ALBION – UConnectCare is planning a ribbon cutting and an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 20 for the new 25-bed women and children community residence at 3597 Butts Rd.

This will be the first residential program for women and their children for UConnectCare, formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

Contractors a year ago started clearing land, removing trees and brush. The site will allow women, 18 and older, to receive services to aid in their recovery while in a residential setting.

Five of the 25 units will accommodate women with children younger than kindergarten. Up to two children can stay in those units. The property will include walking trails and a playground.

UConnectCare awarded a $4.6 million grant from the state Department of Health for construction of the residence, which will total $5.2 million.

UConnectCare has seen more women in recovery and addiction programs during the opioid epidemic, with the prevalence of addictive painkillers, John Bennett, UConnectCare executive director, said during a public hearing about the project on Aug. 3, 2022.

Arthur Barnes creating farm scene of wheat field, apple orchard

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Arthur Barnes, an artist from Millville near Medina, is in Holley today working on a mural on the back of the Community Free Library.

Barnes put the primer on Sunday for the artwork that will be 25 feet high and 21 feet wide.

On Monday he painted the sky, and tried to blend it in with a mural painted last year by Tony Barry. That mural features the portrait of Holley’s namesake, Myron Holley, and a Erie Canal scene. Holley was an early commissioner for the canal.

Barnes today is painting the tree line and the wheat fields. The bottom of the mural will have more detail and feature an apple orchard.

Tony Barry’s mural is on the left and Arthur Barnes is working on a new large-scale painting on the right side. The project is funded with a $5,000 grant awarded to the library from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Barnes said Barry had some leftover paint that allowed for a perfect match with the sky.

“I’m a big fan of Tony’s work,” Barnes said.

This is the sixth mural Barnes has painted in Orleans County. The first five were all Erie Canal scenes. One of those is on display in the Murry-Holley Historical Society.

Arthur Barnes said he would like to have the mural done by the end of July.

“That’s what I’m aiming for but there are many variables with the weather,” he said.

ALBION – Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern has announced a new program to benefit school children in Orleans and Genesee counties.

Jami Allport, executive director of GOMOC, is excited about their new Back to School Program and hopes it will prove to be very successful.

She explained her agency used to do school supplies, but it has been evident that most schools are now providing the necessary supplies to children, so the need there is not as great as it used to be.

At a recent staff meeting, Allport said Rose Friedl, newly appointed youth coordinator, came up with the idea of providing new sneakers and clothing to school children.

Friedl was formerly with GOMOC’s furniture program, and this is her first big event as youth coordinator, Allport said.

Previously, GOMOC provided clothing and gifts for children at Christmas time, but they realized that many other organizations step up at that time also, including Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Medina Area Association of Churches, the Salvation Army and local churches. But, other than backpack programs, there is a need to help children and families get ready to go back to school.

“We hope this program will bridge that gap,” Allport said.

Allport said GOMOC provided gifts and clothing for 137 children last Christmas, so she knows the need is out there.

“If we can help 100 children – 50 in Orleans and 50 in Genesee County, I will be happy,” Allport said.

To utilize the program, families must visit GOMOC’s office in the First Presbyterian Church of Albion and fill out an intake form and the size, ages, color and list of what their children would like. Entrance to the office in the church basement is off Platt or East State Street. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The agency is closed on the Fourth of July.

Allport stressed how important it is for a child of any age to have nice clothing for school.

“We want kids to feel confident and happy when they go back to school, and sometimes having a new shirt or pair of sneakers will do that,” Allport said. “Many children have never had a new pair of shoes or outfit. Even kids at pre-K level are aware of how the others look.”

Allport is asking the community to step up and donate money or gift cards so they can purchase what these children need. If donating clothing or footwear, the tags must be on them. The public is also encouraged to adopt a family, and either shop for what is on their list or donate money so the items can be purchased.

For more information, contact GOMOC at (585) 589-9210.

The drive will run through Aug. 22.

“If we are able to surpass 100 children, that would be wonderful,” Allport said. “We want to help as many kids as possible.”

County also approves how it will spend $238K from opioid lawsuit

ALBION – Orleans County has been approved for $275,119 as part of a $462 million multistate settlement secured by Attorney General Letitia James from JUUL Labs Inc. for its role in the youth vaping epidemic that led to a dangerous rise in underage e-cigarette use nationwide, James said.

The Orleans County Legislature last week voted to accept its allotted money from the settlement. The funding must be spent on the approved uses as provided by the NYS

Attorney General’s Office, such as prevent youth and young adults from initiating vaping, support community, school, college and university-based anti-vaping programs, to help people quit vaping, enforce vaping laws and regulations, as well as research and surveillance, according to a county resolution.

The Orleans-Niagara BOCES also will receive $507,353 in the settlement. The Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES will receive $492,991.

Other nearby counties were approved for the following: Niagara County, $1,062,901; Genesee County, $366,508; Livingston County, $345,541; Monroe County, $2,293,678.

“JUUL preyed on young people across our state by putting addictive products into their hands and convincing them that they were harmless,” Attorney General James said in a statement last month, announcing the settlement funds. “Their actions put a generation of children at risk, fueling physical and mental health problems among young New Yorkers.”

The County Legislature last week also approved how it will spend $238,008 from distributors of multiple pharmaceutical companies that were sued for allegedly helping to fuel the opioid epidemic.

The settlement funds need to used for treatment programs, prevention, and other

strategies that may be categorized as restricted or unrestricted use, according to a County Legislature resolution.

The county approved spending the funds in the following areas:

• $10,000 for Medical Examiners Fees for Service
• $38,028 for equipment for Sheriff’s Office
• $38,028 for equipment for Probation Department
• $39,657 for special grants for County Jail
• $64,295 for equipment for Major Felony Crime Task Force
• $48,000 for Public Health Lab Testing

Press Release, Congress of United States, House of Representatives

ROCHESTER – Today, Representatives Joe Morelle (D-NY), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Nick Langworthy (R-NY), Marc Molinaro (R-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Brandon Williams (R-NY) announced the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor), comprised of the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse areas, has been selected to receive $40 million in Phase II funding in the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) Program.

The creation of the NY SMART I-Corridor will allow for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region to combine their expertise in advanced manufacturing with both ongoing and new investments in semiconductor and sensing technology to drive the American innovation economy forward.

This historic, bipartisan group of New York House of Representatives members leveraged the strengths of their unique communities to attract federal investments to stimulate regional economic growth now and for the future. The NY SMART I-Corridor coalition emphasized collaboration over competition, utilizing their unique universities, field experts, and local and federal advocates, to build a brighter future for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region.

In October 2023, the NY SMART I-Corridor was designated a Regional Tech Hub during Phase I of the program. Selection for Phase II funding further underscores the strength and promise of our region.

“This historic federal investment will help empower the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region’s semiconductor and sensing industries and propel our growth in these essential fields over the next decade,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “I’m grateful to the Biden Administration, Secretary Raimondo, and the Economic Development Administration for selecting our application and recognizing the promise our region holds. I look forward to continuing my work alongside this bipartisan group of colleagues to leverage the unique economic strengths of our communities to pioneer innovative technologies and secure our nation’s scientific future.”

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney said: “With this additional investment into the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse corridor and its designation as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub, our region will be at the forefront of innovative advancements benefiting our nation, and the world. This funding will onshore critical parts of our nation’s supply chain, bringing jobs to our communities and promoting technological advancement. I am eager to see the positive impact this funding will have on our community.”

Enacted as a part of the CHIPS and Science Act, the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs Program invests in areas across the country with a focus on emerging, innovative technologies to help stimulate regional economic development and rebuild American supply chains. The program is partly inspired by the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act legislation written and introduced by Rep. Morelle in 2020.

The Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region is uniquely poised to excel in the innovative, advanced technology of semiconductor production due to the presence of its highly trained and skilled workforce, world-class universities, and extensive manufacturing infrastructure.

In a study by MIT economists Jonathan Gruber and Simon Johnson, 100 cities were listed as prime candidates for economic growth through targeted federal investment. All three cities represented by the NY SMART-I Corridor were on the list, with Rochester ranking number one, Syracuse number three, and Buffalo number fifteen.

Editor’s Note: Gov. Kathy Hochul issued this statement:  “With this transformative federal grant, New York is taking another major leap toward building Chips Country in our state. This award will help to bring the next generation of semiconductor research, manufacturing, and workforce training upstate and unlock even more funding – on top of our other state investments – to attract chipmaking businesses and jobs. From Micron’s historic investment to our first-in-the-nation chips research center in Albany, New York is all in on semiconductors and I thank the Biden administration, Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Congressman Morelle for ensuring we remain competitive in the global race for chips business.”

Press Release, Orleans County office for the Aging

ALBION – The Orleans County Office for the Aging will be hosting a “Medicare 101 Workshop” regarding Medicare choices for seniors on Tuesday, July 23, at 10 a.m. at the Medina Senior Center, located at 615 West Avenue in Medina.  Pre-registration is encouraged.

“When it comes to Medicare, there are of many choices for seniors, there can be program changes from year to year, and, quite frankly, it can get overwhelmingly very quickly,” said Melissa Blanar, Orleans County Director of OFA.  “Our hope is that this workshop will help people make informed decisions that are right for them.”

According to Blanar, the workshop will cover Medicare A,B,C & D; how to fill the gaps in Medicare; Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage; EPIC; Medicare Savings Program; getting extra help with prescription drug coverage and transitioning from NYS Health Exchange to Medicare.  There will be amply time for questions and answers.

To register for the event or if you have any questions, please call OFA at (585) 589-3191.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Andrew Grillo hits a tennis ball to a group of kids at a tennis camp at Holley on Monday. There were about 15 participants on the first day of a tennis camp.

The program is funded with a grant from the U.S. Tennis Association. The camp is usually held in Albion at the school tennis courts, but with those courts under construction Holley is hosting the camp.

The camp is run by the Village of Albion of Albion Recreation Department.

There are two different weeks of camps. This week it runs Monday through Friday except on July Fourth. Next week the camp is from July 8-12, except for July 9.

The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no charge to participants.

Basic tennis skills will be taught to the beginners with tennis drills and low-level competitive match situations. Scoring, rules and regulations will be taught along with tennis strategies, said John Grillo, the Albion recreation director ad retired tennis coach at Holley.

There is no pre-registration and participants can still join. Email jgrillo3@hotmail.com if there are any questions.

GAINES – The lift bridge over the Erie Canal in Eagle Harbor will be closed to traffic from July 15 to Aug. 2 for a repair, the Orleans County Emergency Management Office advised.

The bridge was built in 1910. The bridge was last closed for about six weeks in 2022 for repairs.

Motorists are urged to use alternative routes while the bridge is closed.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has announced the students from Orleans County on the President’s List and Provost’s List.

Students honored on the President’s List have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.

Those on the Provost’s List are part-time students and earned a quality point index of 3.75 or higher.

President’s List:

• Amaya Cleveland of Medina
• Corey Saj of Medina
• Austin Basden of Medina
• Hannah Coolbaugh of Albion
• Myrna Martin of Albion
• Madison Flor of Albion
• Grace Gregoire of Albion
• Luke Gregoire of Albion
• Tatum Gagne of Holley
• Jacklyn Botello of Holley
• Amanda Jones of Holley
• Erin Harding of Holley
• Jonathan Russo of Holley
• Sara Kingdollar of Holley
• Isabella Thom of Holley
• Natalie Bertsch of Waterport

Provost’s List:

• Luca Pylypiak of Lyndonville
• Emma Carson of Medina
• Rachel Hill of Medina
• David Garrow of Medina
• Willy Sanchez-Cabrera of Medina
• Dominique McKinley of Medina
• Alexander Balaban of Medina
• Jenna Wildschutz of Medina
• Alexandria Strong of Medina
• Candice Baker of Medina
• Adam Lindberg of Medina
• Casey Conrad of Albion
• Leah Knab of Albion
• Isaac Neidert of Albion
• Ethan Hofmann of Albion
• Autumn Husfelt of Albion
• Barbara Lamka of Albion
• Meganne Moore of Albion
• Sophia Smith of Albion
• Zachary Schultz of Holley
• Ashton Drought of Holley
• Brendi Nunnenkamp of Holley
• John Butler of Kendall
• Quinn McCue of Kent
• Pedro Santiago of Kent
• Qasim Huzair of Waterport
• Aaron Arnett of Waterport

Genesee Community College serves over 6,000 students per semester through more than 70 academic programs and certificates, including the new Marketing and Social Media concentration within the Business Administration program, and the new Nanotechnology degree with ECC. On a microscopic scale, nanotech focuses on careers in biology, chemistry, electrical engineering, medicine and photovoltaics.

CHILDS – One of the most historic structures on the entire Ridge Road is again serving the public after being closed for more than two years.

The restaurant formerly known as Tillman’s Village Inn, has reopened under new ownership and a new name, the Tavern on the Ridge. The building is the last remaining stage coach stop on Ridge Road.

New restauranteurs are chef Chad Pike, a 1997 graduate of Albion High School, and his partner (in life and business) Julia Hopkins. She grew up in Rochester and the two met while working at a restaurant in Perinton.

Most recently, Pike was chef at Shelridge Country Club in Medina, where he leased the bar and restaurant for seven years and Julia tended bar.

“The contract with my partner and I was coming up and Julia was ready to step back, so we didn’t renew it,” Pike said. “We had heard Laura Bentley had purchased this place and was looking for someone to breathe new life into it. We began talking to her in the summer of 2022.”

“That Christmas we decided to go for it,” Hopkins said. “We redid the floors, cleaned and painted.”

“We want to honor what the Tillmans had here since 1952,” Pike said. “We hope to make our own history here.”

The historic former Village Inn at the intersection of Routes 104 and 98 in Childs has reopened under new management and a new name, the Tavern on the Ridge.

The couple spent months planning menus and developing their plan of business. In January they began doing takeout-only while waiting for their liquor license and. The food proved popular.

Pike wanted a menu that was smaller, reasonable and flexible, so he could change courses with the seasons. A Polish platter has emerged as a favorite and it will probably stay on the menu.

“People were so happy we are serving food here again,” Pike said.

Menu entrees are priced in the low $20, while sandwiches are in the $13 range.

Eat-in dining began the week before Mother’s Day.

“We were very busy,” Pike said.

Currently, the restaurant is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Beginning Sunday they plan to serve brunch every other Sunday.

Hopkins said they are working on their website, building up the bar menu and developing a full menu.

“We want to focus on consistency and quality,” Pike said. “It was hard to leave Shelridge, but we hope to develop here what we had there.”

Eventually, they hope to add a lunch menu and catering.

Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are appreciated by calling (585) 283-4332 or (585) 297-4416.

Press Release, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library

MEDINA – Summer Reading has kicked off at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. We had 300 kids today learning all about rocks and minerals, sluicing their gem bags, and painting river rocks.

Attendees also got to play Twister, Connect 4, yard checkers, and cornhole. While kids were enjoying the fun outside, adults were able to meet with representatives from National Grid, LifeSpan, Office for the Aging, NYSEG, AMPED, Maxim, UConnect Care, Veterans One Stop, and the Department of Public Services.

Ruff Rock Mining was at Lee-Whedon and people tried to unearth gemstones.

We have so many great events scheduled for the summer and we have plenty of activities you can do with your family. Borrow an Empire Pass for free entry to a New York State Park or borrow one of our family passes to the Rochester Museum and Science Center. Make sure to grab a Library Adventure Map and get a sticker for each library in Nioga Library System you visit. Get one of our Discovery Kits and go bird watching or geocaching. Click here for more information about the summer reading program at Lee-Whedon.

Remember, your public library is the gateway to great adventures!

These representatives from agencies and organizations were available to meet with the public inside the library.

Lions Club ready for its 50^th anniversary July 4 celebration; Flyover and cornhole part of festivities

Photos by Tom Rivers: Fireworks burst in the sky during the finale of last year’s show in Lyndonville. This year’s display will be the largest yet in Lyndonville.

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club will put on its 50^th annual Fourth of July celebration, and the bash will include the largest fireworks show in Lyndonville’s history.

The annual fireworks show is already one if the biggest in Western New York, typically lasting 38 to 40 minutes, said Wes Bradley, the fireworks chairman the past 19 years.

Provided photo: Gerald “Shorty” Nellist will serve as grand marshal of the parade that starts at noon.

The fireworks on Thursday will go about 45 to 50 minutes.

The contract with Young Explosives is the biggest in the company’s 75-year history, Bradley said.

There will be a ground display starting at 9:55 p.m., commemorating the 50^th anniversary celebration. Then there will be an additional ground display featuring the American flag and then the finale with the fireworks high in the sky.

The celebration also will include a military flyover for the third straight year. It honors veterans, including this year’s parade grand marshal, Gerald “Shorty” Nellist. He is the oldest surviving World War II veteran in Orleans County. Harold Suhr, Lions Club president and Nellist’s son-in-law, said it is an honor to have “Shorty” leading the parade, which this year honors the soldiers from the “Greatest Generation” on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion.

The ceremonial flyover will be carried out by the 911th Air Lift Wing of the U.S. Air Force Reserves in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

The flyover is scheduled at 11:55 a.m., just before the parade starts at noon. Route 63 will be temporarily closed to traffic 15 minutes before the flyover.

The Lions Club also announces there will be a cornhole tournament on the school grounds.  The tournament is a double elimination format and will be sponsored by Dubby’s Tailgate.  For more information call (585) 283-4347. Those not in the tournament but wishing to try the game can do so free of charge, courtesy of Dubby’s Tailgate, the Lions Club said.

This year’s celebration will be the largest event ever produced by the Lyndonville Lions Club, Suhr said. Expanded parade bands, and the largest fireworks display ever carried out by Young Explosives are just a few things to look for, he said.

The schedule for bands includes:

• 90 West, playing country music from 2 to 5 p.m. at the main stage on Main Street
• Mike McCauley’s One Man Band, starting at 4:30 p.m. on the school grounds
• 7th Heaven, from 7 to 10 p.m. at main stage on Main Street

A military flyover will be back for the third straight year. This photo shows the airplane passing over Lyndonville. It did it twice just before last year’s parade. The plane came from the 911th United States Air Force Reserve from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College is excited to announce the launch of its newest program, the Cybersecurity, Systems and Networking Associate in Applied Science Degree, commencing this fall.

This innovative program is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge required for careers in network administration, systems administration and cybersecurity analysis.

In today’s digital landscape, Network Administrators, Systems Administrators, and Cybersecurity Analysts play a crucial role in ensuring the secure operation of organizations’ computer systems and networks. They are responsible for installing, configuring, and troubleshooting various information technology systems, including networks, cybersecurity measures, communication systems, and operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and Linux.

What sets GCC apart is our commitment to providing hands-on experience through practical labs and technical electives. Students will not only learn theoretical concepts but also apply them in real-world scenarios, gaining proficiency in assembling, testing, and troubleshooting computer systems.

The Cybersecurity, Systems and Networking curriculum at GCC covers a comprehensive range of topics, including cybersecurity, networking, desktop support, server administration, and information technology systems. This holistic approach ensures that graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving technology industry.

“At GCC, students have the opportunity to pursue IT degrees and certifications in areas such as networks, cybersecurity, communication systems and operating systems,” said James M. Bucki, Sr., director of Information Technology Programs at GCC. “Our program prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities in cybersecurity analysis, network administration and system support.”

GCC’s Cybersecurity, Systems and Networking program can optionally be completed 100 percent online. All cybersecurity courses are offered via HyFlex providing flexibility for students to balance their studies with other commitments. Whether you’re starting your career in IT or looking to advance your existing skills, the Cybersecruity Systems and Networking Degree offers the perfect opportunity to pursue your passion for technology. Click here for more information.