Press Release, UConnectCare

BATAVIA – From humble beginnings as a provider of information, referral and employee assistance services, UConnectCare has grown exponentially since its inception in 1975.

The nonprofit agency, formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, is celebrating a half-century of assisting those with substance use disorder with a 50th Anniversary Gala & Silent Auction on Sept. 25 at Terry Hills Golf Course, 5122 Clinton St. Rd., Batavia. Festivities get underway at 5 p.m.

“We’re extremely fortunate and appreciative to have been a part of the community for 50 years and excited about our 50th anniversary event later this month,” said Chief Executive Officer Kathy Hodgins. “We’re inviting all to join us for an evening of music, laughs, a great meal and a celebration of the people who helped us accomplish so much.”

Hodgins is the fifth CEO or executive director at UConnectCare, succeeding John Bennett, who left the agency after a 25-year career. He and the previous directors, Faith (Cole) Peterson, Sharon McWethy and David Markham have been invited to attend the gala.

UConnectCare offers programs in the areas of prevention, treatment, employer assistance, residential & detox, and recovery services.  Today, the agency serves Genesee and Orleans counties in all segments and employs approximately 160 people. The agency also serves multiple counties through the WNY Prevention Resource Center and EAP services.

Some of the agency’s milestones:

• GCASA’s first office was located in County Building 2 on West Main Street Road in Batavia and its first executive director was an unpaid volunteer.
• In 1982, GCASA became certified to operate a chemical dependency clinic by NYS OASAS.
• The GCASA Foundation was established in 1993 to generate community support for substance use disorder (SUD) services. Today the Foundation owns several properties which are leased back to GCASA, Inc. for supportive living, homeless housing, recovery housing, and peer and recovery services.
• In 1997, GCASA opened the Atwater Home Community Residence, a 17-bed facility and, in 1999, it began operating a 24-bed supportive living program, and became the licensed provider for prevention and treatment services in Orleans County.
• In 2005, GCASA received the “Agency of the Year’ award from the NYS Association of Addiction Professionals – and in 2006, the Drug Free Communities Coalition was presented with the “Got Outcomes” Coalition of the year award by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.
• In 2012, GCASA’s Orleans County programs were moved from leased space into a newly renovated office site on East Avenue in Albion.
• In 2018, GCASA opened the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP-methadone clinic) in Batavia, and was awarded a Greater Rochester Health Foundation grant on behalf of the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Counties (GOW) Opioid Task Force to provide 24/7 Peer support in the tri-county area; standardize, expand, and track naloxone training and administration; and establish Task Force infrastructure. The Task Force became the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming CARES Alliance in 2024 and has expanded its reach to address all overdoses and community wellness.
• In 2020, The Recovery Station, a physical location, opened at 5256 Clinton Street in Batavia.
• In 2022, GCASA opened its Detox Center located behind the Atwater Community Residence, and in 2023, it changed its name from GCASA to UConnectCare to better represent our services in behavioral, mental, and physical health.
• In 2024, UConnectCare opened the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP-methadone clinic) in Albion.

Individual tickets for the event are $75. Attire is semi-formal and there will be a cash bar. To purchase tickets (by Sept. 17), go to www.zeffy.com/ticketing/uconnectcare-50th-anniversary-gala.

The program includes comedian Dan Viola and DJ John Thomas. A credit card is needed to participate in the silent auction.

Gala sponsors are Tompkins Bank & Insurance, platinum; Barclay Damon, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, John & Liz Riter, Merrill Lynch, In memory of Ricky Mancuso, Whitney East and Bank of America, gold; EFPR and Will’s Carpet One, bronze; AFLAC/Andy Hunter (Employee Benefits) and Valle Jewelers, friend.

Photos and information courtesy of John Dieter, Scoutmaster of Troop 35: Colton Smith put in a new scoring shed at the Lyndonville varsity baseball field for his Eagle Scout project.

MEDINA – Three scouts in Troop 35 in Medina are doing service projects as part of their quest to earn scouting’s highest rank of Eagle.

Colton Smith, a Lyndonville senior, is shown with his project as part of being an Eagle Scout. The project included removing a rotted out shed and building new scoring shed for Lyndonville varsity baseball field.

Lyndonville Central School is the community sponsor for the project.

Jimmy Dieter, a senior at Medina, construct a batting cage area for local youth baseball at Butts Park in Medina. The Village Of Medina and Medina LOYAL Baseball served as community sponsor for the project.

Maddox Smith, a Lyndonville freshman, is shown with picnic tables that are available for community use at Lyndonville Central School. The school district served as the community sponsor for the project.

Each one of these scouts had to complete a leadership-based Eagle Scout service project.  The process involved selecting a project that would benefit their local community, said John Dieter, scoutmaster for Troop 35.

They need backing from their Troop leadership, community organization, and their local scout council.

While they still have some remaining items to do towards their Eagle rank, they are close to the finish line, Dieter said.

Colton Smith has his Eagle Board of Review on Sept. 11 at Great Falls Council.  Jimmy Dieter will most likely have his Eagle Board of Review by November 2025, and Maddox Smith will have his sometime in 2026.

MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital has announced its participation in National Lung Cancer Screening Day on Nov. 8.

On National Lung Cancer Screening Day, Medina Memorial Hospital will open its doors for eligible patients to receive low-dose CT screenings. These screenings are quick, painless and proven to detect lung cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages, according to hospital personnel.

This annual initiative is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable, the American College of Radiology, the Radiology Health Equity Coalition and Go2 for Lung Cancer. The goal is to expand access to potentially life-saving lung cancer screenings – particularly for those unable to take time off during the week.

Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with more than 125,000 Americans projected to lose their lives to the disease this year alone, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach at the hospital. Early detection through screening can dramatically improve survival rates, yet only a small percentage of eligible individuals receive screenings, he said.

“By joining this nationwide effort, Medina Memorial Hospital is helping to break down barriers to care,” said a representative of Orleans Community Health. “We are committed to ensuring our community members have access to preventive screenings that can truly save lives.”

Community members are encouraged to contact the hospital for eligibility information and to schedule their screening appointment.

For more information, or to schedule a screening, call (585) 798-8054.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – George Borrelli, a blacksmith, shapes steal during a blacksmith demonstration on Saturday at the Cobblestone Museum as part of the annual open house when all 10 buildings were open with docents and artisans.

Matt Holland also demonstrated the art of blacksmithing on Saturday. There were about 200 at the Cobblestone Museum campus for the event.

The blacksmith shop used to be operated by Joseph Vagg. The original shop burned down in 1921 but was rebuilt in 1922 with the help of many local farmers who were served by Vagg.

The museum offered free admission for the public to take a step back in time at the annual fall open house.

Sue Bonafini, the museum’s assistant director, wore a Victorian dress for the open house. She is shown with Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot, in front of the Cobblestone Universalist Church, which was built in 1834. The church hosted a concert on Saturday from Jaclyn Renee Warren and Lauralynne Davis, both flutists and pianists.

LeRoy Neeper of Medina shows people an International Harvester Model M 6-horsepower engine from 1922. The machine is in the Blacksmith Shop. An engine was used to power a pulley system for lathes, two table saws, a drill press, joiner and bandsaw.

Doug Farley, the museum director, has a fresh batch of hot dogs ready. The museum served lunch with hot dogs, corn on the cob, potatoes, a chicken barbecue plate and brownies.

Tom Zangerle was on site and did a plein air oil painting of a bench by the print shop and an outhouse in back.

Other skilled artisans who will be demonstrating their crafts included a basket weaver, lace makers and tatters, quilters, a rug braider, a silversmith and spinners.

David Damico of LeRoy led demonstrations inside the print shop, which was built in 1875. It used to be in Medina, but was moved to the museum grounds on Route 98 in Gaines in the late 1977.

The shop at the Cobblestone Museum has two printing presses from the late 1800s, and several cases of type.

Georgia Thomas of Medina also showed people how to turn cream into butter. People had to shake the cream for about 10 minutes before it made a lump of butter. There are butter churns at the Farmers Hall of the Museum, including one powered by a dog.

Judith Bromley of East Aurora also answered questions in the Harness Shop. She is a qualified master saddle fitter with the Registered Society of Master Saddlers UK. She is familiar with the shoemaking process and artifacts displayed in the Harness Shop.

Aaron Grabowski will be featured performer at Faith United Methodist Church

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Organist Aaron Grabowski of Medina plays a few selections on the organ at Faith United Methodist Church in Barker, where he will perform a free concert for the community on Saturday. The church’s pastor is the Rev. Tom Gardner of Knowlesville.

BARKER – An organ concert for the community will be a first for Faith United Methodist Church.

The concert, featuring Medina organist Aaron Grabowski, is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 13) at the church, 1449 Quaker Rd.

Sunday afternoon, the Rev. Tom Gardner of Knowlesville met with Grabowski; Jim Hoffman, a member of the board since 1970; Jim Trinder, church organist who joined Faith United Methodist Church when they merged with Somerset in 1970; and the Rev. Allyn Foster, the church’s original pastor.

The Rev. Gardner said the concert is a gift to the community and celebrates the fact some much needed repairs have been done to their historic organ to keep it in good maintenance and reliable.

A gifted organist and builder of organs for Parsons Organ Company of Canandaigua, Grabowski said he was humbled when the Rev. Gardner asked him to perform. Grabowski had only officially resumed his performance career at a concert in 2024 at his home parish of St. Mary’s in Medina. An accomplished musician and organ restorer, Grabowski also did a soft start to his career in July 2024 at Old Fort Niagara during their annual French and Indian War Encampment.

Grabowski’s program on Saturday will be relatively eclectic – everything from German Baroque to French Romantic, he said.

“It will show off the organ and demonstrate its tonal color,” he said. “I’m used to playing on a large instrument and having a lot of tonal colors at my disposal. Here, I wind up being very careful to pick the appropriate tonal colors. Every piece I play will feature some aspect of the organ here.”

Grabowski said in spite of the organ’s size, it has good tonal selection and is perfect for church worship.

Faith United Methodist Church’s organ was originally purchased from the David Marr Organ Company of Warsaw for the Somerset Union Methodist Church. The organ was used at the Somerset church until the last service there in the summer of 1969. Then it was rebuilt and installed at Faith United Methodist Church, a complicated and costly task, according to church records.

The Rev. Foster had written a very informative letter illustrating his involvement in the design and construction of the organ. He is, himself, an organist and his expert input helped to create this outstanding organ.

Gathered to discuss an upcoming community organ concert on Saturday at Faith United Methodist Church in Barker are from left, the Rev. Allyn Foster, also an organist and first pastor of the church; Jim Hoffman, an original board member; the Rev. Tom Gardner of Knowlesville; Jim Trinder, current church organist; and guest organist Aaron Grabowski. Standing is Trinder’s wife Pat.

In recent years, repairs have been made and with completion of significant jobs, the focus is on careful and detailed tunings. A complete tuning is scheduled the day before Grabowski’s concert.

The Rev. Foster, who was involved in the designing of Faith United Methodist Church, said part of the construction was to make sure there was space for the organ to “speak.”

The Rev. Gardner said when he came in the summer of 2024, he heard this church had a strong musical history, with a choir, bell choir and organ.

Grabowski’s performance will include selections by Bach/Vivaldi, Leon Boellmann, Louis-Nicolas Cierambault, Gaspard Conette, Jean-Adam Guillain, Charles-Marie Widor and Claude Balbastre.

Admission is free, however, a free-will offering will be received.

Press Release and photos, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery

MEDINA – In conjunction with the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal, the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery will be hosting a tour of the cemetery led by Village Historian Todd Bensley.

The tour will be Saturday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. It will start at the S. Mainville Burroughs Memorial Chapel, at the south entrance to the cemetery. The tour is expected to take 60-90 minutes.

The title of the tour is, “The Erie Canal – Beginnings and Endings.” According to Bensley, “It will focus on the triumphs and tragedies of people buried in Boxwood who have a connection to the Erie Canal.”

The tour is free and open to the public. Donations are always gratefully accepted.

Those in attendance can also purchase entry and raffle tickets for Boxwood at Night, which will be on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Rail line was popular leading to post offices, hamlets and businesses

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 31

Photo from Orleans County Department of History: A Hojack goods train crosses the Trestle Bridge over the Oak Orchard Creek in Carlton.

KENDALL – “Without looking out a window, you could generally tell what the weather was or what it was going to be simply by the sounds of the Hojack’s whistles. On clear days, they’d be sharp and abrupt. But on rainy days, they’d give out long, mournful cries, especially at night.”  (Doris Behnke Crego, Requiem for a Railroad)

In the 1980s, William Aeberli of Rochester, interviewed older Kendall area residents about their recollections of the Hojack and compiled them in a series of articles entitled “Requiem for a Railroad.”

“The Hojack” was the name used to refer to the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad (R.W. & O. R.) which ran from Oswego to Niagara Falls from 1876 to 1978.

It served the northern third of Orleans County where industrious farmers of English, German and Norwegian descent harvested high yields from soil that was particularly suited to fruit cultivation. Prior to the advent of the Hojack, the Erie Canal and later the New York Central Railroad shipped produce from the farms north of the Ridge.

The Hojack served eight station points in Orleans County: Morton (East Kendall), Kendall, West Kendall, Brice Station (Kent), Carlton Station, Ashwood (Carlyon), Lyndonville and Millers.

Hamlets soon evolved at these stations. Storage and processing facilities for fruit and vegetables were built adjacent to the stops: Kendall Cold Storage; Morton Canning Company; A.S. Hice in Ashwood; W.G. Dailey in Kent; Bahrenburg & Beckwith in Carlton Station and Kendall. General stores and churches soon followed. Since the Hojack carried mail, post offices were established: Carlyon in 1876, Carlton in 1877, Kent in 1899, Millers in 1882 and Morton in 1894.

In 1888, eight passenger trains ran daily. By 1908, this was reduced to four daily passenger trains, and in 1933, passenger and mail service was discontinued. Automobiles and truck transportation superseded the railroads. But apart from the convenience of passenger service, the primary benefit of the Hojack was the transportation of goods – fruit and produce to market, deliveries of coal and ice to supply the cold storage facilities.

The Kendall Station was active. The following establishments were located on either side of the railroad: Bahrenburg and Beckwith’s was a cooperage and a storage facility; the Greece Lumber Company which also dealt in grain; the three-story structure at W.V. Newcomb’s which had bins to hold grain, beans, or peas; Robert Burke’s which sold chemicals and fertilizers as well as coal; Carr, Eggleston & Ritz, an evaporated fruit and cider business.

Seasonal laborers and transient workers camped in Crandall’s Woods just across the railroad tracks. The location was referred to as “Hobo Alley.”  An old boxcar was moved there to provide shelter.

Doris Behnke Creg, who grew up in Kendall in the 1920s, observed:

“We figured the Hojack was simply a natural part of the neighborhood, we took the railroad for granted. Who might have thought that someday the railroad would disappear?”

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is shining a light on food/beverage businesses in Orleans County with a “Taste of Orleans” promotion at 20 locations.

“We are encouraging people to support local food and beverage establishments here in Orleans County,” said Darlene Hartway, the Chamber director. “We are hoping this social media event will showcase the multitude of wonderful restaurants, bars, farm markets and ice cream shops we have here in Orleans County.”

Taste of Orleans started on Aug. 24 and continues through Sept. 14. The Chamber and co-sponsor Orleans County Tourism encourage people to visit many of the local food/beverage businesses and post pictures of what they are eating and drinking, using the hash tag #tasteoforleans.

The Chamber will draw winners after Sept. 14 for participants to win gift cards from the participating businesses.

The businesses in the promotion include the Black North at Point Breeze, Coffee Pot Cafe in Medina, Dubby’s Tailgate in Albion, Confection Connection in Albion, Gilligan’s Galley in Kent, Mariachi De Oro on Medina, Mark’s Pizzeria and Tapped on Main in Medina, Mark’s Pizzeria in Albion, Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, Partyka Farms in Kendall, Red, White & Moo in Holley, Roadies Pizzeria in Carlton, Serenity Spa in Albion, Shirt Factory/Newell Lounge in Medina, Sourced Market & Eatery in Medina, Tavern on the Ridge in Albion, Village House in Albion, Webber Cafe in Lyndonville, White Birch in Lyndonville, and Zambistro in Medina.

In the future, Hartway said she would like to see an event where people could taste food from many of the local businesses at one location at a festival. But, for now, she said the social media campaign highlights many of the food and beverage businesses around the county.

Photos courtesy of Medina Memorial Hospital: This picture shows one of the construction projects Medina Memorial Hospital has undertaken during its 100 years.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has spent much of 2025 celebrating the 100th anniversary of Medina Memorial Hospital. While the year is winding down, there are still a few celebrations coming up.

First, Medina Memorial Hospital continues to recognize the many employees and volunteers who have or have had relatives follow their footsteps.

This is Medina Memorial Hospital today, as it celebrates its 100th birthday.

Medina Memorial Hospital opened its doors to the public on Sept. 30, 1925, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach, and great-great-grandson of the hospital’s founder, George Bowen.

“As we know, the challenges to rural healthcare in our area have been apparent in recent years,” Robinson said. “It’s why this event is even more momentous for our community and our team.”

On Sept. 20, the community is being invited to a family fun event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the hospital. Location and parking will be on the green space south of the hospital. This will be a family-friendly event, with several activities for children. In addition, there will be food, drinks, health and wellness resources, games and kid-friendly activities. There is no need to register, Robinson said. Just come and enjoy.

Then, from 11 a.m. to noon Sept. 30, the birthday celebration for invited guests only will begin with a short event in front of Medina Memorial Hospital, followed by tours for anyone interested.

The birthday celebration will feature a rededication ceremony, hospital update, proclamations and birthday cake.

When Medina Memorial Hospital opened its doors in 1925, it had a goal of serving the community, Robinson said. One hundred years later, they continue to strive to fulfill that original mission, he said.

Invited guests should RSVP to Robinson at Srobinson@medinamemorial.org by Sept. 26.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Rotary Park in Medina has a memorial for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks in the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people.

ALBION – Orleans County will have a memorial service at 6 p.m. on Thursday for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. The service on the 24th anniversary of the attacks will again be held at Courthouse Square.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others when four airplanes were hijacked and crashed – with two into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the other into a field in rural Shanksville, Pa.

Scheduled speakers for the Thursday service include County Legislator John Fitzak, jail chaplain Don Snyder, Orleans County Emergency Management Director Justin Niederhofer, and Chief Coroner Scott Schmidt.

Schmidt will be keynote speaker at the observance. Schmidt spent three weeks with a federal team – U.S. Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) – and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones.

He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero.

Doug Egling and Trellis Pore will sing “America The Beautiful” and military honors will be presented by the Honor Guard from the American Legion and VFW.