Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that eligible farm employers may now apply to the Department of Agriculture and Markets for a certificate of advance payment so they can receive reimbursement from the Department of Taxation and Finance for eligible overtime paid to their employees since January 1, 2024.

(Editor’s Note: The threshold for overtime decreased for agricultural workers starting Jan. 1. The limit was 60 hours a week at straight pay before workers could earn overtime. That dropped to 56 hours this year. It is part of a phase-in reduction where the overtime threshold will be lowered by four hours every other year to 40 hours a week in 2032.)

This Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a part of Governor Hochul’s plan to support New York’s farmers through a series of new and increased tax credits and other initiatives and helps to ensure that farm employers can continue to support their workers while reducing their tax burden.

“Supporting New York’s farmers and farmworkers, who are essential to keeping New York State running, is a key priority for my administration – and our new Farm Employer Overtime Credit is one of many great initiatives that aim to help alleviate the challenge of rising costs,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage all eligible farm businesses to learn more about this program and apply for reimbursement so that we can reduce their tax burden while helping them to continue supporting their hardworking staff.”

The Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a refundable tax credit available for eligible farm employers who paid overtime wages after January 1, 2024, based on the gradual phase-in of the overtime threshold in New York State.

As of now, farm employers who have registered in the new online portal at taxcredit.agriculture.ny.gov may enter eligible employee overtime information and submit their application to the Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime paid between Jan. 1 to the date of their application.

Farmers may also wait until August to apply for reimbursement for the entire Jan. 1 through July 31 period, or they may choose to wait until they file their tax return to receive the credit. Between the advance payment and months claimed on their return, eligible farm employers will receive a full 12 months of the Farm Employer Overtime Credit.

A user guide to assist farmers in the application process is available at agriculture.ny.gov/user-guide-farm-employer-overtime-credit-advance.

Applications for a certificate of advance payment must be submitted to AGM by September 30. After eligibility review, AGM will issue a certificate to each approved farm employer. With a certificate of advance payment, the approved farm employer’s owner(s), partners or shareholders can then request their share of the advance payment from Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF).

Each of the farm’s owners, partners or shareholders who wants to receive their portion of the credit advance must apply individually. This request must be made no later than Nov. 1, using the online services account at DTF’s website.

Farmers may apply for this refundable credit if they (or their business): are an eligible farmer (click here); and employ eligible farm employees that were paid eligible overtime.

Earlier this year, the State encouraged farmers to prepare to apply by taking the following steps (click here):

• Ensuring that they are registered for a NY.gov ID through My.NY.gov.
• Taking the farm employer eligibility assessment to establish if they (the farm employer) expect to meet the eligible farmer income requirements for their tax filing type at the end of the tax year.
• Discussing the program with their tax and payroll advisors to ensure they kept necessary records during the January 1 – July 31 period this year.
• Registering their farm in the online portal at taxcredit.agriculture.ny.gov.
• Optionally, choosing to delegate authority to a representative (e.g., a tax preparer), who may complete and submit the application on the farm employer’s behalf later in the year.

Additional information and resources are available on the AGM’s website at agriculture.ny.gov/OTadvance and the DTF website at tax.ny.gov/pit/credits/farm-employer-overtime-credit.htm. Questions may be directed to farmOTadvance@agriculture.ny.gov or (518) 457-7076.

About $3 million in state funds will go towards replacing two bridges and one culvert in Orleans County, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.

The projects in Orleans include:

• $959,000 million to Orleans County for the replacement of Gillette Road bridge
• $1.151 million to Orleans County for the replacement of Lakeshore Road bridge
• $1.035 million to Orleans County for the replacement of Eagle Harbor-Knowlesville Road culvert carrying the tributary to Oak Orchard Creek

The governor announced $484 million state-wide has been awarded through the Bridge NY program, which includes 216 bridges or culverts in 137 communities. The bridges and culverts will either be replaced or receive major rehabilitations to enhance safety and improve the resiliency and sustainability of New York’s transportation infrastructure, Hochul said.

“As New York continues to experience the effects of climate change firsthand, we need to make critical infrastructure upgrades so our communities can withstand the extreme weather to come,” Hochul said. “Working closely with local governments, we are investing millions to harden more than 200 bridges and culverts across the State, enhancing public safety and make these structures ready for whatever mother nature can throw at us.”

As part of $33 billion capital plan adopted in 2022, $1 billion was committed to Bridge NY, effectively doubling the size of the program. The projects selected were picked based on input from Regional and Metropolitan Planning Organizations and the funding will support all phases of project delivery, including design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.

The projects approved last year in Orleans County included:

• $1.295 million to Orleans County for the replacement of the Route 279 bridge over Beardsley Creek.
• $1.535 million to Orleans County for the replacement of the Groth Road bridge over East Branch Sandy Creek.
• $952,000 to Orleans County for the replacement of the Eagle Harbor Road culvert carrying the tributary to Otter Creek.
• $1.038 million to the Town of Albion for the replacement of the Phipps Road culvert carrying the tributary to Otter Creek, Orleans County.

Today is deadline to notify fair officials of entry

KNOWLESVILLE – Opening day for the Orleans County 4-H Fair will include something new: a parade.

Fair officials welcome costumed characters, floats, tractors, vendors and walking groups. Today is the deadline to register. That can be done by emailing orleans@cornell.edu.

The parade will start at 6 p.m. on the west side of the fairgrounds and proceed around the grounds, ending at the Buzz Hill Education Center on the east side of the fairgrounds. The parade will conclude around 6:30, and will then be followed by the opening ceremonies with local officials and the Honor Guard.

Brandon Johnson, the entertainment chairman for the fair, said the parade is open to the general public.

“We’ve never done before,” he said. “This is the first of many.”

Parade participants should enter the fairgrounds from the Taylor Hill Road entrance, with the lineup assembling on the southside of the creek at the exhibitors’ entrance.

“We’ve seen other fairs do it,” Johnson said about the parade. “We wanted to make Monday night at the fair a little different.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Crew members help guide a 195-foot-long barge as it nears a bend on the Erie Canal in Gaines this morning, close to the historical marker that notes this spot is the northernmost point on the Erie Canal. This photo was taken at about 6:25 a.m.

Crew members from Carver Companies started the day early in Albion. A tugboat pushing the barge started at 6 a.m. and began moving a 195-foot-long barge from its overnight spot between the lift bridges in Albion.

There were a few people up from the community to see the tugboat and barge begin the trek headed west. Carver Companies estimates it will be in Medina around 8:30-9 this morning.

Donna Matteson drove from Kent to Albion to see the barge at 6 a.m. She is pleased to see the canal used to move some heavy cargo. In this case it is two sections of a pedestrian bridge in Buffalo.

Carver already has moved two other sections of the bridge to Buffalo, passing through Orleans on Monday and reaching Buffalo on Tuesday. Carver has been moving the two big barges for about 2 1/2 weeks on the canal, starting in Albany.

Crew members stand on the end of the barge to help direct the massive vessel carrying sections of a bridge. This was at about 6 a.m. when the crew departed from Albion.

The barge and tug head west while early morning mist is on the canal in Albion.

The barge gets under the guard gate in Albion. Carver Companies said the two sections on the barge are bigger and heavier than the first two that passed through Orleans County on Monday. The heavier cargo caused the barge to sit lower in the water, scraping bottom at times on the journey.

Carver Companies posted on its Facebook page the barge needs to draft 9 feet in order to clear under bridges that are 15 feet, 6 inches.

The two pedestrian bridge sections on the barge today are 2 feet higher than the sections are on the first barge, so Carver has the barge sitting deeper in the water to get under the bridges.

The barge passes under the Gaines Basin Road canal bridge.

The barge and tugboat heads west near the northernmost point of the canal, with Eagle Harbor the next hamlet on the journey.

Carver Companies said it is hoping to reach Buffalo Saturday morning with the two sections of the pedestrian bridge.

MEDINA – A grant from Apex Wind Energy will help the Medina Railroad Museum move forward with its efforts to upgrade the museum’s display to make it more interesting to children.

“We haven’t had much in the way of interactive displays,” said longtime board member Rick Henn. “The addition of a train simulator will allow kids to sit down and run a locomotive.”

On Monday prior to the Museum’s board meeting, Anna Mathes of Barre, field organizer for Apex Wind Energy, presented a check for $4,000 to board members and museum director Jeff Lewis.

Mathes explained Apex Wind Energy has been presenting grants in the amount of $400 to $4,000 since 2020.

While the total cost of the simulator is in the neighborhood of $10,000, Lewis said this check is a great start.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A 195-foot-long barge made it to Albion, passing underneath the Ingersoll Street lift bridge at about 7:40 p.m.

The barge is carrying two sections of a pedestrian bridge headed to Buffalo. The tugboat CMT Otter pushed the barge from Rochester to Albion today. The barge and tug are staying in Albion overnight, and will head east at about 6 a.m. on Friday.

Carver Companies, a company based near Albany, expects the barge will reach its final destination in Buffalo on Saturday. The first barge carrying two other sections of the bridge passed through Orleans County on Monday. On Tuesday it reached Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy.

The barge heads west on the canal in this photo taken from the Brown Street canal bridge.

The two sections on the barge today are bigger and heavier than the first two. That caused the barge to sit lower in the water, scraping bottom at times on the journey.

Carver Companies posted on its Facebook page the barge needs to draft 9 feet in order to clear under bridges that are 15 feet, 6 inches.

The two pedestrian bridge sections on the barge today are 2 feet higher than the sections are on the first barge, so Carver has the barge sitting deeper in the water to get under the bridges.

The canal is listed as being 12 feet deep, but Carver Companies said it is lesser than that in some spots. “This resulted in slower speeds than expected today,” Carver posted on social media.

Here are more photos of the barge and tugboat coming into Albion this evening.

The barge emerges from underneath the Brown Street bridge.

The barge carries a long sing urging people to “Follow Me To Buffalo.” The trip started about two weeks ago in Albany and has attracted lots of media attention and many onlookers.

A 1,200-horsepower tugboat has kept the long and heavy barge moving.

Many people took photos and videos of the barge coming into Albion, and tying up for the night between the lift bridges.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – A group of about 50 4-H’ers and their families spent Wednesday evening at the 4-H Fairgrounds for a workbee, tackling projects to get the buildings and grounds for next week’s fair.

This photo shows 4-Hers in the horse barn, taking down last year’s decorations in a Hawaiian theme and putting up new ones in a disco theme from the ’70s.

Julie Fenton of Medina fastens decorations in a disco theme to one of the gates leading into the horse barn. Fenton’s daughter Kenley, 14, shows horses at the fair.

Walter Gabalski, right, helps put together pens for goats and sheep on Wednesday during the workbee. Mason Rutthoft, 10 of Barre, helps with the set up. He will be showing three goats at the fair next week.

Gabalski and his family are in the Orleans County 4-H program even though they live in Byron in neighboring Genesee. The youngest of Gabalski’s seven children is the last 4-Her in the family. Hugh Gabalski is 17. He will be showing two lambs and several rabbits at the fair.

Brilyn Rebisz, 19, of Bergen helps with the pen setup in the barn for goats and sheep. Brilyn has been showing goats at the Orleans County 4-H Fair since she was 11. This will be her last year as a 4-Her.

“This is the highlight of my summer,” she said about the fair. “It’s all the relationships with everybody. It’s like a family.”

Adam Dresser of Medina uses a saw to cut steel anchors out of the concrete floor in the cattle barn. Corey Miller of Lyndonville is at left.

The anchors were removed in an area that had a milking parlor. But there won’t be any milking cows at the fair this year. There will be many heifers that are dairy animals, but don’t need to be milked.

With no milking parlor next week, the space can be used for displays, Miller said.

This group gets stalls set up in the Knights Building.

Orleans County should get a second chance today to see a tugboat pushing an enormous barge carrying two sections of a pedestrian bridge.

Carver Companies from near Albany has spent two weeks directing two 195-foot-long barges along the canal. The barges are carrying four sections of a 266-foot-long pedestrian bridge for the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy in Buffalo. The bridge was made in Italy.

Carver was able to get the first barge from near Rochester all the way through Orleans County and to Gasport on Monday. The barge reached its destination in Buffalo on Tuesday.

Carver had to send the tugboat back Wednesday to get the second barge. It made it to Adams Basin near Spencerport. The tugboat was scheduled to start the day at 6 a.m. and go to Rochester to get the second barge. Then it will head west from Rochester around 9 to 9:15 a.m., according to a Facebook post from Carver.

The company hasn’t posted an estimated time when it will be in Orleans County. Carver posts updates on its Facebook page for the ETAs.

The trek for the barges has been widely publicized in the media since the trip started in Albany. Many people have lined up along the canal or on bridges to get a glimpse of the tugboat and barge.

The tugboat “CMT Otter” has been getting a workout the past two weeks pushing barges carrying a pedestrian bridge that will be installed in Buffalo.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Bullard Park welcomed a bigger crowd of kids today for the summer recreation program. Today was the program was open to children throughout Orleans County, as well as Elba’s summer rec program in Genesee County.

There were six bounce houses set up, as well as face painting, food, a magic show and other activities.

About 300 kids were at the park today, said John Grillo, Albion’s recreation program director.

Seven students form the Iroquois Job Corps helped run the event today with the village recreation department.

Kade Leverenz, 5, of Holley heads down the slide in one of the bounce houses.

These kids play with giant Legos brought to the park by the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. GOMOC used a grant from ESL to purchase the blocks and other games. The Ministry of Concern also used the grant to pay the $5 cost for each ticket for a child to use the bounce houses, attend a magic show and also get food served by the Masonic Lodge.

John Hollenbeck, 14, volunteered with the Masonic Lodge and served up popcorn.

Patrick Holman of Medina put on a magic show. Here he is assisted by Julianna with a rope trick. Holman tied a knot that moved up and down on the rope. The rope also was cut in half and then seemed to miraculously come back together as one rope.

These kids try to catch the knot from the rope. Holman performed his show for about 50 kids at the park’ amphitheater.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

These GCC faculty or staff honored with Chancellor’s Awards include, from left: Karlyn Backus, Amy Conley and Richard Schlesinger.

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

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

The following faculty and staff members earned a SUNY Chancellor Award for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Richard A. Schlesinger was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. This award recognizes consistent superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the State University’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.

Dr. Schlesinger has been a member of our college’s communication faculty since 2016 and has taught a variety of courses including Interpersonal Communications, Speech, First Year Experience, Career Explorations, and Argue and Debate. Communication courses go well beyond the textbook since lessons need to come to life with real-world applications, and Dr. Schlesinger creates well-crafted lessons which are designed to build practical skills.

He is a highly experienced individual known for creativity and adaptability both inside and outside the classroom and is committed to student success. In addition, he is the author of: “If You Don’t Ask The Answer Is No: A Practical Guide for Getting Through College Without Falling Through the Cracks” and is currently working on his second book.

Michele L. Terry was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the Classified Service, a system-level award established by SUNY to give system-wide recognition for superior performance and extraordinary achievement by employees in the Classified Service. These awards demonstrate the University’s commitment to individuals who provide superior service to its students and the community at large.

Terry has been a member of our college’s classified staff since her arrival in 2002. She began as a Clerk-Typist, became a Secretary, and has been in the role of Executive Secretary since 2009. She has cheerfully transitioned to different job responsibilities under different supervisors over the years and continually maintains a positive atmosphere.

Terry has proven to be a “patient teacher” to new employees and often steps up to help at the Hub of the Student Success Center. Terry is involved in, and assists with, many campus events. In addition, she serves as secretary to the GCC Association Board and became a notary public in 2019.

These honorees include Elizabeth Simmons, Teresa Sukiennicki, Laura Taylor and Michele Terry.

Teresa L. Sukiennicki received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, which recognizes the consistently superior service contributions of teaching faculty. This service must be sustained over multiple years and may occur in a variety of venues.

Sukiennicki has been a member of the college’s biology faculty since 2006 when she started as an adjunct instructor prior to becoming a full-time faculty member in 2009. She has been regularly involved with the Academic Senate, including being co-chair of the Academic Standards Committee for over eight years. She was the Outdoor Adventure Club advisor for eight years, and regularly volunteers within the community. Sukiennicki maintains her connections with educators outside of the College through her participation in several professional associations and gives back to the community through her weekly volunteer work at EquiCenter.

Elizabeth M. Simmons was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship, which recognizes consistently superior professional achievement in the field of librarianship.

Simmons has been a member of our college since 2017 where she started as a Reference and Cataloging Librarian, and in 2019, she became a Systems & Electronic Services Librarian. She has served in a critical role as she navigated the library through some impactful changes including migrating the library’s website, establishing technical workflows and training staff for a new Library Services Platform, implementing a laptop loaning program for students, and configuring and implementing a study room booking software in the library.

Simmons is GCC’s SUNY Librarians Association campus delegate and is an active member of other state library organizations in addition to holding positions on a variety of college committees.

Karlyn M. Backus was recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. This award recognizes consistently superior professional achievement within and beyond the position.

Her service to the college began in 2009 as an adjunct instructor, in 2011 she was hired full time as an ACE Program Specialist, she joined the college’s Records Office in 2019 as the Assistant Registrar and was then promoted to Registrar.

Backus has always been an individual that embodies the spirit of “Serving Beyond Expectations.” She is well known not only on campus for her contributions of knowledge, teamwork and innovative solutions, but at the SUNY level as well. A few examples of her work include leading and supporting several digital transformation efforts, implementing a collaborative collegewide professional development group, and leadership roles within the college’s Academic Senate and Information Technology Advisory Council.

Amy V. Conley was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, which supports the pursuits foundational to sustaining the intellectual growth of SUNY institutions by recognizing consistently outstanding scholarly and creative productivity, conducted in addition to teaching, by SUNY’s instructional faculty.

Conley has been a member of our college faculty since 2009. Some of her career highlights at GCC include her work with the Business Creators Club over the past 14 years and innovative contributions on delivering course content, specifically through hyflex. In addition, Conley is a faculty liaison with the pTECH Program, a 23-24 SUNY Online Ambassador, works extensively with The BEST Center to create and teach classes, mentors student participants in the annual business idea pitch competition, and is an active member of GCC’s Educational Initiatives and Career Services Committees. Beyond the classroom, she organizes countless activities including networking events and promotes student involvement in the community.

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

Taylor has been a member of our college since 2017, and since joining GCC, has transformed the college’s fashion degree program in several important ways. She oversaw the transition of the annual fashion show from the Forum to the Arena; and perhaps even more remarkably, was able to find a way to make the event possible during the pandemic. Taylor works to maintain connections with fashion business leaders nationwide, strengthen relationships with fashion programs at 4-year institutions, and has been instrumental in transforming GCC’s fashion degree program to modernize course content and provide students with the best possible resources available.

“We are incredibly proud of the exceptional individuals who have received the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence,” said Dr. James Sunser, president of GCC. “Richard Schlesinger, Michele Terry, Teresa Sukiennicki, Elizabeth Simmons, Karlyn Backus, Amy Conley, and Laura Taylor have consistently demonstrated outstanding contributions to their respective fields, our campus, and the community. Their commitment to excellence and dedication have had a profound impact on our students and the overall educational experience at Genesee Community College.”

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Joint Veterans Council today was given a van to be used to transport veterans to medical appointments.

Pictured from left include Jake Hebdon of Cooper Funeral Home in Medina, Josh Mitchell of Mitchell Family Cremation & Funerals, Joint Veterans’ Council president Dave Kusmierczak, and Joint Veterans’ Council secretary Nancy Traxler, who is also the county’s veterans service agency officer. (Mitchell is handing off the van’s keys to Kusmierczak.)

Cooper Funeral Home and Mitchell Family Cremation & Funerals merged on April 1. The funeral home co-owners said the new partnership brought efficiencies, and they didn’t need the van anymore.

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has about 73,000 miles. It has a value of about $15,000. Rather than sell it, Hebdon and Josh Mitchell wanted to give it to the local Joint Veterans Council.

The funeral directors said they work with the local veterans frequently, especially the Honor Guard that attends funerals for veterans.

Dave Kusmierczak is president of the Joint Veterans Council and one of the volunteer drivers. The council will be able to retire one of its five other vans that is high mileage with about 120,000 miles.

“This was a total surprise,” Kusmierczak said about the van. “It’s a blessing they looked us up to give us the van.”

The council typically saves money from donations and fundraisers and then buys a used van that is low mileage.

The council has about 20 volunteer drivers who take veterans to about 1,000 medical appointments each year. The council is always looking for more volunteer drivers and people in the office to schedule drivers for appointments.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can call (585) 589-2856.

The van donated by the funeral home will be inspected with decals added that says it is owned by the Joint Veterans Council and provides transportation to veterans for medical appointments.

Daughter of Saint Gianna joins in grand opening celebration

Photos by Michael Mroziak/Western New York Catholic: Father Mark Noonan, pastor of the Orleans Niagara East (ONE) Catholic Community, blesses the newly opened St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center located on the grounds of St. Mary’s Church in Holley. Jim Simon of Lyndonville, chairman of the pastoral council for ONE Catholic, holds the portrait of St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, speaks inside St. Mary Church in Holley last Thrusday at the conclusion of a Mass celebrating the opening of the newest St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center. The center is adjacent to the church. Standing with her is Cheryl Calire, who heads the Diocese of Buffalo’s Life Ministries.

HOLLEY – The pregnancy outreach center opened last Thursday at the St. Mary’s Parish Ministry Center in Holley, and the daughter of a saint was there for the grand opening celebration.

The center is named for St. Gianna Beretta Molla, who was born in 1922 in Milan, Italy.  As a young woman she became a pediatrician and wife. She and her husband, Pietro, had three children, and yet Gianna was able to balance the demands of motherhood, wife and doctor.

In 1961 she became pregnant with their 4th child, but learned early in the pregnancy that she had cancer. Gianna, herself a doctor, refused to take any steps that would place her child in danger. Accepting the risks that carrying her child to term meant for her, she insisted in the days prior to giving birth, “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child – I insist on it – save him.”

On April 21, 1962, Sr. Gianna gave birth to her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, and despite all efforts to treat St. Gianna, she passed away a week after giving birth. She was canonized a Saint by Pope St. John Paul II on May 16, 2004.

The daughter for whom she gave her life, Gianna Emanuela Molla, attended the dedication Mass and opening of the new center on July 11 in Holley.

Father Mark Noonan, pastor of the Catholic churches in Orleans and eastern Niagara counties, heard the inspirational story of St. Gianna firsthand from the pope. Father Noonan was the celebrant for this special Mass last Thursday.

The St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center in Holley is the 8th center in the Diocese of Buffalo, Noonan said.

“We are grateful to be able to serve families by providing material, emotional and spiritual support to mothers, fathers and families in need during and after pregnancy,” he said.

Kathy and Bob Schumacher are directors of the center. ONE Catholic plans to open a satellite office to meet with families at Holy Trinity Parish in Medina.

“We are so incredibly blessed to have St. Gianna’s daughter be a living witness to the heroic virtue of her mother at our dedication and opening,” said Kathy Schumacher. “We hope to provide a caring and compassionate atmosphere to assist families from pregnancy through the first years of life.”

Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla reacts with joy entering St. Mary’s Catholic Church last Thursday.