LYNDONVILLE – Village and town officials, as well as leaders of the fire department are positive about a new change for funding and managing the Lyndonville Fire Department.

On Jan. 1, the management shifted from the Lyndonville Village Board to commissioners on a newly formed Lyndonville Fire District.

The funding also is collected through the fire district, rather than by the Village of Lyndonville, which also had a contract with the Town of Yates for fire protection.

Lyndonville followed the Village of Holley in a shift to a fire protection district. The Village of Albion also is discussing moving the fire department’s management and financing to a fire protection district.

“It was definitely a smart move governmentally,” said Jim Simon, the Yates town supervisor.

The town in recent years funded about 80 percent of the fire department budget through a contract with the village and he said the contract negotiations were often challenging with some “minor disputes.” Simon said the town officials didn’t always feel included in the fire department’s budget and operations even though town residents outside the village paid the bulk of the bill.

With the fire district, the costs are spread out through the overall assessed value in the town (which includes the village) with property owners paying a fire district tax. That rate is $1.05 per $1,000 of assessed property in 2023. The previous year, Yates property owners outside the village paid a 74-cent rate per $1,000 of assessed property as part of the contract with the village.

The Town Board and Village Board each appointed commissioners to the fire district, and those posts will be up for election this year. Scott Goetske is the group’s chairman. Other commissioners include Jim Hydock, a retired Rochester firefighter; John Flanagan, a Lyndonville firefighters; Edward Jay, a banking executive; and Terry Woodworth, Lyndonville’s DPW superintendent.

David Hydock is the Lyndonville Fire Department president and Mike Heideman is the fire chief. There are 27 active firefighters.

“We have five really good people,” Simon said about the commissioners. “They can answer directly to public. My vote was in support of a fire district. It’s better use of governance and the responsibilities of a governing body are more clearly defined.”

Lyndonville Mayor John Belson and the Village Board also backed the move to the fire district. He said the commissioners can be focused on managing the fire department.

“It puts the people in charge,” Belson said.

The fire district can also use the fire hall for fundraisers, and is more autonomous whoch may appeal to new members, Belson said.

The fire district has a new off-road vehicle that is was able to purchase with proceeds from fundraisers and donations from the community.

The fire district is still subject to the 2 percent tax cap imposed by the state. That cap can be exceeded by a vote of the commissioners.

The Village Board agreed to transfer ownership of the fire hall, trucks and equipment to the fire district without a charge.

“We made them clean going in, with no debt,” Belson said.

The Village Board recently adopted a village budget for 2023-24 that doesn’t include the fire department. The department’s budget is now managed and collected by the fire district.

Not having the fire department is the main reason the village tax rate is falling 3.1 percent from $16.46 to $15.95 per $1,000 of assessed property. The tax levy for the village is down 2.6 percent from $501,199 in 2022-23 to $488,066 in the new budget for 2023-24.

Goetske, chairman of the commissioners and recently retired after 35 years with the Air Force (including as a chief master sergeant), said the group of commissioners has been visiting other fire districts to gain insights on how to best run a district.

He appreciates that there are commissioners, Jim Hydock and John Flanagan, who have experience as firefighters. The commissioners also work closely with Fire Chief Mike Heideman and Fire Department President Dave Hydock.

Goetske wants to make sure the fire department has the equipment and personnel needed to serve and protect the community, and to do it in a cost-effective way.

“I commend the mayor and the town supervisor for bringing everyone together,” Goetske said.

Heideman, the fire chief, said he is glad for the change to commissioners who are focused on the fire department. With the Village Board, the mayor and trustees were managing multiple departments in the village government and other community issues.

“I think it’s a big weight off their shoulders,” Heideman said about taking the fire department out of the village budget. “We can focus solely on safety and meeting the needs of the public.”

The fire district increased the budget for the department from $184,000 to $206,586, with legal expenses at $14,240 as part of the formation of a new district.

The fire district can’t utilize village staff to clean the fire hall or to fix fire trucks. Goetske said the district appreciates that the village will continue to plow the parking lot at the fire hall and maintain the generator.

Goetske said the cost of running a fire department has been an eye-opener. The district recently acquired three sets of turnout gear with ants and a coat and that was $8,500, not counting the helmet, hood and gloves.

The fire district will likely need to soon replace some of the fire trucks for Lyndonville. The district has five fire trucks and a new off-road utility vehicle.

One pumper is 31 years old, another is 22 years and a tanker is 18 years old. Replacing one of those trucks is in the $500,000 range.

Hydock said the commissioners are working cooperatively with the fire department to address the issues. He is pleased the village and town voted to make the change to a fire district.

“It has always been a struggle to make a budget for the fire department,” he said. “Everybody is wrestling with numbers in this day and age.”

Press Release, Independent Living of the Genesee Region

BATAVIA – Independent Living of the Genesee Region is pleased that Caitlyn Allen has joined their team in the role of Homeless Alliance of Western New York Program Specialist.  In this position, she will coordinate the Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming (GOW) Continuum of Care and maximize community participation

Caitlyn Allen

Previously, Allen worked as a Crisis Services Advocate and Lead Rape Crisis Advocate at YWCA of the Niagara Frontier in Lockport; Property Manager at Yaze Properties LLC in Middleport; Activities Director and Social Work Assistant at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia; and as a Scale Operator at Shelby Crushed Stone in Medina.

In addition to conducting monthly Continuum of Care meetings in the GOW counties, Allen will augment the Homeless Management Information System database for service providers; analyze data from HMIS to guide GOW housing programs, create reports and contribute to COC housing grant writing.

She will regularly work with Homeless Alliance to help coordinate services and comply with Housing and Urban Development  expectations, as well as meeting with warming shelters, schools, jails, hospitals, employment providers, mental health providers, or other organizations and providing resource information to their direct service staff.

Allen will network with landlords to educate and engage their participation in housing programs; and generally, increase homeless services, including prevention, shelter and permanent housing.

ILGR is delighted that Caitlyn Allen is bringing her range of experience to serve the GOW region in her new position.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region is a member of the Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies that offer an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year and marks the official start of summer. Law enforcement agencies and local STOP-DWI programs will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of impaired driving-related injuries and deaths.

Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke, who is also the county’s STOP-DWI coordinator, announced local law enforcement agencies plan to join forces in a STOP-DWI Memorial Day Weekend High Visibility Engagement Campaign from May 26–30.

He urges people to have a plan to not drink and drive. For the “Have a Plan” Mobile App, click here.

ALBION – The Medina Sandstone Society took about 40 people on a bus tour last week of sites in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.

The “Sedimental Journey” bus tour returned after being cancelled during the Covid pandemic. The trip started at the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame which is in the main meeting room at Medina City Hall.

From there the tour headed to Albion to see St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.

Photo by Dave Miller: Some of the attendees on the Hall of Fame bus tour walk in front of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

The church was dedicated in 1897. It was built of locally quarried sandstone in a Gothic Revival style on West Park Street. The sandstone Society last year inducted the church, and that induction included St. Joseph’s School and Lyceum on Main Street in 1905 and the chapel at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Route 31, which was built in 1920. The lyceum is the first school to be included in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Bill Lattin gave the group a peek at the inside of the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. The church was built in 1894 and has more than 40 windows from the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.

Photos by Dave Miller: The Pullman church was among the first inductees into the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame in 2013. The church was primarily funded by industrialist George M. Pullman, as a memorial to his wife and parents. The building was designed in an Old English Gothic style with Richardson Romanesque features. Its long, low horizontal profile adds to a unique design.

After Albion the tour headed to Rochester to see the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, which was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2017. The group was able to tour inside the All Soul’s Chapel at the cemetery.

The chapel was built in 1876 and is the centerpiece of the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. The building features a steep slate roof, supporting hammer beams and exquisitely designed stained-glass windows featuring the 14 Stations of the Cross made in Roemond, Holland.

There is also a companion 100-foot bell tower built in 1886 that houses a six crypt mausoleum, the final resting place for the bishops of the diocese, including Bishop Bernard McQuaid, founder of the cemetery.

The chapel, as well as the two gate houses, and 1.36 mile stone wall surrounding the cemetery are all made of beautifully preserved and restored red Medina sandstone.

The tour also included a drive-by of St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, which was in the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2013.

After Rochester, the tour headed to Palmyra in Wayne County to see the Zion Episcopal Church, which was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

The church was built in 1872 in a Late Gothic Revival style, an architectural movement popular in the Western world that began in the late 1740s in England. The church is built of sandstone with limestone trim.

The tour also did a drive-by stop at St. John’s Episcopal in Clifton Springs, which was inducted in 2018.

The tour’s last site was the Sonnenberg Manor in Canandaigua, which was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2016.

The 40-room Queen Anne style mansion was built in 1887. The facade is rusticated Medina gray and red sandstone. The property is now under the New York State Parks System.

The Sandstone Society will be inducting its 10^th anniversary class later this year. For more on the Hall of Fame, click here.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian 

Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 3, No. 17

SHELBY – Composition notebooks are a familiar sight, especially at “back-to-school” time. The notebook pictured, which was donated by Don Cook to the Medina Historical Society, dates from 1928-1931.

It contains a series of entries regarding the bird population of “The Swamp”, as the wildlife area in the Town of Shelby is commonly known. The author, Hugh Everett Hart, was a keen young ornithologist and oologist who graduated from Medina High School in 1922.

1928, June 4

“Just a notation here as to the weather. It has been very cold so far this year. I have a furnace fire going at present in order to keep warm. Rain. Frosts at night last week.”

1928, June 7

“To Swamp. Found nothing in 1 hr ramble. Looked for Ceruleans and Marsh Wren.

Set 21 eggs, Ring-necked Pheasant, young Red wings, Swamp Sparrow, Barn Swallow. Mosquitos very big and hungry.”

1928, June 10

“Roy Hill and I went out to the Swamp south of John Bannister’s today to look principally for Ceruleans. I had been to this piece of woods last week and heard the birds but could not locate any nests and then had Roy go today as he can find them when others cannot.

We entered the swamp and searched faithfully for over one hour in the oak grove but could not find anything. The birds were not heard or seen. Roy found a Yellow Warbler nest with one egg, a Yellow Warbler nest with 4 eggs, one Cowbird egg. Cowbird egg was broken.

Next, we located a nest of Redstart, 3 eggs. Found nest of Song Sparrow containing five fresh eggs. Flushed a Woodcock, a very large bird and somewhat slow in arising from the ground. The weather has provided much food for them lately and they are very fat at this time of year.

The season has been very backward this year for the birds as you can see by the late sets as told above.

There does not seem to be one half the birds nesting in the Swamp now as there was last year. This fact seems to be the same every year, as it gets harder and harder to locate a number of nests in an afternoon ramble when a few years back, one could find hundreds in a few hours.

There are no Marsh Wrens this year in the swale near Bedine’s, no Rails or Gallinules, no Ceruleans. The Redstarts are not nearly as numerous as before. I would not be surprised to have them all leave us in a few more years if this keeps up. Temp 60 degrees. Very cold breeze.”

1929, Feb.

“I sent two write-ups to The Oologist this month, one on Brown Creeper in Tonawanda Swamp, the other on the late nesting date for American Woodcock in New York State.

Also, Feb. 21, went to the Museum of Natural History in Buffalo to see Dr. Fish in regards to signing my application for a permit.

Came back with an impression of a very fine fellow, even if he did not help me. Had numerous excuses (Mostly Brackett, Game Warden in Buffalo).”

1929, May 19

“Warbler migration at its’ height.”

1929, May 24

“Date of first arrival of Cerulean Warbler in Orleans County.”

1931, March 21

“Killdeer seen and numbers of them heard.

During March I had my collection of eggs on display for 3 weeks at the Masonic Temple {Medina}. They created much interest, during this time I gave a talk to 35 Boy Scouts of the Presbyterian Church, Troop #31. They seemed very interested and asked many questions.

Published a list of the breeding birds of Orleans County in the Medina Daily Journal.

There is much talk here on making the Swamp into a Federal Bird Sanctuary.

Attended a dinner at Fairview Manor for the Sportsmen of Western New York (about 125).

Have been asked to speak at the Buffalo Museum of Natural History.

Have been asked to speak on bird life before the Social Culture Club of Orleans County.

Accepted both.”

In addition to those observations, the Notebook contains lists of Mr. Hart’s collection of bird eggs. Oology, the study of or collecting of birds’ eggs, was popular at the turn of the century. Museums amassed huge collections of exotic eggs; amateur collectors collected local specimens. However, it became apparent that this hobby had a detrimental effect on bird populations. The Migratory Bird Act of 1918 prohibited the collecting of birds’ eggs, except for scientific research.

In its time, oology was well represented in Orleans County. Dr. Frank H. Lattin published a magazine, The Oologist, from 1894 to 1905 while the egg collection acquired by Stuart Flintham in the early 1900’s is on display at the Hoag Library in Albion.

Canada Geese, a protected species at the Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Areas. Courtesy of Doug Domedion.

Hugh Hart was involved in the designation of the Swamp as a federal migratory bird sanctuary. An electrical engineer by profession, he left Medina in 1935 to work with the Bell Aircraft Company in Buffalo and was later associated with General Motors in Detroit. He died in 1967.

Provided photos by Jamie Murphy

MEDINA – Entertainer Tony Pedulla serenades Sally Standish at Orchard Manor Rehab and Nursing Center during a week of special events to celebrate Mother’s Day and National Skilled Nursing Care Week.

Medina Mayor Mike Sidari signs a proclamation at Orchard Manor Rehab and Nursing Center with Resident Council president Bob Hale.

Sidari read the proclamation proclaiming May 14-20 as National Skilled Nursing Care Week. This year’s theme was “Cultivating Kindness,” according to activities director Jamie Murphy.

Staff of Orchard Manor and Rehab enjoy a taco bar during the week’s celebration of National Skilled Nursing Care Week.

There also was a tea party for residents, staff appreciation boards in the hallways for staff to write notes of appreciation for their co-workers, drawings for prizes for staff from local vendors and notes of kindness written by residents and shared with staff.

Provided photos

SPRINGVILLE – The marching bands from Albion and Holley-Kendall both earned first place awards during the Springville Pageant of Bands on Saturday.

Albion’s marching band had the top overall score in the parade at 97.6. There were nine marching bands in the parade on a rainy day.

Albion also was honored for Outstanding Colorguard, Outstanding Drum Major Team (Jason Anstey and Audrey Pask) and Class B Champion.

The Albion band next performs on Saturday at the Darien Lake Music Fest, and then for the Memorial Day parade in Albion on May 29.

The Holley-Kendall Marching Band competed for the first time at the Springville Pageant of Bands and earned a 1st Place finish in Class C for the parade competition with a score of 92.6, which was more points than the bands from West Valley and Genesee Valley.

Taigan Guerrero, a Kendall senior and Holley-Kendall marching band drum major also was recognized as Best Drum Major in the parade.

The band was welcomed back to town with an enthusiastic escort from Holley Police Department, Murray Joint Fire District, Clarendon Fire Department and Kendall Fire Department.

The Holley-Kendall Marching Band will be performing at Holley June Fest on June 3, Albion Strawberry Festival on June 10, and on June 14 at Hawk Stadium in Holley for the annual spring showcase and awards ceremony.

The Holley-Kendall Marching Band is under the Direction of Zach Busch (Holley), Assistant Direction of Scott Wheeler (Holley) & Meghan Pitarresi (Kendall), and Color Guard Direction of Emily Kwiatkowski.

Today I would like to I would like to encourage you to start a praise drawer. Early on in my ministry I started to fill a drawer with cards, letters, pictures, drawings, etc. that people had given to me that either acknowledged something I had done that they appreciated, affirmed my call, let me know that they were praying for me, or something that just generally brought a smile to my face and boosted my spirit. I especially cherished the pictures the children would draw for me.

Admittedly I used to also keep a criticism drawer filled with not-so-nice notes or e-mails but I realized a while back that it wasn’t very good for my mental health and cleaned it out. Ironically, I realized that both drawers were filled with things from the same people

The reality though is that I have been collecting these mementos for more almost three decades and every now and again when I am going through a difficult time, when I am feeling discouraged, when I am questioning my call, or when I am hurting from something someone has said or done, I will open this drawer and read a few of the notes in an effort to counteract the criticism. I’m not saying this always works (it’s true that we tend to remember the negative more so than the positive which is why it is suggested that we need 7 praises to counteract 1 criticism) but it does help to give me perspective and is a good reminder that just because someone might act unlovingly toward me that it doesn’t mean that I am unloved.

One item that does not fit in the drawer but is now hanging on the wall of my home office and is particularly meaningful is a framed piece of art that I received back in 2016. At the time I was part of a Men’s Small Group that got together weekly at Dunkin’ for Bible Study and prayer and there were guys who attended from a number of different churches in the area. One of these men, Bruce, showed up at my church out of the blue one day with a gift for me. It was a surprise not just because I had not been expecting it but because at the time I barely knew Bruce and he was an active member of another church.

As he handed me the gift I quickly discovered that it was a framed picture of what I had posted as my Facebook background a week earlier. Bruce then explained that when I posted it it had resonated with him and in response he wanted to do something to remind me that pastors need to be loved and encouraged too. I was really taken aback because not only had this new friend gone out of his way to show another church’s pastor love and appreciation but he did it when he himself was struggling with a terminal illness. My buddy Bruce has since passed away but his extremely thoughtful gift remains on my wall as a daily reminder that I am cared about.

Friends, in case no one has told you lately, I want you to be reminded that you too are loved and appreciated in spite of any criticisms you may have had cast your way. So, to that end, I would encourage you to do three things this week

(1) Create your own praise drawer and start stashing away meaningful messages and other items for a rainy day.

(2) If you do have a criticism cupboard (physically or even just in your mind) clear it out so that you can forgive, forget, and not allow  past comments to continue define how you see yourself in the present.

(3) And finally, be intentional about filling other people’s praise drawers. We live in such a negative, critical culture that a hand written note of affirmation or thanks, or even just a thoughtful text, can mean the world to someone. So, why not stop and take a minute to make someone’s day? It won’t cost you much but it might make a significant difference to the person who is feeling knocked down and needs to be reminded of how valuable they truly are.

KNOWLESVILLE – An amazing 70 people showed up at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Friday morning to volunteer for United Way of Orleans County’s Day of Caring.

United Way of Orleans County has been bringing volunteers together to help their community for decades, said director Matt Holland. He was overjoyed with the number of people who volunteered and the organizations which asked for help with special projects.

The day began with breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Holland expressed his gratitude to Mark’s Pizzeria in Medina for opening so early to have breakfast pizzas ready to feed the crews.

Provided photos: Members of the Medina Sandstone Society worked on landscaping at the Medina City Hall, which includes space for the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame. In front, from left, include Gail Miller, Kathy Blackburn, Peggy Schreck and President Craig Tuohey. In back are Dave Miller and Jim Hancock.

Volunteers came from the Sandstone Society’s board of directors, Orleans County Mental Health, United Way’s board, Pathstone, Western New York Energy, Orleans Correctional Facility, Baxter Healthcare, Orleans Community Health, Arc GLOW, Velocitii and Takeform.

The volunteers performed various duties for Medina City Hall, Camp Rainbow, Cobblestone Museum, Hospice (Supportive Care of Orleans), Community Action, three Arc sites in Albion, the Orleans County YMCA, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Medina Railroad Museum and an Arc home in Medina.

Most of the duties included landscaping, moving chairs and painting.

Jennifer Mateo of PathStone and some of her co-workers worked on projects for Supportive Care of Orleans and the Martin-Linsin Residence.

Kelsey Smith, who works at Western New York Energy, said this was her first time volunteering for Day of Caring. She said she was one of those assigned to paint over graffiti at Community Action’s Main Street Thrift Store in Albion.

Mia Dennard works at Velocitii, and said she enjoys helping her community.

“Velocitii has a lot of volunteer opportunities for its employees, and I’m excited to get out and help,” she said. “I like volunteering. I’ve rung the Red Kettle bell at Christmas time at Tops.”

Katie Oakes, horticulture educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension, said they were grateful for the crew that was coming to help them Friday.

One of their projects was landscaping around the giant pie tin.

“A lot of people are needed to get things done, and I don’t have a lot of staff,” Oakes said. “Today I hope to get some of the work done so our grounds look nice. I’m grateful for the volunteers helping today.”

Staff from the Orleans Correctional Facility and Orleans County Mental Health Department worked on projects at Camp Rainbow in Ridgeway.

These volunteers painted picnic tables at Camp Rainbow.

Ben Curfman, pastor of North Point Chapel in Albion, was part of a team from PathStone working on projects at the Martin-Linsin Residence for Supportive Care of Orleans in Albion.

MEDINA – The local committee tasked with identifying projects for a $4.5 million state grant will meet for the first time on Wednesday.

Medina was awarded $4.5 million from the state on Feb. 13 in a “NY Forward” grant. The village has formed a local planning committee to guide Medina through the planning process and to identify transformative projects to submit to the state.

Mayor Mike Sidari said the group is pushing to have the process complete in November. The plan will be submitted to the state and Sidari said he expects the state will green light the projects next spring, with the funding becoming available to the village and business owners.

The meeting on Wednesday is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Medina Central School district office boardroom. This will be a work meeting without public comments. Sidari said there will be public hearings at future sessions.

Members of the local planning committee include Mayor Mike Sidari, Lauren Backlas, Gabrielle Barone, Kathy Blackburn, Gloria Brent, Chris Busch, Jesse Cudzillo, Tim Elliott, David Flynn, Rollin Hellner, Mark Kruzynski, Andrew Meier, Patrick Weissend and Mark Zambito.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Hart Hotel includes five rooms and two lofts on the third floor of 113 West Center St.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board is again trying to go through the proper channels in the State Legislature to allow the village to impose a 2-percent occupancy tax on rooms and lodging.

The board today voted to ask the State Assembly and State Senate to allow Medina to have a 2-percent occupancy tax in the village. Medina first tried to have the tax imposed in 2018 but it has stalled in the State Legislature.

Medina Mayor Mike Sidari said the revenue would be used to promote tourism in the village and also to help cover some of the village’s overtime costs with events. The Police Department and Department of Public Works often work extra hours for the many community events in the village, Sidari said today.

The board in an official resolution today said the village wants to be a bigger tourist destination by promoting the Erie Canal, its historic downtown, agri-tourism and other attractions.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has introduced Bill No., A.6671, to authorize Medina to collect the occupancy tax. Previous efforts to gain full support in both houses of the Legislature haven’t been successful.

Orleans County currently currently imposes a 4-percent “bed tax” that topped $100,000 for the first time in 2022. The $111,013 in 2022 passed the previous record high of $79,102 in 2021. The third most was collected in 2020: $58,438.

The county is seeing more short-term vacation rentals such as Airbnbs. A 58-room Comfort Inn & Suites opened on March 18, 2022 in Medina, giving the county its first branded hotel. Bent’s Opera House also opened 10 hotel rooms in 2021.

The county’s bed tax is used to promote attractions in the county. Medina’s tax would focus on efforts in the village.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Office for the Aging sponsored its first Spring Jubilee in three years at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds this afternoon.

Seniors packed the Trolley Building to be recognized, entertained and to enjoy lunch provided by the Arc GLOW Nutrition Program.

Office for the Aging director Melissa Blanar welcomed the guests and introduced her staff, advisory board and entertainer Kristina Jewell Suski.

“We are excited to be back after a three-year absence, due to Covid,” Blanar said.

County Legislator Skip Draper, State Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley each addressed the audience.

Draper presented Blanar with a proclamation paying tribute to the contributions older Americans make to society.

Hawley spoke of the trials this audience and the country endured in the past few years, but said we were all “strong Americans,” and we persevered.

Ortt told the seniors that everyone knows someone who was not there today because of Covid. He praised the Office for the Aging for making sure critical services were provided through all those difficult circumstances.

“Whatever is happening in America, be assured there are people out there working to make sure America remains the country you created,” he said.

Melissa Blanar, director of the Orleans County Office for the Aging, introduces her staff at the Spring Jubilee Friday at Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds celebrating Older Americans Month.

A highlight of day was recognizing three outstanding seniors, one as New York State’s “Outstanding Older Adult” and two as “Outstanding Volunteers.”

Blanar explained that every year the New York State Office for the Aging seeks nominations of seniors who stand out in their community.

That senior and two outstanding volunteers in the Orleans County OFA office were recognized.

New York State OFA’s Outstanding Older American is Barbara Filipiak of Medina.

The oldest of six children Filipiak grew up in the Eden area. She attended the Immaculate Academy in Hamburg, followed by D’Youville College in Buffalo, finishing her education at Brockport State College. She started her teaching career in Medina in 1972, retiring in June 2005. She taught third and fourth grades for 33 years.

She volunteers (or has volunteered) for the Health Department during Covid, Medina Food Pantry, Medina Area Association of Churches, MAAC’s Thrift Store and Emergency Food Pantry and performed numerous volunteer roles with Medina’s Holy Trinity Parish.

She has held offices with Catholic Daughters and Medina Historical Society’s board of directors. she is a member of Cobblestone Society, Sandstone Society, Friends of the Library at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library and the local Alpha Theta Chapter/Women’s Educator Society, of which she was president, treasurer and member of the rules committee over the years. She is also a member on the state level.

Her nominator (who is unnamed) said, “Barb gives countless hours of her time. I know personally she provides financial assistance anonymously to several of these groups. Barb is very efficient and organized and is always the first to volunteer. She is very generous with her time and money and truly deserves this great honor.”

Filipiak also received certificates from Draper, Hawley and Ortt.

“It was nice of someone to nominate me,” Filipiak said. “My parents always volunteered in their community when I was growing up, so I guess it runs in the family.”

(Left) Christine Sheuerman, right, accepts an award from Melissa Blanar for being an “Outstanding Volunteer” for the Orleans County OFA. (Right) Blanar presents an award to Robert Burtwell of Lyndonville as an “Outstanding Volunteer.”

The two local volunteers who received recognition were Robert Burtwell and Christine Sheuerman.

“We are lucky to have these two individuals who dedicate their time to our volunteer transportation programs,” Blanar said. “Between the two of them, they drove 2,554 miles in 2022, and so far in 2023, they have driven 489 miles. They not only volunteer their time at our office, but they are dedicated weekly drivers for Arc GLOW and deliver meals on wheels to our clients. I am betting they volunteer elsewhere as well.”

Blanar told the recipients they both truly make a difference and are allowing the OFA’s clients to remain independent and in their own homes.

“Thank you for being a tireless volunteer and setting an excellent example for us all,” Blanar added.

The event concluded with a drawing for more than 60 donated prizes.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Barb Navarra, a member of the Albion Lions Club, was out selling geraniums for the Lions today at the corner of routes 31 and 98.

The Lions sell the flowers every year just before Memorial Day. Navarra said the cost is up this year to $5 a pot or $48 per dozen. They will available while supplies last.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: The committee promoting Medina’s annual Community Garage Sale and Chicken Barbecue on June 3 are, from left, Jim Hancock, Tim Moriarty, and Julie and Chris Keller.

MEDINA – Medina Lions annual Community Yard Sale and Chicken Barbecue have been a tradition on the first Saturday in June for more than 20 years, according to event chairman Jim Hancock.

The event is scheduled for June 3, featuring yard sales throughout the village, a vendor fair at the Olde Pickle Factory and a chicken barbecue.

The day will also feature the usual “Weinermobile” traveling the village to offer hot dogs to those shoppers who don’t won’t to miss a sale. Pete Kaiser, Chris Leavitt and Matt Kreutz will be the hot dog crew.

Hancock said 30 vendors have already reserved a spot at the Olde Pickle Factory, featuring a wide variety of merchandise.

Lions Chris and Julie Keller will be running the hotdog and hamburger stand for the Lions at the vendor location.

“We have the best hamburgers in town,” Chris said.

Lions will also be on the four corners of Main Street from 9 a.m. to noon handing out maps of the village indicating the location of yard sales. The maps are free, but a donation is appreciated, to help the Lions with their projects for the community.

The deadline for residents to register their address at Lake Country Pennysaver to be included on the map is noon May 24.

Chiavetta’s will be cooking the chicken, for which pre-sale tickets are available for $14 from any Lions member, or by calling (716) 417-0079. Tickets the day of the event will be $15. Serving will begin at 11:30 until sold out.

New this year will be music by Rob Robinson. Also, this year, the Lions will be able to accept credit cards.