By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2024 at 8:19 am
Gala on May 16 will honor many community leaders, school supporters
MEDINA – The Medina Community “Oscars” is less than one month away, with voting next week.
The Medina school district congratulates all nominees for their dedication and contributions toward the continued growth of the Medina community, said Daniel Doctor, director of Community Partnerships for the school district.
The district sought nominations in many categories, and next week will have ballots on the school website for the community to vote.
The categories include: Volunteer of the Year, Community Leadership Award, Community Collaboration Award, Arts and Culture Award, Organization of the Year (under 10 employees), Organization of the Year (11 or more employees), Lifetime Achievement Award, Community Service Award, Unsung Hero Award, Best Event of the Year, Community Impact People’s Choice Award, Girl Scout Troop Award, Boy Scout Troop Award, Outstanding Student Award (K-2), (3-6) & (7-12), Student Spotlight, and Inspirational Educator Award.
Doctor, who is also a minister, performer and entrepreneur, will host “The first Medina Community Oscars Red Carpet event” at 6:30 p.m. on May 16 at Bent’s Opera House. Admission is $10. All proceeds will go to a local service organization. Seating is limited. Please contact ddoctor@medinacsd.org for ticket reservations.
The two hours will highlight Medina Oscar nominees, performers, presenters, and provide an experience of the red carpet arrivals, giving a can’t-miss moment from a “Hollywood” flavor, Doctor said.
Voting for nominees will open April 22 and close April 26. The link will be posted on the Medina Central School Website.
“The Medina Oscars” is produced by the Medina school district and sponsored by Daniel’s, the Medina Rotary and West Side Academy of Visual Arts & Dance.
Coach, now the athletic director, prizes work ethic and integrity in athletes over their stats
Photos courtesy of Baldwin Wallace: John Snell, an Albion native, brought lots of energy to sidelines as head coach of the Baldwin Wallace University football team. He led the team from 2002 to 2016, and now is the college’s Associate Director of Athletics.
By Levi Newell, senior Sport Management major at Baldwin Wallace University
Walking into Coach John Snell’s office at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH, there are many things to catch the eye.
There is a Baldwin Wallace (BW) football helmet lamp illuminating his office. There are various displays of the game, including a first-win football awarded to Coach Snell following his 22-2 win against Allegheny. There are portraits of Coach Snell with amazing athletes and coaches including the former long-time National Champion Ohio State football head coach Jim Tressel.
Snell also had more recent memorabilia in his current role as Associate Director of Athletics, including himself alongside the BW Division III College World Series baseball team. The most notable piece however was a nearly life-size portrait of himself actively coaching on the sidelines. Coaching the only way he knows how; emphatically cheering on his athletes with strong determination. It is not any one item but a combination of all these things that exposed the interior of what makes Coach Snell himself, which is a BW football legend.
Sitting down to speak with Coach Snell about his career there were many topics of conversation. We conversed over everything from the makings of his coaching career to the type of father, husband, and son he has become. Signs of humility and strong integrity immediately became apparent when spending time with him. His love for those around him and his former athletes exudes his character. He spoke highly of all the athletes he was privileged to coach. However, the most storied team to grace his coaching career came in 2003, a season that was pivotal to beginning to cement Coach Snell’s legacy.
John Patrick Snell, now 58, was raised in the village of Albion, New York. He was brought up with supportive and loving parents who instilled the value of hard work within him early on. (His parents, Peter and Irene Snell, owned a real estate business that is currently run by their son David.) As a child, John’s parents had strong expectations for him to do things the right way as they led successful lives despite their hardships early on.
John’s father would continuously remind him of his philosophy and mantra “work before play.” John adopted and applied this philosophy to his own life, which allowed him to create great opportunities for himself at a young age. John loved sports as a child primarily participating in baseball, football and wrestling. His parents would not only support him but also attend nearly all athletic events for his other three siblings, further showcasing their dedication to their children’s athletic endeavors.
Through his involvement in sports at Albion High School, he would unfortunately succumb to a serious broken left leg injury during his sophomore year in football. Because of this injury, John would miss the rest of the football season as well as the upcoming wrestling and baseball seasons during his tough recovery.
The injury ended his football career, but he continued to work at his other sports and began to strive in baseball. John would go on to follow in his brother David’s footsteps, working at the family business in Albion, and becoming a student-athlete at BW.
John participated in baseball for one year in 1984 lettering as a freshman. While at BW, John became Coach Snell, finding his first opportunities to test out the profession he would later pursue.
John Snell amassed a 92-60 career record at Baldwin Wallace, a .605 winning percentage.
In his four years, he gained experience coaching locally. He coached wrestling at Berea High School, baseball at Midpark High School and served as a student coach for BW football. Following graduation, Coach Snell would have coaching stints at the University of Rochester, Rutgers University, and the University of Buffalo, where he would meet his wife Shelly, before returning to his alma mater in 1996. He would serve as an assistant coach before being promoted to Assistant Head Coach and then interim Head Coach in 2002. Serving as legendary Head Coach Bob Packard’s right-hand man, Coach Snell would learn valuable lessons in coaching and come to respect the winningest coach in BW history.
Coach Snell commented on Coach Packard and his impact on his coaching career, “Coach Packard was essentially Lee Tressel’s right-hand man, and he did a phenomenal job of carrying on the tradition, carrying on the legacy of great coaches. He was a great mentor for me, and he never had a losing season as a head coach… One of the greatest lessons that I learned from him was that you can’t allow the highs to be too high and the lows to be too low. He was very even-keel and I think that served him very well.”
In Coach Packard’s final three years, his teams would go 6-4 each season with room to improve. Baldwin Wallace football was not nationally relevant for his final seven years since winning a share of the conference title in 1994. With upcoming talent, and the team wanting to achieve more, Coach Snell would get his opportunity to shine.
2002 marked the year that Coach Snell would take over the reins as head coach, at least momentarily. Although he was chosen amongst his staff to act as head coach, he would still need to be evaluated following the end of the season and participate in a formal interviewing process to earn the honor of full-time head coach.
Dan Larlham, quarterback for BW (2001-2003) stated, “Having that interim title tagged to him I think only made him work harder. It lit a fire under him knowing that he needed to prove himself, and he did.”
That season Coach Snell would lead the Yellow Jackets football team to a sterling 8-2 record, with their only losses to Mount Union and John Carroll each just by one touchdown. Despite the successful season Mount Union would continue on their historic undefeated run and keep BW out of the playoffs. John Carroll would also be invited as an at-large bid to compete nationally. Coach Snell quickly solidified himself as the man for the job and with support from his staff and players would win the job as full-time head coach.
Dan Larlham recalls a diner with former BW President Mark Collier, “I was at a diner with Collier, the president at the time and I remember telling him, Coach Snell, this is my guy.”
John Snell said he values the relationships with his players, and stays in contact with them after they graduate.
With full team support and a great host of returning players, Coach Snell hoped to continue his success in making BW football nationally relevant once again. The 2003 season was a perfect storm for just that. The special group would work early and often in the gym during the offseason and hone in on their craft. They held strong expectations for themselves and most importantly had shown that they were truly up to the task in that 2002 season. They were close to where they wanted to be but had some unfinished business to attend to.
“It was a group of guys that I think were really hungry to be successful,” Coach Snell recalled. “The year before they came to us and said, ‘We want to get this thing back to where we feel it’s nationally competitive.’ They were driven to be a team that competes for the conference championship and hopefully get a national playoff berth and that’s exactly what they did.”
Above the level of determination and skill of this particular team, many great leaders upheld the values of the team and strove to make everybody better. Captains for the 2003 season included Dan Larlham on offense and Tom DeLuca on defense. Having just two captains was something special for this team as it allowed them to rally together as a unit. Other great players would step up in their roles not as captains but rather as fantastic leaders such as Rob Becker, Jeff Fox, and Nate Mitchell. Coach Snell believed in and encouraged his guys to lead regardless of status so that he could create a more well-rounded group dynamic.
Athletes were encouraged to learn about each of their teammates, thus creating a culture of truly caring for one another. This allowed them to go into each week of competition with the best sense of teamwork, ultimately leading to a near-perfect on-field record of 9-1. BW’s only blemish was an early Week 2 loss against Mount Union. They would shut out bitter rival John Carroll in Week 4 and continue to blow out opponents the entire season, their closest win being by two possessions against Ohio Northern.
Their offensive prowess allowed them to put up a large number of points week in and week out, and their complimentary defense ultimately held their opponents to fewer points taking care of business throughout the season. Following the regular season, a watch party in the Lee Tressel lounge of the Lou Higgins Center revealed that BW would make the Division III National Playoffs as an at-large bid. They would go on to win at home in the playoffs for the first time in a long while, beating Hanover 54-32. The following week they would leave for Chicago to face Wheaton where they would fall short just four points away from advancing again.
The 2003 season was a special year for the Yellow Jackets. The ability to perform at a high level brought BW back to national relevancy where it had struggled to be for a while. The success of this team was a great testament to the excellence of Coach Snell. This would be his and the program’s last playoff win and appearance with Mount Union continuing their dominance to this day. Coach Snell throughout his storied career would reach a record of 92-60 overall with a .605 winning percentage. He would go on to coach many great athletes including 122 All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and 102 Academic All-OAC players. With all these accolades and accomplishments as head coach, Coach Snell has made a case for himself regarding his BW legacy. But his success on the field was simply a product of how he conducted and established himself as a great leader, mentor, and father figure to so many.
Rob Becker, former player and current Director of Campus Recreation and Athletic Facilities at BW, “Coaching is one part of the legacy, it’s what else you do outside of the coaching and how you impact people that actually allows that legacy to be better.”
Dan Larlham stated, “He certainly sent guys into the Hall of Fame, into the record books, and reestablished BW as a national competitor. But the relationships he keeps with his players make him second to none.”
A cheerleader in life, Coach Snell has allowed great opportunities for his players to set the foundation for a great life. In his athletes, he instilled core values of faith, integrity, caring for others, and doing things the right way. Coach Snell contributed, and still does as Associate Director of Athletics, to a friendly family-type culture that so many people find at BW.
Coach Snell likened coaching to parenting in that, “My hope for them, first and foremost, that we have taught them the importance of having God in their life. And second I hope we taught them the importance of being a person of integrity, a person with great work ethic and a great attitude. I hope they know and understand and feel that they are loved by their parents.”
These characteristics displayed by Coach Snell were brought into his career knowing that these values could allow for success on and off the field for his athletes. In building and maintaining a positive team culture he truly solidified himself as one of the great football coaches of BW. Not only has he impacted others through his coaching career but extending himself to all sports and athletes in his current role leaving a long-lasting positive effect on BW both athletically and culturally.
When people talk of the great football coaches of BW, such as Ray Watts, Eddie Finnigan, Lee Tressel, and Bob Packard, they ought to, and likely soon will, begin mentioning John Snell at that same level.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Genesee Community College’s main campus in Batavia is shown in this file photo from March 2021. GCC also operates campus centers in Orleans, Wyoming and Livingston counties.
BATAVIA – EDsmart, a prominent education research organization, recently unveiled its annual assessment of New York State’s top community colleges for 2024, spotlighting institutions that excel across various criteria including economic value, affordability, student satisfaction and academic achievement.
This ranking, informed by a composite score derived from essential metrics such as post-attendance salary, net price, retention and four-year graduation rates, offers a comprehensive overview of each college’s performance.
Among these institutions, Genesee Community College secured the fourth position in the rankings. With a composite score of 96.6 out of 100 reflecting excellence across economic, affordability, satisfaction, and academic domains, GCC stands as a leader in educational quality and student success.
This noteworthy recognition underscores the dedication of GCC’s faculty and staff in delivering outstanding learning experiences. By prioritizing academic excellence and cultivating a supportive educational environment, the college has rightfully earned its place among New York State’s top community colleges.
For more information and college rankings, please visit Top 20 Community Colleges In New York And New York City (edsmart.org).
Editor’s Note: The top 10 community colleges in the state include: 1. Herkimer County Community College; 2. SUNY Broome Community College; 3. SUNY Clinton Community College; 4. SUNY Genesee Community College; 5. SUNY Corning Community College; 6. SUNY Adirondack Community College; 7. CUNY Hostos Community College; 8. CUNY Kingsborough Community College; 9. Columbia Green Community College; 10. SUNY Erie Community College.
During National Work Zone Awareness Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today highlighted State Route 104 within the Town of Irondequoit and City of Rochester, Monroe County, as a roadway that will be under intense scrutiny through the during the 2024 construction season.
This announcement comes after the Department of Transportation’s Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program registered multiple motorists traveling at life-threatening speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through work zones along the Route 104 corridor last year.
Additionally, this enhanced and bolstered enforcement comes as the Department is beginning a $27.8 million project in the 2024 and 2025 construction seasons between Ridgeway Avenue in the City of Rochester and Culver Road in the Town of Irondequoit.
“As work begins on an important project along State Route 104, I implore motorists to take heed and follow the rules of the road in state operated work zones,” Governor Hochul said. “The recorded speeds in work zones along State Route 104 last year were nothing short of alarming and could have been potentially deadly for highway workers, which is why we will be stepping up enforcement along this corridor as construction season gets under way.”
Last year, the State Department of Transportation’s Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program was deployed multiple times along State Route 104 and revealed some alarming statistics, including:
Motorists traveling through a work zone along State Route 104 recorded the program’s top three speeds: 139, 117, and 110 miles per hour.
The work zone along State Route 104 also witnessed a motorist-caused work zone intrusion where a vehicle crossed into construction and crashed into roadway signage. Fortunately, there were no injuries sustained.
“Operation Hardhat” will begin again in April in an effort to enforce vehicle and traffic laws in highway work zones. Under “Operation Hardhat”, State Troopers or local police officers are dressed as highway maintenance workers in active NYSDOT or Thruway work zones across New York, identifying and citing motorists for a number of violations, including disobeying flagging personnel, speeding through work zones, cell phone and seatbelt use, and/or violations of the State’s Move Over law. State Police has already committed to more Operation Hardhat deployments along the State Route 104 project in 2024.
As work begins on this $27.8 million project along State Route 104 in 2024 and 2025, among the enhancements to be delivered over this two-season construction project are:
Rehabilitation of 30.5 lane miles of pavement along the roadway, including service roads and ramps, between Ridgeway Avenue in the City of Rochester and Culver Road in the Town of Irondequoit.
New traffic signals along ramps and service roads throughout the project limits.
Modernized stormwater drainage to ensure roadway resiliency against the changing environment.
New American Disability Act-compliant curb ramps to enhance and better facilitate multi-modal transportation throughout the corridor.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health, speaks during a celebration for a new warming center at Christ Church on Dec. 20. The site offered cots, coffee, tea, soup and hygiene kits when the temperature dropped below 32 degrees at night.
Press Release, Orleans County Legislature
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature today acknowledged the partnership of several agencies in providing a warming center for homeless individuals at Christ Church in Albion during this past winter.
“In response to the urgent need for shelter and support during harsh weather conditions, Oak Orchard Health in partnership with Orleans County announced the opening of its Warming Center in November of 2023,” said Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature Chairman. “This crucial initiative provided refuge and assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness, ensuring their safety and well-being during extreme cold.”
State law requires that a Code Blue alert go into effect when temperatures are expected to fall below 32˚F with wind chill for at least two consecutive hours and that emergency shelter for the homeless be provided.
The warming center was open to serve individuals in need on 131 code blue nights this past season and a total of 63 individuals, including repeat individuals, took advantage of the center. In addition, the Hoag Library was open to serve individuals during their normal business hours.
“Now that winter conditions are hopefully behind us, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to the volunteers and organizations who have contributed their time, resources, and compassion to make the warming center possible,” Johnson said. “The success of this effort is a testament to our community’s incredible compassion and generosity.
Johnson recognized the invaluable collaboration of local partners, including but not limited to, the Department of Social Services, Christ Episcopal Church, Oak Orchard Health, Orleans United Way, HOAG Library, Community Action, Ministry of Concern, Independent Living, Medina Area Association of Churches, Orleans County Emergency Management and Hands 4 Hope.
“The cooperation of these organization was instrumental in establishing and operating the Warming Center and together, we worked to ensure that every community member has a warm and safe place to seek refuge during inclement conditions,” Johnson said.
Press Release, Orleans County Job Development Agency
MEDINA – The Orleans County Job Development Agency reminded residents that there will be a job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday at the Orleans YMCA located at 306 Pearl St. in Medina.
“Our career fairs have a tremendous track record in matching up job seekers with employers, and the current demand of employers looking to hire remains high,” said Kelly Kiebala, director of the Orleans County Career Center. “Anyone looking for a job or a new opportunity, regardless of skill and educational level, should attend this event.”
Kiebala said there will be businesses from across many sectors looking for people in factory settings, healthcare, food service, customer service and more. There are job opportunities for all levels of skill and experience.
Participating companies, organizations and other institutions include: Arc GLOW, Army National Guard, ATB Staffing Services, Brunner International, Central New York Psychiatric Center, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Education & Training Resources / Iroquois Job Corps, Elderwood at Lockport, Fidelis Care, Genesee Community College, HD Construction Services LLC, Lake Ontario Fruit, Liberty Home Care, NYS Department of Labor, NYS OPWDD, Orchard Rehab, Orleans County Job Development, Orleans County Personnel, Orleans/Niagara BOCES, Perry’s Ice Cream, Rochester Regional Health, Thrive (Freeze Dry), Six Flags Darien Lake, Grand Canyon University and Empire Coating, Inc.
To learn more about the services provided by the Orleans County Job Development Agency, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2024 at 9:26 am
MEDINA – The professional wrestlers from Empire State Wrestling will be back in Medina for “Spring Smash” on April 27 in a fundraiser for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.
ESW did events at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds with 350 attending the first wrestling showcase in April 2018 and then about 200 in May 2019. After a break due to Covid restrictions, the wrestlers were back last year with the venue moved to the Medina High School gym. A much bigger crowd of 450 attended the event.
“We received nothing but good feedback,” said Ryan McPherson, event chairman for East Shelby. “We had our best turnout yet, and we want to make it bigger and better this year.”
The crowd reacts when Kevin Blackwood, an Albion native, is introduced during last year’s event at Medina. Blackwood, whose real name in Kevin Lockwood, flew in from Los Angeles to wrestle in front of his family and friends in Albion. Blackwood, 33, has been a professional wrestler for seven years. He also works as a tattoo artist in LA.
McPherson said local wrestlers will be in the lineup on Saturday, including Albion native Kevin Blackwood, Medina native Gavin “A Cut Above the Rest” Glass, and Jacob Miller (aka Maxx Cannon) of Medina, also known as “The Filthy One.”
Several of the fans at the wrestling event marveled about the athleticism of the wrestlers, and how physical the matches were. There were drop-kicks, body slams, jumps from the top rope and other moves. McPherson said many of the fans felt like it was WWE.
There will be familiar faces from past matches, including Frankie Feathers, who was a good guy but has turned into a “heel,” a bad guy. He continues to fire up his fan base.
One of the wrestlers appearing for the first time in Orleans County will be Adrianna Fury of Lockport, who McPherson said has a big following.
Doors open at 5 p.m. with the first bell at 6 p.m. For information on tickets, which are available online or at the door, click here.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 April 2024 at 8:56 am
Photo contributed: Ahmed Cherif, 9, is thriving since coming from Tunisia to Medina with his mother a year ago. He still has months of medical procedures ahead, and a fundraiser Saturday at the YMCA in Medina will help with his medical costs.
MEDINA – Youth volunteers at Project Life and young people from the Voice Gavel Club (Junior Toastmasters) have finalized plans for a “Youth Serving Youth” fundraising day at the YMCA to benefit Ahmed Cherif, a 9-year-old from Tunisia in need of extensive medical care.
According to Linda Shakoor, director of Project Life War Orphans Rehabilitation Program, so far since coming to America with his mother a year ago, Ahmed’s pediatric team at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong in Rochester have identified several conditions.
Ahmed has oro-facial syndrome II, rumination synodrome, autism and bone growth delay. He also suffers from allergies and asthma. He still has many tests and treatments ahead, including further neurological evaluation starting with an MRI of his brain. He will also be assessed for spinal scoliosis and will undergo a sleep study.
The boy’s health has been slowly improving since he arrived in Medina last year. He has received extensive dental treatment, including surgery. He no longer needs the leg braces he has worn since he was 3, due to supportive physical therapy. His eyes have been tested and now he wears corrective glasses. Some of his digestive issues have subsided and he has gained weight. He is up to 45 pounds and has grown an inch. For the first time in years, he is outgrowing his clothes.
In Tunisia, Ahmed was isolated and never attended school. Now he is attending a special education program in Buffalo arranged by Medina Central School, and he is thriving, Shakoor said.
“He is benefitting from opportunities for socialization, along with ongoing physical, occupational, vision and speech therapy,” she said.
World Life Institute’s Project Life is no stranger to handling medical cases, Shakoor added. They have sponsored more than 130 orphans of war and natural disasters for temporary visit programs in Western New York since 1997. Over the years, several children arrived here with life-threatening chronic illnesses that required major medical intervention.
Almost all of the 130 children over the years have never received dental care, so there were hundreds of trips to dentists and the UB Pediatric Dental Clinic. Project Life, therefore, is well-positioned to assist Ahmed’s mother in managing his medical appointments, conferring with physicians and getting the best possible care for him.
The event on Saturday at the YMCA has a goal of raising enough funds to support Ahmed and his mother for the year. This includes monthly pharmacy and home health supply costs, recreation, transportation, nutritious food, rent and utilities, school supplies, toys, clothing and shoes, as well as parking costs for multiple visits to the hospital.
Project Life is an entirely volunteer program. No one in the organization gets paid, Shakoor said. This means a very large percentage of donated funds goes directly to the program, not to overhead costs.
Project Life is urging everyone in the community to support this event Saturday at the YMCA. It will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. and feature events for the entire family. There will be an opportunity to walk with Ahmed during the fashion show, have fun creating crafts, bid in a silent auction, watch a charity basketball game, purchase baked goods and participate in an array of other fun activities.
Those wishing to donate online can click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2024 at 8:11 am
Maggie Pecoraro took this photo of a pink rainbow this morning on Route 104 in Ridgeway at LynOaken Farms.
It will be a rainy day today in Orleans County with showers and thunderstorms likely before noon, then showers between noon and 5 p.m., with more showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m., the National Weather Service in Buffalo said. The high will be near 57.
Thursday is forecast to be mostly cloudy with a high near 63, with more rain on Friday with showers and a high of 63.
Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 50, followed by a mostly sunny Sunday with a high near 51.
Mike Zeliff took this photo of the sunrise this morning on Route 63 in Lyndonville.
Photo by Marsha Rivers: The sun rises this morning at 6:13 in this photo taken from Washington Street in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2024 at 8:33 pm
CLARENDON – Holley Cub Scouts in Pack 3062 had their annual Pinewood Derby race on Saturday with nine Scouts participating. They also had nine friends and family make derby cars and join in the annual tradition.
“The Holley pack is small but mighty,” said Meghan Reuther, the committee chair for the pack. “The kids worked so hard and made amazing cars. Even parents, grandparents and siblings made their own cars and raced in a Family and Friends bracket.”
The event was held at the Clarendon Rec Hall. Cub Master Chris Reuther and Leader Randi Keller out on the derby.
“All the Cubs showed they put a lot of hard work into their cars, displayed great sportsmanship, cheered on their competitors, and celebrated the victors!” Meghan Reuther said. “We are extremely proud of all the Cubs and their families!”
The scouts have had a busy year, visiting the planetarium at SUNY Brockport, having a Christmas party at Oak Orchard Lanes in Albion, collecting canned goods for the local food pantry, working on projects to earn badges and prepping for summer camp.
For information about joining the Holley Cub Scouts, send an email to holleycubs3062@gmail.com or contact Cub Master Chris Reuther at (716) 480-2945.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2024 at 3:58 pm
HOLLEY – The Board of Education on Monday approved a $29,615,000 budget for 2024-25 that would increase the tax levy by 1.49 percent.
The board a month ago was looking at a budget with a 1.99 percent tax increase, but decided to shave off another half percent.
The budget goes to a public vote on May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the foyer of the junior-senior high school.
The board approved the budget with some uncertainty in its state aid because the state budget remains unresolved. The budget deadline was April 1 but the governor and Legislature have approved extenders to fund the government for the short-term.
While some school districts are slated for a decrease in state aid in the governor’s executive budget, Holley’s total state aid would increase by about $600,000, from $20,095,541 to $20,665,520. If the aid in the final budget is more than the amount in the governor’s budget, Zacher said any extra would go in the district’s fund balance.
State aid covers about 70 percent of the school budget. The tax levy accounts for $7,952,214, which is up $116,748 from the 2023-24 budget. Holley is well below is allowable increase under the state-imposed tax cap. Holley could increase taxes by 3.972 percent and still be below the cap, Zacher said. The district can carry over the difference to the 2025-26 budget.
There will be a public hearing about the budget at 6 p.m. on May 7 in the elementary school cafeteria.
Besides the budget, Holley will have propositions for $363,000 to buy one large bus and two small buses; and $206,840 for the Community Free Library.
There will be four seats up for election on the Board of Election including the three-year terms currently filled by Sal DeLuca, Brian McKeon and Anne Smith. There is also the final two years of a term originally for Robin Silvis. Jennifer Reisman was appointed to fill the spot until the election on May 21.
Provided photo: Dr. Michael Weyrauch (Orleans/Niagara BOCES Director of Continuing Education, Career and Technical Education and Instructional Services), Susan Diemert (Literacy Specialist) and Colleen Osborn (Board of Education President) accept the Magna Award in New Orleans.
Press Release/Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES was one of the grand prize winners in the 29th annual Magna Awards program sponsored by the National School Boards Association’s flagship magazine, American School Board Journal.
This year, the Magna Awards recognize school districts and their leaders for their innovative, out-of-the-box thinking to address district challenges. Members of the NSBA Board of Directors Awards Committee selected the winners from district submissions.
“The Magna Awards spotlight innovative programs that are making a difference for students and the communities where they live,” said NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs. “From providing incarcerated individuals with essential job readiness training and hope for the future to preparing students for the ever-evolving landscape of careers through specialized programs, each of our grand prize-winning programs exemplifies the transformative power of education. These award winners serve as shining examples of what can be achieved when creativity and dedication intersect in the pursuit of excellence.”
There were three grand prize-winning programs and Orleans/Niagara BOCES won in the Under 5,000 enrollment. The local BOCES was recognized for their Corrections Literacy and Job Skills: A Second Chance program provides incarcerated students and adults the opportunity to take classes and training to increase their chance of employment after release at Niagara County Jail. (You can view a movie about the jail program at this link: https://youtu.be/S24fyIe8Cac.)
Representatives Orleans/Niagara BOCES Board of Education – President Colleen Osborn, Literacy Specialist Susan Diemert and Director of Continuing Education, Career and Technical Education and Instructional Services Dr. Michael Weyrauch – were presenters at NSBA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans in April and were featured in the 2024 Magna Awards video. All winners will be highlighted in the April issue of ASBJ at www.nsba.org/asbj.
Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) purpose is to ensure each student everywhere has access to excellent and equitable public education governed by high-performing school board leaders and supported by the community.
With members spread across the United States, the Virgin Islands, and Canada, NSBA is the only national organization representing school boards. Along with its member state associations and member public school districts representing locally elected school board officials serving millions of public school students, NSBA believes that public education is a civil right necessary to the dignity and freedom of the American people and that each child, regardless of their ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, identity, or citizenship, deserves equitable access to an education that maximizes their individual potential.
BARRE – The Heritage Wind Community Grant Program is now accepting applications for its Spring 2024 grant cycle.
Counting the last grant cycle’s recipients, the grant program has awarded nearly $120,000 to community causes and non-profit organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education, since its inception in 2020.
The previous Fall Grant Cycle included the following community organizations: Orleans County Joint Veterans Council, Medina Fire Department, GLOW ARC and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association.
Local organizations working in the Town of Barre, and the broader Orleans County community are encouraged to apply. Grants are typically awarded in $250 to $4,000 increments, with priority given to proposals that demonstrate meaningful impacts to the greatest number of area residents.
The four focus areas for the community grant program are:
Building Healthy Communities – Programs that support public health or enhance the quality of life in the community.
Economic Development – Programs that support the economic wellbeing of the community.
Environmental Sustainability – Programs that support environmental revitalization, sustainability, or empower residents to be stewards of the environment.
Promoting Education – Programs that support educational institutions, especially the advancement of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This may include curriculum development, vocational training or literacy support.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Anna Mathes at anna.mathes@apexcleanenergy.com or (585) 563-5137.
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society has announced the itinerary for its 2024 Hall of Fame Tour on May 9 in Buffalo.
This year’s tour will feature a visit to the historic Richardson Hotel/ Olmsted Complex, and St. Louis Church. In addition, there will be a drive by of several other prominent Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame honorees.
The Richardson/Olmsted Complex was in the inaugural class in 2013 for the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame. The massive complex of the former Buffalo State Hospital was designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson and the surrounding grounds by Frederick Law Olmsted. This was the first major work on which the two collaborated. At that time it was considered to be one of the most architecturally significant designs for an asylum, a style that became known as Richardsonian Romanesque.
Construction started in 1871 and the two imposing 185-foot towers of the Administration building have been a highly visible and striking landmark in north Buffalo since 1880. The central pavilion, with its lofty Gothic towers, adjacent wards A and B and the four flanking wards are all built of reddish-brown Medina sandstone that was quarried in Hulberton, Orleans County. The heavy, rough-faced stone walls are set off by plainly finished blocks of the same material for doors and windows. Part of the site is now used as a hotel.
The St. Louis Catholic Church went into the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame in 2014. The church, at the corner of Main and Edward Street, was constructed from 1886 to 1889. This Gothic Revival church is built of red Medina Sandstone.
Heavily influenced by German design features, the distinctive front facade consists of two 128-foot side towers and the magnificent 245-foot center steeple and open-work spire. Perhaps the church’s most distinctive feature, this center spire, similar to the spires on several German churches including Cologne Cathedral, is the tallest open-work spire ever built completely of stone in the United States. It is also believed to be the only remaining open-work or pierced spire in the U.S.
The Medina Sandstone tour day will begin with a welcome at 8:30 a.m. by Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman at the Sandstone Hall of Fame located in City Hall on Main Street.
The tour bus, a 47-passenger coach with bathroom, will leave at 9 a.m. and arrive at the Richardson Complex at 10:15 a.m., where guests may choose to take a leisurely tour of the grounds and museum or join a docent-led tour of undeveloped areas of the Richardson/Olmsted Complex.
At 11:30 a.m., there will be a luncheon will be served in the Glessner Room at the Richardson Hotel. The bus will leave for St. Louis Church at 12:30 p.m., where a 45-minute tour is planned at 1 p.m. The bus departs for Medina at 2 p.m.
Cost for the tour is $95 per person or $90 for stonecutters (Sandstone Society members). Checks are due by April 26 and should be mailed to Medina Sandstone Society, P.O. Box 25, Medina, 14103.
Anyone with questions or wishing more information may contact Sue Holland at (585) 721-3809 or at shollan2@rochester.rr.com.
