When the recycling program started in 1991 in Wayne County, Sandy Sloane made her first ornaments for the Wayne County Supervisors Holiday Party.  The first ornaments were made of newspaper pieces tied with holiday ribbon, representing the recycling program. The Supervisors’ Holiday Party was held at Carriage House Restaurant in Palmyra NY.

Sandy continued to make a new ornament each year following, tailored to events of the year.  From 1991 to 2020, something special about each year has been depicted in the symbols of each ornament.

Sandy hand made 25-30 of each ornament: 1 for the County, 1 for herself, 1 for each of the 15 Wayne County Supervisors, and more for varying Wayne County staff. The ornament for the County was displayed on a small artificial tree in the Office of the Secretary to the Chairman of the Wayne County Supervisors.   The ornaments were presented at the annual Wayne County Supervisors Holiday Party. The Holiday party was held at different restaurants throughout Wayne County. Supervisors’ family could attend, providing an opportunity to meet the families of fellow Supervisors.

1991, the first ornament, has been described above

2004 the Holiday Party was held at John’s Restaurant in Clyde. The Wayne County Nursing Home picture, hard clay “dentures”, beads, mini granny glasses represent the NEW Wayne County Nursing Home, dentures, pills, and granny glasses.

2011 the Holiday Party was held at Captain Jack’s in Sodus Point. The former nursing home (before the 2004 new nursing home) is renovated into the Public Safety Building.  Occupants of the Public Safety Building are depicted by their symbols on the holiday wreath. A dove with “WC SO” badge represents the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.  The “no alcohol symbol” represents the STOP-DWI program.  Sunglasses with handcuffs represents the Probation Department, who moved from basement offices on William Street to sunnier offices.  The military figure in front of a US flag represents the Veterans Service Agency. The safety triangle represents the Department of Emergency Management. The vote sticker represents the Board of Elections.  The fire truck represents the Fire Coordinator.

Sandy is a cheerful person and gets along with everyone, no matter their position or political affiliation.

In 1991 she was Secretary to Chairman of the Board. She appears in a Wayne County Supervisors composite, for the first time, in 2004-2005, as Clerk of the Board. Sandy’s picture accompanying this article, is from the 2020-2021 composite. The picture was provided by Steve Groat Studios.  Sandy retired in 2021 May. The every-2-years composite pictures line the entrance hall of the Wayne County Courthouse building, which houses the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room.  The Courthouse, built in 1856, is located at 26 Church Street, Lyons NY.  All the ornaments are shown on the WayneCountyNY website in the Historian section https://WayneCountyNY.gov/398/Historian  Then choose “Wayne County Historical Interest”  https://WayneCountyNY.gov/782/Wayne-County-Historical-Interest  And the specific heading “Wayne County Ornaments by Sandy Sloane”. The ornament collection of the Wayne County Clerk Mike Jankowski is on display at the County Clerk Office, 9 Pearl Street, Lyons NY through December.

By Jane Millen, County Historian