Photos and press release from Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville school district acknowledged and honored select students with a breakfast reception last week during the Academic Excellence Award ceremony.

The following students, pictured above, received their Academic Letter for maintaining an average of 92 or above, consecutively, for the past four marking periods: Chelsea Cichocki, Jacob Corser, Lorelei Dillenbeck, Meagan Hardner, Tessa Heideman, Lynlee Hong, Dylan Jisa, Alissa Klinetob, Reagan London, Parker Silversmith, Russell Stephens and Thomas Thaine.

The next group of students honored maintained an average of 92 or above, consecutively, for two years and received a certificate of achievement: Ethan Gardner, Aasiya Huzair, Zayda Moyle, Maddox Stirk, Jack Whipple and Sydney Wilson.

A trophy was presented to the following students for having an average of 92 or above, consecutively, for the past three years: Alexander Barry, Olivia Braley, Nathan Dillenbeck, Erin Kiefer, Emma Maynard, Cameron Paniccia and Lyndsey Snell.

“I would like to congratulate and commend each of these students on their tremendous accomplishments and perseverance,” said Jason Smith, the district superintendent. “The hard work and dedication they have shown, especially this year, is admirable.”

Grades 3-6 will go to 4 days of in-person, and grades 7-12 could as well

HOLLEY – The school district announced it will be bringing back more students next month for 4 days of in-person learning each week, and could have all grade levels at 4 days a week if the state approves lowering the minimum spacing between desks from 6 to 3 feet.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last Friday announced it was changing its guideline for minimum social distancing in schools, from 6 to 3 feet, as long as students are wearing masks.

“This has caused many regions and entire state health departments to alter restrictions and update their guidance plans, which could ultimately allow for more students to return to school buildings for in-person learning this academic year,” Brian Bartalo, Holley school district superintendent, said in a letter today to the community.

Before Holley can move desks closer it needs the NYS Department of Health to approve the change in social distancing guidance. Holley has been anticipating the change to 3 feet, and is planning a phase-in after spring recess to bring back more students for four days of in-perosn learning. Just last week Holley brought back students for four days in grades K through 2, instead of being limited to two days of in-person with the hybrid schedule.

Before last week, Holley already had four days of in-person learning in Pre-K, the alternative high school, and self-contained special education classes, where the class sizes are smaller.

Even if the state doesn’t reduce the minimum desk spacing to three feet, Holley plans to have grades 3 through 6 go to four days of in-person learning the week of April 5-9.

If the minimum spacing is reduced to 3 feet, Holley could move hybrid students in the Junior-Senior High School to four days of in-person learning. If the 3-foot distance is approved, Holley plans to move grades 7-8 to four days of in-person learning the week of April 12-16, and then the following week, April 19-23, the hybrid students in grades 9-12 would go from two to four days.

Holley will continue to have Wednesdays as remote only.

“The reasons for keeping Wednesdays as remote learning days include: providing time for staff to prepare and post lessons, and connect with our fully remote learners; allowing time to bring in small groups of students for academic intervention and related services; and for teachers to receive professional development, and update learning plans and curriculum,” Bartalo said in his letter today.

Holley will be reaching out to the fully remote student families prior to the start of the fourth quarter on April 19 to determine if they plan to stay remote or return to in-person school.

“Based on the number of students who remain fully remote and after evaluating how things are progressing with four days/week, we’ll determine if it’s possible to increase to five days/week for our in-person students,” Bartalo said.

The district superintendent said the situation and guidelines from the state have frequently been in flux, making it difficult for districts to plan. He expects the 3-foot change will be approved by the state, allowing for more students to be in class, in-person.

“We believe that this phase back-in approach is proactive, and gives staff time to prepare and adjust learning plans, bus schedules, and modify classroom and dining spaces based on new guidance from NYS,” Bartalo said. “We also hope it gives families time to prepare for this transition back to more in-person learning at Holley CSD.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Scott Robinson, chairman of the Committee on Police Reform Collaborative in Medina, discusses the committee’s report on Monday during the Village Board meeting. The board accepted the report and will be sending it to the state.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board on Monday evening accepted a police reform report that has been the result of many meetings and public input since last August.

Scott Robinson, president of the Medina Area Partnership, has served as chairman of the Committee on Police Reform Collaborative in Medina. The group has met at least twice a month since August. The committee has updated and reviewed policies on use of force, mental health, body worn cameras, community relations, civilian personnel complaints, performance evaluations, handling deadly force incidents, use of firearms including taser and less lethal shotgun.

The committee has recommended establishing a Community Policing Board that would include a cross-section of the community and meet regularly. That community policing board would work towards forming better relations between law enforcement and the community.

“These relationships can be beneficial to convey information in both directions,” according to the report from Committee on Police Reform Collaborative. “This Board may also be tasked with aiding in community relations events.”

Robinson during Monday’s Village Board meeting urged the village to hold a meeting at least once a year to give community members a chance to better understand the police department policies, and also to raise any concerns. That meeting would also be a forum for the department to offer a recap of the past year.

Robinson praised Police Chief Chad Kenward and other village and police officials for their efforts in developing the plan. Kenward was very forthcoming with information, Robinson said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo mandated all 500 law enforcement agencies in the state submit the police reform plans to the state by April 1 or risk losing any state aid. Medina officials have worked many months on the month, while other communities only in the past month started to meet and get public feedback for the plan.

“We’ve been meeting every other week since August while other communities are just getting started,” Robinson said. “A lot of our committee members have invested a lot of time in this. They have just been phenomenal.”

Some highlights of the plan include:

• MENTAL HEALTH and PROCEDURAL JUSTICE – The committee in Medina recommended increased training for Medina police officers in mental health and procedural justice.

The regular mental health training schedule should seek out opportunities for crisis intervention training and mental health first aid.

Medina has already sent an instructor for certification in “Principled Policing.” That program covers areas such as History of Policing, Communication, Racial Bias, Decision Making, Trust Building and Core Values.

“Regular training in this area may help officers deal with the difficulties of modern-day policing,” the committee report states. “All of these training areas can be reinforced through reality based training, including interactive scenarios involving use of communication skills.”

• COMMUNITY POLICING/RELATIONS: The Committee recommends that the Medina Police Department take efforts to increase community policing and relations. The committee recommended the Medina Village Board put $10,000 in the next budget to assist with these community policing initiatives.

The committee recommended open community meetings hosted by the Medina Police Department. These meetings can be used to relay relevant information, and hear public concerns.

The Medina PD should also do an annual public survey to gather input from local citizens on police activities. The committee surveyed people for the current plan and received 245 responses.

Some other ways to strengthen community interaction with the department could be more officers on foot patrol, bike patrol and community activities. The committee recommended an annual gathering open to the public where police officers can have positive interactions with the community.

Medina might also consider assigning a Community Policing Officer to focus on creating opportunities for positive interactions with the community.

• ACCREDITATION: The Committee recommends that the Medina PD attempt to obtain NYS accreditation status. The NYS Accreditation Program provides outside guidance and oversight to law enforcement to ensure performance in areas such as policies, procedures and training.

• FUNDING: The committee said funding should be increased at the local and state levels for law enforcement and mental health services. The Medina PD could pursue state grant funding for mental health, training and equipment.

The committee also said Medina should fund an investigator position in the Medina PD. “A designated position should result in a higher rate of case closures, which it is assumed will also increase public confidence,” the committee stated in the report.

Press Release, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library

MEDINA – The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library will now assist people with making Covid-19 vaccine appointments.

Please call and schedule a time with us from Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We will assist anyone with setting up appointments at the NYS run clinics using the Am I Eligible website.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The walkway to the Albion Middle School is pictured in May 2016 while the trees are in bloom in front a Vietnam Memorial.

ALBION — The school district will be welcoming back students for four days of in-person classes next month.

The district will move away from a hybrid model where students have been in-person for two days a week, and doing remote learning for three other days. The district will continue to do remote learning on Wednesdays. The two-day hybrid model will no longer be offered. Students need to either do the four days of in-person learning or be fully remote.

Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, posted a letter on the district website today, announcing the change with more in-person days for students.

“With the number of Covid-19 cases decreasing across the region and with many of our faculty/staff receiving the vaccine, our plan is to begin expanding our hybrid learning model,” Edwards said in his letter.

The district wants to give all students the chance for in-person learning. However, the first priority is maintaining a safe learning environment, Edwards said. Initially, the district will focus on accommodating students who are currently hybrid learners, and moving them to four days of in-person learning. Students who are currently fully remote will have the option of switching to hybrid at the end of the 10-week marking period.

The district will transition students back to four days of in-person learning in phases. The tentative schedule includes:

• Phase 1: April 12-13 for grades K-2, 6, and 9-10
• Phase 2: April 14 will continue to be a remote day only
• Phase 3: April 15 for grades K-4, 6, 7, and 9-12
• Phase 4: April 16 will be grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 (all hybrid students return)

Students will be required to wear masks nearly the entire day, with designated times for mask breaks, Edwards said.

“We recognize that social distancing may not always be possible and, in those cases, we will be implementing the use of clear plastic barriers to separate students,” Edwards wrote in his letter.

The district will also be taking students’ temperatures upon entry in the school buildings, and all other Covid safety practices and procedures will continue, Edwards said.

Village backs restaurant’s application for some state assistance

Photo by Tom Rivers: Zambistro is looking to expand to 410 Main St., next door to the current site. This photo was taken in August 2020.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board on Monday voted to back an application for state assistance for an expansion of the Zambistro restaurant on Main Street.

Michael Zambito and his family are looking to expand the restaurant next door at 410 Main St. The state’s Office of Community Renewal has funding available through the Community Development Block Grant program.

Zambistro is estimating the expansion will be a $220,000 project for construction, refrigeration equipment, fixtures and furnishings. Michael Zambito is looking to create a small event space for about 50 people. He expects the project, which includes a small bar, will result in two more full-time employees and four part-timers, said Gabrielle Barone, vice president of business development for the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

She attended Monday’s Village Board meeting and asked the board to support the application. The CDBG program has assisted about 25 to 30 projects in the county in the past two decades.

The CDBG application is being finalized for Zambistro’s expansion. Barone said the business will likely be applying for $60,000 to $80,000 in assistance through the program, with half in a grant and other half a loan that will be paid back to a revolving loan fund managed by the Orleans Land Restoration Corp., which is part of the Orleans EDA. That repaid loan can then be loaned out to other businesses in the county, Barone said.

The Medina Village Board last August approved a certificate of appropriateness for the front façade at 410 Main St. The new-look façade will be very similar to the current look at Zambistro.

The columns and post will stay. Gooseneck lights will be added above the door.

“We want it to look like one solid building all the way across,” Michael Zambito told the Village Planning Board in August.

Zambistro in 2019 completed an addition to dining room.

Debbie Padoleski has worked in the clerk’s office for 41 years

Photos by Tom Rivers: Medina Village Clerk Debbie Padoleski, left, and Deputy Clerk Jada Burgess are pictured in August 2019 with a Medina community sign that was refurbished by art students at Medina High School. The sign hangs outside the Village Clerk’s Office at 119 Park Ave.

MEDINA – Debbie Padoleski, the Medina village clerk-treasurer the past eight years, announced she will be retiring on June 30. She has been a hard-working and dependable presence in the village clerk’s office for the past 41 years.

Her resignation was accepted with “extreme regret” by the Village Board on Monday.

Padoleski has been “absolutely invaluable” to the village, said Trustee Owen Toale.

Debbie Padoleski takes notes during Monday’s Village Board meeting at the senior center. Padoelski has served as the village clerk-treasurer the past eight years. She has worked in the village clerk’s office for 41 years.

“It’s going to be a big loss for us,” he said about Padoleski’s retirement. “The village is a much better place because of Debbie Padoleski.”

Padoleski, in a letter to the board, said she submitted her retirement notification with a “heavy heart.” She started in the village clerk’s office at age 19. She praised her predecessor, Peggy Crowley, who worked as village clerk-treasurer for 33 years. Crowley was a big reason why Padoleski made the village clerk’s office her career.

“She taught me how to not take myself or the job too seriously, and maintained a fierce loyalty to the Village of Medina,” Padoleski wrote about Crowley in her letter to the board.

Padoleski said she has been fortunate to work with so many wonderful people over the years – “Mayors, trustees, department heads and co-workers who hold a special place in my heart.”

Padoleski said Jada Burgess, her deputy clerk-treasurer, has always been her right hand, sounding board and friend. Padoleski said the staff in the office has been a “fantastic team.”

She closed her letter, thanking current Mayor Mike Sidari and trustees Owen Toale, Todd Bensley, Marguerite Sherman and Tim Elliott for their service to Medina.

“I appreciate the respect and consideration you have always given me,” Padoleski wrote. “It has been a pleasure to work with all of you, my staff and my fellow department heads.”

Sue Dickinson returns home 10 weeks after being sickened by virus

Photos by Tom Rivers: Family and friends greet Sue Dickinson with signs, balloons and flowers in a surprise for her when she came home today.

Sue Dickinson

ALBION – Many family and friends welcomed Sue Dickinson home today after she fought Covid-19 the past 10 weeks.

Dickinson, 65, tested positive for Covid on Jan. 7. After her oxygen levels fell and she struggled to breathe, she was admitted to Rochester General Hospital on Jan. 12. She continued to decline and was put on a ventilator on Jan. 17.

Doctors didn’t expect her to survive. But she pulled through it, and was in a rehab facility for only 2 ½ weeks before coming home today. Her doctors expected it would take months in rehab to get back to walking, talking, eating and swallowing.

But Dickinson proved them all wrong and they couldn’t have been happier for her. When she left a Rochester rehab facility for Covid patients today, the nurses and aides presented her with balloons. She was at the Unity Specialty Hospital, St. Mary’s campus.

“They told me I was their success Story,” Dickinson said today when she came home to Reynolds Street in Albion.

She received many hugs from friends and family. Then she was happy to sit outside her home in the fresh air and sunshine.

“I am feeling great,” she said. “I am determined to get back to good health.”

Sue Dickinson, left, is greeted by her mother, Marjorie Condoluci after getting home today after about two months in the hospital and then 2 1/2 weeks in rehab facility.

Neighbors lined Reynolds Street with balloons and decorated the street in front of Dickinson’s home in chalk art, welcoming her back.

“We really care about her,” said her neighbor, Pam Reamer. “They’re really good people and we have known them for years.”

Sue was driven home by her husband, Bob, and they were greeted by the surprise reception with so many family and friends.

“She’s a miracle,” said her daughter, Natalie Kingdollar. “Everyone is just in awe of her progress.”

Sue Dickinson is hugged by granddaughter Izabella Kingdollar, 8, and then Sydney Dickinson, 4.

The family is thankful for local physician Tom Madejski, who wrote a prescription for Ivermectin after seeing success with some of his other patients. Once Dickinson had that medicine, she started to recover.

“The medicine helped to bring her back,” Kingdollar said. “And she just has tremendous willpower.”

Dickinson said thoughts of her family, including four grandchildren, kept her pushing hard to get back home.

“I am blessed for sure,” she said.

The family has a GoFundMe account set up to help with medical expenses. Click here for more information.

Sue Dickinson received a big welcome home today on Reynolds Street in Albion.

Neighbors lined the street with balloons for Dickinson.

Dickinson’s family is overjoyed to have her back home.

Orleans reports no one in county currently hospitalized due to Covid

There are 29 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Genesee and Orleans counties since Friday, bringing the total in the two counties to 7,049 since March 2020.

In Orleans County there are 9 new positive cases of Covid since Friday for a total of 2,513 cases during the pandemic.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). One of the new cases is an inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility, a women’s prison.

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting 4 of the new positive individuals were under mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans also is reporting 20 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The Health Department reports a milestone today with no one from the county currently hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 20 new positive cases of Covid since Friday for a total of 4,536 confirmed cases during the pandemic.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). One of the new positive individuals is a resident of the New York State Veterans’ Home at Batavia.

The individuals with the new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Genesee is reporting 19 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are currently 2 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• 50 and older now eligible for vaccine: Beginning March 23rd, all New Yorkers 50 years and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

Public facing essential workers from governmental and nonprofit organizations were eligible beginning March 17th. This expansion includes public-facing essential building services workers. Providers, including pharmacies, will be able to vaccinate any eligible New Yorkers, in line with federal policy beginning March 10th. This is all subject to the availability of the vaccine to the providers.

This new addition of new eligible residents still far exceeds the supply of vaccine received in our counties. Individuals who are eligible must have an appointment in order to get a vaccine.

To check for vaccination clinics in Genesee and Orleans counties, click here.

• Office for the Aging can assist those without internet access: For more information about the vaccine and access for those who are 60 and older who do not have internet access, please contact your respective Office for the Aging (OFA).

For Genesee OFA please call 585-813-2457 for Covid-19 vaccine assistance between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Leave a message if you get voicemail and someone will return the call.

For Orleans OFA please call 585-589-3191 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Leave a message if you get voicemail and someone will return the call.

The OFA offices can only assist with the clinic links as they are available. The system may experience slowdowns and crashing due to high volume. Please be patient and try again later.

ALBANY – Republicans in the State Legislature held a news conference today to announce a resolution to rescind Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 11 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants.

Last November, Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.74 that imposed a 10 p.m. curfew for bars, restaurants, gyms, fitness centers, and other facilities throughout the state. Earlier this year, he extended the curfew to 11 p.m., and just last week, lifted it altogether for gyms, fitness centers, casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and billiard halls beginning April 5.

However, he left the arbitrary and damaging rule in place for bars and restaurants, saying it would be reevaluated next month.

“Despite claims by the Democratic Majorities that they revoked the Governor’s emergency powers, there are still egregious mandates in place that have absolutely no scientific basis,” said State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt of North Tonawanda. “These arbitrary rules remain in effect at the whim of one man – our embattled Governor – and they continue to harm our small businesses. I’m hopeful the Majority will bring our commonsense proposal to the floor and join us in providing some relief to our bars and restaurants who have been devastated by the pandemic.”

“It’s obvious that we are no longer operating under a system where science is driving decisions,” said Will Barclay, the Assembly Republican Leader from Pulaski. “There is no data that explains lifting curfews on certain facilities and leaving bars and restaurants off that list. Overturning Gov. Cuomo’s senseless, arbitrary directives is as easy as passing a resolution. It’s time for Democrats to take that step.”

State Assembly members Michael Norris, R-Lockport, and Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, both urged the curfew for bars and restaurants to be rescinded. They both represent districts that ncludes parts of Orleans County.

“As the sponsor of the New York Business Emergency Relief Act, I know how urgently small businesses across our state need help — every dollar counts now more than ever before,” Norris said in a statement. “With our economy reopening and more people being vaccinated, along with studies proving that the Covid-19 spread was largely something that happened outside of restaurants to begin with, I cannot understand why our hardworking restaurant industry is still being unfairly punished with arbitrary curfews that are stifling business and further endangering their ability to survive. These curfews must be lifted immediately.”

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have several upcoming vaccination clinics with appointments available for Genesee and Orleans County residents.

Whichever Covid-19 vaccine is available is the right vaccine to get now! All approved vaccines are effective and saves lives. We encourage anyone that is currently eligible to register for an upcoming clinic.

The Governor has also announced New York will expand vaccine access to people age 50 and older beginning Tuesday, March 23, along with the existing priority groups.

Visit the vaccination web page at the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (click here).

Direct links to the 1st dose vaccination clinics are:

• Genesee clinic at GCC Batavia (click here). There were 160 appointments open at 1:35 p.m.

• Orleans clinic at Ridgeway Fire Hall (click here). There were 355 appointments open at 1:35 p.m.

If you are interested in making an appointment to get your Covid-19 vaccination, now is the time to do it locally!

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that starting tomorrow at 8 a.m., New Yorkers 50 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

(Editor’s Note: The eligibility was lowered from 65 to 60 years old on March 10.)

The governor said 103,425 doses have been administered across New York’s vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1 million doses have been administered over the past seven days.

More than 1.65 million doses have been administered through New York mass vaccination sites and FEMA sites to date. Delivery of the week 15 allocation begins mid-week.

“We continue to kick vaccinations into overdrive throughout the state by expanding eligibility, establishing new vaccination sites and allowing providers to reach new populations. More New Yorkers are getting vaccinated every single day, but we still have a long way to go before defeating the Covid beast and reaching safety,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York’s distribution network is at the ready to handle an expected increase in supply, and we’re excited to expand eligibility even further to New Yorkers over the age of 50 as we move to get through the Covid-19 pandemic.”

New York’s vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

The ‘Am I Eligible’ screening tool has been updated for individuals with comorbidities and underlying conditions with new appointments released on a rolling basis over the next weeks. New Yorkers can use the following to show they are eligible:

• Doctor’s letter, or
• Medical information evidencing comorbidity, or
• Signed certification

LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday will review an application for a new Dollar General store on Main Street.

The Broadway Group, a commercial real estate developer from Huntsville, Alabama, is proposing to demolish and remove the Crosby-Whipple building at 30 North Main St. It would be replaced with a 7,200-square-foot Dollar General with 29 parking spaces.

The site is in a historic district and the building needs a “certificate of appropriateness” from the Village Planning Board.

Tara Mathias, development manager, met in December with Village of Lyndonville Planning Board members through Zoom video conferencing. She said the store can be designed in a way that fits in with the other buildings in the district.

She said the new store would revitalize the downtown and be convenient to the local residents.

The building is on a 1-acre site and will need variances for setback distance. The store is the smallest building offered by Dollar General at 7,200 square feet. Most of the stores are over 9,000 square feet.

The village sent a referral to the Orleans County Planning Board for its review of the project. County planners review projects and offer a recommendation to municipalities. Those recommendations can be rejected with a super-majority vote at the town or village level.

Lyndonville village officials are asking the County Planning Board for its recommendation on whether a variance and the site plan should be approved for the project at 30 North Main St., which is in the Central Business District.

Thursday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. and will be virtual. For more information, check the Orleans County Planning Board website by clicking here.

The Planning Board will also review two other projects:

• In Shelby there is a referral to the County Planning Board to review the site plan and a special use permit for an outdoor recreation facility at 11380 Main St. in Shelby Center.

• In Albion, the Planning Board will be asked to review the site plan and a special use permit for addition to an existing auto dealership at 4048 Oak Orchard Rd.