By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2025 at 9:00 am
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health honored three people on Saturday with a Bowen Award, given in honor of the man who pushed to start Medina Memorial Hospital a century ago.
During a gala at Bent’s Opera House, set to a Roaring ’20s theme, Orleans Community health recognized Roland Howell, the late Van Hungerford, and the late Dr. Ekran John Boulous. The event was the third annual gala to benefit Medina Memorial and Orleans Community Health. About 100 people attended with many dressing in a flapper style from that era.
(Left) Megan Johnson, president of the OCH Foundation, welcomes the crowd to the event. Johnson said many community members are very supportive of the hospital and OCH services in the community.
(Right) Marc Shurtz, the OCH/Medina Memorial chief executive officer, said the organization is getting stronger, and adding more services to the community.
Many smaller hospitals in the region have either closed or cut back services, Shurtz said. Medina Memorial added an Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in October, and has expanded with wound care, podiatry, more general surgery and other services.
Orleans Community Health will soon start construction on the $1.9 million Medina Healthcare Center. This outpatient clinic will be done in phases and will include primary care providers. OCH seeks to address a gap in accessible outpatient services. The planned renovations include more than 13 exam rooms, improved parking and a dedicated entrance on the south end of the campus.
“Our plan is to bring more needed care to the community,” Shurtz said. “We not only want to be sustainable for years to come, but we want to increase the services we’re providing.”
About 100 people attended the gala at Bent’s Opera House with music by Ken Ryan and the Professionals.
Many of the attendees dressed up in a Roaring ’20s style. A bigger event is being planned in September for the 100th anniversary of the hospital.
Kim Gray, chief nursing officer and director of Surgical Services at Medina Memorial, shares about the late Dr. Ekram John Boulos, who was honored with one of the Bowen Awards on Saturday.
Dr. Ekram John Boulos
Dr. Boulos passed away at age 69 on Dec. 14, 2022. He worked as an ENT surgeon for nearly 50 years and was a specialist in otolaryngology – head & neck surgery.
Gray said Dr. Boulos was very dedicated to his patients and the staff at Medina Memorial. He insisted on music in the operating room, sometimes classical, rock, jazz “and sometimes something completely unexpected,” Gray said.
“It set the tone, brought comfort, and, in many ways, reflected the rhythm of his work,” she said.
He gave many of the patients, nurses, staff and other doctors nicknames, some of which stuck for decades, Gray said.
“It was his way of breaking the ice, making people feel at ease, and reminding everyone that medicine, at its core, is deeply personal,” Gray said. “It wasn’t just about treating ailments. It was about making connections, building trust, and bringing a little lightness to even the most serious of situations.”
Gray read a letter from Dr. Boulos wife, Neveen. She said she and her husband arrived in the medina community in 1981 with “open arms” from Dr. Adeeb, Dr. Ghaly, Dr. Brooks, Dr. Bath, Dr. Sterling, Dr. Blanchette, Dr. Rho, Dr. Zimmer, Dr. Abassey and their families.
“But it wasn’t just them,” Mrs. Boulos wrote. “It was the entire Medina community. From the very beginning, we felt at home here, embraced by kindness, warmth and generosity. Medina became more than just a place to live; It became a part of us.”
Jeanne Crane, a retired nurse at Medina Memorial and former president of the Foundation board, tells about Van Hungerford and his contributions to Medina Memorial. The late Hungerford was a successful entrepreneur at SigmaMotor in Middleport. The company manufactured a pump for open heart surgery and later developed an infusion pump.
Hungerford served on the hospital board for a 12-year term beginning in 1966. Twelve years is the maximum length for a board member.
“During this time there was a doctor shortage and the board contacted local students enrolled in medical schools,” Crane said.
Medina Memorial held “Medicine Balls” to raise scholarship money to entice physicians to come to the hospital, Crane said and recalled attended a few of the events, usually held at Middleport Fire Hall or the Armory in Medina. Those scholarships have helped bring doctors to the community, Crane said.
Hungerford was chairman of the Finance Committee and Building Fund. In 1969 as chairman, he solicited $424,952.
“While chair of this committee, he would make recommendations how money should be spent and worked with insurance companies for reimbursements,” she said.
In 1969, he pushed to the have emergency room staffed 24-7 by physicians.
“On behalf of Orleans Community Health, the hospital and foundation board, I am so honored to be able to honor a man who gave so much to our hospital and our community,” Crane said.
Dawn Meland hugs Roland Howell after he presented with the Bowen Award on Saturday. Meland is a former board member for both the hospital and OCH Foundation.
Meland praised Howell for his many years of supporting the hospital and Orleans Community Health. She praised his “humility and kindness.”
“His impact can’t be overstated,” Meland said.
Howell, 96, remembers Bowen from back when Howell was a teen-ager and as a young adult. Howell praised the optimism and leadership of Bowen, who pushed to establish the hospital in 1925.
“He was very dynamic,” Bowen told the crowd at Bent’s. “He wanted to build this hospital and he got it built.”
Howell served 12 years on the board, mainly in 1980s when the hospital did an addition and put a focus on quality assurance.
“It is unique today,” Howell said about a hospital in a smaller community, especially one that is adding services.
“The fact that this standalone hospital still exists in this community is a rarity and tribute to all of the people here,” Howell said. “I’m pleased I was a part of it.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2025 at 7:31 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Melting snow left pooling water last week at the intersection of Ingersoll and East State streets in Albion.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a flood watch for Orleans County and portions of western and central New York.
The flood watch is in effect from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon due to a significant snow melt and about a half inch of rainfall.
“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” the Weather Service said. “Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. The most prone areas for flooding will be where ice jams typically develop.”
Today’s high will reach 34 in Orleans County, but will then climb to 51 on Tuesday and 57 on Wednesday. The high on Thursday will be near 40, according to the Weather Service.
The Medina Mustang JV and Varsity winterguards traveled to Lancaster on Saturday to compete for the 5th time this season.
A total of 24 guards from NY, PA and Canada came to compete. Medina’s JV guard performed in the Cadet class and came in 2nd place with a score of 57.28, bested by Ventures Cadet with a score of 59.55.
Medina’s varsity guard competed in the A1 class and came in 4th place with a score of 60.85, with the Ventures in 1st place with a score of 68.35.
The next opportunity to see these two Medina guards perform is Saturday, March 8 in Medina at the high school. A total of 25 guards will be performing and the doors open at 3 p.m. and the show starts at 4 p.m. This is a great opportunity to see these students and adults display their talents and it will give you a greater appreciation of what winterguard involves.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 March 2025 at 5:22 pm
ALBANY – Daniel Martuscello, the commissioner of Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, said today that corrections officers who remain on strike on Monday will lose their health insurance.
Their dependents on their health insurance plans also will be cut off, and they won’t be eligible for health insurance through COBRA.
“My message to you is this is the final push,” Martuscello said in a message posted on the DOCCS Facebook page.
Corrections officers have been on strike for nearly two weeks, beginning at Elmira and Collins facilities on Feb. 17. By the next day the strike had spread to the majority of the prisons, including Albion and Orleans.
“I want you to come back to work today,” Martuscello said. “If you missed your shift, you should still report, and know that we will continue to have open dialogue on making facilities safer places to work.”
MEDINA – A friend came upon this intriguing A.J. Richards photograph of a group of ladies this week and rescued it from the ignominy of a Lockport thrift store bin. Not only is the photo in good condition but wonder of wonders – the names are clearly written on the reverse!
However, the date, nature of the group, and the occasion were lacking. Naturally the challenge was accepted!
Judging by the clothing, the period appears to be late 1920’s. The ladies are wearing decorative collar sashes, so they are obviously members of a group or club. The clue in determining the date and subject of the photograph turned out to be the words “District Deputy” which follow Bessie Gaze’s name on the reverse. A search of the New York State Historic Newspapers unearthed the following paragraph in the Medina Daily Journal of May 20, 1927:
“The Welcome Rebekah Lodge of Medina was highly honored at a New York State Rebekah assembly held at Buffalo this week by having one of its members appointed to a state office.
Mrs. Jessie Breitbeck, past District Deputy, was installed as assembly conductor.
Mrs. Bessie Gaze also received her appointment as District Deputy, President of the Orleans District.”
The Daughters of Rebekah, generally referred to as the Rebekahs, was founded in 1851 by then U.S. Vice-President, Schuyler Colfax. It is the women’s group associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.). The Odd Fellows originated in England in the 1700’s as a mutual aid society to assist smaller tradesmen (“odd fellows”) and their families when in need.
The name “Rebekah” honors the biblical character who offered hospitality to a humble stranger.
The group’s stated objectives were to “aid in the establishment and maintenance of Homes for aged and indigent Odd Fellows and their wives, the care, education, and support of orphans of deceased Odd Fellows and deceased sisters of the Rebekah degree” as well as to cultivate social relations among these groups.
The Medina Welcome Rebekah Lodge, No. 146 was instituted on Feb. 6, 1895, by Charles M. Morgan, Grand Master. At that time the membership boasted 38 “brothers” and 32 “sisters”. The I.O.O.F. Lodge rooms were in the Downs & Kearney Block, 108 West Center St., Medina.
Armed with Medina directories from 1908 and 1941, and using the online Orleans genweb site, we pieced together the following information about the ladies in the photo:
Lina Blood was the wife of Seldon P. Blood, a feed store owner. They lived at 208 West Oak Orchard St., Medina. Lina died in 1949 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
Ida Boyce was the wife of Charles W. Boyce, a manager at the N.L.& O. Power Company. They lived at 618 West Center St., Medina. Ida died in 1989 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery,
Vernita Boyce was the wife of Clarence H. Boyce, an electrical contractor. They lived at 224 Highland Ave., Medina. Vernita died in 1971 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
Jessie Breitbeck was the wife of Fred C. Breitbeck, a foundry worker. They lived at 1031 Gwinn St., Medina. Jessie died in 1983 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
Alice Brown was the wife of William N. Brown, a Post Office carrier. They lived at 305 Park Ave., Medina. Alice died in 1950 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
Harriett Bulmore was the wife of Fred Bulmore who owned the Synthetic Granite Vault Co. which was located at 514 Erie St., Medina. The couple resided at 117 Frank St. Harriett died in 1953 and is buried in West Ridgeway Cemetery.
Ethel Croach was the wife of Arthur W. Croach, a rural delivery mail carrier. They lived at 110 Elizabeth St., Medina. Ethel is buried in West Ridgeway Cemetery.
Bessie Gaze was the wife of W. Henry Gaze, a foundry worker. They lived at 207 William St., Medina. Bessie died in 1937 and is buried in West Ridgeway Cemetery.
May E. Montgomery, a linotype operator at the Daily Journal, lived at 210 William St., Medina. She died in 1955 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
Addie Servoss was the wife of Burt L. Servoss. She died in 1938 and is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.
Georgianna Strouse was the widow of Harvey Strouse. She lived at 409 South Academy St., Medina. She was a seamstress at the Robert H. Newell Shirt Factory for many years, died in 1970 and is buried in Millville Cemetery.
Our thanks to Todd Belfield for rescuing this photo which provides a glimpse into the past.
Photos and press release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s office
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) visited the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in Rochester on Thursday in commemoration of Susan B. Anthony Day earlier this month.
Western New York has a long history in the women’s suffrage movement, including one of Hawley’s relatives, Ella Hawley Crossett. Ella was an influential leader at the local level and was a long-tenured member of the executive board of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA).
Hawley is proud of Western New York’s history during the suffrage movement and hopes these local heroes will serve as an inspiration for future generations.
“It was an honor to be able to visit the Susan B. Anthony House,” Hawley said. “Our region has a rich history in the fight for women’s suffrage and equal rights. I hope everyone takes time to learn more about our history and the impact figures like Susan B. Anthony and my relative, Ella Hawley Crossett, had on our nation.”
ALBANY – CSEA and the State of New York reached a temporary agreement due to the ongoing security staff strike at New York State prisons. This agreement aims to protect civilian staff while maintaining prison operations during the strike.
Key provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) include:
No security duties for civilian staff
Personal safety measures
Fair scheduling
Limited civilian tasks in restricted areas
Programming suspension
Expedited assignment dispute process – If an employee believes an assignment is hazardous or violates the MOA, they can dispute it. Employees will have access to a CSEA representative and can refuse hazardous work under PESH. An expedited arbitration process will resolve disputes. The arbitrator will issue immediate verbal rulings, followed by written decisions and good faith efforts will be made to resolve disputes informally before arbitration.
“We applaud Governor Hochul for taking this action that protects CSEA members who have showed up to their jobs every day during the crisis,” said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan. “CSEA’s top priority is safety. CSEA members play a critical role in safeguarding inmates’ health and wellness, and these provisions ensure their safety while doing their jobs under these extraordinary circumstances.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 March 2025 at 11:57 am
ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association is looking forward to its Sip N’ Stroll tasting event on March 15, which will include some new stops and also a pedal bar.
There are 18 vendors who will be offering tastings of wines, ciders, beers, meads and other drinks. The stops include Dubby’s Tailgate, Hearth & Home Real estate, The Smoke Shop, Plaza Liquor Store, 39 Problems, Rise & Grind, Brushstrokes, Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, Arnold’s Auto Parts, Pretty Sweet Bakery, Project U, The Downtown Browsery, The Lockstone, J3 and Roots, and 101 East Bank St.
The AMA expects 300 to 400 people for the event, which is the AMA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The proceeds go back towards other community events and projects.
Tickets for the 4 to 7 p.m. are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. (Click here for more information.)
Marlene Seielstad, the event chairwoman, said the Sip N’ Stroll is a fun outing for many people and its brings them into the doors of many local businesses.
“It makes people aware of all the businesses we have in downtown Albion,” Seielstad said.
Provided photo: The Batavia Pedal Party will have a 10-person bike for the Sip N’ Stroll. The bike also is battery powered and equipped with turn signals, brake lights, backrests, seat belts and a platform area.
The route is stretched out from Dubby’s Tailgate near Route 31 and Platt Street, to the downtown and across the canal at the Lockstone. There will be a bus to give people rides or they could try the Batavia Pedal Party, which has room for 10 people to power a pedal bar.
Karen Conn is on the committee working on the Sip N’ Stroll. She also owns the Hearth and Home Real Estate Professionals on East Avenue. She hosted one of the wine-tastings and will be doing it again on March 15.
“It was so fun,” she said about having so many people in the business to sip wine.
There will also be baked goods to sample and there will be live entertainment with Gary Simboli, Steve Novak and the Zackstreet Boys during the 4 to 7 p.m. event.
The committee includes Seielstad and Conn of Hearth and Home, Debbie Prest of Red Check, Rebecca Alexander of Dubby’s, Anita Finley of Oak Orchard Canoe and Kayak Experts, Faith Smith of Touch of Faith Cleaning, and Natasha Wasuck of The Lockstone.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 March 2025 at 8:48 am
Equipment and materials have risen dramatically, while state aid proposed to stay flat
Photos by Tom Rivers: Tracy Chalker, Clarendon highway superintendent and president of the Orleans County Highway Superintendents’ Association, speaks during a news conference on Friday afternoon at the Orleans County DPW garage.
ALBION – Local highway department leaders say a boost in CHIPS funding from the state would help the municipalities keep up with road and bridge maintenance.
A pothole has emerged on Butts Road in Albion near the railroad overpass. The highway departments in the county will be out when it warms up to fill some of the potholes. The harsh winter takes a toll on the local roads.
The costs for materials and equipment are up dramatically in the past three to four years. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget proposes keeping CHIPS at $598 million for the municipalities. Assemblyman Steve Hawley said the governor put an $800 million increase in the budget for the state Department of Transportation for its projects, citing the rising costs as the need for mor state funding.
Hawley said the vast majority of roads and bridges in the state are owned by towns, villages, cities and counties. They should see an increase in the state funding, too, Hawley said during a news conference in Albion at the Orleans County DPW garage. He would like to see a $250 million increase in CHIPS – Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program.
“Flat funding is a decrease,” Hawley said, noting the rising inflation.
Tracy Chalker, the Clarendon highway superintendent and president of the Orleans County Highway Superintendents Association, said an increase in CHIPS is needed to help the towns, villages and county keep the roads in safe condition for the traveling public.
“We cannot afford to stay flat or see a decrease in these programs,” Chalker said during the news conference.
Chalker said Orleans County municipalities are short-changed in part of the CHIPS formula that includes tourism. The county should be getting more state road funding for tourism because of the lakefront, canal towns, farm markets and other attractions, Chalker said.
About 25 highway leaders from Hawley’s district in Genesee, Orleans and western Monroe attended the conference.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley wants a $250 million increase from the state for CHIPS funding, from $598 million to $848 million. Hawley said the increase will help the municipalities keep up with rising costs for equipment and materials.
Chalker and many of the local superintendents will be in Albany next Wednesday for lobby day to press for more state aid. About 600 highway leaders are expected in the State Capitol.
“Do what is right for our infrastructure and keep it safe,” Chalker said.
Craig Lane, the Orleans County DPW commissioner, said the county paved 14 miles of roads last year. But with the rising costs for materials, “this year we’ll be lucky if we can do 10,” he said.
County Legislator Ed Morgan said the county budget is constrained by several state mandates that hinder the ability to spend on other local needs.
“So much of our county taxes go to the state mandates,” Morgan said.
Ed Morgan, a county legislator and retired Murray highway superintendent, said the state needs to “up and the ante” with road and bridge funding.
Well-maintained roads are critical for “trucks and tractors that are the lifeblood of our community,” said Morgan, who is retired from working 30 years as the Murray town highway superintendent.
“It’s imperative the state up and the ante and keep us competitive in Western New York,” Morgan said.
Local roads account for 87 percent of all roads in the state and carry 48 percent of all the vehicle miles traveled. However, they receive less than 12 percent of taxes and fees paid to the state for maintaining local roads, Hawley said.
A 2023 study of local highway and bridge needs commissioned by the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways found that municipalities would need $32 billion over 15 years to restore locally owned roads through repaving and improvements or $2.1 billion annually. That study was updated this year and the amount is up about 25 percent – $2.69 billion a year or $40.35 billion over 15 years because of the spike in construction materials costs.
Craig Lane, Orleans County’s DPW commissioner, said costs are way up for projects and equipment. The county opened bids for two bridge projects and the low bids were about $250,000 more than engineers estimated when the projects were in the design phase about three to four years ago. The county also received a new 10-wheel dump truck on Thursday which cost $257,000, up from $168,000 in 2022.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced the State-Level Departments of Government Efficiency Establishment Act or the State-Level DOGE Establishment Act to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse in state governments.
Specifically, this legislation conditions the disbursement of federal financial assistance, except for security-related funding, on states establishing an independent DOGE commission.
“DOGE is working diligently at the federal level to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. It’s time for state governments to follow suit,” Tenney said. “States like New York receive billions in federal aid annually, yet waste it on DEI initiatives and woke programs that are out of touch with the vast majority of Americans.
“It is imperative that these tax dollars are used properly and efficiently. The State-Level DOGE Establishment Act ensures that states create a DOGE commission to oversee the use of taxpayer funding and cut back on wasteful programs. If they refuse, they should not receive a dime of taxpayer money from the federal government.”
