Photo by Ginny Kropf: Shareefah Sabur has been active with World Life Institute since its founding in the late 1980s.

MEDINA – A new health professional at World Life Institute, based at 229 West Center St., has taken on the cause of helping Ahmed Cherif, age 10, who came from Tunisia with his mother seeking care for multiple health problems.

Shareefah Sabur, a native of Cleveland who moved to Medina last year, helped plan the event on Sept. 13 at the Medina YMCA.

Sabur has been on the board of World Life Institute and worked on its founding since 1988-89. She brings a background in healthcare and 23 years with Hospice, she said. She is also responsible for a Leadership Development Program for youth up to 18 years of age, to help them develop personally and professionally.

“I’m all about quality of life,” she said.

Her credits include a master’s degree in psychology, working with post-traumatic stress disorder. She also leads an online women’s group, “Reimagining Aging Embracing Elderly,” and worked with the late Dr. Asaf Durakovic, founder of the World Life Institute.

After arriving in Medina, Sabur was assigned to work with young Ahmed and his mother Miriam,  said Linda Redfield, program director for World Life Institute Education and Humanitarian Initiatives.

Sabur has helped the family navigate the health care system, enroll Ahmed in school, go shopping and do banking.

Hospital, celebrating 100^th anniversary, has many family connections among workforce

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Mary Williams, standing, and her daughter Kate Brauen are two of a long list of relatives who have worked at Medina Memorial Hospital since its founding 100 years ago. Williams was a nurse who retired as vice president of Human Resources. Brauen is director of Pharmacy.

MEDINA – As Medina Memorial Hospital continues celebration of its 100th anniversary, the spotlight is on another pair of relatives who have been employed there.

“Sometimes leadership runs in the family, and that’s certainly true for Mary Williams and her daughter Kate Brauen,” said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach at Orleans Community Health.

Mary Williams, who retired as vice president of Human Resources, worked there a total of 50 years. Her daughter, Kate Brauen, worked there for 12 years as staff pharmacist until taking the job as director in 2015.

“Mary may be retired, but she continues to give back as a member of the OCH board of directors,” Robinson said. “Meanwhile, Kate not only leads her department with dedication, but also jumps in to support community events and wellness clinics at every opportunity.”

Williams started her career as a nursing student in 1971, during which time she worked weekends at the hospital. She became a licensed practical nurse and registered nurse, working in the medical/surgical departments. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she pursued her masters, and then went into administration. Her career also included working in the ICU, until she retired in 2022.

Brauen and her mother were both born at Medina Memorial Hospital.

“I went to college to become a pharmacist,” Brauen said. “I worked during school for Steve Giroux at the drug store in Middleport. I came to Medina hospital as a student to volunteer for the experience.”

She graduated in 2002 from the University of Buffalo with a pharmacy degree.

“At the time, the hospital needed pharmacists real bad, so I came to work here,” Brauen said.

 During the time both mother and daughter were employed there, Williams said she never had to discipline Brauen.

“She was a very good employee,” she said.

Although Williams said their jobs really didn’t interact, they often ate lunch together.

“We are a close family,” Williams said.

She also shared another daughter, Suzanne, worked at the hospital per diem as an occupational therapist for a time.

“We’ve been thought lots of ups and downs and a lot of different administrations,” Brauen said.

Some of the more challenging changes were in the computer system, going to electronic medical records and implementing the smart infusion pump.

Brauen said she was also there when the hospital became a critical access hospital, went through renovation and then the pandemic.

“That was a challenging time for the pharmacy and me,” she said. “I managed all the early COVID vaccinations for the staff and North Wing, then the community. There was lots of paperwork for the Federal government and I wrote a lot of protocol.”

Brauen said the influence to go into healthcare came from her mother. She also has an aunt who is a physical therapist and another who was a pediatric nurse. However, Giroux was her mentor, she said. He was on the hospital board when Brauen was 16 and he gave her a job in his pharmacy. She continued to work there through college.

In her position as director of Pharmacy, Brauen manages two full-time pharmacists and four per-diem, who fill in when needed.

“I still work the bench to cover weekends and staff vacations,” Brauen said.

She is a really good pharmacist, her mother said.

Brauen said it is a privilege to take care of people in your community.

“We have to be ready for any critical emergency,” she said.

When all is said and done, “When you get to work alongside your mom, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Brauen said.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke is pleased to announce a Child Passenger Safety Seat Check Point Event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Orleans County Public Safety Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to data, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 to 13. Preventative measures, such as proper installation of car seats, booster seats and seat belts can reduce the likelihood of death and injuries. Informing and instructing parents and caregivers on child passenger safety and proper installation of car seats is critical to saving young lives.

Our certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect your car and/or booster seats to ensure that your child is in the appropriate seat for their size and age.

For child passenger safety seat questions, please contact certified technician Kevin Colonna at 585-589-5527 or Kevin.Colonna@orleanscountyny.gov.

Photo by Tom Rivers: One of the trees near the canal at State Street Park in Medina has seen about a 50/50 transformation in the color of its leaves, changing from green to vibrant red.

There are more bright colors on the landscape locally and across much of New York State.

I Love NY in its weekly fall foliage report on Wednesday said throughout most of the state leaf colors are starting to change.

The Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City are still very green. But the rest of the state is seeing some color change for foliage.

“Colorful fall foliage continues to emerge across New York State, with the most significant changes once again expected in the Adirondacks and Catskills,” I Love NY stated in its update.

Spotters for the report say Albion has experienced more than a 5 percent change in leaves “with an average to bright mix of autumnal hues.”

In Monroe County, there is less than 10% change in Rochester “with touches of light-green to yellow mustard, and a few hints of orange.”

In Erie County, there is a10% change in Buffalo “with a mix of emerging fall colors.”

In Niagara County, Lewiston is seeing a 10 percent change with bright red and yellow leaves, mostly on maples and sumacs.

Wyoming County reports a 15% change at Letchworth State Park in Warsaw with a mix of fall colors.

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

GAINES – Jeffrey Echevarría, an Albion eighth-grader, removes a historical marker at the Gaines Baines schoolhouse, which was built in 1832 and served as a school until 1944.

Jeffrey and some students at Albion will be repainting three historical markers – one each from Shelby and Ridgeway, and this one of the cobblestone school on Gaines Basin Road. This school now serves as the base for the Orleans County Historical Association.

For several years Albion students have helped Clarendon Town Historian Melissa Ierlan to restore local historical markers. It is one of many ways Albion students participate in service-learning projects to both support and learn about the community.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s

With science and health care under attack by the federal government, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the release of New York State’s 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine guidance, ensuring residents continue to have access to vaccines and science-based information.

The guidance recommends Covid vaccination for children (6 months to 18 years old), all adults, and individuals at higher risk, including those who are pregnant, lactating or immunocompromised.

The guidelines are being released ahead of this week’s federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, where national vaccine recommendations will be reviewed and voted on.

“Vaccines remain one of the strongest tools we have to safeguard our families and our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “As Washington continues to launch its misguided attacks on science, New York is making it clear that every resident will have access to the COVID vaccine, no exceptions. By standing with our partners across the Northeast, we are ensuring that New Yorkers have the protection and the information they need to stay safe and healthy.”

The State guidance also aligns with consensus COVID-19 recommendations agreed upon by the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a group of several Northeastern states and municipalities including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and New York City.

These recommendations are consistent with the Fall 2025 COVID-19 vaccination guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Thomas the Train Engine departs for a 25-minute train ride in May 2018. The Medina Railroad Museum is hosting Thomas this weekend and also next weekend. About 8,000 people typically ride the train during its stay in Medina.

MEDINA – Thomas the Tank Engine will be back in Medina the next two weekends for Day Out with Thomas. The popular attraction was last in Medina in May 2023. Thomas is hosted by the Medina Railroad Museum.

The famed storybook train will arrive in Medina for rides and special activities for two weekends, Sept. 20 and 21, and Sept. 27 and 28.

Rides with Thomas will depart the station each day, beginning at 9:15 a.m. until 4:25 p.m. each weekend day.

Tickets are $26 and include the ride with Thomas, admission to Medina Railroad Museum, a meeting with Sir Topham Hat and a wide variety of children’s activities in Celebration Station. Also featured will be a gift tent with hundreds of Thomas-themed toys, souvenirs and gifts.

Thomas first came to Medina Railroad Museum in 2005, and for more than 15 years attracted several thousand visitors annually.

Food trucks from Greenlief and Nona’s Kitchen will be on site to provide food for attendees.

Also entertaining on the grounds will be Marty the Magician.

Ticket information is available on the museum’s website at www.medinarailroadmuseum.org.

Conductors and passengers wave as the train departs and heads west in May 2018.

Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers: This mosaic compass was created by artist Kim Martillotta Muscarella in her Albion studio.

POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum this evening celebrated a new addition to the grounds at Point Breeze by the Oak Orchard Harbor: a mosaic compass.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella created the mosaic piece in a project funded through a Ripple grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

GO Art! also directed another $5,000 grant to the lighthouse for a light show each day for a half hour after sunset. The light show mimics the northern lights. That project and the mosaic compass enhance the grounds, trying to bring more people to see the lighthouse and Point Breeze area.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella stands by the mosaic compass she made for the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum.

“The creation of a compass rose to complement the lighthouse was part of the original scope of the proposed lighthouse work, but was delayed due to cost,” said Chris Manaseri, the museum president. “The GO Art! grant was a means by which the Lighthouse Board might accomplish competing its original proposal at a lower and indirect cost.”

Manaseri, who is also an artist, approached Muscarella last winter. She is the owner of the Marti’s on Main art gallery. She created the mosaic at her studio at the gallery.

Lighthouse Museum President Chris Manaseri thanks Kim Martillotta Muscarella for her work creating the compass rose mosaic that has been installed in the lighthouse garden.

Photo by Isabella Zasa: Kim Martillotta Muscarella shows Orly the Ox the mosaic when it was in the early stages back on Aug. 1. Orly is the Orleans County mascot for its bicentennial celebration this year.

Allie and Tux have been adopted through PAWS Animal Shelter

Photos courtesy of Albion Correctional Facility: Allie and Tux are celebrated at their graduation for complete a canine obedience program. They are joined by incarcerated individuals, Albion Correctional officials, PAWS Animal Shelter director Patty Coffee, and Dawn Spencer, owner of Eye of Oden K9 Training.

ALBION – In collaboration with PAWS Animal Shelter, Albion Correctional Facility has graduated another team of dogs, Allie and Tux.

These dogs were under the supervision of staff and two teams of incarcerated individuals. Allie and Tux were cared and guided for approximately 14 weeks.

Dawn Spencer, the community volunteer trainer, trained the handlers and supervised the program. Spencer is also the owner of Eye of Oden K9 Training in Kent and has over 25 years of experience in dog training.

Allie, left, and Tux completed training and have been adopted.

While both dogs have been adopted, Albion Correctional Facility has welcomed our next set of dogs into the program: Aaron and Adrian.

They will be working throughout the program on obedience training and the basics of good manners.

For more information about animals available for adoption at PAWS, visit paws14411.com.

Aaron, left, and Adrian will go through a 14-week obedience training program.

Thomas X. Grasso, named for canal advocate, going to Buffalo for World Canals Conference

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A new tugboat, Thomas X. Grasso, heads west on the Erie Canal this morning, approaching the Gaines Basin Road bridge.

The tugboat is headed to Buffalo for the 2025 World Canals Conference.

The new tugboat is 64.5 feet long. It is a welcome sight on the Erie Canal, especially after some of the old tugboats have been taken out of service in recent years.

The boat is named for Grasso, a long-time advocate for the canal who served as president of the Canal Society of New York State. Mr. Grasso of Pittsford died at age 82 on June 6, 2022. He spoke several times in Medina about the canal as part of the Cycling the Erie Canal journey for hundreds of cyclists in July.

The new tugboat was built in 2025 by Blount Boats of Warren, Rhode Island for the New York Power Authority of White Plains, New York.

The tug is ice-strengthened and equipped with a heavy ice knife at the stem, gradual rake to the keel, and significantly reinforced structure using ABS Grade D plating in the ice belt. The tug will be able to assist with ice breaking operations on the Canal System as needed, the Canal Corp. states on its website.

The Grasso is a twin screw tug, rated at 750 horsepower. It has capacities for 4,140 gallons of fuel and 350 gallons of water.

The tugboat heads towards a bend in the canal near the northernmost point of the historic waterway.

The tugboat is shown this morning in Albion with the Orleans County Courthouse dome and the First Presbyterian Church spire in back. The tug spent the night in Albion next to the Canal Corp. maintenance facility.

Photo courtesy of Orleans County Crime Victim’s Office: Pictured in photo include Holli Nenni, commissioner of DSS; Terra McGaffick, DSS; Judianne Gearing, DSS, Alex Eaton, District Attorney’s Office; Don Draper, undersheriff; James DeFilipps, OCSD chief deputy; Cyndi Stumer, deputy commissioner of DSS; Susan Howard, district attorney; Dan Punch, first assistant DA; Michelle Werth, Crime Victim coordinator.

Press Release, Orleans County Crime Victim’s Office

ALBION – The Orleans County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Social Services and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department on Monday gathered outside of the Public Safety Building to take part in the National Red Sand Project to help bring awareness to human trafficking and exploitation.

Today, 50 million people worldwide are being trafficked.  Overlooked populations, most at risk of being trafficked, need support to not fall through the metaphoric cracks.  The Red Sand Project fills sidewalk cracks to encourage people to question, connect, and take action against vulnerabilities that lead to human trafficking and exploitation.

To learn more, visit www.redsandproject.org.

Heminway won primary for town supervisor but term doesn’t start until Jan. 1

Jim Heminway

SHELBY – Jim Heminway is getting a head start as the Shelby town supervisor.

Heminway won a Republican primary in June for town supervisor and appears to be a lock to win the general election as an unopposed candidate.

His one-year term will start on Jan. 1. However, this evening he was appointed as acting town supervisor until Dec. 31 by three members of the Town Board: John Misiti, Linda Limina and Ed Zelazny.

The Town Board needs either an acting town supervisor or town supervisor in order to file the town budget by Nov. 20.

The board has been without a town supervisor for about two months since Scott Wengewicz resigned in mid-July. Heminway beat Wengewicz in the Republican primary on June 24,  283 to 118.

Board members Jeff Schiffer and Stephen Seitz Sr. also resigned in mid-July. Seitz also was the deputy town supervisor.

The board was left with only two out of five members and couldn’t meet or conduct town business because it didn’t have a quorum until last week. That’s when Misiti joined the board following an appointment by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Misiti, Limina and Zelazny were unanimous in appointing Heminway as the acting town supervisor. He starts in the midst of the Town Board and department heads working to put together Shelby’s budget for 2026.

Misiti, during this evening’s meeting, said none of the three existing board members could be appointed acting town supervisor without resigning their seat. None wanted to do that and Misiti said the appointment could appear biased if they appointed one of the current members.

Heminway brings more than 40 years of experience in working in local industry with 20 years at Sigma (now Baxter) in Medina and then 21 years at Monroe Electronics (now Digital Alert Systems) in Lyndonville.

MEDINA – The Medina Theater will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday during the funeral of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative political leader who was slain on Sept. 10 while speaking at a college event in Utah.

The Medina Theater will show the funeral live on its big screen and also on smaller televisions. The Rev. Vince Iorio will share a prayer and others are welcome to come together and share in their grief and mourning for Kirk, who was an influential leader especially among younger adults.

President Donald Trump said he will attend the funeral at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

“Anyone who would like to come is invited,” said Dawn Meland, who is helping with the event at the theater, 603 Main St. in Medina. “We welcome all to join us in prayer. They can watch the funeral and have a conversation.”

The event, Meland said, has been put together by “a group of citizens that want to honor the memory of Charlie Kirk. It’s not  partisan.”

Photos courtesy of Hands 4 Hope: The Hands 4 Hope ministry is shown last winte at Lyndun Drive in Albion.

Press Release, Hands 4 Hope

Last year the community was generous giving winter clothing to Hands 4 Hope. This is shown inside the Arnold Gregory Office Complex where Hands 4 Hope is based.

ALBION – Once again the months of Brrr are upon us, Septembrrr, Octobrrr and Novembrrr!

And so is Hands 4 Hopes winter coat events, the “Red Jacket Rally.”

This Thursday marks their first of three consecutive monthly events, the community is welcome to donate or receive winter jackets, hats, gloves and boots during the event.

This Thursday find them at Ace Hardware on E. Center Street in Medina from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Last year this event helped get over 600 winter coats out into the community to those in need.

Donating is easy: just drop winter items off during the events on the third Thursday each month.

Starting in Medina, then off to Holley on Oct. 16 and wrapping up in Albion the Hoag Library on Nov. 13.

For more information, on supporting this cause or Hands 4 Hope in general please visit the website at www.hands4hopeorleans.org.

We appreciate your support as we offer Hope to our local community.

Provided photos from Orleans/Niagara BOCES: Missy Outten and Sophia Gerhardt of Barker get ready for the cosmetology clinic at Orleans/Niagara BOCES in Medina.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Kyra Monnier of Albion is one of the cosmetology students at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

MEDINA – The cosmetology students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center are excited about starting their clinic Oct. 2.

The clinic is open to the public at 4232 Shelby Basin Rd. in Medina on Thursdays and Fridays (8:30 to 10:30 a.m.) when school is in session. Customers will be walking away with new looks or just a smile after having some pampering with our talented students.

What a great way for our students to get their hours towards their cosmetology license and helping community members feel and look great!

Teachers Sue Lindke (slindke@onboces.org) and Anne Carnahan (acarnahan@onboces.org) can be contacted to set up appointments or get more information.

Price list is located on the Orleans/Niagara Career and Technical Education Centers page on Facebook.