By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 October 2023 at 9:02 am
Provided photos
HOLLEY – Vendetti Farms in Holley recently welcomed first-graders from Holley for a hayride, tour of farm equipment and pumpkin picking.
The farm hosts the first-graders every fall. The kids play a variety of games with pumpkins including pumpkin bowling, tic tac toe, ring toss and pumpkin stacking.
Students learn about the different types of corn grown on the farm and make a craft using ornamental corn.
Karen Clark, a school employee, brings her goats and chickens to the farm.
“It’s a fun day, not just for the kids, but also the adult volunteers, most of who are retired teachers from Holley School District,” Lynn Vendetti said.
Provided photos: This float made by Takeform in Medina was among the participants in last year’s Parade of Lights. Takeform donated the float to be used each year to transport Santa and Mrs. Claus in the parade. Individuals, organizations and businesses are encouraged to enter a float this year.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 October 2023 at 9:55 pm
MEDINA – The committee planning this year’s Parade of Lights on Nov. 25 is offering a special incentive of $50 to the first 10 entries by Oct. 31.
It was 15 years ago when organizer Jim Hancock heard about the small community of Ada, Mich. hosting a successful Parade of Lights for almost 20 years (a community half the size of Medina), he thought, “If they can do it, so can Medina.”
In 2009, Medina hosted its first Parade of Lights with 18 entries and two marching bands. Last year, the parade had 38 creative and whimsical floats and four marching bands, including Medina’s very own Mustang Marching Band.
Keeping with tradition, this year’s celebration is Nov. 25, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Thousands of people cozy up along Park Avenue and Main Street to partake in what has become a holiday tradition – an event reminiscent of a Hallmark movie scene, according to Lynne Menz, a member of the planning committee.
In 2020, the year of the Covid pandemic when many local parades and festivals were cancelled, the parade still went on in Medina. But instead of processing down the street, the floats were stationary throughout the Medina school campus, while visitors from far and wide drove past in their vehicles.
Medina Lions had this float in last year’s Parade of Lights. This year’s event is scheduled Nov. 25. To encourage early entries, the parade committee is offering $50 this year to the first 10 entries received before Oct. 31.
The parade caps off Medina’s annual Olde Tyme Christmas celebration, which has grown over the past 15 years to include a full day of activities leading up to the renowned Parade of Lights. This includes family friendly activities, a 5K run, food vendors, holiday shopping specials, performers and music throughout the historic downtown corridor.
The noon mini-parade featuring Pets on Parade ushers in Santa and Mrs. Claus, accompanied by members of the Mustang Marching Band. This parade has also grown with a record 25 entries in last year’s parade, featuring a variety of pets exhibiting the holiday spirit.
At 5:45 p.m., just before the big Parade of Lights sets out from the Olde Pickle Factory of Park Avenue, Young Explosives will once again set off a spectacular fireworks demonstration at the north end of downtown.
To be eligible for the $50 early incentive, an entry must be received by Oct. 31 and be in the Parade of Lights on Nov. 25.
The parade committee encourages individuals, businesses, organizations, fire companies and non-profits to enter a float or vehicle in this year’s parade for a chance to win a share of $4,000 in prize money. There is no fee to enter and no theme.
New to festival this year: ofrenda installations by Spanish class students from Medina and Kendall
(Left) Photo courtesy of T.C. Owens: Pictured form left include Xochitl Rosario, Lola Alvarado and Gladys Rosario in Dia de Muertos face paint during the 2019 Day of the Dead celebration. (Right) photo courtesy of Karen Canning: Porfiria Mijangos arranges fruit on the Oaxacan ofrenda at the 2022 Day of the Dead Celebration.
Press Release, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!)
MEDINA – GO Art! is happy to invite you to our Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration, co-sponsored by the Orleans County YMCA, Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill, and Maizal Mexican Kitchen.
Join us on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Orleans County YMCA, 306 Pearl St., Medina, from 3 to 7 p.m. and learn about and enjoy this holiday that remembers ancestors, with free activities for the whole family.
The festivities will include Mexican crafts, face painting, dance and music performances, ofrenda displays, and special food tastings. All activities will continue throughout the day: a full schedule can be found at www.MedinaDoD.com.
The Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration is a time of joyful remembrance of deceased loved ones, filled with an array of colors, scents, sounds and stories. Centered around the observance of All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1 and 2, the celebration also includes images and ideas about the roles of ancestors in our lives that trace back to Mexico’s indigenous peoples. Tradition holds that this is the one time of the year when souls can return to earth for a day and commune with their families and friends.
“It’s wonderful to partner with the YMCA, along with the continuing support of local Medina businesses and community members” said Karen Canning, director of GLOW Traditions at GO Art!
Mexican celebrations of the holiday often include animated skeletons, colorfully decorated skulls (calaveras), and elaborately cut tissue paper banners, emphasizing life’s continuing vibrancy in the midst of mortality.
These attendees show off their sugar skulls during the 2022 Day of the Dead Celebration in Medina.
Local business owners and community groups are hosting workshops in such arts, including sugar skulls, paper flowers, flags, and banners, and paper masks. Hosts and volunteers include Della’s Chocolates, The Downtown Browsery, Oak Orchard Girl Scouts, and Medina High School students.
Canalside Tattoos will offer temporary tattoos, Case-Nic Cookies will have Day of the Dead themed cookies for sale, and vendors including Las Toxicas will feature Mexican jewelry and clothing for purchase. Far Out Faces will host face painting, and Mariachi de Oro will provide samples of Mexican hot chocolate and pan de muerto (bread of the dead), a typical food of the holiday. Maizal Mexican Kitchen will offer several items for sale, including tamales, fruit with tajin, and snacks.
Beautiful altars (ofrendas) in homes welcome the returning souls and feature candles, wild marigolds, incense, photographs, mementos and loved ones’ favorite foods like fruit, tortillas, tamales, chocolate, and bread. Members of the Rosario family will again create a large ofrenda at the YMCA in the style of their hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Attendees can contribute to a community ofrenda, by placing a candle (electric, provided) and adding a remembrance of loved ones. New this year will be ofrenda installations created by Spanish class students from Medina and Kendall, as part of field trips to the YMCA prior to the event.
Photos courtesy of Karen Canning. Karla Alcala, left, with musicians and dancers from Alma de Mexico at the 2022 Day of the Dead Celebration.
Mexican dance and music performances will be presented at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. by Alma de México, a group from Rochester led by Karla Alcalá. A former member of a folkloric dance group in Mexico, Karla now teaches community members traditional dance from a variety of regions. Live music will also be provided by La Marimba, a marimba band from Buffalo, led by Tiffany Nicely.
Everyone is invited to join in the fun, and feel free to come in Day of the Dead themed outfits.
We also welcome artists—Dan Butler, Ted Canning and Ruben Ornelas—from the GLOW Creatives collective, supported by a 2-year grant from Creatives Rebuild New York. They will assist with face painting, sound reinforcement, and community ofrendas, respectively.
CARLTON – Due to the interest from our Carlton residents, the informational meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow evening has been moved to the Carlton Fire Company Recreation Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Orleans County with officials from the Town of Carlton and Modern Disposal Services will be holding an informational meeting on Tuesday.
We are fortunate to having a countywide solid waste program for all of our residents. We are challenged providing this service on private roads with commercial vehicles that weigh 33 tons and require a turning radius of 31 feet. For everyone’s safety, these vehicles should not be traveling more than fifty feet in reverse.
Together we will be exploring how we may provide a safe and efficient collection of our solid waste and recycling material. Over the past five years, these private lanes have narrowed in their right-of-way for a variety of reasons.
Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient and economical service for our approximately 15,000 customers. Many of us are aware of the challenges we have been having and it is time to come together and explore solutions to improve our service.
In the near future, we will also be having an informational meeting for the residents of the Town of Yates.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Members of Medina Area Partnership who volunteered to welcome guests at the Senior Center are, clockwise from left, Amy Crandall, Cindy Hewitt, Amanda Pollard, Laura Gardner, Patrick Weissend, Amber Sherman, Autumn Fuller and Ann Fisher-Bale, events coordinator for MAP.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 October 2023 at 12:08 pm
MEDINA – To say Medina’s annual Ale in Autumn was a resounding success would be putting it mildly.
Medina Area Partnership, who sponsor the event, had intended to cap the tickets sold at 600, but sales were brisk right from the start, according to MAP’s event coordinator Ann Fisher-Bale, so they upped the number to 700 and sold out.
The second annual Busker Festival accompanied Ale in Autumn, and that, too, was very successful, according to Rob Robinson, who came up with the idea. The number of buskers was up from last year’s 17 and included a variety of performers, including musicians, jugglers and magicians.
(Left) Kathleen Schumacher pours Shipyard’s Pumpkin Head ale for Lindsey Snyder of Medina at the Medina Railroad Museum. (Right) Lindsey Snyder and Olivia Hill of Medina enjoy friendship and ale at Medina Railroad Museum during Ale in Autumn on Saturday.
Participants at Ale in Autumn arrived at staggered start times at Medina Senior Center, where their ID was checked, they received a wrist band and bag of goodies and bought raffle tickets for baskets provided by each participating business. There were 23 sites offering a tase of beer.
Kristian Poehlmann and Pam Montague were among the first to line up at the Senior Center before 12:30 p.m.
“This event is fun, and it’s a day hanging out with my bestie,” Poehlmann said. “Pam and I have been best friends for more than 50 years. We like going in all the stores, and I like the beers.”
Poehlmann said she grew up just a block away and remembers hearing the train derailment on Christmas Eve, 1968.
Stacey Sage of Batavia has attended Wine About Winter, but this was her first Ale in Autumn, with Ian Mania of Medina.
“I like being able to sample all the ales and going in the stores looking at everything,” Sage said. “I will also do Wine About Winter again. It may be cold, but it’s always fun.”
(Left) Medina High School seniors Logan Gray, left, and Scott Schultz earned volunteer hours for helping at Medina Railroad Museum during Ale in Autumn Saturday. They pose here with Georgia Thomas in the military room, Gray with a World War I helmet and Schultz wearing a World War II hat. (Right) Georgia Thomas, left, pours a Buergerbrau lager at Medina Historical Society for Abbigail Davis and Mallory Albone of Medina.
Poehlmann and Montague were encountered later in the day at Medina Railroad Museum, where they shared their favorite drinks. Poehlmann said her favorite was the Liquid Sunshine poured at Canalside Tattoo. Snyder liked the North Ridge cider at Tapped on Main. Both drinks were one-ounce pours, because of a higher alcohol content.
The girls also commented on Schoeferhofer grapefruit poured at the English Rose Tea Shop.
No two stops had the same ale.
Larry and Gabriella Albanese of Albion were enjoying the day. Larry said they had been to all participating stores, some twice.
Kathleen Schumacher at Medina Railroad Museum explained they blocked off the entrance to the train layout, but let visitors get close enough to see what was there. Schumacher said people were picking up brochures in the museum and it was hoped they would go home and think about it and come back or order tickets to an upcoming event.
The Shewan family couldn’t resist when they saw the antique organ at Medina Historical Society. Scott, left, and Ruth sang along as Steve played an old favorite, before heading to the dining room for their taste of ale.
At Medina Historical Society, Georgia Thomas was pouring Buergerbrau lager, an ale she felt would be perfect with fish and chips. She had set a table with a variety of snacks and cake, which created a lot of interest.
In the main exhibit room Craig and Sarah Lacey welcomed visitors and explained interesting artifacts. Mid-afternoon Scott Shewan, Steve Shewan and his wife Ruth came in and spotted the antique organ. Steve and Ruth are both music teachers and he sat down and proceeded to play an old favorite, while Ruth sang along in her soprano voice.
In the military room, two high school seniors were fulfilling their required volunteer hours to graduate. Logan Gray and Scott Schultz both said they chose the Museum because they liked history and wanted to learn more.
In addition to the baskets provided at each stop, there will be one grand prize awarded of an overnight stay at the Hart House Hotel, a cocktail package at the Shirt Factory and a gift certificate to Ashlee’s Place.
Ann Fisher Bale, events coordinator for MAP said profit from these events goes back to the community in the form of beautification projects and promoting local business. They are also a sponsor of Leadership Orleans.
Photos by Tom Rivers: At the Knights of Columbus, Jennifer Szalay serves a Jamaican Lager beer “Red Stripe” to Victoria Taber of Albion and Marcus Watts of Medina.
Evan Anstey performs as one of the buskers providing entertainment during Ale in Autumn while a passerby drops in some money. Anstey of Middleport sang outside the Dance Theater on Main Street. He was joined by Peter Sarchia of Middleport. They performed many bluegrass and folk songs.
Dave Sevenski serves “Berry Sneaky” to Donna Ferry of Darien at the Downtown Browsery. Berry Sneaky is a sour beer. “It’s the hot thing in craft beer,” Sevenski said about the sour beers.
Wesley Rosentreter, right, serves Chai Pumpkin beer from the Ithaca Brewing company at The Coffee Pot, which is co-owned by his son, Hans Rosentreter. Ann Coon of Lyndonville, second from left, and Linda Mirand of Medina were among the 700 people sampling beer for Ale in Autumn.
Coon said her favorites were a blood orange beer, a forbidden apple and a pumpkin beer.
Mirand said she enjoyed the different beers and visiting with so many people.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 September 2023 at 9:06 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: (Left) Cordelia Rivers of Albion won today’s variety girls cross country race in Albion which also included Wilson and Roy-Hart. (Right) Marissa Bryant (back) of Roy-Hart was second, followed by teammate Julia Miles in third (front in this photo).
Albion, Medina and Roy-Hart all scored wins in Niagara-Orleans League girls cross-country competition this afternoon.
Host Albion downed Wilson 23-30 as Cordelia Rivers finished first and Gina Sidari 5th.
Medina edged host Akron 27-29 sparked by the 1-2-4 finish of Madeline Mark, Ariel Smith and Faith Baker-Austin. Akron’s Kristine Wall placed third.
Roy-Hart scored a sweep downing Albion 25-30 and Wilson 24-31 led by the 2-3 finish of Marissa Bryant and Julia Miles.
In the other girls’ meet, Newfane downed Barker 41-20. Bella Pasqualle finished first for Newfane and Mikayla Woock second for Barker.
The Wilson boys scored a pair of wins downing Albion 24-33 and Roy-Hart 26-29 as Jaydan Ruble and Joey-Dane Jones finished 1-2. Ronan Klug finished third for Roy-Hart which defeated Albion 21-34 in the other portion of the meet.
The Akron boys defeated Medina 19-38 behind the 1-2-3 finish of Dawson Stone, Colten Cleveland and Logan Meyers. Ryder Jones and Jack Cecchini finished 4th and 5th for Medina.
In the other boys’ meet Barker edged Newfane 26-29. Newfane’s Liam Betteridge won the race and Barker’s Luke Fay finished second.
Jaydan Ruble leads the race today in Albion at about the halfway point in the cornfield, just ahead of his teammate Joey-Dane Jones and Ronan Klug of Roy-Hart.
CARLTON – Orleans County with officials from the Town of Carlton and Modern Disposal Services will be holding an informational meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall located at 14341 Waterport Carlton Road for the residents of Carlton.
We are fortunate to having a countywide solid waste program for all of our residents. We are challenged providing this service on private roads with commercial vehicles that weigh 33 tons and require a turning radius of 31 feet. For everyone’s safety, these vehicles should not be traveling more than 50 feet in reverse.
Together we will be exploring how we may provide a safe and efficient collection of our solid waste and recycling material. Over the past five years, these private lanes have narrowed in their right-of-way for a variety of reasons.
Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient and economical service for our approximately 15,000 customers. Many of us are aware of the challenges we have been having and it is time to come together and explore solutions to improve our service.
In the near future, we will also be having an informational meeting for the residents of the Town of Yates.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 September 2023 at 9:05 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – “Peaches” greets the public on Sunday in Medina at the FFA Model Farm by the high school. The FFA was among five local alpaca farms featured for National Alpaca Days on Saturday and Sunday.
The other four farms included:
Stoney Meadows Alpacas at 16038 Glidden Rd., Holley
MayFields Equestrian and Alpaca Farm at 3263 Allens Bridge Rd., Albion
SanGer-La Alpacas at 2845 Colby St., Brockport
Ladue Alpacas at 1186 Ladue Rd., Brockport
Alex Drum, a Medina freshman, feeds two alpacas and a llama at the FFA Model Farm.
These animals include, from left: Simba, an alpaca; Peaches, an alpaca; and Echo, a llama.
Kaylin Mickey, a junior, weaves using a continuous strand of fabric. The Medina FFA had alpaca products for sale.
Alpacas are primarily raised for their fleece in North America. Alpaca fleece has a variety of natural colors: pure white, several shades of fawn and brown, several shades of gray and true black.
Camden Fike, a freshman, plays cornhole. The FFA had several activities to the public to try in addition to visiting the alpacas and llamas.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2023 at 1:21 pm
Hayes, 33, currently part of cast in The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre
Provided photos: Jake Hayes has starred in the Western New York theater for the past decade, doing a variety of characters, from silly to serious. In the top photos he is the Beast, left, in Beauty and the Beast, and Sebastian in Little Mermaid.
BUFFALO – Jake Hayes is one of the hardest working people in Buffalo show business.
The Albion native performs in four or five different productions a year. He is currently in the cast for The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre. The show started Sept. 14 and runs until Oct. 1. Click here for ticket information.
“Jake is a dynamic force both off and onstage,” said Kristin Bentley, executive director for The Color Purple for Second Generation Theatre. “He’s able to bring a smile to your face with his charm and charisma then seamlessly move you to the edge of your seat with his powerful commitment.”
Hayes, 33, works a full-time job during the day as activities director for a nursing home in Buffalo. In the evening, he is often rehearsing for a show or performing for a live audience.
Jake Hayes, back right, is currently in the cast of The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre in Buffalo. He is in the ensemble and also plays Buster and a prison guard in the production. The show runs until Oct. 1. (Photo by Stephen Gabris)
Hayes said he is a people-person and feels energized on stage in front of hundreds and sometimes thousands of people. He also is thrilled to be running programs for the senior citizens at the nursing home.
“I’ve been very fortunate to work a full schedule,” Hayes said in a recent interview in Albion. “I’m always in shows.”
He has performed at The Place Theatre in Lockport, Shakespeare at Delaware Park, Shea’s Smith Theatre in Buffalo, Shea’s 710 Theatre in Buffalo and other venues.
“This is a total artform for me,” Hayes said. “I love telling stories.”
Hayes was a star in the Albion High School musicals. He pursued theater after being encouraged to give it a try by his friends. Hayes wasn’t in a show until he was a sophomore. He played baseball and that schedule didn’t allow him to be in the spring musicals.
But after being injured and unable to play as a 10th grader, Hayes tried out for the musical. He had a small part as a servant in the ensemble of Into the Woods. He felt an immediate connection with the theater. He loved being on stage and among the cast and crew.
The Albion crowd in the middle school auditorium gave a thunderous applause for the students on stage. Hayes said it was overwhelming.
“To get that from peers and the community was just amazing,” he said.
Jake Hayes has performed in Little Shop of Horrors. He is shown at right with a nomination for best character performance for Little Shop of Horrors.
As a junior he played a lead role, the character Laurie in Little Woman and was recognized at The Stars of Tomorrow, honoring the top high school theater talent among high schools in the Rochester area. As a senior he played the lead role of Harold Hill in The Music Man. (Hayes twice has played Laurie as in adult in other productions of Little Women.)
Hayes felt his confidence grow on stage. He credited Gary Simboli, the musical director at the time, for helping him to read music and to refine a stage presence.
Simboli also was the high school choir director, and Hayes served as the group’s president. He said that experience helped him to grow as a leader.
“I owe a huge portion of my talent and abilities to him,” Hayes said about Simboli. “I got brave and audacity from being in the choir. Gary showed me that I’m valuable.”
Hayes made his debut singing in public before he was in the school musicals. He was 9 years old when he did his first solo at the Shiloh Baptist Church (where his cousin Trellis Pore is now pastor). Jake’s mother, Dolores Patterson, was the choir director. Hayes still has a strong recollection of singing the gospel song, “Have You Heard of The City Paved With Gold.” He was so nervous to sing in front of the crowd.
“I was absolutely terrified,” he said.
The church made the youth speak publicly, sharing a highlight of the week. They were urged to be part of the choir.
After graduated from Albion, Hayes earned a degree in communication/mass media at Pace University in New York City, with a minor in acting. He graduated in 2013. He didn’t stay in NYC. He came close to home to be near family. His grandmother passed away less than a month after he graduated.
Hayes still wanted to be in theater and tried the local community group, Lake Plains Players. The group in the fall 2013 was performing an ambitious show, Les Misérables. Hayes tried out and landed one of the big roles, Marius, the lover of Cosette and a revolutionary.
From there Hayes performed at the Palace Theatre, including as Donkey in Shrek, and now is a sought after performer in Buffalo, earning money for the roles. He saves the money he earns at theater to travel. He and his girlfriend recently went to Thailand. Hayes is planning to take his mom on his next trip to Puerto Rico.
Jake Hayes performs in about four or five different productions a year. He was recently on the cover of the Buffalo Spree magazine in an issue promoting the upcoming theater season in Buffalo.
Hayes said he is so grateful to be in a different show about every 10 weeks, while still doing a full-time job in the day and being close to family. For many of the shows it’s a demanding month of rehearsals, typically from 6 p.m. to 10-10:30. Then the productions often have a three-week run.
In one play, Once in a Lifetime, the Buffalo-focused show had the Bills winning the Super Bowl. Hayes is currently part of The Color Purple, a musical where hundreds auditioned to be in the cast of 17. It is a powerful African American story from the early 20th century to mid 20th century.
Hayes works with many actors and directors who have Broadway experience. He encouraged people from Orleans County to attend a show in Buffalo or Lockport and see the talent on stage, and be moved by the story being presented.
He said he is living his dream by working with so many talented people in the Buffalo theater community. New York City is viewed as a the ultimate destination for theater, but Hayes said Buffalo has given him so many opportunities. It’s similar in many smaller large cities.
“You can have a strong variety-filled career working in cities such as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Wichita, Kansas,” Hayes said. “For someone like me you want to be able to perform and express your artform. In Buffalo I get to splurge on life because I get to do my hobby almost full-time.”
Photos courtesy of Medina FFA: The Medina FFA will have an open house Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where the public can meet the alpacas at the FFA farm and also purchase some alpaca products.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2023 at 11:35 am
Five alpaca farms in Orleans and western Monroe counties will be open this weekend as part of National Alpaca Days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
“We will have kids games, demonstrations, educational pieces, and, of course alpacas and alpaca products,” said Todd Eick, the Medina FFA advisor.
The Medina FFA is open of the five alpaca farms that is promoting the weekend open houses with four other local alpaca sites. The five farms include:
Stoney Meadows Alpacas at 16038 Glidden Rd., Holley
MayFields Equestrian and Alpaca Farm at 3263 Allens Bridge Rd., Albion
Medina Chapter of the FFA Model Farm, 2 Mustang Dr., Medina
SanGer-La Alpacas at 2845 Colby St., Brockport
Ladue Alpacas at 1186 Ladue Rd., Brockport
If people visit all five farms they can qualify to win an alpaca-themed raffle basket worth over $300.
This weekend alpaca business owners throughout North America will celebrate the 17th annual National Alpaca Farm Days.
Alpaca Owners Association urges the public to learn more about these inquisitive, unique animals, the luxury fiber they produce and why the alpaca business is perfect for environmentally conscious individuals.
Alpacas are primarily raised for their fleece in North America. Alpaca fleece has a variety of natural colors: pure white, several shades of fawn and brown, several shades of gray and true black.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 September 2023 at 8:08 am
Rummage sale today and Saturday in fundraiser
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Playing cards is a popular activity for members of the Medina Senior Center. Playing euchre here on a Friday are, clockwise from left, Dorothy Casey of Medina, Dick Preston of Albion, Larry Morgott of Medina and Judy Fischer of Middleport. Behind Casey is Tom Fenton of Medina.
MEDINA – Senior Citizens of Western Orleans is inviting all seniors to consider the benefits of becoming a member. Whether it’s just something to occupy their time, enjoying camaraderie or volunteering at one of their fundraisers, the Medina Senior Center offers it all.
Located on West Avenue, across from the Medina Railroad Museum, the Medina Senior Center is where seniors can join in playing cards, enjoy a meal, work on a jigsaw puzzle or help with the various fundraisers planned throughout the year.
Cost of membership is $10 a year. In addition to collecting membership dues, director Kelly Shaw of Gasport plans several fundraisers to help pay the bills. This includes a money raffle, two basket raffles, two rummage sales and a chicken barbecue every year.
The last rummage sale of this year is today and Saturday, and support from the community, as usual, is unbelievable, according to Shaw. People start bringing in their rummage months before each sale and the variety of merchandise never fails. There are the usual clothes, shoes, toys, games, books, housewares, gifts and holiday items, but always an assortment of unique items. This time Kelly said they have a panini maker, portable sewing machine and a car seat, among the unusual items.
“I really appreciate that people keep us in mind when they have to clean out a loved one’s home or get rid of stuff,” Shaw said.
The sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. From noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, everything will be “fill a bag for $5.”
The Senior Center is now selling tickets on its next fundraiser, a chicken barbecue on Oct. 12. Chicken will be available from 4 to 7 p.m., drive thru or eat in. The Wiedner family from Eden, who have been in the barbecue business since the 1950s, will cook the chicken.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the center during regular hours of 9 a.m. to noon on Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. on Friday.
In addition to euchre on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, pinochle on Wednesday and Thursday when there are enough interested players and exercise classes on Wednesdays at 10 a.m., there are dinner meetings the second Monday of each month. Meals alternate between potluck, catered and prepared at the center. Cost is $8. There is often a speaker or entertainment after meetings and raffles for gifts and money every meeting.
On Monday and Tuesday mornings, free day-old baked goods from Tops are available to members.
The center also has a gift shop full of unique items, including a large assortment of jigsaw puzzles, jewelry and assorted giftware.
Being a member of the Senior Center is a wonderful way for seniors to spend a few hours a week, while meeting new people or old friends, Shaw said.
Photos courtesy of Arc GLOW: Pictured from left to right: Doug Dunn, general manager for Casella Waste Management and Michael Stehman, Western Region vice president for Casella Waste Management, winner of Business Partner of the Year award; Martin Miskell, Arc GLOW CEO; Cheryl Englert, Arc GLOW Board of Directors president; Chuck Keenan, Board of Directors secretary and winner of Volunteer of the Year award; and Mary Lou Touhey, owner of Case-Nic Cookies in Medina and winner of the Friend of Arc GLOW award.
Posted 21 September 2023 at 5:44 pm
Press Release, Arc GLOW
BATAVIA — Friends, families and community members gathered at the Batavia Downs Wednesday evening to celebrate Arc GLOW’s 1st annual Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting since their merger in 2021.
Over 250 people came, including Erik Geizer, chief executive officer for The Arc of New York; Merle “Skip” Draper, from state Sen. Rob Ortt’s office; Greg Torrey, from state Sen. George Borrello’s office; Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes; and John Deleo, Genesee County legislator.
There was an art display from Elba Day Habilitation, and the centerpieces which people could take home were provided by the staff and individuals at the Washington St. Day Habilitation in Albion with the help of Pam Lamar, a retired Orleans County Day Habilitation coordinator. After dinner, Julie Johnston sang “Let it Go” from Frozen to a roaring standing ovation.
After speeches from local officials, the awards presentation began.
Pictured top row, left to right: Michael Cuttitta, Supported Employment Person of the Year; Robert Greer of Albion, Self-Advocate of the Year; Matthew Willson, Residential Person of the Year. Bottom row, from left to right: Larry Anderson, Pre-Vocational Person of the Year; Aaries Fitzsimmons, Community Services and Self-Direction Person of the Year; and Dusty Sanford, Day Habilitation Person of the Year.
The Supported Employment Person of the Year award honors a person with a disability supported by Arc GLOW who has demonstrated a strong work ethic, dedication to their job, ability to learn new community employment skills and maintain successful employment.
This year it was given to Michael Cuttitta.
“Mike worked in the work center at Hilltop for over 12 years before moving on to Arc GLOW’s supported employment program. He takes pride in his work and is focused. He always gets his job done with quality and efficiency,” said Kellie Kennedy, vice president of Day and Employment Services with Arc GLOW. “Last summer in July, Mike took a chance and decided to try out a contracted work opportunity at Bristol ID Technologies in Lima. This chance transitioned into a permanent placement with Bristol ID this past fall.”
Day Habilitation Person of the Year honors a person with a disability supported by Arc GLOW who participates in day habilitation activities, strives to learn, and demonstrates effort and commitment to be included in their own communities. With her constant jokes and contagious smile, Dusty Sanford was given this award.
“Dusty loves attending the Elba Day Habilitation, and when she returns home she tells her house staff that she wants to return to day habilitation — even if she has to walk,” Kennedy said.
Pre-Vocational Person of the Year honors a person with a disability supported by Arc GLOW with a dedication to learning about the world of work including: new job skills, completing quality work and showing attention to the task of learning. A worker at Orleans Enterprises and a participant at the HUB in Batavia, Larry Anderson was chosen for this award.
“He is dedicated to learning about the world of work, including new job skills, striving to complete quality work and showing attention to the task of learning,” Kennedy said. “Larry represents the best of what the pre-vocational program has to offer. He takes advantage of what the program offers and the experiences in the community.”
Community Services and Self Direction Person of the Year honors a person with a disability served by Arc GLOW who shows outstanding participation and contribution to their community. The awardee shows the initiative in trying new activities and gain leadership potential through community involvement, and with her outstanding participation and contribution to her community, Aaries Fitzsimmons was given this award.
“Many would agree that Aaries is community. With the support of her self-directed staff, Andrea, Aaries finds unique ways to give back to others one smile at a time,” said Jill Pegelow, vice president of Self Direction and Community Services. “The biggest impact in her volunteerism has been with the Batavia Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. The staff and veterans always look forward to her seasonal handcrafted kindness and conversation.”
Aside from the VA, Aaries volunteers at Godfrey’s Pond, her church, and bakes for various fundraisers.
The Self-Advocate of the Year honors a person with a disability served by Arc GLOW who has grown and is meeting their personal outcomes. They also have positively influenced the lives of others. A member of the Self-Advocacy All Star group for years, Robert “Bobby” Greer of Albion was chosen for this award.
“He is very knowledgeable about advocacy and teaching new members what self-advocacy is all about,” Pegelow said. “Bobby participated in the in the Self-Advocacy Talent Show Fundraiser and attended the Self Advocates of New York State Conference in Niagara Falls. Bobby also volunteered at the Orleans County Fair Arc GLOW booth. He served on the agency incident review committee, he was engaged and provided great feedback.”
Pegelow said Greer is a great self-advocate, demonstrating the very essence of what staff are charged with doing and what Arc GLOW’s services are supposed to accomplish.
KidStart Employee of the Year honors an employee who demonstrates exceptional support to children and families, and is committed to assisting in all areas of their growth and education. With her exceptional support to children, Holly Green was chosen for this award.
“As the Head Start family advocate, she is often the first face families see and remains a pillar of support throughout their enrollment. Holly shows the same dedication and support to all of KidStart’s staff by stepping in when needed and assisting with KidStart’s many programs and events,” said Stephanie Metz, vice president of Children Services.
Green started in 1992 as an intern through college, and helped to set up the very first Head Start classroom in Dansville. She was hired as a substitute for the classroom and did the building cleaning for a period of time. Eventually she applied for a position as a teacher’s assistant in Head Start.
Green took a break to go on maternity leave for her second child, and when another position became available, she returned full-time in September 2001 as the Head Start family advocate.
Green also works part-time as a direct support professional.
Residential Person of the Year honors a person with a disability supported by Arc GLOW who resides in residential services, grew in their independence and learned life skills. A resident of Turtle Rock IRA in Lakeville, Matthew Willson received this award.
“Matt has certainly come a long way in the time he has lived with us. He has grown in his independence, he’s learned life skills, made friends, and he enjoys being helpful,” said Deb Tuckerman, vice president of Residential Services. “Matt participates in the WOW program, and he and his habilitation staff have attended many events and fairs around the community.”
Direct Support Professional Person (DSP) of the Year honors a DSP who provides a variety of activities to adults with developmental disabilities within a home setting, day programs or recreational activities in the community. The DSP would provide excellence in support in living skills, personalized goals, arts and crafts, sensory activities, and facilitates individuals to take their active role in the community. With 19 years at Arc GLOW, Amy Beiswenger has been chosen as DSP of the Year.
A DSP at Senior Open Road Day Habilitation in Mt. Morris, Beiswenger always provides activities in a home setting, day programs or recreational activities in the community.
John Prospero, vice president of transportation and master of ceremonies, said, “Amy is the definition of an excellent DSP — she is someone whose dedication, advocacy, compassion, competence, person-centered approaches and collaboration results in improved quality of life, health and wellness, and/or opportunities for all that we serve. Amy makes this role look simple with her kind, no day is a bad day attitude. Amy used our services at ARC GLOW to bridge into the direct support professional world.”
Employee of the Year recognizes an employee of Arc GLOW who is committed to the mission and vision. They demonstrate the values of diversity, respect, integrity, visionary, equality, empowerment and excellence. Kristie Rada, nurse supervisor, the award recipient, is committed to Arc GLOW’s mission and values.
“She has demonstrated the values of diversity, respect, integrity, visionary, equality, empowerment and excellence. Kristie always goes above and beyond for this agency and for the individuals Arc GLOW serves,” Prospero said. “Her dedication, knowledge, professionalism and commitment are only exceeded by her compassion, grace and caring heart.
“One of her peers said, ‘I have never seen any nurse as devoted to both the health care agency and individuals that are cared for — she is such an asset to this organization.’”
The Friend of Arc GLOW Award is for a community friend and supporter of Arc GLOW’s mission and vision, and everyone at Arc GLOW knows of the Touhey family and Case-Nic Cookies.
“The Tuohey family is the true definition of a community friend and supporter of Arc GLOW’s mission and vision,” Prospero said.
The Touhey family always can be found volunteering at Arc events or organizing fundraisers to benefit Arc GLOWs programs and other communities. Mary Lou Touhey constantly provides cookies for Arc GLOW’s fundraisers and events, and Nicole Touhey heads her own fundraisers. Her Have a Heart Campaign raised over $2,300 this year that benefited many programs within the agency.
(Left) Vice President of Day and Employment Services Kellie Kennedy with Amy Beiswenger, winner of Direct Support Professional Person of the Year award. (Right) Vice President of Children Services Stephanie Metz with Holly Green, winner of KidStart Employee of the Year award.
The Business Partner of the Year is for a business who supports Arc GLOW’s mission and vision through excellent customer service or providing work opportunities for employment. Casella Waste Management received this year’s award.
Martin Miskell, CEO, said over 40 years ago, the Arc of Genesee opened its trash recycling center to fill a need for the City of Batavia to help create jobs and produce a positive revenue stream for the organization. However, business models change and recycling was no longer providing the number of jobs it had in the past.
Selling the business was an easy financial decision, but a difficult one emotionally, but after months of negotiations the decision was made to sell the business to Casella Waste Management.
Casella kept everyone who had a job, the transfer station open and operated by Arc GLOW’s work crew with a job coach, and free trash pick-up at all of Arc GLOW’s Batavia locations in perpetuity and a large discount at other locations served by Casella. Casella also gave Arc GLOW their lease at Apollo Drive in Batavia for their transportation department, which still has three and a half years on it for free.
“Casella is the true definition of a partner who supports our mission and vision through excellent customer service and providing work opportunities for employment,” Miskell said.
Finally, Volunteer of the Year honors a person who is committed to Arc GLOW, volunteering their time by serving the local community and supporting the Arc GLOWs mission and vision. This year, it goes to Chuck Keenan, who serves on Arc GLOW’s Board of Directors as its secretary; is the chairperson of the Compliance Committee; and sits on the Vocational Committee, the Incident Review Committee and Community Services. He also volunteers his time on various boards within his community such as the Developmental Disability sub-committee for Livingston County Community Services Board and for the Town of Groveland.
“Chuck wants to see Arc GLOW become a world class agency in our field. As a result, he is very interactive with all of his committees/boards. He takes his role seriously,” said Cheryl Englert, Board of Directors president.
At the annual meeting, Cheryl Englert was re-elected board president, John Huber was elected vice-president, Charles Keenan was re-elected secretary, Eric Parker was re-elected treasurer and Ken Barchet was elected assistant treasurer.
Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School
ALBION – Some of our Albion Middle School students last Tuesday were lucky enough to have a special guest from West Africa come and speak to their class.
Keith Ellenberger is a West African Christian missionary, currently visiting with the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, and has spent his entire life in countries like Mali and Senegal. According to Ellenberger, his family has resided on the African continent for approximately 100 years working as missionaries.
According to Middle School Principal Brad Pritchard, Ellenberger’s visit comes as part of a series of enrichment classes being offered at the Middle School this year.
“We have many different enrichment classes this year covering a variety of subjects including art, health, PE/SEL and history,” Pritchard said. “In each of these classes, students will have the opportunity to connect with special guests, all from various disciplines, whose life experiences correlate to our students’ lessons.”
During his visit, Ellenberger spoke to some of Albion’s seventh and eighth-grade students in David Skrip’s Social Studies classes about what life is like in Africa, highlighting both the similarities and differences of the areas. Though they are an ocean apart, Ellenberger helped the students draw connections between Albion and West Africa especially through agriculture.
“These visits are important because they help our students connect and contextualize the curriculum they are learning to the real world,” Pritchard said.
According to Tim Archer, a service learning liaison, the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church has partnered with the district over the last several years by providing multiple missionary guests to share their experiences and bring a new perspective to our students.
As of now, there are many other guests and projects planned for the school year, including local history field trips and an Erie Canal project.
My private sleeper roomette – the seats convert to a bed to sleep overnight.
Let’s go on an adventure together….on the Coast Starlight Train!
My 2017 West Coast Adventure started out as a cruise and when I decided to expand it to spend more time in the San Francisco area and also somehow include Oregon and Washington State with extra time in Seattle, I had to find a way to get from San Francisco to Seattle. I thought about flying, but that would eliminate seeing any of Oregon and most of Washington. I considered renting a car in San Francisco and driving to Seattle, but found out that is a very long drive – one I wasn’t sure I was willing to do by myself. The option of taking a bus was rejected quickly – I couldn’t imagine being cramped in a seat all that way. I was just about to give up on the expanded portion of the trip when the idea of taking the train came to me in the middle of the night. I got out of bed at 2:00 am and went down to the computer to see if that was a possibility. I found that Amtrak has a Coast Starlight Train that travels from Los Angeles to Seattle and that it has a stop in San Francisco. As I read about it, I knew that was what I wanted to do. The entire Coast Starlight trip runs mostly along the coast of California between Los Angeles and the border of Oregon then travels inland through Oregon and Washington to Seattle. For this trip, I got on the train in San Francisco. Someday, I hope to do the entire route to get the full experience and see the amazing ocean views while traveling comfortably through California.
The segment I traveled from San Francisco to Seattle took 22 hours and I loved every minute of it (the entire route from LA takes 36 hours). I boarded the train and began my adventure at 9:30 pm from the Emeryville, CA station not far from San Francisco. I reviewed all the options for tickets – the least expensive would be the coach seats, but given it was an overnight trip, I would have to sleep sitting up. There are a few different options for sleeper fares, each with pricing according to the accommodation– a roomette which includes a private room with two seats that convert to a bed and also has an upper pull down bed, a bedroom also includes an in-room toilet and shower, a bedroom suite is where two bedrooms connect and open up into one larger room, and a family bedroom which is a roomette with two extra sleeping options to accommodate two adults and two children. While reviewing the options, I also found out that sleeper fares include all meals in the dining cars and some additional perks that coach seat fares don’t have access to. I chose the roomette. I found that with three meals included and the extra perks, it would not be much more expensive in the long run than a coach seat and it would be more comfortable. I also felt that for one night, I could use the bathroom down the hall, which actually ended up being right across from my room, so a larger room at a higher price wasn’t important to me in this case. The room was very comfortable with two seats and a large window and the seats converted to a bed that was surprisingly comfortable. The sleeper cars also have conductors who are there to set up and break down the beds, be available if we need anything, and make our dining car reservations.
Observation lounge car available for travelers who book sleeper accommodations.
One of the perks of having a sleeper room is access to the exclusive observation lounge car. This car has tables, conversation areas, and swivel chairs all with large observation windows with unobstructed views of the scenery. There is also a bar with a variety of non-alcoholic beverages and snacks all included or alcoholic beverages at an additional cost. They also hosted a wine tasting event late afternoon for a small additional fee that offered tastings of some wonderful Oregon and Washington State wines. The food in the dining car was exceptional with a nice selection of options on the menu. For breakfast, I had scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast, juice and tea. For lunch I had a steak burger, fries, and a coke. And, for dinner, I had a ribeye steak, baked potato, fresh veggie medley, rolls, and a glass of wine. All included and all cooked beautifully and very delicious. The whole experience was very comfortable and made me feel like a celebrity in an old-time movie when traveling by luxury train was more common. I got to move around, take in the amazing views, sit in different places – including time in my own private roomette, and during the night, I slept like a baby.
As for those amazing views: I woke up just before sunrise and we were in the final miles of California and crossed over into Oregon just about sunrise. The parts of Oregon we traveled through were breathtaking! Dense woods, streams, waterfalls, little lakes, very small rural communities and tunnel after tunnel after tunnel. At some points, we were so far up on the top of the mountains in the middle of nowhere that my ears kept popping and we didn’t have cell/internet service…and it was amazing. When we got back down out of the mountains, we saw a different kind of beauty to look at – farm land as far as the eye can see and all the little communities we passed through had “Elk Crossing” signs. I didn’t see any elk, though…..must be they chose to cross somewhere else. It is difficult to get good photos from a moving train – I took a lot and you can see many of them on my blog, but for the most part, the views are all in my memories and I love bringing them up in my mind from time to time.
Comfortable swivel chairs and large windows in the observation lounge car are perfect for watching the beauty of America go by.
When I arrived in Seattle, I spent a few days there and then flew home to end two amazing weeks all along the west coast of our great country and one of the major highlights of the trip was this train ride (which is saying something, cause the entire trip is right up there among one of my favorite trips). I highly recommend taking the Amtrak Coast Starlight Train – the whole route from LA to Seattle, if you can. You can add it on an already planned west coast trip or just fly out there to do this one adventure and come back home. Whatever you decide works for you, do it, if you ever get the chance – you won’t regret it! I see more long distance train trips in my future, too…perhaps I’ll do a cross country train ride, someday.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion Mayor Angel Javier Jr., right, and grantwriter Jay Grasso speak during a meeting Tuesday evening in the Village Hall about the $4.5 million Forward NY grant program.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2023 at 12:49 pm
ALBION – The Village of Albion is working to submit an application for the $4.5 million Forward NY grant program.
The village has already received proposals from business and building owners, as well as village-led projects on municipal land, that combined top $4 million. More projects are expected to be submitted for the program that could push the total to $6 to $7 million, said Jay Grasso of G & G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing.
The Village Board next week will work G & G staff to prioritize the projects to be submitted for the application which is due the end of the month.
Grasso and G & G have held two public meetings at the Village Hall, Sept. 5 and Sept. 12, to go over the Forward NY and to encourage the community to submit projects and ideas. Both meetings drew a near full house to the Village Hall.
“Give me a project,” Grasso said at Tuesday’s meeting. “Go for it. Think of something exciting you want to do with your building.”
The reimbursement rates can vary on the projects with the grant covering at least 50 percent of the cost. Some of the grant for façade improvements can cover up to 75 percent of the cost.
One building owner wanted more specifics on the varying reimbursement rates. Gary Derwick said a 75 percent reimbursement rate is much more attractive than 50 percent.
Grasso said building owners aren’t committed to a project that they propose in the application.
He went over the goals of Forward NY. The program supports adaptive reuse of buildings, especially turning upper levels into apartments and living spaces, Grasso said.
The program targets vacant spaces rather than new construction. The state wants projects that elevate cultural, historical qualities “that enhance the feeling of small-town charm,” Grasso said.
The grant can’t be used for one project. The application must demonstrate $3 to $5 million “in multiple synergistic projects,” Grasso said.
Albion is a “prime candidate” for the NY Forward program, which seeks to boost communities that lost industries around which their town grew, such as the canal, railroad, coal and mill towns, he said.
“We often think of these as crossroads or bedroom towns, small business districts along corridors that connect major employment centers and magnet cities in the region,” Grasso said.
The applicants must submit a vision for the downtown and a slate of developable projects to achieve that vision. The regional economic development councils will review the applications and nominate winners. Albion is in the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.
The application should include a full suite of synergistic projects that could include one or two anchor projects and a variety of smaller supporting projects.
Medina was awarded a $4.5 NY Forward on Feb. 13, and the village is finalizing a list of projects to be approved by the state. The Forward NY grants range from $2.75 million to $4.5 million.
The state started the program about a year ago to help more villages and hamlets access funding. The state was doing a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative for each region and those grants tended to go to cities, with few villages getting the DRIs.
Albion Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said the Village Board will work with members of the Planning Board, Zoning Boards of Appeals and Historic Preservation Commission to review the proposals and try to build a strong application.
The village in January tried for a $2.5 million Restore NY grant for projects in the downtown. The village never received a formal acceptance or denial letter, but Grasso said it seems that application wasn’t approved. However, he has contacted many of the building owners in that application who have already done much of the preliminary work for a proposal.
Building owners, not-for-profit organizations and residents with ideas and projects can send an email to contact@ggprocess.com and request a form from Grasso to detail the proposal.
The project area is focused in the downtown area but Grasso said the boundaries can be stretched. He wants to include repairs to the chapel at Mount Albion Cemetery in the grant, and could propose a heritage trail to connect the cemetery to the downtown and Courthouse Square.
“We’re looking for projects that bring people here and keep people here,” Grasso said. “Shoot for the moon.”
