Photos by Tom Rivers: New banners were installed about a week ago on Route 98 in the Barre Center hamlet to promote the town’s bicentennial.

Barre will celebrate its 200^th anniversary from June 29 to July 1. There will be a Bicentennial Festival on June 29-30 at the Barre Town Park on Route 98. Friday hours will be from 2 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. There will be a parade on Saturday, June 30, starting at 10 a.m. The parade route will be from East Barre Road north to the Town Park. There will be games, dances, music and food both days. There will be fireworks on Saturday, June 30.

In addition the Town Hall,  Fire Hall, Barre Center Church, West Barre Church, Pine Hill School House and the Pine Hill Airport will also be open for tours. Barre Center Presbyterian Church will be hosting a chicken barbecue on June 30 starting at 4 p.m. Tickets are pre-sale only and are available at the Barre Deli and the Town Hall. West Barre Church will be hosting a quilt show.

This banner celebrates the town’s agricultural roots.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent

ALBION – Family heritage runs deep in the Root family, even when it comes to trees.

In 1945, Arnold Root was going to plant an apple orchard on his farm near Millville, when his wife Ellen “Nell” said she would like a pear tree.

Arnold agreed and planted one lone pear tree among the varieties of apple trees. For years, Nell picked and canned the pears.

Generations would pass; Arnold ’s son Pierson married Lorraine Webber of Medina and took over the farm; and since Pierson’s death, his sons Dale, Scott and Robin have run the farm.

Recently, Dale’s son Joe and his wife Kari started their own farm operation, called Heritage Roots. They purchased the old orchard and decided to cut down the apple trees to plant a new orchard of modern varieties.

However, Dale’s mom Lorraine , who will be 90 this year, wanted a picture of the family with the pear tree, so it was left standing until the snow melted.

On Mother’s Day in May, the tree, full of blossoms, stood out among the bare apple tree stumps when Dale , Lorraine , Joe and his son Barrett posed for a picture, with Lorraine holding a picture of Ellen. Absent from the photo shoot was Joe’s sister Jessica, who does office work for the farm.

Joe said even though the orchard was one of the oldest on the farm, Arnold always called it the “new orchard.”

Joe said it was amazing to see the apple trees up to two feet in diameter, while right in the middle of the orchard was this pear tree, a mere eight inches in diameter.

“It was always said if you plant a pear tree, you plant it for your grandchildren, as it is slow growing,” Joe said.

Joe said they decided to cut down the old orchard because the standard trees had gotten so large, the help didn’t like trimming or picking them. The new varieties are miniature trees and are much more productive, he said.

A back part of the orchard was kept with trees which Pierson planted in the 1980s. Joe said they plan to keep that while they work to build a new orchard.

“The old pear tree was the last of a dynasty, but Grandma knew things have to move forward,” Joe said. “And Pierson would have understood.”

Lorraine said it was an example of how one busy farmer had time to do something nice to please his wife.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Mary Lewis, owner of Creekside Floral in Medina, arranges a bouquet in her store at 509 Main St. Creekside recently had a grand opening to celebrate its move to the historic building Lewis and her husband Jerry purchased.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent

MEDINA – Mary Lewis started in the florist business almost 12 years ago when she purchased Muchow’s Flower Shop. While it was her first venture as a store owner, she was not new to the world of flowers.

Lewis is a daughter of Donna Goldhawk of Lyndonville, who is a member of the Schwab family who have operated Schwab’s Farm Market near Gasport for years. Lewis grew up working on the family farm.

Muchow’s had originally been started decades ago by Luther Muchow on East Center Street. When Lewis purchased the shop, it was located in the former Moose building on West Avenue.

Lewis had taken courses in floral design in college and had worked at Muchow’s. When she purchased the business, she named it Creekside and moved into a building near the creek on Maple Ridge Road .

Her next move was to 422 North Main St., where the business grew. This spring, an opportunity arose for Lewis and her husband Jerry to further invest in Medina and purchase a historic building at 509 Main St., a location which 50 years ago was occupied by Goodwin’s Pharmacy.

With four small children at home, Mary has her hands full, but she is committed to the business she loves. She has a full staff of floral designers, all of whom she has trained to do what she does, said Jamie Wagner, a floral designer.

“We are all fortunate she has shared her talents with us,” said Wagner, who credits Lewis’s reputation for making the business successful.

The new location has an upstairs, where Lewis plans to have classes, such as fairy gardens and wreath-making at Christmas time.

Creekside Floral is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Lewis is always available by phone when needed.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – These two state conservation officers – Vern Fonda, left, and Nate Mead – were among seven people to complete the “Murph Challenge” on Memorial Day in Lyndonville.

Fonda, a Lyndonville resident, has organized the event the past two years in Lyndonville by the Yates Community Library. Participants wear a 20-pound vest or armor and start the challenge by running a mile, and then must do 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats and one final 1-mile run.

Josh Wolgast, a conservation officer based in Niagara County, finishes the final mile of the Murph Challenge on Monday. He is joined for the last stretch by Rick Townsend of Lyndonville, who works for KeyBank in Buffalo. Wolgast finished the challenge in 40:44.65. Townsend was done in 1:29:50.68.

The Murph Challenge has been an annual event for more than a decade and is a fundraiser of the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Participants pay a $45 fee and their times and entered into a database. Torry Tooley, an Orleans County deputy sheriff, completed the challenge in 27:19.82, which is in the top 10 in the country. Many of the participants are law enforcement officers and active duty soldiers.

Michael P. Murphy was a United States Navy (SEAL). He was 29 when he was killed in Asadabad, Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. LT. Michael Murphy was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 27, 2007.

Murphy would push himself with fitness challenges, including the tasks in the “Murph Challenge.”

These participants do pushups, pullups and squats as part of the Murph Challenge, which had the added strain of a hot day on Monday.

Townsend has completed 12-mile “Tough Mudders.” The Murph Challenge was difficult, especially with temperatures in the mid-80s on Memorial Day.

“I do it for the challenge,” Townsend said.

He also wanted to support the cause – scholarships for children of fallen soldiers.

Nate Mead, a conservation officer in Cattaraugus County, completed the challenge in 46:02.33. He had a big blister on his right hand from the pullups.

He wanted to do a physically exhausting challenge on Memorial Day, to pay tribute to the soldiers “who had it a lot worse than we did.”

Fonda agreed that the challenge is a way to pay homage to fallen soldiers, such as Murphy, by offering some pain, sweat and tears. He made it through the challenge in 52:30.11.

“It’s grueling, but I can hurt for one day a year,” Fonda said.

Vern Fonda, left, and Nate Mead do squats for the Murph Challenge. They needed to do 300 while wearing a 20-pound vest.

Lucas VanDervort, a Brockport police officer and medic with COVA in Albion, said there is a fellowship among the participants, knowing that so many around the country are pushing themselves to finish the challenge.

“It’s a way to honor the veterans who sacrificed so much for us,” he said.

For more on The Murph Challenge, click here.

Lucas VanDervort, a Brockport police officer and medic with COVA in Albion, runs the final mile of the Murph Challenge on Monday. He completed the event in 52:02.83.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Yates Community Library in Lyndonville created a “Field of Flags” display on the school grounds near the Johnson Creek dam for Memorial Day. Each flag has a tag that is dedicated to someone who served in the military.

The warm weather has definitely arrived with a high near 80 today in Orleans County, followed by a scorcher on Wednesday, with a high near 91, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. An “extreme heat alert” has been issued for Orleans County on Wednesday with the heat index at 91 degrees. If you’re outside tomorrow, stay hydrated.

Thursday there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high near 85, followed by a high near 80 on Friday, when showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Members of the Honor Guard march in the Memorial Day parade in Medina.

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates with melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

The Honor Guard stands at attention during a Memorial Day service in Medina at State Street Park.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Honor Guard, which includes several local veterans, carries the flags during today’s Memorial Day parade in Medina. There was a big turnout in the downtown and along East Center Street.

Guy Eaton and other members of the Sons of American legion handed out 2,000 American flags to people along the parade route. This group includes, from left, in red, Jennifer Fisher, Morgan Chambers, Angie Jacobs, and Emily Chambers. Jacobs is Morgan and Emily’s mother.

Cpl. Pete Amos served with the US Army in World War II.

Lillie Strickland of Lyndonville is given a ride in the parade. She is one of two Girls State representatives from Orleans County. Carly-Grace Woodworth of Lyndonville is the other.

Kody Leno, left, and Ray Paull ride in the parade as Boys State representatives.

The Medina Mustang Marching Band played for the home crowd.

The band heads down Main Street and is headed for State Street Park.

The youth baseball teams joined the parade procession.

TJ Champaney, right, a member of the Pirates youth baseball team reaches back to toss candy to some of the spectators.

Medina police officer Christian Navas tries to stay cool on a hot Memorial Day. He was directing traffic near State Street Park.

Boy Scouts in Troop 28 walk in the parade. Johnathan Thomas is carrying the American flag.

The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company was a part of the patriotic display.

Medina Village Board members Tim Elliott, right, and Owen Toale pass out candy to children along the parade route.

These cars are decked out in American flags.

John Dieter, Cub Master of Pack 35, collects the flags after the parade.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Members of the American Legion and VFW posts in Medina worked together to have a flag-draped casket in today’s Memorial Day parade and also for the ceremony at State Street Park.

Veterans wanted to send a message about what the holiday is truly about – the sacrifice of soldiers’ lives.

Dave Kusmierczak is at left, with Emerson “Tinker” Young, center, and Adam Johnson behind him.

Adam Johnson, right, said many Americans just see Memorial Day as a care-free day for having a barbecue. The Medina veterans are hopeful people will pause and reflect on the meaning behind Memorial Day.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Sawyer Braley carries the American flag and Jeffrey Brown carries the flag for the Boy Scouts Troop 164 during this morning’s Memorial Day parade.

The Albion community observed Memorial Day with a parade down Main Street and a service outside at the Middle School this morning.

Albion drum majors Riley Seielstad, left, and Arella Ives wait with the band on East Park Street. Flags in the background are on the Courthouse Square.

Matt Passarell of the VFW checks the flag. He is a member of the Honor Guard.

Knights of Columbus members Pino Aldaco, left, and Greg Dugan carry the American flag in the parade.

Local Girl Scouts march in the parade, including Kaitlin Allen, holding the American flag.

Keaton Rowley, 3, of Holley is excited to see the fire trucks in the parade.

The Albion Marching Band gets ready to perform for the crowd on Main Street. Phoebe Allen, left, and Olivia Andrews are holding the banner for the band.

Trinity Moyer is a member of the Color Guard in the Albion Marching Band.

Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, left, and former State Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt are escorted in the parade. Nesbitt was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.

Dominic DiGiulio leads the West Barre Boy Scouts in the parade.

An enthusiastic crowd on Main Street waves to parade participants.

Some of the parade participants return waves to friends and other community members who attended the parade.

Photos by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – Veterans from the American Legion and VFW in Medina met at the VFW Saturday morning before leaving to place flags on the graves of veterans in five local cemeteries. Kneeling are, from left, Tony Vicknair, Veterans’ Service Director Earl Schmidt, E.L. “Tinker” Young, Ken Schaal and Jim Allport. Standing are Tom Walders, Dave Kusmierczak, Dave Barhite, Glenn Whitmore, Jim Freas, Johann Anderson, Dan Anderson, Mark Traxler and Steve Johnson.

Dave Kusmierczak, Jim Freas and Tony Vicknair place flags on the grave of veterans at Millville Cemetery on Saturday morning. This has been an annual tradition over Memorial Day weekend for many years. They also visited West Shelby, Shelby Basin, West Ridgeway and Bates Road cemeteries, as well as several smaller plots.

Provided photo: Albion Mayor Eileen Banker on Wednesday signed a proclamation declaring Friday as “National Poppy Day.” She is joined by members of the American Legion Auxiliary Sheret Unit #35 of Albion. Joyce O’Conner, left, is the Poppy chairwoman and Donna Boyce is the unit president. The Auxiliary sold poppies from Thursday through Saturday at Tops and Walmart in Albion.

Photo courtesy of Jason Smith: For the third Memorial Day, the Yates Community Library in Lyndonville has a “Field of Flags” on display on the school grounds. Each flag has a tag that is dedicated to someone who served in the military.

There are many events planned for Memorial Day in Orleans County. The schedule includes:

• Albion – The parade starts near the Orleans County Court House on Main Street at 10 a.m. and proceeds to the Albion Middle School front lawn where there will be a service near the Vietnam Memorial.
• Holley – Participants will form up at the American Legion Post at 10:30 a.m. with the parade starting at 11 and ending at the Hillside Cemetery.
• Lyndonville – The parade will start at 9 a.m. at the Catholic Church on Lake Avenue and end near the library on Main Street.  A ceremony will be held there. The Yates Community Library has arranged to have many flags in the school front yard.
• Medina – The parade will start at 11 a.m. at the Olde Pickle Factory building and proceed to the State Street Park where a ceremony will be held at about noon.
• Kendall – The town has its Memorial Day observance on May 30. Kendall alternates the location among three cemeteries. This year Memorial Day will be observed at Greenwood Cemetery on Roosevelt Highway (Route 18). The ceremony starts at 7 p.m.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley issued this statement about Memorial Day:

“Today is dedicated to the countless men and women who have given their lives to protect our freedom and way of life. The American dream is uniquely cherished and we owe our gratitude to the veterans who courageously defended it throughout our nation’s history.

“As a veteran, son of a World War Two veteran and member of the Assembly’s Veterans Affairs Committee for many years, our servicemen and servicewomen have always held a special place in my heart and are an inspiration for me to keep fighting in Albany.

“As you are enjoying this special day with family and friends, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on those who have given their lives so future generations can live free and thank a veteran in your life for their service. Lastly, always remember to be safe and responsible when driving but, most importantly, have a happy Memorial Day!”

Photos by Tom Rivers: Father Richard Csizmar was honored today at Holy Family Parish for his 50 years as a priest, including the past 24 years in Albion. Csizmar, right was presented this special decree from Pope Francis in honor of Csizmar’s 50 years as a priest. Deacon James Collichio is at left and Greg Dugan, leader of the Knights of Columbus, is at right.

Csizmar grew up in North Tonawanda and was ordained a priest at age 25 on May 25, 1968. His first assignment was serving for a year at a country parish in Cherry Creek, Chautauqua County, and then a summer assignment at Harris Hill in Williamsville.

He then served 25 years at Notre Dame High School in Batavia, teaching religion, coaching tennis and serving at St. Anthony and St. Joseph parishes in Batavia.

Albion was his first assignment as a parish priest, and Csizmar said he has treasured being a part of weddings, first communions, baptisms and even funerals.

“This is where it has been such a joy to be a part of the lives of parish families for such a long time, trying to put into practice the vision I have for Parish Life,” he said in a message to the parish.

After this morning’s Mass, Father Csizmar greets Tony Navarra outside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Csizmar’s sister, Diane Skomski, said her brother has been a source of pride for the family. He is known as “Rich” to his family. Though he may not be rich with material possessions, Skomski said her brother is rich in “kindness and compassion, generosity and love,” and love of fun, food, laughter, get-togethers, “and most of all, people.”

Csizmar has been devoted to people this past half century, she said.

“We all have benefitted from the love he has shown us,” she said. “Today is our opportunity to show him our love.”

Csizmar is a big baseball fan and he used baseball analogies to express his appreciation to the parish today. He also quoted the famous “Luckiest man on the face on this earth” speech from Lou Gehrig, the famed New York Yankee who died of ALS. Gehrig addressed the Yankee crowd on July 4, 1939 after he was forced to retire due to a debilitating disease.

“I consider myself one of the most blessed men in the world,” Csizmar said at a special Mass this morning.

Csizmar is unusual with his parish assignment to Albion lasting 24 years and counting. Most priests have much shorter stays with parishes. Csizmar said the Albion parish has been welcoming.

After the Mass there was a reception in Csizmar’s honor at the Lyceum. There will be another celebration for the priest with a dinner at Tillman’s Village Inn on June 10 at 4 p.m.

Deacon James Collichio said Csizmar has a “bubbly” personality and strives to connect with people.

“He is a very personable person,” said Collichio, who has been a deacon at Holy Family Parish for 38 years. “He is always lifting up anyone he meets.”

Roz Starkweather attends the morning Masses during the weekdays, as well as Mass on the weekends. She said Csizmar “goes above and beyond” in tending to the spiritual life of the parish, with special services and meaningful messages.

Csizmar thanked the parish for the opportunity to serve them.

“I just want you to know how blessed I am being here with you,” Csizmar told the parish today. “I have been transformed. I thank God for the abundance of your love.”

A member of the Knights of Columbus watches the Mass this morning at St. Joseph’s.

An anonymous donor paid for this tribute for Csizmar, with an emphasis on celebrating family.

Provided photo: Boy Scouts in Troop 164 in Albion spent part of Saturday washing cars at the Dunkin’ Donuts. The Scouts raised $508 to support the Scouting program.

Pictured from left include: Ethan Merrill, Jonathan Doherty, Oliver Beach, Donovan Braley, Sawyer Braley, Cole Spierdowis and Harrison Brown.

Provided photos: Aaron Miller, center, is pictured Friday during his Court of Honor ceremony on Friday during a celebration for earning his Eagle rank in Boy Scouts. Aaron, a senior at Roy-Hart, is a member of Troop 28 in Medina. He is pictured with his father Tim Miller, who is the scoutmaster; uncle Steve Miller; and cousin Christian Hahn, who are all Eagle Scouts in Troop 28.

Aaron made many memories on his journey to becoming an Eagle Scout. He enjoyed attending Philmont Scout Ranch, a high-adventure site in New Mexico, the camping trips and becoming a camp counselor at Camp Dittmer.

For his Eagle project, Aaron and his fellow scouts refurbished a stage for the Village of Medina, replacing the side rails and stairs as well as many rotted boards, sanding and repainting it and redoing the frame. That stage is used for the Memorial Day observance at State Street Park and other village events.

Aaron plans to enlist in the Marines and would eventually like to attend school for a law or medical degree.

Aaron does a “trust fall” exercise. He did one when he first entered Troop 28 and wanted to do another one at his Court of Honor.

Aaron Miller and his cousin Christian Hahn are flag bearers during the ceremony. Christian earned his rank of Eagle of March 31.