Five Westfield-Mayville Rotarians helped to clean up the buildings and grounds of the Yorker Museum in Sherman during the morning of July 18. Rotarians Tracy Bennett, Sue Hammond, John Hamels, Shawn McKane, and Mary Swanson assisted with weeding garden beds and also tidying up the six restored buildings depicting Sherman life in the mid-1800s. The Yorker Museum is located on the Village Common at the corner of Park and Church Streets in Sherman.

 

Some of the Sherman Historical Society volunteers who were also present on July 18 to inform the Westfield-Mayville Rotarians about the museum and guide them in their cleanup duties were Shelley Croscut, Treasurer; Judy Stoddard, Vice President; Roberta Tenpas, President; and Pam Warner, Collections Director. The Yorker Museum buildings include the Peter Ripley House (oldest residence in Sherman), Buggy Shed, Schoolhouse, Log Dwelling, Chapel, and General Store. Each of the structures has numerous antiques and memorabilia.

 

The Yorker Museum’s origins can be traced back to 1946 when Miss Genevieve Matteson, a 7^th grade New York State History teacher at Sherman Central School, started a local Yorker group with a handful of female students. Yorkers chapters were part of a New York State Historical Society program. The French Creek Yorkers was the Sherman Central School chapter. As the chapter grew to over 250 members and its collection of local artifacts and antiques expanded, a need arose for the group to have its own building.

In 1951 the group acquired its first building, which was a house.  With the help of many students and volunteers, additional structures were located, moved, and reconstructed on the grounds. After more than 50 years, the New York State Historical Association disbanded the Yorkers due to a decline in membership. At that point the museum became the property of the Village of Sherman, who how holds the deeds to the buildings. Since 2011, the Sherman Historical Society oversees the museum.

 

The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville recognizes the efforts of the Sherman Historical Society and all those who help this museum in its efforts to preserve local history and educate others about it. The Yorker Museum is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Appointments for tours at other times may be arranged by calling 716-761-6492, 716-761-6359, or 716-761-6659. Also, find the Yorker Museum on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yorkermuseum.

                  

 

The National Super Kids Classic is a Soap Box Derby® race for physically and mentally challenged children from around the world. Local races are held throughout the year. Winners from each local race advance to the world famous Derby Downs Track in Akron, Ohio for the world championship, which is held in conjunction with the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby Race.

 

Here is a photo of our Super Kid (Kristopher Davies-Hales) winner last year competing in July at the Super Kid soap box competition in Akron Ohio earlier this month.  The Rotary Club of Lincoln sponsors the trip to Akron each year for the winner of the Super Kid local race.
Lincoln Soap Box Derby 
www.soapboxderby.org/aasbd-race-program/super-kids.aspx

 

The Rotary Club of Lincoln just donated 100K to the Legacy Hall Project at Cave Springs Camp and have launched a $25,000 dollar for dollar matching Community Challenge.  Cogeco YOUR TV joined the club us at the celebration.  For more information about the Legacy Hall Project and Cave Springs Camp check out the LINKS.

 

 https://yourtv.tv/node/195691?c=niagara&fbclid=IwAR1sGysVCHQyHslohmqrTH976-Usz6HVTYbg6RJDqHHEm3bKo_QmsR4j5XM

 

 

The Legacy Hall Project is being undertaken to help support Cave Springs Camp which has been offering a unique summer camp experience since 1951. The camp is guided and supported by a dedicated group of volunteers that form the Board of Directors, highly qualified and enthusiastic summer staff and volunteers from the local community. Cave Springs Camp is located on the Niagara Escarpment in the beautiful Beamsville, Ontario. Cave Springs is the only remaining overnight summer camp that is handicapped accessible and all programs are integrated in the Niagara Region.

 

The Rotary Club of Fonthill Funfest 2019 committee and event corporate sponsors in attendance (FM105.1 The River; Pen Financial Credit Union and Boggios Pharmacy Group) presented Big Brothers and Big Sisters of South Niagara a cheque for $8000. Again, we have just provided program funding for 8 children in need. 

 

Again it shows the spirit of Rotary and the adage that many hands make light work!

 

Notwithstanding less than perfect weather the inaugural Funfest was well supported by the community, corporately and our membership.

 

Planning already in place for 2020! Save the date at Bissell's Hideaway on Saturday, June 20th, 2020.  

 

The Rotary Club of Hamburg inducted Tim Straube into membership on July 30, 2019.  Rotary President Lisa Avery, right, conducted the ceremonies welcoming Straube, an accountant with the Erie County Health Department and member of Cairde, a popular local band. Also on hand for the induction of the new member was District Governor Bob Artis (far left).  Tim was sponsored by his wife, Rotarian Diana Straube, next to him.

 

DG Artis met with the club’s Board of Trustees before the regular meeting and was pleased to meet Dale Stanley, the club’s Rotary Foundation Chair (photo 2) who confirmed that Hamburg Rotary will support The Rotary Foundation with a donation of $1,500 for this year.

Everyone was invited to join the Rotary Club of the BNMC on Monday July 22^nd at the Community Walk, Roll and Ride! The guided walk took place along the renowned Niagara River Greenway.  Attendees met at the foot of Porter Avenue on Rotary Lane, Buffalo, NY.  They enjoyed the fresh air, and beautiful views of the waterfront along the Niagara River and the Peace Bridge.

 

Established in 2004, the Niagara Greenway Project encompasses 13 towns and villages along the bank of the Niagara River for 35 miles from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. From Buffalo to Porter, many Rotary clubs are interested in playing an important role in the continued creation of clean green space, parks, water access and trails.

For over 50 years, the Rotary Club of Lewiston, NY & Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON have been selling hot dogs on Center Street in Lewiston to provide food for hungry patrons at the amazing Lewiston Art Festival in order to raise funds for necessary life saving medical equipment to help keep infant and mothers healthy and safe at Mt. St. Mary's Hospital. 

 

The club is especially appreciative of the many "friends of Rotary" who have assisted in this endeavor, most especially the dedicated nurses of the Maternity and Nursery Services of that fine hospital. Nobody works harder and is more dedicated than these nurses.  It's also great that our Rotary Friends from Grand Island, West Seneca, BNMC, Cambridge, ON and Missassauga came to party with us and helped support our cause!   

 

 

The Rotary Club of Grand Island is pleased to have made its yearly contribution to the Miracle League of WNY for support and maintenance of their unique playing field in Grand Island’s Veterans Park.

 

This ball field has an all-weather, but cushioned, surface that allows wheelchair bound or otherwise challenged youth to play ball in a safe, yet exciting, way. The Miracle League also has a handicap accessible playground, allowing wheelchairs or kids with walking aid frames to be swung or twirled! G I Rotary President Elect Sherry Miller and member Mike Billoni are here presenting a $2500 check on August 11, 2019, to Scott McManigle, Executive Director of the Miracle League as the kids and their coaches get ready for another fun-filled game. 

 

Grand Island Rotary had joined Buffalo Sabres Alumni, the GI Lions Club and others in making major donations (5 – 8 years ago) to start these world-class facilities for the benefit of handicapped youth.  

How does the Rotary Club of Akon Newstead celebrate its 30^th birthday?  They throw a party for the community thanking everyone for their support which has made the club’s vast work of helping people possible over the past thirty years.  Partnering with the Village of Akron’s Cruise Night, the Rotarians recently held a complimentary hot dog roast in Russell Park that made for an evening of Rotary community pride and fellowship.   

 

Born on March 16, 1989, the club, which was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clarence, has had a huge impact both locally in Akron Newstead and internationally through programs in countries such as Sierra Leone, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, etc.  In its history the club’s largest project has been the funding of an all weather track at Akron Central School in 1998. This is indicative of the terrific relationship the club has had with the Akron Central School District through the years.  A strong Interact Club, annual scholarships to graduating seniors, Rotary Youth Exchange and partnering on social assistance programs are just a few examples of this collaboration.  Critical to this has been that Akron’s superintendents have been members of the Rotary Club of Akron Newstead. This is just one example of the many, many people and organizations helped by the Akron Newstead Rotary.    

 

The club also recognized its first 30 years at its annual installation dinner in June when the gavel was passed from Julie Klotzbach to Ron Konieczny.  Special recognition was given to charter members who are current members.  They are Tom Brady, Dick Campbell, Joe Capan, Peter Forrestel, Peter Henley, Paul Muck, Greg Schmidt and Larry Whistler, the first president.

 

Pictured are some club members at the community celebration accepting a congratulatory resolution from the Erie County Legislature from County Legislator Ed Rath.  Pictured second from right is club member and Immediate Past District Governor Melisa Schrock.  The club also received a similar resolution from the New York State Senate.

 

 

Rotary Club of Lockport member, Nancy Kasprzak-Whitmore assists a Challenger athlete during a soft ball game for which Rotary  was involved in community service at Ray Lee Field in Lockport. She was joined by a number of Rotarians during an enjoyable evening.

The final meeting of the members of the Rotary Club of Hamilton Mountain was held on Monday, June 17, 2019.   Effective June 30, 2019, the Rotary Club of Hamilton Mountain is very pleased to announce that it is merging with the Rotary Club of Hamilton. The merger of these two clubs will be chartered under the Rotary Club of Hamilton founded in 1913.

 

The Rotary Club of Hamilton will continue serving the entire Hamilton community with Rotary's idea of "Service Above Self". President Heather Moroz welcomed the members from the Rotary Club of Hamilton Mountain at the first meeting of the newly merged club.

 

The members of the Hamilton Mountain Club visited various Rotary clubs and decided that the Noon lunch club was the right fit for their members. Both Rotary clubs have an outstanding level of projects that give back to the local and international communities. The mix of tradition, lunch and networking and hands on service projects was key to the merger of these Rotary Clubs.

The Rotary Club of Holley held it's annual Gary Ahl Memorial Golf Tournament on July 28th. It was the club's most successful golf fundraiser yet, raising over $8,000.  The club reports that much of the money raised was due in large part to the contributions of more than 40 sponsors.  The tournament hosted 16 four-somes and a beautiful day to golf at the Hickory Ridge Country Club.

 

The entire club membership pitched in and beat the bushes to get teams and sponsors but Josh Mitchell, who has chaired this event the past three years, deserves so much credit for his singular efforts to organize and ensure the growth and success of this important event.

 

The club will be holding its Beefeaters Dinner September 14th from 4-7PM at the Holley VFW.   For more information contact Brian McKeon at bmckeon1@msn.com.