Dr. Clark Godshall

ALBANY – Dr. Clark Godshall, who retired June 30 after 53 years as an educator and 43 years as a school administrator, received a Distinguished Service Award this week from the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

The organization met at the Albany Capital Center for its Winter Institute & Lobby Day. Godshall was honored by the group for an “exemplary commitment to public education.” The Distinguished Service award is the organization’s highest honor.

Godshall recently retired as the Orleans-Niagara BOCES after 24 years as the district superintendent. While leading the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, he was a member of the NYS Council of School Superintendents and was one of the group’s youngest presidents and led the NY Commissioner’s Advisory Council. He also was past president of NYS Association of School Business Officials and ASBO International Associations.

He was previously named a New York State Superintendent of the Year and represented New York State on the national stage of the American Association  of School Superintendents.

His accomplishments included his 34 years at the BOCES including five interim BOCES superintendencies, completing over 76 superintendent searches, mentoring  hundreds of school administrators and providing training to school board members and his peers.

During his acceptance speech, Dr. Godshall credited his success to the great teams that he had been associated with at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, specifically, the Board of Education, component districts, New York State Education Department, the community and O/N BOCES employees.

“A great educational staff with community support is the foundation to a great education!” he declared.

A former high school science teacher, Godshall instructed biology, chemistry and earth science in the Hilton Central School District and started his administrative career as the assistant superintendent for the Penn Yan Central School District.

DOCCS sets today as deadline for staff to return to work and have health insurance reinstated and not face disciplinary action

Photo by Tom Rivers: Corrections officers on strike are shown Feb. 19 on Gaines Basin Road in Albion across the road from the Orleans Correctional Facility. Officers said they were working too much mandatory overtime, keeping them away from their families.

ALBION – Correction officers are not outside in a demonstration today across from the Orleans Correctional Facility.

They had been out there on Gaines Basin Road since Feb. 18, typically with about 100 current or retired officers gathered near burn barrels.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision on Thursday evening announced it wouldn’t take disciplinary action against striking corrections officers if they returned to work today. DOCCS would also immediately reinstate their health insurance if they were back to work today.

Daniel Martuscello, the DOCCS commissioner, also vowed to create a committee focused on safety dealing directly with effects of the HALT Act. Corrections officers said the HALT Act was their primary motivation in going on strike. COs wanted it rescinded, saying that legislation, dealing with solitary confinement, had made prisons less safe for staff and inmates.

The commissioner also said DOCCS would continue a 2.5 overtime rate for 30 days from day employees return to work. Each prison will allow staff to transition from 12 to 8 hour shifts once normal operations return, and that will be determined facility by facility, Martuscello said. DOCCS will move away from 24-hour shifts, he said, to restore a life-work balance, he said.

DOCCS also will work with contractors to better screen mail to keep out contraband to better protect staff and the incarcerated population.

“I’m here to say that I heard my workforce,” Martuscello said in an on-line news conference. “I want to support them and continue to support them and continue to work on the safety issues that they’ve raised while out on the line. I want to end this illegal strike. We need to get back to some form of normalcy. and this delivers the things that they’ve asked for. I am determined to make sure that I deliver for them. They deserve it. We’ve heard them. We need them. They play an important role in public safety.”

The National Guard will remain in “a support posture” and will draw down their presence as staff return to prisons, he said.

Jackie Bray (left), commissioner of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello speak during an online news conference on Thursday.

Commissioner Bray said corrections officers and sergeants need to return today and won’t get another offer to return without discipline.

The state is prepared to remedy all of its rights, criminal and civil, to end the “illegal” strike, Bray said.

“We want you back, we need you back,” Bray said.

Those who have been terminated due to the strike will have their termination notices rescinded if they show up today at work, she said.

Some of the local corrections officers have returned to work, others have resigned and some are remaining on strike but are just staying home rather than being outside, a retired sergeant from Orleans Correctional told the Orleans Hub.

“Sadly it appears that this was all for naught,” the retired sergeant said about the strike that stretched 2 ½ weeks so far.

DOCCS appealed to corrections officers directly yesterday after the union declined to signa  memorandum of understanding with terms to end the strike. The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association represents about 13,000 corrections officers.

“NYSCOPBA was not appropriately engaged in the development of the currently circulating agreement,” union spokesman James Miller said in a statement Thursday. “This agreement was not negotiated with NYSCOPBA—the legally recognized entity through which all negotiations must be conducted. There are substantial legal issues that must be addressed, and as presented, this agreement does not represent the best interests of our membership.”

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The application for Medina’s Full Day Universal Pre-K (UPK) program is now available on the Primary School’s website or by going to oak.medinacsd.org and looking under “News and Announcements.”

Parents of children not already enrolled in UPK who are interested in enrolling their child in Kindergarten for the 25-26 school year are also asked to complete the application form.

To be eligible for UPK, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2025. To be eligible for Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2025.

For any families looking to learn more about the full-day UPK program, the Medina School District will be hosting an Information Night on Thursday, March 13th from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., held at Oak Orchard Primary School. Childcare will be provided for any children eligible to attend school in the 2025-’26 school year.

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. and the evening will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. There will be a brief general session for adults in the auditorium, and then participants will visit scheduled locations throughout the building. Please plan to arrive by 5:30 and stay for the duration, in order to receive all the information prepared.

Families interested in learning more about Medina’s UPK program are encouraged to attend the Information Night. If you are unable to attend, information will be shared afterward on Oak Orchard Primary School’s website.

Timeline for UPK Application, Acceptance, Registration and Screening:

February 26 – April 7: UPK applications accepted by calling the Oak Orchard Main Office, or through our website, starting on 2/26

Thursday, March 13: UPK Information Night 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Oak Orchard Primary

April 8: Families notified of acceptance into UPK Program or if program capacity is reached, that lottery is to be held.

Week of April 7: Lottery held, if needed, and registration packets mailed.

Week of May 19 – May 23: UPK Student Screening, applicants should bring all registration materials to the screening. A parent and the child are expected to attend the screening. Applicants will be contacted by phone to schedule their screening time.

Any questions can be directed to the Oak Orchard Main Office by calling (585) 798-2700, option 3 and then 0, between 7:30 to 3:30, Monday through Friday.

MEDINA – It is ironic the idea to pay tribute to Medina’s female business owners should come from a man.

The idea to observe International Women’s Day came from Scott Robinson, a member of the marketing committee and past president of the Medina Area Partnership.

Information online indicates National Women’s Day was first observed in the United States on Feb. 28, 1909, stating the Socialist Party of America designated the day to honor the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested poor working conditions.

An initial observance occurred in 1975, however, the day wasn’t officially designated until March 8, 1977.

March was declared as Women’s History Month by Barack Obama’s administration in 2011.

One of Medina’s many women business owners is Mary Lewis, who opened her first flower shop on Maple Ridge Road after Muchow’s closed in 2006. A year later she moved her business, Creekside Floral, to 422 Main St., and then in 2018 to her current address at 509 Main St.

“A woman brings everything to a business, especially mothers who are used to multi-tasking,” Lewis said.

Of more than 100 businesses who are members of Medina Area Partnership, more than 40 are owned or co-owned by women.

Some of those business owners came to Rotary Park earlier this week. Those business owners represented Creekside Floral, A lily and a sparrow, Bent’s Opera House, Hometown Wellness, Vintage Cigar, English Rose Tea Shoppe, Hans’s Bakery on Main, Ontario Shores Credit Union, Law Office of Katherine Bogan, Premier Cleaning Services, The Willows, RLW Cattle Co., KG Rentals and Author’s Note.

“I was thrilled with the turnout,” Robinson said. “Mary Lewis did the legwork of getting people there, even minutes before, making sure everyone had an opportunity. It’s a great testament to the business community and many of the powerful women helping it thrive.”

MEDINA – The Medina Historical Society’s first meeting of 2025 took place Feb. 24 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library and featured a program on the pioneer history of Orleans County.

In honor of the county’s bicentennial this year, Orleans County historian and Medina Historical Society board member Catherine Cooper suggested a program focusing on stories of the early pioneer settlers and the hardships they faced. She got the idea from Amanda Burris of Texas, who reached out to her over a year ago, explaining her connection to one of the early settlers. Burris’s ancestor is Aretas Pierce, whose stories she heard while growing up. Burris runs a recording studio and was interested in re-issuing the stories and also creating an audio version.

“With the upcoming bicentennial, the timing was perfect,” Cooper said. “Her book became available Jan. 1, so I proposed we devote the February program to a presentation on the pioneers and their stories.”

Board member Georgia Thomas took the reins and organized the entire event, Cooper added.

Historical Society president Reinhard Rogowski welcomed guests and described Orleans County in the early years.

“It was heavily wooded north of the woods, resulting in its being called the Black North,” Rogowski said. “Pioneers had to deal with bears, beavers, panthers, rattlesnakes and malaria, along with starvation.”

Rogowski then introduced board members, each of whom gave a presentation on a different town in Orleans County.

Barb Filipiak talked about Barre; Gail Miller, Clarendon, Carlton and Yates; Shane Sia, Ridgeway and Shelby; Georgia Thomas, Gaines; Erica Wanecski, Knowlesville; Catherine Cooper, Eagle Harbor, Kendall and Murray; Kay VanNostrand, Medina, Holley, Hulberton and Hindsburg.

In the late 1860s, the early pioneers of Orleans County were encouraged to write about their experiences, their journey here, how they settled the land and their hardships.

“Early pioneers were very conscious of their place in history. Their heart-felt stories provide a unique insight into the early history of the county,” Cooper said. “Their accounts were beautifully written, and then along came Arad Thomas and put them into a book.”

At this time, Pierce’s Pioneers of Orleans County is available as a set of three titles, including a pioneer cookbook, on Amazon.com. One volume may be purchased, or the entire set. T-Shirts, like the board members wore during their presentations, will soon be available on Burris’ site – https://folk.studio/blog/

In honor of the county’s bicentennial, the Medina Historical Society is planning to devote a future meeting to the history of Medina and how it was laid out by Ebenezer Mix, in a program by former Medina mayor Adam Tabelski.

Meetings are at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month through May, with programs resuming in September at Lee-Whedon Library.

Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper provided this photograph of the Pioneers of Orleans County, taken by George P. Hopkins at their 11th annual meeting June 19, 1869 in Albion.

MEDINA – An increase in need and decline in donations has prompted Medina’s Emergency Food Pantry at St. Lutheran Church to embark on a community-wide fund appeal.

According to Jim Hancock, who has been involved with the food pantry since its inception in 1982, the number of people they are serving is increasing greatly, while donations are declining.

“The amount of food we are having to buy is depleting our reserves,” Hancock said. “We are spending $600 to $700 a month purchasing food.”

While he said they do receive a lot of donations from places like the library, school and postal workers, they still have a great need for cereal, pasta and spaghetti sauce.

“These things are not being received in the quantity we need,” Hancock said.  “If we don’t get help, it won’t be long until our resources will be depleted.”

In 2024, the Emergency Food Pantry served 898 adults, 343 seniors and 374 children, for a total of 1,615 individuals.

This represents an increase of 15% over the previous year, Hancock said. To receive food from the pantry, people must reside within the 14103 zip code area. There is no income criteria, however, an individual may only receive food from the pantry once a month.

Monetary donations may be sent to St. Peter’s Emergency Food Pantry, 1355 West Ave., Medina, 14103. Checks or donations of food may be brought to St. Peter’s when the food pantry is open, from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or dropped off at sites, such as the library, or food drives conducted by organizations like the library and schools.

They are sending letters to groups and organizations asking for financial donations.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

BATAVIA – Every solid business venture starts with one thing – a pitch! Whether making a sale or convincing an investor, your business idea pitch has to be organized, well-thought out, powerful and convincing! GCC is here to help get you prepared!

If you have a passion you would like to turn into a business, but you aren’t sure if anyone else will think it’s a good idea, consider participating in GCC’s 7th Annual Business Idea Pitch Competition on Thursday, April 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building at GCC’s Batavia Campus.

The competition is free and open to the public and prizes of $100 for first place and $75 for second place will be awarded to the most outstanding competitors in the “most likely to succeed” and “most creative” categories. Pitches will be judged by local business leaders.

“A solid business idea pitch is essential for every startup,” said Dr. Lina LaMattina, director of Business Programs at GCC. “This competition offers participants a valuable opportunity to acquire the skills needed to structure, refine, and present a compelling and persuasive business pitch.”

To participate in this event, please register for our Business Idea Pitch Competition by emailing Dr. LaMattina at lmlamattina@genesee.edu no later than Friday, April 4.

Among the leading causes for a new business startup failure is a lack of basic business experience. In lieu of losing thousands of investment dollars, today’s entrepreneurs have found another way to gain that experience before launching their startup – education. Genesee Community College offers degree, certificate and micro-credential programs in Entrepreneurship to prepare emerging business owners and investors for success.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Steve Hawley

March is American Red Cross Month, a time to recognize the vital role the Red Cross plays in our communities.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is demonstrating his commitment to this important cause by sponsoring a series of blood drives throughout the month. Hawley is hosting seven drives total, four in Genesee County and three in Orleans County.

The blood drives are as follows:

• Friday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Genesee County Social Services Building., 5130 E. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020
• Monday, March 10, 1:30 to 7 p.m. – Pavilion Fire Department Recreation Hall, 11302 S. Lake Rd., Pavilion, NY 14525
• Friday, March 14, 1 to 6 p.m. – Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, 107 N Main St., Lyndonville, NY 14098
• Tuesday, March 18, 12:30 to 7 p.m. – Albion Elks Lodge 1006, 428 W State St., Albion, NY 14411
• Tuesday, March 18, 1 to 6 p.m. – First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Rd., Batavia, NY 14020
• Thursday, March 20, 1 to 6 p.m. – Holy Name of Mary, 2707 Angling Rd., East Pembroke, NY 14056
• Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Hoag Library- Albion, 134 S. Main St., Albion, NY 14411

Schedule an appointment by going to RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

“Red Cross Month is an important time to honor the mission of saving lives through giving blood,” Hawley said. “I encourage everyone who is able to take the time to give blood and make a lifesaving difference. Your generosity can provide hope and healing to patients in need.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These trumpet players in the Albion Middle School band perform during Wednesday evening’s All-District Concert in the high school gym.

The concert featured the elementary, middle and high school bands. More than 1,000 people attended the concert in the gym.

Mike Thaine leads the high school band in a medley of music from The Lion King. Thaine and Greg Martillotta, the middle school band teacher, are both retiring after this year. The two are both Albion grads who have devoted their careers to their alma mater.

Kailee Anstey plays the saxophone in a solo with the high school band.

March is celebrated as “Music in our Schools Month” throughout the country.

These clarinet players keep their focus in the elementary school band.

Lindsay Almeter leads the beginner band of fourth graders and also fifth graders as par tof the elementary school band. The concert was the first since the gym received a new floor, paint, scoreboards and other improvements.

An elementary student plays the trumpet during the concert.

Greg Martillotta, the middle school band director, played the guitar with the band during “Crazy Train.” They also played “Lean On Me” and other songs.

All three bands – elementary, middle and high school – joined together in concluding the concert with “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple

$1 cookies are fundraiser for Arc GLOW

Provided photo: Nicole Tuohey holds a heart cutout cookie as she stands in front of the former Case-Nic Cookies to promote her annual Have a Heart Campaign in honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March. New owner Hans Rosentrater is allowing use of his windows to promote charitable events and will sell the cookies in his bakery for $1.

MEDINA – For most of the years Mary Lou Tuohey ran Case-Nic Cookies, she baked heart cutout cookies which she and daughter Nicole sold in March to support Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Now that Tuohey has sold the building to Hans Rosentrater, he is willing to continue the tradition. He is following Tuohey’s example of allowing non-profits to use the store windows for basket raffles. Currently baskets are on display to benefit Arc GLOW, which assists individuals with disabilities in the four counties of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming.

The frosted heart cookies are $1 and can be purchased at the store or ordered by calling (585) 798-1676.

The Tuoheys have been avid supporters of people with disabilities since Nicole was born with Triple X Syndrome and doctors told them she may never walk, talk, read, write or do math.

“As of that moment, we were determined, and she has been determined not to be ‘labeled,’” Mary Lou said. “Nicole is 33 years old and has done all of what the doctors said she wouldn’t do, and more. She has danced with Miss Stephanie for 28 years. She plays basketball, bowls, rides a horse, swims and rides a bike. She volunteers for different events at the Arc. She, too, is a person, not just a label, who has feelings, potential and determination. She may not do things the way other people do, but that doesn’t mean it is wrong. It means there are other ways to accomplish the same goal.”

Nicole attended Rainbow Preschool from 3 months of age to 5 years old and currently is part of Day Hab through Arc GLOW.

Each year in March, Mary Lou has included Nicole in fundraising to support the organization during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This is the seventh year they have sold heart cutout cookies, using a red frosted cookie and a red and white frosted one to demonstrate how things, especially people, can be different, but the same.

Their annual campaign always included the words, “One is red, one is pink. The pink one has a bite out of. Other than that they are the same – made of the same ingredients, rolled out the same, cut the same and taste the same.”

That is the same with people, Tuohey explained.

“We are made of the same thing,” she wrote. “We might look different. We might not think the same, learn the same and socialize the same. But we all have feelings, all have potential and all have determination.”

Nicole and Mary Lou urge people to continue to support the charitable causes as they have in the past.

Hans’s Bakery is located at 439 Main St.

Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers

ALBION – The Rev. Dr. Don Algeo, pastor of the Gaines Congregational United Church of Christ, gives the benediction to a Ash Wednesday service at the First Baptist Church in Albion.

Several churches in the Albion Ministerium planned and led the community service.

People received a cross of ashes on their foreheads. The ashes are from the burnt palms from the palms from about a year ago on Palm Sunday.

The Rev. Brenda Bierdeman of the Free Methodist church gives the message during the service.

Ash Wednesday starts a 40-day Lenten season for Christians around the world.

Lent is a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter, which this year will be celebrated on April 20.

Albion’s Lenten lunches start March 12 for five Wednesdays at noon at the Albion First Baptist Church, 30 West Park St.

Clarissa Steier plays the trumpet and Kay Marsh is on the piano for “Lift High the Cross.”

Jai Li McPhatter helped woman after she had been robbed

Provided photo: Jai Li McPhatter of Albion is presented with a “Do The Right Thing Award” last Thursday at the Public Safety Building downtown Rochester. He is joined by Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and Rochester Police Chief David M. Smith.

ROCHESTER – An Albion eighth-grader, Jai Li McPhatter, has been honored with a “Do The Right Thing Award” in Rochester for his efforts to help a woman after she had been robbed.

Jai Li did his good deed in June when he was on South Clinton Avenue in South Wedge of Rochester. He came to the aid of a woman who was in her parked car. A thief opened her car door, entered her car with her in the driver’s seat, reached over her and took her purse.

The woman, Marie, didn’t have a phone anymore because it was in her purse. She headed to the corner restaurant to get help and call the police.

Jai Li saw what happened and gave police a very detailed description of the robber. He also insisted he and a family member check on the lady to make sure she was safe. They waited with Marie for the police to come.

A Rochester PD lieutenant and the woman who was robbed both nominated Jai Li for the “Do The Right Thing Award.” He and other award recipients were honored last Thursday during a ceremony at the Public Safety Building in downtown Rochester.

The ceremony is expected to be posted by Channel 10 (WHEC) in Rochester and award winners will be featured on billboards in the city.