The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for Orleans County with slick travel expected this morning until 10:45.
“Light lake effect snow will persist across much of the region through this Christmas morning with some areas picking up a fresh inch or two of accumulation,” the Weather Service said. “This will coat area roadways and sidewalks so untreated surfaces will be slick, even with light traffic. Motorists should allow a little extra time to reach their destination.”
The snow will taper off to scattered light snow showers and flurries during the midday and afternoon.
With the year closing out, both the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and Happy New Year!
The collaboration between the two counties has provided several opportunities to meet our joint mission to work collaboratively ensuring conditions that promote optimal health for individuals and the communities we serve. In 2018, we have had a successful joint Point of Distribution (POD) exercise to test our Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program. Staff have had the opportunity to work across the county borders to assist in department functions during times of limited staff. We have added the Weights & Measures program in both counties to provide a consumer connection with vendors of food, fuel and other providers to test and verify the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices.
Our children’s programs work diligently to provide education, case management, support and referrals to help the children of our counties succeed and enjoy a good quality of life. The Community Health Services of both departments work hard to limit the spread of communicable diseases by providing immunizations, lead poisoning prevention direction, as well as provide guidance for pregnant moms and families with new babies. The nursing staff has provided migrant health outreach to assist the farm workers in both counties along with investigating disease / foodborne illness outbreaks.
The Environmental Team provides quality inspections to assure we are safe from foodborne illness, have working septic systems, and help keep our pets safe from rabies. The Public Health Education Team has welcomed Marlowe Thompson to work in both counties assisting with the upcoming Community Health Assessment (CHA), Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), and the Public Health Accreditation Board process.
The team along with one of our nurses is able to provide Narcan training to local businesses and organizations to help battle the opioid crisis. Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Workshops will be starting up in early 2019 in both counties in partnership with our hospitals. Our support team is always working to make sure the department is run within budget, keep our forms straight and provide guidance with insurance reimbursement.
In 2019, we are looking to shift from organizational thinking to community focused thinking by taking the role of Community Chief Health Strategists. Our departments have always worked collaboratively with other agencies within our borders and are looking to focus community resources on improving specific health outcomes as we develop our tri-county CHA/CHIP and in partnership with the local hospital systems, Community Services Plan.
We will be looking to community members to assist in this process by participating in community conversations and taking a community health assessment survey. Both departments look forward to having a joint web site where you can access forms and information from both county health departments. We continue to provide timely posts on our GO Health NY Facebook and Twitter pages along with increasing interviews on our GO Health NY YouTube site.
“It is our pleasure to serve the residents and visitors of Genesee and Orleans Counties,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “On behalf of the staff in both counties thank you for the opportunity to serve you and we look forward to a great 2019!”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2018 at 2:08 pm
Matthew Peterson
ALBION – The high school principal is leaving to take a job at Oakfield-Alabama High School.
Matthew Peterson has worked at Albion since August 2014. He worked in Albion as assistant principal before becoming the principal the following year.
He will start his new job in Oakfield-Alabama on Jan. 14.
“As part of an enduring personal mission to support my four children and lovely wife with as much as possible, I pursued an opening to become the next principal at a school much closer to my home in Genesee County that I am familiar with from my days as a teacher,” he wrote in a message to the community on the district website.
Peterson said he is grateful to have met so many Albion students and community members. He said he expects there will be a smooth transition to another principal in Albion.
“The decision was not made without careful consideration of the staff and students that I currently serve here at Albion,” Peterson wrote. “Although I am excited to begin a new chapter in my life in another school, I will miss the Albion Central School District very much. Albion will always hold a special place in my heart and I want to thank every single one of you who took the time to introduce yourselves and welcome me to this community.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 December 2018 at 10:19 am
Provided photo: Pamela Heideman, center, is a certified nursing assistant at Medina Memorial Hospital. She was recently honored by the New York State Health Facilities Association and New York State Center for Assisted Living at a reception at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens in Buffalo. With her are Sarah Bateman, left, administrator of Medina Memorial Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Facility, and Kerry Mikits, nurse manager of the SNF.
MEDINA – Each year, the New York State Health Facilities Association and New York State Center for Assisted Living (Western Region Buffalo) honors staff of local skilled nursing facilities for service and dedication to the health care field.
At this year’s awards reception at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, a Medina Memorial Hospital employee was one of the recipients of a Caring Heart Award.
Pamela Heideman has been a certified nursing assistant in the hospital’s skilled nursing facility for three years.
According to her supervisors, Heideman is recognized by her peers as a team player, completing her tasks ahead of time so she can help other staff members. She has donated accumulated personal benefit time for another staff to use in their time of need.
She is flexible, has a positive attitude and goes above and beyond to provide excellent care to residents every day. She truly cares and treats every resident as family. She willingly arrives early and assumes special assignments, additional duties and reports on short notice to cover open positions by working extra shifts.
Her care reflects the highest quality that is expected by residents, and her positive attitude and genuine smile have earned her the love and respect of peers and residents alike.
Pam is considered a role model for others to emulate.
“When Pam is working, you know it is going to be a great day,” her peers agree.
The Caring Hearts Award is presented to one who lends a hand in times of need, puts others needs before their own, makes a positive impact in the community, brings warmth to everyday activities, takes the time to listen, creates energetic team spirit, rallies around a cause and reaches out to make a difference.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2018 at 10:05 am
Photo from Hochul’s Twitter feed
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was in Lewis County on Thursday. She is pictured with one of her staff members outside the Lowville Producers Dairy Cooperative in Lowville.
“Done! Just finished stops in all 62 counties each of my 4 years in office!” Hochul posted on Twitter. “All by car – circled the globe nearly 9 times milewise. Visited Lady LeWinDa in Lewis County to complete the LG’s Excellent Adventure”
Hochul has been the state’s lieutenant governor the past four years. She was in Albion on Oct. 13 as the keynote speaker during the Orleans County Democratic Party’s fall rally.
She previously served in Congress as the representative for a district that includes Orleans County.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer also makes it a priority to see all 62 counties each year. He has done that the past 20 years.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 December 2018 at 8:13 am
Photos contributed: Marion Miano, 86, a diabetes educator at Orleans Community Health, receives a Distinguished Alumni Award from Tonawanda High School.
MEDINA – At 86, retirement isn’t in Marion Miano’s schedule.
A certified diabetes educator, Miano graduated in 1950 from Tonawanda High School, where she was recently honored with the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
The former Marion Charsley, Miano of Indian Falls furthered her education at E. J. Meyer Memorial Hospital’s School of Nursing, where she graduated in 1953, first in her class.
Sixty-five years later, Miano remains active and dedicated to helping her patients. She continues to teach diabetes education every Wednesday at Medina Memorial Hospital, where Cindy Perry, director of education, wellness and marketing at Community Partners, calls Miano a remarkable woman.
Miano began her career in advanced coronary care after attending an intensive six-week course. She assisted in setting up the first coronary care unit at the former St. Jerome Hospital in Batavia, where she was appointed head nurse of that unit. Her nursing career expanded beyond coronary care when she became the first certified diabetes educator at the Batavia VA Medical Center and Rochester Clinic, where she cared for veterans for 28 years who served from World War I to Operation Desert Storm.
Her awards include the Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Nursing in 1984; Special Advancement and Performance Honors as the first Certified Diabetes Educator at the VA Medical Center in Batavia in 1991; Nurse of Distinction in 1993 at the VA Medical Center; Western New York Diabetes Educator of the Year in 2003; and Batavia/Genesee Zonta Club’s Woman of the Year in 2003.
Marion Miano
Miano often traveled to the homes of patients who needed diabetes education, but were homebound. She would take medical supplies and monitoring equipment with her. The result was a better understanding of diabetes, which had a positive impact on patients’ lives. These visits were often pro bono, because Miano was and is passionate about helping patients and her community.
She not only provided outstanding care at the hospitals where she worked, but Miano has performed numerous other activities related to nursing. She was treasurer of the Western New York AADE for 10 years; co-chairman of the Diabetes Walk for more than 10 years; a Tour De Cure rest stop captain for 10 years; and group facilitator for the last 20 years at the Batavia VA Medical Center, Medina Memorial Hospital and Clarence community.
She has done countless presentations for the Lions and Rotary clubs, senior citizen groups, teachers, nursing staff, health fairs and educational seminars. She serves Wyoming, Genesee, Orleans, Erie and Niagara counties.
In addition to providing comprehensive diabetes education to inpatients, outpatients and groups, Miano also has a private practice. She is in her 65th year contributing to her profession, her patients and her community. She still facilitates support groups in Clarence and Medina.
This extraordinary woman with boundless energy accomplished her career while she was a devoted wife to husband Peter and mother of five children, Mark, Margaret, Anthony, Alan and Joseph.
Provided photo: Pictured from left include Nick Dingman (Medina), Jake Cassick (Royalton-Hartland), Lawson Slaugenhoupt (Royalton-Hartland), Chris Borel (Royalton-Hartland), Mike Kurchey (Royalton-Hartland), Chaise Prest (Medina), Shane Smith (Royalton-Hartland), Mr. Matt Anastasi, Dylan Weese (Medina) and Christian Silversmith (Medina). Michael George (Newfane) and Mark Zeitz (Newfane) aren’t in the photo but they also helped with the project.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Students in Matt Anastasi’s Building Trades program recently spent some time at the soon to be open Orleans/Niagara BOCES Lockport Community Education Center.
The Orleans Career and Technical Education students have been lending their masonry skills to fixing up the basement of the building where adult education electricity classes will be offered in the spring.
“It was a great opportunity for my students to get some real-world experience at a job site and we are very appreciative of our administration allowing us to help out,” said Mr. Anastasi.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2018 at 5:08 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – An employee with Crane-Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport gets a cable in place on Wednesday on the Bennetts Corners Road bridge over the Erie Canal.
This is the first of seven canal bridges in Orleans County that will be rehabilitated with a new deck and other improvements.
The Bennetts Corners bridge had its weight limit reduced to 4 tons before it was closed on Dec. 3 for the construction project.
The state Department of Transportation announced last month that seven of the canal bridges would receive extensive work with the seventh bridge to be completed in the summer 2020. The Bennetts Corners Road bridge could reopen in about six months.
Crane-Hogan gets a platform in place to work on the deck of the bridge on Bennetts Corners Road.
The state is spending $10.7 million on the seven bridges. Besides Bennetts Corners, other bridges that will be upgraded include: Telegraph Road in the Town of Murray, Transit Road in the Town of Murray, Densmore Road in the Town of Albion, Gaines Basin Road in the Town of Gaines, Bates Road in the Village of Medina, and Marshall Road in the Town of Ridgeway.
The DOT said the work on these bridges will include installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace steel floor systems, low chords, gusset plates, and truss elements. Bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches also will be improved and each bridge will be repainted. The alignments and profiles of the bridges will not change.
The seven single-lane truss bridges were constructed between 1909 and 1914.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 December 2018 at 9:34 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Santa arrives with a bag of toys for all the girls and boys on the Santa/Reindeer train Saturday at Medina Railroad Museum.
18,000 also rode the Polar Express for Railroad Museum, which followed busy fall foliage rides
MEDINA – The magic of Christmas was in full swing Saturday at the Medina Railroad Museum, where throngs of people came for the first ever Santa/Reindeer train.
Also in attendance was a train full of veterans who were given free tickets to ride the train through a grant from the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program.
Veterans’ services director Earl Schmidt secured the grant to provide recreational and entertaining events for Orleans County veterans. Saturday, 56 veterans and their families rode the train.
Catherine Schmidt, center, volunteer coordinator of the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program, poses with an elf and Lincoln Pace on the veterans’ car during the Santa/Reindeer train ride Saturday from Medina Railroad Museum.
Catherine Schmidt, who is the volunteer coordinator for the Peer-to-Peer program, purchased mugs and chocolate suckers from Della’s in Medina for each veteran.
Among the veterans were the Strickland family of Lyndonville. Ace Strickland, an Army veteran, took the ride with his wife Rebecca, their children Ava and Aksel and Rebecca’s father, Ed Schmidt, an Air Force veteran.
“It’s so wonderful they are actually paying attention to veterans now,” Schmidt said. “When I got out, you didn’t want people to know you were a vet.”
On the two dining cars on the train, first-class passengers also received a mug for their hot chocolate and the chance to visit Santa by a Christmas tree in the cars.
Children were given a stuffed animal which Santa plucked from his big red sack.
Conductors Brody George, left, and Cody Catlin hug “Kat” Schepis, dressed as a cat for the Christmas/Reindeer train Saturday at Medina Railroad Museum.
This is the first year the Railroad Museum has attempted a Santa/Reindeer train, coming off the heels of the most successful Polar Express run ever. During its eight-day run of six trains per day, more than 18,000 people rode the Polar Express, said museum director Janien Klotzbach. She is also daughter of the museum’s founder, the late Martin Phelps.
Polar followed a record-breaking sell-out of every fall foliage train, Klotzbach said.
Terry Hendry, volunteer/group sales coordinator at the Medina Railroad Museum, sorts hats and Christmas decorations for volunteers on the Santa/Reindeer train Saturday.
The museum grounds were all decked out for the holidays, from an antique sleigh on the deck, to the grounds with a human size snow globe capable of holding 14 people, and a petting tent with reindeer Dasher and Dancer. A faded ticket shack was converted into a snack shack, where snacks and hot chocolate were served.
Klotzbach attempted to secure local food vendors during all the holiday events. Zambistro was on site for one weekend, and Hojack’s Bar & Grill in Carlton came through for the remainder of the season.
“Having the Hojack here was so appropriate,” said Klotzbach, referring to the ice cream/snack bar in Lyndonville which was named after the old railroad which used to run through the town.
Volunteers on the Santa/Reindeer train were mostly teenagers, including Lincoln Pace, 15, of Medina; Nick Mitchell, 15, of Le Roy; Catherine Grossman of Oakfield; Danielle Schmidt of Medina; and Noel Vasquez of Barker.
The teens all said they had friends who previously volunteered and had such a good time. They embraced their elves costumes, peaked hats and necklaces of blinking Christmas bulbs.
As the train headed out of Medina for the “North Pole,” the teens bounced down the aisles as they led the singing of Christmas songs. Then it was time to pour the hot chocolate and pass the Christmas cookies from Case-Nic Cookies in Medina.
The train made a brief stop at the North Pole, where Santa disembarked to return to his workshop.
The North Pole is Santa’s final destination on the Santa/Reindeer train from the Medina Railroad Museum on Saturday. Here, Santa waves goodbye to passengers as he heads for his workshop.
The South Main Attractions Band plays Christmas music in the Medina Railroad Museum during the Santa/Reindeer train on Saturday. From left are Dona LaValle of Batavia, Scott Schramm of Middleport, Dave Armitage of Batavia and Scott Schildwaster of Batavia.
Even big kids like Terry Boyle of Medina got a hug from Santa on the Santa/Reindeer train Saturday at Medina Railroad Museum.
NY will have free weekend for out-of-state snowmobilers Jan. 25-27
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $4.2 million for snowmobile trail maintenance and grooming across New York State, including $42,336 in Orleans County.
The governor also designated the weekend of January 25-27 as a free snowmobiling weekend for all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers. During this promotional weekend, the requirement to register in New York is waived for properly registered and insured out-of-state snowmobiling enthusiasts wishing to explore New York’s 10,400 miles of snowmobile trails.
“New York is unrivaled in its natural beauty in all four seasons and offers a vast recreational trail system for snowmobilers to enjoy our stunning winter landscape,” Governor Cuomo said. “By providing the funding to keep the trails in good condition and encouraging more tourists to visit our state for the free snowmobile weekend, we are helping grow our upstate tourism economy and maintaining our outdoor trails for generations to come.”
New York State is providing $4.2 million for snowmobile trail maintenance to local communities in New York this winter, a five percent increase from last year. The trail grants support 10,400 miles of designated trails across the state for snowmobilers to safely enjoy. The local grants program is funded by snowmobile registration fees collected by the State Department of Motor Vehicles and deposited into the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. County and municipal governments distribute the grants to about 230 snowmobile clubs across the state, which in turn groom and maintain the trails.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “New York’s pristine trails offer an amazing snowmobiling experience for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. While riding throughout the state, snowmobilers can experience a wide variety of trails. Governor Cuomo’s investment in New York’s snowmobile trails will benefit not only those using the trails, but also surrounding local economies, bringing more visitors to these areas. The upcoming free snowmobile weekend is a great opportunity for everyone to visit these magnificent trails and experience some of New York’s natural beauty.”
The DMV reminds New York riders that snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually. DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office. Snowmobile registration costs $100, but is decreased to $45 if the snowmobiler is a member of a local snowmobile club.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 December 2018 at 1:39 pm
Medina native Christopher Parada runs the popular site at town park
Photos by Tom Rivers: Olivia, 2, meets Santa Claus on Tuesday at the Christmas Cottage in Lockport. Christopher Parada created the cottage and has been portraying Santa at the site the past eight years.
LOCKPORT – Christopher Parada, a Medina native, has been bringing the magic of Christmas to the Lockport community for nearly a decade. Parada created a Christmas Cottage at a town park, and he portrays Santa three days a week at the site for a month right after Thanksgiving.
Parada and his father built the Christmas Cottage that is a popular site, drawing several hundred people to see Santa on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and on Saturday afternoons between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Parada built a 15-by-15 foot cottage with his father Daniel Parada of Middleport. They built the cottage in 2010 at Day Road Park in the Town of Lockport.
Christopher Parada, a 2002 graduate of Medina High School, is active in Western New York theater, and is the executive director of the Historic Palace Theatre in Lockport. He manages the theater and also is a performer, writer and director. He has been part of the Lockport theater for the past 15 years.
Parada sees about 800-900 people at Christmas Cottage each time it’s open, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and then on Saturdays from noon until 3 p.m.
He first portrayed Santa in high school. When he was a teen he learned about Charles Howard, the founder of a Santa Claus School in Albion. He operated it from 1937 until his death in 1966. Parada learned about the local community’s connection to Howard from his late grandmother, Elaine Janele, who was the children’s librarian at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina. She created the Santa Claus story hour at the library.
“It intrigued me so much when I found out about this school,” Parada said.
Provided photo: Christopher Parada works as executive director of the Historic Palace Theatre while keeping a busy schedule as Santa during the holiday season.
He has visited the school, which is now in Midland, Mich. He hasn’t been through the class, which is held for a week in October. That is a busy time for Parada in his role leading the Palace Theatre.
He follows the principles taught by Howard for Santas with how he acts and looks. Parada also plays the role for free at the cottage. He accepts donations which he uses for landscaping at the site and for materials.
Parada wears a suit in the style designed by Howard. The suit is made of wool – not velvet or plush. He has a white shawl collar that is about 6 inches wide all the way around, and has a yarn pom pom tassel on the hat. His beard and wig are made of yak hair, which can be styled with a curling iron.
He also followed Howard’s example with a shiny leather belt with a big silver buckle.
Parada said seeing Santa is magical for children. There are about 800-900 visitors at the Christmas Cottage during his three-hour time frames. He doesn’t want to push the kids through too quickly.
When Parada decided to build a Christmas Cottage, he scouted sites in Lockport. He liked the spot at the town park, next to a big parking lot. The park is popular with its playground, soccer field and other amenities.
Parada had a feeling the cottage would be a hit, especially if it was free for families. He saw Santas in the malls where there was a hefty charge for a photo and the Santas didn’t seem to engage with the children.
“It the mall it’s a nightmare,” he said. “People tell me this is so much better than the mall.”
Parada wanted to create a site where people would feel like they’re going into a storybook.
“Santa and Christmas is fun,” he said. “It’s exciting, it’s happiness. The world needs more of that.”
Parada has photos displayed from 1961 by LIFE Magazine when it did a feature on Charles Howard and the Santa Claus School in Albion.
Parada had a sleigh made from an Ohio company he works with in his role at the theater. That company makes props for plays and musicals. Children can climb into the sleigh while they wait to see Santa, who is only a few feet away.
“Some of the kids need a warmup time so they can see that Santa is not a scary guy,” Parada said.
And he included a prominent display about Charles Howard, the founder of the Santa Claus School. Parada has a Howard suit on display, and black-and-white photos from when LIFE magazine visited the school in Albion in 1961. He has other merchandise, including an admission ticket to Christmas Park, a “Family Funderland.”
“I wanted there to be a connection to where the spark came from, where it all started,” Parada said. “For Albion to be home to the Santa Claus School is a really cool thing.”
The display inside the Christmas Cottage includes memorabilia from Christmas Park, which was created by Charles Howard in Albion along with a Santa Claus School.
Parada is Santa at the cottage the first weekend after Thanksgiving until today. He will see several thousand children and families during the month. The site has become very popular. He will arrive to the Christmas Cottage and often there is a long line waiting, well before the doors officially open.
The Christmas Cottage also accepts letters to Santa and Parada makes sure the children all get a response letter.
He works on the landscape throughout the year and had added cutouts and other features, including an overhang leading to the door.
“In the summer I see kids looking through the window,” Parada said. “There’s an element of magic that happens year-round.”
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 22 December 2018 at 9:26 am
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 50
The Christmas season is upon us and it is customary to write a piece about Charlie Howard, his Santa Claus School, or Christmas Park. If I had the privilege of sitting on Howard’s lap, what would I ask for? Simple answer: historic preservation.
Unfortunately, our history is marred by poor decisions even though we make some of those decisions with the best intentions. The protection of our historic treasurers is perhaps the best representation of this. Material culture serves a valuable purpose in the process of interpreting the past. Void of any physical representation of past cultures, we would lose all ability to understand the lives of those who lived without a voice.
Historic preservation is one of the four basic functions of the municipal historian; preservation of documents, records, diaries, ephemera, and photographs, but also the preservation of structures deemed important to the history of our communities. Past historians have carried the burden of this cross for decades, some experiencing success and others failure.
Take for instance the once beautiful limestone Universalist Church in Clarendon. A focal point in the community for over 150 years, its life cut short after a painful battle against the ages. In 1967, the family of Earle Smith attempted to prevent the destruction of the building by petitioning the New York State Convention of Universalists to deed the property over to a newly formed private corporation. At some point, the Clarendon assessor realized the property was taxable and placed it back on the rolls.
The result of such undue burden forced the corporation to offer the property to the Orleans County Historical Association and Town of Clarendon with both entities refusing. The property was sold at auction on August 21, 1980, slowly creeping into an irreversible state of disrepair. Community officials met in 2005 to discuss the future of the structure. Some residents felt that taxpayer dollars should not support such a project and one taxpayer remarked, “a farmer never feeds a dead horse, and this building is a dead horse.” The property was sold May 6, 2006 and demolished soon after leading one historian to write, “the people of Orleans County absolutely had an architectural jewel in the historic Clarendon Universalist Church…and no one was smart enough to preserve it, what a shame!”
A rather shabby house stood near the intersection of Platt and East State streets in the Village of Albion, adjacent to the Free Methodist Church. Once the home of Dr. Orson Nichoson, a pioneer physician and the first county clerk, the brick home and attached framed wings constituted one of Albion’s earliest homes. County Historian Bill Lattin estimated the house was constructed prior to 1835 and possibly as early as the 1820s, perhaps several years before the incorporation of the village. That home was later razed to make way for a parking lot.
Charles Howard sent a letter of support in favor of the newly formed Cobblestone Society in 1960.
Another other example included the sudden disappearance of the old Buffalo, Lockport, & Rochester Railway power station, a large cast cement block structure that sat on the far east end of East State Street near Butts Road. Yet another, perhaps without any inherent value on the surface, was a once stately home that sat at 106 South Clinton Street. The property was a frequent meeting place for local suffragists who labored to organize suffrage schools and local conventions.
Architecture Destroyed in Orleans County, a wonderfully thorough account of historic structures that vanished over the lengthy history of our area, calls attention to dozens of valuable assets lost. Of course, the short volume is in need of an update as the above-mentioned examples have occurred during my lifetime, after the book’s publication. Although the examples of material culture lost to progress over the last decades are numerous, there are plenty of examples that demonstrate the rewards that come with persistence and hard work.
Home Leasing LLC’s recent undertaking of renovation work at the former Holley High School, the Town of Clarendon’s purchase of the Old Stone Store as a records storage site and office for the historian, and the Orleans County Historical Association’s ongoing work on the Gaines District No. 2 Cobblestone Schoolhouse all represent huge wins for the preservation community. Such efforts are supported by thousands of volunteer hours and community leaders who lobby for funding.
A letter written by Charlie Howard to Cary Lattin on October 19, 1960, regarding early efforts to establish the Cobblestone Society says a great deal about Howard’s community-centered mindset. He wrote, in part, “Your letter regarding the Cobblestone buildings at Childs at hand and I am in hearty accord with any plan to restore and retain these landmarks. It will mean a great deal of work and planning to get the interest that is necessary but believe it can be done…You can count me in on what ever you do as being in favor.”
I can rest assured that if I had asked Santa for historic preservation, he would have delivered!
Vicki Havholm, Arc’s Meals on Wheels director, shows Arc employee Leah Knab emergency dinner kits that were distributed to seniors for use if a snowstorm prevents meal delivery.
ALBION – There is nothing “virtual” about hunger. Volunteers and staff at the Meals on Wheels program in Orleans County know that nothing solves hunger among seniors like an in-person visit with a hot meal. To visit the elderly isolated by many country miles during the holidays, and sometimes snowy roads, shows the dedication these volunteers offer.
Bob Burtwell of Lyndonville is one of six volunteers who picks up coolers of hot food from the Arc of Genesee Orleans’ Meals on Wheels headquarters in Albion several days a week. Driving his own car, he stops at the homes of local seniors who are unable to get groceries or cook for themselves.
Burtwell is nothing short of a lifeline to these community members, who may also have medical problems. After passing background checks, volunteer drivers are trained to provide daily safety and wellness checks for seniors, especially those living alone. If seniors are having unusual difficulties, the volunteer will seek help. The program welcomes new volunteers.
After volunteering for over a year, Burtwell has gotten to know the seniors on his routes. After a knock at the door, he is greeted warmly by a 98 year-old woman who places her meals directly on her walker. When asked, she says she’s doing well and offers wishes for a happy holiday.
At another home, a man in his 60s recovering from an illness asks Burtwell to come in. Burtwell is asked to place the meals directly in the refrigerator for later.
This year, the Orleans Meals on Wheels program provided 31,857 meals by November, similar to previous years. The program is funded by the Orleans Office for the Aging, the United Way of Orleans County, and the Arc of Genesee Orleans. The program provides a hot noon meal and a cold bagged supper Monday through Friday, as well as freezer meals for weekends and holidays if desired.
The program operates 10 routes across Orleans County, and serves meals at its dining sites at Academy Street in Albion and in Kendall. Senior citizens with health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease may find it especially difficult to obtain and/or prepare food that meets their dietary restrictions.
Volunteer Mike Groden leaves the Meals on Wheels headquarters in Albion with hot food for the Kendall community dining site.
The program offers both no salt added and reduced sugar meal options. Nutritional counseling is provided by the registered dietician from the Orleans Office for the Aging at no charge to seniors, and makes referrals to appropriate service agencies.
The elderly face a variety of challenges in meeting their nutritional needs. Factors include lack of transportation to grocery shopping or dining, disabilities, dental/chewing problems, memory loss, reduced appetite, inability to prepare food, dependence on junk foods, and income. Despite the challenges, it is generally preferable for individuals over age 60 to continue living independently in their own homes.
For information about receiving Meals on Wheels in Orleans County, or to volunteer, contact the Arc at (585) 589-7817 or vhavholm@arcoforleans.org. Donations may be sent to Arc of Genesee Orleans, 64 Walnut St., Batavia, NY 14020 or through www.arcgo.org/ at the “donate” tab.
Company F Memorial bronze statue will be installed by former Armory in spring
Press Release, Company F Memorial Committee
MEDINA – After approximately 4 years in the making, we are excited to announce that the newest military history icon, the Company F Memorial bronze statue, is home! It was revealed to the public by leading the Medina Parade of Lights celebration on Nov. 24 and was kept in storage until it was moved on Thursday to its temporary “winter retreat” inside the Pearl Street entrance of the YMCA (former Medina Armory). (The entrance is closed due to the deterioration of the steps outside. A new main entrance is on Prospect Street.)
The idea of putting it on display temporarily was a result of the late Bill Menz’s mission to educate future generations of the sacrifices our veterans made for our freedoms. The display is part of the Company F historical panels that Orleans County Historian Matt Ballard commissioned a few years ago and located outside the Children’s Watch room and Cardio Room. The display allows visitors to get an up close and personal look at this 7-foot-high work of art, take a selfie and learn the history of the Medina Armory before it became the community activity center and YMCA.
The Company F statue is on temporary display at the YMCA in Medina until it’s mounted to the monument in the Spring.
The Company F Memorial committee wishes to express it’s deepest appreciation to all those that have supported us to make Bill’s vision a reality.
Sculptor Brian Porter and the University of Buffalo’s Foundry Director Chris Serano who created this masterpiece. Brian and Chris were exceptionally accommodating by inviting us to witness it’s evolution.
John Brown of Select Collision in Batavia who transported the statue from UB to Medina and lent his trailer for the Parade of Lights for our big reveal. He and set designer Carl Hicks devised and built the means to not only support and secure the 1,400-pound statue to the trailer for the parade, but modified the support for the display at the YMCA.
The statue was delivered to the YMCA in Medina on Thursday.
Shelby Highway Superintendent Mike Fuller and the Town of Shelby for providing the crew and necessary equipment to raise the statue from its horizontally packaged position to its upright position on the float trailer.
Lisa Tombari and Talis Equity for providing us a temporary home to store and create the float until we could move it to its permanent location at the YMCA.
The statue is in the corridor by the Pearl Street entrance of the YMCA.
The Village of Medina Parade of Lights committee for allowing us to lead the parade to introduce the statue to the public and bestowing us with the “Community Spirit Award” for our presentation.
Greg Stanton of Stanton signs for providing the beautiful signage for our float and a generator to power our lights in the Parade of Lights.
Michael Walsh for assisting us in building the float and engineering the A/V equipment and lights.
Cliff Fuller for also lending us his carpentry skills for the float.
Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan for giving us permission to use his rendition of “God Bless America” in the video that we played on the float. And, Chris Busch for connecting us to Dr. Tynan (who will be performing in Medina 10/5/19!)
Medina Mayor Michael Sidari and the Village DPW crew for assisting with the move and installation to the YMCA.
LeChase Construction for providing us the necessary equipment and operator to move the 1,400-pound statue from the trailer and into the YMCA.
Mark Zacher of Zacher Construction for assisting us with an engineering analysis and structural support to insure the YMCA floor could withstand the weight of the statue.
The YMCA Board of Directors and Y director Greg Reed for allowing us to display the statue inside the YMCA until its installation in the spring.
We would be remiss to not include all of our financial contributors who have made Mr. Menz’s dream a reality. Thank you, supporters!
And thanks, Bill Menz for leaving our community this beautiful, moving legacy. We hope we did you proud!
