By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2022 at 10:26 pm
Connie Nenni and John Morriss elected village trustees
HOLLEY – Mark Bower was elected Holley’s next mayor today, receiving 122 votes to 33 for former mayor John Kenney.
Mark Bower
Bower is a current village trustee. He has been on the board for two years. He is a retired Hilton elementary school principal and director of staff development.
He said he wants to build strong partnerships with other organizations in the village, including the fire department, historical society, Community Free Library, Rotary Club and other residents and groups.
“I am big on outreach,” he said.
Bower, 65, sees a village on an upswing and he wants to keep the momentum going.
“There is a lot of work to do and there is a lot of good things going on,” Bower said.
He wants to see a sidewalk project completed for East Union Street and Park Place. The village needs to keep pursuing grants for infrastructure and community development.
“Our access to the Erie Canal really helps us (with grant funding),” he said.
Bower’s two-year term as mayor starts on July 1. He will succeed Kevin Lynch who didn’t run in this election.
Residents also re-elected Connie Nenni as village trustee with 123 votes.
She was the only trustee candidate on the ballot. The other spot was filled by write-in votes and John Morris had the most with 92 followed by Skip Carpenter with 18.
Nenni is a former village clerk who works as the school district clerk and administrative assistant for the superintendent of schools.
She said she is proud of the board’s recent work with the redevelopment of the former Holley High School, new sidewalks in Holley and increases in pay for Holley police officers. She would like to see more upgrades to village waterlines and sidewalks.
Morris is a former Murray town supervisor and village trustee.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2022 at 6:16 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – Firefighters cut into the roof of a house on Freeman Road in Shelby this afternoon, trying to vent smoke from the structure.
One person died in the fire and another was transported to the Erie County Medical Center by Mercy Flight helicopter. Two other people also were able to safely make it out of the house.
The Mercy Flight helicopter came from Olean to make the transport to ECMC.
Firefighters were dispatched to 10307 Freeman Rd. at about 3:45 p.m. Shelby Fire Chief Jason Watts said it appears the fire started in the kitchen.
Orleans County fire investigators as well as staff with the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control will work to determine the cause of the fire.
More information is expected to be released later by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
Shelby was assisted at the scene by firefighters from Medina, East Shelby and Ridgeway.
This is the first fatality in a fire in Shelby since 1978.
BATAVIA – Catholic Charities needs volunteers for its Friendly Phones and Home Visitation programs in Genesee and Orleans counties.
Both programs depend on dedicated volunteers to provide weekly visits or phone calls to isolated seniors 60 and older who live independently, or with family.
“With limited volunteers, we unfortunately have many homebound seniors who are currently on a waiting list to participate in both our Friendly Phones and Home Visitation programs,” said Linda Chadderdon, program manager for Catholic Charities’ Home Visitation program. “Both programs are built with the intent to bring a sense of connectivity and friendship to our program members through friendly conversation or partaking in hobbies and special interests such as reading, puzzles, or card games. Not only do these interactions brighten our seniors’ days, but our volunteers also enjoy the time spent together.”
Visitation schedule is flexible. Interested volunteers much be at least 21 years old and do not need to reside in Genesee or Orleans County. An interview, background check and proof of Covid-19 vaccination are required.
Training will also be provided upon acceptance into the volunteer program. For more information on volunteering, please call Catholic Charities at 585-343-0614, ext. 3804.
‘The dairy industry is in need of workers, this bootcamp is the perfect opportunity for someone who is on the search for a well-paying and debt-free start to their career.’
Press Release, Genesee County Economic Development Center
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article said the program was limited to Genesee County high school graduates, but it is open to those outside Genesee as well.
BATAVIA – Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will be hosting a free three-day dairy processing bootcamp at the Genesee Valley BOCES from June 28 through June 30 for local high school students including those outside Genesee County.
The program is designed for career-ready individuals seeking opportunities in the dairy manufacturing and dairy processing industries. The program starts each day at 8 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center and the Workforce Development Institute provided the funding for the program. The bootcamp program will connect high school graduates with local manufacturers such as HP Hood, O-AT-KA Milk Products and Upstate Milk Cooperative in Batavia, and Yancey’s Fancy in Pembroke.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our local high school graduates to get on a successful career pathway without having to immediately go to college and perhaps avoid incurring student loan debt,” said Chris Suozzi, Vice President of Business & Workforce Development at the GCEDC. “The participants will be receiving top tier instruction from Cornell University which will include hands-on training simulation experience, plant tours and more.”
There are currently over 100 available dairy manufacturing and dairy processing positions at these Genesee County businesses with average starting salaries of approximately $20 per hour. Human resource representatives from the various companies will be on hand to explain career path options, job duties and the application process.
“We have instructors with years of experience in the dairy field and bring an extensive amount of knowledge to this program,” said Cornell Dairy Processing & Marketing Specialist, Anika Zuber Gianforte. “The dairy industry is in need of workers, this bootcamp is the perfect opportunity for someone who is on the search for a well-paying and debt-free start to their career.”
To register for the upcoming Cornell in High School Dairy Processing Bootcamp, click here.
Students must be at least 18 years old and have a high school degree to participate. Additional information is available at gcedc.com/workforceprograms.
MEDINA – Coming off their successful tournament last summer, the Rotary Club of Medina will hold its second annual Medina Rotary Pickleball Tournament next month.
The tournament will be held on Saturday, July 9th and Sunday, July 10th. This year will include an “Introduction to Pickleball” clinic to be held on Friday, July 8th. The clinic and all events will be held at the Medina High School tennis courts. There will be food vendors onsite.
There are five events in the tournament: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Each event is broken into three categories based on skill level. Final categories will be determined by the number of registrations.
Last year saw 47 players participate in the tournament.
“Our first tournament exceeded expectations, both by the number of players and the positive responses from the players,” said Tournament Director Carl Tuohey.
This year the tournament is expanding in several areas. First, there will be different skill levels for each event. Secondly, we are using the website “PickleballBrackets.com” for the tournament. The website handles the signups and scheduling.
The proceeds from the tournament go toward the club’s projects. These include books for second graders, meals for needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, scholarships for graduating students, and more.
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America today, Tuohey said. It is a game for players of all ages and skill levels. Rules for pickleball are simple, making it a great introductory sport.
It can also be quite the challenging, fast-paced, and competitive game when people become more experienced at playing.
“Our tournament is a fun tournament,” Tuohey said. “It is geared toward players looking to try the sport. And this is a great chance to play in a no-pressure tournament for those that have been playing the sport.”
Anyone interested in playing must create an account on PickleballBrackets.com and then register for the tournament by searching for “Medina Rotary.” There is no cost for creating an account on PIckleballBrackets.com.
The tournament carries a $20 registration fee and $10 per event entered. The “Introduction to Pickleball” clinic is $5.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2022 at 8:31 am
In new book, ultra-endurance athlete and retired Rochester PD sergeant from Carlton gives tips on conquering challenges
This cover image on Brett Sobieraski’s book shows him getting wrapped in a flag after swimming 32 miles over 21 hours from Fort Niagara to Toronto.
CARLTON – A Carlton resident who worked more than 30 years as a police officer, including as a sergeant and SWAT leader for the Rochester PD, has written a book about his experiences as an ultra-endurance athlete.
Brett Sobieraski, 55, grew up in Lockport and sat the bench on the sports teams and was in the back of the pack in track events. He wasn’t exceptional.
But in his mid-40s he tapped into a reservoir of grit and determination to finish extreme challenges, such as swimming across Lake Ontario, running 175 miles along the Erie Canal and completing the 135-mile Badwater in California’s Death Valley.
In his new book – “Gray Man – An Average Man’s Journey To Personal Greatness” – Sobieraski shares how he gets past his self doubts, the exhaustion and pain, to keep going to the finish line, and then embrace another new challenge.
“The change is incremental,” Sobieraski said in an interview. “For it to be long-lasting there has to be setbacks along the way. Compare yourself to where you started and the obstacles you overcame.”
Sobieraski retired two years ago from the Rochester Police Department. He ran for Orleans County sheriff in 2019, losing a close race to Chris Bourke.
Sobieraski said he is enjoying retirement. He wrote the book after being encouraged by people to share his experiences as an ultra-athlete and some of the motivational messages he often used as a physical fitness and narcotics instructor in the Monroe County Law Enforcement Academy.
A gray man, Sobieraski said, is someone who isn’t extraordinary. A gray man isn’t in the top 10 percent or bottom 10 percent. The remaining 80 percent are in the middle in various shades of gray.
“A gray is someone who moves around the periphery without creating any stimulus,” Sobieraski writes in the book. “He blends into his surroundings and is overlooked, unnoticed and forgotten, mostly because he is average.”
Sobieraski said he was the “consummate gray man” for his childhood and most of his adulthood.
“It took me many years to learn that personal greatness is still obtainable for average folks like me,” he writes. “It wasn’t until I looked past my lack of physical attributes and focused on my mental toughness, that I began experiencing personal success.”
Sobieraski takes you into his mindset in taking on a challenge such as the 100-mile Beast of Burden race in the Lockport area. He doesn’t always hit his goals for time in a race.
Provided photo: Brett Sobieraski runs the final stretch of a 50-hour journey on July 15, 2018, carrying a torch for the Special Olympics. He started in Buffalo on July 11 and would run more than 6 1/2 consecutive marathons in six different counties. He finished the challenge near Syracuse. He has completed several endurance challenges to raise money for the Special Olympics, veterans and police officers.
He signs up for the challenges even though he knows there will be pain. He saw his friend Brian’s feet after he went more than 60 miles in the Beast of Burden in Sobieraski’s hometown.
“When he took his socks off his feet looked like they had gone through a meat grinder,” Sobieraski writes. “They were red, full of blisters and badly swollen. There was something eerily fascinating about it, that it was earned through the will to continue to push forward.”
Sobieraski trained for the 100-miler and decided to use the challenge as a fundraiser for two police officers – one who had Huntington’s disease and another who passed away suddenly leaving behind a wife and three children. Sobieraski raised $18,000 – with half going to Huntington’s disease research and other half for his fallen friend’s family.
Sobieraski writes about friends who help push him in the races, especially near the end when the pain is intense and the body doesn’t want to keep moving. At those times you feel yourself unraveling, and searching for a reason to continue, he said.
Sobieraski finished that race in 21 hours and 52 minutes. He went to work the next day but felt it took four months for him to recover from the 100-miler on Aug. 20, 2011.
It was an empowering experience and Sobieraski was ready for more.
“I once again gained a new perspective when it came to hardship,” he writes. I now feared very little of it. I knew what it was like to hit rock bottom and continue on.”
He has finished Ironman triathlons – swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles, pushing through the temptation to stop. He even did a double Ironman where he nearly gave up but kept going and finished in just over 29 hours. He didn’t want a DNF (Did Not Finish) next to his name.
He ran one 100-mile race in Knoxville, Maryland in memory of Rochester police officer Daryl Pierson, who was shot and killed by a parolee on Sept. 3, 2014.
He swam 32 miles in August 2015 to Toronto as a benefit for the All In, All The Time Foundation which assists surviving spouses and children of fallen Navy Special Warfare warriors.
In July 2016, Sobieraski conquered the 135-mile Badwater ultra in California’s Death Valley, finishing in 34 hours, 22 minutes.
In July 2018 he ran 50 hours straight, covering 175 miles, as a benefit for the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics.
Sobieraski is still at it as an endurance athlete, at age 55. On May 7, he completed the 12-hour “Mind the Ducks” ultramarathon in Webster.
He is considering an ultimate challenge, running across the country – about 2,700 miles.
Sobieraski encourages people to set goals and not necessarily compare themselves to others.
“I hope most of it will make you wonder what is possible if you are willing to make incremental changes in your life, coupled with sacrifice and determination,” he said about the book. “After all, personal greatness is obtainable for EVERYONE!”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2022 at 4:39 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: A rainbow emerged after rain on Aug. 16, 2020 in this photo with the First Presbyterian Church of Albion, which was inducted in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame in 2017.
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society is accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame, seeking to recognize prominent buildings made of Medina Sandstone that are well-maintained and architecturally significant.
Since the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame was created in 2013, the society has inducted churches, public buildings, private buildings and other ornamental buildings/structures, such as the Civil War Memorial at Mount Albion Cemetery. There have now been 32 inductees.
The inductees last year included Bent’s Opera House in Medina, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brockport, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Canandaigua.
This year’s class could include nominations from previous years not already selected, and any new nominations received by July 9.
Criteria for consideration shall include age, beauty, longevity, structural soundness, and architectural uniqueness. If possible nomination information should have full background and documentation, and, at the very least, should give a name and phone number to be contacted for further information or a website.
Legislation named in memory of late Congressman John Lewis
Governor Kathy Hochul signs the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York. (Photo by Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul.)
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
BROOKLYN – Governor Kathy Hochul today, at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, signed the landmark John. R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York (S.1046-E/A.6678-E) into law cementing New York State’s place as a national leader on voting rights and fulfilling a key part of the Governor’s 2022 State of the State agenda.
The Governor signed the bill alongside Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, Assemblymember Latrice Walker, President of the NAACP New York State Conference Dr. Hazel N. Dukes and key voting rights advocates.
“At a time when the very foundation of our democracy is under threat, New York is leading the nation with new laws protecting the fundamental right to vote,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, we honor the work of the late Congressman John Lewis and activists like Medgar Evers as we make meaningful changes to our laws that enfranchise voters and ensure the voices of the people are heard in our democracy. Where the federal government fails to act, New York will continue to step up and lead the way: we did it with abortion protections, we did it with gun safety reforms, and I’m so proud to say we are doing it again with voting rights.”
Legislation S.1046-E/A.6678-E will encourage participation in voting by all eligible voters by ensuring that barriers to accessing the polls are removed. In particular, members of racial, ethnic, and language-minority groups will now be protected by new measures that will ensure they have an equal opportunity to vote in the State of New York. This legislation does so by addressing:
Voter Dilution. Prohibits methods of election that eliminate the voting strength of a protected class and establishes legal protections for violations.
Voter Suppression. Prohibits election-related laws and practices from being implemented in ways that deny members of a protected class the right to vote and establishes legal protections for violations.
Voter Intimidation, Deception or Obstruction. Prohibits acts of intimidation, deception, or obstruction that impact the ability of New Yorkers to access their right to vote and establishes legal protections for violations.
Expanded Language Assistance. Requires election-related language assistance beyond what is required by the federal Voting Rights Act.
Preclearance. Establishes a state analogue to the now dormant “section 5 preclearance” of the federal Voting Rights Act, requiring covered jurisdictions to “preclear” any changes to certain important election-related laws and policies before they can implement them. Under the new law, covered jurisdictions seeking to make a change to a range of election measures will first need to have those changes reviewed to ensure they will not violate the voting rights of a protected class. Covered jurisdictions are those with a history of civil or voting rights violations.
“As a black man who represented a district in Congress that is nearly 90 percent white, in one of the most rural parts of the country, and as the first person of color to ever represent upstate New York in Congress, my experience is proof that voting can bring about change that once might have seemed out of reach,” said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. “By amending the voter laws in New York State, we are providing all people, regardless of the color of their skin or where they live, with an equal opportunity to have their voices heard at the polls.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2022 at 12:26 pm
Thomas Hock sets $20,000 goal to fill truck with medical supplies
Photos by Tom Rivers: Thomas Hock of Munich, Germany left Albion this morning on the start of a two-week bike ride along the Erie Canal to Albany, then to New York City and Long Island. He has met half of his $20,000 fundraising goal to purchase medical supplies for people in Ukraine.
ALBION – Thomas Hock has set out on a mission to get medical supplies to the people in Ukraine. Hock is using a network of Rotarians to acquire the supplies a deep discount and then transport then from Germany to Poland and to the Ukraine border.
From there Rotary clubs in the Ukraine will get medical supplies, insulin and painkillers to people in need by delivering to clinics in the war-torn country.
Bruce Landis, left, hosted Thomas Hock last night. Bruce and Sue Landis live in Barre. Landis also helped Hock find a new bike after his was missing.
Hock started a bike ride in Albion this morning that will cover about 800 miles in the next two weeks. His goal is to raise $20,000 which he said will fill a truck with supplies. He already has raised about half of the $20,000.
“The people who suffer the most must bear it even though they aren’t responsible for it,” Hock said this morning by the Main Street lift bridge in Albion.
Hock, 54, assists families with financial planning in Munich, Germany. He is an avid cyclist and the trip along the Erie Canal by bike was suggested to him. He will ride to Albany then to New York City and Long Island.
He flew to Toronto but his bicycle wasn’t there waiting for him as planned. He believes it was stolen. He took Uber rides to get to the border.
Alex Krebs, president of the Albion Rotary Club, met him in Niagara Falls and brought him to Orleans County. Bruce Landis, another member of the Albion Rotary Club, helped Hock find a new bicycle at Bert’s Bike and Fitness in Buffalo. Landis and his wife Sue hosted Hock last night at their Barre home.
“I’ve already experienced love with Rotary friends who were complete strangers,” Hock said this morning. “All the help I’ve received is unbelievable.”
Hock plans to meet with other Rotarians along the way in Albany, Peeksville and New York City. His goal today is to ride about 75 miles to Newark.
For information about donating to the #ride4ukraine, click here.
Thomas Hock heads east on the Erie Canal in Albion this morning.
ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a proclamation in observance of Juneteenth. The Governor also is having the red, black, and green Black Liberation Flag be raised over the New York State Capitol on June 19 and June 20. State landmarks also were be illuminated red, black, and green on Sunday.
“Arriving just over a month after the horrific, racist shootings in Buffalo, this year’s Juneteenth observance is an opportunity to reflect and heal as we commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Africans and their descendants in this country,” Governor Hochul said. “In recognition of the Black community’s persistent and intergenerational resistance to institutional oppression, I have directed the Black Liberation Flag to be flown over the state Capitol this year to signify New Yorkers’ solidarity in the struggle against the senseless violence and discrimination inflicted upon Black communities, families, and individuals.”
On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas at the conclusion of the Civil War to free the remaining enslaved African Americans, nearly two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. June 19 is often considered the official end of slavery in the United States and the nation’s second Independence Day. This year, June 19 falls on a Sunday, and Juneteenth will be observed as both a New York State and federal holiday on Monday, June 20.
The Black Liberation Flag was flown on Sunday and today on the observed holiday over the New York State Capitol and the following State buildings:
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, Harlem
Eleanor Roosevelt State Office Building, Poughkeepsie
Hudson Valley Transportation Management Center, Hawthorne
Perry B Duryea State Office Building, Hauppauge
Empire State Plaza, Albany
Alfred E Smith State Office Building, Albany
Executive Mansion, Albany
Harriman State Office Building Campus, Building 18, Albany
Binghamton State Office Building
Dulles State Office Building, Watertown
Henderson-Smith State Office Building, Hornell
Homer Folks Facility, Oneonta
Senator John H. Hughes State Office Building, Syracuse
Utica State Office Building
New York State Preparedness Training Center, Oriskany
In addition, several state landmarks were illuminated red, black, and green on Sunday in celebration of Juneteenth:
MEDINA – The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is kicking off the summer reading season with a splash.
Join us for our kick-off celebration on Friday, July 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for yard games, giant bubbles, and an inflatable water slide! Twisted Treats Ice Cream will be selling ice cream. Also make sure to play our ocean-themed sidewalk games, located in front of the library.
This year’s theme is Oceans of Possibility. Weekly children’s programs begin July 5th and run through Aug. 12.
Story times will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wednesdays will feature STEM programs from Challenge Island. Fridays will feature a variety of fantastic performers and outdoor movies at night. Teen programs run for 5 weeks on Tuesdays starting July 5th. Registration is open for all programs.
Check out our website and social media for more information. Or stop in and pick up our summer reading flyer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2022 at 8:40 am
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas dropped 3 cents since a week ago and is now at $5.01 in New York and $4.98 in the U.S., according to AAA.
The average prices today for counties in WNY include:
Orleans, $4.981
Niagara, $4.828
Erie, $4.905
Genesee, $4.886
Wyoming, $4.961
Monroe, $4.961
Livingston, $4.994
Chautauqua, $4.878
Cattaraugus, $4.885
Allegany, $4.912
Statewide in NY, the average price for regular unleaded is $5.008 a gallon, compared to $5.037 a week ago, $4.919 a month ago and $3.133 a year ago. The diesel price is at $6.280 today, compared to $6.307 a week ago, $6.535 a month and $3.296 a year ago.
AAA said that gasoline demand declined slightly, which limited ump price increases. Crude prices also dropped last week “amid broad market concern regarding the potential for slower economic growth after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised the interest rate by 0.75 percent,” AAA stated in a news release.
