Photo courtesy of FMC in Middleport: FMC Corporation’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport recently hosted Middleport Fire Department officials for a tour. Katie Russell (second from right), interim FMC Middleport plant manager, and Archie Ames (far right), FMC Emergency Response Team leader, discuss plant fire safety procedures with Middleport Fire Department Chief Ryan Czaja (third from right), and Fire Department members (from far left to right) Dan Dijames, Regan Ginty and Dave Greenwell.

Press Release, FMC in Middleport

MIDDLEPORT – FMC Corporation’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport recently hosted Middleport Fire Department officials with a plant tour and an update on emergency preparedness developments and procedures to ensure a coordinated and timely response in the event of an emergency incident.

“As part of our everyday effort to safeguard the safety of our employees and our community neighbors, FMC continually trains our emergency response team and shares useful information with first responders like the Middleport Fire Department so that together we are able to address any potential emergency situation,” said Katie Russell, interim FMC Middleport Plant manager.

“It is important for the fire department to have an understanding of our operations and what they can expect when they come to the plant site,” she said. “At the same time, we also find out what we can do to help department members in responding to an emergency incident.”

Fire Department Chief Ryan Czaja said the tour and update provided a good opportunity for fire officials to learn about changes at the plant and safety operations, as well as getting to know new individuals who are working at the plant.

Photo and information courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: Group Photo: (From left to right): Ian Jones (Junior SkillsUSA President-Lockport/Computer Technology), Camellia Higgins (Senior SkillsUSA Parliamentarian-Barker/Graphic Communications), Haylee Green (Senior SkillsUSA President-Lockport/Graphic Communications), Lilian Streich (Senior SkillsUSA Treasurer-Lockport/Security and Law Enforcement), Allie Dent (Senior SkillsUSA Vice President-Royalton-Hartland/Cosmetology), Jayden Colletta (Junior SkillsUSA Vice President – Royalton-Hartland/Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering), Molly Russell (Senior SkillsUSA Secretary-Royalton-Hartland/Computer Technology), Kalyn Reabold (Jujior SkillsUSA Reporter-Diesel Technology), Maleah Updegraph (Junior SkillsUSA Treasurer-Lockport/Security and Law Enforcement), Olivia Kroening (Junior SkillsUSA Parliamentarian-Medina/Cosmetology), Catelyn Kidney (Senior SkillsUSA Reporter-Lyndonville/Cosmetology) and Lisa Beam (Junior SkillsUSA Secretary-Albion/Welding).

MEDINA – The Skills USA students at Orleans Career and Technical Education Center recently partnered with Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern. They held a fundraiser for families having a hard time getting through the holiday season.

Paper turkeys were sold for students and staff to buy, and 565 turkeys were sold. Generosity ran rampant through the building, so a huge thank you to everyone who contributed. A special shout out to the Building Trades and Graphic Communications programs as they were the top contributors!

The $565 raised was used to help provide families with toys and clothes including jackets, boots, and other cold weather gear for children. Two families will receive gifts from the fundraiser. Skills plans to collaborate with other charitable organizations in the future to keep giving back.

Great job everyone for making the holidays nicer for some in our community!

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A new display of gratitude sends messages of thankfulness during a time when many people are feeling anxiety, loss and disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Takeform in Medina installed the display featuring a vintage photo of downtown Medina on Friday in Rotary Park at one of Medina’s main intersections.

The company had a booth during the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration on Nov. 27 and asked people what they are thankful for in their lives. Those quotes are part of a display that will be up until mid-January.

Many said family, and others included organ donors, deer season and even chocolate.

A sampling of some of the messages include:

“This Wonderful, Friendly Town of Medina”

“Things in Life Do Not Come In A Box”

“Thankful For My Mommy, Daddy And Two Babies”

“For A Healthy Family And The Wonderful Life”

“Snow Storms That Look Like Snow Globes”

“Mustang Pride”

“Open Your Heart To The Goodness Of The Holiday”

“My Family, Sheep & Goats”

“Medina, A Hallmark Hometown – We’re So Lucky”

“Stay Safe, Love Each Other”

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director – Vol. 2. No. 45

GAINES –  The Hamlet of Childs is the current home for an outstanding artifact of the mid-19th century. The name settled upon for this object is “The Akeley Fox,” in homage to the taxidermy artist, Carl Akeley, who created the diorama in 1879.

Pictured at top in 1979 is Mr. John Seager, along with the fox his great grandfather Francis Harling shot over 140 years ago. In 1979, Mr. Seager gave his family heirloom to the Cobblestone Museum for its permanent collection in memory of his parents Agnes Harling Seager and John Seager.

Young Carl Akeley – Photo courtesy the Field Museum

The story goes that sometime in 1879m Francis Harling lay near a fox run in a Barre Swamp almost a full day before this specimen came along.  At the time, a young Carl Akeley of Clarendon (shown above) was in his late teens or early twenties and was learning the techniques of taxidermy under the tutelage of David Bruce from Brockport. Knowing Akeley, Francis Harling purposely procured the fox for him to mount. The fox is depicted in a large gold-framed shadow box just as she had killed a partridge.

The Akeley Fox is one of his early works. It is signed on the reverse side of the glass, “C .E. Akeley, Clarendon”

In the late 19th Century Akeley went on to become the great world renowned African explorer and established the African Hall in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He was noted as being one of the first taxidermists to place specimens in their natural surroundings and traveled with Theodore Roosevelt and George Eastman on several safaris. One of his staunchest supporters was none other than J. Pierpont Morgan. The image above depicts Akeley surviving a leopard attack on one of his many safaris in Africa.  He captured the leopard using only his bare hands.

Unfortunately, Akeley died in his early sixties before he had a chance to complete his life’s work. The Akeley Fox however is testimony to a great man’s artistic genius. For many years it hung in the parlor of the Harling residence on East County House Road near Albion. It was then inherited by Walker Harling, son of Francis and passed on to his daughter Agnes Harling Seager who kept it in the attic for over forty years. Once arriving in the Hamlet of Childs, the fox was displayed along with the Hon. E. K. Hart Bird Collection at the Cobblestone Museum. Ironically, the Hart Bird Collection was prepared by Akeley’s teacher, David Bruce.

Considering the legacy left by Carl Akeley and the significance of his contributions to the field of history, the little red fox is held in the highest regard and treated as one of the crowning artifacts within the collection of the Museum. Accepting the unique artifact into the collection as a rare representation of the earliest works of a world renowned taxidermist, the Museum retained a distinct piece of history that museums today would fight over.

With thanks to the efforts of the Clarendon Historical Society, a spectacular tribute to the life and legacy of Carl Akeley was arranged to celebrate the passing of Akeley’s 150th birthday. Museum co-coordinators Matthew Ballard and Sarah Karas both attended a celebration in Akeley’s honor where they met John Janelli, chairman of the National Taxidermy Association’s Conservation Committee. After showing him photographs of the fox, the true significance of the piece was finally understood.

(L-R) Sarah Karas, Cobblestone Museum co-coordinator, John Janelli, and Matt Ballard, co-coordinator

Members of the Committee visited the Museum to see the fox firsthand on May 23, 2014 (shown above) when it was decided that the restoration of this artifact was not simply a possibility but a necessity. Heat from being stored in an attic for decades, along with freezing in the winter, had led to severe deterioration. One eye had fallen out, the tail had “melted,” the paws were void of hair and bugs had found their way inside. Melissa Ierlan, Town of Clarendon Historian, said, “It was in bad shape. We thought we would have to replace it, but we didn’t.”

The fox is depicted eating a bird it had caught. The paper mache work on the bird included newspaper from the Holley Standard, dated December 4, 1879. As an important symbol of modern taxidermy’s founding father, the fox needed to be restored and preserved.

On June 5, 2014, the Museum coordinators, Ballard and Karas, presented the proposal to the board of trustees. With a unanimous yes, the board offered their support in the effort to preserve Akeley’s little red fox. Fundraising begin immediately to procure funding for the evaluation and proper restoration of this important piece of history.

The fundraising to enable the restoration was a major project in itself. Ierlan said the restoration resulted from an “amazing grass-roots effort to secure funding” for the project. Private donors, a grant from the Elizabeth Dye Curtis Foundation and donations from the Orleans County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Orleans County Historical Association (OCHA) and the Clarendon Historical Society made the project possible.

With funding in place, Melissa Ierlan personally bubble wrapped and transported the fox in her car to the restoration offices of George Dante in New Jersey.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Ierlan: John Janelli, left, is past president of the National Taxidermy Association. He is pictured with George Dante of Wildlife Preservations, LLC, and the refurbished fox at Dante’s studio. Dante has provided taxidermy exhibition services to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County Historian and former Cobblestone Museum Director, has a family connection to the fox. He explained that his great-grandfather, Francis Harling of Albion, procured the fox for Akeley. Lattin explained that the fox, enclosed in a framed diorama, is a precious artifact. “In the world of taxidermy, it’s like owning a Rafael,” Lattin said.  “It’s very, very special.”

Akeley (1864-1926), is known as the Father of Modern Taxidermy.  He devised a method for fitting an animal’s skin over a meticulously prepared and sculpted form of the animal’s body.  The process included the animal’s musculature and details such as wrinkles and veins and produced a very realistic result.

Lattin said his great-grandfather wanted the fox diorama to display in the family’s home on East County House Road in Albion. Harling was a middle-class dirt farmer and blacksmith, Lattin explained, but noted it is interesting that, “common ordinary people (of that time) had a sensitivity for aesthetics.” Harling had gone out of his way to procure the fox, Lattin said, so that something beautiful could be made to decorate the family’s home, “that’s remarkable,” he observed.

Akeley’s African Elephant Exhibit, courtesy of the Field Museum, Chicago

Akeley made many trips to Africa to collect specimens and created the African Hall at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.  Akeley also liked to place the mounted animals in settings that reflected their native habitat. Lattin also explained that during the Akeley Fox restoration, it was discovered that what was thought to be a “tod” (male fox) was found to be a “vixen” (female fox).

In 2017, Melissa Ierlan made a return trek to New Jersey to pick up the fully restored vixen fox. A “welcome home” celebration was held in September 2017 at the Museum’s Cobblestone Church.  At the celebration, shown above, Matthew Ballard (Orleans County Historian), Bill Lattin and Melissa Ierlan pose with Carl Akeley’s restored fox diorama.

Jay Kirk, the author of the book, “Kingdom Under Glass” (shown above), a book about Carl Akeley and his work, attended the celebration as did Akeley expert, John Janelli. County Historian Matt Ballard said, “We wanted to bring (the fox) to the attention of people who would appreciate Akeley’s work.” The fox is part of a transitional phase for Akeley. Ballard noted the legwork done by Ierlan, the Clarendon historian, to have the fox restored as well as the importance of the local fundraising effort. “It’s surreal to see it come to fruition,” Ballard said of the restoration project.  “It’s a piece of national significance.”

At the celebration, Ierlan discussed Carl Akeley’s life and work from his humble beginnings on Hinds Road in Clarendon to the jungles of Africa. “He was the original Indiana Jones,” Ierlan said.  She noted his early work preserving the pet canary of his aunt, his training in taxidermy by David Bruce in Brockport and his apprenticeship at Ward’s Natural Science Establishment in Rochester. She explained that the taxidermy work done before Carl Akeley arrived on the scene, often made animals look like stuffed toys. Akeley wanted “to make them look as real as possible,” Ierlan said.

Melissa Ierlan brought copies of photographs of Akeley’s work including diorama’s from the American Museum of Natural History and the entourage that accompanied Akeley on his African trips to collect specimens (far left), as well as the condition of the fox diorama prior to restoration.

The Cobblestone Museum has prepared a short video to provide additional information for those who missed out attending the Akeley celebration.  It can be viewed by clicking here along with a collection of other videos on local history.

In addition to his taxidermy work, Akeley was an accomplished sculptor, biologist, conservationist and inventor with over 29 patents.  Akeley improved the motion picture camera for filming animal movement. Ierlan said, “He had a remarkable life. He was one of America’s greatest men.”

Medina RR Museum welcomed 20,000 riders past three weekends

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Nineteen-year-old Robert Kennedy of Rochester surprises his grandfather James Kennedy during a ride on the Polar Express Saturday. Robert was in basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. and told his family he wouldn’t be able to make it home.

MEDINA – The 2021 run of Polar Express at Medina Railroad Museum is one for the record books.

Nearly 20,000 people rode the train during the past three weekends, taking passengers to the “North Pole” and back. Along the way they enjoyed hot chocolate, a train Christmas cookie, Christmas carols and a visit by Santa, who gave every child a bell.

During this year’s event, one family held a surprise birthday party on the train and one man proposed to his girlfriend, but it was on the last train Saturday the biggest surprise took place.

The Kennedy family from Rochester has traveled to Medina to ride the train every year. This year, however, was going to be different. Nineteen-year-old Robert Kennedy had joined the Army in September and was in basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.

Robert Kennedy, center, poses with his parents Jaime Kennedy and Matt Peer after surprising the family on a ride on the Polar Express at Medina Railroad Museum Saturday.

He decided to surprise his family, telling them he wouldn’t be able to make it home and they would have to ride the train without him. But, in fact, he did finish basic training, and he shared that news with his parents. His father drove to Georgia and brought him home, not telling the rest of the family.

Robert rode the next-to-the-last train of the day, then hid in the storage room on his family’s coach. After they boarded and the train was headed to the North Pole, Robert got in line behind the staff serving hot chocolate. As they served his family, Robert popped up and revealed himself.

Robert Kennedy’s brother and sister were among nearly a dozen family members he surprised during a ride on the Polar Express Saturday.

There were a lot of gasps and cheers as one-by-one, the family realized it was really Robert.

First to get a hug was his grandfather James Kennedy, himself a veteran, who was Robert’s inspiration to join the military. Then there were hugs from grandma Rosann, his parents, brother and sister, aunts uncles and cousins.

Robert said he always wanted to be like his grandpa and serve his country. He plans to make a career of it.

The Polar Express is an attraction owned by Rail Events. They hold 45 Polar events annually throughout the United States, 10 in the Ukraine and a new one this year in Australia, according to Edward Rozycki, licensing manager, who visited Medina Railroad Museum on Saturday.

Some railroads have been doing Polar Express events since the book came out in 1985, Rozycki said. The movie came out in 2004, and Rail Events received a license from Warner Brothers to run events in 2007.

Most events were canceled in 2020 due to Covid, but in 2019, nearly 1.4 million people rode the Polar Express, Rozycki said.

The Medina Railroad Museum will be closed until March 1 as it makes upgrades and repairs to the building and coaches.

The Museum has already scheduled a return of Day Out with Thomas for June 10, 11 and 12 and tickets will go on sale online after the first of January.  The event will have a new look and new features.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Lynn Palmer, owner of Upscale Overstock, displays some of sports clothing and memorabilia she has in her store in Albion in this file photo from February 2021. She credited a microenterprise assistance program for helping her with her business.

ALBION – The Microenterprise Assistance Program has graduated more than 540 prospective business people since its inception, but few have a more poignant story than Lynn Palmer.

At the November MAP graduation, Palmer shared her story of despair and how she has risen above it after completing the MAP.

Palmer not only started a new business, Upscale Overstock on Main Street in Albion, but she was one of seven applicants who received special grants. Palmer received $15,000.

Diane Blanchard, right, coordinator of the Microenterprise Assistance Program, wipes her eyes after hearing Lynn Palmer tell her heartbreaking story of being down and out and how she has fought her way to success. Palmer hugs MAP mentor Jon Costello and Blanchard at the recent MAP graduation.

“I cannot say enough about the Microenterprise Assistance Program,” Palmer said. “Twelve years ago I was a single mom of three children who were 20, 17 and 15 at the time. I had raised them by myself since the youngest was 4.”

She shared how when she became pregnant with her last child she was determined to do whatever she needed to keep that baby. She was living in a very small house, but was able to find a five-bedroom home in Medina whose landlord was willing to rent to her. After a year, the rent was increased to $1,200 a month and Palmer couldn’t afford it.

“I had a degree in early childhood education, so I asked the owner if I could license it as a day care center,” Palmer said.  “When I opened, I had a waiting list, so I thought why not re-license it for 16 children and hire some help.”

Then she learned the property owners were not keeping up with the mortgage and she was going to lose everything.

She was able to find space at Towne School, but she had to have a teacher and aide in each room, plus two substitutes. She would have had to pay 20 employees and she couldn’t do it.

“I closed and became depressed, suicidal,” Palmer said. “I took a job in a day care center in Batavia making minimum wage, and went to work at Walmart part-time. It was just paying the  bills.”

Palmer began to think she would like to be a business owner again. Her dream was to own a bar and grill with a game room, but she was looking at $250,000.

“I thought long and hard,” she said.

Her daughter, 22, by then was selling overstock merchandise and traveling to cities all over the county, making a good living.

Palmer enrolled in MAP’s class of 2019.

“The timing was terrible,” she said. “On Nov. 30, I opened Upscale Overstock in Medina and three months later Covid shut us down.”

To stay afloat, Palmer’s daughter began making face masks and sanitizer. There was such a demand, she couldn’t make them fast enough. Praising Kids, a child care center in Medina, and Orchard Manor each ordered enough for all their employees.

Palmer tried to apply for a PPE grant to see her through, but because she hadn’t been in business three years she was not eligible. She went to work at Walmart again until June, when she was able to start up her business again.

Her lease in Medina was up at the end of October, and her daughter had seen a “for rent” sign on a store front in downtown Albion.

“A year ago, I would have laughed if you told me where I’d be today,” Palmer said. “I have a bigger store for less rent. I’m next door to a bank and when people cashed their stimulus checks, they came into my store and spent it.”

Her sales in the first month there tripled, she said.

In the spring she got a call from Diane Blanchard, coordinator of the MAP, telling her there was a grant available.

“I wanted to apply, but my computer was 15 years old and my credit was not perfect,” Palmer said.

She contacted Blanchard and MAP mentor Jon Costello.

“Jon sat down with me for hours and helped me,” Palmer said. “But I knew I wasn’t going to get the money.”

Then the day came when Blanchard contacted Palmer and told her to check her e-mails.

“Instead of $10,000, I got $15,000,” Palmer said. “I didn’t sleep that night. I thought it was a joke.”

She called Costello, who congratulated her. She was able to buy a new computer, shelving for her store, a pallet jack cart, and the rest she spent on inventory.

“I’m making more at the store than I did at Walmart,” Palmer said. “If anything, this pandemic has taught me to be prepared. For the first time in my life, I have money in the bank. My credit cards and student loan are paid off. My car is paid off. I have no debt. I cannot say enough about this MAP program.”

Photos by Tom Rivers: Pastor Eddie English of the Lord’s House hands a present to a member of the congregation during a celebration on Saturday evening.

WATERPORT – The Lord’s House held a celebration on Saturday evening after a busy day of distributing toys to more than 100 children.

The Lord’s House since 2008 has partnered with Toys for Tots to have gifts for local children.

The church also shared 41 boxes of food this Christmas season with local families.

The church on Saturday had dinner with about 50 people to thank them for supporting the ministry the past year.

Some of the presents are under the Christmas tree inside the church.

The celebration included music and a dance from youth in the church.

Eveyln Brady, right, and her granddaughter Jayla Brady present gifts to people who attended the celebration service on Saturday. Pastor Eddie English and his wife Rose, the church’s first lady, are at left.

A member of the youth group presents a card to Rose English.

Lyndonville is facing a busy pre holiday week of boys basketball with three games over the next four days.

The Tigers will visit Newfane Monday, Elba Tuesday and host Notre Dame on Thursday.

The lone pre New Year’s Niagara-Orleans League basketball contest will take place on Tuesday as Roy-Hart will host Wilson in a boys contest. The full N-O schedule will begin on January 4.

Monday
Boys Basketball – Medina at Middle Early College, Barker at Tonawanda, Lyndonville at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Holley at Byron-Bergen, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Oakfield-Alabama at Albion, 6:30 p.m.
Wrestling – CSAT at Medina, 6 p.m.

Tuesday
Boys Basketball – Wilson at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Elba, Alexander at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Wrestling – Lyndonville at Wilson, Holley-Kendall at Attica, 6 p.m.
Swimming – Albion at Medina, Roy-Hart at Akron, Newfane at Barker, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday
Boys Basketball – Albion at City Honors, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – CSAT at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; Attica at Holley, Kendall at Alexander, 7 p.m.
Wrestling – Medina at Wilson, Newfane at Albion, Roy-Hart at Akron, 6 p.m.

Thursday
Boys Basketball – Notre Dame at Lyndonville, 7 p.m.
Wrestling – Pavilion/York at Lyndonville, 6 p.m.
Swimming – Medina at Roy-Hart, Newfane at Albion, Barker at Akron, 4:30 p.m.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA — Tom Snyder, right, represents the Navy and holds wreath to be placed at a veteran’s grave at Boxwood Cemetery in Medina today as part of the Wreaths Across America tribute. He is joined by other local veterans as well as State Sen. Rob Ortt and Eileen Banker, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Medina has participated in Wreaths Across America since 2013 when it started with seven wreaths at Boxwood. It has grown each year to 315 today, up from 261 a year ago. Community members cover the cost of the wreaths at $15 each.

Chloe Luxon, 9, of Medina carries two wreaths up the hill at Boxwood to be placed on veterans’ graves.

Many local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts join other community members in volunteering to place wreaths at graves today.

State Sen. Rob Ortt salutes after setting a wreath at a grave in the veterans’ section at Boxwood in honor of soldiers missing in action or prisoners of war. Seven others laid wreaths during a ceremony, paying tribute to a veteran from each branch of the military including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force,  Space Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines.

The American Legion and VFW joined in the ceremony honoring veterans. Pictured from left include Dave Morien, Dave Berry and Dave Wells.

State Sen. Rob Ortt speaks at the ceremony. Next to him is Kathy Blackburn, coordinator of the effort in Medina, and local veteran Dave Kusmierczak, who offered the opening prayer. Ortt praised a group of 100 who attended the ceremony in freezing drizzle. He said the wreaths are a remember that “freedom isn’t free.”

David Thom carries wreaths to veterans’ graves at Boxwood. He joined many other volunteers in the duty.

David Barhite lays a wreath in honor of those who served in the Marine Corps.

Kathy Blackburn, coordinator of the Wreaths program in Medina, braves the bitter weather in sharing about the Wreaths program which is part of 2,700 communities across the country.

Lyndonville also placed wreaths on veterans’ graves today, with 438 wreaths placed at Lynhaven and other cemeteries in the Lyndonville community. Anna Stelianou funds the effort in appreciation for the community’s kindness to her parents, Ary and Konstantina, during the lean years of the Great Depression. They emigrated to Lyndonville from Greece after WWI. Stelianou also donated the money for the wreaths in honor of her five brothers who served in WWII and the Korean War.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Mitch Grater and Ed Wolfe flip chickens that are among the 1,000 chicken dinners being served today at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex on South Main Street.

At 1:45 about half of the dinners were gone. The Albion Masonic Lodge is volunteering to cook the dinners and many other volunteers are serving them as part of a Christmas celebration at Arnold Gregory until 6 p.m.

Best of Tymes Party Rentals, owned by Christine Nenni and Michelle Wiseman of Medina, and the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries worked together to organize the “Que In” for Christmas at Arnold Gregory.

The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, the union representing corrections officers, donated $1,000 towards the chicken dinners.

Today’s event features costumed characters including the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. They are portrayed by Marcus Cavarello and his fiancé Morgan Waple. Their dog Toby is playing the Grinch’s dog, Max.

The Grinch and Cindy Lou are pictured with the Best of Tymes Party Bear (with Christine Nenni in the outfit) and Albert D. Wilson Jr., pastor of the Royal Body Shop Ministries.

Wilson also leads a church in Buffalo. The Albion congregation meets on Fridays for services at 7 p.m.

Wilson’s grandfather, Roy Rodolph, founded the Royal Church of God in Christ on Baker Road in Carlton in 1952.

Wilson said the new church welcomes everybody and reaches across denominations and faiths.

“We want to show the love of Jesus and be kind to one another,” he said.

There were numerous Christmas presents given away today. Kassie Crane, left, joins Jayda Elsenheimer and Theresa O’Hearn in giving out the presents.

Harley Weis, 9, of Albion is happy to meet with Santa.

John Santiago, 6, of Albion joins Santa on a giant white chair.

There were also many games and activities available in the building for children and families.

Santa was given a ride to Arnold Gregory on a fire truck. Here he greets Albion Fire Chief Rob Conner, right, and firefighter Jeremy Babcock.

Photo courtesy of Bill Vosteen

CARLTON – The mouth of Johnson Creek in Carlton is getting dredged and the work is nearly done at the site near Lakeside Beach State Park.

It is part of a $15 million regional dredging project at eight counties through the state’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

In Orleans County, the Oak Orchard Harbor was dredged in August for the first time since 2014.

The dredging projects remove built-up sediment from the bottom of the waterways to allow for continued safe passage of watercrafts to support the tourism economy and preserve wildlife in the region.

The Orleans Digital Literacy initiative has partnered with all the local libraries in Orleans County as meeting space for members of the community to meet tech mentors and receive tech help, according to Kathryn Leach from Cornell Cooperative Extension, who is coordinating the Digital Literacy program.

Members of the public can stop by with any tech questions, meet mentors and schedule tech mentoring. There will also be information guides which people can take home. An example includes tips on what to do if a cell phone or computer isn’t working well, and tips on how families can monitor their children’s technology use and keep their kids safe.

Participating are our tech mentors from Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Orleans County Career Center, Orleans County Adult Learning Services, Orleans County Office of the Aging and Hoag Library.

The tech mentoring educational program is administered by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension and Leach will be at all the events. The program is funded by a grant obtained by United Way of Orleans County and executive director Dean Bellack will also attend.

The schedule of tech help events is as follows for January:

• Saturday, Jan. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Yates Community Library in Lyndonville.
• Monday, Jan. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Yates Community Library in Lyndonville.
• Thursday, Jan. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hoag Library in Albion.
• Saturday, Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at Hoag Library in Albion.
• Tuesday, Jan. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.
• Saturday, Jan. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.
• Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Free Library in Holley.
• Saturday, Jan. 29 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Community Free Library in Holley.

In February, dates are:

• Saturday, Feb. 5 from 5 to 11 a.m. at Yates Community Library.
• Monday Feb. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Yates Community Library.
• Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lee Whedon-Memorial Library in Medina.
• Saturday, Feb. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.
• Thursday, Feb. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hoag Library in Albion.
• Saturday, Feb. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at Hoag Library in Albion.
• Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Community Free Library in Holley.
• Saturday, Feb. 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Community Free Library in Holley.

These events at local libraries will be a chance to meet people and spread the word about the tech mentoring services being provided through Cornell Cooperative Extension and United Way of Orleans County.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – This decorated car was part of the debut “Santa’s Coming Home” light parade in Albion today.

The procession included about 30 vehicles. They started from the parking lot at COVA and the Arnold Gregory Office Complex on South Main Street and went north before turning onto East Bank Street. Then children were welcome to visit with Santa in the Albion firehall.

Rose Friedl, right, and Chelsea Arnold worked together to help organize the parade, along with others. They are shown with Friedl’s display.

They were pleased with the turnout for the debut event, which was organized in the past three weeks.

“I’m so happy and so excited,” Friedl said.

She wants to see Albion celebrate its role as home of a Santa Claus School run by the late Charles Howard from 1937 to 1966.

Chelsea Arnold decorated her car with a National Lampoon’s Vacation theme, including a cutout of Clark Griswold in the front passenger seat.

About 30 vehicles decorated for the parade with lights and characters. This photo shows one of the vehicles turning onto East Bank Street.

Last Saturday’s Barre Lighted Tractor Parade was cancelled due to the powerful winds. Two of the tractors usually in that parade made the trip to Albion.

The tractors turn from Main onto East Bank.

This group has fun on a float from LoMay Mo Llamas in Oakfield.

COVA Ambulance was among the participants in the parade.

This vehicle had Darth Vader spreading holiday cheer.

Santa rides in style on his way to the Albion fire hall where he met with youngsters and gave them presents.

Addie Rotoli, 5, of Pavilion shares her Christmas wish with Santa.

Twin brothers Lexington and Roman Prigden, 3, of Albion get ready to meet Santa in the fire hall.

Provided photos

MEDINA – Linda Moore of 405 Park Ave. (above) has been declared Grand Champion of Medina’s Village of Lights contest.

More than a dozen homeowners and several businesses entered this year’s competition.

Pat Payne, who coordinated the contest, has announced the winners in Residential and Business categories.

In the Residential Category, Sara Paige of 500 South Academy St. won Christmas Spirit – Traditional; Julie and Joe Granchelli of 121 Zacher Drive won Christmas Spirit – Innovative; Cindy Watson of 935 Gwinn St. was named Most Whimsical; Amanda and Dan Costich of 421 West Oak Orchard St. won for Best Use of Lights; Michelle Wiseman and Christine Nenni of 169 State St. won Probably Visible from Space; Kellie Watson of 528 Bates Rd. won Contemporary; and the Grand Champion prize went to Linda Moore of 405 Park Ave.

Runners-up were Gary Lamar of 900 West Ave.; Travis Farewell of 104 Roseland Ave.; Diane Arndt of 1150 Gwinn St.; Kody and Paige Clark of 518 West Center St.; Alisha Schwarzott of 425 Park Ave.; and Terri Moriarty of 607 West Center St.

In the Business Category, ATB Staffing at 534 Main St. won Christmas Spirit; and Modern Mercantile at 135 East Center St. won Community Spirit.

Pictures of all the winners can be found on 2021 Village of Lights website.

Julie and Joe Granchelli won Christmas Spirit – Innovative in the Village of Lights contest for their home at 121 Zacher Dr.

This home of Michelle Wiseman and Christine Nenni at 169 State St. was named Most Visible from Space in the Medina’s Village of Lights contest.

The home of Sara Paige of 500 South Academy St. won in the Christmas Spirit – Traditional category.

Modern Mercantile at 135 East Center St. won Community Spirit.

Cindy Watson of 935 Gwinn St. won Most Whimsical.