Orleans/Niagara BOCES named grand champion of 16^th annual parade

MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES has been named the grand champion in Saturday’s 16^th annual Parade of Lights.

There were nearly 50 participants in the parade. The BOCES receives a $500 check as the grand champion. Other winners receive $300. All of the winning floats and participants receive a plaque from the Parade of Lights.

The float included a 1954 John Deere 40U tractor restored at Orleans/Niagara BOCES by Matthew Page.

The Orleans/Niagara BOCES works on their winning float ready for the parade in a staging area at the Olde Pickle Factory. The parade route went from the Olde Pickle Factory down Park Avenue and north on Main Street.

The winners in the different categories include:

Best in Class (Not-for-Profit) – Niagara County 4-H Equine

Best in Class (Commercial) – Mahar Excavating

Best in Class (Service Clubs) – Albion FFA

Best in Class (Religious) – The Vine (formerly Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God in Medina)

Best in Class (Fire companies) – Albion Fire Department

Best on Class – Metz’s Family Christmas

Star Award (for creativity) – Western New York Energy

Santa’s Pick – Heveron Electric

Littlest Elf Award (that best incorporate youths and adults in float) – Albion Girl Scouts

Community Spirit Award – Painted Sky Ranch/Monroe County 4-H

Press Release, Child Welfare Association of Orleans County

ALBION – The Child Welfare Association of Orleans County and its predecessor, the Orleans County State Charities Aid Association (SCAA) has been assisting children and families in Orleans county for about 100 years. It has been fully supported  through bequeathments and donations from the public.

Starting in 1925, representatives from every township met to determine how to help children and families struggling to meet basic needs.  Local churches and community groups had been assisting when they saw a need, but this was the first county-wide united effort. Through donations, they hired a part-time agent to help identify and assist those in dire need.

In 1929 as needs became more wide-spread and apparent, a new public welfare law was enacted and a county agent was hired. During these early years, the Child Welfare Association worked very closely with the county welfare agent who provided services directly to children in need.

The CWA provided annual teas for foster parents and gave them money each year to buy Christmas presents for foster children. They provided assistance in many other ways such as purchasing cribs and supplies, shoes and clothing, knitting baby clothes and blankets, paying for innoculations and dental care, providing money for text books, and college tuitions.

Beginning in the 1950s, The Journal-Register in Medina and the CWA began asking for donations to send children with financial need to the Salvation Army Camp Troutburg in Kendall. From this time until the mid-1990s when Camp Troutburg closed, hundreds of children had the opportunity to go to camp due to the CWA’s efforts. Since Camp Troutburg closed, the CWA has been providing camp scholarships to Camp Rainbow in Lyndonville where children enjoy a week of day camp.

The Child Welfare Association has provided college scholarships to students from all five school districts for more than 50 years. They also have provided stipends to school nurses, public health, and local libraries each year. Additionally they have given money to Community Action, the Ministry of Concern, Child and Family Services, and recently the Medina YMCA and local 4-H.

For many years, the CWA has not received nor solicited money from the public and funds have declined. In June of this year the CWA board voted to dissolve, giving remaining funds directly to the organizations it supports.

This will allow these organizations to have charge of the funds at an earlier time and gives them the advantage of deciding its best use. College scholarships will continue to be awarded by the local school districts for several more years. The remaining funds will be turned over to the ARC for Camp Rainbow.

“It is sad to see such a long-standing charity dissolve, but the time has come,” said Christine Kinsey, president. “We trust these other organizations know first-hand what the needs are and will carry on the good works that CWA has begun.”

BARKER – Two people were able to safely evacuate their home this morning in a fast-moving fire, the Niagara County Sheriff’s office reported.

Firefighters were dispatched to the 1700 block of East Avenue after a 911 call at 7:56 a.m. The fire quickly spread in a single-family home and the house became fully engulfed, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Responding fire units were able to extinguish the fire without incident. There were no injuries as a result of the fire, The Sheriff’s Office stated.

Firefighters responded from Barker, Olcott, Lockport and Hartland fire companies as well as the Niagara County Fire Investigation Unit.

A damage estimate is unavailable at this time. The Red Cross was notified and responded to assist the residents of the home.

The Niagara County Origin and Cause responded to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.

By Randy LeBaron

Good morning! Grab your favorite cup. Fill it up. And let’s start this week right… TOGETHER!!!

By the time you read this you will probably be finishing off the last of your Thanksgiving leftovers but I did not want to jump ahead to December and everything Christmas before highlighting the fact that November was National Hospice & Palliative Care Month.

As the Spiritual Care Counselor at Hospice of Orleans I have had the privilege of coming beside many families during the most difficult of times and I really do consider it a privilege to be welcomed into their homes and into their lives. I am also grateful to work alongside others who have answered the call to offer expert, compassionate care to those in need. I have always had a healthy respect for the work of nurses, social workers, and home health aides but getting the chance to work so closely with them has given me a newfound appreciation not only for their skills but for how passionately they attend to and advocate for their patients. I just want to say thank you to all who have filled these vital roles past and present.

I also wanted to highlight Girl Scout Troops 82096 and 82094, led by Mindy Cogovan and Jennifer Hughes respectively, who spent time making Thanksgiving and Christmas Cards to give to our patients and their families as well as those who attend the Grief Support Group. This is a great way for the girls to learn more about Hospice and, having had the privilege of passing out cards to our patients in the past, I know how meaningful their messages will be to all who receive them.

The reality is that the holidays can be a very difficult time for those who are dealing with a terminal illness or who have experienced the loss of a loved one. For me personally, I will never forget the phone call I received from my niece on Thanksgiving Day 2015 letting me know that my oldest brother Rick had died of a heart attack. I can attest to the fact that sometimes just acknowledging someone else’s pain at a time when others are celebrating is a great show of compassion. In this case, offering something as simple as a handmade card can be especially comforting so thank you to all the girls who took part.

I also want to remind you that if you or someone you know is struggling with the holidays I lead  a Grief Support Group that is open to anyone in Orleans County. Our last meeting of the year will be on Tuesday (12/8) @4 p.m. at The First Baptist Church in Albion (30 W. Park St.). We will then resume meeting in the New Year every 2^nd Tuesday in Albion and every 4^th Tuesday in Medina. As I have said it before, everyone deals with grief at some point but no one should have to do it alone.

See you in 2 weeks!

Pastor Randy

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Fireworks created a spectacle in the sky just before the Parade of Lights in Medina on Saturday evening.

Young Explosives in Rochester set off the fireworks from the canal, exploding over Main Street.

Bent’s Opera House is decked out for the holidays, and has added two large nutcrackers and a giant ornament to add to Medina’s decorations.

A big crowd gathered on Main Street in front of Bent’s to watch the fireworks and Parade of Lights.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – This dachshund is decked out for Christmas during today’s Pet parade at noon down Main Street in Medina.

The parade started on West Avenue at the Medina Historical Society.

There was a big group of pets with many in costume for the parade.

Medina Village Trustees Jess Marciano as Olaf and Dianna Baker as Anna from Frozen wave to the crowd. They are joined by Marciano’s daughter, Cadence.

The Cutest Little Elf contest winners, Paisley Morgott of Medina and Kenslee Smak of Batavia, got to walk in the parade with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Zach and Andrea Busch walked in the pet parade with Winston, a Labradoodle.

Chris Seefeldt is the Grinch and Stacey Seefeldt dressed as Cindy Lou Who for the parade.

Lynne Menz, left, brought two dogs and Kelly Kiebala brought one for the parade. Kiebala’s and one of Menz’s dogs are brothers from the same litter. Menz is shown with Brody, a Pomeranian Husky; and Bo, a Pomeranian Sheltie. Kiebala’s dog is named Teddy, a Pomeranian Sheltie.

The Medina High School Band played Christmas music in the noon parade.

Santa and Mrs. Claus acknowledge the crowd on Main Street.

The Parade of Lights is at 6 p.m.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Medina High School students Riley Tompkins is dressed as an elf and Logan Trillizio wore a Santa costume in today’s Home for the Holidays 5K in Medina. They are sprinting at the end of the race on North Main Street near the American Legion. (St. Mary’s Catholic Church is in the background.)

There were 150 participants in today’s event with temperatures in the low 30s.

Debbie Tompkins welcomes the runners to the race when they gathered near the starting line in the Canal Basin. She organizes the race with Teresa Wilkins.

Proceeds from the race are planned to go to backpack food program at Oak Orchard Primary School and a new scholarship program at the school.

Jeremy Weakland of Gasport carries an American flag while running next to his son, Jeremy Weakland Jr., 12. They finished in 37:16.

Arian Cayea, 20, of Medina was the first male in a time of 19:05 while Jen Curtis, 34, of New York was the first female with a time of 22:06.

There are events throughout the day in Medina for the Hometown Christmas celebration, including the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m.

Press Release, Orleans County Mental Health Department

ALBION – The Care & Crisis Helpline (585) 283-5200 is currently and temporarily non-operational as a result of phone and network issues.

In the case of an immediate mental health need or mental health crisis, you can call or text 988, the  National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or contact the  Orleans County Sheriff’s Dispatch by calling at (585) 589-5527 and ask to speak to the on call mental health clinician.

ALBION – The Orleans Koinonia Kitchen set a new record by serving 716 Thanksgiving meals on Thursday.

That topped the 630 served last year for free to the community. The kitchen also had 79 dinners left on Thursday and those have been frozen to be used in the future.

“We saw a lot of new faces we’d never seen before,” said Faith Smith, director of the OK Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship.

Many of the people who came to the church for a meal are feeling a financial pinch and others welcomed the chance to eat Thanksgiving with friends and family at the church or with take-outs or deliveries, Smith said.

More than 50 people volunteered to prepare the meal, serve and deliver it. Smith said volunteers delivered meals 439 meals to nine out of the 10 towns in Orleans County – everyone except Barre.

Many churches and businesses in the community donated to effort on Thursday.

“Everything went smoothly,” she said.

Smith and her husband Mike started the day early and were able to get home at 9 p.m.

The meals were served at the church from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

SHELBY – Hannah Robillard has loved animals all her life, so while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology at Medaille College, it was no surprise she decided to attend Clemson University and get her master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries resources.

“I always loved being in nature, growing up in Medina,” Robillard said. “I had pets and Rose, a horse.”

After graduating from Medina High School in 2018, she knew what she wanted to do, in addition to working for her dad, Arnold Mahnke, at Top Gun Construction.

In 2022, she married Jason Robillard, who is also pursuing his license so he can help Hannah.

Hannah became involved with Western New York Raptors and Wildlife Care, whose director Bernadette Clabeaux was a professor of hers and got her interested in rehabilitation.

Hannah also recently went to Corning for training for rabies vector species. Skunks, bats and raccoons are defined as rabies vector species.

There is a major lack of RVS rehabilitators, which is one of the reason Hannah chose to get involved in it, she said.  She has rabies pre-exposure vaccine, which is why she is able to handle RVS animals.

Hannah recently was brought a family of 10 baby opossums whose mother had been hit and killed by a car. She rehabilitated them and released them. She was also brought a baby bunny, which she also rehabilitated.

Bats are prone to wing injuries, and Hannah is able to rehabilitate them so they can fly again.

She and Jason plan to convert their barn into a facility to accommodate rabies animals by 2026.

A week ago, Hannah spent the day at the Canal Village Farmer’s Market to inform the public of the service she provides and to share the need for donations.

“We have to buy all the food and medications and pay veterinarian bills for all the animals which are brought to us,” she said.

She plans to be at the farmer’s market every week until Christmas, and then every other week after that.

Hannah said there are a small handful of rehabilitators in Orleans County and she would like to contact them to form a support group.

More information on wildlife rehabilitation is available at the DEC website (click here).

Press Release, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming Pathway to Hope Suicide Prevention Coalition

BATAVIA – The Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming Pathway to Hope Suicide Prevention Coalition was recognized at the 2024 Suicide Prevention Conference in Albany last month for excellence in the Lethal Means Safety category.

Sara Andrew, a licensed clinical social worker and community engagement and partnership coordinator at the VA Medical Center in Batavia, accepted an award on behalf of GOW Pathway to Hope.

The coalition was nominated for this award by Lynda Battaglia, director of Community Services in Genesee County in partnership with Kelly Dryja, director of Community Services in Wyoming County and Danielle Figura, director of Community Services in Orleans County.

Sara Andrew, community engagement and partnership coordinator at the VA Medical Center in Batavia, accepts an award on behalf of the GOW Pathway to Hope Suicide Prevention Coalition, from Dr. Thomas Smith, chief medical officer, New York State Office of Mental Health, at the 2024 Suicide Prevention Conference in Albany.

Andrew works with coalitions in Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and Niagara counties to implement community-based interventions for suicide coalition, with a focus on service members, veterans and their families.

About 150 professionals in the suicide prevention field attended the conference at the Desmond Hotel Crowne Plaza.

Lethal means are objects (e.g., medications, firearms, sharp instruments) that can be used to inflict self-directed violence. Lethal Means Safety is an intentional, voluntary practice to reduce one’s suicide risk by limiting access to those lethal means.

In submitting the nomination form, Battaglia outlined steps being taken by the local coalition to reduce means of harm.

“For the GOW Pathway to Hope Suicide Prevention Coalition, it might mean having someone taking a few extra minutes of having to unlock a gun safe or unlocking medications that can give someone that time to pause and not make an impulsive decision, such as suicide,” she wrote.

“We know that people have access to lethal means in their environment and we know the goal of lethal means safety is to promote and give opportunities between thinking of suicide and acting on it for individuals. Preventing access to lethal means in that very moment gives that person a couple of life saving minutes to think about what they are doing and to reach out for help instead.”

Battaglia pointed out that the local coalition has worked to overcome “unique challenges” faced by rural areas, such as accessibility to services and lack of transportation. She noted that suicide in agriculture and farming – key industries of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties – is on the rise.

“While the coalition focuses on the needs of each county, collectively the coalition is stronger working together,” she wrote. “This is demonstrated on a routine basis in ways of sharing resources, education, supports, and promoting efforts to reduce stigma associated with mental illness and suicide by close partnership and collaboration of efforts.”

GOW Pathway to Hope has adopted an evidenced based, suicide prevention initiative that was initially developed in Virginia. The Lock & Talk training educates local residents on what Lethal Means Safety is while encouraging communities to engage in mental wellness conversations.

“Locking/safely securing or removing lethal means is one of the few evidence-based strategies to substantially prevent suicide- many suicides occur with little planning during a short-term crisis,” Battaglia wrote. “Talking can often alleviate distress and reduce the intention to act on suicidal thoughts. It’s also about sharing resources and getting the right help to the right individuals who need it, when they need it.”

Thus far, GOW Pathway to Hope has distributed around 400 Lock & Talk bags that each include a cable gun lock, locking medication pouch or medication lockbox, a pre-paid medication disposal envelope among other local and national resources.

Additionally, about two dozen LMS trainings have been provided to human service professionals as gatekeepers, who in turn received the Lock & Talk bags to provide to community members in need, and several firearm safety for suicide prevention workshops have been conducted.

For more information about the Lock and Talk program, email spcgenesee@gmail.com.

Provided photo

ALBION – Two more dogs have completed a 12-week obedience training program working with incarcerated women at the Albion Correctional Facility.

The two dogs, Bob and Lola, were celebrated during a Nov. 4 canine graduation at Albion Correctional. The handlers also were praised for their dedication and patience assisting the dogs in learning their skills.

Bob has already been adopted and Lola is waiting for her forever home. She is available through the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion. Click here for more information.

Dawn Spencer of Eye of Oden K9 Training in Kent leads the 12-week program. Spencer has over 25 years of experience in dog training.

Throughout the 12 weeks, the teams of incarcerated individuals serve as handlers for the dogs.  Spencer visits the facility once a week to put the dogs through the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program.

This training program consists of 10 skills that the dogs must be able to master and aims to train dogs the basics of good manners and obedience. Spencer instructed the incarcerated individuals on what skills to work on each week.

The program is in collaboration with PAWS Animal Shelter and Albion Correctional Facility. The facility has allowed dogs and trainers since 2019.

Mayor: Project will fit in with historic district and ‘won’t break the back of the taxpayers’

File photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Village Board is working to get a new one-bay addition on the fire hall, which doesn’t have enough room for a new ladder truck due to arrive in December 2025.

MEDINA – An engineering firm is working on a concept design for a one-bay addition to a the Medina fire hall.

That added room is needed to for a new ladder truck that is expected to arrive in just over a year.

Medina has hired the MRB Group for $15,000 to prepare the design. Those renderings can help the village pursue grants and financing for the project, Mayor Marguerite Sherman said.

The Village Board also approved an $800 contract with Paradigm Environmental Services to complete an asbestos survey at the fire hall. The company took samples and found no environmental issues standing in the way of the addition, Sherman said at Monday’s Village Board meeting.

The board was looking at a two-day addition to the fire hall plus renovations to the current building, but those construction estimates were about $6 million.

The board deemed that too expensive for the village. The cost of a one-day addition concerns board members but they said the project must go forward with the impending arrival of a ladder truck that won’t fit in the current fire hall.

The village is replacing a ladder truck from 1996. That truck has a ladder that is 75 feet long. That truck barely has clearance in the garage. The ladder truck has a clearance of 10.4 feet but the space in the garage is 10 feet, 6 inches, Jackson said.

The new ladder trucks have a clearance of 13 feet. The new hall addition is expected to have clearance up to 14 feet.

Trustee Jess Marciano said the concept plan has “basic schematics.”

“Essentially this project will come down to dollars per square foot,” she said.

Village Board members said the time frame is tight to have the addition done in time for the fire truck, but they said it should be ready.

Mayor Marguerite Sherman said the addition will blend in with the historic downtown.

“It will only park a fire truck and not detract from the look of the historic district,” she said. “It won’t break the back of the taxpayers.”

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today encouraged New Yorkers to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season by highlighting the critical role New York’s small businesses play in building vibrant communities across the state.

On Nov. 30, New York will mark Small Business Saturday to celebrate the significant impact small businesses have on local economies across the state. In honor of the day. Governor Hochul is taking the opportunity to emphasize how choosing local retailers, restaurants and service providers creates a ripple effect of economic growth throughout New York’s communities.

“Every purchase at a local shop or family-owned business ripples through our neighborhoods, creating jobs and opportunities that strengthen the fabric of our communities,” Hochul said. “As the daughter of a small business owner, I witnessed firsthand how these enterprises serve as anchors of community life. This holiday season and on Small Business Saturday, I encourage New Yorkers to invest in their communities by shopping local – because when our small businesses thrive, all of New York thrives.”

Small Business Saturday celebrates the innovation and dedication of small business owners, encouraging New Yorkers to support local shops and services throughout the bustling holiday season. Small businesses – defined as those with fewer than 100 employees – represent 98 percent of all businesses in the state, employing nearly 40 percent of the private-sector workforce.

In the retail sector alone, New York is home to more than 71,000 stores, with nearly 79 percent – approximately 55,000 – being independent local retailers. These enterprises are vital economic engines, with retail establishments contributing $40.1 billion in wages in 2023 and projected to generate $507 billion in sales in 2024, providing over $20.3 billion in State sales tax revenue.

Of New York’s small businesses, about 8.1 percent are retailers, forming an essential part of our local economies as they drive community growth, foster neighborhood identity, and keep billions of dollars circulating within our communities.

Ways to Support Small Businesses Every Day

• Choose Local Retailers – Opt to shop at independently owned stores in your community. Your patronage helps sustain local jobs and keeps money circulating within the local economy.
• Shop Online Locally – Many neighborhood businesses offer e-commerce options. Check if your local shops have websites or participate in digital marketplaces that facilitate local delivery or pickup.
• Buy Gift Cards – Purchasing gift cards from local businesses—whether it’s a favorite eatery, boutique, or service provider—provides them with immediate support and encourages future visits.
• Explore Farmers’ Markets – Even during colder months, many farmers’ markets continue indoors, offering unique, locally made products. From handcrafted items to seasonal foods, it’s a great way to support local producers.
• Shop Taste NY – Support New York State’s farmers, producers, artisans, and craftspeople by visiting Taste NY Welcome Centers across the state or ShopTasteNY.com. Explore specially curated holiday gift baskets and unique New York-made products that showcase the best of what local businesses have to offer.
• Dine Locally – Visit or order takeout from neighborhood restaurants and cafes. Your support helps sustain these establishments and the jobs they provide.
• Spread the Word – Share your positive experiences with local businesses on social media and review platforms. Personal recommendations are invaluable for small businesses seeking to grow their customer base.
• Opt for Store Credit – If you need to return an item, consider accepting store credit instead of a refund.