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Landmark Society honors Bill Lattin, Cobblestone Museum for stewardship of historic sites

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 December 2021 at 8:07 pm

Fancher Memorial restoration also recognized by preservation organization

Photos by Tom Rivers: Bill Lattin, in this photo from August 2015, paints the trim on a window of the Gaines Basin Schoolhouse, a former one-room schoolhouse he helped to save from the brink of ruin.

ROCHESTER – The Landmark Society of Western New York is honoring Bill Lattin for a lifetime achievement award for his decades of work preserving numerous local sites, and his efforts to highlight local history.

The Landmark Society also will present a stewardship award to the Cobblestone Museum for its 60 years as a caretaker of properties that are a National Historic Landmark.

The Town of Murray also is receiving a special citation for its effort to restore the Fancher War Memorial on Route 31 in Fancher, a monument to 10 soldiers killed in World War II.

The awards will be presented during a virtual ceremony on Dec. 12.

Bill Lattin – Jean France Special Achievement Award

Lattin will receive the Jean France Special Achievement Award which recognizes “accomplishments that have occurred over a lengthy period of time.”

Lattin has been a caretaker and storyteller of Orleans County history for the past 50 years. He is officially retired as Orleans County historian and Cobblestone Museum director. He served in those roles for 35 years. (He retired from the museum in 2010 and from the county on Dec. 31, 2014.)

But he remains an active force in preserving important local sites and documenting history.

“Bill has advocated for local history for over six decades, through countless tours and publications,” the Landmark Society said. “The foremost authority on all aspects of Orleans County history, Bill continues his involvement with preservation and museum programming, lifetime commitments for this accomplished community activist.”

Bill Lattin welcomes visitors to the Vagg House on Nov. 7, 2020 following the Cobblestone Museum’s annual meeting. Lattin led the transformation of the Vagg House, at the corner of routes 98 and 104, into a home decorated in the 1920s and ’30s. Lattin spearheaded the restoration of many of the sites on the museum’s campus in the past 40 years.

After the Cobblestone Museum acquired the Vagg House at the corner of routes 98 and 104 last year, Lattin led the efforts to curate the former home of blacksmith Joe Vagg and his wife Nellie, who was active in the temperance movement. The house is filled with antiques and is decorated the in a 1920s, ’30s theme, with many of the early electrical appliances. Lattin even built an outhouse for the site to help it match the others on the museum’s grounds.

The Vagg House is a new “jewel” in the Cobblestone Museum’s crown, said Doug Farley, the museum’s current director. The house can be used for small gatherings of less than 30 people, such as meetings, rehearsal parties or teas, and other museum events.

In 2020, Lattin also helped relocate a log cabin built by Boy Scouts in 1930. It went from an Albion backyard to behind a cobblestone school built in 1832 on Gaines Basin Road. Lattin has been a key worker on saving that school in recent years. He has handyman skills and deep connections to rally the community to a cause. That school and the log cabin are recent examples. But that mission started long ago. He was a key leader of the Save the Tower committee that raised $30,000 in the mid-1970s for the Civil War Memorial at Mount Albion Cemetery. Lattin has given new life to many local structures.

Cobblestone Society and Museum – Stewardship Ward

The Cobblestone Museum will be honored with a stewardship award for its care of a campus that is a National Historic Landmark and includes this church that was built in 1834.

The Cobblestone Society and Museum will be presented the Stewardship Award for its efforts preserving and maintaining three cobblestone buildings – a church, a home and a school – on Route 104, and for saving other sites in the museum campus, including outhouses, a former town hall, harness shop, print shop and voting booth and other important community artifacts.

Kevin Breiner, a mason from Brockport, works on one of 14 new concrete piers underneath Farmers Hall at the Cobblestone Museum, in this photo from August 2019. The building was previously the Kendall Town Hall. It was taken apart and reassembled in 1978 at the Cobblestone Museum on Route 98. It’s one of several recent repair projects at the museum.

The Stewardship Award recognizes an individual or organization that has provided continued care of and commitment to the preservation of an architecturally and/or historically significant public property over a period of years.

“For 60 years, this organization has focused on the history and architecture of this iconic type of stone masonry,” the Landmark Society said. “Highlighted by one of the largest cobblestone churches in North America, their multiple-building campus is the only designated National Historic Landmark in Orleans County. The museum maintains an extensive archives, as well as the on-going Cobblestone Info Base, with data on all known cobblestone buildings in the U.S. and Canada.”

The museum recently announced it is working to acquire the 1834 “Brick House,” a stately red brick home with six fireplaces. The museum wants to put on an addition to make the site a visitor’s center with new modern bathrooms and meeting space for up to 100 people at the intersection of routes 98 and 104. The museum has raised more than $400,000 out of a $750,000 goal for the initiative.

The site would be an Orleans County welcome center and would promote businesses and other tourism sites in the county.

Fancher War Memorial – Special Citation

The Fancher Memorial was rededicated on Aug. 14. Richard Christopher of Albion places a commemorative wreath by the monument in Fancher. Richard is the son John Christopher, who was killed on November 26, 1943 when the transport ship carrying his unit was struck by a German glider bomb and sunk off the coast of Algeria. He was laid to rest at the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunis, Tunisia. John’s brother Joseph also was killed during the war. Another pair of brothers from the Fancher community – Leonard and Martin Licursi – also died in the war.

The Landmark Society picked the restoration of the Fancher War Memorial for a Special Citation. The monument at the “Fancher Curve” on Route 31 honors 10 local soldiers who were killed in World War II.

The memorial is a four-faced clock in a stone monument made of local sandstone. It gradually deteriorated over 72 years.

The crumbling mortar was chipped out and replaced with new matching green mortar. New movements for the clocks and new electrical service were installed. The flag pole was painted. New sandstone pavers were added as a walkway on the north side of the property.

Neal Muscarella, a mason from Albion, chips away old and loose mortar on May 27 on the Fancher Clock, a World War II Memorial at the curve on Route 31 on the east side on Murray. Muscarella put in new mortar, matching the original color green. He said this is the only sandstone structure that he has seen with green mortar.

And a new bronze plaque was mounted on the north side near the flagpole. The original plaque remains, but it is on the west side facing the guardrails and wasn’t in an easy-to-see location for most people to know the true purpose of the monument.

“The restoration of this unique World War II memorial was achieved via a remarkable partnership of town government, local historical society and a former Fancher resident/philanthropist,” the Landmark Society said. “With repairs completed by local craftsmen, the Medina stone tower, with clock, was re-dedicated this year, exactly 72 years after its original dedication in 1949.”

Local mason Neal Muscarella replaced the mortar, matching it to the original green. Dan Mawn put in new electric.

The Fancher community built the memorial out of local Medina sandstone as a tribute to 10 local soldiers who died in World War II. Those soldiers include John Christopher, Joseph Christopher, Cosmo Coccitti, John Kettle, Jr., Leonard Licursi, Martin Licursi, Richard Merritt, Camille Nenni, Floyd Valentine and Richard Vendetta.

About 200 people attended the rededication ceremony on Aug. 14, including family of some of the soldiers honored with the monument.

Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio said it should be clearer now that the site isn’t a municipal clock, but is a war memorial dedicated to local soldiers who died serving the country.

The project was funded with a donation from Fred Fiorito, a former local resident who now lives in the New York City area. He would typically home a few times each year to see family, including his brother Ted Fiorito. Fred noticed the memorial gradually deteriorate and wanted it to be a fitting tribute to the 10 soldiers.

Sidonio wants to keep Murray moving in right direction with help of community

Posted 30 October 2021 at 9:11 am

Editor:

I want every taxpayer and citizen to know that I have and will continue to work very hard for each of you. I give this job, Supervisor of the Town of Murray, every ounce of my attention, every bit of my integrity, and hours and hours of my time endeavoring to properly run the business of government.

I take the fiscal management of the Town seriously.

Expenditures of the taxpayer’s money is a balancing act between providing the essential services needed and adding value to the community to improve the lives of every resident while at the same time being conservative and efficient with your tax dollars. By applying conservative spending practices, in 2021 we reduced Murray’s tax rate by 2.1% We just approved our 2022 Preliminary Budget which reflects a reduction in our tax rate of 1.4%. That’s 3.5% of direct tax rate relief plus 1.79% in total levy reduction in my 1stterm.

To get our Town’s path forward we spent the past year and a half creating a new comprehensive master plan for our town. Purposefully taking our time to get it right because it matters for our future. This was done with professional guidance, a diverse volunteer committee and was inclusive of public opinion. It is nearing completion and adoption. Furthermore, we are reviewing our renewable energy laws to insure we are prepared as a community to address the ever-changing regulations.

We applied for a Farmland Protection Grant and were recently notified that we received the award. Murray’s Farmland Protection Plan will be the first of its kind in the County.

Water loss remains the most critical fiscal issue facing our Town. It’s a difficult and complex issue to correct. Over the last year we have analyzed the financials while the water department has mapped out a strategy to inspect every physical detail of the infrastructure. Together we have worked hard on this and have made significant progress. We are in a better position now, although the problem is not completely solved, but we will not give up. With renewed energy and ideas, we are resolved to find the failures and take corrective action, and to understand the whole.

Sustainable quality health care is the next most imperative financial issue. It is difficult and sensitive but must be addressed to ensure the ability to continue providing stability to our valued employee’s health care needs into their future.

The Fancher Memorial Re-dedication on August 14th, 2021 was joyous and brought the community together. The celebration honored that period of time; it honored the fallen soldiers; it honored the community that cared enough to build the memorial, and it honored the community now that did something special and meaningful thanks to the forward vision of the Fiorito Family. The event has renewed our commitment to history and our rededication to the principles on which America is founded and created a beautiful welcome to Murray.  https://townofmurray.org/world-war-ii-monument/

I have great hope for the Town of Murray. We started something big together. It takes time to see the results of the enormous effort we have put forth. Let’s continue working together for our future. There are so many opportunities for you to become involved in Murray. Please ask us how you can help!

I humbly ask for your vote.

Joe Sidonio

Town Supervisor

Murray

Community Action marks a ‘New Day’ and honors staff for milestone anniversaries with agency

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 June 2021 at 10:30 am

ALBION – The past year was a very difficult one for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, dealing with a pandemic, the passing of the former executive director and a good deal of turnover in key positions, new executive director Renee Hungerford told a packed room during an in-service event June 18 at Maison Albion for agency staff.

“We have themed the event, ‘A New Day,’” Hungerford said. “After all this, we are ready for a new beginning. It’s a new day.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, confers with Sean Ossont, president of Continual Care Solutions, whose new program ImPowr was presented at Community Action’s in-service event June 18 at Maison Albion.

The program focused on how Community Action is one agency that works together with partners to help people become self sufficient and rise up out of poverty.

A highlight of the day was a presentation by personnel of Continual Care Solutions, who have developed a program called ImPowr to simplify correlating data from each department.

Continual Care Solutions CEO Mike Kamish started his company three years ago. He designed ImPowr to cover all programs and services Community Action offers.

“It has the ability to do everything your agency has to do, all in one data base,” he said.

The morning began with opening remarks from Hungerford, and Community Action’s board chair Barb Shine and ROMA training by Jackie Orr, New York State Community Action Association CEO. ROMA, Results Oriented Management and Accountability is required by the state for all Community Actions.

Skip Helfrich, head of Leadership Orleans, led several team building activities.

After lunch catered by Chaps’ Elba Diner, a tribute to former director Ed Fancher, who died May 20, 2020.

Orr, Bonnie Malakie, director of Children’s and Youth Services, and Annette Finch, director of Emergency Services, presented a tribute to former director Ed Fancher was presented by

Orr, who read a poem she had written, while Finch and Malakie shared their memories of working for Fancher, who passed away from cancer on May 24, 2020.

Annette Finch, a 44-year employee of Community Action, is silhouetted against the screen showing the late director Ed Fancher with Assemblyman Stephen Hawley. Tears were shed as Finch paid tribute to Fancher, who passed away from cancer on May 24, 2020. Fancher was the agency’s executive director and worked for Community Action for 32 years.

“I talk from my heart,” Finch said. “I had started at Community Action in 1977 and in 1986 I got a call from Ed’s mother-in-law asked me if I could get Ed a job. She said he was just married and having a baby. I went to Mr. Pulley (director at the time) and told him Ed had been in the Marines and had done accounting. I asked what we could do about this young guy who wanted to work for us. Mr. Pulley asked me, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘I think we should give him a chance. Ed went on to become our executive director. We don’t want to go back in time, but we don’t want to forget the man Ed was.”

“I sit in my office and I see his chair. I talk to him, asking him to give guidance to us, to Renee and to the staff – to keep this agency’s mission. God love Mr. Pulley for bringing that wonderful man into our agency,” Finch added.

Malakie offered her remembrances.

“I know the reason you are all here is because your heart is in the right place. It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a year. I know what Ed would say. ‘Don’t talk about me for very long, if you have to talk about me at all.’ He was such a big part of our lives and Community Action. He truly loved Community Action, Head Start, the Main Street Store, all of which were under his leadership. He was a true servant leader. Nothing he expected you to do, he wouldn’t do himself.”

Malakie called Fancher consistent, humble, collaborative, committed, caring and giving.

“He did not like to be in the limelight,” she said. “He was highly respected in the community. He had been treasurer of every organization in the county, a Boy Scout leader, a member of the Albion Alumni Association, an active member of his church and its choir and member of many professional organizations.”

To be sure Fancher’s legacy is carried on, $5,000 in donations has been made to the Albion Alumni Association in his name. Steps are being taken to make sure the new Ed Fancher Memorial Scholarship Fund becomes endowed. A $2,500 per year scholarship will exemplify his life of service as director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee. It will be awarded after a student completes one year of college, having maintained a 3.0 GPA.

“As you go forward in 2021-22, don’t think about the past,” Malakie concluded. “It is what it is. It’s a ‘New Day.’”

The day concluded with recognition of employees for their years of service. Recipients who would have been honored in 2020 for 2019 were Lisa Church and Edna Schramm, 20 years; Cheryl Bartz and Judy Martino, 15 years; Joe Wright, 10 years; and Brenda Cook, Rachael Escobar, Teri Lester and Barb Miller, five years.

Those recognized from 2020 were Heidi Wyant, 30 years; Cathy Brien, 25 years;  Lisa Church. Edma Schramm, Bonnie Malakie and David Laraby, 20 years; Ken Pritt, 15 years; Carrie Moreland and Taryn Moyle, 10 years; and Julie Bailey, Virgie Brooks, Michelle Figueroa, Erin Mattison, Jessa Pollock and Tami Slingerland, five years.

New leader of Community Action has plans to move agency forward

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 October 2020 at 10:01 am

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Renee Hungerford, left, new director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, compares notes with Annette Finch, director of Emergency Services at CAOG.

ALBION – The new director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee brings a ton of credentials and a world of ideas to the table.

Renee Hungerford of Waterport was recently hired to replace former director Ed Fancher, who worked for Community Action for 32 years and passed away on May 24.

After Fancher’s death, CAOG’s board chair, Veronica Barhite, stepped up as interim director while the search for a new one began.

“We tried to find an interim, but in all of New York state, there were no interim directors available,” Barhite said. “So I offered to be that person. It has been a learning experience.”

The job was advertised and Bruce Schmidt was named head of the Search Committee.

“We were sent the resumes the end of August,” Barhite said. “But we knew right away who we wanted. Renee rolled right to the top of the list.”

Hungerford grew up in Cheektowaga and graduated from Maryvale High School. She got a degree in music performance at the University of Buffalo, a degree in business management at Bryant & Stratton and a bachelor’s degree in information systems at American Sentinel. She received her master’s in health informatics from Kaplan University, now Purdue Global.

She married in 1989 and has three grown children, ages 28, 25 and 22.

She had divorced and came to work at what was then Anchor Bank in Albion, where she met Mark Hungerford in 1993. Anchor became Washington Mutual, and then Chase Bank. Renee was vice president of business analytics at Chase when the company wanted her to move to Columbus, Ohio, but she decided to pursue her degree in informatics, because of her interest in medicine. She completed that in a year, she said.

“Many times during my career I have been offered the chance to relocate, but always refused for all the right reasons,” Hungerford said.

She had started dating Mark in 2005 and they were married in 2009.

Her career next included five years at Oak Orchard Health as director of informatics, quality and population health, during which time she took course work in data science.

Veronica Barhite, left, chairman of the board of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, chats with the agency’s new director, Renee Hungerford of Waterport. Barhite stepped in as acting director after the death of Ed Fancher Memorial Day weekend.

When Covid hit, Hungerford began working from home, and it was on one of those days she happened to see an e-mail about the opening at Community Action.

She started to call, then put the phone down, but she kept thinking about it.

“I was drawn to this,” she said.

She went to the kitchen to make a sandwich, then dropped down on the stairway and decided, “I’m going to apply for this.”

She figured she’d apply and forget about it, so she quickly sent off her resume. Then she realized she hadn’t included a cover letter and she wrote one the next day and sent it along.

“I didn’t think anything would come of it,” she said.

Hungerford called a friend and told her, “This really matters.”

Then she was called for an interview, and then a second one. She began work within the week.

Her start date was Oct. 5 and the first week was spent touring all the facilities and meeting all the directors in the area.

“In 30 years, I had no idea of the extent of things Community Action does,” she said. “The highlight was going to the Main Street Store. What a great place.”

“We are over the moon excited about Renee,” Barhite said. “She’s a perfect fit, with her variety of education and experience. She is a very visionary person. She’s looking at all the possibilities we can do to help people. The whole area needs a shot in the arm, and she’s it.”

Hungerford plans to fast forward Community Action into utilizing more technology.

She was amazed to discover that for some of the employees, this is the only place they’ve ever worked.

“They’ve never used the new technology, but there’s going to be more of it,” she said. “A lot of walls are going to be broken down, and we will start a technology upgrade next week. I have a lot of ideas.”

Hungerford was also amazed at the amount of buildings Community Action has throughout Orleans and Genesee counties.

“Technology can help us all work as a team,” she said.

Hungerford said Community Action doesn’t simply give handouts to those in need.

“It’s about making them self-sufficient,” she said. “They will not only receive food, they may also learn how to prepare it. They will not only learn how to apply for a job, but get the clothes for it. It will be the whole person package.”

Finch took Hungerford to the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley, and she was impressed with the site. Finch said they have a new generator at the Holley Center, meaning it can now be used as a warming center in the event of a power outage.

One of Hungerford’s plans is to cross-train everybody, so if someone is on vacation, another employee can step into the position.

“What touches me is Renee’s vision for this agency,” Finch said. “I’ve been here 43 years and this is the fourth executive director I’ve worked with. It’s scary, because I didn’t know what to expect. We wondered how much things were going to change. But I can see her heart is here. This agency is going to go places.”

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Sidonio can feel proud about accomplishments leading Town of Murray

Posted 6 November 2023 at 1:16 pm

Editor:

We need to give our thanks to the extraordinary person who has given more of his commitment to this community than almost anyone.

Joe Sidonio has been working to help this community be a better place for decades. To list just a very few of the amazing things he has quietly achieved for us all:

Joe was the first to see the possibility to restore the old Holley High School. It was he who secured the initial funding for the very first study and brought in those with experience from far and wide – against much nay-saying.  It took years to realize and many other people’s hard work, but Joe brought the very possibility to us by his vision and leadership.

Joe works every day to lower our taxes and reign in public spending.

Joe breathed the life into Mr. Fiorito’s vision to restore the Fancher WWII War Memorial.

Joe organized the first Farmland Protection Plan in the entire of Orleans County – a plan guiding our resource stewardship for future generations.

And so much more.

Singularly Joe Sidonio has had the courage to be the whistleblower to call out the forces of corruption in our local government. He has had the smarts to identify mismanagement of our hard-earned tax dollars and the honest conviction to vote “no” on the 2024 Murray tax increases. Valuing fairness for one and all he has taken steps to stop the entrenched government favoritism that permeates a self described, self-serving elite.

All of these things have benefited the lives of each and every citizen of this town.

All of the voices who choose to continue to overlook Joe’s accomplishments, constantly and aggressively strategizing and concocting to hurt him or belittle him or misrepresent him, do a disservice to our entire region – and they have missed a beautiful opportunity to uplift our town.

But those negative voices do not define him, they cannot take away the years of work he has done on our behalf, nor the generosity of time and thought he has given to this community, nor his deep appreciation for the honest people who everyday give their all, nor his personal generosity and care – particularly for those who are vulnerable –  nor the remarkable, respectful working relationships he has formed with professional women and men including the town supervisors of Orleans County and myriad others across the entire country.

Thank you Joe Sidonio.

My vote will be for you for Town Supervisor of Murray.

Mine is a vote of confidence, respect and thanks.

Amy Machamer

Murray

(Machamer is married to Sidonio.)

Sidonio worthy of support for another term as Murray town supervisor

Posted 22 October 2023 at 7:46 am

Editor:

While it’s disappointing that Joe Sidonio lost the Republican Primary for Murray town supervisor, it shouldn’t be the end of his political career – his many accomplishments speak for themselves and need to continue.

As I mentioned in my previous post, members of the Town Board and a few employees  convinced someone who Joe thought was his friend to secretly record him in a private conversation without his knowledge and use it to go as far as contacting the news media and Black Lives Matter to try to cause harm to Joe and his family. They’ve gone so far as putting this recording on a website to steal the election and further discredit Joe. This is just another example of a string of attempts to get him out of their way – don’t fall for it.

I agree that Joe shouldn’t have used that kind of language as it was bad but he was venting to someone he thought was his friend about how he was being set up. Joe has since apologized and realized what he said was in poor taste but those opposed to him want to use this as a weapon against him. I urge the Town Board members and the few disgruntled employees to stop their hateful, disrespectful behavior and apologize to Joe. If they don’t, it just further speaks to their character.

Joe is really a good person. When my wife passed away he was there for my family and I, he attended her funeral and even sent flowers, a true friend. He called every day to check on my granddaughter when she was about to give birth to make sure she was okay.

There are many examples like this in the community about Joe, he’s not the cold-hearted monster that his opposition wants you to think he is. He’s someone who really cares about people.

Since becoming Supervisor, Joe – an accomplished businessman with a degree in accounting – has demonstrated his ability to manage our Town finances better than anyone by keeping our taxes under control and putting emphasis  on our town’s water-loss problem.

As a veteran, I appreciate Joe’s commitment to the Fancher War Memorial. Joe is a Marine Corps veteran and it shows in his work ethic and his never give-up attitude.

As a fellow veteran and his friend, I will continue to support him in the November election and I urge every veteran, Conservative, Independent, Democrat and Republican to contact him and get to know him, and then vote for him in November.

Jim Johnson

Murray

Sidonio deserving of support in November during general election

Posted 29 June 2023 at 2:31 pm

Editor:

While it’s disappointing that Joe Sidonio lost the Republican Primary it shouldn’t be the end of his political career, his many accomplishments speak for themselves and need to continue.

As I mentioned in my previous post, someone who Joe thought was his friend secretly recorded him in a private conversation without his knowledge to try to cause harm to Joe and his family.

They’ve gone so far as putting this recording on a website to steal the election and further discredit Joe. This is just another example of a string of attempts to get him out of their way, don’t fall for it.

I agree that Joe shouldn’t have used that kind of language as it was bad but he was venting to someone he thought was his friend about how he was being set up. Joe has since apologized and realized what he said was in poor taste but those opposed to him want to use this as a weapon against him.

I urge the town board members and the few disgruntled employees to stop their hateful disrespectful behavior and apologize to Joe, if they don’t it just further speaks to their character.

Joe is really a good person. When my wife passed away he was there for my family and I, he attended her funeral and even sent flowers, a true friend. He calls everyday to check on my granddaughter who’s about to give birth to make sure she is okay. There are many examples like this in the community about Joe, he’s not the cold-hearted monster that his opposition wants you to think he is. He’s someone who really cares about people.

As a veteran I appreciate Joe’s commitment to the Fancher War Memorial. Joe is a Marine Corps veteran himself and it shows in his work ethic and his never give-up attitude.

As a fellow veteran and his friend I will continue to support him in the November election and I urge every veteran, Conservative, independent, Democrat and Republican to contact him and get to know him then vote for him in November.

Jim Johnson

Murray

Sidonio’s wife says he has long cared for community and good governance

Posted 26 June 2023 at 9:08 am

Editor:

As Joe Sidonio’s wife I have observed Joe over decades of service, and throughout his whole tenure as Town Supervisor in Murray.

Many of you may know Joe only through the tawdry letters and pointed arrows that are thrown at him. I see him for who he is. I see his work. I understand his intent. I see his joy in people, his respect for all and his incredible generosity – giving of time and resources to help so many.

It is incredible that he has chosen – and continues to be willing – to give of himself to this town. Thank you, Joe, for all that you do for this community.

Thank you for your courage to tackle the most difficult issues and stand tall in the face of adversity. You are always working to do the right thing and that is noticed and appreciated.

Thank you for lowering our town taxes! This is really, really, meaningful to every person in town.  We need to be able to afford to live here! Lowering taxes has taken a lot of hard work. Thank you.

Thank you for your vision for a healthy community, a community that is moving forward while safeguarding the things that we treasure such as our environment and our history, the beauty of our landscape, our fertile soils and the community that we will leave our children.

Thank you for making the effort to educate yourself about the proper procedures of good government so that important issues such as ethics, management and planning are done correctly – for the benefit of us all. I have watched as you have endlessly pursued training, asked authorities who know the proper answers, and been forever curious about not only what makes a good government, but why some towns flourish and others flail or fail.

Thank you for teaching us all that being involved in our community government is important –and rallying one and all to understand how local government works, to take note of what happens to shape the future of our town, and how our communal tax monies are spent and managed.

Thank you for giving a voice to the underserved and the unheard – and leading us forward to a future where each citizen – no matter their age, occupation, sex, where they went to school, their vision, race, popularity, ethnicity, religion or world view – is equal before our government and treated fairly before all of our government bodies. Too long we have lived in a community driven by fear where some residents are treated with kid gloves and others are purposely mistreated, persecuted and maligned. You have given each and every individual an equal voice.  Thank you.

Thank you for your hours of hard work and your years of volunteer service – Twenty years of giving – as a Marine, on Town and County Planning boards, as the Supervisor – and for the unseen hours and hours of work that you do every day to make our town a better place.  I do not think that the public knows how much time and effort you spend on the job of supervisor.  I think that many would be very surprised at the endless dedication that you have given to ensure that our town is governed properly.

Thank you for your ideas and also for the effort that you put into making other’s good ideas a reality. The list of ways that you have given to this community is amazing – breathing life into Dr. Fiorito’s vision for the restoration of the Fancher War Memorial and its subsequent National Register of Historic Places honor; initiating, sponsoring and funding the stipend for a high school essay contest entitled “The Jewel of Western New York”; paying for the first study about the feasibility of restoring the old Holley High School; establishing the first farmland protection plan in Orleans County…. And so many more initiatives. And now, the glimmer of a possibility of a Quarryman’s park!

Thank you for the bravery and tenacity – Never giving up in the face of years and years of abuse and bullying – even predating your tenure as Supervisor.  Thank you for not giving in to doing political favors in order to gain popularity and remaining true to your values despite the bitter backlash. Thank you for facing, every day, deceitful and calculated maligning of your character,  misrepresentation of your good intent, mean scheme after meaner scheme intended to cause you to fail. You are not the lies that they say about you. You are incredibly brave. Thank you for standing up to the bullies for us all – like David to Goliath.

Thank you for your role as watchdog of our dollars – Using your accounting training to manage correctly our town’s fiscal health.

Thank you for working so well with the leadership of other towns and state offices, elevating our town to a non-political status of note and respect.

Thank you for your respect for older generations, and your appreciation of those with different backgrounds. The warmth of your friendships far and wide, and the joy with which you engage and support such a wide range of people is a remarkable testament to the wonderful person that you are.  You make and keep friends wherever you go and each one treasures your friendship in return.

Keep up the good work you do for us! Voters, please help ensure that good government principles continue to be safeguarded.

Vote for Joe Sidonio in the Republican Primary on June 27.

Amy Machamer

Murray

Sidonio cites accomplishments for Murray, with plans for more

Posted 24 June 2023 at 9:00 am

Editor:

I entered politics to bring about change and am proud politics hasn’t changed me. There is an old political adage, “You must go along to get along” but there are some things I just can’t go along with when not in the best interest of Murray taxpayers.

Diversity and inclusivity are necessary components of good board dynamics. Differing opinions are healthy and open doors for discussion to new ideas and possibility. Town Boards must do more than pay bills and pass resolutions. They should not make decisions based upon short-term gain. Instead, they should consider the Town’s long-term future and understand the social and economic consequences of their actions. How will this affect people’s lives? Can the taxpayers afford it? What will the next generation inherit from us?

My political opponents say I have an agenda. They are right. My agenda has been clear since inception. To encourage and educate the next generation on how to become involved in local government; to end politics as usual and move Murray forward while preserving our agricultural heritage. To balance growth and development with our rural way of life with limited Government interference.

To be specific: New York State Town Law Article III is clear: the Town Supervisor has no more leadership authority than any individual board member. However, the supervisor’s primary responsibility is to act as chief financial officer in all fiscal matters. The town board, as a group, is the executive head of the town and must function as a body. There is no individual executive in town government like the mayor of a city or village.

To suggest that as Supervisor I’m doing what’s in my best interest is absurd. My family and I own farmland. We have no interest in selling or developing our properties. Our entire landholdings are committed to the NY State Certified Agricultural District program and committed to farming for 7-year periods. We have no business or commercial properties and we respect the property rights of other landowners and homeowners.

Volunteerism has been a part of my life for over 20 years serving our Country, County, and Community including Marine Corps Service, Orleans County Planning Board, Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors, Town of Murray Planning Board, and the past 4 years as your Supervisor.

My 12 years at County Planning trained me in forward thinking for our community so I volunteered to serve on the Town’s 7-member Comprehensive Plan Committee.  I presented to the Town and Planning Boards a vision for boat docks in the hamlet of Hulberton and the hope for a Quarrymen’s State Park in the old Nenni Quarry on Canal Road.

We have the first Town Ag and Farmland Protection Plan in Orleans County near completion. Other towns are now following our lead considering adopting similar plans which opens funding opportunities for tourism, generating jobs and sales tax revenue while preserving our rural way of life. The Fancher War Memorial has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington DC. This literally monumental group achievement has put the Town of Murray on the national map. We are not mired in mediocrity, rather our Town is leading by example.

We do have a good team of folks working at the Town Hall and there are a lot of people I work with professionally every day including other Supervisors, County and State officials. Town Government is town government. It is not to be taken lightly. It is serious business; it is not a family business. Some of the folks at the Town Hall need to realize this. We are not the private sector. We are accountable to you the taxpayers. You, the taxpayers are paying the bills. You, are the Supervisors of Town Government and that’s why we should be working for you, and not for any friends or cliques.

I am proud of our many accomplishments and am proud to be your Supervisor. Thank you for the opportunity to represent each of you.

Sincerely

Joseph Sidonio

Murray

Sidonio worthy of re-election as Murray town supervisor

Posted 13 June 2023 at 11:23 am

Editor:

It’s almost time for the Town of Murray Republican Primary and Joe Sidonio is being challenged by Gerald Rightmyer, a short-time town councilman.

Since becoming Supervisor, Joe, who is an accomplished businessman with a degree in accounting, has demonstrated his ability to manage our town finances better than anyone. That is, after all, the primary responsibility of town supervisor.

As a  Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Army’s 23rd Infantry Division, I also appreciate that Joe is a  U.S. Marine Corps veteran and it shows in his unrelenting work ethic.

I know that Joe has spent a lot of time on the Fancher War Memorial and doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He was even criticized by the wife of an elected town employee recently on Facebook.

Several of my friends who are also veterans have commented on their appreciation of Joe’s involvement in this and that we should all support him at election time.

In these trying times with the current state and federal government leadership there is very little patriotism on display anymore and when a patriot like Joe works tirelessly to honor these local veterans it’s really appreciated.

Joe was also the driving force to reduce the town’s 50 percent water loss that cost Murray water customers thousands of dollars a year in water we paid for but didn’t use. If Joe hadn’t been elected this would never have been addressed.

Joe’s opponent has been a town councilman for a short time now. What are his accomplishments? What is his platform? What leadership experience does he have? What qualifies him to run for Murray Town Supervisor?

I’m supporting Joe because of his work ethic and proven track record as twon supervisor, because he is not related to anyone in Murray Town Government, his opposition to corruption within the town government and because he has accomplished everything he promised to do including his  tax cuts all in his first year.

He deserves to be re-elected to continue his drive for a better, more efficient town government.

Jim Johnson

Murray

Truck driver OK after crashing into tree on 31A in Clarendon

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 May 2023 at 1:59 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

CLARENDON – A truck driver from North Carolina sustained minor injuries after going off Route 31A and hitting a tree.

The incident happened at about 12:20 p.m. The driver was transported by Monroe Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Law enforcement believes the driver had a medical condition that resulted in the accident, said Lt. Steve Fox of the Orleans County Sheriff’s office.

The tractor-trailer is owned by Dependable Freight Lines of Sacramento, Calif.

The tree may have prevented the vehicle from hitting a house.

The section of Route 31A between South Manning Road and Fancher Road is closed while law enforcement waits for a heavy wrecker to arrive and remove the tractor-trailer.

Several businesses selling bouquets of flowers this week for Supportive Care

Posted 26 February 2023 at 7:46 pm

Press Release, Supportive Care of Orleans

ALBION – Supportive Care of Orleans is excited to announce its annual bouquet fundraiser, a fun and unique way for the community to support their local hospice organization while enjoying beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers.

This year’s fundraiser will begin on Monday and will last until Friday, March 3.

Bouquets will be sold for $10 each and will be available at the following walk-up locations:

  • Albion Ace Hardware
  • Arnold Gregory Complex
  • Case-Nic Cookies
  • Dance Reflections
  • Evans Ace Hardware
  • George’s Fancher Rd Service
  • Holley Pharmacy
  • KeyBank in Albion
  • Lynn’s Salon
  • Medina Memorial Hospital
  • Supportive Care of Orleans
  • The Downtown Browsery in Medina
  • The Senior Center in Medina
  • Wild Flour Deli & Bakery

“We are excited to host our annual bouquet fundraiser in support of our hospice fund which directly helps the patients and families we serve,” said Julia Alt, development coordinator at Supportive Care of Orleans.

For the first time, Supportive Care of Orleans also partnered with Della’s Chocolates in Medina, giving people another purchasing option. The boxes of truffles were on a first-come, first-serve basis during the pre-sales. There will be some limited boxes of truffles available the week of the sale.

Stop by any of the bouquet walk up locations and help make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

“We believe that our flowers are a symbol of hope and positivity, and we hope that our event can help bring some joy and beauty into people’s lives while also supporting a worthy cause,” Alt said.

For more information on Supportive Care of Orleans and the annual bouquet fundraiser, please visit our website at www.supportivecareorleans.org or call us at (585) 589-0809.

About Supportive Care of Orleans:

Supportive Care of Orleans is a community-based organization on a mission to care for all those living with life-limiting illness in Orleans County, their caregivers, and their loved ones. We provide our patients and their families personalized medical treatment, counseling, spiritual support, and bereavement coordination.

Historic Childs: Musical Instruments – Part 3 – The Melodeons

Posted 9 May 2022 at 8:27 am

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director – Vol. 3 No. 12

GAINES – As we mentioned in an earlier article, the Cobblestone Museum musical instrument collection has been enriched with a variety of artifacts that represent by-gone eras of musical entertainment.

The Museum is actually quite fortunate to have in its possession two historic Melodeons. The first melodeon came to the collection in 2010 from Kent, NY and the second one came a decade later from the Fancher family in 2020.

During the latter half of the 19th century, Buffalo, NY was described as the “Melodeon Capital of the World,” which is odd considering many folks from this area today probably don’t even know what a melodeon is.  By definition, a melodeon is a small, reed organ with up to a five- or six-octave keyboard, usually housed in a piano-like cabinet.

The melodeon’s popularity in 19th century homes even exceeded that of the piano, which was more costly to produce and required frequent tuning.  The melodeon produces its sound by drawing air in through suction produced by a foot pedal bellows, the air then passes over metal reeds, to produce specific musical notes, all without the need for tuning.

The Buffalo connection was forged through the partnership of Jeremiah Carhart and Elias Needham, working under the employ of George A. Prince & Co. Music Store at 200 Main Street, Buffalo.  Their patent in 1846 solved several deficiencies found in earlier melodeon versions, hence their model became known as the “Improved Melodeon” as shown above.

The Cobblestone Universalist Church probably used an early melodeon, historically, to provide accompaniment for congregational singing. The Universalist congregation found here in the 19th century had ceased regular services in the church in the 1890s, when the parishioners moved to their new Pullman Memorial Church in Albion.

Daniel Heater of Kent donated a melodeon and stool to the Cobblestone Museum in 2010. On this instrument, players must continuously pump the right foot pedal to power the bellows while playing the keyboard. The left foot pedal is for volume control.

On some melodeons the legs are collapsible so that they could easily be moved. One local family in the past folded the legs up under their melodeon and loaded it on to their sleigh to take it to a gathering in order to have music. Unfortunately the museum’s melodeon is not currently playable, but it is still a lovely example of a popular instrument of the times and is a great addition to the museum’s collection.

Fancher House, South Main Street, Albion, circa 1905

More recently, the Museum was fortunate to receive another, albeit smaller, melodeon that harkens back to the “Fancher House” in Albion, having been passed down from Ida Baldwin Fancher (1858-1929), wife of Rev. Edward Fancher, and then to Mrs. Archie (Irene Hayes) Fancher (1897-1940). In 2020, Sandra Fancher-Bastedo donated her Fancher family heirloom to the Museum for posterity, on behalf of her siblings, children and many extended family members.

The Fancher melodeon, stands approximately 30″ high, 30″ wide, and 14″ deep, has a four-octave range with ivory keys. The bellows are attached beneath the keyboard and are pumped using the musician’s knees instead of feet.

In his book, “Trivial Tales,” author Bill Lattin tells a story about a certain Irishman who was his great-grandfather’s tenant in 1880.  Lattin knew that the Irish family was hard up and needed whatever help they could get. He approached the Poormaster and explained the family’s dire straits.  (At that time, before our current Social Service system, each town selected a Poormaster who made the decisions on who in that town should receive public assistance.)

The Poormaster agreed to check in on the Irish family.  A few weeks later, Lattin inquired once again of the Poormaster who offered the following reasoning for not extending public assistance to the Irish family. He said, “I went to see them, but we can’t help them, they have a melodeon in the house.”

His reasoning was, if they could afford a melodeon, they didn’t need assistance.  But actually, the story just goes to show the universal appeal and affordability of the simple melodeon in the 19th century household, unlike its more expensive cousin, the piano or reed organ.  The Irish family’s melodeon may well have been acquired second hand, or even been given to them at little or no cost.  By 1880, reed organs were replacing the melodeon as the instrument of choice.

Murray supervisor wants to keep momentum going with more improvements in town

Posted 6 January 2022 at 2:29 pm

Editor:

As I begin my second term as Murray Supervisor, I wish to thank those who have entrusted me to continue overseeing the affairs of the Town.

To those who are politically opposed, I offer a pledge to seek common ground to the goal of making Murray the best little town in America.

Change is a difficult thing to bring. It takes time and commitment. I never said it would be easy. Despite the political anxiety brought on by change, together we achieved many goals for Murray.

In December, after nearly 2 years of work we adopted our new Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. Funding set aside in 2019 and led by a committee of diverse residents with common vision, we created a living breathing document for our future.

Previous administrations provided a safe public water supply to our residents. Our new Water Superintendent, Dirk Lammes, is focused on improving the Water System’s operations and maintenance. Record numbers of leaks were located and repaired in 2021. New software is being installed and the Town will use ARPA Funding for infrastructure improvements. Mr. Lammes brings fresh ideas, shares his knowledge and encourages training for his crew. We now have a team of certified water operators managing our water system.

We appointed a new Code Enforcement Officer. Hired a Building Department Clerk who is central to the Planning and Zoning Boards and helps residents get started in the right direction. Several businesses are expanding and new businesses have set up shop in Murray. We are communicating with the Orleans County EDA on how to further improve our business climate.

A new legal team has been retained providing the Town with legal expertise for any legal matter. A new Tax Assessor has been appointed, joining veteran Assessor Lynn Wood, combining 44 years of experience to the office. We have a wonderful new web site. Installed state of the art technology to live stream our meetings. A new phone system is being considered to replace our antiquated phones, saving a bundle.

As promised, I’ve worked hard with the Town Board to budget conservatively resulting in 2 years of tax rate reduction. Refinanced Water Debt is saving you $631,000 over a 20-year period. Real estate sales remain strong with sales topping assessed valuations. Consequently, we are required to complete a town-wide revaluation in 2023. I call on every taxing jurisdiction – School, County, Village, Fire District and even the Library – to not take advantage of increased property values or use the 2% tax cap as justification for budget spending increases. We do not need more government simply because our homes are worth more.

For me the most rewarding accomplishment is the restoration and rededication of the Fancher War Memorial. No longer considered an old municipal clock it has been restored to its stately purpose honoring those 10 boys from Fancher who gave their lives in WWII. Even greater, it united a community to common purpose, created new friendships, shared visions and stands as a beautiful welcome to travelers in our Town. Thank you to Congressman Jacobs, Senator Ortt, Assemblyman Hawley and the Landmark Society for recognizing the significance of our monument, the community effort and ultimate sacrifice for which it stands. On behalf of all veterans and our community, thank you. It remains the largest community gathering for a dedication in Orleans County.

We are now at a crossroads. Complacency is not an option. We are working with grant writers to explore every opportunity. A newly formed committee will create the Town’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan, first in the County.

We will implement the Comprehensive Plan recommendations and monitor its progress. Our renewable energy laws are being reviewed. Further upgrades to the Fancher War Memorial are planned. Place a greater emphasis on Town history with more collaboration between our Historian, Murray-Holley Historical Society and the Town.

I welcome more intermunicipal dialogue between Murray and the Village of Holley. Let’s build on your great success with Holley Gardens.

Let’s all come together, explore ideas and continue building our future. We have plenty of room for and welcome everyone who have ideas and energy willing help our community.

Happy New Year.

Joe Sidonio

Murray Supervisor

Portraits and personalities from 2021, a year of persistence amidst a pandemic

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2021 at 4:30 pm

Each year I pick some of my favorite “people pictures” and others that highlight big news events or moments for the community.

The top photo shows Kendall teacher Dana Longrod running through a cloud of color powder on June 17 during a moving up ceremony for Kendall sixth-graders. Longrod joined the students in the color run after being recognized by students and his fellow teachers for a 35-year career as a Kendall elementary teacher. During the moving up ceremony each student presented him with his favorite drink, a can of Mountain Dew, or his favorite snack, a glazed donut.

Greg Rosato, right, of Gaines climbed a tree on Jan. 1 to free a skydiver who was stuck and dangling 65 feet up in the air next to the Pine Hill Airport in Barre. The airport is busy on New Year’s Day with many skydivers setting a New Year’s resolution to jump from an airplane about 10,000 feet in the sky.

One of the skydivers drifted off path when her helmet fogged up and she became disoriented in the air. The wind took her into the trees next to the air strip at Pine Hill. She was too far back to get in heavy equipment and too high up for a ladder. Rosato used tree climbing spikes to get up to the stuck skydiver. Rosato used a carabiner hook to connect a rope to the skydiver’s harness. Firefighters on the ground had a pulley and they were able to lower the skydiver through the branches. Rosato helped to guide her as she went down. He used a chainsaw to remove some branches that were in the way.

A Holley church made repairs to century-old stained-glass windows. Valerie O’Hara (right), president of Pike Stained Glass Studios of Rochester, and Chris Grooms set a repaired stained glass window into place at the Holley Presbyterian Church on Jan. 7. Pike was hired to repair two sections of the “Come Unto Me” window, a centerpiece of the church. The window is believed to have been installed in 1907 when the sanctuary was built. The repairs were about $25,000.

“We looked very close at it and we could see it had problems,” Tom Gardner, the church pastor, said about the window. “The congregation wanted it to be right and be here for future generations.”

Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer, assisted at a rapid test clinic on Jan. 6 at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. He is shown in a driver’s side mirror of a car in line.

Welch was among a group of volunteers and county employees who assisted at the rapid test clinic on Wednesdays in January as well as in December 2020. About 500 people were tested each day at the clinics. The volunteers and staff then switched to running a vaccine clinic at the Ridgeway Fire Hall beginning in late January.

Zach Busch, a junior-senior high music teacher in Holley, received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Jan. 28. Connie Ferris gave him the shot during a vaccine clinic at the Ridgeway Fire Hall.

“It’s peace of mind,” said Busch, 27. “I feel it’s important to protect not only myself but my students and my colleagues.”

Many of the people vaccinated on Jan. 28 were school employees, who are in the 1b eligibility group. This was the first day of the Covid vaccination clinic run by the Orleans County Health Department. The slots filled up quickly and 100 doses were given out.

Cooper Traxler (right), 6, took his Valentine’s date Natalee Olsen, 6, through the drive-through at the Albion McDonald’s on Feb. 14. They received an escort from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

The two met the previous year in kindergarten and became best friends. This year Cooper asked Natalee to be his valentine, and wanted to take her through the drive-through at McDonald’s. They rode in style in a Power Wheels Dune Extreme and stopped at the drive-through window to pick up their cheeseburger Happy Meals.

Art Hill Excavating of Medina started taking down the Lyndonville Pennysaver Market building on March 8. Art Hill is operating the excavator. His son-in-law, Aaron Young of AGC Construction in Holley, is in the lift as a guide and to keep an eye on the demolition.

The roof of the building collapsed on Feb. 22 with heavy snow and ice on the roof. The building from 1899 also had suffered deterioration with its support beams. The Village Board met on Feb. 22 and declared the structure unsafe after an engineer’s inspection. The cleared site was later used for a farmers’ market in the fall.

Roland Nenni, Holley’s police chief until he retired on March 31, speaks during a forum on police reform on March 11 at the village office in the former Holley High School. The Holley Police Department responds to about 1,000 calls annually, and many are lockouts, alarms going off, and building checks. But increasingly, the department responds to people in mental health crisis. Nenni said more mental health personnel are needed in the community to help assist individuals in a mental health crisis.

“We’re trying to find better ways of dealing with mental health,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that.”

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state needed to hold community meetings and submit plans to the state as part of a police reform initiative.

A woman fishes from the eastern pier at the Oak Orchard Harbor on March 20. It was a brilliant sunset but it was also chilly with icicles hanging on the rocks.

Sue Dickinson of Albion is greeted by her mother, Marjorie Condoluci, on March 22 after coming home after being sickened by Covid for about 10 weeks. Dickinson spent two months in Rochester General Hospital and then 2 1/2 weeks in rehab facility.

Doctors didn’t expect her to survive. But she pulled through it. When she left a Rochester rehab facility for Covid patients on March 22, the nurses and aides presented her with balloons. She was at the Unity Specialty Hospital, St. Mary’s campus.

“They told me I was their success story,” Dickinson said when she came home to Reynolds Street in Albion. “I am feeling great. I am determined to get back to good health.”

These two people walk their dog on the 1.2-mile Onondaga Nature Trail at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Shelby on April 4. There were many people out that evening enjoying the nature scenes and hoping to see an owl, bald eagle and other wildlife.

This blue heron enjoys the shallow water of the Erie Canal in Albion on April 8 p.m. The heron was not far from the Keitel Road bridge.

Samantha Koons of the Office for the Aging helps at a food distribution in Albion on April 16. Greg Gilman, an employee with Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, also organized and carried boxes of produce. The program went most Fridays in Orleans County from April 2020 until the end of June this year. People often would line up in vehicles by 5:30 to 6 a.m. for the distributions that were scheduled to start at 8 to 8:30 a.m. There are usually 300 boxes of food each week, but sometimes there were more, including on April 16 when the usual 20-pound box was supplemented with oranges, pears, Brussels sprouts, hummus and eggs.

About 15 vehicles, decorated with balloons and birthday greetings, drove by the front entrance of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center on April 18. The vehicles all stopped so the drivers and passengers could wish Angela McNeil a happy 52nd birthday.

McNeil also is known by her nickname “Bookie.” She worked as an aide at The Villages for about 30 years. She suffered several strokes and became a resident at The Villages, sharing a room with her mother, who worked in the kitchen at the nursing home.

“She was the best aide ever,” said her former co-worker Sandy Flugel. “She took care of so many people. She has so much love.”

Firefighters in rescue boats from the Albion Fire Department, Medina Fire Department and the Murray Joint Fire District search the frigid waters of a quarry in Murray on April 23. A Murray man went into the quarry off Canal Road next to the Erie Canal to look for his dog. Ryan J. Perkins, 30, of Canal Road drowned and was found near the embankment on the south side of the quarry in a deeper water hole. The dog was located and was safe.

Faith Smith hugs Dillon Black during an awards presentation on April 28 at the Albion Village Board meeting. Black and officer Robert Wagner both received “lifesaver” awards for their critical life-saving assistance on the night of March 21.

Within 2 minutes of the 911 call at about 10:30 p.m., Albion police officers arrived with a defibrillator. The Albion patrol vehicles all carry AEDs. Wagner and Black were able to get Smith’s heart beating again after shocking him with the defibrillator. They also did CPR until a crew from COVA ambulance arrived and took Smith to Strong Memorial Hospital.

“I want the world to know that police officers are more than just the person who comes to arrest you if you do something bad and pull you over for a traffic violation,” Mrs. Smith said. “They are heroes to my family. Because of their quick response and determination my husband is alive and here with me today.”

A group of ravens created quite a stir at the Orleans County Courthouse in the spring. There was a large nest is a crevice at the courthouse. This photo on May 2 shows the mother raven retrieving food for the small birds, which were making quite a racket and showing a lot of impatience.

Diane Valentine thanks the community for rallying to complete an Eagle Scout project started by her son Evan. She is shown speaking on June 5 during a dedication of the project, which is the stone wall around the veterans’ monument in Holley by the Post Office and American Legion Post.

Evan Valentine in December 2020 finished the last of the 21 badges he needed for the Eagle. He also had Scouts and volunteers lined up to build a veterans’ wall around the monument. He was presented the Eagle Scout badge while in the hospital in February. Evan passed away from leukemia at age 18 on Feb. 21. Speakers commented that his presence was felt at the ceremony on June 5, with bright sunshine and frequent gusts of wind.

Janna Stirk (center right) of Marked by Janna Brow Artistry & Waxing Spa and Kylie Hughson (center left) of the Tease hair salon celebrate the grand opening on June 12 of The Parlour at the former Swan Library in Albion. Joining them on the steps for a ribbon cutting include from left: Brady (Kylie’s son), Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, Kylie Hughson, Janna Stirk, Brody (Janna’s son not very visible in back) and Troy McGaffick, a friend of the families.

Savanah Burns and about 125 members of Medina’s Class 2021 participate in the senior walk on June 14. In the past students have walked through the hallways in the three school buildings. Last year there wasn’t a senior walk. This year it was moved outside on the sidewalk from the high school to the middle school and the elementary school.

The entire student body from the elementary, middle and high schools formed a tunnel and applauded the class. The seniors carried signs with their future plans.

Pat Fox is shown on June 18 in her backyard on East Center Street in Medina. A week earlier she had about 175 Medina students in formal gowns, suits and tuxedos for photos stop by before the prom. Fox and her husband Bob operate the Garden View Bed & Breakfast. They have welcomed Medina students the past 30 years to come by and use their property for photos before the prom.

“It’s a tradition in Medina to come here,” Fox said. “It makes me feel good. It’s a way that I can give back to the community.”

Sandy Heise speaks on June 21 at the Holley Jr./Sr. High School when the library was dedicated in honor of her husband, John Heise, who served the school as a principal and the district as a member of the Board of Education. Heise also was an elementary school principal and director of education and special programs. He passed away at age 73 on Dec. 23, 2020. (Their grandson Alexander Zelent is next to Mrs. Heise.)

The red chair in the photo will go in the elementary school. That chair was donated in memory of Heise by the other members on the Board of Education and Jeff Martin, the school attorney who also has been in the Holley Rotary Club for many years with Heise.

“No amount of words can offer gratitude that this district, community, your friends and family have for all that you gave of yourself for the good of others,” BOE President Robin Silvis said about Heise.

Abigail Garver moves her tassel to signify her graduation from Lyndonville Central School during commencement on June 24 at the school’s Stroyan Auditorium. Connor Bell is next to her and Hayden Arlington is behind her. They are among 59 graduates in Lyndonville’s Class of 2021.

Commencement is usually on the fourth Friday in June. Lyndonville was planning for an outdoor ceremony and set the date for June 24, the fourth Thursday, to allow for a rain date on Friday. But the state modified its Covid-19 guidelines for special events, which allowed the district to have the ceremony indoors.

Aubrey Boyer, the president of Albion’s Class of 2021, speaks during commencement on June 25, which was held outdoors at the football stadium instead of the usual high school gym. Boyer said life can often feel like a roller coaster that goes up and then down, and back again. The Class of 2021 has been on a roller coaster “that goes every which way.”

“Each and every one of you is capable of greatness,” Boyer said. “Seniors, thank you for the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime.”

These sisters, Ashlee (left) and Haylee Young, have fun at the new splash pad at Bullard Park in Albion on July 4. They are from Charlotte, NC and are visiting family in Medina. The splash park opened on June 8 and was very popular with the public.

The portrait of Gerald “Bud” Hamann is positioned near his grave spot at Lynhaven Cemetery during a service for him on July 6. His remains were recently identified in a mass grave in the Philippines. Honor Guard members from Orleans County are in the background.

Nearly 79 years after his death in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, Hamann was given a service at Lynhaven Cemetery. Hamann survived the arduous Bataan Death March over 60 miles on foot, and then a 25-mile ride standing up in a boxcar packed with fellow soldiers who were prisoners. When he finally made it to the prisoner of war camp at Cabanatuan, Hamann would die from dysentery on July 25, 1942.

“We are horrified, and our sense of humanity wounded by the misery that CPL Hamann and so many others endured,” said Matthew Atkins, a chaplain with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum. “And we are astounded by their character. These were men of honor, who fought valiantly with next to nothing, endured unspeakable conditions. They lived the most arguably difficult days with principle. In their suffering, they did not surrender their souls.”

Randy Moore on July 11 pulls the cover off the new sign for a merged church – Disciples First United Methodist Church, which brings together the Disciples UM Church and the Albion First UM Church. Moore, a member of the board of trustees for Disciples, was joined by Leslee Lockwood of the Albion congregation in unveiling the sign after the first service of the newly merged church.

The two congregations have been sharing a pastor for nine years. The pastor previously would travel to Albion and then to Clarendon for services until the Albion members started attending the Clarendon site about 18 months earlier. The two congregations each voted on April 25 to formally merge. July 11 was the first service for the merged group.

Mackenzie Niles gives a big hug to Fran Gaylord, a member of the Murray Joint Fire District during the Kendall Carnival Parade on July 16, the first traditional parade in Orleans County since the start of the Covid pandemic. Mackenzie is Gaylord’s great-niece. She spotted him in the parade and ran towards him with outstretched arms.

The Kendall Lawn Chair Ladies fired up the Kendall crowd on July 16 with a performance to “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.” The Lawn Chair Ladies have been a crowd favorite in their nine years of performing. This was the final performance for the group, which is mostly women in their 60s and 70s.

Kaitlin Bennett (left), 12, of Barre and Anna Grillo, 12, of Albion bring buckets of water to their animals at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on July 25, which was moving in day for most for the animals. The fair returned in 2021 after being cancelled in 2020 due to Covid concerns and restrictions on crowd sizes.

Then Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul joins in a ground-breaking celebration on July 26 for a new $2 million breakwall along Lakeshore Road in Carlton that is 95 percent funded by the state. It is one of many projects along the south shore funded with $300 million through the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). Hochul would be sworn in as the state’s 57th governor on Aug. 24 and the first woman to serve as the top’s highest elected official. She will become governor following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation.

These sailboats race on Aug. 12 as the sun comes down on Lake Ontario. It made for a picturesque setting in a competitive race for 10 sailboats. They raced for 4 miles, having to change directions frequently. The Oak Orchard Yacht Club hosts Thursday night races off Point Breeze, a summer tradition for nearly 30 years.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley comforts Richard Vendetta, who was named after his uncle who was killed during World War II, one of 10 from the Fancher community who died in the war. The younger Vendetta was among many family members in attendance of the 10 men honored Aug. 14 with the rededication of the monument.

The memorial at the “Fancher Curve” on Route 31 was originally dedicated on Aug. 14, 1949 as a monument to 10 young men from the Fancher community who were killed in World War II. Those men include John Christopher, Joseph Christopher, Cosmo Coccitti, John Kettle, Jr., Leonard Licursi, Martin Licursi, Richard Merritt, Camille Nenni, Floyd Valentine and Richard Vendetta.

Kaleb Hungerford, 11, of Medina takes off on Sept. 1 in the bowl of Medina’s new skate park. The $550,000 park is named in memory of the late Luke Nelson of Middleport. He often came to Medina as a kid and young adult to use the former skate park, which was on a former tennis court. He was 23 when he passed away on April 22, 2017. His family has donated to the park and helped organize fundraisers to upgrade the site.

Harold Scribner walks into the new Dollar General store in Lyndonville on Oct. 28. The store opened the day before. Scribner said the building is “beautiful” and the store is a welcome addition to the community, especially in the winter when people don’t want to travel too far.

The store is in the spot of the former Crosby-Whipple building, which was demolished and removed at 30 North Main St. to make way for the new Dollar General. The 7,600-square-foot store is next to Johnson Creek. The project includes a retaining wall next to the waterway. There are also 29 parking spaces.

Sawyer Braley, right, and his brother Stryker put a flag in a fire pit at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Albion on Nov. 11. The brothers are members of Troop 164 which held a flag retirement ceremony on Veterans Day. Scouts retired about 100 flags in the fire pit. Harrison Brown led construction of the fire pit for his Eagle Scout project. It was first used on May 29, 2019.

The Medina Misfits won “Best in Class” during Medina’s 13th annual Parade of Lights on Nov. 27. The parade returned to a procession down Park Avenue and Main Street after a “reverse parade” the previous year with the floats all stationary and people driving by to see the displays. The “Medina Misfits” include a group of friends from several local businesses who wanted to dress up Christmas characters and add some extra fun to the parade.

Santa Claus helps Jaxson Stefaniak, 3, unwrap a present of an Iron Man toy on Dec. 5 as part of the Barre Volunteer Fire Company’s annual Santa Express. Firefighters escorted Santa around town to visit 30 families and deliver presents.