By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2024 at 5:51 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Bailey Schultz is covered in fake blood in a simulated car crash this morning at Kendall Junior-Senior High School. Five Kendall students role played in a message for their classmates about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Kendall did the event a day before Friday’s prom which will be at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.
Firefighters and school officials told students to avoid driving if they’ve been drinking alcohol, or if they are overly tired or texting. And that message applies at all the times, especially during the prom and upcoming season of graduation parties.
“Drinking and driving is not an option,” said Melissa Strelick, the school’s principal. “You need to look out for each other. This is totally avoidable.”
Kendall firefighters work to take apart the roof of the car, peeling back the metal. There were students inside to be rescued.
Kendall has done the simulation each year before the prom since at least 2013.
“It’s for the kids to show the effects of drinking and driving, texting and driving, and any impairments,’ said Mike Schultz, a lieutenant with the Kendall FD.
His daughter was one of the “injured” students. Schultz said it was painful to see his daughter in the simulation and he had to walk away because he was feeling so emotional.
Sgt. Adam Hazel of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office does a DWI field sobriety test on Hunter Richards, who portrayed a drunk driver. He was handcuffed and led away in a patrol car.
Hazel spoke to the students and told them a fatal car accident can devastate the entire community.
“You have to make good decisions,” Hazel said.
Monroe Ambulance medics have Jimmie Swift on a stretcher. He was one of three students taken away by ambulance as part of today’s simulation. Gracie Robb and Lucas Jones also portrayed injured students who needed ambulance transport.
About 100 students in the junior and senior classes watched the simulation this morning.
Orleans County Chief Coroner Scott Schmidt comforts Karen Jones, who was the “acting mom” for Bailey Schultz. Schmidt pronounced her deceased at the scene and covered her with a blanket. Jones is also Kendall’s director of transportation.
Kendall firefighters take off the windshield in one of the cars. The event is also a recruitment effort for the department. After the simulation, Fire Chief Randy Davis encouraged the students to get a close look at the fire apparatus and tools. Davis said about eight students in recent years have joined the department after seeing the DWI crash simulation.
A1 Towing & Auto in Holley donated the two vehicles for today’s simulation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2024 at 3:33 pm
KENDALL – The Kendall Fire Department has about $20,000 in new equipment to serve the community during emergency responses.
One anonymous donor in Kendall gave $6,000 and the Kendall FD used that to purchase light, battery-powered equipment from the Milwaukee company. That includes four light towers, two chain saws, two 9-inch cutoff saws, two 18-inch fans, two leaf blowers, two 6-pack chargers, a reciprocating saw and 20 batteries.
The new equipment is light and battery-powered. The leaf blowers will be used to clean up debris at accidents or from a wind storm. The saws can cut through metal, shingles and concrete. The light towers can be used to illuminate the inside of a house that has lost power.
Randy Davis, the Kendall fire chief, said the new equipment has been in service about two weeks. He said it can be quickly deployed in the field, and is much lighter and easier to maneuver. He said many fire departments are switching to the new battery-powered equipment.
He is thankful to the local resident that met with fire department officials to determine a good use of the donation.
A local business, Partyka farm, also paid for nearly the full cost of a mechanical CPR machine. The Defibtech Lifeline Arm has a value of about $13,000. Davis said Partyka also donated Defibtechs to the Hamlin-Morton-Walker Fire District.
“We appreciate the community’s support of the fire department,” Davis said.
BATAVIA – The annual meeting Wednesday at Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia may have been the first under the name UConnectCare, but it served as a celebration of the many ways the agency formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse is having a positive impact on community health.
Chief Executive Officer John Bennett, speaking to 73 employees, board members and award recipients, outlined a long list of recently added programs that, in his words, “are building access to essential services for those in need.”
UConnectCare Scholars: UConnectCare Foundation scholars for 2024 are, seated from left, Brianne Amico and Megan Gates; standing, Kenna MacKenzie and Chloe Crossett.
“As far as quality of care, I look at two things – our staff and board members who go above and beyond each and every day, and the expansion of our service over the past seven years,” Bennett said.
The agency changed its name to UConnectCare Behavioral Health Services last fall to reflect its work toward implementing programs to reach a wide spectrum of people in the areas of prevention, treatment, recovery, detoxification, supportive living and residential.
In 2023, Bennett said, the agency received three significant grants:
A federal Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome II grant for $498,848 from the Health Services and Resource Administration to provide the Healthy Moms/Healthy Babies program to pregnant and postpartum women.
A federal Targeted Capacity Expansion Special Projects grant in the amount of $375,000 to provide harm reduction services in the community.
A Statewide Health Care Facility System Transformation grant for $985,250 from the NYS Department of Health to improve building capacity in the integrated outpatient treatment program in Batavia.
UConnectCare’s reach, as indicated by the 2023 numbers, is expanding as well, Bennett said, noting that more than 35,000 people were served by the agency’s Prevention department and more than 39,000 counseling visits were provided.
“Furthermore, we had 2,400 visitors at The Recovery Station (on Clinton Street Road), served 339 people in community residence or detox settings, served 1,538 patients in integrated outpatient services and provided 380 childcare sessions,” he said.
‘Friends of UConnectCare’ Honored
Four individuals, a public health agency and a Buffalo pharmacy received “Friends of UConnectCare” awards at the luncheon.
Honorees are as follows:
Erin Martin, case manager at Genesee Justice. Nominated by the Batavia clinic, Martin was recognized for her continued service to the agency by helping clients face their legal consequences and by encouraging them to make positive steps toward improving their lives.
Gordon Luthart, health teacher at Medina Junior-Senior High School. Nominated by Orleans County Prevention, Luthart, a Marine Corps veteran, was awarded for working with UConnectCare over the past decade to provide prevention education in the classroom.
Pam Gefell, mental health therapist for Orleans County Mental Health. Nominated by Orleans County Treatment, Gefell, a former UConnectCare counselor, provides evaluation and counseling services on a weekly basis in Albion for those who have co-occurring (substance use disorder and mental health issues) disorders.
Dr. Davina Moss, founder of Positive Direction & Associates, Inc., of Buffalo and creator of The Positive Direction Model. Nominated by Recovery Services, she is instrumental in starting and sustaining the agency’s Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program. Dr. Moss said she shares the award with Jessica Budzinack, coordinator of UConnectCare’s program to help the pregnant and post-natal population.
Genesee/Orleans Department of Health (GO Health). Nominated by Genesee Prevention, GO Health partners with UConnectCare on the GOW Opioid Task Force and joined forces with UConnectCare on the HEALing Genesee group over the past 18 months. Both agencies have worked to implement new programs focusing on Naloxone and fentanyl education and medications for opioid use disorder, including the launching of the task force’s Text for Naloxone Line.
Riverview Pharmacy, Buffalo. Nominated by Residential/Detox Services, the pharmacy was acknowledged for its reliable and dependable service to those on medication and its communication with UConnectCare’s nursing staff.
4 receive Foundation scholarships
Three graduating seniors and a Genesee Community College graduate each will be receiving $1,000 scholarships, courtesy of the UConnectCare Foundation. The winners include:
Kenna MacKenzie, Le Roy High School, who will be attending SUNY Geneseo to major in Psychology.
Megan Gates, Kendall High School, who will be attending SUNY Brockport in the Nursing program.
Chloe Crossett, Kendall High School, who will be attending SUNY Brockport in pursuit of a degree in Social Work.
Brianne Amico, who earned an associate’s degree in human services from GCC before enrolling at SUNY Plattsburgh. She plans to work toward a master’s degree in social work at SUNY Binghamton.
Press Release, Orleans County Mental Health Department
ALBION – The month of May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month and the Orleans County Department of Mental Health is taking the opportunity to work with their local, regional, and national partners to promote the many mental services available to residents.
“It is important that we are always talking about mental health and the services and supports available, as it is an effort to reduce stigma and reinforce the importance of reaching out for help for anyone who is experiencing a mental health challenge or are in emotional distress,” said Danielle Figura, director of Orleans County Mental Health & Community Services. “Through efforts like Mental Health Awareness Month, I believe we have made tremendous progress on how the public views mental health, although we recognize we still have a lot of work to do.”
Figura said drawing attention to mental health awareness begins with promoting the county’s Care and Crisis Helpline. Those in crisis should call the helpline at (585) 283-5200. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
“The helpline is there when people feel they have nowhere else to turn, whether its depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma or any other need that may be interfering with emotional wellbeing,” said Figura. “We want the people to know they are not alone.”
Figura said locally in Orleans County, there are many mental health supports and resources available to the residents of Orleans County. “These programs and services exist to support individuals and their families so if you feel you or someone you know may need assistance, please take advantage of them.”
New York State Office of Mental Health Licensed Article 31 Outpatient Clinic Treatment Programs offering individual therapy, family therapy, couples therapy and psychiatric services (to include psychiatric evaluation, psychiatric monitoring, and pharmacology). Open access hours for new clients are Monday to Friday at 12:30 p.m.
New York State Office of Mental Health Licensed Article 31 Outpatient Clinic Satellite Sites at UConnect Care (formerly GCASA) and Orleans County School Districts offering individual therapy at those host locations.
Health Home Care Management Programs serving both youths and adults. A program under New York State Department of Health, which looks to connect individuals to additional supports and resources to promote overall physical and emotional health wellness.
Crisis Supports & Resources
Spectrum Health CARES Team – Mobile Crisis Team Available Evenings, Weekends, Holidays for over the phone support, and in home assessments. Serving both adults and youth. Requests for the CARES Team can be made by contacting the Care & Crisis Helpline at (585) 283-5200 or contacting the Orleans County Sheriffs Dispatch.
Rochester Psychiatric Center MIT Team (mobile integration team) – Serves Adults only and is available Monday – Friday during business hours. Providing in home, community based assessments, outreach and engagement efforts.Requests for the RPC MIT Team can be made through the Care & Crisis Helpline at (585) 283-5200.
“988” National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or Text 988, Connect via chat at 988Lifeline.org or visit 988Lifeline.org for more resources.
Additional Programs & Resources
Mental Health Association of Genesee & Orleans Counties. Serving adults in Orleans County, through programs to include the Warm Line, Transportation, and Drop-In-Center. Click here for more information.
Oak Orchard Health. Click here for more information.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on Wednesday held a virtual press conference to announce her push to provide a boost in federal funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) in the FY25 appropriations bill.
The AFGP provides funding for local fire departments to purchase equipment and emergency vehicles and address staffing shortages. As many fire departments across New York State continue to rely on outdated equipment and struggle with staffing shortages, Gillibrand is pushing for additional federal funding for the AFGP to ensure firefighters have what they need to stay safe as they protect their communities.
“Fire departments across our state are operating with outdated fire trucks and protective gear, and replacing it can cost millions of dollars that many of them just don’t have,” Gillibrand said. “This year, I’m calling for increased funding to address nationwide need. Firefighters put their lives on the line for us, and we owe it to them to provide the resources they need to do their jobs.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program offers multiple types of grants, including Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), which help fire departments acquire new emergency vehicles, protective gear, and equipment, and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER), which help fire departments hire and retain trained firefighters to meet industry minimum standards and ensure 24-hour staffing. Last year, Gillibrand helped secure over 200 AFG and SAFER grants totaling nearly $50 million for fire departments across New York State.
Gillibrand sent the following letter to Senate appropriators:
“Dear Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, Chair Murphy, and Ranking Member Britt:
“As you begin crafting the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill, we urge that you include increased funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. We appreciate the committee’s previous strong support of these vital programs, but were concerned to see the cuts levied against these vital programs in Fiscal Year 2024, as they make important investments in public safety in states and local jurisdictions throughout the country.
“The AFG Program has strengthened public safety by providing much needed funding for infrared cameras, personal protective gear, hazmat detection devices, improved breathing apparatuses, interoperable communications systems, and much more. This equipment is critical to ensuring the safety of firefighters as they respond to emergencies and protect our communities. The cost of this equipment, however, continues to increase year after year, and demand for the AFG Program continues to significantly outpace available funding.
“Similarly, the SAFER Grant Program provides much-needed funding for career and volunteer fire departments to hire, recruit, and retain firefighters. This program is critical because more than half of all career and volunteer fire departments in our nation do not have sufficient personnel to protect the public effectively. In order to bring our nation’s fire departments to the staffing levels needed to serve their communities and respond to emergencies, the SAFER Grant Program must be adequately funded.
“The AFG and SAFER Programs are vital to firefighters across the country, and yet, the programs face a statutory sunset date of September 30, 2024. We urge Congress to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870) to reauthorize these essential programs. Should the Fire Grants and Safety Act not be enacted prior to your drafting of the Homeland Security appropriations bill, we request that you include language to extend the sunset of AFG and SAFER for one year, until September 30, 2025.
“We have an obligation to protect those who protect us by providing them with the necessary resources to perform their jobs as safely and effectively as possible. We urge you to help Congress meet that obligation by accounting for the increased needs of firefighters nationwide and providing increased funding for the AFG and SAFER programs in FY 2025. Thank you for your consideration of this request and your ongoing commitment to our nation’s firefighters.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 May 2024 at 7:56 am
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health is joining hospitals throughout the country in celebrating National Hospital Week May 12 to 18.
In observance of the week, everyone throughout their facility will be recognized, including the more than 300-person team within Orleans Community Health and the positive impact they have on the larger community.
“Whether you’re at Medina Memorial Hospital, the Albion Healthcare Center, either of our dialysis centers or the Middleport lab, you matter to us and the entire community,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health.
The week of events includes several internal functions, including several team members for their years of service and a community-wide Vendor Fair and Farmers’ Market on Friday.
The Vendor Fair, hosted by the Employees in Action Committee, will take place in the parking lot between Maintenance and the Business Office, and the public is encouraged to stop and check it out.
Vendors include Mr. Pix popcorn (kettle corn), Human Farms (plants and flowers), Red Check (handmade/refurbished décor), Melissa Clark (roses), Tupperware by Judy Szulis, Niagara Farmhouse Finds (handmade rustic décor), The Bird Nest (bakery), Blue Groove (coffee truck), The Uniform Outlet (scrubs/accessories), John Roberts (garlic and veggies), Crafty Corner (handmade bracelets), Caitlyn Allen (handmade jewelry), North Wing Resident counsel (baked goods) and Sally’s Costume Designs (vinyl designs).
The Vendor Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.
“Hospital Week is truly an opportunity to highlight everyone on our team,” said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing for Orleans Community Health. “Whether it’s the first person you see while going through admissions or the nurse who cares for you in subacute rehab, our team works collectively to make sure the care you receive is unmatched.”
MEDINA – Students in Ron Jackson’s and Shannon Rutty’s Welding Program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center recently worked on an interesting project with the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association.
The juniors and seniors both worked on constructing a fish pen for the Eighteen Mile Creek Pen Rearing Project. The association’s pen-rearing program started in 2004 with the help of the Niagara River Anglers Association and New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
The original plan was to allow fish to acclimate to Eighteen Mile Creek in Olcott and “imprint” to the tributary so that at the end of their life cycle they would return and spawn. DEC studies have shown that pen reared fish have a 2-to-1 better survival rate over direct stocked fish. Thus, resulting in increased return to Eighteen Mile Creek and surrounding tributaries creating a year-round Chinook “King” Salmon fishery for both lake and tributary anglers, bolstering the economy of Niagara County and its lakeside villages.
Through the years, the project has grown from two pens and 20,000 fish to nine pens and 153,000 Chinook Salmon and steelhead trout. The original pens have been degrading over time and they needed to be replaced.
The Welding classes’ all-aluminum pen will replace one of the degraded galvanized steel pens allowing this program to continue for many years to come.
“The students in the Welding program did an exceptional professional job assembling and welding the pen,” says Alan Sauerland, the Vice President of LOTSA. “The craftsmanship and attention to detail that Mr. Jackson and Mr. Rutty have taught their students can be seen in every aspect of this pen. “The Orleans/Niagara BOCES has a top-notch Welding Department and should be proud of the students that they are preparing for the trade.”
Mr. Jackson said that he and Mr. Rutty appreciate LOTSA giving their students this opportunity.
“It was a great way for the students to show what they are capable of,” Jackson said. “We are very appreciative when the public bring projects in for the students to design, fabricate and reverse engineer or repair. The experience is unreplaceable.”
Phil Berry of Medina bringing his love for Lindy Hop to big screen
Press Release, JITTERBUG movie (Produced by Phil Berry of Medina)
Photo of Shayla Racquel by Chuck Marcus.
MEDINA – Shayla Racquel, director of a 2021 John Singleton EmbRACE Initiative winning project, has signed on to direct JITTERBUG, the Lindy Hop and Hip-Hop dance independent feature film produced by SoftCloud Films and shooting this summer in Sweden.
Former Boston Celtics legend Danny Ainge, now CEO of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz, is an executive producer and investor in the film.
“We’re thrilled to have Shayla direct JITTERBUG,” says producer Phil Berry. “She brings enthusiasm and energy as well as a thoughtful, candid approach to her productions, and her body of work is stellar. She’s exactly what this project needs.”
JITTERBUG is a contemporary coming-of-age story and an homage to Black dance heritage, specifically Lindy Hop swing dancing. It’s the story of Izzy, a Black teen girl who travels to a Lindy Hop swing dance / Hip-Hop dance camp in Sweden and finds new confidence through dance, a deeper connection to her Black heritage through learning Lindy’s history, and a bit of summer romance in the land of the midnight sun.
“JITTERBUG was a no-brainer for me,” Racquel said. “It checked all the boxes. A coming-of-age story. A Black girl protagonist. All the chaotic energy that comes with her teenage angst and her growing relationships with her parents, her friends, and her new love. It’s a story of self-discovery, and Lindy Hop, such a crucial part of Black American history, helps her to not only discover herself but also discover her cultural identity. I read the script and thought, ‘Ab-so-lutely.’”
Writer and producer Phil Berry, an avid swing dancer, first conceived of JITTERBUG after a 2022 visit to the Herräng Dance Camp in Herräng, Sweden, about 70 miles north of Stockholm on the Gulf of Bothnia, where a well-established Swing Teens program has been operating for over 20 years.
“As soon as I saw all those teens dancing with so much skill, and so much joy, I knew this needed to be a movie,” Berry said.
He started writing the script on the plane ride home.
Berry’s vision for the film is a “rich, joyful tapestry of sound and movement,” he explained. “I hope kids will relate to Izzy’s journey of finding herself through dance.”
Racquel agreed.
“I want this to be an immersive experience,” she said. “Swing dance is so powerful, so lively and energetic, and I want the audience to feel how lively and energetic it is, through color palettes, through camera movements. I’m excited to work with the cinematographer to create innovative shots. We want the camera to dance so the audience feels like they’re dancing too. I want the viewer to feel all those teenage feelings of falling in love, and of feeling like you don’t belong. Everyone’s felt that way, and has hopefully felt someone put their arms around them to reassure them. I want JITTERBUG to feel like a warm embrace.”
JITTERBUG also stars Chester Whitmore, a living Lindy Hop legend and beloved figure in the international Lindy Hop and vernacular jazz dance scene who has performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, and Miles Davis. His choreography and dancing have been on display in projects such as videos by Madonna (“Vogue”), Michael Jackson (“Smooth Criminal”), and the Oscar-winning La La Land.
Casting for the production is ongoing and is managed by Pemrick Fronk Casting. New York Times Bestselling author Julie Berry is an executive producer on the project. Danny and Michelle Ainge are executive producers and key investors in the film.
Racquel was a 2023 finalist for Shonda Rhimes’s Shondaland / Seriesfest Women’s Directing Mentorship. Her award-winning film, The Lifted, was acquired by AMC ALLBLK. Her film Riverment was acquired by Comcast Xfinity after winning a Student Emmy from the Capital Emmy chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Shayla was the lead director of two premiere shows for Keke Palmer’s KeyTV Network.
She’s been featured by the Washington Post & VIBE Magazine and was named one of OkayPlayer’s Up-And-Coming Directors That Should Be On Your Radar in 2021. She was a finalist for the National Black Arts Foundation’s Horizon Grant for Emerging Black Artists in 2023. Originally hailing from Columbia, South Carolina, Shayla now makes her home in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Florida A&M in Tallahassee and an MFA in film from American University in Washington DC.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
ALBANY – The State Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences today announced the introduction of several pieces of legislation aimed to curb the dramatic increase of antisemitism on college campuses throughout New York State.
At the “Hate Has Consequences” press conference held at the New York State Capitol, legislators outlined new bills to help combat the rise in antisemitism in New York State schools, including proposals that would:
prohibit state funding for any degree-granting institution of higher education if they permit certain pro-terrorist groups on campus, and any group or organization on such campuses that engage in or promote terrorist activities (S.9193, Senator Rhoads);
establish new crimes of deceptive wearing of a mask, and aggravated assault while wearing a mask, a class B misdemeanor and class A misdemeanor, respectively (S.9194, Senator Rhoads); and
prohibit state funding for any college where a member of such college’s instructional staff directly or indirectly promotes, encourages, advocates or engages in any activity on campus in support of a terrorist organization (to be introduced, Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick).
“Amidst a dramatic rise in antisemitism, and the increase of hateful speech and rhetoric on college campuses here in New York and throughout the nation, it is imperative that the Legislature act to protect Jewish New Yorkers. This is the single most pressing issue we are faced with, and I’m disappointed in the lack of action by New York Democrats. I commend my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly Republican conferences for their work and continuing to bring attention to the need for the Legislature to act,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.
The bills introduced are the latest in a series of legislative proposals first unveiled in a report by the Senate Republican Working Group on Antisemitism and members of the Senate Republican Conference to address the dramatic increase in antisemitic incidents in the wake of the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7.
Press Release, Genesee County Economic Development Center
Photo by Tom Rivers: Mark Masse speaks during a public hearing last July about the STAMP site in the Town of Alabama.
BATAVIA – The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors has selected Mark Masse, the GCEDC’s Senior Vice President of Operations, as the organization’s next President and CEO.
The appointment was unanimously approved at the GCEDC’s May 2 board meeting. Masse will succeed Steve Hyde, who announced in April that he is retiring after over 21 years and over 500 projects during his tenure as President and CEO, on Aug. 1.
“Mark’s leadership alongside Steve has produced a period of unprecedented investment and growth, and he was the clear choice to lead the GCEDC into the future,” said GCEDC Board Chair Pete Zeliff. “We are impressed in Mark’s capability to both guide a seamless transition as we accomplish the projects currently under development and to pursue a vision for the future growth of Genesee County.”
Since joining the GCEDC in 2010, Masse has provided leadership and direct project management, working with the organization’s civil engineering firm and finance staff, leading the way in the development, infrastructure deployment, financing, and management of the organization’s portfolio of real estate assets.
He has been responsible for the permitting, engineering, and infrastructure deployment at the STAMP mega-site in the Town of Alabama, including projects that are investing $1 billion between the renewables manufacturing and semiconductor industries; and a 600-megawatt 345kV-to-115kV substation.
“Mark is more than ready to take the reins of leadership at the GCEDC,” said Hyde. “As he has demonstrated with developments large and small, Mark has the talent, experience, and readiness to lead our organization during a critical time. Private and public investment are at an all-time high as the GCEDC, Genesee County and New York State build a semiconductor and advanced manufacturing economy.”
Masse is a graduate of Nazareth University of Rochester with a degree in accounting, and is a certified public accountant licensed in New York State with 15 years of experience at Freed, Maxick & Battaglia prior to his tenure at the GCEDC. He is a 2002 graduate of the Leadership Genesee program as well as a 2012 Buffalo Business First Forty Under Forty award winner.
Masse has also served on the Economic Development Committee and the Public Market Committee for the Downtown Business Improvement District in Batavia, as well as serving as a Board Member for the Batavia Development Corporation.
“I want to thank the board for this opportunity, and I look forward to continuing the historic economic development advancements made by Genesee County under Steve with the support of the members of the GCEDC team,” Masse said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2024 at 8:37 am
Tim LaLonde thankful for best outcome in emergency
This screenshot from The Today Show that aired last Friday shows Albion native Tim LaLonde meeting Marine Corps General Eric Smith and his wife Trish.
It’s been a whirlwind the past week for Tim LaLonde, an Albion native who said he much prefers to be in the background and out of the limelight.
But LaLonde has been highlighted in The Washington Post, The Today Show and was a featured guest at a Marine Corps celebration and parade in Washington, D.C. last weekend.
On Oct. 29, LaLonde saved the life of Marine Corps General Eric Smith. The general was out for a 3-mile run around Washington when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. LaLonde did CPR for nearly 10 minutes and kept the general alive until EMTs arrived. The general has made a full recovery.
LaLonde last week met the general for the first time since Oct. 29, and received a deep appreciation from the general’s wife, two children and so many in the Marine Corps.
“Everyone I met in his close family was extremely gracious, they were very thankful,” LaLonde said by phone Tuesday evening. “They are nice people.”
The soldiers under the general’s command told LaLonde how grateful they were he was able to come to Smith’s aid.
“It was nonstop that for two whole days,” LaLonde said about all the warm greetings. “Every person I ran into had an amazing story about the guy. I was getting overwhelmed.”
LaLonde, 33, was in Washington on Oct. 29 for the Marine Corps Marathon. He trained for many months for the ultra marathon, a 50-kilometer or 31.1-mile route that took him over five hours on a warm day.
General Smith was at the finishing line that day, congratulating many of the runners, including his wife Trish who also did the ultra.
LaLonde embraces the challenge of a long distance. He has done marathons before. On Oct. 29, he did the race with his sister Joyce LaLonde, who lives in D.C.
After the marathon, they had a late lunch with many family members to celebrate. While walking back to Joyce’s residence, they saw a man collapsed on the sidewalk.
Tim LaLonde is shown by The Today Show at the sidewalk where he found General Eric Smith unconscious and in need of CPR.
Tim LaLonde works as an environmental Health and safety professional for a manufacturing company in Seattle, Wash. He has been certified in CPR since he was 18. He has been a CPR instructor since he was 25 and has taught hundreds of people to do CPR and to use an AED. But he never used CPR in an emergency until Oct. 29.
Joyce first saw the man who was down, with blood coming out of his mouth and told her family the man needed help.
Tim sized up the situation and directed his father Steve to help position the general so Tim could do CPR. Joyce called 911 and her husband Nate Birnbaum took off to a police station get aid for Smith.
Tim for about nine minutes did chest compressions and provided air for Smith.
The EMTs took over, and the LaLonde family went back to Joyce’s residence, unsure of who the man was or how he was doing.
Later that night they were called by the military, seeking information about the incident. But LaLonde said it was only through a press release in the military when they realized the man on the sidewalk was the top general for the Marine Corps.
He followed updates from the Marine Corps and could see Smith made a full recovery and was back at full strength about four months after the incident. For LaLonde, that news brought closure. He never expected to meet the general again.
“I was already content,” LaLonde said when he knew the general had fully recovered and that LaLonde’s training made a difference. “We know what we did mattered and worked. I wasn’t expecting or even hoping for a meeting with the general. But it was awesome to be able to meet him.”
The general and his wife wanted to thank the group that saved his life, and also highlight the importance of civilians knowing CPR.
LaLonde said he did what he was trained to do. He is more impressed his family sprung into action, made decisive decisions and stayed calm.
“The big thing for me is I’m trained to do it,” LaLonde said. “My dad, sister and brother-in-law all handled themselves as best as could be expected. I’m proud of how they handled themselves.”
LaLonde said he has received many messages since the story came out last Friday, with many people saying he inspired them to learn CPR.
Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the formation of the New York State 250th Commemoration Commission to recognize the anniversary of the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
The first meeting of the Commission will convene from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today at the Huxley Theater in the New York State Museum in Albany.
“New York State played a pivotal role in the American Revolution, and we look forward to welcoming people from all over the world to join us in commemorating the 250th anniversary in 2026,” Governor Hochul said. “The commemoration will not only celebrate the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence, but will also emphasize New York’s ongoing effort to achieve our nation’s founding principles of representative democracy with equal participation and rights for all.”
Randy Simons, Commissioner Pro Tempore of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education, will co-chair the Commission.
In its first year, the Commission will advise on the development of a multifaceted commemoration to support New York’s heritage organizations to plan and support programming and exhibits, coordinate New York State learning standards; encourage and promote heritage tourism; advance scholarship surrounding the history and values of the American Revolution; and ignite public interest in the history of New York State and the United States.
The commemoration will extend beyond the period of American Revolution and the formation of the United States to ongoing efforts to reach the goals expressed by the nation’s founders. New York has been a significant force in those movements, including such iconic, historic stories as serving as the routes for the Underground Railroad, the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, the labor movement, and the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
State Department of Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “This very important chapter of New York’s early history is imperative to share, as New York was at the center of political decisions that influenced the outcome of the Revolutionary War and helped shape the United States. When our students have opportunities to explore and learn about the significant historical events of the past, they are able to gain invaluable insights into the present, fostering critical thinking, empathy, and informed decision-making. We are honored to be able to collaborate with our partner agencies on this Commission and look forward to igniting an excitement for lifelong learning through historical education as we celebrate 250 years of democracy, freedom, and independence.”
BATAVIA – Ashley Bringenberg, owner of Ashley Bringenberg Photography, just wrapped up Pooch Playoffs 2024 with a $5,000 check to WNY Heroes’ Pawsitive for Heroes program.
Pooch Playoffs is a bracket style portrait competition for local pups to raise money for charity and have a barking good time!
Entrants paid $125 to participate and received a custom portrait session, commemorative photo keychain and sWag bag of goodies. Local businesses also jumped in to help with sponsorships in order to allow all $125 of each entry fee to go toward the donation as well as adding $1,000 to the donation check.
“Meeting my $5,000 fundraising goal this year was non-negotiable,” said Bringenberg, a resident of Barre with a studio in Batavia. “Last year we raised $1,584, and that was wonderful, but this year, I really had it on my heart to sponsor a service dog for a local veteran.
“I see how these dogs change the lives of so many local heroes and I wanted us to be a small part of that amazing gift. I felt incredibly motivated to reach that goal, knowing that $5,000 would allow us to cover the cost to train one service dog start to finish. I am so very grateful for all of the participants and sponsors who made it possible”
This year’s competition was held March 19-30 with 32 dogs competing for prizes from local businesses and the title of WNY’s Cutest Canine. Each round, dogs were placed in pairs and faced off in an online vote. Our 2024 winner, Nikki, was voted through each round and was crowned the Ulti-mutt Cutie of WNY.
Contact Ashley Bringenberg if you are interested in participating in and/or sponsoring Pooch Playoffs 2025. Her email address is hello@ashleybringenberg.com.
Ashley Bringenberg, left, owner of Ashley Bringenberg Photography presents a ceremonial check for $5,000 to the WNY Heroes’ Pawsitive for Heroes program.
