Has anyone ever told you, you’d make a great school board member?
NOSBA (Niagara Orleans School Boards Association) is offering a free workshop on Saturday, March 16 for anyone interested in running for a Board of Education position or learning more about the process.
The workshop will be held at the North Tonawanda High School Library, 405 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda. It will run from 9 to 11 a.m. and guest speakers will include attorney Jeff Swiatek (Hodgson Russ LLP), who will speak on the school board election process, and North Tonawanda Superintendent Gregory J. Woytila, who will address building a productive working relationship between the board and the superintendent.
For anyone interested in attending, please call NOSBA at (716) 731-6800 ext. 2211 or email Diane Stamp at dstamp@onboces.org by Wednesday, March 13.
Provided photo: Dr. James Sunser, president of Genesee Community College, accepts a signed basketball from GCC Trustee Ms. Jacalyn Whiting. All of the trustees signed the ball that was given to Sunser who is retiring this year.
BATAVIA – On February 7, Genesee Community College Board of Trustees took the opportunity during half time of the final men’s home basketball game of the season to celebrate the career of someone who has been a true legend both on and off the court.
Dr. James Sunser is concluding his final academic year as President of GCC, and this was the first of a few events planned to honor his service.
Throughout Dr. Sunser’s career, he was known to step onto the basketball court with students. His willingness to engage in friendly matches, share his love for the game and connect with students beyond the traditional walls of academia has set him apart as a leader.
Dr. Sunser’s approachability and enthusiasm, whether in a Board Meeting Room or on the basketball court, created an atmosphere where students feel not only supported but genuinely connected.
That evening, those present not only honored his role on the court, but his role in shaping the course of this institution. In his 13-year career at the college, Dr. Sunser has been a leader who has tirelessly worked towards the betterment of the college and the success of its students.
During Dr. Sunser’s tenure, his efforts spearheaded major capital campaigns for the Student Success Center and the Richard C. Call Arena. Innovative academic and student spaces were also developed such as a state-of-the-art criminal justice lab, vet tech lab, solar electric lab, and student eSports space. In addition, his leadership within the GCC Foundation led to extensive renovations of College Village to provide students with enhanced living space, social space and technological improvements.
Dr. Sunser accepted a basketball signed by each Trustee as a token of their appreciation to symbolize their heartfelt gratitude for his outstanding contributions and commitment to students.
Provided photos: Some of the services offered at the Holley Center include nutrition education with a food demonstration and tasting.
Press Release, Center for Community Health & Prevention at the University of Rochester Medical Center
HOLLEY – Have you heard of the Holley Center? A staple for many of the residents of Eastern Orleans County, the Center provides a vast array of free health and human services.
From free lunch Monday through Friday, to a medical loan closet complete with wheelchairs and walkers, to furniture and appliances and a free clothing boutique, the small space houses it all. Most of all, the primarily volunteer-run organization overflows with heart.
Katie Bauer, regional program coordinator for Promote HEALTH, brought the free eight-week healthy lifestyle program to the Holley Center in the spring of 2023. She knew from the first class that it was going to be a long-lasting relationship.
Promote HEALTH participants, village residents and volunteers got to know Katie and a bond was formed instantly.
“Class participants continue to share their small healthy lifestyle changes with one another, and with me,” Bauer said. “Whether they’ve added a new food to their eating pattern that they never tried before, or if they saw a new recipe, they’re open to making changes and continue to be excited about it all. The people are so special. They want the best for their community and it shows. The Holley Center is my favorite place to be.”
After 40 years of smoking, program participant Rachael has been smoke-free since June 2023. With Katie’s encouragement and support from Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Text to Quit program, Rachael was able to quit smoking before having hip surgery in the winter of last year.
“The program and Katie have really saved my life,” shared Rachael, who has also worked at the Center for 14 years. “The support you get while participating in Promote HEALTH, and beyond, keeps you going.”
Promote HEALTH is provided in partnership between the Center for Community Health & Prevention and Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Community Outreach and Engagement program.
Katie returns monthly to provide nutrition education with a food demonstration and tasting, like apple nachos, and has helped connect Deb, Center coordinator, and Rachael with area resources, like smoking cessation, for their clients.
The UR Medicine Mobile Mammography Van was in Holley on Monday and will be back on Friday.
One of the latest connections is with the UR Medicine Mobile Mammography Van. The Mobile Mammo will be making a stop a few blocks from the Holley Center (at 1 Wright St.) Friday, March 1 to provide breast cancer screenings to women 40 and older. Are you due for a mammogram? Call 844-870-0002 or email mammovan@urmc.rochester.edu to schedule an appointment. Spaces are limited.
The Center for Community Health & Prevention looks forward to continuing our partnership with the Holley Center and appreciate all they, and Katie, do for their community! If you would like more information on the Promote HEALTH program, smoking cessation programs or other services mentioned in this story, please contact Katie at katie_bauer@urmc.rochester.edu.
By Randi Ingersoll, social worker at Orleans Community Health
Subacute rehabilitation plays a crucial role in the continuum of care for individuals recovering from surgery or injury. This specialized form of rehabilitation serves as a vital bridge between acute care and a return to normal daily activities. We’re often asked to define sub-acute rehab and explain its importance.
What is Subacute Rehab?
Subacute rehab is a level of care that falls between acute hospital care and traditional outpatient rehabilitation. It is designed for patients who no longer require intensive medical monitoring but still need comprehensive rehabilitation services to regain optimal functioning. These rehab units may occasionally have specific names, such as Medina Memorial Hospital’s Transitional Care Unit (TCU) is where subacute rehab patients can take this step toward getting back on their feet.
Here is some additional information that is helpful to know about subacute rehab:
• It consists of inpatient care that lasts for 1-3 weeks and can include several therapies throughout the day (occupational, physical and/or speech therapy).
• Skilled nursing services such as long term IV antibiotic administration is considered subacute rehab.
• Some subacute rehab locations offer benefits to patients like private rooms and 24-hour RN coverage for nursing care
• Subacute rehab can occur in hospital settings (such as Medina Memorial Hospital) or locations outside of a
hospital setting.
• Overall, the goal is to get the patient back to the physical function they were at prior to the injury, illness or surgery that led them to needing subacute rehab.
Finding the Location that Best Fits You
“I knew I needed a knee replacement, actually both knees needed to be done.” – Phyllis MacKay of Middleport NY
Finding the location that best fits you is a critical piece of your recovery. Spending 1-3 weeks away from home may be burdensome, so finding a place that makes you comfortable is a priority. While you can wait until you receive recommendations from a discharge planner, you can also do personal research on subacute rehab facilities/units that you believe are good fits. Medina Memorial Hospital’s TCU and other locations offer tours that help make this decision.
Key Features to know about Subacute Rehab Care
Comprehensive Care Tailored to Individual Needs
One of the key features of subacute rehab is its individualized approach to care. Each patient receives a personalized treatment plan that addresses their specific medical condition, functional abilities, and rehabilitation goals. This tailored approach ensures that patients receive the right level of support to regain independence in activities of daily living.
Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
Subacute rehab involves a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals working collaboratively to meet the diverse needs of patients. This team may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nurses, and other specialists. The coordinated efforts of these professionals help address the physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects of recovery.
Intensive Rehabilitation Services
Patients in subacute rehab participate in intensive rehabilitation services that focus on improving mobility, strength, coordination, and overall function. Therapists employ techniques and exercises to enhance a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks independently. This may include mobility training, balance exercises, adaptive equipment training, and other interventions tailored to the patient’s condition.
Transitioning to Independence
The primary goal of subacute rehab is to prepare individuals for a successful return to their homes and communities. Through targeted therapy and support, patients gain the skills and confidence needed to manage their health independently. This transition to independence not only improves the quality of life for patients but also reduces the likelihood of re-hospitalization.
Monitoring and Managing Medical Conditions
While the acute phase of an illness or injury may have passed, individuals in subacute rehab may still have ongoing medical needs. The healthcare team in this setting is equipped to monitor and manage these conditions, ensuring a smooth recovery process. This comprehensive approach to care addresses not only rehabilitation but also the overall well-being of the patient.
Getting You Back on Your Feet
In conclusion, subacute rehab serves as a crucial step in the healing journey for individuals recovering from illness, surgery, or injury. Its individualized approach, intensive rehabilitation services, and focus on transitioning to independence contribute to improved outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. By understanding the importance of subacute rehab, we can appreciate its role in enhancing the overall quality of care and supporting individuals on their path to recovery.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2024 at 7:49 am
Photo by Marsha Rivers: The sun rises over a corn field on Gaines Basin Road in Albion in this recent photo.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a high wind watch for Orleans County from 11 a.m. Wednesday through 1 a.m. Thursday.
The watch also includes Niagara, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming and Chautauqua counties. There will be westerly winds from 30 to 40 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 mph, the Weather Service said.
Wednesday will have a high of 64 and then will see a rapid drop of temperatures to a low of 20.
Today is forecast for a high of 65, followed by Wednesday’s high of 64. Thursday will only get to 28, but then the highs will be 50 on Friday and 52 on Saturday, the Weather Service said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 February 2024 at 10:19 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Nick Joy, left, and Tanner Ferris takes the oaths of office and are sworn in as new police officer for the Village of Medina.
Joy’s dad Scott, right, is holding the Bible for while Ferris’ grandmother Darlene Sullivan holds the Bible while he recites the oath of office.
The two new officers were sworn in during this evening’s Village Board meeting.
Joy of Lyndonville is already well known in Albion and Medina, where he is a trainer and co-owner of the Hustl House gym. He will continue at Hustl House while starting a new career as a police officer.
“It is a really great opportunity to serve the community even more,” Joy said.
Ferris is a 2017 Albion graduate. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from SUNY Brockport. He has been working for Keeler Construction.
“This is a great way to make a difference,” Ferris said about working as a police officer.
His grandfather, Richard Ferris, was a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.
Tanner Ferris is grateful for the chance to work for the Medina PD.
“This is a smaller community where you can make a difference and not just be a number,” he said.
The two officers will take a six-month police academy starting Monday at Niagara County Community College then they do field training with the Medina PD.
Warm winter results in more encounters with wildlife, stray animals
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are warning residents to stay away from wild life and stray animals.
“Due to the mild winter and warmer temperatures, there has been a rise in the instances of people encountering wild animals and strays throughout Genesee and Orleans counties,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “In the past month, several residents have required rabies treatment following an animal encounter.”
Rabies is most often found in wildlife such as raccoons, bats, and skunks, but pets can be at risk of the virus too.
“If you see an animal in need, even if it is a baby animal, avoid touching it and contact animal control,” stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for GO Health. “It is also important to keep your pets up to date on their rabies vaccination.”
Rabies can be fatal if left untreated. It can be transmitted through direct contact with saliva through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth. If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention. All bites should be reported to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
To prevent the spread of rabies, the health department reminds residents to take the following precautions:
Keep your pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations
Obey leash laws. Keep your pets under direct supervision and on a leash so they do not come in contact with wild or stray animals. If an animal bites your pet, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact the health department.
Avoid contact with wild or stray animals. Do not handle, feed, touch, or attract wildlife (raccoons, skunks, bats, bunnies, rabbits, and foxes) or stray dogs and cats.
Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
Prevent bats from entering living quarters. If you find a bat in your home, safely capture it and call the health department. DO NOT release it! For a video on how to safety capture a bat, click here.
Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood or if you see an animal showing signs of rabies. Signs of rabies in animals may include aggression, excessive drool or saliva, confusion, hair loss, and loss of movement or function.
Residents are encouraged to take note of our upcoming drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties that are offered at no charge.
Genesee County Rabies Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020)
Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Thursday, August 8, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Thursday, October 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Orleans County Rabies Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY 14411)
Saturday, April 13, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 5, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 10, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 19, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact your respective health department:
MEDINA – The application for Medina’s Full Day Universal Pre-K (UPK) program is now available on the Primary School’s website or by accessing the link found here.
Parents of children not already enrolled in UPK who are interested in enrolling their child in kindergarten for the 24-25 school year are also asked to complete the application form.
To be eligible for UPK, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2024. To be eligible for kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2024.
For any families looking to learn more about the full day UPK program, the Medina School District will be hosting an Information Night on Thursday, March 14th from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., held at Oak Orchard Primary School. Childcare will be provided for any children eligible to attend school in the 2024-25 school year.
Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. and the evening will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. There will be a brief general session for adults in the auditorium, and then participants will visit scheduled locations throughout the building. Please plan to arrive by 5:30 and stay for the duration, in order to receive all the information prepared.
Families interested in learning more about Medina’s UPK program are encouraged to attend the Information Night. If you are unable to attend, information will be shared afterward on Oak Orchard Primary School’s website.
Timeline for UPK Application, Acceptance, Registration and Screening:
Feb. 16 to April 1: UPK applications accepted by calling the Oak Orchard Main Office, or through our website, starting on Feb. 26
Thursday March 14: UPK Information Night 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Oak Orchard Primary
April 2: Families notified of acceptance into UPK Program or if program capacity is reached, that lottery is to be held.
Week of April 1: Lottery held, if needed, and registration packets mailed.
Week of May 6 – May 10: UPK Student Screening, applicants should bring all registration materials to the screening. A parent and the child are expected to attend the screening. Applicants will be contacted by phone to schedule their screening time.
Any questions can be directed to the Oak Orchard Main Office by calling 585-798-2700, option 3 and then 0, between 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 26 February 2024 at 8:51 am
File Photo: Roger Hungerford speaks during Dec. 9, 2021 in the Bent’s Opera House events center.
MEDINA – An announcement, which Roger Hungerford once said would “blow the medical industry out of the water,” is forthcoming on a project which Hungerford and head medical researcher Jason Maine have been working on for four years.
Hungerford has numerous patents for medical devices, including an intravenous delivery pump and a cardiopulmonary bypass pump. His father Van also is credited with designing the first heart pump for a physician at the Cleveland Clinic.
Roger has formed AMGIS, headquartered in the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue, where work is progressing on a revolutionary approach to intravenous fluid and drug delivery. Fifteen engineers have been working remotely on this project, Hungerford said in an interview.
Most recently, Hungerford and his team developed an advanced clinical guidance software tool which electronically connects and integrates patient data from multiple units, such as seizure pumps, infusion pumps and cardiopulmonary pumps.
Hungerford anticipates his newest invention, an intravenous drug and fluid delivery device, will be ready to submit to the FDA for review in two parts the second half of this year. He said it will be tied up at the FDA for a year before AMGIS can begin manufacturing it in Medina. He anticipates a large number of patents will be associated with the device.
He said the new invention will make every other device in its field obsolete.
“We are using things that have not previously been considered until we engineered all these breakthroughs,” Hungerford said.
‘When Albion organized an oil company in 1864 to speculate in Pennsylvania oil and lost all the cash it invested?’
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 9
“I remember when…..”
These words, when uttered by an elder, are almost always guaranteed to send the younger generation scurrying from the room. As we age, we tend to reminisce about “the way things used to be.”
In recent years, social media has facilitated memory sharing, we can find online peers to confirm our recollections, even if the young folk are disinterested.
In the early 1920s, Albion newspaper editor Lafayette H. Beach, used his newspaper, The Orleans Republican, as a platform for his reminiscences. Born in 1856, Beach, for whom Albion’s Lafayette Park is named, was then in his sixties, a decade when the onset of “rememberingitis” is prevalent.
The columns were titled:
“Doings of the Old Days Long Gone By – Do You Remember?” They consisted of memories framed as short questions. These entries capture the flavor and color of daily life some fifty years prior i.e. the 1870s to 1890s.
Here are some, with explanations where necessary:
“When Albion was an open town for gamblers and painted women and when John N. Proctor as Village President and John Cunneen as Village Attorney put skids under these undesirables and moved them out of town?”
“When the rule prevailed with workingmen of one day’s wage for one week’s rent?”
“When Albion belonged to the Town of Barre* and our folks travelled to Barre Center for political caucuses and election in the spring, rain or shine?”
(*The Town of Albion was formed in 1875 from 17,000 approx. acres in northern Barre.)
“When spray rigs were unknown, and worms and bugs had their orchard picnics without fear of poison spray?”
“When cows roamed the village streets and were sometimes coaxed into backyards and robbed of their milk by mischievous boys who had learned how to filch the lacteal fluid?”
A Dolly Varden outfit
“When venison and bear meat were sold in the local markets every winter?”
“When the butcher used to give away liver and other interior trimmings and never expected that one day they would be exchanged for coin?”
“When crinolines* were the proper thing and women’s full dress skirts were ten yards around the bottom and just escaped the ground?”
(*Crinolines were stiffened or hooped petticoats which made the skirt stand out, thus making the waist appear smaller. They were popular from the 1850’s to the late 1870’s.)
“When Dolly Varden* costumes were in great favor with the ladies?”
(*The Dolly Varden costume was popular in the early 1870s. Named for a Charles Dickens character from his novel Barnaby Rudge, the outfit featured a brightly patterned dress with a polonaise overskirt which was gathered up and draped over a separate underskirt. A flat straw hat trimmed with flowers and ribbons completed the ensemble.)
“When tobacco was a staple farm crop along the Ridge and when Revenue agents used to snoop around and try to catch farmers selling tobacco without a government tax?”
“When the Western New York Hedge Company* induced farmers to edge their farms with hedges which later took money, time and labor to pull out?”
(*The Buffalo Weekly Express, 29 July 1886, noted that a stock company called the Western New York Hedge company had been formed in Medina with a capital of $20,000. On 27 April 1893, the Democrat & Chronicle noted that the company had failed.
“When sugar beets appealed to the farmers and they raised them for the Lyons* sugar factory for $5 per ton, the state paying $1 per ton as a bonus to encourage production?”
(*The Empire State Sugar Company factory was built in the Wayne County town of Lyons in 1900.)
“When Albion organized an oil company in 1864 to speculate in Pennsylvania oil and lost all the cash it invested?”
“When boils* and felons* were a common affliction of mankind?”
(*Boils were painful bumps that formed on the skin, felons were infections that formed on the pads of the fingertips.)
“When the child with a sore throat or stiff neck wound a wool stocking around the neck as a sure cure?”
“When political bigotry was so rampant that no Republican would take a Democrat paper and no Democrat would take a Republican paper?”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 February 2024 at 7:11 am
The average price for regular unleaded dipped down 2 cents nationally in the past week to $3.26, while the price is unchanged in New York State at $3.30, AAA reported this morning.
In Orleans County, the price is down from $3.384 a week ago to $3.360 today.
“After spiking more than a dime two weeks ago, the national average for a gallon of gasoline has had a calm week by remaining at $3.27,” AAA said in a statement. “Recent news that the large BP-Whiting refinery in Indiana—which has been offline since early February due to power issues—is reopening soon may have contributed to easing pump price nerves.”
“Additionally, milder weather and longer days are in the forecast, which means the seasonal rise in gas prices is primed to begin. Experts project it will be a slow, wobbly start to rising prices this spring.”
The national average price for diesel is $4.07, down 3 cents from one week ago, and down from $4.43 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.40, down 1 cent from a week ago, and lower than $5.07 one year ago, AAA reported.
Here are the average prices today among WNY counties:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2024 at 8:06 pm
BARRE – The Salmon Children’s Foundation is offering two $1,000 scholarships for high school grads pursuing a career in the trades or attending trade school
Applications are due April 15 and Jim Salmon will award the scholarships on his radio program on May 4. Salmon, a resident of Barre, has hosted the WHAM Home Repair Clinic on 1180 for 34 years.
The Salmon Foundation will award one of the scholarships for a resident of Orleans County and one more for the rest of the surrounding counties which Genesee, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Livingston.
“This is our first scholarship for the trades only,” Salmon said. “For the last 10 years we have done a general scholarship.”
Salmon shifted the focus to trades this year.
“With a commitment to empowering the next generation of skilled workers, we believe in the importance of investing in individuals who are dedicated to mastering a trade and contributing to their communities,” the Foundation states about the scholarship.
For more information on the scholarship, click here.
2 new species – Ruddy Duck and Lesser Black-backed Gull – found in annual tally
Press Release from Celeste Morien, bird count compiler
Photos courtesy of Celeste Morien, not taken on bird count day: The Lesser Black-backed Gull was spotted for the first time during the Christmas Bird Count.
SHELBY – Despite a cold snap before the Oak Orchard Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 28, the weather was unusually warm, with a low of 48 and high of 50. There was no snow cover.
Open and moving water were not frozen. Rain occurred throughout the day and was occasionally heavy with the only break at midday. Ground fog reduced visibility at times.
Perhaps due to the warm weather, the 37 count participants reported high counts of ten species, and found two new species! These dedicated volunteers found 72 species and 19,890 individual birds. Counters logged 33 hours on foot and 67.75 hours by car. Counters walked 26.5 miles and drove 577 miles by car.
Ruddy Duck and Lesser Black-backed Gull were new species, and were also seen at other locations outside the count circle during the same time period.
Species that remained in the area in greater numbers were Tundra Swan (73), Herring Gull (764), Sandhill Crane (17), Barred Owl (4), Belted Kingfisher (5), Northern Flicker (59), Merlin (2), Common Raven (6), Tufted Titmouse (39) and Eastern Bluebird (86).
Here are the numbers for species seen in the count:
Tundra Swan, 73
Trumpeter Swan, 2
Snow Goose, 1
Cackling Goose, 3
Canada Goose, 8,151
American Wigeon, 4
American Black Duck, 25
Mallard, 365
Redhead, 4
Ruddy Duck, 3
Common Goldeneye, 2
Common Merganser, 63
Ring-necked Pheasant, 1
Wild Turkey, 78
Great Blue Heron, 1
Bald Eagle, 12
Northern Harrier, 9
Cooper’s Hawk, 5
Accipiter sp., 1
Red-tailed Hawk, 42
American Kestrel, 6
Ruddy Duck is new to the Christmas Bird Count at the Oak Orchard Swamp.
One of my favorite events that I have participated in over the years here in Orleans County is the annual Father-Daughter Dance.
Sponsored by Harvest Christian Fellowship, the dance had been established long before I arrived in Albion but once I discovered it it became a cherished family tradition.
I remember the first year when it was just me and my oldest daughter Ashlyn, she was around 5 years old at the time and was more interested in chasing bubbles and eating snacks than dancing with dear old dad.
I wasn’t alone though, I connected with many other dads who were biding their time around the buffet while their girls danced in groups with their friends. It felt like middle school all over again.
Eventually though our patience would be rewarded when the lights would dim and the DJ would announce that he was slowing things down. This was the time for us dads to shine because, even if you could never quite learn the choreography to the The Electric Slide, with a slow song you simply got to hold your daughter tight as you swayed back and forth. It doesn’t sound like much but year after year I would look around and see the same look in every father’s eyes, they knew that a special memory was being made.
And so it was with myself and Ashlyn, we had decided that “Butterfly Kisses” was our song and, even after my other daughters Maddie and Jilly were old enough to join us for future dances, when that song came on I knew who I would be swaying with.
(On a side note, if you are not familiar with the song it talks about a father who one minute is snuggling with daddy’s little girl and the next he’s giving her away at her wedding. I dare any dad to listen to it and try not get teary eyed.)
Every year the dance became that much more special as my three girls and I would dress up like we were going to the prom. Even the year when my father died, and his funeral was a couple hours away, I drove back home through a blizzard so that I wouldn’t miss making more memories with my girls.
Unfortunately, that streak ended 4 years ago with the pandemic, although I was excited to see that it was coming back this year. Originally, when planning to write this article, I had hoped to include new memories and photos from that event but unfortunately my daughters were too sick to attend.
It was a bummer to be sure but at least I will not have to wait a whole year to dance with them since my daughter Ashlyn’s wedding is this coming June. And yes, “Butterfly Kisses” will be playing and yes, I am getting teary eyed just thinking about it.
“I remember when…..”
By Randy LeBaron
(On a side note, if you are not familiar with the song it talks about a father who one minute is snuggling with daddy’s little girl and the next he’s giving her away at her wedding. I dare any dad to listen to it and try not get teary eyed.) 
