There is a winter weather advisory today from 11 a.m. today until 7 a.m. Saturday for Orleans, Niagara, Genesee and northern Erie counties.

The National Weather Service in buffalo says to expect 3 to 6 inches of snow, with winds gusting as high as 35 miles per hour.

“Plan on snow covered and slippery road conditions with poor visibility,” the Weather Service said. “The hazardous conditions will impact the Friday evening commute with road conditions quickly deteriorating around sunset.”

The high today will be 34 degrees followed by highs of 32 on Saturday, 36 on Sunday and 38 on Monday.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Representatives from the Holy Family Parish in Albion today presented $1,267 to the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship.

Holy Family did a collection on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 11-12, and parishioners donated $1,267, about double what is normally given for the “Souper Bowl” collection. The parish in Albion does the collection for the kitchen each weekend during the Super Bowl because people tend to indulge in snacks and food during the big game.

Pictured from left include Father Dick Csizmar, Father Jan Trela, Agnes Piskorowski (holding the check), Faith Smith of the OK Kitchen, Carolyn Budynski, and Father Mark Noonan.

Trela and Noonan started on Wednesday as priests in a family of Catholic churches in Orleans County and eastern Niagara. Noonan was a seminarian in Albion in 2006 and served at St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Mary’s in Holley for 7 ½ years until about five years ago.

Volunteers from the Holy Family Parish in Albion are making beef stew for the OK Kitchen today. In front chopping carrots and onions include Gina Boothby at left and Elaine Kovaleski at right.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is partnering with the American Red Cross  to offer free Hands-Only CPR training to anyone in the district looking to learn.

These 30-minute courses are designed to be quick, simple, and easy to learn, and can make the difference between life and death for others. Hawley is glad to help educate the public on the skill.

“CPR training is an invaluable skill that could very well save lives, and we should all be pushing ourselves to learn it,” Hawley said. “I am grateful to the American Red Cross  for their partnership in this initiative, and I hope to see many of you out at this free event.”

The time and place of the training will be:

• Saturday, March 18, at 9 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. at the Stafford Fire Department, 6153 Main Rd, Stafford, NY 14143
• Tuesday, March 21, at 1 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. at the Albion Elks Lodge 1006, 428 W State St, Albion, NY 14411

Anyone interested in signing up can click here to sign up for the Stafford event.

Those interested in participating at Albion, should click here.

Space is limited, so interested parties are encouraged to apply early. For more information, call Assemblyman Hawley’s office at 585-589-5780.

ALBION – Bullard Park would become an even bigger community asset with courts for volleyball, bocce and pickleball, the Village Board was told on Wednesday.

John Grillo, the village’s long-time recreation director, said those courts wouldn’t cost much to put in and maintain.

He has heard from community members asking for those courts at Bullard. Some people also would like to see a horseshoe playing area.

Grillo said the park has been busier since the new splash park and playground equipment were installed about two years ago. Last year’s summer park’s program averaged 70 kids a day, Grillo said.

The village Department of Public Works will be putting in a disc golf course in the spring with baskets and tee-off areas.

Grillo said he would like to see the bocce, pickleball and volleyball spaces ready by summer. The pickleball could perhaps go where there was a former pavilion near the old bathrooms. That spot still has the asphalt on top of a concrete base. The asphalt would likely need to be removed with new asphalt put down, said Village Trustee Tim McMurray.

The ideas are in the discussion stage right now, Grillo said.

He told the board there is also interest and support in the community to bring back the July 3^rd fireworks show which was at Bullard Park.

In other action at Wednesday’s meeting:

• The Village Board appointed Chris Kinter as a part-time code enforcement officer at $25 per hour, not to exceed 1,040 hours in a year.

Kinter was a member of the Albion Planning Board and also works at the Town of Albion code officer.

Trustee McMurray abstained from the vote, saying the village should have posted the position and better advertised it.

Mayor Angel Javier Jr., Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley and Trustee Zack Burgess voted for Kinter.

“He is a known quantity and he has served our community well,” Riley said.

• In another codes issue, the village’s other part-time code enforcement officer, Anne Podolak, requested that former code officer Ron Vendetti be retained as a consultant to share how handled court cases in the role, and also how he was able to generate so much in revenue for the office. Podolak said Vendetti generated more money for the village through the code office than his successors.

“I want to know his processes and procedures,” Podolak told the Village Board.

Riley, the deputy mayor, made a motion for Vendetti to be retained as a consultant for up to 20 hours in the next two months but no one else backed that motion.

“We’re not asking Mr. Vendetti to come back,” Riley said. “We’re asking Mr. Vendetti for his expertise.”

• Fire Chief Rob Conner informed the village he will be done as the Fire Department’s leader on May 1.

“He has done a yeoman’s job leading his men and making sure the village is safe,” Riley said.

• The board approved closing East State Street from Main to Platt on April 8 for the second annual Easter Egg Hunt, an event organized by the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries.

• The board also approved use of Mount Albion Cemetery on march 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Wayne A. Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness Run. That 5K starts near the elementary school and goes along Route 31 for a loop in the cemetery and then heads back down Route 31 to the school.

ALBION – A Medina man admitted in Orleans County Court that he was in possession of two vehicles and also broke into a barn.

Brandon Fuller, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and third-degree burglary. He could face 2 to 6 years in state prison when he is sentenced on May 10.

Fuller admitted in county court on Wednesday that he had a 2005 Ford 500 passenger vehicle on Nov. 15 and 2005 Chevrolet Silverado on Feb. 1. Both vehicles were stolen and in either fairly good or good condition.

Fuller also admitted that on Sept. 30 he entered a barn on Gaines Basin Road without permission. Fuller had items stacked up by doors of the barn, and was hiding from law enforcement when they were called to the scene, Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard told County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Fuller was most recently charged on Feb. 1 after a high-speed vehicle pursuit from Route 31A in Barre to near Redman Road in Brockport.

Fuller’s plea agreement on Wednesday also will satisfy other misdemeanors charges he faces, as well as violations of probation.

In other cases in court on Wednesday

• Bryton M. Hitzges, 20, of Albion pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary. He admitted to breaking into a West Avenue building in Albion on Dec. 30 to steal items.

He could face a maximum of 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison when he is sentenced on May 10.

The plea satisfies other charges against Hitzges. He is suspected in several burglaries to dwellings, garages, sheds and larcenies from vehicles.

As part of the plea he needs to pay $85 restitution for a broken window and could be fined up to $5,000.

• Patricia Capen of Lyndonville pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny and could face up to a year in the county jail when she is sentenced on May 10. Capen admitted in court that on Jan. 25 she took gel blaster guns from the Walmart in Albion which are valued at $1,470.

• Robert Quinonez, a former inmate at the Orleans Correctional facility, pleaded guilty to attempted assault after he kicked a corrections officer. Quinonez, 22, could be sentenced to an additional 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison. He is now at the Five Points Correctional Facility in Romulus, Seneca County.

LYNDONVILLE – Less than a week after a fire destroyed the back end of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyndonville, and damaged much of the interior, church members feel assured they will have input on the future of the church at 36 Lake Ave.

Bishop Michael Fisher of the Diocese of Buffalo met with church members for about a half hour after Mass on Sunday at St. Mary’s in Medina. The bishop then travelled to Lyndonville to see St. Joseph’s with his own eyes.

Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: The burnt crucifix from St. Joseph’s was set at the side altar of St. Mary’s in Medina for Mass last Sunday.

“He is a very receptive bishop,” said Gary Daum, a member of St. Joseph’s for nearly 50 years. “We’re glad that he came here.”

The Diocese continues to assess the damage to the building from the fire, which is “quite extensive,” said Joe Martone, communications director for the Diocese.

Assessors from the Diocese are determining the full scope of the damage, he said.

Daum said St. Joseph’s members were told they would have a say in the next steps for the church.

“As parishioners, will we have a seat at the table about the future of this church site,” Daum said.

Daum appreciated the show of solidarity from the bishop and also the St. Mary’s parishioners in Medina. The bishop stayed after the Mass at St. Mary’s to meet with the parishioners from St. Joseph’s.

“He talked with anybody and anyone,” Daum said. “Everybody had a chance to have their voices heard.”

At St. Joseph’s in Lyndonville, Daum said he felt more encouraged about the future of the church building than he did soon after the fire. The main structure and sanctuary are intact, and the side of the church and an elevator are OK, he said.

“Yes, it is a mess,” he said. “The bishop said he has seen churches burnt worse than ours.”

While the bishop looked inside the church, St. Joseph’s members stayed outside and prayed, saying the rosary.

The church attendance was down in recent years, partly from the effects of Covid pandemic restrictions. Daum said about 20 people were attending Mass on Saturdays and 25 on Sundays. The church still has a dedicated core of believers.

“Right at this moment we don’t exactly know what the future holds,” Daum said. “There is no statement on where we are going. But at least we know we are being listened to.”

This group from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church says the Rosary outside the church in Lyndonville while Bishop Michael Fisher visits the church on Sunday afternoon after a Mass at St. Mary’s in Medina.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

BATAVIA – It can be difficult to attract medical providers to community health centers however we are delighted to introduce three qualified clinicians that have recently joined Oak Orchard’s Batavia office.

They include a family medicine physician who is also board certified in Addiction Medicine, a Family Nurse Practitioner who is bilingual, and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Please welcome:

Azadfard

Dr. Mohammadreza Azadfard is a specialist in family medicine and sub-specialist in addiction medicine allowing him to address many medical issues within a family. He chose to work at Oak Orchard Health (OOH) to provide primary care services to all.

“Community health centers reduce the cost and language barriers. Here we can address both. OOH also offers mental health and dental services. And with my expertise in addiction medicine, I can help patients in the treatment and recovery of addiction,” said Dr. Azadfard.

Hein

Emily Hein is a pediatric nurse practitioner who recently returned to where she grew up. As a mother of two, she takes health care for children to heart.

“I believe that you and your child are at the heart of the care team. I strive to listen to your thoughts and concerns so you can make informed decisions about your child’s health and treatment,” Hein said.

Rojas

Shelby Rojas is a bi-lingual Family Nurse Practitioner who is passionate about caring for patients within the local community and from the Hispanic immigrant population who have difficulty getting high-quality health care.

“I want to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere to my patients so that they feel satisfied with their health. I strive to ensure that the patient is always an active participant in their own health decisions, together with my medical expertise and training, to provide the best outcomes possible for my patients,” said Shelby.

About Oak Orchard Health  

Originally founded in 1973, Oak Orchard Health has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services including primary care, pediatric care, vision care, dental care, behavioral health, as well as nutrition and outreach services for everyone located in the communities they serve.

Oak Orchard Health is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Hornell,  Medina and Warsaw. With the addition of the Mobile Medical Unit and Mobile Dental Unit, we will further increase access to care for our patients.

Risen Café offers ‘safe place with no judgement’

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Risen Café opened on Tuesday the former Crooked Door Tavern at 469 East State St. Pictured from left include Sarah Ferguson, Terry Bryant and Jeannie Sullivan.

ALBION – Pastor Terry Bryant of God’s Voice Ministries wants to lead a 21^st Century church where he said everyone is welcome, and they don’t feel out of place if they aren’t familiar with hymns, Bible passages and the usual structure of a church service.

Bryant and the church members at God’s Voice have opened the Risen Café at the former Crooked Door Tavern at 469 East State St. They serve coffee and have a breakfast and lunch menu of soups and sandwiches. They are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday.

“Cheers without beers,” Bryant said. “Everybody can feel comfortable here.”

However, their main goal is offering people a place to share prayer concerns and develop a deeper spiritual life.

“This is a place to connect with people,” Bryant said today at the café. “We want to reach people that wouldn’t come into a traditional church. This is a very nonthreatening environment.”

The church has been meeting out of Bryant’s home the past four years. It was meeting at a Best Western hotel in Lockport until Covid restrictions sent them to Bryant’s living room.

Two of the church members moved to Brown Road in Albion. Bryant was visiting them when he saw the former Crooked Door. He saw the building as a way to serve the community, giving the public another dine-in option for coffee and meals.

But he also sensed people who aren’t connected to a church might see the site as a place to get spiritual guidance.

The congregation has been meeting in the back side of the building since November for Sunday church services at 11 a.m. That space, with a capacity for 37 people, also is used for Bible studies and other gatherings for the church.

The former bar side of the building is the café, where Bible quotes are now on the walls.

Scripture is displayed on the walls at the Risen Café. There is also a prayer corner and a spot for people to submit prayer requests.

Sarah Ferguson of Lyndonville is one of the servers at the Risen Café. She also is the church’s associate pastor. She has master’s degrees in pastoral counseling and addiction recovery. She wants to lead a Christian-based Celebrate Recovery program to help people with addictions, and also direct them to other resources in the community.

“This is somewhere where I can talk about Jesus, learn about people and pray for people,” she said. “We are creating a safe place with no judgement.”

Bryant has worked as an IT systems administrator for about 30 years. He works out of the Larkin Building in Buffalo for Kaleida Health. In 2009, he said he lost feeling in his legs from symptoms of multiple sclerosis. But he said God restored his health and he has been striving to serve God since. He earned a ministry degree while working his other job in information technology.

Bryant initially pushed his ministry with his wife Denise. She contracted Covid and passed away on Dec. 20, 2021. Bryant said he misses his wife very much. He believes that difficult loss can help him relate to others enduring heartache.

“This can be a place where we can have uncomfortable conversations,” he said. “We want to love people where they are.”

Information from Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Assemblyman Mike Norris

ALBANY – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) rallied today with the Assembly and Senate Minority in the call for an increased allocation of funds for local roads and bridges as part of this year’s budget. Local roads and bridges are often in disrepair and require support from the state to help with maintenance and management, and Hawley believes the budget should allocate for it.

“I am imploring the legislature and the governor to include an additional $200 million for local road and bridge maintenance and an additional $70 million for Extreme Winter Recovery,” Hawley said. “With the governor’s proposed budget of $228 billion it would behoove the legislature and governor to assure the $270 million is made available for our local roads and bridges that our taxpayers travel every day.”

Assemblyman Mike Norris (far right) of Lockport rallies at the State Capitol with Lockport Highway Superintendent Dave Miller and Assemblyman Angelo Morinello.

Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) issued this statement:

“For the future of our state, it’s essential that this budget gets back to basics. Safe, passable roads, bridges and culverts and sewers that provide drainage from flooding and protect our water supply are the basic services our government should provide along with public protection measures.

“With the extreme weather events we have experienced all across our state, but particularly in Western New York, this is not the time to cut or hold flat funding for the programs that provide this fundamental money. As the Ranking Member of the Assembly Transportation Committee, I’ve been working hard to encourage my colleagues this budget season to make smart investments to rebuild, restore and revitalize our local infrastructure along with continued expansion of our broadband. These services are essential to every New Yorker and critical for our economic success.”

‘Storm spotters are, and always will be, an indispensable part of the severe local storm warning program’

Press Release, National Weather Service in Buffalo

ALBION – The Buffalo office of the National Weather Service, in cooperation with Orleans County Emergency Management will be conducting a SKYWARN spotter training seminar at the Hoag Library, 134 South Main St., in Albion on Wednesday May 3, at 7 p.m.

SKYWARN is a national effort to save lives during severe weather emergencies with an expanding network of trained volunteer weather spotters. SKYWARN spotters support their local community and government by providing reports of severe weather directly to the National Weather Service in Buffalo by phone using the NWS spotter hotline, or by online reporting. The services performed by SKYWARN spotters have saved many lives.

The National Weather Service has a number of devices for detecting severe thunderstorms, including Doppler radar, satellite, and lightning detection networks. However, the most important tool for observing thunderstorms is the trained eye of the storm spotter. By providing observations, SKYWARN spotters assist National Weather Service staff in their warning decisions and enable the National Weather Service to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property. Storm spotters are, and always will be, an indispensable part of the severe local storm warning program.

The basic training session provides a brief overview of the National Weather Service organization and our responsibilities, severe weather safety, and basic severe weather meteorology including how thunderstorms, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods form.

Anyone can become a severe weather spotter for the National Weather Service. SKYWARN training is free and open to the public.

For further information, you can call the National Weather Service at (716) 565-0204 ext. 223. Registration is required. The registration form link and more information about SKYWARN is available on the NWS Buffalo website at http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn.

ALBION – The school district has upgraded three of its weight rooms using $102,074 from its federal American Rescue Plan Act allotment.

The new equipment is now in place at two rooms in the middle and one in the high school. The middle school has two different weight rooms – one for strength and one for function. The high school has a room for cardio fitness.

Albion purchased five new units of strength equipment including dumbbells and benches, a variety of safer functional items – mats, TRX suspension trainers, Rack5 Storage, Kettlebells, Core Bags, Foam Rollers, Medicine Balls, Stability Balls and Resistance Bands, said Rick Recckio, school business administrator.

The new cardio equipment includes rowers, AMTs, a Stair Climber, bikes and treadmills.

Recckio went over the improvements and remodeled weight rooms during Monday’s Board of Education meeting. He said the older equipment will be scrapped because of its poor condition.

The federal government approved $4,265,000 for the district’s total ARPA funding.

The former athletic director’s office in the high school now has cardio machines. This is a room near the cafeteria that is also used by the athletic trainers.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce hosted its final Coffee and Conversation on Monday morning at the Quiet Eye in Medina. From left are artist and Quiet Eye owner Pat Greene, Chamber director Darlene Hartway and Orleans County district attorney Joe Cardone, who also is the owner of the Medina Theatre. About a dozen business people and local officials attended the event.

MEDINA – A dozen business people from the local area attended the final Coffee and Conversation get-together Monday morning at the Quiet Eye on East Center Street.

Attendees included Medina Mayor Mike Sidari; Lyndonville Mayor John Belson; District Attorney Joe Cardone, owner of the Medina Theatre; first assistant district attorney Susan Howard; Medina village trustees Tim Elliott, Jess Marciano and Marguerite Sherman; representatives of the Cancer Services Program; Mario Campana, new owner of Corky’s Bakery building and the former Houseman Funeral Home on Park Avenue; and several other people from the business community.

Darlene Hartway, the Chamber director, explained the meetings were developed after the Chamber board felt there was a need to find out the pulse in each community and their view on the obstacles or hurdles they face.

“We can’t help them if we don’t know what their needs and concerns are,” Hartway said.

The meetings took place periodically in Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Kendall. Medina’s was the last one.

“Each has unique issues, even Lyndonville which doesn’t have a lot of huge businesses,” Hartway said. “They don’t want huge businesses. They are happy with small ones.”

Sidari shared some of the projects Medina plans to accomplish with its recent grant, including developing a path to Medina Falls and adding parking spaces. He said the grant committee is considering façade grants of $5,000 for each storefront.

Hartway explained the Chamber relies solely on member dues for its funding. The organization’s focus is promoting the county, advocating and educating.

She said the Chamber sponsors four major events a year: a legislative luncheon; Home Show, scheduled April 1 and 2; a wine walk featuring Orleans County wineries and distilleries, held at the Robin Hill Nature Preserve in Lyndonville; and the annual business awards ceremony in October.

The Chamber also sponsors “Business After Hours” events the third Thursday of each month at a different business in the county.

Cardone shared the challenges faced by law enforcement in every county because of the Bail Reform law. Criminals know they are likely not going to jail, so they get arrested and go right back out and do it all over again. He said the average person who goes to state prison has been arrested 12 times.

Cardone also said in recent years the number of judges in Orleans County has been reduced from 24 to 9.

Howard explained another problem is the fact the age for charging an individual as an adult has been changed from 18 to 16. That means if teens commit a serious crime, they aren’t going to be incarcerated with adults and could be free to commit more crimes.

Sidari also reported the New York Power Authority is putting up money to develop an art trail, which would include Medina. They have hired a designer and hope to have an art festival every three years.

Now that the Coffee and Conversation meetings have come to an end, Hartway said the Chamber will be concentrating on working with agencies to address the issues that were brought up at the meetings.

Danny’s Equipment, which includes small engine repair, to close on June 30

Photos by Tom Rivers: Danny Dill and his wife Nancy are in the show room today at Danny’s Equipment at 122 W. Albion St. (Route 31) in Holley. Dill is retiring on June 30 and will be closing the business which he started at age 21 in 1977.

HOLLEY – Danny Dill is calling it a career. For nearly 50 years he has sold outdoor power equipment and repaired small engines.

On June 30, he is retiring and closing Danny’s Equipment at 122 West Albion St. He started the business when he was 21 in 1977. He has grown the size of the business, and added two full-time employees. His wife Nancy also joined the operation in 1986 as the accountant and office manager.

“Thank you to all of the people who have supported us over the years,” Dill said today at Danny’s. “We have enjoyed it.”

Dill, 67, and his wife are going to retire while they feel very healthy and can travel to see their daughter out west and Dill’s sister in Idaho. They want to enjoy life without the daily demands of running the business.

Dill said sales have steadily grown each year with people seeking snowblowers, lawn mowers, power blowers, chainsaws, log splitters and weed trimmers. Dill manages the sales while Mark Jackman has been the small engine repair mechanic for 25 years. Ian McGraw has worked for Danny’s the past two years. He does some repairs and makes deliveries, helping customers set up the equipment.

Danny’s is a dealer for products made by Stihl, Toro and Ariens.

“Our service and knowledge is what sets us apart,” he said. “It gives us an advantage.”

Danny Dill has been a fixture along Route 31, selling lawn mowers, snowblowers and other outdoor power equipment.

Danny’s has worked with customers going back two to three generations. They like equipment that he calls “labor savings devices,” especially in winter when it’s much easier to start a snowblower than shovel heavy snow.

The zero-turn lawnmowers have been especially popular in the past 25 years. Customers with big yards can cover a lot of ground in about half the time as a typical riding lawn mower, and the zero-turn mower has much more maneuverability, Dill said.

“People are very busy,” he said. “They want something where they can get the job done faster.”

Dill also has seen a transition to more battery-powered equipment.

He was planning a career as automotive technician. He earned a degree from Alfred State in auto tech, but instead started fixing lawnmowers. His services were in demand right away and Dill never looked back.

“It’s been a very challenging career,” he said. “I’ve always looked forward to it, to coming to work each day.”

ALBION – Katharine Waite, Albion’s high school vice principal, will be retiring on March 31. She was worked at Albion for nearly eight years, after 10 years as a principal at Perry Central School.

The Board of Education on Monday appointed Dan Monacelli to fill in as interim vice principal, beginning after spring recess on April 10 until the end of the school year in late June.

Monacelli, an Albion resident, retired as the middle school principal in 2017. He also has filled in as an interim junior-senior high school principal in Holley for three months in late 2018 and early 2019.

Mickey Edwards, the Albion district superintendent, said he reached out across Western New York and there weren’t any other candidates for the position to close out the school year. He said he appreciated Monacelli’s willingness to come back to the district in the interim position.

In other action during the board meeting on Monday:

• School resource officer Matthew Prawel, a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, outlined how his first year has been going with the district so far. Prawel said his main focus is the security of the campus. He has connected with other law enforcement agencies, giving them a color-coded map showing different zones of the school buildings.

Prawel said he would welcome more chances to connect with students and staff but most of his time is dedicated to security and safety.

He recommended the board add a second school resource officer, either through the Sheriff’s Office or Albion Police Department. That would increase a safety response and also allow for more positive connections between students and the school resource officers, Prawel said.

• Brad Pritchard, the middle school principal, gave a presentation to the board on how the middle school is doing more computer based testing, which he said not only measures academics but familiarizes students with keyboarding, software and using Google Docs and other software.

• Approved a trip to Boston from May 26-28 for 18 students from minority backgrounds. The trip for the Girls Leadership Group is covered through a Community Schools grant.

• Changed the date of the Honors Convocation for graduating seniors with GPAs at 90 percent or higher from May 11 to May 4. The date was changed so some of the seniors can be a part of the “Stars of Tomorrow” program featuring students in the musical. They will be able to perform at the Rochester Broadway Theatre League.

• Julianna Kuntz was recognized with the elementary student leadership award and Brody Furness was honored with the elementary school character award.