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Company details plans for 2 solar projects on 63 in Shelby
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2025 at 5:42 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dave Strong, senior project developer for New Leak Energy, met with Shelby community member on Tuesday evening to discuss the company’s plan for two solar projects along Route 63 in Shelby on land that was eyed for two wind turbines.

SHELBY – New Leaf Energy presented its plans for two solar projects to the community on Tuesday, touting the project as a boost in tax revenue for local governments while adding 9 megawatts of power to the grid with minimal impacts.

The projects together would generate about 9 megawatts of power. The solar installations are planned on South Gravel Road (Route 63) where two wind turbines were eyed by Borrego Solar System Inc. Borrego spun off the development side of its business to ECP, which named the new company, New Leaf Energy.

Dave Strong said the project will have minimal negative impacts while generating about $1 million in revenue for local governments in the next 15 years.

New Leaf withdrew its plans for the 633-foot-high turbines in March. Shelby town officials declined to create a wind overlay district needed for the project to move forward.

New Leaf has switched to solar proposals with one project at 18 acres at the Ledge Rock Farm at 4364 South Gravel where there is an apple orchard. The other would cover 20 acres at 4326 South Gravel where corn is currently being grown.

Dave Strong, senior project developer for New Leaf Energy, said the apple farm will continue with the solar taking out 18 acres of a farm with 100 to 125 acres of apples. The apples coming out of production are older, less popular varieties, he said.

The solar is planned to be set back 800 feet from Route 63, which is four times the town’s requirement of at least a 200-foot setback.

Strong said the project fits the town ordinance. The Shelby Town Board needs to do a SEQR environmental study and also vote whether the project is approved. The board currently only has two out of five members and can’t vote on anything until there is at least a third member on the board.

New Leaf will pay an estimated $1,089,485 in municipal revenue over 15 years, with it split in thirds with the Town of Shelby, Orleans County and Medina School District. The payments include $63,000 in the first year with 2 percent annual increases, peaking at $83,127 in year 15. Fire and library taxes also are included, Strong said.

New Leaf will have a bond in place to cover decommissioning costs, which is currently at $131,646. After 25 years, at a 2.5 percent annual rate increase, the cost would be $244,065.

Decommissioning includes removing everything in the project – modules, racks, rack wiring, electrical equipment, concrete pads, load racks, foundation piles, fences, power poles, gravel road reclamation and trucking to transfer station.

The projects don’t include any battery storage. Strong said there would by 4-by-8-foot solar panels mounted on aluminum racks. The electricity could tie into three-phase electric lines on 63, he said.

New Leaf also will do a glare study to ensure the panels are set up in a way that won’t adversely affect drivers, Strong said.


The two projects are planned along Route 63, south of the Village of Medina.

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Heat wave hits Orleans, with advisory issued for Thursday
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2025 at 4:01 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: A field with bales of straw is shown Sunday on East Shelby Road in Shelby.

Orleans County is amidst the strength of warm days with the high temperatures expected to be well over 80 degrees.

Today the high will be 85 followed by a high of 91 on Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The highs will then be 86 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday followed by 91 on Monday. The forecast then shows highs of 88 on Tuesday and 83 next Wednesday.

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Mother and daughter enjoy rewarding careers at Medina Memorial Hospital
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 July 2025 at 3:23 pm

Photo courtesy of Scott Robinson: Sue Geiger, left, and her daughter Teresa Allen are both employees of Medina Memorial Hospital with Geiger the director of Materials Management, and Allen as a registered nurse.

MEDINA – The year 2025 represents a milestone for Medina Memorial Hospital. It is the 100th anniversary of its founding, during which a number of observances have been planned to celebrate.

One of those is acknowledging its staff members who have or had relatives who were also employed there.

“As Medina Memorial Hospital proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary, we are honored to reflect on a century of unwavering commitment from our team members, volunteers and community supporters,” said Scott Robinson, director of Communication, Outreach and Marketing. “Our legacy is not just the building and its story, but the incredible individuals who have given it life through the years. Sometimes we’re even lucky when those team members include second and third generation family members.”

Such is the case of Robinson,  who is the great-great-grandson of the hospital’s founder, George Bowen. The pair were spotlighted in a previous article.

The latest story is that of Sue Geiger, director of Materials Management, and her daughter Teresa Allen, a registered nurse.

The family’s Geiger’s personal story with Orleans Community Health began in 1990 when she began work in the Dietary Department, however, her mother worked there some time before her and was also the first patient to receive care at Medina Transitional Care Unit (subacute rehab).

Geiger would move from the Dietary Department into purchasing, before spending a brief time away. She returned in 1994 and by 1997 she stepped into her current leadership role.

Outside of her personal life, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren at their sporting events, caring for her dogs, reading and painting. She values the close-knit spirit of her community, sharing, “It’s a small place where you connect with people – a wonderful place to live and work.”

One of her proudest memories is having worked alongside her mother, she said. She also shared thoughts from her personal experience there.

“At city hospitals, you sometimes feel like a number,” Geiger said. “Here, you are treated with care, understanding and compassion – not just as an employee, but as a patient, too. Accommodations are always made to help in any situation.”

Continuing with family tradition, Allen has been part of the Medina Memorial family for nearly 2 1/2 years. She spent one and a half years in PCU2 and has been employed in the North Wing for the last 11 months. She loves caring for the residents and their family, always advocating for their needs, Robinson said.

“Teresa believes deeply that ‘residents always come first,’ embracing the North Wing as a true home for those she serves,” Robinson said.

Professionally, Allen finds joy in making a difference in her residents’ lives, brightening their day through small moments of care and kindness. Outside of work, she is a proud mom of three and loves spending time with her family, especially watching her kids play sports. She treasures her special connection to Medina Memorial Hospital – her mother and her “Grammy” having both worked there. With her family connection, it’s no wonder she feels like she grew up in the hospital.

“It’s a wonderful community, and we are all on the same the same team here,” Allen said.

“As we celebrate 100 years, we honor dedicated families like Teresa’s and Sue’s, who have made part of their story part of ours,” Robinson said. “Here’s to the next century of community, compassion and care.”

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Gillibrand proposes funding child care for police officers to help with staffing shortages
Posted 23 July 2025 at 2:59 pm

Press Release, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to call for the passage of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act.

This bipartisan bill would provide $24 million in federal funding for each of the next 5 fiscal years to establish a pilot program to provide child care for law enforcement families. Providing child care options for officers could help enhance recruitment, allow families to plan around abnormal work hours, and increase public safety by reducing barriers to a career in law enforcement.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) cosponsors this bill in the Senate and Representative Scott Peters (D-CA-50) leads companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Police officers play a vital role in keeping communities safe, and officers should not have to choose between taking care of their children and staying in the police force,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill would help give aspiring police officers safe, viable child care options while also providing stability to current officers struggling to find care for their kids that works with their nontraditional work schedules. Expanding child care is a win-win for officers and communities, and I’m committed to working across the aisle to get this bill passed.”

The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act would authorize $24 million in funding for each of the next 5 fiscal years and allows for grants of up to $3 million to individual law enforcement agencies or consortia to establish child care programs for their police personnel. In addition, to ensure parents employed by smaller police departments receive support, 20% of the total grant funding will be set aside for law enforcement agencies employing fewer than 200 officers.

Police officers often work extended hours on a nontraditional schedule. In a recent survey, more than 70% of law enforcement agencies reported that recruitment is more difficult now than five years ago, and at one major metropolitan police department, more than half of officers reported having to leave or miss work due to child care issues. This issue disproportionately impacts women, who make up less than 14% of sworn officers and 4% of police chiefs. Senator Gillibrand’s bill would help increase public safety by reducing barriers to a career in law enforcement and by ensuring the best talent is recruited into our police departments.

This legislation is supported by the following organizations: 30×30, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), National Asian Peace Officers Association (NAPOA), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), International Association of Chiefs of Police, Central New York Association of Chiefs of Police, New York State Association of Chief of Police, AFSCME, and Third Way.

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Tenney introduces legislation to end birthright citizenship for children born in US to illegal aliens
Posted 23 July 2025 at 2:46 pm

Press release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced the Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to illegal aliens, foreign spies, and individuals present on diplomatic visas.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) led this legislation in the Senate.

This legislation aims to restore the original intent of the 14th Amendment by clarifying that U.S. citizenship is reserved at birth for children born to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

“The United States should not reward illegal entry into our country with automatic citizenship for the children of lawbreakers. This loophole has been exploited for decades and incentivized illegal immigration and birth tourism. The Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act restores the true meaning of the 14th Amendment, reinforces the rule of law, while protecting the integrity of American citizenship,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

“There is no constitutional right for illegal aliens to cross the border to gain citizenship for their children. Granting birthright citizenship to illegal aliens has contributed to the highest levels of illegal immigration in history. Fixing this will help reduce the damage from Joe Biden’s catastrophic border crisis,” said Senator Cotton.

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Shelby attorney says town asking governor to fill vacancy so board can function
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2025 at 9:23 am

‘Shelby is in a serious situation having lost their supervisor and deputy town supervisor’

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kathleen Bennett, the attorney for the Town of Shelby, speaks with about 100 residents during a meeting on Tuesday at the Shelby fire hall. She said the Town Board currently can not function because there are only two members and at least three are needed to conduct town business.

SHELBY – The Shelby town government faces a difficult predicament after three of its members, including the town supervisor and deputy town supervisor, resigned last week.

Town attorney Kathleen Bennett said the board can’t meet and can’t vote on anything without a third member.

Bennett said the board is paralyzed and can’t have a Town Board meeting, pay bills or approve a budget until a third member is appointed or elected.

John Parada said the three resignations from the board members “crippled” the town government.

Bennett met with about 100 residents on Tuesday at the Shelby fire hall to discuss what she called “a serious situation.” She said town employees will be paid in the near future and health insurance will be paid for employees and past employees. That’s because those were set up on a pre-pay schedule.

The town has the money in its account in the short-term to make those payments. However, Bennett said money will need to be transferred from an investment account into the town fund where it can be spent for payroll, insurance and other bills. She doesn’t have a time frame for how soon that needs to happen before the current funds are exhausted.

“We’re working to make sure the payroll and health insurance will continue,” she said. “That is of primary importance.”

The town also has bills to vendors and others not on a pre-pay schedule. They will get their money but it may not happen in the usual time frame.

“Ultimately all bills will be paid they just might not be paid on time,” Bennett told the residents at the meeting.

Bennett said there are two ways to quickly resolve the crisis caused by the resignations of Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz and board members Jeff Schiffer and Stephen Seitz Sr., who is also the deputy town supervisor.

Either Wengewicz or Seitz could rescind their resignation and rejoin the board to allow for an appointment to the board. Wengewicz or Seitz could then resign again. But the board would have the needed three members after the appointment.

Schiffer can’t rescind his motion because the Board of Elections has already started the process to fill his vacant position as part of this November’s election. Candidates on the ballot for this position need a nomination from one of four constituted parties – Republican, Democratic, Conservative and Working Families. The deadline is July 28 for a certification of nomination.

Wengewicz or Seitz both have terms ending Dec. 31. If someone is appointed to fill one or both of their spots, they would only be in the job until Dec. 31. (Jim Heminway last month won a Republican primary against Wengewicz for town supervisor, and Lawrence Waters Sr. and Ed Żelazny both won primaries for town councilman over Michael Moriarty and Vassilios Bitsas. Seitz didn’t seek re-election. But those terms don’t start until Jan. 1 and there is still a general election in November.)

Kathleen Bennett said she is pushing to get a third member on the Town Board as soon as possible, and also is trying to ensure the town has money in its accounts to make payroll and cover health benefits for employees and former employees. Some of the town’s funds are in an investment account and will need to be transferred over to pay some bills in the near future.

Bennett said she reached out to Wengewicz or Seitz about rescinding their resignations and briefly rejoining the board so a member could be appointed. Seitz declined and Wengewicz hasn’t responded to Bennett, she said.

“I’ve advised them it would be in everyone’s best interests for one of them to rescind their resignation just for the point of appointing one member,” she said.

Shelby also has the option of a governor’s appointment to the board. Last year two towns faced a similar situation as Shelby following mass resignations of board members.

In the Town of Berne in Albany County, Hochul made an appointment six months after the resignations. In St. Lawrence County, four of the five members of the Hermon Town Board and Hochul appointed two members about a month later.

Bennett said the governor’s office has been notified of the Shelby situation and asked to start the process of filling a vacancy. She hopes the turnaround will be about a month and not the six months it took in Berne.

In both Berne and Hermon, the resignations were on Republican boards. Hochul filled the  vacancies with Democrats, Bennett said, and they served for only a few months so the Town Board could function until the new year started.

If a timely appointment isn’t made by Hochul or locally (with one of the board members who resigned rescinding that action and rejoining the board briefly), Bennett said the board could have enough members after the November election to fill Shiffer’s term. The winner of that election could join the board once the result is certified by the Board of Election and wouldn’t have to wait until Jan. 1.

Bennett works for the Bond, Schoeneck & King law firm. One of her colleagues has reached out to the governor’s office, asking the governor’s office to start the process of trying to fill the vacancy.

“The governor appreciates the seriousness of the situation,” Bennett said. “Shelby is in a serious situation having lost their supervisor and deputy town supervisor.”

The town departments – clerk’s office, court and highway – should all functionally normally even though the Town Board is currently unable to meet and vote on anything.

Schiffer resigned last Thursday, with Wengewicz and Seitz stepping down from their positions on Friday. Bennett said their notices didn’t include a reason for why they were quitting.

Cassandra Boring, a confidential secretary to the town supervisor, also resigned.

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Today’s Fair Schedule (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2025 at 7:54 am

Photos by Tom Rivers: A fair-goers enjoys a ride on the Flying Elephants on Tuesday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Main Event Amusements has 17 different rides at the fair.


Seniors can enjoy a free cup of coffee at the 4-H Senior Council Stand.


8 a.m. – 4-H English Dressage Horse Show at Carlos Marcello Arena

9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – 4-H Senior Council Stand Breakfast Hours at 4-H Senior Council Stand

9 a.m. – 4-H Poultry Showmanship and Knowledge Contest at Wachob Pavilion

10 a.m. – 4-H Beef Cattle Show at Livestock Show Arena

10 a.m. – 4-H Dog Show Obedience and Rally Classes at Knights Building

11 a.m. – Senior Council 4-H Food Booth Hamburgers, Hots, and Cold Drinks. Proceeds support teen award trips and programs. 4-H Senior Council Stand

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Nutrifare Senior Luncheon with the sing-along music of Craig Wilkins (Food will be served at 12 p.m. with ticket) at Curtis Pavilion

12 p.m. – Paid public admission begins, Buildings open to the public at Taylor Hill Road Parking Lot

Madaline Bloom, 9, of Albion shows “Sunflower,” a Jersey, during Tuesday’s Dairy Show. Sunflower won first in this Jersey class. Madaline is making her debut showing animals at the fair as a novice.

12 p.m. – 4-H Poultry Breed Classes at Wachob Pavilion

1:30 to 3 p.m. – Bread & Butter Making Demo and Tasting at Trolley Building

2 p.m. – Fair Official Meeting at Fair Office

3 to 10 p.m. – Main Event Amusements $35 Unlimited Rides Wristband at Midway

4 p.m. – 4-H Leaders’ Homemade Pie Stand Opens at Pie Stand

4 p.m. – 4-H Poultry Participants Awards presentation at Wachob Pavilion

5 p.m. – Rubber Chicken Throwing at JCH of Buffalo Food Court

5 p.m. – Orleans Trail – Pioneer survival celebrating the county bicentennial at Orleans Hub Stage

5 p.m. – 4-H Meat and Pack Goat Show at Livestock Show Arena

Samuel Robinson of Albion sings “The Wonder of You” during karaoke on Tuesday. Robinson has been a mainstay at karaoke in recent years, often qualifying for the finals. The finals with $1,000 in prizes will be Thursday at 8 p.m. with another qualifying round today at 8 p.m.

5 to 10 p.m. – Agrigolf. Miniature Golf with an agriculture twist. Trolley Building Lawn

6 to 8 p.m. – Orleans County 4-H Fair Talent Show at Orleanshub.com Stage

6 p.m. – K9s In Flight: Free entertainment!  Knight’s Building Lawn

6 p.m. – Rooster Crowing Contest at Wachob Pavilion

6:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Amazing Bubble Factory at Cattle Barn Lawn

6:30 p.m. – Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull- Registration ends 15 minutes before event. JCH of Buffalo Tent

7 p.m. – Llama Meet and Greet (on conclusion of goat show) at Livestock Show Arena

8 p.m. – Feuding Farmers at JCH of Buffalo Food Court

Natalie Miller, 11, of Lyndonville competes in the pig showmanship competition on Monday.

8 p.m. – K9s In Flight: Free entertainment!  at Knight’s Building Lawn

8:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Amazing Bubble Factory at Cattle Barn Lawn

8 to 10 p.m. – Orleans County 4-H Fair $1,000 Karaoke Challenge at Orleans Hub Stage

10 p.m. – Hay Bale Rolling Contest – Teams of 1-2 ages 16 and up. Register at the Fair Office by 9:50 p.m. at Hay Bale Rolling Course

10 p.m. – Buildings Close – Goodnight Fair

The midway is lighted up on Tuesday evening at the fair with the Giant Gondola Ferris Wheel and Fun Slide among the rides.

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Senate Republicans support Haudenosaunee Lacrosse for inclusion in Olympics
Posted 22 July 2025 at 3:36 pm

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Today, members of the Senate Republican Conference on the committee for State – Native American Relations sent a letter to International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry to support the Haudenosaunee Lacrosse team’s request for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games.

The Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy encapsulates the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora tribes whose traditional and current territory lies within the borders of New York State.

 It was on this land and in these tribes where the game of lacrosse was born and as the Olympics prepare to welcome back this historic game to the competition for the first time in over a century, it would be a historical disservice to exclude its founders.

“Despite having a significantly smaller population than other national teams, the Haudenosaunee produce extraordinarily talented players and have competed successfully on the global stage. We believe there would be great benefit to a worldwide audience from watching the Haudenosaunee lacrosse team compete at the Olympics,” the letter reads.

“The genesis of lacrosse can be traced back to Native American tribes of the 12th century, and to them lacrosse was more than just a game, it held significant cultural and spiritual importance. It’s only fitting Native American tribes are properly represented as an independent, sovereign nation as the sport returns to the Olympics for the first time in more than 100 years, and I fully support the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in representing Native American tribes on the world stage during the 2028 Olympic Games,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, ranking member of the Committee on State – Native American Relations.

“The game of lacrosse is one of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s greatest gifts to the world, and their exclusion from Olympic play would be both historically and morally wrong,” said Senator George Borrello, member of the Committee on State – Native American Relations. “Recognizing their sovereignty and honoring their deep connection to the origins of this sport is the right thing to do and long overdue.”

“We urge you to favorably consider allowing the Haudenosaunee nation to compete and be properly represented in the 2028 Olympic Games. Such inclusion would represent a historic and meaningful step forward in honoring Indigenous contributions to sport and culture on the world stage,” the letter concludes.

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VFW Auxiliary donates book about patriotism to Lee-Whedon
Posted 22 July 2025 at 3:27 pm

Provided photo and information from VFW Auxiliary to Lincoln Post 1483

MEDINA – The VFW Auxiliary to Lincoln Post 1483 in Medina is promoting Patriotism through Literacy, a National VFW Auxiliary Youth Activities Program, by donating a book titled “The 4th of July Story” by Alice Dalgleish to the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

With this donation, we hope to help teach our youth about important events in our history.  The donation is made in honor of Veterans, Service Members and Their Families.

Featured in the photo are David Berry, President of the VFW Auxiliary to Lincoln Post 1483, and Kristine Mostyn, Library Director for Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

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Hog heaven as swine showmen double to 51; Novice takes master showman title
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2025 at 12:33 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Isabel Nesbitt, 12, of Lyndonville shows a pig during Monday’s swine show. Isabel won the novice division featuring first-time swine showman and then won the overall title against the top two showmen in the junior and senior divisions.

The swine showmen included 51 kids in 4-H. That is double the number in recent years. There will also be 25 pigs in the market auction at 7 p.m. on Saturday. That is about double the usual number of pigs in the auction.

“We’re growing,” said Julie Donofrio, the swine superintendent. “We’re like a big family.”

It was intense competition in the show ring, especially because many of the 4-H’ers were trying extra hard to beat their siblings and cousins.

This photo shows Everett Bruning of Barre, left, and Lane Miller of Lyndonville. Lane finished second in the novice division. There were 16 kids in the novice division.

Sylvia Bruning of Barre keeps a pig under control during the swine show. She competed in the novice division and came in fourth.

The swine showman competition stretched more than an hour. The final two included Isabel Nesbitt, 12, of Lyndonville and defending swine master showman Ruth Kuipers, 15, of Byron. They used swine sticks to help guide and control the animals.

Isabel won the showman title with the judge praising her for maintaining her intensity throughout the competition. Isabel kept a hunched over posture throughout it, while keeping her eyes focused on the judge. She received loud applause when she was declared the winner.

She qualifies for the grand master showman competition on Friday when the top showmen from nine species of livestock have to show all of the species.

David Schultheis, the swine judge, said he was duly impressed by the 4-Hers at the swine show.

“What outstanding showmanship and what a drive we had out here,” he said.

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Medina book store hosting author for signing on July 28
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 July 2025 at 12:07 pm

Melissa O’Connor, left, has written a novel, The One and Only Vivian Stone.

MEDINA – Melissa O’Connor of Buffalo has chosen Author’s Note in Medina for the initial book signing to launch her debut novel, The One and Only Vivian Stone, published by Simon and Schuster.

O’Connor heard about Author’s Note at 519 Main St. from her husband’s parents, who live near Oakfield. She will discuss and sign copies of her novel at 7 p.m. July 28.

O’Conner has a literary background, having been editor of a higher education publishing firm until deciding to stay home with her children, now ages 10 and 13.

“I have wanted to write since I was 9 years old, and wrote a short story at Thanksgiving from the viewpoint of a turkey,” O’Connor said. “When I graduated from college, I tried to write several times, but it was bad and I was turned down. I kept trying and stopping. I don’t know what clicked in my early 30s, but one time my husband was on an overnight trip for work and I pulled out my computer, and the words just kept flowing.”

Although The One and Only Vivian Stone is her first published novel, she has written four overall.

This book was inspired by “I Love Lucy,” O’Connor said. “I was obsessed with her show. I had gone to the Lucy and Desi Museum when I found out they had gotten a divorce. I had loved how they were a couple on and off the screen and didn’t understand how this couple who appeared to have it all, didn’t. They had this successful show, and I thought, ‘What do you do when your co-star is your estranged husband.’ Do you stay with the show and make America happy, or do you make yourself happy.”

O’Connor said it took her six weeks to write the book and four months to edit it. She got an agent’s offer, unbelievably, within a week.

“It was a case of having the right story at the right time going across the right desk,” she said.

In her book, O’Conner weaves a dual narrative from the novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the television show “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” in which estranged lovers reconnect over mysterious tapes found in an attic and the old Hollywood secret hidden within them.

New York Times bestselling author Abby Jimenez calls the book “intriguing, sparkling with wit and suspenseful in all the right places,” and Booklist called it “a captivating blend of romance and mystery that will keep readers eagerly turning pages.”

O’Connor became obsessed with stories involving family secrets, betrayal and forbidden love after being given a box of used V.C. Andrews books at the age of 10.

When not writing now, O’Connor can usually be found cheering on her kids’ hockey teams and sneaking words on the page between games.

O’Connor shared she is working on a new novel about the music industry, inspired by Carly Simon’s You’re so Vain.

During her visit to Author’s Note on July 28, she will not only sign copies and read from her book, but will answer questions from the audience.

Her book signing will immediately follow Author’s Note Fiction Book Club, which will take place at 6 p.m. instead of its usual start time of 6:30. The One and Only Vivian Stone will be the book club’s August selection for discussion at the bookstore on Aug. 25 at the regular time of 6:30 p.m.

Book clubs and Author’s Note events are open to the public, according to owner and New York Times’ best-selling author Julie Berry.

Copies of the One and Only Vivian Stone are available at Author’s Note or online at www.authorsnote/com/events. Those unable to attend may order signed copies of the book to be picked up at the store or shipped free by logging on to the above website or calling (585) 798-3642.

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