Provided photo: New members and leaders of the Leo’s Club at Lyndonville Central School include, from left, front row: Leo Treasurer, Hanna Marker; Leo President, Elizabeth Whipple; Leo Vice President, Amber Grabowski and Leo Secretary, Maddie Baker. Top right: Gina Marker, Aiden Allen, Safia Delobbe, Zachary Freas, Emma Freas, Owen Mank, Kylie Reisman, Molly Ingersoll. (Alexandria Carvalho not pictured)

Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club on Nov. 10 was proud and honored to host the induction of the latest chapter of its Leos club.

The Leo’s are a youth organization of Lions Club International. Leo Clubs encourage youths to develop leadership qualities by participating in social services and activities while fostering a commitment to community service.  The Leo’s are dependent on a Lions club to initiate and sponsor them, however the Leo’s otherwise conduct themselves as an independent organization.

Leadership, experience and opportunity are the qualities that make a Leo and together with their Lions sponsor form a powerful partnership while simultaneously exploring and initiating their own independent power of action.  The Lyndonville Leo’s club has already performed several community services within Lyndonville and the Town of Yates.

The current Leo’s are guided by Lyndonville Central School instructor, Gina Marker.

“Mrs. Marker is simply the perfect fit,” said Darren Wilson, the current Lions president. “I’m certain our entire Lions club agrees that no one better could have stepped into this role.”

And for the Leo’s, Wilson added, “They are a truly admirable talented group of young people who sync well together.”

YATES — The Town Board on Nov. 11 went on the record opposing Covid vaccine and testing mandates, saying town employees and residents have “the inalienable right to refuse medical treatments and the right to privacy of their medical status with regard to Covid vaccinations and testing.”

The Town Board, in a resolution passed unanimously, said individuals have the right to make personal and private decisions regarding their health care, and also have the right to refuse medical treatment.

“The Covid-19 virus is a serious threat to public health but so too are the shockingly repressive governmental restrictions of individual liberties under the guise of public health,” according to the resolution.

The Town Board said the government shouldn’t mandate Covid vaccinations or testing “if such measures will severely restrict or possibly eliminate an individual’s right to work, to travel, and to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which comes with participation in U.S. civil society.”

The resolution was sent to Paul Pettit, the public health director in Orleans County; Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature; Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Assemblyman Mike Norris; State Sen. Robert Ortt and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

KNOWLESVILLE – Volunteers training to be mentors in the Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative underwent their first of two days of training Wednesday at Cornell Cooperative Extension at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The initiative, funded by a $364,000 grant from the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, will provide digital education and one-on-one mentors across Orleans County. The grant is being administered by United Way of Orleans County.

“The Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative was established to address widespread societal gaps created by 20 years of rural digital divide,” said Dean Bellack, director of United Way which led the way in applying for the grant.

Lee McPeter with Can Code leads the first training session at Cooperative Extension for mentors in Orleans County’s Digital Divide initiative.

Robert Batt, director of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, was instrumental in applying for this grant, with help from Nyla Gaylord, fundraising coordinator at United Way, and Mary Beth Debus, president of Program Savvy in Buffalo, according to Bellack.

The first step in the process was to contract with Can Code, a company which has developed software career training programs for workforces, to lead in the training of mentors. Nine volunteers from various agencies in Orleans County are currently going through the training process, led by Lee McPeter, career services adviser, and Rachel Sheridan, director of finance and administration. Their ultimate goal is to reach 2,000 people, one-on-one, or in small groups by the end of 2023, thereby increasing digital literacy in Orleans County.

Katie Leach from Cooperative Extension was hired as designated coordinator of the Digital Literacy Initiative.

The two-day training of mentors will teach them all aspects of computers, so they can go out and help individuals use their devices in all areas of their life, such as how to buy a computer, how to access information online, setting up accounts, sending e-mails and using social media safely.

Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County, chats during a lunch break with Katie Leach from Cooperative Extension, who has been designated as coordinator of the mentors for the Digital Divide initiative.

This first group of volunteers come from Community Action, OCALS, Job Development, Office for the Aging and Hoag Library.

Over the next couple of years, Bellack said they have budgeted $30,000 to advertise, by billboards, a direct mail campaign and paid ads to inform the entire county about the services provided by the Digital Divide Initiative grant. He said their goal is to have 2,000 to 3,000 people in the community continuing to train groups.

“The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo believes in digital literacy education,” Bellack said. “A large part of the population in total do not have basic digital literacy skills. More people are shopping online, e-mailing and using social media. Everything has gone from print media to online – all over the United States. These mentors are helping us raise digital literacy. Orleans County is actually the leading county in New York state on educating the public with digital literacy skills. We’re way ahead of the curve, and the credit goes back to Robert Batt.”

Katie Leach, who has a teaching degree in English as an additional language, has been hired to coordinate the program and develop protocol. She will work out of Cooperative Extension, and develop extra curriculum to add to the Can Code training program.

“This will help people, personally and professionally,” Leach said. “I haven’t been so excited in years. I really feel I can give to my community.”

Robert Batt, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, who wrote the grant to support Orleans County’s Digital Divide initiative, checks his notes during the first mentor training session at Cooperative Extension last week. The second training, headed by Mary Beth Debus, will take place Tuesday.

Bellack said mentors are strictly volunteer, but their organization gets a small compensation.

All mentors get a laptop and Chromebooks like children use, so parents can learn how to help them do their homework.

Debus, a professional consultant, who helped organize the program from the start, will lead the next training session on Tuesday.

“In time, this will result in huge benefits to the community and improve a lot of people’s lives,” Bellack said.

Volunteers interested in more information or being mentors for this program are urged to contact Leach at (585) 798-4265, Ext. 146 or e-mail her at kel99@cornell.edu.

Supportive Care of Orleans is selling memorial keepsakes for a Dec. 4 event, including a wreath for $25, $50 for a porcelain cardinal ornament and $100 for a hand-painted cardinal ornament.

ALBION – Supportive Care of Orleans will be having its annual Light-A-Life fundraiser and ceremony on Dec. 4.

The 4:30 p.m. will be at the memorial garden at Supportive Care, 14080 Route 31 West in Albion.

The Light-A-Life Ceremony is a way to remember someone special during the holiday season, the organization said.

People are welcome to purchase a red ribbon, wreath or ornament and attend the ceremony. A red ribbon with a loved one’s name on the tree is $10, porcelain wreath ornament made by Gwen McLaughalin are $25, a porcelain cardinal ornament is $50 and hand-painted cardinal ornament by Carol Culhane is $100.

Registration for the ceremony will begin at 4:15 pm with refreshments to follow.

For more information, call (585) 589-0809.

Bill Meland, owner of Arby’s in Batavia, holds a check for $14,500 which he donated to the Warrior House.

MEDINA – A Batavia businessman with roots in Lyndonville has made a generous donation to the Warrior House on Salt Works Road.

Bill Meland, owner of the Arby’s franchise in Batavia, has golfed on a four-man team for the Knights of Columbus in Medina for several years. Meland is no stranger to the Medina area, so when he learned of the Knights’ support of the Warrior House on Salt Works Road, he stepped up to help.

During the month of October, Meland agreed to donate 10 percent of his restaurant’s proceeds to the Warrior House. On Sunday morning, the Knights’ members presented a check for $14,500 on behalf of Arby’s to Pete Zeliff and his family.

Zeliff donated a farmhouse on land he had purchased to be used as a retreat for veterans. He outfitted the rooms with six cots and collaborated with Operation Injured Soldier to bring veterans to the location for four hunting weekends a year – two deer (one bow and arrow and one firearm), a goose and a turkey hunt. Pete’s mother Kathy comes and cooks meals for the veterans.

The Knights became involved with the Warrior House as a result of their golf tournament. They had established a scholarship fund years ago, but it had become well-funded, said golf chairman Dave Bellucci. Several years ago, they had been asked to sponsor a veteran on Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s patriotic trip to Washington, D.C., and they thought that was a good cause.

“However, we realized that would help only one veteran, and we wondered if there wasn’t something we could do to help more veterans,” Bellucci said.

They learned of the Warrior House and chose to donate the profit from their golf tournament for the veterans. While playing golf, Meland learned what the Knights were doing and wondered what he could do to help.

Pete Zeliff, right, who donated a farmhouse on his property as a retreat for veterans, looks at a check for $14,500, just presented to him for the Warrior House by Archie Washak of Medina Knights of Columbus on behalf of Arby’s in Batavia.

Zeliff said this is the largest single donation the Warrior House has received since it has been in existence.

“Meland is a very generous man,” he said.

Zeliff said the money will be used to fund new programs they are developing for the veterans next year.

Any veteran is welcome to apply to take part in a hunting weekend at the Warrior House. They can find information on the Warrior House website.

In the past, veterans have come from Florida, Louisiana and all across New York, with several from Watertown, Zeliff said. The Warrior House also offers to pay for travel expenses, if needed.

The last hunt of 2021 will be Dec. 4 and 5.

Provided photos: Scouts and leaders from Troop 35 in Medina assemble at St. Mary’s church parking lot to get their assignments routes for the village.

MEDINA – Scouts from Troop 35 and Troop 28 on Saturday held their annual Scouting For Food Event.

Cub Scouts from Pack 35 and Pack 28 walked through the Village of Medina on the previous week putting door hangers for the Scouting For Food event.

Then the scouts from both Troop 35 & Troop 28 went this past Saturday door to door to pick up any donated food from the community and delivered the donated food to the local area food pantries.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Medina Emergency Food Pantry and Calvary Tabernacle split this year’s donation. Historically the Troops would switch off every other year between the two food pantries but with last year, not being able to do this event due to the pandemic it was decided to share between the two organizations.

Troop 35 Scouts Mason Cook and Steven Gobeli are pictured collecting food from residences in the Village of Medina.

Scouts for Troop 35 deliver collected food to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.  Scouts left to right are Joseph Reese, River Jones and Ryder Jones.

Estimated 25,000 letters a week sent from soldiers with YMCA stationery

Letter from Fort Dix, NJ, 1917

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 1, No. 29

MEDINA – While reading the World War 1 letters of Dan Burns, (Ill. Orl. V.1, No. 28) it was intriguing to note the stationery he used. Almost all his letters were written on paper provided by the YMCA. The envelopes also carried the YMCA logo. The design of the letterhead confidently aligns the YMCA with the war cause.

Formed in London in 1844 to strengthen Christian principles by developing “mind, body and spirit,” the YMCA had rapidly grown into a worldwide welfare organization. The first version of the Y’s visual identity was a circle, with multi-layered words and images.

The simpler and more striking red triangle was proposed in 1891 by a Dr. Gulick. Some of the early versions include the words “Mind, Body, Spirit” engraved on the sides of the triangle. The triangle image was so powerful that YMCA personnel were sometimes referred to as “triangle people.”

Letters from Fort Dix, NJ, 1918.

The precedent of civilian aid to wartime soldiers was established during the Civil War when the YMCA provided physical and spiritual aid through a group named the United States Christian Coalition. They distributed food, clothing, medical supplies, and books. Volunteers wrote letters for the sick and wounded and provided postage for mailing correspondence.

This service was continued during the Spanish-American War, when they also began providing stationery. In fact, early letters from Roosevelt’s Rough Riders were written on YMCA stationery.

President Wilson quickly accepted the Y’s offer of service when war was declared in 1917. The logistics of mobilizing, training, and securing essential supplies and equipment for over one million soldiers in a short time were daunting.

This letterhead from France shows that the YMCA was actively associated with the war effort abroad. Indeed, the Y’s contributions during the war were considerable:

• 26,000 YMCA staff and 35,000 volunteers served in the US, Europe, Africa, Asia.

• 1,500 canteens provided hot drinks, personal supplies

• 4,000 “huts,” the only places of respite for soldiers on the front lines

• 26 leave centers in France offered wholesome activities

• 286 YMCA personnel were injured, 6 died while serving

The morale and welfare services provided to the military by the YMCA were vital to the success of the campaign. Writing in a fundraising pamphlet in 1918, General Pershing observed that:

 “Nine men who are happy and entertained can outfight ten who are homesick and lonesome. It is the business of the “Y” to add this extra ten per cent to the fighting efficiency of our armies; to maintain that indefinable quality which wins wars – morale.”

Sometimes a hot drink, a smile, a quiet place to sit, some words of understanding, made all the difference between going on and giving up.

At that time, letters were the only form of contact between soldiers and their families. It is estimated that some 25,000 letters on YMCA stationery were written each day. One can imagine that the arrival of an envelope with the red triangle logo on an envelope was a welcome sight for worried families. No doubt, they too positively associated the “triangle people” with ministry and concern for the minds, bodies, and spirits of their loved ones.

Far better the red triangle of the YMCA than the Red Cross – or the dreaded telegram.

MEDINA – Sherry Tuohey, coordinator of the MAAC Christmas program, has announced there are new income guidelines for families applying for food and gifts at Christmas time.

The guidelines are higher than in previous years, meaning more people will be eligible to receive holiday assistance.

The guidelines for monthly income are as follows:

• Family of 1 – $2,729.
• Family of 2 – $3,569.
• Family of 3 – $4,409.
• Family of 4 – $5,249.
• Family of 5 – $6,088.
• Family of 6 – $6,928.
• Family of 7 – $7,086.
• Family of 8 – $7,243.

These new guidelines are based on income eligibility for HEAP, Tuohey said.

Eligible families must live in the Medina School District with zip codes of 14103 and 14479.

Sign-up will be from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1355 West Ave., Medina; 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Senior Center, 615 West Ave.; and 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God Church, at their new location at 11031 Maple Ridge Rd.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A blanket of leaves is on the ground by a tree at Mount Albion Cemetery. While there are still many leaves with complete color change on the trees, the area has moved past peak fall foliage.

The state’s I Love NY fall foliage report says that the foliage is past peak in the Greater Niagara and Finger Lakes regions with an increasing number of bare trees.

It will be Medina vs. East Rochester/Gananda in the quarterfinal round of the state Class C football playoffs at noon next Saturday at Williamsville South High School.

The East Rochester/Gananda Bombers captured the Section V Class C title by outlasting the Bath Haverling Rams 18-12 in double overtime this evening.

Medina earned a second straight Section VI Class C championship by downing Fredonia 58-6 this afternoon.

The Mustangs and Bombers will bring identical 11-0 records into the Far West Regional.

The winner will advance to the state semifinals at Cicero North Syracuse on November 27.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – With heavy snow falling Medina running back Noah Skinner bulldozes his way for good yardage during the Mustangs 58-6 Section VI Class C championship game win over Fredonia at Highmark Stadium this afternoon.

Playing in a wintry wonderland, defending champion Medina romped to a 58-6 victory over Fredonia in the Section VI Class C championship game at very snowy Highmark Stadium this afternoon earning the Mustangs their first ever trip to the state playoffs.

It feels fantastic,” exclaimed Medina Coach Eric Valley. “Our line and our defense did a great job and I’m just real proud of the kids.”

“It’s amazing,” said Chris Johnson, who along with Roosevelt Mitchell, Josh Wilson, Ollie Wilson and Colvin Stalker, anchored the offensive line for the Mustangs which dominated the line of scrimmage all afternoon.

Improving to a school record 11-0, the Mustangs broke this one wide open with a huge explosion of 32 straight points in the second quarter.

A big 71 yard run by quarterback Xander Payne down to the Fredonia 20 yard line on the final play of the first quarter ignited the offense.

Medina’s Joe Cecchini tackles Fredonia quarterback Nick Whitfield for a loss.

Three plays later Payne scored on a 5 yard touchdown run with 10:40 to go in the second quarter. Noah Skinner tacked on the two point conversion and the Mustangs were off an rolling amidst a heavy snowfall.

“It was interesting playing in the snow.” said Skinner. “It was a different and kind of a cool experience to be in.”

The Mustangs got the ball right back as Skinner recovered a Fredonia fumble near midfield.

With the line opening big holes the Mustangs quickly drove in for a second score as Payne scored on a 28 yard run and Greg Thompson added the two-point conversion to make it 16-0.

“I owe it all to the line,” said Payne. “I just found the hole and took it.”

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs quickly tacked on two more touchdowns late in the quarter on runs of 31 yards by Thompson and 46 yards by Payne and a pair of two-point conversions by Skinner to race away to a commanding 32-0 lead.

“We were a little concerned at the beginning with the snowy field as our line does a lot of pulling but our linemen got feet underneath them and made their blocks and just did a great job,” said Valley.

“It was snowing pretty good but your adrenaline gets going and it was the same out there for both teams,” said Payne. We were able to execute and play our game.”

Fredonia finally broke onto the scoreboard when quarterback Nick Whitfield scored on a 62 yard run with just 37 seconds to go in the half but the Hillbillies could not find the endzone again.

“Against a team that has the explosiveness that they do our defense did just a great job,” said Valley. “They only had that one big play so I’m just very proud of what our kids did defensively.”

Medina got that Fredonia touchdown back midway through the third quarter when Skinner broke clean for a 39 yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion upping the lead to 40-6.

Highlighting the Mustangs shutout defensive effort in the second half was a sack by Joe Cecchini and a pass interception by Cayden Lilleby late in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then closed out the victory with a flurry of three fourth quarter touchdowns by Thompson on runs of 44, 82 and 45 yards.

“Communication is everything,” said Johnson of the solid blocking by his offensive line unit. “We communicate very well. We’ve very competitive and we’re physical.”

The lopsided win keeps Medina undefeated at 4-0 in championship games at the stadium with other other wins coming during the 1980, 1982 and 1988 seasons.

The victory sends Medina to the state quarterfinals at noon next Saturday at Williamsville South against the Section V championship (either East Rocheser/Gananda or Bath Haverling).

Click here to view a video of highlights from today’s game. Check our Facebook and Twitter platforms later today for more pictures from the game.

Medina’s Greg Thompson sprints away for one of his four touchdowns.

Mustang quarterback Xander Payne breaks loose for one of his three touchdowns as his teammate Jarin Rhim (4) signals a TD.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Alden Cayea heads to the finish line in today’s Operation Honor 5K. The race started and ended on Bates Road by the Junior Wilson Sportsman Club.

Cayea, 21, finished the race in 17:24. He is a student in the ROTC program at Brockport State College.

The runners take off at the start of the race. There were 65 participants, the most for the race which is now in its fourth year.

Jennifer Thom, second from right, sends the runners off at the start of the race. Thom and Sarah Strudel organize the race. The proceeds, which is estimated at $3,000 to $4,000, will be used to assist local veterans.

A nomination form for friends and families of veterans will be available on the Operation Honor Facebook page. People can nominate a veteran to have assistance with rent or other bills paid from the race proceeds. Thom said the amount per veteran will depend on how many applications are received.

Sarah Strudel, wearing red and blue coat, thanks the participants for turning out on a chilly day.

Dana Goetze, 29, of Lyndonville was the first woman to cross the finish line in a time of 21:27. Goetze and Cayea received American flags and a $50 gift certificate to the Made in America Store.

District Attorney Joe Cardone was among the finishers who covered the 3.1-mile distance.

MEDINA – The Orleans Economic Development Agency on Friday approved spending $13,500 for a traffic study in the area near the Medina Business Park.

LaBella Associates will do the study. The company will reach out the state Department of Transportation for traffic counts and other input.

LaBella will be asked to determine if turning lanes, stop signs or traffic devices are needed, as well as possibly widening roads and looking at potential traffic flow at the Keppler site, which has about 125 acres south of Maple Ridge Road near Waterworks Road.

The EDA has pressed the DOT in the recent past for a left turning lane on Maple Ridge at the Bates Road intersection, but that hasn’t been approved.

The area will see more traffic with an expansion by Western New York Energy and the soon-to-open Cobblestone Suites hotel with 58 rooms on Maple Ridge. BOMET Recovery also has purchased 10 acres of land from the EDA for a new 37,000-square foot facility at 100 Marcia Tuohey Way, the northside of the road facing Bates Road.

The EDA also is promoting about 300 vacant acres of certified shovel-ready land at the business park.

The EDA expects those acres will have businesses with several hundred employees and many truck deliveries in the future.

The traffic study will look at the current situation and projections for the future, and what will be needed to ease traffic flow and make it safer.

County Legislator John DeFilipps, a member of the EDA board, said the study should be able to help the EDA and local governments with funding for some of the possible improvements to help accommodate the traffic.