There are three food distributions set for the final three Friday mornings in January. About 300 boxes of food will be given away at the events.

The start times are approximately 8:30 a.m. (If the Foodlink truck is there and unloaded, the event may start sooner.) Organizers are asking people not to line up before 8 a.m. due to possible winter weather conditions.

“We remind people not to block driveways,” said Melissa Blanar, director of the Orleans County office for the Aging, who helps organize the events. “We want to thank all the volunteers, without them there would be no events. Please be patient and kind.”

The schedule includes:

• January 15^th, Community Action Store, 113 South Main Street, Albion
• January 22^nd, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 NYS Route 31, Knowlesville, entrance is on Taylor Hill Road and not on Route 31. The line on Taylor Hill will need to go south away from Route 31.
• January 29^th, Community Action Store, 113 South Main Street, Albion

Positivity rate at 6.7 percent for asymptomatic people at testing clinics

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer, assisted at the rapid test clinic on Wednesday at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. He is shown in a driver’s side mirror of a car in line. 

Orleans County has hosted four rapid Covid-19 test clinics, with the first on Dec. 16. There have been 2,035 tests administered in the four clinics, and 136 have come back positive for a positivity rate of 6.7 percent.

The county’s public health director expects the clinics, which are free to those being tested, to continue weekly through at least the end of January.

The clinics are targeted for asymptomatic people who may have had a close contact with someone Covid positive or may need a Covid test for their job, a medical appointment or to visit a loved one in a nursing home.

“Please note if you have recently tested positive, please do not come and get tested again at these clinics,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments advises. “These clinics are to identify new cases, not to determine if you are now negative.”

Here are results from the first four clinics:

• Dec. 16: 12 positive out of 420 tests, 2.9 percent positive

• Dec. 21: 22 positive out of 546 tests, 4.0 percent positive

• Dec. 28: 54 positive out of 532 tests, 10.2 percent positive

• Jan. 6: 48 positive out of 537 tests, 8.9 percent positive

Orleans County will next host a clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Click here to register on the state Department of Health website.

Genesee County will host rapid test clinics next Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Genesee County Emergency Management/Fire Training Center at 7690 State Street Rd., Batavia. Click here for registration information from the state.

Those getting tested also need to complete an intake form from the G-O Health Departments. Click here for more information.

Mike Beach of Albion greets people at the rapid test clinic, making sure they have an appointment and an intake form completed. Drivers enter the fairgrounds from the west end on Taylor Hill Road.

Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming have 718 residents currently Covid-positive

This graph is from the health departments in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The graph for Genesee shows a high of 343 on Dec. 19, but health department officials say that should instead say 247.

The three rural counties of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming combined have 718 active Covid-19 cases today, the most during the pandemic.

Orleans, with 279 active cases, leads the three counties. Genesee is at 238 and Wyoming is at 201.

A week ago on Dec. 31 the three counties were at 475 active cases with 202 in Orleans, 169 in Genesee and 104 in Wyoming.

An active case is someone who has tested positive but hasn’t been cleared from mandatory isolation. If people test positive for Covid, they must be in mandatory isolation for at least 10 days, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

They are cleared after they have been fever free the last 3 days with symptom improvement. Sadly, if people die after contracting Covid, that also is no longer an active case.

The cases have continued a surge that started in November, increased in December and has continued in January.

Genesee’s current active caseload of 238 is actually down from the high of 269 on Dec. 7. But Orleans and Wyoming are both at record highs of active cases during the pandemic.

Orleans reached 200 active cases for the first time on Dec. 31 with 202. It was at 241 on Tuesday, then 232 on Wednesday before jumping up to 279 today.

Wyoming County has nearly doubled in active cases in the past week, going from 104 on Dec. 31 to 201 today. Wyoming was at 160 on Tuesday, 171 on Wednesday and then went over 200 for the first time today.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Valerie O’Hara (right), president of Pike Stained Glass, and Chris Grooms set a repaired stained glass window into place at the Holley Presbyterian Church today.

Pike Stained Glass Studios of Rochester was hired to repair two sections of the “Come Unto Me” window, a centerpiece of the church.

The window is believed to have been installed in 1907 when the sanctuary was built. The window is dedicated in memory of George and Sarah Garfield, who were residents of Holley in the late 19th century. The picture of Jesus is based on the “Come Unto Me” painting by Heinrich Hoffman.

Valerie O’Hara sets the window in place. Pike Stained Glass Studios needed to replace broken pieces of the two windows and create a new frame with rebar. The two windows had bulged and there were broken sections of glass.

Pike made new pieces of glass that needed to be painted and reset. The company put in new lead to hold the glass pieces together and created a new frame. Pike also cleaned the larger window depicting Jesus.

The church in 2019 celebrated its 200^th anniversary in Holley. Tom Gardner, the church pastor, said the congregation values the stained glass window. It was about a $25,000 project.

“We looked very close at it and we could see it had problems,” Gardner said about the window. “The congregation wanted it to be right and be here for future generations.”

The church this year also expects to complete a $40,000 project on part of the roof.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Don Welch, a member of the Holley Presbyterian Church, was among the volunteers out this morning, putting away the cutouts of a Nativity scene that were in front of the church on Route 31.

Fred Roeck, left, and Glenn Maxon detach the cutouts from stakes that held them up. The cutouts were then put in the basement and will be out again for the Christmas season in 2021.

Ron Meiers was among the volunteers who took care of the task this morning.

Group wanted Congress to investigate election

Provided photos: A Lyndonville man took this photo and the one below of the protest in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. He said the overwhelmingly majority of the people were peaceful.

A Lyndonville man was among the tens of thousands of people who gathered in Washington, D.C. to support President Trump on Wednesday.

The Lyndonville man, who didn’t want his name made public, listened to the president address the crowd and then walked down Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol. He said he helped remove a barricade but did not go inside the Capitol.

He said the group expected it would get to the Capitol and would be greeted by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who would vow to press Congress to investigate the election results.

The protestors made it to the Capitol at about 1 p.m., when the Senate and House were each in their chambers discussing the certification of the electoral results. They would have to evacuate after protestors breached security and entered the building, some through broken windows.

“The Trump supporters are normally all good,” said the Lyndonville man, 55. “We were looking for a positive response from Congress.”

The Lyndonville man said police sprayed mace at the protestors, which surprised many in the group. He saw protestors up on a balcony throw chunks of wood at police, which disgusted him. He believes outside agitators infiltrated the group.

“The news coverage has painted us to be lawless and anarchist,” the man said. “I support law enforcement.”

The man said the group was guilty of being disorganized. He said they should have had a spokesman to relay their concerns that there were irregularities with the election that needed more investigation.

“We showed up and we were frustrated and angry,” the man said. “It wasn’t a planned attack. We just wanted assurance that it would be investigated.”

The man said he joined the march to the Capitol wanting to show support for local Congressman Chris Jacobs, so he would vote to not certify the electoral votes. Jacobs was among the Republicans who didn’t vote to certify the results.

“We thought they would acknowledge us, that it was a fraudulent election and they would investigate this,” the Lyndonville man said about their presence at the Capitol. “But we were met with gas and fire extinguishers.”

The man believes he was the only one from Orleans County at the protest in DC. He rode a bus with a group he connected with through social media. The man said he has attended several protests about Constitutional rights.

“I talked with a hundred people throughout the day and none talked violence or had guns,” the man said. “ The majority that was there was just trying to make their voices heard. It was just a small group that was violent.”

Steven Sund, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, said 50 police officers were injured from the “riotous actions” of the group, with several officers hospitalized with serious injuries.

“The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol Police was unlike any I have ever experienced in my 30 years in law enforcement here in Washington, D.C.,” Chief Sund said in a news release today. “Maintaining public safety in an open environment – specifically for First Amendment activities – has long been a challenge. The USCP had a robust plan established to address anticipated First Amendment activities. But make no mistake – these mass riots were not First Amendment activities; they were criminal riotous behavior.”

Active cases top 500 in 2 rural counties

There are 137 new confirmed Covid-19 cases to report today in Genesee and Orleans counties, the local health departments reported. There are 517 active cases in the two counties, with 279 in Orleans and 238 in Genesee.

In Orleans County, there are 78 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 1,612 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

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

Of the new cases, 3 were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Of the new cases, one is a resident of the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion and one is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.

Orleans County hosted a rapid Covid test clinic on Wednesday at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. Of the 537 who were tested, 48 were positive and 46 of those were Orleans residents.

Orleans today is also reporting that 28 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are 14 Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also removed one person from yesterday’s total due to the person not being a resident of Orleans County.

• Lyndonville Central School reported a staff member who was present at the district today has tested positive. That staff member has immediately begun isolation at home.

Contact tracing was completed in collaboration with the Orleans County Health Department.    As a result, no staff or students are deemed close contacts. Therefore, there are no staff or student quarantines related to this individual case, District Superintendent Jason Smith said in a letter on the district website.

A Lyndonville student has also tested positive for Covid. The student was last present on district property on Thursday. Contact tracing was completed in collaboration with the Orleans County Health Department, resulting in the quarantine of a several students. These families have been contacted by school staff, and the Health Department will also follow up, Smith said.

• Medina Central School is reporting today that a student and a staff member in the high school have tested positive for Covid-19. They were both on precautionary quarantine. The Health Department has determined that no further quarantines are required from school contact other than those that have already been notified, said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

An elementary student also has tested positive and the district is in process of notifying the families of anyone who may have come into close contact with the student.

“Out of an abundance of caution, this student’s classroom with switch to 100 percent virtue during the quarantine period,” Kruzynski said in a letter today posted on the district website.

In Genesee County, there are 59 new positive cases of Covid-19 reported today for a total of 2,818 cases since March.

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).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Of the new cases reported today, 3 are residents at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia, 1 is a resident at the Batavia VA Medical Center, and 1 is a resident at the New York State Veterans’ Home at Batavia.

Genesee is reporting 39 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 26 residents hospitalized with a Covid-related illness.

Press Release, Finger Lakes Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force

ROCHESTER – Nearly 60 regional leaders will gather virtually at 4 p.m. today to ensure equity, transparency, and efficiency in COVID-19 immunization efforts, with a goal of vaccinating at least 70% of adult residents of the Finger Lakes Region.

The Finger Lakes Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force was convened by Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, and will be chaired by Dr. Nancy Bennett, the lead for the Finger Lakes COVID-19 Hub at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health. Paul Pettit, public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, is a member of the group.

While Covid-19 has presented an unprecedented challenge nationally and locally, the Vaccine Task Force allows the region to harness the reach and talents of organizations throughout the nine Finger Lakes counties of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.

“The Finger Lakes Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force will play an important role in helping to answer questions and serve as a point of contact for residents across our region as we continue through the early stages of the Covid-19 vaccination process. We understand there are going to be questions, but we want to ensure everyone has accurate answers to make an informed decision about getting the vaccine,” said Bello. “The task force will be made up of members who represent the diversity of our region – from urban, suburban and rural communities, business leaders, medical professionals, community members and everything in between.”

The advisory group includes representatives from Rochester Regional Health, the University of Rochester Medical Center, safety net practices, the City of Rochester and other municipal and county governments, non-profits, residents, business, labor, education and more. The task force will advise the Finger Lakes Regional Hub, the state-designated organization for coordinating the supply, distribution and delivery of Covid-19 vaccines across the region.

It will also oversee strategies and tactics for guaranteeing that every adult in our region has the information and access they need to make an informed choice about vaccination.

“We have learned that if we don’t want to leave any populations behind, we have to make sure that historically marginalized groups have a seat at the table where decisions are made,” said Wade S. Norwood, task force co-chair.

“Different groups need different approaches, from religious communities both rural and urban to migrant workers in farming communities, to Black folks in city neighborhoods,” said Norwood. “By representing the true diversity of our region, the task force will help us build a foundation of trust and transparency among communities and organizations.”

Nancy “Nana” Bennett, MD, task force co-chair said: “I am honored to help lead our region’s efforts to deliver Covid-19 vaccine to each and every member of our community safely, quickly and fairly. The task is huge, but our community has proven time and time again that we can come together for the good of all.  The Task Force will guide us at every step of the process, and ensure that vaccine administration in our region is equitable, transparent, and efficient.”

Task Force Member Jerome Underwood, president and CEO of Action for a Better Community said: “The task force will allow us to quickly disseminate accurate information about the vaccines to people who rely on agencies like ABC for critical information. As a trusted messenger, we have an obligation to educate the individuals we serve—individuals who are often economically, socially or emotionally marginalized. We will use our deep community connections to help residents make informed decisions for themselves and their families.”

Charles Schumer, the Democratic Party leader in the U.S. Senate, is calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from office after a mob took over the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

“What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by President Trump,” Schumer said today. “This president must not hold office one day longer.”

Schumer said Vice President Mike Pence and Cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment to have Trump out of office today.

“If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress must reconvene to impeach President Trump,” Schumer said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also wants the 25th Amendment invoked against Trump “for committing an unspeakable assault against our nation and our people.”

If the VP and Congress don’t act, Pelosi said Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment.

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, also is joining the calls for Trump to be ousted from office, and not wait until Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20.

“We have reached a dangerous point in our democracy,” Higgins said in a statement today. “The President’s incendiary words and actions have directly resulted in the domestic terrorist mob scene that caused damage to our Capitol building – an attempted to halt the transition of power. Make no mistake, his actions would be to disrupt the transition of the President-elect.”

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned from the Trump Cabinet today. Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s former chief of staff, also resigned from a diplomatic post, citing the president’s role in the Capitol siege. Stephanie Grisham, First Lady Melania Trump’s chief of staff, quit on Wednesday after the storming of the Capitol.

Trump’s Twitter and Facebook accounts have both been suspended. The White House issued this statement on behalf of the president today: “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”

Contributed Photos – In action here from the Bills basketball team’s 1981 contest against the Lyndonville faculty Bills All-Pro linebacker Jim Haslett moves in to defend as Mark Hughes passes the ball up court.

Local sports fans will have a featured attraction on TV on Saturday afternoon as for the first time in many years the Buffalo Bills will host a playoff game facing the Indianapolis Colts.

However, for many years  local sports fans had the opportunity to see and meet some of their favorite Bills players, not on the football field but on the basketball court.

Packed gyms were the norm  when the Bills basketball team came to town to play a benefit game. From the mid 1960’s until the mid 1990’s  Medina, Albion, Lyndonville and Middleport were frequent stops on the Bills cagers late winter/early spring schedule of games around Western New York.

And the list of Bills players who competed locally over the years is an impressive one including Jim Kelly, Cornelius Bennett, Jim Haslett, Lou Piccone, Joe DeLamiellure, Shane Conlan, Jerry Butler and Darryl Talley.

Some of the squads who provided the opposition during these benefit contests included the Medina, Albion and Lyndonville faculties, the Medina All-Stars, the New York Correctional Officers, the Medina Jaycees, the Orleans All-Stars and the Mr. Ed’s team from Middleport.

The contests often included trick plays, such as a field goal attempt for a basket and audience participation hijinks, especially when Lou “Conehead” Piccone was on hand.

However probably the most popular part of the event was the post game autograph session where fans could get the opportunity to get an autograph, take a picture with and talk to some of their favorite Bills players.

From that same game at Lyndonville Bills side receiver Lou Piccone drives for a layup against Wes Bradley.

In a game at Medina, Lou Piccone lines up to try a three-pointer – field goal style. Keith Moody is the holder while blocking on the line, from left, are Dennis Johnson, Rod Kush, Ken Jones (checking signals), Dee Hardison (being blocked by Jim Hancock) and Joe DeLamielleure.

‘Her heart was very much with the poor. She’d do anything for the poor.’

ALBION – The death of Sister Marian Adrian comes as a shock to those who knew her and a great loss to the community.

Sister Marian Adrian

The Orleans and Genesee County areas will remember Sister Marian as the advocate for migrant workers and a stout supporter of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern.

Sister Dolores Dowd of Albion, a fellow sister of the Grey Nuns, called Sister Marian “a good and loyal friend.”

“Her heart was very much with the poor,” Sister Dolores said. “She’d do anything for the poor.”

Sister Marian died Dec. 14 at her retirement home in Philadelphia, where she moved in 2015 to join her sister Grey Nuns in retirement.

“Sister Marian was a passionate advocate for migrant workers and rural poor living in Orleans and Genesee counties, and was instrumental in the growth the development of the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern from the 1970s on,” said Nyla Gaylord, the current director of GOMOC. “As a Grey Nun, she frequently had the opportunity to speak at Catholic churches in the Buffalo area. The passion with which she spoke made an enduring impression on those who heard her and many responded by becoming faithful donors.

Gaylord spoke to Sister Marian on the phone just two weeks before her death to tell her about a donation GOMOC had received because of a talk Sister Marian had done years ago.

Nyla Gaylord, executive director of the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, visits Sister Marian Adrian at her apartment near Philadelphia in 2017.

“She was so effective as a fundraiser,” Gaylord said. “She kept in touch with her students and was a great correspondent. More than 30 years ago she spoke at a church in Clarence, and one of the congregation who heard her just sent us a generous donation.”

Gaylord also shared a story about another $1,000 check they received from a man whose wife had just died. In going through her checkbook, he found she had been supporting the Ministry of Concern, so he sent another check in his wife’s memory.

“Sister Marian was a perfect example of the Bible verse in John 4:37, which reads, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ We are reaping today the seeds she sowed, which is enabling Ministry of Concern to continue its work.”

A wise investor, Sister Marian’s legacy gifts to the Ministry of Concern have established a strong foundation of resources that will help ensure the long-term continuation of this organization, Gaylord said.

Sister Marian was born in 1930 in Buffalo, an only child. She graduated from Holy Angels Academy, where she taught from 1954 to 1969. She earned a bachelor of arts in mathematics from D’Youville College in 1951, a master’s degree in philosophy from Catholic University in Washington, D.D. in 1960 and received her Ed D in science from Buffalo State in 1977. She held New York permanent certification in general science and physics, as well as mathematics. She is credited with several publications on science and relationships.

Sister Marian first came to Albion to visit and saw a child with no shoes walking in the snow. That touched her and set the path her life would follow. She became acquainted with the Rev. Tim Hoyt from Holley, who worked with migrant workers.

“She made a profound impact on people’s lives by sharing reality with them, particularly the young women at Holy Angels Academy,” Gaylord said.

Sister Marian started a summer mission program where the young ladies from Holy Angels would come to Albion to work with the migrants. This was before the War on Poverty and before any government funding for migrant workers. The young ladies who spent the summers here paid their own expenses.

Sister Marian was extraordinary for her time, Gaylord said. She taught math and science when women then didn’t go into those fields. She taught at Albion for 22 years and then became director of the GOMOC from 1991 to 2006. After stepping down as director, she supported the agency as director of development, director of communication and director of education, until retiring in 2006. She continued to volunteer for another year until her retirement.

As one of the founders of the Ministry of Concern, Sister Marian’s purpose was to give people “a hand-up rather than a hand-out.”

Gaylord called Sister Marian “an extraordinary woman who exemplified the mission of her order: “to be signs of God’s constant and unconditional love for every person.”

Sister Marian’s burial will be private due to restrictions caused by the pandemic. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Arrangements were completed by the Beck-Givnish Funeral Homes in Philadelphia.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Tom O’Brien

MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES Art teacher Tom O’Brien is known for working on murals and public art in the Buffalo area. Over the past few years he has also been working with the Buffalo Bills for the “My Cause, My Cleats” charitable campaign in the NFL.

“I had an artist friend of mine approach me to see if I wanted to work with some of the players on the designs,” O’Brien said. “I started out working with Robert Woods and then the following year I worked with Josh Allen and some of the other players. I also work with the coaches and their wives. It’s a lot of fun collaborating with them and I am humbled that they allow me to part of it.”

“My Cause, My Cleats” is in an initiative in which players design cleats to support a charitable cause of their choosing. The cleats are then auctioned off, with proceeds going to that charity.

O’Brien says he has gotten to hang out with the players or the coaches in the locker room during the practices or would have lunch with them to discuss ideas for their cleats. Now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Zoom calls are the norm.

“They will meet with me two to three days and we exchange ideas about what their cause is and I try to use my skills to give them what they want,” O’Brien said.

Asked about the fantastic season they are having, he says it is hard not to be a fan.

“I have so much respect for them as people and of course I am so proud of them and the year they are having,” he said. “I have to thank them for all they do for the community and the causes they highlight. They are a wonderful group of people. I am very proud to be part of the Bills Mafia.”

Mr. O’Brien also has his own fans – his students at the Orleans Learning Center and Newfane Learning Center.

“I love being a teacher and working with these kids,” he said. “I work with a great group of educators and I am really happy to be working at Orleans/Niagara BOCES.”

MEDINA – 2020 may have been a challenging year, but it was, nevertheless, one in which the Butts-Clark American Legion Post received extraordinary support from the community to accomplish several goals.

Commander Glenn Whitmore and vice commander Steve Johnson have joined to say thank you to the businesses and individuals who helped the Legion in any way last year.

Steve Johnson holds a picture of the Butts-Clark American Legion Post building when it was a stone structure in 1914, where William Gallagher rented wagons and carriages.

When Medina Mayor Mike Sidari was given two artillery shells by the Leo Dolan American Legion Post in Lockport, he asked members of the American Legion in Medina if they could do anything with them.

Medina members decided they could and set forth in what would become a true community project.

First, Phinney Tool and Die (Whistler) fixed the caps on the end of the projectiles. Ed Wojtkowski of Gasport Welding and Fabrication made bases for them out of stainless steel.

The late Joe Perry, superintendent of the Medina Department of Public Works and a member of the American Legion, agreed to mount them.

Lyons Collision painted them. Landscaping was done by Dave Walker, a Vietnam veteran.

All this was done free of charge or at reduced prices, said Steve Johnson, vice commander of the Medina post.

The shells are now part of the permanent Vietnam memorial at the north end of the Legion building.

Next on the Legion’s agenda in 2020 was painting of their building.

“We were given tremendous price breaks in our endeavor,” Johnson said.

Bids went out for painters, and Craig Royal got the job, with Scott Grimm and Jeff Gay, who scraped and patched the exterior. Because it was for veterans, Royal agreed to do the work for the cost of the materials.

“We got two coats of paint for the price of the materials,” Johnson said.

Steve Johnson, vice commander of the Butts-Clark American Legion Post, commander Glenn Whitmore (standing) and Peter Huth discuss the many organizations and individuals who donated time, labor and services to the Legion in 2020.

The post had not been painted since Garrick Insurance was located there. The American Legion has been there 30 years, Johnson said.

The building has been there since before 1914. A picture on the wall in the Legion shows the building in 1914, when it was sandstone and occupied by William Gallagher, who rented wagons and carriages.

At some time in history, concrete was applied over the sandstone, and before painting could begin last year, Glen Giltner gave them a price break on repairing the concrete.

Finally, John Doyle agreed to seal the blacktop parking lot at cost.

They also received special considerations from Cusimano’s Pizza.

In addition, the late Joe Perry contacted National Grid and got them to remove a tree which was leaning on the building. After that, the village removed the stump and brush.

The side entrance was sided by Lakeview Sheds, who did a tremendous job, Johnson said. The Mennonites also gave them a break on the labor.

When they replaced the heating and air conditioning recently, they got special consideration from Todd Houseman Heating and Air Conditioning in Oakfield.

“If we’ve missed thanking anybody, I apologize,” Johnson said. “We couldn’t have done this without the support of all these people in the community.”

Johnson said before any of the work could be done they had to get approval from the village for improvements to the exterior, due to the historic designation of Main Street.

One big, very important step remains, Johnson said. And that is to obtain permission from the village to have a 26-foot long furled American flag painted on the south end of the building. It will be a commanding sight to those driving down Main Street, the veterans said.

The Butts-Clark American Legion Post has 170 members, but only about 10 are really active.

The post hasn’t been able to be open during most of last year, due to Covid-19 restrictions and concerns and post meetings were canceled for five months.

They still have 15 or so turn up on Tuesday mornings for coffee and donuts, while practicing social distancing.

Every Tuesday, when there is a funeral at the National Veterans’ Cemetery in Pembroke, the Orleans County Honor Guard, which includes members from the Medina Legion and VFW posts, participates by providing a 21-gun salute. Jim Freas is in charge of organizing that.

The Legion and VFW are always looking for new members and any veteran is encouraged to contact either or both organizations about joining.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has deployed 1,000 members of the New York National Guard to the nation’s capital for up to two weeks “to aid and facilitate in the peaceful transition of presidential power.”

Cuomo said he acted at the request of United State National Guard officials in response to a mob overtaking the Capitol this afternoon.

“This deployment will not impact our state’s ongoing efforts to contain and combat the Covid virus,” Cuomo said. “For 244 years, the cornerstone of our democracy has been the peaceful transfer of power, and New York stands ready to help ensure the will of the American people is carried out, safely and decisively. God bless our brave men and women in uniform, and God bless the United States of America.”