Photos courtesy of 4-H program: Residents of The Willows wave to 4H club members outside the window during a Valentines visit outside the site.
Press Release, Kristina Gabalski, Orleans County 4-H program coordinator
MEDINA – This week is National 4-H Week and as part of their experience, 4-Hers “pledge their hands to larger service.”
Members of the Abundant Harvest 4-H Club are putting those words into action here in Orleans County.
Club leader Robyn Watts of Medina says she brought up the idea of a new community service project to club members last winter when Covid was still an issue. The club has a community vegetable garden during the spring and summer months, but Watts wanted to extend those efforts into the winter months.
“With about ten kids in our club, I thought about the many opportunities to contribute and thought The Willows was a place we could realistically handle financially and work wise,” Watts said.
She talked with staff at The Willows Adult Care Home in Medina who gave the green light to a Valentine celebration of gifts of candy made in an approved kitchen, and a window visit as visitors were not allowed inside at that time. The club made gnome candy jars and filled them with candy – chocolate molds, chocolate covered pretzels and peanut butter cups.
4Hers made these gnome candy holders residents at The Willows for the Valentine visit.
During the “window visit,” members held up a sign with their club name and waved to residents inside as they received their Valentine jars. The visit was a huge success.
At Eastertime, Abundant Harvest members created small Easter baskets with bunny suckers and chocolates.
“This time we were able to go inside and see them, which was a real treat,” Watts said. “We had to wear masks and only two kids could pass (the baskets) out to residents.”
The club does not meet over the summer as the 4-H Fair and NYS Fair take up most of their time, but in September, they made bottle cap flower magnets for each resident. The club plans to deliver them the first week in October – National 4-H Week – and Watts said the youth are very excited to visit their “adopted grandparents again.”
Lily Botsford, left, and Robin Botsford make their magnets for residents.
Abundant Harvest member Molly Kroening, 8, of Knowlesville, said she enjoys interacting with residents of The Willows. “It makes them feel better, especially when we go visit them.”
“It makes them smile and brightens their day,” said 10-year-old Emily Kroll of Lyndonville.
Lily Botsford, 9, and her sister Robin Botsford, 11, both of Lyndonville, agree with Emily. Lily said some of the residents may not get very many visitors and Robin added, “We do things for The Willows because it gives us joy to make them happy.”
“We like to visit The Willows with gifts because it makes them feel happy and loved,” 12-year-old Jackson McGrath of Medina said.
His sister, 15-year-old Makenzie, said the club decided to “adopt” the residents, “because during Covid, it had to be very depressing for the seniors there. They couldn’t have visitors so even when we could only do window visits, I’m sure it made them feel better, so we decided to continue to do it for different holidays.”
New York State 4-H Youth Development connects youth to hands-on learning and service opportunities to help them grow into competent, caring, contributing members of society. Over 167,000 youth ages 5-19 in all counties and New York City are involved in 4-H programs.
Molly Kroening makes magnets for residents at The Willows.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 October 2022 at 2:01 pm
$598K grant will pay for hookups for low- to moderate-income households in towns of Albion, Gaines, Shelby and the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina
ALBION – Orleans County officials say the new high-speed internet system being installed by RTO Wireless should be in place and activated in the first quarter of 2023.
RTO has been working to put its equipment on 13 towers with a 14th and final tower to be built in Carlton next year.
County officials have been pushing for about a decade to have high-speed internet service available throughout the county. The new system will cover the entire county, including current unserved addresses that total 74 in Albion, 302 in Barre, 35 in Carlton, 57 in Clarendon, 39 in Gaines, 16 in Kendall, 41 in Murray, 287 in Ridgeway, 206 in Shelby, and 294 in Yates for 1,351 total.
County officials say they are also close to finalizing an agreement with the Orleans County United Way to manage a $598,000 grant to cover the costs for low- to moderate-income homes to install the equipment in their homes to access the high-speed internet. That grant covers the towns of Albion, Gaines and Shelby, and the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina.
That funding was part of a $1,999,833 grant initially awarded to the county on Nov. 10, 2021. That money was approved from the state Housing Trust Fund Corporation and the Office of Community Renewal and included money from the NYS Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES).
The household hook-up grants are up to $650 per household for the equipment to be connected to the new system.
The rest of the grant for $1,999,833 goes towards the cost of the equipment being installed on the towers, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer.
Welch said the United Way will help recruit the eligible households in the low- to moderate-income towns and villages to install the equipment and have access to the internet.
“The United Way will be working with RTO on the rollout of the service to our residents in the towns of Albion, Gaines, Shelby and the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina,” Welch said. “We expect the real push should begin the first quarter of 2023 when the signal is on the air from the towers.”
Even those who aren’t eligible for the grant assistance will see benefits with the RTO Wireless system being available locally, Welch said.
“This project should help people county wide, even in the other seven towns and Lyndonville,” he said. “Everyone will now have real choice in broadband service.”
Jennifer Adams also discussing her book at Author’s Note in Medina
Jennifer Adams, right, wrote a picture book biography about Madeleine L’Engle.
Press Release, Author’s Note
MEDINA – Bestselling author and children’s editor Jennifer Adams, a Salt Lake City-based writer of over 50 picture books for children, will visit Author’s Note, Medina’s independent bookstore, to read and discuss A Book, Too, Can Be a Star, her new picture book biography of Madeleine L’Engle, the iconic author of the perennial favorite A Wrinkle in Time. The event at Author’s Note starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Ms. Adams will present her new title to students at DeSales Catholic School in Lockport; Oak Orchard Primary School in Medina, St. Joseph’s Regional School in Batavia, and Lyndonville Elementary School while visiting the area.
The new picture book, published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Books, is co-authored by Charlotte Jones Voiklis, L’Engle’s granddaughter. Ms. Adams will offer a reading of A Book, Too, Can Be A Star, and discuss Ms. L’Engle’s life and journey to publication.
A Wrinkle in Time, with more than 10 million copies in print, has inspired generations of young readers and lovers of children’s fantasy since its first publication in 1962. Frequently banned and challenged in libraries and schools for content perceived as anti-religious, the novel deals imaginatively with political theory, science, wonder, faith and joy. Twice made into movies, including one starring Oprah Winfrey, the book has also been adapted as a graphic novel, an audiobook, and an opera.
Jennifer Adams is an acclaimed writer, editor, and bookseller. She is the author of more than 50 books, including the best-selling BabyLit board books, which introduce small children to classic literature and have sold more than 2 million copies.
She manages the children’s line at Sounds True and works weekends at The King’s English Bookshop, a beloved bookstore in Salt Lake City. She received her BA in English literature from the University of Washington and her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
The Thursday evening event at Author’s Note is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend, signed books can be ordered at authorsnote.com. Please contact Author’s Note for more information at (585) 798-3642.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) led Congressmembers Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Joe Sempolinski (NY-23), Lee Zeldin (NY-01), and Claudia Tenney (NY-22) in calling for New York State Department of Education Commissioner Betty Rosa to release 2021-2022 Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics assessment data.
Traditionally, the state has released this data in August before the start of the next school year. However, this data for the previous school year have yet to be made public.
“Around the country assessments are showing us Covid-19 caused detrimental learning loss in our students,” Jacobs said. “School closures, quarantines, and remote learning left many students behind and widened the achievement gap – especially for students from traditionally disadvantaged populations.”
“A portion of American Rescue Plan Funding has been allocated to New York school districts to address learning loss, yet in true NYS government fashion, we have yet to get transparent answers on the state of our students’ assessments,” Jacobs said. “As we work to begin our long road to academic recovery, we need a full and accurate picture of the loss that occurred in NYS students – the Commissioner must release this data immediately so academic plans can be formed and implemented effectively and expeditiously.”
“Albany needs to immediately release the standardized test scores for the entire state. There is no good excuse to delay this a day longer, and the further the state stalls, the more suspicious New Yorkers will understandably become that the state is trying to hide the data from the public,” Congressman Zeldin said.
“Assessment data for mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) are made available for New Yorkers to review every August. However, with an election approaching, Governor Hochul withheld the data this year, in what appears to be a clear attempt to cover up the damage done by New York’s unscientific Covid mandates, which undoubtedly had a significant impact on learning. New York should make its data public now, just as it has in past years. Our children must always come first,” Tenney said.
KNOWLESVILLE – October 13th is the 8th annual Family Game Night in Orleans County. This event is sponsored by the Orleans County Youth Bureau and Legislative Office.
The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Trolley Building at Cornell Cooperative Extension. This event will feature dinner, games to play, displays to visit and a new board game for every family. Cost, including dinner, is $5 for a family of four or $3 for individuals.
The booths will provide information on a wide array of services for youth and families that are available in Orleans County.
We will also have a couple drawings throughout the night. Additional contributors to the evening are Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cusimano’s Pizzeria, Medina Railroad Museum, Village House Restaurant, Mark’s Pizzeria, LynOaken Farms, Evan’s ACE Hardware & Building Supplies, Albion ACE Hardware, TOPS, and Wal-Mart.
To register or for more information you can contact the Legislative Office at 589-7053.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 5 October 2022 at 8:55 am
MEDINA – Autumn is in the air and Christmas won’t be far behind.
The Medina Tourism Committee and Medina Area Partnership are already making plans for Medina’s Christmas celebration and spectacular Parade of Lights, which this year has added attractions and incentives.
Medina annually welcomes Christmas the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which this year is Nov. 26.
The event traditionally features a 5K run in the morning, the downtown stores decorated and offering specials, the Cutest Elf Contest and the parade at noon welcoming Santa Claus.
Jim Hancock, chair of the Medina Tourism Committee which sponsors the Parade of Lights, said the winner of the Littlest Elf Contest will ride in the parade with Santa. The Medina Mustang Marching Band will also march in the parade.
More entertainment is planned on Main Street this year, with vendors on Main Street and the Canal Village Farmers’ market in the NAPA building on North Main Street. The parade also includes Pets on Parade, and people can enter everything from dogs and cats to llamas, Hancock said.
Robin Watts is designing a new character for the noon parade, to accompany Frosty and Olaf. They are always crowd pleasers, Hancock said.
At 5 p.m., the band Prime Time Brass will present a 30-minute concert in Rotary Park, followed by lighting of the giant Christmas tree by the parade marshal, who is yet to be announced.
Fireworks will light up the sky at 5:45 p.m., presented by Young Explosives.
The Parade of Lights steps out at 6 p.m. from Baxter’s parking lot on Park Avenue and continues down Main Street to Hartway Motors.
A new feature this year is a $50 prize to the first 10 entries in the parade. The deadline for entering floats is Nov. 23.
“The Parade of Lights and Christmas Celebration are one of the greatest events we have in our village,” Hancock said. “People come from all over, even Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Canada to our parade.”
He encourages businesses, individuals, and organizations to take part by designing a float in the parade, in hopes of making this the biggest and best yet.
For more information, including a parade entry form, click here.
RESTORE Sexual Assault Services, a program of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, is recruiting volunteer advocates for an upcoming training cycle in November 2022. There is an urgent need for Volunteer Advocates in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Volunteer advocates are responsible for taking crisis phone calls from their home and providing information and advocacy to sexual assault survivors at a hospital or police station. Volunteers offer support, information and resources to survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones. The time commitment is flexible, and at the volunteer’s discretion. All applicants will be screened and must complete 32 hours of training prior to beginning their volunteer commitment.
The training is planned to take place in person, in Monroe County. However, all RESTORE services are dynamically responding to the changing Covid-19 protocols and using a variety of communication methods, depending on the needs and comfort level of the volunteer advocate (and survivors).
Those interested in volunteering for RESTORE must be at least 20 years of age, have reliable transportation, and be comfortable working with those in a crisis situation.
For further information about volunteering with RESTORE, email restore@ppcwny.org.
RESTORE’s 24-hour hotlines include: 585-546-2777 (Monroe County) and 1-800-527-1757 (Livingston, Wyoming, Orleans and Genesee counties).
MEDINA – Orleans Career and Technical Education Computer Technology students are starting their learning process this year with building their own computer lab.
Teacher Paul Herrmann says constructing the lab is a great way to start the new year. At the end of their junior year, he has the students dismantle the computers and when they return for their senior year they spend their first week rebuilding the computer lab.
“It is a great work-based learning experience for them right out of the gate,” Herrmann said. “They learn the computers inside and out. This year we are building eight new computers from scratch and the students collaborated so they would all get a chance to work on them.”
Jordan Reynolds (Holy Ghost Lutheran), Colin Udell (Roy Hart) and Bryson Costich (Medina) work on rebuilding a computer.
Tyler Halifax, a student from Lockport, says, “Overall it is a lot of fun and a great refresher for us after being off over the summer. This program is great because it is where I want to be and what I want to do after I graduate.”
Classmate Cheyenne Tackley, from Lyndonville, says he loves this project. “It is a great way to start the year and we have a lot of fun. I plan on studying computer science in college and going into the cybersecurity field and this class is preparing me for that.”
Mr. Herrmann says this year students will study Cisco IT essentials and will learn hardware and software along with web design, HTML and Java Script and simplistic game design.
“I also task them with a senior project of their own creation that will count for a big percentage of their grade,” he said. “It really allows them to explore whatever is of interest to them and share their findings. They can add that to their portfolio when they are applying for colleges or jobs after graduation.”
Blake Simpson (Medina), Tyrell Wright (Medina) and Cheyenne Tackley (Lyndonville) work together on the project.
ROCHESTER – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the New York State Canal Corporation has named one of their vessels the Harriet Tubman in honor of the famed American abolitionist and humanitarian’s inspirational life and legacy.
In the bicentennial year of Harriet Tubman’s birth, the Canal Corporation dedicated the previously unnamed push tugboat at a ceremony along the Genesee River spur of the Erie Canal in Rochester, not far from abolitionist’s home and final resting place in Auburn near the Finger Lakes.
“As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s birth, it is our honor to recognize her commitment as a self-sacrificing abolitionist, suffragist, Civil War hero, and nurse who made meaningful and lasting contributions to our state and America’s history,” Hochul said. “By naming a vessel in her honor, we are uplifting her story of great sacrifice and the unique role that our state’s canals played as part of the Underground Railroad.”
Tubman, a leading figure of the Underground Railroad movement who helped free dozens of enslaved people, made several trips along the canal corridor, where the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca Canals provided an accessible route to Canada for many Freedom Seekers.
“Harriet Tubman is one of the most crucial figures in our history, and her brave contributions add to the rich history of the canalway,” said New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “Today, we celebrate her life and legacy, as well as the role of the canal in the abolition movement, broadening the lens through which we understand the importance of this piece of our state’s history.”
At their September meeting, the New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation Board of Trustees voted to name this previously unnamed push tugboat in honor of Harriet Tubman who devoted her life to social activism and human rights.
The 2019 vessel is stationed along the Erie Canal at the Canal Corporation’s maintenance facility in Lyons, Wayne County. When working on the canal, the tugboat pushes other non-motorized vessels during transit. These vessels include derrick boats, dredges, and scows that are essential for performing routine canal operations such as dredging, buoy placement, debris removal, and transit of materials.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2022 at 4:37 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak, right, presents a proclamation last week about “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” to Teresa Zwifka, director of social services (left), and Holli Nenni, department of Social Services commissioner.
The proclamation states that while 90 percent of domestic violence cases go unreported, there were 299 cases reported to the Orleans County Domestic Violence Unit in 2021, and 278 reported cases of domestic violence so far this year from January through September.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior that may include physical, emotional, psychological, economic, or sexual abuse, perpetrated by an intimate partner over another, to establish and maintain power and control,” legislators said in the proclamation.
“Domestic violence is a serious crime that affect people regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, age, gender, education, employment status, physical ableness, marital status, or childhood history.”
Domestic violence is a major cause to women, resulting in more injuries to women then auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined, the proclamation states.
County Legislator Skip Draper, right, presents a proclamation about “Sheriff’s Week” to three new deputies in the Sheriff’s Office. Pictured from left include David Lauer, Savannah Tackley and Cory Martindale. Sheriff’s Week was Sept. 18-24.
“The Office of Sheriff has been an integral part of the criminal justice system in New York State and in Orleans County throughout our history, having been established in the State’s first constitution in 1777 and having been continued in every succeeding constitution, and having been one of the original constitutional offices of our County,” legislators stated.
“The Office of Sheriff has evolved into a modern, professional, full-service law enforcement agency, manned by fully trained police officers, using state-of-the-art technology, and applies the latest and most advanced theories and practices in the criminal justice field,” the proclamation states.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2022 at 3:00 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jack Welch, chief administrative officer for Orleans, and Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman, hold an award presented to Orleans County last month by New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal.
The county received NYMIR’s “risk management award.” It is given annually to a county for sound risk management, safety and training efforts.
Orleans hasn’t had any property damage claims in the past five years and the county has the highest employee participation in the state for six online safety trainings, Welch said. Orleans has about 400 county employees.
The county also has a safety committee and each month does a walk-through inspection of a county building, identifying maintenance needs and any potential safety hazards.
“Our facilities are well-maintained,” Welch said. “Our buildings are not new.”
He praised the county workforce for their part in helping Orleans County earn the award over 32 other counties represented by NYMIR.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2022 at 2:04 pm
ALBION – A group looking for ways to promote the Albion downtown and community has identified projects and activities to bring foot traffic and people to Albion.
However, those programs and events need organizers and volunteers, and many local organizations and residents already active working on events are stretched thin.
The Main Street bridge is scheduled to close Oct. 17 and is expected to be closed to traffic for at least 18 months for a major rehabilitation.
A 24-7 video that shows the bridge and construction progress was listed as the top idea during a Sept. 12 meeting, when participants were asked to vote on their five favorite ideas or projects among a list of about a dozen different things.
Michael Bonafede, facilitator for the group and owner of three downtown buildings, believes the construction will be a spectacle of wide interest, especially when a crane is brought in and the bridge is temporarily moved from over the canal to land next door owned by the Canal Corp.
Cameras showing the construction site could be mounted on buildings by the canal with footage shown 24-7 through a YouTube channel.
The second most popular idea was a tie with block parties and the canal concerts moved to a closed part of Main Street, between Beaver Alley and Bank Street.
There was also several votes for a Christmas Tree festival, temporary ice skating rink, New Year’s Eve ball drop, and designated spots for food trucks with fees waived.
Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said the Christmas Tree festival could include bringing in a tall tree about 50 feet high for the event.
Bonafede said the people and organizations who usually are the planners and organizers need more partners to pull off more events and projects.
The groups doing events also don’t often know what other entities are planning. The groups need to communicate with each other, and perhaps join forces on some of the projects, Bonafede said after hearing from some of the group.
The group discussing ideas for Albion while the bridge is closed will next meet at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Hoag Library. People don’t need to own a downtown business or building to be part of the discussion or to work on a project.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 October 2022 at 12:25 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Science teacher Lisa Bitsas, right, shows a poster to Barb Michaud and Lisa Prentice in Medina High School’s office promoting a basket raffle benefit the women are doing for Bob Hiller on Oct. 15.
MEDINA – A basket raffle scheduled Oct. 15 at Medina High School will benefit a local resident who is battling cancer.
Bob Hiller is a Medina man who is loved and respected by the community, his family and friends, said three employees of Medina High School, who are planning the benefit.
Bob Hiller, who is battling cancer, is pictured with his wife Lee, who is secretary in Medina High School’s guidance office.
Bob’s wife Lee is secretary in Medina High School’s guidance officer. Lisa Bitsas, science teacher, along with high school office employees Barb Michaud and Lisa Prentice got together to plan the fundraiser.
Bob is unable to work after undergoing surgery and is waiting to begin chemotherapy.
“He is a part of our community, and he has helped so many people himself,” Bitsas said. “Everyone loved his smiling face at the Medicine Shoppe.”
Bob has lived in Medina all his life, and Bitsas hopes everyone in the community will come and support him now.
She said the response for baskets throughout the school district and the community has been overwhelming. Anyone who would still like to help may drop off a basket or a donation at the High School office or call (585) 798-2700 and choose option 1.
The raffle will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 15.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) expressed his displeasure with Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon’s decision to lower the farm overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours.
With inflation and minimum wage set to rise again, this decision could force hundreds of farms out of business in the very near future.
“This decision is going to have grave consequences for all New Yorkers because without farms, our state has no food,” Hawley said. “Farmers provide one of the most important services to our state and many of our farmers and farm laborers rely on the current 60-hour overtime threshold to ensure profits.
“Farmers face challenges unlike any other business and that last thing Albany should be doing from their ivory towers is telling our local farmers how to run their businesses,” Hawley said. “I will continue to lead the charge toward overturning this terrible ruling to protect our local agriculture operations.”
Editor’s Note: The overtime threshold will be phased in over 10 years. The overtime work limit will drop by 4 hours every other year beginning in 2024 until reaching 40 hours in 2032.
