houses to the Orchard Manor nursing home in Medina.

“Perhaps it is because they are often colorful and can fly that songbirds are able to lift our spirits,” said Gary Kent, a leader with the Betterment Committee and Blue Bird Society. “Or it may be that their songs can be delightful. The ability to brighten days becomes especially important for those who sometimes feel virtually trapped in nursing homes.”

Clarence Winkelmann built the two bird feeders at The Villages about three years ago. He recently made 16 bird houses for the Orchard Manor nursing home in Medina. Those bird houses were put at Orchard Manor about two months ago. Winkelmann said he would soon put a new roof on the bird feeder he is pictured with.

Winkelmann and Tierney agreed that the bird feeders and bird houses have been an easy way to boost the quality of life for nursing home residents.

Tom Fuller of Medina installed 16 bluebird boxes at Orchard Manor in April. Kent thanked Barry Neal of Country Contracting for donating the ¾ inch exterior plywood used to build the bird houses.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A new amphitheater is going up at Bullard Park in Albion. Workers for Titan Construction in Gasport are shown today, building the structure that will be used for concerts and other events in the future.

The amphitheater is part of $800,000 in improvements at the park, including a splash pad, new bathrooms and pavilion.

The village in December 2016 was awarded a $499,605 state grant for Bullard projects. The village also received $97,500 from the county and $45,000 from the town of Albion, money that was through a revolving-loan fund that needed to be spent for handicapped accessibility at the park. Those funds will be used for sidewalks to the amphitheater and splash pad, to make them accessible to people in a wheelchair.

The Albion DPW is providing $166,370 of in kind services as part of Albion’s local share for the state grant. The DPW took down a pavilion and storage building last fall to make way for the new utility building. The DPW also ran a new sewer line across Route 31 near the Bullard entrance. That sewer line will service the park.

Titan Construction works on the amphitheater today. The amphitheater won’t be ready in time for the Rock the Park music festival on Aug. 3. That event has been expanded to the Albion Summer Festival featuring Rock the Park 6.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman -Anchoring the Medina lineup at the plate heading into Friday’s state semifinal is this group of six .300 plus hitters. From left are Chris Goyette, Brian Fry, Zach Fike, Nate Sherman, AJ Seefeldt and Joe Cecchini.

Two teams seeking their first ever berth in the state baseball championship game will collide Friday as Medina takes on Schuylerville in the state Class B semifinals at 2 p.m. at Broome County Community College near Binghamton.

The victor will face the winner of the 5 p.m. semi between defending champion Center Moriches and Susquehanna Valley in the championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Binghamton University.

“It will be a great experience,” said Medina Coach Jon Sherman.

Medina, which brings a school record 21-2 mark into its second ever appearance in the state semis, advanced by defeating LeRoy 10-2 in the Far West Regional. The Mustangs previous semifinal appearance was in 2003, a 9-1 loss to Carle Place.

Medina catcher Austin Mosher is flanked here by starting pitchers Chris Goyette, left, and Trevor Luthart.

Schuylerville, which is 17-7, is making its first ever appearance in the semis and its first in the state playoffs since 2005, advanced by blanking Ogdensburg 4-0 in the Capital District Regional.

Not surprisingly for two teams which have both rattled off six straight playoff victories to reach the Final Four, the Mustangs and Black Horses have plenty in common besides similar nicknames mainly steady pitching and defense and timely hitting.

The Black Horses pitching and defense has been particularly stingy in postseason play having given up a total of only 4 runs in six games while the offense has scored 53.

The 4-0 win over Ogdensburg well reflects that as steady defense backed the 4 hit shutout pitching of junior Alex Vallee who had just 1 strikeout. At the plate, the Black Horses were led by junior Ryan Yandow who had an RBI double in the third inning and a two-run single in the fifth and senior Paul Harshberger who had an RBI double in the fifth.

Prior to that, Schuylerville defeated Northeastern Clinton 11-1 in the sub regional after defeating Mechanicville 12-3 for the Section II Class B title. The Black Horses first three sectional games were shutout wins 9-0 over Cobleskill, 10-0 over Catskill and 7-0 over Coxsackie-Athens.

Matt Saj, left, is a starter in the outfield for the Mustangs while Xander Payne has seen action both on the mound and in the outfield.

“They do seem pretty similar to us,” said Sherman. “We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing. We have to stay disciplined at the plate and make the necessary adjustments the second time through the order, keep getting steady pitching and make the plays defensively. And defensively I don’t think there’s a better combination around up the middle then we have at shortstop and second base with Brian and AJ. They are both silky smooth and offensively they can really hit.”

Medina’s road to the Final four, which was capped off by last Saturday’s 10-2 Regional win over LeRoy, has also included consecutive Section VI Class B1 wins over CSAT (3-0), Newfane (6-0), Olean (12-1) and rival Albion (10-6) in the championship game followed by a 15-4 win over defending champion Roy-Hart in the overall Section VI Class B title contest.

Medina’s very youthful and versatile lineup has been led on the mound by the trio of junior Trevor Luthart (10 wins with 96 strikeouts in 68 innings), junior Chris Goyette (4 wins, 57 strikeouts in 34 innings) and freshman Zach Fike (4 wins, 51 strikeouts in 26 innings).

When not on the mound Luthart plays first base, Goyette second or third and Fike first.

At the plate, the Mustangs have been led by  sophomore shortstop/pitcher Brian Fry (.507 average with 31 RBI), sophomore second baseman/shortstop AJ Seefeldt (.480, 41 RBI), Goyette (.378, 31 RBI), junior centerfielder Nate Sherman (.319, 27 RBI), freshman third baseman/outfielder), Joe Cecchini (.317, 19 RBI) and Fike (.302, 27 RBI).

Sophomore Austin Mosher handles the catching chores and senior Matt Saj rounds out the outfield. Senior Rickie Pitts, sophomores Corey Saj and Tyler Chinn, freshman Xander Payne and eighth grader Aidan Paul have also seen time in the outfield. Payne and Paul have also seen time on the mound.

“We’re young but we’ve got good experience,” said Sherman. “These guys, especially our core group, have played a lot of baseball. They’ve played in a lot of national level tournaments and have faced a lot of top level teams.”

Medina’s appearance will make the eighth time a Niagara-Orleans League school has reached the Final Four. The Wilson team in 1983 has been the only one to date to claim a state crown.

The previous N-O appearances were as follows:

1982 – Class C-D – Wilson – defeated Draper 13-8 in semis; lost to Little Falls 12-5 in the finals

1983 – Class C-D – Wilson – defeated Mattituck 4-3 in the semifinals; defeated Rome Catholic 5-2 in the finals

1996 – Class C – Wilson – lost to Catskill 5-4

1999 – Class B – Albion – lost to Johnson City 9-1 in the semifinals

2003 – Class B – Medina – lost to Carle Place 9-1 in the semifinals

2004 – Class B – Newfane – defeated Skaneateles 7-1 in the semifinals; lost to Windsor 10-4 in the finals

2018 – Class B – Roy-Hart – lost to Seton Catholic 7-1 in the semifinals.

Bellavia wants to highlight service of Iraq War vets

CHEEKTOWAGA – When Bill Bellavia talked with his son, David, the father would praise him for his service in the Army and other accomplishments.

“Way to go, man,” Bellavia would tell his son.

Dr. Bellavia, a Medina dentist, was the only one who used that phrase with David, until October when the younger Bellavia was on the phone with President Donald Trump. The president told Bellavia he would be receiving the Medal of Honor.

“‘Good job, David. Way to go, man.’ That’s what the president said and I haven’t heard anyone say that to me but my father and it just brought me right back down to Earth,” Bellavia shared with reporters on Tuesday.

On Monday, the White House announced the medal would be awarded on June 25. Monday was the 75^th birthday of Bill Bellavia, David’s father. Bill was a well-known dentist who wrote many op-eds for the local newspapers. He died on Dec. 6, 2017 after a long fight with cancer. David is the youngest of four sons.

David Bellavia said his service in the Army brought added purpose and direction to his life.

“It was pretty crazy that the White House announcement came on his birthday, but my dad was my hero. I loved him,” David Bellavia said.

His father was a big Buffalo Bills fan and would send his son long letters, detailing every play in a Bills game. It was as if the father and son were watching the game together, and brought some normalcy to the stress of being in a war zone.

Bellavia said he joined the Army after a home invasion at his parents’ home. Bellavia didn’t like feeling like a victim.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman in 1999 and worked about two years in recruiting for the Army while his infant son received medical care in Syracuse. Bellavia on Tuesday said he appreciated that compassion from the Army.

“I’m forever grateful to the United States Army,” Bellavia told reporters during a news conference at the Army Recruiting Station in Cheektowaga. “They gave my life purpose and direction. They gave my life meaning and value. I’m a better human being because of my service and I think most of the people I served with can tell you the same thing. I encourage any man or woman that wants to become an individual in their community to serve the United States military.”

In 2001, Bellavia had a decision to make. He could change his military occupational specialty, submit a hardship discharge, or remain as an infantryman. He chose to stay in the infantry after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Bellavia’s unit in 2003 deployed to Kosovo for nine months and then was sent directly to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. From February 2004 to February 2005, Bellavia and the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, were stationed in the Diyala Province along the Iranian border. His task force took part in the battles for Najaf, Mosul, Baqubah, Muqdadiyah and Fallujah.

He is being honored for actions on his 29^thbirthday, when he and his platoon were clearing buildings in Fallujah. The first nine buildings were unoccupied. The 10^thhad insurgents inside and they were determined to kill the American soldiers.

Bellavia engaged the attackers, providing cover for his soldiers to get outside. He then re-entered the house and killed four insurgents and seriously wounded another.

His actions were described by Michael Ware, a Time correspondent. Bellavia said Ware is the “Ernie Pyle” of this generation of war correspondents. That reporting likely is a big factor Bellavia is getting the Medal of Honor.

Bellavia said many soldiers are deserving of the Medal of Honor. He listed five from his unit – commanding officer Ed Iwan, company commander Sean Sims, task force sergeant major Steven Faulkenburg, scout J.C. Matteson and staff sergeant Scott Lawson. All were heroic, saving men in the face of extreme danger. Iwan, Sims, Falkenburg and Matteson were killed in Iraq. Lawson died on March 13, 2019.

“I’m trying to bring those families to Washington so we can all share in this together,” Bellavia said about those men in his unit.

He recalled a team leader who saved a platoon from entering a building with an IED, which would have killed the platoon.

“I think of young men who pull their buddies out of doorways,” Bellavia said. “We literally live minute to minute in a firefight and anything can change. You don’t have time to immediately keep a scorecard on who’s doing what and who’s where in a firefight. It’s about survivability, it’s about coming home and achieving mission success.”

Photo courtesy of Army: David Bellaria, third from left in second row, is pictured with his unit in Iraq.

Ware, the journalist, was with Bellavia in the house on Nov. 10, 2004. Bellavia single-handedly saved an entire squad, risking his life while under heavy fire inside a house.

“His actions stand as a testament to those who put everything on the line as they do the grim work required to keep each other safe and alive on the battlefield,” the Department of Defense states in its summary of why Bellavia is being awarded the nation’s highest honor.

Bellavia was awarded the Silver Star in 2005 and was nominated for the Medal of Honor more than a decade ago. He didn’t get a phone call from Presidents George W. Bush or Barack Obama, the final approval for the honor.

In August he was told he would be getting an important phone call from a top leader in the Department of Defense. Bellavia didn’t know why or who the official was. Two months later, it was President Trump, the commander in chief, on the phone.

Bellavia said his life has changed and he will advocate for veterans and promote the military as a desired option for young men and women.

The news of the award was reported on Friday. It’s been a whirlwind since then for Bellavia, who works as a talk show host in Buffalo for WBEN.

“I never expected this much love and support and kindness,” Bellavia told reporters. “It really has meant a lot.”

He noted many veterans, especially those from the Vietnam War era, were treated poorly by the public and felt they needed to be quiet about their service. Bellavia said their valor is honorable, and all veterans should feel pride.

“It seems we have learned some of those lessons,” Bellavia said. “I just wish that more Vietnam veterans, Korean War, World War II, everyone, guys at VA hospitals could feel half of the love that Western New York has given to me.”

‘All I’ve ever wanted to do is serve my country. I happen to think veterans make the best neighbors you can have. I think we make great employees. I think we make great teachers. I think we make great friends.’

He wants to continue to highlight the service of all veterans, and the ultimate sacrifice of Gold Star families.

“All I’ve ever wanted to do is serve my country,” he said. “I happen to think veterans make the best neighbors you can have. I think we make great employees. I think we make great teachers. I think we make great friends.”

Bellavia joined the Army when he was 23. He was older than most of the soldiers. He tried to be a big brother to many of them, to look out for the soldiers in his unit who were across the world from the families.

“If there’s anything that can come out of this hopefully young people in Western New York will see their country as more worthy than anything else in their life,” he said. “We are a very special institution, the United States Army. I encourage young people to look at that as an opportunity to better themselves but more importantly better their communities and their country.”

Bellavia said he was fortunate to grow up in Lyndonville. He played on the sports teams and performed in the school musicals. He was Jack in the show, Into the Woods.

“In Lyndonville I was blessed,” he told the reporters on Tuesday. “In a small high school you can be on a sports team, you can be in a play and you can play an instrument. In some big high schools you can’t do that. You have to choose. You’re either a sports guys, a music guy or you’re in the science club. In Lyndonville because we were so small we could all do the same thing. I just loved being on teams. I loved even losing. I loved being a part of a culture where we all shared something together. Win or lose we were part of something. I was really enamored by that whole thing. I found those guys in college. I found those guys in the Army. I’m really motivated by that dynamic in a group. We share things. We experience things. I love that camaraderie.”

Employees will move into new space over the next month

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County officials held a ribbon-cutting and open house today for the new 23,000-square-foot addition to the County Administration Building.

The new addition will provide offices for about 50 county employees, as well as other meeting rooms and the Legislature’s chambers.

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson cuts the ribbon for the new building. She is joined by County Legislators Bill Eick, left, and John DeFilipps. Gerald Summe, right, is executive vice president of Wendel. That firm served as construction manager for the project. Eick and DeFilipps were on the construction committee for the project, along with Chuck Nesbitt, the chief administrative officer.

The Information Technology department moved into the building about two weeks ago to get the computer system ready for the employees. The legislative staff and county administrative officer will move from the County Clerks’ Building to the new site the end of next week.

Then the Public Health Department will move from its space next to the nursing home. The Public Health Department works out of what used to be a wing for the nursing home. Many of those offices used to be rooms for nursing home residents. The setup isn’t efficient for a modern office, county officials said.

The Board of Elections also works out of a wing in the nursing home. The Board of Elections will move to the new building in early July, after the June 25 primary.

County Legislator Bill Eick, left, and Peter Houseknecht, the deputy highway superintendent, look out from the atrium in the second floor of the new building. The project included an expanded parking lot. About 60 spaces were added.

The county had a ground-breaking ceremony for the building on April 25, 2018. The Legislature approved a maximum bond of $10,063,881 for the addition the building on Route 31, behind the nursing home. The bond is expected to be about $6.5 million due to grants for the project. The county has already been approved for a $3,682,748 state grant towards the project and State Sen. Robert Ortt also secured a $200,000 state grant.

The larger grant includes funds to create space at the neighboring Mental Health Building for a primary doctor from Oak Orchard Health. Mental Health also has two therapists working out of Oak Orchard Health’s site on Route 31 in Albion. That building has a renovated office and entrance.

The Board of Elections and Public Health Department have been leasing space from Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services. Comprehensive purchased the former county-owned nursing home for $7.8 million in January 2014. The county has been leasing space from Comprehensive for Elections and Public Health because those offices are part of the nursing home complex.

Moving those offices from those sites will spare the county from paying those lease payments. The money the county was paying for the lease will go towards paying the debt for the addition.

A new meeting room can accommodate about 60 people, twice the room as the current meeting space for the County Legislature. It will hold its first session in the new meeting room on June 26.

County officials say the new space is much more accessible to the public. This is the view from the Legislature chairman’s spot.

Chuck Nesbitt, the chief administrative officer, leads a tour through the building, which includes a scanner to walk through as an added safety feature.

Stan Dudek, the retired chief administrative officer, gives Lynne Johnson positive feedback about the new facility.

The new building is connected to the original Administration Building. There are currently about 125 people working out of the original building for the Department of Social Services, Office for the Aging, Job Development, Tourism, Planning and Development, Department of Motor Vehicles, and Personnel.

Chuck Nesbitt shows a meeting room that is part of the suite for the Public Health Department.

This space will be used by the Board of Elections when that office moves over next month.

Lynne Johnson thanked residents and the county employees for their patience during the construction project.

She also thanked the contractors, including Holdsworth Klimowski Construction of Victor, which was the general contractor for the project. Suburban Electric of Albion did the electrical work for the new building.

MEDINA – There will be an open house, public presentation and opportunity for residents to comment on the future of the Maple Ridge Corridor. Medina High School is hosting the June 20 meeting from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The meeting will be in the school cafeteria. The session begins with an open house at 4:30, followed by a presentation at 5 p.m. The presentation will cover the project goals, history, and illustrate the alternatives under consideration.

An interactive session then will follow at 5:30 p.m. where residents are encouraged to share their opinions about the alternative futures for Maple Ridge Road.

The village was approved for a $50,000 grant to study pedestrian and bicycle accommodations on Maple Ridge Road, from Bates Road to the former Ames Plaza.

The study may help Medina make its case for a state grant to help pay for sidewalks on that stretch of Maple Ridge. The $50,000 grant from the Genesee Transportation Council includes a $5,000 local match from the village.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This banner on Main Street features the late Vernon Toussaint, one of 38 put up last month in time for Memorial Day.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board approved a second round of Hometown Hero banners, although the number and locations are still to be determined.

The board, however, authorized Mary Woodruff to start work on the next group of banners. Woodruff, a Ridgeway town councilwoman, took the lead on the banners late last year.

The first group of 38 banners was installed by the Village Department of Public Works just before Memorial Day last month. Those banners will stay up until right after Veterans’ Day in November.

Most of the banners are on Main Street with a few on East Center Street.

Woodruff has already heard from about 15 people who want to purchase a banner for $200 with the image and name of a loved one who served in the military. The banners highlight veterans from World War II to current soldiers.

The first group of banners went on village-owned poles. As the banners expand to other locations, permission will be needed from National Grid to put the pole’s hardware on the Grid poles.

The Village Board approved the additional banners on Tuesday, with an understanding that National Grid permission will be needed. The board also wants Joe Perry, the DPW superintendent, to have input in where the banners will be going.

Woodruff would next like to focus on Park Avenue, which is on the Memorial Day parade route. She would like more banners on East and West Center streets, and some on Pearl Street, where the former Armory is located. That building is now the Orleans County YMCA.

The vinyl banners are double-sided and 5 feet tall by 2 ½ feet wide. Woodruff, a retired social studies and math teacher at Roy-Hart, pushed to start the Hometown Heroes effort in Medina after seeing a similar one in Alfred.

The Medina Village Clerk’s Office, and Shelby and Ridgeway town clerks helped take applications and funds for the banners for the first round. Woodruff wants to work with them again for the project but isn’t ready to take in applications until she gets the permission for the poles from National Grid, as well as feedback from Perry, the DPW superintendent.

Woodruff wants the new group of banners to go on Main Street and downtown for the first year, before then going to a secondary street the following year. This year’s banners that are currently on display will move to the secondary locations next year.

She expects the banners will last three years. After that, they will be given to the family of each highlighted veteran.

The Village Board suggested there be a cap of 100 banners, but that number wasn’t voted on. The board wants to first hear from National Grid and the DPW superintendent about the number of sites.

For more information about the banners, email Woodruff at curlqt@aol.com.

Provided photo: Medina Sandstone Society members Rob Klino, Gabrielle Barone and Mary Zangerle join Medina High School John Ryan Scholarship winner Alissa Blount and Sandstone member Jim Hancock in front of the John Ryan Scholars Wall at Medina High School after Blount was presented with a John Ryan Scholarship for $1,000.

MEDINA – Alissa Blount, a Medina High School senior, is the recipient of the fourth annual John Ryan Scholarship, presented by the Medina Sandstone Society.

Sandstone Society members Jim Hancock, Gabrielle Barone, Mary Zangerle and Rob Klino presented the $1,000 award to Alissa last week at the high school. Alissa’s mom Shannon was also present, and like her daughter was very thrilled with the award.

Alissa plans to attend Daemon College to pursue a career in nursing.

“This $1,000 will definitely help,” said Alissa, who is also the daughter of Eric Blount.

To apply for the scholarship, students had to write an essay about the village of Medina, titled “Roots in the Past. Eyes on the Future.”  Alissa indicated she learned so much about the village while doing her research.

“One of the purposes of the scholarship is to get young people to appreciate the history of the village in which they live,” said Hancock, head of the Sandstone’s Scholarship Committee.

The first John Ryan scholarship was awarded in 2015. The award is named for the Medina resident whose sandstone quarry was the first in Orleans County.

Students who receive a John Ryan scholarship have their name placed on the John Ryan Scholars Wall on the second floor of the high school and also have a special medallion attached to their diploma.

Hancock said the award is a joint effort between the Sandstone Society and the Medina High School History Department. He also said the late Robert Waters was the driving force behind establishment of the scholarship, which the late school superintendent Jeff Evoy supported wholeheartedly. Evoy was a member of the Sandstone Society’s board of directors.

The public is welcome to make a donation to the Medina Sandstone Society/John Ryan Scholarship by sending a check to Medina Sandstone Society or Sandstone Trust, P.O. Box 25, Medina, NY 14103.

Photos courtesy of Adam Krenning: It was a glorious sunrise on Monday at the Albion Central School campus. Adam Krenning, an agriculture teacher at Albion, took these photos of a dramatic sky.

A lakeshore flood warning remains in effect until 2 p.m. this afternoon for Orleans, Niagara and Monroe counties.

About an inch of rain fell on Monday locally. Today  is forecast to be cloudy in the morning and then sunny with a high near 69.

It will be sunny with a high near 76 on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

On Thursday, showers are likely and then a possible thunderstorm after 11 a.m. with a high near 67.

There is also a chance for showers on Friday with a high near 66. Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 73, according to the Weather Service.

This photo was taken in front of the high school at Albion.

Press Release, Nola Goodrich-Kreese, public health educator for Orleans County Public Health Department

Photo by Tom Rivers: Nola Goodrich-Kresse and Marlowe Thompson, public health educators, ran the best-tasting water contest at the Albion Strawberry Festival. People tried samples of water from Albion, Holley and Lyndonville.

ALBION – It was a close contest this year with the winner receiving 39 percent of the 126 votes for Orleans County’s Best Tasting Tap Water Contest.

Congratulations to Lyndonville Municipal Water System for winning the 29th annual contest. For those who tasted the water, Albion was sample “A,” Holley was “B” and Lyndonville was “C”.

We appreciate our municipal water systems for providing safe and healthy water to all of our communities. Lyndonville will now advance to the regional contest later this summer.

Now that summer is almost here it is important to remember to stay hydrated – drink water whether you are thirsty or not. Increased heat and activity outdoors brings certain risks with it, particularly dehydration and heat-related illnesses.

Some people are more susceptible than others are to dehydration and heat related illnesses. They include infants, children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.

Dehydration is “the excessive (too much) loss of water from the body.” The more physical activity that you engage in, the more water you are likely to lose.

Possible signs of dehydration:

• Dry mouth and fatigue.

• If you are mildly dehydrated, you might experience muscular pain or pain in the lower back region.

• Dark yellowish urine is also a good indicator that dehydration is setting in.

• Severe dehydration can cause dizziness, confusion, accelerated heartbeat and eventually, kidney failure.

There are ways you can prevent dehydration from occurring. The most obvious way to prevent dehydration is by drinking a sufficient amount of water to replace the fluids you lose throughout the day.

The best way to figure your ideal daily water needs is to take your body weight and divide it in half. This is the number of ounces of fluid you should be consuming on a daily basis through beverages and foods. For example, a person who weighs 160 pounds should be consuming no less than eight 10-ounce glasses (80 ounces) of water each day. You should drink more than this during extreme heat and/or if you are engaging in physical activity.

Consider these suggestions for keeping yourself well hydrated:

• Foods with high water content can help you meet your fluid needs. Some examples include soups, stews, citrus fruits, grapes and melons.

• Low-fat and fat-free milk, 100 percent fruit juice and decaffeinated tea and coffee can also count toward your minimum eight glasses of fluid a day.

• Develop a habit of staying hydrated. Drink a glass of water when you wake up, one between and at each meal, and one at bedtime to make eight. Remember you need more during hot days or when engaging in physical activity.

• Keep re-fillable bottles of water in your car, backpack or desk.

As the summer continues remember to drink plenty of water and take breaks in the shade especially when out working, playing, exercising and at the various festivals and fairs this year.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Sheryl Watts, owner and artistic designer of Air Raising Events, made a strawberry costume out of balloons. She won the award for “Most Original” in the Albion Strawberry Festival parade on Saturday.

Watts is pictured on Main Street during the parade on Saturday.

• Best Use of Theme – This year’s festival had a theme of “Albion’s lift bridges celebrating 100 years and still lifting.” That proved a difficult theme for the floats in the parade. Most of the floats steered clear of the theme.

The local Girl Scouts in the Cobblestone Service Unit created a float that said, “Girl Scouts lifting girls up for 107 years.” The Girl Scouts held signs with future career goals including working as president, in law enforcement, as a nurse, horse trainer and as a lawyer.

• Best Band (2): The judges picked two bands, one a drum and bugle corps and the other a high school marching band.

The Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps from Le Roy put on an impressive show, especially on Main Street in front of the festival grounds.

The Albion Marching Band concluded its season with its performance at the Strawberry Festival. This photo shows drum majors Nate Grammatico and Arella Ives. Grammatico took a short break leading the band to play a solo on the saxophone. This year’s program is “Power of Flight” and includes the following selections: “Into the Clouds,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Fly Like an Eagle.”

• Best Public Safety Agency: The Albion Fire Department had a big turnout from firefighters and the auxiliary, as well as several fire trucks in the parade.

• Best use of humor: Weed Man. The Albion lawncare company has been a fixture at local parades for several years. Weed Man continues to get chuckles for the inflatable of the giant lawn care man and for the antics of “Dancing Derrick” Bradley who leads the float down the street.

• Best Cheer or Dance (2): Hoag Library and Gotta Dance by Miss Amy.

Hoag Library for the second year in a row had a well-choregraphed dance routine among staff members with book carts. They were promoting the upcoming summer reading program.

Gotta Dance by Miss Amy performed a high-energy routine on Main Street.

• Community Service Award (3): Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern had a contingent in the parade touting the organization’s services.

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee (Head Start) featured many kids with strawberry-themed T-shirts promoting the agency’s programs to local families.

North Point Chapel in Albion not only had a fun float, but the church also emptied the garbage cans during the two-day festival and helped to organize the parade.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Kindergarten teacher Andrea Lonnen was not only beloved by her family, husband Kip and their children – Hannah, Dylan and Maggie – but by the entire Oak Orchard student body and staff. Her loss on April 22, 2018 devastated all that knew her and loved her.

“She was such a positive influence in the school community as a teacher, colleague, union member, sports fan, chick-hatching expert and friends,” says Oak Orchard Elementary School Principal Julie Webber. “She worked at Oak Orchard for 18 years and we wanted her memory to live on at Medina Central School District.”

Mrs. Lonnen loved all of the students at Oak Orchard like they were her own. From the moment she welcomed them into kindergarten she made it her mission to nurture them as individuals. “One of the greatest gifts that Mrs. Lonnen gave to her students was the gift of reading,” says Mrs. Webber.  “We wanted that gift to live on so we decided to install a new bench, garden and little library so that the families that visit our school’s playground could spend time together and read just like Mrs. Lonnen did with her own children and students. I would like to extend a special thank you to the Oak Orchard Student Council and Medina Teacher Association for donating the books for the little library.”

On Friday the dedication was held at Oak Orchard. The Lonnen children unveiled the items to the community with the hopes that it will inspire reading, family bonding and the love of learning and pay tribute to their mother’s legacy. At the conclusion, the Oak Orchard students celebrated their love of Mrs. Lonnen and filled the air with bubbles as she filled their lives with the gift of learning.

David Bellavia, a Waterport resident and Lyndonville graduate, will receive the Medal of Honor on June 25 during a ceremony at the White House. He will be the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest honor.

Bellavia will receive the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 10, 2004, while serving as a squad leader in support of Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq. Bellavia was then a staff sergeant in the Army. He describes that day in this video from the Army.

The Army provides this description of Bellavia’s heroic actions in Fallujah:

Staff Sgt. Bellavia was clearing a block of houses when his platoon became pinned down. He quickly exchanged an M16 rifle for an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, entered the house where his squad was trapped, and engaged insurgents, providing cover fire so that he and his fellow soldiers could exit safely, the Army said.

A Bradley Fighting Vehicle arrived to help suppress the enemy, but it could not fire directly into the house. Bellavia re-entered the house, armed with an M16, and assaulted insurgents who were firing rocket-propelled grenades. He proceeded to kill one insurgent and wound another, who then ran to another part of the house.

Bellavia was soon engaged by another insurgent rushing down the stairs when the previously wounded insurgent re-emerged to engage him as well. Bellavia returned fire, killing both attackers. He then took enemy fire from an insurgent who had appeared from a closet across the room. He pursued him up the stairs and killed him. Soon thereafter, he moved to the roof where he engaged and wounded a fifth insurgent, who fell from the roof of the building.

On that remarkable day, Bellavia rescued an entire squad, cleared an insurgent strongpoint, and saved many members of his platoon from imminent threat.