HOLLEY – The Holley school district’s annual senior citizen appreciation breakfast will be on Thursday, May 9, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Holley Elementary Café.
The district would like to thank the senior citizens in the community for all they’ve done and continue to do to support the students and schools. You must be age 55 or older and a resident of the district to attend.
RSVP by Wednesday, May 1, to Connie Nenni in the District Office at 638-6316, ext. 2003. Transportation is available by request.
MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Health Occupations Technician (HOT) students did a great job helping out at the ConnectLife Blood Drive at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.
Teacher Debbie Dittmer, teacher aide Meghan Carpenter and their seniors and juniors assisted in taking blood pressures and handing out snacks to the volunteers.
Members of the Career and Technical Education Center’s Maintenance staff stepped up to the plate to donate blood to help save lives. ConnectLife blood donors help supply more than 75% of the lifesaving blood supply in our community.
Every day, people across Western New York need whole blood donations for multiple reasons, those in the hospitals with traumatic injuries, those fighting cancer, blood disorders, surgery patients, mothers who have given birth and more. So proud of everyone who helped out for this important cause.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2024 at 10:14 am
MEDINA – It was the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020, when Hannah Pollard started as a vendor at the Country Village Farmers’ Market in Medina.
There was a shortage of masks in the community and Pollard sewed 6,000 cloth masks, many in colorful patterns to try to make a difficult situation a little better.
When the mask crisis dissipated, Pollard started selling cookies, pies and other baked goods at the market. They carried the label of her business, the Catherine Street Bakery.
“I was going to leave the market but they were looking for someone to do cookies and pies,” she’s aid. “I did those and then added tarts and scones.”
Hannah Pollard holds a container for Wolcott’s Dairy ice cream from Albion. Pollard has seen many Wolcott’s Dairy milk bottles, but she said the ice cream container is more rare. She has other products made from local companies as well as antiques at the new business at 123 E. Center St.
Pollard enjoyed being a vendor at the farmers’ market, seeing so many people in the community. Pollard for more than 25 years worked as an insurance broker for Grant-Pollard Insurance in Medina. She earned her license at age 19.
She stepped back from that career in 2016. A couple years before that she made and sold quilts, and in 2015 started selling antiques.
“My dad (Paul Pollard) collected antiques for years and filled the house,” Hannah said. “It’s the thrill of the hunt, and the figuring out the guesswork of what it is, how it was used, and who used it before.”
Pollard has combined her passions for baking and antiques with a new business in downtown Medina. Catherine Street Bakery & Antiques opened on April 5 at 123 East Center St. The shop is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pollard takes Sunday off, and then bakes from Monday through Wednesday to fill her cases with cookies, tart, fudge and pie.
“It was go big or go home,” Pollard said about shifting as a vendor from the farmers’ market to her own storefront. Pollard will continue to have some of her baked goods at Roberts Farm Market.
She waited more than a year for a spot to open in the downtown. She is at a location that has been used as a gun shop and a tattoo parlor. Now it has baked goods, antiques and products from other local vendors, including soap, honey, candles and barbecue sauce.
Pollard connected with many of those vendors through her role as the craft show organizer at Lyndonville’s Fourth of July celebration.
Pollard said the baking and sewing combines lifelong passions. When she was a Girl Scout troop leader for seven years, she enjoyed teaching “homesteading skills” of baking, cooking and making jams.
The antique part of the business is a collaboration with her sister, Megan Szalay, who lives in Allegany County. Szalay does a lot of the hunting for the antiques.
The sisters keep a close eye on merchandise and products from medina and Orleans County. The currently includes a sledge hammer from the former A.L. Swett Iron Works in Medina, an ice cream container from the former Wolcott’s Dairy in Albion, a lantern made by BernzOmatic in Medina, a sign from Comet Cycle Sales in Medina, bar chips from the Ridgeway Hotel, and a check printing press from The Journal-Register.
There are other interesting items, including a cheerleader megaphone from the 1950s, a Boy Scout canteen.
Pollard sees Medina as a growing antique destination. Other new antique businesses have opened, joining long-time establishments. As a group they draw many visitors to the community.
“People will make the drive to come to five-six antique stores,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2024 at 8:36 am
Orleans County dispatchers, which handle about 35,000 calls a year, are being recognized by Sheriff Chris Bourke during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
This week is a time to celebrate and thank telecommunications personnel across the nation who serve communities, citizens, and public safety personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Bourke said.
“Public Safety Dispatchers are an indispensable asset in public safety,” he said. “During emergencies and times of distress, Public Safety Dispatchers quickly obtain all relevant information, assess the situation, and coordinate the appropriate public safety response, to ensure the quickest and most appropriate response.”
Dispatchers for the county are tasked with answering emergency calls, and dispatching the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Medina, Albion and Holley Police Departments, State Police, DEC Police, and all fire and EMS agencies within the county.
“Dispatchers are always heard, but rarely seen,” Bourke said. “They are the first responders to the first responders and the heroes behind the scenes.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2024 at 8:19 am
Gala on May 16 will honor many community leaders, school supporters
MEDINA – The Medina Community “Oscars” is less than one month away, with voting next week.
The Medina school district congratulates all nominees for their dedication and contributions toward the continued growth of the Medina community, said Daniel Doctor, director of Community Partnerships for the school district.
The district sought nominations in many categories, and next week will have ballots on the school website for the community to vote.
The categories include: Volunteer of the Year, Community Leadership Award, Community Collaboration Award, Arts and Culture Award, Organization of the Year (under 10 employees), Organization of the Year (11 or more employees), Lifetime Achievement Award, Community Service Award, Unsung Hero Award, Best Event of the Year, Community Impact People’s Choice Award, Girl Scout Troop Award, Boy Scout Troop Award, Outstanding Student Award (K-2), (3-6) & (7-12), Student Spotlight, and Inspirational Educator Award.
Doctor, who is also a minister, performer and entrepreneur, will host “The first Medina Community Oscars Red Carpet event” at 6:30 p.m. on May 16 at Bent’s Opera House. Admission is $10. All proceeds will go to a local service organization. Seating is limited. Please contact ddoctor@medinacsd.org for ticket reservations.
The two hours will highlight Medina Oscar nominees, performers, presenters, and provide an experience of the red carpet arrivals, giving a can’t-miss moment from a “Hollywood” flavor, Doctor said.
Voting for nominees will open April 22 and close April 26. The link will be posted on the Medina Central School Website.
“The Medina Oscars” is produced by the Medina school district and sponsored by Daniel’s, the Medina Rotary and West Side Academy of Visual Arts & Dance.
Coach, now the athletic director, prizes work ethic and integrity in athletes over their stats
Photos courtesy of Baldwin Wallace: John Snell, an Albion native, brought lots of energy to sidelines as head coach of the Baldwin Wallace University football team. He led the team from 2002 to 2016, and now is the college’s Associate Director of Athletics.
By Levi Newell, senior Sport Management major at Baldwin Wallace University
Walking into Coach John Snell’s office at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH, there are many things to catch the eye.
There is a Baldwin Wallace (BW) football helmet lamp illuminating his office. There are various displays of the game, including a first-win football awarded to Coach Snell following his 22-2 win against Allegheny. There are portraits of Coach Snell with amazing athletes and coaches including the former long-time National Champion Ohio State football head coach Jim Tressel.
Snell also had more recent memorabilia in his current role as Associate Director of Athletics, including himself alongside the BW Division III College World Series baseball team. The most notable piece however was a nearly life-size portrait of himself actively coaching on the sidelines. Coaching the only way he knows how; emphatically cheering on his athletes with strong determination. It is not any one item but a combination of all these things that exposed the interior of what makes Coach Snell himself, which is a BW football legend.
Sitting down to speak with Coach Snell about his career there were many topics of conversation. We conversed over everything from the makings of his coaching career to the type of father, husband, and son he has become. Signs of humility and strong integrity immediately became apparent when spending time with him. His love for those around him and his former athletes exudes his character. He spoke highly of all the athletes he was privileged to coach. However, the most storied team to grace his coaching career came in 2003, a season that was pivotal to beginning to cement Coach Snell’s legacy.
John Patrick Snell, now 58, was raised in the village of Albion, New York. He was brought up with supportive and loving parents who instilled the value of hard work within him early on. (His parents, Peter and Irene Snell, owned a real estate business that is currently run by their son David.) As a child, John’s parents had strong expectations for him to do things the right way as they led successful lives despite their hardships early on.
John’s father would continuously remind him of his philosophy and mantra “work before play.” John adopted and applied this philosophy to his own life, which allowed him to create great opportunities for himself at a young age. John loved sports as a child primarily participating in baseball, football and wrestling. His parents would not only support him but also attend nearly all athletic events for his other three siblings, further showcasing their dedication to their children’s athletic endeavors.
Through his involvement in sports at Albion High School, he would unfortunately succumb to a serious broken left leg injury during his sophomore year in football. Because of this injury, John would miss the rest of the football season as well as the upcoming wrestling and baseball seasons during his tough recovery.
The injury ended his football career, but he continued to work at his other sports and began to strive in baseball. John would go on to follow in his brother David’s footsteps, working at the family business in Albion, and becoming a student-athlete at BW.
John participated in baseball for one year in 1984 lettering as a freshman. While at BW, John became Coach Snell, finding his first opportunities to test out the profession he would later pursue.
John Snell amassed a 92-60 career record at Baldwin Wallace, a .605 winning percentage.
In his four years, he gained experience coaching locally. He coached wrestling at Berea High School, baseball at Midpark High School and served as a student coach for BW football. Following graduation, Coach Snell would have coaching stints at the University of Rochester, Rutgers University, and the University of Buffalo, where he would meet his wife Shelly, before returning to his alma mater in 1996. He would serve as an assistant coach before being promoted to Assistant Head Coach and then interim Head Coach in 2002. Serving as legendary Head Coach Bob Packard’s right-hand man, Coach Snell would learn valuable lessons in coaching and come to respect the winningest coach in BW history.
Coach Snell commented on Coach Packard and his impact on his coaching career, “Coach Packard was essentially Lee Tressel’s right-hand man, and he did a phenomenal job of carrying on the tradition, carrying on the legacy of great coaches. He was a great mentor for me, and he never had a losing season as a head coach… One of the greatest lessons that I learned from him was that you can’t allow the highs to be too high and the lows to be too low. He was very even-keel and I think that served him very well.”
In Coach Packard’s final three years, his teams would go 6-4 each season with room to improve. Baldwin Wallace football was not nationally relevant for his final seven years since winning a share of the conference title in 1994. With upcoming talent, and the team wanting to achieve more, Coach Snell would get his opportunity to shine.
2002 marked the year that Coach Snell would take over the reins as head coach, at least momentarily. Although he was chosen amongst his staff to act as head coach, he would still need to be evaluated following the end of the season and participate in a formal interviewing process to earn the honor of full-time head coach.
Dan Larlham, quarterback for BW (2001-2003) stated, “Having that interim title tagged to him I think only made him work harder. It lit a fire under him knowing that he needed to prove himself, and he did.”
That season Coach Snell would lead the Yellow Jackets football team to a sterling 8-2 record, with their only losses to Mount Union and John Carroll each just by one touchdown. Despite the successful season Mount Union would continue on their historic undefeated run and keep BW out of the playoffs. John Carroll would also be invited as an at-large bid to compete nationally. Coach Snell quickly solidified himself as the man for the job and with support from his staff and players would win the job as full-time head coach.
Dan Larlham recalls a diner with former BW President Mark Collier, “I was at a diner with Collier, the president at the time and I remember telling him, Coach Snell, this is my guy.”
John Snell said he values the relationships with his players, and stays in contact with them after they graduate.
With full team support and a great host of returning players, Coach Snell hoped to continue his success in making BW football nationally relevant once again. The 2003 season was a perfect storm for just that. The special group would work early and often in the gym during the offseason and hone in on their craft. They held strong expectations for themselves and most importantly had shown that they were truly up to the task in that 2002 season. They were close to where they wanted to be but had some unfinished business to attend to.
“It was a group of guys that I think were really hungry to be successful,” Coach Snell recalled. “The year before they came to us and said, ‘We want to get this thing back to where we feel it’s nationally competitive.’ They were driven to be a team that competes for the conference championship and hopefully get a national playoff berth and that’s exactly what they did.”
Above the level of determination and skill of this particular team, many great leaders upheld the values of the team and strove to make everybody better. Captains for the 2003 season included Dan Larlham on offense and Tom DeLuca on defense. Having just two captains was something special for this team as it allowed them to rally together as a unit. Other great players would step up in their roles not as captains but rather as fantastic leaders such as Rob Becker, Jeff Fox, and Nate Mitchell. Coach Snell believed in and encouraged his guys to lead regardless of status so that he could create a more well-rounded group dynamic.
Athletes were encouraged to learn about each of their teammates, thus creating a culture of truly caring for one another. This allowed them to go into each week of competition with the best sense of teamwork, ultimately leading to a near-perfect on-field record of 9-1. BW’s only blemish was an early Week 2 loss against Mount Union. They would shut out bitter rival John Carroll in Week 4 and continue to blow out opponents the entire season, their closest win being by two possessions against Ohio Northern.
Their offensive prowess allowed them to put up a large number of points week in and week out, and their complimentary defense ultimately held their opponents to fewer points taking care of business throughout the season. Following the regular season, a watch party in the Lee Tressel lounge of the Lou Higgins Center revealed that BW would make the Division III National Playoffs as an at-large bid. They would go on to win at home in the playoffs for the first time in a long while, beating Hanover 54-32. The following week they would leave for Chicago to face Wheaton where they would fall short just four points away from advancing again.
The 2003 season was a special year for the Yellow Jackets. The ability to perform at a high level brought BW back to national relevancy where it had struggled to be for a while. The success of this team was a great testament to the excellence of Coach Snell. This would be his and the program’s last playoff win and appearance with Mount Union continuing their dominance to this day. Coach Snell throughout his storied career would reach a record of 92-60 overall with a .605 winning percentage. He would go on to coach many great athletes including 122 All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and 102 Academic All-OAC players. With all these accolades and accomplishments as head coach, Coach Snell has made a case for himself regarding his BW legacy. But his success on the field was simply a product of how he conducted and established himself as a great leader, mentor, and father figure to so many.
Rob Becker, former player and current Director of Campus Recreation and Athletic Facilities at BW, “Coaching is one part of the legacy, it’s what else you do outside of the coaching and how you impact people that actually allows that legacy to be better.”
Dan Larlham stated, “He certainly sent guys into the Hall of Fame, into the record books, and reestablished BW as a national competitor. But the relationships he keeps with his players make him second to none.”
A cheerleader in life, Coach Snell has allowed great opportunities for his players to set the foundation for a great life. In his athletes, he instilled core values of faith, integrity, caring for others, and doing things the right way. Coach Snell contributed, and still does as Associate Director of Athletics, to a friendly family-type culture that so many people find at BW.
Coach Snell likened coaching to parenting in that, “My hope for them, first and foremost, that we have taught them the importance of having God in their life. And second I hope we taught them the importance of being a person of integrity, a person with great work ethic and a great attitude. I hope they know and understand and feel that they are loved by their parents.”
These characteristics displayed by Coach Snell were brought into his career knowing that these values could allow for success on and off the field for his athletes. In building and maintaining a positive team culture he truly solidified himself as one of the great football coaches of BW. Not only has he impacted others through his coaching career but extending himself to all sports and athletes in his current role leaving a long-lasting positive effect on BW both athletically and culturally.
When people talk of the great football coaches of BW, such as Ray Watts, Eddie Finnigan, Lee Tressel, and Bob Packard, they ought to, and likely soon will, begin mentioning John Snell at that same level.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Genesee Community College’s main campus in Batavia is shown in this file photo from March 2021. GCC also operates campus centers in Orleans, Wyoming and Livingston counties.
BATAVIA – EDsmart, a prominent education research organization, recently unveiled its annual assessment of New York State’s top community colleges for 2024, spotlighting institutions that excel across various criteria including economic value, affordability, student satisfaction and academic achievement.
This ranking, informed by a composite score derived from essential metrics such as post-attendance salary, net price, retention and four-year graduation rates, offers a comprehensive overview of each college’s performance.
Among these institutions, Genesee Community College secured the fourth position in the rankings. With a composite score of 96.6 out of 100 reflecting excellence across economic, affordability, satisfaction, and academic domains, GCC stands as a leader in educational quality and student success.
This noteworthy recognition underscores the dedication of GCC’s faculty and staff in delivering outstanding learning experiences. By prioritizing academic excellence and cultivating a supportive educational environment, the college has rightfully earned its place among New York State’s top community colleges.
For more information and college rankings, please visit Top 20 Community Colleges In New York And New York City (edsmart.org).
Editor’s Note: The top 10 community colleges in the state include: 1. Herkimer County Community College; 2. SUNY Broome Community College; 3. SUNY Clinton Community College; 4. SUNY Genesee Community College; 5. SUNY Corning Community College; 6. SUNY Adirondack Community College; 7. CUNY Hostos Community College; 8. CUNY Kingsborough Community College; 9. Columbia Green Community College; 10. SUNY Erie Community College.
During National Work Zone Awareness Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today highlighted State Route 104 within the Town of Irondequoit and City of Rochester, Monroe County, as a roadway that will be under intense scrutiny through the during the 2024 construction season.
This announcement comes after the Department of Transportation’s Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program registered multiple motorists traveling at life-threatening speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through work zones along the Route 104 corridor last year.
Additionally, this enhanced and bolstered enforcement comes as the Department is beginning a $27.8 million project in the 2024 and 2025 construction seasons between Ridgeway Avenue in the City of Rochester and Culver Road in the Town of Irondequoit.
“As work begins on an important project along State Route 104, I implore motorists to take heed and follow the rules of the road in state operated work zones,” Governor Hochul said. “The recorded speeds in work zones along State Route 104 last year were nothing short of alarming and could have been potentially deadly for highway workers, which is why we will be stepping up enforcement along this corridor as construction season gets under way.”
Last year, the State Department of Transportation’s Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program was deployed multiple times along State Route 104 and revealed some alarming statistics, including:
Motorists traveling through a work zone along State Route 104 recorded the program’s top three speeds: 139, 117, and 110 miles per hour.
The work zone along State Route 104 also witnessed a motorist-caused work zone intrusion where a vehicle crossed into construction and crashed into roadway signage. Fortunately, there were no injuries sustained.
“Operation Hardhat” will begin again in April in an effort to enforce vehicle and traffic laws in highway work zones. Under “Operation Hardhat”, State Troopers or local police officers are dressed as highway maintenance workers in active NYSDOT or Thruway work zones across New York, identifying and citing motorists for a number of violations, including disobeying flagging personnel, speeding through work zones, cell phone and seatbelt use, and/or violations of the State’s Move Over law. State Police has already committed to more Operation Hardhat deployments along the State Route 104 project in 2024.
As work begins on this $27.8 million project along State Route 104 in 2024 and 2025, among the enhancements to be delivered over this two-season construction project are:
Rehabilitation of 30.5 lane miles of pavement along the roadway, including service roads and ramps, between Ridgeway Avenue in the City of Rochester and Culver Road in the Town of Irondequoit.
New traffic signals along ramps and service roads throughout the project limits.
Modernized stormwater drainage to ensure roadway resiliency against the changing environment.
New American Disability Act-compliant curb ramps to enhance and better facilitate multi-modal transportation throughout the corridor.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health, speaks during a celebration for a new warming center at Christ Church on Dec. 20. The site offered cots, coffee, tea, soup and hygiene kits when the temperature dropped below 32 degrees at night.
Press Release, Orleans County Legislature
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature today acknowledged the partnership of several agencies in providing a warming center for homeless individuals at Christ Church in Albion during this past winter.
“In response to the urgent need for shelter and support during harsh weather conditions, Oak Orchard Health in partnership with Orleans County announced the opening of its Warming Center in November of 2023,” said Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature Chairman. “This crucial initiative provided refuge and assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness, ensuring their safety and well-being during extreme cold.”
State law requires that a Code Blue alert go into effect when temperatures are expected to fall below 32˚F with wind chill for at least two consecutive hours and that emergency shelter for the homeless be provided.
The warming center was open to serve individuals in need on 131 code blue nights this past season and a total of 63 individuals, including repeat individuals, took advantage of the center. In addition, the Hoag Library was open to serve individuals during their normal business hours.
“Now that winter conditions are hopefully behind us, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to the volunteers and organizations who have contributed their time, resources, and compassion to make the warming center possible,” Johnson said. “The success of this effort is a testament to our community’s incredible compassion and generosity.
Johnson recognized the invaluable collaboration of local partners, including but not limited to, the Department of Social Services, Christ Episcopal Church, Oak Orchard Health, Orleans United Way, HOAG Library, Community Action, Ministry of Concern, Independent Living, Medina Area Association of Churches, Orleans County Emergency Management and Hands 4 Hope.
“The cooperation of these organization was instrumental in establishing and operating the Warming Center and together, we worked to ensure that every community member has a warm and safe place to seek refuge during inclement conditions,” Johnson said.
Press Release, Orleans County Job Development Agency
MEDINA – The Orleans County Job Development Agency reminded residents that there will be a job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday at the Orleans YMCA located at 306 Pearl St. in Medina.
“Our career fairs have a tremendous track record in matching up job seekers with employers, and the current demand of employers looking to hire remains high,” said Kelly Kiebala, director of the Orleans County Career Center. “Anyone looking for a job or a new opportunity, regardless of skill and educational level, should attend this event.”
Kiebala said there will be businesses from across many sectors looking for people in factory settings, healthcare, food service, customer service and more. There are job opportunities for all levels of skill and experience.
Participating companies, organizations and other institutions include: Arc GLOW, Army National Guard, ATB Staffing Services, Brunner International, Central New York Psychiatric Center, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Education & Training Resources / Iroquois Job Corps, Elderwood at Lockport, Fidelis Care, Genesee Community College, HD Construction Services LLC, Lake Ontario Fruit, Liberty Home Care, NYS Department of Labor, NYS OPWDD, Orchard Rehab, Orleans County Job Development, Orleans County Personnel, Orleans/Niagara BOCES, Perry’s Ice Cream, Rochester Regional Health, Thrive (Freeze Dry), Six Flags Darien Lake, Grand Canyon University and Empire Coating, Inc.
To learn more about the services provided by the Orleans County Job Development Agency, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2024 at 9:26 am
MEDINA – The professional wrestlers from Empire State Wrestling will be back in Medina for “Spring Smash” on April 27 in a fundraiser for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.
ESW did events at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds with 350 attending the first wrestling showcase in April 2018 and then about 200 in May 2019. After a break due to Covid restrictions, the wrestlers were back last year with the venue moved to the Medina High School gym. A much bigger crowd of 450 attended the event.
“We received nothing but good feedback,” said Ryan McPherson, event chairman for East Shelby. “We had our best turnout yet, and we want to make it bigger and better this year.”
The crowd reacts when Kevin Blackwood, an Albion native, is introduced during last year’s event at Medina. Blackwood, whose real name in Kevin Lockwood, flew in from Los Angeles to wrestle in front of his family and friends in Albion. Blackwood, 33, has been a professional wrestler for seven years. He also works as a tattoo artist in LA.
McPherson said local wrestlers will be in the lineup on Saturday, including Albion native Kevin Blackwood, Medina native Gavin “A Cut Above the Rest” Glass, and Jacob Miller (aka Maxx Cannon) of Medina, also known as “The Filthy One.”
Several of the fans at the wrestling event marveled about the athleticism of the wrestlers, and how physical the matches were. There were drop-kicks, body slams, jumps from the top rope and other moves. McPherson said many of the fans felt like it was WWE.
There will be familiar faces from past matches, including Frankie Feathers, who was a good guy but has turned into a “heel,” a bad guy. He continues to fire up his fan base.
One of the wrestlers appearing for the first time in Orleans County will be Adrianna Fury of Lockport, who McPherson said has a big following.
Doors open at 5 p.m. with the first bell at 6 p.m. For information on tickets, which are available online or at the door, click here.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 April 2024 at 8:56 am
Photo contributed: Ahmed Cherif, 9, is thriving since coming from Tunisia to Medina with his mother a year ago. He still has months of medical procedures ahead, and a fundraiser Saturday at the YMCA in Medina will help with his medical costs.
MEDINA – Youth volunteers at Project Life and young people from the Voice Gavel Club (Junior Toastmasters) have finalized plans for a “Youth Serving Youth” fundraising day at the YMCA to benefit Ahmed Cherif, a 9-year-old from Tunisia in need of extensive medical care.
According to Linda Shakoor, director of Project Life War Orphans Rehabilitation Program, so far since coming to America with his mother a year ago, Ahmed’s pediatric team at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong in Rochester have identified several conditions.
Ahmed has oro-facial syndrome II, rumination synodrome, autism and bone growth delay. He also suffers from allergies and asthma. He still has many tests and treatments ahead, including further neurological evaluation starting with an MRI of his brain. He will also be assessed for spinal scoliosis and will undergo a sleep study.
The boy’s health has been slowly improving since he arrived in Medina last year. He has received extensive dental treatment, including surgery. He no longer needs the leg braces he has worn since he was 3, due to supportive physical therapy. His eyes have been tested and now he wears corrective glasses. Some of his digestive issues have subsided and he has gained weight. He is up to 45 pounds and has grown an inch. For the first time in years, he is outgrowing his clothes.
In Tunisia, Ahmed was isolated and never attended school. Now he is attending a special education program in Buffalo arranged by Medina Central School, and he is thriving, Shakoor said.
“He is benefitting from opportunities for socialization, along with ongoing physical, occupational, vision and speech therapy,” she said.
World Life Institute’s Project Life is no stranger to handling medical cases, Shakoor added. They have sponsored more than 130 orphans of war and natural disasters for temporary visit programs in Western New York since 1997. Over the years, several children arrived here with life-threatening chronic illnesses that required major medical intervention.
Almost all of the 130 children over the years have never received dental care, so there were hundreds of trips to dentists and the UB Pediatric Dental Clinic. Project Life, therefore, is well-positioned to assist Ahmed’s mother in managing his medical appointments, conferring with physicians and getting the best possible care for him.
The event on Saturday at the YMCA has a goal of raising enough funds to support Ahmed and his mother for the year. This includes monthly pharmacy and home health supply costs, recreation, transportation, nutritious food, rent and utilities, school supplies, toys, clothing and shoes, as well as parking costs for multiple visits to the hospital.
Project Life is an entirely volunteer program. No one in the organization gets paid, Shakoor said. This means a very large percentage of donated funds goes directly to the program, not to overhead costs.
Project Life is urging everyone in the community to support this event Saturday at the YMCA. It will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. and feature events for the entire family. There will be an opportunity to walk with Ahmed during the fashion show, have fun creating crafts, bid in a silent auction, watch a charity basketball game, purchase baked goods and participate in an array of other fun activities.
Those wishing to donate online can click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2024 at 8:11 am
Maggie Pecoraro took this photo of a pink rainbow this morning on Route 104 in Ridgeway at LynOaken Farms.
It will be a rainy day today in Orleans County with showers and thunderstorms likely before noon, then showers between noon and 5 p.m., with more showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m., the National Weather Service in Buffalo said. The high will be near 57.
Thursday is forecast to be mostly cloudy with a high near 63, with more rain on Friday with showers and a high of 63.
Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 50, followed by a mostly sunny Sunday with a high near 51.
Mike Zeliff took this photo of the sunrise this morning on Route 63 in Lyndonville.
Photo by Marsha Rivers: The sun rises this morning at 6:13 in this photo taken from Washington Street in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2024 at 8:33 pm
CLARENDON – Holley Cub Scouts in Pack 3062 had their annual Pinewood Derby race on Saturday with nine Scouts participating. They also had nine friends and family make derby cars and join in the annual tradition.
“The Holley pack is small but mighty,” said Meghan Reuther, the committee chair for the pack. “The kids worked so hard and made amazing cars. Even parents, grandparents and siblings made their own cars and raced in a Family and Friends bracket.”
The event was held at the Clarendon Rec Hall. Cub Master Chris Reuther and Leader Randi Keller out on the derby.
“All the Cubs showed they put a lot of hard work into their cars, displayed great sportsmanship, cheered on their competitors, and celebrated the victors!” Meghan Reuther said. “We are extremely proud of all the Cubs and their families!”
The scouts have had a busy year, visiting the planetarium at SUNY Brockport, having a Christmas party at Oak Orchard Lanes in Albion, collecting canned goods for the local food pantry, working on projects to earn badges and prepping for summer camp.
For information about joining the Holley Cub Scouts, send an email to holleycubs3062@gmail.com or contact Cub Master Chris Reuther at (716) 480-2945.
