Town Board seeks to buy 153 acres to expand town park with stipulation $700K must come from grants

Photos by Tom Rivers: Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon speakers at a meeting Saturday morning at the Yates Town Park during an informational session about a public referendum this Thursday at Yates Town Hall.

YATES – Town Supervisor Jim Simon sees 153.3 acres by Lake Ontario as a tremendous opportunity for the town to preserve undisturbed land for generations to come.

But some residents see the acquisition, even if funded by grants, as a potential drain on taxpayers with maintenance and other expenses.

Residents will decide on Thursday whether the town moves forward with the land purchase. The town will only spend $700,000 to buy the land from NYSEG if the Yates can secure $700,000 in grants to cover the price. Yates would have two years to come up with the money. The public vote will be from noon to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall, 8 South Main St.

Simon is optimistic the town could secure the grants through the state Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation and also the Lyndonville Area Foundation, with other entities also as possibilities. If Yates doesn’t secure the grant funds for the purchase, the sale will be cancelled.

The Town Board on March 14 voted to buy 153.3 acres of land from NYSEG. It would be next to existing 6-acre park along Morrison Road.

Town residents Paul Lauricella, Bill Jurinich and Steve Colon circulated petitions wanting the matter to go to a public vote. On April 11 they turned in petitions signed by 200 residents. That was well above the needed threshold of 50 signature to force a referendum.

“I’m glad it’s come down to this where the people have a say,” Simon said on Saturday during an informational meeting about the land purchase. “That doesn’t happen to often in government. We can make a case and the people can vote yes or no.”

This map shows the boundaries of the land the Town Board seeks to acquire to expand the town park by 153.3 acres. The site, which is zoned waterfront development, would remain largely undisturbed in the near future, perhaps with a nature trail if the sale is approved by voters. If the sale is approved, a committee will be appointed by the Town Board to pursue grants and develop a plan for potential uses of the site.

If the land purchase is approved on Thursday, Simon said the Town Board will appoint a committee to pursue grants and consider how the land could be used by the public. He said he would prefer the land stay largely undisturbed with only walking trails. But the committee will look at options for the land.

Paul Lauricella sees more burden on taxpayers with the expanded park. The land if bought by the town would become exempt, taking $23,650 away in taxes – for the town ($3,557), school district ($11,279) , county ($7,009), fire district ($735), library ($302) and water debt service ($768).

Lauricella also foresees more demand on the highway department for maintaining the site, even if it’s just a nature trail. If there are pavilions and other amenities, it would cost even more.

“We’re not Lighthouse Park to have to maintain this,” Lauricella said about the nearby Golden Hill State Park. “Just the maintenance could raise our taxes significantly. My concern is survival here because the taxes are going up.”

Resident Bill Jurinich also said he was uneasy with the unknown total costs if the town is given the green light to acquire the land. He said he and others are on fixed incomes and he worries about his taxes.

“That is my biggest fear: I just don’t want to be driven out of the town because of the taxes,” Jurinich said during the meeting at the town park.

Another resident, Deborah Schmitt, urged the community to support the land acquisition and vote yes at the referendum. If the purchase is voted down, she fears that NYSEG will sell the land to be developed for mansions.

“I’d rather it be owned by all of us,” she said.

The land up for sale runs just before the “shoe trees” at the corner of Lakeshore Road and Foss Road.

The site could also be eyed by industry for the fresh water access, another resident said.

Georgette Stockman said she would prefer to see the land stay undeveloped. She said 146 different species of birds have been identified in the park.

Paula Simon, wife of the town supervisor, said the referendum gives the community a chance to keep the land wild.

“NYSEG wants to sell now,” she said. “They’re giving the town a special price.”

If the land is five separate parcels. If it went on the open market, Mrs. Simon said there would be strong interest in the properties.

“It’s not going to stay the way it is,” she said. “It’s going to change.”

Mr. Simon, the town supervisor, said there wouldn’t be much additional cost to the town. He said the town’s insurance wouldn’t increase with the added land if there is only a nature trail.

He said the expanded town park would likely draw some visitors and keep more people in town for recreation. He noted the pavilion at the town park had $4,700 in income last year through rental fees, and already has hit $4,000 this year.

Some of the people using the park also likely get food from local businesses, helping those entrepreneurs and generating some sales tax.

Simon said an expanded town park has been identified by previous town boards through waterfront development plans. Yates sought the land previously, but only now is NYSEG willing to sell the larger chunk of acreage. NYSEG did sell the town 6 acres for the current park in 1997 when Russ Martino was town supervisor. In pavilion at the park is named in his honor.

“This idea didn’t generate with me,” Simon said. “It goes back to prior town boards and Russ Martino.”

Owners hope to expand to restaurant from current food trailer

Photos by Tom Rivers: Pictured from left include the owners of Jim and Andy’s in Medina – Tim and Kathy Drake, Jim Alavera-Woodhams III, and Andy Alvarera-Woodhams. The food trailer is located next to Monte Alban in Medina at 507 East Center St.

MEDINA – Jim and Andy Alvarera-Woodhams are hoping their new food business in Medina will lead to them opening a restaurant in Orleans County.

The two opened Jim & Andy’s last month at 507 East Center St., next to Monte Alban and a taco food trailer owned by the Rosario family. They are joined in the venture by Jim’s cousin Tim Drake of Albion and his wife Kathy.

The business serves classics: burgers, hot dogs and fries, with mac salad, cole slaw, baked beans and other sides. Soon they will challenge customers to eat an “inferno burger” without taking a drink, which will get their photo posted among champion eaters at Jim & Andy’s. They also will get a T-shirt that proclaims, “I survived the raging inferno.”

The burgers are served hand-pressed and aren’t from frozen patties. The lemonade is fresh squeezed.

“I love to cook and it runs in the family,” said Jim Alvarera-Woodhams.

He also works part-time is a property manager at the Batavia Plaza – West Main. That’s where he met the Rosario family who have the Monte Alban II at that plaza.

Jim Alavera-Woodhams III and Andy Alvarera-Woodhams both have experience in the the food service industry.

Jim Alvarera-Woodhams also had been running a T-shirt business but wanted to get into food. He and his husband, Andy, were working at the Burger King in Batavia. They noticed it’s high-volume, as long as the food is tasty without high prices.

Jim talked about going into the food business with his cousin, Tim Drake of Albion. They have combined their joy of cooking with a desire to add another gathering place for people in Orleans County.

If the food trailer goes over well, they would like to open a restaurant and expand the menu. Right now they are limited in prep space for a more extensive menu, but they will try some Philippine dishes, including pork adobo.

The food can be ordered through Door Dash and the Jim & Andy’s expects to offer deliveries soon.

The business is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

St. Mark’s in Kendall, St. Stephen’s in Middleport would be closed and sold; St. Rocco’s grounds in Hulberton also to be sold

Photos by Tom Rivers: St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holley is shown in February 2020 when the parish celebrated the completion of a renovation project that included interior upgrades and a new roof, and audio and lighting improvements. The Buffalo Diocese has proposed closing St. Mark’s in Kendall and merging that church with St. Mary’s.

HOLLEY – There will be meetings this week among local Catholic churches to detail a plan to “right size” the Diocese of Buffalo. That plan includes closing the St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Kendall and the St. Stephen’s Church in Middleport.

The St. Joseph’s Catholic Church property and rectory in Lyndonville also is to be sold. The church was badly damaged in a fire on Feb. 28, 2023. The church at 36 Lake Ave. was torn down in November.

The plan from the Diocese for Orleans County and eastern Niagara churches also includes selling the St. Rocco’s festival grounds in Hulberton. That property has hosted a popular Italian Festival for 49 years. It is held the Sunday before Labor Day.

The Diocese also will move the Catholic church in Barker out of the family of the ONE Catholic community of churches Orleans, Niagara East. The Barker church will shift to a family of churches closer to Lockport.

The Diocese of Buffalo a week ago on June 10 announced its restructuring plan for churches in Orleans and Niagara counties. These are recommended changes and not final, said Joe Martone, Diocese spokesman.

Parish families have the opportunity to present alternative proposals by July 15, he said. The Diocese is expected to make a final decision on closures in September.

The plan from the Diocese of Buffalo includes selling the St. Rocco’s festival grounds in Hulberton, which has hosted a popular Italian festival for 49 years. This photo from Sept. 3, 2023 shows Richard Herzog working the grill with Italian sausage. He hands some of those off to Ellen Bissanti. The festival is held the Sunday before Labor Day. Hulberton was a very popular community for Italian immigrants more than a century ago. They were drawn to the area for work in the Medina sandstone quarries.

Father Mark Noonan, one of the priests in the ONE Catholic community, welcomes parishioners to meetings this week to discuss the proposal from the Diocese and a response to the recommendations. The meetings include:

• Wednesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s in Holley
• Thursday, June 20 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Stephen’s in Middleport
• Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Family in Albion
• Friday, June 21 at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s in Medina
• Saturday, June 22 at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake in Barker
• Saturday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s in Kendall
• Sunday, June 23 at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Family in Albion (Spanish language meeting)

“The purpose of these gatherings will be to share our perspectives about our Family of Parishes, the recommendations the Diocese has provided, and our hopes of continuing to grow and foster our wonderful mission here at ONE Catholic,” Father Noonan said in a message to the local Catholic community. “Let’s continue to pray for one another and for all those who are in special need.”

The 8-county Diocese of Buffalo announced on May 28 it will work to reduce the number of parishes by 34 percent in the eight-county region, which includes Orleans.

“The Diocese of Buffalo is facing multiple challenges including a significant priest shortage, declining Mass attendance, aging congregations and ongoing financial pressures brought about by our Chapter 11 filing,” Bishop Michael Fisher said on May 28.

Some of the concerning data from the Diocese includes a 49 percent decline in registered households across the 8-county region, 59 percent of parishes with a negative net operating balance, 59 percent of parishes experiencing a steady decline in baptisms, 24 percent decrease in marriages from 2020 to 2023 in the Diocese, and the average age for priests is 76, with 63 percent of the priests between the ages of 65 and 70.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Ground Level Ozone today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The alert includes Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and southern Erie counties.

Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 105 for Ground Level Ozone, the DEC said. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was created as a way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale. The higher the AQI Value, the greater the health concern.

When pollution levels are elevated, the state Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease.

Today is forecast for a high of 93 degrees, followed by highs of 91 on Tuesday, 92 on Wednesday and 90 on Thursday.

A heat advisory also is in effect in Orleans and Western New York from noon Tuesday to 8 p.m. on Thursday. Heat index values as high as 100 degrees are expected.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Holley Elementary School celebrated Flag Day in a big way on Friday with its patriotic parade from the school down North Main Street, to Route 31 and the Public Square before gathering for a ceremony in front of the Murray-Holley Historical Society.

About 500 students were joined by teachers and parents in the parade. This was the 67^th annual Flag Day celebration. The parade and ceremony started in 1957,. The school presents citizenship awards for each grade level.

Brian Bartalo (left), the district superintendent, rides with Don Penna, a maintenance supervisor. They are playing music from the golf cart, including “This Land is Your Land” and “Born in the U.S.A.”

Bartalo, who is retiring June 30 after six years as Holley superintendent, said the Flag Day ceremony is a big highlight in the school year.

“I have never seen anything like it until I came here,” Bartalo said about Holley’s Flag Day celebration. “Patriotism and love of country is evident here.”

These elementary students walk along Route 31 through the Public Square.

Fifth-grader Olivia Rebis wore red, white and blue while serving as one of the student emcees during the ceremony. Grayson Kelley, another fifth-grader, also was an emcee. They are joined up front by principal Karri Schiavone, left, Brendan Keiser, the district’s director of teaching and learning, and Sal DeLuca, vice president of the Board of Education.

The elementary band and chorus performed several patriotic songs.

Principal Karri Schiavone presented the Catherine B. Press citizenship awards went to fifth-graders Mya Gerringer and Chase Lasher. These students demonstrate honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility and courage. Schiavone will start as Holley’s district superintendent on July 1.

Good Citizens from last year’s Flag Day ceremony were able to walk near the front of the parade, wearing their “Good Citizen” shirts.

KNOWLESVILLE – One Wednesday a month, Marilyn Strabel of Clarendon has a few hours to relax, run errands or have lunch with friends.

“Or do anything else I want,” she said. “But the day is more for him than me.”

That is the day she drops her husband Bud off at the respite program at Abundant Harvest’s Recreation Hall in Knowlesville.

Marilyn has been taking Bud there for almost three years, and he looks forward to it as much as she does.

Bud is suffering from Alzheimer’s, and as his disease progressed, Marilyn called the Office for the Aging to inquire if there was a respite program available in the county.

Since then, she has been bringing Bud to the Knowlesville program.

This past Wednesday, she was going to use the opportunity for free time to visit the graves of her parents and Bud’s to clean the gravestones.

The respite program is led by Cheryl Babcock and is operated under the auspices of and with the support of the Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York. She got the idea from a friend who runs one in Erie County, asking her why she didn’t do it in her home town.

“I said I’d think about it, and I prayed about it and brought it up to congregation,” Babcock said.

Ruth Higgins is co-chairwoman of the program at Abundant Harvest.

“The Indian Falls United Methodist Church has a wonderful program and I went and checked that out,” Higgins said.

The first respite program started in September 2021. Attendance has been sparse, but those who attend have a great time.

Higgins, a member of Abundant Harvest, takes care of crafts, which include painting, jigsaw puzzles and making favors for Mother’s Day. They have also made flags for the Fourth of July out of clothespins and wreaths for Christmas. Sometimes they do exercises or have special presentations, such as a recent one by Cheryl Watts, who makes characters out of balloons, or a visit by the church’s choir at Christmas time.

They have also had picnics outside, and after lunch they play bingo, Babcock said.

All those involved are volunteers, including Linda Baker and Linda Stinson, who cook lunch, and Sylvia Armer.

“This is a very heart-warming program,” Babcock said.

Anyone wishing to drop a loved one off for respite is asked to call Babcock at (585) 704-8173, or Higgins at (585) 798-4483 and leave a message.

“I feel very secure leaving Bud here,” his wife said. “The best thing for him is to keep him doing things.”

Babcock agreed that Alzheimer’s patients need interaction with other people.

Other respite programs are now operating at the Christ Episcopal Church in Albion located at 26 S Main St., Albion, NY 14411, and Holley Community Center. These are funded by a grant which United Way of Orleans County received from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation’s Legacy Fund. These programs are available from 1 to 4 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of the month at the Christ Episcopal Church, and the second and fourth Thursday  of the month in Holley. Another program under the Orleans County Office for the Aging takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays at the Nutrifaire site at 16 Academy St. in Albion.  The respite program at Abundant Harvest’s Recreation Hall in Knowlesville and the Orleans County Office for the Aging programs both serve lunch and it is free. In fact, all programs listed above remain free for Orleans County residents.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health held a luncheon Friday to honor the dedication and hard work of their certified nursing assistants, personal care assistants and patient care technicians.

The luncheon celebrated National Nursing Assistants’ Week, which officially runs from June 13 to 16. OCH, however, observes it from Monday through Friday, said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach.

“During the week, our organization provided numerous opportunities to recognize and appreciate the invaluable contribution of these essential team members,” Robinson said. “Each day was dedicated to acknowledging the commitment and compassion of our CNAs, PCAs and PCTs.”

The luncheon was an opportunity to further thank these team members for their contributions, Robinson added. He called these professionals the backbone of patient care, ensuring the highest quality of service and support for their patients.

“We are immensely grateful for the dedication and compassion shown by our CNAs, PCAs and PCTs,” said Kimberly Gray, chief nursing officer of Orleans Community Health. “Their hard work and unwavering commitment are vital to the health and well-being of our community.”

Nursing assistants at OCH are Taylor Best, Roberto Vega, Theresa Parker, Tina Woolley, Angela Brown, Stephanie Klumpp. Olivia Neidert, Chloe Adams, Melinda Austin, Tricia Belcher, Jennifer Belcher, Barbara Brown, Jennie Dibble, Nina Dilorenzo, Kristi Fulwell-Adams, Kimberly Hare, Avery Horn, Pamela Jones, Tina Kelley, Destiny Miller, Ashley Pietrzykowsk8i, Kayleen Schafer, Jessica Skowneski, Lorraine Stockwell, Ronnie Depaul, Trisha Horton-Fisher, Elizabeth Langendorfer, Icyst Morales, Brittany Rosario, Donnalyn Shaughnessy, Tonya Stephens Newsome, Bailey Jackson, Victoria Wilson, Leah Knab, Amy Knox, Megan Perkins, Pamela VanOrden and Christine Walczak.

Orleans Community Health extends its heartfelt thanks to all nursing assistants for their continued excellence and dedication.

MEDINA – Faeries and dragons will again invade Medina’s downtown for the annual Faery Festival, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Boys and girls of all ages, as well as adults, are encouraged to dress up in their favorite faery costume and join in the festivities, starting in Rotary Park, according to chair Kathy Blackburn.

A costume contest will take place, with prizes for king, queen, prince and princess. There will also be a scavenger hunt for prizes, with clues to find 12 faeries and 10 faery houses hidden in various downtown businesses.

A table will be set up in Rotary Park for participants to pick up and drop off their scavenger hunt sheet, take a photo with themed photo boards, make faery dust and have their faces painted.

The event flyer with scavenger hunt form has been distributed to children in pre-K through grade three.

Businesses who would like to offer a small Make and Take/Take and Make craft, have story time or provide a small giveaway item (stickers, temporary tattoos, faery-related items that may relate to their business or a coloring sheet) are asked to contact Ann Fisher-Bale at ann.fisherbale@gmail.com by Wednesday to be included on the list given to participants.

It is estimated approximately 75 kids will be participating. Businesses not located downtown, but who would like to participate, can offer something in Rotary Park.

EMO director urges precautions from extreme heat

Photos by Tom Rivers: The playground at Yates Town Park is shown Saturday when the temperatures were in the high 60s. It will be much hotter this week.

The area will be gripped in intense heat from Monday through Thursday, with high temperatures each day forecast to top 90.

Today will reach a high of 79, but the highs are 90 on Monday, 94 on Tuesday, 92 on Wednesday and 91 on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

The temperature then goes to a high of 85 on Friday and 84 on Saturday.

Justin Niederhofer, director of Emergency Management in Orleans County, urged residents to take precautions from the extreme heat.

“With temperatures soaring well above normal levels, it is crucial that we take proactive steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the potentially life-threatening effects of extreme heat,” Niederhofer said.

He recommended the following:

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you do not feel thirsty. Dehydration can lead to serious health complications.
• 

  This is the QR Code for the Orleans Aware App.

  Limit outdoor activities: Whenever possible, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially during the hottest parts of the day. If you must be outdoors, seek shade and take frequent breaks in a cool, air-conditioned environment.

• Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Opt for light colors that reflect rather than absorb sunlight.
• Check on vulnerable individuals: Keep an eye on elderly neighbors, young children, and those with chronic illnesses who may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Assist if needed to ensure they have access to cool shelter and adequate hydration.
• Never leave children or pets in vehicles: Even a short amount of time in a hot car can have deadly consequences. Always double-check the backseat before exiting your vehicle.
• Use cooling centers: If you do not have access to air conditioning at home, seek out designated cooling centers in our community. These facilities offer relief from the heat and can help prevent heat-related illnesses. Find local cooling centers here: health.ny.gov/environmental/weather/cooling/
• Be prepared for power outages: Extreme heat can put a strain on the power grid, increasing the likelihood of blackouts. Have a plan in place for staying cool and safe during power outages, including alternative sources of ventilation and hydration.
• Stay Informed: Download Orleans Aware – you’ll receive alerts and messaging as it pertains to weather changes and instructions if necessary. Monitor local weather forecasts and heat advisories. (app link: https://apps.myocv.com/share/a84314020)

“By taking these precautions and safety measures seriously, we can minimize the risk of heat-related illnesses and ensure the well-being of our community during this extreme heat,” Niederhofer said. “Stay safe, stay hydrated, and look out for one another.”

By Randy LeBaron

Good afternoon! Grab your favorite cup. Fill it up. And let’s start this week right… TOGETHER!!!

This past week while I was watching several family members and friends cross the finish line at the Strawberry Fest 5K and got a little nostalgic, so today’s article will be a throw back to an earlier one.

Back in 2011 when some members of my church decided to start a Couch to 5K program for the community called “Run 4 God.

Some of you may have participated as it was very popular at the time. The goal was to get people physically fit in time to finish the Strawberry Fest 5K. As the pastor I felt like I should be supportive and take part but, as someone who was out of shape and had never felt the desire to run without being chased, I was also dreading the process. Sure enough, it was a hard-fought battle but come June I ran the race and even beat the Strawberry! And just like that I was hooked.

I continued to train with friends and increased my distance. By the end of the summer one of my favorite routes was to run from my home to Albion Free Methodist Church, which was exactly 3.1 miles (5K), where I would meet up with a friend to run the Strawberry Fest 5K route and then I would continue back home. I found that I actually enjoyed running longer distances, so much so that when some friends invited me to run the Hospice Dash Half-Marathon with them that September I accepted. I was feeling pretty confident having ran 10 miles a couple of times already and figured one more 5K (13.1 miles total) added to the end would not be that big of a deal.

Fast forward to September 24th when I am running with a crowd through Fort Niagara, exactly halfway to the finish line at exactly the 1-hour mark. I was feeling fantastic and then, a little while later when the Runmeter App on my phone said I had hit the 10-mile mark ahead of schedule, I was even more elated!

But then it happened, after running almost 2 miles more I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw the “You made it 10 Miles!” sign and realized that my app must have been malfunctioning. I still had 3.1 miles to go and it felt like forever. I just stood there feeling like my feet were stuck in tar and all the thirst and pain I was able to ignore when I thought I was almost done overtook me and made it difficult to walk let alone run. Eventually I got moving again and sputtered along for the next couple of miles but when I still could not see the finish line I stopped again feeling exhausted and discouraged. And that is when my friends showed up.

Having already finished the race well ahead of me my friends had run back to where I was and started cheering me on and telling me that the end was not far off. As they ran side by side with me, I picked up the pace and soon enough I was crossing the finish line with a still respectable 2:24 time. What my friends did for me was they gave me hope and they let me know that the end really was in sight which helped me to persevere and finish the race. No matter what you are going through in life I pray that you will have friends to come alongside you and remind you that the end is in sight. Keep pressing on!!!

See you in two weeks!
Pastor Randy

Photo and press release from Medina Fire Department

MEDINA – On Nov. 24, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation S. 7424/A. 366A requiring camps and youth sports programs to establish automated external defibrillator, or AED, implementation plans and to have at least one person trained to properly use the AED at camps, games and practice.

This is great legislation! Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) has a 90% fatality rate.

We witnessed a SCA with one of our dear friends recently on scene of an incident. He was one of the 10% due to CPR training and immediate access to a defibrillator. More defibs (AEDs) and people trained in CPR can drive down that 90% fatality rate.

The problem with this legislation is funding. These camps, sport groups and athletic associations were going to take a big hit with their budgets to be compliant with the legislation.

Understanding the benefits of the legislation and the difficulties it would bring locally to the Medina Loyal Softball and Baseball programs, Village of Medina Firefighter’s Local 2161 stepped up to the plate and smacked a home run.

Medina Firefighter’s Local 2161 utilized funds from member’s Union dues and purchased two Zoll AED Plus defibrillators and donated them to the Medina Loyal Softball and Baseball program.

These AEDs will be onsite with trained personnel at both Butts and Pine Street Parks during practices or games. These defibrillators are to be used for anyone, child, adolescent or adult in cardiac arrest.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – The school district recognized retiring employees and announced the 2023-24 Educator of the Year in June 3.

The annual ceremony and reception, held prior to the Board of Education meeting later that night, started with the recognition of board member David Sidari for his 25 years of service to the district.

Robin Bower was named the district’s “Educator of the Year.” She is shown with Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent.

Fourteen district employees were then honored for their dedication to Albion Central Schools. From District Office, Amy Castricone retired as the Registrar after 35 years and, from Buildings and Grounds, Kevin Hazel (custodian, 20 years), Valerie Daniels (cleaner, 17 years) and David Lowery (building maintenance worker, 7 years).

From the Elementary School, six retirees combined for 176 years of service. Those employees include Kelly Kovaleski (2nd grade teacher, 31 years) , Janice Scott (special education teacher, 34 years), Robin Bower (PACE teacher, 23 years), Tammorah Neal (teacher aide, 32 years), Susan Dick (teacher aide, 25 years), and Renee Liberti (teacher aide, 31 years).

The middle school says goodbye to Kym Metz (guidance counselor, 30 years) and Mary Jane Klips (6th grade teacher, 22 years).

High school retirees for this year include Melody Beecher (physical education teacher, 18 years) and Eric Christiansen (psychologist, 32 years).

Through their hard work and dedication, all 14 retirees worked hard to help guide future generations of learners along their path to success and imparted upon them the mission, vision and values of not just Albion School District, but the skills needed to be a good citizen. The district wishes everyone a long and happy retirement.

Mrs. Bower was also recognized as Educator of the Year. She started her teaching career at the elementary school as a 3rd grade teacher, moved to 5th grade for many years and has spent over the last decade as the PACE teacher. In addition to her role as a teacher in the classroom, Mrs. Bower has been involved in countless before- and after-school programs to enrich the educational experiences of our students. She has been especially active as the Safety Patrol Coordinator since 2015.

“Robin has been an integral part of our Elementary School team since 2001,” District Superintendent Mickey Edwards said. “We wish her a long and happy retirement.”

The annual reception was held in-person with honorees, families, friends, administrators and board members.

Photo and information from Albion Central School

ALBION – Students, staff and veterans celebrated Flag Day at Albion Elementary School on Friday morning.

Family members of the school’s students, who served in the armed forces, were invited to the celebration to be recognized. The honor band played during the opening procession and dismissal and each grade performed a patriotic song.

More than 200 students wrote poems with one from each grade level selected to read their composition.

Those students were Gianna Hyde, Jenna Wilson, Leilani Pescara and Mia Wilson. The top Accelerated Reader points earners for the year each recited a fact about the flag. Those students were Kaylin Gannon, Lily Brigenberg, Hazel Bringenberg and Teagan Wicker. Wyatt Ernst was recognized for designing the fifth-grade t-shirt for their Moving Up Day.

The ceremony also included other annual awards given to students. Maelynn Taylor received the Comptroller’s Award. The Triple C Award was given to Elizabeth Scroger, Lexington Pridgen, Henry Hammond, Ava Colonna, Owen Marks, Abigail Vick and Leah Warne.

The Donald Butts Award, named after the school’s former long-time principal, went to Natalie Lindsey, Quinn Pisano, Giuliana Liuzzi, Michael Madison, Lily Bringenberg and Remi Ebbs.

Elliott Pettit and Maelynn Taylor received the Tap Thy Foot band award and Nikki

Russo was honored with the Patrick Digirolamo Award for art.

After the ceremony, a reception was held for the veterans and their students.