Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C -Batavia) is encouraging constituents from Orleans County to attend town hall meetings that he will be hosting on Saturday, June 24, at the Barre Town Hall, Carlton Town Hall and Kendall Town Hall.
There, Assemblyman Hawley will be present to host open meetings where constituents will have the opportunity to express to him their concerns related to state issues.
“With the majority of my time back in the district, I want to hear from the people I represent and see what they still need for support from their government,” Hawley said. “I encourage any and all interested individuals to stop by and share their thoughts with me and my team at any of these town halls.”
Constituents with any questions about this event are encouraged to reach out to Assemblyman Hawley’s district office at (585) 589-5780 for more information.
Town Hall meeting locations for June 24:
Barre Town Hall, 14317 W. Barre Rd., from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Carlton Town Hall, 14341 Waterport Rd. from 11:15 a.m. to noon
Kendall Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd. from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2023 at 3:54 pm
Parade participants welcome for procession on Route 98
CARLTON – The Town of Carlton is celebrating its 200th anniversary on Saturday with a parade down Route 98 and a party at the town park.
The parade starts at noon at Park Avenue and Route 98 and heads south to the Carlton Rec Hall. Participants are welcome to begin staging for the parade at 11 a.m. Participants don’t need to register and can show up at 11, said Brenda Mufford, one of the bicentennial celebration committee members.
Carlton welcomes floats, tractors, classic cars, sports teams and other participants for the parade.
After the procession down 98 there will be food trucks, a bounce house and bands at the town park behind the Rec hall. The bands include Coupe de Ville and Son Henry Band.
There will be hot dogs, pizza, an ice cream truck and other food available. The Carlton Fire Company also will have fire trucks available to see up close.
“We’re hoping for a good turnout and that everybody has fun,” Mufford said.
Primary goal of 10,828-acre refuge was to protect migratory fowl
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 3, No. 20
June 1973 – Lawrence S. Smith, shown branding a Canada goose, was the first manager at the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge. Appointed in 1958, he worked there until 1973.
Rushing south or north, we tend to drive through the Swamp area without due consideration of its uniqueness. Some 19,000 acres of natural wetland habitat on our doorstep. An important habitat for migratory birds. Home to a variety of native birds and wildlife. Trails and overlook areas which attract thousands of nature-loving visitors each year.
We referenced the 1947 purchase of the first area refuge, the Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area, in the previous column. Efforts to conserve the swamp habitat continued through the 1950s.
In 1957, the NYS Dept. of Conservation purchased a 5,600-acre tract of land located primarily in Genesee and Niagara counties, with a small portion in Orleans County. This refuge was named the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area.
Meanwhile, the Northeast division of the Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that they wished to purchase a large tract of land in the area also. Robert F. Perry, head of the regional NYS Conservation Dept. promoted the already well-established Oak Orchard site and highlighted the potential of the Alabama Swamp area to the west. His efforts bore fruit.
In December 1957 the Wildlife Service announced the authorization of a major wildlife refuge project straddling southern Orleans and northern Genesee counties. Bounded on the west by Dunlap, Oak Orchard Ridge and Tibbetts Roads, on the east by Knowlesville Rd, on the south by Roberts, Casey and Lewiston Roads and on the west by Salt Works Rd., the 10,828 acre Oak Orchard National Wildlife Refuge was intended primarily to provide protection for migratory fowl. Part of the swampland would also be open to hunters at designated times.
The announcement initially generated mixed responses. Since the purchase involved some 20 percent of the Town of Shelby land, there was concern over loss of property tax revenue. An opposition group of Shelby landowners protested the “land grab” of valuable farmland by the Federal government.
Originally named the Oak Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, the site was renamed the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in 1964, since the similarity of the names of the two refuges caused confusion.
Several people were instrumental in the promotion and development of this unique resource, including Lawrence S. Smith in the top photo:
October 1970 – Robert F. Perry (left), regional director of the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, principal force behind the development of the Wildlife Refuge. Stephen Champlin (right), representing the Orleans County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, which advocated for the creation of the site.
June 1973 – Oliver D. Meddaugh, principal waterfowl technician, worked at the Wildlife Management Areas for 31 years.
April 1980 – Thomas “Dan” Carroll, who succeeded Oliver Meddaugh, compiled a thorough history of the Wildlife Areas.
October 1988 – Don Cook, sportsman, wildlife enthusiast, photographer, and columnist who chronicled and promoted the Wildlife Refuge.
BATAVIA – Six exceptional members of the Genesee Community College team have been recognized by the State University of New York for outstanding contributions to their profession, the campus, and the community.
The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence is given in recognition of consistently superior professional achievement and encourages the ongoing pursuit of excellence.
The following faculty and staff members earned a SUNY Chancellor Award for the 2022-23 academic year.
• Kenneth G. Rainis was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. This award recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the State University’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.
Ken has been a member of GCC’s Math/Science faculty since 2015 and has taught a wide variety of courses including Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, and Human Nutrition. Ken’s over 45-year experience in science education and as a science education author, go well beyond the textbook since lessons need to come to life with real-world applications.
Ken is a highly experienced individual known for his creativity, adaptability, and connectivity inside and outside the classroom. He is committed to high-quality standards and nurturing student curiosity.
• Gary J. Boccaccio was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the Classified Service, a system-level award established by SUNY to give system-wide recognition for superior performance and extraordinary achievement by employees in the Classified Service. These awards demonstrate the University’s commitment to individuals who provide superior service to its students and the community at large.
Gary has been a member of GCC’s classified staff in the position of Custodial Worker since 2005. He is an individual dedicated to his work and possess an exemplary work ethic. Gary is reliable, takes pride in what he does, and is always willing to go above and beyond what is required of him. Gary finds joy in what he does and is committed to making meaningful contributions to the college. His positive attitude and commitment inspire others.
• Karyn S. Bryson received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, which recognizes the consistently superior service contributions of teaching faculty. This service must be sustained over multiple years and may occur in a variety of venues.
Karyn has been a member of GCC’s Paralegal faculty since 2008. She has provided outstanding service both in and out of the classroom and truly is committed to the entire college community and learning environment. In addition to her excellence in the classroom, she has made significant contributions to the college through her service. A few examples include her instituting a chapter of National Honor Society for paralegal students, implementing a HyFlex modality for the delivery of her instruction, reorganizing the Student Paralegal Association, and serving as a leader for the Genesee Educational Association.
• Kristen L. Hargrave was recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. This award recognizes consistently superior professional achievement within and beyond the position.
Kristen has been a member of GCC’s Records office since 2015 where she began as a Transfer Coordinator and was then promoted to Assistant Registrar. She is an individual dedicated to mastering her role and accomplishing a great deal of work beyond the outline of her position description. A few samples of her work include redesigning the college’s transfer services web page, supporting student completion by maintaining and continuously improving the Degree Works system, creating shared resources to assist in campus-wide collaboration and advisement of students, and serving as the college’s Curriculum Secretary and Genesee Educational Association Secretary.
• Maureen “Moi” E. Dugan was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, which supports the pursuits foundational to sustaining the intellectual growth of SUNY institutions by recognizing consistently outstanding scholarly and creative productivity, conducted in addition to teaching, by SUNY’s instructional faculty.
Moi has been a member of GCC since 2006. Some of her career highlights include integrating art with the campus and community through an annual pottery fundraiser for the college’s food pantry and implementing a summer studio fine arts camp for youth. She participated in the development of the Roz Steiner Art Gallery, working with the Gallery Advisory Board and architects in the evolution of the gallery design and vision. Beyond the classroom, she donates a significant amount of time to various organizations, exhibits her pottery nationally, and engages in regular professional development to learn new techniques that she can engage her students with.
• Daniel E. Snyder was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the State University’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.
Dan has been a member of GCC since 2007 and a full-time faculty member since 2019. His approach to teaching is customized, effective and empowering. Dan understands the importance of connecting to each student and adapting to the various classroom atmospheres he encounters. He has an engaging personality that students find intriguing, does not get intimidated easily and adapts to any learning environment.
“We are incredibly proud of the exceptional individuals who have received the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence,” said Dr. James Sunser, president of GCC. “Kenneth Rainis, Gary Boccaccio, Karyn Bryson, Kristen Hargrave, Maureen Dugan and Daniel Snyder have consistently demonstrated outstanding contributions to their respective fields, our campus, and the community. Their commitment to excellence and dedication have had a profound impact on our students and the overall educational experience at Genesee Community College.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 June 2023 at 10:41 am
Provided photo: This is one of the rooms in the sub-acute rehab wing of Medina Memorial Hospital.
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health is excited to announce its sub-acute rehab (commonly referred to as the transitional care unit) at Medina Memorial Hospital has seen strong growth in 2023.
Information provided by Scott Robinson, director of marketing, as of June, this year has already surpassed all of 2022.
“This is a true testament to the team we have here,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “We’re increasingly seeing and hearing that patients are requesting to rehab at Medina Memorial Hospital.”
Sub-acute rehab patients at Medina Memorial Hospital have the benefit of being located in a hospital, which means there are several valuable services in close proximity. This is one of the reasons more patients are choosing to come to Medina for their rehab.
Having rehab located in a hospital has more value for several reasons:
Physical, occupational and/or speech therapy is available up to seven days a week.
Registered nurses care for patients 24/7.
Medical provider is onsite 24/7.
There is an onsite emergency department.
There are spacious private rooms.
In many cases, rehabbing at Medina Memorial Hospital means being close to home.
Orleans Community Health’s TCU offers a special, caring environment for patients who no longer require all the resources of an acute care hospital, but who are still in need of special care before going home, Robinson explained. The average length of stay for Medina’s TCU is 10-14 days. After this time, the patient returns home, or referrals are made to an approved facility.
A recent patient, Donna Walsh, shared her experience.
“This is the best place I’ve been to,” she said. “You can be missing home but still smiling because you’re here. These people are like family. It’s like part of my life has been made whole again. I met staff who thanked me for being here, and staff who said they were happy for me to go home, but said they’d miss me. A nurse even game me a hug and another held my hand during a tough day. It all made me feel like a person. I’m going to miss them, those people who became my family.”
Gary Bartle, another recent patient, said you can tell the staff at Medina Memorial Hospital love their jobs.
“It reflects in how they care for their patients,” he said. “From the delicious food and the great care to them making me laugh, it’s been a great experience. I have been to three rehabs and I learned more this morning about balance and different techniques than I did at the other rehabs the whole time I was there.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 June 2023 at 9:08 am
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has announced one of its employees has been recognized by Buffalo Business First as one of their 25 “Excellence in Health Care” recipients.
Rhonda Woody, lead sonographer and technical director of echocardiography, recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with Orleans Community Health.
“It’s important to me to make sure all my patients feel heard, relaxed and comfortable,” Woody said. “We are a close-knit group where everyone works for a common goal. My department director is an added bonus. She is always willing to help, always supports her employees and is family oriented.”
Medina’s cardiac service offers more than echocardiograms, Woody said. They offer exercise and nuclear stress testing, halter monitors and they can set a patient up with a cardiologist right in the building.
“I want everyone to know that we’re a hidden treasure,” Woody said. “We have an exceptional diagnostic department who are all certified or registered in each of the modalities they work in, providing exams that the community may not even be aware of.”
Woody also is a constant face at the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute Cardiology Clinic with Dr. Harry McCrea, which is currently at Medina Memorial Hospital on Wednesdays. She has been a leading figure in helping to grow that one-day-a-week service for the community.
In addition to serving the community with Orleans Community Health, Woody, an Albion resident, enjoys gardening, watching her daughter compete in horse competitions and the entire Christmas season (especially baking cookies).
MIDDLEPORT – Lake Plains Players is honored to announce the 2023 recipient of the Lance Anderson Memorial Scholarship, Crystalina Baumer.
Crystalina is a Roy-Hart High School senior who plans to attend Nazareth College in the fall for Music Education. Crystalina was inspired by her music teachers and directors and hopes to inspire others to find themselves through the performing arts.
The scholarship is a $1,000 award established in honor of the late Lance Anderson, who was the president of Lake Plains Players for over 10 years, and had a passion for education as well as theatre.
He was always a vocal supporter of students and a leader in the group’s Summer Theatre Program. He affected the lives and futures of countless young people who are now making their own contributions in the arts fields. Through this scholarship, the Lake Plains Players hope to continue to honor his legacy.
Find more information about the Lake Plains Players, visit the organization’s web site or Facebook page.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 June 2023 at 9:53 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Todd Draper takes the oath of office as Medina police chief this evening in the Medina Senior Center. He is joined by his wife Tricia and their son Tyler.
Draper takes over for Chad Kenward, who retired on June 9 after 7 1/2 years as chief and 20 years with the Medina PD. Draper has been with the Medina Police Department the past 18 years, and was the department’s second in command as lieutenant.
“I feel very confident in him,” Kenward said about Draper. “We worked very well together. He has a lot of integrity and he knows the job very well.”
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari presents Chad Kenward with a plaque in appreciation for his service as police chief. Kenward was praised on the plaque for his “professionalism, dedication, and service to the Medina Police Department and the Citizens of Medina. We wish you all the best in your retirement.”
Don Draper, a retired Medina police chief, puts the chief’s pin on his son, Todd Draper. The retired police chief has another son, Don Jr., who is the county’s undersheriff, with another son Mike as county 911 dispatcher. Another son Steven works as a career firefighter in South Carolina. Todd, 41, is the youngest of the four brothers.
“We were born and bred for public service,” Todd Draper said.
His mother Nancy also was a long-time court clerk for Medina.
Todd Draper takes the oath of office while joined by family members including his father Don Draper, mother Nancy, son Tyler and wife Tricia.
Draper said he enjoys working in his hometown. He will lead a department of 12 full-time officers when fully staffed. The department is currently low on officers with four in the police academy. They will soon join the Medina PD.
Three of the recruits are in the police academy in Niagara County and one is in Monroe County. Draper said he would like the four to be sworn in during the June 26 Village Board meeting.
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College is pleased to announce that Heather Jones, professor of Fine Arts, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Mexico for the 2023-2024 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
While collaborating with Professor Jose Luis Gonzalez-Cabrero and the Industrial Design Department at the University of San Luis Potosi, Professor Jones will be implementing an international cultural color study project with students from both Mexico and New York, which will culminate with a student art exhibit titled “Color Connection.”
She will be teaching a series of seminars on color theory in Mexico, that will be available online for her students taking classes at GCC. Students in Mexico and GCC will photograph one color in their daily lives and facilitate conversation online by sharing these images on the dedicated Color Connection social media pages.
The goal of the project is to take a deeper look at the expressive meaning of color in design, utilize the subject of color as a social bridge to break down cultural stigmas, and reinforce empathy and respect for cultural diversity. Photographs will be juried by the students and 100-plus photographs will be exhibited simultaneous at UASLP and in GCC’s Roz Steiner Gallery during March 2024. The exhibit will then be available to travel to other SUNY campus galleries.
Jones is among over 800 U.S. citizens who will teach or conduct research abroad for the 2023-2024 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
“Congratulations to Professor Heather Jones on receiving the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award,” said Dr. Craig Lamb, provost/vice president for Academic Affairs at GCC. “Her innovative project, ‘Color Connection,’ will foster cultural understanding and empathy through the expressive power of color. We are proud to have such accomplished faculty members like Professor Jones who exemplify the spirit of international collaboration and contribute to finding solutions for our global challenges.”
Fulbrighters engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions.
Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.
Provided photo: From left include Lt. Steve Cooley (Medina Fire Department Public Information Officer), Kenneth Lauffer (Starpoint), Gianna Scirri (Niagara Wheatfield) and Jennifer Raduns.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Three students from Orleans/Niagara BOCES are the recipients of the Liam’s Legacy scholarships.
At end of year celebrations at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, Security and Law Enforcement student Gianna Scirri (Niagara Wheatfield) and Kenneth Lauffer (Starpoint) in the Emergency Medication Services program were recognized.
Lydia Samson
At the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, Lydia Samson, a Barker student in the Health Occupations Technician, was announced as one of this year’s award winners. She will be recognized at her home school district at a later date.
The awards were started by Jennifer Raduns in memory of her grandson Liam, a six-month old baby beaten by his father in 2016. Liam would die from his injuries.
“I wanted to pay homage to the first responders who tried to save Liam’s life,” she said.
In the nominations, Gianna was recognized as a student who carries herself with the core values of the Security and Law Enforcement program: Professionalism, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence. Gianna will be attending Niagara County Community College to pursue a degree in Radiology and would like to eventually become a New York State Trooper.
Kenneth’s EMS teacher Sara McCartin had this to say about him, “Kenneth is very passionate about helping others. He is a member of Tri-Community Ambulance and Shawnee Fire. He has logged over 275 hours of volunteer time this year alone.”
Lydia has dedicated the majority of her extracurricular time to studying and competing in CPR/First Aid. She won first place at the New York State SkillsUSA competition for Basic Health Care and has received direct admission to the Genesee Community College Nursing program this fall. She is one of only nine high school graduates to receive direct entry.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 June 2023 at 9:55 am
Provided photos
ALBION – Albion High School English teacher Kristin Roche reaches for some cash when she was stopped this morning before school by senior Vincent Molisani. The senior class did their prank this morning, and required teachers to pay a $5 minimum to enter the parking lots to go into school.
The prank raised $900 for the family of Maddox Pearl. He has been receiving treatments for a brain tumor.
Vincent Molisani was stationed in the main driveway of the high school this morning, collecting $5 from teachers to enter as part of a senior prank with a good cause.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 June 2023 at 9:33 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Amazing Turtle Race is a mainstay of the Albion Starwberry Festival. The turtles are usually launched into the Erie Canal from the Main Street lift bridge.
But with the bridge removed for a major rehabilitation, organizers of the event needed to improvise, and the turtles on Saturday afternoon were launched from a boat owned by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
The turtle launchers include from left: Albion Police chief David Mogle and Lt. Brandon Annable, top ticket seller Jarred Saj, County Legislator John Fitzak and Aric Albright, superintendent of the village’s sewer plant.
The turtles work their way east on the Erie Canal.
There were 800 turtles in the racer, and Saj sold 375 of the tickets. They were $5 each or 5 for $20. Proceeds are used to help defray costs of the Strawberry Festival.
The turtles are numbered and the first five earn prize money for the ticket holders. The winners include: Dave Green in first, $500; Kevin Bogan in second, $300; David Schubel in third, $100; Lin Schafer in fourth, $50; and Mike Goheen in fifth, $50.
Becky Karls is the organizer of the turtle race. She is pictured with Aubrey Kennedy, 11, of Kent who wore the turtle costume for the race and also during the parade.
Gary Simboli served as emcee of the race and shared many corny turtle jokes. Donato Rosario and McKenna Boyer, bottom left and center, take in the spectacle by the canal.
Dallas Ecker, second from left, grabs the top five turtles. Jay Kovaleski, an Albion physical education teacher and swim coach, is at left. Ecker was assisted in the kayaks by Josh DePoty and Jackson Moody.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 June 2023 at 8:29 am
Photos by Vivian Rivers
ALBION – Brett Sobieraski heads to the finish line on Saturday morning in the Albion Strawberry Festival 5k.
Bert Gallmon and Wolfpack Multisport, organizers of the race, embraced the theme of the Strawberry Festival: “Here Comes Santa.”
They had a large Santa inflatable at the finish line.
Sobieraski of Carlton ran the race on Saturday as part of his 49th marathon in 49 days. He completed his 50thmarathon in a row on Sunday as part of a tribute to fallen Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.
Dana Martin, an Albion teacher, leads this group to the finish line.
Photo by Tom Rivers
The age group awards included a Santa theme, and so did the race T-shirts. Gallmon and Wolfpack also gave out Santa hats to the runners.
There were 127 people who completed the 5K. The top three male finishers in the 5K include Matt Seyse at 21:07, Carter Pietrzykowski at 21:10 and Mark Nichols at 21:21.
Top three female finishers in the 5K include Colleen Carroll at 22:54, Cordelia Rivers at 23:59 and Dana Goetze at 24:32.
Another 45 runners completed the 8K course. The top three male finishers in the 8K include Mark Czopp at 34:33, Brandon Carmichael at 34:36 and Sam Glushefski at 34:39.
Top three female finishers in the 8K include Miranda Leo at 34:39, Elizabeth Ogden at 34:52 and Lindon Morici at 35:34.
Provided photo: Brett Sobieraski is pictured with Gene Christopher and his son David Cristofaro.
Gene’s late wife Judy organized the race for nearly 20 years.
Photo by Vivian Rivers
Runners head towards the Santa inflatable at the finish along East State Street.
