Press Release and photos, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery

MEDINA – In conjunction with the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal, the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery will be hosting a tour of the cemetery led by Village Historian Todd Bensley.

The tour will be Saturday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. It will start at the S. Mainville Burroughs Memorial Chapel, at the south entrance to the cemetery. The tour is expected to take 60-90 minutes.

The title of the tour is, “The Erie Canal – Beginnings and Endings.” According to Bensley, “It will focus on the triumphs and tragedies of people buried in Boxwood who have a connection to the Erie Canal.”

The tour is free and open to the public. Donations are always gratefully accepted.

Those in attendance can also purchase entry and raffle tickets for Boxwood at Night, which will be on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Rail line was popular leading to post offices, hamlets and businesses

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 31

Photo from Orleans County Department of History: A Hojack goods train crosses the Trestle Bridge over the Oak Orchard Creek in Carlton.

KENDALL – “Without looking out a window, you could generally tell what the weather was or what it was going to be simply by the sounds of the Hojack’s whistles. On clear days, they’d be sharp and abrupt. But on rainy days, they’d give out long, mournful cries, especially at night.”  (Doris Behnke Crego, Requiem for a Railroad)

In the 1980s, William Aeberli of Rochester, interviewed older Kendall area residents about their recollections of the Hojack and compiled them in a series of articles entitled “Requiem for a Railroad.”

“The Hojack” was the name used to refer to the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad (R.W. & O. R.) which ran from Oswego to Niagara Falls from 1876 to 1978.

It served the northern third of Orleans County where industrious farmers of English, German and Norwegian descent harvested high yields from soil that was particularly suited to fruit cultivation. Prior to the advent of the Hojack, the Erie Canal and later the New York Central Railroad shipped produce from the farms north of the Ridge.

The Hojack served eight station points in Orleans County: Morton (East Kendall), Kendall, West Kendall, Brice Station (Kent), Carlton Station, Ashwood (Carlyon), Lyndonville and Millers.

Hamlets soon evolved at these stations. Storage and processing facilities for fruit and vegetables were built adjacent to the stops: Kendall Cold Storage; Morton Canning Company; A.S. Hice in Ashwood; W.G. Dailey in Kent; Bahrenburg & Beckwith in Carlton Station and Kendall. General stores and churches soon followed. Since the Hojack carried mail, post offices were established: Carlyon in 1876, Carlton in 1877, Kent in 1899, Millers in 1882 and Morton in 1894.

In 1888, eight passenger trains ran daily. By 1908, this was reduced to four daily passenger trains, and in 1933, passenger and mail service was discontinued. Automobiles and truck transportation superseded the railroads. But apart from the convenience of passenger service, the primary benefit of the Hojack was the transportation of goods – fruit and produce to market, deliveries of coal and ice to supply the cold storage facilities.

The Kendall Station was active. The following establishments were located on either side of the railroad: Bahrenburg and Beckwith’s was a cooperage and a storage facility; the Greece Lumber Company which also dealt in grain; the three-story structure at W.V. Newcomb’s which had bins to hold grain, beans, or peas; Robert Burke’s which sold chemicals and fertilizers as well as coal; Carr, Eggleston & Ritz, an evaporated fruit and cider business.

Seasonal laborers and transient workers camped in Crandall’s Woods just across the railroad tracks. The location was referred to as “Hobo Alley.”  An old boxcar was moved there to provide shelter.

Doris Behnke Creg, who grew up in Kendall in the 1920s, observed:

“We figured the Hojack was simply a natural part of the neighborhood, we took the railroad for granted. Who might have thought that someday the railroad would disappear?”

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is shining a light on food/beverage businesses in Orleans County with a “Taste of Orleans” promotion at 20 locations.

“We are encouraging people to support local food and beverage establishments here in Orleans County,” said Darlene Hartway, the Chamber director. “We are hoping this social media event will showcase the multitude of wonderful restaurants, bars, farm markets and ice cream shops we have here in Orleans County.”

Taste of Orleans started on Aug. 24 and continues through Sept. 14. The Chamber and co-sponsor Orleans County Tourism encourage people to visit many of the local food/beverage businesses and post pictures of what they are eating and drinking, using the hash tag #tasteoforleans.

The Chamber will draw winners after Sept. 14 for participants to win gift cards from the participating businesses.

The businesses in the promotion include the Black North at Point Breeze, Coffee Pot Cafe in Medina, Dubby’s Tailgate in Albion, Confection Connection in Albion, Gilligan’s Galley in Kent, Mariachi De Oro on Medina, Mark’s Pizzeria and Tapped on Main in Medina, Mark’s Pizzeria in Albion, Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, Partyka Farms in Kendall, Red, White & Moo in Holley, Roadies Pizzeria in Carlton, Serenity Spa in Albion, Shirt Factory/Newell Lounge in Medina, Sourced Market & Eatery in Medina, Tavern on the Ridge in Albion, Village House in Albion, Webber Cafe in Lyndonville, White Birch in Lyndonville, and Zambistro in Medina.

In the future, Hartway said she would like to see an event where people could taste food from many of the local businesses at one location at a festival. But, for now, she said the social media campaign highlights many of the food and beverage businesses around the county.

Photos courtesy of Medina Memorial Hospital: This picture shows one of the construction projects Medina Memorial Hospital has undertaken during its 100 years.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has spent much of 2025 celebrating the 100th anniversary of Medina Memorial Hospital. While the year is winding down, there are still a few celebrations coming up.

First, Medina Memorial Hospital continues to recognize the many employees and volunteers who have or have had relatives follow their footsteps.

This is Medina Memorial Hospital today, as it celebrates its 100th birthday.

Medina Memorial Hospital opened its doors to the public on Sept. 30, 1925, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach, and great-great-grandson of the hospital’s founder, George Bowen.

“As we know, the challenges to rural healthcare in our area have been apparent in recent years,” Robinson said. “It’s why this event is even more momentous for our community and our team.”

On Sept. 20, the community is being invited to a family fun event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the hospital. Location and parking will be on the green space south of the hospital. This will be a family-friendly event, with several activities for children. In addition, there will be food, drinks, health and wellness resources, games and kid-friendly activities. There is no need to register, Robinson said. Just come and enjoy.

Then, from 11 a.m. to noon Sept. 30, the birthday celebration for invited guests only will begin with a short event in front of Medina Memorial Hospital, followed by tours for anyone interested.

The birthday celebration will feature a rededication ceremony, hospital update, proclamations and birthday cake.

When Medina Memorial Hospital opened its doors in 1925, it had a goal of serving the community, Robinson said. One hundred years later, they continue to strive to fulfill that original mission, he said.

Invited guests should RSVP to Robinson at Srobinson@medinamemorial.org by Sept. 26.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Rotary Park in Medina has a memorial for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks in the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people.

ALBION – Orleans County will have a memorial service at 6 p.m. on Thursday for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. The service on the 24th anniversary of the attacks will again be held at Courthouse Square.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others when four airplanes were hijacked and crashed – with two into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the other into a field in rural Shanksville, Pa.

Scheduled speakers for the Thursday service include County Legislator John Fitzak, jail chaplain Don Snyder, Orleans County Emergency Management Director Justin Niederhofer, and Chief Coroner Scott Schmidt.

Schmidt will be keynote speaker at the observance. Schmidt spent three weeks with a federal team – U.S. Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) – and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones.

He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero.

Doug Egling and Trellis Pore will sing “America The Beautiful” and military honors will be presented by the Honor Guard from the American Legion and VFW.

Orleans County Retired Teachers’ Association is actively seeking new members to join their organization.

Organization president Georgia Thomas said it is crucial to keep this organization going and explained its benefits.

“We work to protect retired school employees’ benefits, especially their retirement,” Thomas said.

OCRTA’ annual meeting is scheduled Sept. 25 at Abundant Harvest (formerly Milleville United Methodist Church) on Maple Ridge Road in Millville. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m., followed by lunch, and all new retirees who attend will receive a free lunch.

OCRTA is open to anyone who ever worked in a school system, including teachers,  teachers’ aides, bus drivers or office workers.

“This is a perfect chance to learn about us and how we work to protect their retirements, by reaching out to lawmakers,” Thomas said. “We need new members and all old members to step up. When we add our numbers to the state numbers, we have more influence.”

The Retired Teachers’ Association also gives a number of awards to help an educator with his education. A top award is the Barry Fleigel Award.

Thomas explained each county’s retired teachers’ group has a service project which they support within their county. ORCRTA’s project is Camp Rainbow.

There are currently about 100 members in the ORCRTA.

Reservations for lunch can be made by contacting (585) 590-0046. More information is available on their website at www.retirededucatorsny.org.

Team Fuller 155 organizing event for third year, with new option for 3.5 -mile walk

Provided photo: Ike Watts takes time from organizing basket donations for a benefit Sept. 14 to support suicide prevention to hold 3-month-old granddaughter, Emma. The raffle is scheduled at Shelby Fire Hall.

SHELBY – A local family whose lives were forever changed by the suicide of a loved one are again planning an annual fundraiser to support suicide prevention.

It all started for Jason and Ike Watts when cousin Erin Fuller, an Orleans County sheriff’s deputy, died by suicide at age 45 on Sept. 12, 2015.

“It left the family lost and heartbroken,” Watts previously told the Hub.

Shortly after when they saw an advertisement for Out of the Darkness Walk in Buffalo to benefit suicide prevention, they knew they had found a way get involved. They formed a team, Fuller 155 (Erin’s badge number), and have walked there every year. In 2023 they came up with the idea to have their own basket raffle here at home. This year on Sept. 14 at Shelby Fire Hall, Team Fuller 155 has put together the third annual fundraiser to support suicide prevention.

This year, yet another feature has been added – a 3.5-mile community walk, starting and ending at the Shelby Fire Hall.

Their motto is “We support the fighters, admire the survivors, honor the taken and never give up hope,” said Watts.

“We encourage the community to take steps – literally and figuratively – toward mental health awareness and community healing,” Watts said.  “A walk interests different people and adds a new component of fundraising. People feel good when they’re outside in the fresh air. It clears your mind. Those who are struggling will have an hour to enjoy nature and clear their mind. The walk will pass by Shelby Falls and the creek. There’s something about being in the country that brings peace.”

Local resident Doug Bracey has a small trolley-like vehicle on which he will drive those who are unable to walk the distance. Shelby firefighters will also be riding the route with their emergency SUV to pick up anyone having trouble walking.

Registration is just $10 and will begin at 8 am., with the walk stepping off promptly at 9 a.m.

The basket raffle will begin at 10 a.m., featuring a wide array of themed baskets donated by local businesses, families and community members. Her goal is to have 155 baskets and they are already at almost 100. For the first time, Watts has solicited donations from local businesses. She sent out 157 letters requesting donations and two were returned “undeliverable,” bringing the total to the 155 – Erin Fuller’s badge number.

“I took that as a positive sign,” Watts said.

“In appreciation to the businesses who have donated baskets, I have gone back and purchased merchandise from them to make up another basket,” Watts said. “I want to make sure I support the businesses who support us by repaying their generosity.”

Some incredible baskets have already been received – items from a company called “Comfrt,” which makes clothing and items to comfort people with mental health, a toy ladder truck, items from a company called “Thirty One,” which sold totes and bags, a signed Josh Allen jersey, numerous gift cards and a collection of books for a year.

Donations of baskets is greatly appreciated and may be arranged by calling Watts at (585) 590-0291. Cash donations are always welcome and may be made by making a check payable to Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Breakfast sandwiches will be served early in the day, giving attendees a warm welcome and the energy to participate in the morning’s activities, Watts said.

 Fuller 155’s Suicide Prevention Committee said the event is not just about honoring their cousin Erin.

“It’s about anyone who has been affected by suicide,” Watts said. “We’ve lost friends, teachers and a lot of others to suicide. Erin’s name is the foundation for our efforts, but we do it for all.”

“This event has grown into something incredibly special over the past three years, and we’re especially excited to include the community walk this year,” Watts added. “It’s another step in bringing people together to support one another and promote mental wellness.”

All funds raised from the event will support local suicide prevention programs and mental health outreach initiatives in Orleans County and surrounding areas.

Watts and her committee of Tammy Fearby, Rebecca Lacy and Christine Crane encourage the community to “come, walk, win and raise awareness.”

“Together we can make a difference,” they said.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: This truck from Modern Disposal lies on its side on South Gravel Road, Medina, just a few hundred feet south of Full Gospel Fellowship, after losing control about 1:30 p.m.

MEDINA – A Modern Disposal truck lost control and rolled over on South Gravel Road about 1:30 this afternoon.

Trooper Stirk with the New York State Police said the driver evidently caught the shoulder of the road and couldn’t recover. He said two occupants were taken to Medina hospital to be checked out, but didn’t appear to be seriously injured.

The incident closed South Gravel Road from Oak Orchard Road to Fletcher Chapel for nearly two hours. The road opened at about 5 p.m.

Volunteers from Shelby Fire Department were on the scene, assisting with traffic control.

Board has lacked a quorum since 3 out of 5 members resigned in July

File photo: John Misiti, chairman of the board for the Orleans Economic Development Agency, is shown during an EDA meeting in March.

SHELBY – Gov. Kathy Hochul today has appointed John Misiti to fill a vacancy on the Shelby Town Board. The appointment gives Shelby three board members, which are needed to carry out town business.

Three of the five board members resigned in July, leaving Shelby without a quorum on the board to conduct a Town Board meeting.

Governor Hochul issued this statement: “As a former Town Board member, I know firsthand how our local governments play a critical role in the daily lives of New Yorkers, and it’s absolutely critical for the Town of Shelby to have a functioning Town Board. After significant engagement with local stakeholders, I am appointing John Misiti to the Shelby Town Board to ensure the continuity of government.”

The board hasn’t been able to function for about six weeks following the resignations of Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz and board members Jeff Schiffer and Stephen Seitz Sr., who is also the deputy town supervisor.

Misiti, a retired sales manager, currently serves as chairman of the Orleans Economic Development Agency. He has been a volunteer on the EDA board for 23 years. Misiti had one other needed criteria to be considered by the governor for the appointment: He is a registered Democrat.

“I’m not looking back, I’m looking forward,” Misiti said. “We got to move forward.”

He will be on the board until Dec. 31. Misiti said he only intends to serve on the Shelby Town Board for about four months with no aspirations of seeking elected office in the future. In his role with the EDA, he said he would recuse himself if there are any votes directly affecting a project in Shelby.

On Jan 1, the board should be at full strength with all five members. Two of the members will likely be Jim Heminway as town supervisor and Larry Waters Sr. as a councilman. They won a Republican primary in June and don’t face any opposition on the ballot on the Nov. 4 general election. Incumbent Eddie Zelazny also won the primary.

The next Town Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. Misiti will join a board with Linda Limina and Eddie Zelazny. Among the three board members, they are expected to pick an acting town supervisor.

The board will be busy as it tries to put together the town’s budget for 2026.

Zelazny said he supported having Misiti’s name submitted to the governor’s office for consideration. Misiti said it was about a four-week process of a background check and vetting process by Hochul’s team.

“He’s business oriented,” Zelazny said about Misiti. “I’m happy we can get things rolling again.”

The two years of the unexpired term of Schiffer also will be filled in the Nov. 4 election. The Republican Committee backed John Pratt III, a former Town Board member, while the Conservative Party nominated Mark Wambach for that election.

The terms for Wengewicz and Seitz both end Dec. 31. Those can’t be filled with a special election. Because Schiffer has more time on his term after this year that spot can be filled at the Nov. 4 election.

That councilman’s position will be on the ballot as a two-year term, along with the full terms for town supervisor and two other councilman positions.

By Leah Brenner, pediatric nurse practitioner at Orleans Community Health

As the summer days grow shorter and the crisp scent of autumn fills the air, families everywhere are preparing for another exciting school year. Whether you’re a student stepping back into the classroom, a teacher setting up for the months ahead, or a parent adjusting to a new routine, the start of the academic year brings both challenges and opportunities.

By adopting healthy habits early, you can set yourself on a path toward physical wellness, mental resilience, and overall success.

Prioritize Sleep

Rest is essential. Children, teens, and adults should aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night. A consistent bedtime routine helps the body recharge, improves concentration, and boosts overall energy levels for the busy days ahead.

Fuel with Nutrition and Hydration

Begin each morning with a balanced breakfast, try to avoid or limit sugar-filled snacks, and make water your go-to beverage throughout the day. Proper nutrition powers both the body and mind, giving students the focus needed to learn and thrive.

Stay Active

Exercise isn’t just for athletes. Make time for at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. Fall is the perfect season for family walks, bike rides, or even backyard games—simple ways to stay healthy while spending time together.

Manage Stress Wisely

The start of a school year often brings packed schedules and new responsibilities. Incorporating stress-management techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or relaxing hobbies can help keep anxiety in check and create a sense of balance.

Stay Organized and Connected

Maintaining a calendar is a practical way to balance work, school, and personal activities, reducing stress and improving productivity. Equally important are social connections. Spend time with friends, family, or join clubs and organizations to build meaningful relationships that support emotional well-being.

Practice Hygiene and Self-Care

As classrooms and activities bring people together, germs are inevitable. Good hygiene—like handwashing, sanitizing, and covering coughs—helps prevent illness and keeps everyone healthier throughout the season.

Set Realistic Goals and Be Present

Success doesn’t happen overnight. Create realistic goals, avoid overwhelming yourself, and remember it’s okay to ask for help when needed. Limiting unnecessary screen time also helps you stay present in daily activities, making both work and relaxation more fulfilling.

As we move into fall, let’s commit to healthier routines that bring out the best in ourselves and one another. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and successful 2025–2026 school year!