ALBION – Gathering at a small table at 16 E. Academy St. in Albion on Thursday, several seniors in Orleans County sit together to talk over a hot meal.
The meal is Salisbury steak covered in gravy with carrots and mashed potatoes for a side. They are given bread with butter, some milk and after they eat they will be given a dessert. Some help themselves to hot water or coffee as they exchange stories.
This is just one service which Meals on Wheels/Nutri-Fair program offers, which Arc GLOW has overseen since 2009. Its main goal is to assist in maintaining the healthy independence of our senior population and improving their quality of life.
“It’s important to our community, it’s important to our seniors,” said Vicki Havholm, nutrition program manager. “It’s keeping them in their homes longer by getting a nutritional meal that is done by our dietician to make sure it has what they need.”
In addition, Meals on Wheels acts as a wellness check. Havholm said drivers for Meals on Wheels checks on the clients Monday through Friday, and if there are any issues, Meals on Wheels will reach out to family members.
Office of the Aging passed along a comment that a legally blind woman said about the Orleans County Meals on Wheels program, “Without the meals, I wouldn’t be able to stay in my home.”
Meals are prepared every day. Kitchen staff come in at 6 a.m. to start cooking, so that drivers can start delivering them by 11 a.m. The menu is put together monthly by a dietician, and Havholm meets with her head cook to look at last year’s menus to review them. They remove unpopular meals and add new recipes.
In addition to the Meals on Wheels staff, volunteers from the Arc GLOW day habilitation and prevocational programs come to help put the meals together.
In 2023, Meals on Wheels delivered 42,384 meals and served 2,057 at their Nutri-Fair sites for a total of 44,441 meals served.
“You can’t beat the prices here,” said Doreen Brumbaugh of Barre, who stopped into the Albion Nutri-Fare site on Thursday to eat. To eat at the congregate dining sites, a person must be over the age of 60 or the spouse of a participant of a person over 60. Guests of an eligible senior if they are under the age of 60 are asked to pay the guest fee for the meal.
Vicki Havholm, nutrition program manager for Arc GLOW, puts a meal in a warm box to be delivered. Arc has been running the program the past 15 years.
Seniors can come to the Nutri-Fair locations in Kendall, 1873 Kendall Road, and Albion, 16 E. Academy St. Albion serves Monday through Friday at noon, and Kendall serves noon Wednesdays and Fridays. Call (585) 589-7817 ext. 1417 by at least 9 a.m. to inform the kitchen staff you are coming in. A notification of 24 hours is preferred.
There are 10 routes which go all through Orleans County. Havholm said there are people on a waiting list for several of them due to the limitation on how many meals can be placed in a hot box.
“The food should only technically be out on the road for two and a half hours,” she explained. “Most of my drivers (who go to the northern part of the county) have plug-ins to go into their car (to keep the food warm) because they are in the car the longest.”
Havholm said a lot of people think Meals on Wheels is welfare and just for people who are poor. It is not.
“We are here for you to help you,” she said. “To put that ease of mind for your family knowing that someone is checking on you, you’re getting a meal. If there is an issue, we’re here.”
To help support this important program, every year for over 30 years, with the exception of a couple years break around Covid pandemic, Meals on Wheels holds a spaghetti and meatball dinner. Prior to Arc GLOW running the Meals on Wheels program, Albion First Presbyterian Church was in charge of it, and they started the fundraiser.
This year the spaghetti and meatball dinner will be held 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at Meals on Wheels, located at 16 E. Academy St., in Albion. Tickets cost $12 and children under 10 eat free.
There will also be a picnic at Lakeside on June 21 which requires a reservation, and the Office of the Aging will be holding its Spring Jubilee on May 17.
For more information on Meals on Wheels and eligibility in Orleans County, contact (585) 589-5424 option 5 to sign-up. You can also visit ArcGLOW.org for information.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 April 2024 at 9:05 am
POINT BREEZE – As Becky Hodgins Almeter prepares to lead the youth sailing classes at Oak Orchard Yacht Club, her father Bob Hodgins will begin his third year as commodore when the Oak Orchard Yacht Club opens for the season on May 24. With a lifelong love of sailing, he is aptly suited for the position.
“My first sailing experience was when I was about 12 years old,” said Hodgins, a resident of Alexander in Genesee County. “My family was on vacation and there was a guy renting Sunfish sailboats. We rented one and had a blast. That led to a family Sunfish, then a Lightning sailboat on Silver Lake for a few years, and it just grew from there.”
Hodgins went on to own numerous boats, including a 26-foot sailboat when he met his wife Mary Lu in 1975, and she has been “onboard” ever since, Hodgins said.
“We have had some great adventures,” he added.
They bought a 41-foot sailboat on Cape Cod and sailed it home to Oak Orchard. They have traveled through the Trent-Severn Waterway in Ontario, Canada, up through Georgian Bay, the North Channel of Lake Huron, down through Lake Huron, the Detroit River to Lake Erie and Buffalo, through the Welland Canal and back to Lake Ontario.
Bob and Mary Lu Hodgins are on their boat in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
When their children were 5, 7 and 10 years old, they sailed for a year and home-schooled their children on the boat. They went from Lake Ontario, through the Erie Canal to the Hudson River, down the East Coast to Florida, spent the winter in the Bahamas and then sailed back home in the spring.
Their ocean experience started in 2008 when they left Lake Ontario, went down to the Chesapeake Bay, then spent 11 days sailing directly to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. After a full year cruising the Caribbean, they sailed back to South Carolina and sold that boat.
In 2010, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to St. Lucia.
They bought an ocean boat in 2012 and cruised the Caribbean for seven years, then went through the Panama Canal and spent two years crossing the South Pacific. They left the boat in New Zealand and flew home when the pandemic started, then sold the boat there.
For now, Hodgins said they are content to spend their summers on Lake Ontario and winters somewhere warm, most likely on land.
He is committed to growing membership in the Yacht Club and welcomes potential new members to check them out.
Mary Lu Hodgins was asked to pin a medal on the chief of the island of Gaua, Vanautu, during their trip to the South Pacific. The chief had received the medal from the head of the country for his longevity in governing his island.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2024 at 8:28 am
Gas prices jumped an average of 18 cents for regular unleaded gas in New York State in the past week, going from $3.51 to $3.69.
In the past two weeks, the average price is up 22 cents in the state, AAA reported today.
The average price in Orleans County increased 14 cents in the past two weeks from $3.42 to $3.56 a gallon.
AAA issued this statement: “Gas prices have risen significantly over the past few weeks as regions return to the more expensive summer blend of fuel and tensions overseas led to the recent rise of oil prices. We are closely monitoring geopolitical issues that could impact the oil markets. This week, the cost of crude oil has since fallen back down to the mid-$80s per barrel as the oil market watches for any further military actions.
“According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand rose slightly last week while total domestic stocks decreased slightly. Higher demand and a rise in oil prices could push pump prices higher. It is not unusual to see a lull in gasoline demand this time of year, between the end of spring breaks and ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. The national average for gas may continue to waffle with small increases, some flat days, and even some price dips over the next few weeks.
“Diesel prices remain relatively steady. The national average price for diesel is $4.03, down one cent from last Monday. The New York average is $4.40, up one cent from a week ago.”
Here are the average prices today in Western New York counties:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2024 at 8:00 am
Provided photos
KENDALL – Volunteers from the Kendall Lions Club and Kendall Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts picked up litter from Kendall roadsides on Saturday.
The annual event is organized by the Kendall Lions Club. The volunteers were able to pick up litter and debris from about half of the roads in Kendall.
“There were twice as many people last year so we got more roads done,” said Eric Maxon, Kendall Lions Club president and Kendall highway superintendent.
The Kendall Lions have been doing the environmental cleanup day for many years.
The group was served hot dogs and soda as a token of appreciation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2024 at 9:48 pm
Anderson was captive for 2,545 days before his release on Dec. 4, 1991
Photo by Tom Rivers: This historical marker in Albion is on main Street by the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church and notes Terry Anderson, a journalist from Albion, was held hostage for almost seven years.
Terry Anderson, one of the most famous people from Albion, died today at age 76.
Anderson spent several years of his childhood in Albion before moving to Batavia and graduating from high school there in 1965.
Terry Anderson is on the cover of Time magazine on Dec. 16, 1991 after being released after nearly seven years as a hostage. Part of his glasses are missing.
He worked as a newspaper reporter for the Associated Press and was the AP’s bureau chief in Lebanon when he was taken hostage by Islamic militants on March 16, 1985. His sister Peggy Say fought for his freedom, meeting with the Pope, Mother Teresa and President Ronald Reagan. Say died in 2015.
Many prayer vigils were held in Western New York, and his status as one of the longest-held American hostages was frequently in the news in Western New York and nationally. He finally gained his release on Dec. 4, 1991, and met his daughter Sulome for the first time. She was 6 ½ when she finally could hug her father in person.
Anderson chronicled the ordeal of being kept captive in a book, “Den of Lions.” Anderson died at his home in Greenwood Lake in Orange County, NY, his daughter Sulome Anderson told the AP.
Anderson made an appearance in Albion in the late 1990s in the fundraiser for Community Action, a rare local event for him.
“Though my father’s life was marked by extreme suffering during his time as a hostage in captivity, he found a quiet, comfortable peace in recent years. I know he would choose to be remembered not by his very worst experience, but through his humanitarian work with the Vietnam Children’s Fund, the Committee to Protect Journalists, homeless veterans and many other incredible causes,” Sulome Anderson said in a statement.
After his release and return to the United States, Anderson taught journalism at prominent universities, ran for Congress, operated a blues bar, Cajun restaurant, horse ranch and gourmet restaurant, the AP reported today.
The Orleans County Department of History erected a historical marker for Anderson on Main Street in Albion near the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. The marker notes Anderson grew up in this neighborhood in the 1950s, and would later be taken hostage and held prisoner for 2,545 days.
Frances Pierce posted this comment on the Orleans Hub Facebook page: “Terry was actually born in Ohio. His family moved to Albion when Terry was still a child. His family lived in the upstairs of the big house that sits on the corner of Clarendon and East State Street, directly across from what was then Guido’s. Terry was a lot of fun and super smart. We hung around in the same group including Lynn Miller, Terry’s then best friend. His family moved to Batavia a year or so before graduation from High School. He was one of a kind, one that you never forget.”
Dorothy Boyer of Albion sent in this childhood memory of Terry Anderson: “When I knew Terry Anderson in the ’50s he lived where Bloom’s Flower Shop used to be on Main Street. As far as I know they had the whole house. We used to go over on a Friday night when his mom got home from Marti’s (Supper Club) and help her count all of her tips. It was so much fun as a child to do. We used to play canasta together and yes, he was Lynn Miller’s best friend. We had a bamboo fort behind his house with a lot of patches. It was always fun.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. CPJ defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.
CPJ issued this statement:
“The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply saddened by the death of Terry Anderson, journalist and CPJ’s former vice chair and honorary chairman.”
Anderson, a former Associated Press journalist who was kidnapped and held hostage in Lebanon for six years, knew firsthand the threats that faced journalists seeking to report freely, and was an outspoken and dedicated advocate for press freedom.
“Terry was part of the CPJ family for over 25 years,” said Jacob Weisberg, CPJ chair. “He took that responsibility seriously – joining CPJ to advocate on behalf of journalists at risk around the world at the highest levels. Our thoughts are with his family and especially with his daughter Sulome, herself a journalist.”
In 1998, Anderson was part of a CPJ delegation that met with then Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz to press for an end to the jailing of journalists in the country. A year later, he and CPJ colleagues traveled to Yemen to ask Prime Minister Abdel Karim al-Iryani to halt the arrests and harassment of editors and reporters there.
“Terry Anderson’s public advocacy was instrumental in freeing journalists from jail and protecting them against the worst abuses,” said former CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon, who worked closely with Anderson during the years that Simon led CPJ. “But what distinguished Terry was his personal and often private interventions on behalf of journalists held hostage around the world. Terry counseled many families experiencing helplessness and trauma. His deep compassion helped them understand they were not alone and bolstered their spirits in the darkest times.”
Anderson accepted an Emmy in 2006 on behalf of CPJ for its work in defense of press freedom. His words then resonate more than ever today, with record numbers of journalists in jail, near record levels of killings and threats against journalists in all corners of the globe:
“CPJ began its work…and continues it today, not because we believe journalists deserve more protection than anyone else, but because we believe that journalists are the first to be attacked by those who wish to oppress, to deny the basic human rights and human dignity of all,” he said. “Journalists are on the front line, the first casualties in the constant fight to preserve freedom.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2024 at 3:06 pm
State Senate Majority Leader Robert Ortt, R-North Toanwanda, and Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, are reacting to a new $236.8 million state budget.
Ortt issued this statement:
Rob Ortt
“After blowing nearly three weeks past the budget deadline, Albany finally came together to pass a nearly $237 billion New York State budget that includes a historic amount of spending and misplaced priorities.
“Anyone who is paying attention can see that Albany Democrats are living on a totally different planet than the rest of us. Governor Hochul and the Senate Democrats had an opportunity to address the serious concerns of New Yorkers. Instead, they passed a budget filled with extreme policies that will make our state more expensive and less safe.
“In a clear sign that the socialists have taken charge of the Democratic Conferences, this budget includes a radical housing policy that will eliminate the rights of small business landlords to control their private property. The housing agreement, which includes the radical ‘Good Cause’ eviction, is a giveaway to the socialist tenant advocates who believe in making it illegal to make money in New York. Even worse, communities outside of New York City will get absolutely nothing out of this deal while absorbing all the negatives that will drive up housing costs and devastate small property owners.
“This brazenly out-of-touch budget also includes a whopping $2.4 billion in giveaways to migrants who entered this country illegally. With families across the state grappling with the effects of rising inflation, Democrats rejected Senate Republican efforts to provide any budget relief to middle-class families. Instead, they are sending billions of dollars to New York City to hand out prepaid gift cards to illegal immigrants, costing taxpayers millions of dollars a day.
“And as this budget seeks to make our state more comfortable for illegal immigrants, it fails to do anything to protect the safety of New Yorkers. Governor Hochul’s strategy to tackle retail theft is to establish a task force and throw money at the problem. The real solution is to empower police officers to throw these criminals in jail and give our judicial system the discretion to keep them there. The Democrats’ obsession with catering to the needs of criminals is the driving force behind the rise in violence against police, including the tragic deaths of three law enforcement officers in the past month. This chaos will continue until Albany makes it clear that they stand shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement to keep the people of this state safe.
“New Yorkers have made it clear they believe our state is heading in the wrong direction, and this budget will only turbo-charge our decline. I proudly voted no on this disastrous budget agreement and want to assure my constituents, as well as the people of this state, that the Senate Republican Conference will continue to champion public safety, affordability, and freedom in New York.”
Steve Hawley
Hawley said the new budget is almost $10 billion more than last year and includes billions in funding for illegal migrants and inadequate spending for public safety measures. He said the Majority conference has dramatically increased spending for the next fiscal year, but has not properly explained how the state will be able to pay for it.
“New York’s debt is currently over $400 billion and rising by the minute,” said Hawley, calling the budget fiscally irresponsible with misplaced priorities.
“Budget season in Albany is like watching an old rerun of Groundhog Day,” Hawley said. “Every year it’s the same story time and time again. The budget is late, expensive and as always, a complete disaster.
“With the billions of dollars they’re spending, it’s astounding the Majority is doing nothing to curb the public safety crisis in our state. We’ve had four police officers killed in the line of duty this year alone, one of them in Genesee County. Not to mention the irresponsible decision of giving the Governor the power to close up to 5 prisons with only 90 days’ notice. Instead, we’re pulling money out of thin air to pay for problems we created. This is unacceptable. Families would never be this irresponsible in their personal budgets, so why are the Governor and Majority Conferences doing so?”
Provided photo: Jon and Alena Winters were guest speakers during a volunteer appreciation lunch on April 18 for CASA.
Press Release, Court Appointed Special Advocates
BATAVIA – In April, Court Appointed Special Advocates celebrated the volunteers that serve the agency by organizing a special event on April 18 in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month.
The event was graced by special guest speakers, Jon and Alena Winters, who are experts in mindfulness practices and life coaching. They took the audience through a series of interactive and engaging exercises, including breath awareness, body awareness, and sensory awareness exercises.
The exercises were aimed at helping the attendees find balance and inner peace in their lives when feeling overwhelmed or stuck. The highlight of the event was the Circle of Life exercise, which allowed the group to reflect on their unique needs and values, and how they could align their lives with them. For more information about the Winters, check their website empoweryoucoachsulting.com.
Jennifer Metz, the executive director of CASA for Children, expressed her gratitude towards Jon and Alena for their time and expertise, which greatly benefitted the attendees. The event was a huge success, and attendees left feeling rejuvenated and empowered.
CASA is a local nonprofit based in Batavia with a purpose to train and supervise a diverse group of advocates for children who have been abused and/or neglected. These children are at risk of being removed from their homes or have already been placed into the foster care system.
CASA aims to ensure that these children have safe and permanent homes as quickly as possible. A child who has a CASA is half as likely to re-enter the foster care system, more likely to succeed in school, and more likely to find a safe, permanent home.
“Even though not all children are safe and cared for in this world, we are determined to change this reality,” said Jennifer Metz, CASA executive director. “We are constantly recruiting new advocates who are passionate and committed to making a difference in the lives of these children. With our collective efforts, we are confident in our ability to create a safer and more nurturing environment for all children.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2024 at 8:55 am
Provided photos from Jessica Carpenter
MEDINA – Girl Scouts from Troops 82094 & 82096 in Medina were part of an Earth Day cleanup on Saturday morning and they filled 32 bags with trash.
They picked up litter and debris from the ditches of Route 31 and Bates Road near Brunner’s. They also picked up trash at Boxwood Cemetery and along the canal from Bates Road to Horan Road.
The Troops thanked the Girl Scouts for getting rid of so much litter and Jennifer Hughes for organizing the cleanup.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2024 at 8:20 am
Photos courtesy of Jessica Greean, Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 60916
HOLLEY – There were about 20 young scouts out Saturday morning picking up litter along the Erie Canal in Holley. The Girl Scouts from Troop 60916, and Lion, Tiger, Wolf and Bear Scouts in Cub Pack 62 as well as Webelos braved the windy and chilly temperatures to help clean up the area.
The top photo shows them by murals created by artist Stacey Kirby Steward near the canal gazebo.
Gabriella Greean, a Brownie Scout, was among the scouts on cleanup duty.
These “Scout Dads” include, from left: Zach Reed, Jason Greean, Sam Hackenberg, John Schneider, Adam Wallenhorst and Michael Restivo.
From left include Kelsie Reed, Katie Applegate, Katie Wallenhorst and Parker Wallenhorst.
The group gathers at the canal gazebo in Holley. The effort was part of the annual “Canal Clean Sweep” along the canal system in New York State. There were more than 150 cleanup events along the canal system, including several in Orleans County.
In just a couple days I will be turning 50 years old and I have the receding hairline, white whiskers, and protruding waistline to prove it.
I am a husband and a father of four. I am a pastor, a counselor, and a chaplain. I have several degrees and have started my own ministry. I have accomplished many things which you might think would help one’s self-esteem and yet, for most of my life, I have found myself feeling inadequate—unable to see myself through any other eyes than those who had bullied and abused me as a child.
I know that I typically share more lighthearted fare on here but I felt led to write about this today because I am fairly certain that I am not the only one who is living with unseen scars or who has heard the old adage, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” and realized how untrue it is.
The reality is that the emotional scars that a person carries from a tormented childhood may not be visible in the same sense as other physical wounds, yet they are often the hardest to overcome because the wound hasn’t closed; the words have cut too deep; down to the core—down to a person’s very character.
There is a man in the Bible named Gideon that I can relate to. You may remember him as the guy who who tested God by putting a fleece outside and asking God to make the ground wet with dew while leaving the fleece dry and then asking Him to do the opposite the next night. Anyway, the thing that often sticks out to me is how God addresses Gideon during their first encounter when he appears and says, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”(Judges 6:12b)
The reason why I find this so interesting is because just a few verses later we find out that Gideon’s view of himself is almost the complete opposite. When God tells Gideon that He wants to use him to save Israel from their enemies Gideon responds that he is the weakest man from the weakest clan.
I get it. I get why Gideon had a hard time seeing what God saw in him. Just as God called him a mighty warrior long before he actually grew into that title others had probably called him by other names that had already shaped his identity and caused him to focus on what he could not do or what he would not become. I get it.
As I stated earlier, I am about to hit the half century mark and have actively lived out God’s call on my life for over three decades now but still, no matter how many times I am addressed as Pastor or Leader, I will often find myself feeling like I am back in the body of my 8-year-old self; listening to my father explain why he never wanted me and that I was not worth the effort for him to be a dad again, or when I was 10 years old just waiting to get off the bus so that I could burst into tears over the hurtful words heaped onto me without further humiliation, or beginning middle school and realizing that even though it was supposed to be a fresh start that I was still the odd man out (no thanks to my speech problems or alternative sense of style), or in high school when I would try to find any excuse to avoid the rest room (or school all together) because of the constant array of verbal, emotional, and physical attacks that I had to endure on a daily basis.
People often wonder about my fascination with Batman (I am a big fan and avid collector for those who didn’t know) but why wouldn’t I relate to a boy who had his childhood torn away from him because of the ruthless actions of others and, rather than dwelling on that feeling of helplessness, took control of the situation and chose to become a symbol and to stand up for those who could not stand up for themselves? The irony is that even in becoming “The Batman” Bruce Wayne was still just a scared little boy trying to overcome his fears by becoming fear itself to those who would prey on the weak. I get it.
The fact is that I AM a pastor. I AM a leader. I AM a husband. I AM a father. I AM a friend. But I am also that wounded young boy that longs to be accepted, affirmed, acknowledged, and appreciated, not because of anything I have done but simply because of who I am and who I was created to be. The scars are still there but the healing has begun.
Thanks to The Lord names like “Mighty Warrior” and “Pastor” seem more suitable than weakest or worthless. And, for anyone out there reading this while mentally replaying the names others have given to you, I want to remind you that you are so much more. I would say to you what I would have loved to have been able to go back and say to my my younger, scrawnier, insecure, blue-haired, pierced, speech impaired, skateboard loving self.I would say things like, “Do not allow others to define who you are, how you feel, or who you will become, by their derogatory remarks”, “Do not treat others the way that they treat you but rather how you would want to be treated”, and “Do not give up because your potential and your purpose will outshine anything that you are dealing with in the present or that you have carried with you from your past.”
Thankfully, though it took me much longer to learn these lessons on my own, I can say that I have not only found healing from my past but that I now experience hope and peace in the present. I have had the opportunity to reconnect and reconcile with some of my high school bullies on Facebook and I also became the primary caregiver for my father, who was probably the bully who left me with the most scars, which led to me having the unique privilege of being his pastor and praying with him to be set free from his own past hurts. It was then I finally started to see myself through God’s eyes. I hope that you will begin to see the real you today, too.
Press Release, Village of Medina Municipal Tree Board
Provided photos: Students from Oak Orchard School in Medina celebrate Arbor Day Medina in 2023. The students will again help plant Arbor Day trees on Friday.
MEDINA – April in the Village of Medina means it will soon be Arbor Day and once again, Medina will be celebrating in a big way.
Arbor Day, observed nationally on the last Friday of April, falls on April 26 this year.
“Sixty-nine trees in all will be planted this year,” said Chris Busch, Medina’s Forestry Coordinator. “Forty-four trees will be planted on North Avenue, South Avenue, West Avenue, Park Avenue and State St. Park, with 25 hardwood seedlings going in Boxwood Cemetery.”
Medina’s observance will be held on the east end, south side of North Avenue at West Avenue in the village (kitty-corner from Lee-Whedon Memorial Library). The east end of North Avenue will be briefly closed for the occasion.
Barring a rainy day, this year’s celebration will start at 10 a.m. and include the reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation by Mayor Marguerite Sherman, and enthusiastic participation by the 2nd and 3rd graders from Medina Central School. The Oak Orchard Glee Club will also be performing on stage.
“We’d like to give a huge ‘thank you’ to Superintendent Mark Kruzynski for Medina CSD’s continued participation in our annual Arbor Day Celebration and for providing Mrs. Andrea Busch as a school-based resource,” said Mary Lewis, Tree Board chairwoman. “We’re so grateful! The schools have been a colossal part of Medina’s Arbor Day tradition for over fifteen years!”
The Tree Board’s focus has been a three-pronged approach for several years: Main arteries and Central Business District area, parks, and high-need residential areas.
“The need for plantings in all of these areas continues,” said Mary Lewis, Medina’s Tree Board Chair. “Plantings from previous years are maturing and are making a real visual impact in the streetscape. The new trees we’ve been planting in our parks are truly improving those areas, and we’re beginning to make headway on our neighborhoods. There’s still so much to be done and I wish we could do more.”
Volumes of research on the impact of street trees show numerous benefits, including increase property values, slower/ safer traffic patterns, lower urban air temperatures, and absorption of harmful pollution. Recent research also indicates tree-lined streets in neighborhoods result in – among other things – lower blood pressure and improvement to overall emotional and psychological health.
“Tree-lined streets really do have an incredibly huge impact on many levels,” Lewis said. “There are many legitimate studies that bear this out. The benefits from investing in street trees are many and tangible. We hear this constantly from citizens throughout the year about how much they appreciate the beauty of our tree-lined streets. It’s very gratifying.”
Arbor Day 2024 will mark the 17th year Medina’s urban forestry program has been a participant in the Tree City USA program of the National Arbor Day Foundation. The annual Tree City award honors Medina’s commitment to community forestry.
The Tree City USA Program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, and the USDA Forest Service. Tree City USA is awarded annually to those communities who qualify and is a national designation.
Medina’s Municipal Tree Ordinance and Arbor Day Celebration have been a model for several other communities looking to establish a board and planting program. Medina receives many inquiries for assistance and advice every year from municipalities across the state.
“In recent years, approximately 40 to 50 trees are inspected and recommended for removal. Each year we replace approximately the same number of trees in the community,” Busch said. “We’re keeping pace, but there is much more work to be done throughout the village.”
Busch continued, “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Jason Watts, DPW Superintendent and his expert tree crew. They do it all with a high degree of professionalism and care– plant, prune, maintain and remove. They genuinely care about our village trees and we’re incredibly lucky to have them.”
The village maintains a policy of diversity in its urban forest plantings. Species to be planted this year include Honey Locust, Zelkova, Katsura, Crab apple, American Hornbeam, Serviceberry, and varieties of Maple.
(Left) Tilia mongolica “Harvest Gold” linden is of the many varieties being planted in Medina this Arbor Day. 40’ x 30’ at maturity, this tree’s name is inspired by a mantle of bright golden yellow leaves in autumn. (Right) The familiar Arbor Day signs in Medina mark the sites where the celebration will be observed.
Boxwood Cemetery trees will employ an entirely different focus and method of planting.
“Boxwood Cemetery is 175 years old and presents several difficult challenges for maintaining, removing and planting trees,” said Busch. “The old section on the hill in particular is a challenge on many levels. Most of the trees are very old. They were planted when the cemetery was new and space was still available. Now, those trees are at the end of their lives, are quite large, and are situated among numerous old graves and monuments. Their removal requires a great deal of care and specialized skill.”
“Many trees have been removed with more on the list to go, so we had to devise a workable, minimally intrusive plan to install trees for erosion control and soil stability,” said Busch. “After much research and deliberation, we’ve decided to utilize hardwood seedlings and grow tubes. This will allow us to reforest these difficult sections in a way that will result in an appropriate tree placed exactly where we want it in a minimally invasive manner. And, it’s relatively inexpensive by comparison.”
Busch explains the seedlings to be used were sourced from a hardwood nursery in Wisconsin and reflect many of the original species used in the historic cemetery. Further, the grow tubes will not only protect the trees from harsh conditions and deer browse, but will also greatly accelerate the growth, up to 4-5x.
Species include Shagbark hickory, Sugar maple, Red oak, and White oak, all species currently in the historic landmark cemetery.
“For this application, we believe it’s a good solution.”
Mary Lewis emphasized that while the village makes great progress each year, there is still much more work to be done throughout the village and Boxwood. With increasing costs and limited funding, the task is daunting, but they’ll rise to meet the challenge.
“Municipal budgets are tight and getting tighter. The cost of trees from growers has seen double-digit percentage increases in the last nine years and that’s a huge challenge,” said Lewis. “Each year we remove 40+ trees that are dead, dying and hazardous. The good news is we replace those trees with new, more beneficial and desirable cultivars. It’s an investment worth making.”
Busch states that the science of street trees and urban forestry has progressed and developed tremendously in the last 40 years with a greater understanding of new cultivars developed specifically for urban use.
“At the turn of the nineteenth century when most of our village forest was planted, there was little choice for a street tree– elms and oaks were the more expensive option, and Silver maple was the cheaper option,” Busch explained. Municipalities were interested in large, fast-growing trees that created beautiful tree-lined streets. They had little knowledge of any unintended consequences and infrastructure was different.”
Busch further explained that despite looking very nice, those trees caused big problems.
“One hundred years later, these Silver maples are massive at nearly 70-plus feet and create numerous issues with infrastructure, safety and utilities. Today, thanks to extensive research and purpose-driven breeding, there are literally hundreds of cultivars in every shape and size for use in a variety of urban conditions. We take into consideration the limitations and conditions on every site, and select the right tree for the right spot. This insures a much healthier and desirable village forest.”
Lewis states, “Thankfully, the village has been consistently supportive of our efforts to reforest the village utilizing new urban forestry knowledge, and we’re grateful for it. Additional critical funds have come from an extremely generous community in donating money for trees, both as memorials and general plantings. People in Medina have really embraced our efforts and see the importance of trees in the village. They truly enjoy the aesthetic impact they have on our streets and neighborhoods.”
Lewis went on, “We’re incredibly grateful for the on-going financial support we receive through ReLeaf Medina. Without the generosity of the community, citizens and businesses, we wouldn’t be able to do it. It really does take an entire community to accomplish what we do.”
According to Lewis, tax-deductible donations can be made anytime for general tree planting, memorial trees or for “trees on your street”. Additional information can be obtained at the Village Clerk’s Office or by downloading the ReLeaf brochure online at villagemedina.org, or by contacting Lewis at mlewis.villagemedina@gmail.com.
“Financial support in the form of gifts and donations from the public and businesses are critical,” said Lewis. “We’re so appreciative of the support which is vital for the future. We encourage citizens to continue their support and urge corporations to consider becoming an annual corporate sponsor. Our tree-lined streets are definitely a contributing factor in people’s decision to locate their family or business in Medina and their donations play a huge role in making our efforts possible.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2024 at 9:29 am
Provided photo: Thom Jennings, left, and Jack Burris share their thoughts in a weekly podcast, “What to Do with Your Old Explicit Content.”
Two people who say they are unlikely friends, Thom Jennings and Jack Burris, have joined in a podcast where they share their wisdom and wit in touching on a range of topics, from saying goodbye to a beloved family dog to dissecting the intricacies of love and betrayal in romantic relationships.
Jennings and Burris team in a podcast they call “What to Do with Your Old Explicit Content.” It is available on Caronia Media Podcast Network.
Jennings, a former Albion resident who now lives in Oakfield, is a special education teacher in Buffalo and music writer. He was inducted into the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame Class in 2023.
Burris owns Burris Cleaning and is the founder of the Hands 4 Hope Street Ministry.
Jennings said his perspective is molded by the school of hard knocks while Burris brings a deeply introspective and religious soul.
“We may not have all the answers, but we know how to spin a yarn and share a chuckle,” Jennings said. “Join us on this journey as we tackle life’s conundrums with a twinkle in our eyes and a touch of irreverence.”
Each week, the two share their unique perspectives on life’s challenges, accompanied by stories from their own lives. Listeners can expect an engaging blend of wisdom, humor, and storytelling that promises to entertain and enlighten.
“What to Do with Your Old Explicit Content” is now available for streaming on the Caronia Media Podcast Network and is available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and Spotify.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2024 at 8:33 am
It’s going to be spring-like weather this week with high temperatures generally around 50 degrees.
Today there will be some scattered showers before 11 a.m. and the partly sunny with a high near 48, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.
Then the highs will be 51 and mostly sunny on Sunday, 51 and sunny on Monday, 63 with a chance of showers on Tuesday, 49 and mostly cloudy on Wednesday, and 48 and mostly sunny on Thursday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2024 at 10:08 pm
Michael G. Poole
TOWN OF ALABAMA – A Lockport woman has been charged with second-degree murder of an Olcott man whose body was discovered on March 19 in the Town of Alabama in Genesee County.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office announced tonight that Kathryn A. Henry, aka “Kat”, 33 has been charged with second-degree for her alleged involvement in the death of Michael G. Poole of Olcott. Poole was 59.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said Henry conspired with another person, intentionally causing the death of Poole and then took subsequent steps to conceal his body.
Henry is also charged with assault in the 1st degree, concealment of a human corpse, hindering a prosecution in the 1st degree, tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy in 2nd degree, and conspiracy in 4th degree.
Henry was arraigned and remanded to the custody of the Genesee County Jail where she is being held without bail.
Charges are expected to be forthcoming for another involved person, who is in custody on another matter, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said there will be an increased focus this weekend on impaired driving in Orleans County.
“The ‘4/20’ marijuana culture celebration is a deadly period for impaired driving,” Bourke said. “In a combined effort to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives, law enforcement officers across New York State and STOP-DWI programs will be participating in special engagement efforts.”
The 4/20 STOP-DWI Impaired Driving High Visibility Engagement Campaign runs from today through Sunday.
By Randy LeBaron
