The post Seneca Resorts & Casinos Sports Lounge appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

See submission below for details:

The post The Inside Scoop w/Dr. Lori Quigley appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

I hope this writing finds you and your family healthy and in good spirits. I thank you for taking the time to read this and I am writing in an effort to bring to light and educate others about the concerning situation that faces the Steelhead that travel and spawn in our river system. Steelhead are lake or ocean run Rainbow trout, meaning that they spend the Summers in the cold water depths of a lake or ocean and run into river systems to make the trip to their spawning grounds. In the case of the Steelhead that we fish on the Cattaraugus Reservation, these particular Steelhead spend their summers in Lake Erie and enter what we call the “Big Creek” (Cattaraugus Creek) and Clear Creek in the Fall. Some fish hold over in these waters all Winter and Spring until the water temperatures warm up and they return back to Lake Erie.

Unfortunately every Fall for the past few years the number of Steelhead that enter our river has declined. No one really knows the reason why, but possibilities include pollution, increasing lake temperatures, increased fishing pressure, and even our own spearing practices could contribute to the decreasing returns.

Unfortunately this problem is not unique to our river. Steelhead numbers are declining in many other rivers across the world. In an effort to protect these fish some of the decision makers on these other rivers have increased regulations and rules to decrease the number of steelhead caught. Research shows that as catch rates decrease the number of Steelhead increases. Research also indicates that the mortality rate of practicing catch and release is about 5%. Meaning that if 20 fish are caught and released, 1 fish will still die. So lowering the number of fish caught, lowers the number that die. Lowering the catch rate can come in many forms: shutting down all fishing on a river for an extended period of time, shortening the fishing season, restricting productive fishing methods, etc. These are proven methods as shown by the Yurok tribe that shutdown commercial fishing for 3 years to decrease catch rates and allow the fish population to increase. As you can imagine there was backlash from some of the fishermen but I applaud the decision to put the fish first.

I have been lucky enough to travel our area as well as the West Coast to fish for Steelhead. During these times I’ve talked with a lot of other people concerned with the challenges facing Steelhead. I’ve fished the Sandy River in Oregon where all wild fish are strictly catch and release. Also there are places in the state Washington that has made it harder for fishermen to catch fish by restricting the ability to use productive methods of fishing such as not being able to utilize floatational devices or the use of live bait. There are many other rivers that are more restrictive.

There are essentially no such restrictions to the Non-Native fishermen that frequent our territory to fish. There is also no limit on the number of licenses sold each year to Non-Native fishermen. This past Fall season was the busiest that I’ve ever seen with an increased number of fishermen coming from Ohio and Pennsylvania (States listed on the Seneca Nation Restricted Travel List). Non-Native fishermen are also able to keep up to 3 fish a day. While not all fishermen keep the fish that they catch some do and with a rate of keeping 3 fish every trip, it can lead to a large number of fish being taken from our territory.

I’d like to see more restrictions placed on Non-Native fishermen visiting our territories as well responsible harvesting practices by Senecas (i.e. number of fish harvested spearing). Some of the restrictions I’d like to see enacted are, but not limited to, only catch and release, no live bait or scent, barbless hooks, no fishing when the water temperatures are too warm for lake run fish and to forbid the use of lead.

As Senecas and Native Americans we hold the responsibility to be the stewards of our Mother Earth, the environment and all that she holds. We understand that we are part of and understand our place within this delicate and beautiful system and that we must work together to protect it.

I have talked with some officials and employees about this matter and while nothing has yet come to fruition I am confident that we all will take up our duty and help protect these great creatures. It is time to put the Steelhead first before concern of any possible financial loss or backlash that might ensue from the fishing community. Like so many challenges facing the environment this is an issue that is within our control to address and protect and must be acted on now.

Admittingly I don’t have all the answers in this matter but my goal is to start the conversation on how we can work together to protect the Steelhead. I welcome any and all discussions in this matter.

In closing I’d also like to voice my support for the First Nations fishing club. A club started last year by my fishing buddy and Seneca Josh Van Aernam. The goal of this club is to get other Senecas into fishing our great waters. It is a non-profit organization and has operated out of Josh’s generosity. Josh is also a great example of a fisherman who recognizes the situation and has made changes to how he fishes in an effort to help in this matter.

The post Working together to help protect our Steelhead appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

2020 is history!! 2021 will bring us new challenges – continuing to cope with Covid 19, finding the new “normal”, deciding to vaccinate or not and keeping our New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, save money, go to college, keep in touch with friends and family, etc., etc. This year why not add – renew my spiritual life? You will be surprised at what a difference faith can make in your life. “Behold I make all things new” (Revelations 21:5). We wish everyone a Happy and Safe 2021.

You may have heard of the term “epiphany” which means a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or suddenly become conscious of something that is very important to you or a powerful religious experience. It is an “a ha” moment!! We are accustomed to celebrating Christmas on one day but in Christian tradition the Christmas season lasts from sundown on December 24 (Christmas Eve) through January 6 and is referred to as Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany is popularly referred to as “the twelve days of Christmas” and signifies the arrival of the Three Wisemen at the birthplace of Jesus.

Please pray for our communities: those who are affected by Covid 19 or other illnesses, those who are experiencing mental health problems, those who are battling addictions and those who are experiencing the loss of loved ones. Pray for our families.

Pastor Dave serves the Methodist churches at Four Corners, Versailles, and Gowanda. Unfortunately, some members of those churches have been affected by Covid 19. Therefore, services are being suspended until it is safe to gather again. If you need spiritual guidance feel free to contact Pastor Dave by phone or e-mail. Peace.

The post News From The Four Corners United Methodist Church appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h is happy & humbled to announce that we were awarded an Administration for Native Americans (ANA) Esther Martinez Initiative (EMI) grant. The following are the objectives of this 5 year comprehensive, long term language grant:

To serve children up to the age of twelve and in preparation for the upcoming expansion at Ganöhsesge:kha He:nödeyë:stha:

• Two teachers will earn their Montessori certification in Elementary 1 and 2 in years one and carrying over to year two of the grant.

To gain a greater proficiency of the Seneca language:

• Beginning in year one, all Ganöhsesge:kha He:nödeyë:stha language teachers and support staff will participate in daily Seneca Language Immersion sessions.

To move closer to 100% Seneca Immersion Instruction:

• Ganöhsesge:kha He:nödeyë:stha teachers and support staff will incrementally increase the amount of time Seneca is spoken in the classroom.

To influence more Ganöhsesge:kha He:nödeyë:stha adults and community to participate in language learning with their children:

• Innovative language learning materials will be produced enabling Ganöhsesge:kha He:nödeyë:stha students & parents to learn together, to reinforce language instruction from classroom to home, and to gain the comfort and confidence to speak Seneca in and outside of school.

EMI provides financial assistance to community-driven projects designed to preserve Native American languages through Native American language nests. EMI also provides support for projects that are based in teaching and building language instruction capacity. The grant work plan reflects measurable outcomes and specific strategies for achieving intended objectives. We will evaluate and measure the degree of learning taking place frequently. EMI grants perpetuate language preservation by identifying opportunities for the replication or modification of projects for use by other Native communities; we will use our experience to help and assist others. Our work plan includes a component to create, store, & catalog language reference materials for future use.

A strategic plan to implement and achieve the project goals has been established; Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h will be held accountable to follow the plan and see it through to successful completion.

Moving forward, we have a tremendous opportunity to significantly impact the language instruction and staff development at Ganöhsesge:kha He:nödeyë:stha.

This grant was organized and written with the help and assistance of many individuals; to all of them we express our sincere gratitude and thanks. Our organization will make every effort to insure our community remains aware of the grant’s progress.

Nya:wëh for your time and consideration.

This announcement is supported by Grant # 90NB0034-01-00 from ACF. Its content are solely the responsibility of Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h and do not necessarily represent the official view of ACF.

Esther Martinez (Pictured above)

Esther Martinez, Ohkay Owingeh, (1912–2006) a storyteller, linguist, and teacher who dedicated herself to preserving the Tewa language in the northern pueblos of New Mexico. Through her work, Esther became the “keeper” of the language central to Pueblo expression and identity. In 2017, the Esther Martinez Native American Preservation Act was passed in the New Mexico Senate, aiming to extend and update two grant programs. The Native American Languages Preservation and Maintenance (P&M) grant program and the Esther Martinez Initiative (EMI) grant program to provide opportunities for tribal communities to assess, plan, develop, and implement projects that ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native languages.

The post Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h Receives Esther Martinez Initiative (EMI) Grant appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Submitted by Michelle Cronin

Shirley Mae, 84, of the Onondaga Nation passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2020 after a brief stay at Upstate Hospital. She was a citizen of the Seneca Nation Wolf Clan. Her traditional Haudenosaunee name was Gaeñhyaweñthwa.

Gaeñhyaweñthwa is survived by her children David “Marty” Krigbaum of Solvay, NY; Nikki (David) Judd of El Cajon, CA; Kelly Edwards of the Seneca Nation; Jacqueline Foster of Jacksonville, FL; and Daryl (Raquel) Krigbaum of the Onondaga Nation. She is also survived by her brothers Oren Jr., Lyle, and Kingsley (Gale) Lyons, all of the Onondaga Nation; as well as 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren who loved their “Gammies” dearly.

Gaeñhyaweñthwa was predeceased by her youngest son Daniel W. Krigbaum; her parents Oren & Winifred (Gordon) Lyons; and her brothers Lee, Wayne, Irving, and Loren, all of the Onondaga Nation.

The post Shirley Mae Lyons (Goode) appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

SALAMANCA — Four years ago, longtime city resident Michael “Smitty” Smith approached his new role as mayor with one uniting message: “Salamanca Pride.”

At the Common Council’s final meeting of the year Dec. 17, Smith’s own Salamanca Pride was beaming as he thanked dozens of colleagues, friends and family members for their support of and dedication to the city.

“You managed to convince the people of Salamanca to take a chance and elect a big-mouth radio DJ,” he said to his family — his only election committee, he noted. “I hope you’re happy with the results.”

Smith thanked the Seneca Nation executives and members of the city council, noting the loss of Ward 2 councilman Tim Flanigan. “I wouldn’t have made it through the first six months without Tim Flanigan,” he added.
The mayor recognized and thanked each of the city’s department heads who “made my life so easy by being really great at their jobs” and the staff in their offices. He also thanked retired city clerk April Vecchiarella for getting him started and outgoing city attorney Eric Weyland.

Smith thanked other area government officials from the surrounding towns, villages, county, state and federal representatives for working with the city and his assistant in the mayor’s office, Glenda Taylor.
“I begged her to come take this job. I thought it would be a great move to have a Native assistant working with the first Native mayor,” he said. “She has made such a difference in every aspect of this administration.”

The mayor also thanked the local organizations in Salamanca including the theater, chamber, senior center, museums, school district and many clubs for being “the heart and soul of this city.”

IN A LOOK back over the past four years, Smith asked everyone to recall what they’ve accomplished as a team. In no particular order, the mayor noted repairing the steps at Jefferson Street Park, renovation of the Nies Block and demolition of the Torge building both on Main Street, starting Celebrate Salamanca Day, approving the Veterans Memorial Park renovations, repairing the damaged senior center roof and the beautification of Main Street with lights, benches and plants.

“The demolition of how many eyesores across the city that we dug in, spent money and tore down,” he said. “The city clean-up day … that we can fill up the city transfer station.”

Smith noted holding the biggest Falling Leaves festivals in many years, creation of the Christmas parade, bringing back the flag program on the main thoroughfares, the Hometown Heroes banners, building a new playground at Highland Avenue and cracking down on collecting overdue takes and bringing the list down to a more manageable amount.

“A big one on my list: we rebuilt the team at city hall. Four years ago, departments didn’t speak to each other, doors were locked and you couldn’t get in,” the mayor said. “We have greatly improved the morale here. I’m just the cheerleader.”

The mayor said there are several new businesses at either end of the city as well as on Main Street, the DOT paved routes 219 and 417 in the city after three years of vehicle-damaging conditions, the Pennsy Trail was cleaned up and paved by the Nation and there is increased safety and security in city hall.

Smith said the city is continuing to survive through the ongoing state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic. Because city hall is an emergency shelter, a new generator was installed for the first time in over 30 years, and a new HVAC system was installed for energy efficiency.

“We did fire inspections across the city, and if you remember, that was a heck of a fight,” the mayor said. “We inspected every business in this city to make it fire safe to protect our people.”

Six months after Smith was elected, the city stopped receiving casino compact funds from the state and Nation. Three-and-a-half years later, he said the city departments continue to work together to keep the city alive.

“We did not cut staff or services, we continued to grow and we did not panic,” he said. “We did not bankrupt the city.”

LOOKING AHEAD, Smith said he plans to learn how to play piano, will continue to coach the varsity baseball team and wants to hold a world-record marathon kickball tournament at Crowley Park.

“I also want to host an outdoor concert behind the Holy Cross Club as soon as COVID goes away,” he added. “And I want to be involved in Falling Leaves, Celebrate Salamanca and the Christmas parade if you’ll have me.”

Finally, Smith said he wants to accomplish something that “has been pulling on my heart for four years now,” offering shelter and a second-chance to refugees at the country’s southern border. He said there are city-owned foreclosed properties that could be fixed up for families and plenty of resources to get them started on a new life.

“We have room in this city and we have pride in this city,” he said, “and we have housing and jobs. We can make all this happen.”

Smith said Salamanca is the most giving city he has ever been involved with and asked everyone to help him accomplish this plan. And he wished the new administration and council good luck in the new year.

“Thank you for making this a really good job,” he added. “I’ll be forever in your debt. You make me proud.”

Source: http://www.salamancapress.com/news/smith-looks-back-on-4-years-in-the-mayor-s-office/article_ef7413f8-4922-11eb-be82-6bb7080dd089.html?fbclid=IwAR1zK85cG-viP3ODFQe9cdreECbz26lIvwFpoOrg2zHzPYeHYgPa7JI21oY

The post Smith looks back on 4 years in the mayor’s office appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Two teammates from the Gowanda lacrosse team in New York signed to play collegiate lacrosse at the NCAA DI level. Miya Scanlan will play at Jacksonville University. Scotia Snyder and her family made the decision to attend Coastal Carolina University.

Scotia Snyder, 18, lives on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in western New York State.

“I compete for my family and my ancestors that weren’t allowed to play and those who did,” said Scotia. “I’m a senior in high school.”

“I am part of the Seneca Nation and I am beaver clan,” added Scotia.

“I started competitively playing lacrosse outside of school since the fifth grade,” said Scotia. “Lacrosse is my passion and part of my culture so it stood out more to me when I played in school.”

Scotia’s main athletic achievement was winning MVP and Character Athlete of the Game in the Sectional Championship her sophomore year. Another achievement was making the varsity team in eighth grade at the private school Nichols School.

“Lacrosse in my culture is known as the medicine game,” said Scotia. “When playing with that tradition in a clear mind allows peripheral vision of the game. Most women are not supposed to play or even touch a stick. I naturally believe the lacrosse stick guided me to bigger places like playing and studying at the collegiate level, keeping tradition alive, and continuing growing the game.”

“My positive influencers who have pushed me to where I’m at would have to be my family members,” said Scotia. “My older cousins mastering their game at collegiate and pro level include Shayla Scanlan, Chase Scanlan and Clay Scanlan. They have paved a way to prove the point. My younger cousin, teammate, and lefty teammate Miya Scanlan also influenced me to continue to follow that paved path with her by my side.”

“Scotia has always showed compassion and always offers help to her fellow teammates,” said dad Scott Snyder. “Scotia has a big heart and always offers to help. She has the talent and smarts to excel in any sport she desires to play. She played soccer when she was six years old. I was her coach and she always offered assistance. She was a very good swimmer when she was eight years old. She achieved her yellow belt after two years of karate.”

“Scotia has played basketball for seven years for our team Native Thunder. She’s started varsity basketball at Nichols her freshman year. She is always offering help to improve,” added Scott.

Mom, Marie Williams talked her daughter the athlete: “Scotia is somewhat of an only child. She is my only child. I had her at 34 years old and she was my miracle baby, as I didn’t know if I would be able to have children. When I got pregnant, everyone in our families were beyond ecstatic. Scotia had tons of attention! Birthdays and holidays she would have lots of presents. She was three years old and I remember watching her open her birthday presents but after about the third one she was done. I thought what’s wrong with my child? Most kids would tear through everything and look for more, but not for her. As an only child and having older parents she received all our attention. That would have it pits and peeks.”

“Her dad has always been into sports especially basketball,” said Marie. “I was more ‘find your passion.’ At three, we had Scotia in soccer for a few years. There isn’t much for sports especially a girl at that age. She also did Mixed Martial Arts and learned several kata and weapon techniques, and dance, tap and ballet. That was more my doing. She hated it and we would fight constantly and I would bribe and beg her to finish it out. She hated the tights, they were too tight and itchy she’d say. We made it through a few recitals that seemed to always be on Father’s Day.”

“I would tell her once you start something you finish it, even if you don’t like it. She did gymnastics and swimming. She was a natural when it came to swimming. I would say it’s your athletic build or her native build, broad shoulders, no hips and long legs, why she was so good. But now she was around eight years old and she could play basketball and lacrosse and that was when she decided that lacrosse was her passion,” added Marie.

“We started all Seneca Girls travel teams and had the best times going to tournaments and competing,” said Marie. “Scotia was one of the youngest girls on the teams. We would have to enter them in higher grade because we didn’t have enough girls on the Rez for grad year teams. Playing up helped her skills and confidence. Eventually we had to sign her up with Lady Roc, a travel team in Rochester, NY for her grad year.”

“Most recent and proud moment was at the last high school game,” said Marie. “They were playing in the Class D championship game against Eden. They beat them once in the regular season but knew it would be tough and the other coach knew what to do to counter them. Gowanda was down by seven goals at halftime and the one girl who Scotia would feed to was off and seemed like she gave up. Scotia came back in the second half and scored six goals in a row and brought them to a one goal difference with seconds left on the clock to send them to overtime.”

“She got the ball and passed it to another girl who wasn’t as skilled and she shot and missed. They lost. Her cousin ran over to her and said, ‘why didn’t you take that shot? You should have never passed to her.’ Scotia said, ‘because she was open and had a clear shot.’ Scotia is good, really good. But she’s the type of person that if someone fell she was racing she wouldn’t run by them to win. She would stop and pick them up and carry them to the finish line. And that’s what makes her an extraordinary person and player,” added Marie.

“When we met with Coach Kristen Selvage from Coastal Carolina, I asked her ‘why Scotia?’ said Marie. “she said ‘because she is smart and an unselfish player and that’s what she is building her team around.’ At a recruiting camp we attended she noticed that in Scotia and after meeting her she knew she would do what she could to get Scotia.”

Kristen Selvage has a 48-31 career record and was named 2015 National Coach of the Year leading the team to the national championship game. Her coaching experience includes leading Lock Haven University to eight NCAA DII tournaments.

“During this pandemic I am currently doing full remote classes online,” said Scotia. “This is a mental challenge to adapt to that is crucial in college. I also have been trying to be self-disciplined to work out at home with social distance.”

Scotia reflected on one of her early highlight moments: “I was playing lacrosse with my two younger cousins in fifth grade and we were all on the same travel team from Rochester, NY. Rochester is two hours away from our reservation and we would go to practice Tuesday and Thursday’s. We were at the Battle at the Capital Tournament in Albany, NY. Cleats were a struggle for me when I was younger so I wore running sneakers. Our team made it to the championship game and the final score was a tie so there was a brave heart. This is where the coaches pick one player and goalie from each team and whomever scores first wins. My coach chose me and shocked me but I accepted the challenge. I ended up winning and the whole team came running on the field after the ball went in the net.”

“I will never forget that moment because I ended the tournament throwing my shoes out because of the holes I ran in them,” added Scotia. “We had a t-shirt with ‘Champions’ on it.”

Source:

The post Scotia Snyder (Seneca): Signed to Play NCAA DI Lacrosse at Coastal Carolina University appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Photo above: Photo courtesy of Premier Lacrosse League Silver Creek graduate Zed Williams flies through the air en route to scoring a goal during round-robin play this summer at the Premier Lacrosse League’s Championship Series in Salt Lake City, Utah.

2020 was a difficult year for many.

For Zed Williams, it couldn’t have gone much better.

For the opening three months of the year, the Silver Creek graduate was enjoying the greatest season of his three-year National Lacrosse League career.

In August, the University of Virginia graduate was named the Most Valuable Player of the Premier Lacrosse League’s Championship Series.

And on Thanksgiving Day, he welcomed his second daughter to the world.

That is why he does what he does.

Drafted No. 4 overall in the 2017 draft by the Georgia Swarm, Williams was enjoying his best season for Atlanta-based team this spring when the coronavirus pandemic prematurely ended the NLL season.

“I thought our team had a really solid chance of winning it,” he said when reminiscing Thursday afternoon. “A lot can happen in the playoffs, but I thought we had a really good team. Unfortunately, that’s just the way it goes.”

Sent home full of unknowns, Williams returned to Williamsville to hunker down with his wife, Amanda; daughter, Dani; and stepchildren, Noah and Portia.

Then came news that the Premier Lacrosse League would become one of the first professional leagues to play in a COVID-19 world with its Championship Series set for late July and early August at Zions Bank Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“The PLL did an awesome job of communicating with everyone. They told us the whole plan from the start,” Williams said. “I felt good as they were talking, keeping us up on everything and how it was going to go down.”

Williams joined the defending champion Whipsnakes in the seven-team league and became familiar with his new teammates through Zoom calls in the months and weeks leading up to arriving in Utah.

“I knew once I met them over Zoom calls and going through X’s and O’s … that I was going to join a great group of people.”

Once there, the Whipsnakes took off — led by Williams.

They powered through the group stage with a 4-0 record, outscoring opponents, 67-33, in the process.

“I was blessed to go to an awesome team with some awesome players,” Williams said. “I was able to play my position at a high level. I’m confident in myself and know that hard works pays off. I work hard to prepare myself so when the game starts, I’ve already put in the hard work to be there.”

Whipsnakes earned a bye into the semifinals and outlasted Redwoods, 13-12, in overtime to advance to the final.

There, Williams’ team trailed 4-2 at halftime and 6-3 after three quarters before a six-goal fourth quarter led Whipsnakes to a 12-6 victory and their second straight league championship.

“Team-wise, our defense and goalie were keeping us in it. Our offense wasn’t playing up to par, but one goal got us on a roll,” he said. “Me personally, I was upset with myself for not being able to bury a couple of opportunities in the first half. I was mad at myself and lit a fire under my (butt) at halftime.”

A lot of it was credited to Williams, who led the league in goals with 20 and was second to teammate Matt Rambo in scoring with 23 points.

“He’s an awesome dude to be around. He’s one of those guys who brings the whole mood up no matter where you are — eating lunch, in the locker room, on the practice field,” Williams said about Rambo, the 2019 Most Valuable Player. “He has so much confidence in himself and in me and my teammates. He reeks of confidence. … My confidence had a lot to do with him rubbing off on me.”

Broadcast to the world on NBC Sports Network, Williams choked up postgame when he was presented the MVP trophy, which he dedicated to his father Dan, who passed away during Zed’s senior season at the University of Virginia.

“I didn’t know that was going to happen,” he said. “In my opinion, that’s why I play the game I love and try to do it at the highest level I can.”

It’s no surprise Williams became emotional because he does in fact play professional lacrosse not for himself, but for his family.

“Those moments are worth it to me and for my family,” he said. “It felt like it brought my dad back, even if it was for that moment. … If I can do that for my mom and my family, all the hard work is definitely worth it for me.”

After returning home from Utah, he rejoined his family in Williamsville and is now fresh in the middle of the longest period of time in years of not playing competitive lacrosse.

He continues to work out daily — either in his home or at a local gym when it’s allowed to be open — and runs on a treadmill to stay fit. It’s hard to find much turf time to practice lacrosse, but says he keeps on top of his stick work around the house or in the basement just waiting to get back in a competitive setting.

“The hardest thing with lacrosse is being in game shape,” Williams said. “It really doesn’t happen until you play it.”

His return to the game will likely come in March or April when Williams joins the Colorado Mammoth of the NLL. The Swarm traded Williams and a draft pick to the Mammoth in early July and the 6-foot-2 attack generously listed at 185 pounds is looking forward to joining his new team when the time comes.

“They are trying to plan on a training camp in March with the season in April,” he said. “A lot of it depends on the border and with hockey season since we share arenas.”

For now, he’s enjoying a prolonged stay at home with his family, who welcomed new daughter Everli on Thanksgiving Day.

“It’s always a blessing. I can’t really describe it. To have one of your own brought into this world is a feeling I’ll never get sick of,” Williams said. “I just want to be better for them in any way and provide for them. It fuels me every time I get to spend time with them.”

A brother to six and half-brother to three more, family is everything to Williams and he cherishes every moment he has at home with them.

He misses them every time he leaves for a weekend on the road and gets the same feeling inside every time he sees their faces when he returns home.

Family is why he wouldn’t let go of his stick following the PLL championship game in August.

“It’s more than a lacrosse stick. It’s a connection to the Earth and beyond, it’s a connection to his late father,” Matt Kinnear wrote for insidelacrosse.com in August after an interview with Williams. “It’s a conduit to a better life, to support a family and to win championships and to graduate college.”

And it’s for his community.

Just last month, a pair of Gowanda seniors signed national letters of intent to attend NCAA Division I colleges to play women’s lacrosse. Frank Brown, Chase Scanlan, Lyle Warrior and others have followed in Williams’ footsteps and made names for themselves in the lacrosse world after growing up on the Cattaraugus Reservation.

“It’s such an amazing experience for kids and for people in general. You gain so much knowledge going off to college … I can’t even describe it,” he said. “It’s important for kids to strive toward education and wanting to go to college. “I can’t be any more proud of kids moving on,” Williams added, “and pursuing their dreams of playing lacrosse.”

Those are the ones for whom Williams plays, not himself.

Source:

https://www.observertoday.com/sports/local-sports/2021/01/unassuming-star?fbclid=IwAR3wKjSjAUKZXa8ZeV9ttUWxMAaDUQrh_efioSULNN-5egURx7Y3Hts7Wac

The post Unassuming star: 2020 was Zed Williams’ finest year appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

For the Halftown’s lacrosse runs in the family and is all about giving back.

Lee, Kori, and LeRoy Halftown have been playing the game since they were young kids, and the passion they have for it hasn’t faded. Kori and LeRoy followed in their father, Lee’s footsteps in caring deeply about the game they grew up with. Growing up in a small town called Versailles, near the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, Kori and LeRoy picked up lacrosse around three years old.

The Reservation had a youth club team that was called Newtown Minor Lacrosse. This Organization traveled and played other native reservations and communities in New York and Canada.

LeRoy was even drafted into the National Lacrosse League in 2018. He was picked by the Georgia Swarm in the 2nd round of that draft. He’s currently signed with the New York Riptide for the upcoming 2021 season.

Beyond playing the game, they are teachers of it, too. In 2018, LeRoy Halftown was approached by Mike Kurdziolek about the possibility of running local camps. All four have roots in the Finger Lakes area, and after that conversation they got to work. Halftown Lacrosse LLC was officially launched in June 2019.

“Halftown Lacross has been growing faster than expected,” the Halftown’s told FingerLakes1.com. The spring lacrosse season was shut down due to COVID-19, but they focused on keeping players active and safe. “It has been challenging but we know we are not the only ones affected by the pandemic,” they added. “We have gone from monthly camps to weekly training sessions.”

Looking ahead to the spring – all four are excited. “We don’t plan to stop any time soon,” the Halftown’s added.

Kurdziolek said that from his experience with the Halftown’s – lacrosse is more than a game. “They live it,” he said. “They are a great resource to have around the lacrosse community here in the Finger Lakes. Not every town has local professionals willing to give back to the youth. The goal is to see our local players have success on- and off- the field. It’s still a small enough sport to offer great opportunity and Halftown Lacrosse is here to help in any way for young people.”

To stay up to date with the latest from Halftown Lacrosse visit their website:

https://halftownlacrosse.sportngin.com/home

Source:

https://fingerlakes1.com/2020/12/30/halftown-lacrosse-brings-professional-expertise-for-kids-to-finger-lakes-community/

The post Halftown Lacrosse brings professional expertise for kids to Finger Lakes community appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.