MEDINA – Giving to people in need has become a way of life for one local woman, who only wants to be known as a “Secret Santa.”

This is the 10th year the woman has solicited gifts and donations to fill Christmas bags for residents of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (Orchard Manor), the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital and the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion. This year, she will also do the Arc residences in Albion and Medina – totaling 250 seniors, plus developmentally disabled residents.

All year, the woman creates an event on social media, where family and friends can donate to her cause. She posts it on Facebook and asks all her friends to share it with their friends. She said she has had people respond from all over the country, including California, Las Vegas and Florida.

“I swear them to secrecy,” she said. “My mother died last year, and giving without getting something in return was what she taught me.”

The first year the Secret Santa did this, she went to the Office for the Aging and asked if they knew any seniors who needed help.

“I supplied gifts to one man and one woman,” she said. “The next year, I did two men and two women, then five the third year.”

When the Office for the Aging told Secret Santa there were so many seniors who could use gifts, that was when she really expanded her giving. She added the nursing homes and North Wing, and this year she reached out to the Arc GLOW to see if there were residents in their homes who didn’t many gifts for Christmas.

When people sign up on Facebook to participate, Secret Santa sends them a first name and tag number. Then they shop and drop off the items to her, where she and her “elves” fill the gift bags. People have until Dec. 11 to purchase their gifts and get them to Secret Santa. With the monetary donations, she goes shopping for suitable gifts.

Items she encourages people to buy include linens, cleaning supplies and pet supplies.

Leann Donovan at the Office for the Aging and Melissa Cotter from Arc GLOW have cooperated with Secret Santa to accomplish her mission.

A donation from a corporate sponsor enabled Secret Santa to buy 30 personal hygiene kits for residents of the nursing facilities.

“Senior citizens are the ones who tend to be forgotten,” Secret Santa said.

With help of her “elves,” boxes and boxes of personal hygiene products were delivered this week to the facilities, followed by delivery of the gift bags the following night. The gift bags will be distributed on Christmas and the personal hygiene items will be given to residents as needed.

At Orchard Rehabilitation there are 48 residents who wouldn’t ordinarily get a gift at Christmas, said Human Resource director Jenney Mulrain. Many of those residents don’t have family members.

The Secret Santa is determined that every resident of a nursing facility in Orleans County will receive a gift.

“After all, this is Christmas,” she said.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the Orleans Veterans Club in Albion delivered gift bags to 22 veterans. Pictured include Mike Donahue, left, and Matt Passarell, the post’s commander.

They are shown at about 10 a.m. at the post on Platt Street, just before making their deliveries.

The gift bags included a veteran’s hat, a stuffed animal, puzzles and other goodies.

Passarell said the post welcomes more members. It is open to combat vets. They can stop by a monthly meeting on the third Wednesday each month at 7 p.m. to learn more about the post.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CLARENDON – Firefighters responded to a fire at 16714 Hinds Rd. this evening after report of a structure fire. The owner of the property knocked down a barn this summer and was attempting a controlled burn, firefighters said.

But the fire got bigger than expected and firefighters were called to keep it from spreading to any of the nearby structures.

Clarendon and Murray firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 5:11 p.m. They used the Holley ladder truck to direct water down on the fire.

“Nothing of value was damaged,” said Bob Freida, president of the Clarendon Fire Company.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Zach Fike from the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company heads to his truck with a Christmas box on this morning. He was among the firefighters who delivered toys to local families today through the area MAAC toy drive.

MEDINA – More than 100 families will have a Merry Christmas this year, thanks to the Medina Area Association of Churches annual Christmas giveaway.

This morning, dozens of local firefighters and volunteers gathered at the Grove United Methodist Church, where they enjoyed breakfast cooked by Bill Dunn and his church helpers.

After breakfast – scrambled eggs, a breakfast casserole, roasted potatoes, fried bologna, sausage, pancakes, fruit and juice – the firefighters loaded up ambulances and pickup trucks to begin their deliveries.

Sherry Tuohey, standing at right, watches as Barb Vreeland closes up boxes of Christmas gifts Saturday at the Grove United Methodist Church, waiting to be delivered by local firefighters.

While Medina firefighters deliver the empty red barrels to local businesses, schools and other locations, and then pick them up when they are full, Medina is joined by Medina, Ridgeway, Shelby and East Shelby in delivering the packed boxes to homes within the Medina zip code.

Lt. Steve Cooley with the Medina Fire Department said he has been volunteering for the MAAC Christmas program for 13 years. As he examined the boxes full of gifts he would be delivering, he said it will take him little more than half an hour and then he’ll come back for another load.

The boxes were filled with toys, games, puzzles, books, hats, scarves, mittens and socks, along with a ham and food for a complete Christmas dinner. Boxes for senior citizens contained a hand-crocheted blanket, donated by several local women.

Volunteers from the Grove United Methodist Church, who helped put on breakfast for firefighters are, seated from left, Sue Weese, Pat Watson and Bill Dunn. Standing are Darlene Boardway, John Boardway and Linda Blanc.

The Christmas give-away program actually started decades ago as a project of the Medina Fire Department.

Dave Green from East Shelby Fire Department said he remembers when the firefighters used to accumulate toys and paint bikes above the fire hall.

“That was more than 60 years ago, when I first joined East Shelby Fire Company,” Green said.

Mike Fuller, also from East Shelby, said he has helped since 50 years ago, when he first joined East Shelby.

Kristin McAdoo from Ridgeway Fire Company has been volunteering for 10 years with the toy delivery.

“I like helping families have a Merry Christmas,” she said.

Rachel Herbert came with her dad, a member of the Medina Fire Department, to help deliver Christmas boxes to more than 100 families.

The 1940’s USO style radio show play at The Station Dinner Theatre in Erie, PA included an “Armed Forces Salute” honoring each branch of the US Armed Forces – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!

Let’s go on an adventure together….to a Mystery Destination!

Have you ever seen an advertisement for a Mystery Tour and thought that it might be fun, but…..then talked yourself out of it because you wondered if you really wanted to spend the money and time on a total mystery? What if you were taken somewhere that didn’t interest you? What if you end up somewhere you’ve already been to multiple times? Well, so what if you do? Worst case, you have a little get away that you probably really need and you will surely find “something” to enjoy out of the day. I’ve wanted to do one of these Mystery Tours for a while and up until now, they have been a “gee, that sounds fun, I should do one…..someday” thing! But, now that I’ve done one, I will definitely be doing them again!

This particular one was put together by First Choice Travel in Batavia, but I see them advertised by other tour groups, as well. All they told us was the start and end time, that we wouldn’t be more than four hours away, and that lunch was included. The rest was a well-guarded secret. Part of the fun was the speculations, guesses, and theories that floated around the group and by my Facebook friends who were following me on my mystery adventure.

There were 40-some people on the bus. I made friends with my seatmate and the friends who were with her. We left about 9:00 am from Batavia and the most popular speculation was shot down as soon as we headed west on the thruway. Then, as we passed exits that would have taken us to other theories, the group started running out of guesses. It made the drive a lot more fun…..and interesting! Many kept trying to get our tour manager to give us better hints, but she was determined to keep us guessing right till the very end.

We ended up in Erie, PA.in time for lunch. Our first stop was The Station Dinner Theatre where we had a delicious lunch and saw a show called “Christmas Memories: Jimmy Lawrence USO Holiday Special” – a musical play set at a radio station for a Christmas Eve 1944 USO radio show for the troops during WWII. The cast consisted of three ladies and three gentlemen who sang and acted their way through the two act play. It was so good — heartwarming, funny, Christmas-y, and even had an emotional “Armed Forces Salute” number that had veterans in the audience standing for their branch of the service to the cheers and applause from everyone in the room. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house! I admit to my own tears at several of the songs and finding myself laughing out loud to the way other songs were performed. 

When we left the dinner theater, we drove about 15 minutes to the next mystery stop – Frank’s Farm Market, also in Erie. That place really excited all the shoppers on the bus – it was jam packed with produce, baked goods, and gifts.

Frank’s Farm Market in Erie, PA was packed with wonderful produce, baked goods, crafts, and gifts to satisfy all the shoppers in our group.

Our third and final mystery stop of the day was closer to home. We drove through the Stony Brook Legendary Lights in Lancaster, NY – a residential community that totally lights up their entire neighborhood every year at Christmas for charity. If you enjoy looking at Christmas lights, you really should check out this neighborhood. Google it for more information – it’s well worth the drive to Lancaster. You can drive or walk through to enjoy the lights. Once we saw all the lights, we headed for home and got back to Batavia about 8:30pm-ish. A long, but really enjoyable day, indeed.

So…..next time you see a Mystery Tour advertised, consider giving it a try. Yeah, you’re taking a chance, but it just might be worth it and you just might have a really good time! I know I’m going to do it again.

Check out the blow by blow and more photos from my Mystery Adventure here on my blog:  https://thoughtsbykim.com/2022/12/09/mystery-adventure/

Happy Adventuring!

File photo by Tom Rivers: Steve Goodrich, commander of the American Legion in Lyndonville, and Anna Stelianou are pictured in December 2019 at the grave of her parents, Ary and Konstantina, who emigrated to Lyndonville from Greece after WWI. Anna Stelianou provided the funding for an endowment to pay for about 400 wreaths to be set at veterans’ graves each year in Lyndonville.

There will be ceremonies at noon today in Lyndonville and Medina as part of Wreaths Across America. After the ceremony, more than 400 wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in Lyndonville and 1,000 will be set at three cemeteries in Medina.

The American Legion Houseman-Tanner Post in Lyndonville is heading the Wreaths event in Lyndonville. The ceremony will be at noon at Lynhaven Cemetery on Housel Avenue.

In Lyndonville, the cost for about 420 wreaths is paid for by an endowment funded by Anna Stelianou. She gave the funding to the Lyndonville Area Foundation to create an endowment to pay for the cost of the wreaths every year long into the future. The wreaths are $15 each with the current cost for all the wreaths about $6,000 a year.

Stelianou funds the wreaths to show her appreciation for the community’s kindness to her parents, Ary and Konstantina. They emigrated to Lyndonville from Greece after WWI. Stelianou also donated the money for the program in honor of her five brothers who served in WWII and the Korean War.

Medina will have its ceremony at noon at Boxwood Cemetery, with the 1,000 wreaths to then be placed on veterans’ graves at Boxwood, St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart cemeteries. The 1,000 wreaths is up from 315 last year. Tom Snyder, a Navy veteran and owner of Medina Lumber and Hardware, is helping to fund the increase in wreaths this year.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Ric Jones of Medina leads the Middleport Community Choir in rehearsal for their annual Christmas concert, which is today at the Middleport United Methodist Church.

MIDDLEPORT – A Christmas concert by the Middleport Community Choir has been a tradition for several decades, since the choir was founded.

The choir, under the direction of Ric Jones of Medina, will perform their “Night of Wonder” Christmas concert today at 4 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 9 Park Ave., Middleport.

Jones first joined the choir as a singer in 2003, then stepped in as director when their original director retired.

The choir was formed nearly 25 years ago when the choirs of all the churches in Middleport got together to sing with a bell choir visiting from Germany. The Germans’ visit resulted in a friendship, which continued after their initial performance and several visits back and forth between the two groups.

A number of members have been with the choir since that first event, including the Christensen’s Herb Koenig and Debby Clark, who accompanies the choir and leads the Belltones.

The highlight of today’s concert will be the choir’s version of “Let There be Peace on Earth,” featuring soloists Pamm Seifert, Peggy Thomas, Kelly Rock and Fran Thomas.

New members are always welcome to join the choir, which rehearses on Thursday nights at the United Methodist Church. No audition is necessary.

There is no admission fee for today’s concert, but a free-will offering will be taken.

Dr. Bruce Baker said he strives to give ‘respect and dignity’ to people being treated for substance use disorders

Provided photo: GCASA honored Dr. Bruce Baker and presented longevity awards at its annual holiday luncheon at Terry Hills Restaurant. Seated from left are Danielle Ludeke, Dr. Baker and Kathy Hodgins. Standing, Rosalie Mangino-Crandall, Carol Nicometo, JoAnn Ryan, Diane Klos, Charlene Grimm, Lori Brade, Jordan Smart and Linda Ackley.

By Mike Pettinella, GCASA Publicist

BATAVIA – Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse leadership and staff on Wednesday afternoon celebrated Dr. Bruce Baker’s many years of dedicated service to the agency.

Chief Executive Officer John Bennett, at the organization’s annual holiday luncheon, applauded Baker’s work as GCASA’s medical director.

“Bruce has been a tremendous asset to our agency, helping hundreds of people in their efforts to overcome substance use disorder,” Bennett. “We are fortunate to have had him as part of our team and we wish him the best in his retirement.”

Bennett said that Baker shared his knowledge and compassion in a variety of roles for GCASA, including medical director, consultant, teacher and general practitioner.

A physician for 60 years, Baker has made an impact throughout Genesee County as a primary care doctor, school physician in Le Roy and Pavilion, medical consultant to the health department and medical director at Le Roy Village Green Health Care Facility.

He has worked in the addiction field for more than 40 years and was an early proponent of Medication Assisted Treatment.

“Dr. Baker recognized early on, especially as the physician at the Genesee County Jail for a quarter of a century and at Hope Haven (inpatient clinic), that individuals who suffered from addiction needed treatment, both medically and therapeutically,” Bennett said.

Dr. Baker thanked GCASA for the gift he received, adding that he treasured his time with the agency.

“I’ve made many wonderful friends along the way,” he said, noting that his “mission was to treat those suffering from substance use disorder with respect and dignity.”

GCASA management also recognized several employees who reached longevity milestones, led by Chief Financial Officer JoAnn Ryan, who has worked at the agency for 35 years. She said that she plans to retire next year.

Others receiving longevity awards are as follows:

• 25 years – Lori Brade, manager of Billing Operations;
• 20 years – Linda Ackley, Residential aide; Kathy Hodgins, chief clinical officer;
• 15 years – Carol Nicometo, Prevention educator; Jim Garber, Jail Services counselor; Charlene Grimm, assistant director of Peer Services.
• 10 years – Diane Klos, Prevention secretary;
• 5 years – Danielle Ludeke, Outpatient Treatment supervisor; Rosalie Mangino-Crandall, director of Project Innovation and Expansion, and Jordan Smart, Residential peer.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Don Melfi gathers bags of oranges to give to people in this morning’s food distribution at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church’s parking lot.

There were bags and boxes of food for about 250 families. The church has hosted the distributions for most of the Covid pandemic and has a food pantry for years before Covid hit in March 2020.

Kyle Sentiff, 27, collects squash and other vegetables for one of the vehicles. The distribution was scheduled to start at 8:30, but icy roads delayed the FoodLink truck until about 9:30. Many of the people showed up very early for the distribution and waited two hours of more.

Sentiff is an elder at the Presbyterian Church. He likes to volunteer at the distributions when he has a day off.

“I’m just here to help when I can,” he said. “It’s great to see the churches step up for the community.”

FoodLink will continue the distributions in Lyndonville until at least June. The upcoming schedule includes Jan. 13, Feb. 3, March 3, March 24, April 7, April 21, May 5, May 19, June 2 and June 23.

Craig Rhodenizer (in back with beard) is pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church on Route 18 in Yates. He leads the group in a prayer before the distribution. Rhodenizer asked for God’s blessing on the people lined up receiving the food, and for others who need the food but weren’t able to be there that morning. Jim Wells, one of the volunteers, is at right.

Other pastors at the distribution this morning included Lyle Drake of the Yates Baptist Church and Tim Schultz of the Lyndonville United Methodist Church. Martha Mitchell of the Presbyterian Church is usually at the events as well.

Schultz lives across the street from the Presbyterian Church and he some of the cars start showing up at 4 in the morning for the distributions. He is impressed the volunteers are so dependable, even when it’s cold and icy.

“It does amaze me how the volunteers just show up in the inclement weather,” he said.

Pastor Lyle Drake grabs bottles of salsa during the morning’s distribution.

Pat Wilcox lifts a bag of oranges for the distribution. She recently starting volunteering after retiring from LynOaken Farms.

“I enjoy it,” she said. “People need help and I can do something, and you meet a lot of other people.”

DeeAnn Diermyer, left, and her sister Denise Adams, both of Medina, were up early to help with the distribution. Diermyer has volunteered at the events since they started, and also has helped run the food pantry at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church for 13 years. She attends the United Methodist Church.

Diermyer said many local residents are struggling to pay their bills and are relying on the distributions and food pantries.

“The people are more in need now,” she said. “The prices are so high right now.”

Gary Daum has been volunteering at the distributions for about two years. He was at the spot with potatoes grown by Triple G Farms of Barre. Daum said he sees many senior citizens at the distirbutions. They pick up food not only for themselves but for friends who don’t drive or who can’t make it in person.

Provided photo: Catherine Orr is shown with Isabella Joy (Barker), Cole Carnes (Barker), Mia Herman (Barker) and Alexa Zglinicki (Barker).

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Our Health Occupations Technician students did a great job, not only promoting the Red Cross Blood drive at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, but lending a hand on Dec. 8, the day of the drive.

The students in Leanne Serrato’s program went classroom to classroom in the weeks before, telling their schoolmates how important it is to donate blood and how many lives they can save by doing so.

They recruited many of the students and staff to sign up for donating. The day of the event, they helped out Catherine Orr, Red Cross Donor Recruiter, with signing people in and getting them prepared for their donation.

Ms. Orr said she was very impressed with the job the Health Occupations Technicians did recruiting people.

“We are so thankful to the students and staff who donated blood,” she said. “We are at critical shortage levels and this will help so many people. I can’t thank the Health Occupations Technician students enough for their efforts and their assistance.”

MEDINA – Medina’s Village of Lights committee has announced the winners of the 2022 lighting contest.

Chair Cindy Robinson said 20 homes and businesses entered the contest, all of which were wonderfully decorated. She added there were many more spectacularly decorated homes which did not enter, and she hopes they will all consider participating next year.

This is the third year for lighting contest, which was started during the pandemic to provide a safe, fun activity for families.

“It was so successful, we decided to keep it going,” Robinson said.

Here is another view of Modern Mercantile’s decorations at the store window.

She said the contest brings back memories of her childhood when the family used to hop in the car and drive around to see the Christmas lights.

In the Business category, Main Street TV and Appliance at 430 Main St. was the winner of the Community Spirit award; ATB Staffing at 534 Main St. won Christmas Spirit; and Modern Mercantile at 135 East Center St. was named Grand Champion for the second year.

Residential winners were Becky Bonk, 143 North Gravel Rd., Christmas Spirit, Traditional; Kellie Watson, 528 Bates Rd., Christmas Spirit, Innovative; Terri Moriarty, 607 West Center St., Best Use of Lights; Rich Rossoin and Lindsay Eaton, 103 Mead Ave., Possibly Visible from Space; David Gawron, 134 Roseland Ave., Most Whimsical; and John Dieter/Nick Dieter/Jon Sherman, 913, 915, 917 Gwinn St., Block Party.

Other entrants, which the public is encouraged to drive around and view, are Vision 2000, 3930 Salt Works Rd.; Amanda Costich, 421 Oak Orchard Rd.; Anne Mangold, 919 Gwinn St.; Sue Van Buren, 103 Eastview Dr.; Ashley Fix and Alex Freeman, 1031 Gwinn St.; Diane Arndt, 1150 Gwinn St.; Cindy Watson, 935 Gwinn St.; and Eric Miller, 114 Elwood Ave.

Each winner received a $50 prize, with the Grand Champion receiving $200.

Robinson expressed her thanks to all the people who took the time and trouble to decorate their properties and enter the contest.  She extends a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Main Street Appliances and Home Furnishing at 430 Main St. won the “Community Spirit” award.

ATB Staffing at 534 Main St. won for “Christmas Spirit.”

Kellie Watson at 528 Bates Rd. won for Christmas Spirit and the “Innovative” award in the residential contest.

The “Most Whimsical” award in the residential contest goes to David Gawron of 134 Roseland Ave.

Rich Rossion & Lindsay Eaton of 103 Mead Ave. won “Possibly Visible From Space.”

Becky Bonk of 143 N. Gravel Rd. won for “Christmas Spirit, Traditional” in the residential competition.

The “Best Use of Lights” award goes to Terri Moriarty at 607 West Center St.

The “Block Party Group” award is for John Dieter/Nick Dieter/Jon Sherman at 913/915/917/919 Gwinn St.

Provided photo: Tammi Pritchard, left, and Kristin Grose at Medina Memorial Hospital stand with a table full of gifts donated for Community Action’s Action Angels, which they coordinated.

MEDINA – With the holiday approaching, staff at Orleans Community Health decided to participate in Action Angels, a program of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee which provides gifts to those less fortunate.

Tammi Pritchard and Kristin Grose volunteered to organize the efforts for the hospital.

This year, employees of Orleans Community Health employees adopted more than 30 children and families from the community.

“Supporting the children and families struggling financially is something employees of Orleans Community Health have been doing for more than five years,” said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing at Community Partners.

“This program allows us the opportunity to provide a better Christmas morning to children and families in our community,” Pritchard said.

“Seeing our team give back to the community is incredibly humbling,” Grose added. “This is just another example of the OCH team showing us how much they care about the community we serve.”

Between Orleans and Genesee counties, Action Angels provide Christmas gifts for several hundred families each year.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – People danced to the Lindy Hop this evening at the Bent’s Opera House in Medina. Maggie Hallifax of Lockport, right, was one of the instructors for the evening.

There was a free hour-long class from 6:30 to 7:30, followed by more dancing from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

This was the fifth event as part of the new Medina Lindy in the Village. Tonight’s class and dance featured a “Cool Yule” theme with many holiday decorations.

Phil Berry and his wife Julie, the couple at left, are among the leaders of the Medina Lindy program.

There were about 25 people dancing early in this evening’s program. They braved icy weather to be there.

The program has been popular since it started with the first event on Aug. 18, drawing 85 dancers the first time.

“It can be really intimidating to come out and try to learn something like this,” Phil Berry told the group learning to dance in the first hour.

But he said the dance in either a 6-count or 8-count is fairly easy to pick up, and it’s OK to make mistakes.

Phil Berry is an instructor at Medina Lindy and the main organizer of the program. He has been doing the Lindy dance for about four years and he said it has made a big difference in his life.

“It made it possible for me to see life as a series of making mistakes and growing together and doing it joyfully,” he said.

He urged people from all skill levels to give the dance a try. He estimates after four lessons most people can be good Lindy dancers.

He believed Medina Lindy would be popular with Bent’s offering the only swing dancing between Rochester and Buffalo.

He is still amazed that 85 came on the first night on Aug.18, and many have continued despite bad weather in December.

He thanked Roger and Heather Hungerford for making the third floor of Bent’s available for Medina Lindy.

“Bent’s wanted to use this space to give back to the community,” Berry said.

DJ Tommy Sprinkles from Swing Buffalo played many holiday jazz tunes during this evening’s “Cool Yule” program.

The next class and dance is scheduled for Jan. 19, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The dancing from 7:30 to 10 p.m. is $8. Dancers don’t need to bring a partner to participate.

Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle

Today, Congressman Joe Morelle, D-Irondequoit, introduced legislation to restore stability to the dairy sector and lower the cost of milk for everyday families.

The Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act will allow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and dairy producers to consider proposals to adjust the federal milk pricing system, in turn reducing costs at the grocery store for consumers.

“We’re all feeling the effects of high prices, and volatility in the dairy market means uncertainty at the supermarket,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation that will result in lower milk prices at the grocery store, easing the financial burden on families at a time when they need it most. New York State has a proud history of dairy production, and my bill will help continue that legacy for farmers struggling under the current pricing system while supporting everyday consumers.”

New York is the fourth largest dairy producing state, and the complicated structure of their pricing system along with increased competition from plant-based products is leaving our dairy farmers without adequate pay. This has resulted in the loss of almost 40,000 dairy herds since 2003 and increased costs for consumers.

The Dairy Pricing Opportunity act corrects this by requiring the USDA to hold public hearings and receive input from dairy producers on how best to repair the faulty pre-pandemic federal pricing policies and lower the price of milk.

This legislation has been endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, New York Farm Bureau, American Dairy Coalition, and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association.