Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) spent the day traveling the district and reading to students in recognition of ‘Read Across America’ Day, which celebrates the importance of reading and literacy across New York and the nation.

Hawley visited Pembroke Primary School and read to the entire first grade class, Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School’s first grade class and Oak Orchard Primary School’s kindergarten class in Medina.

“Reading is such a joy, especially when you’re younger, and I’m grateful I had a day to share in that joy with students across the district,” Hawley said. “Taking a moment to help foster a healthy relationship with reading and literacy early on is incredibly important. I’m thankful for the schools that partnered with me today and allowed me to come read with their students, and I’m thankful to the students for their enthusiasm.”

Father Richard Csizmar has served as pastor in Albion the past 28 years

Photos by Tom Rivers: Father Richard Csizmar is shown inside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where he has been the parish priest for 28 years. He is retiring from full-time ministry. He will continue to lead Mass at local Catholic churches while living in Albion.

ALBION – The Rev. Richard Csizmar has announced his retirement from full-time ministry after more than a half century as a priest.

Csizmar, 80, could have retired five years ago but chose to continue in a full-time role at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the Holy Family Parish. Csizmar will continue to live in the church rectory in Albion and lead some Mass services as needed in a family of churches that includes Catholic sites in Kendall, Holley, Albion, Medina, Lyndonville, Barker and Middleport.

Father Mark Noonan, the former priest at St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Mary’s in Holley, is returning to lead the family of local Catholic churches, beginning next weekend.

“It’s been great,” Csizmar said about his 28 years in Albion. “I’ve really loved it. I see myself as the community’s priest.”

Csizmar has two long tenures in his ministry. Before coming to Albion, he served 25 years at Notre Dame High School in Batavia as a teacher and development director. He also served on weekends at St. Joseph’s and St. Anthony’s in Batavia.

He started his ministry with a year in Cherry Creek, and also three months at the Nativity at Harris Hill in Williamsville.

Father Richard Csizmar is shown inside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. About 700 families are part of the Holy Family Parish.

In Albion, Father Csizmar was active in the Albion Ministerium, a group of local clergy that plan community ecumenical services and a baccalaureate service for graduating high school seniors.

He praised the Albion parish for their love shown towards him and many in the community. The parish includes about 700 families and 1,600 people.

“I have felt at home here,” he said during an interview at the church rectory. “It has been a great run. I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences.”

Father Csizmar said he continues to feel a call to ministry and enjoys preaching and leading Mass.

“I haven’t run out of gas,” he said. “I’m always getting new ideas.”

Susan Starkweather Miller said Father Csizmar has been accepting of new ideas to engage the community, including a new Bible study she is leading with Pete Sidari on Monday mornings and Tuesday evenings. About 70 people are attending that study on the Passion of the Christ. Csizmar is among the attendees.

“Father loves community,” Starkweather Miller said. “He loves to build community in our church. He’s always been very positive and willing to try new things. He is always on board.”

Starkweather Miller is a lecter, eucharistic minister, altar server and Bible study leader at the parish. She is very thankful Father Csizmar will be staying in the Albion community.

“We care so much about him,” she said. “We are so thankful he wants to be with us. Father Dick can continue to do the things he loves.”

Father Dick Csizmar greets Albion firefighters and other first responders during a “Blue Mass” on Oct. 22, 2017 at St. Joseph’s. The service offered appreciation and blessings for first responders. Csizmar worked to connect with many community members during his time at St. Joseph’s.

The parish is also looking forward to Father Mark Noonan leading the family of churches.

“We have the best of both worlds,” Starkweather Miller said.

Joe Gehl is a current church trustee for the Holy Family Parish. He has attended St. Joseph’s since 1971. He said the parish admires Father Csizmar and appreciates his long commitment to the Albion community.

“He is not afraid to get involved in things,” Gehl said. “He considers wherever he is at as part of his family. He just blends in well with anyone regardless of their religious affiliation. He accepts everybody for who they are.”

Father Csizmar in a message to the parish in this weekend’s church bulletin said he is very proud of Mark Noonan who brings a kind and gentle spirit.

“It’s great to be passing the torch to a new generation pastor,” Father Csizmar writes.

Father Richard Csizmar prays a blessing on Albion graduates during a baccalaureate service on June 2, 2019 at the First Baptist Church. Csizmar has been very active in the Albion Ministerium, a group of local clergy members.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Lenten lunches returned on Wednesday for Albion area churches. This group from the Gaines Congregational Church – Laurie Hatch, Kathy Smith and Chris Sartwell – serve soups prepared by the church.

The event was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion. The Presbyterians provided sandwiches.

The lunches will be at noon every Wednesday in March at the Presbyterian Church. Different churches take turns providing food and the message.

Marie Follett plays the piano and the Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Albion, leads the singing of hymns during the Lenten luncheon.

The luncheons are back for the first time in three years after being cancelled during the Covid pandemic.

Thaine also delivered a short message for the group. There were about 40 people from several churches at the gathering. The luncheons are free with a goodwill offering accepted.

The Lenten luncheons also are back in Medina at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street. It is a tradition going back several decades and sponsored by Medina Area Association of Churches.

All luncheons are served at the Presbyterian Church, with members of MAAC taking turns preparing the meal. Take-outs are available at 11:45 a.m., with serving at noon followed by a brief message. This year’s theme will explore “The Passion of Christ.”

ALBION – A man who caused about $3,000 in damage to laundry machines and also stole a rifle was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison on Wednesday.

Richard J. Capen pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree during a court appearance on Nov. 30.

Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone asked County Court Judge Sanford Church for state prison for Capen.

The judge imposed the sentence of a minimum of a year in prison and maximum of three years. Capen also needs to pay $3,250 in restitution to Richard Colonna, owner of Washboard Willy’s, and $586 to the owner of the stolen rifle.

The judge also issued orders of protection for eight years for Colonna and his Washboard Willy’s locations, and the gun owner.

Capen also needs to pay a $300 court surcharge, $50 DNA fee and $25 crime victims’ fee.

In another case in court on Wednesday, Travis Bloom, 30, of Medina was arraigned on eight counts of first-degree criminal contempt. Bloom allegedly called a person eight times while he was in the county jail and that person had an order of protection from him.

Student highlights Richard and Mildred Loving, whose case helped overturn laws against interracial marriage

Provided photo: D.J. Lattimore, a student at Iroquois Job Corps, holds the poster he made for Black History Month, depicting Richard and Mildred Loving.

MEDINA – Students at Iroquois Job Corps recently celebrated February as Black History Month by researching the observance and making posters about what they learned.

Lisa Griffith, core reading instructor, shared one of her student’s projects.

D.J. Lattimore chose to research Richard and Mildred Loving, after learning they were arrested for being a married, interracial couple. At the time they were married interracial marriage was illegal in about half of the country.

Richard and Mildred were sleeping in their Virginia home at 2 a.m. July 11, 1958, when the sheriff broke in and woke them. After asking why they were sleeping together (they had been married for five weeks), he arrested them and put them in jail for violating Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act.

Richard spent a night in jail before being released on a $1,000 bond procured by his sister, while Mildred was not allowed a bond and spent three nights alone in a small woman’s cell. She was finally released to her father’s care and after pleading guilty in court, the presiding judge gave them a choice. Leave Virginia for 25 years or go to prison. They left and would spend the next nine years in exile.

Mildred, who already had a child from another relationship, became pregnant and the couple returned to Washington, D.C., where they had been married because interracial marriage was legal there.

During his research, Lattimore learned that the Loving’s case eventually made it to the Supreme Court, which ruled interracial marriage bans were unconstitutional.

Lattimore and his fellow students then viewed the movie “Loving,” based on Richard and Mildred Loving’s life.

Provided photo: Jonathan Oakes, left, and his brother Christopher stand in the State Capitol in Albany on the Million Dollar Staircase with steps made of Medina Sandstone. The brothers were in Albany for meetings of the New York State Apple Association and New York State Cider Association. Jonathan is president of the New York Cider Association and Christopher is vice president of the NY Apple Association.

LYNDONVILLE – There’s no mistaking Christopher and Jonathan Oakes passion for their family business.

The brothers are not only heavily involved in LynOaken Farms, but Christopher is vice chair of the New York Apple Association, while Jonathan is president of the New York Cider Association.

They recently attended annual meetings of their respective organizations in Albany, which they feel is important in urging lawmakers to make laws and provide funding for programs beneficial to farmers.

In addition to Christopher’s and Jonathan’s involvement in their agricultural organizations, their aunt Wendy Oakes-Wilson is a member of the New York Grape and Wine Foundation.

Jonathan has been a member of the New York Cider Association since its founding in 2015. He was elected president last June. He is the winemaker for Leonard Oakes Estate Winery.

Christopher has been on the New York Apple Association board since 2020 and was elected vice chair a year ago.

“Our involvement in agricultural goes back to our grandfather Jim,” Jonathan said. “He was active in many agricultural agencies, specifically apple organizations.”

Jim’s father Leonard founded the family farm in 1919, raising poultry and vegetables, continuing through World War II. After Leonard died in 1951 and Jim took over, he moved more into fruit and vegetables, Jonathan said. By the 1980s, the farm was mostly a fruit farm. Christopher’s and Jonathan’s dad Darrell heads the farm today.

File photos by Tom Rivers: Chris Oakes, orchard manager at LynOaken Farms and the fourth generation to work on the farm, holds a Redfield apple, a variety that was developed in 1938. The apple has a red flesh and pink seeds. It’s one of the heirloom varieties in a U-Pick orchard at the farm.

Farming has become more challenging in recent years, with all the rules and regulations being enacted in Albany, Christopher said, which is why the Oakes brothers know how important it is to support the Apple and Cider organizations.

Jonathan has always had a penchant for cider and started fermenting in 2003. Their tasting room was opened in 2008 at the winery on Ridge Road in Medina.

He said cider was one of original key beverages in our nation, and since LynOaken Farms had a lot of apples, it made sense to start making cider.

“Then we have a school like Cornell in our back yard,” Jonathan said. “It’s nice for us to collaborate with each other and assure we stay on the front end of things.”

He said the Cider Association is young as an organization, kind of running on the shirttails of the Apple Association.

“It’s been a good relationship so far,” he said.

LynOaken Farms currently grows 250 acres of apples, 16 acres of peaches and 15 acres of wine grapes. The major apple orchards are on their home farm on Platten Road in Lyndonville, while the winery is located at 10609 Ridge Rd., Medina. Commercially, they raise 14 varieties of apples, but their U-pick orchard offers more than 350 varieties. One of these is an ancient type called Ben Davis.

“This was a big variety when the canal came through,” Christopher said. “You could put them on a ship to England and they would still look like an apple when they got there. Of course, they were like shoe leather.”

Christopher said every apple grower in the state is automatically a member of the New York Apple Association. One thing which they advocated for was for a portion of every apple sale to go to the Association for marketing. Currently, 16 cents of every bushel sold goes to fund marketing of New York state apples. The Apple Board meets three times a year – in February, June and November. Meetings are in Albany at budget time and in different locations the other two sessions. The state has 550 apple growers.

Jonathan Oakes, the winemaker at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina, serves wine during the third annual Farm-to-Table dinner on Aug. 2, 2018 in downtown Medina.

The Cider Association is member driven and their funding comes from membership dues. The organization are hoping to convince Albany to increase the line item in the budget for state funding of the Cider Association.

Their requests include funding for a New York Cider Mark Promotion campaign (resulting in full activation on cider labeling indicating 100 percent use of New York apples); Cider Week New York; a New York Cider Trail app to inspire visits to tasting rooms and orchards; and update of the website, social channels and collateral to increase tourist attraction.

The Cider Association has a state director in Hudson Valley and a board of 11 members. They meet every other month, with one general membership meeting in March. Smaller committees meet regularly.

Since growers have started making cider in New York state, it has had a tremendous economic impact, according to information provided by Jonathan. From five licensed producers in 2011, the industry has grown to more than 125 in 2023, employing 6,148 and resulting in $520 million in wages.

The New York Cider Association says the cider industry has a $1.7 billion total economic impact in the state.

The state will celebrate Cider Week New York May 5 to 14 and Oct. 6 to 15. More information can be found on their website at www.ciderweeknewyork.com.

Press Release, Orleans County Legislature

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature today advocated strongly for the elimination of a budget proposal backed by Governor Kathy Hochul that would cost local governments more than $625 million in the coming state fiscal year, and billions in subsequent years.

The proposal would end the longstanding practice of sharing federal Medicaid savings provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with counties and New York City. This funding, known as eFMAP, has been critical to counties’ ability to hold property taxes in check by limiting the local financial burden of Medicaid.

“At a time when our residents are paying more for housing, food, and fuel, Gov. Hochul’s proposal will make living in this state even less affordable,” said Orleans County Chairman Lynne Johnson. “This action would strip $1,059,034 in revenue from the Orleans County budget, which will end up coming out of residents’ pockets in the form of increased property taxes or cuts to vital county services like public safety and road maintenance.”

According to the Governor’s budget materials, this proposal would shift $625 million in Medicaid costs onto local taxpayers in its first year, and the minimum four-year cost to local taxpayers is calculated at between $2.5 billion and $2.9 billion. The New York State Association of Counties estimates that by state fiscal year 2027, the fourth year of this proposal, that state cost shift from this single initiative will be equivalent to an average property tax increase of 7 percent statewide and as high as 14 percent in some counties. To make matters worse, the State is also proposing to permanently keep six years of eFMAP funds, exceeding $1 billion worth of federal assistance owed to counties from unreconciled reimbursements.

“We are concerned that this proposal undermines Congressional intent. New York’s Congressional Delegation, led by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, fought hard to ensure that local taxpayers wouldn’t bear the burden of expanding Medicaid by specifically designating this funding for counties,” Johnson said. “This proposal reverses the state’s twenty-year practice of sharing these funds with counties and it’s unnecessary. Gov. Hochul must remove this disastrous proposal from her budget and work with counties to reach a compromise that does no harm to counties and maintains the cap on local contributions to Medicaid.”

Bishop will meet Sunday with parishioners from church after Mass at St. Mary’s

Photos by Tom Rivers: Firefighters check the back end of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyndonville after a destructive fire on Tuesday. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 3:41 a.m. This photo was taken at about 7:45 a.m.

LYNDONVILLE – The Diocese of Buffalo hasn’t made a decision about the next steps with the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church after a destructive fire Tuesday at the building on 36 Lake Ave.

“We are assessing the damage which is quite extensive,” said Joe Martone, communication manager for the Diocese. “It will be fairly substantial.”

The fire on Tuesday destroyed much of the back of the church and also left the inside covered in soot, peeling paint and wallpaper, fallen insulation and many melted and destroyed items.

Bishop Michael Fisher will be at St. Mary’s in Medina for the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday and will meet with parishioners from St. Joseph’s after the service.

“It’s devastating to the parish,” Martone said about the fire. “It’s an outreach we wanted to do to show our support to the people in Orleans County. All our churches are important to us in the Diocese.”

The sanctuary of the church used to be white but now is gray and black from the smoke and soot. Wet insulation that fell from the ceiling is on the pews.

‘We are here to make sure you get what you are paying for’

Provided images: The 2023 inspection seals are predominantly found on gas pumps and store register scales.

Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

Promoting a fair and equitable marketplace is the work of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, Department of Weights & Measures (GO Health W&M). This department protects open market transactions, ensuring fairness for both buyers and sellers.

Ronald P. Mannella

“The worth of county and state Weights & Measures departments are more valuable than ever,” said Ronald P. Mannella, GO Health W&M director. “Persistent price increases of everyday necessities are straining our communities and people are stretching their money to new levels. We are here to make sure you get what you are paying for.”

2022 included 470 inspections accounting for 1,211 devices in 209 businesses. These tests involved pumping more than 26,000 gallons of fuel and using more than 5.9 million pounds of test weight. The department handled 13 complaint investigations, confirmed 591 package weights & 300 item prices, and collected 132 fuel samples confirming fuel sold within both counties met a variety of parameters.

With support from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, GO Health has already confirmed over five times as many item prices compared to 2022. “This is just another way we are able to protect consumers. Pricing accuracy is a top priority for us going forward,” Mannella. said

2023 Audits (to date):

• 92 Overcharges (Prices at checkout were higher than shelf tags)
• 30 Undercharges (Prices at checkout were lower than shelf tags)
• 8 Missing shelf tags

Keep a watchful eye on your receipts to confirm prices match at checkout

Sharing Services, Reducing Costs

After recently celebrating 10 years of shared services between the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, GO Health W&M started its fourth year of the cross county collaboration. Savings have exceeded $150,000 in W&M costs alone.

Provided photos: Jason Klein observes students in Mrs. Duhow’s 5th grade class with their tower challenge: Oscar Lopez, Avery Twitchell and Amber O’Kussick.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – District Technology Integrator Jason Klein attended a professional development session called “Infusing STEAM into Today’s Instruction.” It inspired him and Julie Webber (Director of Curriculum and Instruction) to plan a day for Clifford Wise students of STEAM education.

Third-grader Jack Buondonno made this creation, Scarpkins, from recycled materials.

STEAM is an education approach to learning the uses of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics for guiding student inquiry, communication, and critical thinking.

“We decided to go “Full STEAM Ahead” at Clifford Wise Intermediate School,” says Klein. “We started the day with a school-wide presentation from author, illustrator and maker, Brian Yanish, where he encouraged students to think outside the box and reuse recyclables in new and innovative ways.”

After a fun filled and enlightening presentation, students worked with their peers to compete in a variety of STEAM challenges that encouraged problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork.

“Brian Yanish’s presentation inspired the students and really got their creative juices flowing,” said Klein. “They used that momentum in their STEAM challenges. The students were enthusiastic and excited and couldn’t wait to share their creations and solutions with their peers, teachers and family. I heard one student say, ‘Time really does fly by when you are having fun.’”

The STEAM challenges were broken down by grade. Grade 3 had the Scrapkins: Junk Re-Thunk Challenge where they had to design and build a character using recycled materials.

Grade 4 took on the Amazing Architecture Challenge where they built a home for their rubber duck using 50 marshmallows and 50 toothpicks. Fifth grade was assigned the Newspaper Tower Challenge where they used the engineering design process to design and build a structure at least 30” tall to support a basketball for at least three seconds.

Lastly the sixth graders had the Slo-Mo Marble Challenge where they used the Engineering Design Process to design and build the slowest marble run out of recycled materials.

“I believe that the students got a lot of out of this day,” Klein said. “Our goal was to inspire and empower lifelong learners through hands-on STEAM education that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a passion for innovation. We hope students, and even teachers, take away that STEAM is about creativity, trial, error and having fun. If students are not ‘successful’, that’s okay because it is part of the process.”

Julie Webber added, “This opportunity truly allowed students to embrace and love learning through exploration. Statements like ‘I don’t want to go home’ and ‘No… The buses are coming!’  were heard from the students. Even the teachers and staff enjoyed participating with the students. Learning is not just about memorizing facts, it’s about applying the knowledge that we learn. Students had a great opportunity to do this!”

Jason Klein and Brian Yanish pose are shown with students from Mrs. Scott’s third grade class: Cai Ree Lorenz, Alexis Sherman and Jordan Hammonds with their Scrapkins.

Kole McMullen and Santiago Velez in Mrs. Lemme’s 4th grade class plan out an architecture challenge.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina School District will be hosting an information night on Thursday for families of incoming UPK (Universal Pre-Kindergarten) students.

The session will be from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at Oak Orchard Primary School, 335 West Oak Orchard St. Anyone wishing to attend or looking for more information is asked to sign up through this link.

The signup is also available on the school district website at www.medinacsd.org under the District News on the front page. School Principal Jennifer Stearns says RSVPs are appreciated to help plan for a successful event.

To be eligible for UPK, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2023. To be eligible for kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2023.

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. and the event will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. There will be a brief general session for adults in the auditorium, and then participants will visit scheduled locations throughout the building.

Please plan to arrive by 5:30 p.m. and stay for the duration, in order to receive all of the information prepared. Childcare will be provided for any children eligible to attend school in the 2023-24 school year.

Families interested in learning more about Medina’s UPK program are asked to complete the sign up, whether or not you are able to attend the information night. If you are unable to attend, information will be shared afterward on Oak Orchard Primary School’s website and sent to the email address provided on the sign up.

Timeline for UPK application, acceptance, registration and screening:

• Thursday March 2: UPK Information Night 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at Oak Orchard Primary
• March 2 – April 2: UPK applications accepted at the Information Night, by calling the Oak Orchard Main Office, or through our website, starting on 3/2.
• April 3: Families notified of acceptance into UPK Program or if program capacity is reached, that lottery is to be held.
• Week of April 3: Lottery held, if needed, and registration packets mailed.
• Week of May 1 – May 5: UPK Student Screening, applicants should bring all registration materials to the screening. A parent and the child are expected to attend the screening. Applicants will be contacted by phone to schedule their screening time.

Any questions can be directed to the Oak Orchard Main Office by calling 585-798-2700, option 3 and then 0, between 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Please be sure to register for the Information Night by clicking here.

Information for Kindergarten Registration to follow at a later date.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Starting today, registration is open for Albion Central School’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program.

To be eligible, children must be four years old on or before December 1, 2023 and must live in the school district. Parents interested in registering their child/children for the UPK program must fill out the form in full, including the application, transportation form and meal information.

UPK is held in two sessions. The morning session is held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The afternoon session is 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents may not choose which session their child attends.

Completed forms may be returned ASAP to the district office or elementary school office. Completed applications may also be mailed to:

Albion Central School District

UPK Program

324 East Avenue

Albion, NY 14411

Please contact the district registrar with questions at 585-589-2051.

CLARKSON – A Holley man has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated after an Irondequoit woman was killed in an accident on West Ridge Road on Saturday night.

Adam A. Foss, 43, of Holley was driving a pickup that collided with a sport utility vehicle operated by Sierra S. Gaddy, 24.

Gaddy was westbound and was attempting to pass other westbound vehicles just before 9:45 p.m., the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported. She ran into Foss’s eastbound pickup truck.

Gaddy was pronounced dead at the scene while Foss was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office said Gaddy was at fault for crossing into the oncoming lane, WROC in Rochester reported.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney  

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), announced that she has joined the newly formed “Northern Border Security Caucus.” The caucus is a coalition of 28 members of Congress who are concerned about the increased human and drug trafficking along the U.S.-Canada border.

The Northern Border Security Caucus, which all House Republicans and Democrats were invited to join, is supported by House Republican Leadership and the National Border Patrol Council, among other groups and organizations.

The U.S.-Canada border is the longest international border in the world. Recent news reports, along with data compiled over the past two years, show a surge in illegal migrant crossings and drug trafficking across the Northern border.

Specifically, in the North Country sector of the border, there has been an 846% increase in illegal border crossings. As the national security threat at our Northern Border continues to grow exponentially, there has been no corresponding increase in U.S. Border Patrol staffing, which is still at the same level as it was in Fiscal Year 2009.

“Under President Biden’s failed leadership, our borders are less secure and our communities are at risk,” Tenney said. “The Northern Border Security Caucus is needed now more than ever for members of Congress to come together with one voice to advocate against Joe Biden’s reckless policies and to focus on delivering the resources needed by our brave Border Patrol agents at our Northern Border to do their jobs effectively.”

North Border Fast Facts:

• Drug smuggling has increased by 596% along the Northern border since Fiscal Year 2021, including a 26% increase in fentanyl.
• Since President Biden took office about two years ago, there has been an almost 15 times increase in Northern land border encounters.
• There were only 997 Northern land border encounters in January 2021. But that number has increased each month since. In the month of October 2022, there were 15,938 Northern land border encounters. In FY2020, there were 32,376 border encounters. In FY2022, there were 109,535 encounters.
• Border Patrol staffing has remained flat since FY 2009. Since FY09, staffing levels along the Northern border sectors have been between 1,887 and 2,263 personnel. FY2020 Northern border sector staffing was 2,019.
• The longest international border in the world, measuring 5,525 miles, the U.S. Northern border has only 115 ports of entry with no performance measures to assess security between ports.

Inside of burned Lyndonville church shows extensive damage from smoke and fire

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – A statue of Joseph holding baby Jesus has soot and discoloration, even though it was a room and short hallway away from the sanctuary at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church which was extensively damaged from a fire today.

The church at 36 Lake Ave. suffered extensive damage after a fire destroyed much of the back of the building. The back holds a religious education classroom.

The pews have soot and soggy insulation on them. The walls have peeled the the former white interior is now gray and black after the fire.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 3:41 a.m. after a motorist on Route 63 saw flames coming from the building.

The fire is currently ruled as accidental and fire investigators are working to pinpoint the cause. They are trying to rule out a few possibilities in the area where the fire started, said Justin Niederhofer, Orleans County’s emergency management director.

The condition of front of the church belies the extensive damage inside. Paul Davis Restoration, a Rochester company, boarded up broken windows, doors and other openings in the church today.

Gary Daum, a member of St. Joseph’s for 42 years and the church’s maintenance supervisor, points to where rafters are charred from the fire.

The altar suffered from the intense heat and flames.

“This is just devastating,” Daum said. “Words can’t describe it. We’ll get through this, but it will take some doing.”

Daum served as the lecter of the last mass at the church on Saturday. That Mass was in memory of his wife Diane’s parents.

The Daums said the church has been going through a transition in recent years. The sanctuary holds 125 people, but attendance for Mass was down to about 15 to 25 people. The religious education program also was discontinued with young families encouraged to take those classes at St. Mary’s in Medina.

St. Joseph’s was about to shift to offering only one Mass a week, Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. after having three services – a weekday Mass, one on Saturday and one on Sunday morning.

Some of the beams in the roof have been burned from fire. The blades on fans have melted and face downward, and the sanctuary’s globe lights are all broken.

Wet insulation is on pews in the front of the church sanctuary.

“Everything has been scorched, bent or covered in soot,” Daum said. “It’s all dirty.”

The basement also is flooded from the water to douse the flames.

Daum said there has been a stream of people driving by the church today, many stopping to offer their sympathy.

Even though attendance was down significantly in recent years, Daum said many residents have attended weddings and funerals at the site. They also have fond memories of a chicken barbecue where not too long ago, St. Joseph’s served 800 to 1,000 meals on the third Sunday in July. Daum was chairman of the event for many years. That summer social included live music and was well attended by the community.

The stained glass window of Joseph in the front of the church has five or six hairline cracks after today’s fire.

An official from the Western New York Catholic Diocese was on site today and will assist the church in deciding what is salvageable and the next steps for St. Joseph’s.

These statues of Joseph and baby Jesus are covered in soot. These statues are near the altar in the sanctuary.