Medications reduce withdrawal and cravings which decreases the use of illicit drugs and overdoses
By Mike Pettinella, GCASA Publicist
Provided photo: Melissa Weingarten, right, Wyoming County Jail nurse, makes a point as Kathy Hodgins, chief clinical officer at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, during the GOW Opioid Task Force meeting at The Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road.
BATAVIA – No matter what term is used – and there are several of them, the practice of combining medication and treatment for people struggling with substance use disorder has a singular goal: Saving lives.
“Medication-Assisted-Treatment – or MAT – is an evidence-based program that has been shown to make a positive difference in saving lives for persons with an opiate use disorder. And it’s considered the gold standard for treatment of opiate use disorder,” said Ann Bowback, clinical director at Spectrum Health & Human Services in Warsaw.
Bowback is the project director for the Partnership to Address Opioid Epidemic and Save Lives in Western New York Through Medication-Assisted-Treatment, a program funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Speaking at the GOW Opioid Task Force quarterly meeting recently, she explained that her program, in collaboration with Evergreen Health, is looking to increase the number of persons receiving MAT within the Spectrum agencies by at least 200 per year.
“We work to link people with a prescriber the same day, if possible, but at the latest within 72 hours of their initial visit with us,” she said. “We also will add two additional data waiver subscribers per year in order to meet the needs of these additional 200 people. And with this grant, our goal is to ensure that all the MAT clients are offered peer services (recovery advocates) within 60 days of admission.”
Other speakers at the meeting, which took place at The Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road and provided access via Zoom videoconferencing, were Melissa Weingarten, Wyoming County Jail nurse, and Kathy Hodgins, chief clinical officer at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
Bowback said most substance use disorder providers along with jails and prisons are taking a “whole patient approach” to treatment.
“MAT is more than just medication,” she said. “For some members of the recovery community, including our Evergreen partner, they refer to this as MAR – medication-assisted-recovery. This can be a referred term for some people because it emphasizes a person’s commitment to recovery while using medications, and they may or may not be involved with treatment.”
She also said it can be referred to as MOUD (medications for opioid use disorder), which zeroes in on the importance of medication and addressing opiate use, and also as OTP (opioid treatment program) or OBOD (office based opiate treatment).
“PWUD stands for people who use drugs as we’re ideally trying to get away from some of the stigmatizing language like addicts and things like that,” she added. “OUD stands for opiate use disorder and OTP is where you would get medication such as methadone.”
Currently, the Food & Drug Administration has approved three medications for treatment of opiate use disorder – methadone, naltrexone and buprenorphine, Bowback said.
“All medications work a little differently, but all basically normalize brain chemistry in order to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms,” she noted. “Methadone was first used in 1947 to treat opioid addiction and critics complained at that time that methadone merely exchanged one drug for another which led to strict government control over methadone, and that continues today.
“Now, in order to receive methadone for an opiate use disorder, you have to obtain it from an OTP. And although methadone is very effective, some individuals are hesitant to take this medication.”
Bowback said Spectrum offers naltrexone (brand name, Vivitrol), which was approved to treat opiate use disorder in 2010.
“The extended-release formulation is generally preferred for the treatment of opiate use disorder,” she said. “But some individuals do still prefer the pill form. Our prescribers will typically start a person on the pill form prior to prescribing the injection just to ensure the person is able to tolerate it. In order to receive this medication, though, the person cannot have opiates in their system; otherwise, they’ll experience withdrawal. So, you must be abstinent for at least seven days.”
Spectrum also offers buprenorphine (also known as suboxone) for MAT, she said. In the 60s, buprenorphine was developed for treatment of pain and approved for treatment of opiate use disorder in 2002.
“Unlike methadone, a person almost immediately receives a seven-day script and within a very short time is able to receive a script for 28 days, which results in less daily disruption to lifestyles,” she advised. “You don’t have to be present at a clinic daily … and you don’t have to be abstinent for seven days in order to receive the medication.”
Medications reduce withdrawal and cravings and, as a result, decreases the use of illicit drugs and overdose, stabilizes the brain and “most of all, saves lives,” Bowback said.
“It also socially decreases criminal activity and reduces risk of transmission of communicable diseases, reduces risky sexual activity, and increases engagement with treatment.”
MAT is at the core of services at GCASA, which offers an integrated treatment and OTP clinic at its main location in Batavia as well as clinical services at its Orleans County location in Albion, Hodgins said.
“When I started at GCASA in 2002, we were already doing medication-assisted-treatment with alcohol, using naltrexone to treat alcohol dependence,” she said. “And then shortly after, we did start using buprenorphine – suboxone for opiate use disorder individuals that came in.”
Hodgins said GCASA counselors and medical professionals treat medication for substance use disorder “similar to any kind of medication that you take.”
“So, those on medication are definitely in recovery – it just assists with the recovery. And it really does help reduce the cravings and the physical withdrawal.”
Weingarten shared that Wyoming County Jail started its MAT program in early 2020, offering suboxone and naltrexone.
“We provide medication to those who have been on MAT programs in the community, as long as we can verify that they’ve been in treatment and continued to get it,” she said.
She also mentioned that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that requires all prisons and jails, beginning in October, to provide MAT to inmates.
“So, we’ve started that way before she’s required it,” she said, adding that the jail program includes individual and group counseling – and connection to peer recovery advocates.
Hodgins said “it just makes sense” to keep incarcerated people on medication, especially considering the rising overdose rates. GCASA provides services to inmates in six jails or prisons, including Genesee, Orleans, Albion, Groveland, Wyoming and Attica.
“Our common goal in our community is to save lives and I’m grateful that the state is on board with that,” she said. “I believe the best way to proceed is to start with a thorough assessment while they’re in jail and getting them on the right medication prior to release. That is how we’re going to save additional lives in our community.”
By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director – Vol. 3 No. 11
GAINES – In this installment of “Historic Childs,” we take a look at another musical instrument in the collection of the Cobblestone Museum. This 1904 Estey Reed Organ, by far the largest musical instrument in our collection, is now at home at the National Historic Landmark Cobblestone Universalist Church (1834). It is unusual by appearance, in that the rank of pipes on top of the organ are strictly non-functional and have been placed there to give the illusion that the instrument is a pipe organ (i.e., fake pipe top).
The first organ in the Universalist Church was perhaps a small Melodeon that proved insufficient for the size of the building. It was replaced by a pump organ, and later, the one shown above. This organ has now been moved to the lower level of the Church following the donation of the Estey Organ. Notice the foot petals that pumped bellows that provided the moving air that produced the musical notes.
The Cobblestone Universalist Church followed the custom of the time and placed the organ in the choir loft located in the rear of the sanctuary and the preacher at the opposite end. At one time, all of the churches in Albion followed this tradition, until more modern times saw all of the churches (except the historic Cobblestone Church and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church) place choir and clergy in the same area in the sanctuary.
The Estey Reed Organ was built for church performance in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1904, and features two full keyboards and a pedal board. Estey Organ Company was founded in 1852 by Jacob Estey, who bought out another Brattleboro manufacturing business. At its peak, the company was one of the world’s largest organ manufacturers, employing about 700 people, and selling its high-quality items around the world. Estey built around 500,000 to 520,000 pump organs between 1846 and 1955. Estey also produced pianos, made at the Estey Piano Company Factory in New York City.
Wade Gidley at the Pullman Memorial Church Centennial Celebration, April 17, 1994
The Museum’s Estey Organ was secured for the Cobblestone Society in 1996 by Wade Gidley, a local organist that later moved to Texas. It was acquired through a donation by Mrs. Katherine Tuthill of Williamsville NY. The organ was moved from its former home in Williamsville by movers who carried it upstairs to its current location in the Cobblestone Church organ/choir loft.
Wade Gidley was born in Albion and lived in Orleans County most of his life. His love for the organ began when he was a small child. He studied under the late Harold Suzanne in Medina, taking lessons on the pipe organ at the old Masonic Temple in Medina and also on the organ of the First Baptist Church there.
He received his first appointment as a resident organist at the age of 14 at the Lyndonville United Methodist Church. He also played at St. John’s Lutheran Church at County Line in the Town of Yates and the Knowlesville United Methodist Church.
Following High School, Wade spent three years in the Army as Chapel Organist at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and while stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany, he played at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in the Hanan Military community. Upon returning to the United States, he played at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, Albion; First Baptist Church, Medina; and St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Cheektowaga.
Announcement of the intended organ donation was made to the Cobblestone Board of Trustees at their April meeting in 1996, and the board, along with Museum Director/Curator Bill Lattin, quickly began to plan a dedication service for the “new” organ to be held on June 1st.
Pat Morrisey volunteered to prepare refreshments and Mary Anne Braunbach offered to video-tape the event so it could be shared with Mrs. Tuthill, the donor, who was not able to attend.
Mr. Gidley, assisted by Ken Root, began to make preparations for the permanent installation of the organ in the church choir loft. The men installed a four-inch pipe in the attic for the blower motor, which cut down on the noise. In the organ’s earlier placements, it would have been “powered” by bellows which were operated by a “blow-boy.” This young man would have provided the man-power needed to force air into the reed organ by pumping bellows, usually located behind a screen (shown above), so as not to be a distraction to the musician or audience.
A plaque was ordered to honor the donor, Mrs. Tuthill, who taught 6th grade for 45 years in the Buffalo Public Schools. She studied music at the University of Buffalo and played the organ and piano throughout most of her life. For 22 years, she led the Children’s Choir at the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo.
When June 1st arrived, the Dedication was attended by 63 guests. Bill Lattin remarked that there were many first-time visitors among the guests. Following the Dedication in the sanctuary, guests retired to the Proctor Room in the lower level of the church to enjoy the delicious refreshments prepared by Pat Morrisey.
Throughout the years, the Estey Organ has continued to provide wonderful music, reminiscent of an earlier form of church music. In addition to countless weddings that have taken place over the years in the church since the organ’s arrival in 1996, the Estey organ has also provided music for hymn singing twice each year, when the congregation from the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion visits their old “stomping grounds” for summer services, usually held on the last Sunday of June and first Sunday of July. The later service is a community patriotic event that includes hymn singing as well as patriotic readings, designed to celebrate the Fourth of July.
On May 12, 2018, the Cobblestone Museum held its first Progressive Organ Concert, and its own Estey Organ became the first stop on the tour that day. Mr. Andrew Meier, principal organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Medina, performed selections designed to highlight church music from the early 1900s and demonstrated the full melodic function of the instrument.
Born and raised in Medina, Andrew Meier graduated from Medina High School in 1997, and graduated magna cum laude in political science from the University of Rochester in 2001 and cum laude from the Syracuse University College of Law in 2004.
The 2018 Progressive Organ Concert included a beef bourguignon dinner prepared by Maarit Vaga and served in the Fellowship Hall at Christ Episcopal Church, Albion. A sell-out crowd of 80 guests filled the hall. Now that COVID is declining (we hope) the Cobblestone Society & Museum again hopes to have another Progressive Organ Concert in the future.
To ensure America has a skilled workforce, SkillsUSA serves students who are preparing for careers in trade, skilled and technical service occupations.
The SkillsUSA Championships are career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation.
First place winners have an opportunity to compete at the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on June 20-24.
First place winners:
Zoyea Berning of Newfane, Animal Careers
Allison Dent of Roy-Hart, Cosmetology Senior
Zachary Luick of Lockport, Electronics Technology
Sophia Tronolone of Newfane, Medical Math
Charles Rickard of Roy-Hart, CNC Milling
Hannah Aiken of Roy-Hart, Health Occupations Professional Portfolio
Molly Russell of Roy-Hart, Extemporaneous Speaking
Mackenzie Clogston of Newfane, Basic Health Career Skills
Travis Franke of Starpoint, Industrial Motor Control
Tyler Lorence of Niagara Academy, Technical Computer Applications
Kymbrlee Simmons of HGL, Crime Scene Investigation
Marcelina Vazquez of North Tonawanda, Crime Scene Investigation
Marisa Garver of Niagara Falls, Crime Scene Investigation
Caleb Poeller of Christian Academy , Eng Tech/Design
Liam Robinson of Lewiston Porter, Eng Tech/Design
Alvaro Altolaguirre of Christian Academy, Eng Tech/Design
Xavior Fitzgibbon of Wilson, Employment Application Process
Second place award winners:
Jacob Miller of Newfane, Industrial Motor Control
Caleb McGuire of Albion, Electronics Technology
Kayla Guerin of Lockport, Internet of Things
Lee Harris of Lockport, 3-D Visualization and Animation
Aurora Lambert of Niagara Falls, 3-D Visualization and Animation
Serena Nice of Niagara Wheatfield, Fashion Design
Daniel Leising of Niagara Wheatfield, Automated Manufacturing Technology
Connor Williams of Lewiston Porter, Automated Manufacturing Technology
Korey Halford of Niagara Wheatfield, Automated Manufacturing Technology
Patrick Stryker of Niagara Falls, Diesel Equipment Technology
Third place award winners:
Sawyer Braley of Albion, Welding
Serenity Baumgart of Medina, Job Skill Demonstration Open
Madison Hessel of Lockport , Nail Care
Aylssa Tomanio of Lockport, Olivia Kroening of Medina, Emma Wisniweski of Newfane and Devon Tower of Newfane, Cosmetology Quiz Bowl
Tyler Halifax of Lockport, Information Technology Services
Savannah Shine of North Tonawanda, Advertising Design
Andrew Beiter of Niagara Wheatfield, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Corey Sanchez of Barker, Interactive Application Video
Lucas Grissett of Barker, Interactive Application Video
Jordan Drake of Starpoint, Automated Manufacturing Technology
Robert Dutton of Lewiston Porter, Automated Manufacturing Technology
Brian Zatkos of Niagara Wheatfield, Automated Manufacturing Technology
Photo courtesy of Medina Teachers’ Association: Todd Eick, a Medina agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, reads to Medina pre-kindergartners. He brought along Chanel, a rabbit from the FFA.
Press Release, Medina Teachers’ Association
MEDINA – At the end of April, students in Medina’s UPK classes received special guests and a special gift.
Members of the Medina Teachers’ Association participated in the annual “Make Time to Read” initiative. The MTA is partnering with Author’s Note, Medina’s independent bookstore, to select and purchase books for the event.
MTA members visited each UPK classroom and read aloud from this year’s text, “Home for a Bunny.” To make the event even more exciting, Chanel, a six-week-old rabbit from Medina FFA’s Model Farm, came with Mr. Todd Eick who was a guest reader. Then, every student was given their own copy of the book to take home, courtesy of the MTA. There are almost 70 UPK students enrolled in this year’s program.
“We are very excited about our students receiving new books,” said Sandi Southworth and Bethany Livergood, two Medina UPK teachers. “The exposure to reading and books is fundamental for school success.”
A big thank you goes out to Author’s Note, MTA members, UPK teachers and staff, and of course, UPK students for making time to read!
The Medina CSD is still accepting applications for students to attend their UPK program for the 2022-23 school year. Students must be 4 years of age by Dec. 1, 2022. Please call the Oak Orchard Main Office at 585-798-2700, option 3 then 0.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2022 at 12:27 pm
ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to 364 days in the Orleans County Jail for driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Michael R. Coffey, 75, was stopped by State Police in Carlton on Sept. 10, 2021. He has seven prior alcohol-related offenses, the district attorney’s office said.
Judge Sanford Church sentenced Coffey last week to the maximum under a plea agreement.
In another case, Jason Raiser, 42, of Knowlesville was arraigned for one count each of first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
He allegedly had inappropriate contact with a female from 2018 to 2021, beginning when the girl was 9. He has posted $5,000 bail. Judge Church issued an order of protection for the girl.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2022 at 12:18 pm
ALBION – The Village Board has approved spending $35,371 for a camera and security system at Bullard Park.
The village will pay LINSTAR in Buffalo for the security system with federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The board wants to deter vandalism at the park which has received about $800,000 in recent upgrades with a splash park, new playground equipment, an amphitheater and a utility building with bathrooms.
In other action during last week’s board meeting:
• Approved renting out the north pavilion at Bullard Park, the one by the woods, for $25 for village residents and $50 for people outside the village.
• Agreed to loan $65,000 from the General Fund to the Sewer Fund to assist with cash flow requirements.
• Approved closing East State Street and East Bank Street from Platt to Main Street on June 9 (Thursday) through the close of the Albion Strawberry Festival on June 11 (Saturday). The board also approved use of picnic tables and the Albion Police Department for the festival on June 10-11.
• Accepted a $722.86 check from Niagara Metals for the sale of scrap metal to be put into the village’s Equipment Reserves.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2022 at 11:21 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Who Dats are shown closing out Albion’s summer concert series on Aug. 19 last year. The band includes lead singer Lonnie Froman, John Borello on guitar (in back), Alona Kuhns on guitar (in back in white shorts), Ed Hilfiker on guitar and Alex DeSmit on drums.
The Who Dats will be back in this summer’s series on Aug. 18.
The Village Board last week approved the concert series featuring six performances. The village organizes the events, which receive $2,410 in funding from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
The concerts are on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. by the canal on Platt Street, next to the fire hall.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she is appointing Congressman Antonio Delgado to serve as lieutenant governor of New York.
This follows the resignation of Brian Benjamin from the position last month after he was charged with bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records. Benjamin is accused of securing campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamin using his influence as a state senator to $50,000 in state funds for the developer.
The State Legislature on Monday agreed to have Benjamin removed from this year’s ballot. State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, said the Legislature’s actions on Monday were “pathetic.” Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, also opposed the Legislature being involved with removing Benjamin from the ballot.
Delgado currently represents New York’s 19th Congressional District, which includes the Hudson Valley and Catskills.
Delgado is Afro-Latino, the first person of color to represent Upstate New York in Congress and a member of both the Black and Hispanic Congressional Caucuses, Hochul’s office said.
“I am proud to appoint Antonio Delgado, an outstanding leader and public servant, as Lieutenant Governor of New York, and I look forward to working with him to usher in a new era of fairness, equity, and prosperity for communities across the State,” Hochul said in a statement this morning. “We share a belief in working together to get things done for New Yorkers, and Representative Delgado has an incredible record of doing just that in Congress. With Antonio Delgado by my side serving as Lieutenant Governor, we will both make history – and make a difference.”
Delgado grew up in Schenectady and lives in Rhinebeck in Dutchess County with his wife, Lacey, and their twin 8-year-old sons, Maxwell and Coltrane. He attended Colgate University and earned a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. Then, he received a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he met Lacey. He lived in New York City for several years as a young lawyer.
“New Yorkers deserve a Lieutenant Governor who’s working day and night to make lives better for working people and their families,” Delgado said. “Upstate, downstate, doesn’t matter. We all want the same things, security, family, and opportunity. The key is to listen to New Yorkers from all walks of life and then be their voice to get the job done.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2022 at 8:29 am
ALBION – The Village Board last week approved changes in the water rates and billing structure that will generate about $100,000 annually for the $1.7 million annual water fund. The additional money will allow the village to pay for upgrades to its water plant and infrastructure.
The changes actually lower the water rate from $3.61 to $3.39 per 1,000 gallons for the village residents and commercial customers. And the village will eliminate a $5 quarterly administrative fee.
The big changes are the addition of a new base charge at $21 per quarter for residents with ¾” meter and how the village does a minimum charge. That is currently $28.16 for residents and most small businesses and includes the first 5,100 gallons of water.
The new system puts the minimum at $21.00 per quarter (the base charge) but doesn’t include any water usage. The village will start billing at zero gallons.
Adam Rush, the chief operator for the water plant, said some residents will see their bills go down slightly if they are low water users. A typical family that uses 12,000 to 15,000 gallons of water every three months would see an increase of $8 to $10 per quarter.
Rush said an elderly resident or couple likely won’t see any change in their water bills, and even a possible decrease if they only use 2,000 gallons or so per quarter.
Even with the changes, which take effect on Oct. 1, Rush said, “We have some of the cheapest water in Western New York.”
The village is investing in its water plant, water lines and will be replacing a 1 million water tank on Route 98 in Gaines, just north of the 5 Corners with a new 750,000-gallon tank.
Albion on April 19 was awarded a $3 million state grant through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act. That will help pay for an estimated $7,855,059 in upgrades to the water system, including a new filtration and sedimentation building at the water plant, and the water tank on Route 98.
The village will need the additional revenue to pay the bond payments for its share of that project and other upgrades.
The village currently produces about 1.45 million gallons of a day at its water plant on Wilson Road in Carlton. The upcoming project will increase the capacity to 4.5 million gallons, Rush said.
County Legislator John Fitzak, who owns a business in Albion, said the proposed changes in the water bill are streamlined, without multiple tiers. He told the board he thinks the simplified bill will be appreciated by many businesses.
Press Release, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County
The Seed Bank at Lee-Whedon Library is stocked and available to the public. Seed Banks will be available at the other county libraries after May 9.
KNOWLESVILLE – Local libraries will soon house Orleans County CCE’s Seed Banks for the first time since 2019.
The program was a huge success in its inaugural year, with educational classes and free seeds offered to the public at Orleans County libraries.
Orleans CCE has not been able to offer the program the past two years because of a lack of supplies. But thanks to a donation last fall, and the dedicated support of the Master Gardener program, the Seed Back project is back for the 2022 season!
The Seed Banks consist of a small chest of drawers that contain various fruit and vegetable seeds available free to the public while supplies last.
“We had to refill those little drawers so many times the first time we offered the Seed Bank program!” said Katie Oakes, Horticulture Educator at Orleans County CCE and coordinator of the Master Gardener adult volunteer program. “We had so many new gardeners emerge from pandemic eager to try growing their own food at home, and we just are so happy we can help support them by getting seeds into their hands at no cost.”
The Seed Bank program launched in Medina last week at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library with a “Read and Seed” seed starting class led by Oakes and Master Gardener volunteers Mark Tucker and Melissa Greean.
The class highlighted best practices in starting seeds at home, as well as how to transition seedlings to the outdoor environment when weather conditions are right. Participants were able to browse the free seeds in the Seed Banks as well as try their hand at “Soil Blocking,” an innovative technique in planting seeds that reduces waste and produces stronger transplants.
“I like starting plants from seeds because it allows me to choose what I will grow,” said Tucker, a Master Gardener since 2019. “There are so many amazing plants that cannot be found at local nurseries. The chance to try foods that would normally be too expensive or in short supply is an added plus. The Seed Bank project provides a chance for people to try, at no cost, growing items such as herbs, vegetables and flowers.”
Photo courtesy of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library: Katie Oakes and Master Gardener Mark Tucker demonstrate how a Soil Blocker works.
Growing food at home can offer many different benefits aside from just fresh produce. Research shows that gardening can provide beneficial physical exercise, stress relief and emotional support, cost savings, and much more.
“One successful plant is usually worth more than the cost of a packet of seeds, so there is a real opportunity to stretch the food budget,” Tucker said. “These Seed Banks provide a potential source of food at little to no cost, and when combined with local supports, such as Master Gardeners, can almost guarantee success.”
There will be an additional seed starting class called “Seeds, Seeds, Seeds!” offered at the Hoag Library on Monday, May 9, at 6 p.m. Following that class, the Seed Banks will be available to the public at all four libraries within the county – Lee Whedon in Medina, Hoag Library in Albion, Yates Community Library in Lyndonville, and the Community Free Library in Holley. In addition to the small chest of drawers containing food crop seeds, each library will have a flower pot with a large selection of free flower seeds. Free seeds will also be available at the Orleans County CCE office building – inside the “Buzz Hill” Education Center and in the Free Library Box outside in the Honor Garden in front of the CCE building. Seeds are available only while supplies last.
For information on starting seeds at home, vegetable gardening, or any other general gardening questions, contact the Master Gardeners or Katie Oakes at 585-798-4265 or klo54@cornell.edu.
The Seed Banks will be accompanied with large flower pots full of various free flower seeds.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 May 2022 at 1:36 pm
HOLLEY – A husband and wife who run a towing business in Holley have found eastern Orleans County to be a very welcoming place for their operation.
Nick and Sarah Callahan say the doors keep opening for them to grow in the Holley community. For two years they ran Callahan Towing on Geddes Street. In January they shifted to a more prominent location on Route 31 when they acquired Glenside Sales & Service from Eric Smith, who ran the business for 36 years.
“I’m very grateful the community has accepted us as well as they have,” said Mr. Callahan, who started his towing business in 2014 in Genesee County.
The Glenside location at 56 State St. has space for the towing operation and also includes an auto repair business. Smith’s grandson, Hunter Fiegel, has stayed on site as the mechanic for the Callahans. He is a Toyota and GM certified technician.
“Eric is a very big part of the community,” Nick said. “Being connected to him has definitely made it smoother.”
He said the switch to the Route 31 location was good timing. They were renting from Stockham Lumber on Geddes Street and that business is expanding and needed the space that was being used by Callahan.
The Callahans are looking to add another mechanic and tow operator. They are also planning to have Car Cruise-ins at Glenside on Tuesday evenings beginning May 10. They welcome classic cars, custom builds, trucks and jeeps, and motorcycles. They plan to have music and food trucks in the events that could continue until November.
Nick and Sarah Callahan are pictured with Hunter Fiegel, left, their mechanic and grandson of previous Glenside owner Eric Smith, who owned and operated the business for 36 years.
MEDINA – There were 32 Medina students inducted into the Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society last week.
The Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society was formed in the 1920s as an exclusive club at the high school where members were selected based upon grade point average and formal recommendations.
In 1964 Medina decided to charter their own National Honor Society and the district’s administration decided to honor the spirit of the existing club and named it the Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society.
The keynote speaker during the ceremony was 2014 Medina graduate Ben McPherson, who is the President of the Medina Rotary Club, sits on the Finance Committee for MAP (Medina Area Partnership) and is a financial advisor for Edward Jones.
After a candle-lighting ceremony with the current National Honor Society officers, new members were inducted including: Tatyanna Baity, Marissa Brigham, Bailey Clare, Bryson Costitch, Ella Dahlhaus, Dana Faith DeVera, Paige Dix, Kennedy Eick, Gabriella Flores-Medina, Lydia Fox, Brooklyn Garrow, Abigail Goodrich, Rachel Hill, Seagan Majchrzak, Haley Marciniak, Gabriel Mark, Brooke Moden, Jackson Moreland, Mason Moreland, Elizabeth Parker, Aidan Paul, Henry Rigerman, William Roush, Hilda Santiago Bautista, Lydia Sharlau, Sara Swart, David Vanderwalker, Jeremy Waters, Hailey Wilkins, Lillian Wilson, Kayleigh Wright and Tyrell Wright.
National Honor Society advisors Samantha Rennie and Alissa Dunham say it was a wonderful ceremony and they are very proud of all the new members.
MEDINA – Medina Junior-Senior High School recently played host to author Bree Barton. She has penned four books: Heart of Thorns, Tears of Frost, Soul of Cinder and her latest Zia Erases the World.
High School librarian Jennifer O’Toole invited Barton and Julie Berry, from the Author’s Note bookstore, to talk to 7th graders in the library on April 28th. Ms. Barton talked with the students about her experiences with depression and how she started experiencing those feelings in the 6th grade.
“It came on very suddenly and in the ’90s nobody was really talking about mental health,” she said. “It is a very confusing situation for kids and I am hoping by sharing my story, it may be helpful to students here.”
Her experience with depression inspired her book Zia Erases the World. The story centers on Zia and her challenge of finding the right words for the fear that is growing inside of her. She settles on a word of her own making: Shadoom.
When she stumbles upon a family heirloom: the C. Scuro Dictionary, 13th edition, she realizes in its magical pages she has the ability to erase words that remind her of Shadoom. The consequences of her actions has some funny and heartbreaking moments, but ultimately allows her to get help and overcome her dark moments and reach for the light.
She shared with the students what her life was like in the sixth grade and the challenges she faced as a child of a single mom who moved almost every year.
“I was not cool,” Barton told the students. “We were poor and I wore hand-me-down clothing. I was depressed and very sad. I spent a lot of time in the library because books are a great way to escape. I started writing fantasy when I was 10 years old and submitting my stories to editors when I was 11. I got a lot of rejection notices. When some mean girls at school made fun of me, I quit writing for quite a while because their comments really hurt me.”
She eventually began writing again in high school.
“I had a tough time, but eventually I found a way back to myself and I had my mom and other adults that I could talk to about what I was feeling and they helped me,” she said. “I took up dancing and getting healthier physically helped me to get healthier mentally.”
She read a chapter from Zia and also discussed with the students what it is like to be an author and her journey as a writer. She also answered questions from the students.
“It was a pleasure to host Bree and to learn more about her background and the inspiration for her work,” O’Toole said. “I think her honesty and life story was relatable and truly resonated with our students. I am thrilled to be working with Julie Berry and the Author’s Note bookstore to bring authors in-person to speak with Medina students. It’s such a valuable, worthwhile and fun learning experience for students to take part in.”
MEDINA – The annual meeting of the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library will be held at the library on Monday, May 9, at 7 p.m.
Agenda items include voting on a trustee position, the presentation of the annual report and the presentation of the proposed budget. Trustee David Schwert is seeking re-election to the board for a five-year term.
The library’s board of trustees has prepared a conservative budget for 2022-2023. The library is asking for an increase in the tax of 1.02 percent. The property tax levy will increase to $565,028.
“The board is sensitive to the pressures felt by taxpayers,” said Schwert, the board president. “As fiscal stewards, we constantly strive to balance increased operation costs with a conservative revenue request. We are proud of our staff and our high standards of service.”
Residents of the Medina Central School District are invited to attend this public meeting. The budget vote will take place at the library on Tuesday, May 10, from noon to 8 p.m. The library is located at 620 West Ave.
