Photos by Tom Rivers: Wes Bradley served as Lyndonville’s fireworks chairman for 19 years. He is shown on July 4, 2024, pulling a collection container in the Lyndonville parade. Bradley raised $50,000 to make that fireworks display the biggest ever in Lyndonville. That year was the 50th anniversary of the Lyndonville Lions Club organizing the July 4th celebration.

LYNDONVILLE – One of Orleans County’s greatest citizens passed away on Sept. 27. Wes Bradley was 77.

After a career as a science teacher for middle schoolers and a coach at Lyndonville, Bradley may have been best known in recent years as the chairman of Lyndonville’s phenomenal fireworks show on July 4.

He worked all year rounding up donations for the show. The July 4, 2024 show was his last as chairman. He met his goal of raising $50,000 for the 50^th anniversary fireworks display for the Lyndonville Lions Club.

Wes Bradley, shown on Dec. 3, 2016, for many years also served as emcee of Lyndonville’s Christmas celebration in early December when Santa arrived and 60 to 100 Christmas trees are typically lit up at Veterans’ Park. Bradley has said many dedicated volunteers put on events to enliven Lyndonville.

Bradley proudly wore a one-of-kind T-shirt that Young Explosives made for him showing the fireworks in Lyndonville. Bradley had a strong bond with the crew from Young Explosives. He brought them chicken barbecue dinners while they set up in stifling heat for the July 4^th show in Lyndonville. It was one of the biggest shows in all of Western New York despite Lyndonville being one of the smallest communities to host a fireworks show.

Those fireworks would bring in thousands of people, and Bradley was proud to show off the village with its flag-lined Main Street and friendly residents.

Bradley and one of his best friends, Mark Hughes, for years would put 75 flags on the utility poles that line the street. Bradley would climb the ladder and put the flags up, and would make an early morning check on July 4^th to make sure they were all looking good and not rolled up.

Hughes passed away on June 4. He was another dedicated teacher and coach at Lyndonville. The two were both pillars of the community the past half century.

They both stayed deeply involved in the school – long after their retirement.

Bradley was a soccer official locally, and did a game about three weeks ago. He could run the field well into his 70s.

Lyndonville needed a boys soccer coach in 2024 for the varsity team. The previous year, Lyndonville didn’t have its own team due to low numbers.

Bradley agreed to be the coach and the team helped him reach a career milestone of 200 victories. Many of those players attended his calling hours on Friday.

Young Explosives also was there at the calling hours. So were many former students, teachers, Lyndonville firefighters and community members.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Wes Bradley is shown in late August 2024 when he returned to coaching the Lyndonville varsity soccer team. He is shown meeting with five veteran players from the last Tigers varsity team in 2022. They include Austin Fonda, Michael Alexander, Colton Smith, Jesus Rosario and Brody Hazel. The team would earn Bradley’s his 200th career soccer victory.

When Bradley moved to Lyndonville in August 1979 at age 31, he joined the Lyndonville Fire Department. He was inspired by his father’s example. Ray Bradley volunteered for more than 30 years as a firefighter in Canton, NY.

Bradley was an active firefighter responding to many calls, finding the time even during his very busy days as teacher and coach.

In his 70s, he still was going to about 50 calls a year and served as the department’s chaplain. In 2019, he was Lyndonville’s firefighter of the year at age 71.

“He does everything very professional,” Ben Bane, the Lyndonville fire chief at the time, told the Orleans Hub. “As chaplain, he is always there to comfort members when we have bad calls.”

Bradley, after years as an interior firefighter, continued as an exterior firefighter and with the fire police on traffic control. He also went on EMS calls. He wasn’t an EMT but he said it is comforting for many residents to see their neighbors in the fire service respond to the calls.

“I enjoy serving the community,” Bradley said on Feb. 1, 2020 when he was presented with the award. “The community has been good to me. I can give a little bit back.”

Laurie Bradley said her husband was “a go-getter who wanted to serve others.” She was the school librarian at Lyndonville. She and Wes raised three children in the community.

Ben Bane, Lyndonville’s fire chief in 2020, presents the Firefighter of the Year award to Wes Bradley on Feb. 1, 2020.

Bob Larkin worked as a custodian at the school district. He saw Bradley every day and without fail Bradley always was quick to greet Larkin by name. During the end-of-season pizza parties, Bradley made sure his team picked up after themselves.

If there was a fire alarm at the school, Bradley was typically the first on the scene in his firefighter turn-out gear, Larkin said.

Lee Dillenbeck, a Lyndonville teacher and coach, said the community is reeling from the loss of Bradley and Hughes. Both were tremendous mentors for teachers and students, Dillenbeck said.

Bradley never wavered in trying to be of service to the community.

“He was the best person you could come across,” Dillenbeck said. “Anything you needed he was there for you.”

Photos courtesy of ABATE in Orleans County

KENDALL – The Orleans County chapter of ABATE (Americans Bikers Aimed Toward Education) recently resented $500 checks to three fire departments in eastern Orleans County.

The top photo shows Chuck Persons, second from right, and Becky Persons, right, of ABATE presenting a $500 check to the Kendall Fire Department. They are joined by Fire Chief Randy Davis, second from right, and Mike Schultz, president of the Kendall FD.

Last year ABATE presented similar checks to the central battalion departments, and they donated to the western battalion in 2023.

The donations to the eastern battalion are the result of a fundraising ride and a basket raffle this summer.

Becky Persons of ABATE presents a $500 check to Bob Freida, fire chief of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company.

ABATE also donated $500 to the Murray Joint Fire District.

ABATE leaders said firefighters are often the first on the scene if a motorcyclist is an accident.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is hosting three town hall events in Monroe and Genesee Counties on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Hawley will take the time to meet with constituents and discuss the issues that matter to them the most. These events will give the community the opportunity to let their voices be heard and share their thoughts and concerns about where the state is headed.

“Speaking directly with my constituents is one of the most important parts of my job,” said Hawley. “I hope people show up to share their thoughts and opinions on how we can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

The schedule includes:

• Town of Wheatland, Village of Scottsville and Hamlet of Mumford on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Genesee Country Village & Museum in the Meeting Center Lounge, 1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford, NY 14511

• Town of LeRoy and Village of LeRoy on Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Woodward Memorial Library, The Mystery Room, 7 Wolcott St., LeRoy, NY 14482

• Town of Batavia and City of Batavia on Oct. 11 from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Batavia City Centre, Council Room on 2nd Floor, 102 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020

Assemblyman Steve Hawley represents the 139th Assembly District, which includes parts of Erie, Genesee, Monroe and Orleans counties.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Some leaves on these trees are still green and others have changed to bright colors. This is a spot on the Erie Canal Towpath in Albion, east of the Ingersoll Street lift bridge.

Some parts of the state are seeing peak fall foliage colors, while locally it is about at midpoint with lots of green leaves still on the trees.

“Beautiful peak fall colors will continue to spread through the Adirondacks and Catskills, and are expected to arrive in some parts of the Chautauqua-Allegheny and Finger Lakes regions this weekend,” I Love NY posted on Wednesday.

A spotter in Albion reports that there is less than 15% change in Albion “with average to bright red, orange and yellow leaves.”

A spotter in Buffalo reports a 25 percent change while one in East Aurora puts it at 55 percent.

In Niagara County, there is 50 percent change in Lewiston and 25 percent transition in Niagara Falls.

In Wyoming County, Letchworth State Park is seeing 50 percent change in Castile and 60 percent change in Warsaw.

Map courtesy of I Love NY: Some parts of the state are in peak fall foliage conditions, while Orleans County still has a ways to go towards peak.

ALBION – A former Albion man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court to attempted course of sexual conduct in third degree and could get up to five years in state prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 3.

Joel Prouty, 39, now lives in Bethany. He admitted in County Court on Wednesday to having anal sexual contact at least twice with a victim between June 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. The victim was the ages of 9 and 10 when this happened, the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office said.

Prouty was charged on May 21 by the Albion Police Department with course of sex conduct against a child in the 1st degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

In other cases in County Court:

Allan Bieber, 22, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at St. Joseph’s Park on South Clinton Street on April 25. It was dark at the park at about 9 p.m. when the alleged rape occurred.

Bieber will face probation and no incarceration as part of a plea agreement. He could be a registered sex offender for 10 years. That will be determined at a hearing before Judge Sanford Church.

Jamar Daniel, 41, of the Bronx pleaded guilty last week to attempted promoting prison contraband in the first degree.

Daniel admitted to bringing a folding ceramic blade into the Orleans Correctional Facility on Nov. 17, 2024.

He faces up to 364 days in the county jail when he is sentenced.

‘This global experience had to be one of the most impactful things that ever happened to me on a personal level, spiritually and educationally’ – Todd Eick

Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: (Left) Todd Eick, former Medina teacher now an animal science teacher for Orleans/Niagara BOCES, holds a pig in Uganda. (Right) This group builds a structure.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Todd Eick, the Animal Science teacher at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, recently spent a month over the summer in Uganda with fellow educators to support education initiatives in a small village at the Lira Secondary School.

“It is without a doubt the best professional development and experience I have ever had,” said Eick, who previously worked in Medina for 14 years as FFA advisor and animal science teacher.  “There are not enough adjectives to describe that trip.”

The Global Teach Ag Network sent 12 educators, across the United States, to work with local schools in East Africa on global issues like agriculture and food security.  The Teach Ag Uganda project is funded by the USDE (United States Department of Education) Fulbright-Hays Program and partners with Field of Hope.

The teachers had the opportunity to work one-on-one with peer educator colleagues in Uganda to advance agriculture projects in local schools. Eick was assigned to work on a team with the students on building a piggery for pig farming.  He worked directly with two US teachers, one from Indiana and the other from Washington state, and three Uganda educators.

“We are all still in a group chat all the time” says Eick.  “We built great friendships and had so much fun together. Such amazing memories and knowledge to share. I love telling people I know someone who knows something about this and that. I had such a wonderful time there.”

The staff at a school joins for a group photo.

Eick had applied for the grant opportunity to take part in the program last October and was thrilled to find out that he was selected to be part of the project.

“I was kind of the elder statesman since I had more time in education than anyone else on the team, but I learned a lot from everyone I worked with,” he said. “We helped the school build the piggery and showed them how to select the pigs and care for them. We left educational artifacts for them to use after we returned home to help them run the farm.”

The visiting teachers were fascinated on how the Lira Secondary school was run.  A boarding school, there are 20-80 students in a classroom and the teachers rotate through each classroom.

Classes ran three weeks on and then three weeks off to allow the students to go home and help their families, many of them using the skills they learned in school to help their families generate extra money.

The students would be considered sophomores, juniors and seniors here.  “Most of the seniors were learning so they could take the state test and had a lot of project-based learning as part of their education as well,” Eick said. “The students were shy at first, but they warmed up pretty quickly to us. They were so eager to learn. How they implemented their curriculum was cool. For one hands-on learning project, we worked together to string a barbed wire fence. The students caught on very fast.”

There was no cafeteria, but everyone ate together. “We stood in line with the students with our bowls and we usually had some sort of stew made with beans, maize and rice,” explained Eick. “It was fascinating. It is a very poor country, but they were rich in hospitality.  They are truly the kindest, warmest people I have ever met.”

Eick, along with his fellow educators, also enjoyed a morning and evening safari to see the wildlife.

“It was magical,” he said. “We went to the Nile River. I must have taken hundreds of photos.   We visited several villages and a dairy farm and that was eye-opening on how varied milk production is there than it is here.”

He brought back a Uganda hoe as a souvenir.  “It cost me $3.75 and I had no idea how to use it, so the students had to show me. They thought it was hysterical. I have to say I learned as much from them as they did from me. I love this kind of teaching. It is a hand up not a handout. This global experience had to be one of the most impactful things that ever happened to me on a personal level, spiritually and educationally.  I am enjoying bringing these lessons into my classroom, especially doing more with less and embracing a worldwide perspective on things. My students here have really embraced this and we now share things in class from art to the practical from different countries. I am really looking forward to taking some of the students to Belgium and the Netherlands next year to learn about their agriculture and way of life. I really want them to have the same experience I did with seeing a different culture.”

Site includes climbing tower, a zipline, We-Go-Round, We-Saws, swings, climbing mounds, chill spinners and shaded seating areas

Photos and information courtesy of Kendall Central School

KENDALL – It was a special time on Wednesday evening at the Kendall Elementary School when the community celebrated the opening of a new school playground.

This is Kendall’s first community-accessible playground, a one-of-a-kind facility in the Northeast that will serve both students and families for years to come.

This playground is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. The playground includes ground-level entry points, durable turf surfacing, and equipment designed to accommodate children with limited mobility.

“Our early vision was to ensure that our students and residents had a space to come and spend time with family and friends right in our community,” said Nick Picardo, the school district superintendent. “I believe this playground will become a central place for families to gather, play, and enjoy the outdoors right here in Kendall.”

The playground was funded as a part of $12,680,000 capital project that was approved in December 2023.

That project was nearly entirely focused on the elementary school. The work included:

• An estimated $11,122,076 at the elementary school with site improvements and new paving, and a new playground with age-appropriate equipment. Inside the elementary school, projects include safety and security upgrades to interior doors, entryways, and alarm systems, as well as energy- efficient classroom lighting, corridor enhancements and auditorium upgrades, according to the district.
• The project includes $153,089 in work at the junior-senior high school for common area improvements with new flooring and lighting.
• In the transportation building, the capitol project includes two bus lifts at a cost of $1,065,278.
• A new roof for the Buildings & Grounds facility at a estimated cost of $339,557.

The new playground features cutting-edge structures including the Volo Aire, a multi-level climbing tower with covered slides that is the first of its kind on the East Coast. Other highlights include a zipline, We-Go-Round, We-Saws, swings, climbing mounds, chill spinners, and shaded seating areas.

Designed with accessibility at its core, the playground includes ground-level entry points, durable turf surfacing, and equipment designed to accommodate children with limited mobility. Dedicated areas for both younger and older elementary students ensure that children of all ages can play safely and comfortably.

Kendall school officials, including Board of Education President Rachel Fisken with scissors, celebrate the new playground on Wednesday.

This new addition is a major milestone not just for the district, but for the region: a protected design radius has been placed around Kendall, ensuring that no other nearby playgrounds will feature the same exclusive components, the school district stated in a news release.

 “In early January 2025, with a completed design in hand, the superintendent received a frantic call from me thanks to a brand-new, never-before-seen structure having just been released to the market,” said Andy Walsh, Genesee Regional Manager of Parkitects. “Under Nick Picardo’s leadership and with the support of the Kendall team, the decision was made to pivot and include the first Volo Aire in New York State. That bold move brought one of the most inclusive and accessible tower structures ever built to the Kendall community.”

Planning for the playground began with a unique focus on student voice and research. A student-led committee worked alongside staff and design experts to test playgrounds across Western New York and cast votes on preferred features—including the curly slide, which won by a landslide during Kendall’s own “Voting Day” in November 2023.

“This vibrant new space is more than just a place to play, it’s a reflection of our community’s creativity, collaboration, and commitment to joyful learning,” said Elementary Principal Kevin Watson. “From the first sketch to the final bolt, this playground was designed with our students in mind. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve built together.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Courthouse dome is shown Thursday night lighted up in purple this month in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

County legislators last week issued a proclamation in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Legislators said that while 90 percent of domestic violence cases go unreported, 265 cases were reported to the Orleans County Domestic Violence Unit in 2024, and 165 cases have been reported to the unit from Jan. 1, 2025 to Aug. 31, 2025.

County Legislator Fred Miller last week presented a proclamation to Judianne Gearing, Domestic Violence Supervisor (left), and Kelley Ortiz, Domestic Violence Services Coordinator.

“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,” according to the proclamation from the county. “Domestic violence is the major cause of injury to women, resulting in more injuries to women then auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined.”

The courthouse dome is lighted up in purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Department of Environmental Conservation have issued a state-wide burn ban from today through Oct. 15 due to high fire danger from dry conditions.

The state usually has a burn ban from mid-March until mid-May. But the abnormally dry and drought conditions prompted the temporary burn ban. The ban will be in effect for 14 days and will be revaluated prior to expiration, Hochul said.

“The ongoing nice weather is great for watching fall foliage or gathering with friends, but it also presents a higher risk for fires that put homes, businesses and our brave first responders at risk,” Hochul said. “Many regions are already in a drought watch or warning due to the dry conditions, and with the fire risk rising in some parts of the state, it is important to keep everyone safe by implementing this temporary burn ban.”

The statewide burn ban now in effect prohibits the starting of outdoor fires for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as all uncontained fires, including campfires, and open fires used for cooking, the DEC said.

WHAT’S ALLOWED: Backyard fire pits and contained campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width or diameter are allowed, as are small, contained cooking fires.

Burning garbage or leaves is already prohibited year-round in New York State and several municipalities have burn bans currently in effect.

Orleans County is considered to be in a “High” fire risk level. “All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes,” the DEC said about this level of fire risk. “Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on slopes or in concentrations of fine fuels. Fires may become serious and their control difficult unless they are attacked successfully while small.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Ed Morgan, right, presents a commendation to Charlie last week for his volunteer efforts in building new bathrooms at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Robert Batt, the executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, joins for the presentation.

The Legislature praised Ricci “for the extra effort put forth in the construction and completion of building new bathrooms at the Orleans County Cooperative Extension. Your effort is an excellent example of an everyday citizens getting involved.”

Ricci did most of the site work for the project.

This photo from July 16 shows the new bathrooms under construction just before the start of the fair in late July.

The new bathrooms also had four new showers. The new bathrooms and showers are handicapped accessible. There is more space for the users. The bathrooms and showers are now all in one building.

This map from the U.S. Drought Monitor posted today shows the “severe drought” conditions in all of Orleans, and parts of Genesee, eastern Niagara, Monroe and Wayne counties.

The persistent lack of rain has pushed Orleans County into a “severe drought.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor today updated the drought conditions around the county. Orleans County since Aug. 14 had been in a “moderate drought.”

But the continued lack of rainfall has the county in severe drought condition.

When that happens, the following impacts generally occur:

• Fish kills occur; wildlife move to farms for food
• Golf courses conserve water
• Producers begin feeding cattle; hay prices are high
• Specialty crops are impacted in both yield and fruit size
• Trees are brittle and susceptible to insects
• Warnings are issued on outdoor burns; air quality is poor
• Water quality is poor; groundwater is declining; irrigation ponds are dry; outdoor water restrictions are implemented

The map today from the Drought Monitor shows that 98.90 percent of the state is considered at least “abnormally dry.”

The map shows 41.76 percent of the land mass is considered at least “moderate drought” and 7.84 percent in “severe drought.”

Three months ago only 1.83 percent of state was “abnormally dry.”

This map shows where Medina Memorial Hospital plans to put a new parking lot with 56 spaces at 517, 521 and 525 Eagle St. The hospital will demolish a house for a new parking lot.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has approved a change in the village zoning map, expanding the Medical Overlay District on Eagle Street.

Medina Memorial Hospital will be demolishing a house at 525 Eagle St. and putting in a new parking lot with 56 spaces, which is across from the main entrance of the hospital on Ohio Street. The parking lot also includes 517 and 521 Eagle St.

The project also will include sidewalk improvements to the hospital’s main entrance. The new lot would be on a parcel that is .81 acre. The new lot will ease parking pressure in the main lot next to the hospital that is often congested.

The new parking lot will be for hospital employees, with patients and visitors parking on the other side of the street closer to the hospital. The project is expected to be complete next year.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Lee-Whedon Memorial Library Director Kristine Mostyn last week updated Orleans County legislators on an expansion to the Medina library that will add meeting rooms and a “maker space” will be a separate room for some of the programs. County Legislator Bill Eick is in back.

ALBION – The libraries in Orleans Conty are seeking $1 per person in funding from the Conty Legislature. That has been the request in recent years, but the Legislature has kept libraries at $10,087 since 2011.

The four public libraries in Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina are collectively seeking $40,343. The county’s population was 40,343 in the 2020 Census.

One of the library directors, Kristine Mostyn of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, told legislators that libraries have changed to meet the needs of the community, offering more online service, meeting spaces and programs.

“We’re not just a warehouse for books,” she said.

Lee-Whedon has just started a $5 million construction project that will put a 4,785-square-foot addition on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet.

The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, a teen room and 14 parking spots.

There would also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.

Mostyn said the initial projections on the local tax impact have lessened after Lee-Whedon secured grants and raised $360,000 in donations from the community. Lee-Whedon has set a $500,000 fund-raising goal on the capital campaign.

Library leaders from the other libraries are expected to make a presentation next month to the Legislature, seeking for a funding boost.

The county was giving $29,914 to be shared among the four libraries as recently as 2002, but that dropped to $7,480 in 2003. Since then, the amount was raised to $12,587 in 2007, $13,617 in 2010, and then was cut to $10,087 in 2011. It hasn’t changed since then.

Initiative focused on hygiene insecurity among disadvantaged youth in Orleans County

Provided photos: (Left) This laundry unit was purchased courtesy of Health Foundation for Western and Central New York project budget. (Right) This photo shows personal care and laundry supplies for participating students.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee

ALBION – Team Nate is part of Cohort 11 of the Health Leadership Fellows program. As part of the program, each team must define and execute a health enhancing project.

Team Nate and Community Action of Orleans and Genesee are proud to announce the launch of the Fresh Start Center, a groundbreaking initiative designed to address hygiene insecurity among disadvantaged youth in Orleans County.

Located within the Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts, and More at 131 South Main St., the Fresh Start Center provides discreet, dignified access to laundry facilities, hygiene products, and life skills support for students in need.

The center is a direct response to alarming local data showing that up to 39% of students in Orleans County live in poverty, with many homes lacking basic plumbing. Teachers have reported that hygiene-related stigma contributes to chronic absenteeism and social isolation, particularly among high school students.

“This project is about more than clean clothes—it’s about restoring dignity, improving mental health, and helping students stay in school,” said Renee Hungerford, Executive Director/CEO of Community Action. “We’re proud to offer a safe, supportive space where teens can take care of their basic needs without shame or judgment.”

(Left) Cassie Healy is the Fresh Start program manager. (Right) This artwork was completed by SUNY Brockport students.

The Center is embedded in Community Action’s thrift store, a familiar and accessible location. The initial pilot will focus on needs within the Albion High School.

Key features of the Fresh Start Center include:

• A private laundry area with a ventless washer-dryer unit.
• Free laundry supplies, and personal hygiene products.
• Life skills training and referrals to wraparound services such as housing, counseling, and employment support
• Plans for future expansion include shower facilities, pending funding.

Members of the Team Nate Fresh Start project team include:

• Larissa Bachman, MSW – Chief Operating Officer, Pinnacle Community Services
• Brandi Haynes – Chief Programming Officer, Community Action of WNY
• Renee Hungerford. MHI – CEO/CIO, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee
• Karen Kinter – CEO, Oak Orchard Health
• Michael C. Osborne – VP of Strategic Growth and Portfolio Development, Catholic Health
• Sarahmona Przybyla, PhD, MPH – Assistant Dean, University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions

Senior Health leaders selected to participate in Cohort 11 of the Health Leadership Fellows program of the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York.  From left to right they are: Renee Hungerford, MHI – CEO/CIO, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee; Karen Kinter – CEO, Oak Orchard Health; Larissa Bachman, MSW – Chief Operating Officer, Pinnacle Community Services; Sarahmona Przybyla, PhD, MPH – Assistant Dean, University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions; Tanya Staples – Principal Consultant at Perrin Associates – Team Coach; Brandi Haynes – Chief Programming Officer, Community Action of WNY; and Michael C. Osborne – VP of Strategic Growth and Portfolio Development, Catholic Health.

The project was made possible with funding from the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York and the dedication of volunteers. The team is grateful to the foundation for the funding and opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students.

We are also grateful to Mark Hungerford, and Dan and Cassie Healy for spending their weekends installing the necessary plumbing, electrical wiring, and setting up the space. A number of SUNY Brockport students volunteered their time to paint beautiful artwork in the center.

A special thanks also goes out to doctors Nancy Ciavarri and Thomas Verme for donated resources for future sustainability of the program after conclusion of the project. The team would also like to thank Suburban Electric and Albion Ace Hardware for affordable pricing of materials and the Albion High School for our valued partnership.

Community Action will continue to seek donations of hygiene and laundry items from the broader community to sustain the program.

For more information or to support the Fresh Start Center, please contact Community Action of Orleans and Genesee at info@caoginc.org.