By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2023 at 9:57 am
YATES – The park upgrades for the Town of Yates will be recognized as the “project of the year” by Genesee Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association.
The local chapter is honoring Yates in the Small Cities/Rural Communities category for Structures Projects.
The honor will be presented on Jan. 26 during the awards banquet for the APWA at the RIT Inn and Conference Center.
The award was established “to promote excellence in demonstrating creativity, ingenuity and efficiency in the delivery of Public Works projects that have a profound impact on the community.”
This award recognizes the alliance between the managing agency, the engineer and contractors who together have led to a successful completion of a public works project, said awards chairman Paul Chatfield.
The town worked with the MRB Group for engineering services and Keeler Construction in Barre served as the general contractor.
Russ Martino, a former Yates town supervisor, speaks during a Sept. 24 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the park improvements. The new pavilion is named in his honor. Martino served as town supervisor from 1996 to 2009. He was the supervisor when the town acquired the land for the park in 1997. It was for sale and the town used $100,000 from the state to acquire 5 acres of waterfront property.
The $2.5 million park upgrades included a 75-foot-long pier, a pavilion with bathrooms, new playground equipment, a kayak launch, a crusher-run walking trail, and new parking lot with sidewalks.
The new playground was designed by Parkitects, which is owned by Lyndonville native Ben Frasier, a 1988 Lyndonville graduate. The playground equipment includes several handicapped accessible features. The playground is on a rubber surface.
The project was 95 percent funded by the state, which made $300 million available to southshore communities through the state’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative or REDI.
That was in response to historic flooding along the shore in 2017 and 2019. That flooding destroyed part of the shoreline at the Yates park and the town used a separate $400,000 grant from the state to put in a massive breakwall.
The project turned a small park with few amenities into a site that Yates officials believe will become a vibrant destination.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2023 at 8:32 am
ALEXANDER – The Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force and Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a “Reducing Stigma in Our Communities Training” on Jan. 18.
The session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will train participants to learn how to identify and address stigma surrounding opioid use disorder and improve access to services in the local communities.
This training includes lunch at the Alexander Recreation and Banquet Facility, 10708 Alexander Rd. Attica, NY 14011.
Those interested in attending should register by Jan. 12. Click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 January 2023 at 7:48 pm
Steve Hawley
State Hawley was re-elected by his Republican colleagues in the State Assembly to again serve as deputy minority leader.
Hawley, owner of an insurance business in Batavia, has been in the Assembly since winning a special election on February 28, 2006.
He represents the 139th Assembly District which now includes all of Orleans, all of Genesee, part f western Monroe and the Akron area in Erie County.
Redistricting gives him all of Orleans after the Town of Shelby was previously in a district represented by Mike Norris of Lockport.
Hawley also will serve as a member of the following committees: Agriculture Committee, Insurance Committee, Rules Committee, Veteran Affairs Committee and Ways and Means Committee.
Hawley said he will push for a new moratorium with no state tax on gasoline and home fuel, and will advocate for lower taxes on the middle class.
“I am proud and grateful to once again hold a leadership position within the Assembly Republican Conference,” Hawley said. “I would like to thank Minority Leader Will Barclay for entrusting me with this responsibility. There are many issues I hope to solve during this upcoming legislative session, and affordability is at the top of my list.”
Redistricting added Shelby to Hawley’s district and Akron in Erie County, with the 139th including less of western Monroe. Mike Norris’s district used to have Shelby and parts of Niagara and Erie counties. Hawley’s district office is in Albion.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY- 24) today announced the locations of her Washington, DC office as well as her district offices across New York’s newly drawn 24th Congressional District, which includes part of Orleans County.
Claudia Tenney
Tenney also highlighted her senior leadership team, which includes experienced caseworkers and public servants who will continue to provide top-tier constituent services and policy expertise to the residents of New York’s 24th District.
In addition to the office locations and satellite hours listed below, Congresswoman Tenney’s team of expert caseworkers will also host regular mobile office hours in communities across the 24th District to bring our assistance directly to the communities we serve. Mobile office hour sessions will be announced monthly on a rolling basis in all 12 counties of the 24th District.
Congresswoman Tenney previously represented the 22nd Congressional District for two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Following New York’s redistricting process, Tenney was re-elected for a third term in November representing the newly drawn 24th District, which now includes portions of the North Country, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and Western New York. Tenney resides in Canandaigua.
“I made a commitment to the residents of New York’s 24th District that we would be ready to serve you on day one of the new Congress, and I am honored that we have made good on this promise. Our new office locations and excellent team of seasoned policy and customer service professionals will provide the highest level of support and care to every resident of the 24th District,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Our commitment to this community is that we will serve transparently with honor, integrity, and compassion. We will provide top-tier constituent services and work proactively to address the full range of constituent needs and concerns while advancing policies that improve our region, uphold the Constitution, and make our nation stronger than ever.”
District Office Locations
Washington, DC Office
Address: 2349 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515
Open Now: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 202-225-3665
Victor District Office
Address: 7171 Pittsford-Victor Road, Victor, NY 14564
Open Now: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 585-869-2060
Oswego District Office
Address: 46 E Bridge St, Oswego, NY 13126
Open Now: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 315-236-7088
Lockport District Office
Address: 75 Hawley Street Lockport, NY 14094.
Opening details will be announced in the coming days.
Watertown Satellite Hours
Address: 317 Washington Street, Suite 418, Watertown, NY 13601
Starting the week of January 9, Congresswoman Tenney’s team of expert caseworkers in partnership with New York State Senator-Elect Mark Walczyk’s office, will host satellite hours every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Senior Staff Appointments
Nick Stewart (Chief of Staff) – A lifelong Upstate New Yorker, Nick has more than ten years of public service experience at the federal level, a majority of which has been spent serving constituents of Central New York in the House of Representatives. Since 2020, he has served as Congresswoman Tenney’s Chief of Staff. Prior to this, Nick served in the Trump administration as a senior official at the State Department from 2017 to 2020.
Spencer Carr (Deputy Chief of Staff) – Spencer Carr is a lifelong Upstate New Yorker with years of experience working on behalf of New York families. He worked on Congresswoman Tenney’s campaign in 2018 and 2020 before serving as her Campaign Manager on her 2022 re-election campaign. A graduate of St. Lawrence University, Spencer also has experience working for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY) and Congressman David Kustoff (TN).
Meg Deneen (Press Secretary) – Meg recently joined Congresswoman Tenney’s team and is ecstatic to serve the people of New York. Prior to joining Congresswoman Tenney’s team, Meg spent two years working for Congressman Mike Turner (OH) in communications and on his reelection campaign. Following her time with Congressman Turner, she was at the National Republican Congressional Committee. Meg is a graduate of the University of Dayton and is originally from Bloomington, IL.
George Iverson (Legislative Director) – After graduating with a B.A. in Physics and Classics from Colby College, George has worked in a variety of policy and operations roles in Congress. This includes serving the people of New York in Congresswoman Tenney’s first and second terms in Congress as the office’s Scheduler/Legislative Correspondent, then Legislative Assistant, and now Legislative Director. In the 118th Congress, George looks forward to continuing to assist Congresswoman Tenney in her service to the people of New York as their compassionate and tireless advocate in the House of Representatives.
Michael Stadelmaier (District Director) – With a family background of military service, Michael has dedicated his professional work to serving the people of Upstate New York. He has worked in Representative Tenney’s first and second terms in different roles. Before working for Congresswoman Tenney, Michael worked for the New York State Assembly and U.S. Senator John Cornyn. Michael earned a B.A. and MPA from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Jason Phelps (Director of Constituent Services) – Born in Upstate New York, Jason started his congressional career with Congressman Sherwood Boehlert in his Utica District Office as a staff assistant, then moved to Washington, D.C. for three years. Following his return home to New York, he worked for Congressman Boehlert until his retirement, then-Congressman Michael Arcuri, Congressman Richard Hanna, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Congressman Anthony Brindisi, and Congresswoman Tenney as her Director of Constituent Services. Jason is an expert in a range of important casework services, especially assisting veterans. Over the last two decades, Jason has helped thousands of New Yorkers resolve cases with the federal government.
George McNerney (Western New York Regional Director) – is a lifelong Western New Yorker with several years of experience with the House of Representatives. In George’s previous roles as District Director for Congressman Chris Jacobs and Field Director for Congressman Chris Collins, George spent much of his time serving the constituents of Western New York.
Press Release, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that the end-of-year spending package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 creates a new regional economic development commission for the Great Lakes – set to pump millions in new federal grants to help promote economic development, strengthen infrastructure, protect the environment, and create good-paying jobs in communities across Upstate New York.
Schumer said the new Great Lakes Authority (GLA) will include $33 million through FY 2023 for grants to states and local governments, tribes, and public and nonprofit organizations for economic development and infrastructure projects, such as roads, high-speed broadband, and renewable energy, for communities across the Great Lakes region, including in Upstate NY.
The senator said that this new economic development program will help breathe new life into Western New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and North Country communities that make up the broader Great Lakes and Great Lakes System area and support the economic growth of the region for years to come. The Great Lakes and Great Lakes System region includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany, Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, Jefferson, Orleans, Oswego, Wayne, Monroe, Cayuga, Lewis, Herkimer, Hamilton, Oneida, Seneca, Onondaga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Yates, Ontario, Madison, Cortland, Chemung, Steuben, Livingston, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Essex, and Clinton counties, all areas of Upstate New York that will now be eligible for assistance from the newly created Authority.
“Investing in the Upstate communities of the Great Lakes is investing in the future of America, and I am proud to have helped create this new Great Lakes Authority so that new jobs can flow across the region,” Schumer said.
Schumer said the GLA will function similarly to already successful federal commissions like the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) which have both helped pump tens of millions of federal dollars into economic and community development projects across Upstate New York.
The GLA will cover areas in the watershed of the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes System – the same areas covered by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative which include New York State, in addition to parts of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin within the Great Lakes watershed.
The GLA will be the first federal entity of its kind dedicated to addressing economic development challenges faced by the broader Great Lakes region.
“Our region’s unique position along the Great Lakes holds significant potential and economic opportunity,” said Congressman Joe Morelle, D-Irondequoit. “By passing the Great Lakes Authority Act, we’re taking steps to strengthen our resiliency and ensure we have the resources necessary to flourish and prosper.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 January 2023 at 11:35 am
The new year brought a return of the state sales and motor fuel taxes on gasoline, which had providing a reduction of at least 16 cents per gallon since June 1.
Some counties also reduced their local sales tax on gas, although Orleans County did not.
So far the return of the state tax has not resulted in higher gas prices, AAA reported this morning.
Statewide the average gas price for regular unleaded is at $3.42, which is up a penny since last Monday. A year ago, the average price in the state was at $3.49. The New York average for diesel is $5.33, down 3 cents from last Monday and up from $3.72 one year ago.
The national price is at $3.23 a gallon, which is up 13 cents since last Monday, AAA said.
The average price in Orleans County is at $3.584 today, compared to $3.595 a week ago.
Here are the average prices among Western New York counties:
Orleans, $3.584
Genesee, $3.306
Wyoming, $3.477
Livingston, $3.470
Monroe, $3.465
Niagara, $3.356
Erie, $3.465
Chautauqua, $3.581
Cattaraugus, $3.523
Allegany, $3.543
The highest price is in Hamilton County at $3.814 with the lowest price in Suffolk County at $3.208.
“New York’s average for a gallon of regular remains lower than it was a year ago,” AAA said in a statement today. “The question is for how long? Drivers across the state are bracing for the impact of the conclusion of the gas tax suspension, which came to an end on January 1. Prices are expected to rise as the state and counties resume the full collection of gas taxes. The good news, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand remains low while stocks continue to rise.”
Elizabeth Cooper Leone, Mercedes Holloway Wilson, Kate Schirmer Messner and Christopher Parada are recognized by school
Photos courtesy of Medina Central School: Mercedes Holloway Wilson (left), Principal Michael Cavanagh and Elizabeth Cooper Leone celebrate on Dec. 21.
Press Release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – Medina High School recognized four distinguished alumni on Dec. 21 for their outstanding contributions to their community and/or their chosen career.
The award is given annually to honor alumni, promote school spirit, foster pride in the school and community and to serve as an incentive for the current student body.
This year’s recipients are Elizabeth Cooper Leone, Mercedes Holloway Wilson, Kate Schirmer Messner and Christopher Parada.
“Having worked in Medina for many years, I can definitely say that it is a blessing to be part of a community like ours,” said Michael Cavanagh, the school principal. “The people that we honor today are proof that we are all capable of achieving greatness and truly making a difference in society.”
Elizabeth Cooper Leone formed Cooper Dolls in 1993 when she combined a love of sculpting with the desire to own her own business. She graduated from Medina High School in 1975 and earned a Liberal Arts degree from Wells College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education from Buffalo State College.
She started Cooper Dolls with eight pounds of clay and a 1954 sewing machine and began to design, sculpt and market her work as collectible dolls and holiday figurines. She incorporated themes in her work of her memories of growing up in Medina.
She has exhibited her work and has collectors around the world and has had her dolls featured in magazines and books. She has won several Doll of the Year awards and was invited to show her work at Disney. Mrs. Leone thanked her teachers at Medina for inspiring her and encouraged students to follow their dreams.
Mercedes Holloway Wilson is a 2000 Medina High School graduate. While she attended Medina, she was a proud member of the varsity volleyball, girls basketball and track and field teams. She is an accomplished singer and sang the National Anthem at Section VI basketball games at Erie Community College in Buffalo her senior year.
At the age of 28 years old, Mercedes was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. With her belief that a healthy body goes together with a healthy mind, she set herself on a path to not only heal herself, but to help others. While still undergoing treatment, she founded a non-profit organization called For Our Daughters, with the goal of helping girls live longer, healthier lives by taking greater control of their well-being. She started a broadcasting career at WBBZ-TV with a show called “What’s the Buzz” and focused on a more healthier lifestyle with a focus on nutrition. She authored a book on healthy eating and started hosting a television segment called “Recipes for Life” on WKBW-TV’s “AM Buffalo”. She was then promoted to be the co-host of the “AM Buffalo” morning show.
In her spare time, she shared her grandmother’s relish recipe to a manufacturer and now you can purchase Sadie’s Relish in many local stores. She also hosts workshops to educate young women on living a healthier lifestyle.
She thanked her teachers at Medina High School for encouraging her along the way and extended a very heartfelt thank you to her aunt and uncle with whom she lived with while attending school. She presented her uncle, Dave King, with a special plaque, for helping to raise her into the woman she is today.
Kate Schirmer Messner graduated from Medina in 1988. While at school, she was a proud member of the Medina Marching Band where she played flute and piccolo and was also a varsity volleyball player. She pointed to her teachers from Oak Orchard Elementary and on who inspired her love for writing.
Because of the educators she encountered at Medina, she pursued English and journalism and received a BS in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School. She went on to work as a television news producer and reporter for NBC affiliates in Syracuse, New York and Burlington, Vermont. She also earned a MS in Teaching from SUNY Plattsburgh and spent 15 years teaching middle school English and Writing.
Kate then began to write and publish young reader books such as “The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z” in 2009. She received the prestigious E.B White Read Aloud Award. In her career she has gone on to write more than 50 books for children. Her titles have included award-winning picture books like “Over and Under the Snow”, “The Brilliant Deep” and “How to Write a Story”. Novels like “All the Answers”, “Breakout, and Chirp” and nonfiction like “The Next President” and “Tracking Tortoises”. She is also known for the popular “Ranger in Time” chapter book adventures, the “Fergus and Zeke” easy readers and the “History Smashers” graphic nonfiction series.
Kate was honored in 2022 with receiving the Empire State Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature. Her books often appear on state book award lists, and her science-themed picture books have been honored with the Green Earth Book Award and the Riverby Award for Natural History Writing. She is also a New York Times bestselling author and devotes time visiting schools and libraries around the world to talk about books, writing and reading.
Christopher Parada was a member of the Medina High School Class of 2002. He has been part of the Palace Theater team in Lockport for over 15 years and the Executive Director for over 10 years.
During his time at the theater he has helped lead the Palace to being a central part of the Lockport community. Directing over 75 shows, he has brought his creative style to thousands of patrons, entertained families and helped to boost the Lockport economy. He has also helped to keep the Palace Theater going through the lean years to prepare the business to partake in a four million dollar renovation that is currently taking place. With the help of the Board of Directors, he is ensuring that the Palace will be there for years to come.
When Chris is not leading the Palace Theater, he has a little side gig as Santa Claus! Ten years ago, Chris built the Santa Cottage on Day Road in Lockport. Every December, he plays Santa to local families with the thousands of children who visit the cottage. He charges nothing for this holiday joy and loves allowing families time to talk and take pictures to create holiday memories to last them a lifetime.
There is no doubt, that Chris has community service in his heart. He is also a longtime member of the Light Up Lockport committee, that brings residents together to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. He raises funds to help decorate Main Street for the holidays and assists the community in any way that he can. His hard work, dedication and passion have truly benefitted Lockport and the surrounding areas thanks to his vision and drive. Chris says he is very grateful for this award from Medina Central School District and wishes he could have attended in person.
Mr. Cavanagh says it was an honor to be able to recognize this year’s outstanding alumni. To earn this honor, nominees must be a current or former member of the school community, who have graduated at least 10 years ago and who have achieved one or more of the following: excellence in their chosen career, made outstanding contributions to their community or profession or someone who made an outstanding contribution to humanity.
“What I find quite interesting is the diversity among the honorees,” said Mr. Cavanagh. “They have definitely left their mark on society, whether it is right here in our backyard, or in places throughout our country. It was our distinct pleasure to present our alumni with their plaques and recognize their achievements.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2023 at 12:24 pm
ALBANY – Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in on Sunday as the state’s governor, the first woman elected to serve in the position. The previous 56 governors were men.
She became governor in August 2021 following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo. Hochul won her own four-year term by defeating Lee Zeldin, a Republican, in November.
During her inauguration on Sunday at Empire State Plaza in Albany, Hochul said she hoped her election and role as governor would inspire girls and other young women.
Gov. Kathy Hochul takes the oath of office while joined by some of her family members, including her son Will Hochul in back.
Hochul is from Hamburg and previously served in Congress in a district that included Orleans County. As lientenant governor, she made frequent stops in Orleans County promoting state initiatives with the Erie Canal or Lake Ontario shoreline protection. She also celebrated projects in Orleans, including the $17 million renovation of the former Holley High School. Sometimes she came to Medina for a getaway with her husband Bill Hochul.
The governor said her upbringing has prepared her to lead the state.
“People often ask how I get through this,” she said at the inauguration. “You know, it’s kind of a rough and tumble job for a woman, isn’t it? I said, ‘I got steel running through my veins.’ My daddy was a steelworker. My grandpa was a steelworker. My uncles were steelworkers. So I can handle this. Don’t worry about me.”
Hochul said the state leaders and communities need to work on the “affordability crisis in housing and energy,” fight the rise in hate crimes and “the gun violence epidemic.”
“And we’re still dealing with the lingering effects of the pandemic that disrupted every aspect of our lives,” she said. “The loss of learning for our children, the loss of jobs for our workers, the tear in the social fabric that led to mental health challenges and increases in crime. We’re still reeling from all this.”
She said she will presenting proposals during her Jan. 10 “State of the State” speech to make the state safer and more affordable. The state will also be a leader in the country in combating climate change and protecting the environment, she said.
Robert Duffy, a former lieutenant governor and Rochester mayor and police chief, now leads the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO. He attended the inauguration.
“Governor Hochul’s understanding of and appreciation for Upstate New York and the Finger Lakes region continues to prove beneficial as we have seen important investments in economic development, urban revitalization, and workforce readiness,” Duffy said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Hochul and her administration on their goals to promote economic growth and prosperity, to make our neighborhoods and communities safer, and to close the talent-gap faced across myriad industries.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2023 at 10:24 am
The unemployment rate in Orleans County for November was 3,0 percent, which is the second lowest rate in the county in the 32 years of data available from the state Department of labor.
The only month it was lower was in October when the rate was 2.5 percent.
The 3.0 percent rate in November 2022, compares to 3.4 percent in November 2021, 5.2 percent in November 2020 and 4.4 percent in November 2019.
In Orleans County there were 16,300 employed in November and 500 on unemployment.
The labor force has shrunk in the past three years from 18,000 in November 2019 to 17,100 in November 2020, to 16,900 in November 2021 and November 2022, according to DOL data.
Statewide the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in November, compared to 4.9 percent the previous November and 8.5 percent in November 2020. The 3.8 percent was up from the 3.6 percent in October. It was at 3.9 percent in September.
Here are the unemployment rates among Western New York counties:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2023 at 9:14 am
LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce will host its Legislative Luncheon on Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the White Birch Golf Course.
Chambers members and the general public are invited to the event where they can share concerns with local and state officials.
RSVPs are due by Jan. 21 with the cost at $27 for Chamber members and $32 for non-members.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2023 at 8:07 pm
Article on Tillman’s closing from Dec. 30, 2021 most viewed article for second year in a row
Photo by Tom Rivers: A girl waves an American flag while the Medina Alumni Marching Band performed and marched up East Center Street to State Street Park for the Memorial Day observance on May 30. The Medina community lined the parade route in the return of the Memorial Day parade after it was downsized in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions.
The Orleans Hub totaled 8,352,422 pageviews in 2022. That’s an average of about 700,000 a month. The Hub also averaged 8,452 daily users in 2022.
The totals are down from the previous two years when Covid pandemic news included frequent updates on closings and restrictions. With things returning somewhat back to normal this year, the Hub’s traffic is back to near pre-pandemic levels.
Here the stats on pageviews and daily users in other years since the Orleans Hub started on April 1, 2013.
2022: 8,352,422 – average daily unique visitors: 8,452
2021: 9,853,855 – average daily unique visitors: 9,195
2020: 10,932,597 – average daily unique visitors: 9,956
2019: 9,556,253 – average daily unique visitors: 8,529
2018: 8,467,818 – average daily unique visitors: 7,463
2017: 8,553,605 – average daily unique visitors: 7,884
2016: 8,334,946 – average daily unique visitors: 7,112
2015: 7,811,345 – average daily unique visitors: 6,739
2014: 5,267,498 – average daily unique visitors: 4,700
2013: 1,697,887 – average daily unique visitors: 2,100 (went live April 1)
The 10 most-viewed are typically stories about crime and tragedy, or the closing of a beloved local business.
For the second straight year the most viewed article was the closing of Tillman’s Village Inn. That article was posted on Dec. 30, 2021. It was widely shared for several days on social media throughout Western New York and among former residents who have moved away. The article got a lot of views in early January 2022.
We appreciate the Orleans Hub readers and advertisers for their commitment to the Orleans Hub. The news is offered for free without a paywall, or surveys to unlock the news.
Those who considering a donation to the Orleans Hub can click here for more information or send a check to Orleans Hub, 170 North Main St. Albion, NY.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2023 at 4:24 pm
KENDALL – The Kendall Fire Department held an open house today to thank the community for supporting the volunteer ambulance service since 1968.
Kendall ceased providing the service at 11:59 p.m. last night. It won’t be transporting patients any more, but the department will continue to respond to EMS calls, with Monroe Ambulance or another provider then taking people to the hospital if needed.
It is a bittersweet moment for the department, where many of the dedicated volunteers for the ambulance squad gathered at the fire hall.
The fire department wanted to thank the community for their donations and support since 1968 to allow the service to be offered for free. Kendall is the last fire department to offer an ambulance service for free in the Orleans County.
“We’re very proud of that,” Cole Hardenbrook, a Kendall Hardenbrook, said about the department’s longevity with the ambulance service.
Provided photos: Kendall EMTs pose for a group photo in front of the ambulance. This group includes from left: Al Adams, Sue Maslyn, Steve Balka, Cindy Wolck, Gary Crawford and Brian Hardenbook. Missing from photo is another EMT, Sue Kingsbury.
Hardenbrook and other firefighters spent part of the morning and afternoon removing equipment from the ambulance. The vehicle from 2010 has been sold for $40,000 to Niagara County. That sale covers nearly the full cost of buying a new Tahoe that will be used as a fly car for firefighters to respond to EMS calls. Some of the equipment from the ambulance will be shifted to the Tahoe.
The department is down to six active EMTs. Other volunteers would drive the ambulance and help with calls.
But in the past couple years, the department was missing many of the calls and relying increasingly on mutual aid.
Eric Maxon, one of the department’s volunteers the past 41 years, said the ambulance’s reputation was suffering from not responding to many of the calls.
“There’s nothing worse than having the whistle go off and have no one be there,” he said. “Our reputation was dwindling because we weren’t making the calls.”
These volunteers were part of the Kendall Ambulance Squad, with some as drivers, EMTs and other responders. In front row from left include: Dan Schultz, Steve Balka, Sue Maslyn and Eric Maxon. Back row: Cole Hardenbrook, Gary Crawford, Mike Schultz, Al Adams, Bill Hardenbrook, Rich Brelawski, Randy Davis and Blaine Young.
It was getting harder and harder for volunteers to meet the training requirements and give up the time to respond to a call and then make the transport to a Rochester hospital. Often the ambulance would have to wait at the hospitals to drop off patients. It could take five hours to go on some of the calls.
Maxon said the ambulance squad responded to 9,700 calls since its first call on March 7, 1968.
“Anything from a cut finger, to a massive heart attack to multi-car accidents, we did it all,” Maxon said.
Gary Crawford, a member of the ambulance squad since 1970 and the captain from 1985 to 2008, said volunteers used to be able to expect about a one-hour commitment for calls, back when then could do transports to hospitals in Albion and Brockport.
Now the transports take much longer, and the training requirements have gone from 80-hour classes to nearly 200 hours.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Some of the equipment was removed from the ambulance and set on a table inside the fire hall. Some of that equipment will be shifted to a new Tahoe that will function as a fly car for EMS calls.
Crawford said he is thankful the fire department was able to provide the service for so long. He recalled being at the Kendall Firemen’s Carnival when a young woman who had been badly injured in a car accident a few years before came to the carnival. She sought out the firefighters to thank them for saving her life.
Crawford said there are other testimonials in letters and sometimes just in the grocery store, of people thanking the Kendall Ambulance Squad for its life-saving service.
Crawford and Maxon said Kendall EMTs and firefighters will continue to provide emergency medical care. They will often be the first on the scene, but won’t be transporting patients.
Al Adams, one of the EMTs, said the longer time commitments in training and responding to calls has kept some volunteers and potential active members on the sidelines. But he expects more people, including himself, to respond to more calls, knowing they won’t have to be committed for several hours.
“It’s going to be a lot easier to be a good neighbor,” he said about the EMS service in Kendall.
Eric Maxon shares some of the ambulance squad’s history. Initially there was a first aid squad that responded to its first call in October 1966. In February 1968 the department purchased its first ambulance, a used ambulance from 1964 for $2,100.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2022 at 8:18 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
Each year I pick some of my favorite people pictures and others from important news events of the past year.
In 2022, the big news seemed to be things were somewhat normal with the return of community festivals and events, and masks largely going away after being required at indoor public spaces during the height of the Covid pandemic.
The top photo shows the Fourth of July parade in Lyndonville, which drew a big crowd to the village’s Main Street. The parade was back after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021. The photo shows a float from the Class of 1982, followed by Weed Man Lawn Care Services based in Albion.
Joe Grube, an Albion firefighter, directs the first blast of water onto a garage that was on fire on the morning of Jan. 10 at 45 Goodrich St., in Albion. The garage is owned by Wayne and Nicole Struble.
Fire engulfed an Albion home on Knapp Street on Jan. 12 and 4 firefighters had to escape upstairs in the fast-moving blaze. This photo shows a firefighter heading face first down a ladder, escaping dark smoke from the upstairs of 136 Knapp St.
Four firefighters were upstairs and had to bail out in what firefighters said was a flashover, when a fire quickly intensifies.
Justin Niederhofer (in red) quickly gets out of the house as the fire intensifies while another firefighter hangs out a window. It was a scary moment for the firefighters on the ground and the onlookers as the dark smoke spewed out of the windows with the firefighters inside. Niederhofer, Seth Dumrese, Steven Papponetti and Dustin Pahura all were able to get out.
Beth Miller, owner of Wild Flour Deli & Bakery, holds a turkey Reuben sandwich which she calls Daffodil on Feb. 3. Miller,a Holley resident, opened Wild Flour Deli & Bakery at 438 West Ave. in Albion with sandwiches on the menu which are all named after flowers.
Geno Allport is pictured at his home in Albion on Feb. 8. He holds his “Fan of the Year” Buffalo Bills jersey for 2021. He has framed jerseys from many Buffalo Bills legends.
Allport was picked by the Bills as their top fan and received an all-expenses paid trip with his son to watch the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. The family has had season tickets since 1974.
Allport has been youth football coach for more than 20 years in Albion and also helped start the football program in 2021 at the Vertus Charter School in Rochester.
After a 2-year absence, the circus came back to town in early 2022. This photo from Feb. 9 shows a performer with Billy Martin’s All Star Circus entertaining the crowd at the Holley Elementary School Intermediate Gym.
The circus was back after most of its schedule was wiped out the previous 23 months due to Covid-19 concerns and restrictions. Billy Martin has led the circus the past 45 years. Since the group returned to performing its New York and Pennsylvania tour on Feb. 1, they have been greeted with big crowds.
“It’s very emotional,” Martin said during intermission in Holley. “I thought people might have forgotten about us.”
Ken DeRoller, a former Orleans County legislator, speaks to the Leadership Orleans class on Feb. 20 in the Orleans County legislative chambers. DeRoller graduated with the 2020 class and was named the group’s alumnus of the year in 2021.
The 26 members of the new class of Leadership Orleans were encouraged to get involved in local government by serving on Planning and Zoning Boards, and then looking to be elected officials at the town, village and county levels.
“Participate, be a little aggressive and get in the room,” DeRoller told the class. “Our county is worth saving and we’ll need people like you to make it happen.”
Thomas Dobri plays the lead role of Ren McCormack in Holley’s musical performance of Footloose on March 11-12. Dobri, a senior, is grateful to be performing for a live audience after there wasn’t a show last year and in 2020 the musical was cancelled on the day of the show.
“It’s such a relief that things have come back to normal and I get one more try,” he said.
A crowd of 250 attended a pop-up eye clinic on March 19 at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. More than 100 of those people were in line a half hour before the doors opened.
Hundreds of eyeglass frames were on display for people to pick from. The frames and lens were all available for free. The Lyndonville Lions Club organized the first-time community eyeglass clinic. A team of eye specialists – state-licensed doctors of ophthalmology and optometry – were on site to determine the correct prescription glasses for each individual.
Town Supervisor Richard Moy met with about 100 residents on March 23 evening to discuss the reassessments that had just gone out in the mail. The average assessment increased 25 percent from the values three years ago. Most of the towns in Orleans County decided to hold off on a town-wide reassessment due to a volatile real estate market, but Clarendon and Barre went forward with the reassessment.
Fran Gaylord holds a plaque with a ceremonial ax in honor of his 50 years of a service as a member of the Holley Volunteer Fire Department. He was recognized on March 26 during the department’s annual banquet. He is joined up front by from left: Erin Reed, a trustee with fire company and EMS lieutenant; Tina Reed, vice president of fire company; and Kevin Dann, a trustee and past chief.
Gaylord, 69, remains very active as a firefighter, responding to about 300 calls for the Murray Joint Fire District, Clarendon and Kendall.
“This is very family oriented,” Gaylord said about the fire department. “Everybody gets along and wants to help everybody.”
Jeffrey Brown stars as Lord Farquaad in Albion’s production of Shrek the Musical on March 31 and April 1. Lord Farquaad is shown here with the shown here with the Duloc Dancers. He is the villain of the musical. He is short in stature and a ruthless ruler with many insecurities. Brown was recognized at Stars of Tomorrow in Rochester for outstanding performance in a leading role. Students were able to perform in front of live audiences in 2022, and they didn’t have to wear masks while on stage.
Nevaeh Farewell, a member of Medina’s Winter Guard, performs in Medina’s show on April 2. Medina’s performance of “Wake Up” was part of the North East Color Guard Circuit Championships. In this photo, Farewell is dreaming. The other Winter Guard members try not to wake her so she can complete the journey in her dreams. Medina hosted 18 groups and about 500 spectators for the competition.
Timmy Ficarella, 4, of Warsaw holds one of the nine golden eggs in an Easter egg hunt on the courthouse lawn in Albion on April 9. The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, a church that meets at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex, had 3,000 eggs scattered on the lawn for children.
Kids with one of the nine big golden eggs won larger prizes including a bicycle or scooter. About 500 kids attended the egg hunt.
Brody Stirk, 10, of Albion is filmed by his mother Janna Stirk on April 12 overlooking Sandy Creek near Bullard Park. Brody at the time had nine YouTube videos about science and autism. He is working on some videos about Albion, including some off-the-beaten path.
Brody has developed a following through his videos. He has autism and said he isn’t afraid to let the world know.
Some people with autism will use masking to hide their flaws or characteristics, Brody said.
“I myself don’t do masking,” Brody said in a YouTube video he made about autism. “I show myself.”
Brody urges compassion for those with autism. He said having autism isn’t a disability, but a super power.
Marti’s on Main celebrated the opening of an art show on April 24, featuring about 100 works of art from 22 members of the Brockport Artists Guild. About 150 people attended the three-hour season-opening show, including Josephine Dickerson, 10, of Hamlin.
Josephine looks at some of the artwork by her grandmother Suzanne Wells, an Albion art teacher from 1971 to 2005. Wells, who passed away from cancer is 2019, loved to paint flowers and portraits. Her favorite media included watercolor, acrylic and mixed media. She loved color, which could be seen in the way she dressed as well as her work.
A huge oversize load heads down Route 98 in Barre on May 25. The large piece of equipment, a 200,000 pound condenser, was manufactured by Graham Corp. in Batavia and will be used for the Navy.
An enormous crane was used to move the equipment onto a barge in the canal. The condenser was trucked in on an oversize load weighing just under 400,000 pounds. The condenser itself weighed about 200,000 pounds. The unit was manufactured by Graham Corp. in Batavia. The condenser was taken by the canal to Albany, then down the Hudson River to New York Harbor. From there it headed to the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.
Pastor Trellis Pore of the Shiloh Church prays over Albion graduate Sawyer Braley during the annual Baccalaureate service on June 5 at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion. The service is optional for seniors and half of the class attended the event organized by the Albion Ministerium.
The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion, gave the keynote message and told the seniors they live in very “important and interesting times” where they are critically needed.
“No matter what the next chapter of your life looks like, what matters most is the kind of person you choose to be in the world,” she said. “In the grand scheme of things, who you are is far more important than what you do to make a living, what status symbols or accolades you achieve or what your financial portfolio looks like.”
Jessica Sardina wears the Strawberry costume during the June 11 Albion Strawberry Festival 5K/8K race. Sardina lives in California and is visiting family in Medina. She is a third-grade teacher who relished the role as The Strawberry, waving to spectators and encouraging the runners during the race. About 200 people completed the race.
A truck hauling 400-plus tires caught on fire outside the Albion Walmart on June 15. The fire spewed dark smoke on the west side of Walmart. The store was evacuated. Firefighters used a special foam to try to contain the fire.
The truck is from HTI Recycling of Lockport. A Sheriff’s deputy said the driver started the truck and felt a pop and then noticed an electrical fire up high in the truck.
Holley graduates toss their caps by the flag pole in front of the junior-senior high school after commencement on June 25. Holley graduated 60 students in the Class of 2022.
The steeple of the Lyndonville United Methodist Church is in the foreground during the finale of the Lyndonville fireworks show on July 4.
Firefighters respond to a blaze on July 8 at 215 and 217 East State St. in Albion. The fire resulted in 14 people being displaced – 7 adults and 7 children. The houses at 215 and 217 East State are interconnected. Everyone was able to safely get outside.
Kaylynn Villane, 7, of Brockport rides the Sky Fighter, a ride that resembles an old fighter plane at the Kendall Firemen’s Carnival on July 14. The annual carnival is a big fundraiser for the fire department with proceeds paying the department’s bills, including buying EMS equipment and materials for the ambulance and other expenses.
“We look forward to it every year,” said Kendall Fire Chief Dan Schultz. “We appreciating the community spending their money and supporting us.”
Lena Grillo, 10, of Albion takes a break on July 25 with two big dairy animals, a red and white Holstein at left and Brown Swiss at right. Lena showed the Holstein at the Orleans County 4-H Fair while her sister Anna showed the Brown Swiss.
Nerds Gone Wild, a Buffalo-based band that performs popular songs from the ’80s, closed out a day of music at Bullard Park for the annual Rock the Park summer music festival on Aug. 6. Lead singer Ed Wyner aka “Milton Wild” urges the crowd to give a right fist pump while he sings, “Tainted Love.”
Richard Bannister is shown on Aug. 17 standing by an 8-foot-high metal sculpture he created and placed on his property on Maple Avenue near Eagle Harbor Road in Barre. Bannister’s “Ukrainian Tears” was created in the shape of a teardrop. Bannister, a sculptor for the past 30 years, said the artwork just flowed out of him as he grieved the damage and loss of life after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, an onslaught that continues.
“When I saw that it tore my heart out,” Bannister said. “It’s 2022. This isn’t 1922 or 1822. What we’re seeing is evil.”
Stan Farone, a founding member of COVA in 1979, holds a sign in support of the agency on Sept. 2 at the intersection of routes 98 and 31. Farone and others in the community tried to rally support for COVA. The local ambulance providers would cease operations in November after being taken over in the short-term by Mercy Flight EMS.
Raymond Pendergrass of the Shiloh Church is Albion joined a painting effort on Sept. 10 at the The Lord’s House in Waterport. The church got a fresh coat of paint and new look with members of the church, and help from other congregations. The main color was changed from white to gray.
Scott Galliford, the commander of the American Legion post in Holley, was part of the color guard of local veterans, carrying the banners and flags during a Sept. 11 memorial service at the courthouse lawn in Albion.
The steeples at the First Baptist Church in Medina, center, and St. John’s Episcopal Church, left, are silhouettes at sunset on Oct. 1.
Caleb Hughson, an Albion fifth-grader, makes it through a smoke simulator as part of Fire Prevention Week at the school on Oct. 14. A fire safety training trailer was outside the school. That trailer, owned by the Orleans County’s Emergency Management Office, has a fog machine to simulate smoky rooms. Students were urged to “Stay Low and Go.”
A fisherman from Brooklyn tries to catch a Chinook salmon in the Oak Orchard River in Carlton on Oct. 14.
Byron Neal, 8, of Albion joined his father Jeremy for a ride in a tractor on Oct. 16. The community held a benefit for Byron and his family on Nov. 13. Byron was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in May 2022 and a Ganglioneuroma in his abdomen in August 2022. The Neal family operates Poverty Hill Farms, a dairy farm on West County House Road.
The Metz family in Medina won the grand prize in Medina’s Parade of Lights on Nov. 26 for the second year in a row. The Metz family used 15,000 lights for a float highlighting National Lampoon’s Vacation, including the character “Cousin Eddie” from the movie.
The Lyndonville community on Dec. 3 checked out the array of 98 Christmas trees that were decorated by families, business and local organizations. The 98 trees is a new record for Lyndonville. There were 26 the first year in 2013 and it has grown steadily each year with a goal to top 100 next year.
Air Raising Events owner Sheryl Watts created this snowman out of balloons. She is lined up on Dec. 10 for “Santa’s Hometown Parade” in Albion. The participants in the parade gathered at the Arnold Gregory parking lot on South Main Street before heading downtown.
People danced to the Lindy Hop on Dec. 15 at the Bent’s Opera House in Medina. Maggie Hallifax of Lockport, right, was one of the instructors for the evening.
This was the fifth event as part of the new Medina Lindy in the Village. The program has been popular since it started with the first event on Aug. 18, drawing 85 dancers the first time.
Santa and Mrs. Claus greet Eli Laine, 2 ½ of Albion, at the Albion Masonic Lodge on Dec. 17. The Santa bears a resemblance to Al Wilson, pastor of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, while Mrs. Claus looks similar to Valerie Rush.
The Masonic Lodge hosted breakfast, lunch or dinner with Santa on Dec. 3 and Dec. 17.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2022 at 2:38 pm
Holland served agency as grant writer, securing $600K for many organizations
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Matt Holland, left, meets with United Way board chairman Jim Punch after Holland was named the new director of United Way of Orleans County.
MEDINA – United Way of Orleans County will start the new year with a new director.
United Way’s board chairman Jim Punch this week announced the hiring of Matt Holland to replace Dean Bellack, who has stepped down after three years in the director’s role.
Holland, the grant writer hired a year and a half ago by United Way, will continue to work with Nyla Gaylord, who will take over as grant writer.
“Dean took United Way to a new level, in terms of securing funding for the county,” Punch said Friday. “We feel Matt is a great choice to fill Dean’s shoes, because of his knowledge of grants, as well as his personality. He will make a great face in the community. He has proven himself to be a knowledgeable, capable and dedicated employee, and we’re looking forward to his leadership role. We also believe Matt and Nyla will make a dynamic team with her knowledge of charitable organizations and how they operate.”
Bellack announced in October he would be stepping down as director, at which time the United Way board began the search for a new director. Three individuals were interviewed for the position, with Holland being the final choice. Bellack will remain involved in United Way as a member of the board.
Bellack pushed to create the grant writer position after realizing there was money available for nonprofits through many foundations. Gaylord wrote the grant application that resulted in the funding to hire Holland as grant writer.
Holland grew up in rural Oregon, “timber country,” he calls it. He attended the University of Oregon, where he earned a bachelor of arts in history. A Fulbright Scholar, he lived in Denmark to two years, then came to Buffalo in 2012 to study anthropology, where he met his wife Catherine from Hamburg. They both received master’s degrees in anthropology.
Holland returned to Oregon, where he directed a small history museum and served as an archaeological field crew for several years. His nonprofit experience has mostly been in the museum education and historic preservation fields, he said.
Holland and Catherine married in 2017. She is currently the wine tasting room/retail manager for Leonard Oakes Estate Winery. They moved to Medina in 2021 when he accepted the position as grant writer for United Way.
Holland’s personal efforts in his first year as grant writer brought in $600,000.
“This is an exciting time for the United Way’s future in Orleans County,” Holland said. “We are moving in new directions while strengthening our traditional fundraising efforts. I am specifically looking forward to carry on our collaborative work with other agencies in the county. Finding solutions to the county’s biggest issues requires all of us working together as a community. In my first year working for United Way, I got to work with a lot of wonderful, hard-working people and organizations doing great things, and we’ll continue to do this work together.”
In the coming years, Holland said United Way plans to continue to expand fundraising efforts, directly benefitting our allocations program, which provides funding for local nonprofit agencies and their programs.
“We will also keep forging ahead with our grant writing and fundraising capacity program, funded by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation,” Holland said. “We’ve had a great success but, as always, there is even more to be done. I am very much looking forward to continuing to work with Nyla, now our Community Grant Writer. She has a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge of nonprofits.”
In all, since Holland and Gaylord have worked for United Way, more than $1 million in grants has been received by the county.
“I am very excited about the future of United Way,” Holland said. “There is a lot of work to be done, but we are all going to do it together to find solutions.”
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club recently held its annual holiday dinner at the White Birch Golf Course.
Members gathered for the holiday celebration and reflected back on a busy year for the club. The early months saw the club active with its annual support of the Easter egg hunt at the Lyndonville High School and supplied free hotdogs and soft drinks to all participants.
April saw a large turnout of over 250 people for the Lions Club Eye Health Care Screening. A free eye examination, glaucoma screening, and eye glass fittings were performed. The attendees all received a pair of refurbished eye glasses care of the Lions Club.
In May, club members delivered red roses to all mothers at the nursing home in Medina and at the extended care unit at the Medina Memorial Hospital. This was conducted in conjunction with their annual red rose and carnation sale for Mother’s Day.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The White Birth Golf Course hosted a pop-up eyeglass clinic on March 19 and about 250 people filled the site not long after doors officially opened at 10 a.m. The Lyndonville Lions Club organized the first-time community eyeglass clinic in the county. Lions Club members from Medina and the Leos Club at Lyndonville Central School also assisted. A team of eye specialists – state-licensed doctors of ophthalmology and optometry – were on site to determine the correct prescription glasses for each individual.
In July, the club celebrated the return of its primary endeavor with a full July Fourth parade, a chicken barbeque, and an evening concert followed by their famous large fireworks display. The day’s activities saw Grand Marshall David Bellavia, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, return to his home town to be honored. A military fly-over was performed to honor him and all the home town heroes.
The fly-over was carried out by the 911th Air Force Reserve Unit from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The attendance for the one day celebration was calculated to be over 10,000 people.
A summer long project that will be completed in the spring of 2023 is the village park project. The “Village of Lyndonville Sunset Park” project saw the improvement of an underutilized piece of property at the termination of route 63. The village-owned property has been transformed into a beautiful picnic and observation area thru the generous donation of man hours, cement slab pours, tree donations, and bench and table placements. The improvements have allowed the public to better use this area for various activities. The placement of a sign and flag pole should be completed this spring with a projected ribbon cutting event set for early summer.
A flyover preceded the Fourth of July parade in Lyndonville. It was carried out by the 911th Airlift Wing from Pittsburgh, Pa. The C-17 planes are used by the Air Force Reservists. The flyover was a first for Lyndonville’s July 4th festival, which has been organized annually by the Lyndonville Lions Club for about 50 years.
December brought holiday cheer and a Christmas Tree Lighting to the Lyndonville Village Park. Nearly 100 trees were sold and decorated in various ways to start the holiday season. The Lions supported this effort which is held by the village yearly. Lions supplied hot dogs and soft drinks throughout the day to those who ventured out on a blustery Saturday to experience the tree lighting and the arrival of Santa Claus.
The club recently sent several boxes of farm fresh apples from LynOaken Farms to the Commanding Officer and participants of the July Fourth flyover. The club wanted to thank the men and women of the 911th Air Force Reserves for their efforts. LynOaken Farms donated the gift to be sent.
The club is finishing a new membership drive which has been under way since November. Efforts are also well under way to purchasing a tenotomy machine to test eye pressure and screen for glaucoma. It is expected that this instrument could be used by Lyndonville’s and other Lions Clubs for their screening events. The club is also exploring the idea of an inaugural Lyndonville Lions Club golf tournament.
For the club’s schedule and plan of events you may contact President Harold Suhr or follow us on Facebook. The club would like to thank all the individuals and businesses that have supported our efforts in 2022.
Because of the educators she encountered at Medina, she pursued English and journalism and received a BS in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School. She went on to work as a television news producer and reporter for NBC affiliates in Syracuse, New York and Burlington, Vermont. She also earned a MS in Teaching from SUNY Plattsburgh and spent 15 years teaching middle school English and Writing.
Christopher Parada was a member of the Medina High School Class of 2002. He has been part of the Palace Theater team in Lockport for over 15 years and the Executive Director for over 10 years.
