The Orleans County Health Department and Orleans Community Health are working together to provide more rapid testing opportunities for residents.
“We have received the rapid testing Binax cards and Abbott machines and test kits through the New York State Department of Health,” stated Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “We have established a drive-through testing site at our Walk-in Care Clinic and are scheduling tests that best fits the needs of the resident.”
For patients that are exposed, have symptoms, need clearance for pre-operation, travel or nursing home visitation, we are here to assist you in getting the correct test you need. Please remember for exposure you should wait at least 3-5 days post exposure as it may be too soon to test. If you would like to speak to a provider regarding your symptoms and treatment you may schedule an audio tele-med visit for assessment and the need for testing.
“This is another opportunity for county residents to be tested as needed, and the rapid tests from NYSDOH are free,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Because the rapid testing supplies are provided by the State Department of Health there are no costs to those needing tests.”
“Services are limited due to staffing and testing protocol,”,” stated Nicole Helsdon, Office Manager for the Albion Walk-in Care Clinic. “We can only process a certain amount of tests per day. We ask that people be patient and call for an appointment at our office (585-589-2273) and follow the prompts. Our staff will return your call as soon as they are able to schedule your test.”
Residents are still encouraged to limit time with non-household members, wash hands frequently with soap and water / hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, wear masks/face-coverings when out in public and keeping at least 6’ away from others in public. Limiting time in public helps to lower the spread, especially if you aren’t having friends and family to your home.
The most important thing to remember, that if you are sick with anything, please stay home. Contact your primary care provider for instructions.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2021 at 10:32 am
Nearly 3,000 cases reported during month in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties
This graph from the health departments in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties shows how the cases have surged recently. Click here to see a detailed chart on cases in the three counties. This graph shows Genesee nearing the 2,500-case marker, Orleans getting close to 1,500 and Wyoming over the 1,000 marker.
December saw the biggest surge in Covid-19 cases during the pandemic in the three local rural counties of Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming.
There were 2,993 cases reported in the three rural counties that combined have about 140,000 people. Before December, there were 2,108 Covid cases in the three counties – since March.
November was a big spike, too, when the 1,133 cases in the three counties were more than the total for all three counties the first eight months of the pandemic.
But December was something else entirely. Those 2,993 cases are nearly 60 percent (58.7) of the total of 5,101 cases in the three counties since March.
All three counties saw a major uptick in cases in December, with Genesee the hardest hit with 1,495 new cases and 22 deaths. Orleans was up by 753 cases and Wyoming by 745.
The three counties, from March through October, had 975 Covid cases combined. At the end of November, the combined cases was at 2,108 and is now at 5,101 after Dec. 31.
Orleans was the hardest hit by Covid in cases – before November. In Orleans the cases were driven by an outbreak in the spring at two nursing homes, which combined had 147 cases by late June. In Late October, Orleans had the most of the three counties with 399 cases, followed by 375 in Genesee and 201 in Wyoming.
But the cases have really taken off in Genesee in November and December. Genesee has had 2,070 Covid cases the past two months.
Here is a monthly breakdown of the Covid cases and deaths in the three counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2021 at 8:56 am
Provided photos
ALBION – Nadine Hanlon takes the oath of office on Thursday afternoon as the Orleans County Clerk. She is joined by her husband Mike and daughter Michela. Hanlon’s other daughter Marisa just started a job at Unity in Rochester as a surgical physician assistant. Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church administers the oath.
Hanlon, a former Kendall town clerk, was elected county clerk in November. She worked the previous 15 years as the clerk to the Orleans County Legislature. She also was on the Kendall Board of Education for 10 years, including seven years as the board president.
Tracy Cliff takes the oath as one of the deputy county clerks. She is joined by her husband Mike while Church administers the oath.
Pam Boyer is the other deputy clerk and works at the DMV office. Boyer has been the deputy at the DMV the past three years. Cliff will work out of the Clerk’s Office where she has been an index clerk the past five years.
“Both ladies are good at what they do and I am looking forward to continue to work with the great staff that operates the Orleans County Clerk’s Office,” Hanlon said.
She looks forward to getting past the Covid-19 pandemic when the offices can return to normal. The DMV transactions are currently being handled by mail or by appointment.
“The restrictions are very stressful to staff along with those we need to serve,” she said. “We just continue to ask for patience during these trying times.”
Nadine Hanlon had a small swearing-in ceremony with Judge Church and Tracy Cliff.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2020 at 8:28 pm
ALBANY – A three-person Farm Labor Wage Board voted today to keep the overtime threshold for farmworkers at 60 hours per week.
The New York Farm Bureau wanted the threshold to stay at 60 hours, while some labor groups wanted it to drop to 40 hours to align with many other industries.
Denis Hughes, former president of the New York State AFL-CIO, cast the lone nay vote today. He requested an amendment that would keep the threshold at 60 hours for two more years and then do an eight-year phase-in to 40 hours. In that scenario, Hughes said the OT threshold would be reduced by 2.5 hours each year over eight years until it was at 40 hours a week, starting Jan. 1, 2030.
He wants farmworkers to be at 40 hours to start overtime like workers in restaurants, food processing and some other sectors of the food industry.
But Brenda McDuffie, chairwoman of the Farm Labor Wage Board, said there is too much uncertainty now in the farm economy to commit to lowering the overtime threshold.
McDuffie, president of the Buffalo Urban League, said farmers have had their markets disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. There is no certainty when the Covid impact will end, she said.
She noted the overtime wage is going up in upstate in 2021, from $11.80 to $12.50 per hour. The Wage Board will consider the issue again between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15, 2021.
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher joined McDuffie in voting to keep the threshold at 60 hours in 2021. This past year was the first year the 60-hour threshold was in place. Before there wasn’t a weekly limit before overtime wages were implemented.
Fisher advocated for waiting at least three to five years to consider lowering the threshold, so more data could be analyzed on the impact for farms and the workers. Farmers have said in hearings there could be unintended consequences where workers get paid less per week with the overtime threshold dropping because farms could be force to cut hours.
“I had encouraged giving the process more time to fully evaluate what a lower threshold would mean for all involved, especially with such limited data from this year,” Fisher said in a statement. “I’d like to thank my fellow wage board members for their time and professionalism and encourage the Department of Labor to continue to work with the farming community to do what is best for our farms and employees. We need each other for agricultural production and our rural communities to flourish.”
There were five public hearings on the issue this year for the Wage Board to gather information and testimony. McDuffie said the group will continue to collect data and wants to hear from more farmers and workers in 2021.
State Republican Leader Rob Ortt issued a statement in support of the board’s decision today.
“While today’s announcement is positive, the reality is our farms are still under great strain,” Ortt said. “The Senate Republican Conference believes a vibrant agriculture industry is critical to the economic success of our state. We urge Leaders in Albany to reject any new burdens on our family farms and work with our Conference to advance solutions that will help grow this critical part of our state’s economy.”
Ortt said Albany has already imposed new burdens on family farms across the state. Lowering the OT threshold would have raised their costs during a time of economic crisis in the state.
“I thank the hundreds of farmers, farmworkers, and supporters who took the time to advocate on this issue and look forward to working with them to support New York agriculture in the future,” Ortt said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2020 at 6:01 pm
In the final day of 2020, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 109 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the two counties, bringing the total to 3,825 in the two counties since March.
Orleans County received 34 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 1,376 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 confirmed cases, 5 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Of the new cases, 2 are residents of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.
Orleans also is reporting 24 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
The county has 13 residents hospitalized with Covid, which is down from 21 on Wednesday.
A resident in the county under age 65 passed with Covid, which is the 62nd resident to die with Covid this year.
“We are saddened to report the death of one of our community members,” the Health Departments said in a news briefing. “We will not report any other details out of respect for the person and their family. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this person during this very difficult time.”
In Genesee County, there 75 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today, bringing the total to 2,449 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.
The county also is reporting today that 83 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
Genesee has 7 residents hospitalized with Covid, up from 4 on Wednesday.
Of the new cases, 4 are residents at LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility.
Correction: Please note there was a miscount for reporting the deaths yesterday. There are 29 Covid-19 related deaths in Genesee County, not 30.
Message from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments: Please note the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be closed for the New Year’s Day holiday and will not be updating data until Monday afternoon. We thank each of you for your encouragement, assistance, diligence during this very extraordinary year.
We look forward to continuing to provide updated health information and wish each of you a safe, healthy and Happy New Year! We encourage everyone to limit their time in public and to celebrate virtually with family and friends who don’t live with you.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2020 at 11:42 am
The public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties acknowledged a delay in contact tracing due to an overwhelming caseload for the state’s contact tracers.
Paul Pettit, the public health director for the two counties, urged those who are close contacts with people who test positive to begin self quarantining right away, and not wait to be reached by contact tracers.
The state’s tracers aren’t connecting with people often until four or six days after they have been identified as close contacts, Pettit said this morning on a Zoom conference call with reporters.
The local public health departments in Orleans and Genesee will do the initial case investigations to determine close contacts. They then hand off the contact tracing to the state.
But the state has been overwhelmed with surging caseloads locally, regionally and state-wide, Pettit said.
The local health department staff were doing the case investigations and contact tracing when there were only a few new cases each day.
But the cases have gone up dramatically recently. In Orleans County, there are 719 new cases so far in December, an average of 24 new cases a day. There were 623 cases the first nine months of the pandemic in Orleans.
In Genesee, there have been 1,420 new cases so far in December, an average of 47 new cases a day. There were 954 cases in Genesee the first nine months of the pandemic.
Pettit stressed for people to self isolate if they have been identified as a close contact. If they don’t have symptoms for 10 days, they can end the quarantine.
“The message I want to put out there is to start quarantining,” Pettit said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2020 at 9:25 am
The number of flu cases is down significantly locally and state-wide so far this flu season.
There were 304 flu cases reported statewide in the week ending Dec. 19, compared to 5,297 during the same week last year.
Locally, Orleans County has two reported flu cases so far this season, compared to 266 this time a year ago.
Genesee County also has two reported flu cases 12 weeks into the flu season, compared to 598 during the same time period in 2019.
Wyoming County has six reported cases, compared to 454 a year ago by the third week of December.
The data is available online through the State Department of Health (click here).
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments encourage people to get a flu shot now to build up immunity.
“Once you have the flu vaccine, if you do get the flu, research shows that the vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness,” the Health Departments said. “Getting a flu vaccine can save healthcare resources for the care of patients with Covid-19 and other illnesses.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2020 at 9:02 am
The online registration is open for rapid Covid test clinics next week in Orleans and Genesee counties. Orleans will be shifting the clinic back to Wednesday after doing them on Monday the past two weeks.
The clinic is from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville. Pre-registration is required. (Click here for the link to the state sign-up site.)
The county ran a rapid testing clinic on Monday for people who are asymptomatic. There were 532 people tested, and 54 were positive for Covid or 10.2 percent. Of the 54 who were positive, 49 are Orleans County residents.
Genesee County has its clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays, except for today. At the clinic on Tuesday, there were 550 total tests including volunteers helping with clinic with 27 total positives, including 22 Genesee residents. (Click here for the registration link to the next Genesee clinic.)
Genesee has its county-run clinic from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Genesee County Emergency Management/Fire Training Center, 7690 State Street Rd., Batavia.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments advised that if people have tested positive they shouldn’t use the testing clinics to determine if they are now negative. These clinics are intended to identify new cases. People can test positive for weeks after initially testing positive, the Health Departments said.
Those getting tested should use the Rapid COVID-19 Test Intake Form for the clinics in Orleans and Genesee (click here). People will need one form per person being tested.
If you are filling out the form, please complete it, print it out and bring it with you.
If the clinics are closed please check the NYS COVID-19 Drive through test sites: Call New York State Department of Health Testing Appointments (1-888-364-3065) or
Monroe Community College – testing by appointment only (click here)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2020 at 10:44 pm
Each year I try to pick some of my favorite “people pictures” and also highlight images from notable news events the past year.
The top photo shows Richard Brakenbury, holding a sign that says, “I Miss My Wife” during a picket on May 29 outside The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion. His wife of 61 years, Connie Brakenbury, died on May 12.
The family said she contracted Covid-19 at The Villages while in the rehab section. She was trying to build back her strength after being dehydrated and feeling weak. She was at The Villages for 20 days.
She was one of 30 residents at The Villages who died after getting Covid this year. There were about a dozen picketers were outside The Villages on May 29. At that point, 26 people had died after getting Covid at the nursing home in Albion.
The state Department of Health would fine The Villages $20,000 after an inspection May 9 showed facility staff weren’t following proper infection prevention and control measures. One example included certified nursing aides and licensed practical nurses entering and exiting a room of a person with Covid, and then entering rooms of other residents without Covid.
The county had 62 residents die from Covid in 2020, with 30 at The Villages, 24 at Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina, and eight other community members.
Firefighters break through ice to cross a quarry in Murray on Jan. 4 to get to a dog stranded in icy water. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 4 p.m. and were able to bring the dog to dry land at about 4:40.
The dog named Lily fell down an embankment by the Erie Canal and was stranded in a quarry. The dog was out for a walk with its owner. The dog walked too close to a steep embankment and fell.
Lily wasn’t injured and promptly ate a bowl of dog food and then took a nap when she got home.
There were many fires in Orleans County in 2020, including this one late at night Jan. 5 in Holley. The 4,000-square-foot house with a cupola was a landmark at corner of Rts. 31 & 237. The house had four apartments with 11 residents. A fire broke out at 11 p.m. on Jan. 5. Firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze to the one building.
The fire displaced 11 residents, including three elementary school children, a high school senior and a baby. The fire was ruled accidental and investigators weren’t able to determine the cause due to the extensive damage. Investigators believe the fire started in the kitchen at one of the four apartments.
Kendall Deputy Fire Chief Dan Schultz is a silhouette with the Holley apartment building on fire behind him on the night of Jan. 5. Firefighters from Holley and neighboring communities were at the scene late into the night.
None of the residents were injured, but they lost their possessions in the blaze. Three cats and a dog also died in the fire, that broke out about 11 p.m. and quickly tore through the house owned by Stanley Passarell.
Matt Jackson, left, takes the oath of office as Medina’s new fire chief on Jan. 13. Tom Lupo, the chief the previous four years, administers the oath in the village office in front of other firefighters, village employees and Jackson’s family.
Jackson was a full-time firefighter in Medina the previous 13 ½ years, including 2 ½ years as a captain, the department’s second highest leadership post.
The band Crikwater from South Buffalo performed on Jan. 17 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina for the Finally Fridays concert series. Crikwater performs many Irish American traditional folk songs. Band members include from left: Peter Zalocha, Liam Caulfield, Charles Coughlin and Matthew Sperber.
Finally Fridays was in its 19th season. The concerts draw about 200 people to the library. Lee-Whedon made it nearly through the entire concert series before canceling the last concert on March 13 due to concerns about the spread of Covid-19.
Workers from Upstate Tower Construction erect a 180-foot-high radio tower on Jan. 20 next to the Orleans County Public Safety Building along Route 31 in Albion. These workers are connecting the top section of the tower. They are more than 100 feet up high.
This was one of four new radio towers to go up in the county. The towers are part of a $6 million project to upgrade the emergency communications system in the county.
Frank Ferri pours wine for Kimmie Martindale of Kendall during the Wine About Winter event in downtown Medina on Feb. 1. There were 24 stops for people to taste wine, including this location, the Wallflower Studio. More than 800 people bought tickets for the event. This was one of the few big indoor events during 2020. In mid-March, the state imposed many restrictions on crowd sizes to try to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Altar servers prepare to lead clergy down the aisle for a rededication Mass on Feb. 9 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holley. The church celebrating completing five years of renovations and capital projects.
The interior used to be an ivory white color and but was changed to include stenciling and more colors, which church leaders say better highlights the craftsmanship in the building’s interior, and also adds to the worship experience. The altar includes a triptych mural of three paintings about Christ.
Nichole Williams of Knowlesville celebrates winning a $1 million lotto jackpot on Feb. 12 with New York Lottery personality Yolanda Vega. They are shown at the Crosby’s in Elba, where the winning ticket was purchased on Jan. 11. Williams, 30, recently fought cancer. She said the money will pay off medical bills and help her start a college or career fund for her three children. Williams is shown in her work clothes as a unit assistant at the Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.
“It’s definitely a blessing,” Williams told reporters on Feb. 12. “It’s definitely a huge weight lifted off my shoulders that I can provide college for my kids or if they don’t want to go to college we can put it towards a tech school or whatever else they want to do.”
It was a packed auditorium at Kendall Junior-Senior High School on March 7 for the All-County Music Festival. This was a week before all of the Orleans County schools would shut down for in-person school the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.
This photo shows the junior high chorus, which included 93 students from the five school districts in the county. Jacqueline McLean of LeRoy served as guest conductor for the group.
Firefighters including Troy Kingdollar, front left, and Bob Freida, front right, served as pallbearers for Jon DeYoung. They are shown at Mount Albion Cemetery. DeYoung, Clarendon’s fire chief, died at age 55 on March 10 after a seven-year fight with colon cancer. DeYoung continued to lead the department and respond to emergency calls while getting chemo and radiation treatments.
The shelves at the ALDI grocery store in Medina were bare on March 14 after a rush on grocery stores early in the Covid-19 pandemic. ALDI had to close temporarily to restock. Other stores limited items to prevent hoarding of cleaning products, toilet paper and other household essentials.
Medina announced on March 14 that the school buildings “are closed until further notice.” All five public schools in Orleans County did not have in-person classes again after March 13 for the 2019-20 school year.
Marcell Taylor, owner of Absolute Xquisite Cutz on East Bank Street in Albion, gives a hair cut to Dan Perl of Elba on March 21. This was the last day barbershops and hair salons were allowed to be open until May 30 as part of the governor’s effort to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Sue Babbitt of Albion is emotional when she was greeted on April 12 by a procession of family, friends and co-workers. Her husband, Ray Babbitt, is with her on the front porch. A line of about 25 vehicles drove down East Park Street to welcome Sue Babbitt home. Babbitt is a well-liked office manager at the Ace Hardware in Albion. She battled through a near fatal case of the flu and pneumonia, which deteriorated into acute respiratory distress syndrome.
The McDonalds in Albion took a break from promoting its menu to thank healthcare workers on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic. This photo was taken on May 1.
A caravan of about 100 vehicles road 50 miles throughout Orleans County on May 16 to raise awareness for small businesses. Art Hill Excavation in Medina is in front in the yellow trucks as the procession heads down Route 31 in Holley. Adam Johnson, owner of the 39 Problems bar and restaurant in Albion, organized the event. He and other small business owners were frustrated many of the merchants on Main Streets were shut down by the state for two months or more.
“I feel like a lot of the small businesses aren’t getting enough attention from Albany,” Johnson said in May.
While many family-owned businesses were largely shut down, the corporate retailers seemed to be flourishing and couldn’t keep their shelves stocked, Johnson said.
“You can go to big box stores but not the mom and pop stores,” Johnson said. “It seems backwards.”
Wally Skrypnik, commander of the American Legion in Albion, plays Taps during an observance on Memorial Day in front of the Albion Middle School on May 25. There is usually a large crowd for the Memorial Day service each year at the school. But in 2020 there was no Memorial Day service or parade with social gatherings still limited to no more than 10 people due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Honor Guard had eight veterans and they did a gun salute and played Taps at eight sites in Albion – cemeteries and memorials for veterans.
Edee Hoffmeister, a hairdresser for 40 years, wore a mask and also a face shield while working for the first time on May 30. It’s a new requirement by the state.
“I hate it,” said Hoffmeister, owner of Celebrity Day Spa. “I feel very claustrophobic. But I’m very happy to be open. I’ll do what I have to do.”
Hair salons and barbers have many restrictions as part of Phase 2 of the state reopening the economy. People who enter the business are given a temperature check when they step inside. If it’s a 100 degrees or more, they aren’t allowed to stay inside.
Hoffmeister and her staff also have to have a Covid-19 test every two weeks. Her business was significantly curtailed, however. She could cut hair and color it, but she couldn’t do nails, facials, pedicures or body treatments. She can’t trim a beard.
After a haircut, she has to disinfect the chair and counter and wait 10 minutes before the next customer.
There were several Black Lives Matters demonstrations in Orleans County in 2020, including this one in Albion on June 6. Marquise Riddick, left, and Eboni Taylor, center, both graduated in the Class of 2013. They are college educated and both want to be teachers.
The two friends said they felt compelled to have a Black Lives Matter event in Albion. They were encouraged to see 75 people attend, and have numerous people beep their horns in support.
Taylor said Orleans County should push for more diversity in the police departments and Sheriff’s Office. She would like to see more black teachers and minorities “in official positions.”
Riddick attended a protest on May 30 in Rochester and he said it was an empowering event.
“It was really inspiring how everyone came together in Rochester,” he said. “I wanted there to be one in the community where I grew up in.”
After a walk from the intersection at routes 31 and 98 to the Courthouse Square on June 6, the group from Albion laid down for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. That’s how long George Floyd was on the ground on May 25, while a police officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck before Floyd died. After his death, there were protests against police brutality all over the country, including in Orleans County.
This sign on the door leading to the sanctuary at North Point Chapel in Albion urges people to not give hugs or hand shakes for now. This was on June 9, the first Sunday where churches had the option to be open for in-person services since mid-March, but attendance was capped at 25 percent capacity. About 20 people attended the service in person, down from the usual 50 before the pandemic.
“We should just get together,” elder Albert Alexander said from the pulpit. “It doesn’t have to be perfect.”
Albion teachers on June 18 went on a two-hour parade through the school district. They wanted students to know they have been missed during the previous three months of at-home learning.
Some of the prekindergarten team include from left: Peggy Lemcke (who would retire as an aide) and teachers Jennifer Waters and Deanna Moore. They are shown on King Street, near the start of the parade.
It was a first-of-its-kind graduation at Kendall on June 26. Normally the ceremony is inside in a packed auditorium. This year the celebration was at the Kendall firemen’s grounds.
The state set a maximum size at 150 people for graduation ceremonies, unless people were in cars. Kendall decided to have an outdoor ceremony and allow families to drive-in and park.
The 51 graduates had seats on chairs that were spaced six feet apart to meet the state’s social distancing guidelines.
Carol D’Agostino, the high school principal, addresses the graduates and the crowd. She is joined on stage by Lisa Levett (left), president of the Board of Education, and Julie Christensen, district superintendent.
The stage was donated for use by Kludt Farms. Christ Farms decorated the stage for the event.
Caleb Boyce stands with his Medina classmates June 26 on the Vets Park field after they moved their tassels to symbolize their graduation from Medina. Caleb and his classmates all wore masks due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The district moved the ceremony from the school auditorium to the outside venue and broke the 110 members of the Class of 2020 into three groups of about 37 each. They were given three tickets for family members. That allowed for about 150 people to be at the service to stay within the state’s maximum limit.
These Holley graduates walk to a stage set up in front of the Holley Junior-Senior High School parking lot, where graduation was held June 27.
The state allowed outdoor graduations at drive-in movie theaters. Holley considered having the ceremony at a drive-in, but there isn’t one very close by.
“Why do you have to go to a drive-in?” said Susan Cory, the high school principal. “We can turn our school into a drive-in.”
The class has 81 members, but three foreign exchange students returned to their home countries in Greenland, Spain and Portugal.
Nevaeh Moss, 13, of Medina has fun on Medina’s new splash pad that opened for the first time on July 9. The splash pad is at the Pine Street Park off Park Avenue.
The committee that raised the money and pushed for the project includes Nicole Goyette, Tom Hungerford, Bob Sanderson and Maureen Sanderson.
Thomas Vazquez and Morgan Greco make their entrance and walk down the red carpet during Medina’s senior prom on July 22 at Becker Farms in Gasport. The event was planned for June 12 but was delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions on crowd sizes. Medina capped this evening’s event at up 150 people.
Michael Cavanagh, the high school principal, said about 110 students attended the event, and there were also teachers and other chaperones. He met with student leaders in June who were adamant they wanted the prom, even if it was pushed back into the summer.
“The voices of the students were loud and clear: they wanted one more chance to be together,” Cavanagh said.
There were some restrictions at the event, including no dancing.
John Keding, owner of Keding Automotive on East Avenue in Albion, is shown at his shop on Aug. 17. He retired later that month after 70 years as a mechanic. He has been working as a mechanic at 14, first fixing lawn mowers. Keding, who was two weeks from his 85th birthday when this photo was taken, said he will miss his customers and daily interactions out in the community.
A motorcyclist gives a fist of support to acknowledge the crowd that lined the Public Square in Holley on Sept. 12 for “Back the Blue” ride in Orleans County in support of law enforcement. The man looks up and was impressed by the sight of a large American flag hanging over Route 31. There were more than 500 vehicles in the ride, with about 300 of them motorcyclists.
There was a long line of vehicles on Horan Road in Medina on Sept. 18 for a food distribution at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company parking lot. The delivery truck was about two hours later than expected. Long lines of vehicles often waited two hours of more at food distributions from April through the end of the year.
Heather Rowley of Holley organized a Black Lives Matter demonstration on Sept. 19 in Holley. She is holding the Black Lives Matter sign.
Rowley was joined by her sister and brother, and four of their friends from Holley and Brockport.
Rowley, 30, wanted to publicly support the cause, especially after a big processional a week before in support of law enforcement.
“This is in direct response to the Back the Blue rally,” Rowley said. “We want to show people of color in our community that we support them and we hear them.”
Julian Montague, an artist from Buffalo, worked on a mural in Medina on Sept. 19. He painted on two walls of a building at the corner of Pearl Street and West Avenue. It was one of four new murals in the area near Proctor Place.
Montague painted colorful geometric patterns and added eyes and mouth to give the mural some added personality.
“It’s playful and a little weird,” he said.
More than 300 people attended a candlelight vigil on Oct. 18 at State Street Park in honor of Cheyenne Farewell. She was shot and killed the previous day during a Halloween party on Niagara Street in Lockport. Five others were wounded by gun shots including two current Medina High School students.
“People just loved her,” said Destiny Satkowski, who graduated with Farewell in 2018. “She didn’t care what color you were, who you liked or where you were from. She treated everyone the same. She was a friend you could count on. She had the most joyous laugh.”
Demolition day arrived on Oct. 27 for Elba’s water tank from 1934. The standpipe that held about 300,000 gallons of water was taken down by a team of welders from Iseler Demolition of Port Hope, Mich. Once the water tank was down, Iseler cut it into pieces.
Elba switched over the water system to a new 750,000-gallon water tank.
Three of Holley’s most recent mayors joined for a photo on Nov. 10 during a celebration of the $17 million transformation of the former Holley High School into 41 apartments and the village offices. Pictured from left include current Mayor Kevin Lynch, John Kenney (mayor from 2006 to 2016) and Brian Sorochty (mayor from 2016 until July 15, 2020.)
All three had roles in the redevelopment of the building. Home Leasing of Rochester led the transformation of the building, which needed support from local, state and federal governments. Lynch is a member of Holley’s Class of 1975, the last group of seniors to graduate from the former school.
Firefighters arrived on the scene of a fire at 221 West State St. in Albion just after 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 5. The fire would spread to two neighboring houses. Garry Tarr, one of the residents, was mixing compounds with fireworks in a garage. He tested one of the fireworks and it exploded, according to police. The garage was quickly engulfed in flames that spread to the houses.
Cars are lined up just before 1 p.m. on Dec. 16 for the first rapid Covid test clinic in Orleans County. There were 402 people tested at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds that day and 12 of the tests came back positive. Orleans County is ending the year with a dramatic increase in the number of new confirmed Covid cases in December.
The county was at 1,342 confirmed cases during the pandemic as of Dec. 30, with 720 of those in December, compared to 623 the first nine months of the pandemic.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2020 at 7:13 pm
Genesee reports 3 more deaths for 22 so far this month
There are 182 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today in Genesee and Orleans counties.
In Orleans County, there are 40 new positive cases, bringing the total to 1,342 confirmed 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, and 70s.
Of the 40 new cases, 4 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee & Orleans Health Departments reported.
Orleans has had 16 of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed from the isolation list.
The county has 21 of the current positive individuals hospitalized with Covid.
In Genesee County, there 142 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,372 positive 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.
The county also is reporting 68 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
Of the new cases, 20 are residents at LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility, 8 are residents at the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia, 2 are residents of Genesee Senior Living, 1 is a resident of Premier Genesee Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, and 1 is a resident of the Batavia VA Medical Center.
The nursing homes in Genesee County have now had 273 residents test positive for Covid-19 during the pandemic, including 83 at Le Roy Village Green, 74 at NYS Veterans’ Home in Batavia, 59 at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia, 32 at Genesee Senior Living in Batavia, and 25 at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation.
(Two nursing homes in Orleans had the majority of their cases in the spring. The Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center has had 92 resident test positive and the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina has had 62 test positive.)
Genesee County is reporting three more deaths from Covid today, after 5 were reported on Tuesday. The three reported today include a resident at LeRoy Village Green, a resident at the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia, and a community resident under the age of 65.
“We will not be releasing any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families,” the Health Departments said in a news brief. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of these individuals during this difficult time.”
Genesee says 4 of the positive individuals are hospitalized, which is down significantly from 34 who were reported as hospitalized on Tuesday. Several of the patients were discharged.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Erie Canal towpath which is part of the Empire State Trail is shown today in Eagle Harbor near the lift bridge.
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced completion of the Empire State Trail, now the nation’s longest multi-use state trail, which will be fully open on December 31.
The trail spans 750-miles total, 75 percent of which is off-road trails ideal for cyclists, hikers, runners, cross-country skiers and snow-shoers. The new recreational trail, which runs from New York City through the Hudson and Champlain Valleys to Canada, and from Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, will provide a safe and scenic pathway for New Yorkers and tourists to experience New York State’s varied landscapes. The Empire State Trail is expected to draw 8.6 million residents and tourists annually.
“Nearly four years ago, we announced plans to build the Empire State Trail and I am excited to announce it’s been completed on time and will open on New Year’s Eve,” Governor Cuomo said. “There’s no trail like it in the nation – 750 miles of multi-use trail literally from Manhattan to the Canadian Border, from Buffalo to Albany. Not only does it provide an opportunity to experience the natural beauty and history of New York, but it also gives New Yorkers from every corner of the state a safe outlet for recreation as we continue to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic. As we approach the holiday weekend, there is no better time than now to put on your mask and experience it for yourself.”
Introduced in the Governor’s 2017 State of the State address, the Empire State Trail will be open year-round, including winter. It connects 20 regional trails to create a continuous statewide signed route. As part of the 58 distinct projects to complete the Trail on time, more than 180 miles of new off-road trail was created and 400 miles of previously disconnected, off-road trails were linked to eliminate gaps and ease engineering challenges such as railroad and water crossings in high traffic areas.
The New York State Department of Transportation improved 170 miles of on-road bicycle route sections to enhance safety and travel on low-speed rural roadways and city streets when possible. New York State also installed 45 gateways and trailheads along the route to welcome visitors and branded the trail with signage, interpretive panels, bike racks, and benches.
The Empire State Trail website provides quick and easy access to trail information including segment descriptions, access points, trail distances, parking areas, restrooms, and nearby amenities and attractions.
The website’s responsive and user-friendly design allows users to access interactive maps from mobile devices, zoom in to specific location of interest, and download/print maps of trail segments. Cyclists can print “cue sheets” with highly detailed directions for following a selected trail segment. The site also features information about the variety of activities and destinations on or near the trail such as campgrounds, parks, historic sites, and popular stops among the local communities.
Recently completed projects that finalize the trail include:
Hudson Valley
Albany-Hudson Electric Trail: The Hudson River Valley Greenway constructed 36 miles of off-road and on road trails from the city of Rensselaer to the City of Hudson in Rensselaer and Columbia counties. The $45 million trail follows the historic route of an electric trolley which operated from 1900 to 1929. The corridor is owned by National Grid, which authorized New York State to build a trail on the route.
Maybrook Trailway: Metro-North Railroad constructed a new 23-mile rail-trail on its inactive “Beacon Line” corridor from Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County to Brewster in Putnam County passing through the towns of Pawling, Southeast, Paterson, Beekman and East Fishkill. Along the route, the trail winds through rural landscapes and wooded areas featuring seasonal waterfalls and crosses the Appalachian Trail. The $42 million Beacon Line was the first all-rail freight connection across the Hudson River north of New York City. It originally opened as a rail line in 1892 and served as a vital transportation link between New York and southern New England, carrying trains between Derby Junction and Maybrook, via the bridge over the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie that is now the Walkway Over the Hudson.
Hudson River Brickyard Trail: The City of Kingston constructed a new 1.5-mile Empire State Trail section along the Hudson River shoreline. The $1.4 million project was built with City of Kingston and Town of Ulster funds matched by state grants from the Department of State and Hudson River Valley Greenway.
Battery Park City Gateway: The $450,000 gateway marks the southern terminus of the trail in Lower Manhattan.
Erie Canalway Trail
The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Gateways: These four gateways in Western New York provide a welcoming connection for trail visitors at key access points in: Buffalo Harbor State Park in Buffalo; at the western entrance to the Erie Canal in Tonawanda; at Five Locks Park in Lockport; and in Genesee Valley Park in Rochester. The gateways include kiosks featuring local and statewide trail information, bicycle racks, and shaded granite block seating. Each gateway features a “Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.” memorial plaque honoring the late owner of the Buffalo Bills. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation provided $2.6 million dollars for the gateways.
Macedon Bridge: NYSDOT restored a closed vehicle bridge over the Erie Canal. The $4.2 million investment created a bicycling and walking trail and created a local park.
Erie Blvd-Syracuse: NYSDOT constructed a 3-mile trail in the median of Erie Blvd, from East Syracuse to DeWitt. The project cost $23 million.
Loop the Lake Trail-Syracuse: Onondaga County constructed a new 1.5-mile trail on the south shore of Onondaga Lake, including a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge over CSX’s rail line. The project was funded with County and federal funds.
Utica: New York State Canal Corporation constructed a new 3.5-mile trail east of Utica for $9.3 million
Herkimer County: New York State Canal Corporation completed a new 2.2-mile trail section Lock E18 to Route 167, a new 1.3-mile trail section Frankfort to Ilion, and a new 2-mile trail from Ilion to Mohawk. These projects totaled $16.4 million.
Champlain Canalway
Fort Edward to Fort Ann: The New York State Canal Corporation constructed two adjacent trail sections. The $14.3 million investment created a 12-mile trail from Fort Edward to Fort Ann.
Fort Ann to Comstock: NYSDOT built a new 0.75-mile off-road trail in Washington County and designated a 7-mile route on local roads and cost $2 million.
New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “The Empire State Trail is a testament to Governor Cuomo’s vision to make New York State an unmatched destination for outdoor recreation. Everyone from the most experienced long-distance cyclists to family groups with children will enjoy this pathway. People can take a quick bike ride or walk close to home, or they can plan a multi-day adventure to take them from one end of the state to the other.”
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “Governor Cuomo’s vision for the newly-completed Empire State Trail merges economic development with the beautiful views along the Canal system to create exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities, both for residents of canalside communities and for visitors from across New York and beyond. The Erie Canalway and Champlain Canalway Trail segments of the Empire State Trail reintroduce New Yorkers to the historic towpaths of our state’s storied waterways and connect a new generation to the rich heritage of the New York Canal system.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2020 at 4:51 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: This field of cut corn along Long Bridge Road in Albion has some icy spots this morning. The temperatures would warm up to 46 later in the day.
There won’t be a deep freeze or snow to ring in the new year. The forecast in Orleans County on New Year’s Eve shows a high of 35 and a low around 24 on Thursday night.
On Friday, New Year’s Day, it will be partly sunny with a high near 36 with a chance for rain after 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
There is also a chance for rain on Saturday with a high near 40.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2020 at 3:37 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was joined by Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula this afternoon in announcing that 6,772 fans will be allowed in the stands for the team’s first home playoff game in 25 years.
That game will be played on the weekend on Jan. 9-10. The 6,772 fans is less than 10 percent of the stadium’s capacity.
The governor said no tailgating and will be allowed and mass gatherings are discouraged away from the game. The fans also need to have a Covid-19 test within three days of the game and they must bring a receipt of that test to the game. Fans also need to wear masks once they leave their vehicles. They will sit in social distanced pods in the stadium.
“For all the Bills fans please everyone take these measures seriously,” Cuomo said today.
He sees the effort as a pilot to guide attendance and other games and venues.
Terry Pegula said the Bills organization “misses the energy of our fans at the games.”
There will be about 6,200 tickets available for purchase on Dec. 31 to Bills season ticket members that opted into purchasing tickets earlier this year. Season ticket members will be notified by email from the team based on seniority.
Cuomo said he wants to be one of the fans at the game. He said the Bills, currently at 12-3 and the AFC East champions, have captured the admiration of New Yorkers throughout the state.
“They have given us good news in a year that we really needed good news,” Cuomo said. “This is a great opportunity to cheer for the Bills and cheer for New York.”
LOCKPORT – The coronavirus pandemic has been a way of life for the entire country for several months. At the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office we have evaluated and adapted operations as needed to keep our employees, inmates and the public as safe as possible.
During a recent round of testing in the correctional facility, 12 inmates tested positive for the coronavirus. All inmates that tested positive are doing well, currently asymptomatic and have been isolated.
To date, 156 inmates have been tested. Our current inmate population is 284. We are coordinating with the Niagara County Health Department and our medical provider to ensure all protocols are followed related to the recent positive cases.
Throughout the pandemic we have followed guidance from the CDC, NYS Health Department, NYS Commission of Corrections and Niagara County Health Department. Further testing will be conducted for staff and inmates as deemed appropriate by guidance and tracing.
“The safety of our staff, inmates in our facility and the general public have been at the forefront of every decision made regarding our operations,” said Sheriff Michael Filicetti. “Minimizing the effects of Covid-19 remains a top priority for this office.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 December 2020 at 9:34 am
Orleans Renaissance Group has brought stars to community, and helped stabilize Bent’s
MEDINA – Establishment of the Orleans Renaissance Group can be credited to a group of Medina citizens who were engaged in casual conversation as far back as the 1990s.
As the New Year is ushered in, ORG can delight in their accomplishments as the Bent’s Opera House, whose restoration began as a dream of ORG’s, gets ready to open one of its doors to the public.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Matthews House Movers in Rochester arrived in Medina at Bent’s on Oct. 14, 2013 to replace the beams at the corner of the building. Matthews workers were rigging or installing “cribbing” that will serve as a temporary support so the rotted beams could be removed and the new supports installed.
Medina entrepreneur Roger Hungerford, who has been restoring the former Bank of America building on the corner of Main Street and West Center, has said they are planning to open the Harvest Restaurant on the first floor at the end of January, barring any unforeseen obstacles due to the Covid pandemic.
ORG was born one afternoon in the 1990s when Chris Busch and Merle “Skip” Draper were sitting around musing how great it would be to have the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra perform at St. Mary’s Church. A short time later, Busch reached out to the BPO and asked if they would be interested in coming to Medina.
Their answer was “Yes.”
“I thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” Busch said. “We knew then if we were going to pursue this we needed to organize a group to oversee it. With the help of Norris Webster, we formed a 501c3 corporation.”
Original members who formed the Orleans Renaissance Group included Busch, Sally Webster and Marsha Winters.
Andrew Meier, who became a member of ORG, shared a story about their early planning, where someone discovered a story about the famous author John Steinbeck. The story goes that Steinbeck was traveling through the area and passed through Medina. He stopped to ask where he was, and someone allegedly told him “Egg Street.”
Meier said no one can verify the story, but former mayor Adam Tabelski thought it was very interesting and chose Egg Street as ORG’s web address. The moniker was used for a time for ORG’s production efforts, but they have since rebranded and now use “Medina Alive.”
In 2001, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, with Barker native Paul Ferington conducting, made its first appearance to a full house at St. Mary’s Church. The 700 seats sold out, Busch said. That set the stage for many more cultural events to follow.
Provided photo: A major accomplishment of the Orleans Renaissance Group was securing a Seven to Save designation for Bent’s Opera House from the Preservation League of New York State. Announcing the award in April 2012 are, from left, Dave Callard from the Orleans County Legislature; Tania Werbizky, Regional director of the Preservation League; ORG president Skip Draper; Andrew Meier, Medina mayor and ORG board member; Catherine Schweitzer, board member of the Preservation Buffalo-Niagara League; New York State Senator George Maziarz; and Chris Busch, ORG vice president.
ORG took a short hiatus for a couple of years, but when Meier and Tabelski joined, ORG had a rebirth.
Performances of the BPO Brass were held at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street, followed by the Easy Street Big Brass.
“At some point in our conversations about 2008, discussions of the opera house building with Bank of America evolved,” Meier said. “There was talk of them giving us control of the opera house on the third floor. Their branch manager was very receptive to the idea. That led to more formal talks with BOA corporate.”
Corporate agreed to give ORG the bank building and the drive-thru on the corner of West Avenue and West Center Street.
“That blew us away,” Meier said. “I don’t think any of us expected that.”
Originally, BOA was going to give ORG the building and lease bank space from them. That all changed when BOA announced they were going to close the bank and pull out of Medina.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Victoria Perez, a singer with the Buffalo Tango Orkestra, performed at The Pillars in Albion in May 2015 as part of an event that included tango lessons and dinner. The Orkestra was welcomed to Albion as part of a concert series by the Orleans Renaissance Group.
Meier said everything really popped when they took possession of the building in 2010.
“We were left with an empty building, but we were in control, nevertheless,” he said. “Now what were we going to do with it.”
“We needed to dig deep into its history and find what it was about that place that made it special,” Busch said. “It had been many decades since anyone had been there for any events.”
First, they had to start accessing the condition of the building, Meier said.
And, they had to access what might be the best use of the building as a whole.
“We had a rude awakening as we removed a lot of non-historic additions, and discovered the building was structurally compromised and required immediate attention,” Meier said. “We had to do some major scrambling to take steps to correct it.”
They applied for and received a designation from the Preservation League of New York State as one of Seven to Save.
“That was big,” Meier said. “It opened up emergency funding of $200,000 for emergency stabilization, and we needed all of that to support the front of the building.”
“The front was in immediate danger of collapsing into the street,” Busch said.
“After we stabilized the building, we started to develop a plan of what to do with it,” Meier said.
“The cost and scope of restoring the building was way more than ORG could handle,” Busch said.
The ORG spearheaded having 11 interpretive panels highlighting Medina history placed around the downtown business district in 2014.
Five years ago, Tom Hungerford, a nephew of Roger Hungerford and a member of ORG’s board, contacted some Western New York developers, including Roger.
“Tom opened the door for us,” Meier said.
Roger Hungerford stepped up and purchased the building from ORG, something which, had he realized the cost, he might not have done, he told Orleans Hub a year ago. Restoration, which began three years ago, with several months off due to Covid, has cost millions.
Hungerford did say, however, it would be pretty difficult to see a prominent building on the four corners of his home town fall into ruin, and not do something about it.
“We were all very excited and optimistic about what Roger would do with the building, and its future in the village,” Meier said. “It had become our ‘baby’ and there was a little bit of separation anxiety when we sold it.”
“We learned about all the incredible things that had happened there in the past, and we bonded with it,” Busch said. “There was quite a myriad of emotions when we had to let it go. When we think about it, we’re at a loss for words. We look at the building now and realize it hasn’t looked that good since 1865. That’s since Lincoln was president. It blows your mind. It’s one of the oldest opera houses in the country.”
ORG was instrumental in having a historical marker placed on Main Street, in honor of two speeches given in Medina by famed orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Shown at the dedication in April 2015 are Lincoln re-enactor David Kreutz; Ulysses S. Grant re-enactor Ed Brodbeck; and a group of Oak Orchard School students.
Meier explained the term “opera house” didn’t come into use until after the Civil War. Medina’s opera house was built as “Bent’s Hall.”
Meier acknowledged selling the opera house to someone with resources to bring it back set the trajectory for its restoration.
Now that ORG is free of its responsibility for the opera house, they have their hands in quite a few things, Busch said. Most recently, they brought renowned tenor Ronan Tynan back for a second performance. Prior to the pandemic, they had plans for several things, including entertainment in State Street Park.
ORG was instrumental in having a pavilion built in the park, and they were planning a blues concert there in the summer.
ORG sponsors the Canal Village Farmer’s Market on the corner where Bank of America donated their drive-thru. They were also responsible for the interpretive signs which are placed throughout downtown.
Until the pandemic, they sponsored an annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Mary’s Church, and hope it can return next Christmas.
They were working to bring a prestigious saxophone quartet from Texas to Medina when the pandemic brought an end to those plans.
“That would be a large-scale event in conjunction with the Genesee Chorale, which Ric Jones of Medina directs,” Meier said.
ORG was meeting quarterly before the pandemic and members hope they can resume soon.
Members are Chris Bush, president, and Andrew Meier, treasurer. Before his death earlier this year, Bruce Krenning was vice president, but that office has not yet been filled. Cindy Robinson, Kathy Blackburn and Jake Hebdon are also members of the board.
Provided photo: The SUNY Fredonia Trombone Choir is one of the musical groups which the Orleans Renaissance Group brought to Medina. Under the director of the late Carl Mazzio, they performed at St. Mary’s Church in 2012 and 2014.
