By Leah Brenner, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Orleans Community Health

Photo courtesy of Orleans Community Health: Leah Brenner greets a child at Orleans Community Health.

Childhood is a time of incredible growth and change – and as parents, it can be both exciting and nerve-wracking to watch your child reach new milestones.

These milestones serve as important markers of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development, helping you understand whether your child is progressing typically. Every small achievement, from a first smile to a first step, tells a story about your child’s development. Below are some key stages and what to expect as your child grows.

Infancy (0 – 12 months)

The first year is full of rapid physical and developmental changes. By 2 to 3 months, your baby should be able to lift their head while lying on their tummy, a sign of strengthening neck and upper body muscles. Around 4 to 6 months, most babies begin rolling over, sitting with support, and making cooing or babbling sounds. By 9 to 12 months, you may see your little one crawling, standing with assistance, and even saying simple words like “mama” or “dada.”

This is also when babies begin to recognize familiar faces, smile responsively, and show curiosity about the world around them—key steps in emotional and social development.

Toddlerhood (1 – 3 years)

Toddlers experience major leaps in both language and motor skills. Between 18 to 24 months, they often start using simple words and can follow basic directions. Their fine motor coordination improves too – they can stack blocks, turn pages, and begin feeding themselves with utensils. By age 3, many toddlers walk independently, kick a ball, and engage in imaginative play. Socially, they start to learn about sharing, taking turns, and expressing emotions.

It’s also common for toddlers to experience frustration as they learn to communicate and assert independence. Consistent routines, patient guidance, and encouragement from caregivers can make a big difference during this stage.

Preschool (3 – 5 years)

Preschoolers are curious, energetic learners. Between ages 3 to 4, children typically begin forming short sentences and love to tell stories. They can draw basic shapes, recognize some letters and numbers, and demonstrate a growing attention span. By ages 4 to 5, they refine motor skills like running, jumping, and climbing. Socially and emotionally, this is a time of growth in empathy, cooperation, and friendship-building.

Children also begin to develop self-control, creativity, and problem-solving skills through play, which is a vital part of learning at this age.

School Age (5 – 12 years)

Once children start school, their physical growth slows slightly while their cognitive and social skills expand rapidly. Around ages 6 to 7, many begin reading simple books, learning basic math, and developing hand-eye coordination through writing and play. They start to understand rules and routines, helping them navigate the classroom environment. By ages 10 to 12, children are capable of complex problem-solving and navigating more sophisticated social relationships. They also start taking on more independence and responsibility, both at home and in school.

Parents can encourage development by supporting hobbies, promoting healthy friendships, and keeping up with regular check-ups and screenings.

Every child develops at their own pace—there’s no single “right” timeline. These milestones simply offer a guide to what’s typical during each stage of growth. Regular well-child visits are important for tracking progress and addressing concerns early. If you ever have questions about your child’s development, reach out to a pediatrician. Early support and intervention can make all the difference in helping your child thrive and achieve their full potential.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Midha and Jaotin are co-presidents of the Voice Gavel Club from Oakville, Ontario, Canada. They performed a free concert titled “Leaves of Summer” at World Life Institute in Medina. (Right) The Voice Gavel Club member Hana sings “Dream a Little Dream of Me” during a concert Saturday at World Life Institute.

MEDINA – World Life Institute sponsored a free concert at their headquarters on West Center Street, titled “Leaves of Summer” and featuring the Voice Gavel Club from Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Coordinator of the Club is Lubna Zaidi.

World Life Institute member Deborah Wilson said she has seen the group before, and they are a young version of Toastmasters.

“They have adopted World Life Institute as a project,” she said.

Wendy Zhou, a member of the Voice Gavel Club, was unable to attend World Life Institute on Saturday, so a video was shown of her playing a pipa.

Most of the young performers were known only by their first names and presented a musical program of song, poetry and instrumental offerings. This was their ninth annual concert.

Jaotin Ling is president and Midha Siddiqui is vice-president of the group. Midha said their performance was a celebration of music and talent.

The program included performances by Raheem on clarinet; Tatiana and her student on piano; Ekansh on guitar; Emma, Aman and Greig on flutes; Noah on violin;  Carol on a Gujheng (a zither-like instrument); and Wendy on a pipa, sometimes called a Chinese lute.

Also part of the program was Hana singing “Dream me a Little Dream” and “The Leaves of Summer,” and a poetry reading from “The Harvest” by Zehra.

A student named James paid a tribute to the late Dr. Asaf Durakovic, a doctor, professor of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, writer of poetry, a Colonel in the Army Reserves and founder of World Life Institute.

“He was generous with his time, wisdom and passion,” said James.

Bruce Carter, building superintendent at 229 West Center St. who hosted the concert, gave the young entertainers this advice, “Use your talent to take you as far as you can.”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Miriam Ajrond and her son Ahmed Cherif are pictured at the World Life Institute prior to a “Leaves of Summer” concert last Saturday featuring The Voice Gavel Club from Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Miriam brought Ahmed to America, with aid from Project Life, an initiative administered by World Life Institute, to seek medical attention for multiple health problems. (Provided photo – Right) Ahmed Cherif lays in the bubble on the play gym at the YMCA during a recent fundraiser for his medical care. He overlooks the gymnasium floor, where numerous activities were set up for adults and children.

MEDINA – When Miriam Ajrond brought her son Ahmed Cherif to America, he was suffering from multiple major health problems. They were brought here by World Life Institute hoping the medical attention he needed would be available here.

Since then, World Life Institute’s Project Life has provided funds for his ongoing medical care.

When Ahmed, age 10, arrived here from Tunisa in January 1924, he weighed 35 pounds club feet, intellectual disability, severe digestive problems and a rare genetic condition. He also is on the autism spectrum.

Since then, he has seen significant growth, thanks to ongoing treatment from a dedicated team of doctors, specialists and therapists. Over the past two years he has gained more than 11 pounds, grown nearly 2.5 inches and continues to make daily strides at the Aspire Center for Learning in Buffalo, where he receives occupational, speech, physical and vision therapy. His mother has also made incredible progress, growing more independent and active engaging in Ahmed’s care in their new life in Medina.

Deborah Wilson, Project Life’s deputy director and finance manager, talked about a recent fundraiser for Ahmed at the YMCA in Medina.

“The fundraiser was not just about raising money, it was about rallying around a family who continues to face extraordinary challenges with grace and determination,” Wilson said. “Every dollar raised goes directly toward essential services for Ahmed and his mother Miriam, including a monthly food, clothing and shelter allowance, transportation to multiple medical appointments, medications and home health supplies, educational resources and supplies and more.”

The Family “FUNraiser” focused on family friendly activities, including paint on canvas sessions for adults and children; face painting; henna art; and a bargain boutique. By popular demand, there was a bake sale and an international food section, which sold out at last year’s fundraiser.

During the afternoon, Project Life did a presentation on their decades-long history of involvement with international war orphans and children with rare health conditions.

Those who could not attend the fundraiser, but would like to donate to Ahmed’s care can donate directly to Project Life. Click here for more information or reach out to Shareefah Sabur at (216) 496-2986.

The replica of the Norwegian ship, the Restauration, is re-enacting the 14-week long voyage taken 200 years ago in 1825 by a group of 52 emigrating Norwegians bound for the deep dark woods of Murray on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 35

On Thursday, October 9, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will welcome the ship “Restauration” on its arrival in New York City. This will culiminate its successful re-enactment of the journey undertaken in 1825 by the group later referred to as the “Kendall Sloopers.” This event is part of a celebration of 200 years of Norwegian emigration.

It may come as a surprise to many Orleans County residents to learn that the Kendall Sloopers are still celebrated in Norwegian history. From an early age, Norwegian students learn about this brave group who are hailed as the first group of organized emigrants to America.

Their journey is referred to as the Norwegian Mayflower because of its impact on later emigration trends. It is estimated that, following the inspiration of the original group, some 800,000 people, about a quarter of the population, left Norway in the following years.

The story of that first Norwegian group is remarkable. Two factors influenced their decision to embark on this journey to America: freedom of religious expression and better economic prospects.

In the course of the Napoleonic Wars, a young Norwegian named Lars Larsson was imprisoned in England for seven years, 1807-1814. Members of the newly formed Society of Friends, or Quakers, visited the prisons. Their philosophy of pacifism, equality and rejection of rituals and ministers appealed to the Norwegian prisoners. The prisoners also learned to speak English. Upon his release, Larsson chose to stay in England for a year, working for Margaret Allen, whose son, David, was a prominent Quaker.

Back in Norway, Larsson proclaimed his new Quaker beliefs. Many people were attracted by the Quaker philosophies. Lutheranism was enshrined in the Norwegian Constitution, and a strict version was observed at that time. Hefty fines would be imposed on those who did not pay Church taxes. Larsson was soon in trouble with the authorities for convening Friends meetings.

Another group of religious dissidents emerged at that time, the Haugean Lutherans, who were also reacting against the strictures of the established Church. Both groups were harassed by the authorities. It became obvious that they would not be permitted to practice their beliefs. Some English Quakers who visited them had also been to America. They told of the freedom of religious practice permissible here and of the opportunities to purchase land and prosper.

Cleng Perrson, an adventurous Norwegian, acted as a scout. He journeyed to America in 1823, He made contact with Quakers in Farmington, Ontario County, and learned about land available in Western New York. He went to the land agent in Geneva, bought a parcel of land and arranged for five additional parcels to be held for a year. The land was located in northern Murray, which was split off to form the Town of Kendall in 1835.

Cleng returned to Norway with news of good prospects and plans were soon made for departure. Lars Larsson was a shipbuilder. He and a crew retrofitted a 54-foot sloop for an ocean voyage and named it the Restauration.

The ship set sail on July 5, 1825, with 52 people aboard: a crew of seven, and six families. Conditions were very cramped. The ship took a long and circuitous route, presumably to take advantage of the trade winds.

There were some misadventures. The ship stopped at the coastal town of Lizette in England but ran afoul of the authorities when they tried to trade alcohol for supplies and had to make a hasty departure. On their approach to Funchal, in Madeira, they were almost fired on for being a plague ship as the crew, who had enjoyed the contents of a floating cask of Madeira wine, failed to raise their flag.

After 14 long weeks, the ship arrived in New York on October 9, 1825 with 53 people aboard. A daughter, named Margaret Allen, had been born to Lars Larsson’s wife.

It is this journey that the Crown Prince will celebrate on October 9. While in America, he will also visit the Norwegian-American communities in Decora, Iowa and Minneapolis, Mn. As befitting the times, this event is chronicled online at www.vesterheim.org, https://vesterheim.org/programs/200th-immigration-anniversary or the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum’s posts on Facebook.

Photos and information courtesy of Medina Marching Band

WEBSTER – The Medina Mustang Marching Band traveled to Webster on Saturday for the band’s fourth competition this season. It was a large enthusiastic crowd and the weather was perfect with no wind and a full moon.

There were 12 schools all from within NYS, broken down into six classifications. Medina was the only school in the SS1 class and they scored 76.80.

The National class had two competitors and their scores were very close: Victor with 85.875 and Webster at 85.05.

In SS3, Jordan Elbridge took 1st place with75.50. In LS3, Rochester was a sole competitor with 67.50 and Horseheads a sole competitor in SS2 class with 77.70.  The LS2 class had five competitors and Lancaster earned 1st place with 83.0.

You really need to see a show to appreciate how complicated these performance are for the bands. There are students playing various instruments while marching around an entire field in choreographed patterns along with other students performing with flags, sabres and rifles (props not real).

Next Saturday, the Mustangs will travel to Victor and then to Orchard Park on Oct. 18. The championships are on Sunday, Oct 26, at the JMA Wireless Dome (formerly the Carrier Dome) in Syracuse.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Some geese enjoy Johnson Creek in Lyndonville on Friday evening. This is the area behind the library and parking lot off Main Street.

The stretch of unseasonably warm weather continues to start the week in Orleans County with highs of 85 today and 83 on Monday. Both days will be sunny.

On Tuesday, the high will be near 75 with a 90 percent chance of rain, with a quarter to a half inch, according to the national Weather Service in Buffalo.

The highs the rest of the week include 62 on Wednesday, 61 on Thursday, 68 on Friday and 68 on Saturday.

The geese don’t like to see a photographer getting close and they take off on Friday evening.

Kimberly Stawicki of Medina sent in this photo of the sun rise on Saturday on Fletcher Chapel Road in Shelby.

Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo of the Oak Orchard Creek on a sunny Saturday.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – The scarecrows were a little scary today for the Kendall Scarecrow Festival. The top photo shows a group of scarecrows, many with characters from horror films. These scarecrows were created by Girl Scouts in Kendall and they were promoting an upcoming Girl Scout cookie drive.

The festival had nine entrants to be judged in a contest with a theme: “Spooky, Scary and a Little Creepy.”

These painted pumpkins dry near the entrance of Kendall’s Community Park across from the elementary school. Panek Farms in Albion donated about 200 pumpkins for the event.

Kendall has had the festival since 2010. The activities are free with donations accepted.

Eloise Baker, a seventh-grader, climbed the wall at the festival. The climbing wall was one of the new activities at the event.

Colleen Fanton made this crow-themed scarecrow.

Katie and Lee Robinson brought their kids, Isla and Cami, to make scarecrows. Usually more than 100 scarecrows are made during the festival.

Jeffrey Lutes created this scarecrow.

The public could vote for their favorite scarecrow. The winner gets $75 worth of gift certificates, followed $50 for second place and $25 for third.

Mavis Williams, a member of the Kendall Scarecrow Committee, took the lead in creating this RIP scarecrow.

John Becker drives a tractor down Kendall Road. The Kendall Lions Club offered the wagon rides as part of the festival.

Dylan Bushnell, 10, and his brother Winston, 6, decorate their pumpkins. They were visiting from Big Flats. Their mother, Hannah Billings Bushnell, grew up in Kendall.

The Boy Scouts in Kendall made this display with a giant spider.

Becky Charland, who leads the Scarecrow Festival Committee, posed with the festival’s mascot. There was a naming-contest for the mascot as part of today’s events.

Preston and Everett Swetz created these “Ghost Basket” scarecrows.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Gia Baker, 9, of Albion decorates a pumpkin on East Bank Street in Albion this morning as one of the activities at Albion’s Fall Fest.

The Albion Merchants Association organized the event which continues until 3 p.m.

Andy and Rebecca Scroger brought their kids, Lizzy and James, to the festival to make a scarecrow.

These cousins are decorating pumpkins. From left include Malani Baker, 5; Gavin Baker, 4; and Mia Wilston, 10.

The pumpkins were decorating with stickers and markers.

DeClerck’s Goldens in Albion brought several creatures for the public to see including “Caeser,” a Goffin’s cockatoo. Cary DeClerk was happy to share some of his animals and pets at the festival.

He also had a tortoise, golden retrievers, a wallaby, a sugar glider and others.

Cary DeClerk lets people see a sugar glider.

This wallaby attended the festival with DeClerck’s Goldens. Cary DeClerk also has kangaroos but they’re a little too big for the festival.

The Real News Duo performs at the end of East Bank Street. The Road Less Travelled also will be performing from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

KTJ Saddle Up Pony Rides has a pony and horses at Waterman Park.

There are other fall festivals in Orleans County today.

The Lakeside State Park Fall Fest is from noon to 9:30 p.m. with food trucks, face painting, balloon art, Seneca Mobile Zoo, crafts and other activities. The musicians include Jim Aina from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Who Dats from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Triple Play Band from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Kendall also has its scarecrow festival today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme: “Spooky, Scary and a Little Creepy” There will be music by Rebel’s Posse, a chainsaw carving demo by Jeff of Critters 3D, a chicken barbecue, hay rides and other activities.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Wes Bradley served as Lyndonville’s fireworks chairman for 19 years. He is shown on July 4, 2024, pulling a collection container in the Lyndonville parade. Bradley raised $50,000 to make that fireworks display the biggest ever in Lyndonville. That year was the 50th anniversary of the Lyndonville Lions Club organizing the July 4th celebration.

LYNDONVILLE – One of Orleans County’s greatest citizens passed away on Sept. 27. Wes Bradley was 77.

After a career as a science teacher for middle schoolers and a coach at Lyndonville, Bradley may have been best known in recent years as the chairman of Lyndonville’s phenomenal fireworks show on July 4.

He worked all year rounding up donations for the show. The July 4, 2024 show was his last as chairman. He met his goal of raising $50,000 for the 50^th anniversary fireworks display for the Lyndonville Lions Club.

Wes Bradley, shown on Dec. 3, 2016, for many years also served as emcee of Lyndonville’s Christmas celebration in early December when Santa arrived and 60 to 100 Christmas trees are typically lit up at Veterans’ Park. Bradley has said many dedicated volunteers put on events to enliven Lyndonville.

Bradley proudly wore a one-of-kind T-shirt that Young Explosives made for him showing the fireworks in Lyndonville. Bradley had a strong bond with the crew from Young Explosives. He brought them chicken barbecue dinners while they set up in stifling heat for the July 4^th show in Lyndonville. It was one of the biggest shows in all of Western New York despite Lyndonville being one of the smallest communities to host a fireworks show.

Those fireworks would bring in thousands of people, and Bradley was proud to show off the village with its flag-lined Main Street and friendly residents.

Bradley and one of his best friends, Mark Hughes, for years would put 75 flags on the utility poles that line the street. Bradley would climb the ladder and put the flags up, and would make an early morning check on July 4^th to make sure they were all looking good and not rolled up.

Hughes passed away on June 4. He was another dedicated teacher and coach at Lyndonville. The two were both pillars of the community the past half century.

They both stayed deeply involved in the school – long after their retirement.

Bradley was a soccer official locally, and did a game about three weeks ago. He could run the field well into his 70s.

Lyndonville needed a boys soccer coach in 2024 for the varsity team. The previous year, Lyndonville didn’t have its own team due to low numbers.

Bradley agreed to be the coach and the team helped him reach a career milestone of 200 victories. Many of those players attended his calling hours on Friday.

Young Explosives also was there at the calling hours. So were many former students, teachers, Lyndonville firefighters and community members.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Wes Bradley is shown in late August 2024 when he returned to coaching the Lyndonville varsity soccer team. He is shown meeting with five veteran players from the last Tigers varsity team in 2022. They include Austin Fonda, Michael Alexander, Colton Smith, Jesus Rosario and Brody Hazel. The team would earn Bradley’s his 200th career soccer victory.

When Bradley moved to Lyndonville in August 1979 at age 31, he joined the Lyndonville Fire Department. He was inspired by his father’s example. Ray Bradley volunteered for more than 30 years as a firefighter in Canton, NY.

Bradley was an active firefighter responding to many calls, finding the time even during his very busy days as teacher and coach.

In his 70s, he still was going to about 50 calls a year and served as the department’s chaplain. In 2019, he was Lyndonville’s firefighter of the year at age 71.

“He does everything very professional,” Ben Bane, the Lyndonville fire chief at the time, told the Orleans Hub. “As chaplain, he is always there to comfort members when we have bad calls.”

Bradley, after years as an interior firefighter, continued as an exterior firefighter and with the fire police on traffic control. He also went on EMS calls. He wasn’t an EMT but he said it is comforting for many residents to see their neighbors in the fire service respond to the calls.

“I enjoy serving the community,” Bradley said on Feb. 1, 2020 when he was presented with the award. “The community has been good to me. I can give a little bit back.”

Laurie Bradley said her husband was “a go-getter who wanted to serve others.” She was the school librarian at Lyndonville. She and Wes raised three children in the community.

Ben Bane, Lyndonville’s fire chief in 2020, presents the Firefighter of the Year award to Wes Bradley on Feb. 1, 2020.

Bob Larkin worked as a custodian at the school district. He saw Bradley every day and without fail Bradley always was quick to greet Larkin by name. During the end-of-season pizza parties, Bradley made sure his team picked up after themselves.

If there was a fire alarm at the school, Bradley was typically the first on the scene in his firefighter turn-out gear, Larkin said.

Lee Dillenbeck, a Lyndonville teacher and coach, said the community is reeling from the loss of Bradley and Hughes. Both were tremendous mentors for teachers and students, Dillenbeck said.

Bradley never wavered in trying to be of service to the community.

“He was the best person you could come across,” Dillenbeck said. “Anything you needed he was there for you.”

Photos courtesy of ABATE in Orleans County

KENDALL – The Orleans County chapter of ABATE (Americans Bikers Aimed Toward Education) recently resented $500 checks to three fire departments in eastern Orleans County.

The top photo shows Chuck Persons, second from right, and Becky Persons, right, of ABATE presenting a $500 check to the Kendall Fire Department. They are joined by Fire Chief Randy Davis, second from right, and Mike Schultz, president of the Kendall FD.

Last year ABATE presented similar checks to the central battalion departments, and they donated to the western battalion in 2023.

The donations to the eastern battalion are the result of a fundraising ride and a basket raffle this summer.

Becky Persons of ABATE presents a $500 check to Bob Freida, fire chief of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company.

ABATE also donated $500 to the Murray Joint Fire District.

ABATE leaders said firefighters are often the first on the scene if a motorcyclist is an accident.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is hosting three town hall events in Monroe and Genesee Counties on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Hawley will take the time to meet with constituents and discuss the issues that matter to them the most. These events will give the community the opportunity to let their voices be heard and share their thoughts and concerns about where the state is headed.

“Speaking directly with my constituents is one of the most important parts of my job,” said Hawley. “I hope people show up to share their thoughts and opinions on how we can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

The schedule includes:

• Town of Wheatland, Village of Scottsville and Hamlet of Mumford on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Genesee Country Village & Museum in the Meeting Center Lounge, 1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford, NY 14511

• Town of LeRoy and Village of LeRoy on Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Woodward Memorial Library, The Mystery Room, 7 Wolcott St., LeRoy, NY 14482

• Town of Batavia and City of Batavia on Oct. 11 from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Batavia City Centre, Council Room on 2nd Floor, 102 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020

Assemblyman Steve Hawley represents the 139th Assembly District, which includes parts of Erie, Genesee, Monroe and Orleans counties.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Some leaves on these trees are still green and others have changed to bright colors. This is a spot on the Erie Canal Towpath in Albion, east of the Ingersoll Street lift bridge.

Some parts of the state are seeing peak fall foliage colors, while locally it is about at midpoint with lots of green leaves still on the trees.

“Beautiful peak fall colors will continue to spread through the Adirondacks and Catskills, and are expected to arrive in some parts of the Chautauqua-Allegheny and Finger Lakes regions this weekend,” I Love NY posted on Wednesday.

A spotter in Albion reports that there is less than 15% change in Albion “with average to bright red, orange and yellow leaves.”

A spotter in Buffalo reports a 25 percent change while one in East Aurora puts it at 55 percent.

In Niagara County, there is 50 percent change in Lewiston and 25 percent transition in Niagara Falls.

In Wyoming County, Letchworth State Park is seeing 50 percent change in Castile and 60 percent change in Warsaw.

Map courtesy of I Love NY: Some parts of the state are in peak fall foliage conditions, while Orleans County still has a ways to go towards peak.

ALBION – A former Albion man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court to attempted course of sexual conduct in third degree and could get up to five years in state prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 3.

Joel Prouty, 39, now lives in Bethany. He admitted in County Court on Wednesday to having anal sexual contact at least twice with a victim between June 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. The victim was the ages of 9 and 10 when this happened, the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office said.

Prouty was charged on May 21 by the Albion Police Department with course of sex conduct against a child in the 1st degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

In other cases in County Court:

Allan Bieber, 22, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at St. Joseph’s Park on South Clinton Street on April 25. It was dark at the park at about 9 p.m. when the alleged rape occurred.

Bieber will face probation and no incarceration as part of a plea agreement. He could be a registered sex offender for 10 years. That will be determined at a hearing before Judge Sanford Church.

Jamar Daniel, 41, of the Bronx pleaded guilty last week to attempted promoting prison contraband in the first degree.

Daniel admitted to bringing a folding ceramic blade into the Orleans Correctional Facility on Nov. 17, 2024.

He faces up to 364 days in the county jail when he is sentenced.

‘This global experience had to be one of the most impactful things that ever happened to me on a personal level, spiritually and educationally’ – Todd Eick

Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: (Left) Todd Eick, former Medina teacher now an animal science teacher for Orleans/Niagara BOCES, holds a pig in Uganda. (Right) This group builds a structure.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Todd Eick, the Animal Science teacher at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, recently spent a month over the summer in Uganda with fellow educators to support education initiatives in a small village at the Lira Secondary School.

“It is without a doubt the best professional development and experience I have ever had,” said Eick, who previously worked in Medina for 14 years as FFA advisor and animal science teacher.  “There are not enough adjectives to describe that trip.”

The Global Teach Ag Network sent 12 educators, across the United States, to work with local schools in East Africa on global issues like agriculture and food security.  The Teach Ag Uganda project is funded by the USDE (United States Department of Education) Fulbright-Hays Program and partners with Field of Hope.

The teachers had the opportunity to work one-on-one with peer educator colleagues in Uganda to advance agriculture projects in local schools. Eick was assigned to work on a team with the students on building a piggery for pig farming.  He worked directly with two US teachers, one from Indiana and the other from Washington state, and three Uganda educators.

“We are all still in a group chat all the time” says Eick.  “We built great friendships and had so much fun together. Such amazing memories and knowledge to share. I love telling people I know someone who knows something about this and that. I had such a wonderful time there.”

The staff at a school joins for a group photo.

Eick had applied for the grant opportunity to take part in the program last October and was thrilled to find out that he was selected to be part of the project.

“I was kind of the elder statesman since I had more time in education than anyone else on the team, but I learned a lot from everyone I worked with,” he said. “We helped the school build the piggery and showed them how to select the pigs and care for them. We left educational artifacts for them to use after we returned home to help them run the farm.”

The visiting teachers were fascinated on how the Lira Secondary school was run.  A boarding school, there are 20-80 students in a classroom and the teachers rotate through each classroom.

Classes ran three weeks on and then three weeks off to allow the students to go home and help their families, many of them using the skills they learned in school to help their families generate extra money.

The students would be considered sophomores, juniors and seniors here.  “Most of the seniors were learning so they could take the state test and had a lot of project-based learning as part of their education as well,” Eick said. “The students were shy at first, but they warmed up pretty quickly to us. They were so eager to learn. How they implemented their curriculum was cool. For one hands-on learning project, we worked together to string a barbed wire fence. The students caught on very fast.”

There was no cafeteria, but everyone ate together. “We stood in line with the students with our bowls and we usually had some sort of stew made with beans, maize and rice,” explained Eick. “It was fascinating. It is a very poor country, but they were rich in hospitality.  They are truly the kindest, warmest people I have ever met.”

Eick, along with his fellow educators, also enjoyed a morning and evening safari to see the wildlife.

“It was magical,” he said. “We went to the Nile River. I must have taken hundreds of photos.   We visited several villages and a dairy farm and that was eye-opening on how varied milk production is there than it is here.”

He brought back a Uganda hoe as a souvenir.  “It cost me $3.75 and I had no idea how to use it, so the students had to show me. They thought it was hysterical. I have to say I learned as much from them as they did from me. I love this kind of teaching. It is a hand up not a handout. This global experience had to be one of the most impactful things that ever happened to me on a personal level, spiritually and educationally.  I am enjoying bringing these lessons into my classroom, especially doing more with less and embracing a worldwide perspective on things. My students here have really embraced this and we now share things in class from art to the practical from different countries. I am really looking forward to taking some of the students to Belgium and the Netherlands next year to learn about their agriculture and way of life. I really want them to have the same experience I did with seeing a different culture.”

Site includes climbing tower, a zipline, We-Go-Round, We-Saws, swings, climbing mounds, chill spinners and shaded seating areas

Photos and information courtesy of Kendall Central School

KENDALL – It was a special time on Wednesday evening at the Kendall Elementary School when the community celebrated the opening of a new school playground.

This is Kendall’s first community-accessible playground, a one-of-a-kind facility in the Northeast that will serve both students and families for years to come.

This playground is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. The playground includes ground-level entry points, durable turf surfacing, and equipment designed to accommodate children with limited mobility.

“Our early vision was to ensure that our students and residents had a space to come and spend time with family and friends right in our community,” said Nick Picardo, the school district superintendent. “I believe this playground will become a central place for families to gather, play, and enjoy the outdoors right here in Kendall.”

The playground was funded as a part of $12,680,000 capital project that was approved in December 2023.

That project was nearly entirely focused on the elementary school. The work included:

• An estimated $11,122,076 at the elementary school with site improvements and new paving, and a new playground with age-appropriate equipment. Inside the elementary school, projects include safety and security upgrades to interior doors, entryways, and alarm systems, as well as energy- efficient classroom lighting, corridor enhancements and auditorium upgrades, according to the district.
• The project includes $153,089 in work at the junior-senior high school for common area improvements with new flooring and lighting.
• In the transportation building, the capitol project includes two bus lifts at a cost of $1,065,278.
• A new roof for the Buildings & Grounds facility at a estimated cost of $339,557.

The new playground features cutting-edge structures including the Volo Aire, a multi-level climbing tower with covered slides that is the first of its kind on the East Coast. Other highlights include a zipline, We-Go-Round, We-Saws, swings, climbing mounds, chill spinners, and shaded seating areas.

Designed with accessibility at its core, the playground includes ground-level entry points, durable turf surfacing, and equipment designed to accommodate children with limited mobility. Dedicated areas for both younger and older elementary students ensure that children of all ages can play safely and comfortably.

Kendall school officials, including Board of Education President Rachel Fisken with scissors, celebrate the new playground on Wednesday.

This new addition is a major milestone not just for the district, but for the region: a protected design radius has been placed around Kendall, ensuring that no other nearby playgrounds will feature the same exclusive components, the school district stated in a news release.

 “In early January 2025, with a completed design in hand, the superintendent received a frantic call from me thanks to a brand-new, never-before-seen structure having just been released to the market,” said Andy Walsh, Genesee Regional Manager of Parkitects. “Under Nick Picardo’s leadership and with the support of the Kendall team, the decision was made to pivot and include the first Volo Aire in New York State. That bold move brought one of the most inclusive and accessible tower structures ever built to the Kendall community.”

Planning for the playground began with a unique focus on student voice and research. A student-led committee worked alongside staff and design experts to test playgrounds across Western New York and cast votes on preferred features—including the curly slide, which won by a landslide during Kendall’s own “Voting Day” in November 2023.

“This vibrant new space is more than just a place to play, it’s a reflection of our community’s creativity, collaboration, and commitment to joyful learning,” said Elementary Principal Kevin Watson. “From the first sketch to the final bolt, this playground was designed with our students in mind. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve built together.”