ALBION – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce honored several businesses, organizations and citizens on Thursday during the 22^nd annual awards celebration for the Chamber.

This time there wasn’t a dinner or a big crowd due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of the award winners attended the smaller-scale celebration at Maison Albion on West Countyhouse Road.

Darlene Hartway, Chamber executive director, said all businesses are worthy of recognition this year, due to the challenges of the pandemic.

“You will hear the words — adapt, generous, hard working and tenacity — in many of the descriptions for tonight’s award winners,” Hartway said.

Many businesses have worked through restrictions to keep serving the public in a safe manner, Hartway said.

“Business owners and communities must learn to adapt to rapid changes if they wish to survive,” Hartway said. “Our awards winners not only survived but they thrived. I am in awe at the sacrifices, dedication and commitment many of them showed when faced with challenges. I was taught true character shows in a time of adversity. Our winners tonight have shown their true character.”

Business of the Year: Orleans Community Health

Marc Shurtz, CEO of Orleans Community Health, and Amy Schrader, a nurse at OCH, accept the business of the year award on behalf of Orleans Community health.

Orleans Community Health and Medina Memorial Hospital have been providing healthcare in the community for more than a century. The hospital started in 1908 when a group of citizens, interested in establishing a publicly-owned hospital opened the 9-bed establishment in the Albert Sweet Home.

Today Orleans Community Health is comprised of Medina Memorial Hospital, a designated Critical Access Hospital, Renal Dialysis Centers located in Medina and Batavia, Primary and Walk-In Clinic in Albion, a 30-bed Skilled Nursing Home, Outpatient and Ambulatory Services, a Wound Care Center, and Community Partners Wellness Center.

“Orleans Community Health has an amazingly dedicated and committed staff that focuses on serving residents in Orleans, Eastern Niagara and northern Genesee counties,” Hartway said. “The healthcare industry is always rapidly changing and this year they had the addition of a pandemic. Throughout all of this, they have continued to be impressed with the level of compassion and dedication that our very own local healthcare workers display, each and every day.”

Marc Shurtz, OCH chief executive officer, thanked the community for their support, especially during the pandemic. Many people and businesses have bought meals for the staff and shown their appreciation, he said.

Community members made masks for employees early in the pandemic. They donated PPE.

“It was really the whole community that did it,” Shurtz said. “We’re not only here for you, but we’re here because of you.”

Lifetime Achievement Award: Fred Pilon, owner of Pilon Construction

Spencer Pilon accepts the award on behalf of his father, Fred Pilon.

Fred Pilon

Fred Pilon has worked in construction in Albion for the past 50 years. The family business originated from his father, Charles Pilon. As a second-generation owner, Fred took over in 1972, when he was 25 years old.

He and his wife Carol have six children with three of the sons – Kevin, Jason and Spencer – work with Pilon.

Pilon Construction has grown significantly over the years. In the ’70s, Fred worked with farmers to dig and install irrigation systems. The majority of the last 30 years he specialized in installing municipal waterlines across WNY. Kevin leads all the waterline projects.

The company mines Medina Sandstone in one of the last sandstone quarries in the county. Fred also has preserved many sandstone blocks and materials from torn down structures. Those pieces are valuable for sites that want some of the area’s famous stone. The Bank of Castile in Medina turned to Pilon for Medina Sandstone for its new building.

Spencer Pilon leads the division specializing in breakwall restorations, which has been busy due to the high Lake Ontario water levels in 2017 and 2019.

“He has given his whole life to his business and community,” Spencer said. “It shows hard work pays off.”

New Business of the Year: The Tree House in Albion

Michelle Waters (center), owner of The Tree House in Albion, accepts the award for new business of the year from Courtney Henderson, owner of Milk & Honey in Albion, who won the award in 2019.

Michelle Waters opened the The Tree House on March 12, right before Gov. Cuomo and the state would impose restrictions on businesses, forcing many to temporarily close to in-person services.

Waters was able to pivot the early childhood enrichment business that specializes in preschool and toddler programs.

She developed activity kits to help families who suddenly had children home – nearly all the time. She delivered them throughout Western New York. Those kits were fun and educational. There was a stuffed puppy kit, a project where children could assembly a bird feeder, a kit to do a dinosaur dig and others.

The site on the second floor at 116 North Main St. was able to reopen in July for parties, events and programs.

“While the path has been bumpy, the lessons that they have learned and the relationships that they have built far outweigh the background noise,” said Courtney Henderson, owner of Milk and Honey, which won new business of the year in 2019. “Their mission is still loud and clear: deliver a high caliber early childhood experience.”

Phoenix Award – Holley Gardens (former Holley High School)

The former Holley High School received $17 million in renovations in a project led by Home Leasing of Rochester. The building was last used as a school in 1975. After two years of construction, Home Leasing has the building fully occupied with 41 apartments and the Holley village offices.

One of the most stunning redevelopment projects in Orleans County history was completed this year with the former Holley High School finding a new use with 41 apartments for residents 55 and older, and also the Holley village offices.

The building, constructed in 1931, sat vacant and is increasing disrepair for more than two decades. It was last used by a manufacturing company in the late 1990s and that company went bankrupt, leaving the site in limbo.

Holley village officials and residents refused to give up hope for the structure that dominants the corner of routes 31 and 237. The village worked to get the site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which made a developer eligible for historic tax credits.

The Landmark Society of Western New York named it to annual “Five to Revive” of important sites in the region that needed preservation.

Home Leasing leaders saw the school on the Five to Revive and decided to give it a look. They were impressed by the response of the community, in pushing for the site to be redeveloped. The construction project took two years and cost about $17 million. Last week the community held a ribbon-cutting celebration for the project.

Businesspersons of the Year: Bryan and Larissa DeGraw

Photo courtesy of Thom Jennings: Bryan DeGraw is shown with winning meads produced by 810 Meadworks in Medina. 810 Meadworks, owner by DeGraw and his wife Larissa, recently won two awards in the Mazer Cup International, a gold medal for Scarlett A and a bronze medal for Sweet Devotion.

The Chamber is recognizing Bryan and Larissa DeGraw as businesspersons of the year for their “tenacity” in keeping 810 Meadworks open to the public during a time of many changing state regulations for businesses that serve alcohol during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DeGraws don’t have an on-site kitchen so they partnered with another local businesses to have sandwiches available to meet one state regulation.

“They have encountered so many obstacles and changes,” said Hartway, the Chamber director.

The DeGraws opened 810 Meadworks in November 2014 on West Center Street in downtown Medina.

The DeGraws wanted to offer a place for “people to connect and enjoy one another.” They have added 810 Axes, an indoor axe throwing range in 2019, and also the Beegarten, outdoor performing venue.

“There are many things to be proud of this year but the most important thing is the relationship with the people we have met,” the DeGraws said in a letter to the Chamber. “Our customers are amazing. They have been an incredible support and encouragement throughout our six years in business but especially this year. We have received much inspiration from their unending dedication to the family environment our business embraces.”

The DeGraws said 810 Meadworks is eager for next year when they hope to make up for all the missed events in 2020.

“While 2020 has been a challenge we are hopeful for big things next year,” they said. “We look forward to continuing on creating a place that makes people feel good.”

Small Business of the Year: Sam’s Diner in Holley

Photo by the Chamber of Commerce: Sam’s Diner has been a popular place in Holley’s Public Square since 1978.

Sam’s Diner has been a mainstay in Holley since 1978. The diner is popular for its food, friendly and caring staff, and generous support of the community from the owner, George Gitsis.

His father, Sam Gitsis, started the diner which has remained an anchor in the Holley downtown.

Throughout the Covid pandemic, Chamber officials said George Gitsis went out of his way to make sure that his customers were taken care of efficiently and safety. He installed air purification systems and dividers, all at great expense to ensure his customers health and safety.

Gitsis also supports the Holley School’s baseball team’s fundraiser by giving a 10% discount to anyone that has a “Hawk Card”.

“It has become a Holley tradition for high school seniors to go to Sam’s Diner for the first day of school breakfast,” said David Gagne, Chamber board vice president and a frequent Sam’s customer. “This year they were unable to due to Covid restrictions. George generously paid for breakfast pizzas for the entire senior class from the neighboring Crosby’s store. He is the first to donate to many of the Holley community organizations.”

Gitsis has shown in many ways he cares deeply for the community and his employees.

“The caring, friendly atmosphere of the Diner is a direct reflection on George’s personality,” Gagne said. “His entire staff present and past, have great love and admiration for this amazing gentleman who makes them feel like family.”

Community Service Award: Hospice of Orleans

Provided photo: Hospice of Orleans has been providing services in Orleans County since 1994. Its office and the Martin-Linsin Residence are located on Route 31 in Albion.

An organization that started in 1994 was honored for its service to the community, Hospice of Orleans has been serving families for 26 years now, providing care for seriously ill loved ones.

The mission of Hospice of Orleans is to embrace those facing advanced illness with optimal levels of comfort, compassion and expertise.

This care can be home-based, in the Martin-Linsin Residence, or in nursing homes and hospitals. Patients and families who choose Hospice of Orleans are supported by an experienced and compassionate team of professionals who collaboratively with the patient, family, and their attending physician to create an individualized plan of care tailored to the patient’s and family’s needs, the Chamber said.

“Not only are the patient’s medical care needs addressed, their spiritual, emotional and psychosocial needs are also identified and supported,” said Jack Burris, last year’s community service winner.

“Many people do not realize that Hospice of Orleans offers a comprehensive continuum of care through the Transitions program, Supportive Care program, and hospice services,” Burris said, reading the citation for Hospice.

These programs offer support to a patient and family all along their journey starting from the time a person is diagnosed with a serious or life limiting illness, throughout treatment, and if needed, when a person is no longer seeking treatment but looking for comfort care, according to the citation.

Hospice services are made possible not only by the professionals that Hospice employs, but the 150 volunteers that contribute almost 6,000 hours per year, collectively adding to the flexibility, cost effectiveness and comprehensiveness of the services provided, Hospice officials told the Chamber.

Hartway asked the group at the awards presentation how many of them have had loved ones served by Hospice and nearly everyone rose their hand.

“Their reach is so impressive,” Hartway said.

Agribusiness of the Year – Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouses

Amanda Mrzywka and her brother Markus Mrzywka have pushed through challenges to have Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouses poised for the future.

A brother and sister have been recognized by the Chamber for their work in overcoming obstacles and expanding services at Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouses.

Amanda and Markus Mrzywka, who are siblings, are partners at Navarra’s, which has been on Eagle Harbor Road since 1988. Jim and Rita Navarra started the greenhouses and farm market on the corner of Gaines Basin Road and Route 31.

The business has stayed in the family. Markus, Amanda and their sister Jenna grew up helping at the greenhouses, whether it was transplanting the plugs, watering, assisting customers or loading the trucks for market. They were always there to aid in the family business.

They miss their uncle Paul Navarra, who passed away in March 2017. In the middle of his passing, the family lost all 6 greenhouses to a windstorm.

“We had to quickly pull together on a united front to keep the season going,” Amanda Mrzywka said. “We were rebuilding the greenhouses and transplanting the entire season as well as making sure the plants were staying watered and being fertilized.”

Markus and Amanda became partners in the business. They switched their entire market setup for the public, put in a building with gifts, built a new greenhouse where they hold classes and handle orders.

The siblings expanded the farmers market with their own locally grown produce and put in a sign that connects to the new parking lot, established in 2018. They also have taken on seeding for many florists and businesses in our area, the Chamber said.

This year Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouse was featured on the cover of the Harris Seeds Ornamental Growers catalog, highlighting one of the few greenhouses left in Western NY to start almost all of the plants from seed. Navarra’s grows the flowers in Albion and Medina’s hanging baskets and pots.

This year with Covid-19, customers responded when Navarra’s opened on April 27 for the season, with Navarra’s helping people get ready for spring.

Hidden Gem Award – Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina

Gatlen Ernst and his wife Danielle accept the Hidden Gem Award for their marina at Point Breeze, a business which is important for charter boat captains and the fishing industry.

The Chamber last year started a new honor, the Hidden Gem Award, for a business that is important to the local tourism industry.

The Chamber is recognized Ernest’s Lake Breeze Marina with the award in 2020. Gatlen Ernest, the marina owner since 2014, has twice needed to respond to very high Lake Ontario water levels. He raised docks to help boaters get their vessels in the water.

This year there wasn’t flooding like in 2017 and 2019, but Ernst faced Covid-19 and managed to keep the marina open so charter boat captains and the fishing industry could continue to welcome visitors.

Ernst, since buying the marina in 2014, has combined it with a neighboring site, joining the staff and making them flow together, the Chamber said.

“The marina has a great deal to offer the Orleans County and surrounding communities,” said Amy Sidari, owner of the Cabaret at Studio B in Albion, which was last year’s winner. “Charter boats await anyone who would like to take on the fight of reeling in a salmon off the shores of Lake Ontario.”

There also is a quaint café with a deck overlooking Oak Orchard River for people to enjoy breakfast and lunch while taking in the scenery.

Six fully furnished cottages are nestled on the property to accommodate anyone who would like to get away for a night, weekend or even a week. Docks await those with boats for fishing or playing on the water. Mechanics are at the ready to repair and maintain boats and keep people on the water. There is a store full of parts and supplies so people can keep their boats maintained, according to the Chamber citation.

During the flooding in 2017 and 2019, Ernst faced the challenges and stayed positive.

“His customers and employees saw how driven he was and were quick to do whatever he needed in order to ensure the survival of the marina,” the Chamber said. “He kept everyone’s morale up even at a time when his own livelihood was at risk. Once he made sure the docks were taken care of Gatlen went on to start working on the improvements he had promised his customers.”

Ernst has also renovated a new cottage to increase lodging options.

This year the marina was closed temporarily by the state due to Covid restrictions. When Ernst was given the Ok to open for the season in April, he quickly went to work getting customers’ boats in the water. His employees nominated him for the Chamber award.

“He is always quick to jump in and help his employees whether on the job or off,” they wrote to the Chamber. “He buys lunch for us on our birthdays and is always quick to say thank you just because we did our job. His positive attitude influences the way we all do our jobs. He works hard and never asks any of us to do anything he isn’t willing to do himself.”

County Employer of the Year – CRFS

Steve Mowers (left), president of CRFS, and Sean Casher, human resources director for CRFS, accept the award during the recognition program on Thursday night. The Employer of the Year is an award presented by the Orleans County Job Development Agency.

Claims Recovery Financial Services (CRFS) in Albion has undergone a significant transformation as a result of the pandemic. The company works in post-foreclosure mortgage industry. Right there aren’t many foreclosures due to a moratorium in New York and many states.

CRFS has about 150 employees in Albion. In March, employees started to work 100 percent remotely at not at the East Avenue location. The company is planning to return to the main office location soon, if the Covid cases don’t continue to spike.

Steve Mowers, the CRFS president, praised the employees for their flexibility and their work ethic.

“If it wasn’t for our employees we probably wouldn’t be in business,” Mowers said at the Chamber event. “This shouldn’t be the employer of the year award, but the employees of the year award.”

The company was praised for its accomplishments in 2020, which have it better positioned for the future.

Some of those achievements include:

• CRFS underwent a 100% conversion to remote work place back in March of 2020, with deployment of workstations at the employee level, and establishment of IT infrastructure to support remote desktop environment. Before 2020 that would not have been possible, and minimized the potential impact to staffing.

• CRFS refined the process related to the sales side of the business, from closing new business, to training efforts in developing participative e-Learning for our remote workforce, to staffing individuals from both in the local area, and around the country, and ultimately having a plan to return the majority of our workforce back to work in anticipation of future business volumes.

• The company developed a new compensation plan, and daily productivity reporting, to measure and incentivize production performed in remote environment, while coming up with innovative ways to engage the remote staff.

• CRFS utilized federal PPP funds to extend active employment during the initial shut down phase until funds were extinguished, allowing those individuals to grow their skill level anticipated future business volumes.

• The company used the NYS Workshare plan where the workforce underwent a 20% reduction in hours. That allowed CRFS to prevent an additional 20% of individuals from being placed on full furlough.

• Renegotiated leased facilities to resize and repurpose to the new remote-based strategy to remain within Orleans County for the foreseeable future.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – An Albion police officer and a resident pulled a fallen tree and branches off Butts Road, north of the Erie Canal, at about 4 p.m.

The high winds have taken down several trees, large limbs and wires around the county, including Roosevelt Highway in Carlton, Sawyer Road in Carlton, Eagle Street in Medina, West Center Street in Medina and other locations.

A high wind warning remains in effect in Orleans County until 1 a.m. tonight.

District expects many staff to be quarantined

MEDINA – The high school will be going fully remote on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, district superintendent Mark Kruzynski advised the school community this afternoon.

The district was notified there have been two confirmed Covid-19 cases in the high school.

“Because of the nature of the job of one of these positive cases, we are anticipating a significant amount of mandatory quarantines amongst our staff when contact tracing occurs,” Kruzynski said. “These expected quarantines will significantly impact our ability to keep Medina High School clean and disinfected during the day.”

Oak Orchard Elementary and Wise Middle School will both be open as scheduled on Monday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Charlie Turpyn and Halee Passarell and Kendall’s Zach Barrett and their Hawks and Eagles teammates will compete in the sectional semifinals early this week.

Section V semifinal round soccer playoff competition is up next for both the Holley boys and girls teams and the Kendall boys squad.

The No. 4 seeded Holley girls will visit No. 1 Avon at 6 p.m. Monday in the Class C 1 semis.

Avon brings a 13-0 record into the contest while Holley is 12-1-2.

Avon advanced by defeating No. 8 Marcus Whitman 4-0 in the quarterfinals while Holley bested No. 5 Bishop Kearney 3-2.

Monday’s other semi will match No. 3 Warsaw vs. No. 2 Gananda.

The championship game is scheduled for Wednesday.

The No. 3 seeded Holley boys squad will host No. 7 Pavilion/York in a Class C1 semifinal at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Holley is 10-3-1 on the season and Pavilion/York 8-5-1.

The Hawks blanked No. 6 Addison 2-0 in the quarterfinals while Pavilion/York upended No. 2 Avon 1-0.

The other semi will have No. 5 Sodus vs. No. 1 East Rochester.

The title contest is slated for Thursday.

The No. 4 seeded Kendall boys will visit top seeded Naples in a Class C2 semi at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Naples is 10-0 on the season and Kendall is 6-8.

Naples defeated Bradford/Dundee 3-1 and Kendall downed Pembroke 7-2 in the quarterfinals.

The other semi will match No. 7 Geneseo against No. 3 Bolivar-Richburg.

The championship game is scheduled for Thursday.

Map from National Weather Service: The NWS in Buffalo says the strongest winds will follow a cold front which will cross the region from 3 to 8 p.m. today

A high wind warning is in effect today from 10 a.m. until 1 a.m. tonight for Orleans, Niagara, Monroe, Genesee, Erie and Wyoming counties.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo says there will be southwest winds at 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph expected.

“The damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines,” the Weather Service said. “Shallow rooted pines and dead ash trees will be most susceptible. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”

The Weather Service urged people to avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches.

“If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows,” the Weather Service said. “Use caution if you must drive.”

Horsing Around With Nibs

It all started on a trip many years ago to Roosevelt Lodge in Yellowstone Park, MT. My family booked a horseback riding adventure. The ride began very picturesque, feeling like a real cowgirl trotting through the meadow with the vast landscape added to the whole western vibe. Had me all in my “Giddy-Up.”

It took an alarming turn when the guide said… “if you are afraid of heights do not look to your right.” Um, what! A quick glance to the right left me looking straight down a cliff edge. And yes, I was afraid of heights. I freaked out, cried, carried on and almost hyperventilated.

The guide assured me the horse was sure-footed and did not want to go over the cliff, so I was safe. That did not ease the fear at all. Finally, we made it to the bottom of the mountain to our rest area. My husband said when he went to the restroom two guys were discussing the hysterical woman on the mountain. My husband said “that was my wife.”

After that trip I still was in awe of horses and dreamed of riding again. It took a few years to recover and I joined my family at Lone Oak Stables in Kendall for a riding adventure, on flat land. We prepared our horses for our ride and it was lovely.

After that experience I put my mind to going back to Ms. Ellen, the owner and instructor, to learn more. It took 5 years. No one I knew was interested so I went alone. Guess what? I was the only adult in the class. It was children and teenagers. All of the students knew what they were doing, except me.

But I watched and learned because an old girl can learn new tricks. First you brush out your horse, clean their hoofs and get them saddled up. All the while building a connection. Then you get on the horse. It was a bit intimidating up on that big animal who held my life in his hoofs. His name was Nibs. It was immediate love.

He was patient and allowed me to fumble with the reins and wiggle in the saddle. By the way, I wore a little pink helmet. It was not required, but I found it prudent. We made our way around the arena many times and then ventured out for the trail ride. Truth be told it can be a little nerve-racking, but Ms. Ellen taught me how to use the emergency break for horses by pulling on the reins in a certain way. Thankfully Nibs never made me use them.

I put on the pink helmet one more time after that and joined another ride along. It has been almost a year since that last ride, and I have purchased a nice new black helmet. Things have been very busy this past year and free time is often at a premium, however someday I will get back to Nibs. The best part was the hugs we shared after our rides and the apple he took from my hand.

Never be afraid to saddle up and give an adventure a try, you never know what bonds can be made. Even if they are of the equine variety and you are the only Missus in the group.

To see Nibs saddled up, visit My Blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com and catch up on Weekly Photo Perks and past Sunday Posts. Like and share your comments.

Truly,
Debbie Burgoon London

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Cameron Bates connects for Holley’s second goal as the Hawks Zach Dann and Addison’s Luke Pepper and Braden Thompson trail the play. The action took place during the host Hawks sectional win this evening.

Holley and Kendall both scored home field victories this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section V boys soccer playoffs.

No. 3 seeded Holley blanked No. 6 Addison 2-0 in a Class C1 contest.

KJ Biedlinger scored what proved to be the game winning goal for Holley on a penalty kick with four minutes to go in the first half.

Cameron Bates later added a big insurance goal for the Hawks with 20 minutes to go in the second half.

Broek Ostrom made four saves to earn the shutout in goal.

Holley, which improves to 10-3-1, will next face No. 7 Pavilion/York in the semifinals on Tuesday. Pavilion/York upset No. 2 Avon 1-0.

No. 4 seed Kendall defeated Genesee Region League foe No. 5 Pembroke 7-2 in a Class C2 game.

Kendall held a narrow 1-0 lead at the half on a goal by Michael McCue just 10 minutes into the game.

The Eagles then broke the contest wide open with a huge six goal second half scoring barrage.

McCue, Jake Esposito and Zach Barrett each finished with two goals and Derek Edick one.

McCue and Esposito also both had two assists and Barrett one.

Kendall, which is now 6-8, will next face top seeded Naples in the semis on Tuesday. Naples defeated Bradford/Dundee 3-1 in another quarterfinal contest.

Kendall’s Jake Esposito goes in the air to kick the ball forward as Wyatt Librock and Alex Lamb defend for Pembroke during this evening’s sectional game won by the host Eagles.

Press Release, U.S. Reps. Tom Reed, Elise Stefanik and Chris Jacobs

CORNING – Today, Reps. Tom Reed (NY-23), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), and Chris Jacobs (NY-27) released the following statement regarding Governor Cuomo and Covid-19 vaccines:

“We are appalled by Governor Cuomo’s continued insistence on undermining a Covid-19 vaccine, the integrity of the FDA, and the hundreds of incredible scientists who have dedicated their lives to serving the American people.

“Numerous public health experts have noted the Governor’s efforts are not only wrong and unethical, they are fundamentally dangerous and they put people’s lives in jeopardy.

“We trust the FDA and its 114-year history of protecting and promoting the public health of the nation.

“New Yorkers don’t need Governor Cuomo to decide what life-saving medical resources they should or shouldn’t have access to. Instead, they need their leaders to put aside the politics and prioritize combating this virus together.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure every New Yorker has access to the safe and effective vaccines and treatments they deserve.”

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina/Lyndonville’s Nate Dillenbeck battles with Tonawanda’s Ram Biswa (8) and Tyler Barker (6) for the ball during this afternoon’s Section VI Class B1 championship game at Tonawanda which ended in a 2-2 double overtime tie resulting in co-champions.

One hundred and ten minutes of soccer failed to produce a winner as No. 5 seed Medina/Lyndonville and host No. 2 Tonawanda battled to a 2-2 double overtime tie this afternoon resulting in the Mustangs and Warriors sharing the Section VI Class B1 boys soccer championship.

No shootout was held to break the tie as the cancellation of the state tournament made it unnecessary for the B1 and B2 winners to meet to determine the Section VI representative to the states.

Tonawanda did grab a lightning quick lead as Hunter Hollock scored on a breakaway just 2:56 in.

Medina/Lyndonville though battled back to knot the contest when Nate Dillenbeck broke in clean to score a goal with 6:40 remaining in the first half.

Jack Whipple of Medina/Lyndonville goes for a header against Tonawnada’s JP Young.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs then took their only lead when Dillenbeck scored just 1:42 into the second half off an assist from AJ Seefeldt as he beat the goalie to the ball.

The Warriors though answered back with a penalty kick goal by Hollock with 1:59 to go in the second half retying the contest at 2-2.

Neither team could then find the range over the remaining 11:59 of regulation time or in two 15 minute overtime periods resulting in a tie and sectional co-champions.

“Hat’s off to the kids it was a total team effort,” said Mustangs Coach Steve Luksch. “We had some injuries and some kids get banged up so it was next man and everyone gave it their best effort. Winning the sectionals has been our goal since last last year so we’ve been on a mission to do it from day one.”

The co-championship gives the Mustangs their third sectional title in the last nine years. The previous two titles came in 2011 with a 1-0 win over Tonawanda and in 2013 with a 2-1 overtime victory over Newfane,

Brian Fry of Medina/Lyndonville sends the ball up the sideline as Colin Kisloski defends for Tonawanda.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Claire Squicciarini works the ball up field surrounded by East Aurora defenders Lila Sorgi (9), Gabbi Barusic (13) and Julia Patterson (7) during the Purple Eagles Class B1 championship game loss to the host Blue Devils this morning.

A quick goal in the first three minutes ignited top seeded East Aurora to a 4-0 victory over visiting No. 6 Albion this morning in the Section VI Class B1 girls soccer championship game.

Cora Rabey lined a shot into the corner of the goal  just 2:18 into the game for what proved to be the game winner for the Blue Devils.

East Aurora doubled its advantage when Anna Bean scored on a looping shot with 11:38 to go in the half.

East Aurora likewise opened the second half strong as Bean scored again just 1:51 in to give the Blue Devils a commanding 3-0 lead.

Katie Kivari rounded out the Blue Devils scorig when she found the net on a breakaway at he 24:04 mark.

East Aurora had a 25-4 advantage in shots on the day as Albion goalie Sydney Mulka made some 20 saves.

“They just had speed all over and they were very skilled,” said Albion Coach Maggie Orbaker. “Our kids gave it 100 percent though. They didn’t leave anything on the field. I’m just very proud of them. It was a very positive season.”

Albion finishes the season with a 9-4 record.

The Purple Eagles advanced to the title contest for the third time in the last four years by scoring a pair of overtime victories 2-1 over No. 3 Springville in the quarterfinals and 4-1 over N. 7 Depew in the semis.

In the Class B2 championship game top seeded Southwestern defeated visiting No. 2 Wilson 2-0.

Albion’s Kenzi Hapeman works to keep the ball away from East Aurora’s Cora Rabey.

Let’s go on an adventure together….to Long Island!

The beautiful lighthouse at Montauk, Long Island, NY

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself remembering a wonderful Thanksgiving I spent on Long Island in 2018. I traveled with a friend to her sister’s home for the holiday and we had the best time! I had been to New York City several times, but never during the holidays, and since Long Island was a bucket list item, it was a perfect way to spend Thanksgiving.

Our first full day, we took the Long Island Railroad into New York City. We had tickets to see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall – something I always wanted to see. We spent the entire day walking around the city looking at all the wonderful store windows all decorated for Christmas, shopping, eating, and, of course, we went to see Santa at Macy’s. I have always loved being in the city, but there was something so much more special getting to watch skaters at Rockefeller Center, seeing the Christmas window displays, sitting and listening to a choir sing in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and that amazing light show on the Saks Fifth Avenue building after dark. It was a magical day that ended with me falling asleep on the train back to Long Island.

The rest of our time was spent on Long Island – no, we didn’t go back into the city to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We spent Thanksgiving warm and cozy preparing and enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving meal with family and friends. Black Friday took us out shopping at a local mall and included a corned beef on rye sandwich at a kosher deli that was so good it brought tears to my eyes.

The Beach at Montauk

Then, the sightseeing began. On Saturday, we drove out to Montauk. If you’re ever on Long Island, you have to go to Montauk and see the lighthouse and shore – so peaceful and beautiful! Along the way, we drove through all the Hamptons, stopped at a wonderful historic cemetery in East Hampton that had a stone knight laid to rest in a crypt (there’s a few great photos of it in the blog post link), and even saw the infamous Big Duck in Flanders, a silly big pink and purple bird in high heels, and a flying pig! Yep – lots of cool stuff to see on Long Island, for sure!

Our time at Montauk was amazing. It is located at the tip of Long Island with the ocean on one side and the sound on the other and views of Connecticut in the distance. I love lighthouses and seek them out whenever I get the chance. The one on Montauk is stunning. We walked around the lighthouse and beach for a while enjoying the absolutely beautiful day.

The day trip into the city was amazing, but if I had just stayed on Long Island the whole time, I would have been just as happy. In addition to shopping and our day at Montauk, we spent a little time in Port Jefferson – one of many quaint beach communities. We also spent some time at another beach that was so gorgeous. This beach is the home of a huge memorial at the spot where TWA Flight 800 crashed just off shore 12 minutes after taking off from JFK on the evening of July 17, 1996. There were no survivors and an amazing International Memorial was established to honor those who died in the crash and those who worked tirelessly in the search and recovery efforts. The memorial includes all the names of those being honored, benches, information, and inspirational quotes.

This beautiful beach on the Long Island shore includes an International Memorial to the TWA Flight 800 crash site of 1996.

We also attended a Sunday evening mass at St. Francis Chapel in Miller Place. St. Francis is a Friary – an old Monastery with Father Frank who is a wonderful “hippy” priest who runs Hope House Mission, a great program that helps addicts get and stay clean.

I’m not sure what I expected Long Island to be like. I guess I thought it would be little quaint beach communities – well, there was definitely plenty of those, but it was so much more. First of all, it is a LOT bigger than I thought. I guess I thought it was just a small strip island with just beaches. It actually has a lot of rural space and wooded areas and there are tons of shopping opportunities – including lovely local shops, bigger malls, and even a Tanger Mall. It is a huge island – I think it took us a little over an hour to get from where we were staying in Miller Place to Montauk and Miller Place is about ½ way up the island. But, whatever I had pictured in my head, I found Long Island to be a beautiful place to visit with tons to do and see. It was a great week of wonderful memories. Long Island is definitely a place worth considering for a visit.

Visit my blog post for more photos and info from my amazing Thanksgiving trip to Long Island:
https://thoughtsbykim.com/2018/11/29/thanksgiving-on-long-island/

Happy Adventuring,
Kim Pritt

Group looks to improve tracking and tracing system for produce grown in the state

File photo by Tom Rivers – Dirk Biemans co-owner and CEO of Intergrow Greenhouses, built its first 15-acre greenhouse in the Town of Gaines in 2003. The company has done multiple expansions since then. Biemans is serving on the new Produce Traceability Blue Ribbon Task Force. The company recently started construction on a new site in Ontario, Wayne County.

A new state task force includes agricultural leaders from throughout the state, including three with Orleans County connections.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced on Friday the members of the Produce Traceability Blue Ribbon Task Force, which met for the first time Thursday.

The task force, which is made up of New York farmers and representatives from produce distributors and retailers. The task force will build on New York’s leadership in food safety practices, Ball said.

The task force will review and make recommendations to further advance New York’s tracking and tracing system for produce grown in the state. An improved system will help consumers to more easily identify where products were grown and processed and allow the state to more quickly trace the origin of a product during foodborne illness investigations.

“We look forward to the work of this taskforce as a next step in the evolution of our food safety mission,” Ball said. “Food safety is everyone’s business, and this task force consists of all parts of the produce supply chain— from the farmer that grows our fruits and vegetables to the distribution center that sorts and/or bags it to the retailer who sells it. Understanding the sophisticated tracking systems that are already in place and how those systems communicate throughout the supply chain is key to supporting our farms, strengthening our food system, and reducing foodborne illness.”

Dirk Biemans, co-owner and president of Intergrow Greenhouses on Route 98 in Gaines, is a member of the task force. The company grows tomatoes hydroponically, offering consistent size and taste throughout the year.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Steven Karr, CEO of Pride Pak, gives a tour of the 68,000-square-foot vegetable processing site in Medina on Nov. 30, 2016. The company trims lettuce and packages it for salads for Wegmans.

Steven Karr, CEO of Pride Pak, and his son Angelo, Pride Pak vice president, opened a new vegetable processing facility on Maple Ridge Road in Medina in November 2016. They are both on the new state task force.

Pride Pak’s new 68,000-square-foot facility in Medina trims  lettuce and packaging it for salads for Wegmans. Medina gives the company a U.S. site. Pride Pak also has facilities in Mississaugua and Newfoundland. It is the largest vegetable processor in Canada, and 35 percent of its produce comes to the U.S.

Pride Pak currently gets most of its lettuce, baby spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, turnips, carrots and other vegetables from Yuma in Arizona, California and Oregon.

Kaari Stannard, owner of New York Apple Sales, Inc., also is on the task force. She has served as chairwoman of the U.S. Apple Association. She is a partner in both Pomona Packing and Lake Ontario Fruit, which are apple packing facilities located in western New York. Stannard is also a partner in Fish Creek Orchards, located in Orleans County. Lake Ontario Fruit also is in Orleans County on Ridge Road in Gaines.

The complete list of members of the Task Force are:

• Dr. Elizabeth Bihn, Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Mike Durant, Food Industry Alliance
• Steve Ball, Wegmans
• Jim Calvin, New York Association of Convenience Stores
• Michael King, Krasdale Foods
• Renee St. Jacques, New York Farm Bureau
• Dale Ila Riggs, New York State Berry Growers Association
• Bethany Wallis, Northeast Organic Farming Association
• Joy Crist, Crist Bros. Orchards
• Jim Bittner, Bittner-Singer Farm
• Paulette Satur, Satur Farm
• Steve and Angelo Karr, Pride Pak
• Erica Battisti, Stewarts Shops
• Michael Muzyk, Baldor Specialty Food
• Jim Hans, Driscoll’s
• Kaari Stannard, NYS Apple Sales
• Luke George, Upstate Growers & Packers
• Dirk Biemans, Intergrow
• Alisha Albinder, Hudson River Fruit Packers
• Darby Greco, NYS Department of Health

Currently the Food and Drug Administration does not require a tracing system for produce. Unlike manufactured products, which are traceable through serial numbers, consumers generally cannot identify where fresh produce was grown.

In addition to the health and safety risks, this is costly to the entire supply chain, from the producers to retailers.

Kaari Stannard is a New York apple marketer, packer and grower.

The task force will analyze today’s existing tracking and tracing system, identify potential gaps and areas in need of improvement, and recommend uniform operating standards and practices for each point of the supply chain. This will provide consumers with more information about the source of the food they eat and expedite investigations of foodborne illness.

“New York State’s focus on traceability through the Produce Traceability Blue Ribbon Task Force is truly forward thinking,” said Betsy Bihn, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University Director of the Produce Safety Alliance. “With the FDA proposing to establish additional traceability recordkeeping requirements, it is imperative to understand current practices as well as any challenges that are preventing effective produce traceability from farm to fork. As the Cornell CALS representative, I am grateful to have the opportunity to facilitate this discussion as this work is important for food safety, but also important for NY growers and consumers.”

Mike Durant, President/CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of NYS, Inc., said, “New York’s retail food industry is committed to ensuring quality products to our customers and promoting food safety is paramount to that effort. As the industry evolves, so too does the entire food supply chain. This task force will be a collaborative effort to both further advance best practices in food safety and help preserve public trust. We are pleased to be part of this important effort.”

Not everyone was quick to hook up to new system – ‘You don’t miss what you never had’

Photos courtesy of Cobblestone Museum

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director

GAINES – Burning candles or kerosene were two ways the school, the church, homes and businesses in the Hamlet of Childs would have provided lighting in the 1800s as seen here in this kerosene lamp fixture in the Universalist Church at Childs.

Note the glass “smoke bells” above the lamps that were designed to protect the ceiling by capturing the soot that was released when burning kerosene. Kerosene lighting was augmented with a product called “manufactured gas.”

The Albion Gasworks manufactured gas from 1858-1927. They did this by heating coal in a “retort” which produced a gas vapor that was stored under pressure to provide lighting for their customers. The byproduct produced from the process was known as “coke,” and was burned to provide heat in many early homes.

The next generation of lighting followed in 1888 when The Albion Electric Light & Power Company began generating power below the steel arch bridge from their hydroelectric station at Waterport. They distributed power using transmission lines that ran south along what we know as NYS Route 279.

Photo courtesy Orleans County Historian

One of the first major usages of Albion Power electricity was for electric arc street lights in the Village of Albion beginning April 1890.  Here we see a community effort to raise a power pole in Albion.

Even though electricity was available at that time, there was a certain reticence to hook into the line. For instance, the Pullman Church always had power when it was built in 1894, but the nearby St. Joseph’s Church waited until 1913, and the Episcopal Church didn’t electrify until 1914. There is an adage that says, “You don’t miss what you never had.” That was the case for many homeowners, too.

Former Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin remembers his father, Cary Lattin, telling him that he had electric wiring installed in his house on Gaines Basin Road when it was built in 1932, even though electricity was not yet available on the road.

Lattin lobbied his neighbors to try to drum up enough interest to entice the electric company to send power up Gaines Basin Road. But, Lattin had little success talking his neighbors into spending the money to add electricity to their homes in the era of the Great Depression.

Lattin finally succeeded in his quest when he convinced his fellow taxpayers of the Gaines Basin School that they should have electric lights in their schoolhouse. The neighbors’ favorable decision was responsible for power being distributed on the road. Lattin hooked up right away, but many neighbors waited awhile to follow suit.

Electricity finally reached the Hamlet of Childs circa 1926. Other parts of the county weren’t fully electrified until after World War II. This is a birds-eye view of Childs in the early 1950s.

In the early days, those who wanted electricity in their homes would install “knob & tube” wiring on their interior walls. The two wires were plainly visible to the homes occupants and were held away from touching the wall using porcelain insulators.

Ceramic insulators were also used for switches to help protect from stray electrical shocks.   Here we see an early turn-button switch that was commonly used.

Other switches used push-buttons. Another oddity of that era was that fuse boxes were sometimes installed in a home’s attic instead of the basement. The electric lines entered the home through the attic, so it made sense at the time to place the fuse box there, too, albeit a little inconvenient to change a fuse.  In later days, wiring was recessed behind walls, like we know it today.

Editor’s Note: This is the 14th article in a series about historic Childs in the Town of Gaines. The hamlet of Childs lies just north of Albion at the intersection of Routes 104 and 98. In 2019, Childs was selected to be on the Landmark Society of Western New York’s “Five to Revive” list. In 1993, the federal U.S. Department of the Interior declared the Cobblestone Museum in Childs a National Historic Landmark, the first site in Orleans County with that distinction.

The next article will take a look at the proliferation of labor savings appliances that found prominence in the all-electric home of the Roaring ’20s. 

Photos courtesy of Barbie Hapeman

ALBION – After practice today, the Albion varsity girls soccer team went by the new mural on the northside of the Lake Country Pennysaver building. The mural highlights Albion as home of the first Santa Claus School, which was led by the late Charles W. Howard from 1937 to 1966.

The team, which plays in the sectional finals on Saturday against undefeated East Aurora, wanted to capture some of the “Believe” magic.

The players are all wearing T-shirts that say, “Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable.” There is a Santa hat on the “B” in Believe.

The group pictured includes, front row, from left: Maddy Snook, Kailey Merrill, Brittney Spies-Hunt (Captain), Lauren Wehling, Bonnie DiCureia and Claire Squicciarini (Captain).

Middle Row: Assistant Coach – Sara Kappenhaver, Olivia Bieber, Ryan Olles, Aurora Serafin, Nora Hapeman, Elisa Bropst, Head Coach – Maggie Orbaker.

Top row: Abby Scanlan, Charley London, Ally Knaak, Olivia Krenning, Sydney Mulka, Emily Harling, Assistant Coach – John King.

Missing from photo: Leah Pritchard, Grace Elscher and Nicolina Creasey.

After a 1-3 start, Albion has won eight in a row to advance to the sectional finals for the third time in the last four years. The team will be leaving Albion at 8:45 Saturday morning. The community is welcome to give them a sendoff along Route 31. A group is expected to gather at the CRFS parking lot to wish them good luck.

Orleans County has 12 more confirmed cases of Covid-19, including, for the first time, three inmates in the county jail. Orleans has now had 494 people test positive for Covid-19 since March.

The new positive cases reside in Albion, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby. The individuals are in the following age groups: 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Three of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans also has had 14 more people recover from Covid and have been removed from the isolation list, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

Two county residents are currently hospitalized due to Covid.

• Medina Central School also advised the community in a letter that two staff members tested positive for Covid-19. They have been on mandatory quarantine since Nov. 9.

Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, said there likely won’t be any contact tracing at the school because the two employees have been home since Nov. 9. The Health Department will decide if any additional action is needed.

The data isn this chart is cumulative going back to March.

Genesee County received 30 new positive cases of Covid-19. This is reflective from the cases reported yesterday, Health Department officials said.

Due to the volume of positives cases received today, data from Genesee will be updated as soon as possible, the department said. Staff is working on contact tracing.

The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pavilion and Pembroke. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also has 19 more recoveries from Covid and they have been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 3 residents in the hospital due to Covid.

• The Health Department has been notified of a two positive staff members at Batavia Middle School. The individuals are on mandatory isolation until they recover. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual. The school will remain open unless otherwise announced.

• The Health Department has been notified of a two positive students and one positive staff member at Pavilion Middle School. The individuals are on mandatory isolation until they recover. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual. The school will remain open unless otherwise announced.

• 3-county data: Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. There are 212 active cases in the three counties, with 98 in Genesee, 67 in Orleans and and 47 in Wyoming.

A reminder the numbers listed as positive/active are current community cases. The recovered numbers are only for community cases and do not include non-county regulated facilities. The total positive cases includes community active/positive, community recovered and all those from non-county regulated facilities.

Additional updates from the Health Departments:

• New restrictions – Effective today 13 at 10 p.m., bars, restaurants and gyms, as well as any State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, must close in-person service from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.

Effective today, indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences will be limited to no more than 10 people.

• Faith-based organizations: Consider continuing or reinstating remote worship due to increased numbers of positive Covid-19 cases to protect your more vulnerable population.

For those who are at risk of complications for Covid-19 or the flu, consider to connect with your house of worship remotely to lessen the risk of contracting Covid-19 or the flu.

If you are sick or experiencing new symptoms, stay home and worship remotely. Don’t share your germs with others.

• Time-Distance-Masks-Hands!: In order to limit the spread of Covid-19 you need to rethink any upcoming gatherings. The more time you spend with non-household members, the more at risk of spreading the virus and putting our counties in a micro-cluster which will increase restrictions. Even small gatherings have the potential to have an impact on our hospital systems as we are seeing an increase in hospital admissions and ICU admissions.

Limit time with non-household members…Keep at least 6 feet or more…Properly wear a mask/face covering over your nose and mouth…and wash your hands frequently with soap and water or 60% alcohol hand sanitizer, as well as sanitizing frequently touched surfaces/items.

• Gathering size: According to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.45, all non-essential gatherings of up to 50 individuals of any size for any reason at venues (celebrations, weddings, or other social events at public facilities or private venues) unless otherwise designated (ex. religious gatherings), are allowed as long as there is appropriate social distancing, wearing cloth masks/face coverings over their mouth and nose, and cleaning and disinfection protocol requirements followed.

With the recent uptick of individuals testing positive and the stricter guidance placed by the governor, it is important to remember that those who plan and host non-essential gatherings (whether at a venue or a private residence) as noted above, can be fined up to $15,000, and/or cause our counties to be considered a micro-cluster which will place the area under stricter restrictions.

Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region, which had the highest positivity rate of Covid tests in the state on Thursday.

• Statewide data includes new record for tests: New York set a new record on Thursday with 203,721 tests reported. Of those 5,401 were positive or 2.65% of the total.

The positive testing rate in all Focus Zone Areas is 4.58 percent while the rate outside the Focus Zone Areas is 2.29 percent.

Total hospitalizations from Covid were at 1,737 in the state. There were also 24 fatalities yesterday from Covid in New York.

“We are testing more than just about any other state in the nation, reaching new record highs in the number of tests we perform in a single day,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “The good news is our infection rate is one of the lowest in the nation. The bad news is we are in the midst of a sea of Covid rising around us. You look at the international numbers, and they are frightening – countries are locking down. You look at states around the country and the numbers are all going up quickly.”

Cuomo also announced that an emergency summit will be held this weekend with the governors of Northeastern states to discuss aligning policy in light of rising Covid-19 cases in the region and throughout the country.

“The reality is the virus is mobile and we’re in the holiday season and people will travel more,” he said. “These are all elements that conspire to increase the spread. We believe we’re going to have to be taking additional steps, and to the degree we can share information and align action with other regional states, we’ll do that.”