Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – These two watch the fireworks from atop a vehicle during a 40-minute show at Lyndonville on Monday night.

The Lyndonville Lions Club hires Young Explosives for the show, and it is one of the biggest displays in Western New York.

Before the fireworks, cousins Aubrey and Tyler Goetze of Lyndonville have fun with sparklers in the grass for the softball field next to where the fireworks were set off.

The fireworks are reflected in the water by the Johnson Creek dam with Lyndonville Central School in back.

Liam Goetze, 2, of Lyndonville handles two sparklers after he enjoyed some S’mores with his family.

Fireworks are launched by the team from Young Explosives.

The band Double Shot from Buffalo performed an outdoor concert for 2 ½ hours. They closed the concert with “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC.

These photos near the end of the fireworks show include the steeple of the Lyndonville United Methodist Church in the foreground.

Jayden Wyant, 3, of Albion has fun with a sparkler.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – David Bellavia waves to people along Main Street during Lyndonville’s Fourth of July parade today.

Bellavia, a Lyndonville grad, is a Medal of Honor recipient. He received the medal from former President Donald Trump on June 26, 2019 at the White House.

Bellavia served as the grand marshal of today’s parade which started at noon and ended at about 1:10 p.m. Scott Schmidt, the county’s chief coroner, is driving the car.

Bellavia is the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest military medal. He was honored for his acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq.

Bellavia led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit. He is the first living Iraq War veteran to receive the nation’s highest honor for military service.

There was a big crowd out along Main Street for the first Fourth of July parade in Lyndonville since 2019. The Independence Day festival was cancelled in 2020 and the celebration returned last year, except without a parade.

Bellavia is one of five county residents to receive the Medal of Honor. Bellavia has said he is very appreciative to have grown up in Orleans County, where veterans are respected and people are encouraged to serve their country in the military.

He is a radio talk show host for WBEN and also travels extensively as an ambassador for the Army, speaking at colleges, high schools, bases and other events.

Bellavia and Forrest Vosler, another Medal of Honor recipient from Lyndonville, are recognized with Hometown Hero banners on Main Street.

Vosler was assigned as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II with the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group stationed out of England.

On Dec. 20, 1943, Vosler’s fourth combat mission. The plane was under fire and had two engines knocked out with the aircraft windmilling out of control. When a fellow aviator was knocked unconscious, Vosler maneuvered himself into the tailgun. Another 20-mm shell hit the aircraft, sending shrapnel into Vosler’s chest, face, and eyes. He continued to deliver defensive fire upon German aircraft until the attacks subsided. Nearly out of fuel and losing altitude quickly, the crew jettisoned every piece of equipment to lighten the plane.

Vosler, severely wounded and floating in and out of consciousness, begged the crew to throw him out of the plane to reduce weight. As the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing. A passing Norwegian trawler quickly picked up the crew and transferred them to a British rescue vessel. One of Vosler’s eyes had to be removed, and the other required extensive surgery.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – A United States Air Force C-17 flies over Route 63 in Lyndonville just before noon today for Lyndonville’s Fourth of July celebration.

The flyover was a first for Lyndonville’s July 4^th festival, which has been organized annually by the Lyndonville Lions Club for about 50 years.

The plane approaches the Lyndonville at about 11:55 a.m.

The flyover was carried out by the 911th Airlift Wing from Pittsburgh, Pa. The C-17 planes are used by the Air Force Reservists to carry out their mission of aeromedical intratheater evacuations and agile combat support.

Here is a photo looking overhead as the plane passed by, heading north.

Main Street was packed with people for the flyover and the parade to follow.

MEDINA – The Medina Joint Recreation Commission summer parks and swim program starts tomorrow but there won’t be swim lessons for at least the first day.

“Due to unsafe chlorine levels in the pool, swim lessons will be canceled tomorrow,” said Michelle Capstick, the program director. “They are unsure when the issue will be resolved. I will post daily updates until the issue is taken care of.  We appreciate your patience and support.  The Park program will start tomorrow. All paperwork must be completed for children to attend.”

The program Tuesday and runs through Aug. 12. It is a free program for children ages 6 to 12 in the Medina school district.

The parks program will be run at the Oak Orchard Elementary School campus with the pool program at the middle school. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 3 p.m. on Fridays. Besides games, the program will include bowling, field trips, a carnival and other activities.

The Village of Medina and towns of Ridgeway and Shelby all contribute to funding the program.

Press Release, Kathy Hochul’s Office

Photo by Tom Rivers: These cyclists head east past Presbyterian Road along the towpath in Albion in July 2017 when 650 cyclists passed through Orleans County for the annual Cycle the Erie Canal trip.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she has signed new legislation (S.8204a/A.9177) naming Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton as Chair of the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force.

The task force will identify and recommend reasonable measures that can be taken to enhance flood management and mitigation along the Erie Canal. The task force will meet for the first time on Aug. 22.

“As New York experiences more extreme weather events due to climate change, it is more important than ever before that we plan for and prioritize resiliency measures,” Governor Hochul said. “Countless New York communities are at risk of climate-related dangers like flooding and storm damage. By convening the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task force, we are taking action to identify flood mitigation strategies that will protect the people who live in communities along the Erie Canal, and ultimately help to relieve these communities from the impacts of repeat flooding.”

The new task force will explore the cost or impact of flooding along the Erie Canal over the last five years to agriculture, transportation, infrastructure, land use, public health, insurance, tourism, recreation, and power generation.

In addition, the task force will assess the canal system operation, procedures and plans that may impact flood mitigation and management and identify adaptive measures, with costs, that could be executed to mitigate flood damages. The taskforce will prepare a report by July 1, 2023, to publicly site its findings.

“I am pleased to serve as the designated chair of the Upstate Flood Mitigation Taskforce,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “By coming together with my state agency colleagues and leading subject matter experts in hydrology, civil engineering, conservation, and climate change, I am confident that the task force’s collaboration, research and recommendations will provide a roadmap for improved water management.”

LYNDONVILLE – Route 63 north, leading to Lyndonville, will close to traffic today at 11:40 a.m. until a military flyover is complete.

The flyover is scheduled for 11:55 a.m., just before the start of the parade in Lyndonville.

The Lyndonville Lions Club is asking people to arrive early for the flyover and parade, and be in pace no later than 11:30.

The Lions Club also encourages everyone to bring an American Flag or homemade signs to the flyover to honor our veterans and men and women in active duty.

The flyover will be carried out by the 911th Airlift Wing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The plane will be a United States Air Force C-17. These planes are used by the Air Force Reservists to carry out their mission of aeromedical intratheater evacuations and agile combat support.

The grand marshal for the parade will be David Bellavia, a Lyndonville native and Medal of Honor recipient.

Re daylong celebration includes live music, food and craft vendors and other activities. It will be capped by fireworks at 10 p.m.

Stanley Stack of Medina, seated, gets a hug from his brother Ed during a party Sunday at Sacred Heart Club to celebrate Stan’s 100th birthday.

MEDINA – Things have changed a lot in the last 100 years, but Stanley Stack says nothing has surprised him, except maybe the fact he has lived to be this ripe old age.

On Sunday afternoon, he was honored at a party at Sacred Heart Club, which began with a salute and singing “Happy Birthday” by members of the Butts-Clark American Legion Post.

Stanley was born in Medina July 3, 1922, the oldest of Joseph and Julia Stack’s 10 children. Only he and his youngest sibling, brother Ed, 83, of Massachusetts are still living.

Ed made the trip from Cape Cod to celebrate Stan’s milestone. It is the first time in 15 years they have seen each other.

“God bless him,” Ed said. “He used to let me take his car to go see my girlfriend in Buffalo.”

Stanley quit school to go to work, then enlisted in the Navy in 1942. He was sent to New London, Conn. submarine base and then to Pearl Harbor after the attack, where he spent a year and a half.  He returned home after the war, got his high school diploma and went to work at Harrison Radiator, retiring from there in 1976, after 31 years.

He met and married Medina native Mary Hibbard, with whom he celebrated 73 years of marriage. They had a daughter Lisa and one granddaughter, Allison. Mary died in October 2020.

Stan said he always liked to keep active and he has always liked to play cards. He was an avid bowler, a member of Sacred Heart Club, the American Legion and Senior Citizens of Western New York, where he played pinochle two days a week for many years.

An 82-year member of Sacred Heart, he is their oldest surviving member.

Stanley Stack gets in a game of euchre during his 100th birthday party Sunday. Looking on are his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Chris Joseph.

He never thought he’d live to be 100 and doesn’t know what he did to achieve that goal.

“I never drank water, but I liked BV and ginger,” he said. “I ate a good diet and was outside all the time.”

He has broken his leg twice and last December moved to The Willows when his legs began to give out.

Although his mind is sharp as ever, he gets around in a wheelchair. His card-playing partners visit him once a week to play an afternoon of pinochle, and he doesn’t miss a trick.

Daughter Lisa and son-in-law Chris Joseph came from Missouri, along with their daughter Allison from North Carolina to plan Stan’s party. Other guests came from Florida, Massachusetts and Georgia.

One guest was Chris Hare, who picked Stan up and took him to euchre at Sacred Heart every Monday night for at least seven years, Hare said.

“He was playing euchre before I was born,” he said.

When Chris brought out a deck of cards Sunday, Stan was ready for a game of euchre.

Lisa said Stan has been an awesome dad.

“Rarely did I get punished, but when I did, I knew I had done something wrong,” she said.

Allison said her grandpa is her hero and his name is tattooed on her arm.

‘If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not learning.’

Photo courtesy of David Klafehn: Kendall’s Class of 2022, which includes 62 members, are pictured before commencement on June 24.

We asked Orleans Hub readers to share advice for the 414 new high school graduates from Orleans County’s five school districts. We received nearly 300 responses on our Facebook page.

Carson Ferris-Zeolla: “Go see the world so you have stories to tell. Fill your life with experiences, not things. Remember that high school is only a small part of your life experience. It does not define you.”

Elissa Smith: “So many people saying leave the place that built you. My hope is that every person has the opportunity to see our nation and the world, but for those who are able – return home to give back, build up, and inspire the next generation to do the same.”

Cindy Makowski: “Get out there and do something. Try anything. Don’t be afraid of trying. If you like it great, if not move on to try something else.”

Bill Maryjanowski: “Go to a trade school. Become good at it. Write your own paycheck.”

Samantha Brooke Zinkievich: “Go to community college first for all your prerequisites and save money!”

Denise N Gene: “Please be the change that this country needs.”

Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Members of the Daisy Chain led a processional that included 99 Medina graduates during commencement on June 24 at Vets Park.

Diana Albone-Fulcomer: “Never stop learning! When an opportunity presents itself take it. If it does not work, learn from it and move on. Be kind always. Do what makes you happy. Make a difference and respect the differences in others. Laugh a lot. If you move away keep contacts with family & friends often! Just love life. You have the power to choose your happiness!!”

Joanne Heye: “Be brave, don’t let fear stop you from doing the difficult or the new.”

Lisa Neilans Blair: “Go wherever you want to in the world . . .it’s a great big place! But never forget where you came from . . . The small towns that you grew up in taught you many valuable lessons that you can carry with you for the rest of your life. Things like how to be a member of a community and how to take care of each other.”

Sherrie Balcerzak: “Become a productive member of society. Be a giver not a taker.”

Robert Palmer: “In general, go out and see the world. Build some skills that you can make a living from. Build a rich, full life for yourself, your family and your friends. But please remember Orleans County. Eventually come back, and do something good for the place that raised you.”

Jim Salatka: “Reach for the stars. Smash the barricades. Live like it’s your last day. Give God the glory. Make America Great for your kids and grandchildren.”

James Hults: “Whether you go to college, get an apprenticeship, join the military, or go straight to work, try to broaden your horizons and step out of your comfort zones. Our world is a very big place, go experience some of it.”

Sheri Dix Dent: “Follow your dreams and remember to stay humble and kind!! Best wishes to all you graduates.”

Jennifer Lee: “Don’t be in a hurry to move out of your parents’ house. It’s really hard out there. Figure out what your monthly bills will be when you do move out, and put that amount in a savings account for one year. By then, you’ll know what you can really afford, and you’ll have a good savings built up.”

Rochelle Nellist: “Be kind, be strong, be proud of who you are. Make memories. Collect experiences, not things. Life is short. Look for all the beautiful things.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dylan Clemons stops on stage to take a selfie after getting his diploma at Holley’s commencement on June 25. He is one of 60 grads in Holley’s Class of 2022.

Jamie Marie: “Find a job with a pension ASAP – Sheriff’s Department, railroad, UPS, etc. Retirement at 45 years old.”

Leighann Victoria: “Get an education in something useful and move out of State for a bit. See how other people live and think to get a different perspective. It gives you a more open mind (hopefully).”

Barbara Schmidt Smith: “Whatever career you choose, have it be something you love to do. That way you will never mind going. Also, remember you don’t have to die there. It’s just a job.”

Randy Smythe: “Stay in school; it’s dangerous out here!”

Bridget DiCureia: “TRADE SCHOOLS…. You don’t have to go broke before you learn a lifelong NEEDED skill!”

Brandi Hand: “Even if you come back to your roots later, leave Orleans County. You’re stuck in one place with one world view, please go out and explore. Learn about other cultures.”

Sandy Amedick: “Never stop dreaming. Never give up those dreams. And always keep that kid in you alive.”

Robin Wehling: “Go create memories & experiences. Learn a trade or college but remember your roots. Family is important.. stay close because they did everything for you.”

Carol Schildt Taylor: “Leave the county. See the world. Learn as much as you can. Return to Orleans County and make it better: open a business, provide a service, volunteer, marry and raise a family. Enter politics and work to make changes.”

Jon Winters: “Always be open to new opportunities and experiences. Never stop learning and growing. Find what you are passionate about and do more of it – that’s your purpose in life. Always be kind and compassionate – to others and especially yourself. Live every day of your life to the fullest and choose to make a difference.”

Brody Hoffmeister: “Follow your heart and passions, consistency & hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work. You will have times when you feel like you are failing, but don’t give up!! Stay humble and learn from people that are willing to help you get to where you want to go! Good luck, Class of 2022!”

Patti Shaw-Roberts: “Make your dreams actual goals and then go after them. Know your worth. Raise your standards. You deserve respect. Maintain your integrity. Save money. Create your own happiness. Don’t depend on others to do what you should be doing. Become fiercely independent.”

Christine Loss: “You don’t have to save the world to make a difference. Join a church and help out. Join a community group and help out. Decide what’s important to you and advocate for it. Be there… help…be present!!!”

Amy Suzanne: “Don’t make fun of the OC too much or forget where you are from. I have found the older I get, the most fair and genuine people are not from places that are shinier or look better. All that glitters is definitely not gold!”

Photo by Tom Rivers: These Albion grads walk to the football field for comment on June 24. From right to left include Luqman Cornick, Nicolina Creasey, Angel Cruz Cruz and Jason Dash Jr.

Theresa Tracy Brien: “‘You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.’ – Dr. Seuss. Always Be kind to yourself and listen to your gut. It’ll never steer you wrong. Congratulations!!”

Gloria Simmons: “Always keep God at the head of your life, and watch him work on your behalf. Attend a four-year school, leave the county, surround yourself with people who are positive and going somewhere in life. Remember your parents and the sacrifices they made for you. Always call them, and visit when you can. It is okay to outgrow friends and places, don’t try to bring people along on YOUR journey. Be open to diversity, the world is full of diversity outside of Orleans County. Pay it forward to strangers and always stay humble.”

Morgan Elizabeth: “Take your time choosing a career! Don’t jump right into college if you’re not confident in what you want to do yet. It’s OK to take your time. Start building your credit early so you can invest in a nice car and possibly a home earlier than normal. And (very random but I’m serious) take care of your teeth! Dental costs are no joke! Even with insurance.”

Jessica Allen: “It’s not a race vs your peers. Do things in your own time. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because they’re only mistakes if you don’t learn from them. Live your life for you. Take the road less traveled. Live within your means. Travel to other states and countries. Lots of self care. Love often, forgive more, share and be kind. Make lots and lots of beautiful memories.”

Debbie Fuller: “Always put forth your best effort and give back to your community when you can.”

Walter Adams Jr.: “Take your time and plan your future. Don’t go straight into debt to unknown.”

Brenda Kelley Hale: “Never forget where you came from. Great things happened to people from small towns. This community loves and cares for each other. Give back to our small county. Congratulations and good luck.”

Photo courtesy of Lyndonville Central School: Lyndonville Board of Education President Ted Lewis congratulates his daughter Ella on her graduation. She is one of 52 students in the class.

Maureen Watt: “See the world, experience all you can. Decide what’s best for you and ‘JUST DO IT.’ But never forget to come back visit those who made you who you are.”

Jenn Nickerson: “Move out of NY, go explore take a break from school because what may be for some isn’t for all. Enjoy life and start your own adventures. Find who you are and what you truly want to be and never settle for less!!!”

Melissa Lynne: “Celebrate this milestone but BE SAFE when doing so! Remember those whose lives were cut short and act accordingly. Congratulations Class of 2022!”

Keely Foster: “You absolutely do not need to go to college immediately! Pause, breathe, get your footing. Most importantly: get out of WNY if you can! Explore the country or the world to expand your horizons. You’ll meet so many interesting people, it’ll be so worth it.”

Pete Sidari: “ALWAYS. BE. KIND!”

Maria Laudisi Purwin: “See the world. Make new friends. Experience new cultures. Follow your passions. Congratulations and enjoy the next exciting chapter. As Buzz Lightyear said, ‘To infinity and beyond!’”

Wendy Lee Snell: “Remember where you came from, love and appreciate it. Always try to make your home as good as where your journey began.”

Cathie Gottung Hogan: “In a world where you can be anything…be YOURSELF!”

Alishia Foss: “Don’t be afraid to take smaller stepping stones on your path than to leap for the next rocks that are bigger because the small ones are the ones to cherish.”

Amberlyn Robinson: “Never settle and explore the world while you can!”

Rob Muhs: “Travel the country, travel the world, get out of the bubble of Western NY. Realize just how small & insignificant one is in the grander scheme of things, but never stop trying to make a difference to what’s around you, your friends, your family, your town.”

Jeff Bidell: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t (fill in the blank with the one thing you really want to do, but don’t tell anyone about), then do it.”

Binh Hua: “Nothing wrong with wanting or having your cake and eat it! Try to pick something you enjoy or love doing. There’s going to be a lot of things that go right. There will be some things that go wrong, but just make small or incremental adjustments.”

Heather Colella: “If work is work you’re screwed. You should love what you do. Say no to everything that doesn’t help you achieve the goals you set for yourself, or requires you to move a boundary to accommodate someone else at the expense of yourself. Start every day with gratitude. Don’t let a single negative moment ruin all the other moments of the day. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not learning, and if you’re not learning, you’re dead. You do not need a college degree to be happy or successful. Use debt for leverage to make more money. Saving money for when you need it rather than investing it in your future is like buying tools only keep them in your shed, untouched, while using a butter knife to put together your new bird feeder. If it doesn’t make dollars it doesn’t make cents (sense), and never step over a dollar to pick up a dime. When you’re having the worst day of your life, volunteer time to someone or something who needs it, you can’t experience negative feelings while also contributing and feeling grateful. Always, always be your authentic self.”

Kaytie Tranquill: “Try to be as self sufficient as possible, learn how to and then grow a personal vegetable garden. How to build shelter, how to find clean drinking water. Go hiking. Learn how to hunt, know how to can goods and store food. Dig a cold storage. Always help someone in need.”

Austan Brown: “Get a trade and learn to be financially literate, you’ll learn things like it makes more sense to invest in stocks/ business ventures because leaving money in a savings account makes it depreciate in value over years of time.”

Wayne Teaven: “Live out your dreams through hard work and dedication.”

Alex Breuilly: “Don’t just assume that you will reach your goals. You should take the time to figure out what you want, write it down, create a plan to get there and constantly adjust to make sure you are on the path to be successful. Your goals are what you want – not what your parents want, not what your friends want you to do. It has to be something you can dedicate years to and still be as passionate about it as the first day you started.”

Joe Pellegrino: “Work for what you want, don’t expect an easy ride even when you’re in good times. Become familiar with an 401k, IRA and enjoy life – it passes quick.”

Tommy Walders: “Don’t let people rush you to pick one career. You have a lot of life to live and more than enough time to learn multiple skills and trades. Don’t ever be afraid to start over.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

KENDALL – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a snowmobile accident in the Town of Kendall that resulted in serious injuries to a Henrietta man.

The 911 Center was called at 10:55 p.m. on Saturday for a report of a serious snowmobile accident approximately 100 yards behind a residence on West Kendall Road in Kendall.

Michael J. Snyder, 40, of Henrietta was operating the snowmobile. He appeared to be unresponsive after being ejected from a 2003 Bombardier MXZ 600. Snyder reportedly crashed into an earth embankment while trying to “water-skip” the snowmobile across a pond.

He suffered serious head, upper body and internal injuries. He was treated at the scene by the Kendall Fire Department, Murray Joint Fire District, Monroe Ambulance and COVA. He was transported to Strong Hospital in Rochester by Mercy Flight.

This incident was investigated by Sgt. Martin Stirk Jr. and Deputy Joshua Martek of the Sheriff’s Office.

Press Release, Daughters of American Revolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 4,000 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution gathered this past week in the nation’s capital for their 131st Continental Congress, the service organization’s annual meeting.

Patrice Powley Birner

The week-long convention, which was projected to draw the largest attendance in the organization’s history, consisted of business sessions, committee meetings and social functions, in addition to formal evening ceremonies that honored national award winners and featured outstanding keynote speakers. This year’s convention was the first in-person gathering in three years, after the 2020 and 2021 editions were conducted virtually due to the pandemic.

In attendance was New York State Regent Patrice Powley Birner, a member of the Orleans Chapter in Albion. Birner was elected to the office of Vice President General at this year’s Continental Congress. She will serve a term of three years with NSDAR’s National Board of Management. Each year, seven new Vice Presidents General are elected for a total of twenty-one serving at any one time. These National officers advise and guide the work of the society.

Patrice Powley Birner has served the NSDAR since becoming a member in 2004. At the chapter level, she has served as Treasurer, Regent, and Vice Regent. In 2015, she was selected as the New York State Organization’s State Outstanding Chapter Regent.

While serving as State Historian, she managed the digitizing and rebinding of 102 volumes of state history. During her term as State Regent, Birner’s State Regent’s Project has raised awareness about General Lafayette and his 1824-1825 Farewell Tour by placing historic markers across New York and sponsoring webisodes of “Follow the Frenchmen” as part of the national Lafayette Trail project. In addition to serving as State Regent, she currently serves on the National Board of Management and as National Chair of the VanBuren President General’s Project. Birner also served on the Continental Congress House Committee – President General’s Project Sales, 2013-2016, and participated in the 2019 National DAR Schools Tour.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Patrice Birner, state regent of the DAR, spoke on April 14, 2021 at the dedication event for a new historical marker in Albion to recognize the farewell tour in 1824-1825 to honor Marquis de Lafayette, a young French aristocrat and military officer served with George Washington. Lafayette traveled on the Erie Canal from Lockport to Rochester in June 1825 to great fanfare.

The DAR Continental Congress is a time-honored annual event that has been held in Washington, D.C. since the organization’s founding. Members from across the country and around the world gather at the DAR National Headquarters to report on the year’s work, honor outstanding award recipients, plan future initiatives and reconnect with friends.

To learn more about its important work, visit www.DAR.org.

Provided photos: The MAAC Thrift Depot at 536 Orient St. has resumed Tuesday evening hours after being closed two years due to Covid-19.

MEDINA – The Thrift Depot at 536 Orient St., operated by the Medina Area Association of Churches, has announced it will resume Tuesday evening hours after being closed for two years due to Covid-19. There is a slight change in the Tuesday evening schedule, however, according to Sue Metzo, who oversees the operation.

“We will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. from April through October,” Metzo said. “Certain concerns and issues have presented us with the need to be closed during the late fall and winter months.”

Metzo said they are occasionally faced with a problem of donations being left outside. Because they are only open 14 hours a week, those items could be outside a day or more, where they can get rained on or vandalized. The public is asked if they cannot put their donations in the chutes provided, please come during regular store hours, which are 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays from April through October.

For those who are not familiar with the MAAC Thrift Depot, it is run with the help of 20 to 30 volunteers. There are no paid employees, Metzo said.

“Our dedicated volunteers work anywhere between two to 20 hours per week,” she said.

The MAAC Thrift Depot is part of the non-profit organization, Medina Area Association of Churches, which was started around 1970. Sixteen churches in the Medina area are members. It consists of a Clergy Fellowship, the Thrift Depot, the MAAC Christmas Box Program and the Medina Area Christian Theater. Throughout the year they have Lenten luncheons, a Good Friday Cross Walk, Easter morning sunrise service, Thanksgiving ecumenical service and Advent in the Park.

MAAC started when several church groups combined efforts to provide clothing for students the school nurses were concerned about, Metzo said. So many people wanted to contribute there was an abundance of good used clothing that was, at first, given away.

But when more and more clothing kept coming in, it was decided to treat it like a rummage sale. The money earned was used to buy new underwear for the children in need. From there, it just grew and grew. It became the MAAC Clothing Depot and operated for years at the back of the former Medina High School on Catherine Street. When the old high school was sold, the Depot moved to its new location on Orient Street in 2018 and was renamed the Thrift Depot.

After paying for their expenses, the rest of the money earned is gifted back into the community, Metzo said. In 2021, MAAC gifted $41,703 to more than 20 agencies or churches in the area.

The Thrift Depot mainly accepts good, clean clothing, linens, toys, books, DVDs, CDs and small household/kitchen items. Unfortunately, they do not have space for furniture or large baby items. There is a list on their Facebook page (MAAC Thrift Depot) of items they cannot accept.

Anyone who has questions may message the Thrift Depot on Facebook or call and leave a message at (585) 798-6657. A volunteer will return the call within 24 hours.

People are being asked not to leave donations for the MAAC Thrift Depot outside, as seen here, where they can be stolen or rained on.

Mark Shurtz

MEDINA – The first half of 2022 has been full of achievements for Orleans Community Health and moments where rising to the occasion was needed, according to Marc Shurtz, chief executive officer at the hospital.

While the last couple of years have provided challenges for everyone, healthcare professionals have been at the forefront.

“Thanks to the dedicated team I have the privilege of working with on a daily basis, we believe our best days are still to come,” Shurtz said. “During a recent meeting I challenged some of our team to look back to the moments that truly make us who we are – a community health and wellness provider and resource.”

Below is the list they came up with which Shurtz said they feel encapsulates the true meaning of who they are.

In January they announced the opening of Orleans Community Health Surgery Clinic, located in Medina Memorial Hospital. The move not only brought the practice which Dr. Misiti built into the hospital, but also brought other surgeons and support staff to the community.

In March, they announced with Rochester Regional Hospital that they were partnering to bring the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute cardiology clinic to Medina Memorial Hospital. This provided a service that was needed in the community.

As a provider of healthcare services to the larger community, is always seeking new ways to get information out to a larger number of individuals. In April they launched the “Community Health Resource” column in an area paper. From misconceptions around popular dieting to women’s health, this column allows professionals from Medina’s team to provide health and wellness tips to the community. Even more exciting, according to Shurtz, is the fact that this concept will be expanding to other publications in the near future.

In May, the hospital’s chief nursing officer Kimberly Gray was named a finalist for the Community Nursing Award. She was listed among 14 others in all of Western New York.

As a community healthcare system, the entire Medina team prioritizes ways they can give back to the community. In May, tragedy struck neighboring Buffalo and on the following Monday, the conversation about doing something quickly gained traction throughout each of Orleans Community Health’s facilities. Internally, funds were donated, while donation drives were organized at each facility. After a month, multiple carloads of food and supplies were donation to FeedMore WNY.

In recent months, the wound care clinic doubled the hours in which services are provided, furthering their ability to provide care right in the community’s back yard.

An unfortunate theme for many industries has been the challenges presented by Covid-19. Staffing shortages have been a constant discussion, healthcare being one of the most publicized. That said, staffing at Orleans Community Health is stronger now than it was just prior to March 2020. Shurtz said they are excited and proud of the team that continues to be built at each of their facilities.

In conclusion, Shurtz said the next six months will include more engagement through events, an increased focus on sharing information about the hospital’s services and constantly providing health and wellness tips to the larger community.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These kids play Gaga Ball at Bullard Park on Friday at the end of the first week of the summer parks program in Albion.

There are 100 children registered for the program so far. The free program runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Mondays through Fridays. It starts on June 27 and runs until Aug. 5.

The Recreation Department will have tennis camps the next two weeks at the Albion High School tennis courts. No pre-registration is required. These camps are free for beginners to advanced players. Session one is July 5-8 and Session two is July 11-15. They are from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The recreation department also will host Carnival Day on July 13 at Bullard Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be bounce houses, kid activities, carnival games and music.

This group plays basketball on Friday at Bullard.

These kids are working on crafts under the pavilion next to the splash pad.

The program will be based at Bullard each day. Initially, village officials wanted to have some days at Lafayette Park on Park and State streets and Veteran’s Park on the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street. But the bathrooms there need new doors. At about $1,000 apiece the village decided to keep the program at Bullard and try to replace the doors in the next budget year.

Press Release, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has heeded his call and proposed to reverse its previous rules change for the eligibility criteria for rural hospitals that put many Upstate New York hospitals at risk of losing their Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status.

Editor’s Note: That status will result in $1.6 million annually for Medina Memorial Hospital (Orleans Community Health), according to Schumer’s office.

The CAH program allows smaller rural providers, like those in the North Country and Southern Tier, with the designation to receive greater federal reimbursements for care to keep these otherwise financially vulnerable rural hospitals in the communities that need them most. Schumer explained that in 2015 the CMS issued a new policy change without going through the proper notice and rulemaking required by law that would enact more restrictive eligibility definitions for the CAH program, costing these rural hospitals millions.

Schumer immediately began leading the fight to maintain CAH status for Upstate’s rural hospitals, sending multiple letters highlighting the issue and the impact it would have on rural residents, and personally called HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to fix this bureaucratic mistake that could cost thousands of rural family’s critical healthcare services.

Thanks to Schumer’s advocacy, CMS has now proposed to reverse this disastrous policy and clarify the language that would have caused New York’s CAH’s to lose their status, saving hospitals millions and allowing them to maintain their presence in rural communities.

“I promised our rural hospitals that I would not stop fighting until these rules changes were fixed and their Critical Access Hospital designation was ensured,” said Senator Schumer. “Now I am proud to announce that rural communities from the North Country to the Southern Tier can breathe a sigh of relief as these essential healthcare providers will continues to receive the millions in federal reimbursements they need and deserve to keep saving lives.”

Schumer explained that the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to give small rural healthcare providers greater financial reimbursement for servicing Medicare and Medicaid patients, as well as provide other resources, in order to keep vulnerable rural hospitals financially stable.

One factor for CAH eligibility requires that a hospital be a certain distance from another hospital by either a primary or secondary road and provide around-the-clock emergency services. Previously, CMS regulations stated that a CAH hospital must be at least 35 miles from the nearest hospital by “primary road,” defined as any road in an interstate system or a US-numbered highway, or at least 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only “secondary roads.” defined to include single lane state routes.

In 2015, however, CMS issued a memo that changed the definition of primary road to include any road that is in the National Highway System, which would include single lane NYS routes. This significant expansion to language and more restrictive definition of “primary road” if enforced would have led to dozens of CAHs in multiple states, including at least nine in New York, to lose their CAH status and hundreds of millions of dollars of needed funding to keep them in business serving rural patients.

Specifically, if this change were to have been fully enacted and enforced, it would cost Upstate New York hospitals over $35 million a year.

Some of the impacted New York hospitals would have included: Carthage Area Hospital, $9.7 million; Community Memorial Hospital, $4.1 million; Ellenville Regional Hospital, $4.7 million; Gouverneur Hospital, $3.3 million; Lewis County General Hospital, $5.3 million; Margaretville Hospital, $2.4 million; O’Connor Hospital, $3 million; Medina Memorial, $1.6 million; and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, $1.4 million.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office 

Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday announced that she has signed legislation restoring the ability of thousands of New York businesses to access low-cost workers’ compensation coverage through the New York State Insurance Fund, New York’s largest workers’ compensation insurer and a centerpiece of the State’s low-cost insurance market.

“At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of New York businesses struggling to stay afloat lost access to affordable workers’ compensation coverage when they needed it most,” Governor Hochul said. “But today, thanks to bill sponsors Senator Ramos and Assembly Member Fernandez, we’re announcing action to ensure that businesses can continue to protect their workers with affordable coverage while addressing any back premium. This bill will restore much-needed access, saving businesses across the state millions of dollars in premium and helping their bottom line.”

New York law requires businesses to secure workers’ compensation coverage, which most obtain through NYSIF or a private insurer. But unlike private insurers, NYSIF insures any employer that applies for coverage regardless of risk at the lowest possible cost to maintain a solvent fund. NYSIF may only cancel a policy for non-payment of premium and until now was precluded from re-issuing a policy to a business that owed it premium.

The new law will enable NYSIF to issue a policy to a business with an outstanding balance, allowing the company to pay the owed premium under an installment plan. In doing so, the legislation will give more than 3,000 New York businesses renewed access to the largest segment of the low-cost insurance market, generating an aggregate of $8 million in potential premium savings, or an average of approximately $2,000 per policyholder.

Gaurav Vasisht, Executive Director and CEO, NYSIF, said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, employers across New York can now stay insured by NYSIF and protect their employees during difficult times. The new law also affords NYSIF an opportunity to reconnect with our public mission, giving us the flexibility to help employers in distress and ensure a fair marketplace.”

Under the new law, policyholders can work with NYSIF to establish a payment plan, for both the outstanding balance and premium on the new policy. All companies must also meet NYSIF’s general underwriting standards. For more information visit www.NYSIF.com.