Provided photos: Staff of Supportive Care of Orleans posed for a picture after announcing recipients of their three annual awards. Office for the Aging was named winner of the Business and Civic Award. From left are Tammy Graham, caregiver coordinator for the OFA; Meghan Bevins, assistant director of the OFA; and Chris Fancher, social worker and volunteer coordinator for Supportive Care.

ALBION – Supportive Care of Orleans is celebrating National Volunteer Week through April 30 by recognizing individuals who have given their time and talents to support the organization.

Three awards are traditionally given out each year – the Business and Civic Award, the Mary Janet Sahukar Award (named for the founder of Hospice) and the Volunteer of the Year Award.

This week, the Business and Civic Award was presented to Orleans County Office for the Aging for their outstanding dedication and support to Supportive Care of Orleans.

“The Office for the Aging staff are an invaluable resource to Supportive Care,” said Chris Fancher, social worker and volunteer coordinator. “The staff provides vital services, which allow seniors to remain in their homes, living life as fully and independently as possible. They are dedicated partners in caring for seniors throughout our community.”

Beverly Saskowski, left, stands with Julie Kumiega, director of Supportive Care of Orleans, after receiving the Mary Janet Sahukar Award for her outstanding dedication and commitment to Supportive Care.

Members of the Supportive Care social work team reach out to Office for the Aging staff on a weekly basis to coordinate care for their patients, Fancher said. OFA staff always respond in a prompt, friendly and professional manner, and they appreciate all their work, time and expertise, she said.

“Our goal is to embrace those facing advanced illness with optimal levels of comfort, compassion and expertise,” said Julie Kumiega, Supportive Care CEO. “Working with the Office for the Aging makes that easy.”

The Mary Janet Sahukar Award, named for the founder of Hospice, was presented to Beverly Saskowski for her outstanding dedication and commitment to Supportive Care of Orleans.

As a retired IBM executive, Saskowski currently serves on several Supportive Care committees, offering her expertise, and recently worked closely with Supportive Care staff on the technical side of things. Additionally, she serves meals in the Martin-Linsin Residence, dedicates her time to patients and their families as a family support volunteer and participates in every event held there.

“Saskowski’s contribution to Supportive Care has been immeasurable,” Fancher said. “From serving on our board of directors to stepping up and acting as interim CEO, Saskowski consistently goes above and beyond, dedicating her time and energy to ensuring our neighbors in hospice are well taken of.”

“Supportive Care of Orleans wouldn’t be where it is today without Bev’s guidance,” Kumiega said. “She has overseen and been involved in almost every aspect of the organization and is an invaluable resource to us. We are lucky to have her support.”

Chris Fancher, right, volunteer coordinator for Supportive Care of Orleans, is shown with Carol Culhane, local artist who was named Volunteer of the Year during National Volunteer Week.

Carol Culhane received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her hard work and dedication to Supportive Care of Orleans.

“Carol has been a friend of Supportive Care of Orleans,” Fancher said as she presented Culhane with her award. “Not just this year, but for many years.”

A decade ago, back in 2012, as the workers were building the Martin-Linsin Residence, Culhane was in the middle of the construction site creating and hand painting the mural depicting the seasons of life – winter, spring, summer and fall, in what is now the family meeting room. The project involved well over 200 hours of work, and she worked tirelessly as the commotion of construction surrounded her, Fancher said.

“Her kindness is a staple here at Supportive Care,” Kumiega said. “She has made a lasting impression on the entire organization. We are incredibly grateful to her continued involvement ensuring that our residence feels like a home.”

For the last 24 years, Culhane has supported Supportive Care of Orleans by donating ornaments she hand painted and personalized for members of the community as part of the annual Light-a-Life event.

“This labor of love involves hundreds of hours and she absolutely outdoes herself every year,” Fancher added.

Recently, Culhane has agreed to paint another mural in the Martin-Linsin Residence. This one will adorn the walls of the spa room, making the space inviting, inspiring and fun for patients.

“I am so honored to work with someone who’s been supporting hospice since the beginning,” Kumiega said. “Carol is an inspiring individual and we are thrilled to be partnering with her on another project.”

Supportive Care of Orleans extends their thanks to all their volunteers and is currently welcoming new volunteers in all areas of service.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: The Medina Railroad Museum is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a grand re-opening and open house on Sunday. As part of its Day Out With Thomas June 10, 11 and 12, the Museum will raffle off this Thomas the Tank youth bed.

MEDINA – The Medina Railroad Museum is excited to announce it will reopen to the public on Sunday, after being closed for four months for renovations.

The public is also invited Sunday to an open house as part of the Museum’s observance of its 25th anniversary this year. In honor of this milestone, admission to the museum and memberships purchased during the month of May will be 25 percent off.

The Museum closed after Christmas to make renovations in the restroom area, more than doubling the number of stalls for men and women and creating a separate handicap restroom. The gift shop has also been revamped.

After an absence of two years, due to Covid, the Railroad Museum will again welcome Thomas the Tank Engine on June 10, 11 and 12. Tickets are on sale on the museum’s website.

Also, the Museum is selling tickets on a Thomas youth bed, which will be raffled off June 13.

The Medina Railroad Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Charts courtesy of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The latest update from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments shows Covid-19 cases continue to climb locally.

In Orleans, the cases are up 47 percent in the past week (April 20-26) or from 113 from April 13-19 to 166 the past week.

In Genesee, the cases went up 65 percent, from 168 to 278.

GO Health attributes the increase to the new Omicron variant BA.2, which spreads more easily than other earlier variants, local public health officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week changed the community spread level for Orleans from low to high, and Genesee from low to medium.

Statewide there were 7,693 new cases reported on Tuesday out of 109,304 tests for a positivity of 6.70. The seven-day average for positive tests state-wide is 7.09 percent. However, the Finger Lakes Region which include Orleans and eight other counties is the second highest of the 10 regions with a positivity of 13.93 percent over the past seven days. Western New York is the highest at 16.54 percent. New York City is the lowest at 4.48 percent.

Shelismar Reyes won first place with this poster design.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Albion students Shelismar Reyes, Aubrey Bruning and Misty Weese have been named this year’s winner of the annual American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Poster Contest.

Reyes, a high school sophomore, earned first place with her design. Bruning and Weese, both fifth graders, finished second and third, respectively.

The American Legion Auxiliary, Sheret Unit #35 sponsors the local event each year. The three posters that placed will now travel to Albany to be judged at the state level with the state winner moving on to the national competition.

Aubrey Bruning won second place for this poster.

Student artists must include specific elements in their posters and are judged based on poster appeal, artistic ability and neatness. Submissions are broken down into classes based on grade level.

The American Legion Auxiliary’s mission is, “to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.”

Learn more about the organization and the Poppy Poster Contest at www.legion-aux.org.

Misty Weese was third with this design for the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Poster Contest.

There will be a prescription drug take-back event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orleans County Public Safety Building – 13925 State Route 31.

This is a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Chris Bourke said.

“This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications and sharps for safe and proper disposal,” he said. “Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue.”

There also are drug take-back events on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

Genesee County

• Alva Place Parking Lot – corner of Alva Place and Bank Street, Batavia
• Pembroke Town Hall – Rt. 5 at Rt. 77, Pembroke
• LeRoy Police Department – 3 West Main St., LeRoy

Wyoming County

• Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office – 151 North Main St., Warsaw
• Attica Police Department – 43 Exchange St., Attica
• Perry Police Department – 46 North Main St., Perry

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Emegriz Ryan, left, and Gina Burns, both employees of Baxter Healthcare, hold their goodie bags they received as volunteers for Day of Caring on Friday.

More than 100 volunteers gave up their day Friday to participate in United Way of Orleans County’s annual Day of Caring, and another group volunteered on Saturday to help with the garden at Supportive Care of Orleans.

United Way director Dean Bellack welcomed the volunteers on Friday who then enjoyed breakfast before embarking on their assignments.

United Way’s board president Jackie Gardner added her welcome and thanked the volunteers.

“You have no idea how important the work you are doing is to our agencies,” Gardner said. “I work for Community Action, which is supported by United Way, and we depend heavily on volunteers. We couldn’t do the work we do for the community without volunteers. I come to this event every year and every year there are more of you. I am so humbled by your support.”

Bellack also introduced United Way’s grant writer Matt Holland; Robert Batt, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, who provided the space for meeting; and Katie Leach, coordinator of the Digital Literacy project at Cooperative Extension.

Volunteers came from numerous organizations throughout the county, including Baxter, Orleans Community Health, GCASA, Orleans County Mental Health, Community Action, Albion FFA, Medina Lions, Medina High School, Self Advocacy All Stars, Takeform, Albion Correctional Facility and Medina Sandstone Society.

Volunteers did a variety of tasks, from painting decks and folding clothes to shredding paper and working in flower beds.

Project sites were the ARC’s Camp Rainbow, ARC’s Orleans Enterprises, Community Action, Head Start, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Main Street Store, YMCA, Project Stork, Medina Historical Society, P Raising Kids, Medina Railroad Museum and Bullard Park.

CRFS employees who volunteered at Hospice on Saturday were Steve Mowers (president), Libby Bentley, Dena Pogue and Rose Friedl with her two children. Second from left is Nyla Gaylord, event coordinator at United Way of Orleans County, who arranged breakfast at Hospice for the volunteers.

Emegriz Ryan from Baxter Healthcare said she volunteered last year and had such a good time helping to clean the playground at the former Towne School.

“I like helping people, not only at work, but outside in the community,” she said.

Gina Burns, who came with her, said this was her first year volunteering. She saw the information posted on the bulletin board at work and wanted to help.

“Besides, Emegriz said it would be a lot of fun,” Burns said.

Diana Fulcomer from GCASA was sent to paint at the Medina Railroad Museum. In the past she was volunteer coordinator for the Museum’s Day Out With Thomas, so getting to help at the museum made her feel right at home, she said.

Volunteers from Velociti spent Saturday working in the yard at Supportive Care of Orleans County (Hospice). Velociti members were Desiree Dunn, Brenda Jo Nanni, Hailey Engel, Deanna Mangiola, Dorothy Wilson, Polly Morien and Nichole Lewis.

This year’s Day of Caring was one of the most successful in United Way of Orleans County’s history. Not only did an amazing number of volunteers show up on Friday, but another crew from CRFS and Velociti arrived on Saturday when they were unable to leave work on Friday.

Nyla Gaylord, event coordinator at United Way, coordinated their efforts on Saturday and arranged for breakfast to be served at Supportive Care before they started work.

“We are blessed to have such community support,” Bellack said. “How happy Hospice is because we went to the extra effort to get them a work crew on Saturday.”

Steve Mowers, president of CRFS, led his team which volunteered at Hospice.

“I want them to learn the importance of helping others,” Mowers said.

The group weeded and mulched the Memorial Garden.

“This garden is special to everybody and we want it to be nice,” said Maggie Stewart, director of development at Supportive Care.

“We are so grateful for all of the volunteers who came to help us out Saturday morning,” said Julie Kumiega, director of Supportive Care. “Our volunteers and the community’s continued support allow us to help our neighbors in need.”

Kumiega added they have plenty of volunteer opportunities available during the summer, including the Holley June Fest on June 4, Albion Strawberry Festival  June 9 and 10, the annual golf tournament July 20, Orleans’ Toast to Hospice on Aug. 27, the ninth annual car show Sept. 10 and a memory walk in October.

In addition to Saturday’s special crew, Friday’s volunteers came from Takeform, Self Advocacy All Stars, Albion Correctional Facility, Baxter Healthcare, GCASA, Medina Sandstone Society, Orleans Community Health, Orleans County Mental Health, Community Action, Albion FFA and Medina High School.

Self-Advocacy All Stars painted the shed for the Main Street Store in Albion. Pictured include Tyler, James, Duane, Jonathan Doherty, ARC GLOW employee Karen Appleman and Mike Woodard.

These authors will be part of the independent book store celebration on Saturday – from left to right, and top to bottom include Bree Barton (Ithaca); Dee Romito (Buffalo); Kate Karyus Quinn (Buffalo); Keely Hutton (Rochester); Ammi-Joan Paquette (Boston, Mass.); and Julie Berry (Medina).

Press Release, Author’s Note

MEDINA – Author’s Note, Medina’s independent bookstore located at 519 Main Street, joins nearly 900 independent bookstores around the country in celebrating Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday with a roster of visiting authors and other celebratory activities.

The nationwide event, first conceived in 2013 by the American Booksellers Association, promotes, celebrates, and highlights the value of independent bookstores and their impacts upon local communities.

Author’s Note’s self-chosen theme for their first-ever Independent Bookstore Day is “A Bookstore is a Candy Store for the Mind.”

“It goes without saying,” says owner and author Julie Berry, “there will be quite a bit of candy at Author’s Note that day. Please, come take it off our hands.”

Author’s Note’s IBD celebration includes author visits in Medina and Royalton-Hartland schools in the days leading up to Independent Bookstore Day. Ithaca-based author Bree Barton will travel to the area to present her newest novel, Zia Erases the World, to students at both schools.

Bree Barton will be the first featured author at Saturday’s celebration, signing books and greeting fans from 10 to 11:30 a.m., followed by Buffalo-based authors Dee Romito and Kate Karyus Quinn from noon to 1:30, then Rochester-area author Keely Hutton and Boston-area author and literary agent Ammi-Joan Paquette from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Author Julie Berry, the owner of Author’s Note, will be available throughout the day to sign books and greet guests. All the visiting authors will serve as “guest booksellers,” recommending favorite titles from the store.

Throughout the day, games, drawings, and giveaways will be available for customers of all ages, with several IBD-exclusive items supplied by the American Booksellers Association for sale or giveaway that day only.

“Independent Bookstore Day gives us a megaphone to proclaim the difference we make in our communities,” Berry said. “Indie bookstores return two and a half to four times as much revenue to their local economies as chains do. We add whimsy, culture, and variety to downtown shopping districts. And we work hard to foster literacy and reading for all ages, and especially for kids in our communities.”

MEDINA – Crews fixed a hole in the main transmission line for the Village of Medina’s water system.

The line was shut off at about 10 p.m. on Monday night so water could be drained from the pipe with a 24-inch diameter. By 4 a.m., a tennis-ball sized hole was fixed with new steel welded on by a crew from the Niagara County Water District, said Jason Watts, Medina’s DPW superintendent.

National Grid was replacing a utility on Thursday when its auger hit the waterline, cutting a hole in the pipe, Watts said.

Medina crews tried to fix it Thursday but decided it would need to be shut down and drained to be repaired. Watts said that gave the village time to notify residents and prepare for the task on Monday night.

By 4 a.m. on Tuesday the water was flowing in the big waterline and things were back to normal, Watts said.

“I was pleased with very well how well things went,” he said today.

MEDINA – The Village Board agreed to allow alcoholic beverages to be available during a series of blues concerts this summer at State Street Park.

The Orleans Renaissance Group is planning the debut concert series for July 7, 14, 21 and 28 and Aug. 4 and 11. Chris Busch, the ORG coordinator for the concerts, said the performers will be announced soon.

The group modified its application to village for using the park to include alcoholic drinks from Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and 810 Meadworks.

State Street Park has a pavilion for bands to perform that debuted in 2019. The Village Board said it will review requests for alcohol at the park on a case-by-case basis. That way the board will continue to have a say in the events.

NYS Park Police: The missing person’s kayak is an Old Town Sportsman 120 that is orange and black.

BARKER — A kayaker has been missing since Monday night, the New York State Park Police said.

A 54-year-old man went kayaking in a orange and black kayak. Ppark Police were called to the boat launch at Golden Hill State Park at 8 p.m. on Monday.

The Park Police set up a multi-agency search that included searches by the Coast Guard air assets C-130, MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter, New York State Police Helicopter, and Park Police Drone.

A water-based search of the shoreline using marine assets was conducted and the initial search efforts were unsuccessful in finding the missing kayaker, according to the Park Police.

Residents on the Lake Ontario shoreline are asked to be on the lookout for the missing man’s kayak, as park police continue their efforts to search for the man.

Mercy Flight temporarily suspending operations ‘to allow time for our employees to process the event, and to ensure the complete safe mechanical operation of our other helicopters’

ELBA – State Police have released the names of the two people killed in a helicopter crash today at about 1 p.m. in Elba.

Mercy Flight pilot, James E. Sauer, 60, of Churchville and a Bell Helicopter employee/pilot Stewart M. Dietrick, 60, of Prosper, TX, were pronounced deceased at the scene. Sauer is a retired New York State Police civilian pilot.

“It goes without saying that our attention needs to be focused on the families of those lost and on our own employees as we deal  with this unspeakable tragedy,” said Margaret  Ferrentino, Mercy Flight’s  President. “This is a very dark day for the  Mercy Flight family. We are so  grateful for the expressions of  love, concern and support expressed by many.”

State Troopers and other emergency personnel responded to the crash off Norton Road between Edgerton Road and Ford Road in Elba, Genesee County.

Further investigation revealed that the Mercy Flight Bell 429 helicopter based out of Batavia was on a training mission during the time of the collision, State Police said. Mercy Flight said the two were in the helicopter for Mercy Flight’s annual Bell Helicopter factory training.

Sauer and Dietrick were pronounced deceased at the scene. Both have been transported to Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The State Police Forensic Identification Unit, Collision Reconstruction Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, NYS DEC, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Batavia Fire Department and Elba Fire Department assisted in the investigation.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be assisting in this investigation, to try to determine the cause of the crash.

“Mercy Flight has temporarily suspended operations in order to allow time for our employees to process the event, and to ensure the complete safe mechanical operation of our other helicopters pending a preliminary accident team investigation,” said Scott Wooton, Mercy Flight’s Executive Vice  President. “The Mercy Flight Communications Center will remain operational and will refer any requests to other area resources who are standing by to assist.”

Oak Orchard Health says unit will function as primary care site

Photos by Tom Rivers

BROCKPORT – Oak Orchard Health today celebrated a new mobile medical unit that will function as a primary care site, brining healthcare to Orleans, Genesee, Monroe and Wyoming counties.

Holding the scissors are Dr. Danielle Renodin-Mead, Chief Medical Officer for Oak Orchard; and Dr. Michael Mendoza, Commissioner of Public Health for Monroe County.

The new unit was paid for with support from the John R. Oshei Foundation in Buffalo.

Mendoza said the mobile medical unit will help bring much-needed medical care to people with transportation issues. The Covid-19 pandemic revealed a gap in access to care for many people, he said.

Dr. Danielle Renodin-Mead said the site has an exam room, EKG machine, lab (for urine, cholesterol and diabetes), and space for well visits, immunizations and vision and mental health screenings.

“There is everything for primary care on this unit,” she said.

Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO of Oak Orchard in front at right, said Oak Orchard will work with local health departments, and agencies that serve homeless people and Head Start children to bring access to medical care.

“We are taking this state-of-art mobile unit to those who need us the most,” she said.

Oak Orchard also plans to work with other agencies, including Community Action, to “serve those disproportionately affected by the lack of medical care,” Pettibon said.

Oak Orchard operates 12 health care sites. The organization also will soon be unveiling a new mobile dental unit.

Press Release, State Police

ELBA – Today at approximately 1 p.m., State Troopers out of Batavia responded to a Mercy Flight helicopter crash near Norton Road in the town of Elba, Genesee County.

More information will be available as the investigation continues.

UPDATE at 3:09 p.m.: The Buffalo News is reporting that two people died in the helicopter crash. They were on a training mission.

Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating.

UPDATE at 4:17 p.m. – Assemblyman Steve Hawley issued this statement: “Reports that two people have passed in the helicopter crash that took place today in the town of Elba is incredibly saddening, a tragic development to all of us here in Genesee County. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives today, as well as all who were affected by this horrific incident.”

Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health, issued this statement: “All of us at Orleans Community Health send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of those lost during today’s Mercy Flight helicopter crash. The entire Mercy Flight family is an integral part of the healthcare in our communities, and we’re privileged to have such a solid relationship with their entire team. Our thoughts will remain with all those involved as the investigation into this devastating crash continues.”

By Erika Pozzuolo, LMHC, PMH-C, Maternal/ Child Health Lead Therapist,
Oak Orchard Health, a community health center with 11 locations in the region

You have given birth to your baby, what an exciting time! It can also be an overwhelming time with the middle-of-the-night feedings, sleep deprivation, and maybe there are more children to care for.  Wow!

If you can think of seven women you know who have had a baby– statistics suggest that at least one of those women experienced postpartum depression or anxiety (Postpartum Support International)! This is only part of the reason that this year Oak Orchard Health launched our new Mommy and Me program in all locations. This program is an extremely innovative approach to improve child health outcomes in our region, and not only that but to also improve maternal health outcomes, with special attention to mental health in the postpartum period. 

This support through the Mommy and Me Program extends to guardians of pediatric patients under the age of 5 at Oak Orchard Health. Patients now, as standard practice, will bemet by a care manager in several of their child’s well visits, from birth to age 4 ½. Through some questions and interviewing, we can identify and help address any needs the family may have. Care managers will be evaluating for postpartum depression and anxiety, and then refer patients to one of our behavioral health counselors specializing in perinatal mental health. 

You now have a care manager on your medical team

These care managers will also be helping to track children’s vaccination due dates, referrals for the first dental visit, and more. We will help fill in the gaps financially by referring to WIC (a supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children), as well as maintaining a diaper bank to help supplement families struggling with the cost of diapers. This initiative also includes an early literacy program, where pediatricians will be providing age-appropriate books at well visits and education for parents on how to best help their child develop literacy and language. 

Why this new program? 

The initial idea for Mommy and Me came from our Medical Director and Pediatrician, Dr. Danielle Renodin-Mead. She brought to our attention that the U.S. has some of the poorest health outcomes for children and their birth mothers. Just one large contributing factor to this is our cultures’ approach to postpartum mental health, as well as the stigma that often surrounds this. That stigma is a barrier to mothers seeking the necessary care they need. Most people may have some awareness of “the baby blues,” a very commonly experienced emotional expression of hormonal shifts that take place following the birth of a baby and lasts up to about two weeks postpartum. 

There are, however, many new moms who present as more serious than typical “baby blues.” That often means it lasts longer and can be very debilitating. If left unidentified or untreated, these mood or anxiety disorders can have a significant impact on family, sleep, ability to breastfeed, and overall wellness, negatively impacting both Mom and baby. Fathers also commonly experience anxiety and depression. We also will be paying special attention to other guardians, like grandparents or adoptive parents taking in babies.

The Mommy and Me Program at Oak Orchard Health

Part of our team’s mission for the Mommy and Me Program is to break down the barriers to treating postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychosis. We want to send the message that these things are somewhat common and very treatable. Oftentimes we already have risk factors prior to pregnancy, that can make us more likely to develop a postpartum mood disorder. 

Oak Orchard Health’s Mommy and Me program is also here to support women and families who are experiencing infertility, infant loss, or birth traumas, through counseling support. It’s been my experience that a great deal of shame weighs on women who experience postpartum depression, intrusive thoughts, and intense anxiety, after bringing their baby home. However, when given the right information and platform to share, so many women can identify with these experiences. The more we open up the conversation about postpartum mental health, the more women and families can possibly prepare, or recognize the signs, and seek support earlier.

Coincidently, most of our providers involved with Mommy and Me are also women, and mothers themselves, passionate about supporting the women of our communities and seeing families thrive. We have been so excited to see this program come to life, set an example of support, bring awareness, and maybe even inspire other similar programs to be developed elsewhere.  

Photos and information from Kendall Lions Club

KENDALL – The Kendall Lions Club picked up trash along the roadsides on Saturday for the annual Environmental Cleanup Day.

The top photo shows Lion Club member Steve Giverson in the foreground and Lion President Gary Crawford in the background on the right.

Lion Club members and other residents met at the town highway department and received a safety vest, trash bags and a route for area roadways to clean. They collected 3 cubic yards of trash. Lion Eric Maxon chaired the event for the Lions.

Community member Lisa Zittel joined Kendall Lion Jim Rayburn in the trash pickup.

Kendall Lions distributed trees to fourth-grade students on Monday. Lion Club President Gary Crawford, left, and Lion Mike Cusimano speak to the students as part of an Earth Day celebration.

Each student was presented with a tree for planting. Trees were donated by Flower City Tree.

The Lions Club has been participating in the 4th grade Foresters program for over 12 years.

Crawford and Cusimano shared that one of Lions International global areas of service is the environment. Sharing trees with the students is one of the club’s ways to improve our environment.

The presentation of trees enhances the ecology lessons and activities done in the classroom. The Lions Club look forward to the students’ notes sharing their plans for the trees.