Photos by Tom Rivers: Trey Lewis, a development manager with the Broadway Group in Huntsville, Ala., speaks during a public hearing Tuesday about the company’s request for a variance for parking at a proposed new store in Albion. Behind him are members of the Albion Zoning Board of Appeals, from left: Jeannette Riley, Tony Wynn, Chairman Craig Tuohey and Trellis Pore.

ALBION – The Village of Albion Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance for a proposed Dollar General that would allow the company to have fewer parking spaces require din the village code.

The Broadway Group wants to build a new 10,640-square-foot Dollar General across from the high school. The building would be required to have at least 53 parking spaces as a retail business.

Broadway is proposing to have 35, which the company said is more than enough parking and would also allow for more green space on the site.

The village code requires one parking spot for every 200 square feet of building space.

The ZBA held a public hearing about the variance request on Tuesday afternoon. Many of the speakers said they didn’t think a Dollar General across from the school was a good fit. They also questioned if there was enough room on the lot for tractor trailers to make deliveries and then turnaround without backing out onto Route 31.

Craig Tuohey, the ZBA chairman, said the Zoning Board of Appeals was only dealing with the variance request for parking. The Village Planning Board will consider the traffic flow issues and truck turnaround as part of the site plan.

Now that the variance has been approved, the Broadway Group can work on detailed drawings for the site plan. That plan could be before the Village Planning Board in October or November.

Fred Piano and his wife Annette live two houses from the proposed location for the Dollar General. They questioned if there is enough space on the lot for tractor trailers to safely turn in and out of the site. Mrs. Piano also said the 4 p.m. public hearing wasn’t an ideal time to have a meeting for public input.

She said the variance sets a precedent for other projects where developers could seek a reduction in parking.

Trey Lewis, a development manager for the Broadway Group, said the state Department of Transportation has approved similar size driveways for Dollar General stores in New York, including some that are smaller than the proposed 36-foot-wide driveway for the Albion store.

The company works with Fagan Engineers in Elmira on many of its New York projects. Brian Grose from Fagan was on the phone for the hearing and noted the DOT approval for similar Dollar General stores. He said the site is big enough to accommodate tractor trailers in turning around on site.

Lewis said there would typically be two deliveries a week to the store.

The Broadway Group wants to knock down this building at 327 East Ave. and build a new 10,640-square-foot Dollar General across from the high school.

Mike Neidert, the Albion highway superintendent and a resident of East Avenue, urged the Broadway Group to consider another site in the village, rather than across from the school.

“Although it’s zoned commercial, this is a more neighborhood setting,” he said. “It might be zoned for it, but I don’t think it’s a good fit for it. The location isn’t the best.”

He suggested the other end of the village where there already are many retail businesses.

Putting a store across from the school spreads out the business district, encroaching on homes, he said.

“We’re losing our village to businesses that have more money than we do,” he said.

He noted Crosby’s knocked down a house recently next to its store at the intersection of routes 98 and 31, saying it would be used to add parking.

Another East Avenue resident, Jan Erakare, also questioned whether the site for a new Dollar General was a good fit for the community. He said there are already similar-type stores in Albion, but at least those are farther away from the school campus.

“It’s very dangerous to put these in front of a school,” he said.

Jason Dragon, an East Avenue resident, said the Dollar General will introduce more traffic delays on an already busy stretch. Allowing the variance for reduced parking will stay with the site long term, and there could be a different use at the site in the future.

“You should stick to the codes because future uses may very well need those parking spaces,” he said.

Tuohey, the ZBA chairman, said the village’s requirement of one space every 200 square feet may be too onerous. He would like the village to evaluate that threshold as part of a review of its comprehensive plan.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant for the 2025 First-Generation College Celebration initiative.

GCC is the only school in New York State to receive this national recognition. The grant, provided by the Council for Opportunity in Education and FirstGen Forward with support from TIAA and the Strada Education Foundation, will enable GCC to further its commitment to supporting first-generation college students in our community.

“First-generation students embody determination, resilience, and the courage to pursue new paths for themselves and their families,” said Christina Mortellaro, director of the TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center at GCC. “This grant allows us to celebrate their accomplishments while expanding the support and resources they need to succeed, both in college and beyond.”

The First-Generation College Celebration, observed annually on November 8, highlights the experiences and achievements of first-generation students while addressing the systemic barriers they face in higher education. By receiving this grant, GCC reaffirms its dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students.

COE President Kimberly Jones emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, “First-generation college students bring unique perspectives and resilience to our campuses. This grant empowers institutions like GCC to continue providing the necessary resources and support for these students to thrive.”

Maurice Jones, CEO of FirstGen Forward, formerly the Center for First-generation Student Success, echoed these sentiments: “We are thrilled to partner with GCC and other institutions across the country to advance the success of first-generation college students. We’re especially grateful to TIAA and the Strada Education Foundation for their generous sponsorship of this grant, which represents an opportunity to catalyze innovative solutions and create lasting impact within our communities.”

Launched by COE and FirstGen Forward in 2017, the First-Generation College Celebration has united hundreds of college campuses across the country for an often-overlooked population through numerous events, including student rallies, faculty-led panel discussions, artistic performances, and more in recognition of first-generation students, administrators, faculty, and alumni.

GCC will host its First-Generation College Celebration on Wednesday, November 5, from 3 to 6 p.m. The event, presented in the style of a resource carnival, will be open to the public. Additional details will be available in the coming weeks.

For more information about GCC’s initiatives for first-generation college students, please contact Christina Mortellaro, director of the TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center at csmortellaro@genesee.edu or by calling 585-343-0055 x6491.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – A garage was destroyed by a fast-moving fire late Tuesday night at 2806 Lattin Rd. in Gaines.

The fire melted some siding and the soffits on the house next to the garage, but the house was spared from serious damage.

There were no injuries to the three people and their two dogs at the house.

The fire badly damaged a pickup truck and also melted part of the front of a SUV.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 11:42 p.m. Firefighters from Albion, Carlton, Medina and Murray responded as well as Orleans County Emergency Management and fire investigators.

‘It’s been great catching up with everybody.’

Photos by Tom Rivers: Lauren Ault serves a group of Holley girls food this afternoon at Sam’s Diner. Ault started at the diner about a decade ago. She and many other employees were grateful to be back at Sam’s for its reopening today. The restaurant had been closed since March 1, 2024 when the back wall collapsed at the historic building.

HOLLEY – It was a glorious, much anticipated day in Holley today. The village’s beloved diner reopened after being closed more than 18 months.

Many of the familiar friendly faces were back working at Sam’s, and customers were very happy to see them and settle in the cushioned seats in one of the booths.

Some of the staff at Sam’s Diner pose for a photo this afternoon on the reopening of the popular restaurant in Holley’s Public Square. In front from left include Dena Torcello from Skytab, Brittany Dearcap, Lauren Ault and Angela Gitsis. Back row: Jennifer Tardge, owner George Gitsis, Kim Hodom and Dave DiSalvo.

Sam’s was forced to close on the morning of March 1, 2024 when the back wall collapsed. That brick wall towered three stories and fell into a pile of rubble. No one was injured in the incident.

George Gitsis thanked contractors for making the necessary repairs to the wall of the historic building at 55 Public Square. He appreciates the community’s patience and their love for the diner established by his late father Sam Gitsis in 1978.

Sam’s had a soft reopening today without advertising, but it didn’t take long for word to spread it was back.

The community gave about $35,000 in a GoFundMe that Gitsis gave to his employees who were out of jobs after the restaurant had to close more than 18 months ago.

The back wall has been rebuilt, a new kitchen and register system put in and some cosmetic improvements. But to the delight of the customers coming in, Sam’s still feels very much like the last time they stepped inside.

Many of the employees are back. They stayed in touch with Gitsis and were eager to return to Sam’s.

Kim Hodom has worked as a waitress at Sam’s for 25 years. She was happy to reconnect with so many people today.

“It’s been great seeing all the past customers,” she said. “We missed them. It’s been great catching up with everybody.”

These high schoolers from Holley gathered at Sam’s this afternoon. They said they had fond memories of Sam’s and are grateful to have a place to meet in Holley and have a bite to eat.

“It’s very cozy,” said Haidynn Mullins.

From left include Mia Thom, Ava Moiser, Mya Brown, Angellina Church, Haidynn Mullins and Philomena Arnold.

The back brick wall collapsed on March 1, 2024 putting the future of Sam’s Diner in doubt. The wall has been repaired and other improvements have been made to the diner.

Sam’s reopened at 11 a.m. today. It will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Sam’s wanted a soft opening to get staff a chance to get back in the groove of serving the public.

George Gitsis has been a presence at Sam’s since he was a kid with his father running the diner.

George highlighted the work of contractors Joe Penna, Steve Morgan, Sub-Zero and J&J Electric in getting Sam’s Diner repaired and upgraded.

He knows the diner is important in the heart of Holley, and he is happy to reopen for the customers.

“I’ve been here pretty much my whole life,” he said. “We appreciate the support of this community.”

Angela Gitsis, George’s wife, also was happy to see so many customers back in the diner.

“They all came in with huge smiles,” she said. “They were very happy and excited. Everyone feels at home when they walk in here.”

50 artists to be featured at a dozen locations next year in Medina

Photo by Dawson Andrews for Medina Triennial – The former NAPA building at 345 North Main St. will serve as the headquarters for the Medina Triennial.

Press Release, Medina Triennial

MEDINA – The Medina Triennial, a new, site-responsive contemporary art triennial taking place in Medina from June 6 to September 7, 2026, announces the opening of the Medina Triennial Hub on Sept. 13–14, alongside the launch of Floating Garden, its first commission from ecological art pioneer Mary Mattingly.

The event marks the start of the Triennial’s community engagement leading up to its inaugural edition in 2026, which will feature over 50 artworks at approximately 12 indoor and outdoor locations in Medina, located on the historic Erie Canal waterfront in Western New York.

Located in a former sandstone hotel building at the heart of the village, the Hub will serve as the home of the Medina Triennial’s residency program and its education and welcome center.

From September 2025 until the Triennial’s closing in September 2026, the Hub will host public programs and events around themes of community, ecology, and place, in collaboration with art institutions across Western New York, and act as a platform for visitors to engage directly with the Triennial’s conceptual framework.

The Hub’s pre-Triennial programming includes 15 weekends of artist talks, workshops, screenings and panels, continuing the Triennial’s mission of fostering and promoting education in the arts, culture, regional history and ecology. The Fall program is available on the Triennial’s website.

“The Hub will be just the beginning of the astounding series of art installations, educational programs and cultural discussions that the Triennial will bring to Medina” says Mayor Marguerite Sherman. “We hope that these programs and this Triennial will strengthen the love and appreciation we have for this beautiful village, and unite Western New York over our shared passion of arts and culture.”

The design for the building’s furniture and renovated interiors was developed by the multidisciplinary design practice Serweta Peck, in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff from the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning.

Supported by the Sydney Gross Fund, this project titled Objects of Affection reflects a commitment to sustainability, site specificity, and resilience through the recovery and reuse of materials, including reclaimed wood from the New York State Canal system. Over the course of the spring and summer of 2025, the team developed, tested, and fabricated each piece as an original design object. Serweta Peck reflects: “We hope this work invites and encourages all of us to take material steps to take care of the spaces and objects that we visit, share and love.”

Mary Mattingly (b. 1978 Rockville, Connecticut) is an artist known for exploring urban ecology and interdependence through sculptural installations and participatory public artwork that address issues around water, food systems and climate adaptation.

Floating Garden is Mattingly’s most ambitious project to date. Continuing her research into food supply chains from celebrated past projects such as Swale (2016–ongoing), Mattingly’s new commission for the Medina Triennial will repurpose an industrial barge docked on the Erie Canal in Medina, where she will collaborate with local groups to build a mobile sanctuary featuring medicinal gardens, fruit orchards, and biochar-based water filtration systems intended to improve access to fresh food and local waterways.

Entering production in September 2025 and unveiled in its entirety on June 6, 2026, this project is deeply rooted in the natural landscape of Western New York and the rhythms of civic life, creating a functional artwork designed to enrich the surrounding community while reimagining the Erie Canal’s history as a vital foodway.

Beginning in September 2025, Floating Garden will serve as a living public artwork and educational resource, offering hands-on educational programs around soil health, food production, ecology and climate adaptation. This Fall’s programming will include a workshop on collecting and utilizing rainwater, a guided foraging walk, and a roundtable discussion with the curatorial team. The project’s programming is developed in partnership with Creative Time and Toronto Biennial of Art.

“I’m thrilled to begin building ‘Floating Garden’ with people in Medina, a place deeply connected to the waterways and foodways that have inspired this project,” said Mary Mattingly. “Building the piece here allows for important collaboration with the region’s ecologies and communities. It’s a chance to imagine, together, how floating infrastructure can support forms of public care and resilience, and how it can be a form of shared abundance and sanctuary within the climate crisis.”

Mattingly’s project is one of five Triennial commissions produced under the Medina Triennial Fieldwork Residency, a new initiative that allows artists to work directly on-site in Medina ahead of the Triennial’s opening. Artist James Beckett will join Mattingly as a resident this Fall. Beckett’s practice engages questions around the built environment, particularly how systems of production and distribution shape cultural identities.

Residents will be given time, space and resources within Medina, including a dedicated group of local experts—scientists, architects, artists, biologists, farmers, and small business owners from across Western New York—to support research, foster collaboration, and deepen community connections.

The model is designed to further tailor the Triennial’s commissions to the area through total immersion within the village and its environs. Additional residents will be announced later in 2025.

(Left) Provided photo: The Rev. Randy LeBaron kneels with a sign along the path showing his parents during a previous Memory Walk in Holley. (Right) Brittany Dix, community outreach specialist at Hospice of Orleans and the Rev. Randy LeBaron, spiritual care/bereavement counselor, look over a flyer promoting Hospice of Orleans annual Memory Walk Sept. 21.

HOLLEY – Hospice of Orleans is giving the community a beautiful way to remember and honor loved ones, while enjoying refreshments and a leisurely walk to Holley Falls.

It was in 2019 when Community Outreach Specialist Brittany Dix came up with the idea for a Memory Walk as a good way to involve the community and promote their mission focus that they are there to support folks beyond the death of a loved one.

Spiritual Care and Bereavement Counselor the Rev. Randy LeBaron joined Hospice in 2022 and has been involved with the walks every year since.

“We try to have events which involve the entire county,” Dix said. “Holley Falls is such a great venue.”

This year’s Memory Walk is scheduled Sept. 21 with opening remarks at 1:30 p.m. at the Pond Pavilion, followed by the Memory Walk down to Holley Falls, where refreshments will be served at the Falls Pavilion. Attendees are asked to park at the Holley Pharmacy.

Registration will be outside the Historical Society in the train depot.

There is no cost to walk, however, Hospice requests each person RSVP by Sept. 15 for the event by visiting www.hospiceoforleans.org.

Hospice will also have registration forms available at the office or anyone can call Hospice at (585) 589-0809. Opportunities will be available to purchase memory signs, which will line the walk, and/or T-shirts.

“This is a ‘friendraising,’ event, rather than a fundraiser,” Dix said. “Randy has great support groups that many community members utilize, and this is just another way to demonstrate to the community, ‘We’re here for you.’ The event is open to anyone, whether they have been served by Hospice or not.”

“That also goes for our bereavement groups, as well,” the Rev. LeBaron said.

After registration, the Rev. LeBaron said the group will gather at the pavilion for a short prayer, where he will ask for those who would like their loved ones named. Several people will have golf carts to shuttle those who have difficulty walking.

After the Rev. LeBaron speaks, the walk will go to the first pavilion, where rock painting will be available. The walk will be lined with signs which have a picture and name of a lost loved one.

“There are whole families for which this has become an annual tribute to their loved ones,” the Rev. LeBaron said.

While there is no entrance fee, there are several levels of participation available for those who wish to support Hospice. A Memory Walk T-shirt can be purchased for $20; a sign with a picture of a loved one and a message costs $25; and $45 will buy a Memory Walk T-shirt and a sign with a picture of the loved one and a message, placed along the Memory Walk path.

Last year’s walk was attended by 75 community members, not counting volunteers, Dix said.

“This is a great time of year – a nice time to get out in nature,” Dix said.

“Everyone is there for the same reason,” the Rev. LeBaron added.

When Dix said the walk has never been rained out, LeBaron said, “We pray a lot.”

He also reminds the public grief support groups for Orleans County meet at 4 p.m. at the Albion First Baptist Church, 30 West Park St. in Albion. Parking is available at a lot off Beaver Street. Sessions are scheduled Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9.

Photos by Tavi Moss: (Left) A bee hovers around a stuff goldenrod bloom at the Iroquois refuge’s new pollinator meadow. (Center) For the Pollinator Meadow dedication on Saturday, a group of UB students helped plant more native plantings and weeded the meadow pathways. (Right) UB sophomore Maddie Kennedy works an augur to dig a hole for a new ironweed planting under the supervision of Dave O’Donnell.

Press Release, Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

BASOM – Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge celebrated its new pollinator garden on Saturday at the Cayuga Overlook.

The meadow was mostly the work of Dave O’Donnell, president of the Eastern Monarch Butterly Farm in Clarence.

“This was a wonderful team effort, and we will continue to enhance this area to benefit pollinators and other wildlife,” said O’Donnell. “The vision was to create a minimal, maintenance, meadow. With funding from FINWR (Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge), and the support of USFW (US Fish & Wildlife Service) staff and volunteers, we have accomplished this.”

A group of students from the University at Buffalo attended and saw a butterfly banding — it’s really more of a sticker applied to a wing — planted some native plants, including ironweed, and contributed some much needed weeding to the path area.

FINWR President Richard Moss of Medina thanked the students for their efforts and O’Donnell for all his hard work on the project, which has been under way for at least three years. Moss also encourages the community at large to visit and make use of this new feature.

Dave O’Donnell, second from right, president of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm in Clarence, tells a group of University at Buffalo students about some of the native plants he used in the refuge’s new pollinator garden.

The area where the pollinator meadow now exists had been part of the Cayuga Overlook parking lot, but the USFWS — which runs the refuge — decided that the lot was too big and let grass and hardpan take over a large section between the lot and Route 77. Using native plants and a lot of sweat, the area has been transformed into a small meadow with a path and benches where you can sit and watch the pollinators flit about.

Depending on conditions, the area is now abuzz with bees and other insects, and a walk through will send frogs and toads scurrying out of your way.

One of the cool events Saturday was O’Donnell’s demonstration of butterfly banding. O’Donnell, using a butterfly net, caught a pair of monarchs that were flying around the garden and showed how a tiny sticker with contact information can be applied to the wing of a butterfly so its journey can be traced if it is found in the future. These monarchs will be headed off to Mexico soon, one of nature’s epic migrations.

O’Donnell encouraged everyone to get involved in similar efforts to improve the environment.

“Now more than ever, with recent cuts to vital programs and services, we need to increase our presence and protect our environment for future generations,” O’Donnell said. “I encourage everyone to lend a hand and support these organizations however you can.”

New chief brings 37 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services

Photos by Tom Rivers: Steve Cooley salutes retired Medina fire chief Tom Lupo after Cooley was sworn in as new fire chief on Monday. Cooley’s wife Becky is at wife and held the Bible for the oath of office.

Provided photo: Steve Cooley is the new fire chief for Medina.

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department has a new fire chief to lead the only career fire department in Orleans County.

Steve Cooley has served the Medina FD for 15 years and has 37 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services. Cooley has been the officer in charge at the department since Matt Jackson stepped down as chief in June. Jackson now works as a firefighter in Batavia.

Cooley has been a lieutenant with Medina since January 2019. He thanked his family for their sacrifices in a career that has often kept him from family celebrations.

Cooley started his career as a junior firefighter with the Middleport Volunteer Fire Company in 1988. He rose through the ranks at Middleport and served as chief there from 2007 to 2010. He joined Medina as a firefighter/paramedic in 2010.

Cooley was sworn in as the new chief after being appointed by the Village Board on Monday evening.

He thanked his parents and siblings for “believing in me and letting me chase my dreams.” He has wanted to be a firefighter since he was a little kid.

Cooley said he has been very fortunate to have many mentors, instructors and officers who have been influential in his career. Tom Lupo, who served as Medina fire chief from 2016 to 2019, attended Cooley’s swearing in. Cooley said the retired chief is at the “head of the list” of mentors for the new chief.

Cooley leads a career department with 16 other full-time staff. That is down by four from the spring when the Village Board reduced four positions in the department. The board said it needs to reduce the operating costs for the department, which responds to about 2,500 calls a year, the vast majority of which are EMS.

Cooley said he will strive to give the department the tools and training it needs to serve the community.

And for people in the Medina community, “rest assured we will meet your needs in times of emergency,” Cooley said in remarks after his swearing in.

Steve Cooley’s son Steven pins the collar brass on Medina’s new fire chief during a ceremony on Monday at the Ridgeway Town Hall after the Medina Village Board appointed Cooley as the fire chief. Cooley’s daughter Andrea is at right and his wife Becky is at left.

Cooley will be paid $77,000 as the fire chief. In addition to serving at Middleport and Medina, he worked for Lasalle/Rural Metro Ambulance from 1992-2005, becoming a paramedic in 1997. He later worked for Mercy Flight as a flight paramedic from 2005-2010.

In Medina as lieutenant, he oversaw the EMS operations. He also was the Medina Fire Department representative to Orleans County EMS Council (currently vice chairman), the Big Lakes Council, representative for Orleans County Crisis intervention team steering committee, and current vice chairman of the Orleans County Local Emergency Planning Committee.

He has been a fire investigator since 2018 for Orleans County and the senior investigator for the Medina Fire Investigation Unit. Cooley also has been municipal fire instructor, youth fire setter interventionalist, past president of Medina Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2161 and past president of the Medina Firefighters Benevolent Association.

Steve Cooley is congratulated by Village Trustee Scott Bieliski after Cooley was appointed Medina’s fire chief on Monday.

Press Release, UConnectCare

BATAVIA – From humble beginnings as a provider of information, referral and employee assistance services, UConnectCare has grown exponentially since its inception in 1975.

The nonprofit agency, formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, is celebrating a half-century of assisting those with substance use disorder with a 50th Anniversary Gala & Silent Auction on Sept. 25 at Terry Hills Golf Course, 5122 Clinton St. Rd., Batavia. Festivities get underway at 5 p.m.

“We’re extremely fortunate and appreciative to have been a part of the community for 50 years and excited about our 50th anniversary event later this month,” said Chief Executive Officer Kathy Hodgins. “We’re inviting all to join us for an evening of music, laughs, a great meal and a celebration of the people who helped us accomplish so much.”

Hodgins is the fifth CEO or executive director at UConnectCare, succeeding John Bennett, who left the agency after a 25-year career. He and the previous directors, Faith (Cole) Peterson, Sharon McWethy and David Markham have been invited to attend the gala.

UConnectCare offers programs in the areas of prevention, treatment, employer assistance, residential & detox, and recovery services.  Today, the agency serves Genesee and Orleans counties in all segments and employs approximately 160 people. The agency also serves multiple counties through the WNY Prevention Resource Center and EAP services.

Some of the agency’s milestones:

• GCASA’s first office was located in County Building 2 on West Main Street Road in Batavia and its first executive director was an unpaid volunteer.
• In 1982, GCASA became certified to operate a chemical dependency clinic by NYS OASAS.
• The GCASA Foundation was established in 1993 to generate community support for substance use disorder (SUD) services. Today the Foundation owns several properties which are leased back to GCASA, Inc. for supportive living, homeless housing, recovery housing, and peer and recovery services.
• In 1997, GCASA opened the Atwater Home Community Residence, a 17-bed facility and, in 1999, it began operating a 24-bed supportive living program, and became the licensed provider for prevention and treatment services in Orleans County.
• In 2005, GCASA received the “Agency of the Year’ award from the NYS Association of Addiction Professionals – and in 2006, the Drug Free Communities Coalition was presented with the “Got Outcomes” Coalition of the year award by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.
• In 2012, GCASA’s Orleans County programs were moved from leased space into a newly renovated office site on East Avenue in Albion.
• In 2018, GCASA opened the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP-methadone clinic) in Batavia, and was awarded a Greater Rochester Health Foundation grant on behalf of the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Counties (GOW) Opioid Task Force to provide 24/7 Peer support in the tri-county area; standardize, expand, and track naloxone training and administration; and establish Task Force infrastructure. The Task Force became the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming CARES Alliance in 2024 and has expanded its reach to address all overdoses and community wellness.
• In 2020, The Recovery Station, a physical location, opened at 5256 Clinton Street in Batavia.
• In 2022, GCASA opened its Detox Center located behind the Atwater Community Residence, and in 2023, it changed its name from GCASA to UConnectCare to better represent our services in behavioral, mental, and physical health.
• In 2024, UConnectCare opened the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP-methadone clinic) in Albion.

Individual tickets for the event are $75. Attire is semi-formal and there will be a cash bar. To purchase tickets (by Sept. 17), go to www.zeffy.com/ticketing/uconnectcare-50th-anniversary-gala.

The program includes comedian Dan Viola and DJ John Thomas. A credit card is needed to participate in the silent auction.

Gala sponsors are Tompkins Bank & Insurance, platinum; Barclay Damon, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, John & Liz Riter, Merrill Lynch, In memory of Ricky Mancuso, Whitney East and Bank of America, gold; EFPR and Will’s Carpet One, bronze; AFLAC/Andy Hunter (Employee Benefits) and Valle Jewelers, friend.

Photos and information courtesy of John Dieter, Scoutmaster of Troop 35: Colton Smith put in a new scoring shed at the Lyndonville varsity baseball field for his Eagle Scout project.

MEDINA – Three scouts in Troop 35 in Medina are doing service projects as part of their quest to earn scouting’s highest rank of Eagle.

Colton Smith, a Lyndonville senior, is shown with his project as part of being an Eagle Scout. The project included removing a rotted out shed and building new scoring shed for Lyndonville varsity baseball field.

Lyndonville Central School is the community sponsor for the project.

Jimmy Dieter, a senior at Medina, construct a batting cage area for local youth baseball at Butts Park in Medina. The Village Of Medina and Medina LOYAL Baseball served as community sponsor for the project.

Maddox Smith, a Lyndonville freshman, is shown with picnic tables that are available for community use at Lyndonville Central School. The school district served as the community sponsor for the project.

Each one of these scouts had to complete a leadership-based Eagle Scout service project.  The process involved selecting a project that would benefit their local community, said John Dieter, scoutmaster for Troop 35.

They need backing from their Troop leadership, community organization, and their local scout council.

While they still have some remaining items to do towards their Eagle rank, they are close to the finish line, Dieter said.

Colton Smith has his Eagle Board of Review on Sept. 11 at Great Falls Council.  Jimmy Dieter will most likely have his Eagle Board of Review by November 2025, and Maddox Smith will have his sometime in 2026.

MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital has announced its participation in National Lung Cancer Screening Day on Nov. 8.

On National Lung Cancer Screening Day, Medina Memorial Hospital will open its doors for eligible patients to receive low-dose CT screenings. These screenings are quick, painless and proven to detect lung cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages, according to hospital personnel.

This annual initiative is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable, the American College of Radiology, the Radiology Health Equity Coalition and Go2 for Lung Cancer. The goal is to expand access to potentially life-saving lung cancer screenings – particularly for those unable to take time off during the week.

Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with more than 125,000 Americans projected to lose their lives to the disease this year alone, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach at the hospital. Early detection through screening can dramatically improve survival rates, yet only a small percentage of eligible individuals receive screenings, he said.

“By joining this nationwide effort, Medina Memorial Hospital is helping to break down barriers to care,” said a representative of Orleans Community Health. “We are committed to ensuring our community members have access to preventive screenings that can truly save lives.”

Community members are encouraged to contact the hospital for eligibility information and to schedule their screening appointment.

For more information, or to schedule a screening, call (585) 798-8054.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – George Borrelli, a blacksmith, shapes steal during a blacksmith demonstration on Saturday at the Cobblestone Museum as part of the annual open house when all 10 buildings were open with docents and artisans.

Matt Holland also demonstrated the art of blacksmithing on Saturday. There were about 200 at the Cobblestone Museum campus for the event.

The blacksmith shop used to be operated by Joseph Vagg. The original shop burned down in 1921 but was rebuilt in 1922 with the help of many local farmers who were served by Vagg.

The museum offered free admission for the public to take a step back in time at the annual fall open house.

Sue Bonafini, the museum’s assistant director, wore a Victorian dress for the open house. She is shown with Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot, in front of the Cobblestone Universalist Church, which was built in 1834. The church hosted a concert on Saturday from Jaclyn Renee Warren and Lauralynne Davis, both flutists and pianists.

LeRoy Neeper of Medina shows people an International Harvester Model M 6-horsepower engine from 1922. The machine is in the Blacksmith Shop. An engine was used to power a pulley system for lathes, two table saws, a drill press, joiner and bandsaw.

Doug Farley, the museum director, has a fresh batch of hot dogs ready. The museum served lunch with hot dogs, corn on the cob, potatoes, a chicken barbecue plate and brownies.

Tom Zangerle was on site and did a plein air oil painting of a bench by the print shop and an outhouse in back.

Other skilled artisans who will be demonstrating their crafts included a basket weaver, lace makers and tatters, quilters, a rug braider, a silversmith and spinners.

David Damico of LeRoy led demonstrations inside the print shop, which was built in 1875. It used to be in Medina, but was moved to the museum grounds on Route 98 in Gaines in the late 1977.

The shop at the Cobblestone Museum has two printing presses from the late 1800s, and several cases of type.

Georgia Thomas of Medina also showed people how to turn cream into butter. People had to shake the cream for about 10 minutes before it made a lump of butter. There are butter churns at the Farmers Hall of the Museum, including one powered by a dog.

Judith Bromley of East Aurora also answered questions in the Harness Shop. She is a qualified master saddle fitter with the Registered Society of Master Saddlers UK. She is familiar with the shoemaking process and artifacts displayed in the Harness Shop.