Provided photo: from left include Carol Williams, Sharon Pollock, Marv Christ, John Spinks, Melvin Artis, Joan Christ, April Flesch and Lynda Standish.
Press Release, Albion Elks Lodge
BATAVIA – The Albion Elks Lodge on Sept. 30 hosted a chicken barbecue picnic for the long-term residents of the Veterans Medical Center in Batavia.
Veterans were able to invite a guest to join them which may have included a family member, friend or staff member. Music was provided by Elk members, Ken and Bonnie Draper with Moonshine productions, and each veteran also received a coupon book for free haircuts for a year.
Elks members had the pleasure to help the residents to their tables outside, and serve them chicken barbecue smothered in sauce, buttery salt potatoes, cowboy beans loaded with bacon and hamburger, fruit salad, corn bread and desserts.
“It was fun watching the veterans singing along to their favorite songs from yesteryear, but having the opportunity to sit and visit with our veterans was a highlight for our Elks members,” said Veterans Committee Chair Sharon Pollock.
The weather was beautiful and all participants enjoyed being outside in the mid-70 degree weather.
This opportunity was made possible by a grant obtained by the Elks National Foundation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2025 at 8:12 am
ALBION – Matthew Howell, a lift bridge operator in Knowlesville, sent in this photo of the sunrise. He took it on the Presbyterian Road bridge this morning.
The canal lift bridges and locks are currently operating from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The canal system will close to boaters at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3.
This year is the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary. It’s also the 201st navigation season. The Canal Corp. anticipates opening the canal for its 202nd season in May.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 October 2025 at 10:29 pm
This photo posted by the Firematic Supply Company shows a new ladder truck being built for the Medina Fire Department. The photos, which were posted Oct. 17, offered a weekly progress report on the truck. Firematic, a dealer for Pierce Manufacturing, reported that the torque box was merged on the chassis followed by body installation at the start of initial apparatus assembly. The next report may show completed initial assembly and the beginning of the final assembly.
MEDINA – A new concern has emerged with the village’s quest to acquire a new ladder truck: Will the federal government be functioning to approve the loan to pay for the truck?
Medina is getting close to receiving a new ladder truck from Pierce Manufacturing in Wisconsin. The truck was scheduled to be delivered to the Medina in December, but it looks more likely for January, said Fire Chief Steve Cooley. Village officials were aiming to have a new addition on the fire hall to accommodate the new truck, which won’t fit in the existing building. The truck is taller and will need more clearance.
Medina is now looking at keeping it in the DPW building in the short-term while the board mulls how to handle housing the truck long-term.
The payment for the truck is a new worry for the Village Board. The federal government shutdown, now in its third week, could hold up financing for the new truck. Medina in June 2023 agreed to pay Pierce Manufacturing $1.7 million for the ladder truck.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved financing at a 4 percent interest rate for a loan for the truck. The USDA payment would be made when the truck is delivered.
However, the village would need a functioning federal government to access and get approval for the money to be paid to Pierce.
“We’re depending on the federal government to be open because that is who our loan is through,” Mayor Marguerite Sherman said during this evening’s Village Board meeting.
Village Clerk-Treasurer Jada Burgess told the Village Board that the Medina’s financial consultant advised the village to begin the process of seeking a loan from a private bank for the truck. The village could put the financing out to bid to see what lenders would be willing to charge Medina with an annual interest rate. Right now, that rate is unknown, Burgess said.
Switching to a private lender could be a $15,000 to $20,000 charge by hiring a bond counsel, and that doesn’t include interest rates that are expected to be higher than the 4 percent from USDA, she said.
Medina could initially use a loan from a bank and then pay off that loan with the one from the USDA if the federal loan can’t be accessed on time. But the village would still incur some expenses for bond counsel and the initial elevated payment(s) if the loan is at a higher rate than what is offered by USDA.
The slight delay on the truck’s delivery gives the Village Board more time to consider the matter, especially if the federal government shutdown continues. Burgess said it could be a six-week process to access the loan once the government reopens.
Board members said there is still more time for the shutdown to end and the government to have the funding in place before Medina would have to pursue alternative financing.
Photos and information courtesy of Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club held its second annual Oktoberfest on Saturday at the White Birch Golf Resort in Lyndonville.
The Die Wiesen (festival goers) enjoyed lively, traditional German music performed by The Frankfurters German Band. Their performance featured authentic Bavarian bell music and several pieces played on the Alpine horns—both instruments deeply rooted in the Bavarian Alps region of southern Germany.
Guests were treated to a hearty German buffet featuring bratwurst, sweet and sour cabbage, and pork schnitzel, followed by apple streusel for dessert. Of course, Oktoberfest beer also made an appearance and was enjoyed by all the attendees.
This year, the Lions added a new highlight to the program – the crowning of Oktoberfest Royalty. This fun tradition pays homage to the origins of Oktoberfest, which dates back to the early 1800s. The very first Oktoberfest was held in southern Bavaria to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Guests from Munich traveled to the royal festivities, which featured horse races, music, and plenty of Bavarian beer.
Since then, Oktoberfest has become an annual celebration held in late September and early October, drawing millions of visitors to Munich each year — and it’s estimated that over one million gallons of beer are enjoyed during the festival.
The Lions also introduced the Traditional “Shot Ski”, a lively addition that has become a staple at modern Oktoberfest celebrations. The tradition traces its roots to Alpine skiers in the Bavarian Alps, who began sharing shots together from a single ski to celebrate camaraderie and good cheer.
The Lyndonville Lions Club would like to thank everyone who supported this year’s Oktoberfest fundraiser and helped make it such a success. We hope all who attended had a wonderful time celebrating with us!
Looking ahead, the Lions are excited to host several upcoming community events, including the annual Village Christmas Tree Lighting in late November and the second annual Snowflake Bowling Tournament on Saturday, February 28th. Additional details on these events will be shared soon.
As we move through the beautiful fall season, the Lions extend warm wishes to all and ask that God continue to bless our community and this great nation we call home.
Provided photo: Employees at the Orleans County Department of Social Services dressed in purple and posed outside the County Administration Building in Albion as they participated in “Purple Thursday” to raise awareness of domestic violence.
Press Release, Orleans County Department of Social Services
ALBION – Employees at the Orleans County Department of Social Services participated in “Purple Thursday” last week in recognition of survivors of Domestic Violence. October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, bringing awareness to domestic violence within our community.
Part of that awareness is reminding the community that domestic violence is not limited to physical or sexual abuse but can other forms like emotional or financial. Domestic violence is also not gender specific and can impact anyone, regardless of age, gender, race or sexual orientation.
If you or someone you care about is a survivor of domestic violence in need of support, know that there are services available locally and at the state level. Please contact Orleans County Domestic Violence at 585-589-3159 during normal business hours, call the 24/7 NYS Hotline at 800-942-6906, text 844-997-2121 or go to www.opdv.ny.gov.
For families in Orleans County, the early years of raising a child are full of joy—but they can also be filled with questions, stress, and uncertainty. That’s why Oak Orchard Health (OOH) in Albion is offering extra support to local families through a national program called HealthySteps—and it’s already making a big difference.
Local Help for Families with Young Children
HealthySteps began a year ago and is a free program for families with children from birth to age five. To date, we have helped 142 families in Albion. Every child under age three that is seen at Oak Orchard is automatically enrolled. The program adds an important member to the care team: a Healthy Steps Specialist who works closely with your pediatric provider to support the entire family.
“Our goal is to support the whole family—not just the child,” said Dr. Karen Mawn, a pediatrician at Oak Orchard in Albion and the program’s physician champion. “Sometimes that means helping with a referral, and sometimes it’s just listening and reassuring a new parent that they’re doing a great job.”
This nationally recognized program was made possible by a three-year grant, and Albion is the only OOH site currently offering it. Our Warsaw office has already been accepted in the program—we are working on implementation.
What Does HealthySteps Offer?
The program provides extra support at your child’s medical visits, as well as follow-up and care coordination. The HealthySteps Specialist can:
Talk through parenting questions and challenges
Address anxiety, stress, postpartum depression, or family well-being
Screen for child developmental delays and autism
Help connect families to WIC, food programs, and housing services
Offer guidance on speech delays, sleep struggles, and child behavior
Support mothers in recovery or those facing substance use challenges
Families are matched with the right level of support based on their needs. Some may have check-ins every few visits, while others receive help at every well-child appointment.
More Than Just Medical Care
What makes HealthySteps stand out is its focus on the whole family. The HealthySteps Specialist doesn’t just talk to moms, they also talk with grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers. All are included. If your family is raising a child under five, the HealthySteps Specialist is here for you, too.
Unlike typical pediatric visits, which are often limited by time, the Care Specialist is available to follow up, offer emotional support, and guide you to services you may not have known were available.
“It’s like having an extra teammate who’s focused on your child’s development—and your family’s well-being,” Dr. Mawn added.
A Community-Based Solution
HealthySteps also plays a key role in addressing critical social drivers of health—the non-medical issues that affect families, like food insecurity, housing instability, and access to childcare. With direct links to local support programs, the HealthySteps Specialist can help families get what they need to stay safe, healthy, and stable.
How to Get Started
If your baby or young child receives care at Oak Orchard Health in Albion, you’re already part of the HealthySteps program. Ask your pediatric provider about meeting the Specialist and learning more about the resources available to you.
To learn more, call Oak Orchard Health in Albion at (585) 589-5613 or find out more during your child’s next appointment.
Your family’s well-being is our priority—every step of the way.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 October 2025 at 9:26 am
Business run by Albion family honored for more than 50 years on Ridge Road in Brockport
Photos by Tom Rivers: Linda and Tim Kirby, front, have been part of Kirby’s Farm Market for more than 50 years. The business was started in 1970 by Tim’s dad George and George’s brother Bob. In back are their daughter, Stacey Kirby Steward; daughter-in-law, Mandy Kirby; and son, Chad Kirby. They are shown in front of the market with some of their pumpkins.
BROCKPORT – A business run by an Albion family has been welcomed into the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry, which honors businesses that have endured for more than 50 years and also are an important part of their community’s fabric.
Kirby’s Farm Market is located just outside Orleans County on Ridge Road in the town of Clarkson. The market was built in 1970 by George and Bob Kirby, brothers from Albion. Since 1989, it has been run by George’s son, Tim and his wife Linda.
The site today offers fruit and vegetables, including 320 customers on a weekly subscription in a Community Supported Agriculture membership that goes for 23 weeks. Kirby’s remains a farm-driven operation that has expanded into a gift shop and greenhouse market.
Most of the fruits and vegetables are grown in Albion. Kirby’s is a “regenerative farm” with a strong focus on healthy soils and plants.
“We’re growing the most nutrient dense food possible,” said Chad Kirby, who has worked full-time at the farm the past 12 years. “Healthy food is medicine.”
This photos from the 1950s shows Dennis Kirby on the tractor with his sons, from left: Francis, Bob, George and John.
Chad, 34, earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and was planning to be a physical therapist. But he switched to farming with his family, believing he good make a bigger impact on the health of the community by offering fruits, vegetables and nutritional knowledge.
He has added some fruits and vegetables to the market, including tatsoi, a leafy Asian green. Chad also is the Orleans County Farm Bureau president.
Chad’s wife, Mandy, is a key part of the market. She switched from being a school teacher to working with the public at Kirby’s.
Chad’s sister, Stacey Kirby Steward, also helps run the market, and keeps up Kirby’s social media presence, website and newsletter. She also works on the events at Kirby’s with open houses and greenhouse tours.
“The focus is connecting with the community,” she said.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley will present the honor of being in the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry to the Kirby’s on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
The Historic Business Preservation Registry was established by the State Legislature in 2020. The program is administered by the Division for Historic Preservation at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. No business in Orleans County is currently listed in the registry.
Some nearby businesses in the registry include Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport, Max Pies and Chapin Manufacturing in Batavia, Liberty Pumps and Viking Valhalla Restaurant at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, and Lapp Insulators LLC in LeRoy.
The Kirby family is shown inside the market at 9739 West Ridge Rd., Brockport. Linda, Tim, Mandy, Chad and Stacey have turned the site into a farm market with a gift shop. On Tuesday at 1 p.m., Assemblyman Steve Hawley will present them with the honor of being in the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry. The sign notes Kirby’s is a “regenerative farm” with a focus on healthy soil and plants.
Linda Kirby said she became aware of the registry when Lift Bridge Book Shop was honored. Kirby’s was encouraged to apply for the distinction by Town of Clarkson officials. Linda completed the application, which also needed testimonials from the community.
The Kirby family for many years grew tomatoes for large processors, including Hunt-Wesson which closed in Albion in 1970. Other large canning factories in the county also closed around that time. Duffy-Mott shut down in Holley in 1971 and H.V. Heinz closed its Medina site in 1963. The area also lost the Morton Canning Company, Wallace Dale Canning Factory in Barre Center and the Birdseye Plant in Medina.
The Kirby brothers needed a market for their product, a market that wouldn’t suddenly shut down and leave them in the lurch.
When the brothers were considering their future, they stopped by Zehr’s Market in Burt, Niagara County. That farm had a market, and the customers came right to the site to buy directly from the farm.
“My dad was impressed by what they were doing,” said Tim Kirby, George’s son.
George also was a people-person who enjoyed interacting with the public. The farm market was a great fit for him.
The brothers considered locations for their market and what they could afford. They wanted to get close to the larger population base in Monroe County. The site for their market used to be a melon farm.
Tim and Linda Kirby have run Kirby’s Farm Market together since 1989.
Tim Kirby has been part of the operation since the beginning. His wife, Linda, started working there in 1972. Tim and Linda became owners of the site in 1989.
The Kirby family grows most of the produce in Albion for the market. The site in Clarkson also has 30 acres of good sandy soil for growing crops.
Kirby’s Farm Market looks a lot different from its early from a one-room garage-style building to a cozy market with a gift shop. Kirby’s has five greenhouses and they start their own seedlings in March that they then can transport into the fields.
The market also has thousands of annuals in the spring. The perennial area has expanded to hundreds of varieties. Kirby’s has extended its season into December, offering Christmas trees, wreaths and Poinsettias.
“We’ve changed with the times,” Tim said. “But we remain farm-driven with a focus on consistency.”
Construction of Route 18 started in 1920s in Orleans County
Photos by Tom Rivers: Roosevelt Highway at the Yates-Carlton town line is shown on Saturday.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 37
A recent drive along Route 18 prompted the question: Which Roosevelt is the Roosevelt Highway named for?
As is often the case with a seemingly simple question, it led to many layers of discovery. It transpires that this is a road of many names. It was originally known as St. John’s Road, most likely from St. John’s Lutheran Church in the Countyline hamlet. It is now generally referred to as Route 18. In addition to being part of the Roosevelt Highway, it is also designated as the Great Lakes Seaway Trail.
This gas station operated from 1930 to 1943. Arpeako was a hot dog brand.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt would seem to be the obvious choice for the road name because of his association with efforts to stimulate the economy during the Depression. Also, he was a friend of Orleans County Judge Bernard Ryan. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt visited the Ryans on two occasions.
But the honor goes to Theodore Roosevelt.
Shortly after his death in January 1919, a civic group in Minnesota proposed the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway, an automobile trail across the north of the country, from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon. The name was later changed to Roosevelt Memorial Highway, though Roosevelt Highway is the most common usage.
The first reference to the road in the Orleans County newspapers was in a July 3, 1919, edition of the Lyndonville Enterprise. The North County Notes correspondent wrote: “Preparing to make the new Roosevelt Highway attractive, D.E. Kenyon and John Beckwith are giving their buildings a new coat of paint.” We detect a note of humor there.
The Olcott Beach to Somerset section of the Roosevelt Highway was completed in 1923. It traversed the famous fruit belt of Niagara County was described as “one of the finest drives in Western New York”.
In November of 1923, a 10-year plan for road development proposed a continuation of the Roosevelt Highway through Orleans and Monroe counties, on through Oswego to St. Lawrence County.
Roosevelt Highway at the Hard Road intersection is an area in the Kuckville hamlet in the town of Carlton.
The Orleans County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in March 1926 requesting the state highway department prepare plans for the improvement of county roads, including the Roosevelt Highway, a distance of 25 miles, connecting Monroe County through Hilton to Rochester and west through Niagara County to the Niagara Frontier.
W.J. Gallagher of Medina was awarded the contract to construct a concrete road from Countyline Corners to Kuckville, a 10-mile stretch which would include three small bridges as well as a bridge at Kuckville, “the longest highway bridge built in the county.” The cost to the county was $215,600, total cost was $678,000. “When finished it is expected to make a scenic and historic route between the Genesee and Niagara rivers, running at times along the southern shore of LO.”
The route was based on an east-west trail formed by Native Americans and early settlers, because of its proximity to the lake. The Medina Daily Journal of 21 August 1929 noted that several log houses were still in existence along the route but by then were being were used as farm buildings.
Soon “desirable summer home sites” such as these lots at Sunset Beach “reached by good auto roads” were being advertised. Nineteen people purchased lots the first week they were placed on the market.
Incidentally, there’s still a short section of road named St. John’s Road in the Town of Yates. It runs from Power Line Road to East Lake Shore Road.
Photo and information courtesy of Medina Mustang Band Boosters
Orchard Park – The Medina Mustang Marching Band traveled to Orchard Park on Saturday for their sixth competition this season. The weather was lovely and the crowd was enthusiastic as five bands performed.
Medina was the only SS1 band and they scored 79.45. Pioneer was the only SS3 band and they scored 75.25. LS2 had three competitors and Lancaster scored 85.05, Orchard Park 83.70 and West Seneca 81.275. The UB Marching Band performed in exhibition.
The 2025 NYS Field Band Conference Championships are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 26, at the JMB Wireless Dome (formerly the Carrier Dome) located at Syracuse University, 900 Irving Ave., where a total of 56 bands will perform in competition.
The bands are broken up into six divisions and the first group, SS3 starts at 8 a.m. The performances continue throughout the day ending around 9:40 pm. SS1, the class Medina is in, starts at 5:40 p.m. and Medina performs at 7:11 pm. More details can be found on nysfbc.org.
Ambulance crew delivers baby boy by roadside this morning
Press Release, Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley
MEDINA – The Village of Medina Fire Department Ambulance crew delivered a baby roadside this morning. This is the second baby that crews have delivered since Friday night.
Firefighter/Paramedic Stephen Baxter and Firefighter/EMT Paul Urquhart delivered a 5-pound baby girl Friday night at 7:28 p.m.
This morning at 10:05 while enroute to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, Firefighter/Paramedics Steven Long and Brian Bates delivered a healthy baby boy on the side of the I-390 near the I-490. The baby weighed 6 pounds, 14.9 ounces and is 19 1/4 inch long. After delivering the baby boy, the crew resumed transport and turned over care to the teams at Strong.
This is Long’s second field delivery and the first delivery in the field for the Bates.
Congratulations to both mothers and both crews this weekend for their exceptional work!
As you may remember, we had a crew deliver twins on July 4. That’s four babies delivered in just over 3 months!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 October 2025 at 9:01 am
File photos by Tom Rivers: A hallway at The Villages of Orleans was decorated last Oct. 26 for the first “Haunted Hallway” where residents and staff dressed up and passed out treats. The community is welcome to Haunted Hallway on Oct. 24-25.
ALBION – The “Haunted Hallway” will be back at The Villages of Orleans. Staff and residents will be decorating a hallway and welcoming the community to pass through and be scared.
The second annual Haunted Hallway returns Oct. 24-25 from 6 to 8 p.m. The community is welcome to dress up, too, as they venture down a scary hallway. There will treats waiting at the end.
Donations are accepted but not required for those who head down the Haunted Hallway. Those donations will go towards the Activities Department at The Villages, a nursing home at 14012 Route 31 in Albion.
Residents pass out candy to some of the children and their families who made it through last year’s Haunted Hallway. The residents said they enjoyed seeing kids dressed in their costumes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 October 2025 at 7:59 am
Kathy Harling sent in this photo of the sunrise on Saturday in Barre.
Today is forecast to reach 76 degrees in Orleans County, with a chance for showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Will it be our last 70-degree day until next spring?
The overnight low tonight drops to 49 and then the highs in the coming days include 59 on Monday, 63 on Tuesday, 54 on Wednesday, 54 on Thursday, 53 on Friday, and 55 on Saturday.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 October 2025 at 8:44 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Heather Smith sits in the conference room of Velocitii, the company she purchased three years ago with partners Brian O’Neill and Jeff Brandt. Velocitii has been named Business of the Year by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.
MEDINA – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year is proud of its accomplishments during only 11 years in existence.
Velocitii was founded by Roger Hungerford as a business process outsourcing company which provides customer service, technical support and back office work on behalf of other companies, said Heather Smith of Webster, chief executive officer.
“Roger wanted to create a company that was about job growth in the area,” Smith said.
Smith joined the company in 2020 as chief operating officer and rose to CEO six months later. She purchased the company three years ago with her partners Brian O’Neill and Jeff Brandt. The company has grown from 55 employees when Smith started to 180 now, most of whom work from home.
“We have tapped into the market of people looking for virtual work,” Smith said. “It works for us.”
Velocitii’s customers are from all over the United States, Smith said, one of which is from the local area.
Among their customers are a waste management company in the Northeast and a regional health care company in the Northwest.
The services they provide their clients include customer service, technical support and customer support, such as processing health care claims and accounts payable and receivable.
Velocitii has won a Top Workplaces Award for the last three years, based on a third-party survey of employees’ engagement and satisfaction.
Smith said she is proud to have tripled their size since joining the company. She praised her entire team for their efforts in building a culture where clients want to work with them and employees want to work for them.
“It’s an honor to have built a culture that has been recognized by an external organization,” she said. “Our goal is to keep growing. Our entire team is very excited about this Chamber award. It was a pleasant surprise.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 October 2025 at 8:21 am
Community faces challenges with housing, healthcare, lack of childcare, food insecurity
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado gets a tour of Community Action’s Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More store during his visit on Tuesday. Here, he talks with Cassie Healy, manager of the store; Renee Hungerford, Community Action’s chief executive officer; and Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer.
ALBION – Staff of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee welcomed Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado to the main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More store on Tuesday, where they shared their agency’s many services and struggles with budget cuts.
Delgado toured the store and visited with Renee Hungerford, CEO; Jackie Gardner, COO; Melinda Daniels, executive assistant; Ryan Lasal, director of Community Programming; Barbara Shine, board member; and Cassie Healy, Community Development and ROMA manager.
Hungerford explained the programs Community Action offers, saying the agency has come a long way in the last five years.
“We’ve rebuilt our programs to focus on the differences we can make with people and achieve meaningful outcomes, rather than focus on only services,” Hungerford said. “Our mission is to help people become self-sufficient. That means we partner with people and provide support as they help themselves. Resources are scarce, so outcomes are monitored to ensure services are meeting the objectives for which they are intended.”
Some of the programs discussed included High School Credit Recovery, the Prom Program, the new Fresh Start Center, Veterans’ Telehealth program, Case Management/Emergency Services, Head Start and Early Head Start, Project Salus, Child Care Resource Center, Weatherization, Cooling and Door-Through-Door Transportation services. Hungerford also shared information on the Holley Community Center, where a prepared meal is served five days a week. They are also working with Orleans County Mental Health to bring mental health services to the Holley Center.
Lasal spoke of the lack of childcare, which is an epidemic in Orleans County, he said. He said the demand is not even close to being met, and the county has run out of money from the Child Care Assistance Program to fund childcare programs. Community Action is doing its best to subsidize what they can to keep children in Head Start programs, but this is not sustainable, Hungerford said. Parents, including key staff members, are facing the decision of leaving a job due to the inability to afford daycare. This is then exacerbated as staff shortages impact what service that can be offered.
Staff of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee welcomed Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado to the Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More store on Tuesday. From left are Amanda DeSantis, chief of staff for Delgado; Melinda Daniels, executive assistant at Community Action; Delgado; Renee Hungerford, chief executive officer of Community Action; Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer at Community Action; Ryan Lasal, director of Community Programming; and Barb Shine, a member of Community Action’s board.
Hungerford also discussed the local shortage of healthcare services, saying the ratio of individuals to primary care doctors has been more than 13,000 to 1, and just recently dropped to a little under 10,000 to 1.
“Our agency has a strong focus on addressing the ‘social determinants’ of health, such as food insecurity and shelter, to help people stay healthy and try to minimize the burden on the healthcare system,” Hungerford said. “We are a Medicaid 1115 waiver participant, which expands services we are able to provide eligible customers.”
Dunham discussed the Weatherization Program, saying there is a waiting list of one year for people needing help with home improvements. They have a crew of four very dedicated and capable workers, she said, who are determined to make a home comfortable and affordable for a family to live in.
“The feedback we get from their work is ‘Wow!’” Dunham said.
Hungerford added there are concerns with many of their funding sources, including LIHEAP, which could impact the future of the Weatherization Program.
Delgado asked what their biggest concern was, and Hungerford said, “Food and housing.”
“Housing is a big problem,” she said. “When people come to us for emergency shelter, we have nowhere to put them, except in a motel. Housing has a complex layer of needs, in that we need emergency housing, transitional housing, first-time homebuyer support and support for people who own, but need to renovate and repair our aging housing stock. At the other end of the spectrum, if we could attract more businesses, we would need housing that is suitable for potential employees who could move into the area.
She also said we need to attract more businesses, because there aren’t enough jobs, especially well-paying jobs.
“Our population is declining and that is not good for the economy,” she added.
Delgado said his visit is part of his goal to visit Community Action agencies across the state.
“It’s important to touch as many agencies as I can to see what’s going on and to understand the growing need,” he said. “The numbers are growing and the lines are getting longer. I hear that everywhere I go.”
The lieutenant governor’s visit comes as Community Action of Orleans and Genesee celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 October 2025 at 4:24 pm
YMCA starting new programs for cooking, chess and winter rock wall climbing
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Andrew Houseman, new senior program director at the Orleans County YMCA in Medina, stands in the newly-remodeled kitchen, where the Y expects to start cooking classes soon.
MEDINA – Andrew Houseman has been preparing himself to take on the role of leading a YMCA.
“This has been my goal all along,” said Houseman, who began his duties as senior program director of the Orleans County YMCA on Oct. 6. “I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. I’m very happy to be back in my home town.”
Houseman, a Medina native and son of Shawn and Lacy Houseman of Medina, formerly worked as lead trainer at the GLOW YMCA in Batavia and is passionate about revitalizing local programs and expanding opportunities that help strengthen families and promote healthy living. He brings renewed focus on community connection, family engagement and accessible wellness for all ages.
“The YMCA was a big part of my childhood,” said Houseman, a former YMCA youth athlete. “I grew up playing sports here, and it’s incredible to now give back in my leadership role. My goal is to ensure everyone, from kids to seniors, feels welcome, included and excited to be part of what we’re building.”
In Batavia, Houseman helped manage several successful projects, including the rollout of EGYM, which quickly became one of the region’s most successful member engagement initiatives. With a background in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the University of Buffalo, he brings a data-driven and people-first approach to program development.
Under his leadership the Orleans County YMCA is expanding its offerings to serve a wider range of interests and activities. He has several new programs ready to launch, including chess and cooking classes.
The cooking classes will be Bible-based, focusing on foods that were eaten in the Bible.
“Our focus on the Bible is a return to the ‘Christian’ origin of the YMCA,” Houseman said.
Another initiative is a winter program to use the rock wall.
Andrew Houseman stands by the chess tables at the YMCA, where he hopes chess games will become a popular pastime.
An avid chess player, Houseman has already started the YMCA Chess Club and had one evening of chess, and while participation was small, he hopes it will pick up. Play is open to all ages and players may bring their own board and pieces. Games are at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Rec Room. Play is free for members and $5 for non-members.
On Oct. 25, the YMCA will welcome all to an open house to meet Houseman and the staff. The day will feature free popcorn, no-join fees for new members and a chance to register for new programs. The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon.
Starting Oct. 29, a six-week program of hockey drills and skills will begin for ages 6 to 13. Participants will build skills, practice drills and scrimmage every night – from 6 to 6:50 p.m. Cost is $50 for members and $80 for non-members. Players can register at glowymca.org.
Other events include pickleball at 8 a.m. Sundays, starting Nov. 9. Play is free, but members and non-members must register to play.
Other upcoming highlights include new group exercise classes designed for all fitness levels and schedules, and the continuation and growth of the YMCA’s highly praised youth sports programs, including efforts to collaborate with local schools to introduce more kids to the benefits of teamwork and physical activity.
“We want the Y to be a true community hub – a place where families connect, kids develop lifelong habits and friends, and adults feel supported in their health journeys,” Houseman said. “There’s truly something for everyone here.”
The Die Wiesen (festival goers) enjoyed lively, traditional German music performed by The Frankfurters German Band. Their performance featured authentic Bavarian bell music and several pieces played on the Alpine horns—both instruments deeply rooted in the Bavarian Alps region of southern Germany.
