By Mary Richards, FNP, Oak Orchard Health in Warsaw

Most everyone knows a friend or family member who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. That is because breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in American women, except for lung cancer. It can occur at any age, but the risk goes up as you get older. Because of certain risk factors, some women may have a greater chance of having breast cancer than others, according to the American Cancer Society.

Schedule your mammogram today!

Many women with breast cancer have no symptoms which is why it is important to get a regular mammogram. The American Cancer Society recommends women start at age 40 for their yearly breast cancer screening. Should you have a family history of breast cancer you may need to get your mammogram earlier, particularly if that family member was under 40 years of age and in your immediate family (sister, mother). If that is the case, you may want to start mammograms at 35. With that family history of breast or ovarian cancer, you may be eligible at age 25+ for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation test. According to the Mayo Clinic, the BRCA gene test is offered to those who are likely to have an inherited mutation based on personal or family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer. Talk to your health care provider about this option. 

What causes Breast Cancer? 

With about 1 in 8 women getting breast cancer during their life, it is important to look at what causes it. Though there are no definitive answers for every case of breast cancer, we do know that there are known risk factors. They are lifestyle related or genetic. A risk factor can increase your chance of getting it, but that is not for sure. Here are just a few according to the American Cancer Society:

Drinking alcohol is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Women who have one alcoholic drink a day have a small (about 7% to 10%) increase in risk compared with those who do not drink, while women who have two to three drinks a day have about a 20% higher risk. Alcohol is linked to an increased risk of other types of cancer, too.

Being overweight or obese. Having more fat tissue after menopause can raise estrogen levels and increase the chances of getting breast cancer. Women who are overweight also tend to have higher blood insulin levels. Higher insulin levels have been linked to some cancers, including breast cancer. However, weight is a complex topic when it comes to a link to cancer. You should talk with your provider if you have questions.

Not being physically active. The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week (or a combination of these). Getting to or going over the upper limit of 300 minutes is ideal.

You can help reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices like eating right, staying active, and not smoking. It is also important to follow recommended screening guidelines, which can help detect certain cancers early. And never let paying for your mammogram stop you from getting one. Contact Oak Orchard Health at (585) 637-3905 and we can help you find financial support. 

‘The creation of an ambulance district in order to implement a tax for service has been discussed, and is on the September meeting agenda, but unfortunately includes a long legal process to establish.’

Press Release, Orleans County EMS Task Force

ALBION – On October 26, 2021 the local elected officials in Orleans County were briefed on the crisis EMS agencies are facing not only in our county, but across all of New York State and throughout the Nation as a whole.

Following this, local officials requested that the county create and facilitate an EMS Task Force to identify issues ambulance services and fire departments in the county were facing and determine a course of action.

The EMS Task Force members included representatives from each town, village and fire department, as well as representatives from COVA, Kendall Ambulance, Monroe Ambulance and Medina Ambulance. Orleans County Legislators, Public Health Officials and the Orleans County Sheriff’s office were also included.

Prior to the EMS Task Force being established, the Orleans County Legislators worked with the Emergency Management Office to identify three major focus areas for the EMS Task Force to explore: augmenting the existing services with county municipal ambulances, contracting with the existing providers for service, and an EMS model similar to what is being used in the West side of the County.

The first meeting of the Orleans County EMS Task Force was held on Feb. 16, 2022. Although introductory, the meeting laid important ground work for future meetings. Each ambulance service provided an overview of their operation and an evaluation of their strengths, weaknesses, challenges they face and how they overcome them.

A history of EMS within Orleans County was provided so that all members of the Task Force had an understanding of the challenges currently faced.  One challenge highlighted, addressed the loss of six volunteer fire department operated ambulances or transport capable rescues in the past 15 years, with a seventh loss looming, as a result of less volunteer medics and rising operational costs.

Additionally, each ambulance agency within the county is different; what is legally allowed to do for one agency may not be allowed for another. Kendall Ambulance is all-volunteer non-profit, COVA is non-profit and combination of career and volunteer, Medina Fire Department Ambulance is a municipal agency, and Monroe Ambulance is a career for-profit agency.

Response metrics for the previous 4 years were distributed, showing increased requests for ambulances, increased response times, increased number of calls the responsible agency was unable to handle, and increased requests for mutual aid response.

‘Medicaid and Medicare are also an issue of great concern when it comes to funding.  Medicaid and Medicare reimburse at rates of 20-30% of what is actually billed by the transporting ambulance agency.’

For some agencies the increases were minimal and no cause for alarm, while for others the numbers were concerning. Each metric examined has an impact on each of the others; more requests for services means less ambulances available which leads to ambulances responding from greater distances, or relying on other ambulance services for mutual aid which causes shortages in other service areas.

As meetings progressed the three focus areas remained consistent, but the Task Force also began to evaluate additional factors impacting these focus areas.

Staffing shortages continue to be a challenge for volunteer and career agencies. One contributing factor is that EMS is not considered an essential service, and therefore not a part of the same retirement and benefit systems that law enforcement and firefighters are a part of.

As a result, EMS sees a large turnover of personnel as they ultimately seek jobs outside of EMS that offer those benefits. For both career and volunteer medics, there is a great deal of training required to become certified and additional education is required to keep certifications current. The financial investment of this training can be significant.

Many of the local volunteers happily donate their time to participate in available training and respond to a calls. However, as dedicated as volunteers are, outside obligations sometimes mean the local fire department is unable to have an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on every call within their response area. As a result the Task Force is looking at ways to better compensate career medics and how to recruit and retain both volunteers and career personnel.

Available funding is one of the ongoing issues for ambulance agencies. The EMS Task Force sought proposals to evaluate costs associated with providing EMS service, at varying levels, in the East and Center portions of the county and exploring the means to fund this service. The creation of an ambulance district in order to implement a tax for service has been discussed, and is on the September meeting agenda, but unfortunately includes a long legal process to establish.

Recruitment, training, continuing education and retention of both career and volunteer providers will remain focus areas for the EMS Task Force going forward.

Insurance reimbursement plays a significant role in an EMS agency’s bottom line. Although New York State Law requires insurance checks to be paid to the patient rather than the transporting EMS agency, this often times results in delayed payment or non-payment to the EMS agency. And although legislation has failed to pass committee on either the Senate or Assembly side for over a decade, our County Legislators and EMS Coordinator have continued to work with Senator Ortt, Assemblyman Hawley, Assemblyman Norris and the Senate Minority Office to get this legislation changed.

Medicaid and Medicare are also an issue of great concern when it comes to funding.  Medicaid and Medicare reimburse at rates of 20-30% of what is actually billed by the transporting ambulance agency.  Locally the impacts of this low reimbursement have impacted COVA significantly. The Villages of Orleans, Albion Correctional Facility and Orleans Correctional Facility all fall in COVA’s response area and most transports from these facilities are Medicaid or Medicare covered, these responses ultimately result in a loss.

As it stands now, estimated costs to provide services for EMS service in the Center and Eastern portions of the county are being obtained by the towns. If agreements are met between the towns and service providers in regard to ambulance coverage, this solves only one challenge we currently face.

Recruitment, training, continuing education and retention of both career and volunteer providers will remain focus areas for the EMS Task Force going forward.

In the unfortunate situation that an agency is no longer able to provide service, there are mutual aid plans in place at the state and county level to ensure that ambulance coverage will still be provided.

Sue Clark Squires, left, and Sue Green, both of Medina and members of the Class of 1982, have been friends since seventh grade.

MEDINA – This past weekend was a time to celebrate and renew old friendships for Medina High School’s Class of 1982.

Groups of classmates attended a mixer Friday night at Zambistro’s new Bistro Bar Room. They are the first party to take place there. On Saturday night, 39 members of the class gathered at Shelridge Country Club for conversation, drinks and snacks.

The 210 students who graduated in 1982 were the biggest class to graduate from Medina. Class officers were Tam Menz, president; Carole Moore, vice president; Sheila Mack, treasurer; and Beth Feltz, secretary. Their members represent an impressive list of accomplishments.

To highlight just a few: Ann Webster Bunch is a professor; Jeanne Putinas Spencer is a doctor and educator in Jamestown, Pa.; Randy Bushover is a producer at WBEN radio in Buffalo; Sue Clark Squires is supervising superintendent of eight jails in the Wende hub; Sandra Leigh Hellwig is a pharmacist; Brandi Zavitz, art teacher and muralist; and Kathie Lewandowski Allen of Florida is an interior designer.

Squires said she started working at the Albion Correctional Facility in 1985 as a stenographer. She returned in 2018 as superintendent.

The class as met every five years since they graduated. This year a new memorial table was set up, honoring the 15 class members who have died.

Bronwyn Balcerzak Green was head of the planning committee for the reunion, which included Cindy Cotriss Flynn, Tam Menz, Randy Bushover, Sandra Leigh Hellwig, Tina Zelazny Feldman, Wende Manuele Nicosia, Ann Webster Bunch.

Several classmates have attended every reunion – Bronwyn Balcerzak Green, Cindy Cotriss Flynn, Kathie Lewandowski Allen, Tam Menz, Michael Slack, and Linda Wind Zakrzewski.

The Class of 1982 has given a $200 scholarship every year in memory of Brian Kwiatkowski to a senior interested in being an EMT or becoming involved in firefighting.

Members this year traveled from Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana and Connecticut, as well as across New York state.

Provided photo: : Nicole Tuohey is pictured with some of the links she sells for $1 to support the Western New York chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. She has raised about $15,000 in the past decade-plus selling the links. She has 741 links so far this year and wants to break her record of 1,639 set last year.

MEDINA – A Medina woman is again selling “elephant links” for $1 in a fundraiser for the Western New York chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Nicole Tuohey, 32, already has sold 741 links. She is trying to break her record of 1,639 set last year.

The links are available at Case-Nic Cookies on Main Street in Medina, a business owned by her mother, Mary Lou Tuohey.

Nicole has Triple X Syndrome. She hasn’t let that disability prevent her from being a tireless advocate against a disease that took the lives of her grandparents, Don and Jane Bradley.

Nicole typically is part of the kickoff celebration for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This year’s event will on Oct. 8 at State Street Park in Medina. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., with the Walk commencing at 11 a.m.

That walk already has $15,511 raised for a $28,000 goal. Click here for more information.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In New York alone, there are more than 410,000 people living with the disease and 580,000 caregivers.

Photos by Tom Rivers

YATES – The Town of Yates hosted a bicentennial celebration on Saturday at the Yates Town Park, which has received $2.5 million in upgrades.

The top photos shows Town Supervisor Jim Simon cutting a cake with Mary Scarlett, the town’s oldest resident at age 96; and Sandra Houseman Gapa, who is descended from George Houseman, one of the town’s first residents in 1809. He was Gapa’s great-great-great-great grandfather.

Saturday’s event was the third and final bicentennial party for the town. The “Grand Finale Lake Fair” followed the “Family Fair” in July and the “Street Dance” in August.

Sandra Houseman Gapa, 63, said George Houseman moved to Yates in 1809 and died in 1814. (Yates was originally part of the town of Ridgeway before forming its own town in 1822.)

Houseman Gapa said she is grateful her family has stayed in the town for more than 200 years. She raised three children in Lyndonville and Yates.

“It’s a great school system,” she said. “We’re all neighbors here.”

Town Supervisor Jim Simon tries some of the new playground equipment with his granddaughter, 2 ½-year-old Adelaide.

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 cedar pavilion was named in honor of Russ Martino, a former town supervisor who led the town government when the 5 acres was acquired 25 years ago for the park.

State Sen. Rob Ortt is speaking in this photo. He said the park’s location by the lake offered a striking location for residents and families to get some recreation and respite.

“This has to be one of the most beautiful views from a park in all of New York State.”

The Simon brothers – John Paul, Elijah and Sharbel – sang the first and fourth verses of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” Their father is the town supervisor.

American Legion members Scott Goetze and Bob Burtwell, left, were part of the Honor Guard for the ceremony.

State Sen. Rob Ortt presents a proclamation to Simon in honor of the town’s 200^th anniversary. Eileen Banker, right, is chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley who also had a proclamation for the town’s bicentennial from the State Assembly.

Ortt also praised Simon and the Town Board for pushing for the park upgrades which were 95 percent funded through the New York State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature supported the $300 million in REDI projects along the southshore to help fight erosion and flooding, and also boost tourism and recreation opportunities for residents, Ortt said.

The Yates projects at the park also include a kayak launch, bolstered shoreline, pier and walking trail, as well as the playground and pavilion.

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, a Yates resident, presents a proclamation from the County Legislature on behalf of Yates’ bicentennial.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has announced the return of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services at Medina Memorial Hospital beginning on Sept. 28.

These services will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, according to Scott Robinson, director of marketing, communications and outreach at the hospital.

“The importance of MRI services cannot be overstated,” said Erica Chutko, director of radiology at Orleans Community Health. “We can perform MRI on the brain, spine, chest, abdomen, pelvis and extremities. These tests can help detect potential health concerns, such as strokes, tumors, multiple sclerosis and much more.”

The MRI machine is a mobile unit which allows the hospital to flex it scheduling with the demand, while keeping current with technology, Robinson said.

“We’re working with Alliance Health Services to make this possible,” he said

An MRI is a non-invasive imaging exam that does not include any radiation, Robinson explained. To schedule an appointment, patients will need a referral from their doctor. Some insurances required prior authorization.

Appointments can be made scheduled with the radiology department by calling (585) 798-8054.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A member of the color guard at Lancaster performs during Saturday’s “Fall Festival of the Bands” competition at Vets Park in Medina.

There were seven field bands at the competition including the Pride of Rochester, Marcus Whitman, Hilton, West Seneca, Medina, Lancaster and Jamestown.

About 1,000 people attended the event, which returned last year after being cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lancaster performed a show with the theme of “Eyes of Surprise.” Lancaster utilizes both traditional folk songs and original music to explore the many moods expressed by eyes.

Lancaster was second in National Class on Saturday with a score of 78.90.

The West Seneca Marching Band performed a show called “Lux Solaris.” It was based on the beauty of the sun and takes the crowd through a full day of sunshine, a luminous sunrise, through the bright and energetic morning, a gorgeous afternoon and a glorious sunset.

West Seneca earned first in Large School 2 at 75.95 points.

The West Seneca band walks off the field at Vets Park after their performance on Saturday.

Jamestown performed “Lunar Odyssey.” The show imagined what the dark side of the moon would look, feel and sound like. The band tried to make the crowd imagine what it what be like to explore this mysterious side of the moon.

Jamestown earned first in National Class at 79.0 points.

Jamestown’s Drum Major Juliana Yanik acknowledges the crowd and judges.

Medina posted the top score of the evening at 81.05. That was also first place in the Small School 1 division, and also higher than the larger schools in the competition.

The Medina show is “Take to the Skies.” It is a voyage amongst the clouds that are experienced when traveling through the air on a flight to and from a dream destination during the Jet Age of aviation.

There are four movements in the Medina show – Taking Off, Amongst the Clouds, Arriving at Your Destination, and Returning Home.

Three other field bands also performed Saturday in Medina. Hilton was first in Large School 1 at 71.40; Marcus Whitman was first in Small School 3 at 69.35; and The Pride of Rochester was in exhibition and wasn’t scored.

The Pride of Rochester did a show based on “Motown Melodies,” featuring iconic Motown performances including by the Jackson Five, and “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvellettes.

Marcus Whitman’s show was based on the music of West Side Story while Hilton presented a baseball-themed show called “Batter Up!”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Melissa Valley, left, president of the Mustang Sports Boosters, and secretary Mollie Mark hold a poster promoting a unique new look for Homecoming the Week of Oct. 3 to 7.

MEDINA – Homecoming is always a highlight at every school, but at Medina High School next week, the Mustang Sports Boosters want to share the excitement with the whole community.

The Mustangs will celebrate homecoming from Oct. 3 to Oct. 7, including when the Medina Mustang football team faces Springville-Griffith Institute next Friday at Veterans Memorial Park.

“To us, homecoming is a community event, a time to celebrate not just Mustang athletics, but who we are as a community,” said Melissa Valley, president of the Mustang Boosters. “Businesses are so supportive of us and we want to support them.”

The Boosters’ goal for homecoming week is to have the whole community involved in the Mustang Spirit, Valley said. They hope to get businesses involved in two ways.

To support the local businesses, the Boosters will advertise their business on their website and on social media. They will create a “Mustang menu,” where businesses can promote a “Mustang special” for the week of homecoming. Businesses who wish to participate are asked to come up with a special offer for that week.

“We expect nothing in return,” Valley said. “We want to support you by enticing the community to support your business, while encouraging Mustang spirit.”

The second way is with a window contest. Businesses are asked to decorate their store windows to show Mustang spirit. The public will then be invited to vote for the best decorated window via the Mustang Boosters Twitter and Facebook pages. The winner will be announced at halftime during the homecoming game.

“We are all Mustangs, not just the sports teams,” Valley said. “When people come into Medina, we want them to feel the Mustang spirit.”

The Boosters have ordered a banner which will be draped across Main Street during the week. They will further support local businesses by selling cookies from Case-Nic Cookies, chocolates from Della’s and carnations from Creekside Florist at the high school. Mike Lepkyj, tech teacher, and his classes are making Mustang molds for Della’s to make the Mustang chocolates.

“We hope people will shop and buy Mustang specials,” Valley said. “I’m excited everyone is on board with us.”

Applications for businesses who want to participate can be found on the Booster’s website at https://sites.com/mustangboosters.org/msb. That is also the site on which to vote for the best-decorated store.

Also assisting Valley, who teaches sixth grade and coaches field hockey and track, is Mollie Mark, fourth-grade teacher who coaches modified cross country and is secretary of the Mustang Sports Boosters.

Homecoming Week will also feature the first ever Powder Puff flag football game on Wednesday at Vets Park. The junior girls will play the seniors and the boys will be cheerleaders. The game will start at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $2 to benefit the Student Association. Concessions will be available.

This was an idea kids in the Student Association came up with, said Student Association adviser Kayla Rosenbeck.

Friday will also feature food trucks in the Oak Orchard School bus loop from 4 to 7 p.m.

“We hope to make this an annual event,” Valley said. “We need more things that bring us together and make us happy.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina Mustangs compete at home on Saturday during the “Fall Festival of Bands.”

Medina posted the top score on the evening at 81.05. That was first place in the Small School 1 division, and also higher than the larger schools in the competition.

The results included Jamestown, first in National Class at 79.0; Lancaster, second in National Class at 78.90; West Seneca, first in Large School 2 at 75.95; Hilton, first in Large School 1 at 71.40; Marcus Whitman, first in Small School 3 at 69.35; and The Pride of Rochester, in exhibition (no score).

The Medina band will next compete on Oct. 1 in Oswego.

Here are some more photos of the Medina band. About 1,000 people attended the competition at Vets Park.

The Medina show is “Take to the Skies.” It is a voyage amongst the clouds that are experienced when traveling through the air on a flight to and from a dream destination during the Jet Age of aviation.

There are four movements in the show – Taking Off, Amongst the Clouds, Arriving at Your Destination, and Returning Home.

This year’s band consists of 91 students of which 27 are seniors and 23 rookies. The band is directed this year for the first time by Matthew Jaeger.

The Marching Band Booster Club sold buttons and other merchandise. They also ran food concessions and sold 50/50 tickets.

Mia Hobbs leads the band as drum major. She is shown above the front ensemble.

Price drops 24 cents a gallon in Orleans in past week

Photo by Tom Rivers: Regular unleaded was selling for $3.79 a gallon on Friday at the Crosby’s on Route 104 in Gaines.

The average price for regular unleaded has dropped 24 cents in Orleans County the past week. The current price of $3.753 in Orleans is lowest of all counties in Western New York except Niagara at $3.628. (A week ago the price in Orleans was at $3.987, according to AAA.)

Orleans typically is the highest priced in WNY. It’s 10 cents cheaper today than in neighboring Genesee County.

The prices today among the WNY counties, according to AAA, include:

• Orleans, $3.753
• Genesee, $3.850
• Wyoming, $3.879
• Livingston, $3.866
• Niagara, $3.628
• Monroe, $3.758
• Erie, $3.836
• Chautauqua, $3.874
• Cattaraugus, $3.825
• Allegany, $3.876

The lowest price in the state currently is at Cortland County, $3.346, while the highest price is at Hamilton County, $4.021.

AAA reports that the national price is up 5 cents in the past week to $3.73.

Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is down 10 cents in the past week at $3.678 today compared to $3.780 a week ago, $4.180 a month ago and $3.278 a year ago. The diesel price is at $5.050 today compared $5.128 a week ago, $5.363 a month ago and $3.396 a year ago.

AAA released the following statement about gas prices:

“There is mixed news when it comes to gas prices this week. Regionally, prices continue to drop as demand is down, oil prices remain lowered overall, and cheaper winter blend fuel is being sold.

“In fact, most of the country is now using less expensive winter blend gasoline, which has contributed a decline in pump prices in recent weeks. Only California has yet to make the switch, but that happens on Nov. 1.

“Nationally, gas prices are on the rise once again. After declining for 98 consecutive days, the national average reversed course last week as fluctuating oil prices and tight supply (due to planned and unplanned maintenance work at refineries on the West Coast and Midwest) contribute to rising pump prices. This week, high demand for gasoline down south as Florida braces for a potential hurricane is also contributing to the national increase.

“This morning, oil prices are at $78 to $85 per barrel after some spikes last week. While lower oil prices lead to lower gas prices, the market is concerned over a possible recession, which would likely cause crude demand and prices to decrease.”

The entrance to the city of Pompeii with the view of Mt Vesuvius looming in the distance.

Let’s go on an adventure together…to Pompeii

This is the third in a series of articles from a Mediterranean Adventure I took in August. This post will focus on the first port of the Mediterranean cruise portion of the trip – Naples, Italy.

We were told that when in Italy, it is called Napoli, not Naples – they said that “Naples” is in Florida! Hahaha! Napoli is the capital of Campania and is the third largest city in Italy after Rome and Milan. Napoli comes from the Greek word Neapolis which means “new city” or “new town”. It was originally given this name by its early Greek inhabitants in the 8th century BC.

We arrived in port at 6:15 am and had to be back on ship no later than 4:30 pm, so we didn’t have a lot of time in that port. Possible sights to see while in this port were Napoli, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Isle of Capri, and Pompeii. I chose to do a 4 hour “Pompeii on Your Own” tour that started at 8:15 am. A bus took us from the ship to Pompeii with a guide who talked about what we were seeing along the way – so it was also a Napoli city tour – and what we could expect when we got there. She then walked us from where the bus had to park to the site and showed us where to get audio headsets and where to go, etc.

It was the most amazing feeling and so cool to be standing in a place that was destroyed by a volcano in 79 AD…… 1,943 years ago……and it’s ruins are still there telling their story……mind blowing!!! The entrance to the city with the view of Mt Vesuvius in the distance had me overwhelmed with emotion and sense of awe over the idea of what happened there almost 2000 years ago. We think we have history here – 200+ years, but going anywhere in Europe and other countries show us just how inferior that timeframe is. WOW!!!

So – if you didn’t pay attention in history class… Pompeii was an ancient city located in what is now the commune of Pompeii, near Naples in the Campania region of Italy. Pompeii, along with many villas in the surrounding area, was buried under 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 ft) of volcanic ash and pumice during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Largely preserved under the ash, the excavated city offered a unique snapshot of Roman life, frozen at the moment it was buried. Approximately 1,150 bodies have been found on site so far, so the theory is that many did have time to escape the devastation. But, can you imagine? Seeing history up close and personal like that is pretty danged amazing!

The ancient ruins of the city of Pompeii in the Campania region of Italy.

A lesson learned and a bit of advice for anyone finding themselves in ports with shore excursion options – “On Your Own” excursions can be good or bad, depending on the time you’ll have to spend there. Be aware that “on your own” means just that. You’re paying for transportation to the site only – no guided tours and most likely they don’t include entrance fees. I was aware of all of this, so no surprise, there. However, given the time it took the bus to get us to and from Pompeii and the short time we were actually there, I think I would have gotten a lot more out of a guided tour than I did trying to figure it out on my own – especially since my headset was set to a language I didn’t understand…hhhmm. I also got some very upsetting news from home the night before that put a damper on my day. So, I didn’t get to see as much of Pompeii as I would have liked. But, it was still a huge thrill just being there. I mean, how could it NOT be?

So, when choosing shore excursions, do a bit of research. Read the reviews (unfortunately, in this case, there were no reviews to read). Determine how much time you’ll have to actually spend at the site to be sure you’ll have enough time to really enjoy it. After all, it may be the only time you’ll ever be there and you don’t want to regret not getting the most out of it. Don’t get me wrong, though – some “on your own” tours are awesome and worth the investment. Just be sure to know what to expect.

For more info and photos about Pompeii, check out my Blog Post!

Happy Adventuring!

ALBION – A group of Albion community members will meet today from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to discuss ways to soften the impact of the Main Street bridge closure.

That bridge, built in 1914, is scheduled to close on Oct. 17 and not reopen for about 18 months.

A community group is looking for ways to help the downtown business district during the closure, and also help motorists with well-defined detours, including in the village.

“Bring your ideas, excitement and volunteerism,” Karen Sawicz, owner of Lake Country Media, said in an email on Friday to people who attended the first meeting on Sept. 12. “We all need to work together on this project!! Invite your neighbors, other Albion businesses.”

At the first meeting some ideas proposed included block parties, concerts, a Christmas tree festival, cornhole tournaments, designated spots for food trucks, ax throwing competitions and many other events.

“This can devastate a community or we can use it as a building tool,” Michael Bonafede, a downtown building owner, said at the Sept. 12 meeting.

Editor’s Note: The following statement was sent by the town supervisors in Albion, Barre, Gaines and Carlton. They are in central Orleans which is the service area for COVA Ambulance. The supervisors include Richard Remley of Albion, Sean Pogue of Barre, Tyler Allport of Gaines and Gayle Ashbery of Carlton.

“The towns of Carlton, Gaines, Albion and Barre, in conjunction with the county-wide EMS Task Force, have been working on ways to find solutions to our ambulance coverage and funding issues.

“While no definite conclusion has been reached, we are exploring many viable solutions for our respective towns. We fully realize the importance of 24/7 emergency coverage and we are striving to ensure that remains the standard in our communities.

“Please be assured that there are mutual aid plans in place at the county and state levels to ensure that none of the towns will go without ambulance service.

“It is also important to note that there are no easy, free solutions to these problems. We are, however, striving to find the most cost-effective way forward while providing the widest possible range of services.”

COVA asks community to sign petition for taxing district

Editor’s Note: Jennfer Stilwell. President of the COVA board of directors, sent a letter to the editor to the Orleans Hub today, urging community support for a taxing district in the fur towns that she said would cost an average of $43 annually per year.

COVA has stopped overnight staffing as it faces a fiscal crisis and needs $150,000 to stave off closing before Jan. 1.

“In a last-ditch effort our community has come to us with petitions for our towns to get us a tax district. The outpouring from local residents has kept us going and we are grateful for this last effort you have asked for,” Stilwell wrote.

The petitions are at the Olde Dogge Inn in Gaines, at Toyz n Kandy in Albion, the COVA base in Albion, Gilligan’s Galley in Carlton. Or call COVA at 585-589-4163 for information on how to get access to a petition.

“We have one week to get as many signatures as possible,” Stilwell wrote. “We also encourage everyone who is concerned to go to your town meetings in October and voice your concern and support to get us a tax district. This would raise your taxes approximately $43 per year or less per household. That is not per person! That is per taxed household! A very small price to pay for the security of your community-based ambulance.”