Matt Taylor is assistant video director for Tampa Bay Bucs

Photos courtesy of Matt Taylor: Matt Taylor, a 1996 Albion graduate, holds the Lombardi trophy after Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl, 31-9, over the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 7.

ALBION – Matt Taylor dreamed of being in the NFL when he was a kid and in college. The 1996 Albion grad played for the Albion Purple Eagles and was a 6-foot, 230-pound defensive lineman for Ithaca College.

Taylor, 43, earned a degree in sports management at Ithaca. His path to the NFL wasn’t for his exploits on the field. He excelled in video, in filming practices and games and making those images available to coaches and players.

Taylor is the assistant video director for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has worked about 20 years in professional football. The Buccaneers victory on Feb. 7 – 31-9 over the Kansas City Chiefs – earned Taylor his first Super Bowl ring. It has been a whirlwind week since then, celebrating the victory, including a boat parade on Feb. 10 on the Hillsborough River near downtown Tampa.

“How many people from Albion can say they won the Super Bowl?” Taylor said this afternoon in a phone interview.

The Super Bowl title culminated six intense months of 70-80 hour weeks for Taylor. He learned that work ethic growing up on an apple farm on Zig Zag Road. His father Richard Taylor is now retired as a fruit grower. Taylor grew up with his mother Joanne and his siblings, Tracy, Mark and Chris.

Taylor said the technology has changed so much in his two decades in the business with the switch from beta tapes to digital. That has made it easier to share the video to many people. Before coaches had to take turns watching a tape. The images are easier to store and characterize with 800 fields to enter data – it could be plays on different downs and distances to go to a first down, who made tackles, catches and other key plays.

Matt Taylor is ecstatic with defensive lineman Will Gholston while celebrating the Super Bowl win.

For the Super Bowl game, the Bucs coaches wanted to see plays of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and what he did when he scrambled to the right and to the left.

Taylor and the team of the four full-time staff in video put together video for the coaches and players. The teams all submit game video to the NFL and each team has access.

“It’s completely different from what you see on an NFL game,” Taylor said.

The teams record two main views for the games – the All-22  angle and the end zone view. The All-22 is from up high and shows all 22 players on the field. The end zone angle is down low, and tends to focus on the lineman and the tight ends.

Taylor got his start in video for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League in 1999. It was after his junior year in college and he worked as an intern for the Destroyers in the summer, juggling work on the farm after college ended for the semester.

Taylor videotaped practices for the Destroyers. He was with them for four seasons.

Taylor wanted to get into the NFL. He sent his resume to the Bills and was interviewed on Sept. 11, 2001, the day of the terrorist attacks. Taylor offered to volunteer for free to help the Bills.

“I just wanted to get my foot in the door,” he said.

Halfway through the season he was called by Henry Kunttu, the video and film director for the Bills. Taylor was tasked with filming some of the practices. There weren’t any full-time positions open with the Bills.

After the season, Taylor sent resumes all over the NFL. The Miami Dolphins called and gave Taylor a job after a recommendation from the highly regarded Kunttu, who is now retired.

Matt Taylor celebrates on the field after the game with cornerback coach Kevin Ross. Taylor said Ross viewed signing Tom Brady as quarterback as the key to getting the team to the Super Bowl.

Taylor was with Miami for the full season, a team with the explosive Ricky Williams at running back and Jason Taylor on the defensive line.

The following year, he took a position with the Chicago Bears in a seasonal position. Then he worked for NFL Europe in Germany with the Cologne Centurions.

Matt Taylor holds his daughter Josie during the boat parade to celebrate the Super Bowl victory.

In 2005, the Dolphins reached out to him for a full-time job in video. New coach, Nick Saban, wanted the team to upgrade its video. Taylor would stay with the team for 10 years as a video assistant.

He left in 2016 to work for a company in Massachusetts that provides the video software for most of the NFL teams and many other professional and college teams. That job was a chance to be near his wife Lindsay’s family. The couple has three children – Wesley, Clayton and Josie.

In the job with the software company, Taylor was assisting teams throughout the league in using the video. The Tampa Bay Bucs let him know they needed an assistant video director. They offered the position to Taylor and he accepted.

“I have always enjoyed working as part of a team,” Taylor said. “The opportunity presented itself to get back into the NFL.”

He just finished his fourth season with the Bucs. The pace at work picks up again soon with the upcoming scouting combine, free agent market and then OTAs in the spring.

It is a high-pressure business with long hours. But Taylor said he is thrilled to be a part of it.

“You get to go to football practice and games for your job,” he said. “You really can’t beat that.”

Taylor urged people looking to get into the NFL or landing their dream job to not shy away from entry-level positions that often have little or no pay with a grueling schedule.

“It’s like anything, you have got to put your nose down and work at it,” he said about his career in the NFL. “You have to always aim to put your best foot forward.”

Matt Taylor, back left, and the video staff celebrate in the locker room after the Buccaneers upset the Kansas City Chiefs in convincing fashion in the Super Bowl.

Provided photo: Correction officers Kyle Strickland, left, and Jenna Reglan, right, graduated from the Niagara County Corrections Academy. They are shown with Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson, center.

Press Release, Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – Two part-time Correction Officers Kyle Strickland and Jenna Raglan graduated on Jan. 22 from the 22nd Niagara County Corrections Academy Class.

The Basic Corrections Academy provides newly appointed officers with the basic skills and requirements for becoming a corrections officer. The basic corrections academy, is physically and mentally demanding and requires students to attend eight weeks of instructional training that include the following topics:

• Effective Communication
• Security and Supervisor
• Defensive Tactics and Physical fitness.
• Legal Issues
• Special Needs Inmate Care and Supervision
• Essential Services
• Officer Wellness
• Basic Firearms Training
• Aerosol Chemical Agents
• Criminal Procedure Law
• Fire Prevention
• Written Communication / Report Writing
• Interagency Cooperation
• Crime Scene Preservation
• Penal Law
• Extensive Use of Force Training
• Stress Management
• Hostage Survival
• First Aid/CPR
• Direct Supervision
• Suicide Prevention
• Inmate Transportation

In addition to the above listed training, students also received 40 hours of crisis intervention training, which provides officers with de-escalation techniques to reduce the need for using force with inmates that are suffering from a variety of mental health disorders.

Basic Corrections Officer Training is the foundation for new officers that are beginning their careers as corrections officers with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Newly appointed officers will also receive extensive on-the-job field training that provides a practical and procedural application of the required regulations for the Orleans County Jail.

Press Release, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

BUFFALO – The Western New York Covid-19 Community Response Fund announced that it has awarded more than $4.5 million to over 300 nonprofit organizations in our region, bringing the total grant amount from the fund to $13.1 million.

This collaborative funding effort was convened in March 2020 in response to the Covid-19 health crisis and is now administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, in partnership with The John R. Oishei Foundation, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation.

A collaborative of many local foundations has been meeting regularly and monitoring the needs in our community since the onset of the pandemic. It became clear in early 2021 that, as the pandemic continued longer than initially expected, many nonprofits who are providing basic needs services such as food, housing, healthcare, childcare, mental health, transportation, and other emergency services, were continuing to face critical funding shortfalls.

Emergency grants were awarded to organizations in all eight counties of Western New York and ranged from $500 to $300,000, based on the need the organizations shared with the WNY Covid-19 Community Response Fund. Grants are supporting efforts directing helping families and individuals with everything from stocking the shelves at small rural food pantries to providing childcare for students in remote and hybrid learning centers to supporting mental health organizations who have a growing waiting list of clients that need to connect virtually.

In Orleans County, some of the agencies and organizations to receive funding include:

• Arc of Genesee Orleans (Meals on Wheels)
• Community Action of Orleans and Genesee
• Christ Community Church
• Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern
• Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
• Hands 4 Hope
• Kendall Community Food Cupboard
• Medina Food Pantry
• Oak Orchard Assembly of God
• Orleans County YMCA
• P.Raising Kids
• United Way of Orleans County

“This round of emergency grant funding was the direct result of hearing that nonprofits providing basic needs services needed critical financial support to carry out their missions,” said Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, President/CEO of Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. “In addition to these grants, the Fund is continuing its commitment to addressing long-standing systemic challenges through its Moving Forward Together initiatives that include more than 400 organizations working collaboratively on a number of different innovative solutions.”

Morning DMV appointments can be honored after 11 a.m. Tuesday

Press Release, Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer

ALBION – In anticipation of the first major snow storm of this year, Orleans County officials have decided to delay the opening of the County Offices until 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

“Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our workers and our residents we are delaying the opening of our County Offices until 11 a.m. on Tuesday,” said Orleans County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch.

This delay will allow the Department of Public Works to plow the parking lots and shovel the sidewalks prior to our opening to the public at 11 a.m. This delay in opening should allow the majority of workers a safer commute into work with the anticipated amount and duration of snowfall which is set to begin this evening.

Employees who are not involved in our public safety operations or our Department of Public Works operations should delay their report to work until 11 a.m. on Tuesday. For any residents who have appointments between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., we will do our best to accommodate those appointments prior to the end of the workday on Tuesday.

From Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon: “Due to Orleans County Offices delaying their opening until 11 a.m. tomorrow, Orleans County DMV customers who had appointments scheduled between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, will be allowed to come to DMV, by checking in first with security, to have their appointments honored until 4 p.m. that afternoon.  We ask for patience as we still will need to follow COVID protocols.”

Press Release, Genesee County Manager Matt Landers

BATAVIA – With the anticipation of a winter storm hitting the GLOW region tonight and tomorrow, Genesee County announced that the Covid-19 testing scheduled for Feb. 16 will be cancelled.

“Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our workers and the public we are cancelling Covid-19 testing tomorrow,” said Genesee County Manager Matt Landers.

Testing will resume on Tuesday, February 23^rd, at the Genesee County Emergency Management Office & Fire Training Facility at 7690 State Street Road in the Town of Batavia at a time to be determined.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he has signed Executive Order 202.94 extending the enrollment period for voters to make changes to their party enrollment until Tuesday, February 16, setting forth a uniform statewide policy that ensures voters can take advantage of this option regardless that the deadline this year falls on a Sunday.

This change is necessary to ensure that Boards of Election have adequate time to process these voter-requested changes considering many Boards are short-staffed and operating with reduced density due to the Covid-19 public health emergency. The change will go into effect immediately.

“The right to vote is one of the sacred pillars of our democracy, and as we continue to fight the war on Covid, we can’t put democracy on hold,” Governor Cuomo said. “We are extending the period for voters to change their party enrollment until Tuesday, February 16, to help break down more barriers to the ballot box and help ensure everyone has a chance to exercise this fundamental right.”

In 2019, the Governor signed legislation (S.6532A/A.8228B) expediting party enrollment changes to make it easier for voters to participate in primary elections. Previously, changes to party enrollment did not take effect until after the November general election, requiring voters to wait as long as a year for changes to take effect.

The new law removed the October 11 deadline and gave voters until February 14 to make changes to party enrollment. Due to the public health emergency and the fact that this February 14 is a Sunday followed by a holiday, this common-sense measure ensures the spirit of the law is complied with uniformly statewide.

‘Travel could be very difficult to impossible’

This map from the National Weather Service in Buffalo shows a widespread winter storm is expected for Western New York and beyond.

A winter storm warning is in effect for Orleans County, Western New York and much of New York State, including the northern and central parts of the state. In Orleans County, the warning starts at 7 p.m. today and continues until 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Heavy snow is expected with total accumulations of 7 to 14 inches.

“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the Weather Service said. “Areas of blowing snow along the south shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The hazardous conditions will impact the Tuesday morning commute.”

Provided photos

KENDALL – Students in grades 5 through 8 in Kendall celebrated the first WinterFest at the school on Friday.

Students played dodgeball, kickball, hockey, Capture the Flag, and sledding in the snow. 

“Thanks to the generosity of Brockport Schools, we were able to borrow skis and snowboards so that our students could try new activities,” said Kevin Watson, Kendall grades 5-8 principal. “Add in donuts from Millers in Medina and plenty of hot chocolate, and Middle School WinterFest became an instant classic – something we hope our middle school continues to offer students each winter.”

Kendall has about 200 students in grades 5 through 8. Nearly 90 percent decided to go outside and brave the elements. The students who stayed inside had the option of reading a book or drawing. Some of the remote-only students attended the event at the school campus.

Watson and Lindsay Hammer, the middle school counselor, have been brainstorming ways to make the middle-school experience uniquely special for the 5th through 8th graders. 

“We know now more than ever that students need to unplug and unwind,” Watson said. “Middle-level students love to play outside in the winter, so we decided to ask student representatives from each grade level to help us envision a special Middle School day outside in the middle of winter.”

Students met virtually the past two months each week to plan the types of experiences that they wanted to participate in. It started with a simple question: If you were able to plan a fun day outside in the snow, what would you want to do? 

The Kendall parents were extremely supportive of this idea, and school staff  not only helped with the planning, but they have also helped to secure winter items for many of our students, Watson said. 

“This has been a true team effort, and I am very proud of how this day unfolded,” Watson said. “I love the fact that our middle level students can feel special about having a day that celebrates them! I also love that our students were the driving force behind the day’s activities!” 

Cooper Traxler takes his date on a ride at the McDonald’s drive-through with his Power Wheels toy car

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Cooper Traxler (right), 6, takes his Valentine’s date Natalee Olsen, 6, through the drive-through at the Albion McDonald’s. They received an escort from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Steve Fox is in back in the patrol vehicle.

The two met last year in kindergarten in Albion in Mrs. Auricchio’s class. They became best friends. They are in Mrs. Uderitz’s first grade class together this year, but they are on opposite days with students having in-person classes two days a week. They only see each other on Wednesdays, but that’s through Google Meet with their other classmates.

This year valentines weren’t passed out in class. Cooper wanted Natalee to be his valentine. The two families met last Thursday at Dustin’s Pizzeria in Holley and Cooper asked Natalee to be his valentine. He wanted to take her through the drive-through at McDonald’s.

The parents – Josh and Jamie Traxler, and Ciara and Tom Olsen – worked out the details for the special date, which included a visit from Otto, the K-9 with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and his handler, Deputy Jeff Cole. Cooper wants to be a K-9 handler when he’s an adult.

Cooper Traxler and Natalee Olsen ride in style in a Power Wheels Dune Extreme. Cooper wanted to drive his date through the drive-through, just like an adult.

An anonymous person dropped off the Power Wheels toy car in Cooper’s dad’s truck after Cooper’s mom shared a few days ago about the Valentine’s Day date planned for today. Jamie Traxler said her son wanted to drive Natalee himself but didn’t have one of the big toy cars.

A message on the toy car left in Mr. Traxler’s truck said it was sent from a “Hopeless Romantic.”

Cooper and Natalee stop at the drive-through window to pick up their cheeseburger Happy Meals.

The two friends ride together along the driveway circle at McDonald’s. (Click here to see a short video of them riding together.)

After they parked the Power Wheels car, Cooper and Natalee went inside McDonald’s to enjoy their Happy Meals. They both dressed up for the occasion.

Mary Ann (Janus) Spychalski recalls 5-cent ice cream, button collection, doll hospital and her family’s service station

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director

Author’s note: It was a great pleasure to meet and share Mary Ann (Janus) Spychalski’s life reflections. At 90 years young, she is remarkable force to be reckoned with. I greatly enjoyed our short time together. 

Mary Ann (Janus) Spychalski, (right) at age 3 with her cousin John Stucko, has many stories to tell about growing up in the Hamlet of Childs. Her father and mother, Joe and Lucy Janus, bought the filing station on the north side of Ridge Road (next to the Cobblestone Schoolhouse) in 1926. The gas station pumps are also shown in this image looking north from Ridge Road.

Mary Ann, now 90 years old, said, “I was born in the house at the filing station in 1930. I went to school next door at the cobblestone school through the seventh grade, then finished up in Albion.” 

Mary Ann shared that living next door to the school opened up some interesting opportunities for her family. She said, “It’s true that it takes a village to raise kids.” Her mother, Lucy, was known to keep watch over the children as they arrived for school. If any of them had happened to get dirty on their walk to school, which seemed to be a frequent occurrence, especially for the boys, Lucy would dust them off and take a washcloth to their face and hands. Lucy said she didn’t want the teacher to have to look at dirty faces all day. Mary Ann described her mother as a hard worker. She was one of 9 children in her family and she went to work at age 14 and never stopped working. 

Mary Ann was 8 years old in 1938 when this class picture was taken at the District #5 Schoolhouse in Childs. Her teacher shown at top left was Mae Hollenbeck. Mary Ann (front row, second from right) said, “The girls wore dresses to school every day.”  

The students shown are: (Front row) Jack Murray, Janice Murray, Phyllis Brown, Geraldine Hewitt, Lillian Wildschultz, George Ingraham, Russell Williams, Rosalie Canham, Frances Burgio, Mary Ann Janus and Tony Burgio. (Row 2) John & George Donovan (twins), Janice Barnum, Betty Janus, Elizabeth Nickerson, Beverly Murray, Peggy Donovan and Joyce Ellis. (Top row) Mae (Canham) Hollenbeck, Bob Moore, George Murray, Iva Pask, Martha Henshenmacher, Edith Knickerbocker, Marian Williams, Virginia Kelly and Doreen Brown. 

Mary Ann has become an ardent button collector and has even made a shadow box using her class picture and a swatch of the dress that she wore for the photograph. She remains a button collector today. 

Mary Ann’s brother, Ed, is shown here with a snowman he made in the school’s side yard. Mary Ann has many great memories of life at the District #5 School including how her teacher, Julia McAllister, would make baked potatoes in the school’s wood furnace in the basement. During the WWII years, Mary Ann remembers Miss McAllister making hot cocoa using war surplus cocoa provided by the federal government. Also in the winter, Mr. Barnum would bring his sleigh to the school and take all the kids for a sleigh ride.  

Another highlight of Mary Ann’s one room schoolhouse education were visits by Howard Pratt. Mr. Pratt came to the school to teach children about their local history. He went on to write several books about life on the Ridge Road which are still widely enjoyed today.  

Mary Ann also enjoyed playing on the swings at the school playground at recess. Her father, Joe Janus, was a school trustee for several years in the 1930s. Mary Ann said that even though she lived right next door and could walk home for lunch, she would rather bring a bag lunch so she could eat with the other students and spend more time on the playground. 

Advancing into her teen years, Mary Ann, seen here at age 15, said the kids would hang out at Balcom’s Store at the intersection in Childs. The store sold food and farm supplies to local residents. Kids would walk to Balcom’s to get the school bus to Albion High School. Mary Ann still remembers the name of her bus driver, Kirke Bell. While at Balcom’s the kids would catch up on the latest neighborhood news away from earshot of their parents.  

Mary Ann said, “Life at my family’s Service Station was always exciting.” Her mother pioneered roadside cuisine in a day-and-age before fast food.  “My mother served up ‘minute steaks’ and hot dogs to hungry motorists. She made her own homemade pickle relish.”  The service station had the first freezer in the community so Lucy could freeze meat and ice cream to serve at the lunch counter. Mary Ann’s sister Betty and neighbor, Levi Woodcook, are seen here at the roadside window in the 1940s. 

Photograph courtesy Spencerport Depot & Canal Museum

Mary Ann recalls how much she enjoyed the ice cream cones, two dips for 5 cents. The Service Station bought their ice cream from Matheos Brothers in Spencerport. “Velvet Ice Cream” was delivered in three gallon metal containers. Mary Ann fondly remembered an ice cream treat called “OO-La-La’s,” which was a chocolate covered confection on a stick.  She said, “If lucky, the stick would say ‘FREE,’ meaning your next treat was on-the-house.” 

To better serve local farmers, Mary Ann recalled that her father, Joe, built a jitney of sorts, an old car chassis with four wheels and a welding machine attached to the top.  Joe drove that contraption right into the farmers’ fields and used it to weld and repair their farm equipment, on the spot. Joe and his brother, Phil, are seen here in 1932 working at the Service Station’s open grease pit that was used to service tractors and cars.  A ladder extended down into the pit so Joe could service the vehicles, standing up, underneath. Remnants of the pit still exist today next to the schoolhouse. Mary Ann said, “Mom and Dad warned us kids to stay away from the pit. We didn’t listen very well, but the worst thing that happened was we got pretty dirty playing down there.” 

Mary Ann said her father died in 1945, and his brother Frank Janus and Frank’s wife Vicky took over the operation of the Service Station, as seen here in 1946. She said, “Frank and Vickie had lived in the city in Buffalo, and it was a big shock moving out to the country. It took a while for the pair to get used to country life and also for the ‘locals’ to get adjusted to them.”  She reflected, “In the end, it worked out well, and they extended the life of the service station another couple decades.” 

McCormack-Deering Wooden Thresher – 1923

Mary Ann recalls the excitement each year surrounding the arrival of Charley Plummer’s threshing machine when it was time for wheat harvesting.  All the neighborhood kids would gather around and watch the machine at work.  She said, “The kids were told to stay out of the way of the threshing machine. Good advice, but sometimes not well heeded.”

Another highlight for Mary Ann was the Doll Hospital at the Murray Farm in Childs. Mary Miller Murray, shown here, took in “injured” dolls and would repair their broken limbs and smudged faces. The Doll Hospital was a local landmark that had a following that stretched across the country. 

Mrs. Murray and her children, George, Joyce and Janice, known as the “Marionette Merrymakers,” created a “Disneyesque” experience for local children complete with marionettes and stage and much more.  The Murrays would put on puppet shows, a wonderful diversion in a day and age preceding television.  

Mary Ann said, “Mrs. Murray even made me a doll using my own hair for a wig. I had braided hair then, and she used one of the braids to give my doll, ‘Shirley Temple,’ that look-like-me appearance. Coming off the Depression, this was great fun!” Mary Ann and her doll, are shown in the center of this dress-up-day photo. Her cousin, Herman, and sister, Betty, joined in the fun.

In 1949, after her school days, Mary Ann went to work at Landauer’s at age 19. She sold fabric, notions and buttons. (Perhaps this is how she developed her life-long fascination with buttons.) The store, opened in 1865, was located on the west side of Main Street in Albion at the site of the current Browsery.  Mary Ann left her employment after a few years to marry and raise her family, but returned for Landauer’s last two years of operation before closing.  

The snow on the Erie Canal towpath was packed down from snowmobilers last week, allowing fairly solid footing for walkers and runners. This photo is just west of the Brown Street bridge in Albion.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a winter storm watch for Orleans County and all of Western New York from Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon.

More than 9 inches of snow is possible with the heaviest snow expected Monday night and Tuesday morning.

“Travel could be very difficult at times with snow-covered roads,” the Weather Service said. “The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute on Monday and the morning commute on Tuesday.”

21 Valentine’s Days

I kinda figure myself an expert on Valentine’s Day. Since this Blog is about Positive Perks and not my personal business I haven’t brought up that I own Bloom’s Flower Shop in Albion. Being this is my 21st Valentine’s Day and my last at Bloom’s, I figure it’s OK now. There is a little piece of heaven atop a mountain waiting for us and therefore the shop is for sale.

When you are a florist there are many things that come to mind for Valentine’s Day and it is not “Will I get anything?”. When you are a florist and you and your husband are working your tails off on February 14th, the answer is a hard “No.” What is on your mind is can you mentally and physically succeed without letting anyone down. Never make a commitment that you can’t stand behind is important in life and business.

As a florist it is a huge amount of product to push out the door in a short window of time. Let’s face it, no one wants their gift delivered after Valentine’s Day. We pray for good product, good weather, stamina, and a sense of humor.

One of my cherished Valentine memories was many years ago. Mr. Loren Fleming, a gentleman near 80 years of age came in for his gifts. It was one of the sweetest things to witness for this florist. He gingerly took his time to select just the perfect gifts. For this holiday some of the younger gents are looking for the extravagant, but not Mr. Fleming. He was looking for the most meaningful and heartfelt. He knew who he was buying for and he knew he wanted it to be special, not just shockingly over the top. He picked up every card and thought about the message. He looked over each candy, checked out the plush and admired all the blossoms. We watched him as he slowly spent over an hour pouring his heart into each gift. In the end I do not even recall what he purchased, but how he purchased it. He did it with the joy of the recipient in mind. He knew that giving of his heart was the true meaning of Valentine’s Day. Time and age had taught him that it was not the monetary value of the gift you give your sweetheart, but the heart and thought behind it.

Maybe your Sweetheart loves the grand gesture, that is awesome, too! These special moments during my 21 Valentine’s Days as a florist makes this a real celebration of love, not just a greeting card holiday. Display your heartfelt love this Valentine’s Day in a way that is meaningful. I guarantee your Sweetie will smile and maybe you will even get a smooch and a hug. Mr. Fleming passed away a few years back, but his gentle and loving spirit lingers in our little shop and in all the hearts that have passed through its doors these many years.

Happy Valentine’s Day to Everyone, you will all hold a special place in my heart for your kindness, support and sometimes even patience. XOXO How Sweet It Is To Be Loved  (click here).

How do you show Love? To see the De-Thorn Pile, visit My Blog live online at (click here) and catch up on Weekly Photo Perks and past Sunday Posts. Like and share your comments.

Truly,
Deborah London

Former President Donald Trump was acquitted in the U.S. Senate this afternoon in his second impeachment trial.

White House portrait of President Donald J. Trump

The vote was 57 in favor to convict and 43 to acquit. Two-thirds vote is needed for conviction.

Trump was also acquitted on Feb. 5, 2019 in the first impeachment trial. That time, Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to vote to convict Trump.

This time seven Republicans found Trump guilty. Those Republicans include Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Ben Sasse of Nebraska.

New York’s U.S. senators – Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand – are both Democrats and they voted to convict Trump for inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

“Donald Trump inspired, directed, and propelled a mob to violently prevent the peaceful transfer of power, subvert the will of the people, and illegally keep him in power,” Schumer said. “There is nothing more un-American than that. There is nothing more antithetical to our democracy.”

Gillibrand released the following statement:

“The evidence is irrefutable. For months, President Trump laid the groundwork for the insurrection, actively promoting conspiracy theories about election fraud to his supporters. On January 6th, he incited violence against Congress and his own vice president. Finally, even as his violent supporters stormed the Capitol, causing untold destruction and several deaths, President Trump refused to take action to protect members of Congress, the vice president, Capitol Police and law enforcement officers, staff and those working in the Capitol.

“This shameful incident has left a stain on our nation that can never be removed—nor should it.

“As a United States senator, I swore an oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution. Today, I upheld that oath by voting to convict President Trump under charges of inciting an insurrection against the U.S. government. I thank the other senators, including seven of my Republican colleagues, who had the courage to do the same.”

File photo by Tom Rivers: The Yates Town Park is located off Morrison Road, northeast of the Village of Lyndonville. A big upgrade to the park may coincide with the town bicentennial in 2022.

YATES – The Town Board expects to form a committee next month to begin work on celebrating the town’s 200^th anniversary in 2022.

Each of the Town Board members – Town Supervisor Jim Simon, Harold Suhr, Susan Hrovat, John Riggi and Jim Whipple – have been asked to name two members to the committee, with the town to formally approve the group in March.

That committee will then be tasked with activities and perhaps mementoes to celebrate the Yates bicentennial.

There is already one big goal to coincide with the bicentennial. Town officials are pushing to have the expansion of the Yates Town Park done next year.

The $2.5 million town park upgrade will be funded 95 percent by the state. It is part of $300 million in state funding for projects along the southshore of Lake Ontario through the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Commission.

The local share of the Yates project – $126,550 – will be covered with in-kind services by the town Highway Department and also funding by the Lyndonville Area Foundation.

Some highlights of the Yates project include an L-shaped breakwater; pavilion with bathroom and fire place; park activities (kayak boat launch, dock ramp, ADA complaint playground); road, parking, pavement; stone dust trail with benches, garbage can, bike rack and plantings; stormwater; erosion control; sanitary/leach field and water service.

Press Release, Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council

BATAVIA – Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council will reopen applications for Decentralization Arts Grants for the 2021 cycle.

Artists in Genesee and Orleans counties, as well as sponsoring 501c3 organizations may apply in 3 categories: Reach Community Arts grants (501C3 organizations up to $5,000), Spark Arts in Education (partnering with local schools up to $5,000) and Ripple Individual Artist grants ($2,500.) Check the GO Art! website at www.goart.org for links to the online applications.

Email tkehl@goart.org for information and assistance or call (585) 322-2420. Applications will remain open through March 15, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.