By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2023 at 10:16 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Police Chief Todd Draper, left, administers the oath of office to four new members of the Medina Police Department. The officers taking the oath, include from left: Miles Erickson, Brandon Clouser, Felicia Holtz and Kyle Daly.
The four officers are currently in the police academy. Erickson, Clouser and Holtz are in the academy in Niagara County and will graduate in August while Daly is in Monroe County’s academy and is scheduled to graduate in October.
The officers also have to do three to four months of field training with a Medina police officer.
As part of the oath, the officers promised to support and uphold the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the State of New York.
“I pledge to promote and protect the mission, goals and policies of the Medina Police Department, through integrity, loyalty and respect,” the officers said in the oath. “I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith and trust. I will at all times, through my words and actions, work to build and maintain that trust.”
Chief Todd Draper congratulates Kyle Daly and gives him a pin for the Medina Police Department.
Draper said it’s unusual to have four new officers in the academy and joining the department at about the same time.
“We look forward to getting the new hires on the road,” Draper said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2023 at 4:37 pm
Photos courtesy of Beth Nash/Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES
KENDALL – Kendall’s Class of 2023 celebrated commencement in the junior-senior high school auditorium on Friday.
The top photos show Principal Carol D’Agostino congratulating Riley Robinson on his graduation. He is one of 48 graduates in the class. D’Agostino is retiring June 30 after 18 years of leading the school as principal.
The class gathers on the stage for commencement on Friday evening.
Taigan Guerrero stands to be recognized as one of the graduates. Highlights from her time at Kendall were shared.
These grads include El Chaw, left, and Liza Martinez Tinoco.
Danon O’Brien and Bruce Rasmusson are happy for the next stage of their lives after graduating from Kendall.
These Kendall friends include, from left: Gabriel Loran, Owen Hirschman and Ronald Kuhn.
These members of the Class of 2023 include Arianna Lissow, Aubreye Haskins and Tyana Burroughs.
Speakers at the graduation included, from left: salutatorian Tori Conner, valedictorian Mary Jones and keynote speaker Jim Oschmann, a 1977 Kendall graduate.
Oschmann is the co-founder and advisor of Photonect Interconnect Solutions Inc. and a retired executive from Ball Aerospace.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2023 at 1:43 pm
Provided photo
LYNDONVILLE – These five people completed The Murph Challenge on Memorial Day in Lyndonville. They wore 20-pound body armor while doing a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and another mile run for time.
Pictured from left include 14-year-old Austin Fonda of Lyndonville, environmental conservation police officer Shane Dobies, environmental conservation police officer Vern Fonda, State Police investigator Brian Belson and environmental conservation police officer Evan Laczi.
The Village of Lyndonville hosted the challenge for the seventh time. The event is held in memory of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, a U.S. Navy Seal killed in combat in Asadabad, Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.
He was 29 when he was killed. LT. Michael Murphy was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 27, 2007. Murphy would push himself with fitness challenges, including the tasks in the “Murph Challenge.”
The challenge is held throughout the country, and has raised more than $2 million for the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2023 at 11:51 am
Provided photo: Local veterans are shown with a trolley used for parades in Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – Local veterans are encouraged to be part of Lyndonville’s July Fourth parade. They can march in the parade or ride in a trolley.
Veterans who want to be part of the parade should go to the staging area at the corner of Alps and Platten roads before 11:30 a.m. After 11:30, those roads close to traffic.
The trolley for veterans will be near the front of the procession for the parade, which starts at noon.
Veterans can be dropped off or can try to park along road, although there may not be any parking available, said Steve Goodrich, American Legion commander in Lyndonville.
“Our trolley is handicap accessible, so no worries there,” Goodrich said.
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club recently received confirmation that the 911th United States Air Force Reserve from Pittsburgh, Pa. will open the July 4th celebration with a military flyover again this year.
The crew that flew last year stated that the Lyndonville flyover was very special for them. One of the commanding officers held it in special regard due to the fact that he spent his youth growing up in the Oakfield-Alabama area.
The crew was amazed at the size of the reception they received once over the Village of Lyndonville. It is expected that the flyover will pass over Main Street right at noon, just before the start of the parade.
The Lions Club has a full day planned on July 4th with arts and crafts, chicken barbecue and live music throughout the day. New activities like bounce houses and pony rides have been added this year.
The evening events will see the band Flipside perform from 7 p.m. until the start of the fireworks at 10 pm. Flipside has been voted western New York’s top rock band for the last eight years.
Chicken barbecue tickets can be obtained at the information booth on the school front lawn on July Fourth. Indoor seating in the school cafeteria will be available for those purchasing chicken barbecue dinners.
The Lions want attendees to know that coolers and folding chairs are welcome for the evening concert and fireworks. They ask attendees to avoid glass bottles and practice a carry in, carry out refuse policy.
‘I’m going to miss everything – football games, homecoming, prom, the kids, the talks, the crying on my shoulder, everything’
Photo by Claire Squicciarini: Pictured from left include Della Morales, Stephanie Simpson, Dawn Squicciarini, Mark Vanacore, Karen Spierdowis and Tim Archer. Other teachers and aides who are retiring include Carmenrose Brittan, Duncan Hughes, Nancy Lowery, Sue Ann McGraffick, Joyce Monacelli, and Toni Plummer.
By Claire Squicciarini, correspondent
LYNDONVILLE – The Albion Teachers Association honored 12 retiring teachers during a dinner at White Birch Golf Course.
The retirees include Tim Archer, Carmenrose Brittan, Duncan Hughes, Nancy Lowery, Sue Ann McGraffick, Joyce Monacelli, Della Morales, Dawn Squicciarini, Karen Spierdowis, Toni Plummer, Stephanie Simpson and Mark Vanacore.
“It’s just an end of one season leading into another,” retiring high school English teacher Karen Spierdowis said at the celebration on June 22.
While enjoying a lovely evening, the teachers were able to reminisce on the memories and friendships they made along the way.
“I’m going to miss everything – football games, homecoming, prom, the kids, the talks, the crying on my shoulder, everything,” said retiring high school librarian Della Morales says.
Each of the teacher’s careers were honored with speeches about their impact on students and colleagues. Each retiree received personalized gifts from the association.
“School friends become your second family,” said retiring special ed teacher Dawn Squicciarini.
The night was full of great memories with great friends.
“I am excited but sad,” retiring special ed teacher Stephanie Simpson said.
The Teachers Association thanked the teachers for their many years of services and wished them the best as they start their new chapter of their lives.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina will host two public meetings on Tuesday for the $4.5 million NY Forward grant.
Medina is a recipient of a statewide initiative that provides funding for high-priority projects designed to boost local economies and transform village centers where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work and raise a family. The village has formed a Local Planning Committee to identify projects for the $4.5 million.
At 5 p.m., the second committee meeting will be held in the board room at the Medina Central School at 1 Mustang Drive. This meeting will provide an overview of the public engagement conducted thus far and present key findings from the downtown profile. This meeting is open to all members of the public, with time reserved at the end of the meeting for public comment.
Beginning at 7 p.m., a public workshop will be held in the board room at the district office. This meeting will include a general overview of the NY Forward process, a review of the overall schedule, information about project identification and will include an interactive visioning exercise so community members can share their ideas and perspectives about which types of projects will help transform Medina’s downtown.
The Village of Medina is committed to hosting open, inclusive and accessible meetings. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Jeanette Petti at jpetti@bergmannpc.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2023 at 7:35 am
MURRAY – Mackenzie Poynter took this photo of lightning last night at Big Guys Campground on Countyline Road in Murray/Brockport. She took it at about 12:45 a.m. She and her family are from Medina and camping at Big Guys.
There is a chance for more showers and thunderstorms during the day and tonight in Orleans County and again on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
Today is forecast for a high of 80 degrees with a quarter and half of an inch of rain possible. Tuesday is forecast for a high of 77 with a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch of rain expected.
The forecast for the rest of the week includes showers and cloudy on Wednesday with a high of 72, mostly sunny on Thursday with a high near 79, sunny a high near 83 on Friday, and a chance of showers and cloudy on Saturday with a high near 82.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2023 at 1:12 pm
Gabriel J. Casanova
ALBION – A Medina man was killed in a car accident late last night on West Countyhouse Road in Albion, State Police said.
Gabriel J. Casanova, 19, was a passenger in a 2009 Lincoln Navigator that overturned multiple times. Casanova is a 2022 Medina graduate.
State troopers were dispatched to a one-car accident at 2:37 a.m. at West Countyhouse Road, in an area between Route 98 and the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.
State Police said the Lincoln Navigator was eastbound when it left the north shoulder of the road, causing the vehicle to flip over several times before coming to a rest. Casanova was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three additional occupants of the vehicle were treated for non-life threatening injuries at Strong Memorial Hospital and released. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, State Police said.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Collision Reconstruction Unit assisted in the investigation, Troopers said.
Medina Central School will have counselors at the junior-senior high school from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone who needs help and support, said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.
Photo by Jo Johnson/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: The orange-colored external acoustic tag, below the dorsal fin, identifies this fish as tagged in 2023. It is one of the first wild lake trout to be tagged in Lake Ontario.
Press Release, New York Sea Grant
OSWEGO – Lake trout research underway on Lake Ontario is part of the U.S.-Canada Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) field year on the lake.
Research collecting data on lake trout movement using acoustic telemetry tags is being led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in collaboration with the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Fisheries, with outreach assistance from New York Sea Grant (NYSG).
The tags communicate with acoustic receivers stationed on the lake bottom and collect data that will provide information about the migration patterns and habitats used by adult lake trout. This innovative technology is particularly useful for locating spawning habitats and will help to inform future restoration efforts for potentially degraded spawning sites.
More than 350 lake trout will be tagged in 2023. The tags’ battery life allows the fish to be tracked over the next ten years.
This research has already produced a “first.”
“This work in 2023 represents the first time a wild-produced lake trout has ever been tagged in Lake Ontario,” said USFWS Fish Biologist Dimitry Gorsky, Ph.D. “Lake trout are a native species that is important to the ecosystem and to the world-class sport fishery on Lake Ontario.”
The tagged fish are returned to the water to resume normal behavior to assure quality data.
New York Sea Grant is providing public outreach support to inform angling, fisheries and general public audiences about this research.
“Tagged fish that are a part of this study are marked with an external orange-colored tag,” said NYSG Great Lakes Fisheries Specialist Stacy Furgal. “If anglers catch a tagged lake trout, they can choose to return it to the water, or, if the fish is harvested, please contact Alex Gatch, agatch@usgs.gov, 607-753-9391 extension 7540, to return the internal tracking tag.”
This research is funded in part through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2023 at 5:29 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The Class of 2023 tosses their caps outside the school near the flag pole after commencement this morning.
There are 60 members in the class. Graduation was held inside the school in the auditorium before going outside for the cap tossing.
Lily Sprague leads her classmates and the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sprague is also the class president and gave a greeting on behalf of the class.
She said her classmates had two of their high school years disrupted by the pandemic. She praised the students for bringing a range of skills and talents to the class, and using them to help keep the Class of 2023 united.
She shared a quote from musician Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem: “God gave you them shoes to fit you, so put them on and wear them. Be yourself man, be proud of who you are. Even if it sounds corny, don’t let no one tell you, you ain’t beautiful.”
High School Principal Matt Feldman welcomes the families and friends of the graduates to commencement. Feldman just finished his first year as principal in Holley.
Feldman commended teachers and staff “who challenge students to be the best version of themselves.”
Lydia Sprague sings the Star Spangled Banner. She is also the class vice president and announced the class gift. She said the remaining funds from the class will be used to purchase Holley Hawk folding chairs and also to provide Cathy Passarell “with a day of pampering and relaxation” in appreciation for all she has done for the students.
(Left) Ava Quincey gives the salutatory address, and said she is thankful for the smaller, close-knit community of Holley.
“There is no group of people I’d rather have on my side to face this journey,” she said about her school years at Holley.
She encouraged her classmates to document their life’s adventures and milestones. She said many memories were triggered by looking back on photos from elementary, middle and high school.
“I’m asking you all as you graduate today to not hide from the camera,” Quincey said. “We have our lives ahead of us and we have albums to fill.”
(Right) Elise Quincey, the class valedictorian, addresses her classmates. She and Ava are one set of three twins in Holley’s top 10 of graduates. Lydia and Lily Sprague, and Sarah and Shannon Kelly are the others.
Elise Quincey thanked the Holley community for its support of the students. She said her classmates are all unique. She urged people not to see the world in just black and white, and recognize there are many differences among people.
Andrew Thomas goes to accept his diploma during Holley’s commencement today. The ceremony started at 10 a.m. in the school auditorium.
Cameron Bates stands to be recognized for winning a scholarship in memory of Richard V. Martin and Maynard W. Martin. The scholarship goes to a senior who has made the greatest contribution t athletics during four years at Holley Senior High School.
Harriet Emery is congratulated by Board of Education member Andrea Newman.
Matthew Barlow is recognized for winning a scholarship from retired principal Susan Cory. It goes to a senior “who values education but more importantly, values people and treats everyone well.”
Zachary Busch, the school’s high school band director, was asked by seniors to give the commencement address. Busch is a 2011 Medina graduate. He is nearing his 30th birthday.
He has helped bring back the school’s jazz band and a combined marching band with Kendall. He is also the school’s golf coach.
Busch asked students to reflect on a legacy. He said the Holley schools show a legacy of accomplishment with trophy cases full of awards, banners for standout athletes and the Wall of Fame. Those awards were earned through years of effort.
“No good legacy is created quickly,” Busch said. “You have your whole life ahead of you. You will shape your legacy. There is time in your life to do many things.”
Busch said his time at Holley has showed him the people of Holley are strongly supportive of the school, and they come out for athletic games, concerts, musicals and other events.
Holley has also shown, again and again, to be very generous, especially to students in need, Busch said.
“Holley will rally for those who are sick,” he said. “They will give with no expectation of being repaid.”
Those attributes are part of the legacy from the community instilled in the graduates, Busch said.
By Kim Pritt, Contributor Posted 24 June 2023 at 3:00 pm
Post marking the spot of the Mississippi River Head Waters at Lake Itasca, Minnesota. The inscription reads: “Here 1475 feet above the ocean, the Mighty Mississippi begins to flow on its winding way 2552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.”
Let’s go on an adventure together….to The Mississippi River!
Who hasn’t heard of the Mississippi River? If you’ve ever read Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer stories, you know it well. In grade school, you probably learned how to spell it by saying “M-i-crooked letter-crooked letter-i-crooked letter-crooked letter-i-hump back-hump back-i”.
It passes through ten states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, so if you have visited any of these states, you likely saw it in person. The Mighty Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America and the fourth longest river in the world. It is, in deed, mighty and famous from stories of the old south and steam boats and being a major link for commerce to ship goods across the country.
I’ve seen the Mississippi River up close several times. I was so excited to get to visit the Head Waters on the cross country trip I took with my brother and sister-in-law in their motorhome in 2016. The Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca, Minnesota (the word Itasca means True Head). The location of the Mississippi Head Waters is the only place anywhere along the Mississippi River where you can actually walk across it – it is the narrowest, shallowest, and slowest flow, allowing easy wading and playing in the waters.
First Railroad Bridge built across the Mississippi in 1867-68. Dubuque, Iowa
The location of the Head Waters is a beautiful area. There is a wonderful Visitor’s Center with lots of amazing information and Native American artifacts and several walking trails. There is a spot where they installed steps so you can walk down to the absolute narrowest point of the river and walk across to another set of steps on the other side.
Lake Itasca is stunning and the spot where it flows to feed the start of the Mississippi is a wonderful place to get in and wade and play in the water. And…..YES…..of course I got in at both the narrowest spot and the actual Head Waters and did walk across the Mississippi. It was so much fun. There were many times on that trip that I declared “This is the BEST thing, yet!”, but this is one that sticks out as one of the coolest things we did. It is an experience I’ll never forget.
We drove along and crossed the Mississippi many times on that trip as we traveled through several states – including when we got to see the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. But, the next major experience we had on the Mississippi was in New Orleans, Louisiana. We were visiting family there – my nephew and his family lived in Houma, LA at the time – and we all took a river boat cruise out of the French Quarter in New Orleans. We took the Natchez – one of only two true steam boats still active on the Mississippi River, today.
The Natchez cruised from the heart of the French Quarter along the crescent of the Mississippi River, which is the deepest point of the river at 200 feet deep – giving us the honor of being able to say we were at the start and end, as well as, the shallowest and the deepest points of the Mighty Mississippi all in one trip! It was so beautiful and gave us a view of New Orleans that can’t be seen from the streets.
On this cruise, we saw everything from sandy beaches with people out for a stroll or fishing, to major industry like a Domino Sugar Refinery and oil refineries, to shipping operations, to the beautiful New Orleans skyline…..what a diverse section of the river – just amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed checking this major bucket list item off my list – Take a River Boat Cruise on the Mississippi!
On my trip to Iowa in 2017, I had another memorable experience with the Mississippi River. I stayed in Dubuque and discovered a wonderful River Walk park along the Mississippi. I spent a lot of time strolling along the river looking at the amazing sculptures by local artists and enjoying the beautiful weather. That River Walk happens to have views of the first railroad bridge built across the Mississippi in 1867-68. Andrew Carnegie supplied the iron for the $800,000 railroad bridge spanning 1,535 feet, which provided an alternative to ferry crossings across the river.
The bridge is still in use, today – I watched a train cross it! There is also the remains of an old shot tower constructed in 1856 to produce lead shot ammunition. Molten lead was poured into the top of the tower and passed through a series of sieves to form the proper shot size. The shots then fell into a tank of cold water at the bottom of the tower. It was so cool to see and learn about these historic points of interest along the Mississippi River.
The Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is the deepest point of the river at 200 feet deep and is the last part of the river before the delta flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
More recently, I got to spend some time on another River Boat cruise on the Mississippi when I visited Memphis, TN in 2021. Wonder when and where I will experience her the next time we meet.
If you’d like to see more photos and information about the Mississippi River, visit my Blog Posts about two of the trips mentioned in this article:
The Natchez cruised from the heart of the French Quarter along the crescent of the Mississippi River, which is the deepest point of the river at 200 feet deep – giving us the honor of being able to say we were at the start and end, as well as, the shallowest and the deepest points of the Mighty Mississippi all in one trip! It was so beautiful and gave us a view of New Orleans that can’t be seen from the streets.
