ALBION – Orleans County is planning two voter registration days for people to make sure they can cast ballots in the upcoming election.
The Orleans County Board of Elections has set the following voter registration days:
Oct. 5 from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Hoag Library, 134 S Main St., Albion.
Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Board of Elections office, 14016 State Route 31, Suite 140.
Eligible New York voters have until Oct. 26 to register to vote in the general election on Nov. 5.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging New Yorkers to contact the NYS Board of Elections or their local County BOE for accurate and trustworthy election information.
The governor noted today, Sept. 17, is National Voter Registration Day. Eligible New Yorkers can register to vote online, in person, or by mail. Information about voter registration eligibility requirements, as well as links to the online voter registration portal and downloadable registration forms, can be found on the State Board of Elections website (click here).
“National Voter Registration Day is an important opportunity to foster engagement in our democracy,” Governor Hochul said. “Our democratic institutions are only as strong as the voters who participate in them, and I encourage every eligible New Yorker to make their voice heard.”
Voters who are unsure of whether they are already registered to vote can check their registration status at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.
Contact information for county boards of elections across New York State can be found by clicking here.
Election Day this fall will take place on Nov. 5 with early voting from Oct. 26 through Nov. 3.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 September 2024 at 8:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Jesse Cudzillo (left), director of the YMCA in Orleans County, and Tim Elliott hold the new Medina-opoly game that is being sold as a fundraiser to upgrade the women’s locker room at the Y.
MEDINA – The Monopoly game has been given a facelift in Medina, with local businesses taking the place of the prime real estate featured in the economics-based board game.
Players buy and trade properties in the game, and seek to develop them with houses and hotels.
The Medina-opoly game starts in a corner featuring the Medina Area Partnership. About 70 Median businesses and organizations are featured on the board.
Tim Elliott, a former Medina village trustee, worked with Jesse Cudzillo, director of the YMCA in Orleans County, to sell the spots on the board. They were a quick sell out.
“Medina is lucky to have businesses to fill it up and to have a waiting list,” Elliott said.
The board highlights Medina’s historic downtown business district.
There are 350 copies of the game that arrived in early September. The sponsorships paid to have the game produced in a Medina theme.
The games are being sold for $35 each, and the proceeds will go to the Y to update the women’s locker room. If the games sell out, the Y should receive about $12,000 towards the locker room improvements.
“It’s a Medina keepsake,” Cudzillo said. “It takes a snapshot of where Medina is in 2024.”
The Y director said he appreciates the support from the community in buying spots on the board, and also in purchasing the games. So far about 75 have sold. The came be purchased at the front desk of the Y. They will be there for the upcoming Ale in Autumn event on Sept. 28. They are also available online through the Canalside Tattoo website.
Medina was featured in the Monopoly game before, back in 1995 and 2000. The Medina Rotary Club led the effort to sell the spaces on the board and to make the games available to the community.
Elliott said the game could be updated again in the future.
“This shows how Medina has changed,” he said about the new board, compared to the Medina businesses from 1995 and 2000. “In 10 years there will be more changes.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2024 at 8:59 pm
LYNDONVILLE – The Village Planning Board, after several months of discussion, today recommend to the Village Board that Lyndonville update its zoning ordinance to allow residents to have up to six chickens, but no roosters.
Residents will need to get a permit (a one-time fee of $25), and the chickens are restricted to the rear or backyard of any residential zoning district. Chicken owners will need to submit photos of the cages or coops where the chickens are housed. The cages shall not exceed 32 square feet or be taller than 7 feet.
The cages or coops need to be at least 30 feet from any door or window of a dwelling, school, church or other occupied structure other than the applicant’s dwelling.
The coops or cages also need to be at 5 feet from a side yard property line and more than 18 inches from a rear lot line. No chickens shall be kept in a front yard or side street yard areas, according to the draft ordinance.
An earlier proposal for the ordinance called for residents to have consent of neighbors within 50 feet of the property, but that was scrapped at this afternoon’s meeting of the Planning Board.
Board member Justin Edwards said he supported the ordinance, but didn’t think neighbor approval should be required.
“You don’t have a say if your neighbor gets a dog or puts up a fence,” he said. “I think it sets a very bad precedent (to require neighbor approval for chickens).”
Planning Board Chairman Steve Vann said he wanted to reach a compromise in the ordinance that could be submitted to the Village Board for its consideration. The Village Board asks the Planning Board to recommend a draft ordinance for the village trustees and mayor to review.
Edwards said he couldn’t support a proposal with the neighbor consent required. Board member Virginia Hughes agreed.
The proposed ordinance passed 4-1, with member Terry Chaffee casting the lone opposing vote. He said chickens shouldn’t be allowed in the village.
Village code enforcement officer David Reese said he is concerned neighbors will be upset if the chickens prove to be noisy and smelly.
“We have close quarters in the village,” he said.
The proposed ordinance requires the coops and cages be kept “in a clean, dry and sanitary condition at all times.”
Despite removing the requirement for neighbor approval, the proposed ordinance was called “extremely strict” by Kate Hardner, who has led the effort to have chickens be allowed in Orleans County villages.
“I would not call this loose by any means,” Hardner said during today’s meeting.
Vann said some restrictions are needed for having chickens in the village.
“The neighbors are living with your chickens, too,” he said. “The goal was to find common ground to make it allowable.”
The issue now goes to the Village Board, which next meets 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 for a workshop and then 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 for a regular board meeting.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2024 at 7:43 pm
SHELBY – The state comptroller’s office has issued a report of the town’s fiscal affairs since 2021 and found many accounting discrepancies. The comptroller’s office said there is no evidence of missing funds, but the town is not properly reconciling accounts.
The comptroller found $29,993 in unreconciled differences in 2021 out of a $3,233,773 budget, $31,881 in differences in 2022 out of $3,593,795 budget, and $102,712 in unreconciled difference in 2023 out of a $3,665,533 budget. The comptroller’s office said in a report posted on Friday that it couldn’t do reconciliations in 2024 because of incomplete accounting records.
The comptroller’s office said it has tried to get the town supervisor and bookkeeper to make changes since an audit in December 2021, but six of the seven recommendations have not been implemented, and the other recommendation was only partially followed.
Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz was faulted for not providing monthly financial reports from the town supervisor, and not providing proper oversight of the bookkeeper’s work, to make sure the bank accounts and accounting records matched. Wengewicz was appointed town supervisor on Dec. 13, 2022. He applied for the position after Jeff Smith stepped down as town supervisor about two months earlier.
Town bookkeeper Miranda Bennett stood before the Town Board at last Tuesday’s meeting and resigned, effective Aug. 28.
She told the Town Board the past five years working for the town have not been easy, and have taken toll on her health and family.
“I’ve chosen to live a happier life away from the constant drama and finger-pointing,” she told the board on Tuesday, three days before the report from the comptroller was made public. “I’ve learned a long time ago that life is too short to deal with constant harassment and name-calling.”
“I step down knowing I’ve made some lifetime connections that I hope to never break and some that I hope to walk away with my head held high.”
Bennett also served as secretary to town supervisor, human resources manager, and IT program manager. Wengewicz would like her to continue in a part-time role as confidential secretary until a replacement can be found. Wengewicz said at the board meeting he foresees it as 20 hours a week at $22 an hour.
The board last week also hired an accounting firm for the remainder of the year, to make sure the town bills are being paid. The board expects to seek proposals from firms to do the work in 2025.
The comptroller’s report posted on Friday urges the town to “take appropriate actions to fullt implement our recommendations.”
Those recommendations from 2021 include:
• Recommendation 1 (not implemented) – Resolve discrepancies in the town’s accounting records. The town supervisor and bookkeeper could not provide a “reasonable explanation for not correcting the discrepancies in the town’s accounting records,” according to the report from Robin L. Lois, the state’s deputy comptroller.
• Recommendation 2 (not implemented) – Complete bank reconciliations. Neither the town supervisor or bookkeeper performed monthly reconciliations between bank accounts and accounting records, the report states.
The comptroller’s office noted that the town supervisor and bookkeeper attributed accounting discrepancies and unreconciled differences to a change in the accounting system. But the comptroller’s office said the issues existed before the change in an accounting system.
“As the Town’s chief financial officer, the Supervisor is responsible for maintaining complete and accurate accounting records,” the comptroller’s report states. “Without complete and accurate records, the Board and Town officials do not have sufficient information to properly manage and monitor Town financial operations.”
The report notes that two accounts that weren’t reconciled resulted in 28 bank overdraft charges at $38 each, collectively totaling $1,064 from Jan. 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. In a three-day period, from May 24-26, 2023, an account was overdrawn 16 times because the bookkeeper issued 15 of those checks 12 days before the money needed to cover those checks was transferred and available in the bank account. Another check was issued five days prior to money being transferred into the account.
“Had transfers been made prior to or at the time checks were issued, these overdraft fees would not have been incurred,” the report states. “incurring overdraft fees is an unnecessary cost and form of wasteful spending that could be easily avoided by requiring the bookkeeper to monitor cash flow and to make transfers prior to issuing checks.”
• Recommendation 3 (not implemented) – Review records and reports, and monthly bank reconciliations. The town supervisor did not provide a proper review of the bookkeeper’s reports. In 2023, Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz did not sign off on the monthly reports from the bookkeeper in 11 of 12 months to indicate he reviewed them.
Wengewicz told comptroller staff he relied on the bookkeeper and reviewed the reports with her. In six of the reports, the beginning balance did not agree with the ending balance from the previous month, according to the comptroller’s report.
“However, had the Supervisor completed a proper review, he likely would have identified those discrepancies,” the report said.
The town supervisor also didn’t generate or review any financial reports for fiscal year 2024 and did not ensure that bank reconciliations were completed, the report said.
• Recommendation 4 (not implemented) – Monthly financial reports to the board. The town supervisor hasn’t been providing monthly financial reports to the other Town Board members, detailing all money received and disbursed.
Two Town Board members, Linda Limina and Ed Zelazny, have been opposing paying town bills due to the lack of accurate financial records and reconciliations of all accounts.
• Recommendation 5 (not implemented) – Annual financial reports to the Office of the State Comptroller. The reports for 2021 and 20022 were filled 60 days late, while 2023 was submitted on time but the amounts for all three years were not supported by accounting records, the comptroller’s office stated.
• Recommendation 6 (partially implemented) – Attend trainings. The town supervisor and bookkeeper both attended trainings but they are not properly performing all of their accounting responsibilities, the report stated.
“We encourage the Supervisor and bookkeeper to apply what they learned from training courses into their daily work, and seek out additional training as needed,” the report stated.
• Recommendation 7 (not implemented) – Implement CPA recommendations. A CPA management letter in 2021 recommended a standard policy that ensures that bank reconciliations be performed and be reviewed on a timely basis. Cash accounts should be reconciled on a routine basis to ensure that all transactions are accounted for, according to the CPA letter, which also urged the town to have a preparer and reviewer sign off on the bank reconciliation.
The comptroller’s office said that neither the town supervisor or bookkeeper prepared proper bank reconciliations, and the Town Board did not adopt a policy requiring bank reconciliations be performed and reviewed on a timely basis by designated town employees.
To see the report from the comptroller’s office, click here.
ROCHESTER – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced legislation he co-sponsors to strengthen resources for early cancer detection. He was joined by local leaders in support of the Find It Early Act building upon last week’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruling requiring all mammography reports and result letters sent to patients to include an assessment of breast density.
“The recent FDA rule requiring breast density assessments for patients is an important step toward improving the outcomes of breast cancer diagnoses—but sadly, not every woman in our country has access to these essential screening services,” Morelle said. “That’s why I’m advocating for legislation that would increase accessibility and coverage for additional tests. It’s simple: the earlier we can detect cancer, the better. This legislation will help us achieve that goal and save lives.”
Last week, the FDA issued a ruling requiring all mammography reports and result letters sent to patients to include an assessment of breast density. Breast density measures how much fibroglandular tissue there is in a woman’s breast, and higher amounts can make a woman more likely to develop breast cancer and make it more difficult to detect the presence of cancer on a mammogram.
For women with higher breast density or a family history of breast cancer, follow-up screenings are required. Depending on their health insurance, most are forced to pay out of pocket for these additional tests, which can cost more than $1,000. Those who cannot afford this cost often choose to forego or delay these critical screenings, leading to later-stage diagnoses. The Find It Early Act would ensure all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and MRIs with no cost-sharing.
Christina Thompson, Executive Director of the Breast Cancer Coalition, said: “While mammograms have never been a perfect diagnostic tool regarding breast cancer, they remain a critical part of an individual’s healthcare plan. We are pleased to see recent legislation focused on improving equity in access, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of income or background, can benefit from these screenings. This step toward greater healthcare equality helps reduce disparities in cancer outcomes. Access for all is essential to improving overall health and survival rates.”
Rep. Morelle also sponsors the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Service (SCREENS) for Cancer Act, to fund life-saving breast and cervical cancer screening services for low-income and underinsured patients, and the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act, to provide access to support and medical care for individuals with metastatic breast cancer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2024 at 12:55 pm
The leaves are starting to change color in Orleans County and in several upstate regions.
The first 2024 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State includes reports from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions.
That first report from last week states the Adirondacks, Catskills, Thousand Island-Seaway, Capital-Saratoga, Central New York, Finger Lakes, and Greater Niagara regions “are all beginning to show indication of autumn’s brilliant palette,” according to the report from Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.
It’ s still early in the foliage season, with 5 to 25 percent foliage change in some regions and just touches of seasonal colors in other areas, according to the report.
Leaves are starting to change color on this tree next to a private bridge along the canal in Albion between Main Street and Gaines Basin Road. This photo was taken on Sunday afternoon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2024 at 12:08 pm
The commander of the State Police substation in Albion is in critical condition after suffering severe injuries on Friday in Niagara County.
Sgt. Salvatore A. Mattina, a 10-year veteran of the State Police, was operating a State Police Harley-Davidson for a safety/dry run for the Mercy Flight-Western New York Dice Run.
Mattina was eastbound on Route 93 at about 1:23 p.m. That’s when a 2010 Chevrolet operated by Anastassia Radell, 69 of Youngstown, exited the Niagara Scenic Parkway northbound onto State Route 93. Radell failed to yield the right of way and was struck Mattina, State Police said.
Mattina was transported to the Erie County Medical Center.
“Sgt/Station Commander Mattina has sustained very serious injuries, including multiple fractures, internal bleeding, and organ damage,” State Police stated in a press release. “The extent of these injuries especially the broken bones in his face, arm, pelvis, right leg tibia, fibula, right ankle, sternum, along with the internal bleeding and brain injury makes it clear that he’s going through a critical and complex medical situation with multiple surgeries ahead.”
Radell was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital with minor injuries. No intoxication was detected, State Police said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2024 at 8:57 am
Photos courtesy of Becky Persons: Community Acton of Orleans and Genesee was presented with donations of cash and toys from ABATE on Sunday as a result of their annual toy run. Pictured from left include Chuck Persons, president of ABATE in Orleans County; Katrina Standish, director of community services and reporting for Community Action; and Ricky Standish, Community Action’s facility manager.
MEDINA – The Orleans County Chapter of ABATE held its annual toy run on Sunday, with 20 bikers riding 50 miles in the county.
The trip started at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company and ended at the VFW in Medina. About 45 people were part of the event and they contributed more than $600 and also donated toys to Community Action of Orleans and Genesee for the organization’s annual toy drive for local families.
ABATE member Al Schumacher dressed as Santa for the ride.
ABATE has been doing the toy run for about 40 years. Here some of the participants head out for the start of the 50-mile journey.
HOLLEY/CLARENDON – Mathematical problem: A cow yields 7 gallons of milk daily. It takes about ten pounds or 1.25 gallons of cow’s milk to make a pound of cheese.
How many cows will be needed to supply milk for a cheese factory manufacturing 1,000 pounds of cheese daily?
Though Central New York emerged as the center of cheesemaking in New York state, two small facilities in eastern Orleans manufactured popular cheese in the early 1900s.
In a 1952 article, Ray Tuttle, a columnist with the Holley Standard, traced the cheese-making tradition in Holley back to the descendants of immigrants from Somerset County in southeast England, the “home” of cheddar cheese. George Tuttle, Ray’s grandfather, was one such descendant. Ray wrote that his grandfather, George, made the first local cheddar at his farm on Telegraph Road, north of Holley. About 1897, George began making cheese in Clarendon, on the Fourth Section Road.
The Holley Cheese Factory was established in 1892. Elmer Tuttle, Ray’s father was a cheesemaker there, as was F.W. “Fred” Church who was also the general manager. The facility, which also produced butter, quickly doubled its output but could not keep pace with the demand.
In 1905, the factory produced 114,289 pounds of cheese which sold for an average of 12.03 cents per pound, for a total of $13,757.17.
Ad in the Brockport Republican, May 1906
George H. “Herb” Keople, a Cattaraugus County cheesemaker, was appointed manager of the Holley Cheese Company in 1912. Three years later he built the Clarendon Brand Cheese factory on Hulberton Road.
The Holley plant closed – a newspaper article in 1917 mentioned that seven guardsmen from Tonawanda were headquartered at the “old Holley Cheese Factory.” Their duty was to guard the canal embankment between the two bridges at Holley.
This cheese factory was located on Hulberton Road in Clarendon.
During peak season – May and June – the Clarendon facility produced 1,000 pounds of cheddar cheese daily. Driving a Chevy truck, Herb Keople picked up milk from the local small dairy farmers. He would make about thirty stops, in the Clarendon and Barre areas. He employed several cheesemakers at the plant: brothers Tracy and Eddie Smith and Alfred Davis.
Only whole milk was used and at that time it would have been unpasteurized. Once produced, the cheese was placed on curing shelves – three weeks for a new cheese and up to six months for cheese with a stronger flavor. It was sold in wooden boxes which contained 35 lbs. of cheese. Clarendon cheese was very popular and was shipped throughout the country. By all accounts, it had a distinctive “tang” or “zest” which was attributed to the limestone prevalent in the Clarendon water. Milk is 87% water.
Celebrating the factory’s 25th anniversary in 1940, Mr. Keople noted that Clarendon Brand Cheese was one of the few remaining independently operated cheese factories in New York State. However, it could not compete with market forces. Larger cheese manufacturers offered to pay the farmer more per gallon, so Clarendon Brand Cheese lost its raw material and closed in 1944.
Democrat & Chronicle advertisement, 1943.
Answer to question at top: The milk yield from 180 cows would be needed to produce 1,000 pounds of cheese.
Photo and information courtesy of Medina Band Boosters
HILTON – The Medina Mustang Band competed for the first time this season when they traveled to Hilton on Saturday. Nine bands performed in competition on a beautiful fall day.
The Medina band was led onto the field by drum major Makenzie McGrath and they performed their show, “Reflections.” Medina is in the SS1 class and they came in 2nd place with a score of 72.65 while East Irondequoit came in 1st with 78.25.
In LS3 class Hilton earned 1st place with 66.35; in LS2, Orchard Park earned 1st place at 74.65; in the National class, Victor was 1st with 76.15.
Medina’s next performance is Saturday, Sept. 21, which is their home show at Veterans’ Memorial Park when 10 field show bands will perform in competition. It’s a great opportunity to see the Medina band and not have to travel far. The gates open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 September 2024 at 8:04 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Marie Snyder, president of the Albion Lions Club, is presented a proclamation from Assemblyman Steve Hawley on Friday in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Albion Lions Club.
The Lions celebrated a century of service to the community on Friday during a banquet at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.
Snyder joined the club three years ago, and started as president in July. The Lions meet the second and fourth Tuesdays each month at the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street.
“I like the camaraderie and being able to do things for the community,” Snyder said.
The club and some of the dignitaries stand for the Lions Toast: “Not above you, Noth beneath you, But with you.”
The club welcomed its members for the 100th anniversary celebration, as well as Lions Club members from Kendall, Lyndonville, Medina, Clarendon, Gates Greece, Brockport, Syracuse and Downtown Rochester. (The Lions Club in Syracuse is also celebrating its 100th anniversary.)
The Albion Lions Club officers currently include Marie Snyder, president; Barb Navarra, vice president; Mary Janet Sahukar, secretary; Lloyd Wright, treasurer; and Ben Lennox, the tail twister.
Other members include Ron Albertson, Ocie Bennett, Christine Buongiorne, Lynn Burgess, Dan Conrad, Kelly Conrad, Kevin Howard, Gary Katsanis, David Mitchell, Kristen Ostrander, Dan Parker, June Persia, Bill Robinson, Dr. Satya Sahukar, Dennis Smith, Henry Smith Jr. and Jake Stinson.
The banquet included a observance for members who recently passed away, including John Keding, Robert Galbreath, Rev. Wilfred Moss, Ben Jones and Jonathan Doherty.
A table displays Lions Club artifacts and name badges for members from many decades ago. There were also photo albums highlighting club activities through the years.
The club remains busy with projects in Albion, including an annual spring clean-up, Mother’s Day rose sale, annual geranium sale near Memorial Day, Strawberry Festival sausage booth, Rock the Park sausage booth, John A. Keding memorial cookout to support scholarship in his name, eye screening at elementary school done with Medina Lions Club, used eye glass and hearing aid collection (drop boxes at Hoag Library and Five Star Bank), various scholarships and award to graduating students at Albion, support disaster relief, hunger relief in the community, others in need in Albion, and Lions Camp Badger in Tompkins County.
Melanie Adams, a member of the Clarendon Lions Club and a former district governor, said the Albion Lions Club has always been welcoming to her.
She praised the club for helping to spearhead the upgrades at Bullard Park in Albion, a park “that has blossomed into an amazing showcase.”
The Lions Club also works on other community projects and fundraisers throughout the year.
“Where there is a need, there is a Lion,” she said.
Jim Hancock, president of Medina Lions Club, congratulated the Albion club on its 100th. The Medina Lions started in 1935.
The head table leads in singing, “Hail, Hail, the Lions are Here. Don’t you hear them roaring?”
Lloyd Wright, at left, has been a member of the club for 23 years. He visited the club after being invited by long-time member Dan Parker. Wright said he had more free time in his retirement and is glad he become a Lion.
“I enjoy helping people out and giving back to the community,” he said.
Aubrey Gannon holds the first place poster she created for the Lions Club’s 100th anniversary. Some Albion art students worked on the posters last June.
Erin Weese, left, holds a poster that was in third place. Isabella Gray created the second place poster at right.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2024 at 8:47 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Village of Holley Mayor Mark Bower welcomes a group of local residents who are 90 and older to a recognition program on Friday afternoon. A section of the Public Square was closed to traffic while the residents were honored with proclamations for their many years of contributing to the community.
Bower is joined at the podium by Murray Town Supervisor Gerald Rightmyer and Clarendon Town Supervisor Richard Moy.
Holley recognized residents 90 and older about two years ago. This time the service was expanded to include the towns of Murray and Clarendon.
The honorees include:
Village of Holley – William Billotti, Lydia Fallato, Duane Prince and Louis Sevor.
Town of Murray – Theodore Foote, Theodore Jenney, Sudsan Hurd Machamer, Mary Ann Spychalski, Vivian Ward and Amy Zazzara.
Town of Clarendon – Rose Caley, Margaret Dobrowsky, Connie Gaines, Jack Kemp, Phyllis Keyes, Maxwell MacLean, Beverly McKinney, Gene Pickett, Ethel Robinson, Lawrence Snider and Norma Thom.
The residents gathered in the Community Free Library for a reception following the outdoor program. Many of the honorees have been friends for decades.
They were also presented with booklets made by Holley elementary students and paper boutonniere flowers.
Mayor Mark Bower said he and the two town supervisors wanted to recognize the residents for reaching an “amazing milestone of being 90 or older.”
He praised the group for “a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and life experiences.”
Bill Billotti, one of the honorees, is presented a proclamation from Murray Town Supervisor Gerry Rightmyer.
Billotti is now 90 and continues to run an antique business in the Public Square. Billotti appreciated the recognition for the 90 and older residents.
He said his secret to reaching 90: ‘it’s good living and don’t take everyday for granted. It’s a cliché, but every day is a gift.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 September 2024 at 7:57 am
MEDINA – Orleans County Republicans supporting Donald Trump have opened a Republican headquarters in the Medina Theater on Main Street.
The idea was that of Bob Sanderson of Medina, who said it is a revival of historic events which used to take place at election times, when political parties rented a store to promote their political party and used it as a gathering place for socializing.
Bob Sanderson and Bill Blount are outside the Republican Resource Center at the Medina Theater.
Sanderson is assisted by 15 volunteers, including Kris Nudd and her mother-in-law, Jan Nudd, John and Ellie Kage, Nancy Clary, Larry Calabro and Bill Blount.
“This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” Sanderson said. “We’ve already registered three first-time voters. We all have a vote, but we can do so much more than that,” he said, explaining why he got the idea to open a Republican Resource Center. “We should show pride in our election system.”
In the short time they’ve been open, Sanderson said they already sold 60 yard signs for Trump.
In addition to signs, they have hats, buttons, decals, pens, flags, apparel and, of course, lots of information on their candidate and why they believe he is the best choice for president.
Clary said she is behind Trump because the opponents are spreading misleading information.
John Kage said he supports Trump because he knows what the former president brings to table, based on his record.
Kris Nudd said under the current administration has put the homeland and world at risk.
“We need someone strong, like Trump,” she said. “We lived in Germany for three years and we were scared to come back here. It’s terrifying to think about four more years of this administration.”
Her husband Jim served in the military and worked for the government for 40 years before retiring as a command chief sergeant in the Air Force and returning to Medina in January.
Clary said it’s obvious what the best choice is to run our country.
“Our first leaders were not politicians – they were businessmen,” she said. “That is who was meant to run our country.”
Sanderson said they are planning a pizza party from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday for all volunteers. People can stop and meet Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and district attorney candidate Susan Howard.
A party is planned at the Republican Resource Center on election night.
HOLLEY/CLARENDON – Mathematical problem: A cow yields 7 gallons of milk daily. It takes about ten pounds or 1.25 gallons of cow’s milk to make a pound of cheese.
