By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 October 2023 at 10:36 am
ALBION – An Albion man was sentenced to four months of weekends in the Orleans County jail for a road rage on Feb. 28 in Clarendon.
James Duggan, 59, of Albion allegedly became angry when he was passed by another driver. Duggan then tailgated that person who pulled over. Duggan then allegedly had a knife while he approached the other driver.
The other driver tried to grab Duggan’s hand that was holding the knife and the other person’s hand was cut, the District Attorney’s Office said.
Duggan was facing a charge of second-degree assault. That was reduced to third-degree assault as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to four months of weekends in jail and three years probation on Wednesday by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.
In other cases in County Court:
• Jennifer Sportsman, 48, of Clarendon pleaded guilty criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree and faces up to two years on probation.
Sportsman admitted to having a travel trailer that she knew belonged to someone else and that she didn’t have a right to keep it. The trailer is valued at more than $3,000.
• Khyrel Ware, 26, a former inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility, pleaded guilty to attempted assault in the second degree for striking a corrections officer and causing that officer jaw pain and dizziness. The CO was out of work for five weeks. Ware faces an additional 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison. He is now incarcerated at the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy near Utica.
Erin Dionne and Author’s Note also will be at Rochester Reads Festival
Erin Dionne has written two children’s books in a new series, Shiver-by-the-Sea.
Press Release, Author’s Note in Medina
MEDINA – Boston children’s author Erin Dionne will visit Author’s Note at 6 p.m. today to discuss and sign the first two books in her new spooky-fun chapter book series, Shiver-by-the-Sea.
The illustrated series, published by Pixel + Ink, an imprint of Holiday House, is geared towards early readers aged 7-9, and begins with two hardcover novels, Bella and the Vampire, and The Were-Woof. With illustrations throughout by children’s illustrator and toy designer Jenn Harney, the novels release just in time for Halloween read-aloud fun.
Dionne will present Shiver-by-the-Sea this afternoon to students at Wise Intermediate School in Medina, and at Sodoma Elementary School in Albion. On Friday morning, she will visit Royalton-Hartland Elementary School.
On Saturday, Dionne will join the Author’s Note booth at the first annual Rochester Reads Book Festival sponsored by Writers & Books, to be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at SUNY Brockport Downtown (Rochester), 161 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY.
Erin will read at 11:45 a.m. Tickets to the festival are free with a suggested donation option. Rochester Reads has a long history of promoting reading in the Rochester area, but this is its first in-person festival. Buffalo author Dee Romito and Medina author Julie Berry will also read and sign books at the Author’s Note table throughout the day.
Erin Dionne writes middle grade novels, picture books, chapter books and nonfiction. Her new spooky chapter book series Shiver-by-the-Sea (Pixel + Ink) released in August 2023. Her latest novel for tweens is Secrets of a Fangirl (Scholastic 2019). Her most recent picture book is Balletball (Charlesbridge, 2020). When not writing, Dionne is a professor at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA.
Tonight’s activity at Author’s Note will include a reading, signing, Q&A, and treats and giveaways for kids in attendance. The event is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend, signed books can be ordered at authorsnote.com. Contact Author’s Note for more information at (585) 798-3642.
For more information about Rochester Reads Book Festival and a full schedule of presenting authors and exhibitors, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 October 2023 at 8:40 am
Retired NFL kicker Mike Vanderjagt spoke at club’s meeting on Wednesday
Photos by Tom Rivers: Some of the Medina Rotary Club members are shown Wednesday outside The Walsh in Medina where the group meets for lunch meetings at noon on the second and fourth Wednesdays each month. Pictured from left, first row: Skip Helfirch, President Peter Bartula, Stephanie Mason and Ben McPherson. Second row: Edee Hoffmeister and Gloria Brent. Third row: Barb Jantzi, Gary Lawton, Dan Doctor and Jennifer Hill-Young. Back row: Dawn Meland, J.T. Thomas, Carl Tuohey and Joel Payne. There are at least 10 other members in the club who aren’t pictured.
MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club is on an upswing with a big increase in members and more projects to benefit the community.
In the past four years the club has grown from 8 to 25 members. It was recently notified by Rotary that Medina is in the top 4 percent of all Rotary Clubs in North America for growth in the past five years.
The club used to meet weekly and would fine people for missed meetings and happy events in their lives, whether getting a new car, celebrating an anniversary, being featured in the news or other life milestones.
But Medina Rotary now meets twice a month, the second and fourth Wednesdays for lunch at The Walsh. The club doesn’t fine members if they can’t make a meeting.
“You got to be realistic with folks whose lives are so busy,” said Ben McPherson, who was the club’s president during a big growth period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023.
McPherson praised the club’s long-time members for keeping Rotary alive in Edina during some lean years. The club maintains a friendly atmosphere among members with several community service projects in the works.
The club on Wednesday discussed several fundraisers including a $5,000 corn hole tournament on Jan. 6 at Dubby’s in Albion, a meat raffle on March 9 at the Ridgeway Fire Hall and a plan to add Buddy benches at Medina parks. Those benches would be made by students at the Iroquois Job Corps Center.
The club hosts a pickleball tournament, picks up trash along the canal, gives out scholarships and helps in other ways throughout the year.
“I saw that they were trying to better the community and that really spoke to me,” McPherson said about when he joined in 2019.
Mike Vanderjagt, center, is pictured with Medina Rotarians Carl Tuohey, left, and President Peter Bartula.
Vanderjagt recently moved to Lyndonville. A native of Canada, he wanted to be close to Lake Ontario and a short drive from Canada. He has been a volunteer kicking coach for the Medina football team and coaches other kickers in the region. One of his players, Medina’s Cole Callard, has emerged as a Division I kicking prospect as well as a soccer standout.
Vanderjagt scored 1,067 points in a nine-year career during the regular season, including a league high 145 for the Colts in 1999. He was first team, all pro in 2003 when he scored 157 points and made all of his kicks – 37 of 37 field goals and 46 of 46 extra points.
He scored 54 more points in nine playoff games. He played for the Colts for eight seasons and then finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys in 2006.
Vanderjagt said he enjoys living in Lyndonville and Orleans County.
“It’s a beautiful part of the country,” he said.
He also shared with Rotary about some of his business ventures.
Mike Vanderjagt, in red shirt, speaks with the Medina Rotary Club on Wednesday at The Walsh. The club often has speakers from the community share a program. The meetings are also a chance for members to provide updates on projects.
The group shares a meal together and strives to maintain camaraderie with no politics.
Gary Lawton has been a member for over 20 years. He said he is thrilled to see the club grow and do more work for the community.
At one point, the club was down to three active members. Now it is adding local business leaders, professionals from the school and hospital, retired residents and others.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that $483 million in assistance to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts will soon be available to local governments across New York in the latest installment of the State’s popular BRIDGE NY initiative.
The State Department of Transportation will work through local planning organizations to allocate the funding to towns, villages and other governmental entities in every region of the state to help them harden their existing infrastructure and improve resiliency against severe weather events.
The state’s BRIDGE NY initiative supports projects that combat climate change by reducing the risk of flooding, improves the resiliency of structures, facilitates regional economic competitiveness and prioritizes projects that benefit environmental justice communities.
“New York is already feeling the effects of climate change with ever-more frequent severe weather events that just this year have washed out several key bridges and roadways in our state,” Governor Hochul said. “The investments we are making through the ‘BRIDGE NY’ program will help local governments enhance the safety, resiliency, sustainability, and reliability of their infrastructure, increasing the ability of our bridges to withstand extreme weather events and keep New Yorkers on the move.”
The announcement builds upon the approximately $1.2 billion that has previously been provided to local governments under the BRIDGE NY initiative over the past several years. As part of the state’s historic $32.8 billion capital plan adopted last year, an additional $1 billion was committed to BRIDGE NY, effectively doubling the size of the program.
The latest round of investments under the program will be made in the coming months as NYSDOT works through the local planning process with Regional and Metropolitan Planning Organizations. This funding will support all phases of project delivery, including design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.
WASHINGTON, DC– Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today made the following statement on the recent election of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04).
“Congratulations to my dear friend, Speaker Mike Johnson, on being elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Mike Johnson is an inspirational conservative who will restore faith in our government and bring strong, principled leadership to America.
“Speaker Johnson is committed to restoring transparency to Congress, reining in runaway spending, holding our adversaries accountable, and strengthening oversight of federal bureaucrats. Though 70% of appropriation priorities have already been passed in the House, the remaining appropriations bills will be considered expeditiously.
“Speaker Johnson’s first action was to immediately open the People’s House in order to bring a bipartisan resolution to the floor in support of the nation of Israel, our most important ally in the Middle East. He is immediately addressing issues critically important to the American people. This starts with direct action on the border crisis, prioritizing legislation to address runaway inflation due to far-left spending under Pelosi and Biden.
“Speaker Johnson will renew our commitment to backing our courageous officers in blue, empowering parents’ rights against the hostile agenda imposed by the Biden Administration and its weaponized law enforcement agencies, unleash American energy production which will lead to greater freedom, prosperity, and security for all Americans.
“House Republicans understand this historic moment for America and are laser-focused on providing leadership, restoring transparency and responsible government, and achieving real results for the American people.”
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will again participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The authorized collection site for this event will be located at the Orleans County Public Safety Building, 13925 State Route 31. We will be collecting unused medications, sharps, pet medications, and e-cigarette / vape devices (The batteries must be removed).
This is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications and sharps for safe and proper disposal. Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion, abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2023 at 3:55 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature agreed to spend $1,475,000 to acquire the former building used for Genesee Community College in Albion and 25.7 vacant acres adjacent to the property.
GCC hasn’t had classes at 456 West Ave. for several years. The county will buy the site from Herring Enterprises of Holley for $975,000.
The Legislature also agreed to pay James Herring Sr. $500,000 for 25.7 acres of vacant land adjacent to the site with a lot off Allen Road.
The county will move the Probation Department and District Attorney’s office out of the Public Safety Building and into the former GCC site.
“This purchase allows us to correct some deficiencies at the current PSB that we will be able to complete without bonding for a brand-new facility,” said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer.
The Public Safety Building has been the home for Probation, the DA’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office and the 911 dispatch center for the past 25 years. But that building has challenges, especially with a big flat roof. It will soon get a new HVAC system to help with heating issues in the building.
Once Probation and the DA’s Office move to the former GCC site, the building will be reconfigured for the Sheriff’s Office to allow for a more efficient operation, Welch said
The county had a consultant study the Public Safety Building, and the conclusion was the county should move its operations out of the site, which was once a building for furniture sales.
Welch said the vacant land gives the county’s additional options for the future, with no project planned right away.
“Vacant land is not guaranteed to be around forever,” he said.
The is the second straight month the county has purchased a building in Albion. Last month the Legislature approved spending $250,000 for the former Bank of America site at 156 S. Main St. It will become the treasurer’s office in 2024. That building has a drive-through and is more easily accessible than the current office on East Park Street, county officials said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2023 at 9:58 am
Demarques Underwood and Erica Davis
MEDINA – Two people from Medina have been charged with allegedly selling crack cocaine in the Medina area, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is reporting today.
The Task Force along with the Medina Police Department and Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at 388 Erie St. in Medina, which also included a Toyota Rav 4 rental vehicle.
Police seized over 40 baggies of crack cocaine, $3,400 in cash, scales, numerous packaging material and other drug paraphernalia.
Demarques “Dutch” Underwood, 34, and Erica Davis, 35, both of 388 Erie St. in Medina, are facing criminal charges.
Underwood was charged with 3 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (B felonies), 4 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (B felonies) and a count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree (a C felony).
He was arraigned in CAP Court by Barre Town Justice Richard Root and was committed without bail to the Orleans County Jail due to his previous criminal history, the Task Force reported today.
Davis was charged with a count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree. She was issued an appearance ticket and released on her own recognizance.
Both are scheduled to appear in Ridgeway Town Court at 9 a.m. on Oct. 30.
Additional charges are pending in this case, the Task Force said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2023 at 9:25 am
LYNDONVILLE – Ambulances have been faster to respond to priority one calls in 2023, even with the Main Street lift bridge closed in Albion which has adding 2 minutes to some of the calls in central Orleans County.
The average response time in the county in 2022 was 12 minutes, 18 seconds for priority one calls. For the first six months of 2023, the response time was 11:47. In 2021, it was 11:42.
Scott Buffin, deputy director of the Emergency Management Office in Orleans County, went over the data on Tuesday during the meeting for the Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the White Birch in Lyndonville.
He also highlighted the number of dropped calls is down significantly from 323 in 2022 to a projected 160 this year. It was 80 for the first six month of 2023.
“It is huge to see that,” Buffin said about the reduction in dropped calls.
The report on the ambulance calls and response time also was shared during last week’s EMS Task Force meeting. But only representatives from the villages of Lyndonville and Holley attended that session, with no officials from Albion and Medina or any of the 10 towns. The fire companies in the county all had representation at that meeting last week for the task force.
Ambulance coverage has been a hot topic in the county the past two years with the decline in volunteer ambulance corps and the struggles of non-profit providers such as COVA in Albion.
This is the first year Monroe Ambulance has the contract to be the primary ambulance provider for four towns in central Orleans – Albion, Barre, Gaines and Carlton. Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance shut down late last year. Mercy Flight EMS has taken over COVA operations, but Mercy doesn’t have a contract for service in Orleans County.
Mercy, however, has been dispatched for 168 EMS calls in the first six months of 2023. Monroe has received 1,449 calls and the Medina Fire Department, 1,147.
The Kendall Fire Department’s ambulance ceased operations at the end of 2022, the last fire department with a volunteer ambulance in Orleans County. Clarendon, Holley, Carlton, Shelby and Albion all have discontinued the ambulance service, citing the time demands on volunteers for training and responding to calls.
There also was very little revenue for the volunteer fire departments for the service. And the non-profit organizations said they didn’t get enough in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates for the service.
Monroe also is the main ambulance provider for Clarendon and Murray, and now in Kendall.
The company is seeking a $300,000 contract from the seven towns in eastern and central Orleans to continue coverage in 2023, with an ambulance based in Albion and another one in either Holley or Brockport.
Mercy Flight EMS also wants the contract for 2023 with two dedicated advanced life support ambulances in the county as part of a $180,000 contract agreement with the seven towns.
The town boards are working to approve a contract next month, with Monroe expected to again be the provider.
Tony Cammarata, the Kendall town supervisor, said he wants one more year with Monroe to study the response times and level of service. He wants to put the service out to an RFP (request for proposals) for the year 2025.
County Legislator John Fitzak said he would prefer to see a contract from the towns with both ambulance providers so there would be more dedicated ambulances eastern and central Orleans. Monroe and Mercy Flight could coordinate among the two how they would respond to calls.
“Work with both of them,” he said. “Don’t pit them against each other. If you work with both we’d have four ambulances instead of two.”
One concerning piece in the data, Buffin said, is there are often times when there isn’t an ambulance available, especially in the Albion area. If an ambulance is on a call or transporting someone, Buffin said there are then times with no immediate coverage. He noted the data shows the average amount of time per call for ambulance to be in service is 1 hour, 36 minutes.
The number of calls is way up in the county in the past two decades, from 2,876 in 2004 to a projected 5,300 this year. There were 5,620 calls in 2022 and 5,685 in 2021.
“The calls have gone up and the providers have gone down,” Fitzak said.
County officials were asked if they see the county taking the lead for a county-wide service in the future. Barre Town Supervisor Sean Pogue and Cammarata from Kendall said that may make the most sense.
“We’d much rather have the county take the lead on this,” Cammarata said.
County Legislator Ed Morgan said he doesn’t see that happening anytime soon. He noted the Medina Fire Department does a great job handling calls in western Orleans – the villages of Medina and Lyndonville and towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates.
Other counties, such as Livingston, have a county-wide ambulance service. Wyoming County is going to start one, too.
Matt Jackson, the Medina fire chief, was asked if Medina would consider expanding to service more of the county. Jackson said not this time because staffing is one of the biggest challenges in providing EMS service, with paramedics and EMTs in demand. Those professionals suffer a high burnout rate of about 5 years in the profession.
“One of the biggest issues is manpower,” Jackson said.
ALBION – The Albion Police Department was recently awarded two separate grants from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to participate in the “Police Traffic Services Program” and the “Child Passenger Safety Program.” The statewide initiatives run from Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2024.
The first grant awarded to the Albion Police Department totals $3,016 and will allow the department to participate in the statewide “Police Traffic Services Program” for traffic details, check points and saturated patrols in areas where speeding and aggressive driving have been observed.
This grant also allows for the Albion Police Department to participate in the Buckle Up New York initiative in May-June of 2024. The goal of the Buckle Up New York campaign is to increase the usage of seatbelts and to educate the public on the importance of wearing your seatbelt.
The second grant awarded to the Albion Police Department totals $1,500 for the “Child Passenger Safety Program.” This grant will not only allow the Albion Police Department to educate citizens on the proper use and installation of child safety seats in New York State, but it will also allow the department to provide limited child safety seats to families in need that could not afford to purchase a proper child safety seat otherwise.
Through these two grants, the Albion Police Department seeks to educate the public on safe driving techniques and proper safety procedures while operating a motor vehicle. With the cooperation and assistance of the community, the Albion Police Department hopes to further reduce traffic crashes and injuries related to those crashes.
By Mary Obear, MD, PhD, family physician at Oak Orchard Health
Dr. Mary Obear
Americans are living longer. Over the last four decades, life expectancy in the United States has largely risen, although certain groups have experienced slight decreases in their life expectancy (according to the U.S. Census Bureau). Americans are projected to have longer life expectancies in the coming decades. By 2060, life expectancy for the total population is projected to increase by about six years, from 79.7 in 2017 to 85.6 in 2060.
Since we are living longer, the question is how do we live a healthier life? How can we age gracefully? As a primary care physician, I often discuss this topic with my patients. Here are a few tips for you to consider.
Have a good relationship with your primary care provider (PCP)
This is a simple yet important step to take to live a healthy life. To have a good relationship with your provider, you need to see a medical professional annually, get a physical, and have open, frank discussions. If your primary care provider suggests medical advice that you do not want to do or you don’t see any utility in doing so, don’t just ignore it. Instead, have a conversation about why it is important and try to reach a compromise.
Waiting too long before going to see your primary care provider is not good practice. If you have not been feeling well for a period of time or something has changed, please make an appointment with your primary care provider. Be careful not to seek medical information on the internet. Please reach out to your medical providers for the best advice.
Preventive measures: medications and screenings
As you age, you may be prescribed many different medications and it’s important that you understand why you are taking each and what the long-term benefit is. Have you been taking medications for 20+ years? It may be time to have a conversation with your physician about whether it is still having a positive effect on your health.
Screenings such as a colonoscopy are especially important but so is getting a yearly physical. At your physical, discuss with your PCP which screenings are appropriate for you. Be sure they know your family’s cancer history.
Nutrition and Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is a key component to staying healthy so practice good sleep hygiene. There are things that may interfere with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Think about screen time including TV, computers, and your telephone. If watching certain programming upsets you, please avoid it. Consider turning all your screens off two to three hours before sleep time. If you need entertainment, an enjoyable book or magazine will help relax you. Sleep in a cool dark room with no stimulation on and avoid drinking a lot before you sleep. Also, the timing of your medication is important. Again, be sure to discuss this with your PCP.
Of course, the food you put into your body is another way to age gracefully. Eating real food and not processed food is the key to healthy living. Processed food can have a lot of salt or ingredients that contain salt, and that is not good for you. Everyone needs a little sodium in their diet but avoiding fast foods is a good idea. Eating well also includes drinking well. Be careful not to drink empty calories in soft drinks and flavored coffees. Coffee can be fine, but most creamers do not contain natural ingredients.
I know many people think of cooking as a chore, but mealtimes can be a pleasant way to nurture your body. Spend time thinking about what healthy foods you can cook quickly or consider “batch cooking” where you make three or four meals and freeze them. If you have healthy foods in the house, you are more likely to eat healthily.
Also, the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest choices because it emphasizes seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, plants, and whole grains.
Exercise
I want to close on an important thought about aging. Be sure to exercise. Walking is one of the best exercises but please be sure you are doing it in a safe location. Be careful not to trip or fall. In the winter, the mall, community centers, and schools are better places to go. They are warm and safe.
If you need a primary care provider, please call Oak Orchard Health at (585) 589-5613.
(Oak Orchard Health, celebrating our 50th anniversary, with offices in Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Pembroke, Hornell, Medina, and Warsaw.)
By Stephanie Aquilina, mammographer at Medina Memorial Hospital
In our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook routine health check-ups until we are faced with a problem. However, some screenings, like a mammogram, are crucial to ignore.
Stephanie Aquilina
Mammograms are not just for those with a family history of breast cancer or older women; they hold immense importance for every individual. In this article, we will delve into the significance of mammograms for everyday individuals and the role it plays in early detection and prevention.
Understanding Mammograms
Mammography is a specialized medical imaging used to examine breast tissue. It involves taking X-ray images of the breasts, which are then interpreted by radiologists. Mammograms can detect abnormalities in the breast tissue, such as lumps or masses, often before they can be felt through physical examination.
Early Detection Saves Lives
One of the most compelling reasons for individuals to consider yearly mammograms is the role they play in early detection. Breast cancer, when caught in its early stages, is highly treatable. The American Cancer Society reports that the five-year survival rate for localized breast cancer (cancer that has not spread outside the breast) is around 99%.
Yearly mammograms can detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, most often before symptoms develop. This means that the individuals can receive treatment when the cancer is most responsive to therapy, increasing their chances of survival and minimizing the need for aggressive treatments.
Early detection means taking it upon yourself to do monthly self-breast exams. Early detection can also mean easier treatment.
For Every Age and Risk Level
Contrary to popular belief, mammograms are not exclusively for older women. While breast cancer risk increases with age, it can affect individuals of all ages and genders. In fact, approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
Mammogram guidelines vary, but generally, women should start considering annual mammograms around the age of 40. However, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate screening schedule based on individual risk factors, which could include family history, genetics, and personal health history.
Approximately 50% of females have dense tissue in their breast. The dense tissue is normal but it will increase the risk of breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about your preventative measure for this dense tissue.
Moreover, breast cancer is not limited to women. Men can develop breast cancer as well, though it is rare. Men with a close relative with breast cancer or certain genetic mutations may benefit from genetic testing as a preventive measure. 1 in 5 men with breast cancer have a close relative with breast cancer.
Peace of Mind
Beyond the medical benefits, mammograms can provide help peace of mind. Many people worry about their health, especially when there is a family history of breast cancer. Yearly mammograms can offer reassurance, knowing that you are actively monitoring your breast health.
Additionally, for those who are experiencing breast symptoms such as pain or changes in breast tissue, diagnostic mammograms can help rule out serious issues. Talk to your doctor for your next step. This can reduce anxiety and ensure that the individual receives appropriate medical care when needed.
Financial Considerations
Some may argue that mammograms are expensive, but many health insurance plans cover them as part of preventive care. Under the Affordable Care Act in the United States, mammograms are one of the essential health benefits that insurers must cover without cost-sharing.
Even for those without insurance, many healthcare facilities offer free or low-cost mammogram screenings, particularly during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. These resources make it more accessible for everyone to prioritize their breast health.
Remember, mammograms are not just for a select group of individuals. They are a vital tool in the early detection and prevention of breast cancer, which can affect people of all ages and genders. Yearly mammograms can save lives, provide peace of mind, and offer financial support through insurance coverage and community resources.
Taking charge of your health should be a priority, and mammograms are a crucial step in that journey. Consult with your healthcare provider to determine the right screening schedule for you. Remember that early detection through mammograms can make a significant difference in your overall health and well-being. Don’t wait until a problem arises; prioritize your breast health today.
(Stephanie Aquilina is a member of the Imaging Department at Medina Memorial Hospital (Orleans Community Health), where she has been for 20 years (as mammographer for the last 14 years). She is a radiologic technologist, registered rad tech, and registered mammography.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 October 2023 at 11:32 am
140 attend first-time event as museum seeks more supporters for mission
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Andrew Meier, an attorney in Medina who has tackled several preservation projects, served as keynote speaker on Friday at a preservation awards celebration for the Cobblestone Society and Museum.
About 140 people attended the event at Maison Albion. Meier entitled his speech, “Preservation 101: A Brief Science Lesson.”
Meier has led the ongoing renovation of the former R. H. Newell Shirt Factory. He started that project in 2005, and continues with the work on the building from 1876. It has hotel rooms, a law office, the Shirt Factory cocktail bar, and for many years was home to 810 Meadworks.
Meier said the labor from the stone and wood artisans, and other craftsmen can’t be duplicated with new buildings, where the focus is often on speed and the lowest cost possible.
Those older buildings in the county were built with old forest trees that were 200 to 300 years old. The sites were often made of the incredibly durable Medina Sandstone, which was hauled to sites on wagons by powerful animals.
“There were no concrete trucks or cranes,” Meier said. “This was all brute force, muscle labor from men and horses,” he said.
Andrew Meier acquired the Robert H. Newell Building at 113 West Center St. in 2005, when he was 25 and starting out as an attorney. The 14,000-square-foot building for 86 years was home to the Robert H. Newell Shirt Factory, which manufactured custom-made shirts, including for many famous customers, including Winston Churchill and Bob Hope. The site was originally a hotel that opened in 1876.
Orleans County continues to benefit from the legacy of people who built for the long haul with downtown buildings, churches, residences, even cemeteries, Meier said.
Meier admitted preservation projects are often very frustrating, with unknown challenges and expenses. But he said the undertakings are well worth it. Reviving a historic site or an already-built structure is good for the earth by preserving existing materials.
“Retrofitting an existing building emits less carbon than building new,” Meier said.
Meier said the four villages in the county – Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina – all have buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s that are marvels. Even the hamlets and countryside in the county feature many sites that have endured for generations.
Those buildings are tremendous feats and the residents today benefit from them, and are linked to the “giants” of the past, who put so much human capital into these buildings, Meier said.
That human energy remains stored and is ready to be unleashed, he said.
“Our built environment is waiting for that little nudge from the dreamers and risk-takers,” Meier said.
Andrew Meier speaks during Friday’s preservation awards program which was held at Maison Albion.
The community is seeing the benefit of projects in the historic buildings, from bustling restaurants in Medina, and several “boutique” hotels and small businesses in the region’s historic downtowns.
Meier said he is pleased to see so many people in his hometown of Medina take a chance on the older buildings, and give them new purpose that has been embraced by the local community, and increasingly many out-of-town visitors.
“Medina has become a different town,” he said. “There is more vibrancy, more restaurants. It would have been impossible without the buildings.”
He is thankful the county largely avoided the urban renewal movement that leveled many historic downtown sites in the 1960s and ’70s. He noted Albion has the wondrous Courthouse Square, downtown business district, and Mount Albion Cemetery with the Cobblestone Museum close by.
Holley has its Public Square which is seeing a resurgence in investment, and so is Main Street in Lyndonville. Kendall’s historic tavern has been a success in the year since it opened with new owners with a vision for the culinary arts, Meier said.
(Left) Brenda Tremblay, an Albion native and morning radio host for WXXI in Rochester, served as emcee of the dinner and celebration on Friday. She told the group, “You are surrounded by so much amazing historical stewardship.”
(Right) Matt Holland, a member of the Cobblestone Museum board of directors, urged the group to donate and support’s the museum’s mission, which includes breaking ground on a new visitors center next year.
The Thompson-Kast Visitors Center will be a new building next to an 1824 brick home that will be part of the visitors center at the intersection of routes 98 and 104.
The center will join the museum’s building inventory that includes the Cobblestone Universalist Church from 1834, Brick House (museum office) from 1836, Ward House from 1836, Peter’s Harness Shop from 1838, District No. 5 Schoolhouse from 1849, Farmers Hall from 1855, Hill’s Print Shop from the 1870s, Voting House (now used book store) from 1909, Vagg’s Blacksmith Shop from 1921-22, and the Vagg House from circa 1830s and then remodeled in the 1920s.
Doug Farley, right, is director of the Cobblestone Museum. He presents an award to Steve and Paula Nesbitt, owner of the Pine Hill School at 4757 Pine Hill Rd., Barre. They were one of six winners of preservation awards from the Cobblestone Society and Museum. The Pine Hill School was built circa 1835 of fieldstones.
The award winners also received citations from the Orleans County Legislature and State Legislature.
(Left) Tim and Catherine Cooper of Medina restored the Wash Hotel, which goes back to 1852, when the Rochester, Lockport and Niagara Falls Company completed the railroad through Medina. The building was recently purchased by Rollin Hellner.
(Right) Harriet Greaser and her late husband Phil restored the Presbyterian Manse at 31 East State St., Albion. The site has now been privately owned for more than 30 years. The Greasers brought the site back to grandeur.
Diana Dragan Reed’s home at 349 South Main St., Albion, was built in 1876 and took seven years to build. Reed recently moved back to her childhood home and has made several changes more reflective of its historic character.
Talis Historic Restoration employees, Ian McAnn and Dan Totten, accepted an award on behalf of Roger Hungerford for the restoration of the Bent’s Opera House.
Hungerford restored three floor of a historic Medina Sandstone building at the corner of West Center and Main streets in Medina. The building opened in 1865. It is now home to a boutique hotel with 10 rooms, an upscale restaurant and events center.
Kim and Neal Muscarella were honored for their efforts to turn the former Cooperative Extension building at 20 Main St. in Albion into the Marti’s on Main art gallery.
Cobblestone Museum leaders said they are pleased with the attendance at the first-time event.
