Photo by Tom Rivers: Lyndonville native David Bellavia, an Iraq War veteran with the U.S. Army, was keynote speaker during a July 24, 2016 banquet for the New York Warrior Alliance at the Hickory Ridge Country Club in Holley.

David Bellavia, a Lyndonville graduate who enlisted in the Army and fought in the second battle of Fallujah, will be the first living veteran of the Iraq War to receive the Medal of Honor.

Bellavia, 43, of Batavia previously was awarded the Silver Star. Army Times and other media outlets are reporting he will receive the nation’s highest honor.

Bellavia works as a radio talk show host for WBEN. He is being recognized for his actions in combat against insurgents. He was part of a campaign that took the heavily fortified city.

Bellavia wrote a book that detailed his experiences as a staff sergeant in Fallujah. He wrote House to House: An Epic Memoir of War with John R. Bruning, describing the efforts of front line forces in urban combat against insurgents.

In 2005, Bellavia was inducted into the New York Veterans’ Hall of Fame. He has been active in politics, twice running for Congress. He also has been an advocate for veterans in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

He is to receive the Medal of Honor on June 25 at the White House.

Provided photos: Kendall Lion John Becker presents the club’s Citizen of the Year award to Steve Giverson, center. Lions Club President Doug Urquhart is at right.

KENDALL – The Kendall Lions held the club’s annual officer installation and awards dinner on Thursday. Kendall volunteer firefighter Steve Giverson was presented the “Citizen of the Year Award” for his commitment and strong leadership in the Lions Club’s carbon monoxide and smoke detector program in response to a community tragedy.

Steve transferred from the Gates Fire Department 2 1/2 years ago and quickly made an impact in the Kendall community and the fire department. He recently was elected secretary of the Kendall Fire Department. Steve was the liaison between the community groups – American Red Cross, Kendall Central School, the Fire Departments and the Lions Club – during the recent CO and smoke detector program.

Giverson took on the responsibility of scheduling, training, delivery and community communication as the Lions Club distributed 200 CO detectors and more 600 smoke detectors to residents in the local communities.

Provided photos: Kendall Lion John Becker presents the club’s Citizen of the Year award to Steve Giverson, center. Lions Club President Doug Urquhart is at right.

John Becker also was recognized for his leadership in the CO and smoke detector program as well as his continued service as a Kendall Lion. Becker received the “Lion of the Year” award. Becker was the initiator of the program after two lives in the Kendall community were lost due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Lion President Doug Urquhart recognizes Debbie Ryan for her tenure as club treasurer. She is joined by her husband, Bob Ryan, who is a member of the club.

This group includes, from left: incoming President Helen Unterborn, Lion Candy Minigiello, Lion Tom Minigiello and Lion President Doug Urquhart. Candy Minigiello was awarded the Robert Uplinger Award for her service and participation in the community and the Kendall Lions Club.

Kendall Supervisor Tony Cammarata (center), a member of the Lions Club, was presented the Melvin Jones Fellow as a reflection of the continued service to our community and club, often behind the scenes but integral to our success. The award is named for the founder of the Lions Clubs International.

Lions President Doug Urquhart presents the award to Cammarata, who was joined by his wife, Sharon Cammarata.

Company will reimburse state $31 million for cleanup costs; pay $2.4 million penalty; give $1 million towards community benefit project

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Courtesy of DEC: This map shows the FMC Corp. in Middleport.

MIDDLEPORT – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the settlement of one of New York’s largest environmental enforcement actions in state history. The settlement requires the FMC Corporation to clean up arsenic and other hazardous contamination affecting areas in and around its facility in Middleport, Niagara County, and includes $2.4 million in penalties and $1 million for a community-based environmental benefit project.

“When the health of our communities is threatened, we aggressively pursue polluters and hold them accountable,” Governor Cuomo said. “The state is already working diligently to protect the public from contamination released by the FMC Corporation and this comprehensive enforcement agreement requires the company to reimburse taxpayers millions of dollars for past cleanup actions and invest hundreds of millions more until the job is done.”

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “This significant settlement is a major victory for environmental justice and a major victory for New York’s strict environmental laws put in place to protect public health. Most importantly, it’s a victory for the residents of the Niagara County neighborhoods who, through this Consent Order, are ensured that the environmental contamination is cleaned up by the polluter. I’m proud of the perseverance demonstrated by DEC’s talented staff in their tenacious fight for fairness and requiring a real plan to fund and complete this extensive cleanup.”

FMC Corporation’s Middleport facility is a 103-acre pesticide formulation and packaging plant that previously manufactured arsenic-based pesticides and other chemical products. The primary contaminant of concern at this site is arsenic, which has been detected at elevated levels of up to 60,000 parts per million (ppm) on-site, and approximately 4,000 ppm off-site. Other contaminants include methylene chloride, pesticides such as DDT, and other organic and inorganic compounds.

Uncontrolled stormwater runoff, flood events, spills, releases, overflows, and air deposition have contaminated sediment, surface water, soil, and groundwater at the facility’s property and off-site areas including residential and commercial properties and the adjacent Royalton-Hartland Central School property. In addition, contamination has migrated to negatively impact miles of creeks and culverts downgradient of the FMC facility, adversely impacting birds, fish, and wildlife in the Jeddo and Johnson Creek drainage basins.

The DEC’s enforcement actions include a consent order that requires the cleanup of all contaminated areas both on-site and off-site and avoids a protracted and costly legal battle that could have stalled cleanup progress for years. A prior 1991 Administrative Order on Consent with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is terminated and replaced by DEC’s new order, which requires a more thorough approach to address arsenic and other chemical impacts to the facility, residences, the school, and natural resources. Major highlights of the new consent order include:

• FMC will reimburse the State $31 million for costs related to the cleanup performed through the end of 2018. These funds will be returned to the State Superfund Program where they can be used to accelerate other critical cleanup projects;

• A $1 million environmental benefit project to help compensate the community for the impacts created by FMC’s contamination;

• FMC will reimburse DEC up to $15 million per year over the next two years (2019-20) for costs incurred by the State as it completes the cleanup of surrounding residential properties and the Royalton-Hartland School;

• FMC will assume all cleanup responsibilities after 2020 with stringent DEC oversight until the State determines the work is complete;

• FMC will pay penalties of $2.4 million to resolve decades of violations at the facility. A portion of the penalty will help fund habitat restoration projects related to past wildlife impacts caused by chemical releases;

• The settlement of outstanding state environmental violations will help the company protect current jobs at the facility and enable it to plan for potential future growth;

• FMC will fund an on-site environmental monitor at the facility and implement a site management plan to prevent future environmental violations;

• The facility will be required to fully upgrade the on-site wastewater treatment plant and expand the groundwater collection system to provide full hydraulic control and prevent off-site migration of groundwater contamination; and

• A substantial increase in financial assurance to $80 million to ensure that funds will be available to address the contamination.

The site is currently regulated by DEC as both a State Superfund site and a facility subject to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action. Additional information about the site can be found at DEC’s FMC Middleport Facility webpage.

‘I want you guys to have fun tonight but please make good decisions.’ – Roland Nenni, Albion and Holley police chief

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Peyton Sargent lays on the front hood of a vehicle this morning during a drunk driving simulation at Holley Junior-Senior High School.

Peyton and her classmates have prom this evening at The Plantation House in Spencerport. First responders in the Holley community created the simulation this morning to send a message about the sometimes fatal consequences of drunk driving.

The time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is considered the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period when teen driver-involved crashes rise 14 percent compared to the rest of the year.

Braden Ferranti was a passenger in a vehicle involved in the crash. A Holley police officer, Dillon Black, checks on him. Holley students were told that Ferranti and Kory Puente both suffered serious injuries.

Cade Aina was the driver in the mock accident. Here he is given a test to see if he is impaired. George Barton is the Holley police officer.

Scott Schmidt, an Orleans County coroner and funeral director, was called to the scene. He would declare Peyton deceased and helped put her body in a hearse.

Rachel Sargent, Peyton’s mother, is giving the tragic news about her daughter. Rachel said she reacted with grief because she wanted to send a message to her daughter’s classmates about how serious the consequences can be to driving drunk or impaired.

After the crash simulation, students went into the school auditorium where there was a mock arraignment and sentencing for Aina. Joanne Best, the public defender is at left. Dillon Black, the Holley police officer, leads Aina away in handcuffs.

If this was a real case, Aina would have been charged with first-degree vehicular manslaughter, which carries a maximum of 15 years in prison, and vehicular assault, which has a seven-year maximum.

Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church used to be Aina’s Little League coach in Albion. He said Aina had a spotless record until the crash. The judge asked the students how many would sentence Aina to the maximum of 15 years in prison. No one put up their hand. The students favored a lesser sentence and Church said he would likely give someone in a similar case a sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.

Aina, in that scenario, might not be out of prison until his mid-20s and then would be on parole with supervision. He would see his job prospects severely diminished and would have to pay court fines and attorney fees, Church said.

Roland Nenni, the Albion and Holley police chief, urged students “to be courageous” and not ride with a drunk driver or someone impaired by drugs. In back are Judge Sanford Church, District Attorney Joe Cardone, and Public Defender Joanne Best.

People impaired or drunk shouldn’t drive and Nenni told them to call 911 if they feel stranded and can’t get a ride. Nenni said he has authorized Holley and Albion police officers to give teens a ride if they are impaired or drunk, or don’t want to ride with someone who shouldn’t be driving. Nenni said they wouldn’t face criminal charges in those instances when they need help. (Albion also has its prom tonight at Hickory Ridge Country Club in Holley.)

The police chief is also a former Holley fire chief chief. He has responded to many fatal accidents. Those tragedies happen too often because of bad choices from drivers, Nenni said.

“I want you guys to have fun tonight but please make good decisions,” he told the Holley students.

District Attorney Joe Cardone also told students he has prosecuted many cases where a drunk driver killed someone or caused serious injuries, “due to a few moments of a bad decision.”

“Maybe you think it can’t be you, but it can be you,” Cardone said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Mackenzie Fox of Chiavetta’s cooks the chicken barbecue dinners that will be served today at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.

The 33rd annual Albion Strawberry Festival started today with many food and craft vendors, as well as music scheduled for later in the evening.

Herman Sinemus, Scoutmaster of Troop 6017 in Elba, gets homemade onion rings ready at the Troop’s booth at the food court on East Bank Street. The Scouts have been at the festival the past five years with their onion rings and also French onion soup.

Doug Farley of the Cobblestone Museum grills hot dogs at the museum’s booth. The museum is a food vendor for the first time at the festival.

Ethan Barrett of Elma holds a bag of strawberry kettle corn. He has been a vendor at the festival for seven years.

The Peyton Express passes down East State Street on the mini train.

The festival continues Saturday with the parade at 10 a.m. Entertainment continues through the day and evening. Click here to see the schedule.

Leaders of the Democratic Rural Conference of New York State on Thursday issued a resolution opposing overtime pay for farmworkers, saying it could harm an agricultural industry that is already in a “precarious situation,” according to a statement from Judith Hunter of Livingston County, who is chairwoman of the conference.

The Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act is sponsored by State Sen. Jessica Ramos of Queens. The bill has been introduced in the Legislature before but was always stopped by Republicans who had the majority of the seats. This year the Senate is in Democrat control.

Hunter said the dairy industry is in a crisis and other sectors are struggling.

“Our rural economy depends on agriculture, and we are concerned that agriculture will be able to recover from its current difficulties stronger than ever,” she said.

Agriculture in New York State represents $4.2 billion and is “an integral part of our rural heritage and culture, directly and indirectly providing valuable jobs, supporting local business and are a critical component of our state’s economy,” the Rural Democrats said in a resolution.

“Any eventual legislation should protect our farmworkers, clearly, but it should also protect our farmers,” Hunter said. “They are unable to pass on higher production costs by charging higher prices, because those prices are set by market forces beyond their control. Already, dairy farmers find themselves getting less for their milk than it costs them to produce. New York agriculture also must be supported as it works to become more competitive, more sustainable, and more resilient in the face of climate change.”

Farmers at a roundtable in Batavia last month said the legislation requiring time-and-half after 8 hours in one day and 40 hours in a week would increase their costs from 17 to 25 percent. Some of the farmers, like fruit grower Jeff Toussaint of Knowlesville, said they would have to look at a different type of farming with far less labor costs. For Toussaint that could mean removing fruit trees and planting corn and soybeans.

The Rural Democrats are proposing the overtime threshold not begin until 60 hours are worked in a week.

The farmers at the Batavia roundtable, led by State Sen. Robert Ortt, said labor costs have been on the rise with the state’s minimum wage increases and the H2A rates, which are all set by the government. When those wages go up, farmers increase the wages for middle managers, herdsmen and others who are above the minimum wage.

The Rural Democrats said the state’s minimum wage ranks among the top five in the country, with the minimum wage in upstate currently $3.85 higher than federal minimum wage.

The state legislation calls for collective bargaining for farmworkers, but the Rural Democrats say there should be a no-strike provision.

The resolution will be sent to state legislative leaders, including Gov. Cuomo.

(Editor’s Note: Jeanne Crane, the Orleans County Democratic Party chairwoman, is a member of the board of directors for the Rural Democrats.)

Orleans County will get a break from rain and cloudy skies the next three days. Today is forecast to be sunny with a high of 76, followed by another sunny day on Saturday with a high near 77, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

On Sunday the temperatures will reach a high of 85 with more sunshine.

The goldfish swim by the lily pads at the pond at Mount Albion.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – David Warren of Kent plays Taps during a memorial service at Mount Albion Cemetery for the Albion Fire Department.

The AFD holds an annual service at the cemetery on the northwest side where there is a memorial pond and monument for the fire department.

Al Cheverie holds the American flag during the service. Gregg Marston, a firefighter and the AFD chaplain, is at center and Fred Piano is at right.

The memorial pond was dedicated to the Albion firefighters in 1983, when Donna Rodden was the mayor.

Steven Papponetti reads the names of firefighters who have passed away. The AFD formed in 1831 and about 140 members have died since its founding.

Fred Piano rang the bell after each name was announced. The AFD remembered firefighters from its earliest days and also more recent members including Jim Herdendorf who died in 2017, Roger Webb in 2018, and so far in 2019, Donald O’Hearn, Lawrence “Larrie” DiPalma, Andrew “Bill” Pecorella and Lynn Miller.

Gregg Marston opens the service by the monument at the cemetery along Route 31. Jan Cheverie, right, holds the Fire Department’s flag.

These firefighters attended the service on Thursday evening. They include, from left: Fire Chief Harry Papponetti, Jeremy Graham, Rob Conner, Darryl Szklany, Steven Papponetti, Dale Banker, A.J. Fisher, Jenny Johnston and Heather Johnston.

Firefighters read the name of Jason Johnston, Jenny’s son and Heather’s brother. Jason died on Dec. 26, 2009 while serving with the Army in the war in Afghanistan. He is the only soldier from Orleans County to die in combat in Afghanistan.

Town and Country Quilt Shop opened in downtown Albion in October 2017

ALBION – The Town and Country Quilt Shop is one of 17 quilt shops in the Buffalo and Rochester area that will be part of a tour of quilt businesses the next two weeks.

Pictured form left include Irene Henion, a teacher at Town and Country; Tara Thom, owner of the business; and Brenda Radzinski, another teacher.

“It generates enthusiasm for quilting,” Thom said about the Great New York Shop Hop.

Town and Country is the only stop on the tour in Orleans County. Visitors are encouraged to see all 17 shops in the next two weeks. The more shops they visit, the better their chances for winning prizes. The grand prize is more than 50 yards of fabric. There are other prizes with baskets of “quilting goodies.”

Thom is happy the tour falls within the Strawberry Festival, which is on Friday and Saturday.

“I can’t wait to show visitors from near and far what my town has to offer, and I am overwhelmed and humbled by the tremendous support this community has given me,” she said.

Tara Thom is shown outside her quilt shop at 10 East Bank St., Albion.

Thom opened her store on East Bank Street in Albion in October 2017, after running the business for 15 years out of her home on Ridge Road.

Her shop is one of the few in WNY that is in a historic downtown business district.

She said the business has grown since coming to the downtown. She was joined today in the shop by part-time instructors, Irene Henion and Brenda Radzinski. They offer classes for beginners to advanced. There also are craft classes where no sewing is required.

Town and Country also hosts an “open sew” on the third Wednesdays each month.

“It’s the community of quilters coming together and sharing time,” said Henion, a retired Latin teacher at Albion Central School.

Radzinski is retired from the Orleans County Department of Social Services.

Other shops on the tour are located in Amherst, Williamsville, East Amherst, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Brockport, Hilton, Eden, East Aurora, Arcade, Perry Center, York, Caledonia, Fairport and East Rochester.

Press Release, International Joint Commission

Lake Ontario water levels have started to stabilize due to decreased precipitation and increased Lake Ontario outflows, which have been increasing rapidly as Ottawa River flows have continued to drop from their record highs this spring.

Outflows reached 10,000 m3/s (353,100 cfs) on Wednesday, close to the highest on record, and further increases are expected.

Extraordinarily high outflows combined with forecasts of warmer, drier conditions later this week, make it likely that Lake Ontario is at or very near its peak level this year. Any additional rise is likely to be small, less than 3 cm (1 in.) depending on rainfall, and there is a good chance levels will remain stable or even start to decline slowly next week.

With levels above average their remains the possibility for locally higher levels, especially during periods of active weather, and the Board reminds everyone to refer to local forecasts for conditions and warnings specific to your area.

The Board continues to monitor the situation, makes use of every opportunity to increase outflows, and consider all possible measures to provide relief from the record-high water levels.

Extreme high levels are never normal, but they have occurred in the past and they will occur again in the future. The primary causes of high water levels are always the same – wet weather. Record precipitation caused the record high water levels in 2017, and it led to record inflows from Lake Erie and the Ottawa River system, resulting in new record highs this year.

Such conditions are uncontrolled and highly unpredictable, and this has always been the case.  The new normal is that we must make the preparations for the next event a part of everyday practice and planning, even though it is becoming especially difficult to know how soon that next event will be.

BARKER – A residence in Barker at 2074 Carmen Rd. is a complete loss after a fire this morning, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is reporting.

Barker and Lyndonville firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 7:56 a.m. They arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames.

The fire was subsequently extinguished by the responding fire companies. The structure consisted of the remnants of a residence that had gone unrepaired from a preceding fire in July 2018, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The property was unoccupied at the time of the most current fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Investigation by the Niagara County Origin and Cause Team as well as the Niagara County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Bureau into the incident is continuing.

Site next year will add The Lockstone, a wedding and events venue

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Tinsel, a new ice cream shop, will open to the community at 11 a.m. on Friday. This morning village and county officials joined the owners, John Hernandez and his wife Natasha Wasuck, for a ribbon-cutting.

From left include Deputy Mayor Gary Katsanis; Ephy, John and Natasha’s daughter; Natasha Wasuck, Jobson, John and Natasha’s son; John Hernandez; Village Trustee Stan Farone; Mayor Eileen Banker; County Legislator Ken DeRoller, a member of the Orleans Economic Development Agency board of directors; and Jon Costello, a business mentor through SCORE.

Wasuck and Hernandez bought 160 North Main St. about 15 months ago. They have big plans for the site, the long-time home of Burgio Tire. The ice cream shop is the first phase. They are working to establish The Lockstone, which will be an event and wedding venue. That venue should be ready next year. Another room is nearly ready for small parties and business meetings.

“There’s a lot of potential,” Hernandez said. “A lot of families walk by. There is a lot of traffic.”

Wasuck and Hernandez noticed the “Believe” signs around Albion, which are placed by the Albion Betterment Committee. The couple is intrigued by Albion’s history as a home to a school for Santa Claus from 1937 to 1966.

They named the ice cream shop Tinsel to connect with a Christmas theme, the tinsel on a Christmas tree.

Wasuck and Hernandez have been working on 160 North Main St. for more than a year. They took out a large garage door in the front to make a new front entrance and facade for building. The white stucco has been painted black in front, with a 3-foot-high black strip around the bottom of the building.

The front also includes board and batten siding and a new concrete ramp. They will be adding an outdoor patio with picnic tables later this summer.

John Hernandez and Natasha Wasuck make craft sodas for the local officials to try today, before opening day on Friday.

“The craft sodas really separate us,” Hernandez said.

They will also have soda spritzers, sandwiches, sundaes and ice cream nachos (served on waffles). One sundae, “the Tug,” will be served in a plastic dish shaped like a boat.

Hernandez wants Tinsel to be a place Albion people bring their friends and family to help show off the community.

He has used reclaimed wood and materials for counters, signs, frames and other décor.

“We’re trying to give it an old-time feel,” he said. “The whole place is like my art shop.”

Wasuck is holding her daughter, Ephy, who is 3 ½. The Spencerport resident sells real estate and sold a few houses in Albion.

“I was in Albion and I thought the village was so cute,” she said.

She saw the building by the canal, next to the Main Street lift bridge and saw its potential, especially as the events venue.

“This piece of property is amazing,” she said.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The pitching trio of, from left, Chris Goyette, Trevor Luthart and Zach Fike have led the way this season for Medina which faces LeRoy Saturday in the Class B Far West Regional at Lockport.

For just the second time in program history, Medina will be competing in the state baseball playoffs when the Section VI Class B champion Mustangs face Section V champion LeRoy in the Far West Regional at 3 p.m. Saturday on Lockport’s new turf diamond on Beattie Ave.

Medina, whose only other appearance in the state playoffs was in 2003, advanced by defeating a pair of Niagara-Orleans League foes, The Mustangs first bested rival Albion 10-6 for the Section VI Class B1 title and then by downing Roy-Hart 15-4 for overall Section VI Class B crown.

LeRoy gained a spot in the state playoffs by trimming Batavia 5-3 for the Section V Class B title.

The Mustangs bring a school record 20-2 record into the state playoffs while the Knights are 18-4.

“The key for us is to keep doing what we’ve been doing all season,” said Coach Jon Sherman. “Make all the little plays defensively, stay strong up and down the lineup hitting like we have been doing and have our pitchers continue to throw strikes.”

Medina has been led on the mound by the trio of junior Trevor Luthart who has 9 wins and 89 strikeouts in 60 innings; junior Chris Goyette who has 4 wins with 57 strikeouts in 34 innings and  freshman Zach Fike who also has 4 wins and 45 strikeouts in 25 innings.

At the plate, the Mustangs have been paced by the quintet of sophomore Brian Fry who is hitting .529 with 30 RBI, sophomore AJ Seefeldt (.465 with 35 RBI), Goyette (.394 with 27 RBI), freshman Joe Cecchini (.333 with 20 RBI) and junior Nate Sherman (.324 with 25 RBI).

“It’s a young group but its a veteran squad in terms of game experience,” said Sherman. “They’ve played a lot of games in summer ball in national level tournaments. Our pitchers have pitched in big games all of their lives so they are used to that level of competition.”

LeRoy has been led on the mound by the duo of senior Tim McMullen who has 8 wins with 58 strikeouts in 59 innings and junior Tom Saunders who has 6 wins with 44 strikeouts in 35 innings.

At the plate, the Knights have had a balanced attack with five players who each have between 11 and 14 RBI.

In Medina’s only previous appearance in the state playoffs the Mustangs blanked Sodus 4-0 in the 2003 Far West Regional.

Saturday’s victor will advance to the state semifinals in Binghamton on June 14.

Provided photo: Lydia Hofmann of Albion is one of 19 juniors to qualify for the European Open Dog Agility Team that will compete in Switzerland in July. She is shown with Chase, a Shetland Sheepdog.

ALBION – An Albion girl is headed to Switzerland next month to compete in American Kennel Club’s European Open Juniors Agility Team USA.

Lydia Hofmann and her dog Chase are among 19 juniors and their K-9 partners representing the United States in the competition.

Lydia started training with Chase, a Shetland Sheepdog, by taking a dog obedience class with Ron Leight at Leighthouse Obedience Training in Albion. She joined the Orleans County 4h K-9 Companions Dog Club and continued her training with Ron and Patty Leight and Rachael Kiefer.

Lydia has competed at the Orleans County 4-H Fair and State Fair, winning awards in showmanship, obedience, rally and agility.

Lydia and Chase currently train in agility with Della and Jim Sliker at Agility Dream Dogs on Eagle Harbor Road in Albion. Lydia and Chase regularly compete in AKC agility trials. She would like to thank her family and all who have helped her reach this milestone.

People interested in supporting Lydia financially are welcome to participate in a raffle for a $50 gift certificate that is offered at Olde Dogge Inn in Albion.

For more on the AKC’s European Open Juniors Agility Team USA, click here.

Dan Heil of Medina has won the race 3 times

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dan Heil is shown in May 2018 running track as a senior at Medina. He just finished his freshman year at Brockport State College, running cross country and track.

ALBION – This year’s “Strawberry” will be fast in Saturday’s 5k/8k race at the Strawberry Festival in Albion.

Dan Heil of Medina won the race three times, each year from 2015 to 2017. He ran the course in about 18 minutes. He took last year’s race off because of the Medina prom.

Heil, 19, is ready to lace up his shoes for Saturday’s race. He will be wearing the strawberry costume for the 29^thannual Strawberry Festival 5k/8k. (Click here for more information on the race.)

The race in the past decade has featured a runner dressed as a strawberry. People who finish ahead of “The Strawberry” win a prize. This year it will be ice cream from Lugia’s Ice Cream on Wheels, one of the food vendors at the festival.

Race organizers try to get “The Strawberry” to run middle of the pack, about 29-30 minutes.

Heil will probably still finish in the 29-30 minute range, but only because he is giving everyone a 10-minute head start.

He might even be well ahead of 29 minutes because Heil said he has boosted his pace in the past year at Brockport.

The race is at 8 a.m. and starts in front of the Orleans County Courthouse on East State Street and heads east. Part of the course includes the Erie Canal Towpath which was recently upgraded with a new surface in some sections.

The Strawberry Festival parade follows at 10 a.m. The festival is Friday and Saturday. Click here for more information about the festival.

Ryan Lubba dressed as “The Strawberry” for the June 2013 race. Lubba, a 2008 Albion grad, ran the 5k course in about 29:30. That race had nearly 300 runners.