Photo by Tom Rivers: Hoag Library has a flag from an African-American unit that fought in the Civil War. The flag has 35 stars. That’s how many stars were on the flag for two years from 1863 to 1865. The flag was picked up last week from a textile conservator after a restoration.

ALBION – A tattered Civil War flag for the 26^th U.S. Colored Infantry has been cleaned and restored. Hoag Library officials picked up the flag last week from the textile conservator in Delmar near Albany.

An anonymous donor contributed $10,000 for the restoration. The flag will be unveiled from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 14 at the library.

The flag is from a Colored Troops regiment. The 26th Regiment United States Colored Troops wasn’t for a local unit. Those troops were based out of New York City, although former County Historian Matt Ballard said the group was led by a local white soldier, Charles H. Mattison of Barre.

The library trustees in March 2019 felt it would be costly for the library to preserve the flag and then to properly display it. The trustees didn’t think the library should have the responsibility of caring for an artifact that didn’t originate in the local community.

But the community spoke out and urged Hoag to keep the flag. A donor offered to pay to have the flag be cleaned and restored.

Spicer Art Conservation, LLC, did the work on the flag. The firm that has cleaned and restored many Civil War flags, and even one from the War of 1812, which was a half century before the Civil War.

Gwen Spicer, owner of Spicer Art Conservation, did the work restoration work on the flag owned by Hoag Library. She has worked on many historically significant flags and banners, including a pre-Revolutionary War “Liberty” flag and Civil War flags. She has treated flags from every American conflict from the Revolutionary War to the present.

The flag was in a frame for many years. The white stripes in particular were badly deteriorated.

A heat advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today for Orleans County with heat index values of 95 to 99 degrees expected.

The advisory also includes Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Oswego, Genesee, Livingston and Ontario counties.

The hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the Weather Service said. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”

In Orleans County, the high temperature for today is expected to reach 91 degrees. The Weather Service recommends taking extra precautions for people working or spending time outside.

The forecast in the following days includes a mostly sunny Monday with a high near 89, showers likely on Tuesday with a high near 84, showers likely on Wednesday with a high near 81, and showers likely on Thursday with a high near 78.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Senior Brian Fry was a member of all four of Medina’s sectional championship football, basketball, soccer and baseball squads during this school year.

Junior Joe Cecchini was a member of the Mustangs sectional championship football, basketball and baseball teams.

Hayden Woodroe, a Medina junior, was a key contributor on the basketball, football and baseball teams.

Because of Covid-19 Pandemic restrictions this past school year has been a most challenging one to be sure for high school student-athletes, coaches and athletic directors.

However, for Medina High it will be remembered as a very special year in athletics as the Mustangs captured what is believed to be a school record four Section VI championships in football, basketball, baseball and soccer.

“Winning a sectional title is pretty amazing in any year but winning four during this Pandemic year shows so much resilience by our student-athletes. It’s certainly nice to have some bright spots to celebrate after all everyone has gone through,” said Medina Athletic Director Eric Valley.

Senior Brian Fry was a member of all four of those title teams.

Juniors Joe Cecchini and Hayden Woodroe were both on three (football, basketball and baseball).

In all at least a dozen Mustang student-athletes were on at least two of those championship squads. Senior Corey Saj and junior Xander Payne were members of both the football land baseball teams, seniors Dontae Rhim and Tyler Chinn and junior Jarin Rhim were on the football and basketball squads, seniors Miles Hartway and Cole Seefeldt on the football and soccer teams and seniors AJ Seefeldt and Jack Rutkowski and junior Zach Fike on the soccer and baseball squads.

Interestingly, with the Pandemic restrictions eliminating neutral sites for sectional games the Mustangs were home for all of the football, basketball and baseball playoff games by earning top seeds.

Only the soccer team had to play on the road and the Medina/Lyndonville squad bested Lackawanna 4-0 in the quarterfinals, East Aurora 1-0 in the semis and then tied Tonawanda 2-2 in overtime resulting in the teams being declared Class B2 co-champions.

The Mustangs football squad defeated Eden 54-6 in the Class C semifinals and Southwestern 21-13 in the title contest.

The top seeded basketball team bested Alden 68-48 in the Class B2 quarterfinals, Newfane 64-45 in the semis and Lackawanna 68-57 in the title contest.

And most recently the top seeded Mustangs baseball squad defeated Southwestern 10-0 in the quarterfinals, Akron 7-3 in the semis and Roy-Hart 7-0 in the Class B2 finals.

The Mustangs football team also captured the C North Division title while the basketball and baseball squads also both claimed Niagara-Orleans League championships.

Evan Valentine, a member of the Class of 2021, remembered during ceremony, parents presented with his diploma

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The Class of 2021 tosses their caps inside the gym after commencement today. The ceremony was moved from outdoors to inside at the school auditorium due to the threatening weather conditions with rain and wind.

After the ceremony the class headed to the gym to throw their graduation caps.

Susan Cory, the school principal, takes a photo of the class in the gym for the cap toss. Cory said it has been a school year unlike any other, with most of the year on a hybrid schedule of two days in-person a week with students split up as Red Hawks and White Hawks. There was frequent Zoom video conferencing on Wednesdays. Later in the school year, students moved to four days of in-person learning.

A goal for the district was to end the school year as traditionally as possible and today’s ceremony was very much in Holley’s commencement tradition.

“Today is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, but it is also a day to acknowledge the support and strength that all of you have given to these students to make their journey successful,” Cory said from the podium near the beginning of the program.

There are 60 members in the class, and that includes the late Evan Valentine. He passed away from leukemia at age 18 on Feb. 21. The display of carnation flowers on the stage included an orange flower among the red and white to represent Evan and his 2 ½ fight with leukemia.

There were six Evan Valentine Memorial Scholarships presented during commencement. They were presented to Andrew Drechsel, Brianna Heffernan, Allison Trowbridge, Brandi Heffernan, Jared Strathearn and Callie Updike.

The district also presented for the first time the John P. Heise Memorial Scholarship, in honor of a man who spent 40 years at the district as a school administrator and then in his retirement on the Board of Education. The first winners of the Heise scholarship include Kayleigh Neale and Callie Updike.

Penny Cole, a high school secretary, pins an orange ribbon on the graduation gown of David Farruggia III. All of the grads wore the ribbons in honor of Evan. His graduation gown was draped over a chair between the seats for Callie Updike and Garrett VanLogten.

Before the graduates on stage received their diplomas, Principal Susan Cory and Suzanne Lepkowski, Class of 2021 advisor, presented Evan Valentine’s parents, Diane and Neil, with Evan’s diploma.

Evan was an Eagle Scout who was also heavily involved in the school’s music program including the jazz band. He also played soccer and golf for the Hawks.

Diane Valentine thanked the class and the community for all of the support.

“You literally wrapped our family in loving kindness,” she said.

She urged the class to continue making a difference.

Many of the graduates and audience members wiped tears from their eyes after the comments from Evan’s mother.

Karl “KJ” Biedlingmaier, the class vice president, announced the class gift would be to use the remaining funds in the class account and donate them to the music department in memory of Evan Valentine.

“He was a dear member of the Class of 2021 and we wish he was still here with us,” Biedlingmaier said.

Callie Updike delivers the salutatorian speech. She also led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and in singing the National Anthem.

Updike said she is proud of Holley’s Class of 2021, for enduring amidst the uncertainty and challenges of a global pandemic. They cracked and crumbled, and were forced to discover new, difficult emotions with the loss of their classmate, Updike said.

Callie Updike speaks to her classmates.

She praised Holley’s teachers, administrators, counselors, custodial staff, mentors, teacher’s aides and community members for all of their extra work during the pandemic on behalf of students and their safety. The community showed its resiliency through the pandemic, helping to advance students’ growth despite the challenges and restrictions of the Covid-19 era.

Holley’s newest graduates were deprived of some of the usual senior traditions. “But as you look upon the graduates, sitting proudly before you in their seats, you don’t see the pain and the pity of a year forgotten,” Updike said. “You see brilliant individuals, your future nurses, psychologists, politicians, athletes, soldiers, firefighters, welders, farmers and teachers. You see leaders, each carrying purpose and rigor.”

Updike said she feels fortunate to grow up in Holley, and to have such a supportive family and community, as well as access to clean drinking water, vaccines and a free education.

“We all have beautifully different paths that lie ahead, but we come from the same place and have discovered that we can overcome more than we ever thought we could – together,” Updike said. “We can all speak to the influence our teachers, friends and community have had on us, but I feel it is vital to give credit to the individual power that this class holds. With the help of our loved ones, we have gotten through. Without our own passion, ambition and drive, we wouldn’t be sitting here in front of you. We haven’t coasted through and let others handle all of it for us – we fought, we pushed, and I think that is so beautiful.”

Allyson Skehan gave the valedictory address. She said it has been a very difficult senior year with mask mandates, a hybrid schedule where students saw less than half of their classmates most of the year, and some treasured traditions cancelled or modified.

The past year has shown the students to “live in the moment” and not take things for granted, Skehan said.

She cited the impact made from her friend, Evan Valentine – “the kindest, brightest soul I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. He showed us all what it truly meant to live, despite the circumstances he was in.”

Don McCall, a Holley substitute teacher, was picked by the class to give the commencement address. McCall is a retired science teacher from the Geneva City school district. He moved to Holley and started as a sub four years ago. He figured it would be a way to get to know the community and give back for a rewarding career in education.

“I invested in Holley High but you invested in me and I appreciate that,” McCall said.

He focused his message on “removing labels.” Holley grads have already shown they can look past labels by picking a substitute teacher as their speaker. McCall said he Googled commencement addresses by substitute teachers and there were no matches. He thinks he made history today giving the speech as a substitute teacher.

Removing labels shows commonalities, how people are far more alike than different.

McCall recalled being given a tour of the school campus, which has recently been upgraded through capital projects.

“You could feel his pride in the school,” he said.

And Evan Valentine was a true pleasure to have in class, McCall said.

“Continue to honor him by being kind to all you meet,” he said.

He urged the grads to embrace kindness for others and for themselves.

Zacharie Dann shakes hands with Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent. Dann has enlisted with the Marine Corps and leaves Monday for training.

Alexander Marie Mendoza stands and is recognized as the recipient of a $500 scholarship in memory of Carmelo Rivera. About $30,000 in scholarships were presented to graduates.

Jacob Affronti is presented with his diploma by Principal Susan Cory.

Michael Snell is hugged by Suzanne Lepkowski, the class advisor and a high school English teacher. Kathy Monks, left, reads off the names of the grads. Snell is headed for the Marine Corps.

Michael Stoll gives Kelly Marzano, a music teacher, a surprise embrace when he went to get his diploma. She was taking a turn reading the graduates’ names.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina players and coaches celebrate capturing the Section VI Class B2 championship with a 7-0 win over Roy-Hart at Vets Park this afternoon.

Escaping a big first inning jam, top seeded Medina went on to shutout No. 3 seed Niagara-Orleans League rival Roy-Hart 7-0 to capture the Section VI Class B2 championship this afternoon at Vets Park.

Roy-Hart got the bases loaded with one out in the top of the first inning on a walk, an error and an intentional walk. However, the Mustangs quickly got out of the jam as pitcher Zach Fike bore down to register two clutch inning ending strikeouts.

Medina’s AJ Seefeldt celebrates banging out a three-run double in the second inning.

“That was huge for Zach to battle back and shut them down like that,” said Medina Coach Jon Sherman. “And then we were able to come right back and score a run. That was big.”

Keeping the momentum from that strong performance on the mound, the Mustangs scored what proved to be the game winning run in the bottom of the first on an error. A leadoff single by Brian Fry and a sacrifice bunt by AJ Seefeldt set up the threat.

Medina then broke the contest open by erupting for five runs in the second inning. A huge bases loaded, three run triple by Seefeldt was the lone hit of the frame as an error and a RBI sacrifice fly by Fike plated the other two runs for the big 6-0 lead.

Brian Fry connects for a triple to drive in Medina’s final run.

Fry also drove in Medina’s final run with a two out, triple in the sixth inning.

Fike finished with a two hitter and 10 strikeouts as he retired the last 10 batters he faced in order.

“Zach really gutted it out,” said Sherman. “He was having some trouble with his second pitch but he worked through it and pitched a fine game.”

Roy-Hart hurler Thomas Russo III likewise went the distance on the mound allowing only 3 hits and striking out 9.

Medina, which downed Roy-Hart twice during the N-O season in route to a 12-0 title campaign, finishes the season with a 16-1 record. Roy-Hart winds up at 13-4.

It marks the third straight season that the Mustangs and Rams have met in a sectional title contest. Roy-Hart edged Medina 4-2 for the Class B2 title in 2018 and the Mustangs downed the Rams 15-4 for the overall Section VI Class B title in 2019.

The victory also caps off an incredible four sectional title year for Medina as the Mustangs also captured  Section VI championships in football, basketball and soccer. Click here to view a video of highlights from the game.

Medina captains Brian Fry, Austin Mosher, Corey Saj and AJ Seefeldt hold the championship plaque high.

In action on the mound were Zach Fike for Medina and Thomas Russo III for Roy-Hart.

Roy-Hart’s John Conley slides into second base as Medina shortstop Brian Fry takes the throw.

Roy-Hart’s Jake Gould braces for contact from Medina’s Xander Payne.

One of the coolest parts of being in New Orleans is the music….everywhere, like this street musician playing some amazing jazz.

Let’s go on an adventure together….to New Orleans, Louisiana!

You don’t have to wait till Mardi Gras to visit and have a ton of fun in New Orleans, Louisiana! In fact, I am so glad my first time in NOLA was during the off season – it was so much easier to get around and explore without the crowds of people.

My time in New Orleans was in September 2016 during the cross country motorhome trip I took with my brother and sister-in-law. We spent about ten days in Houma, LA visiting with my nephew and his family, and, I even got to see an old friend in addition to the family we stayed with.

I took the hour’s drive from Houma to New Orleans on three different days. The first day was with my family. We parked downtown and walked all along the Main St through New Orleans to the dock where we took a steamboat cruise on the Natchez – one of only two true steam boats still active on the Mississippi River, today. I loved that cruise – so much fun. Consider taking one if you go – it really is wonderful.

Along our stroll, we stopped for our first taste of the amazing food New Orleans has to offer. We had lunch at one of Sean and his family’s favorite places: Huck Finn’s – a place you really need to put on your to-do list when planning a trip to NOLA – fabulous food. I chose the jambalaya wrap and it was awesome – just the right amount of heat and the flavors were to die for. We also stopped at the Café Du Monde for beignets – pure heaven on a plate – hot, fluffy, fresh, and sugary – also a must do spot! 

Look up on whatever street you happen to be walking along in the French Quarter in New Orleans and you’ll see gorgeous balconies loaded with plants and flowers.

The next day, I took the rental car and drove in to meet up with an old high school friend who was living just outside New Orleans in Metairie at the time. He took me walking all over the French Quarter. I was in awe of all the gorgeous buildings and amazing music. We stopped to listen to a lot of the wonderful street musicians playing lively jazz and soulful blues. We strolled through the French Market and looked at all the beautiful crafts and breathed in the amazing aromas of food. I was also really fascinated by all the “human sculptures” throughout the French Quarter – these are people who make themselves up specifically to pose in a stationary position for hours on end for whatever the tourists leave in their buckets – tough way to make a living, if you ask me, but it is really entertaining to see. 

We were even lucky enough to get to see a little pop-up parade with music, dancing, and umbrellas – just like you see in the movies. I understand you have to get a permit to close off a street for a parade like this and it is usually reserved for weddings and funerals, but other celebrations occur on occasion – this one was a birthday celebration. So glad we got to see it – what fun!

St. Louis Cemetery # 1 is the oldest and most famous cemetery in New Orleans. One of the crypts that stands out is this one owned by Nicolas Cage. He loved New Orleans so much, he decided he wanted to be buried there.

That day, Russ and I found a cool little place on Bourbon Street and had Shrimp Po-boys for lunch. Sorry – I don’t remember the name of the place, but it was so good! The shrimp was perfectly cooked and crunchy with a nice little kick to it on an amazing roll with pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes – WOW!!! Everywhere we went, there was alligator of some kind on the menu – right alongside lots of varieties of seafood and southern comfort food. I regret that I wasn’t adventurous enough to try it – I should have so I could say I did, but…..you know what they say about hindsight!  

On the third New Orleans day, I drove in to take a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour on my own that took me absolutely everywhere. A particular thrill for me was to hop-off for a tour of St. Louis Cemetery # 1 – the oldest and most famous of the currently existing cemeteries in New Orleans. It was stablished in the late 1700s and still has active burials.  Cemeteries in NOLA can only contain above ground burials because they are right at sea level, so it makes for wonderful place to wander around. This particular cemetery is where famed Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau is interned in a family crypt. But, the crypt that stood out most was a pyramid shaped one that looked totally out of place among all the incredible old crypts and mausoleums. Our guide told us that it was actually the final resting place of Nicolas Cage! Of course, he’s not there, yet, but he loved New Orleans so much that he bought a plot and had this crypt designed so he could be interned there when the time comes. Be sure to put St. Louis Cemetery # 1 on your list – there is a $20 entrance fee and can only be entered with a tour guide because they had a lot of trouble with vandals and damage, in particular to Marie Laveau’s crypt, but so worth it. 

One of many “Human Sculptures” throughout the French Quarter. People actually make themselves up and pose in a stationary position for hours on end for whatever the tourists leave in their buckets.

That day, I had lunch at a crepe café. I chose “The Lucy” – crepes stuffed with fresh strawberries and amaretto custard and topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar and more fresh strawberries – YUMMY!

New Orleans was amazing and between my three days there and three difference perspectives with family and friends I don’t

think I missed anything! But, I don’t want to leave Houma out of this article. Houma is a wonderful town with several bayous. We had dinner at a little shack-like dive called Bayou Delight just outside Houma one night that serves Cajun and Creole cuisine. We all had their specialty – fried chicken – so good – crispy, spicy breading and moist, tender, juicy chicken! And, while we were waiting for our food, we went out on the deck to watch the alligators in the bayou – that was fun. 

So – don’t think all New Orleans has to offer is Mardi Gras and crowds of crazy people. If that’s your thing, then go during that annual festival. But, you can go off season and have so much fun and see it all and enjoy the food and the music that New Orleans is most famous for without all the crowds. It is an awesome experience, for sure.  

Visit my blog for all the photos taken during my time in Louisiana. 

Happy Adventuring!

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Dave Viterna Group performed on July 2, 2019 at the Orleans County Marine Park to kick off the summer concert series. There were about 500 people at the concert. The band kicks off the series on Tuesday at the Marine Park in Carlton.

Press Release, Orleans County Tourism Department

The Summer Sizzle has just begun in Orleans County with live concerts and events! After suffering a year without live entertainment, festivals and fairs, get ready to fill your dance card!

Orleans County Tourism recently published a Summer Concert & Events rack card featuring the weekly summer concert series and major festivals taking place in Orleans County. Pick up a schedule at your local libraries, info centers or contact the Tourism Office at 585-589-3100. And, visit our website’s calendar for additional events as many are still being organized, www.orleanscountytourism.com.

OONA Concert Series – The first concert to kick off the summer starts next Tuesday, June 29. The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association in partnership with Orleans County Tourism hosts the OONA Summer Concert Series at the Orleans County Marine Park in Point Breeze opening with the Dave Viterna Group. The Clarendon Lions Club will be back serving grilled items, along with Dubby’s serving their specialty wood-fired pizza and the Black North Inn selling beer and wine. New this year will be a merchandise tent featuring items from Orleans County Tourism, the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum and OONA – all branded to promote our region.

Doug Egling of Albion performs a solo on his saxophone during a performance on June 27, 2019 in Albion’s Canal Concert Series. Egling performed with the Trellis Cooper Band.

OONA organizers expect record crowds this summer after taking a year off due to the pandemic. The series will welcome first-time performers at the marine park – Highway 31 (July 6) and the Trellis Cooper Band (July 27). The Who Dats (July 13), the Brick Band (July 20) and Jonesie & the Cruisers (Aug 3) round out the series. Rain dates are scheduled for August 10 and 17. Admission is $2, $5 for a family and free to OONA members and seasonal dock renters at the Marine Park.

HOLLEY – Friday concerts are at the Holley gazebo on the Erie Canal. They begin July 9th through August 13 and feature the Don Newcomb Band, Dinosaur Stampede, the Who Dats, Triple Play, Old Hippies and the Chris Moore Band.

YATES – On Monday, July 12th, the Yates Community Library in Lyndonville begins an 8-week series featuring a variety of genres along the banks of picturesque Johnsons Creek and the library grounds: Mystic Sisters, Old Hippies, Celtic Spirit, Blue Sky, Eagle Creek, Mr. Mustard, Laces Out and the Barker Community Band.

ALBION – The village of Albion hosts four Thursday night Concerts on the Canal at the gazebo at the end of Pratt Street starting July 22 through August 12. They include Jonesie & the Cruisers, the Who Dats, Cold Fusion Arts and the Trellis Cooper Band. The Albion Fire Department will be serving food and beverages.

The villages of Holley, Albion and Yates Library concerts are free and are made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the NYS Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO Art.

Additional events include the Friday night Cruise-ins at the Medina Canal Basin, a weekly fundraiser for the United Way of Orleans County, the Lyndonville Lions Club’s 4th of July Celebration and fireworks on the 4th, the Kendall Fire Dept Carnival, July 15-17, the Orleans County 4-H Fair July 26-31 and more that are still being organized.

Get your dancing shoes polished and celebrate live music in Orleans County this summer!

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the Class 2021 toss their caps near the conclusion of today’s graduation ceremony at the Spierdowis Football Field.

The ceremony is traditionally held inside the high school gym. Last year there wasn’t an in-person graduation due to Covid-19 restrictions, which limited gatherings to 150 people. Albion instead recorded graduates receiving their diplomas individually and compiled a video.

Albion for 2021 wanted an in-person graduation with the class together. The ceremony was shifted from the gym to outside at the football stadium when the recent guidelines allowed for bigger crowds at outdoor venues.

There were some sprinkles in the beginning of the ceremony, but many people said they preferred the outdoor setting over the gym which can feel stuffy and confined.

Nolberto Martinez Maya, class vice president, is near the front of the processional from the high school to the football stadium. He is followed by Olivia Morrison, class secretary; and Annalise Steier, class treasurer.

Maurice Taylor Jr. gets a hug from Ocie Bennett. Maurice was one of the 140 graduates in the Class of 2021.

The grads walked from the high school to the football field, pass a line of teachers and then through a tunnel of balloons.

Junior girls carry the daisy chain, including Alyson Knack and Emily Harling at left. Junior boys served as escorts and wore purple vests and bowties.

Aubrey Boyer, the class president, said life can often feel like a roller coaster that goes up and then down, and back again. The Class of 2021 has been on a roller coaster “that goes every which way.”

The class has experienced the best and worst of times. The grads had fun at school with homecoming, and grieved the loss of friends and endured a pandemic.

She told her classmates to look to the people seated next to them, and acknowledge they had triumphed by being there.

“We did this,” Boyer said.

The graduates completed their coursework and earned their diplomas, despite the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic.

“Each and every one of you is capable of greatness,” Boyer said. “Seniors, thank you for the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime.”

Kathy Harling, the Board of Education president, speaks to the class and urged them to live with integrity. Their personal character means far more than material possessions, Harling said.

She praised the class for their perseverance, but said they are “much more than the class that endured the pandemic.”

They will go far in life and have happiness if they put others before themselves, and embrace kindness, compassion and honesty.

Ashley Ames, left, is the class valedictorian and Aisha Drisdom is the salutatorian. They gave their speeches together, and urged their classmates to fight injustice and be a force in pushing back against racism, hate and discrimination.

Drisdom said the class showed the ability to learn in new ways and to adapt during the past 15 months of a pandemic.

“Let’s all be the change,” she said. “Self improvement is always possible.”

Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, commended the class for putting in the work to meet the standards for their diplomas. He said life won’t always be fair. He urged them to continue to be responsible and find the good in others.

Austin Aman walks across the platform to accept his diploma.

Adonis Guzman Ramirez feels victorious after receiving his diploma.

Sierra Kast hugs her father John Kast who is a member of the Board of Education. He presented Sierra with her diploma.

Kyle Sidari smiles after receiving his diploma from his father David Sidari, who is a long-time member of the Board of Edcuation.

The class cheers on and takes a video of Chris Shabazz who did a dance on the way to accepting his diploma. The class sat in the bleachers while friends and family were in chairs on the football field.

Hannah Brewer

Two of the graduates spoke with the Orleans Hub briefly before the ceremony. Hannah Brewer will be majoring in music at Geneseo State College.

She said the pandemic was challenging, especially with remote learning and being limited to two in-person days of school for most of the year until April.

“It was harder this year but it was also more fun,” she said. “It made everything a surprise.”

Damion Lattimer

She is grateful many of the school activities, including the music program, were able to continue this year, although in a different way than before the pandemic.

She said she will miss her classmates when she heads off to college.

“The best thing about Albion is how close-knit we are,” Brewer said.

Damion Lattimer said he is excited to be going to Niagara University to study nursing. He said he will miss his friends and many of the teachers at Albion.

The pandemic forced him and his classmates to accept change and uncertainty.

“For our senior year we had to just adapt and go with the flow,” Lattimer said.

Shakyeliz Luna Colon poses with her diploma.

Saleya Williams smiles for a photo after receiving her high school degree.

Bagpipers play while graduates, including Arianna McGurn and Honesty Little, walk from the football stadium out to the lawn.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Medina Mayor Mike Sidari presents a key to the Village of Medina to Debbie Padoleski in appreciation for her 41 years of work in the village clerk’s office, including the past eight years as village clerk/treasurer.

Padoleski retires on June 30. She has worked for Medina since she was 19.

Many current and former village employees and trustees attended a retirement party for Padoleski this afternoon. She joins them for a group photo outside the village clerk’s office at 119 Park Ave.

“I’ve met a lot of wonderful people,” Padoleski told the group. “This has not been a job to me. I hate to leave it but I know it’s time.”

Mayor Mike Sidari presents Padoleski with a proclamation declaring June 30, 2021 as “Debbie Padoleski Day” in Medina. That will be her last day at work.

Sidari has been the Medina mayor for five years. He praised her for provided guidance in his role as mayor.

Padoleski functions as the village’s chief financial officer. “She takes care of all the financials,” he said.

She also is a calming presence in the office, and will patiently explain tax bills and local laws to local residents.

The proclamation for Padoleski states:

“Debbie’s thorough knowledge of the day-to-day operations of the Village, including records and fiscal management, has made the Village of Medina a better place to live, work and visit. “With her dedication to the Village of Medina, Debbie has provided the Village with equitable and efficient operations that will have a long-lasting, positive influence on the Village,” states the proclamation, which is signed by Mayor Sidari and Village Trustees Owen Toale, Tim Elliott, Marguerite Sherman and Jessica Marciano.

Press Release, Nadine Hanlon, Orleans County Clerk

ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Motor Vehicles will reopen for walk-in DMV services on July 1^stand will no longer require appointments.

Walk-in services will be available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We will be closed on Wednesday in order to process mail-in and dealer transactions.  The Drop Box will continue to be utilized as well.

The DMV Office is on summer hours and will open at 8:30 a.m. Anyone visiting the DMV office on any given day should plan on being through the DMV door by 3 p.m. to allow the proper amount of time to complete the necessary transaction. In some instances it may become necessary for clients to return on another day.

Due to social distancing requirements, the number of clients allowed inside the DMV office will be limited and will be closely monitored by security staff at the County Office Building.

We appreciate your cooperation and continued patience during this transition. As always, as guidelines change we will re-evaluate our systems and adjust accordingly.

Forms are still available at the main entrance of the County Office Building for use in preparing your paperwork ahead of your visit to our office.

We will do our best to serve as many of our clients as possible each day. Please continue to utilize our “local” DMV Office so that we can keep the revenue in our county.

Again, we appreciate your patience and we look forward to seeing you in our local DMV office.

Photos by Tom Rivers

RIDGEWAY – Volunteers were busy this morning at the parking lot of the Ridgeway fire hall, packing boxes of produce, crackers, tortilla wraps, macaroni and cheese and other food.

Donna Poore, second from left, is coordinator of the food pantry at the Calvary Tabernacle Church in Medina. She led a team of volunteers this morning from the church, other food pantries in Medina and a group of employees from the Iroquois Job Corps.

Today was the last scheduled food distribution. Since April 2020, at least 300 boxes of food were available at distributions that have been in Albion, Ridgeway, Knowlesville (4-H Fairgrounds) and occasionally at Holley and Clarendon. The program was funded through the federal Department of Agriculture.

But the USDA announced the “Families Food Box Program” program wouldn’t be continuing. The program has had five rounds and delivered 157.1 million boxes of fresh produce, milk, dairy and cooked meats to Americans across the country since last April.

There was a long line of vehicles down Horan Road leading to the fire hall. This photo was taken at about 8 this morning. Many of the vehicles started to line up by 6 a.m.

Two local senior citizens were the first two vehicles to arrive. They waited more than two hours for the distribution to start.

The first woman was from Albion. She went to a distribution event about once a month.

“It has been very helpful for me being on a fixed income, especially with the cost of food and gas and everything going up,” she said.

She said she is an early riser and didn’t mind getting in line early. The weather is warmer now and the sun comes up earlier, compared to the winter.

The Office for the Aging in Orleans County, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, the Calvary Tabernacle Church in Medina and Cornell Cooperative Extension all took the lead running different distributions. Residents can still go to local pantries if they need food.

A Lyndonville senior citizen estimated the value of food was often about $75 at the distributions. She would arrive early and crochet. She would talk with a friend who was also in line using her speaker phone.

“This was a great thing,” she said about the distributions. “It helped a lot of people, and not just the senior citizens. There are so many people who ended up without a job. I hope for the younger families they can find a way to keep it going.”

Curt Strickland, one of the volunteers this morning, eyes all the boxes of food and tries to help determine how much each vehicle should get. The volunteers had to rebox many of the items, with an assortment of Romaine lettuce, Brussels Sprouts, crackers, oranges, tortilla wraps, macaroni and cheese, and other food.

Before the distribution started, the group paused for a prayer.

Mike Jagger, one of the volunteers from Calvary, said the church was grateful to be a part of the distributions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s just helping people,” he said.

Large-scale solar projects given permits in Livingston and Suffolk counties

Press Release, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting has issued final siting permits for its first two major solar facilities, Riverhead Solar 2, LLC and Morris Ridge Solar Energy Center, LLC.

The siting approvals for these two facilities are the fastest in New York State’s history, in line with the State’s commitment to ensure that its nation-leading pipeline of large-scale renewable energy projects will be permitted in a timely and responsible manner. In addition, ORES continues to see a strong market interest in its new permitting process with a pipeline of 46 permit applications in various stages of review with several more anticipated throughout the rest of the year.

Riverhead is a 36-megawatt solar electric facility in the Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County. Morris Ridge Solar Energy Center is a 177-megawatt solar electric facility coupled with 83-megawatt battery energy storage in the Town of Mount Morris, Livingston County. Together, these solar facilities are expected to generate enough renewable energy to power more than 46,000 New York homes and reduce carbon emissions by over 208,000 metric tons annually, the equivalent of taking more than 41,000 cars off the road every year.

“As part of our aggressive clean and renewable energy goals, we’re committed to protecting New York State from the effects of climate change and helping to ensure renewable energy sources can be built and distributed easily and efficiently,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York has long been a national leader on climate change, and with the approval of these two projects, we are taking significant steps toward saving the environment and fostering new jobs and investment to bring our economy back better, stronger and greener from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Under the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act, these approved solar facilities will help the state combat climate change and jumpstart its economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the Act, New York State created the nation’s first Office of Renewable Energy Siting to improve and streamline the process for environmentally responsible and cost-effective siting of large-scale renewable energy projects across New York while delivering health, environmental, and economic benefits to local communities.

Today’s announcement demonstrates swift progress under the state’s recently expanded Clean Energy Standard and advances Governor Cuomo’s goal to obtain 70 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 as mandated in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The Office’s decisions follow a detailed review and robust public participation process to ensure that these solar facilities meet or exceed the requirements of Section 94-c of the Executive Law and its implementing regulations. These solar facilities and other major renewable energy facilities currently under Office review—as announced in Governor Cuomo’s 2021 State of the State address—are vital to meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s aggressive carbon reduction and clean energy targets to combat climate change.

ORES Acting Executive Director Houtan Moaveni said, “In keeping with Governor Cuomo’s goal for a clean energy economy, today’s decision demonstrates how New York State is working to more quickly advance development of major renewable energy facilities, while also ensuring the protection of the environment and consideration of all pertinent social, economic, and environmental factors in permitting of such facilities with input from local governments and host communities. We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders as these facilities are constructed.”

These projects will create over 430 temporary and full-time jobs and spur over $200 million in private investment to help stimulate the state’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Local taxing jurisdictions will receive over $20 million in payments in lieu of taxes and other funding over the life of the two projects. Riverhead Solar and Morris Ridge Solar Energy Center paid $213,000 in intervenor funds to enable municipal and community groups to fully participate in the review of the facilities.

Today’s decisions may be obtained by going to the Office’s website by clicking here.