BATAVIA – Members of the Genesee/Orleans Child Care Coalition recently celebrated the dedication and hard work of child care providers from Genesee and Orleans counties at a Pineapple Paradise Gala at the CORE Learning Center in Batavia.

There were 80 enthusiastic child care providers from the region who gathered to enjoy camaraderie, a festive atmosphere and dinner provided by Main St. Pizza, according to Alishia Foss, Child Care Resource and Referral specialist and trainer with Community Acton of Orleans and Genesee.

Guest speakers for the evening featured talks from representatives of QualityStarsNY and a union representative, who shared valuable information and encouragement for child care providers, Foss said.

Members of the Child Care Coalition include in-home daycare providers, daycare center providers and employees of Community Action of Orleans’ and Genesee’s Child Care Resource and Referral and Early Head Start Child Care Partnership.

RIDGEWAY – A Lyndonville woman was killed in a car accident on Thursday afternoon on Route 104 in Ridgeway, State Police said today.

Sandra J. Gapa, 64, of Lyndonville was driving a 2021 Subaru, going northbound on Knowlesville Road at about 3 p.m. She stopped at the stop sign at the intersection on Route 104. State Police said she then entered the intersection of 104  and was struck by a 2004 GMC traveling westbound on Route 104.

Gapa was pronounced deceased at the scene by an Orleans County coroner.

The accident shut down traffic on Route 104 between Knowlesville and Culvert roads, and Knowlesville Road between Porter and Oak Orchard River roads.

The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in this investigation.

More oxen could be around the county to help celebrate the 200^th anniversary in 2025; Creature to be named during fair next month

Photos courtesy of Robert Batt: Joan Gabalski, a summer assistant at the Cornell Cooperative extension in Orleans County, stands next to a fiberglass ox that was delivered on Thursday at the fairgrounds.

KNOWLESVILLE – An animal harking back to the Orleans County’s early days about two centuries ago is back at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds and will be given a prominent part of the upcoming fair, July 22-27.

A fiberglass ox was delivered by FedEx on Thursday afternoon, traveling from Texas. Robert Batt, the executive director of the Extension, welcomed the idea of having an oxen on display to celebrate the county’s roots.

“It’s impressive,” Batt said about the ox. “We think it’s a fantastic piece to add to the county fairgrounds.”

Joan Gabalski and the ox are shown next to the pie tin that was a world record breaker in 1977.

Orleans County officially formed on April 15, 1825. The State Legislature recognized Orleans County that day, allowing it to splinter from Genesee County. Orleans is now less than a year from its bicentennial. Batt is on the Bicentennial Committee.

The committee is considering having a public art project with fiberglass oxen around the county, and painted in different themes.

But first the committee wanted to see if the public would embrace the idea of the oxen as a public art project, and also as a symbol for the county. The ox will be painted by artist Stacey Kirby Steward during the fair from July 22-27. She is planning an agricultural theme for the ox.

If there are enough sponsors for more oxen, there could be several of them around the county in 2025.

Batt is happy to have an ox at the fairgrounds. He expects it will join the giant pie tin as a fun curiosity. That pie tie celebrates the world’s largest apple pie that was baked at the fair in 1977.

“I see a lot of people stop here to get photos with the pie plate,” Batt said.

The ox is expected to draw a crowd, too. The creature will be on display and Batt thinks it will be a hit with kids and younger adults who like to get selfies for their social media pages.

He also thinks the ox is great way to remind people of the county’s pioneer days. The animal was critical for the fledgling county, pulling wagons across rough terrain, helping to clear trees, dig the Erie Canal and provide lots of muscle for taming the land. Oxen also weren’t picky eaters. They could subsist on poor grass.

Batt would like to name the ox, and wants to see ideas on the Orleans Hub social media page. He already has heard the suggestion, “Orlo,” giving the ox an Orleans-sounding name.

The Bicentennial Committee is expected to create a short list of names to present as options. People can vote during the fair. The ballot box will likely be near the ox while it is painted by Steward, who has created many murals in Albion and Holley. The ox’s name will likely be announced on Saturday, the last day of the fair.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The D & R Smoke Shop in Albion has been stalled in opening because the site needs at least 7 dedicated parking spots for the business at 139 South Main St.

ALBION – A new smoke shop was ready to open last month at 139 South Main St., the former site for Bloom’s Flower Shop.

But D & R Smoke Shop couldn’t open because the site doesn’t have at least 7 dedicated parking spaces, which are separate from the spots for residents in the apartments at the building.

Mohammed Ayash, the D & R Smoke Shop owner, said there are at least 5 dedicated spots for the smoke shops, and he thinks he has 7.

The issue was brought before the Village of Albion Zoning Board of Appeals today. That board set a 4 p.m. public hearing for July 18 at the Village Hall to allow D & R to not have seven dedicated spots.

Ayash noted there is a large parking lot next door for a laundromat and a thrift store. Across the street in another large lot for Hoag Library.

But Ayash said the spots by D & R should be enough. The store won’t be high traffic. He expects only one or two customers at a time. The store will sell tobacco, vaping products and CBD. There won’t be any THC or Delta 9 available.

Chris Kinter, the village code enforcement officer, said he counts nine current spots, but some are dedicated to the tenants for apartments. That would leave 5 for the smoke shop, Kinter said during the ZBA meeting.

Ayash is a Buffalo resident. He said he would like to move with his family to Albion.

“This is a beautiful town,” he said after the meeting. “We try to serve the community.”

The ZBA also voted to refer the variance request to the Orleans County Planning Board for its advisory opinion. The County Planning Board meets 7 p.m. on June 27.

In another matter, the ZBA voted to deny a variance request for the owner of a house at 255-257 East State St. Sean Huff recently acquired the house, which has been a three-unit apartment. However, the previous owner died, and the site should revert back to a two-family house, which is what it is zoned for.

Huff asked the ZBA to give a variance to allow the sites to continue as a three-family dwelling.

But Craig Tuohey, the ZBA chairman, said he doesn’t support spot zoning, where there would be one multi-family zoned property in an R-2 district that allows two-family housing.

Huff said the house already has three entrances, three porches, 3 ½ bathrooms, three kitchens, and at least six on-site parking spaces. It exists as the three-unit house.

Keeping the site as three units also keeps one more housing option available in Albion, where Huff said there is currently only one available apartment being advertised.

Tuohey and the other ZBA didn’t back the variance. Tuohey suggested Huff try the Planning Board or Village Board to see if the zoning could be changed to multi-family so a variance wouldn’t be needed.

Press Release, John Sansone for District Attorney

John Sansone

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke has endorsed John Sansone for district attorney.

“I have worked closely with John for many years and he is an exceptional example of excellence as a prosecutor,” Bourke said. “He is tremendously hard working and strives to achieve the right result in a case, no matter how difficult or complicated.”

Sansone and Susan Howard are both on the ballot in a Republican Primary on June 25. Early voting is from June 15 to June 23.

“I am honored the Orleans County Sheriff recognizes the countless hours necessary to hold people accountable for their actions, especially after the recent legal obstacles enacted by the state, such as bail reform, Raise the Age and the new discovery rules,”  Sansone stated.

“My vast experience as a prosecutor has allowed me to navigate state-mandated impediments to administering justice is Orleans County,” Sansone continued. “While offering diversion, or other plea offers, has its place in resolving cases, sometimes having to conduct a trial is the only way to truly hold people accountable for their conduct. The fact my partners in law enforcement in Orleans County appreciate my proficiency as a prosecutor and trust me to get the right results means the most to me. Their hard work should not be bargained away without justification.”

St. Mary’s at 20 Ellicott St. is made of rusticated Medina Sandstone and is the oldest Catholic church building in use in Batavia.

BATAVIA – The Buffalo Diocese on Wednesday announced more recommendations to close churches in the region, including in Elba, Batavia and Bergen.

The news followed the Diocese plan announced on Monday to close St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Stephen’s in Middleport.

The Diocese of Buffalo proposals are recommended changes and are not final, said Joe Martone, Diocese spokesman. Parish families have the opportunity to present alternative proposals by July 15, Martone said.

The Genesee plan announced on Wednesday includes closing St. Mary’s in Batavia, Our Lady of Fatima in Elba, St. Brigid in Bergen, St. Maximilian Kolbe of Corfu and East Pembroke, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Darien and Bennington, and both locations of Mary Immaculate in East Bethany.

The Diocese will keep St. Joseph’s open on East Main Street in Batavia, Ascension parish on Sumner Street in Batavia, as well as St. Padre Pio Parish on Maple Avenue in Oakfield and Our Lady of Mercy on Lake Street in Le Roy.

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

“The Diocese of Buffalo is facing multiple challenges including a significant priest shortage, declining Mass attendance, aging congregations and ongoing financial pressures brought about by our Chapter 11 filing,” Bishop Michael W. Fisher said on May 28. “This plan resulted from the lessons learned as we brought parishes together in the parish family model and determined rather quickly that scaling back the number of parishes would best allow us to use our limited resources to help reenergize a spiritual renewal in the diocese.”

ALBION – The village and town have approved an agreement for a shared code enforcement and zoning officer. As part of the contract between the two municipalities, Chris Kinter will work about 75 percent of his full-time workload for the village and 25 percent in the town of Albion, outside the village.

Kinter has been a part-time employee for the town and village as the codes officer. He is state certified and also passed the Civil Service test. He started two years ago with the town. Dan Strong also continues in a limited part-time basis for the town.

The contract approved on Monday by the Town Board calls for him to spend about 10 hours a week for the town and 30 hours for the village.

He will attend town board meetings, planning and zoning meetings, and any court sessions when there is an enforcement action.

Kinter will process building permits from initial permitting to issuance of certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance. He will process and respond to code violations and complaints.

The contract between the two municipalities also has him doing fire inspections for the town, and being available for 24 hours for building-related emergencies.

The town will pay the village 25 percent of the expense for having a full-time codes officer. In 2024 the total cost for salary and benefits is projected at $88,379.44. The town will pay $22,094.86. Any additional training or vehicle maintenance expenses will be on a 75-25 percent ratio between the village and town.

The town will pay the village in two installments each year, in June and November.

The contract is a year-to-year agreement. Any increases above 3 percent will need approval from both the village and town boards.

“Hopefully it works out for everybody,” said Town Supervisor Richard Remley. “It’s an attempt at shared services.”

The two municipalities used to have different code officers, with the village in a full-time role and the town’s codes officer working part-time. But Kinter more recently has been working for both the village and town in the same position with the village cutting back some of the hours away from a full-time position.

Opening celebration, dedication Mass set for July 11

Press Release, Orleans Niagara East Catholic Community

HOLLEY – The Orleans Niagara East Catholic Community (ONE Catholic) has announced that the opening and dedication of the Saint Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holley on July 11 at 4 p.m.

“The St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center in Holley will be the 8th center in the Diocese of Buffalo,” said Father Mark Noonan, Pastor of ONE Catholic. “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.”

The July 11 opening celebration will begin with a dedication Mass at 4 p.m. in St. Mary’s Church, followed by the blessing of the new center in the St. Mary’s Parish Ministry Center next to the church. A reception will follow, and all are welcome.

The namesake of the outreach center, Saint Gianna, 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, will be attending the dedication Mass and opening on July 11 in Holley.

“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 who, with her husband Bob, are directors of the center. “We hope to provide a caring and compassionate atmosphere to assist families from pregnancy through the first years of life.”

Once the Holley center is established, ONE Catholic plans to open a satellite office to meet with families at Holy Trinity Parish in Medina.

Provided photo: State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, alongside Assembly members Mike Norris (right) and Angelo Morinello, address local media about recently passed legislation for the oversight of the Lockport Cave and Boat Tour. A boat at the Lockport Cave & Under Ground Boat Ride capsized a year ago on June 12, sending 29 people into the water with one person dying.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

LOCKPORT – New York State Senator Rob Ortt, alongside Assembly Members Mike Norris and Angello Morinello, on Wednesday discussed the passage of Senate Bill S.9241 and Assembly Bill A.10399.

The legislative action clearly defines that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is tasked with the oversight of the Lockport Cave and similar businesses.

The bill also provides that an inspector from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will at least annually inspect any vessel operated on privately or publicly owned underground, non-navigable waterways with no navigable inlet or outlet that carry passengers for compensation.

In addition, the bill also makes technical corrections and related provisions, and adds penalties for non-compliance.

“In the course of the investigation of this tragic incident, it came to light that there is no state agency tasked with overseeing these types of attractions. One of my top priorities this legislative session was to change that, ” said Senator Ortt. “With the passage of this legislation, we’re ensuring patrons can safely enjoy this unique attraction in the City of Lockport and I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Senate as well as in the Assembly for passing this important legislation.”

“This legislation closes a blind spot in safety oversight. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Ortt, Assemblyman Morinello and my colleagues in the state legislature to pass this common-sense bipartisan bill to improve safety for consumers and operators along the Canal,” said Assemblyman Norris.

The bill received wide support in both houses and now heads to the Governor’s office.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Congratulations to the Health Occupations Technician (HOT) students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center! Teacher Debra Dittmer is thrilled to announce that they had a 100% pass rate on the Prometric exam!

“Successfully passing the Prometric test and earning a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification marks a pivotal moment for students dedicated to healthcare,” Dittmer said.  “This achievement reflects their comprehensive understanding of crucial patient care practices, including vital sign monitoring, patient mobility assistance, and infection control.

“The certification process, validated by the challenging Prometric exam, ensures that CNAs are well-prepared to meet the demands of their roles with competence and compassion,” Dittmer said. “This milestone not only enhances their professional credentials but also signifies their readiness to deliver high-quality care, making a positive impact in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare environments.”

Dr. Taweepon Farrar will succeed Dr. Clark Godshall, who is retiring after leading the local BOCES for 24 years

Dr. Taweepon Farrar

MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES has announced its new district superintendent. Dr. Taweepon “Pon” Farrar, current superintendent at West Valley, will succeed Dr. Clark Godshall, who is retiring after leading the local BOCES the past 24 years.

The O/N BOCES, with 30,000 students, is the 13th largest BOCES out of 37 statewide. The local BOCES includes three districts (Albion, Lyndonville and Medina) in Orleans County and 10 other districts in Niagara County.

The career and technical center for BOCES is in Medina on Shelby Basin Road. The program currently serves 1,700 students in CTE classes and another 500 in other special programs.

“Dr. Farrar has a proven track record of implementing strategic initiatives to improve student outcomes, enhance teacher performance and foster a positive learning environment,” according to an announcement on Wednesday from BOCES Board President Colleen Osborn and Board VP Wayne Wadhams. “She prides herself on being a visionary leader with a commitment to educational excellence, stakeholder engagement and community collaboration.”

Farrar joined West Valley Central School as superintendent in March 2021. The district is in Cattaraugus County.

Prior to West Valley, she served in multiple roles at Akron Central School: Director of Educational Services and District Data Coordinator, Director of Special Education, and High School Assistant Principal.

Prior to her roles in administration, Farrar was a school counselor and a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy. Dr. Farrar served for five years in the United States Navy.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science in School Administration and Supervision from Canisius College, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN.

“The Board would like to welcome Dr. Farrar to the organization and we look forward to a bright future!” Osborn and Wadhams said in the letter announcing Farrar’s hiring.

Angela Waldriff built successful business that withstood Walmart, online retailers and Covid

Photos by Tom Rivers: Angela Waldriff, owner of Ashlee’s Place at 116 East Center St., announced she will be closing the business the end of this month.

MEDINA – Angela Waldriff built a women’s clothing business in a small town and withstood the challenges from Walmart and Big Box stores, the emergence of online retailing, and the challenges of Covid, when the business was closed to in-store customers for about 10 weeks and then had to try to keep customers at least six feet apart.

Waldriff has decided to close Ashlee’s Place the end of this month. The reason: she wants warmer weather and is moving to South Carolina.

“It’s the next stage of my life,” she said at the store, located at 116 East Center St. “It’s time for a change.”

Waldriff has owned and managed the store for 33 years. She started Ashlee’s in 1991 when she was 29. She is often inside Ashlee’s, helping customers find the right outfit.

Waldriff has the business next to the former Corky’s Bakery, which was run by her late father Corky van den Bosch, and her late brothers Dennis and Jeff.

Her father was a role model as a entrepreneur. He also had Corky’s Bakery & Snack Bar in Albion (at the former Apollo Restaurant) and in Lockport.

Waldriff grew up working in the bakery. After college, she was employed at stores in malls in Rochester and Buffalo. She wanted to be in Medina close to home, especially when she had children. When her two sons were babies, she had them with her while she ran Ashlee’s.

Although Medina remains a busy downtown, Waldriff said it was even more bustling when she started her career. There were several stores for clothes and shoes. The businesses together were a big draw, she said.

Gradually, most have closed and have been replaced by other businesses. Waldriff believes Ashlee’s is the second-oldest retailer in the downtown, behind Blissett’s.

Angela Waldriff said she has enjoyed meeting her customers and being in Medina’s downtown. Her store is next to the former Corky’s Bakery, which was run by her father and brothers.

Waldriff is a volunteer business advisor with SCORE, and she tries to help new entrepreneurs flesh out business plans and develop a marketing strategy. For Ashlee’s, she sends monthly newsletters to her customers, highlighting new inventory, deals and some of what’s going on in her life.

On Facebook, she posts pictures on some of the dresses, blouses, pants and other clothing items. Brielle Lederhouse, a store employee for six years, often models the clothes in the Facebook posts. Many customers will see those posts and order the clothes, and Waldriff will ship the items. It’s one way she’s been able to compete with the online retailers.

Ashlee’s has regular promotions during the year, including in May when a portion of the sales go towards breast cancer awareness and research.

Waldriff used to go to New York City twice a year on clothes-buying trips, but she hasn’t done that in nearly a decade. Now the companies send her photos of what’s available.

Waldriff would rotate her stock four times a year. She would purchase inventory with her customers in mind, thinking of what they like and how the clothes would look on them.

“You have to know who that person is who steps into your store,” Waldriff said. “You have to know their taste, their price range. It can’t be what you would wear. You have to know who your person is.”

Waldriff said she will miss her customers, many who have been dedicated to Ashlee’s for years.

“I’ve become good friends with so many,” Waldriff said. “We’ve been through so many things together.”

Noah Magee was driving the wrong way on McNamar Road when he fatally hit Roger Kingdollar

Photo by Tom Rivers: Emergency responders and law enforcement are shown at the scene of a fatal collision on McNamar Road in Barre near Angevine Road on Feb. 8.

ALBION – A Brockport man, formerly from Albion, was arraigned in Orleans County Court this morning on second-degree murder.

Noah Magee, 19, was driving a pickup truck the wrong way on McNamar Road on Feb. 8 when he hit Roger Kingdollar who was driving a dirtbike. Kingdollar, 24, died from the collision.

Magee was initially charged with reckless endangerment 1st degree (D felony), leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident (D felony) and other vehicle and traffic infractions.

After more investigation in the incident, the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder, an “A” felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Magee showed reckless conduct and a depraved indifference to life.

The DA asked that bail be increased from the $2,500 which was set at the lower town court level and be increased to $250,000 in cash. Cardone also asked for five orders of protection for family and witnesses who he said are being harassed by Magee, who allegedly frequently drives by their homes, sometimes slowing down and stopping in front of the houses.

County Court Judge Sanford Church declined to increase the bail, keeping it at $2,500, which drew loud outbursts in the courtroom from Kingdollar’s friends and family. Some of them yelled “f—ing murderer” and “bulls—” when Church said the bail would remain at $2,500.

When the expletives continued, Church had security escort about 20 people out of the courtroom.

The judge kept the bail at $2,500 because he said Magee has made all of his court appearances. Magee’s lawyer, Paul Vacca Jr., also said Magee is hard-working and has no prior arrests. Vacca said Magee wouldn’t be able to come up with $250,000.

Judge Church issued five temporary orders of protection and told Magee not to drive by the homes or linger near them. The judge issued those orders of protection despite Vacca saying there is “no reasonable basis” for issuing them.

“He is not the type of individual they allege,” Vacca said about Magee.

State Police charged Magee on Feb. 8, saying a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Magee was eastbound on the north shoulder, which is the wrong way of travel.

After the collision, Magee continued eastbound on McNamar Road, leaving the scene, State Police said.

Kingdollar was driving a Honda CRF450R Dirt Bike. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

There were two uninvolved four-wheelers traveling with Kingdollar, State Police said.

Cardone said in court there remains animosity from Magee towards the victim’s family.

“This is an extremely volatile situation,” Cardone told the judge in court.

Magee is due back in court on July 3 for a conference, with motions to be filed by July 29  and motions to argued on Aug. 7 or for Magee to take a plea that day.

If the case goes to trial, Church tentatively set Nov. 13 for it to start.

The judge asked Cardone, who is retiring on Dec. 31 after 33 years as DA, if he wanted the trial to start before or after he retires. Cardone said he wanted it to happen before he leaves office.

“I’m most familiar with the case and I want to see it through,” Cardone said after the court appearance by Magee.

Keynote speaker: Students from Orleans County take ‘grit’ with them to college, new careers

Photos by Tom Rivers: Ted Lewis, president of the Lyndonville Board of Education, gives the closing message during the banquet on Tuesday. “A heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you,” Lewis said. “Thank you for inspiring your classmates, your teachers, and this entire community. Go forth, and make us proud. Leave your mark on the world, but most importantly, never stop learning, growing, and reaching for your dreams.”

LYNDONVILLE – The Top 10 graduates for the Class of 2024 in Orleans County’s five school districts were honored at a banquet on Tuesday evening at the White Birch Golf Course.

Albion returned to the event for the first time in more than a decade, joining Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina. Albion stopped being part of the Top 10 because the district did its own academic honors convocation celebration for students with GPAs at 90 or above. The district, however, wanted to get back to being part of the Top 10 dinner with the other schools in the county.

Callie Updike, a 2021 Holley graduate, gave the keynote address at the 38th annual Orleans County Academic Excellence Awards Dinner at the White Birch Golf Course. Updike has completed three years at Columbia University, an Ivy League college where she is studying film and creative writing. She plans to graduate in 2025 and then pursue a career as a screenwriter in television or film.

The students, who will all graduate later this month, were praised for their hard work, and often late nights of study.

“We celebrate the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and a thirst for knowledge,” said Ted Lewis, Lyndonville’s Board of Education president. “You’ve pushed boundaries, excelled in your academics, and left your mark on your school and on this county.”

The keynote speaker for the event was a recent Top 10 grad. Callie Updike was the salutatorian for Holley in 2021. She was the class president, Student Council president, and was heavily involved in the school music program. She just completed her third year at Columbia University, majoring in film and creative writing. She expects to graduate from the Ivy League college next year and then will pursue a career as a screenwriter in television or film.

Updike said she was only 16 when she was accepted into Columbia in New York City on a full-ride scholarship. She and 12 percent of her classmates come from rural areas.

She sees that as an advantage. Most of her classmates haven’t ridden a four-wheeler or seen a cow. Many of her classmates come from tremendous wealth, with parents paying $60,000 a year – for kindergarten.

“Even if they have a fancier education than me, I would not change a single thing about the way I grew up,” Updike said. “My work ethic, my grit, my ability to relate to people, my appreciation for life and the opportunities I’ve been given because of growing up in Orleans County give me an advantage.”

She remembered attending the Top 10 dinner three years ago, and feeling a sense of fear – “the fear of letting people down, of growing complacent, of living a life I’m not proud of.”

Even now, after three years at Columbia and internships in NYC, some feelings of fear creep in, Updike said.

But her Orleans County roots steady her, and motivate her to not only pursue her dreams but want to help lift up other people.

“You are going to make beautiful, successful and happy lives for yourselves, as long as you believe you will and trust your determination will take you all the way,” Updike said. “There are things out of your control but if you take all the things you can control and make the best of them, as you have done so far, you will get where you need to be.”

The Albion Top 10 include, from left: Erin Weese, Gina Sidari, Lucy Rivers, Ella Papponetti, Meganne Moore, Kevin He, Jett Conn, Kayla Burgio and Jason Anstey. Missing from photo: Finnegan McCue.

The Top 10 in Medina include, from left: Scott Schultz, Baileigh McAdoo, Iyla Lilleby, Sawyer Kingsbury, Emma Jacobs, Layne Hodgins, Camryn Eick, Conor Crandall, Caiden Class and Alexander Balaban.

Kendall honored its Top 11 – 10 seniors plus a junior graduating early. From left include Nathaniel Smith, Hunter Richards, Christopher Nettles, Sarah Laitenberger, Lucas Jones, Paige Hardenbrook, Megan Gates, Louis Conte, Noah Clark, Hannah Brundage and Sophia Barnard-DeCann.

Lyndonville’s Top 10 include, from left: Tisha Zeitz, Elizabeth Whipple, Hannah Songer, Hailey Skowneski, Jocelyn Mack, Bradley Jisa, Austin Gardner, Katelynn Breeze, Daniel Barry and Madalynn Baker.

Holley’s Top 10 include, from left: Ryleigh Weader, Leigha Walker, Layne Walker, Kayla Neale, Gabriel Lindsay, Grace Fuller, Caitlin Dobri, Cavan Bennage and Jasmine Apicella. Missing from photo: Isabella Thom.