MEDINA – Orleans Community Health Foundation has announced the date and site for its 30th annual Treasure Island fundraiser.

The event is scheduled Nov. 2 at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

“We are excited to announce the 30th Treasure Island,” said Foundation director Megan Johnson. “This special evening promises to be a night to remember, filled with camaraderie, entertainment and the opportunity to make a significant impact on our community.”

The evening will feature a silent auction with more than 100 items, ranging in value from $50 and beyond. People can browse items and begin bidding online days before the event.

A live auction will again be led by Wes Pickreign, with at least five exclusive items available for bid.

Pirate’s Pillage raffle will feature $50 tickets for a chance to win one of the live auction items, before the auction begins.

A favorite feature is the Lucky Cork Raffle, in which attendees have a chance to win a bottle of wine, liquor or beer for a $20 donation.

The evening also features an open bar, food stations with delicious offerings and music and entertainment by deejay JT Thomas.

A highlight of the evening will be the honoring of surgeons, Drs. Schratz, Hodge and Huff.

Major sponsors of the event are Jr. Wilson Sportsman Club, Takeform and Cooper Funeral Home/Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available by contacting Johnson at Orleans Community Health Foundation, (585) 798-8437, or e-mailing foundation@medinamemorial.org.

Event tickets are $50 each. Checks should be made payable to OCH Foundation and mailed to 200 Ohio St., Medina, 14103.

County’s teen pregnancy rate has dropped during Albanese’s tenure

ALBION – In 1987, Orleans County had the highest teen pregnancy rate in the state outside of New York City.

That high rate resulted in the start of the ACT program, and reps from ACT go to local school districts to teach sex education.

The teen pregnancy rate has dropped. The most recent statistics from 2021 put Orleans at the 20^th highest teen pregnancy rate of the 57 counties outside NYC. Orleans was the fifth highest in 2020. In 2016, it ranked 34^th.

Jan Albanese has been part of ACT for 37 years, starting as a secretary in 1987. In 1995 she took over as coordinator and has led ACT the past 28 years.

She has retired, with Wendy Cruz now serving as the program’s leader.

Albanese and her staff of three others developed a 6 to 8-hour curriculum, “Making Proud Choices.” ACT presents the program to youth ages 11 to 21, teaching about responsible sexual health choices. Albanese said the goal is for the youths to effectively communicate with their partner, make responsible decisions, delay the initial sexual encounter, lower the risk of teen pregnancies, and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and infections.

The program is tailored to the different age levels and currently is offered in four Orleans County school districts and Batavia in Genesee County, reaching about 400 to 500 students a year. (Before the pandemic it was about 700 students.)

ACT currently isn’t working in Albion, where district staff do the sex education component in health class.

“It is age-appropriate education,” Albanese said. “A focus is for them to know what a healthy relationship looks like.”

Jan Albanese congratulates Wendy Cruz, the new director of the ACT program. Cruz has worked with ACT since February. “We’re trying to teach kids to better themselves,” Cruz said.

ACT staff will ask students how many of them have conversations about sex with their parents. Very few hands go up. Most parents don’t discuss sex, including consent and legal ramifications, with their children, Albanese said.

ACT recently received a new $2 million grant for over five years that will allow it to expand its expand its programming. That so far includes weekly after-school clubs in Holley, Lyndonville and Batavia. ACT also is helping connect youths to services in the community, including the DMV, mental health and other agencies.

Albanese said some ACT staff take youths to sit-down restaurants, which is a new experience for some of the local teens and pre-teens.

“There is an ever-present need,” Albanese said. “There is more work that we can do.”

Cruz, the new coordinator for ACT, said the program remains committed to empowering youths to make better choices, setting their lives up for success.

“We’re trying to teach kids to better themselves,” she said.

ACT also can provide presentations to the community about local statistics, risky behaviors, consent, relationships, internet safety, communication and access to local sexual health care services.

Marty Taber works as a health educator at ACT. He started in 1996. He said Albanese has been a very effective leader for ACT and the community.

“She is very dependable and responsible,” Taber said. “She is available, but she doesn’t micro-manage. I will miss her terribly.”

Albanese has been successful securing grant funding to keep the program going, and to expand the services. She also has served on the Orleans Community Services Board for 26 years, including the past 22 years as chairwoman.

She also served on the boards for GCASA (now UConnectCare), the Mental Health Association, Hoag Library, Human Services Council of Orleans County, Drug Free Communities Coalition, LPP/LIFE Program, OCH Community Partners, Albion PTA and PTSA, Catholic Daughters and the Cobblestone Society.

Provided photo: Orleans County Legislator Don Allport presents a “Special Recognition Award” to Jan Albanese during Tuesday’s Legislature meeting. Albanese was recognized for her 37 years with the ACT program, as well as her 26 years on the Community Services Board, including 22 years as a chairwoman of that board.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Hart Hotel is one of the lodging businesses in Medina. Hart Hotel includes five rooms and two lofts on the third floor of 113 West Center St.

MEDINA – Legislation in the State Capital has advanced through the Legislature and now only awaits the governor’s signature to allow the Village of Medina to impose a 2 percent tax on local bed tax for hotels, motels, boarding houses and short-term rentals.

The village has tried for several years since 2018 to get the tax through the Legislature. State Sen. Rob Ortt had been reluctant to support a new tax, but on May 22 he sponsored the bill that passed in the Senate. Assemblyman Steve Hawley backed the legislation in the Assembly.

The village will use the revenue from the tax to support the Orleans Economic Development Agency with infrastructure projects and land development in Medina, which will

increase economic development and attract new businesses for a growing

tax base within the village, according legislation passed by the Assembly and Senate.

Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman said Gov. Kathy Hochul has until Dec. 31 to sign the bill for it to take effect. The new tax will be collected by the village clerk’s office.

Village officials said the occupancy tax is on visitors to the community, not local residents. It would provide much-needed revenue for the village to promote tourism and economic development, leading to more visitors to help local businesses, village leaders said.

Orleans County also imposes a 4 percent occupancy tax that generates about $100,000 a year and is used solely by the county for its tourism promotion efforts. The Medina tax would be another 2 percent on top of the county’s occupancy tax.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum will again welcome visitors and artisans to their annual open house, scheduled this year from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5.

All buildings and exhibit areas will be open. Special activities will include butter making and old-fashioned games. Live demonstrations will take place throughout the day in trades buildings located on Route 98 in the Cobblestone Complex.

Visitors can watch blacksmiths working at the forge, printing press craftsmen operating the Gordon Press and a saddle maker sharing her skills in the Harness Shop.

Provided photos:  Georgia Thomas of Medina shows several young girls how to make butter at a former open house at the Cobblestone Museum. She will again demonstrate the art at this year’s open house Oct. 5.

There will be an opportunity to see a hit ‘n miss engine operating, a Model T on display and meet and greet an organ grinder/collector of street organs, who will share the sounds of these musical instruments.

Visiting artisans will include members of the Genesee Country Lace Build and Rug Hookers of the Finger Lakes, in addition to a chair caner, quilter, spinner and weaver.

Parking and admission are free throughout the day, however, wristbands are required. Programs available will include the locations and times when activities are available throughout the event.

(Left) Harold Clark of Rochester works on a chair caning project. He will also return to the Cobblestone Museum on Oct. 5. (Right) Deb Van Dieren and Liz Mongiovi are part of the Genesee Country Lace Guild and will share their talent at the Cobblestone Museum open house.

A food tent will be serving beef-on-weck meals from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Advance sale tickets are $12 and may be reserved by calling the Museum at (585) 589-9013.

From 3 to 4 p.m., a concert will be presented by E-YAH-PAH-HAH Wind Quintet in the Cobblestone Church.  They will perform classical music written by Native American composers. A piece from the musical Wicked will be included in their repertoire, and a selection by African-American composer Victoria Coleman.

The concert will include a free-will offering.

ALBION – Two people were sentenced to state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Gerald Bradley, 40, was an inmate in the Orleans Correctional Facility when he had fentanyl in the prison. He has since been transferred to Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone.

He was sentenced to an additional 2 ½ years in state prison. His attorney, James Egan, said Bradley is a good guy but struggles with a substance abuse problem.

Brandon Eldridge, 36, of Albion was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison for criminal contempt in the first degree for violating an order of protection. He allegedly got in an argument with a woman and shoved her. He wasn’t supposed to have any contact with her. The judge issued a new order of protection for the woman for the next eight years.

Also in the court today, two people pleaded guilty and will likely face incarceration when they are sentenced.

Sterling Carter of Monroe County pleaded guilty to attempted prison contraband for trying to bring ceramic razor blades into the Orleans Correctional Facility on June 12, 2023.

Carter is a second-felony offender and will face a maximum of 1 ½ to 3 years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 8.

Jennifer Sportsman, 49, of Clarendon admitted to probation violations and could face up to eight months in the county jail when she is sentenced on Nov. 13. She has been on probation for criminal possession of stolen property. She admitted to having 2 ounces marijuana and bringing it to a state prison in Franklin County, where she is facing charges of promoting prison contraband.

MEDINA – A Medina man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today to criminally negligent homicide, admitting to driving at a high rate of speed and through a stop sign in an accident that resulted in the death of Gabriel J. Casanova, 19, on June 25, 2023.

Rashawn Bloom, 20, was driving a 2009 Lincoln Navigator with three other passengers at about 2:30 a.m. They had just left a bonfire on East Countyhouse Road when District Attorney Joe Cardone said Bloom drove off at speeds topping 85 miles per hour. He also went through the stop sign at Countyhouse Road and Route 98 and then lost control of the vehicle on West Countyhouse Road. The vehicle overturned multiple times.

Casanova died from blunt force trauma to the head and other parts of his body, Cardone said in court today.

Bloom was charged by State Police in April for first-degree reckless endangerment, a D felony with a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.

Bloom agreed to a plea deal today with the District Attorney’s Office, where he will face a split sentence of six months in the county jail and five years of probation. He will be sentenced on Nov. 25.

County Court Judge Sanford Church went over the meaning of criminally negligent homicide, where a person creates a substantial risk by being reckless, inattentive or careless, leading to the death or another person. The defendant faces this charge shows a “gross deviation from the standard of care by a reasonable person,” Church said.

Bloom was released on his own recognizance at the town court level, before the case was moved to County Court. Judge Church decided to set bail at $1,000 cash or $2,500 bond.

Press Release, Medina Sandstone Society

MEDINA – The Sandstone Trust of Medina is accepting grant applications from not-for-profit organizations and/or programs in in Orleans County, which benefit the residents of Medina, Ridgeway and Shelby.

The community endowment program will make several thousand dollars available in December; funding is intended for purposes that clearly benefit the community. Grants generally range from $500 to $750.

Grant application forms can be obtained: in person at Michael Zelazny CPA, 511 Main St.; by regular mail request sent to Sandstone Trust, P O Box 25, Medina, NY 14103; or electronically at www.sandstonesociety.org.

Completed applications are due by Oct. 31. They should be mailed to Sandstone Trust, PO Box 25, Medina, NY 14103.

For more information, email sandstonesociety@gmail.org or call Michael Zelazny at 585-798-1006.

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Fairgrounds on Tuesday hosted 70 companies in the region who introduced students to a number of trades, agriculture, construction and advanced manufacturing skills. It was part of the sixth annual GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing event.

There were about 1,250 students from 30 school districts in the four-county GLOW region. There were about 200 students from the five school districts in Orleans County at the event, including about 40 each from Holley and Kendall, 55 from Albion, 35 from Lyndonville and 19 from Medina.

Albion High School senior Joseph Schoberlein said he learned about many careers that he could pursue after he graduates.

“There are a number of jobs you learn about at GLOW With Your Hands that you do not experience in a traditional classroom setting,” he said. “A lot of these careers do not require a college degree. I can enter the workforce immediately out of high school with a good-paying job without taking the college route.”

Sophia Bridge, a seventh-grader at Elba, gives brick laying a try with some guidance from Robert Sotir of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union in Rochester. The union did a brick mockup on how to build a brick wall. Students used a trowel to put mortar between the bricks.

The event introduces students from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties to employers and careers with in-demand jobs. About 70 businesses provided hands-on activities and simulations.

“We have seen GLOW With Your Hands participants grow into successful professionals, and businesses that participate in our manufacturing and healthcare event grow their next generation,” said GLOW With Your Hands co-chair Karyn Winters. “Having over 1,000 students and a record number of employers at our event reaffirms that there is a significant need for these connections and a significant benefit created at our events.”

“Our goal is to provide local youth with family-sustaining career opportunities that lead to fulfilling lifestyles and positively impact local communities,” said GLOW With Your Hands co-chair Angela Grouse. “By getting hands-on and informational experiences, our students are taking the first step toward that goal.”

Ben Wild, right, and Isaac Herman of Attica try soldering in a demonstration run by James Ely, a technical assistant at Monroe Community College.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Wild said about the day, trying different skills. “It’s interactive. It’s hands-on work.”

Nick Cosimeno of Batavia also learned about soldering. He enjoyed the many activities as part of the day.

“It’s interesting,” he said. “It’s a fun experience.”

Darlene Cooper, left, and her daughter-in-law Emily Cooper were tour guides during the event for Lyndonville students. The Coopers are shown after they sampled some of the maple syrup at the maple syrup demonstration. They both work for the state Department of Labor. Darlene is a labor service representative at the Albion Career Center, and Emily is a supervising labor service representative at the Batavia center.

“This gives exposure to the trades that most kids don’t get in school,” Emily Cooper said.

Darlene said the event has grown with more students attending and more companies doing demonstrations.

“It’s hands-on,” she said. “They can run machinery. They can weld. The future is bright for these kids.”

Cheyenne Jablonsky of Dansville tries hoof trimming in a demonstration run by Zane Hendrickson, a hoof trimmer from Perry. It is one of many local careers available in the agricultural community.

Abby Hunt, left, and Naeve Nothnagle of Caledonia-Mumford race to push a wheelbarrow with a cinder block through a course. The activity was set up by John Guilford Sr., in back in orange, who is a trainer with the Rochester Laborers Training & Apprentice Fund Local 435.

Students were able to operate an excavator at one of the stations.

The students each received a hard hat as they went about the fairgrounds, trying the different activities and skills.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

LYNDONVILLE – Wednesday night marked a special occasion for the Lyndonville Lions Club as members celebrated 50 years of remarkable service to their community and its sponsorship of one of the largest 4th of July parades in the area.

Proclamations were presented to the Lyndonville Lions Club from the offices of Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley to honor the anniversary and commemorate the club’s outstanding service to the community.

“The Lions Club motto is ‘We Serve’ and the Lyndonville chapter certainly exemplifies that,” said Senator Rob Ortt. “I’m proud of my partnership with the Lyndonville Lions Club and truly enjoy marching every year in what has to be the biggest 4th of July parade in Western New York. It wouldn’t be possible without volunteers from the Lion’s Club, and for the past 50 years, the Lyndonville Lions Club has done a remarkable job incorporating the entire community and surrounding areas.”

“The Lyndonville Lions Club has been a staple in our community and has worked to bring its neighbors together for the last 50 years,” said Hawley. “From organizing our amazing 4th of July parade to putting together countless humanitarian projects across the region, the Lions Club has been an invaluable asset to the Western New York community. I’m grateful for the hard work this organization has put in over the last 50 years and I look forward to seeing the impact it will have in the years to come.”

Wednesday’s meeting also brought in four new recruits, one of the highest ever from a single event.

Frontier Heating & A/C Service named Business of the Year

Press Release, Orleans County Chamber of Commerce

ALBION – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce has announced its annual award winners. They will be honored on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville, starting at 5:30 p.m.

The winners for 2024 include:

• Business of the Year – Frontier Heating & A/C Service
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Dave Mitchell – Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals
• Phoenix Award – Tapped on Main – Mark’s Pizzeria
• New Business of the Year – Chop’s Shop Bar and Grilled North
• Community Service Award – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Agricultural Business of the Year – Roberts Farm Market
• Businessperson of the Year – Bob Gibbs – Environmental Construction Group
• Small Business of the Year – Rudy’s Diner
• Hidden Gem – Captain’s Cove Motel & Marina

By Dr. Sarah Smith and Dr. Kelsey Izzo, pediatricians at Oak Orchard Health.

Now that kids are back in the classroom, we want to help you make sure they get as much out of their school days as possible. That means staying healthy, getting plenty of rest, and practicing all-around good habits. Here are some tips to help your family thrive this school year.

Avoid sickness—and prevent spread.

Start by getting your kids this year’s flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccinations can help protect your kids from getting these viruses (and minimize symptoms if they do). Good hand hygiene goes a long way, too. Be sure kids wash their hands with soap and warm water and use hand sanitizer throughout the day.

If your kids get sick with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea they must stay home until symptoms have resolved. They can return when symptom free including fever-free without medicine for 24 hours.

Fuel their day.

A good day at school starts with good nutrition. Make sure your kids eat breakfast, whether at home or through a school meal program. Remember, a nutritious breakfast should include some form of protein or fruit. Protein at breakfast could come from eggs, and if you’re short on time, prepare them ahead as grab-and-go egg bites baked in muffin tins (here’s a great recipe: loveandlemons.com/egg-bites-recipe). Other protein sources include Greek yogurt, peanut butter, cheese, and nuts, which you can sprinkle over cereal.

If your school permits it, send your kids to school with a snack, too, so they have something to munch on during the day if they feel hungry. Granola bars, cheese sticks, and prepackaged small bags of nuts are good options.

Teach good backpack habits.

Kids can develop sore muscles and injuries from improperly packed or oversized gear. Make sure the backpack is the appropriate size for your child, and work with them on how to pack it so that the items inside are distributed evenly. Make sure they wear the backpack using both shoulder straps to avoid putting a strain on one side of their body. Make sure the straps are adjusted so that the bottom of the backpack sits just above the student’s waist. We recommend that parents routinely remind their kids to remove unnecessary items from their backpack to reduce excess weight.

Make sure they get their rest.

Getting back into a good sleep routine after summer break is vital. Create a good bedtime routine that eases them to sleep, such as a bath or reading books together. Consistency is essential—make sure that routine happens every night, even on weekends. Be sure your kids shut off all their screens and devices at least an hour before bed to help them wind down.

Watch for signs of anxiety.

The school year can be a source of great anxiety for kids. If you are struggling to get a child ready for school, it may be anxiety. Tummy aches—especially on a Sunday night—can be a red flag, too. So can frequent trips to the nurse’s office. Talk with your kids to reassure them. Bring them to school and drop them off for a few days if your schedule allows. And if symptoms of avoidance continue to the point that they are missing school, talk to your pediatrician. At Oak Orchard Health we have an expanded Behavioral Health Program for Children and Adolescents. We have therapists with a specialty in pediatric behavioral health that can collaborate with your pediatrician.

Encourage safe travel.

Do your kids know how to look both ways before crossing the street to get to their bus? Be sure they do. If their bus has seatbelts, remind them to wear them during the ride. If you drive your kids to school, the same rule applies to seatbelt use, of course. If you have a child who requires a car seat or booster seat, make sure they have the proper one for their height. Remember, children should always ride in the back seat until they turn thirteen.

Help your preschoolers adjust, too.

Watching their older siblings leave for school every day can be upsetting for preschool-aged children. Help them manage expectations by talking with them and creating a routine that includes when to expect their big brother or sister to return. There are also children’s books on this subject that can be helpful for preschoolers.

Need support as a parent? We’re here.

Oak Orchard Health (OOH) pediatricians are happy to work with parents on the issues they face with their growing families. To make an appointment, contact your nearest office at (585) 637-3905 or find an OOH pediatrician online at https://bit.ly/4eD6yhZ

“Jimmer” Szatkowski will be pushed 26.2 miles in a fundraiser for the Tackle ALS Foundation

Provided photo: Anthony “Jimmer” Szatkowski, a Medina native suffering from ALS, is paralyzed and on a ventilator due to the disease. He is shown here with his children, Samantha, Jack and Hunter and his wife Betty. Jimmer is determined to complete his fourth marathon Oct. 20 in Syracuse. Family and friends are stepping up to volunteer to push him the 26.2 miles. His goal is to raise $1 million for the Tackle ALS Foundation whose benefactor is the Sean M. Healey Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, the leading ALS clinic in the United States.

MEDINA – Two brothers from Medina are gearing up to complete a marathon, one in a wheelchair and the other pushing him.

Andrew Szatkowski and his brother Anthony “Jimmer” Szatkowski will participate in the Great New York State Marathon Weekend Oct. 20 in Syracuse.

The race was organized by Dan Gustafson and was started by his daughter Kelleigh Gustafson to raise awareness of the rare and life threatening disease, arteriovenous malformations. Andrew said the family has been very generous in allowing them to join in the race and raise money for Jimmer’s cause.

Jimmer grew up in Medina and graduated from Medina High School. He met his wife Betty in college and they have three children. He had embarked on a career with IBM for 20 years, until one day he decided he needed a change.

“He was driving down the road in Raleigh, N.C. and saw a crowd of people at a Chick -fil-A,” Andrew said. “He came back home and opened the first one in Central New York in Cicero.”

The restaurant was immediately a success, and Kevin Curtis, senior principal leader at Chick-fil-A, became an avid supporter of Jimmer and his fight to raise money for ALS research.

Three years ago, Jimmer, now 52, was diagnosed with ALS and today he is paralyzed and on a ventilator.

Andrew Szatkowski, left, will push his brother Jimmer in next month’s marathon in Syracuse.

“When he lost the ability to move his arms and feet, his heart and mind became super powers,” Andrew said.

Jimmer and Andrew are both athletic and love to run. Jimmer has run three marathons, including a Half Ironman, and Andrew has run two.

Jimmer continues to visit his store six days a week. Curtis a week ago announced a goal to raise $50,000 for ALS and within four days, they were at $47,000. Jimmer had previously announced he wanted to raise $1 million for the Tackle ALS Foundation, a charity created by NFL player and children’s book author Tim Green.

Curtis will also be running the marathon and helping push Jimmer. Jimmer will be in a special wheelchair which was acquired through connections Andrew made while running the Rochester Flower City half marathon. There he met Scott Strang, who is part of Ainsley’s Angels, an organization that connects people with disabilities with runners. Ainsley’s Angels provides chairs and structure for the disabled to take part in races.

“I met him while he was pushing his son Drew, and he connected me to this special chair for Jimmer,” Andrew said.

Andrew said they are in need of more people to help push Jimmer’s wheelchair. There is a minimum fee to enter the Great New York State Marathon, but in support of Jimmer, that has been set at $50. People can volunteer to run a mile or any portion of the marathon they wish. They can sign up by calling Andrew at (585) 205-0581.

Click here for more information on how to donate.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College is proud to welcome eight new full-time faculty members for the 2024-2025 academic year. These distinguished educators bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to our campus, enhancing our commitment to academic excellence and student success.

“As we welcome these talented educators to Genesee Community College, we look forward to the fresh perspectives and innovative teaching methods they will bring to our classrooms,” said Genesee Community College President, Dr. Craig Lamb. “Their arrival marks an exciting chapter in our ongoing mission to deliver high-quality education and support the success of our students.”

The faculty members include:

Ariane Bianchi, Instructor of Nursing – Bianchi comes from Golisano Children’s Hospital Pediatric Cardiac Care Center and has been a pediatric clinical instructor for GCC. She earned her associate degree in Nursing from GCC and her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Rochester. She intends to pursue her master’s in nursing education in the coming year.

Jillian Eberlin, Instructor of Mathematics – Eberlin was a Mathematics teacher at OneSchool Global North America, Rochester Campus, and has taught several semesters as a math adjunct instructor at Bryant & Stratton College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and master’s degree in Mathematics from SUNY Brockport.

Kathryn Edwards, Nursing Clinical Coordinator – Edwards was a pediatric nurse practitioner at Stony Brook Pediatrics and prior to that worked at Golisano Children’s Hospital. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Buffalo and her master’s degree from the University of Rochester. She most recently completed her post-master’s dual certification in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at St. John Fisher University.

Metin Eroglu, Instructor of Mathematics – Eroglu has been in higher education since 2008 as a student, full-time instructor, and tutor most recently working for SUNY Buffalo and Wyzant. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from The University of Texas and his master’s degree in Statistics from Michigan State University.

Katie Jennings, Instructor of Nursing – Jennings was a Clinical Resource Nurse at Rochester Regional Health in Batavia and has been a Clinical Nursing Instructor for GCC. She earned her associate degree in Nursing from GCC, her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from SUNY Brockport and is pursuing her master’s degree in Nursing at Western Governor’s University.

Krysia Mager, Instructor of Business – Mager worked as an adjunct at GCC and is coming from Tompkins Community Bank in Batavia where she was the Assistant Vice President of Creative Content. Krysia earned her associate degree in Communication from GCC, her bachelor’s degree in Journalism Communication from SUNY Brockport and her master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Marist College.

Dr. Timothy McCorry, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences/Coordinator of Special Programs – Dr. McCorry has 25 years of experience teaching various courses in sociology, psychology, and criminal justice at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo State University, and Medaille University. This past spring, he began to adjunct at GCC. He earned his associate degree from Nassau Community College, his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from St. John’s University and his Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo.

Dr. Scott Wilson, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Technology – Dr. Wilson was an Associate Emergency Veterinarian/Urgent Care Veterinarian at the Greater Buffalo Veterinary Emergency Clinic. He received both his associate and bachelor’s degrees in Veterinary Technology from Medaille College and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine.

MEDINA – Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and boys from the community are invited to Medina Conservation Club for a Taste of Scouting on Saturday.

Scout campouts used to be done many years ago, said Jessica Bonham, director of the Western New York Scout Council.

“We are bringing it back in hope of making it an annual event,” Bonham said.

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from Medina and Lyndonville will be participating, with Troop 28 taking charge of activities for the boys.

Bonham said they are inviting any boy in the community from kindergarten through fifth grade to attend and take part in activities from 2 to 4 p.m.

“Like so many organizations, membership is down since COVID,” Bonham said. “We are hoping to renew interest and recruit more boys to Scouting.”

Saturday’s activities will include fishing, archery and making smores.

Jim Olinger, treasurer of the Conservation Club, said they plan to open the skeet fields to let the older boys shoot clay targets under supervision.

He said he was excited when Dean Bellack, a member of the club, contacted him earlier in the summer about using the grounds for an event to involve the community.

“Not a lot of kids are involved in outdoor activities these days,” Olinger said. “It’s great to get them involved.”

Medina Conservation Club was incorporated in April 1940 for the purpose of protecting and restoring America’s woods, wildlife and waters, particularly in Orleans County; to provide its facilities to the Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America and similar organizations for camping, hiking, fishing and participation in outdoor sports and conservations programs; and other causes in regard to increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation and to safeguard public health.

The Conservation Club currently has 140 members, Olinger said. It is located at 3748 Bates Rd., Medina.

Anyone interested in becoming a Scout can contact Bonham at (585) 993-5359.