Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Bullard Park welcomed a bigger crowd of kids today for the summer recreation program. Today was the program was open to children throughout Orleans County, as well as Elba’s summer rec program in Genesee County.

There were six bounce houses set up, as well as face painting, food, a magic show and other activities.

About 300 kids were at the park today, said John Grillo, Albion’s recreation program director.

Seven students form the Iroquois Job Corps helped run the event today with the village recreation department.

Kade Leverenz, 5, of Holley heads down the slide in one of the bounce houses.

These kids play with giant Legos brought to the park by the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. GOMOC used a grant from ESL to purchase the blocks and other games. The Ministry of Concern also used the grant to pay the $5 cost for each ticket for a child to use the bounce houses, attend a magic show and also get food served by the Masonic Lodge.

John Hollenbeck, 14, volunteered with the Masonic Lodge and served up popcorn.

Patrick Holman of Medina put on a magic show. Here he is assisted by Julianna with a rope trick. Holman tied a knot that moved up and down on the rope. The rope also was cut in half and then seemed to miraculously come back together as one rope.

These kids try to catch the knot from the rope. Holman performed his show for about 50 kids at the park’ amphitheater.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

These GCC faculty or staff honored with Chancellor’s Awards include, from left: Karlyn Backus, Amy Conley and Richard Schlesinger.

BATAVIA – Seven exceptional members of the Genesee Community College team have been recognized by the State University of New York for outstanding contributions to their profession, the campus and the community.

The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence is given in recognition of consistently superior professional achievement and encourages the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

The following faculty and staff members earned a SUNY Chancellor Award for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Richard A. Schlesinger was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. This award recognizes consistent superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the State University’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.

Dr. Schlesinger has been a member of our college’s communication faculty since 2016 and has taught a variety of courses including Interpersonal Communications, Speech, First Year Experience, Career Explorations, and Argue and Debate. Communication courses go well beyond the textbook since lessons need to come to life with real-world applications, and Dr. Schlesinger creates well-crafted lessons which are designed to build practical skills.

He is a highly experienced individual known for creativity and adaptability both inside and outside the classroom and is committed to student success. In addition, he is the author of: “If You Don’t Ask The Answer Is No: A Practical Guide for Getting Through College Without Falling Through the Cracks” and is currently working on his second book.

Michele L. Terry was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the Classified Service, a system-level award established by SUNY to give system-wide recognition for superior performance and extraordinary achievement by employees in the Classified Service. These awards demonstrate the University’s commitment to individuals who provide superior service to its students and the community at large.

Terry has been a member of our college’s classified staff since her arrival in 2002. She began as a Clerk-Typist, became a Secretary, and has been in the role of Executive Secretary since 2009. She has cheerfully transitioned to different job responsibilities under different supervisors over the years and continually maintains a positive atmosphere.

Terry has proven to be a “patient teacher” to new employees and often steps up to help at the Hub of the Student Success Center. Terry is involved in, and assists with, many campus events. In addition, she serves as secretary to the GCC Association Board and became a notary public in 2019.

These honorees include Elizabeth Simmons, Teresa Sukiennicki, Laura Taylor and Michele Terry.

Teresa L. Sukiennicki received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, which recognizes the consistently superior service contributions of teaching faculty. This service must be sustained over multiple years and may occur in a variety of venues.

Sukiennicki has been a member of the college’s biology faculty since 2006 when she started as an adjunct instructor prior to becoming a full-time faculty member in 2009. She has been regularly involved with the Academic Senate, including being co-chair of the Academic Standards Committee for over eight years. She was the Outdoor Adventure Club advisor for eight years, and regularly volunteers within the community. Sukiennicki maintains her connections with educators outside of the College through her participation in several professional associations and gives back to the community through her weekly volunteer work at EquiCenter.

Elizabeth M. Simmons was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship, which recognizes consistently superior professional achievement in the field of librarianship.

Simmons has been a member of our college since 2017 where she started as a Reference and Cataloging Librarian, and in 2019, she became a Systems & Electronic Services Librarian. She has served in a critical role as she navigated the library through some impactful changes including migrating the library’s website, establishing technical workflows and training staff for a new Library Services Platform, implementing a laptop loaning program for students, and configuring and implementing a study room booking software in the library.

Simmons is GCC’s SUNY Librarians Association campus delegate and is an active member of other state library organizations in addition to holding positions on a variety of college committees.

Karlyn M. Backus was recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. This award recognizes consistently superior professional achievement within and beyond the position.

Her service to the college began in 2009 as an adjunct instructor, in 2011 she was hired full time as an ACE Program Specialist, she joined the college’s Records Office in 2019 as the Assistant Registrar and was then promoted to Registrar.

Backus has always been an individual that embodies the spirit of “Serving Beyond Expectations.” She is well known not only on campus for her contributions of knowledge, teamwork and innovative solutions, but at the SUNY level as well. A few examples of her work include leading and supporting several digital transformation efforts, implementing a collaborative collegewide professional development group, and leadership roles within the college’s Academic Senate and Information Technology Advisory Council.

Amy V. Conley was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, which supports the pursuits foundational to sustaining the intellectual growth of SUNY institutions by recognizing consistently outstanding scholarly and creative productivity, conducted in addition to teaching, by SUNY’s instructional faculty.

Conley has been a member of our college faculty since 2009. Some of her career highlights at GCC include her work with the Business Creators Club over the past 14 years and innovative contributions on delivering course content, specifically through hyflex. In addition, Conley is a faculty liaison with the pTECH Program, a 23-24 SUNY Online Ambassador, works extensively with The BEST Center to create and teach classes, mentors student participants in the annual business idea pitch competition, and is an active member of GCC’s Educational Initiatives and Career Services Committees. Beyond the classroom, she organizes countless activities including networking events and promotes student involvement in the community.

Laura J. Taylor was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the State University’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.

Taylor has been a member of our college since 2017, and since joining GCC, has transformed the college’s fashion degree program in several important ways. She oversaw the transition of the annual fashion show from the Forum to the Arena; and perhaps even more remarkably, was able to find a way to make the event possible during the pandemic. Taylor works to maintain connections with fashion business leaders nationwide, strengthen relationships with fashion programs at 4-year institutions, and has been instrumental in transforming GCC’s fashion degree program to modernize course content and provide students with the best possible resources available.

“We are incredibly proud of the exceptional individuals who have received the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence,” said Dr. James Sunser, president of GCC. “Richard Schlesinger, Michele Terry, Teresa Sukiennicki, Elizabeth Simmons, Karlyn Backus, Amy Conley, and Laura Taylor have consistently demonstrated outstanding contributions to their respective fields, our campus, and the community. Their commitment to excellence and dedication have had a profound impact on our students and the overall educational experience at Genesee Community College.”

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Joint Veterans Council today was given a van to be used to transport veterans to medical appointments.

Pictured from left include Jake Hebdon of Cooper Funeral Home in Medina, Josh Mitchell of Mitchell Family Cremation & Funerals, Joint Veterans’ Council president Dave Kusmierczak, and Joint Veterans’ Council secretary Nancy Traxler, who is also the county’s veterans service agency officer. (Mitchell is handing off the van’s keys to Kusmierczak.)

Cooper Funeral Home and Mitchell Family Cremation & Funerals merged on April 1. The funeral home co-owners said the new partnership brought efficiencies, and they didn’t need the van anymore.

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has about 73,000 miles. It has a value of about $15,000. Rather than sell it, Hebdon and Josh Mitchell wanted to give it to the local Joint Veterans Council.

The funeral directors said they work with the local veterans frequently, especially the Honor Guard that attends funerals for veterans.

Dave Kusmierczak is president of the Joint Veterans Council and one of the volunteer drivers. The council will be able to retire one of its five other vans that is high mileage with about 120,000 miles.

“This was a total surprise,” Kusmierczak said about the van. “It’s a blessing they looked us up to give us the van.”

The council typically saves money from donations and fundraisers and then buys a used van that is low mileage.

The council has about 20 volunteer drivers who take veterans to about 1,000 medical appointments each year. The council is always looking for more volunteer drivers and people in the office to schedule drivers for appointments.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can call (585) 589-2856.

The van donated by the funeral home will be inspected with decals added that says it is owned by the Joint Veterans Council and provides transportation to veterans for medical appointments.

Daughter of Saint Gianna joins in grand opening celebration

Photos by Michael Mroziak/Western New York Catholic: Father Mark Noonan, pastor of the Orleans Niagara East (ONE) Catholic Community, blesses the newly opened St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center located on the grounds of St. Mary’s Church in Holley. Jim Simon of Lyndonville, chairman of the pastoral council for ONE Catholic, holds the portrait of St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, speaks inside St. Mary Church in Holley last Thrusday at the conclusion of a Mass celebrating the opening of the newest St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center. The center is adjacent to the church. Standing with her is Cheryl Calire, who heads the Diocese of Buffalo’s Life Ministries.

HOLLEY – The pregnancy outreach center opened last Thursday at the St. Mary’s Parish Ministry Center in Holley, and the daughter of a saint was there for the grand opening celebration.

The center is named for St. Gianna Beretta Molla, who was born in 1922 in Milan, Italy.  As a young woman she became a pediatrician and wife. She and her husband, Pietro, had three children, and yet Gianna was able to balance the demands of motherhood, wife and doctor.

In 1961 she became pregnant with their 4th child, but learned early in the pregnancy that she had cancer. Gianna, herself a doctor, refused to take any steps that would place her child in danger. Accepting the risks that carrying her child to term meant for her, she insisted in the days prior to giving birth, “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child – I insist on it – save him.”

On April 21, 1962, Sr. Gianna gave birth to her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, and despite all efforts to treat St. Gianna, she passed away a week after giving birth. She was canonized a Saint by Pope St. John Paul II on May 16, 2004.

The daughter for whom she gave her life, Gianna Emanuela Molla, attended the dedication Mass and opening of the new center on July 11 in Holley.

Father Mark Noonan, pastor of the Catholic churches in Orleans and eastern Niagara counties, heard the inspirational story of St. Gianna firsthand from the pope. Father Noonan was the celebrant for this special Mass last Thursday.

The St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center in Holley is the 8th center in the Diocese of Buffalo, Noonan said.

“We are grateful to be able to serve families by providing material, emotional and spiritual support to mothers, fathers and families in need during and after pregnancy,” he said.

Kathy and Bob Schumacher are directors of the center. ONE Catholic plans to open a satellite office to meet with families at Holy Trinity Parish in Medina.

“We are so incredibly blessed to have St. Gianna’s daughter be a living witness to the heroic virtue of her mother at our dedication and opening,” said Kathy Schumacher. “We hope to provide a caring and compassionate atmosphere to assist families from pregnancy through the first years of life.”

Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla reacts with joy entering St. Mary’s Catholic Church last Thursday.

Photo and information courtesy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

KENDALL – Two fishermen were able to swim ashore after their boat capsized on Sunday.

Peter Keppler, 71, of Medina and William Wittman, 44, of Albion were fishing on a 1994 fishing boat that is 26 feet long. They were about 5 miles offshore, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.

“At some point, the vessel began taking on water and the bilge pump was not functioning,” Bourke stated in a news release. “The two individuals equipped with life vests eventually ended up in the water. After being in the water for over five hours, the two individuals were able to successfully swim to shore at Knapp Shores in Kendall.”

The vessel was found partially submerged in Lake Ontario the next morning by Orleans County Sheriff Marine Division Deputies Ryan Flaherty and Jason Barnum. The vessel was found approximately 4 miles northeast of Bald Eagle Marina in the Town of Kendall near the Monroe-Orleans County line.

Orleans County Sheriff’s Marine Division was assisted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine.

“Thankfully nobody was injured during the incident, and the occupants made it to shore safely,” Bourke said. “The U.S. Coast Guard was notified of the incident and are planning to remove the vessel as it was determined to be a hazard to other boaters.”

MEDINA – Canalside Tattoo has been a big fundraiser for the Cat by Cat, Inc. organization in Medina.

Canalside raised $10,000 for the group in 2022, and then $18,000 last year.

Shannon Blount leads the local Cat by Cat efforts.

This year’s event on Aug. 18 already is off to a big start. There are 12 tattoo artists offering to do tattoos on Aug. 18 at $100 each. All of the slots have been claimed already. They sold out fast once the online portal opened on July 11.

Canalside has 12 artists volunteering their services on Aug. 18, up from nine last year. The tattoo team includes Shawn Ramsey, Tyler VerCruysse, Andrew London, James Christian, Matt Rolfe, CJ Cruickshank, David Jednat, Christopher Coronado, Bree Sunshine, Melissa Freeborn, Jade Ellen and Derrick Buyea.

There will also be a basket raffle and body piercings available, with all proceeds going to Cat by Cat. This year’s Caturday also will feature face painting by Lainey Freebern and caricatures by Isabel Ramsey.

Cat by Cat seeks to humanely “TNVR” cats through targeted trapping. Cat by Cat focuses on a TNVR model – Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return.

The Medina team cares for about 150 cats a year. Feral or community cats remains in “overwhelming” problem in Medina and Orleans County, said Shannon Blount, leader of the Medina team.

The money from “Caturday” goes towards neutering, medications, vaccinations, food and cat litter, and other supplies.

The Caturday event also will give the public a chance to see Canalside Tattoo’s new home in what owner Shawn Ramey is calling the “Fantasy Factory.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Shawn Ramsey, shown last month, said the former AJ’s Play Date site will give the tattoo artists and their customers much more space and privacy.

Ramsey opened Canaside in 2015 in a small storefront on East Center Street. In 2017, he moved to Main Street at the former Curvin’s News, tripling his space from the first location. He then expanded next door in 2020, giving him 3,500 square feet.

Ramsey said he would have been content to stay put. But the former AJ’s Play Date building became available at 627 West Ave. It offered Ramsey even more room and a chance to create the “Fantasy Factory.”

Ramsey said Tom and Nancy Mack were excellent landlords of his Main Street location.

“But the opportunity presented itself to own my own building,” Ramsey said. “It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Medina contractor Tim Miller has been doing the bulk of the construction work, putting in partitions, an office space, a gaming room for Ramsey and staff, and making other changes.

File photos: These are some of the cat-themed tattoos done by Canalside Tattoo during the Caturday fundraiser in 2022.

The interior space will have partitioned space for tattoo artists, giving them their own work area and providing more privacy.

“Each station will have its own unique vibe,” Ramsey said.

There will be more display room for Canalside merchandise and to showcase local work from artists and crafters. The Fantasy Factory also will a gym/workout room for Canalside staff, as well as a kitchen and break room.

Canalside is the drop site for the toy drive during Medina’s Parade of Lights. It is a serving stop during Ale in Autumn and Wien About Winter.

But “Caturday” is Canalside’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Even though all the tattoo slots are taken, Ramsey and Blount said people can donate baskets for the raffle, or just make a donation towards the cause.

For more on Cat by Cat, click here. For more on the Caturday fundraiser, click here.

Richard Sarrero, who helped start Shirt Factory Café, leads new venture in downtown

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Staff of Factory Espresso at Hart, which opened in the Newell Building at 113 West Center St., include from left: owner/general manager Richard Sarrero and baristas Riley Tompkins, Katie Hilobuk and Tatianna Mason.

MEDINA – The building formerly known as Newell Shirt Factory has a new tenant brewing up business under its roof.

Richard Sarrero, who owns the building with local attorney Andrew Meier, has opened Factory Espresso at Hart, serving espresso, breakfast and lunch.

Factory Espresso opened for business on June 1 and is slowly growing. The business added a breakfast and lunch menu this week and plans to release a full menu next week.

The current menu includes some old favorites from the Shirt Factory Café, such as the Bob Hope and Rich Little sandwiches.

The espresso menu features the basic flavors, along with specialty drinks, such as Ube latte (a sweet and nutty root vegetable, also known as a purple yam), blackberry lavender white mocha and muddled mint and pistachio.

Factory Espresso also offers online ordering as well as curb service.

“If you call in your order, you can pull up in front, put on your four-way flashers and we will run it out to you,” Sarrero said.

A lot has evolved at the Shirt Factory in the last few years, but Sarrreo is quick to mention more is in the works.

Richard Sarrero, owner/general manager of Factory Espresso at Hart, watches barista Katie Hilobuk prepare a drink.

The Newell building has undergone a number of major changes since Meier purchased it in 2005. His first step was to open the Shirt Factory Café in 2007.

He would later remodel the entire building, creating offices on the second floor for the law firm of Webster, Schubel and Meier and two hotel rooms, and hotel rooms on the third floor.

The hotel rooms are known as Hart House Hotel, after the hotel which existed there from 1876. The Hart House Hotel served guests until 1918, when Robert H. Newell established his high-end shirt business there. The business would exist in some form until 2004.

 Sarrero entered the picture in 2013.

 “I needed something fresh in my life, and was looking for a career change,” Sarrero said.

 He purchased the Shirt Factory from Meier and had started a wine bar in back, which they closed and then opened the Boiler Room in space that actually was the boiler room for the shirt factory.

In 2015, 810 Meadworks opened where Factory Espresso is now and leased space for the Beegarten in back as a performance venue. Sarrero at that time added a juice and smoothie bar to the Shirt Factory Cafe.

 In 2018, Medina natives Scott Robinson and his wife Alix Gilman decided to return home from Washington, D.C. and were looking for a place to open a craft cocktail lounge in town.

“It all happened at the right time,” Gilman said. “Rich needed a change and Scott and I were looking for a spot to open a cocktail bar.”

At that time, a barber and a knitting store once occupied two spaces in the building.

Covid raised havoc with the Shirt Factory (Café had been dropped) and business became strictly takeout. 810 Meadworks moved from the downtown site to Leonard Oakes Estate Winery on Ridge Road in Medina. The knitting store moved out in 2020, while the barber had left some time before. Sarrero and Baillie McPherson had a beauty salon in the Shirt Factory, before moving to a larger space on Main Street. They were the last business to occupy the space which is now Factory Espresso.

The Shirt Factory is still in business as a cocktail lounge, operated by Gilman’s brother, Christopher Kozody. It is open from 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, serving craft cocktails and a variety of elevated bar food and small plates. They are also open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, serving brunch.

Gilman called it a “Boozy Brunch,” featuring mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.

She is happy to see Sarrero has opened Factory Espresso at Hart.

“It’s exciting to see Rich back doing what he loves,” Gilman said. “It completes the building and serves as an amenity to the hotel.”

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 6 p.m. for Orleans County and much of upstate. In Western New York, the watch includes all counties except Chautauqua.

“The primary threat will be damaging wind gusts, though large hail or an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out,” NWS in Buffalo posted on its social media.

A special marine warning also has been issued in Lake Ontario until 12:15 p.m. from near Sunset Beach to near Braddock Bay.

The Weather Service said wind gusts to nearly 50 knots and large destructive hail are moving west from Hamlin.

“Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves,” the Weather Service said. “Large hail could result in personal injury and significant structural damage.”

Boaters are advised to move to safe harbor immediately as gusty winds and high waves are expected.

Provided photo: from left include Shelly Budziszewski, Ashley Childs and Susan McLaughlin.

Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School

MIDDLEPORT – Royalton-Hartland Central School District’s Agricultural Program has been racking up awards and recognitions over the last several years.

Recently elementary school teachers Shelly Budziszewski, Ashley Childs and middle school teacher Susan McLaughlin were invited to present at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were over 500 attendees at this premier professional development conference about teaching through the lens of food and agriculture.

The teachers gave a workshop on the Green Team, an after-school club centered on agriculture that has 37 actively participating students at the elementary school. It was entitled “Extracurricular Agriculture – Bridging the Classroom, Community and Club.”

“It was a great opportunity to not only be presenters, but be able to attend other workshops and take it back and share at the district level,” McLaughlin said.

The three teachers were awarded scholarships through Cornell University’s New York Agriculture in the Classroom program. Budziszewski said the presentation was inspired by her attendance at last year’s conference in Florida.

“Many of the presenters from New York State briefly mentioned their afterschool programs and I mentioned our Green Team Club and many of the attendees were interested in hearing more about it,” she said.

The response of their presentation at this year’s conference was overwhelming, according to the trio. Budziszewski said the room was at capacity.

“We had a full house, so clearly people across the country are interested in it,” she said. “We talked about our legacy projects and one of them was what we call our ‘Green Team Creed.’ It is kind of a pledge that the kids say at the beginning of every meeting. We showed a video of the kids saying the pledge and we got a spontaneous round of applause. Our hope is that the presentation encourages fellow educators to implement similar programs at their districts.”

The teachers say the program has been instrumental in starting students on the path of agricultural appreciation and knowledge starting at a young age. McLaughlin said their long-term goal as educators is to prepare their students to become members of the Roy-Hart FFA chapter.

“What we hope for in the future is to streamline the kids that are interested in agriculture from the elementary perspective, join Junior FFA in the Middle School and then when they enter into the High School join our award winning FFA program there,” she said.

Jill Heck, Royalton-Hartland district superintendent, is proud of the way the teachers represented the district.

“This was a great opportunity for our teachers to take our Green Team program into the national spotlight,” Heck said. “We were excited for them to have the opportunity to present the work they are doing with the students at Royalton-Hartland!”

GO Health offers advice for people who encounter bats in their homes

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

During the summer months, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) typically see an increase in reports from residents who have encountered bats.

Bats can occasionally find their way into houses, particularly in older homes that are not properly sealed. This most often occurs during the summer nights.

“If you find a bat in your home, safely capture it and immediately contact the health department,” advised Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for GO Health. “We can assess whether there was potential exposure and if the bat needs to be tested. If you cannot capture the bat, call the health department for guidance on the next steps to take.”

In some situations, it is possible that a bat bite could go undetected. For example, if you awaken and find a bat in your room, if you see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or see a bat near someone that is under the influence, it is important to seek medical advice and have the bat tested.

To safely capture a bat:

• Turn on room lights and close all the windows.
• Close the room and closet doors.
• Wait for the bat to land.
• While wearing thick leather-like gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat (Never handle a bat with your bare hands).
• Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat.
• Firmly hold the cardboard in place against the top of the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.

If you do not feel comfortable capturing the bat or cannot do it safely, contact your respective health department during regular business hours.

If it is after regular business hours, contact your local county dispatch. In Orleans County, call (585) 589-5527. In Genesee County, call (585) 343-5000.

Other tips to prevent rabies include:

• Love your own, leave the rest alone. Do not pick up, touch, or feed wild or stray animals (raccoons, foxes, bats, stray cats, stray dogs, etc.). Wild or stray animals, including their babies, can have rabies.
• Keep rabies vaccinations current for all dogs, cats, and ferrets. This is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection for you and your family if your pet is bitten by a rabid wild or stray animal.
• Obey leash laws. Keep your dog fenced in or on a leash when outside of your home and in public areas. Avoid allowing your dog to approach unfamiliar dogs, people, or wildlife.

Residents are encouraged to take note of our upcoming drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties that are offered at no charge.

Orleans County Rabies Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY 14411)

• Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Genesee County Rabies Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020)

• Thursday, Aug. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.

For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org.

You can also contact your respective health department:

• Orleans County- 585-589-3278 or OCPublicHealth@orleanscountyny.gov
• Genesee County- 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health@geneseeny.gov

HOLLEY – The Holley Board of Education appointed Tim Artessa to be the new principal of the Holley Elementary School. Artessa is no stranger to the students and staff. He has been the assistant principal the past eight years.

He succeeds Karri Schiavone, who is now Holley’s district superintendent.

Artessa came to Holley eight years ago after working as a sixth grade teacher at Gates Chili Middle School for 13 years.

“Holley is a great place,” Artessa said on Monday after the Board of Education meeting, when his appointment was finalized. “It feels like family here. There are great kids, a very supportive staff and great parents.”

Artessa has previously worked as a summer school assistant principal for Monroe 2–Orleans BOCES. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in elementary education from Nazareth College. He received his administrative certification from the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester.

Schiavone said Artessa will serve the district well as the elementary principal.

“Tim has been an invaluable member of our administrative team, demonstrating exceptional dedication, leadership, and a deep commitment to the success and wellbeing of our students,” she said. “His devotion to the elementary school over the last eight years makes him uniquely qualified to lead our school into the future. I have full confidence in his ability to continue fostering an innovative, positive and supportive learning environment for all.”

Holley will interview candidates to be the assistant principal this week. The school has about 500 students in grades prekindergarten to 6.

Artessa said one priority will be reducing the number of students who are chronically absent, missing at least 18 days of school a year or 10 percent of the school days. This past year, 28 percent of students were chronically absent in the elementary school, with 24 percent in the middle school grades and 39 percent in the high school.

Schiavone shared those statistics with the Board of Education on Monday. Artessa said the elementary school will be working with parents to improve attendance. Chronic absenteeism has been an issue for many districts around the country since the Covid pandemic in 2020, he said.

The elementary school also is adding a dedicated STEM classroom as part of a capital project this summer. That classroom in the space where there is a front atrium will allow students and teachers to do innovative learning projects, Artessa said.

The capital project also is adding air-conditioning to classrooms in kindergarten through grades 2 this summer, with most of the rest of the building to be done the following summer.

“I absolutely adore the students here at Holley Elementary,” Artessa said. “We have made great strides under the building leadership of Ms. Schiavone, and I am committed to continuing that trend moving forward. I am very fortunate to be able to continue leading an amazing staff that shares in the understanding that our students deserve our very best every single day.”

Orleans will get another chance to see second large barge carrying other half of bridge bound for Buffalo

Photos by Tom Rivers: A 195-foot-long barge carrying two sections of a bridge passes through Holley on Monday around noon. The barge started the day in Rochester and headed west all the way through Orleans County, ending the day in Gasport.

Orleans County will get another chance to see a tugboat pushing an enormous barge on the Erie Canal.

The first barge will complete its journey to Buffalo, likely today. Carver Companies from near Albany has a tugboat pushing two 195-foot-long barges along the canal. The barges are carrying four sections of a 266-foot-long pedestrian bridge for the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy in Buffalo. The bridge was made in Italy.

The barges were traveling close together for most of the journey along the canal. But on Monday one stayed in Pittsford while the other made the trip from Rochester all the way to Gasport. Carver was planning to stop in Albion on Monday and then go back for the other barge from Pittsford.

But the captain decided to keep going, moving past Albion and going through Orleans County and stopping in Gasport. The crew worked in a downpour on Monday afternoon.

Today the barge pushed by a tugboat reached Lockport around 7 a.m. and will keep moving west, expecting to reach the Tonawanda Canal Fest at 3 p.m.

Once the barge reaches the final destination in Buffalo, tugboat CMT Otter will go back to Pittsford and then make the journey through the rest of Monroe County, then Orleans, Niagara and to Buffalo in Erie County.

“Good news is you will have two chances to see us!” Carver posted on its Facebook page on Monday night.

A tugboat, named CMT Otter, pushes the big barge west. This was taken from the Route 237 bridge near the guard gate on the Erie Canal in Holley.