Provided photos

Volunteers helped set 250 wreaths at Hillside Cemetery in Holley/Clarendon on Dec. 14 as part of Wreaths Across America. The wreaths were set at the graves of veterans.

The Holley Rotary Club led the effort for the second year. The Rotary Club joined Wreaths in 2023 and hoped to do 100 wreaths. It doubled that goal in 2023. The wreaths are $17 each.

The Holley Rotary Club organized Wreaths Across America at Hillside Cemetery. Some of the volunteers are shown at a veterans’ memorial at the cemetery. The memorial includes five granite etched stones for the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. The memorial has a pentagon-shaped concrete base and a 25-foot flagpole.

Wreaths Across America has grown in Orleans County since Medina was the first to do it at Boxwood Cemetery in 2013.

Medina started with seven wreaths in 2013 at Boxwood. On Dec. 14, the community placed 1,260 wreaths at five Medina cemeteries. That includes 573 at Boxwood, 455 at St. Mary’s Cemetery, about 200 at Sacred Heart Cemetery and the remainder to Bates Road Cemetery and Tanner Cemetery on Telegraph Road.

Photos courtesy of Jacob Hebdon: Lance Corporal Nick Fitzak carries one of the wreaths during a ceremony at Wreaths Across America on Dec. 14. Medina has participated in the event each year since 2013.

“The community of Medina was very generous in their donations to the Wreaths Across America organization,” said Gloria Brent, chairwoman of the event in Medina. “Next year we hope to expand our reach to include all of Bates Road and Tanner Cemeteries with plans to cover all of our local cemeteries as awareness grows in the coming years.”

Veterans were part of a ceremony at Boxwood at noon on Dec. 14. After that a big group of volunteers placed wreaths at five cemeteries in Medina.

The following participated in the Wreath Laying Ceremony: The Color Guard and Honor Guard from the VFW and American Legion in Medina; Master Sergeant Michael Owczarczak – Master of Ceremonies; Sergeant David Kusmierczak, Chaplain for VFW & American Legion; Technical Sergeant Patrick Little; Sergeant Major Jonathan Little; Sergeant First Class George Pogel; Lance Corporal Nick Fitzak; Merchant Mariner Diana Anderson; Second Class Petty Officer W. Thomas Snyder and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

“We were very fortunate to have Technical Sergeant Patrick Little and Technical Sergeant Scott Little perform Echo Taps during the ceremony,” Brent said. “Madelyn Elliott from the Medina High School Acapella Choir flawlessly performed the National Anthem.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley was part of the wreath-laying ceremony at Boxwood.

Brent thanked to the following organizations that participated in this year’s event:

• The Boxwood Cemetery Commission led by Jacob Hebdon. (Members include Gloria Brent, Jeff Pasnik, Mary Lewis, Nicki Fredericks and Janet Husung.)
• The Medina Village Department of Public Works led by Jason Watts, superintendent.
• The Medina Village Clerk’s Office led by Jada Burgess, the clerk/treasurer.
• The Carpenters Local Union 276 with Jeff Pasnik brought 36 members and family from Orleans and Niagara Counties.
• The Girl Scouts of America – Troop 70183 out of Lockport led by Kelly Stahl.
• The Boy Scouts of America – Troop 18 out of Gasport.
• The Boy Scouts of America – Troop 35 out of Medina led by John Dieter.
• The Friends of Boxwood – Offered free hot chocolate to the participants at the event.

The Lyndonville community placed 445 wreaths at veterans’ graves. The effort is funded through an endowment by Anna Stelianou. She funded the wreaths in honor of her five brothers who served in WWII and the Korean War.

Stelianou is shown in front of this group photo outside the Webber Café on Main Street, where there was a brunch for volunteers before they headed out to lay the wreaths on Dec. 14.

The 445 wreaths will be placed at veterans’ graves for six cemeteries in Lyndonville: Lynhaven, Yates Baptist Cemetery, Angling Road, Marshall Road and Greenman Road as well as the Robin Hill Estate.

The American Legion Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 is organizing the Wreaths Across America program in Lyndonville.

State Sen. Rob Ortt attended the brunch before going to Mount Albion cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony there. Mount Albion participated in Wreaths Across America for the first time on Dec. 14.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jenn Thom carries a wreath to be laid down at a grave of a veteran at the Veterans’ Section at Mount Albion Cemetery.

Thom is a leader of Operation Honor, which led the effort to have Mount Albion Cemetery included in Wreaths for the first time. There were 225 wreaths placed at the cemetery on Dec. 14.

Operation Honor purchased 100 of the wreaths with other contributors purchasing 125.

Thom urged volunteers to say the veteran’s name when setting the wreath.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

SOMERSET – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission has issued a final siting permit for the Somerset solar array.

The project, located in the Town of Somerset, Niagara County, will generate 125 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. Once operational, the facility will reduce carbon emissions by more than 177,000 tons annually—the equivalent of taking more than 35,000 cars off the road—and will produce enough electricity to power more than 25,000 average-sized houses.

“The Somerset solar array exemplifies New York State’s progress toward a clean energy economy,” Governor Hochul said. “With the issuance of this siting permit, we are creating good-paying jobs in Western New York, while providing clean, sustainable energy for our families and businesses.”

The Somerset solar project is the first ORES permit issued for a renewable energy facility on a repurposed industrial site. The facility is located on portions of Somerset Station, a former coal plant, and portions of a landfill – both of which are ideal for solar development.

The solar array permitting followed a timely, detailed, and transparent review process with robust public participation to ensure the proposed project meets or exceeds the State law requirements and its implementing regulations. The solar array application was deemed complete on Feb. 5 with a draft permit issued by ORES on April 5. ORES held a public comment hearing on June 11. The complete record includes 41 public comments and written statements.

New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission Executive Director Zeryai Hagos said, “With the announcement of the siting permit for Somerset Solar, New York State continues to demonstrate its commitment to a clean energy transition and the responsible siting and development of renewable energy resources. As we near 3 GW of clean energy permitted since 2021, ORES will continue to help New York implement one of the most ambitious climate policies in the country.”

According to the developer, the Somerset project will support more than 200 full-time construction jobs during the 18-month construction period. The developer says local construction employment is expected to primarily benefit those in the construction trades in Niagara County and the surrounding regional labor market, including equipment operators, truck drivers, laborers, landscapers and electricians. The project construction period will also stimulate spending at local hotels, restaurants, shops, entertainment and tourism.

In addition, the host community benefits include, but are not limited to, creation of permanent jobs during operations, local property tax spending, local and regional spending, and a host community agreement with the Town of Somerset all without significantly increasing costs to local authorities, school districts, or emergency services.

According to the developer, benefits will include public road enhancements, increased tax revenues to fund local infrastructure and public services, schools and other community priorities.

Somerset Solar marks the 19th ORES-approved large-scale renewable energy project since 2021, which cumulatively represents over 2.8-gigawatts (GW) of new clean energy in New York State. This progress is meaningfully advancing New York toward achieving its nation-leading clean energy goals while establishing New York State as an example for efficient, transparent, and thorough siting permitting process of major renewable energy facilities.

By Dr. Lalit Jain, Pediatrician and Dr. Karen Mawn, Pediatrician, Oak Orchard Health Albion

When it comes to healthcare, it’s important to treat the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Many things affect your wellness. Physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental factors all matter. That’s where the idea of “integrative medicine” comes from. It’s how providers like doctors, dentists, and therapists at Oak Orchard Health all work together on your care. Integrative medicine combines traditional treatments like medications with therapy and wellness coaching.

Treating the whole family, including children, is important, too. For instance, what affects one family member affects others in your home. Plus, COVID-19 didn’t just affect our physical and mental health at home; it also changed our household routines, from screen time to exercise to schoolwork to sleep habits. At Oak Orchard Health (OOH), we understand the challenges you and your family face and have the experience to help you stay healthy.

Supporting new moms and their kids at Oak Orchard Health

From postpartum depression to anxiety, becoming a mother can be stressful. That isn’t something to be ashamed of. These are very common concerns. It’s important to ask for help. Our Mommy and Me program (Healthy Steps in Albion) combines routine office visits with the pediatrician, mental health for parents and caregivers, and social support. We can even provide supplies like diapers and children’s books. The Mommy and Me program also offers friendly people you can trust when talking to others about your changes and challenges. You’re not alone!

Looking out for mental health in young people

Everywhere you look, kids today often struggle with anxiety and depression, which can affect their physical health, too. It’s not always easy to find a therapist. With the recent opening of our Child & Adolescent Wellness Center in Albion and our behavioral health services in Brockport and other locations, Oak Orchard Health is expanding its mental health services so school-age kids up to 21 can see a therapist faster and closer to home.

During routine appointments like physicals or immunizations, we can screen school-age patients for anxiety and depression. If they need mental health services, they’ll get assigned a Care Manager who can get them into therapy, whether through our Wellness Center or a convenient telehealth appointment. Telehealth can also be a great alternative for our busy pediatric population and their families.

Dr. Karen Mawn, Pediatrician, Oak Orchard Health in Albion

Creating a healthier space at home

Just like it’s important to think of yourself as a whole person with different types of healthcare needs, it’s important to think of your whole family, too—the example you set and the routines you put in place for kids affect everyone in the household. For instance, the smartphone age has a big effect on children’s health. We can all get sucked into staring at our screens, from phones to TVs to laptops. That can affect you and your kids. Here are some helpful tips that can bring balance to your home life.

Make room in your schedule to be available to talk and give your kids your full attention.

Include your kids in household routines like family movie nights or cooking healthy meals together.

Students can be overwhelmed with school activities. Make sure they have some quiet downtime.

School-aged kids need at least nine hours of sleep. Create a routine that includes turning off their screens an hour before bedtime.

From bullying to bad information to inappropriate content, social media can be very harmful to young kids and teens. Limit kids’ screen time to two hours daily and use parental controls on devices and apps.

Here for you and your kids

As pediatricians with years of experience, we know what to look for and what to ask. If they aren’t making eye contact with us, facial expressions, fatigue, and simply not talking — often indicate that mental health services are needed. Changes from appointment to appointment are key signs, too. In addition, we often give kids a short questionnaire to help us understand where they are at. They may not want to talk about it and are more comfortable writing it down.

We understand that everything’s connected—not just to physical and mental health but to the health of your whole family. We’re here to support you as your family grows and changes at every step along the way, with caring providers at Oak Orchard Health and helpful support to make home life happier.

We’re also ready to meet you where you are and in your language. When you make an appointment, ask for our interpreter services. We’re here to help.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The Phipps Road culvert over Otter Creek has been closed to traffic since Sept. 9, 2022.

ALBION – A bridge that has been closed to traffic in Albion since Sept. 9, 2022 is expected to reopen as a new bridge next summer.

The Phipps Road bridge was closed after an inspection showed the steel high-beam supports were rotted.

The Albion Town Board and Highway Superintendent Michael Neidert successfully secured a state grant to replace the bridge, which is technically a culvert at 19.5 feet.

The new bridge will be 25 feet, which technically makes it a bridge, Neidert said. Bridges are classified as spans that are at least 20 feet.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on July 5, 2023 that the new bridge was awarded $1.038 million in Bridge NY funds. The bridge is over a tributary to Otter Creek.

Neidert said the replacement bridge is currently in design phase by Ravi Engineering and Land Surveying in Rochester. He expects the project to go out to bid in the spring with construction in the summer of 2025.

Press Release, NY National Guard

The North American Aerospace Defense Command defends the North American airspace 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

On Christmas Eve, NORAD will add one more element to its mission list as it tracks Santa Claus on his around-the-world flight.

American and Canadian NORAD personnel at the Eastern Air Defense Sector, a unit of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force, located in Rome, are standing by to support this effort.

“EADS is always happy to support NORAD’s Santa tracking operation,” said Col. Joseph F. Roos, EADS Commander. “Our highly trained Airmen defend the homeland day and night, and they are prepared and ready to track Santa this December 24.”

EADS, which is responsible for the air defense of the United States east of the Mississippi. is composed of the New York Air National Guard’s 224th Air Defense Group, a Canadian Armed Forces detachment, U.S. Army and Navy liaison officers, and federal civilians and contractors. EADS also has a squadron and a detachment in the National Capital Region.

The modern tradition of tracking Santa began in 1955 when a young child accidentally dialed the unlisted phone number of NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command operations center.

The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, answered the phone and instructed his staff to check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. A tradition was born and continued when NORAD was formed in 1958.

Each year since, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions of children and families across the globe.

The NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center will become fully operational at 4 a.m. Mountain Standard Time on Dec. 24. Children and parents can call 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) to talk directly to a NORAD staff member who will be able to tell you Santa’s exact location.

Operators are available until midnight. Children, families and fans also keep track of Santa’s location on the NORAD Tracks Santa website and several social media platforms.

Click here to see the NORAD website tracking Santa. Editor’s Note: At 8:34 a.m., Santa was over Sydney, Australia.

Chart: NYS Department of Labor

The minimum wage will go up another 50 cents an hour in Orleans County and upstate counties beginning Jan. 1.

The minimum will go from $15 to $15.50 an hour. It continues a trend where the minimum wage has increased from $11.80 in 2020 to $12.50 in 2021, $13.20 in 2022, $14.20 in 2023 and $15 in 2024.

The new minimum will be higher in New York City, Westchester and Long Island, going from $16 t0 $16.50 an hour.

The minimum wage will go up another 50 cents in 2026 to $16 an hour locally. Then, starting in 2027, the increase will be at a rate determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region – the most accurate regional measure of inflation. An “off-ramp” is available in the event of certain economic or budget conditions, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office said.

“Putting money back in your pockets has been the focus of my first three budgets, and that includes increasing minimum wage for the lowest earners across the state,” Hochul said in a news release. “With rising costs of living, this increase will help to lighten the burdens of inflation for New Yorkers while providing businesses with the time needed to adjust.”

Minimum wage earners who do not see the increase reflected in their paychecks can file a wage complaint on the New York State Department of Labor’s website or by calling 833-910-4378.

“By gradually increasing wages for the lowest earners, we are ensuring businesses can adjust to the change while also helping more families make ends meet,” said Roberta Reardon, the state Department of Labor commissioner. “In this current era of inflation and rising costs, every cent counts for all New Yorkers, especially workers who earn minimum wage.”

Derek Reiner

ALBION – After 30 years at the Albion Town Hall, including the past 25 years as town clerk, Sarah Basinait is retiring on Dec. 31.

Basinait worked as a deputy town clerk to Nancy Miles from 1994 to 1999, before Basinait was elected to the position starting Jan. 1, 2000.

She has been town clerk during an expansion of water lines in the town and push to online databases and technology.

Basinait was at the her final Town Board meeting as clerk today, the year-end meeting at 5 p.m. The clerk’s office will be closed the rest of this week and next week due to the holidays and the transition to a new town clerk, Derek Reiner. He was serving as a deputy treasurer at the Village of Albion. He is resigning from that position effective Dec. 30 after being appointed by the Town Board to succeed Basinait.

Before working the Village Office, Reiner was a human resource/marketing/development specialist for Hospice of Orleans.

Reiner’s appointment as town clerk is for 2025, with town voters to fill the position after that during an election in November.

Basinait said she looks forward to relaxing and the next chapter in her life.

“The residents, I’m going to miss them,” she said after this evening’s board meeting.

Besides serving as clerk and keeping the minutes at board meetings, Basinait has processed dog licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, sent out 675 quarterly water bills, and responded to other needs of the residents for town business.

Basinait will be working the next week to close out the town books for 2024.

Press Release, Orleans County government

ALBION – Following up on their successful efforts to provide Thanksgiving dinners to first responders, two brothers who own local businesses in Medina are now planning on doing the same on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Nate Sanders, owner of Elite Meal Prep and his brother Logan Callara, owner of Logan Landscaping, wanted to do something to let first responders who are on duty this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, how much the community appreciates them.

The brothers will be providing roughly 150 meals to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Orleans County Sheriff’s Jail, Orleans County Sheriff’s Dispatch, New York State Police, Medina Police & Fire Department, Albion Police Department, Holley Police Department, and Monroe Ambulance for their personnel working those days.

“We cannot thank Nate and Logan enough for their efforts on behalf of our first responders both at Thanksgiving and now Christmas,” said Orleans County Legislator Skip Draper.  “First responders have spoken about how hard it is to even find a place to get on cup of coffee on Christmas Eve, so the fact that there will be a full meal ready and waiting for them is tremendous, all because of Nate and Logan.”

About the businesses:

Logan’s Landscaping was started by Logan when he was 13 years old. He started mowing the neighbor’s lawn using a 3-wheeled bicycle with a homemade trailer attached to haul his lawnmower.

Then he rented a storage unit at Lakewood Village to store his equipment and started mowing several more lawns at Lakewood Village. After obtaining his driver’s license Logan got an LLC for his business and started doing commercial work as well. His business has grown to approximately 500 regular customers and he is maintaining over 100 properties weekly. His business consists of several trucks, trailers, machinery and smaller equipment.

Elite Meal Prep (EMP) just celebrated its first anniversary. EMP was an idea of Nick Joy and Nate Sanders who wanted to offer healthy, affordable and high-quality meal options to patrons of Nick Joy’s gyms and other local businesses.

Nick has since moved on to become a first responder and Nate is running the business on his own. Nate is currently providing anywhere from 200-500 meals a week to his customers, many of whom are first responders.

North Point Chapel becoming Canalside Community Church

File photo by Tom Rivers: Ben Curfman is shown in July 2022 when he started as the new pastor of North Point Chapel at 19 North Platt St., Albion. Curfman and his wife Rebekah have six children. They moved to Albion from North Carolina.

Press Release, Canalside Community Church

ALBION – After approving a series of changes at a meeting of the members of North Point Chapel in February of this year, the church voted to replant entirely under a new name, Canalside Community Church.

Beginning Jan. 1, the church will officially begin displaying the new name to the community. “As we worked to make the church healthier over the last two years, several members suggested that we pursue a fresh start as a church in light of the many changes,” said Pastor Ben Curfman. “The church agreed, and Canalside Community Church was born.”

The church meets in the building formerly owned by the Albion First United Methodist Church at the intersection of North Platt Street and East State Street in Albion, across from the Orleans County Courthouse.

“We decided on the name Canalside because it says something about where we are located, one block from the Erie Canal in Albion,” Curfman said. “We discovered that people in the village did not know the former name of the church or did not realize it was located so close to them.”

In 2025, Canalside plans to address this with better outdoor signage and more interaction with the community.

“We chose to include ‘community’ in the church name because we want our neighbors to know that anyone is welcome to worship with us, whether they have a particular church background or no religious background at all,” Curfman explained.

The church’s beliefs are associated with the Baptist tradition, and it is supported by other churches and networks from across the United States including SEND Network and The Pillar Network.

“When you visit, you can expect a very simple and authentic service that includes singing, a lesson for children, and verse-by-verse Bible teaching,” he said. “We are currently going through the book of Exodus, and we cover everything – even the hard parts!”

The church pastor invites those interested to contact him with spiritual questions, thoughts, or to share their personal story. He can be reached at pastor@canalside.cc or (585) 283-4114.

Canalside Community Church is located at 19 N Platt St. Albion, NY 14411. For more information, go to their website (canalside.cc) or look up the church on Facebook.

The average price for regular unleaded in New York State is $3.13 a gallon today, which is down 26 cents from a year, AAA reported.

The price is also down another penny from a week ago.

The national average price is at $3.04, up 2 cents from a week ago and down 9 cents from the $3.13 price a year ago.

Here are the average prices today in Western New York counties:

• Orleans, $3.250
• Genesee, $3.230
• Wyoming, $3.208
• Livingston, $3.290
• Monroe, $3.192
• Niagara, $3.096
• Erie, $3.147
• Chautauqua, $3.272
• Cattaraugus, $3.201
• Allegany, $3.235

“We could be heading into a period of relative stability when it comes to pump prices,” AAA stated in a news release. “The national average has yet to fall below the $3 mark this year, and it might not as a record 119 million people are forecast to travel this holiday season – 107 million travelers are expected to travel by car, which means a lot of fueling up. “Motorists could see pump prices continue to inch higher this week as travelers hit the road, however, it is typical to see fuel prices drop again in January after the holiday travel period ends.”

The New York average for diesel fuel is $3.84, down one cent from last Monday. The national diesel price is at $3.50.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jess Marciano, Medina village trustee, speaks during last week’s Village Board meeting.

MEDINA – A Medina village trustee has made the “nice” list of elected officials in the state for her efforts to educate the public about the Open Meetings Law.

The New York Coalition For Open Government, Inc. highlighted Jess Marciano, a member of the Medina Village Board, for her letter to the editor posted on the Orleans Hub on Sept. 20.

Marciano details the Open Meetings Law and what meetings should be public, how the sessions should be posted ahead of time and what documents made available to the public.

She details reasons for going into executive session when the board can discuss matters behind closed doors – litigation, contract negotiations, and employment history of a person, including appointment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation.

The Coalition For Open Government is a non-profit organization “advocating for timely access to information and meaningful citizen participation.”

The group faulted Gov. Kathy Hochul for not delivering on her promise of a “new era of transparency.” The governor for the second year in a row vetoed legislation requiring the posting of emergency contracts online.

Hochul only signed one legislation about Freedom of Information and that new law requires government agencies to notify employees when their records are requested. This bill was opposed by open government groups, the Coalition said.

Some others on the “naughty” list:

• New York City Mayor Eric Adams for releasing his schedule which didn’t disclose his meetings with lobbyists or phone calls with elected officials.
• Jim Perry, the Niagara Falls City Council president, for preventing a member of the community from speaking during the public comment portion of meeting because he didn’t want to hear her concerns about the city’s animal shelter contract.
• City of Amsterdam for blocking public access to City Hall by requiring people to have an appointment in order to enter, and also for restricting the right to record or take pictures in public places.
• Nassau County Police Department for spending four years and at least $100,000 in attorney fees fighting a FOIL request for a phone directory.
• Syracuse School Board for sending a cease-and-desist letter to a news station asking them to stop contacting board members with questions.
• Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson for not allowing public comments at a village meeting due to his being annoyed by people speaking about a lawsuit filed against the Village.
• Christopher Scanlon, Buffalo Common Council President – After many years of people being able to show up at Buffalo Common Council meetings and speak regarding their concerns, Scanlon sent an email to his Council colleagues establishing a new rule that requires people to obtain permission from the Committee Chair prior to the meeting in order to speak.
• Phil Skowfoe, Fulton Supervisor in Schoharie County – Eliminated the right of the public to speak at town board meetings. He now requires the public to fill out a form one week prior to the meeting disclosing what you plan to say and are only allowed a 2-minute max at the end of a meeting.

To see the full report from New York Coalition For Open Government, click here.

Parada portrays Santa to 10,000 people each year in Lockport at Christmas Cottage

File photos by Tom Rivers: Christopher Parada portrays Santa in December 2018 and greets a young girl at the Christmas Cottage, a site he designed and built with his father in 2010 at a park in Lockport.

LOCKPORT – Medina native Christopher Parada, who portrays Santa each year to about 10,000 people at the Christmas Cottage in Lockport, has been inducted in the Santa Claus Hall of Fame.

Parada, a 2002 Medina High School graduate, built the Christmas Cottage in 2010 with assistance from his father, Daniel Parada. The 15-by-15-foot cottage is at Day Road Park in the Town of Lockport.

Parada has a tribute set up in the building for the late Charles W. Howard, founder of the Santa School in Albion from 1937 to 1966.

Howard was in the charter class of the Santa Claus Hall of Fame in 2010.

Parada’s induction was announced today by the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the group’s website which shows all of the inductees since 2010.

The Hall of Fame states the following about Parada:

Photo from Santa Claus Hall of Fame: Christopher Parada gives a very convincing portrayal of Santa.

“Christopher is a true renaissance man in the entertainment industry, directing and producing theatrical productions as the Executive Director of the Historic Palace Theatre for over 20 years.

“In 2010, he founded, built, and created the Santa Claus Christmas Cottage in Lockport, New York. This enchanting destination allows families to visit Santa Claus each Christmas season at no cost. Each year, over 10,000 visitors come to experience the magic of the holiday spirit in this special place. Christopher’s work and dedication has made a lasting impact on the community, bringing joy and festive cheer to families during the most wonderful time of the year, creating ‘Community Togetherness.’

“Growing up just a stone’s throw away from the historic and prestigious Santa Claus school in Albion, New York, Chris was surrounded by the magical world of Santa Claus from a young age. The stories, the spirit of giving, and the joyful atmosphere filled his childhood with wonder. However, it was the theatrical design of the iconic Santa Suit that truly captured his heart.

“Chris honors this cherished tradition by creating historic department store Santa Claus Suits, ensuring that the magic of ‘Nostalgic & New’ continues to delight generations.”

Parada first portrayed Santa in high school. When he was a teen he learned about Charles Howard. Parada learned about the local community’s connection to Howard from his late grandmother, Elaine Janele, who was the children’s librarian at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina. She created the Santa Claus story hour at the library.

“It intrigued me so much when I found out about this school,” Parada said in a previous interview with the Orleans Hub.

Parada has a Howard suit on display, and black-and-white photos from when LIFE magazine visited the school in Albion in 1961. He has other merchandise, including an admission ticket to Christmas Park, a “Family Funderland.”

“I wanted there to be a connection to where the spark came from, where it all started,” Parada said. “For Albion to be home to the Santa Claus School is a really cool thing.”

He has visited the school, which is now in Midland, Mich. He follows the principles taught by Howard for Santas with how he acts and looks. Parada also plays the role for free at the cottage. He accepts donations which he uses for landscaping at the site and for materials.

Parada wears a suit in the style designed by Howard. The suit is made of wool – not velvet or plush. He has a white shawl collar that is about 6 inches wide all the way around, and has a yarn pom pom tassel on the hat. His beard and wig are made of yak hair, which can be styled with a curling iron.

He also followed Howard’s example with a shiny leather belt with a big silver buckle.

When Parada decided to build a Christmas Cottage, he scouted sites in Lockport. He liked the spot at the town park, next to a big parking lot. The park is popular with its playground, soccer field and other amenities.

Parada had a feeling the cottage would be a hit, especially if it was free for families. He saw Santas in the malls where there was a hefty charge for a photo and the Santas didn’t seem to engage with the children.

“In the mall it’s a nightmare,” he said in the previous interview. “People tell me this is so much better than the mall.”

Parada wanted to create a site where people would feel like they’re going into a storybook.

“Santa and Christmas are fun,” he said. “It’s exciting, it’s happiness. The world needs more of that.”

Parada is the fourth Orleans County person in the Santa Claus Hall of Fame. Besides him and Howard, the Hall of Fame inducted Santa Suit maker Elizabeth Babcock in 2019, and George Cond in 2016. Cond was hand-picked by Howard to be the Santa at Christmas Park in Albion.

A Charles Howard suit is on display in the Christmas Cottage, as well as information about Elizabeth Babcock, who made the Santa suits.

Loungewear, Landauer’s of Albion Christmas catalog, 1967

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 4, Number 39

ALBION – We associate the colors red and green with Christmas: Santa’s red suit, green Christmas trees, red berries on holly.

At first glance, the color scheme of this Landauer’s Christmas catalog appears jarring. But realizing that the catalog is from 1967 explains the teal, magenta and mustard colors. At the time, Landauer’s was the main department store in Albion.

This catalog lists items of clothing sold and worn just 63 years ago, still remembered (and owned?) by some, no doubt. But in terms of fashions, fabrics, colors and descriptions, this clothing might as well be from the crinoline era.

The clothing items shown above were listed as suitable “For Partying or Lounging” and, it is interesting to note that the colors are more seasonal than those shown on the cover.

The first item on the left, 2B, is a Lounger culotte of 80% Arnel® triacetate, 20% nylon. Three quarter sleeves. Styled by Lazy U. Washable. Colors: orange or lime $23.

Landauer’s Christmas catalog, 1967

Item 2C: Floral patterned quilt duster of Honan acetate crepe. Kodel® polyester fiberfill. Blue or gold. $16

Item 2D:  A long robe version of Item 2C

Item 2E:  Luxuriant “Radiant Fleece” duster of 80% Arnel Triacetate and 20% nylon with the look of velour. Front panel with embroidered grosgrain ribbon, concealed gripper closing. Colors: Tangerine, Kelly green, desert rose. $16

The colors are vibrant, the styles are non-restrictive, and the fabric is easy-care synthetic. Production of natural fabrics had declined during World War II due to the focus on the war effort. Synthetic fibers were developed in the 1950s to meet an increased demand for fabric. Tired of rationing and shortages, consumers were eager to buy new clothes. The new fabrics were popular as they were easy to wash, wrinkle-free, durable and affordable.

Of the fabrics listed in the above descriptions, Arnel® was a trademarked synthetic triacetate fabric developed in 1954 by the Celanese Corporation of America. It ceased production in 1984, due to increased toxicity standards for production and competition from newer polyesters.

Kodel® polyester was developed in 1958 by Eastman Chemical, a subsidiary of the Eastman Kodak Company. It felt like cotton but was more durable and less expensive to produce.

Ladies fashion also included Orlon® acrylic knits, “Fairfield She Shells”, cardigans and sweaters in vibrant colors – canary, lemonette, coquette pink, fresh grass and sprite green.

Men’s clothing, Launder’s of Albion catalog, 1967

With the heading “Handsome New Ideas for His World”, several pages feature coats and jackets for men and boys.

Item 22B: The fabulous Koratron® zip-out three season coat, lined with 100% Acrilon® acrylic tone tipped pile. Colors: black, navy, olive or British tan. $30.00

Koratron® was developed in 1956 by Joseph Koret who was working on creating a permanent crease product for men’s trousers. When coated with resin and baked at 325 degrees, the fabric permanently adopted creases as designed, while the remainder of the fabric remained wrinkle resistant.

The men’s dress shirts were made of Dacron® polyester and were “Sanforized®”, a pre-shrinking process developed by Sanford Cluett in 1930 that reduced shrinking after washing. Sport shirts were made from Ban-Lon® texturized nylon “that simply never needs ironing.”

Consumers in the 1960s embraced the convenience and versatility of clothing made from synthetic materials. The wash-and-wear, no-iron properties revolutionized laundry day. Sixty-three years later, we are more aware of the downside of the synthetic revolution  and it’s detrimental effects on the environment.

ALBION – Christmas came early for hundreds of individuals who visited the Albion Elks Lodge Saturday afternoon, at the invitation of Shiloh Church.

In what promises to be an annual event, Shiloh Church presented its first Family Gift Giveaway, in which thousands of dollars of toys and gifts were given to anyone who showed up.

The event was the idea of Shiloh Church’s pastor Trellis Pore, who grew up in Albion and is now pastor of Shiloh Church on Crandall Road.

“After the response to this initial event, this will be an annual event,” Pore said. “We want to bring the community together and show the people Jesus loves them. My vision is this community needs a greater influence of true disciples. They need to know Jesus still has saving powers. I want the community back to how it used to be when I was a kid.”

Saturday’s event was posted on Facebook and people came from all over the area, including Batavia and Lockport. The event began at 3 p.m. and by 3:30 p.m., 300 people had come through the doors, bringing with them children of all ages.

Bobby Washington of Batavia brought his three children to the Family Gift Giveaway sponsored by Shiloh Church on Saturday afternoon. From left are Josiah and Serenity with their Grinch-painted faces, and sister Scarlet playing with her gift set.

Shiloh Church could not bear to see anyone, especially a child, go without a present on Christmas, and when the pastor announced what he wanted to do, the majority of church members went out and bought gifts of all kinds, Pore said.

A table stretching the length of the Elks Hall was filled with gifts and toys – from dolls, stuffed animals and action toys to toy vehicles, basketballs and games.

But the highlight of the event was a row of 25 new bicycles, to which the first children to arrive ran to. It was “first come, first served,” Pore said, and the early birds got their pick of a new bike.

When families entered the door, they registered their name, phone number and e-mail. The children got a ticket to go pick out one toy. The adults got a key chain with a Biblical verse and a sheet of basket raffle tickets. Items included in the raffle were large posters of Josh Allen, a larger-than-life smart TV, two smaller TVS, a vacuum cleaner, Keurig coffee maker, blender, several heated foot massagers, several air fryers, a crock pot, portable heater, lawn chairs and more.

(Left) Some of the 25 new bikes that were given away by Shiloh Church on Saturday are lined up in the Elks Lodge after being claimed by the first children to arrive. (Right) Jamie Bowers of Lockport helps her son, Colby Bair, 3, assemble part of the shark play set he chose as his free gift.

In addition to the giveaways, there was face painting and ornament making. Santa and Mrs. Claus were there to welcome the children.

A big supporter of Shiloh Church is Mike Ognibene, an automobile dealer and businessman from Oakfield who is also pastor of Overcome Christian Ministries.

“We met years ago when Trellis came to my gym in Oakfield and we’ve been friends ever since,” Ognibene said.

He praised Shiloh Church, saying he’d never seen a church like it. He began attending there shortly after they opened, and has been attending ever since.

“We’re here to make a difference,” Pore said. “A lasting difference.”

He also shared that Ognibene will be preaching the sermon at 11 a.m. next week at Shiloh Church and welcomes everyone to come and hear him.

Pore happily boasted Shiloh Church now has 50 active youth ages 5 to 17 in his church. In fact, his church has grown so much in the three years since he started it, they need to expand where they are or find bigger quarters, he said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Susan Thaine, pastor of the First presbyterian Church of Albion, lights a candle symbolizes love during last week’s “Community Service of Remembrance, Comfort and Hope.”

The Presbyterian Church hosted the service that was led by the Albion Area Ministerium with assistance from Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals, Hospice of Orleans and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Orleans County.

Other candles were lit to symbolize hope, peace and joy.

The Rev. Dr. Don Algeo, pastor of the Gaines Congregational Church, shares a message about peace. “So often we allow the burdens of life to get in the way of experiencing true peace with God,” Algeo said. “Take some time this Christmas season to be still and to know the peace of God.”

Other participating clergy included: Rev. Susan Thaine of Albion Presbyterian Church, Rev. Marsha Rivers of Albion First Baptist Church, Rev. Susan Boring of Eagle Harbor Methodist Church, Father Mark Noonan of ONE Catholic Church and Sister Dolores O’Dowd.

Erin Moody sings “Christmas in Heaven.”

Josh Mitchell of Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals joins a candle lighting.

Other participating leaders from organizations include Rev. Randy LeBaron, director of Spiritual Care for Hospice of Orleans, and Nola Goodrich-Kresse of the Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Myrna Martin was among the singers during the service. About 50 people attended the event.

Gary Simboli also performed, singing, “I Heard the Bells.”