Provided photos

CLARENDON – A group of 73 students in the Holley Rotary Interact Club spent part of today cleaning headstones at Hillside Cemetery.

The cleaning will help keep the headstones clear of dirt and moss or lichens for several years. This is one of the service projects done each year by the Interact members who are led by advisor Samantha Zelent.

The students were up early today and worked in some chilly weather with some guidance from Melissa Ierlan, the Clarendon’s town historian and a former member of the Holley Board of Education.

“This is such a meaningful event not only to teach our younger generations how to give back to the community they live in but to honor the generations of local residents who have been buried in the cemetery since 1866,” Ierlan said.

Donuts from Paula’s have become a tradition were supplied by Alex Lane, a member of the Holley Rotary Club. Dr. Dan Schiavone, a dentist in Holley, was a big giver towards the cleaning supplies, and Zelent was able to round up other donations towards the project.

“It is so amazing to me the attitude the young people of our school district towards doing community service,” Ierlan said. “They do it with ease and are so sincere in their efforts to give back. The staff, parents and local residents who came out today did a lot of work. It is so rewarding to see the before and after results of this event.”

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 3, No. 34

National Portrait Gallery image of Carl Carmer (1893-1976), Class of 1910, Albion.

ALBION – “Albion is a boom town now, alert, progressive, dynamic. It is about the same size as it was forty years ago, but it believes in growth as it never did then, and it will grow. It has a local ‘Committee of Economic Development’ which was sponsored by the Albion Chamber of Commerce and that committee has worked hard and with intelligence and foresight.”

This was Carl Carmer’s optimistic observation following a visit to his hometown in the 1940s after an absence of 40 years. At the time of this return visit, he was nationally recognized as an accomplished author and folklorist. His first book “Stars Fell on Alabama,” published in 1934 was a bestseller and Literary Guild Selection. He told American folktales on a CBS radio show called Your Neck O’ the Woods.

He described this trip to Albion in the chapter “Hometown Revisited” which is included in his book “Dark Trees to the Wind” published in 1949. He referenced as sources, Charles D’Amico, principal of Albion High School, and Joseph B. Achilles, Orleans County historian. What lively conversations they must have had!

Carmer graduated from Albion in 1910 and then pursued studies in English literature at Hamilton and Harvard. He had happy memories of growing up in Albion in the early 1900s –learning to swim in a swift-running culvert, jumping to the decks of slow canal boats on one bridge and climbing back at the next, bicycling nine miles to Oak Orchard to swim.

He recalled an era when:

 “Albion was big houses and deep tree dominated lawns…The houses of South Main St., paid for by tolls, canal trade, dividends and apple profits, were set apart, each on a spacious lawn.”

Change was immediately visible as soon as he approached the four corners where East and West Avenues meet South Main Street.

“Those corners, austere in the dignity of massive houses set back on green and level lawns, had been the symbol of South Main.

“But East and West Avenues are now part of a brick-paved pike, called the Million Dollar Highway, and where the Swan house had stood serene in the assurance of its redbrick towers lay a wide cement covered yard decorated only by the garish protuberances of a gasoline station.”

He was dismayed to find that the Bruner house across the street, an elegant, dark-green house with piazzas, bay window and cupola, had disappeared. It had been his home, the center of his hometown memories. Only the foundations remained, and they seemed pathetically small for the building that had rested on them.

As he walked down South Main Street, he saw that the remaining mansions were no longer family homes: the Dye house was a funeral home, the Taylor house was a cafeteria. The Wage house was gone and its big barn, which had once sheltered the first horseless carriage in town, was a restaurant and night club known as Marti’s.

He realized that the era and cultural patterns he had grown up with were gone, they had died along with the big houses. He believed that the town had lived through a crisis, but, at that postwar juncture, he was optimistic for its future.

He returned to Orleans County on at least one other occasion – in May 1959 when he spoke in Lyndonville for the benefit of the Yates Community Library. A presentation on his Yarns and Folktales will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Schoolhouse at 3286 Gaines Basin Rd., Albion.

Courtesy of Medina Marching Band Boosters

The Medina Mustang Marching Band competed for the six time on Saturday, this time at Central Square.

It was a long day for the students with practice starting at 8:30 a.m. and then heading to Central Square through a chilly and rainy day. Luckily the rain stopped around 5 p.m. and in time for the entire show to be performed outdoors.

There were eight bands performing in four different classifications. Scores were as follows:

• SS1: Central Square in 1st with 87.20; Medina in 2nd with 83.90.
• LS3: Rome Free Academy in 1st with 74.85.
• SS2: East Syracuse Minoa in 1st with 84.75; Norwich in 2nd with 80.60; Vestal in 3rd with 79.40
• National: Cicero-North Syracuse in 1st with 92.80; West Genesee in 2nd with 90.1.

After watching the students perform each week you can see the subtle changes to each performance and the improvements overall. The students’ and staffs’ dedication to their show is apparent and while they are not coming in 1st place they are giving it their all!

Their final competition is at the Carrier Dome on Sunday, Oct. 29, where 53 high school marching bands will compete for 14 hours starting at 8 a.m. through 10 p.m. The SS1 class starts at 6:40 p.m. and Medina performs at 6:53 p.m. Ticket prices are $25, senior 65 and older $18,  students 18 and under are $18 at the door.

ALBION – Early voting starts on Saturday, Oct. 28 and continues until Nov. 5.

Registered voters can go to the one early voting polling place at the Board of Elections office at the County Administration Building at 14016 State Route 31 in Albion.

The general election will be Nov. 7, and each town has at least one polling location.

The early voting dates and hours include:

• Saturday, Oct. 28: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 29: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..
• Wednesday, Nov. 1: noon to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 2: noon to 8 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 3: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 4: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 5: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The local positions up for election include:

Orleans County

• Sheriff – Chris Bourke, Republican and Conservative (4-year term)
• County Legislator (at-large from west) – Skip Draper of Medina, Republican (2-year term)
• County Legislator (at-large from central) – Don Allport of Gaines, Republican (2-year term)
• County Legislator (at-large from east) – Ed Morgan of Murray, Republican (2-year term)
• County Legislator (District 1) – Bill Eick of Shelby, Republican (2-year term)
• County Legislator (District 2) – Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville, Republican (2-year term)
• County Legislator (District 3) – Fred Miller of Albion, Democrat (2-year term)
• County Legislator (District 4) – John Fitzak of Carlton, Republican (2-year term)

Town of Albion

• Town Supervisor – Richard Remley, Republican (2-year term)
• Town Council members (pick two) – Darlene Benton and Terry Wilbert, Democratic Party (4-year terms)
• Town Clerk – Sarah Basinait, Republican (4-year term)
• Highway Superintendent – Michael Neidert, Conservative, Democrat and Republican (4-year term)

Town of Barre

• Town Supervisor (pick one) – Sean Pogue, Republican and “Future for Barre”; and Scott Burnside, Conservative (2-year term)
• Town Council members (pick two) – Margaret Swan and Kirk Mathes, Republicans and “Future for Barre”; and Kerri Richardson, Conservative (4-year terms)
• Town Clerk – Maureen Beach, Democrat (4-year term)
• Highway Superintendent – Dale Brooks, Republican and “Working for a Better Barre” (4-year term)
• Town Justice – Earl Jenks Jr., Republican (4-year term)

Town of Carlton

• Town Supervisor – Gayle Ashbery, Republican (4-Year term)
• Town Council members (pick two) – Dana Woolston and Brian McCue, Republicans (4-year terms)
• Town Council member – Charles Ricci, Republican (2-year term)

Town of Clarendon

• Town Supervisor – Richard Moy, Republican (2-year term)
• Town Council members (pick two) – Allen Robinson and Bruce Hovey, Republicans (4-year terms)
• Town Clerk – Susan Colby, Republican (4-year term)
• Highway Superintendent – Tracy Chalker, Conservative and Republican (4-year term)
• Town Justice – Thomas DiFante, Republican (4-year term)

Town of Gaines

• Town Supervisor – Tyler Allport, Republican
• Town Council members (pick two) – Rick Ebbs, Democrat, and Ronald Mannella, Democrat and Republican (4-year terms)
• Town Clerk – Janet Cheverie, Republican (2-year term)
• Highway Superintendent – Mark Radzinski, Republican (4-year term)

Town of Kendall

• Town Supervisor – Tony Cammarata, Republican (2-year term)
• Town Council members (pick two) – Margaret Szozda, Democrat; and David Bentley and Barbara Flow, Republicans (4-year terms)
• Highway Superintendent – Eric Maxon, Republican (2-year term)

Town of Murray

• Town Supervisor (pick one) – Gerald Rightmyer, Republican and “Community”; and Joseph Sidonio, Conservative (2-year term)
• Town Council members (pick two) – Lloyd Christ Jr. and Randall Bower, Republicans (4-year terms)
• Town Council members (pick two) – Michael Christopher and Elaine Berg, Republicans; Eric Collyer, Conservative (2-year terms)

Town of Ridgeway

• Town Supervisor – Brian Napoli, Republican (4-year term)
• Town Council members – Mary Woodruff and Duane Payne, Republicans (4-year terms)
• Town Justice – Joseph Kujawa, Republican (4-year term)

Town of Shelby

• Town Supervisor – Scott Wengewicz, Conservative and Republican (2-year term)
• Town Council members (pick two) – Jeff Schiffer and Linda Limina, Republicans; and John Pratt, write-in (4-year terms)
• Town Clerk (elect one) – Darlene Rich, Democrat and “People’s Choice”; and Christine Pask, Republican (4-year term)
• Highway Superintendent (elect one) – Dale Root, Republican and Conservative, and William Wolter, Democrat (4-year term)
• Town Justice – Ed Grabowski, Conservative and Republican (4-year term)

Town of Yates

• Town Supervisor – James Simon (2-year term)
• Town Council members (elect 2) – John Riggi and Susan Hrovat, Republicans; Paul Lauricella and Steve Colon, Conservative and “Taxpayers First” (4-year terms)
• Town Clerk – Michelle Harling, Republican (4-year term)
• Highway Superintendent – Roger Wolfe, Republican (4-year term)

By Randy LeBaron

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

This past Easter I shared about a trip to The Holy Land that I and a few of my fellow Orleans County pastors had the privilege of making back in 2017. In that article I highlighted a lot of the significant spiritual aspects of our trip but now, in light of recent events, I would like to share about some other people and places I learned about while in Israel.

Major Elliot Chodof is a political and military analyst who literally wrote the handbook for the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and gave us a tour along the Golan Heights where the 6 Day War of 1967 took place. It was an interesting excursion because even as he shared about the past he made us aware of everything going on in the present.

We had to walk cautiously down a narrow pathway because there were still live mines embedded in the ground left by the Arab armies, we visited an IDF base which had live tanks, and the photos pictured are from the Syrian border by Lebanon alongside the road to Damascus in front of Mount Hermon. For 40 miles along this border there are 60 separate terrorist groups which we were told had weapons aimed at us. It made us realize how much we as Americans often think of our enemies as “somewhere far away” while Israel only needs to glance across any of their borders. Unfortunately, the recent attacks from Hamas only serve to highlight this reality.

Another person of interest, whom I had actually met the year prior at a CUFI (Christians United for Israel) Conference in Washington D.C., was Father Gabriel Naddaf. When visiting Nazareth we were told to make sure the location was turned off on our phones so that we could meet Father Gabriel.

He had been in hiding because Arab Members of Knesset had placed such a large bounty on him and not long before had kidnapped his teenage son and best him near death. The reason why is because in Israel every Jewish born man and woman must serve time in the IDF but Arab Christians are not obligated. Father Gabriel had led a campaign that caused the number of Christians who voluntarily enlisted to triple which greatly strengthened Israel’s defense efforts.

We met others in similar situations as well including a famous Palestinian news correspondent Khaled Abu Toameh who had his life threatened repeatedly after refusing to report false propaganda and Pastor Steve Khoury whose church in Bethlehem has been bombed and set on fire over 40 times because of his refusal to stop teaching out of the Old Testament which had been banned in that area. There were several other people and several other stories but I will share just one more.

The man on the left was our tour guide Yoav Rotem and the older man on the right was his father. One evening after dinner Yoav shared that only recently his father had opened up about his time hiding from the Nazi’s during the Holocaust and that he was willing to share his story with us.

Though they were smiling in this photo there were plenty of sad, serious, and scary moments over the next hour as he recalled not only what happened to him and others but also what was going through his mind at the time. It was hard to hear but we listened intently as he made himself vulnerable in order to help us to better understand.

We ended our time in Israel with a visit­­­ to Yad Vashem, a Holocaust Memorial, The main message was to never forget—even as some actively try to downplay and spread doubt about the the events of this horrific period in history. As Israel is facing persecution once again I pray for them as well as for all the innocent lives that have been put at risk because of these terrorist attacks. Am Yisrael Chai.

See you in 2 weeks!

Pastor Randy

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Participants in the first-time Hometown Wellness Center 5-kilometer walk and run head down West Avenue towards the Erie Canal this morning.

There were 81 people who completed the course, and most wore pink shirts in support of breast cancer awareness. Proceeds from the event also went to the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund which assists Orleans County with cancer.

Pam Eaton, owner of Hometown Wellness, takes a group photo before the race and walk started at 9 a.m.

Eaton said about half of the participants were members of the Hometown Wellness Center with the rest other community members.

She wasn’t sure how many people to expect for the first-time event and was thrilled with the turnout.

Jennifer Cardone, front right, gives the group a pep talk before they headed out for the walk/run. She is one of the instructors at Hometown Wellness.

“I know a 5K is a long way for some of you,” she said. “But keep going. Be the hero of your story.”

This group is in one of the wellness classes that meets three times a week. They include, from left: Carol Bellack, Leslie Mischel, Robin Wehling, Bev Woodward, Tami Siffringer, Linda Allis and Sheree Canham.

The class is led by Patty Olinger, who is a breast cancer survivor. She embraced a healthier lifestyle when she was diagnosed with cancer 13 years, eating more nutritious meals and exercising.

Olinger leads a boot camp and fitness classes at Hometown Wellness.

“It’s thrilling to see so many people involved today,” Olinger said. “Here (at Hometown Wellness) it’s all about being positive and accepting.”

These participants walk down West Avenue towards the canal during the 5K this morning.

These runners are on the south side of the canal during an early part of the race.

Photo by Tom Rivers

WATERPORT – These leaves are freshly fallen from trees along the Oak Orchard River in Waterport. The leaves were floating in the water on Friday afternoon.

The area has reached near-peak colors for fall foliage, according to the I Love NY Fall Foliage report. Other parts of the state are past peak, including the Adirondacks, Catskills and Chautauqua-Allegheny regions.

“The journey of gorgeous fall colors across New York State continues this weekend, with peak foliage expected to be found in parts of eight of the state’s 11 vacation regions,” states the weekly fall foliage report from the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.

“In Orleans County, spotters in Albion are predicting near-peak foliage with 60% color change, while Genesee County volunteers from Batavia are anticipating foliage at midpoint of change with 50% transition and muted to average shades of yellow and red,” the report states.

The map of the state shows the leaves have changed colors throughout the state, with some regions past peak.

Photos by Tom Rivers

WATERPORT – Lucas Bodinez of Pittsburgh stands in the fast-moving current of the Oak Orchard River on Friday, trying to catch a Chinook salmon or a steelhead (rainbow trout).

Bodinez traveled to Orleans County in a group of 10 of his friends.

“We’ve been coming here for years,” Bodinez said.

They venture down the stream where there are less people.

“We like to get away from the crowds,” he said.

Many fishermen converge near the Waterport Dam to try to land one of the big salmon and trout.

Orleans County sees a big influx of fishermen this time of the year, with many out-of-state license plates in the parking lots. They are trying to catch big fish that are in the Oak Orchard and other tributaries to spawn and deposit their eggs.

Dustin Cowen, 37, of Michigan made the trip to Orleans County for the first time. He joined his father.

“I’ve never seen this many fish in one spot,” Cowen said. “The fishing here is phenomenal.”

Cowden had already caught a brown trout, and had many fish on the line.

Fishing is big business in Orleans County, according to survey by the state Department of Environmental Conservation that put the total economic impact at $27,989,393 in 2017.

Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393, according to the survey that was released in 2020.

County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571.

Oswego which includes the Salmon River is the highest-ranked county with $192.7 million in total economic impact from fishing.

This angler from Pittsburgh enjoys a fall day in the Oak Orchard.

Project expected to save Extension $4,000 a year

Photo by Katie Oakes: Officiating in a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon to dedicate installation of solar panels on the Knights Building at Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds are, from left, Orleans County Legislator Bill Eick; Cooperative Extension board president Marlene Seielstad; Eileen Banker, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Rich Marino of Horseheads, chair of the board of Everybody Solar; and Robert Batt, executive director of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension.

KNOWLESVILLE – There was no mistaking Robert Batt’s joy on Thursday as he checked his phone and learned the newly-installed solar panels on the roof of the Knights Building had generated more than enough power by noon to power a home for a day. The carbon offset to the environment is equal to planting one tree, Batt added. The panels were activated two days prior.

Batt presided at a ceremony at 1 p.m. Thursday to dedicate the solar panels, which included Rich Marino, chair of the board of Everybody Solar; Marlene Seielstad, chair of the board of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension; Legislator Bill Eick; and Eileen Banker, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Batt said it has taken them nearly 30 years to get to the point of activating the solar project.

“In 1996, I was a youth representative on the fair committee and I heard leaders discussing solar energy,” Batt said. “One leader said roofs are a waste if they are not used to generate solar power. This has been a dream of ours for 30 years, but cost prohibited us from doing it.”

In 2020, while at a YMCA camp, Batt met a counselor who knew about Everybody Solar, a company that seeks out non-profits and solicits money from donors who are passionate about climate change.

Batt was immediately intrigued and contacted Everybody Solar. That set the wheels in motion, which culminated in the ceremony Thursday to dedicate installation of 77 solar panels on the roof of the Knights Building at Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

“The power they generate will offset our electric bill for the entire fairgrounds,” Batt said.

Marino said the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds is the third major project for Everybody Solar in New York state. The other two are the Ithaca Science Center and YMCA in Penn Yan. He acknowledged substantial donations from the Rochester Community Foundation and $30,000 from Cargill, in addition to individual donors which made the project a reality at the fairgrounds.

He explained Everybody Solar has done solar installations from Maine to Florida and California for worthy organizations, including homeless shelters, Native American communities and in Glacier National Park.

“This is our first agriculturally-centered project,” Marino said.  “We are proud to be part of this.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Robert Batt, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, welcomes people to the fairgrounds Thursday to witness the dedication of solar panels on the roof of the Knights Building. (Right) Robert Batt is all smiles as he checks the app on his phone Thursday and discovers the newly-activated solar panels on the Knights Building have already generated 37.2 kilowatts of power as of 1 p.m. Thursday. It takes about 30 kilowatts to power a home for a day.

Seielstad addressed the crowd, commending those who worked on the project.

“This is a way we are bringing the past into the future,” she said.

She acknowledged two volunteers whose efforts were crucial in making the solar project a reality, Marty Zwifka, who chairs the fair committee, and Charlie Ricci, who chairs the property committee.

“The power saved by this project will enable us to invest in other projects that will better our fairgrounds,” Seielstad said.

Representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Banker presented Batt with a proclamation and thank him for his forward-thinking project.

County Legislator Bill Eick also commended Batt and the Cooperative Extension board, on which both he and Legislator Ed Morton sit.

“This will be a big asset to the fairgrounds,” Eick said.

Final speaker was Nate Bureau with Paradise Energy, the company which installed the panels.

He explained the inverter on the wall of the Knights Building, which converts power to AC and sends it into the grid, and answered questions about the life of solar panels and their ability to stand up to hail. He said when the panels produce more power than the fairgrounds can use, it kicks it into the grid. When the fairgrounds demands more power, it will pull it back off.”

“Projects like this are so important to us,” Bureau said. “We love it when we get the opportunity to work with companies like Everybody Solar to make good things happen. It is pretty cool.”

He explained solar panels are quite hardy and have a life span of 30 to 35 years, while the inverter may last between 10 and 15 years, perhaps even 20.

In a prior press release, Batt stated they are thrilled to be going solar and taking a leadership role in sustainability.

“We are excited to see the positive impact this project will have on our community and our mission to provide relevant, accessible and research-based information to grow confident youth and successful farms and gardens for a strong and healthy community,” he said.

The power generated annually by the solar panels will prevent 45,535 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, Batt said. This is the equivalent to averting the greenhouse gas emissions of 2,324 gallons of consumed gasoline.

He explained each dollar saved helps cover operating expenses and provides resources to the organization’s various programs. For example, $1,000 in savings will allow OCCCE to invest in improvements to livestock housing and show supplies, and increase hands-on components in educational workshops. Overall, the system is anticipated to save OCCCE more than $4,000 in the first year alone.

MEDINA – The annual Wreaths Across America is scheduled this year on Dec. 16, when wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in thousands of locations across the country.

In Medina, the ceremony will take place at noon at Boxwood Cemetery, followed by placing wreaths in Boxwood and also St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart cemeteries.

Kathy Blackburn, who heads the project each year, is requesting donations to purchase wreaths in memory of our area’s veterans.

Wreaths this year cost $27 and donations may be made by logging on to Wreaths Across America and clicking on “Boxwood.” Checks designated for Wreaths Across America may also be mailed to the village clerk at 119 Park Ave., Medina, or dropped off during business hours.

Wreaths Across America was started in 1992 by a wreath producer in Maine, who found himself with an abundance of wreaths nearing the end of his season. He arranged for volunteer truckers to transport them to Arlington National Cemetery, and the movement mushroomed from there.

Last year, more than 2.7 million wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves in 3,702 locations across the country.

Blackburn started the project in Medina in 20143after Shirley Whittleton brought it up at a Boxwood Commission meeting. Medina started with the original seven wreaths which were sent to anyone requesting them – one for each branch of the military and one for POW/MIAs.

Since then, the movement has grown to dynamic proportions in Medina. Last year, local businessman Tom Snyder stepped up to purchase 800 wreaths to cover every veteran’s grave in Boxwood, St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart cemeteries.

Snyder, a Navy veteran who served from 1991 to 1998 and was with Special Forces in Central America, has also agreed to be a generous sponsor of the wreaths this year, in addition to supporting a similar project at the Veterans’ National Cemetery in Pembroke.

Volunteers are also being sought to help lay the wreaths. Scout groups, students needing volunteer hours or anyone wishing to participate is urged to contact Blackburn to volunteer by calling (585) 734-5801.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) have identified a concerning trend of elevated cocaine use locally that is causing fatal fentanyl overdoses.

Fortunately, these deaths are preventable, and resources are available locally to help.

Since 2021, there have been 29 fatal fentanyl overdoses confirmed in Genesee County, and at least 72% of these deaths have also involved cocaine. In some instances, bystanders reported that the person who died of a fentanyl overdose thought they were taking only powder cocaine or crack cocaine.

In Orleans County, there were 10 fatal fentanyl overdoses during this same time period, of which 40% involved cocaine.

GO Health has also identified through wastewater analysis that cocaine consumption is very high in Batavia and Le Roy compared to other areas nationally. GO Health regularly analyzes wastewater samples from wastewater treatment plants throughout Genesee and Orleans counties for high-risk substances to better understand local patterns in drug consumption and these trends are compared to upwards of 160 sites nationally by the wastewater epidemiology company Biobot Analytics.

In August, the estimated cocaine consumption in Batavia was higher than 94% of other tested sites in the United States, and in Le Roy it was higher than 95% of other tested sites.

Substance use is estimated in each sewershed by taking the amount of the metabolite found in the wastewater and dividing by the size of the population served by the wastewater treatment plant.

“For the last several years, Genesee County’s opioid overdose death rates have surpassed the state’s average, and been higher than neighboring counties too,” stated Paul Pettit, the Public Health Director for GO Health. “Unfortunately, what we are seeing here are indications of a relatively high amount of cocaine use locally, and when that cocaine is contaminated with fentanyl, it is causing preventable overdoses and deaths.”

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that can be prescribed by physicians to treat patients’ severe pain that is not responsive to other medications, such as in cases of advanced-stage cancer.

Because it is 50 times stronger than heroin, illegally-made fentanyl has largely replaced heroin and other opioids in the U.S. drug supply, and is commonly mixed with other drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).3 Many people who use street drugs like cocaine or counterfeit pills are unaware that what they are taking may contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.

Individuals who are aware of the risks of fentanyl overdose when using cocaine are empowered to make safer choices that could save their life or the life of a loved one, and a number of resources are available:

• Narcan (naloxone) nasal spray can be used to reverse an opioid overdose, and should be administered to anyone who is showing signs of having difficulty breathing or who is not breathing at all, regardless of whether the person is known to have taken an opioid. Narcan is available for free from the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force simply by texting “KIT” to 1-877-535-2461.

• Fentanyl test strips, which can be used to check for fentanyl in drugs, are available for free from the MATTERS Network at mattersnetwork.org/individual-request.

• People who use cocaine or other drugs can reduce their risk by never using alone, taking turns when using drugs with others, or calling the Never Use Alone Hotline at 1- 800-484-3731.

• Treatment for substance use disorders is available locally from Hope Haven at 585-922- 9900, from Horizon Health Services at 585-815-0247, and from UConnectCare (formerly GCASA) at 585-343-1124 (Genesee County) or 585-589-0055 (Orleans County).

• Entry points to treatment are also available in person 24 hours a day at the City of Batavia Fire Department, the City of Batavia Police Department, the Genesee County Sheriff, and the Le Roy Police Department through the Public Safety Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI).

For information on Health Department programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:

• Orleans County Health Department: (585) 589-3278
• Genesee County Health Department: (585) 344-2580 ext. 5555

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Billy Witherspoon, left, and Gary Kent pose with the bronze statue of Santa in honor of the late Charles W. Howard after they planted small trees and shrubs at Waterman Park this morning.

The statue was dedicated on June 10 in a project by the Albion Betterment Committee.

Kent is a member of the ABC and that group paid to have six dwarf Alberta spruce trees, three burning bushes and one dogwood tree added to Waterman Park on Main Street where the bronze state is located.

The spruce trees should max out at 6 feet tall, Kent said. The Betterment Committee in recent years has planted about 40 dogwood trees in the village.

The new trees and shrubs are mostly on the north side of the lot where there is more sun during the day.

Sites include First Baptist Church in Medina, Hamlin Beach State Park, Robin Hill Manor in Lyndonville and Mundion home in Ridgeway

The new inductees in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame include from left going clockwise: First Baptist Church of Medina, the Masten/Mundion home in Ridgeway, Robin Hill Manor in Lyndonville, and Hamlin Beach State Park.

MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society inducted four more sites into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Thursday.

The 10^th anniversary class includes the First Baptist Church of Medina, Hamlin Beach State Park, Robin Hill Manor in Lyndonville and the Masten/Mundion home in Ridgeway. There have now been 39 sites inducted since the Hall of Fame was established in 2013. The plaques and photographs are on display in the main meeting room of City Hall.

Hall of Fame Committee member David Miller, left, and Jim Hancock remove the curtain to unveil this year’s inductees. The committee also includes Reinhard Rogowski, Rollin Hellner and Tom Rivers. The sites are nominated and the committee visits and researches the sites. More than 70 locations have been nominated for the Hall of Fame. The Medina Sandstone Society board of directors gives a final OK for the sites included in the Hall of Fame.

Takeform in Medina has donated the plaques and display for the Hall of Fame each year.

Mindy Cogovan, a long-time parishioner at First Baptist Church in Medina, and Rev. Randy LeBaron of the church hold the plaque after the ceremony at City Hall.

First Baptist Church of Medina

The plaque for the church states:

“For 150 years, the First Baptist Church of Medina has been a landmark, one of the most iconic sites in the village. The steeple, peaking at about 150 feet high, is one of the first sights approaching the downtown, especially from Route 31 to the east.

The church was constructed between 1870 and 1873 at 203 West Center St. It is made of locally quarried gray Medina Sandstone and was built in an example of Gothic Revivalism tempered with influences from the then-even more popular Romanesque Revival style.

The Medina Tribune on Jan. 16, 1873, made the church’s dedication front page news, saying the Medina community could pride itself for having “one of the most elegant and substantial church buildings in all of Western New York.”

A congregation of 140 people contributed the $45,000 to have the church built on one of the best sites in the village, the Tribune noted.

The church’s members through a century and half have proven devoted caretakers of the building, ensuring its longevity and lofty presence for the community.”

Matt and Heather Mundion hold the plaque recognizing their home is now in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.

Ephraim Masten Homestead – Telegraph Road in Medina, New York

The plaque states:

“In 1819, Ephraim Masten and his wife Nancy came to Ridgeway and purchased 130 acres of land two miles east from what would become the village of Medina. They built and lived in a log cabin until 1831 when the family had done well enough to be able to construct a house of locally quarried sandstone to replace the log cabin.

Ephraim died in 1840 and his wife in 1872, but the home remained in the family for many succeeding generations of Masten descendants.

In more recent years, the home was occupied by attorney Vincent Cardone, who did considerable restoration work on the historic building, then industrialist Milford L. Phinney and family.

Most recently, Matt and Heather Mundion have further expanded and beautified the home using repurposed Medina Sandstone for new porch and patio areas and other interior and exterior improvements.

With its long history of restoration and stewardship, this historic home will soon be 200 years old!”

Robin Hill Manor is an not only an impressive Medina Sandstone home, the site includes an arboretum with about 250 varieties of trees.

Robin Hill Manor – Platten Road, Lyndonvillle, NY

“This beautiful home was built in the late 1940-1950 by Lyndonville residents William and Mary Smith and their children George and Marion Smith.

William and Mary Smith designed the Manor House and had drawings done by a professional architect from Rochester. It took them five years to quarry and cut the Medina Sandstone and build the house. George did most of the stone work and all of the interior wood and cabinetry while Marion and Mary finished the kitchen, hauling materials for the floors and staining the cedar shakes for the roof.

The house was finished in 1952. The family lived there until Marion’s passing in 2013, when Doug Pratt inherited the estate. He lives there and has set up the non-profit he Robin Hill Nature Preserve for the public to enjoy the 45 acres and more than 250 varieties of trees.

“Smith Pond” has been a beloved landmark for decades in Lyndonville, with many people stopping to admire swans and other wildlife. Pratt continues to make this “jewel” available to the community.”

Hamlin had a contingent representing the state park at the hall of Fame ceremony. In front, from left, include Ed Evans, winner of a Heritage Award for his efforts at the park and the former CCC/POW camp; Ross Lovell, park manager; and John Snyder, assistant regional director for NYS Parks. Back row: Members of the Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park: Sue Evans, Nick Kramer, Kim Walter, Jim Lugert, Patti Sullivan and Tom Dabrowski.

Hamlin Beach State Park – Hamlin, NY

“At Hamlin Beach State Park in Monroe County, the Medina Sandstone is everywhere – the shelters, bathrooms, culverts, fireplaces, fire pits, drinking fountains, retaining walls and a concessions building.

The entire park, which draws about 300,000 people a year, is a tremendous showcase of Medina Sandstone.

Hamlin Beach State Park was largely developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1935 to 1941, with state contractors then working on the park until 1952.

Operating from a camp on Moscow Road, the CCC employed local stone masons, carpenters, forestry crews, auto mechanics, truck drivers, rock crusher operators and road crews to build the park during the latter years of the Depression.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has made recent investments in the park’s upkeep, and the Friends of Hamlin State Beach have pushed to make the park more accessible and its history more fully understood.”

Hamlin Beach includes many drinking fountains, fire pits and retaining walls, as well as the larger shelters and a bathhouse.

The honorees at the Hall of Fame induction include, from left: Jennifer Wells-Dickerson with a Heritage Award for her efforts preserving the story of her great-grandfather, Pasquale DiLaura, a quarry owner who was influential in the stone work on the Parkway and at Hamlin Beach; Matt and Heather Mundion, owner of the Masten-Mundion home on Telegraph Road in Ridgeway; Mindy Cogovan and Rev. Randy LeBaron of the First Baptist Church of Medina; John Snyder, assistant regional director for New York State Parks and Ross Lovell, Hamlin Beach State Park manager; and Ed Evans, Heritage Award honoree for his efforts to preserve the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps camp/POW camp at Hamlin Beach State Park. Missing from photo: Doug Pratt, owner of the Robin Hill Manor in Lyndonville.