Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Jim Pinckney is crowned Dyngus Day king at the Sacred Heart Club this evening. Last year’s king Richard Glass puts the crown on Pinckney, a long-time active member and volunteer at the club.

Pinckney, a retired corrections officer, enjoys the celebration of Polish heritage at the Sacred Heart Club, but he said members don’t have to be Polish to join. The non-profit organization donates to veterans and other community organizations.

Pinckney was picked king because of all he does for the Sacred Heart Club, said JT Thomas, the club vice president.

Amy Silkowski is applauded after being announced as this year’s Dyngus Day queen. Last year’s king and queen, Richard and Kirsten Glass, are at right.

Silkowski’s husband David is a past king. She joined about five years ago. She assisted her husband in making the lazy pierogis for this year’s Dyngus Day feast.

Amy said the people are the big draw at the Sacred Heart Club.

“We’re like a big family,” she said.

She was praised for starting a euchre night at Sacred Heart every other Friday evening. She and her husband also repainted “the pit,” an area that is popular for celebrations.

JT Thomas served as the deejay and emcee of the Dyngus Day bash. He played music by Bobby Vinton, “The Polish Prince.”

There was lots of Polish food served including Golumpkis – Polish cabbage rolls that are stuffed with a mixture of beef, pork, rice and seasoning.

The Sacred Heart Club welcomed about 100 people for the Dyngus Day party, with many people wearing red in honor of the Polish celebration. The party started at 3 this afternoon.

Pussy willows were also available. In the Dyngus Day tradition, boys sprinkle water on the girls who then tap the boys with pussy willows as a way of flirting.

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – Three trucks from the fish hatchery in Altmar in northern New York delivered nearly 150,000 fish today to be raised in pens for about a month in the Oak Orchard River.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation brought 138,210 Chinook salmon and 10,000 steelhead for the pen-rearing.

That is up from the 126,330 Chinook a year ago, and 90,200 from 2019 for the pen-rearing.

The DEC has increase the stocking levels based on alewife biomass and Chinook salmon growth and condition. The alewife biomass has increased and the weight of age-3 salmon increased to 20.7 pounds in 2022, staying above the lower threshold of 18.4 pounds, the DEC said.

It was a community effort with the charter boat captains and other volunteers today, helping the DEC get the fish into the six pens.

Bob Songin gets the first pen propped open for a pipe from the DEC truck to the Oak Orchard. Songin has been a key leader in the pen-rearing project since it started in 1998. Oak Orchard had the first pen-rearing project on the south shore. Now there are several, including nearby at the Genesee River, Sodus, Olcott and the Niagara River.

Raising them in pens at Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina increases their survival rate, and also helps them to imprint on the Oak Orchard River. That boosts the chances they will come back when they are mature in about three years.

One of the trucks carrying fish has a display telling people these are the good ol’ days for fishing.

The pens have automated feeders with a pellet mix of food provided by the DEC.

The DEC also will be delivering 25,000 steelhead directly to the Oak Orchard and 6,380 for Johnson Creek on Friday. They are expected to be put into the Oak Orchard from Captain’s Cove.

Fishing is Orleans County’s top tourism industry with a $28 million annual impact, according to a DEC study and survey from 2017.

Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393. County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571, according to that report.

Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

Did you know lead poisoning is 100% preventable?

“Lead is a metal that is toxic to our bodies and can cause serious health issues for children who have been exposed,” stated Gabrielle Lanich, Lead Program Coordinator of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Young children under 6 years old are most at risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are rapidly developing.”

The health effects of lead poisoning are permanent and can affect a child into adulthood. Childhood lead poisoning can harm the brain and nervous system leading to learning difficulties, lower IQ, difficulty paying attention, organ damage, and at very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal. Lead poisoning can also be dangerous for pregnant women because lead can be passed to the baby during pregnancy.

Here are some easy ways to prevent lead poisoning:

• Take everyday steps to stay healthy. Eating a well-balanced diet, especially foods high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C can help reduce the body’s absorption of lead. Washing your hands and children’s hands with soap and water several times a day can help limit lead exposure. You should also wash children’s toys, bottles, and pacifiers regularly to avoid exposure to lead dust, and regularly clean your home with a damp cloth, sponge, or mop to minimize possible lead dust.

• Check your home for lead. If you live in a home built before 1978 you may consider having your home checked for lead. Our Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (GLOW) Counties Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) may be able to help you with this. You may qualify for a home lead inspection if your home is in the GLOW area, was built before 1978, and a child under 6 lives there or spends more than 6 hours a week there.

• Renovate lead safe. Homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead-based paint that can be disturbed when renovating. If you are renovating, repairing, or painting a home built before 1978, use a Lead-Safe Certified contractor. If you are planning on doing your own work, use lead-safe work practices to protect both you and your family. For tips on how to be lead-safe when renovating, click here.

Also, our GLOW Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program may be able to renovate for you. Contact the Genesee County Health Department to see if you qualify.

• Get your child tested. The only way to find out if there is lead in a child’s blood is to take them for a blood lead test. There are no obvious signs or symptoms of lead poisoning, that’s why it’s important to get them tested. Children should be tested at ages 1 and 2. Talk with your pediatrician to determine if your child should be tested further. GLOW CLPPP is able to offer transportation to lead testing at no cost for parents or guardians and children under 6 years old. Contact the Genesee County Health Department to determine if you are eligible for this service.

For more information or to learn more about our programs contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or Health.GOlead@co.genesee.ny.us.  You can also visit GOHealthNY.org.

The price for regular unleaded gas is up nearly a penny in Orleans County since a week ago, going from $3.376 on March 25 to $3.383 today, AAA reported today.

Nationally, the average price is up a penny to $3.54, while the average price statewide is at $3.45, up 2 cents from a week ago. A year ago, the national price was $3.50 and statewide the average was $3.47.

Here are the average prices in counties around WNY today:

• Orleans, $3.383
• Genesee, $3.361
• Wyoming, $3.406
• Livingston, $3.407
• Monroe, $3.384
• Niagara, $3.318
• Erie, $3.385
• Chautauqua, $3.533
• Cattaraugus, $3.455
• Allegany, $3.502

AAA issued this statement about gas prices:

“After an early spring surge, the national average for a gallon of gasoline spent last week drifting up and down by a fraction of a cent before settling on $3.54. But this break may be temporary, as gas pump prices will likely resume their typical spring increase.

“ Uncertainty of the impact of Ukraine’s targeting of Russia’s oil infrastructure likely spiked oil prices recently, but those concerns have already abated somewhat for now. Gas prices are settling back into a pattern similar to last year when the usual seasonal increase was slow and steady.

“The upward trend in gas prices is not unusual this time of year. Another critical factor is the arrival of more expensive summer blend gas, which tends to increase pump prices by 10 to 15 cents. That transition is underway in some parts of the country.

“Nationally, gas demand dipped slightly last week as domestic supply increased. Lower demand would typically contribute to pushing pump prices lower or slowing increases, but rising oil prices have kept them elevated instead.

“Diesel prices remain relatively steady. The national average price for diesel is $4.02, down two cents from last Monday. The New York average is $4.40, no change from a week ago.”

SHELBY – Three students at the Iroquois Job Corps center have recently received their high school diplomas. They are Javen Feliciano, Quintin Mitchell and Keyonia Pompey.

“Javen has been at Iroquois Job Corps Center since January 2023,” said Stephanie Kellogg, academic manager at IJCC. “He has completed the carpentry program, been active in student leadership and is a positive impact on center culture. He is preparing to begin work-based learning as he comes to the end of his Job Corps journey. After completing the program, he plans on joining the Air Force.”

“Quintin, 17, is from Rochester and is looking forward to completing the brick-laying trade and getting his driver’s license,” Kellogg said. “He will tell you that he struggled a bit in academics until he got the motivation to help him focus and finish his credits. We are very excited to see Quintin continue to succeed and complete his Job Corps program.”

The third student, Keyonia Pompey, came to Iroquois Job Corps Center from Buffalo in August 2023.

“While at IJCC, Keyonia got her driver’s permit and is nearing completion of the Certified Nursing Assistant program,” Kellogg said. “Upon completion of CNA, she is planning on doing work-based learning in a long-term care facility and then returning to the Buffalo area to work as a CNA.”

Primary will be held April 2 at polling sites throughout the county

Photo by Tom Rivers: The polling site for early voting was available for eight days, from March 23 to March 30, at the Board of Elections office at the County Office Building.

ALBION – There were 149 votes cast over eight days of early voting in Orleans County.

There was one polling location for early voting – the Board of Elections office at the County Office Building on Route 31.

The primary was headed by the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries. Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are the front-runners for the Republican and Democratic nominations, respectively.

Biden and Trump already have gained enough delegates to secure their parties’ nominations with Biden the Democrats’ choice and Trump the pick of Republicans.

The ballots in the primary in New York State will include Biden and Trump, as well as other names who ended their campaigns after the state’s filing deadlines.

For the Democratic Party, besides Biden the ballot includes Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips.

For the Republican Party, in addition to Trump, the ballot includes Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie and Nikki Haley.

The Democratic primary also four delegates from the 24th Congressional District for the National Convention: Dia Carabajal, Daniel Farfaglia, Lorie Longhany and John Hurley.

The 24th District in Orleans includes Albion, Barre, Clarendon districts 2 and 3, Ridgeway and Shelby.

In the 25th District, there are seven candidates to be delegates for the National Convention. Voters will elect four from the seven. Those candidates include Shelly Clements, Anthony Plonczynski-Figueroa, Yversha Roman, Jamie Romeo, Adam Bello, Samra Brouk and Stephen Gregory Devay.

The 25th District in Orleans includes Carlton, Clarendon district 1, Gaines, Kendall, Murray and Yates.

The primary will include voting at polling locations at all 10 towns in the county on April 2.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Andrea and Zach Busch pose with Winston, their Labradoodle therapy dog, at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market.

MEDINA – The Canal Village Farmers’ Market welcomed a special guest on Saturday – a Labradoodle therapy dog named Winston.

Winston, 3, is owned by Zach and Andrea Busch, who acquired the dog when he was eight weeks old. As soon as he had received all his necessary puppy shots, Andrea took him to Fort Hyde Kennel in Gasport, where trainer Sarah Reed worked with Andrea to train Winston.

Both Zach and Andrea work with children. Zach as band director at Holley Central School, and Andrea as music teacher for kindergarten to second grade at Oak Orchard Elementary School.

“Research has shown that kids who read to a therapy dog feel more confident,” Andrea said.

Andrea became interested in therapy dogs after receiving her master’s degree in special education and teaching at a school for kids with disabilities in Manhattan.

“It made sense to get a therapy dog,” she said. “Wherever he goes, he’s a calming presence.”

This was the first time Winston had visited the market. There is a kids’ corner there and Andrea set out books for children who wanted to read to Winston.

She also brought a supply of bookmarks with a picture of the Labradoodle, on which was printed, “I read with Winston.”

The Canal Village Farmers’ Market will continue to operate in the former NAPA building at 345 Main St. until warmer weather.

Certified therapy dog handler Andrea Busch, left, watches Raelynn Baker greet Winston at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market on Saturday.

Andrea Busch, right, gives market visitor Stacey Laskey a supply of Winston bookmarks to take to her class at Medina Head Start.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

Photo from Claudia Tenney for Congress: Claudia Tenney and Donald Trump both give a thumbs up.

Former President Donald J. Trump has endorsed Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and her campaign for NY-24.

Trump has been a steadfast supporter of Tenney. He endorsed her in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and now 2024. Trump is an honorary member of Tenney’s Election Integrity Caucus.

“Congresswoman Claudia Tenney is doing a great job for the fantastic people of New York’s 24th Congressional District!” Trump said. “Claudia is fighting hard to secure our border, support our brave law enforcement and veterans, defend our always under siege Second Amendment, keep men out of women’s sports, cut taxes, and hold Joe Biden and the radical left accountable for their corruption. As Chairwoman of the House Election Integrity Caucus, Claudia is working tirelessly to eliminate fraud in our elections. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney is a strong conservative, and has my complete and total endorsement!”

“I am so honored to earn once again the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump,” Tenney said. “President Trump has been a long-time friend and supporter, and I appreciate his support for my campaign. I fought alongside President Trump to secure the border, cut taxes, support our military and fully fund our police. President Trump is a true champion for the people of New York’s 24th district and I look forward to serving with him to save New York and America.”

Tenney, a longtime Conservative fighter, is already looking ahead to 2024 and beyond:

“We need to do everything in our power to return President Trump to the White House and win the 2024 elections with a huge MAGA wave,” she said. “After we win, we need to get to work making America Great Again, again! Building the wall, ending the madness at our Southern and vulnerable Northern Border, and growing our economy after four years of Joe Biden’s socialist agenda are all top priorities for our first 100 days of 2025.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Alex Nazaretski, a student of classical guitar and piano at the Eastman School of Music, performs at the Hoag Library today.

Nazaretski will graduate from Eastman in May. He kicked off a new season of concerts at Hoag. The events are free to the public and are on Saturdays at noon.

The lineup of concerts for the rest of 2024 include:

• Paul O’Dette, April 20
• Kinloch Nelson, May 18
• Bob Sneider, June 15
• George Collichio, July 20
• Rochester Recorder Society, Aug. 17
• Alyssa Rodriguez, Sept. 14
• Muriel Anderson, Oct. 12
• Duo Tufekčić & Conant, Nov. 9
• Rochester Ukulele Orchestra, Dec. 7

About 50 people attended today’s concert in the main meeting room of the library.

Hoag last year debuted the concerts. They are organized by Jim Doyle, an adult reference librarian at the library. He also has been running Jim’s Guitar Studio for 24 years in Albion, and is a founding member of the Rochester Guitar Club.

Doyle said he reaches out to musicians who generally haven’t performed in Orleans County before. He met Nazaretski when he performed at the Little Theater Café in Rochester.

Funds for the concerts at the Hoag Library come from the state Council of the Arts, with the funds administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kids displayed breakneck speed in hunting down Easter eggs at noon today in Albion. There were about 12,000 eggs scattered on the lawn, up from 10,000 last year.

The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries held its third annual Easter Egg Hunt today. Students from the Iroquois Job Corps Center helped set out the eggs.

About 300 children are lined up ready to go grab the plastic eggs which had candy inside.

Children were divided into three groups – ages 1 to 5, ages 6 to 9, and ages 10 to 14. There will be two golden eggs hidden per age group.

Benjamin Rowcliffe, 8, of Medina found one of the golden eggs.

Jayda Elsenheimer helps hand out some of the 600 Easter baskets. The Albion Rotary Club and Albion Lions Club donated to help buy the baskets.

The Catholic Daughters also bought 200 chocolate Easter bunnies, and the Masonic Lodge served food for free.

Pastor Al Wilson of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries welcomes the kids to the egg hunt. Wilson said the church is happy to put on the event, and see so many families having fun.

“We just love the people,” Wilson said. “It’s about sharing the love of Jesus.”

These kids take off to pick up some of the Easter eggs. The golden eggs were in hard-to-find spots.

Two barbers gave free haircuts for three hours. Jeffrey Echevarria of Albion, left, gets a haircut from Carlito Lopez of Brockport while Amonte Mortensen of Medina, right, gets a trim from Maciel Gomez of Albion.

East State Street in front of the courthouse was decorated in chalk art.

The Albion Free Methodist Church was one of about 20 stops on an Easter Hop where kids could get candy.

Legislature also proclaims April as ‘Donate Life Month’ and April 1-7 as ‘Public Health Week’

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Ed Morgan, second from right, presents certificates of appreciation to Jan Standish, second from left, and Becky Bush when the two were recognized on Tuesday for their long careers with the county.

Both are retiring as custodians. John Papponetti, the DPW commissioner, is at right.

Bush worked 35 years with the county while Standish gave 33 years of service. Both started as food service helpers in the county nursing home and later became custodial workers for the Buildings and Grounds Department.

Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon accepts a proclamation from County Legislator John Fitzak that proclaimed April as “Donate Life Month.” The Legislature urged residents to join the state’s Donate Life Registry.

The proclamation states there are approximately 8,000 people waiting for an organ transplant which represents the third highest need in the nation. An estimated 400 New Yorkers that die every year while waiting for an organ transplant.

“A single individual’s donation of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine can save up to eight lives; donation of tissue can save and heal the lives of up to 75 others,” legislators said.

The Orleans County Clerk’s Office, through its Department of Motor Vehicles, will be promoting April as “Donate Life Month” in Orleans County.

Hanlon said 58 percent of adults 18 and older are enrolled in Donate Life, which is up from the 48 percent statewide.

The county will be raising the Donate Life flag outside the County Office Building at 10:08 a.m. on April 10.

Paul Pettit, public health director in both Orleans and Genesee counties, accepts a proclamation from Legislator Don Allport declaring April 1-7 as “Public Health Week.”

Allport said county residents benefit from the work of the public health staff when they are eating at restaurants, drinking tap water, learning about the prevention of deadly diseases, receiving vaccinations and planning for emergencies.

“National Public Health Week provides an opportunity for our county to learn about public health concerns and success stories that are vital to healthy communities, such as immunizing against infectious disease, maintaining good nutritional standards, providing good prenatal care, working toward safe housing through our Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, decreasing the spread of rabies by providing rabies immunization clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets, and building resiliency by being prepared for various emergencies,” the proclamation states.

Photo simulation provided by Borrego Solar System Inc.: This viewpoint from Blair Road shows two 633-foot-high wind turbines proposed off Route 63, south of the Village of Medina.

SHELBY – Town officials declined to create an overlay district that would be needed to allow two wind turbines over 600 feet tall.

Borrego Solar System Inc. has been working to have two turbines along Route 63, south of the village of Medina. The turbines would peak at 633 feet.

Borrego asked the Town Board to create a wind overlay district that would require rezoning. The board discussed the letter from Borrego during its March 12 meeting, and no board members introduced an amendment to the current zoning law.

Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz said he didn’t support the rezoning, and the four other board members – Linda Limina, Jeff Schiffer, Steve Seitz and Eddie Zelazny – all said they weren’t in favor of making the zoning change to allow the turbines.

Borrego last month had two balloons up in an along Route 63 to show the height of two wind turbines proposed by the company. That height alarmed many members of the community. Many residents signed a petition opposing the project.

During a hearing about environmental impacts with the two turbines in September 2022, residents said the turbines would alter the landscape visually, and also potentially harm residents with shadow flicker, noise, lower property values and other impacts. They also worry the turbines are in a major migratory bird path.

The turbines as proposed would take up a half-acre and have the capacity to generate 8.4 megawatts of power.

Renewable energy projects that are more than 25 megawatts go to the state for review. Projects under 25 MWs go to review by a local government.

Wengewicz, the Shelby town supervisor, believes the project can’t move forward with the denial of the overlay district.

“They need a wind overlay district but no one was willing to do it,” Wengewicz said on Friday. “No one was interested in adopting the resolution so the project died.”

ALBION – The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries will have its third annual Easter Egg Hunt today at noon at the courthouse lawn, 27 Platt St. in Albion.

Children will be divided into three groups – ages 1 to 5, ages 6 to 9, and ages 10 to 14. There will be two golden eggs hidden per age group.

The activities go from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free barber cuts, free food from the Masonic Lodge, and free face painting.

There will also be free Easter baskets while supplies last.

The Albion Merchants Association also has its Easter Hop today. More than 20 Albion businesses are participating in the event today from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Children can pick up a free Easter basket at Wild Flour Deli & Bakery, Confection Connectin, Pretty Sweet Bakery and Bloom’s Flower Shop. The baskets have a list of businesses where children can stop in and receive an Easter treat.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Ian Kingdollar, 14, carries a cross down the sidewalk on Main Street today with about 40 other people during a Cross Walk. Ian attends the Lyndonville United Methodist Church.

The Lyndonville Yates Ministerial Association led the Cross Walk for the second year. It included four stops where pastors shared a reflection about Christ’s crucifixion. Afterwards they gathered to sing hymns.

Craig Rhodenizer, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, shares a messages about Easter during a stop in front of the Yates Community Library.

Ian Kingdollar and the group of Christians head down Main Street in Lyndonville today. The walk started at noon.

Lyle Drake, pastor of the Yates Baptist Church, stands next to Ian Kingdollar and shares a reflection about the solemn Easter observance.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Dale Cameron carries the cross in front and Jarred Saj is in back during today’s “Cross Walk,” a long-time tradition by the Medina Area Association of Churches. They are walking from the Cooper Funeral Home to the parking lot of the First Baptist Church.

The group made seven stops in the downtown and near the Canal Basin, sharing Scripture and singing hymns.

Pastor Jovannie Canales of the Oasis Church carries the cross in front with Matt Caldwell in back. They are crossing West Center Street.

The group was outside for more than an hour on a chilly day with temperatures in the high 30s.

Jovannie Canales and Matt Caldwell prepare to carry the cross from in front of Medina Historical Society to the Cooper Funeral Home. Neil Samborski is dressed as a centurion. He has worn that costume for several years during the Cross Walk.

The Rev. Randy LeBaron, pastor of the First Baptist Church, carries the front of the cross as the group heads through the arch of the Presbyterian Church.

The Medina churches will have an ecumenical Good Friday service this evening at 6:30 at the Oak Orchard Assembly of God, 12111 Ridge Rd.

The churches also will have a sunrise service at 7 a.m. on Easter at Boxwood Cemetery near Glenwood Lake.