Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – With temperatures in the 80s today, many parents brought children to Bullard Park today and the splash pad proved popular.

This photo shows kids getting drenched at the splash pad at about 6:45 p.m. This was also opening day for Albion’s summer concert series at Bullard, with the concerts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

It won’t be so hot in the next several days with highs at 73 on Thursday, 71 on Friday, 72 on Saturday and 74 on Sunday.

Photos courtesy of GCC: Top row from left include Barry Chow, Heather Jones and Kelly Starchok. Bottom row: Paul Brew and Amy Westfall.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

BATAVIA – Five exceptional members of the Genesee Community College team have been recognized by the State University of New York for outstanding contributions to their profession, the campus and the community.

The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence is given in recognition of consistently superior professional achievement and encourages the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

“The SUNY Chancellor’s Awards represent the highest recognition of excellence across the SUNY System,” said Dr. Craig Lamb, president of GCC. “I am incredibly proud of our faculty and staff whose passion, innovation and dedication have earned this distinguished honor. Their work exemplifies the very best of Genesee Community College and our commitment to student success.”

The following faculty and staff members earned a SUNY Chancellor Award for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Paul Brew won the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. This award recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the State University’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.

Mr. Brew has been a member of Genesee’s history faculty since 2008 and has taught a variety of courses including American History, World History, and American Government to name a few. History can be a challenging subject to engage students and they may often not recognize its value.

Mr. Brew uses a variety of strategies and approaches to spark curiosity and guide students to make connections between historical information and the present. He also effectively engages students in historical inquiry through active learning strategies, debates and collaborative projects.

Amy Westfall won the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the Classified Service. These are system-level awards established by the university to give system-wide recognition for superior performance and extraordinary achievement by employees in the Classified Service. These awards demonstrate the university’s commitment to individuals who provide superior service to its students and the community at large.

During her career in the library, Westfall has demonstrated an exceptional ability to anticipate and meet the needs of faculty, ensure continuous and efficient library operations, and foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all members of the campus community.

Her contributions extend beyond her daily responsibilities, as she consistently advocates for students, identifies opportunities to enhance services, and offers guidance and support with the utmost compassion and discretion. Her role in facilitating a seamless transition during the relocation of the Learning Center and her personal commitment to student safety and well-being, are testaments to her profound impact.

Barry Chow won the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. This award recognizes the consistently superior service contributions of teaching faculty. This service must be sustained over multiple years and may occur in a variety of venues.

During his 26-year career at Genesee, Chow has been instrumental in fostering innovation, curriculum development and faculty leadership. His service to the college includes impactful presentations, committee leadership, and mentorship, shaping both academic policies and student engagement.

He has advised multiple student organizations, including the TV Club and Phi Theta Kappa, providing hands-on learning experiences that bridge theory with real-world application. Beyond the college, Barry has made contributions to the media and education fields, serving in leadership roles within the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the Television Academy. His professional expertise has influenced both institutional advancements and industry standards.

Kelly Starchok won the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. This award recognizes consistently superior professional achievement within and beyond the position.

Her passion for fostering student engagement led her to her current role as Director of Student Engagement & Inclusion, where she has redefined student involvement post-pandemic, creating an inclusive and dynamic campus environment. She has launched impactful initiatives and spearheaded the establishment of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) chapter at GCC.

Starchok’s management of over 30 student clubs, supervision of major campus events and hands-on approach (e.g., stepping into the College mascot costume when needed) demonstrates her tireless dedication. Beyond her position, her creativity and problem-solving are evident in her successful implementation of GCC’s Bus Services, ensuring accessible transportation for students. She actively participates in key campus committees and represents GCC in external leadership initiatives, including Leadership Genesee and national student engagement conferences.

Heather Jones won the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the State University’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.

Jones has been a GCC faculty member since 2008 teaching a range of courses including Drawing, Painting, 2D Design, Art History and Portfolio Development. Her teaching philosophy, rooted in learner-centered strategies and Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory, creates an engaging learning environment for students.

She utilizes a “5C’s” rubric to empower students to create and critique artwork using a guided approach to assessment that fosters a deeper understanding of the creative process. Beyond the classroom, Jones has demonstrated leadership through her work in art exhibits, illustration publishing, study abroad programs, collaborations with international institutions and innovative uses of technology. Her work as a Fulbright-Garcia Robles Scholar demonstrates her commitment to enhancing cross-cultural understanding through art.

Photo provided by Assemblyman Hawley’s Office: This photo was displayed at the podium of a news conference today.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) stood in support with his colleagues today at the state Capitol to denounce a new proposal from the Majority that would place a ceiling on the number of cows allowed on New York dairy farms (A.6928).

This initiative would prevent the Department of Environmental Conservation from giving any permits for new or expanding dairy operations that exceed 700 cows. While the Majority claims this policy will help improve environmental conditions, Hawley believes this bill will put an unnecessary burden on local farms and hurt our state’s agriculture industry.

Over the last 25 years, New York has seen a dramatic decline in the number of dairy farms across the state. From 1997 to 2022, the number of dairy operations decreased from 9,300 to roughly 3,000. This decline has picked up substantially in recent years as the dairy industry has struggled to turn a profit and keep up with operating costs. Hawley is adamant that this proposal will only accelerate this trend a push more dairy farmers out of business.

“While small-scale dairy farms are struggling to make ends meet, members of the Majority who have never stepped foot on a farming operation are trying to regulate them out of business,” said Hawley. “As a former farmer myself, the assertion that our local farms are destroying our environment is completely ridiculous.

“Working families across our state rely on our dairy farms for their basic necessities, and this proposal will only bring up costs and reduce availability. We cannot allow this out-of-touch proposal to hurt our rural communities, and I will continue to stand with my colleagues in the state Assembly to ensure this initiative is shut down once and for all.”

Photos courtesy of Law Enforcement Torch Run – Special Olympics New York

ALBION – Vern Fonda, an environmental conservation officer with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, carries the torch on Friday with other law enforcement officers during a torch run to benefit the Special Olympics.

He is leading a group down Route 31. This was the third annual torch run in Albion. The event is coordinated by the Albion Police Department and the Special Olympics. Some Albion students joined officers on the run.

Albion Police Chief David Mogle holds a torch during the start of the run that began in the parking lot at Dubby’s Tailgate on Platt Street.

Lt. Brandon Annable of the Albion Police Department took a turn holding the torch. He and the group are shown on the main driveway leading into Albion High School.

The group of law enforcement officers pose for a group before the start of the run.

Retired Rochester PD Sgt. Brett Sobieraski carried the torch for part of the run. Sobieraski, a  Carlton resident, has conquered many endurance challenges to raise money for Special Olympics and officers killed in the line of duty.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata stands at Lake View Park which was established through the REDI program – Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. This area used to be a turnaround along Lake Ontario. Big chunks of the land were washed out and eroded during high lake levels in 2017 and 2019. The town’s new sewer project with Hamlin will start near this park.

KENDALL – The towns of Kendall and Hamlin on Thursday will celebrate the start of construction on one of the bigger municipal projects in recent memory – a $17 million sewer project that will stretch about 15 miles in the two towns.

Two contractors are lined up and ready to start work on the project which serves about 270 residences in Kendall and about 30 in Hamlin.

Blue Heron Construction Co. LLC will be paid $8,326,480 to install low-pressure sewer collection system from Thompson Drive to Troutburg Cottages. The company will install will install grinder pumps, lateral connections and abandon septic tanks at each residence.

Rochester Pipeline Inc. is the low bidder at $5,380,730 to construct three sewer pump stations, and install sewer force main and gravity sewer from Troutburg Cottages to the sewer connection point in Hamlin. The three sewer pump stations will be near Lomond Shores/West Kendall Road, Troutburg Cottages and Hamlin Beach State Park entrance off Moscow Road.

Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said the “blue ribbon project” includes many different entities, including the two towns, counties of Orleans and Monroe, Monroe County Pure Water, the state parks system, and many other entities.

A section of Thompson Drive at the western end of Kendall was eaten up by Lake Ontario in the spring 2017. This photo was taken on May 7, 2017.

The cost was significantly higher than the initial $9 million earmarked for the project in 2019. The state offered to pay 95 percent of the cost through the REDI Commission, which was established with $300 million for projects along the south shore of Lake Ontario.

Kendall and Hamlin were able to get about $4 million more from the state towards the project, and access other grants to bring the project to an affordable costs for residents.

“This is a win for everybody,” he said.

Kendall and Hamlin officials will join dignitaries on Thursday for an 11 a.m. ground-breaking at the Lake View Park on Thompson Drive for the sewer project. Kendall used REDI funds to create a small town park at Thompson Drive. This area saw chunks of land eroded from the high lake waters in 2017 and 2019.

Many of the septic systems along the 15-mile project have septic systems vulnerable to high waters that could erode land for septic. The project will disconnect homes from the septic systems and connect them to a wastewater system.

Besides the 15 miles of force main via horizontal directional drilling, the project includes 3,431 feet of gravity sewer via open trenching, and approximately 5 miles of sewer laterals to private residences via open trenching.

This map from LaBella Associates shows the project area in Kendall and Hamlin.

Parade participants welcome for noon processional down 98

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kids look to scoop up candy tossed from vehicles in last year’s Carlton parade down Route 98 on June 1. This year’s parade will be Saturday starting at noon.

CARLTON – The Town of Carlton will have its third annual Home Town Day on Saturday wth a parade, food vendors, children’s activities and two bands.

Parade participants are welcome to be ready by 11:30 a.m. for the noon start of the parade. Participants should meet at the corner of Route 98 and Park Avenue.

Brenda Mufford s the parade coordinator. She would like to see fire departments, EMS and  law enforcement, as well as veterans.

She also welcomes marching bands and drum corps; youth organizations – sports, scouts and 4-H clubs; churches; elected officials; local businesses; civic, neighborhood and family groups; and classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors and golf carts. People can even walk the route with their dog.

Mufford said participants don’t need to RSVP, and can just show up. For more information contact Mufford by email at happygirl14411@yahoo.com or by phone, (585) 746-9688.

Carlton started the festival in 2023 to celebrate the town’s bicentennial. Town officials and volunteers want to make it an annual event on the first Saturday in June.

After the parade there will be kid activities at the Carlton Rec Hall until 4 p.m. The band Coupe De Ville will play at 1 p.m. followed by The Creek at 4 p.m.

There will be several food options from vendors.

Photo courtesy of Scott Robinson: Patients will check in at this window for the new primary care services announced this week at Medina Memorial Hospital.

MEDINA – Continued growth and addition of services continues at Orleans Community Health with announcement of the official launch of primary care services at the Medina Healthcare Center, effective as of June 2.

With a focus on comprehensive, patient-centered care, the new practice will offer services ranging from pediatrics to adult medicine – all in one convenient location, according to Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Orleans Community Health.

“We are pleased to introduce two experienced providers, who will lead this new chapter in community healthcare,” Robinson said.

They are Leah Brenner, CPNP, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner with more than 20 years if experience, who brings a well-rounded background in pediatric emergency medicine and general pediatric care, offering a compassionate and thorough approach to children’s health; and Pamela Eaton, A-NP, a board-certified nurse practitioner with more than two decades of experience in geriatric and adult internal medicine. She is well known locally and someone who care deeply about the overall health of the community.

“We’re thrilled to expand access to high-quality care services right here at Medina Memorial Hospital,” Robinson said. “This is a major step forward in continuing our commitment to the health and wellness of our community. Orleans County is in dire need of more primary care providers, and we’re excited to share that we’ll be adding more members to our team in the coming weeks.”

The Medina Healthcare Center is located on the first floor of Medina Memorial Hospital. In addition to primary care services, the area includes a surgery clinic (previously on the ground floor), ear, nose and throat clinic, wound care and podiatry. More specialty services are being recruited for this area, as well as a fundraising campaign to expand and enhance the center.

Appointments are now being scheduled at (585) 798-2550.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Sandy Climenhaga was named Albion Central School’s “Educator of the Year” on Monday. Climenhaga is retiree as a high school science teacher. “This district has such great teachers,” she said. “We love our kids.”

ALBION – The school district said good bye to several retiring teachers and staff on Monday, thanking them for their dedicated service to the students and district.

Mickey Edwards, the Albion school district superintendent, presents the “Educator of the Year” award to Sandy Climenhaga.

One of those retiring teachers, Sandy Climenhaga, also was recognized as the district’s “Educator of the Year.” Climenhaga teachers the Advanced Placement biology or living environment classes. She also received the “Excellence in Teaching Award” this year from the National Honor Society.

She was called a “truly dedicated and inspiring teacher” who is a vital part of the district’s science department by Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent.

Climenhaga has maintained a high level of energy and passion throughout her career, teaching high-level science classes and showing a big heart for her students, Edwards said.

“Students describe her as being unforgettable,” he said.

Climenhaga joined Albion Central School in 1996 as a substitute teacher. She worked in the middle school as a science teacher in 2008-’09 before being hired in the high school the following year.

“She positively impacts every student who comes into her classroom,” said Jennifer Ashbery, the high school principal.

Climenhaga runs AP study groups, and connects with students through Google and Zoom meets.

Climenhaga said she is “being humbled” to be recognized as Educator of the Year.

“The district has such great teachers,” she said. “We love our kids. This district cares about every kid and not just how they do in the classroom.”

Ricky O’Kussick, who retired after 28 years as a custodian, is congratulated by Board of Education member Curt Schmitt.

Ricky O’Kussick worked 28 years as a custodian, including 20 years in the middle school and the past eight years in the elementary school. He spent most of his career as the night leader of the custodial staff.

O’Kussick was well-liked for his friendly demeanor, and many took note that he kept his original photo ID badge his entire career.

“I liked everything about it,” O’Kussick said about the job. “I didn’t mind cleaning. I wanted the kids to come into a clean building every day.”

Albion also recognized Tim Mercer, who retired after 28 years and ended his career as director of facilities at a time when Albion was doing a major capital project.

Mike Thaine, who is retiring as the high school band and music teacher, is congratulated by high school principal Jennifer Ashbery.

Michael Thaine worked at Greenwood and Plattsburgh school districts before returning to his alma in 1998 as the elementary music teacher, introducing third- and fourth-graders to musical instruments. He worked in that role for nine years before becoming the high school band and music teacher.

Thaine led multiple groups – the marching band, jazz band, pit orchestra and many smaller ensembles.

He taught students more than music, said Ashbery, the high school principal.

He exemplified kindness, humor, love, compassion and service, she said.

Thaine could have a retired a year ago but wanted one more year with the students.

“There are so many great kids here,” he said. “I’ve always felt that. The best part of the job is the relationships with the students.”

Jennifer Holman was recognized for her career as a special education teacher.

Jennifer Holman has worked a special education teacher for Albion since 1996. She boosted students’ reading and other skills, Ashbery said.

Holman created a learning environment “that is the most enriching and welcoming classroom you can imagine,” the principal said.

Jill Albertson started with Albion in 2005 as the director of the Even Start program and then was an academic intervention specialist, before working several years as an earth science teacher in the high school. She was praised for her dedication to students.

Nancy Moore has worked as a teacher’s aide for 30 years, starting in the correction room in 1995 and then in a 6:1:1 special education class in the elementary school. Most of her career has been in a 12:1:1 special education classroom in the middle school.

Brad Pritchard, the middle school principal, said Moore is well versed in many subjects and has been very supportive of many staff in her career.

“Nancy’s dedication and work ethic made a difference in students’ lives,” Pritchard said.

He also commended Theresa Christopher for her career as a foreign language teacher. Christopher didn’t just teacher a foreign language. She exposed students to cultures, running cultural diversity nights for students and their families.

Christopher wanted a mastery level form her students, and would put in the extra time to help students reach a higher level.

“What a remarkable person she is who really cares about our students,” Pritchard said.

Retirees recognized before Monday’s Board of Education meeting include, front row, from left: Ricky O’Kussick, Jennifer Holman and Jill Albertson. Back row: Mike Thaine, Nancy Moore and Sandy Climenhaga. Others retirees include Theresa Christopher and Tim Mercer.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion, speaks with students on Sunday evening before they entered the church for the baccalaureate service.

Thaine gave the students a blessing before the service started.

“You and God are a hybrid,” she told them. “You are special together.”

She said the local churches are resources as they start the next chapters of their lives, whether they go to college, the military or right into the work force, whatever they decide to do. Thaine told the students they are always welcome to call her if they want someone to talk to.

“This service is a reminder that you don’t walk along,” she said. “You walk with God.”

Dillon DiGiulio lights a candle with other classmates during Sunday’s baccalaureate service. They also had the option of receiving a cross necklace and having a local clergy member prayer with them.

Father Mark Noonan, priest of One Catholic, prays with student Peyton Robinson. Many of the students asked the local pastors to pray with them.

Some of the class members posed for a group photo outside of the historic church. The service is optional for students. There were nearly 50 seniors at the service, which doubled the participation from a year ago.

The Rev. Dr. Brenda Bierdeman, a pastor at the Albion Free Methodist Church – Community of Hope, gave the keynote address. Bierdeman told the graduates that their everyday decisions, thoughts and words will determine the type of person they are and how they are known to others.

“What you do is not nearly as important as who you are,” she said.

Bierdeman urged them to be deliberate with their words, and not say whatever pops in their head. That goes for what they text and what they post on social media.

“Is it true, is it helpful, is it kind?” she asked the students.

She encouraged them to use language that lifts up others, and inspires confidence and courage.

She also urged them to seek out a relationship with God through Jesus.

“God will never turn his back on you,” she said.

Rori Higgins also shared a blessing with the class. Other classmates read scripture, including Leo Bolton, Oliver Beach and Madalyn Ashbery. Mallory Kozody also shared a prayer with the group.

About 250 people attended the service at the First Presbyterian Church.

The High School Select Choir sang, “Ave Verum Corpus.” Cassandra Brown also played a flute solo, “For The Beauty of the Earth,” and Mallory Kozody played a solo on her clarinet, “Come, Thou Fount.”

MEDINA – The school district will have its annual “Parade of Graduates” on June 13, when members of the Class of 2025 walk from the high school along a sidewalk past the district office, to the intermediate school and concluding at Vet’s Park.

Students will dismiss at 8:35 a.m. with the parade to start at 8:45.

“This is an opportunity to cheer on our graduates as they make their last walk through the district,” said Michael Cavanagh, the high school principal. “This should only take a few minutes, but definitely has a lasting impact on our graduates. Classes will resume as soon as the graduates have passed by.”

Parents and other spectators can park at Vet’s Park and line the sidewalk in front of Vet’s Park going towards the Wise Intermediate School.

“Parents can follow the seniors into Vet’s Park and sit in the bleachers to view a special ending,” Cavanagh said.

Kindergarteners will meet the seniors at the 50-yard line to share some “words of wisdom,” he said.

‘These organs are a treasure. The reason for these concerts is to show the public what a treasure they are.’

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Maarit Vaga presents flowers to Aaron Grabowski after his performance at the organ in Holy Family Parish during the Cobblestone Society’s fifth annual organ concert on Sunday.

ALBION – The annual progressive organ concert on Sunday to benefit the Cobblestone Museum was strongly attended, according to director Doug Farley.

“This was our fifth annual concert and 75 people registered ahead, in addition to several walk-ins,” Farley said. “We are thrilled attendance continues to be strong.”

The event began at Christ Episcopal Church, where former Orleans County historian and Cobblestone Museum director Bill Lattin welcomed guests. He explained there used to be six pipe organs in Court House Square, but now are five after one was removed at the former United Methodist Church.

“These organs are a treasure,” Lattin said. “The reason for these concerts is to show the public what a treasure they are.”

Lattin also pointed out the stained glass windows and urged the audience to notice the architecture and stained glass in each of the churches, all of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Doug Farley, left, director of the Cobblestone Museum, welcomes the 75 guests who attended a progressive organ concert on Sunday. The first concert was at Christ Episcopal Church, where organist Darryl Smith, visible at right,  played the 1877 Steere & Turner pipe organ.

Farley added how fortunate they were to have four very talented organists in attendance – Darryl Smith, Aaron Grabowski and Gary Simboli, who were part of Sunday’s program, and Scott Schmidt, a local organist who has participated in the progressive concerts in previous years.

Albion native Darryl Smith, who played the 1877 Steere & Turner pipe organ at Christ Episcopal Church, said she has been playing organ since high school. Her first job was as organist and choir director at the First Baptist Church of Medina. A graduate of Houghton, Smith has served in positions of music or discipleship at Brick Presbyterian Church of Perry, Barre Center Presbyterian Church and Albion Free Methodist Church.

“I love this organ because its pipes are vintage to its time,” she said.

The instrument is unique in that it maintains its original mechanical linkage, known as tracker action, between the keyboard and pipes. Lattin displayed a giant lever which youth in earlier years had to pump behind the scenes. The organ was rebuilt in the 1980s.

The Erakare family sings at Christ Episcopal Church, accompanied by organist Darryl Smith. From left are Susan Walders (mother of Bradeen Walders-Erakare, who is married to Sebastian Erakare), Maarit Vaga and her husband Jan Erakare, their son Sebastian and his wife, Bradeen Walders-Erakare.

Attendees next moved into the dining room for a wine and cheese reception, before crossing the street to Holy Family Parish (St. Joseph’s Church), where Medina organist Aaron Grabowski entertained on what was originally an 1896 Garrett House tracker organ. The console was moved to the front of the loft during changes made to the key and stop action, converting it to electro-pneumatic action in 1939-40 by Teller’s Organ Co. of Erie, Pa. The original tracker slider chests were retained. Air reservoirs were re-leathered in 1976.

House sold his company to Viner and Sons in 1898, making this original instrument of two manuals and pedal with 16 speaking stops one of his last.

The organ is currently being maintained by Parsons Pipe Organ Co. of Canandaigua, where Grabowski is employed.

According to the concert’s program, it would be safe to say pipe organs are a big part of Aaron Grabowski’s life. During the week he works full-time as a tuning foreman and organ builder for Parsons, and on weekends, he is music director and organist at St. Mary’s Church in Medina.

Grabowski began formal organ lessons at the age of 16, and after graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of Buffalo, where he received a bachelor’s degree in organ performance.

He was music director at St. Paul’s in Kenmore, where the Rev. Paul Whitney was serving before coming to Medina. It was due to Father Whitney that Grabowski came to Medina when the priest asked him to restore the organ at St. Mary’s. Upon seeing the charming hamlet of Medina, Grabowski suggested to his wife Gayle they should consider making Medina their new home. They purchased a Victorian home there in 2005, which they are restoring.

(Left) Darryl Smith sits at the 1877 Steere & Turner pipe organ at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion. She likes the organ because of its vintage pipes which she says are authentic to their time. (Right) Final organist in Sunday’s progressive organ concert was Gary Simboli, retired chorus and musical director at Albion Central School, shown here at the 1925 Moller Opus 4132 pipe organ at the First Baptist Church of Albion.

The third and final organ in the concert was at the First Baptist Church, next door to Holy Family Parish, where Gary Simboli demonstrated the 1925 Moller Opus 4132 pipe organ. Simboli is a graduate of Geneseo State College and is the award-winning instrumental music teacher (retired) from Albion High School.

The Moller organ replaced the church’s first pipe organ from 1883, and features two separate pipe chambers and pressure driven pneumatic action. It includes three manuals and 63 registers, producing a rich, romantic sound. The organ was rebuilt in the 1980s under the pastorate of the Rev. Bob Mowatt.

“This is an amazing instrument,” Simboli said. “I am not an organist. I had one lesson when I filled in for the regular organist. I like the different instrumentation of this beautiful organ.”

He was told because he had big hands he could play the organ, as he could reach the keys with his left fingers, which produced the sounds of the foot pedals.

The pieces Simboli chose featured the sounds of flute, chimes, trumpet, clarinet, oboe, harp and the full organ.

Aaron Grabowski sits at the organ in the loft of Holy Family Parish (St. Joseph’s Church) in Albion. The original 1896 Garret House tracker organ was converted to electro-pneumatic action in 1939-40 by Teller’s Organ Co. of Erie, Pa.

After the final concert, many concert-goers drove to the Tavern on the Ridge for supper. Among them were Joe and Linda Rak of Lyndonville, who said this was their first organ concert, but they would definitely consider it again.

“We like to do things in the community,” Linda said. “The music today was absolutely amazing. These churches were all so beautiful and in such close proximity. And the organists were so talented. It was a big learning experience to hear all the sounds an organ can make.”

One special attendee who Farley introduced was Carla Maul, who drove from Ellicottville.

“I love organ concerts and I Googled it, thinking I might find one in Buffalo,” Maul said.

She teaches a drum and bugle corps and plays brass. But she likes organ concerts for their individuality, she said.

“My favorite today was Aaron’s Cannanode,” Maul said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign on Route 63 in Shelby notes the Iroquois Job Corps, a center with space for up to 225 students served by 104 full-time equivalent employees.

The data presented by the federal Department of Labor to justify “pausing” Job Corps centers around the country is deeply flawed, the National Job Corps Association said.

On Thursday, DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced 99 Job Corps would be paused with programs suspended by the end of June, including at the local Iroquois Job Corps Center in Medina.

The DOL said the graduation rate nationwide at the centers is at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student a year at $80,284. The average cost per graduate is $155,600, according to the DOL.

The program also doesn’t tend to be a pathway to a career. On average, participants earn $16,695 annually on average when they leave the program, the DOL said.

But the National Job Corps said the DOL skewed the data, using information from 2023 when centers were still impacted by Covid restrictions.

“Job Corps has transformed the lives of millions of Americans,” Donna Hay, president & CEO of the National Job Corps Association, said in response to the DOL decision. “We agree with Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins that Job Corps saves lives. This decision, based on a deeply flawed report, needlessly endangers the futures and the lives of thousands and potentially millions more young Americans.”

Job Corps is currently operating at about half of its capacity because the DOL hasn’t allowed centers to do their own background checks on students. Since the DOL took over that duty in March, students haven’t been admitted.

Allowing more students would drive down the per-student costs, Job Corps noted on its website in response to the DOL statements.

Job Corps is the nation’s largest residential career training and education program, serving people ages 16 to 24. The centers have a capacity for about 50,000 students but currently have about 25,000.

The students at the 99 centers need to be gone no later than the end of the month. Hay said more than 4,500 of those students were homeless before joining Job Corps and potentially face a perilous future. That figure amounts to 20 percent of current students but is as high as 50 percent at some campuses, she said.

Job Corps responded to many of what it said were false or misleading statements presented by the Department of Labor and widely reported in the media.

Graduation rate: The Job Corps graduation is historically closer to 60 percent, not the 38.6 percent from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.

“Like other schools and colleges, enrollment and graduates rates were depressed by Covid-19 policies,” Job Corps said. “Historically, Job Corps graduation rates have been above 60%.”

Job Corps said many students left the program because they were pushed to “college-ready” classes that did not align with their career goals.

Cost per student: The DOL said the cost per student for the program is less than $50,000. A report from the first Trump Administration put the cost at $34,301 per enrollee.

“The increase is due almost entirely to Covid-19 restrictions on the number of students Job Corps is allowed to serve, some of which are still in place,” Job Corps said.

The DOL said in its more recent report the Job Corps cost per student is more than what t costs to send a student to a four-year college. But Job Corps said a four-degree program can top $300,000 and only 49 percent of students in a four-year college program complete the degree on time.

Job Corps said that prior to Covid restrictions in 2020, the average cost per Job Corps graduate was $57,312.

Program failing to meet its mission: The DOL said Job Corps students are largely hired in minimum-wage positions, earning $16,695.

But Job Corps students placed in positions earned an average wage of $17.13 in 2023, more than twice the minimum wage of $7.25. Graduates earned annualized wages of more than $31,000, Job Corps said.

Incidents of violence: The DOL said there were 14,913 serious incident reports filed in 2023 at centers across the country.

“Per DOL’s reporting requirements, these ‘serious’ incidents include power outages and inclement weather, athletic injuries that require treatment, and adult students leaving campus without prior approval,” Job Corps said.

The National Job Corps Association urged people to contact their Congressional reps to help preserve the program before students are sent off campus in the next few days.

“ Job Corps plays a vital role in our economy,” the association said. “It strengthens local communities by preparing young people for the workforce, supplying local businesses with skilled, ready workers, and driving economic growth.

“Across the country, Job Corps graduates fill essential roles in healthcare, construction, IT, and more – industries where talent is urgently needed. Eliminating Job Corps would not only hurt individuals, it would undermine businesses and communities that rely on a pipeline of trained workers to thrive. For many reasons, Job Corps is needed now more than ever.”