Photos contributed by Scott Mason, secretary of Towpath Lodge: Frank Berger of Medina is presented with a certificate for 60 years as a Mason by Herb Koenig of Gasport and Robert Donovan of Medina. The Towpath Masonic Lodge, which was formed by a merger of Medina, Yates and Middleport lodges, recently honored its members for years of membership.

MIDDLEPORT – The Towpath Masonic Lodge in Middleport recently recognized members for their years of service to the lodge.

The Towpath Lodge was created in 2019 by a merger of the Medina Masonic Lodge, which had formerly merged with Yates, and the Cataract Lodge in Middleport.

Membership awards were presented to Herb Koenig of Gasport for 63 years; Frank Berger of Medina, 60 years; Robert Harrold of Lyndonville, 50 years; Fulton Rogers of Medina, 50 years; and Allan Kropf of Medina, 20 years.

Also recognized were two members who were unable to attend – Don Ross of Albion, 78 years; and Paul Beatenbough of Lyndonville, 64 years.

Masonic awards are usually presented annually, except for last year when meetings ceased for several months during the pandemic.

Herb Koenig of Gasport, left, and Robert Donovan of Medina present a pin and certificate to Robert Harrold of Lyndonville for 50 years of membership in the Masonic Lodge. A former member of the Yates lodge, Harrold is a member of the Towpath Masonic Lodge, which is a merger of Yates, Medina and Middleport.

Robert Donovan of Medina, center, received his certificate for 50 years as a Mason by Towpath Lodge master Matthew Flamminger, left, and Herb Koenig.

Fulton Rogers of Medina, Center, received a pin and certificate for 50 years as a Mason by Herb Koenig, left, and Robert Donovan.

Allan Kropf of Medina, center, was presented with a certificate for 20 years as a member of the Masonic Lodge by Master Matthew Flamminger, left, and Herb Koenig. Kropf, who is also treasurer of the Towpath Lodge, had been treasurer of the Medina Lodge since 2002.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is hailing the passage of a bill (A7685) through both houses of the Legislature that would give members of Gold Star families free college tuition.

The passage of this bill comes two years after Hawley himself proposed a bill to provide Gold Star families with free tuition, though that bill was blocked in the Higher Education Committee by the Assembly Majority and never brought to the floor for a vote.

“Today is a great day for our military families throughout the state to be shown some appreciation for their service and sacrifice,” said Hawley. “If somebody gives their life for our nation and our constitution, the least we can do is help get their loved ones through school.

“While I wish we were able to get this bill voted on and passed two years ago to help even more Gold Star families, I am glad to see this bill become law to help those who lost people they loved while defending the country we love.”

Club with 100 members aims to make organization more community friendly

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Oak Orchard Yacht Club members Paul Gray and Bob Frost, both past commodores, wait to raise the American and Canadian flags during ceremonies Saturday to celebrate opening of the summer boating season.

WATERPORT – Like all social organizations, the Oak Orchard Yacht Club has gone through changes.

If the new commodore, Bob Hodgins of Batavia, has his way, he’d like to see a lot more changes taking place this year – most of all, making it a more community-friendly club.

“One of the things we recognize is there is a perception of the Yacht Club as being stand-offish,” Hodgins said. “We want to change that. We have a board of 11 and they are a great group. They are like-minded and work together.”

Hodgins pointed out the sign in the front yard of the Yacht Club which reads “Members and guests only.” He has changed that by adding signs saying, “Memberships available. Docks available,” hoping to send a more welcoming message.

“We’ve got a wonderful facility here, and we’re trying to make better use of it,” Hodgins said. “Chap’s Diner in Elba runs the restaurant and bar, which is open on Friday and Saturdays from May through September.”

The Yacht Club recently invited the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association to have their annual meeting there.

“This was a good experience,” Hodgins said. “They are our neighbors, and many had never been here before.”

He said they also recently had a pseudo-senior prom for kids who missed out on their senior prom last year due to Covid. He said it was a wonderful event, with kids coming from all over, including New Jersey and Delaware.

They have invited Leadership Orleans 2021 to have a meeting at the Yacht Club on July 8.

“This is a great opportunity to bring young community leaders into our club,” Hodgins said.

Hodgins is also working on having an open house at the Yacht Club for different segments of the population, possibly with a chicken barbecue and music, which would be open to the public.

Officers of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club stand for the Pledge of Allegiance during open ceremonies signifying opening of the boating season. Commodore Bob Hodgins is second from left.

“This is a club developed and kept up by its members,” said Hodgins wife, Mary Lu.

OOYC welcomes both social and full members. Social members have the privilege of visiting the club and enjoying the amenities of the dining room and bar. Full membership is for boaters and includes a dock. Anyone wishing more information on becoming a member on either level may contact Hodgins at (585) 409-9869.

OOYC, which currently has 100 members, was founded in 1938 and began operation at the current site of the public boat launch on the east side of Oak Orchard River, near the harbor mouth at Point Breeze. Club activities centered on cruising, both sail and power, and an active one-design racing program.

In the early 1970s, New York state cast a covetous eye on the old site and began the push to the club’s current location on the west side of the river, about a mile upstream. During this time, members faced the herculean task of arranging funding, getting permits and the construction of the current yacht club. It was then that the tradition of being a “working” club was really cemented. Capital was secured not only by mortgage, but also by members contracting for their docks for 10 years in the future. With funds in hand, the membership spent the winter of 1972 on the ice constructing the docks. The clubhouse was also built entirely by volunteer labor. Only the main structural parts were contracted out.

The years since have seen gradual improvement to the facilities and expansion of services to members. In the early 1980s, additional land was purchased on the west side of the road to provide a buffer between the club and increasing residential surroundings.

According to their website, the club is now in the fortunate position of enjoying a debt-free facility in a beautiful location. Their vision for the future is to continue to maintain and improve on the physical structure and to stay true to the yachting traditions of all who gave so much personal effort to create what they enjoy today.

Jeff Plummer of Waterport steps away from the miniature cannon, which he fired three times to signify opening of the boating season at Oak Orchard Yacht Club on Saturday night.

Early voting will start on Saturday and continue through June 20 with Republican primaries in six Orleans County towns.

The early voting polling location is at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office at the County Administration Building, 14016 State Route 31.

The early voting times include:

• Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sunday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Monday, June 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 15, from noon to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 16, from noon to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, June 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sunday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The regular primary election day will be June 22 with a polling location in each town with a primary. The Republican primaries include:

Barre – Four candidates seeking two four-year positions on the Town Board: George McKenna, Tom McCabe, David S. Waters and Lynn Hill. McCabe and Hill currently are on the Town Board.

Carlton – Two candidates are seeking a four-year term as town clerk. Karen A. Narburgh and Dori Goetze are the candidates. Narburgh is the current town clerk.

Gaines – Two candidates are running for Gaines town justice. Bruce Schmidt is retiring from the position after this year. Henry Smith, Jr. and Charles Prentice, Jr. both are seeking a four-year term.

Murray – Former Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower is challenging current Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio for a two-year term as town supervisor.

Ridgeway – There are three candidates seeking a four-year term as Ridgeway town clerk. They include Laurie Kilburn, Hannah Hill and E.J. Cox.

There are also three candidates seeking two four-year terms on the Town Board: Cliff Barber, Jeffrey Toussaint and David M. Stalker. Toussaint and Stalker are currently on the Town Board.

Shelby – There are three candidates seeking two four-years on the Town Board: William H. Bacon Edward, Mathew Zelazny and Stephen J. Seitz, Sr. Bacon and Seitz are current board members.

Provided photos: Top row from left: Noah Stern (Royalton-Hartland), Sean Fuller (Lewiston-Porter) and Brendan Zimmerman (Lewiston-Porter). Bottom Row: Sawyer Braley (Albion), Robert Taylor (Starpoint) and Jeff Wynes (Wilson).

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Six students who take the welding program at the Orleans (OCTEC) and Niagara (NCTEC) Career and Technical Education Centers took the top three spots at the Niagara Frontier Weld Off Competition.

Eleven schools participated in the competition virtually throughout the Western New York area this past April and May. The students made weld plates that were dropped off at their schools and judges Harry Carlson CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) and Peter Sullivan CWI looked over the work and determined the winners from the high school and college participants.

First place received $200, second place $150 and third place $100.

Congratulations go to:

High School Senior Category – Senior

• Noah Stern (Orleans Career and Technical Education Center/Royalton-Hartland)
• Sean Fuller (Niagara Career and Technical Education Center/Lewiston-Porter)
• Brendan Zimmerman (Niagara Career and Technical Education Center/Lewiston-Porter)

High School Junior Category – Junior

• Sawyer Braley (Orleans Career and Technical Education Center/Albion)
• Robert Taylor (Niagara Career and Technical Education Center/Starpoint)
• Jeff Wynes (Niagara Career and Technical Education Center/Wilson)

The four Welding teachers Eric Farrell (OCTEC), Steve Frey (NCTEC), Ron Jackson (OCTEC) and Mike Tolli (NCTEC) say there are very proud of their students who competed and thrilled with how they placed.

Photos courtesy of Joshua Mink

A rare solar eclipse wowed early risers this morning. Joshua Mink of Hilton was at Irondequoit Bay this morning and captured images of the solar eclipse between 5:30 and 5:45 a.m. Mink is the son-in-law of Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Library in Lyndonville.

“I’m lucky I was able to get these close intimate shots of an amazing phenomenon,” Mink said. “The weather and clouds worked out perfectly.”

The moon partially blocked out the sun to create a “ring of fire” solar eclipse.

Assembly speaker says bills are ‘common sense’ gun safety legislation

The New York State Assembly on Wednesday passed a series of bills that Assemblyman Steve Hawley says would restrict the Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers.

Hawley opposed the legislation which he said would drive gun sellers and manufacturers out of the state through burdensome regulation. One of the bills passed would make firearms manufacturers and dealers liable for harm caused by their weapon even if that harm is not reasonably foreseeable, if deemed a “public nuisance” (A.6762B).

“These bills won’t make anyone safer, and are nothing but shallow attempts to regulate sellers of firearms out of the state and make it impossible to sell handguns here in New York,” Hawley said. “These measures are unconscionable violations of the constitutional rights of New Yorkers, and are just another step toward making it impractical, if not illegal, to buy and sell firearms in New York state.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie hailed the package of “common sense” gun safety legislation. Included in the legislative package are bills that he said would ban ghost guns, hold the gun industry liable for damages it causes, prohibit those with an outstanding warrant of arrest for a felony from purchasing a gun, and require quarterly reports on the origin of firearms used to commit crimes in New York.

“We have seen too many lives cut short and too many communities devastated by senseless gun violence – we should not have to see another person lose their life in a shooting at a school or workplace, or who was shot outside their home,” Heastie said.

Heastie’s office in a press release said this about the legislation:

• Ghost Guns – Included in the legislative package is the Jose Webster Untraceable Firearms Act, which would prohibit the possession of ghost guns. Ghost guns are unserialized firearms, typically assembled from unserialized parts, including unfinished frames or receivers. It would require licensed gunsmiths to serialize and register with the New York State Police any unserialized firearm, rifle, shotgun, finished frame or receiver, or unfinished frame or receiver in their possession (A.613-A, Rosenthal).

• Unfinished Receiver Act – The Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act would prohibit the possession and sale of unfinished frames and receivers by individuals that are not licensed gunsmiths. Unfinished frames and receivers are incomplete gun components that do not require serial numbers under federal law. Because guns assembled from unfinished frames and receivers do not have serial numbers, they are untraceable and can be built and transported without the normal background checks required when purchasing a gun from a licensed retailer, Heastie said. The legislation is named for Scott J. Beigel, who lost his life during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida while trying to protect his students (A.2666-A, Lavine).

• Microstamping – This legislation would require all semiautomatic pistols to be capable of microstamping expended cartridge cases. Microstamping technology utilizes lasers to make precise, microscopic engravings on the internal mechanisms of a gun. As the gun is fired, information identifying the make, model and serial number of the gun can be stamped onto the cartridge as numbers and letters. This will allow law enforcement to trace firearms to their original purchaser through cartridge cases found at a crime scene. This would apply to semiautomatic pistols manufactured after January 1, 2023, that are sold or delivered in New York (A.7926, Rosenthal).

• No guns if outstanding warrant – The legislative package would prohibit the purchase, acquisition, sale or disposal of a weapon by or to anyone known to be the subject of an outstanding warrant of arrest for the alleged commission of a felony or serious offense. It would also prohibit an individual from purchasing or acquiring a gun on behalf of another person who the purchaser or acquirer knows to be the subject of such a warrant (A.6198-B, Paulin).

• Expanded Red Flag Law – This legislation would require mental health facilities to provide patients and their authorized representative with information on how to seek an extreme risk protection order prior to a patient’s discharge or conditional release. This builds on the 2019 red flag law, which allows law enforcement to confiscate firearms and prohibit an individual from purchasing a firearm if they are deemed to be a threat, and if an extreme risk protection court order is issued (A.1005-A, Paulin).

• ‘Disguised Guns’ – This legislation would amend the definition of “disguised gun” to include any rifle, shotgun or machine gun that resembles a toy gun. This would prohibit the possession, manufacture and design of such disguised guns (A.6522, Stern).

• Quarterly reports on guns used in crimes – This would require the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Division of State Police to publish quarterly reports providing information on firearms, rifles and shotguns that are used in the commission of crimes in New York. This would provide lawmakers and the public with a better understanding of the nature of the firearms used in crimes in the state and better inform policy actions in the future (A.7243, Richardson).

Photos courtesy of Don Welch

CLARENDON – Route 237 is getting repaved in Clarendon, from the Clarendon corners to the Holley village line.

Don Welch took these photos on Wednesday of Highway Rehab Corp., repaving the road. Their machines heat the road surface with gas torches, then dig up the hot asphalt, mix in some oil, and lay it back down, Welch said.

It takes 3 machines to do one lane of the road. A vibratory roller follows the paving trucks and leaves the recycled surface smooth as new. A top layer of asphalt will be added after they’re done, Welch said.

Press Release

ALBION – Five local groups next week are sponsoring the first of hopefully several book discussions focusing on racial justice. The public is invited to the book discussions at noon and 6:30 p.m. on June 17 at Hoag Library.

The discussion will feature White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said in his 1963 Letter from the Birmingham Jail, “Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity.” The sponsoring groups feel that these words are as relevant today as when Dr. King penned them in 1963.

The book discussion is being offered two times for the convenience of all those interested. You may either attend at noon (bring a “brown bag” lunch) or at 6:30 p.m. (or both).  The discussions will be held in the library’s large “community room.”

Although, the groups encourage people to read White Fragility: it is not a requirement for attending.

Co-sponsors include Social Justice, People Embracing Diversity and Albion Betterment Committees, Pullman Memorial Universalist Church and Hoag Library.

The committee viewed DiAngelo’s book as a good primer for these discussions. From Library Journal: “DiAngelo challenges white readers to acknowledge and then set aside their feelings in order to think critically about how their racial identity operates on a personal and collective level within a system that privileges whiteness at the expense of those classified as not white.” She basically asks particularly people of good will, to listen, especially to minorities, rather than react.

DiAngelo, white, was raised in poverty. Yet, she was class valedictorian at Seattle U. She’s a PhD In Multi-Cultural Education. She’s trained major businesses, universities and governments internationally. White Fragility has been translated into 10 languages.

Rev. James Renfrew, Byron Presbyterian Church, will lead the noon discussion. Kim Remley  of People Embracing Diversity will moderate. Sister Dolores Ann O’Dowd, President of GOMOC and past Catholic Chaplain at Albion Correctional Facility, will be a reactor. Bob Golden, 43 years in criminal justice, minority and domestic violence work, will frame the discussion.

Kim Remley will lead the discussion at  6:30 p.m. Kae Wilbert, Chair of People Embracing Diversity, a joint committee of three churches, will moderate.  Sister Dolores and Bob Golden will fulfill the same roles.

Villages get far less than cities in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities

Press Release, Assemblyman Mike Norris

Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) is proud to announce that legislation he sponsors (A.6601) to establish the New York State Aid and Incentives for Municipalities Redesign Task Force has been passed in the Assembly.

It was previously passed in the state Senate, and now will return to that house to be delivered to the governor for his consideration to become law.

“When we talk about the upstate-downstate divide in our state, the antiquated funding formula for our municipal governments is a perfect example,” Norris said. “Upstate taxpayers are being shortchanged because of decades old funding formulas like this. But this bill is an example of how my colleagues and I came together and worked across the aisle to address this issue,” said Norris. “This is an important step in modernizing and enhancing the way this funding will be calculated in future state budgets.”

(Editor’s Note: Orleans Hub has frequently written about the disparity in AIM, how villages with police and fire departments receive about $7 per capita in AIM, while cities with similar levels of services receive well over $100. In Buffalo’s case, the per capita aid is over $600. In the Village of Albion, it’s $6.41, about 1 percent of what Buffalo gets. Click here to see a chart and article with more information.)

This legislation is significant because it would reimagine the state’s funding for local governments, commonly referred to as Aid to Municipalities (AIM). In recent years, AIM funding has been the cause of contention as local governments have gone without any funding increase from Albany while at the same time being asked to foot the bill for new costly mandates, as well as increased costs (such as energy, transportation, etc.). This causes local taxes to go up, although local taxing entities try to stay within the 2 percent property tax cap.

The current AIM funding formula is based off of aid levels dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s for cities, and even later for towns and villages – putting the amount of state aid municipalities receive at an unfair disadvantage, particularly in upstate communities.

Norris said, “The problem has been further exacerbated by the pandemic in so many towns and villages across our state – particularly in small, rural communities. That’s why I am so pleased my colleagues finally recognized how this revenue stream needs to be addressed in order to aid taxpayers and smaller jurisdictions.”

The bill creates a temporary municipal redesign task force (set to expire by Dec. 31, 2022) to investigate state funding for cities, towns and villages through AIM, which have not seen an increase in 12 years. The task force would report to the governor and state Legislature within one year of convening on a variety of issues, including the AIM funding formula, distribution of resources and alternative solutions and models. The goal would be to have the findings included in the next state budget.

Norris was among a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to sponsor the bill in both houses, and it also had the support of the New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials. If signed into law by the governor, the bill will immediately allow for the convening of the temporary task force.

Harvest Restaurant on first floor expected to open June 24

Photos by Tom Rivers: The sign on the restored Bent’s Opera House was one of the last touches on the building which has been extensively renovated.

MEDINA – The public will soon be able to step inside the Bent’s Opera House after a three-year extensive renovation.

During a recent tour of the building, staff of Orleans Hub were able to see first-hand the spectacular transformation of the sandstone building at the corner of Main and West Center Streets.

Roger Hungerford spearheaded the ambitious restoration of one of Medina’s most prominent buildings. Roger and his wife Heather have announced the building’s upgrades are nearly complete, and an opening date of June 24th is planned for the farm-to-table Harvest Restaurant on the first floor.

Justin Bruce, restaurant manager at Harvest Restaurant in Bent’s Opera House, stands in the main dining room of the restaurant which is scheduled to open June 24.

Heather explained the monumental task of restoring the building, which began with a design phase in 2016.

“After going into construction, we realized the building walls were rotting,” she said. “The leaking roof had created so much damage it was surprising to our team the building had not collapsed years ago. Work was contracted to Le Chase Construction, with Charles Spencer of Clarendon as project manager. Having Charlie, with Dennis, Nate, and the team from Le Chase Construction, really made a difference in this project.

“The details they would point out to us through this entire project turned  this into an incredible outcome. The number of great contractors we had during this project was unbelievable. From the floors to the woodwork repair, every one of them had a hand in this beautiful building. I often call them artists, because the detail in all their work is like seeing the details in a piece of art.”

The restaurant will have several “soft openings” before June 24 for small groups of family and friends to train the staff, Heather explained.

Head chef is Lionel Heydel, whose background includes 10 years of teaching at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School. He has been in the restaurant business since he was 14 and helped in his father’s Michelin star restaurant in France. Heather first met Heydel when she was attending Le Cordon Bleu.

“I realized there are so many amazing chefs out there, but to have a chef that is just as talented with his craft as he is at teaching it to others is a rare find,” Heather said. “Normally you would have to pay to go to a highly ranked culinary school to be able to learn from him. Now if someone is looking to get that level of culinary training, they can come work with him.”

Chef Lionel Heydel plates meals in the kitchen of Harvest Restaurant. Both main dining rooms have windows open into the kitchen so diners can watch the chefs at work.

The menus will be focused on the farm-to-table theme of fresh, local ingredients in season as much as possible.

“Chef Lionel is very excited to have so many great local farmers to work with here,” Heather said.

On the second floor of the building is the Boutique Hotel with 10 uniquely designed rooms, each having a different theme. The themes are: Mid-Century Twisted; Very Well “Read”, which is predominately done in red with a wallpaper of books; Purple Hazel, a Jimmy Hendrix themed room; Petal to the Metal; Green with Envy; Isabella’s Parisienne Apartment; Bohemian Crash Pad; Dark Arts; Study in Blue; and Color of Love.

The Color of Love is the master suite and can be connected to the Study in Blue room. Most of the rooms have king size beds, and their bathrooms are designed to complement the rooms.

“Every time someone comes to stay here, it can be a different memorable experience,” Heather said about the rooms that all have their own look.

Due to the pandemic, the hotel rooms have taken a lot longer to finish than they anticipated. A few furnishings still have not arrived, but Heather said they are optimistic that the rooms will be ready for bookings when the restaurant opens June 24th.

“Thankfully, a lot of furniture for the rooms we’ve had in storage since early 2019,” she said. “Unfortunately, the remaining furniture has been having exceptionally long lead times due to the after effects of Covid. One of the beds took almost a year to come.”

The Bent’s Opera House is a high-profile site in Medina’s downtown at the corner of Main and West Center streets. 

On the third floor, restoration of the Opera House is complete with just a few finishing touches remaining. A portable bar and food prep area have been installed so the space can be rented for parties, weddings and special events. An area off the south end of the stage has been named the “Green room.” In show business, the green room is a space that functions as a lounge area for the performers when they are not on stage. This room will not only serve that purpose, but also act as a hair and makeup room, with posh salon chairs and large lighted mirrors. (Photos of the second and third floors will be available after all the final touches are in place.)

A wall-size movie screen has been installed over the stage, anticipating movie nights, seminars, corporate events, and so much more.

When the three-dimensional tile ceiling of the Opera House could not be saved, an artist was hired to come in and paint the design on the ceiling. Special chandeliers were designed to complement the elegance of the space.

Unfortunately, tours of this building will not always be available due to the number of staff needed to openly give tours. There will be, however, designated times to book a tour, according to Heather.  This will be posted on their social media platforms soon. This way, everyone can take their time and really enjoy the experience.

“We are so close, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone,” Heather exclaimed.

Eileen McElwain helped start the Dollars for Scholars

Eileen McElwain

ALBION – Failing health and being on oxygen hasn’t prevented Eileen McElwain of Medina from promoting a cause very dear to her heart.

McElwain, 78, spoke from her bed at Supportive Care of Orleans County (Hospice) on Tuesday to talk about the Medina Scholarship Fund, formerly Dollars for Scholars, which she started in Medina 30 years ago.

McElwain was working at Medina Savings and Loan, where she was the first woman to hold the office and retire as vice president/secretary of the banking institution, when she was asked to become involved in Dollars from Scholars.

“School superintendent Dr. Gee had gotten the information in the mail on Dollars for Scholars and instructed high school principal Fred Snyder to get the program started,” McElwain said. “Roger Hungerford was on our first board, along with several of us from Medina Savings and Loan, including Sue Holland.”

McElwain retired from the Savings and Loan in 1996, after 22 years of employment.

At one point, former Shelby Town Supervisor Skip Draper came to McElwain and asked if she could help with the town’s financial record keeping.

“I was taking care of my mom at the time, but Skip said he could accommodate me and any hours I could work,” she said. “He did by giving me a key to the building so I could go in at my convenience. I got the books all in order and in 2000, Skip asked me if I would be interested in running for the position of councilman.”

She later became the first woman to be elected as a councilman for the town of Shelby. She changed her election signs by inserting “wo” into the “council-man” wording. She served her four-year term in 2000-2004, but wasn’t interested in running again, she said.

“I felt I worked much more comfortably on the other side of the bench,” she said.

McElwain was married to John McElwain, who passed away in 2012. He was a local electrician who was very active in the Medina Lions Club.

Through the years, Mrs. McElwain said the Dollars for Scholars program started to dwindle as board members dropped out.

“I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I wondered if I should just keep going until the funds ran out, or what.”

The decision was made for her when in 2014 Dave Webster and Scott Schickling got it going again, and gave McElwain guidance and direction, she said.

Because of legal stipulations, a new name had to be given the program, and it became Medina Scholarship Fund.

Since then, the fund has given $6,000 annually in scholarships to Medina seniors.

Former Medina ophthalmologist Arthur Mruczek gave the fund a boost by donating money annually in memory of his daughter Marcy.

McElwain said to receive a scholarship students must write an essay and then the committee votes on the recipients. She said the names are blocked out so the committee doesn’t know who they are choosing. McElwain prefers giving it to a student based on their need.

“We have a wonderful board now, and this is a perfect time for me to turn over the reins to someone else,” McElwain said.

Current board members are President Lynn Woodruff and Kathy Iorio, Pat Bellucci, Diane Mazur, Karen Pane, Kathie Valley and Karen Pollard.

Donations may be sent to Medina Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 185, Medina. If in honor or in memory of someone, the name should be enclosed on a separate piece of paper.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Holley Village Board met for its monthly meeting on Tuesday evening in the auditorium of the former Holley High School. That building is now used for the village offices and also 40 senior apartments. Pictured from left include village trustees Rochelle Moroz and Connie Nenni, Mayor Kevin Lynch, attorney John Sansone, and trustees Mark Bower and James DeFilipps.

HOLLEY – The village will hold its election next Tuesday, June 15, and the two candidates are unopposed.

Current village trustees Rochelle Moroz and Jim DeFilipps are seeking re-election to two-year terms on the board. Voting will be from noon to 9 p.m. in the downstairs lobby of the village office, which is now in the former Holley High School at 1 Wright Street.

Moroz has been on the board for four years. She and her husband moved from Texas to Holley to be close to their daughter and her family in Brockport.

Moroz is a retired church secretary and treasurer. She is running under the “Common Sense” party.

She wants to see the village continue making progress with infrastructure projects, including sidewalk replacements.

DeFilipps has been a village trustee for five years. He is an Orleans County deputy sheriff and is running under “The People’s Party.”

DeFilipps is pleased with recent successes in the village, including a $17 million transformation of the old Holley High School and the start of water and sidewalk upgrades. He expects the village will tackle more projects, especially with federal funding through the American Rescue Plan. The village is awaiting to see how much funding it will receive through that federal program and the guidelines for how the money can be used.

DeFilipps, son of long-time Holley-Murray Historian Marsha DeFilipps, said Holley is headed in the right direction.

“It’s community involvement and betterment of the village that I want to be a part of,” he said.

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Public Square is was a busy place on Tuesday evening. The Village Board agreed to extend the 2-hour parking limit in the Square from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

HOLLEY – The Village Board is extending the 2-hour parking limit in the Public Square. Motorists were limited to no more than two consecutive hours in the Public Square from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Board members held a public hearing on Tuesday evening on the change. No one spoke against allowing people to park up to two hours in the Public Square until 9 p.m.

Mayor Kevin Lynch said Holley village officials were asked by businesses to extend the 2-hour parking.

Village Attorney John Sansone will send the local law to the Secretary of State to be certified. Once the village receives notice from the notice, the law will go into effect.

The Village DPW also will put up new signs with the later hours for the 2-hour parking. The new law doesn’t include Sundays and holidays.

In other action, the Village Board also accepted the construction bid of $80,915 from Watson Enterprises to install new sidewalks, curbs and aprons on East Albion Street. This street wasn’t included in the recent sidewalk improvement project in the village.

People will soon be able to legally park longer in the Public Square for up to 2 hours. The Village Board said the later times were in response to a request from businesses in the Square.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Annalise Steier, one of the drum majors in the Albion marching band, directs the group during a performance for parents and friends last month on May 27. The band performed “Old Town Road.”

ALBION – The Albion marching band, in its only competition this season, won the Peoples’ Choice Award, getting more YouTube likes for its video and two other bands in the AA Division.

The video competition was organized by the Sherburne-Earlville Pageant of Bands is up. People could only vote once. (The video link is no longer available.) Albion topped Norwich HS in second place, and Fonda-Fultonville HS in third.

Albion filmed its video on May 8. The contest gave the band a competition and an event, because its parade season was cancelled.

Albion and its 50 band members performed “Old Town Road” and the video also included some antics and whimsical moments.

“The band appreciates the community’s support, especially in this unusual year, which included practices held virtually via Zoom, no travel, and no live competitions or parades,” said band director Mike Thaine. “I applaud the core of kids who stuck with it!”