BATAVIA – Genesee Community College will proudly induct both Shari A. McDonald and William M. Powers as honorees into its Alumni Hall of Fame at 4 p.m. on Sept. 27.
Shari A. McDonald
Shari A. McDonald, GCC class of 1997, is the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. She has been part of Catholic Health System’s Mercy Hospital of Buffalo for the last seven years, serving as Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. She has executive oversight over regulatory standards, compliance, patient satisfaction, patient safety, quality of patient care and employee engagement.
McDonald previously practiced 20 years in Rochester, New York, Starting at Strong Memorial Hospital where she was mentored for Leadership and then Rochester General Hospital, where she served as the Senior Administrative Director of Emergency Services, Women’s services and Acute Services. Among her numerous accomplishments, she was instrumental in helping guide strategic planning to increase inpatient and emergency volume, change management and building strategic direction.
In addition to a Master of Science in Nursing with Leadership in Health Care Systems from Grand Canyon University in Arizona, McDonald holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Rochester.
She has been recognized for her work with several awards throughout her career, she was named to Buffalo Women of Influence in 2020, the Mercy Hospital of Buffalo 2018 Nurse of Distinction, Greater Rochester Quality Award in 2013 and 2014 and the Nursing Leadership Award from Rochester General Hospital in 2012 and Strong Memorial Hospital in 2006.
McDonald was the President of Finger Lakes Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders, past president for Western New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders, board member of New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders, a member of the Emergency Nurses Association where she served as a New York State Delegate and past President of the Genesee Valley ENA. She is also a member of the Western New York Professional Nurses Association, American Heart Association where she serves as Chair and Spokeswoman for the Go Red for Women Campaign in Western New York, and is part of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
McDonald taught adjunct courses at Cornell University, and is a board member for Connect Life. She is the Nurse Executive Chair for Hany’s Hospital Association for Western New York & Central New York, 2021-present and Healthcare Executive Forum/American College of Healthcare Executives (HEF/ACHE) Board of Directors Board Member, 2019-present.
A Buffalo native, Shari resides in Lakeview with her husband, and has three adult children and 12 grandchildren.
William M. Powers
William M. Powers, GCC class of 1975, graduated from Genesee Community College with his A.A.S. degree in Business Administration and is retired Superintendent of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He is a proud third generation New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision employee.
Powers continued his education and earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport in Business Administration in 1977. While working and raising a family, he continued with his education and received a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Buffalo State in 1987.
Powers started his career as a correction officer and was promoted to correction counselor, senior correction counselor, assistant deputy superintendent, deputy superintendent and superintendent. He was assigned to ten correctional facilities and was superintendent at five of them.
He became involved with the American Correctional Association Accreditation process in 1984, and served as Accreditation Manager at several facilities. He currently serves as a Delegate Assembly member for ACA.
Powers was appointed a member of the New York State DOCCS Female Offender Task Force where he assisted in developing policy for the agency executive team consideration, collaborated with local and state law enforcement including local District Attorneys dealing with criminal prosecution of offenders.
During his 38-year career Powers was assigned to maximum, medium, minimum, shock/boot camp, work release and alcohol and drug treatment facilities. He was also assigned to both male and female correctional facilities.
After his retirement from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in 2014, Powers has continued to be active in the criminal justice field by conducting training and ACA audits of correctional facilities in the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia and The Kingdom of Bahrain. He remains active as a consultant for Vital Core Health Strategies.
Powers is an Attica native and continues to live there with his wife and has two adult children and four grandchildren.
Each year, candidates are nominated by friends, family, colleagues or other associates for their impactful contributions to their profession and distinguished service to the community and Genesee Community College. The GCC Alumni Hall of Fame, which is located on the second floor of the Conable Technology Building, boasts honorees from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.
MEDINA – Medina Police Department Lt. Todd Draper and police officer Jacob Zangerle met recently with Community Action Head Start staff member Julie Stephens and Margie Davies, as well as three Early Head Start toddlers.
The Head Start program in Medina received 24 child bike helmets from the Medina PD.
Outdoor activity, including tricycle/bicycle riding is an important part of child development in all of the Head Start programs. The Police Department helped the children learn about the importance of safety.
Head Start is a comprehensive, early childhood program that also provides family services and advocacy.
It is continuing to enroll children for the 2022-2023 program year. To sign-up for Head Start (3 and 4 year old children) contact Medina at 798-2261, Batavia at 343-5917, Albion at 589-7097 and Kendall at 659-8916.
There are also limited slots for toddlers available in Medina. Call 798-2261 for more information.
WILSON – A 19-year-old who was driving an off-road style dirt bike was killed on Tuesday night when he collided with a tree trimming truck on Youngstown-Lockport Road, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at about 11:30 p.m., reporting a motor vehicle accident with serious injuries in front of 3336 Youngstown-Lockport Road in the Town of Wilson.
A 1999 Ford F-800 tree trimming truck with attached aerial boom was towing a tree chipper west bound on Youngstown-Lockport Road near Andrews Road, when a collision occurred with the dirt bike that was being operated in the roadway, the Sheriff’s Office said.
After the collision, the Ford truck exited the road off the south edge, overturned and came to rest in the ditch facing east. The dirt bike also traveled off the south road edge and came to rest in the ditch.
The 30-year-old male operator of the Ford truck was transported by ambulance to ECMC for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The 19-year-old male operator of the dirt bike was killed in the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The names of the parties involved are being withheld pending notification to family.
Investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit is continuing.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2022 at 10:17 pm
Claudia Tenney received the most votes in Orleans County among three candidates in a Republican primary for the newly drawn 24th Congressional District.
Tenney received 564 votes (63.2%) to 277 for Mario Fratto (31.0%) and 52 for George Phillips (5.8%).
Tenney is currently in Congress representing the 22nd District. Tenney is from Utica but has purchased a home in Canandaigua to be in the new 24th, which covers about a dozen counties, stretching from Niagara, to the GLOW counties and part of the Finger Lakes and North Country.
The 24th Congressional District includes part of Orleans – the towns of Albion, Barre, Ridgeway, Shelby and districts 2 and 3 in Clarendon.
Of those 6,059 Republicans who were eligible to vote, 896 cast ballots today and through early voting – a 14.8 percent turnout.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2022 at 9:08 pm
The unemployment rate for Orleans County was at 4.2 percent in July, compared to 5.5 percent a year earlier, the state Department of Labor reported today. (In July 2020, early in the Covid pandemic, the unemployment rate was at 9.4 percent in Orleans.)
The unemployment rate also dropped statewide from 7.1 percent in July 2021 to 4.8 percent last month. Nationally the unemployment rate declined from 5.7 to 3.8 percent.
The state DOL is reporting there were 400 more people working in Orleans County in July, compared to the previous July, from 16,200 to 16,600. The number of unemployed declined from 900 in July 2021 to 700 last month.
Genesee County, where the unemployment rate is at 3.0 percent, also saw an increase in people working, from 28,200 in July 2021 to 29,600. The number unemployed dropped from 1,300 to 900 during that time, the DOL reported.
The unemployment rates among Western New York counties for July include:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2022 at 3:38 pm
The Medina Village Board prefers this simpler design for a new kiosk at the Canal Basin but will have the Village Planning Board pick the design.
MEDINA – The Village Board likes a simple design for a kiosk in the Canal Basin, one that doesn’t have as many panels that would need to be regularly updated.
“It’s a simple shape and it’s to the point,” said Village Trustee Tim Elliott.
The Orleans County YMCA has received a $10,000 grant towards the new kiosk. The proposal from Takeform is $18,500. The village tourism committee will try to raise money to cover the costs above the grant amount.
This kiosk would have four interchangeable panels as well as a map of Medina. It would have a header sign. Another option included eight display areas with multiple flanking panels.
Takeform is working on a final design with more detailed color. That design will be presented to the Village Planning Board for its input. The Village Board on Monday said it would recommend the simpler design, but will have the Planning Board decide on the final design. The kiosk is in a historic district and the Planning Board decides whether projects in the historic district are given a certificate of appropriateness.
Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman said she would like to see the kiosk moved closer to the parking lot in the basin where the former gazebo was. The existing kiosk is under a tree and not very prominent, she said.
That kiosk is about 25 years old and was built as an Eagle Scout project. Sherman said that kiosk has rotted away.
“It’s not looking good,” she said. “It’s an eyesore rather than helping people who are coming to visit. We just want to showboat Medina with this.”
Provided photo: Pictured from left include Kenny Gold, NYSCOPBA Western Region VP; a representative Donna from Make-A-Wish and Lori Mothershed, wife of Al Mothershed.
Press Release, NYS Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association
DARIEN – The 1st annual Al Mothershed Memorial Golf Tournament raised $12,500 for the Rochester chapter of Make-A-Wish with former staff at the Livingston Correctional Facility donating another $1,000.
The tournament, which had over 175 participants and volunteers, was held at Chestnut Hill Country Club on Friday, Aug. 19.
“I cannot say enough about the generosity of our brothers and sisters,” said Kenny Gold , NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President. “Our members, who are enduring historic levels of violence inside the walls of our state prisons, short staffing, and mandatory overtime that limits the time they can spend with their families, still found time to support this great charity as well as the communities they live in.”
Participants enjoyed 18 holes of golf followed by a reception afterwards that honored Al Mothershed and his 30-plus years at DOCCS and NYSCOPBA. Al served the Western Region NYSCOPBA members as a Chief Steward, Business Agent and Regional Vice President for many years.
Al died suddenly last year and NYSCOPBA members organized the golf tournament in his honor. Al’s family was present at the tournament and chose Make-A-Wish as this year’s charity.
NYSCOPBA has a long standing relationship with Make-A-Wish and their chapters across New York State. During the past Christmas Holiday, NYSCOPBA was the title sponsor of the Capital Region Chapter of Make-A-Wish and their holiday fundraising drive. Over $200,000 was raised during the drive.
“Being able to help Make-A-Wish and their mission to grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses while honoring the memory of Al is a testament to his love for children and the need to give back,” Gold said. “He was a great union leader and even better person and he is missed tremendously. I appreciate everyone who participated and volunteered and those former members of Livingston that helped raise additional funds in honor of Al.”
Former staff from the Livingston Correction Facility joined formed the tournament.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2022 at 12:46 pm
Planning Board will review design of fencing, which will need to be removed during the winter
MEDINA – The Village Board gave its permission for Bent’s Opera House to have a fenced-in area on the sidewalk for outdoor dining.
The design of the fence will need to be approved by the Planning Board to make sure its appropriate for the historic business district.
Heather Hungerford on Aug. 8 presented the proposal for an outdoor, fenced-in area at Bent’s. The fenced-in area would go 4 feet from the building and still leave about 10 feet of sidewalk open to pedestrians.
Bent’s would have tables and chairs in the fenced-in area for people to enjoy drinks and appetizers, but not meals, Hungerford said.
The board approved the fencing with the following stipulations:
Fencing must be removed from Nov. 15 to March 15 to facilitate snow removal.
Maximum width distance from building to fencing is 4 feet.
An annual review regarding sidewalk maintenance will determine the continuance of the placement of the fence.
The business/property owner assumes all responsibility for maintenance of the fence and all snow removal.
A certificate of insurance will be provided naming the Village of Medina as additional insured.
This approval is non/transferrable to any new business/property owner.
The board previously approved outdoor fencing on the sidewalk for Fitzgibbons Public House. The board said it will take the requests on a case-by-case basis.
Bent’s also is planning to do an exotic car show on Oct. 9, which is a Sunday. It wants a section of Main Street closed for the cars. Registration for the vehicles starts at 10 a.m. with the car show going from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School will be hosting an on-campus, all-district (PreK-Grade 12) back-to-school family celebration on Wednesday, August 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Families and students are invited to join in the fun as the school district celebrates the start of the 2022-23 school year. Students will be able to meet their teachers, drop off supplies, receive class schedules (grades 7-12), pick-up a 2022-23 calendar and play family-friendly games with our physical education staff.
Families may purchase food at the various food trucks (Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, Baby Ribs, Blue Groove Coffee and ice cream) or bring a picnic from home, if they desire. Any family that completes the 2022-23 Free/Reduced Meal Application will receive a coupon for a free treat from the cafeteria.
Other community organizations will join in with the festivities. Deputy Jason Barnum and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will conduct child car-seat checks and distribute Child Identification and Yellow-Dot kits. The Yates Community Library will issue library cards. Representatives from Orleans County Mental Health, Orleans Community Health and the Lyndonville Sports and Music Boosters will also be on campus to discuss their organizations and the services they provide.
The district looks forward to welcoming everyone back with this celebration. Families are encouraged to enjoy the campus and playgrounds, socialize, meet district staff, gather school and community information and have fun. Lyndonville students officially return to school on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2022 at 10:40 am
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board was asked to make a public stance about two proposed wind turbines that would peak at 633 feet high, south of the village.
Linda Limina told the board on Monday evening she fears the turbines would hurt residential property values in the southern part of the village, and would detract from the community’s historic downtown business district.
“It’s going to be extremely visible from pretty much anywhere in the village,” Limina told the village officials. “A lot of people have put money in their houses and in Main Street.”
Village Board members said they didn’t want to make public statements about a project in another community.
Deputy Mayor Owen Toale said the board “doesn’t feel it is our place.” He said Limina’s comments on Monday were the first time the issue has been brought up publicly at a village meeting.
This viewpoint is from Oak Orchard Elementary School.
Limina said the project would deter from the aesthetics in the village. She said she doesn’t oppose the turbines, but thinks they shouldn’t be proposed for so close to the village “were they can so prominently be seen.”
Borrego Solar System Inc. is proposing the two turbines on South Gravel Road in an apple orchard owned by the Smith family. Town Supervisor Jeff Smith recently retired as an apple grower. His family’s property is proposed for the two turbines. He is recusing himself from any votes or official discussion about the project.
The Orleans County Planning Board last month recommended that Shelby approve a special use permit for the project and also OK the site plan. The project still needs a final vote from Shelby.
The two turbines would each have a capacity to generate 5 megawatts of power. The turbines would peak at 633 feet in height, and that is from the ground to the top tip of the blade. The ground to the main hub is 363.7 feet with the blades at a total diameter of 479 feet. Because of the height of the turbines, they will need to be lighted for Federal Aviation Administration standards.
Borrego has presented visual studies that show the turbines would be very prominent on Route 63, and also would be visible from the Oak Orchard Elementary School and Glenwood Avenue canal bridge near Main Street. From the downtown at street level, the simulations show the turbines wouldn’t be visible. Click here to see the simulations.
This simulation is from the Glenwood Avenue canal bridge with American Legion at left. The turbines are visible just above the tree line.
Limina said there are also concerns about the turbines with the nearby Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, which does training in the area.
Toale, who led Monday’s Village Board meeting, urged Limina to take her concerns to the Shelby Town Board.
“It’s a Town of Shelby problem, not a Village of Medina problem,” Toale said.
Trustee Jess Marciano also declined to weigh in, saying it’s Shelby’s jurisdiction.
Trustee Marguerite Sherman urged village residents who also live in the Town of Shelby to speak up and share their concerns with Shelby town officials.
Borrego’s anticipated timeline for the project includes:
November 2020 to November 2021: Built meteorological tower to assess weather conditions; this tower is currently visible on the site and will be removed before construction begins on the turbines
Spring 2022: Complete all site studies to evaluate historical/cultural resources, endangered or threatened species and wetlands
Summer 2022: Town permitting begins. Public hearings to be announced when scheduled.
Provided photo: Hayden Woodroe, left, is presented a $1,000 scholarship by Rob Klino, a member of the scholarship committee for the Medina Sandstone Society.
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society’s John Ryan Scholarship Committee for 2022 tasked the student applicants with a different approach to replace the standard written essay, with amazing results.
The committee – Kathy Bogan, Rob Klino, Matt Holland, Craig Tuohey and Mary Zangerle – asked the students to produce marketing collateral for a Medina Sandstone building, with the topic: “How to market a historical Medina Sandstone building in Medina through a practical use of history.”
This year’s scholarship recipient, Hayden Woodroe, chose the Medina Armory, and produced a PowerPoint video, a fact sheet, and a tri-fold pamphlet. The committee was extremely impressed with his time and effort in this project.
“Hayden was a pleasure to have in class and always a hard worker,” said his history teacher, Todd Bensley. “I am not surprised his hard work paid off.”
Hayden, son of Joel and Libby Woodroe of Medina, was the salutatorian of the Medina Class of 2022. He plans on majoring in Physical Education at SUNY Brockport this fall.
The Medina Sandstone Society held an award ceremony at the Sandstone Hall of Fame in Medina City Hall. Members of Hayden’s family were present to watch him receive the $1,000 scholarship check, as well as Todd Bensley and Margaret Martin as representatives from the Medina High School History Department. A reception immediately followed the award ceremony.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2022 at 8:25 am
Claudia Tenney, Mario Fratto and George Phillips are candidates for district that includes part of Orleans
Republicans in the sprawling new 24th Congressional District will go to the polls today from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. to pick among three candidates.
The district covers about a dozen counties, including part of Orleans – the towns of Albion, Barre, Ridgeway, Shelby and districts 2 and 3 in Clarendon.
The three candidates include Claudia Tenney, Mario Fratto and George Phillips. Tenney currently serves in Congress for the 22nd Congressional District. She has been living in Utica but is relocating to Canandaigua to be in the new district.
Fratto is a lawyer from Geneva who is part of a family-run granite business. Philipps is a former Broome County legislator.
The polling places include:
Albion – Districts 1 through 6 – Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
Barre – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
Clarendon – Districts 2 and 3 – Town Hall, 16385 Church St.
CARLTON – A driver was rescued late last night after a vehicle went over an embankment at Lakeside Beach State Park, the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company reported this morning.
The vehicle was located 75 feet down an embankment, upside-down and partially submerged in Lake Ontario.
Carlton firefighters, Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies and COVA were dispatched to End Road in Carlton at 1:37 a.m. for a one-vehicle motor vehicle accident with the vehicle in Lake Ontario. Deputies and Carlton firefighters arrived to see the single occupant was still in the vehicle.
Other responding units were rerouted to Lakeside Beach State Park, to perform a technical rescue operation, and the Murray/Clarendon Rope Rescue Team was requested to the scene, Carlton fire officials said.
The patient was quickly extricated from the vehicle and stabilized, while technical rescue equipment was being setup. Efforts on scene were hampered by a six-foot high chain link fence that separates Lakeside park from the private residents, and extremely muddy conditions on the embankment.
Ladders were set up to cross the fence and Carlton’s rescue equipment had to be moved into the park over the fence.
The patient was transported to the hospital by COVA with minor injuries. Carlton Fire Company was assisted on scene by COVA, Murray Joint Fire District, Orleans County Emergency Management and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
