Provided photos: Brady and Dominique Meakin of Medina hold their son Koleson, who was born with a rare genetic disease called TPK1 Leigh disease. A 5K walk/run on May 21 at Junior Wilson Club will benefit the family.

MEDINA – The family of a Medina child born with a rare genetic disease will benefit from a 5K walk/run scheduled May 21 at Junior Wilson Club.

Michelle Sidari, daughter-in-law of Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, and her husband Joe live in Farmington, where she has organized several previous 5K runs to benefit charity. A senior sales director with Mary Kay, Michelle has become an ambassador for fighting domestic violence and cancer in women.

“Every year, I donate to the Mary Kay Ash Foundation, but after learning about the Meakin family in Medina, I wanted to help them, and decided to have this event in Medina,” Michelle said.

Brady and Dominique Meakin’s 8-month-old son Koleson has been diagnosed with TPK1 Leigh Disease.

When Dominique was eight months pregnant, an ultrasound revealed Koleson’s brain ventricles were enlarged.

“Doctors told us he would have this disease and there was nothing we could do about it,” Dominique said. “In three months he was diagnosed with a different disease. On Christmas Eve he had a prolonged seizure and spent five weeks in the hospital.”

This was when they did gene testing and determined he had this disease so rare there were few known cases. In fact, there was only one in the world with the severity of Koleson’s. He now survives with a feeding tube.

Koleson Meakin is shown in this Easter photo taken by his family.

Brady and Dominique were told they were both carriers of the gene mutation which caused Koleson’s disease. They have a 25 percent chance, if they get pregnant again, that baby would also have the disease. Their only hope would be invitro fertilization, so every embryo could be genetically tested.

“This would be an out-of-pocket expense for us,” Dominique said.

Dominique said they met Michelle through Mary Kay.

“We are so thankful she thought of us,” Dominique said. “The community supporting us is how we are able to take care of Koleson. We hope his case will make a difference, and doctors can learn how to help other children.”

The walk/run on May 21 will begin with sign in at 9 a.m., followed by the start of the race at 10 a.m. Participants are urged to register by May 1 in order to be eligible for a T-shirt. Registration is $30 with a shirt and $20 without one. A limited number of shirts will be available on a first-come basis for those who register after May 1.

Michelle’s goal is to have 750 participants.

She is also seeking sponsors and donations for a basket raffle that day. Anyone wishing to donate toward the race or raffle can bring donations to Junior Wilson Club on Bates Road between 6 and 9 p.m. May 20.

“As a special touch for the family, anyone who would like can bring a gift for baby Koleson or the family either on Friday night or the day of the race,” Michelle said.

Suggested items are books, adaptive clothing (6 to 9 months) huggies/pampers (size 4 and up), wipes for sensitive skin, gas cards for doctors appointments, dish soap, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap or tissues.

Any business who would like to make a $100 donation will receive their name on the back of the T-shirts. Donations may also be made through Venmo to @TheMedina5K, by calling Michelle at (716) 450-1572 or e-mailing sidarimkoffice@gmail.com.

Michelle said as an ambassador for the Mary Kay Ash Foundation it is her job to spread the word and raise awareness about this organization and the amazing work it does in the community. She said the Mary Kay Ash Foundation donates money to help fight domestic violence by awarding grants to domestic shelters every year, and if anyone knows of a local shelter in their area who would like to be considered for a grant, they should contact her at (716) 450-1572 and she will write a letter of recommendation to accompany the grant application. The Foundation also donates to doctors and researchers in an effort to find a cure for cancers affecting women, Michelle said.

There is also a Cruisin’ for Koleson car show and basket raffle from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 28 at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. There will be food vendors and live music.

Sidonio apologizes, says he faces ‘hostile environment’ at Town Hall

MURRAY – The majority of the Murray’s five Town Board members are demanding that Joe Sidonio resign as town supervisor due to his use of racial slurs and “inappropriate language” in how he describes female employees.

Joe Sidonio

Board members Paul Hendel, Randy Bower and Lloyd Christ all called for Sidonio’s resignation at Monday’s board meeting. Hendel, Bower and Christ voted for Sidonio’s resignation with Michael Mele abstaining because as deputy town supervisor he would take over if Sidonio resigned.

Sidonio said this evening he doesn’t plan on resigning and did nothing illegal. He did say he regrets his language in private conversations with a resident that were recorded without Sidonio’s knowledge.

The board went on the record saying he should resign.

“Elected officials should exhibit behaviors that are held to a higher standard than others,” Councilman Hendel said during the meeting, according to draft minutes posted on the town website. “Mr. Sidonio’s behaviors demonstrate a total lack of leadership, lack of morals and lack of ethics, and when taken together prohibits his ability to continue to lead this Town in an effective manner focused on the best interests of the residents of the Town.

The draft minutes on the town website say the resolution calling for Sidonio’s resignation, states:

“The reasons for this motion are as follows:

1. Mr. Sidonio has consistently fostered a working atmosphere of ridicule and intimidation with the elected and non-elected individuals working for the Town.
2. Mr. Sidonio has consistently used vulgar and inappropriate language to identify and describe both elected and non-elected individuals working for the Town. For example: In recorded messages that have been obtained by the Town Board, he refers to our town Clerk as a “F—ing C—“; and our court clerk as “a clone of Ron Vendetti and a F—ing C—“! Mr. Sidonio said the full words, Mr. Hendel would not.
3. Mr. Sidonio has consistently manipulated facts, information and individuals to ensure that he would achieve what is in his best interest with little or no regard to the truth. Direct evidence of this behavior is again revealed in audio recordings.
4. Mr. Sidonio has multiple accusations of harassment to both elected and non-elected individuals since his tenure began as supervisor.
5. Mr. Sidonio has consistently violated the confidentiality of Town Board executive sessions by revealing the contents of those discussions with town residents outside of executive sessions. Again, in recorded messages he is revealing specific personal matters; results of personal interviews; and other such matters that must be kept as confidential executive session discussions.
6. Mr. Sidonio has used the most vile words often used to slander and degrade persons of color when describing work tasks. Again, he is recorded using the “N” word in statements such as: “I’m not going to be doing your N—– work”! Mr. Sidonio said the full word, Mr. Hendel would not.

Sidonio, during the meeting on Monday, said the board’s vote is non-binding and a moot resolution.

He issued this statement this evening:

“Citizens:

I am sorry and embarrassed for the emotionally charged, regrettable language I used in private conversation. That language does not reflect the person I am and has no place in our discourse today.

“While this is not an excuse, I made these remarks in unguarded moments during the course of private conversations with a person whom I thought was a friend. These private conversations were recorded without my knowledge or consent, and then shared with, and used by, members of the Town Board in an attempt to coerce my resignation as Town Supervisor.

“In fact, before the April 18, 2022 Town Board meeting, a member of the Board, Michael Mele, told me that ‘if I resigned, this would all go away.’ I refused to resign, and, sure enough, these recordings were released to the media.

“While I am sorry for the words I used, my unguarded expressions of frustration reflected my discouragement and disillusionment with the business-as-usual corruption and waste I routinely encountered in Town government. In fact, the words I used in frustration are not the real story here.  I invite you to get to the truth of how the people of Murray have been betrayed by their elected officials.

“If any story or report of this juncture in our town is printed without full context and clarity one and all are enabling the cruel practices of the Town of Murray Board to continue unimpaired and giving validity to the tactics of conspiracy, bullying, threats, fear mongering and corruption that have overshadowed our community for too long.

“At the outset of the Murray board meeting on Monday April 18th the four other members of the town board hijacked the town meeting in a coup attempt to get me to resign the Supervisorship.

“When the meeting was forced to be quickly adjourned many, many people who believe in good government vocalized their support for the honest, equal, welcoming, fair governance for which I stand. I stand up against bullies and against self-interested mismanagement of town government.

“With respect to all previous allegations made and the opinions proffered about me by the other town board members and employees – both verbally and in print – each has been thoroughly investigated and found to be unsubstantiated, warranting no action.

“Yes, a hostile work environment exists in the Town of Murray. Each day I face board members and long-term employees who work hard to concoct schemes to dislodge me, disgrace me, foil my earnest work, frame me and in addition do not speak to me.

“The most egregious example is the horrific text sent between three women, both elected, appointed and employed, which outlined a conspiracy to falsely accuse someone, potentially me, of a crime. These same individuals then proceeded to investigate me for wrongdoing in objecting to their scheme. Their claims were found to have no merit. I objected then and I object now.

“It is worth noting that we have one board member who allegedly took early retirement from the Sheriff’s Office to avoid embarrassment. We have one town board member who allegedly has no permit to operate a septic business from his property and was found to have been using public water from a fire hydrant allegedly without either a water meter nor a back flow preventer on the hydrant. Another board member championed the unlawful healthcare benefits paid to an employee’s girlfriend.

“I was elected by voters to create an efficient and effective government delivered in an accountable and transparent manner. I had to challenge the status quo step on toes and be tough. I stated from the beginning I am not a politician. I am not perfect. But I try and work hard to learn and move forward.

“I declined the town board’s backroom offer to resign and ‘make all this go away.’

“I will not be coerced, blackmailed, bought or co-opted.

“I began the effort of helping Murray by reaching for a vision of a beautiful community.

In my vision there was no oppression and no persecution. Each citizen was treated with equality and had a voice that was heard.  Governance was fair, spending was conservative, and procedures were followed.  In this vision the energy of the town was focused on creating a beautiful place to live, a place for everybody, where people want to be, businesses want to be and where people want to be involved without fear of repercussion.

“Sadly, the citizens of the Town of Murray have been robbed of access to this vision, this promised democracy in America.” – Joe Sidonio

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board next week will review the site plan for a 9,200-square-foot banquet hall at Mariachi De Oro, a Mexican restaurant at 11417 Maple Ridge Rd.

The Rosario family opened the popular restaurant in 2011. The County Planning Board will review the proposal for the banquet hall during its meeting at 7 p.m. on April 28 in the legislative chambers of the Orleans County Administration Building, 14016 Route 31 West in Albion.

Other items on the agenda for the meeting include:

• Request for a special use permit and site plan review in Murray for a 27,500-square-foot building at 15631 Lynch Road.

• Request from the Town of Gaines for a 6-month moratorium extension on the installation of freestanding and ground mounted solar energy systems.

• Request from Town of Clarendon to amend the zoning text to allow additional recreational vehicles for special events on a private lot. Clarendon also seeks additional and revised language for non-conforming uses.

• Request for from Town of Carlton for review of special use permit and site plan to construct a 55’x40’ pole barn and to relocate a store from the existing structure to the newly constructed building. Project is at 14339 Roosevelt Highway.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is supporting the passage of a bill that would allow New York schools to purchase whole and 2% milk that’s produced within the state, modeled after similar legislation that was recently passed in Pennsylvania.

“The removal of 2% and whole milk from school cafeterias has had nothing but negative impacts on all stakeholders involved, including children and farmers,” Hawley said. “Providing more dairy options to students will only encourage them to get the nutrition their growing bodies need from milk, and help farmers recoup revenue lost since the passage of this ill-conceived prohibition.”

While the regulation banning these types of milk was put in place to combat rising trends of childhood obesity rates and type 2 diabetes diagnoses, these trends have only continued following its enactment.

Countering the narrative that whole and 2% milk is unhealthy for children, recent studies have shown children who drink full-fat dairy products tend to be leaner than their peers and have a lower risk of becoming overweight.

Other studies have found those who consume whole-fat dairy may have a lower risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, lower blood pressure, an increased satiety without weight gain and better sleep.

The removal of these milk options has also had a negative effect on dairy farms throughout upstate New York, who have long counted on revenue from milk sales to schools to keep their businesses operational. Already facing numerous obstacles in maintaining their viability as a business in recent years, including the lowering of the farm laborer overtime threshold, Hawley is hopeful this bill’s passage will help dairy farmers survive these new challenges to their livelihoods.

The Clarendon Softball Team from 1961 – Back row, from left, Melvin Burch, Leonard Ruggles, Ronald Moore, Wesley Potter, Cecil Moore and Gordon Ferguson; front row, Laverne Webster, Tommy Cook, Larry Wood, Paul Keith, Clifford Moore and William Crawford. Not pictured was Lloyd Tipton. Jimmy Snell was the scorekeeper.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 14

HOLLEY – This energetic photo of the Clarendon Championship Softball Team on the front page of the October 26,1961 edition of the Holley Standard caught our attention.

An accompanying article notes that the team was newly organized in the spring of 1961 and was sponsored by Duryea Motors. The league was composed of eight teams.

In the season playoffs, Clarendon defeated Bergen in two games, 17-3 and 6-3 in the semi-finals and won two out of the three in the final round against General Electric and Brockport. Clarendon won the first game of the series, GE won the second and the third game was a tie. Clarendon won the makeup game and thus the series and the championship.

The masthead notes that the Holley Standard had been established in September, 1870.

The Holley Standard building on Thomas Street in the village. The building was constructed in the early 1900s.

According to a history of paper written in 1964, it was started by Cyrus Marsh, publisher of the Brockport Democrat, and his son George F. Marsh. The first issue was dated September 17, 1870.

The newspaper used this promo to solicit local news.

A fire on July 23, 1874 destroyed the entire south side of the Holley Square, including the Standard office and its contents. Remarkably, the paper just missed one issue as it was printed temporarily at the publisher’s Brockport location.

Charles C. Hayden bought the paper in 1882 and was publisher for more than thirty years, until his death in 1914. Another fire in January 1885 destroyed the office and equipment again. This time, the paper was temporarily printed at the Orleans American office in Albion until a Holley location was available, over the State Exchange Bank.

In 1903, Charles Hayden bought the Weller property on Thomas Street, sold part of it to the Village of Holley as a site for a new village building and constructed the one-story building which housed the Standard for many years.

The Bartlett-Turner Company owned the paper from 1914-1936 when it was purchased by long-time employees Gerald McVay and Jessie Cole. It was purchased on October 30, 1945 by W.K. Hovey, a former General Motors engineer who was interested in rural journalism. It was purchased by the Suburban Record in Spencerport in 1971, and in 1974 by Robert Nagel, publisher of the Batavia Daily News, at which point it was combined with the Brockport Republic-Democrat and the Hamlin Herald to form the Erie Canal News which ran until 1979.

The masthead of the 1961 Holley Standard announced that it served: Clarendon – Kendall – Murray – Fancher – Hulberton – Kendall Mills – Kent – W. Kendall – W. Sweden – Morton.

The October 26, 1961 issue included the following items of interest:

• A tragic accident in Kendall which claimed the life of one teen and resulted in the injury of four others.
• Duffy-Mott reported increased sales.
• The Kendall Fire Department acquired a new fire engine.
• Fred DePhillips was a candidate for Town Clerk.
• Mr. & Mrs. Robert Miller of Morton celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

The Orleans County History Dept. owns some early issues of the paper. From the July 5, 1878 issue we learn that:

• Dr. A.G. Henry and Miss Mary F. French were married in Sacramento.
• A tramp narrowly escaped lynching for assaulting a young girl.
• Mr. and Mrs. Odell of Kendall and their ten intelligent looking children had their photograph taken by Amos Belden.
• Mr. M. Hoffman of Kendall Mills was recovering from typhoid fever.

Advertisements from 1878

The eventual demise of the Holley Standard was part of a national trend. As readers gravitated to television news, rural newspapers faced increasing competition for advertising dollars, their main source of income.

Fortunately, access to this wealth of local information is still available. It is on microfilm at the Hoag Library in Albion, at SUNY Brockport, from the Town of Clarendon historian and at the Murray-Holley Museum.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is encouraging eligible small business owners that have incomplete applications or have not yet submitted the necessary documentation to receive Covid-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program funding to apply before the deadline on April 30.

While Empire State Development has distributed over $550 million in funds to small businesses throughout the state since the program’s inception, much of the program’s $800 million in funds remain available to eligible small business owners who have either not started or completed their applications.

Small business owners can use the following link to complete unfinished applications or view eligibility requirements they would need to meet to begin an application by clicking here.

“With all our small businesses have endured through these last few years, it would be saddening to see business owners who truly need and deserve this support go without it,” Hawley said. “I’d encourage everyone who even thinks there’s a chance they’d be eligible for this funding to look into it. They may be surprised by the assistance available to them.”

Site can produce bottom portion of wind turbines

Press Release, GE Renewable Energy

BERGEN – GE Renewable Energy on Thursday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate a new research and development facility that will conduct research on how to 3D print the concrete base of towers used in wind turbines.

The research will enable GE to 3D print the bottom portion of the wind turbine towers on-site at wind farms, lowering transportation costs and creating additional employment opportunities at the wind farms where the technology will be used.

The research being conducted in the Bergen facility is supported in part by a grant from the US Department of Energy. A team of 20 people will continue to work on optimizing the 3D printing technology with first applications in the field anticipated within the next five years.

The printhead and the nozzle of the world’s largest real concrete 3D printer

GE Renewable Energy Chief Technology Officer Danielle Merfeld, who spoke at the event, said, “Innovation will continue to be a key driver in accelerating the energy transition. It is particularly important to continuously improve the ways we design, manufacture, transport, and construct the large components of modern wind farms. We appreciate the support of the US Department of Energy for the research we are doing here and are confident it will help make the wind farms of tomorrow even more efficient, economical, and environmentally responsible.”

“Reaching the Biden administration’s ambitious goals of carbon free electricity by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050 will require vastly more wind energy capacity. We’re proud to partner with GE Renewable Energy on this innovative 3D printing technology which has the potential to be a game changer in how we harness this resource,” said U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power Alejandro Moreno. “With American-made taller towers assembled on site we can cut costs, overcome logistical hurdles, and accelerate progress toward our goals.”

A number of GE Renewable Energy’s key local partners as well as Enel Green Power, a customer interested in potential applications of the technology, also attended the event and offered comments on how it can add value for the local community and the renewable energy industry.

Luca Seletto, Director of Innovation, ENEL Green Power, said, “To rise to the challenge posed by the climate crisis, the renewable energy industry must prioritize innovation and sustainability as it scales. We are glad to keep working with GE in the development and evaluation of new technologies, like the 3D printing of wind foundations, and we thank the Department of Energy for funding this important work.”

Bill Pollock, PE, Director of Rochester Operations at Optimation, an organization providing many of the employees working at the GE research center, said, “At Optimation we have a focus on made in America and we also believe strongly in renewable energy. Working with GE on this project gives us an opportunity to pursue both of those goals. We are happy to be able to contribute to development of a new technology, to help reduce the cost of wind power and at the same time provide technically challenging jobs in western New York.”

Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder & General Manager, COBOD, said, “We are extremely proud to have delivered a completely new type of 3D concrete printer – the largest of its kind in the world – for this world class and state of the art facility. The printer we have delivered is second to none: not only can it print in excess of 10 tons of real concrete per hour, but in addition, it is the first 3D concrete printer in the world with two X-axes on the printer. With the multiple functions of the printer, the printer can better be described as a multifunctional construction robot than a printer.”

“The announcement by GE Renewable Energy of its new R&D facility in Bergen is the latest example of the significant and continuing diversification of the Genesee County economy,” said Rochelle Stein, Chair, Genesee County Legislature. “While the agricultural, tourism and small business sectors are the mainstays of our local economy, GE Renewable Energy’s project shows why Genesee County is experiencing new capital investment and the creation of jobs in advanced manufacturing and how the renewable energy sectors which means new career opportunities for our residents.”

Edelio Bermejo, Head of Global R&D, Innovation and IP at HOLCIM, said, “Holcim has a key role to play in accelerating the transition towards clean, renewable energy. We have been studying 3D printing in concrete for nearly a decade and the potential of this technology just keeps expanding. Projects that would have been impossible yesterday are now a reality. We are particularly proud to be part of this ambitious project with GE and Cobod where we can propose the right mixture of ink to build more efficient wind turbines, directly on site. We are convinced this innovation will grow very quickly in the upcoming years and help us all significantly in our net zero journey.”

The research being done at the Bergen, NY facility will enable GE to better serve the growing US wind power market. The American Clean Power Association (ACPA) reports that there are more than 68,000 wind turbines across the country are generating clean, reliable power. Wind power capacity totals 135 GW, making it the fourth-largest source of electricity in the country. GE Renewable Energy was recognized by ACPA as the top manufacturer of wind turbines in the US in 2021 for the fourth year in a row.

Press Release, Mayor Mike Sidari

MEDINA – The Village of Medina has experienced a water leak on the main transmission line along Maple Ridge Road.

The water line will be shut down at 9 p.m. Monday in order to make the necessary repairs. We are not anticipating any water pressure loss in the village.

The village water storage tower has sufficient water to supply the village during this time.

Affected residences in the Town of Shelby will be notified of the loss of water.

Both Genesee, Orleans counties report more Covid cases due to new variant BA.2

Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are seeing an increase in the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19. This recent increase in Covid-19 cases is due to the new Omicron variant BA.2, which spreads more easily than other earlier variants.

“We are looking at Covid-19 community levels of high for Orleans and medium for Genesee,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly metrics used to determine the Covid-19 community level that was updated April 21, Orleans County case rate per 100,000 (this calculation is used to compare larger and smaller counties) is now at 203.21.  The new Covid-19 admissions per 100,000 is at 12 and the percentage of staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed Covid-19 is 4.6%.

“This updated data now places Orleans at a high community level,” Pettit said. “With this increase it is important for everyone, especially those at higher risk of complications to be more attentive with their public health prevention practices.”

Genesee County is currently at medium Covid-19 Community Level: Case rate per 100,000 population is at 19.29. New Covid-19 admissions per 100,000 is 12 and the percent of staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed Covid-19 is 4.6%.

To learn more on how community levels are determined, visit the CDC by clicking here.

With any new Covid-19 variant circulating, it is not a surprise to see an increase of positive cases. Even with this increase, our health care capacity in the region currently remains stable with the normal bed capacity levels. Generally, the omicron variant (Omicron BA.2) causes more mild symptoms, although some people may have more severe symptoms depending on their Covid-19 vaccination status, the presence of other health conditions, age, and history of prior infection.

We encourage those that have not been vaccinated and those who are not up-to-date on their Covid-19 vaccination, to be vaccinated and to talk with their primary care provider. You can register for Covid-19 vaccination clinics (click here) or check with your pharmacist, primary care provider, or the vaccines.gov website for other vaccination providers.

We continue to encourage residents to practice the following public health precautions to lower exposure to the virus, especially those who are at higher risk:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and keep your hands away from your face.
• If you are sick, stay home, get tested and talk with your primary care provider.
• If you test positive for Covid-19, self-isolate and let your close contacts know to watch for symptoms and that they should consider being tested.If you are required to submit paperwork to your school or employer, you can access that here.
• Consider wearing a tight fitting facemask when you are in crowded public places.

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Employees for Matt C.M. Contracting in Medina work on putting new roofs on the Barre Presbyterian Church today. The church is located on Route 98 in Barre Center.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Victoria Potter is one of 12 students from Medina High School volunteering during today’s Day of Caring. The Medina group are members of IMPACT – Influencing Many People As Concerned Teens.

Victoria and this group is relocating equipment for the dog shows at the at Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The equipment is getting packed up and moved from the Knights Building which is used as an indoor horse arena. The dog equipment is headed to the llama barn where the dog shows are held.

Dean Bellack, executive director of the Orleans County United Way, welcomes 100 volunteers this morning at the Trolley Building of the Fairgrounds.

“This is all about neighbors helping neighbors,” Bellack said.

The volunteers broke up into groups and headed out for service projects at the Cornell Cooperative Extension (Fairgrounds), Camp Rainbow, Orleans Enterprises (Arc GLOW in Albion), Community Action, Head Start, Main Street Store in Albion, Orleans County YMCA, Project Stork in Barre, P.Raising Kids child care site in medina, Medina Railroad Museum and Bullard Park in Albion.

The Day of Caring continues on Saturday with volunteers headed to work on the garden at Supportive Care of Orleans (formerly Hospice).

Britney Ruiz, left, and Cheryl Vangorden, employees at Baxter Healthcare in Medina, help sort clothes at Project Stork in Barre, assisting the agency with a big outdoor sale today and on Saturday. Project Stork is renovating the former Barre Deli and using it for a program that provides services to infants and toddlers, as well as mothers. Project Stork is looking to open the site in Barre in the summer.

Henry Rigerman, an IMPACT member from Medina, helps load up the dog equipment at the fairgrounds.

Some of the volunteers today came from Medina High School, Albion Middle School FFA, GCASA, Orleans County Mental Health Department, Baxter Healthcare, Velocitii, Medina Sandstone Society, Orleans Community Health, United Way, Self-Advocacy All-Stars, Village of Albion and Community Action.

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Seventeen seventh-grade students from Albion Middle School were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society during a ceremony Thursday night.

Phoebe Allen, Olivia Andrews, Lily Brigham, Adam Burgio, Shayla Cruz, Brooke Doty, Yaritza Fernandez Perez, Heidi Franco-Lopez, Loralei Gailie, Anna Grillo, Jillian LeBaron, Bradley Pierce, Meadow Smith, Jackson Snook, Mason Snook, Ava Woolston and Abigail Worsley all took the oath, signed their names and became formally recognized as members of the prestigious organization.

The National Junior Honor Society was established in 1929 and today estimates it is made up of more than one million members across the country. NJHS elevates a school’s commitment to the five pillars of membership: scholarship, leadership, service, character and citizenship.

Spanish teacher Mrs. Casey Flynn was chosen by NJHS students as the guest speaker for the ceremony. She discussed the ways students can exhibit the five pillars in their everyday lives and the value they have.

Current members led the ceremony. Those students are Kailee Anstey, Neveya Barnes, Nisi Beltran Roblero, Kaitlin Bennett, Elliot Beyrle, Julia Button, Lindsay Crawford, Abigail Ferris, Benjamin Fleisher, Kaiden Froman, Aubrey Gannon, Amiyah Jones, Justin Kania, Abigail Kincaid, Hanna Kumalac, Nathaniel Miesner, Madison Muckle, William Plummer, Pablo Rosario Reyes, Alondra Santana Gonzalez and Joshua Zayac.

Barnes, Beltran Roblero, Ferris, Gannon, Kincaid, Plummer and Zayac were all recognized for earning the Service Award. The advisor of Albion’s NJHS is Mrs. Lisa Castricone.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A fire this morning in Medina displaced three residents – a grandmother, her daughter and granddaughter. The Red Cross and family are assisting the residents. No one was injured in the blaze.

Firefighters were dispatched at 4:55 a.m. to 438 East Center St. There was a fire in an unoccupied bedroom on the second floor. The fire contained to that one room, but there was extensive smoke and water damage, said Lt. Steve Cooley of the Medina Fire Department.

Early estimates put the structure damage at $30,000 and contents at $50,000.

The house did not have working smoke detectors. Cooley said the residents were fortunate to be able to get out unharmed.

The Medina Fire Department has free some detectors supplied by the Red Cross. The fire department has up to three available for each property owner or tenant. Call the fire Medina firefighters were assisted this morning by Ridgeway, Albion, Shelby, Orleans County Emergency Management, county fire investigators, East Shelby and COVA. Middleport and Tri-Town Ambulance filled in at the fire station for any other calls.

During the Covid pandemic, Anderson and the Lake Plains Players performers posted many “Living Room Concerts” on Facebook. Anderson performs “Sweet Zoo” by Jeffrey D. Harris from Barbra Streisand’s “My Name is Barbra” album. His video was posted on April 17, 2020.

BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Arts Council will recognize the late Lance Anderson with a lifetime achievement award during the organization’s annual awards celebration on  May 28.

GO Art! also will recognize the Orleans County YMCA as the organization of the year, the Eli Fishing Brewing Co. of Batavia as supporter of the year, and Carol Hertel as the volunteer of the year.

They will all receive “Genean” awards which combines GENesee and OrlEANs counties. The celebration on May 28 will also highlight GO Art!’s 60^th anniversary.

Anderson passed away on April 1, 2021. He had suffered a stroke in mid-December 2020. He was very active in the Lake Plains Players as a star performer, director and president of the organization.

Anderson caught the theater bug while a student at Albion in the early 1980s. He went on to a career as a vocal teacher, and remained deeply involved in the local community theater group, the Lake Plains Players.

Anderson was the LPP’s president. He performed on stage, directed many shows, and would do many of the thankless tasks behind the scenes. Anderson led a group that was friendly and accepting to everyone, but also pushed to put on high-quality productions.

He was especially proud of the group for its production of Les Misérables in the fall 2013. Anderson played his dream role of Jean Valjean in a show which included a cast of 78.

Anderson expanded the LPP’s productions in the summer to include recitals and a children’s theater camp.

The Players used to performed their big fall musical in either Medina or Lyndonville’s auditorium. In recent years it has performed just over the Orleans County line in Niagara, using Roy-Hart’s auditorium in Middleport.

Anderson had his heart in Orleans County, and he pushed for other venues for LPP shows, including summer recitals at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina.

The YMCA on Oct. 23 hosted the Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration or the Day of the Dead. The event included Mexican dance, music and dramatic performances by Alma de México, a group from Rochester led by Karla Alcalá.

The Orleans County YMCA is GO Art!’s organization of the year. The Y has embraced artwork on its sidewalks and steps, and also inside in its child watch room. The Y also makes its facility available to host the annual Day of the Dead celebration.

It partners with GO Art! and Mariachi de Oro Restaurant in an event that remembers ancestors, and includes free activities with Mexican crafts, face painting, dance and drama performance, sand painting and ofrenda displays, and special food tastings.