By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2023 at 7:04 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The lights are shining blue and red, the team colors for the Buffalo Bills, this evening in honor of injured player Damar Hamlin.
The 24-year-old defensive back was critically injured in Monday night’s game. He was given CPR and a round of defibrillation before being taken from the field by ambulance.
He has shown great improvement since then, the medical staff at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and the Bills said today. Hamlin remains critically ill and in intensive care but doctors are very hopeful about his progress.
The NFL announced today the Bills and Bengals game, which was stopped in the first quarter, will not be resumed. The game was a matchup between two of the top teams in the NFL. The Bills are at 12-3 and the Bengals at 11-4.
Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, wanted the county to show its support for the Hamlin and the Western New York community, which is a strong supporter of its professional football team.
“It’s basically a call to join us in praying for complete healing for Hamlin,” Johnson said. “There’s no question prayers are going up from Orleans County.”
BUFFALO – The United States Postal Service is hiring motivated and dynamic individuals to help us deliver for America. Right now, we are looking for new team members to join us in our mission of service to your local community.
Accepting a position with the United States Postal Service is the first step that could lead to a long, fulfilling career with a dynamic, forward-thinking organization committed to delivering for the American people.
The Postal Service will be hosting job fairs to fill immediate openings throughout Western New York for the following positions:
City Carrier Assistants (CCAs) – $19.33 per hour
Rural Carrier Associate – $19.94 per hour
PSE Clerk – $20.05 per hour
Mail Handler Assistant – $17.32 per hour
The job fairs will be Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Williamsville Career Center, 4175 Transit Road, Williamsville, NY 14221; and Jan. 12 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Batavia Post Office, 2 W. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2023 at 2:03 pm
‘There’s no question prayers are going up from Orleans County’
ALBION – The Orleans County Courthouse dome will be lighted in red and blue beginning this evening in honor of Damar Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills player who was critically injured on Monday night while making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and needed to be revived on the field. The game was stopped in the first quarter and hasn’t resumed.
The Buffalo Bills released a statement today that Hamlin has shown “remarkable improvement.” Hamlin, a 24-year-old in his second season with the Bills, is being treated at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
“While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact,” the Bills said in the statement. “His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress. We are grateful for the love and support we have received.”
Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman, pushed to have the Courthouse dome lighted in the Bills colors of red and blue. Other landmarks in Western New York and beyond has been lighted in Bills colors to show support for Hamlin.
Johnson is a former season ticket holder for the team. She was watching the game live on Monday when Hamlin was injured in the first quarter.
“It’s basically a call to join us in praying for complete healing for Hamlin,” Johnson said. “There’s no question prayers are going up from Orleans County.”
Johnson said she feels empathy for Hamlin’s parents. Johnson’s son Chase was injured in a workplace accident on June 8 and was on a ventilator in the hospital. He has since made a full recovery, Johnson said.
“It hit home for me because I have seen the seriousness of it,” Johnson said. “I know what it’s like to be by the hospital bed as mother. I’m praying for the Hamlin family.”
ALBANY – Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York’s 25th annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour, an unforgettable opportunity to bike across New York State and take in the rich history of the legendary canal that transformed America.
The eight-day, 400-mile recreational bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany is scheduled for July 9-16. There is also an option to ride only the first four days from Buffalo to Syracuse.
Cycle the Erie Canal participants will experience one of the best trails in America as they cycle through historic canal villages and discover the small-town charm of Upstate New York. Along the way, canal historians and local experts will introduce riders to the people, places, and things that make the Erie Canal so important to the history of New York and the nation.
Cyclists will pedal between 40 and 60 miles per day, and visit some of Upstate New York’s most iconic attractions, such as the Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls, and Fort Stanwix in Rome, a full-scale fort recreation from the French and Indian War.
This tour features the predominantly flat and traffic-free Erie Canalway Trail; the east-west leg of New York State’s longer 750 mile Empire State Trail, which is the longest multi-use trail in the nation.
The Canal Culvert impressed many of the cyclists last July 11. They stopped to get selfies with the big stone structure, which is the only spot where vehicles can drive under the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canalway Trail is 85 percent off-road. Cycle the Erie Canal offers unparalleled cycling for all ages and abilities. In 2022 the tour drew 650 cyclists, ages 10-73, from 40 states and 2 Canadian Provinces.
A recent study shows that the Canalway Trail System receives more than 3.1 million visits per year and generates an economic impact of $253 million.
Registration for Cycle the Erie Canal includes camping accommodations each evening with restrooms and showers; eight hearty breakfasts and six delicious dinners; two refreshment stops daily stocked with fruit, snacks and beverages; SAG support and baggage transport; daily cue sheets and marked routes; entertainment and historic presentations every evening; and guided tours of the Canal, historic sites, museums, and other attractions.
The registration fee for the full tour is $1,075 for adults and $580 for youths ages 6-17, and $750 for non-cycling participants.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2023 at 9:18 am
$2 million effort to stabilize shoreline recognized for environmental project in Small Cities/Rural Communities category
CARLTON – A $2 million project that strengthened 1,500 feet of the shoreline on Lakeshore Road in Carlton has been honored by Genesee Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association.
Lakeshore Road is one of the main routes to Point Breeze and the surrounding shoreline area. It is owned and maintained by Orleans County.
The local chapter of the APWA recognized the work in Carlton as “Project of the Year” in the environmental category for Small Cities/Rural Communities category.
The project was 95 percent funded by the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). The county was responsible for the other 5 percent of the costs.
A project in Yates for upgrading the town park and fortifying the shoreline there also was recognized by the APWA. In addition, Adam Rush, the chief operator of the Village of Albion water plant, will be honored during the Jan. 26 awards banquet at RIT.
With the Lakeshore Road project, Keeler Construction in Barre served as the general contractor. Keeler hauled in big boulders along about 1,500 feet of the shoreline, going east from Route 98 in Point Breeze.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Keeler Construction in Barre is shown in August 2021 trucking in big rocks to Lakeshore Road in Carlton, part of a project to build a strong breakwall and harden the shoreline from erosion and future flooding from Lake Ontario. The shoreline also was regraded with a new vegetative cover to help stave off some erosion and damage from the waves.
The shoreline also was regraded and with a new vegetative cover to help stave off some erosion and damage from the waves.
The improvements re-establish a shoreline that was eroded from the high water levels in 2017 and 2019.
“The shoreline of Lake Ontario along Lakeshore Road in the Town of Carlton suffered significant erosion due to the floods that jeopardized the integrity of our road and the Town’s utility infrastructure,” said Lynne Johnson, Orleans County legislature chairwoman. “This project impacted 15 total properties, in which every owner was appreciative of the county’s efforts, not only to fix the erosion problem but to make it more resilient against future flood events.”
The project was part of the state’s $300 million REDI program to protect infrastructure and other critical sites along the south shore.
John Papponetti, the county’s commissioner of the Department of Public Works, teamed with engineers from Wendel Companies to develop and design a slope stabilization system for Lakeshore Road. The hardened barrier will protect the shoreline from the harsh wave action of the lake, along with a natural barrier of native plantings along the upper portion of the slope to prevent erosion.
Provided photo: The high waters from 2017 and 2019 took out chunks of the shoreline, getting the water close to Lakeshore Road and about 15 homes on that stretch of the road.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2023 at 6:48 pm
ALBION – A Clarendon man was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.
William Grathouse III, 49, of Clarendon faced charges of third-degree arson, second-degree insurance and fourth-degree criminal solicitation.
Grathouse, a second-felony offender, allegedly had someone start a fire at his home at Holley-Byron Road on Nov. 29, 2020 so he could collect the insurance money.
In other cases in county court today:
Jeremiah Thomas, 36, of Albion was sentenced to 6 months in the Orleans County Jail and 5 years of probation. He pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree and reckless endangerment in the second degree in a road rage incident.
Thomas admitted in court to using his pickup to drive into the front of a car in the McDonalds in Medina on May 18. The incident caused more than $8,000 in damage and put the other driver at risk of significant injury, according to the District Attorney’s office.
Thomas said he has been making progress through a anger management program. His attorney asked for a probation sentence with no jail time so Thomas could continue working and supporting his family, including a baby due to be born in March.
But Judge Church said Thomas has a history of absconding and trying to avoid his sentences. The judge said incarceration was warranted, but he gave Thomas a reduced sentence. As part of a plea agreement, Thomas could have faced 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison.
Assistant DA John Sansone said Thomas’s actions on May 18 were “a very serious road rage incident” where he twice stopped the other driver between Albion and Medina, and then ran into his car while the other driver had a child in the vehicle.
Thomas said the other driver was taking photos of his truck, which made him think that driver intended to steal the truck or vandalize it.
The judge also issued an order of protection for the other driver.
Patrick Casanova, 29, of Medina pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. He admitted to punching a woman in the face in Aug. 11, which fractured her orbital bone and damaged her sinus. He could face 2 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on March 8.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2023 at 2:12 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: Don Newcomb, lead singer and bass guitarist for the Don Newcomb Country Band, performs on Jan. 13, 2017 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library as part of the “Finally Fridays” concert series. Newcomb and his band will return for a concert on Jan. 27.
MEDINA – The Finally Fridays concert series kicks off this Friday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.
The nine-week concert series kicks off with Creek Bend Bluegrass & Americana. All of the concerts start at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.
The Medina library has hosted the series since 2002 with the 2021 concerts cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The lineup of bands performing includes:
Jan. 6: Creek Bend – bluegrass & Americana
Jan. 13: Who Dats – rock
Jan. 20: Two Of Us – Beatle
Jan. 27: Don Newcomb – country, rock
Feb. 3: Frankfurters – German Folk
Feb. 10: “A” Blues Band Rock – blues, country
Feb. 17: Corfu Pembroke Community Band – concert band
Feb. 24: DSP Jazz – jazz
March 3: Step In Time – Irish folk
The series receives funding from the New York State Council on the Arts in a program administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
Rob Ortt
ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, who was re-elected unanimously last year to serve another term as Minority Leader, today announced key leadership posts within the Republican Conference for the upcoming Legislative session.
Ortt represents the 62nd Senate District which includes all of Orleans, Niagara and part of western Monroe counties.
As the minority conference leader, Ortt announced the following leadership assignments:
Senator Andrew Lanza – Deputy Minority Leader and Floor Leader
Senator Tom O’Mara – Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee
Senator Pam Helming – Chair of the Senate Republican Conference
Senator Pat Gallivan – Minority Whip
Senator Joseph Griffo – Assistant Minority Leader
Senator Anthony Palumbo – Deputy Floor Leader
Senator Jack Martins – Vice Chair of the Senate Minority Conference
“The Senate Republican Conference is heading into the new legislative session with an impressive class of freshman senators, as well as veteran members who are ready to continue the great work they have done on behalf of all New Yorkers,” Ortt said. “Our agenda will continue to prioritize the issues that matter most to hardworking New Yorkers – we are focused and energized to get to work and help make New York safer, stronger, and more affordable for all.”
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.”
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.
