Provided photos
SHELBY – A group of 14 firefighters from the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company recently put into service a new grain rescue tube system with an auger that was donated by New York Farm Bureau.
Firefighters trained with the new rescue system in a grain bin at Todd Roberts’ farm on Salt Works Road.
This photo shows Crystal Luckman being “rescued” after sinking into the grain.
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Photos by Ginny Kropf: Pastor Vincent Iorio stands beside the sign which will stand in front of his new church on Maple Ridge Road, until the rest of the money can be raised for a digital sign. The building is also home to a Spanish-speaking church.
MEDINA – Sunday will mark the end of a long journey for Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, when their new building on Maple Ridge Road finally welcomes members for its first service.
“It’s been five years in the making,” said Pastor Vincent Iorio. “Like everybody else, Covid set us back a year. Prices of building materials skyrocketed, but fortunately, the main part of the structure was up.”
Iorio, a Medina native, has been pastor of the church for 16 1/2 years. A graduate of Berean University of the Assembly of God in Missouri, Iorio received a secular degree and pastored at a church in the Adirondacks for 12 years. Assembly of God was his first full-time church. The church was started in Shelby Center as the Baptist Church, and was part-time associate pastor.
This sign in front of the new Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God on Maple Ridge Road will soon be replaced by a new digital one. Five years in the making, the new church will welcome members for its first service on Sunday.
Calvary had been meeting at the old Medina High School on Catherine Street, until local entrepreneur Roger Hungerford purchased the building with the purpose of renovating it into upscale loft apartments.
“That was our impetus to build a new church,” Iorio said.
He said Hungerford had been wonderful to work with and gave them time to find a new home.
They had purchased 36 acres on Maple Ridge Road a few years before, with the ultimate goal to some day build a new church. When the decision was made to go ahead with their plans, the pastor said he formed a Fresh Start Committee, to aid in making decisions about the new building.
Pastor Vincent Iorio stands at the front of the sanctuary in his new church, where the altar will be.
“After all, this wasn’t about me,” said Iorio, who is 67 years old. “It’s about them.”
Committee members are all under 40. They carry on the pastor’s mission of looking to the future. They shared in decisions about the design of rooms, colors, etc.
A Spanish-speaking congregation, whose pastor is Jovannie Canalese, has met at the Assembly of God for many years, and will continue to have their services in the new church at 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Iorio stressed they used all local contractors, with two exceptions. The structure cost just shy of $1 million, and since breaking ground in the summer of 2016, 70 percent of it has been raised.
The new church building has a garage, large room for the food pantry, a nursery, classrooms, offices, state-of-the-art sound and visual booth, coffee bar, large fellowship hall, modern kitchen, children’s church area and a 160-seat sanctuary.
In addition to modern public restrooms, the nursery and food pantry each have their own restroom. Donna Poore is food pantry manager and this week they began the monumental chore of moving goods from the old church. The food pantry will officially open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 26. Until then, all food pantry needs are being handled at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on West Avenue.
Iorio said during Covid they broadcast services over car radios in the parking lot. The services are still broadcast live on Facebook. Bible study, a children’s group and prayer meetings will resume on a regular basis.
On Oct. 26, the public will be invited to join the congregation in worship. A formal open house will be planned in the near future. Sunday mornings begin with coffee bar at 9:30 a.m., followed by worship at 10:30 a.m.
“This is the first church I’ve built and it’s the last,” Iorio said. “I lay awake at night stressing about it.”
Some outside work remains to be done around the front entrance of Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God, which will open with a service for members on Sunday. It will open to the public on Oct. 26.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Joe Cecchini breaks in to block a punt attempt by Tonawanda’s Mike Thomas during the Mustangs win over the Warriors at Vets Park this evening.
Getting touchdowns from the offense, defense and special teams in the first 11 minutes for a quick commanding 24-0 lead, undefeated Medina went on to blitz Tonawanda 62-0 in a C North Division game this evening at Vets Park.
The victory boosts Medina’s record to 4-0 in the division and 6-0 overall heading into Monday’s key make up game at Vets Park against Akron which is 3-0 in the division.
It took the Medina offensive unit just 41 seconds to get on the scoreboard as on the second play from scrimmage Iverson Poole broke loose for a 35 yard touchdown run. Cayden Lilleby, who caught a 17 yard pass from quarterback Xander Payne on the first snap, tacked on the two-point conversion run for a quick 8-0 lead.
The Mustangs defensive unit upped the lead to 16-0 when Greg Thompson returned a pass interception 95 yards for a touchdown and Payne added the two-point conversion run.
The lead jumped to 24-0 when the Mustangs special teams unit got a blocked punt by Robert Arnold and Dominic Larabee recovered the ball in the Tonawanda end-zone for a touchdown with 1:48 to go in the quarter. Poole tacked on the two-point conversion run.
The Medina special teams unit came up big again on the final play of the opening quarter as Joe Cecchini blocked a Tonawanda punt giving the Mustangs possession at the Warrior 30.
It took the Mustangs offense just one play to capitalize as Payne hooked up with Jarin Rhim for a 30 yard TD pass to open the second quarter. Poole’s two-point conversion run made it 32-0.
The Medina lead ballooned to 46-0 at the half as Poole scored on a 27 yard touchdown run and Lilleby on a 64 yard TD run before the quarter ended. Lilleby also tacked on the two-point conversion. A pass interception by Thompson set up that opportunity.
The Mustang defensive unit’s big first half also included Hayden Woodroe with 8 tackles and Cecchini a sack and two tackles for losses.
Poole had a 66 yard touchdown run, Arnold a two-point conversion run and Brody Fry a 39 yard TD run and a two point conversion carry in the third quarter to round out the Mustangs scoring parade.
The loss drops Tonawanda to 0-5 in the division and 0-7 overall.
Medina’s Brody Fry follows the block by Roosevelt Mitchell in route to a third quarter touchdown.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Aidan Owczarczak heads the ball toward the goal for Medina/Lyndonville during the Mustangs win over Albion this afternoon at Vets Park.
Exploding for five goals in the first 20 minutes, Medina/Lyndonville went on to defeat rival Albion 7-0 in a Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer game at Vets Park this afternoon.
Aiden Burczyk scored two goals during that decisive uprising as Wyatt Zelazny, Zaric Boyce and Cole Seefeldt each netted one.
Cole Callard had two assists during that stretch as Sam Kingsbury, Roman Heinsler and Mason Nicholson each chipped in with one.
Callard later scored both of the Mustangs second half goals, the first off an assist from Burczyk and the second on a penalty kick.
Improving to 6-3 in the league and 10-5 overall, the Mustangs will close out the N-O season at Akron on Friday afternoon.
Medina/Lyndonville’s Aiden Burczyk battles for control of the ball with Albion’s Carson Bader.
Provided photo: State Sen. Robert G. Ortt, right, presents a proclamation to Brent Sensenich (middle), FMC Middleport Plant manager, and Alan Ledford (left), plant employee and member of Local 1180 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Press Release, FMC in Middleport
MIDDLEPORT –State Sen. Robert G. Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, toured FMC Corporation’s Agricultural Sciences plant in Middleport this week and presented workers with a proclamation celebrating the 75th anniversary of FMC assuming full operations of the plant.
In issuing the proclamation, Sen. Ortt noted specifically FMC’s planned future investment in the plant, the plant’s economic benefit to the community, new hiring efforts, corporate environmental goals, and workplace safety records.
“The company is an important contributor to the Middleport and eastern Niagara County economies; that economic contribution is set to grow as FMC makes major investments in new employee hiring, product offerings and capital improvements at the Middleport plant,” the proclamation stated.
Plant Manager Brent Sensenich is looking to hire seven new employees, increasing the plant’s workforce to over 70, to meet global demand for agricultural science products to protect and increase food supplies. The Middleport plant formulates and packages a number of key product lines to protect over 100 crops in more than 75 countries worldwide.
“FMC’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport plays a key role in FMC’s global leadership position in agricultural sciences,” the proclamation further stated.
“We appreciate very much Sen. Ortt’s support for industrial facilities and his encouragement on our 75th anniversary as we continue to work hard for the betterment of our local community and to provide sustainable employment opportunities in our region,” Sensenich said.
The proclamation recognized that “FMC is also committed to the safety of its employees, with ongoing safety training to keep workers safe at home and on the job; that commitment has enabled the Middleport plant to go more than two years as an accident and injury-free workplace without an OSHA recordable incident.”
Regarding environmental goals, FMC announced in August the goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and will use science-based targets aligned with keeping the global temperature at one-and-a-half degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times.
Return to topPress Release, Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans Counties
Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers: RTS representatives, from left, include John Arneth, Denise Klos and Ken Boasi.
BATAVIA – The Regional Transit Service (RTS), longtime Mental Health Association employee Alan Moore, and scholarship winner Ava Flores were honored at the annual meeting of the MHA of Genesee and Orleans Counties. The event took place on Oct. 7 at Terry Hills Golf Course.
MHAGO Executive Director Tom Christensen credited the dedication of the staff for keeping the agency open through the pandemic, noting that as an essential business, MHAGO has remained open to in-person services, with no staff layoffs or reduction of hours.
“The Covid-19 crisis highlighted for us how important everyday mental health and wellness practices are to managing social isolation, anxiety, and stress,” Christensen said. “We believe our services contributed to the emotional resilience of both our participants and our community during these uncertain times.”
RTS also contributed to the community’s well-being, according to MHAGO, by providing free rides to and from medical appointments – including visits essential for mental health – for the two counties’ residents.
John Arneth, RTS’ Regional Manager for Genesee & Orleans, accepted the Constance E. Miller Award of Excellence on behalf of the organization. Constance E. Miller, along with a small group of dedicated volunteers, founded the Mental Health Association in 1993. This award honors her commitment to excellence by recognizing individuals and organizations who work to promote mental wellness, instill hope, and improve the quality of life for people living in Genesee and Orleans counties.
“We had some rigorous protocols to follow in order to keep everyone safe, but we were really happy to be able to continue to provide medical transport services during a time that created a lot of anxiety and fear for people,” Arneth said.
Alan Moore, 25-year employee of MHAGO, was recognized for his commitment to the agency.
MHA recognized Alan Moore as a 25-year staff member. Colleagues described Moore as a mild-mannered, versatile, reliable team member who “quietly supports and encourages (MHAGO) participants.”
It was also noted that he models self-care by walking regularly and “getting his steps in” each day.
MHAGO awarded the Board of Directors’ Educational Scholarship to Ava Flores, 2021 graduate of both Oakfield-Alabama High School and Genesee Community College. Flores is now studying psychology at Roberts Wesleyan College. The scholarship program provides financial support to individuals pursuing higher education in the fields of human or social services. Flores received $500 toward her studies.
Kylee Criscione, a mental health program specialist from the state Office of Mental Health – WNY Field Office, gave a presentation via Zoom. She noted, aptly, that telehealth visits represent one of several ways MHAGO has stepped up to address the challenges of meeting community needs.
In the annual report distributed at the meeting, Christensen noted that MHAGO Medicaid Managed Care HCBS services increased in 2020 to become the largest local provider of Mental Health HCBS, with 267 combined in-person and telehealth visits across 271 hours of service. “We look forward to further expansion of managed care services through the State’s newly proposed CORE (Community Oriented Empowerment Services) model,” he wrote.
Other noteworthy 2020 stats:
Ava Flores
MHAGO reported $576,030 total support and revenue, with $618,689 in total expenses. The agency ended 2020 with $129,358 cash on hand. The 2020 Financial Statement and Auditors’ Report were prepared by EFPR Group, CPAs, PLLC. Copies of the Audit and Form 990 may be obtained by request from the Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans Counties, 25 Liberty Street, Batavia, NY 14020.
“Even in good times,” Christensen said, “a lack of social engagement has been a leading predictor of poor health outcomes, poor quality of life, and shortened lifespans. With Covid bringing out the worst of these troubles, our staff really stepped up and made a big difference. I’m very pleased with our team.”
Return to topOrleans County has been approved for $20,655 in federal funding towards emergency planning. It’s part of $7.4 million in federal funding for county emergency management agencies in New York State to support planning and operational readiness for any type of disaster, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.
“This funding is critically important to communities in New York State as we continue to recover from the storm-related damages we have experienced over recent months,” Hochul said. “As we are forced to deal with the devastating effects of climate change more regularly, I am confident that our local emergency management agencies will put this money to good use in preparing for future disasters.”
To access the funding, counties must develop projects or initiatives that strengthen their own readiness and response capabilities to address all potential hazards. Projects should also focus on addressing any efforts identified by FEMA as needing national improvement. This includes logistics and distribution management planning, evacuation planning, disaster financial management, catastrophic disaster housing and resilient communications.
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Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School
ROCHESTER – Members of the Interact Club at Albion spent Wednesday giving back at Foodlink in Rochester. The students were busy sorting and stacking donated food for future distribution.
Club advisor Mr. Archer was joined by students Sarah Mathes, Allison Mathes, Samantha Basinait, Lilian Mathes, Julia Fuller and Gina Sidari.
The group prepared numerous pallets of food items over a four-hour period. The food will be handed out to needy families in the Western New York area, including in Orleans County through Community Action.
Foodlink is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger. With a ten-county service area, volunteers are crucial to the success of the food bank. As one Foodlink supervisor told Mr. Archer, “These Albion kids are some of the best workers we’ve had. Please come back!”
Learn more about Foodlink at foodlinkny.org.
Return to topBATAVIA – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley will give Congressman Lee Zeldin, a Republican candidate for governor, a tour of Chapin International on Ellicott Street in Batavia on Friday.
Chapin manufactures sprayers and spreaders for landscaping applications. Hawley and Zeldin will join the owners of the company in taking a look at their operation and discussing issues facing business owners in New York, with a focus on the manufacturing sector.
Zeldin, a Long Island resident, has the majority of the support among Republican Party leaders in the state. They cite his conservative views and voting record, and a biography that includes four years on Active Duty with the U.S. Army, including serving with the 82nd Airborne Division on a deployment to Iraq.
During a stop in Lyndonville on May 28, Zeldin said the state needs a new direction after what he said was a drastic swing against public safety, against a sustainable state budget, and state policies against affordability for working class residents.
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The Erie Canal closed to boaters on Wednesday evening, ending the 197th navigation season on the historic waterway.
The season started on May 21 and was more normal than 2020. Covid restrictions delayed the start of the season last year until June 26. The start was pushed back because canal staff and construction crews were sidelined early in the pandemic. That prevented the State Canal Corp. from doing some of the work needed before the canals could be opened.
The Canal Corp. this year didn’t charge any tolls or fees for recreational use of the canal system. This is the fifth straight year the tolls have been waived. Those tolls are normally $25 to $100 for a season pass, depending on the size of the vessel.
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Press Release, Geneses-Orleans Regional Arts Council
Antonio Cruz Zavaleta creates a Oaxacan sand painting at the 2019 Day of the Dead Celebration in Medina.
MEDINA – The fourth annual Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration will return in “live” format this year in Medina on Saturday, October 23 at the Orleans County YMCA, 306 Pearl St.
Come learn about and enjoy this holiday that remembers ancestors, with free activities from 3 to 7 pm. The festivities will include Mexican crafts, face painting, dance and drama performance, sand painting and ofrenda displays, special food tastings, and food trucks.
All activities will continue throughout the day at this family-friendly event. Attendees will need to wear face masks. A full schedule can be found at www.MedinaDoD.com.
The Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration is a time of joyful remembrance of deceased loved ones, filled with an array of colors, scents, sounds and stories. Centered around the Christian observance of All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1 and 2, the celebration also includes images and ideas about the roles of ancestors in our lives, that trace back to Mexico’s indigenous peoples. Tradition holds that this is the one time of the year when souls can return to earth for a day and commune with their families and friends.
“We’re excited to have an in-person event this year, with the continuing support of local Medina businesses and community members,” said Karen Canning, director of GLOW Traditions at GO ART!
Mexican celebrations of the holiday often include animated skeletons and colorfully decorated skulls (calaveras), emphasizing life’s continuing vibrancy in the midst of mortality.
Downtown business owners are offering these arts workshops at the YMCA in sugar skulls, paper flowers and banners, and paper masks, and include The Author’s Note Bookstore, Della’s Chocolates, The Downtown Browsery, Pathstone Corporation, and Rosenkrans Pharmacy.
Canalside Tattoos will offer temporary tattoos, and Case-Nic Cookies will have Day of the Dead themed treats for sale. GO ART! and Mariachi de Oro staff will offer above-the-mask face painting, while Celebrity Day Spa is selling a more elaborate version before the event at their store location. Mariachi de Oro will provide samples of Mexican hot chocolate and pan de muerto (bread of the dead), a typical food of the holiday, and Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza Food Truck will offer more substantial fare for sale outside the YMCA.
Lola Alvarado, center, and Gladys Rosario, right, show their Dia de Muertos face paint at the 2019 Day of the Dead celebration.
Beautiful altars (ofrendas) in homes welcome the returning souls and feature candles, wild marigolds, incense, photographs, mementos and loved ones’ favorite foods like fruit, tortillas, tamales, chocolate, and bread. Members of the Rosario family will again create a large ofrenda at the YMCA in the style of their hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Artist Antonio Cruz Zavaleta will also create a sand painting in front of the ofrenda, another decorative art found in Oaxaca for the holiday—check the schedule for presentations of these artistic traditions. Attendees can contribute to a community ofrenda, where they can place a candle (electric, provided) and add their own remembrances of loved ones.
New this year are Mexican dance, music and dramatic performances by Alma de México, a group from Rochester led by Karla Alcalá. A former member of a folkloric dance group in Mexico, Karla now teaches community members traditional dance from a variety of regions.
The group will present a new dramatic piece featuring “La Catrina,” a figure originally drawn by Mexican illustrator, Jose Guadalupe Posada, that has become associated with the holiday. Live music will also be provided by La Marimba, a marimba band from Buffalo, led by Tiffany Nicely. The large monos de calenda (street puppets), created by artist, Antonio Cruz Zavaleta, will also return to dance and wander among attendees. Everyone’s invited to join in, and feel free to come in Day of the Dead themed outfits.
The event is co-sponsored by GLOW Traditions at GO ART!, Mariachi de Oro Restaurant, and the YMCA, with partial funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Photo by Christine Zinni: Sue Fuller of Della’s Chocolates offers a paper flower-making activity at the 2018 Day of the Dead Celebration in Medina.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kortney Boyce works to send the ball up field for Lyndonville/Medina as Lily Baratta defends for Attica during this afternoon’s game at Lyndonville.
Attica scored two goals in the last four minutes to edge host Lyndonville/Medina 4-2 in a Genesee Region League girls soccer game this afternoon.
The host Lady Tigers had tied the game at 2-2 earlier in the second half on Ella Lewis’ second goal of the day. Her first goal came on a penalty kick midway through the opening half which cut Attica’s lead at that point to 2-1.
In other G-R contests this evening Oakfield-Alabama nipped visiting Kendall and Holley trimmed Wheatland-Chili by the identical score of 2-1.
Grace Levett scored the goal for Kendall off an assist from Megan Gates.
Samantha Bates scored off an assist from Isabella Thom in the first half and Emma Brady tallied in the second half for Holley which finishes the regular season at 10-4-2.
Ella Lewis takes a shot on goal for Lyndonville/Medina as Kaylie Bugajski comes in to defend for Attica.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Ava Brigham spikes a kill over Medina defender Amaya Cleveland during this evening’s league match at Medina.
Ending a 12 year title drought, Roy-Hart put a lock on outright possession of the Niagara-Orleans League volleyball championship with a straight set 25-7, 25-16, 25-20 victory over host Medina this evening.
Roy-Hart, which last won the N-O title in 2009 (a co-championship with Albion) improves to 9-0 and maintains a two-game N-O lead with one match remaining.
Marissa Scott had 9 service aces and 2 spiking kills, Samantha Albright 3 aces and 3 kills and Ava Brigham 2 aces, 2 blocks and 1 kill to lead the way for the Lady Rams.
Scott got Roy-Hart rolling by serving up 10 points in the opening set (1-2 and 18-25) including 7 aces.
Miriam Fike had 2 kills and, Amaya Cleveland 1 kill and Saige Cau 1 ace for Medina (1-7).
In another N-O match, Akron (5-2) posted a three set win over Albion (1-8).
Kendall 15-22-25-25-27, Lyndonville 25-25-17-21-25
Rebounding from a two set deficit, Kendall rallied to outlast visiting Lyndonville 15-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 27-25 in a Genesee Region League match.
Madison Dellaquila served up the final two points in the decisive fifth set for Kendall which also had Shelby Kruger with 6 kills and 9 assists and Lauren Pilon with 7 kills and 2 blocks.
Roy-Hart’s Samantha Albright tips the ball over the net as Lorelei Sanders defends for Medina.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Congressman Chris Jacobs both issued statements today following the announcement the border would be reopened to fully vaccinated Canadians in November.
Hochul issued this statement: “I applaud our federal partners for reopening our borders to Canada, something I have called for since the beginning of the closure. Canada is not only our trade partner, but more importantly, Canadians are our neighbors and our friends. From Western New York to the North Country, I look forward to welcoming our Canadian neighbors back to New York as we continue to rebuild and recover from this pandemic.”
Jacobs has pushed the American and Canadian governments to reopen the U.S.-Canada border. He introduced the bipartisan Northern Border Reopening Transparency Act (H.R. 3770) in June. That legislation would have forced the Biden administration to provide answers and a plan for reopening the Canadian border, which up until this announcement they have not provided, Jacobs said.
The local congressman issued this statement: “Reopening the U.S. side of the northern border is long overdue. This action is the product of nonstop advocacy from numerous groups, including countless dedicated citizens, family members, and organizations in our area.
“After months of silence from the Biden administration, I am excited to soon welcome our Canadian friends and family back to Western New York, just in time for the holiday season. Separated families will be able to reunite, and small businesses will be able to welcome Canadian shoppers and finish the year strong.”
Return to topPress Release, Genesee County Health Department
BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department is seeking information about the location of a dog and its owner following a dog bite incident on the late morning of Monday, October 11 at Centennial Park in Batavia (near Lincoln Avenue).
The dog is described as a gray pit bull with white markings around its neck, front paws and left ear. The dog was approximately 55 to 60 pounds and was wearing a camo collar. The dog was not accompanied by its owner and was running loose throughout Centennial Park.
It is important to locate the dog to determine whether or not it is current on its rabies shot. If the health status is not identified, post-exposure rabies shots will be offered to the victim.
If you have information about the location of the dog and its owner, please contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555.
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