By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 October 2019 at 2:13 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: A leaf is shown on the sidewalk leading into Tillman’s Village Inn on Thursday in Gaines.
The National Weather Service has issued the first frost advisory of the season in Orleans County.
The advisory is in effect from midnight until 9 a.m. Saturday. It includes the following counties: Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Oswego, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario and Chautauqua.
Temperatures in the lower to mid 30s are expected to allow for frost formation, the Weather Service said. Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.
Saturday will be sunny and will warm up to a high of 59, followed by a mostly sunny Sunday with a high near 63.
Many Albion students were up extra early today and at the high school at 5:30 for a pep rally atmosphere. The school was featured on “Good Day Rochester” on Fox.
Fox reporter Michael Schwartz visited the school this morning and wore Brendan LeBaron’s football jersey, No. 48 for the Purple Eagles. Schwartz highlighted tonight’s football game vs. Albion’s rival, Medina, and also featured other Albion teams, clubs and music programs.
All six parts of the broadcast are available by clicking here.
Schwartz and Fox were at Holley for a similar feature on Oct. 4. Click here to see it.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 October 2019 at 1:02 pm
Provided photo: Tyler Jurs is pictured with a deer last year. Jurs was badly injured Monday when he fell from a tree stand.
CARLTON – A hunter who fell from a tree stand Monday is thankful for the volunteer firefighters, COVA medics and Mercy Flight helicopter that came to his rescue.
Tyler Jurs, 27, was building a tree stand off Lake Ontario State Parkway in Carlton on land owned by Lynn-Ette and Sons, a farm where his brother works and father recently retired from.
Tyler was putting steel steps in an ash tree. He was about 8 feet up, standing partly on a branch when it snapped. Tyler plunged downward and one of the steel steps tore into his thigh. He had a huge gash from above his knee to his hip.
He called 911, and used his own belt as a tourniquet. He learned about the importance of trying to stop the bleed as a member of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company the past two years.
He was about 400 feet from the road. He credits the makeshift tourniquet for keeping him alert.
Matt Hughson, a Carlton firefighter, was the first on scene. He saw Jurs’ truck by the road and headed into the woods. He was a welcome sight for Jurs.
Another Carlton firefighter, Seth Dumrese, appeared and put an actual tourniquet on Jurs.
“It was nice to see familiar faces,” Jurs said today. “They were my friends. It was comforting to see them.”
He still needed to wait in the woods for an all-terrain vehicle with a backboard. The Lyndonville Fire Department was contacted and they brought the ATV. They transported Jurs to the road, and he was then taken by Mercy Flight.
He was discharged from Strong Memorial Hospital on Thursday. He is taking some steps on his feet, while being on the mend. He looks forward to getting back to work with the DOT, where he is a maintenance worker and drives a plow truck during the winter.
Jurs is used to responding to others in need. He now has a deeper appreciation for firefighters, medics and Mercy Flight.
“You guys are all amazing,” Jurs posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday. “You guys have no idea how much it means to have you all there and reassuring me that I would be OK. Without you guys could have been a totally different story.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 October 2019 at 9:29 am
ALBION – Two Holley residents pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on Thursday for their roles in the overdose death of a Clarendon man.
Logan DiPilato, 28, and Kelly Hagberg, 31, of Holley pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
Hagberg admitted to providing fentanyl to DiPilato, who then sold four bags of it to a 35-year-old Clarendon man, which resulted in a fatal overdose on June 1. DiPilato admitted in court he knew the fentanyl was extremely dangerous.
As part of a plea deal, there are no sentencing promises. They could face up to 4 years in prison for criminally negligent homicide and up to 2 ½ years for criminal possession of a controlled substance. They will be sentenced on Dec. 19.
Both have no prior criminal convictions.
In other cases in court on Thursday:
• Patrick W. Allen, 37, of Albion pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree, for intentionally causing $2,000 in damage to another person’s car on April 9.
Allen faces up to a year in jail when he is sentenced on Dec. 19.
• Rhonda Rushton of Spencerport was sentenced to four months of weekends in jail and five years probation for felony driving while intoxicated. She registered a 0.19 BAC on June 15 in Albion. She has a prior DWI in 2012 in Rochester.
• A Medina man was assigned as a Level 2 sex offender. Jeffrey Woodroe, 39, previously admitted to sexual contact with a girl under age 12 on a least two occasions between April 2008 and April 2012. He was sentenced to six months in jail on Aug. 22, as well as 10 years of post-release supervision.
As a level two offender, he will be on the sex offender registry the rest of his life. A level 2 offender is considered a moderate risk of reoffending.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Mike Dodson, an engineer with the state Department of Transportation, discusses the upcoming Main Street lift bridge project with Liz Groat, president of the Downtown Browsery.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 October 2019 at 8:00 am
Main Street lift bridge at $15 million, 7 others at $11 million
ALBION – The state Department of Transportation discussed a planned overhaul of the Main Street lift bridge during an open house at Hoag Library on Thursday.
The bridge is expected to be closed for 18 months beginning in 2022 for a $15 million rehabilitation project.
The project is part of $26 million the state is spending on canal bridges in the county from 2018 to 2023. The state is also spending $11 million to fix and strengthen seven truss bridges.
The state is spending $70 million on canal bridges in Orleans, Monroe and Wayne counties during the time period, said Jordan Guerrein, public information officer for the DOT. That includes major work on lift bridges in Albion, Brockport, Spencerport and Fairport, as well as several truss bridges in Wayne County.
The Main Street lift bridge in Albion was originally built in 1914. The DOT plans to put in a new flooring system, and upgrade the mechanical and electrical components of the lifting mechanisms. The lift tower will also be rehabilitated.
The bridge will stay in an upright position during the construction project. Pedestrians will have to cross at the nearby Ingersoll Street lift bridge.
Most local traffic will be rerouted to Ingersoll, with the official posted detour pushing truck traffic to Route 387 in Fancher.
DOT officials heard from residents during the meeting about concerns with increased traffic in the nearby neighborhoods, and worry about the impact on the downtown businesses with motorists being diverted from Main Street.
Guerrein, the DOT spokesman, said there is a chance the project could be completed sooner than 18 months. The DOT expects to learn from the major rehab projects that just started with the lift bridges in Spencerport and Fairport. Those insights should help the DOT when the Albion and Brockport projects start in 2022.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 October 2019 at 5:37 pm
LYNDONVILLE – There will be a candlelight walk on Sunday at 7 p.m. in honor of Brooke Allen and Richard Forder, two Lyndonville graduates who were killed a week ago in a car accident on their way to work.
The community is encouraged to attend event on Sunday, with the walk beginning at the school on Housel Avenue and then going to the baseball field on Lake Ave. People are encouraged to bring their own candles and balloons.
Allen, 21, was driving when she struck a deer at 6:49 a.m. on Route 104 on Oct. 10. The car swerved, hit a guardrail and landed upside down in Beardsley Creek in about 5-foot-deep water.
Allen and her passenger, Richard “Ricky” Forder, were both pronounced dead at the scene. They both worked at Lake Ridge Fruit, an apple packing facility on Route 104 in Gaines.
Allen graduated from Lyndonville in 2016. Among her survivors is a 1-year-old son, River.
Forder graduated from Lyndonville in 2018. He played on the school’s basketball and baseball teams. He enjoyed spending time with friends and family, going fishing and dancing to music.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 October 2019 at 12:16 pm
Contributed Photos – Neil “Ned” Parker boots a field goal out of the hold of quarterback Bruce Good during Albion’s memorable 9-0 victory over Medina in 1969, the last time the rivals met on Albion’s old Alumni Field.
Old Alumni Field was the site on a cold, drizzly Saturday afternoon 50 years ago that host Albion ended a 10 year long victory drought against rival Medina by a 9-0 margin.
That memorable 1969 contest was the last between the Purple Eagles and Mustangs on Alumni Field which is probably best remembered for its concrete bleachers built into the side of a nearby knoll.
The Alumni Field site is now occupied by a portion of the high school building and the boiler plant building. The current Spierdowis Field, which is named in honor of the long time Albion Coach Mike Spierdowis, became the Purple Eagles new football home in 1973.
Albion, which had lost 10 straight to Medina (1959-1968) claimed that elusive drought ending victory on muddy Alumni Field as Neil “Ned” Parker kicked a 28 yard field goal in the second quarter and quarterback Bruce Good ran two yards for an insurance touchdown in the third quarter.
Turnovers keyed both scores as the recovery of a fumbled Medina punt set up the field goal and a lost Medina fumble, which was recovered by Jerry Vandetti who returned it to the Mustangs 2 yard line, set up the touchdown.
Prior to that the Purple Eagles last win over the Mustangs had come in 1958 by a score of 26-0.
The coaching matchup that afternoon had first year Albion mentor Larry Graham facing John “Pinky”Loughlin who was in his 15th season at the Medina helm.
The victory earned Albion second place in the final Niagara-Orleans League standings at 5-1 behind only undefeated (6-0) champion Roy-Hart while Medina wound up at 3-3. The Purple Eagles only N-O setback was a narrow 6-0 loss to the champion Rams.
The Purple Eagles and Mustangs will renew their rivalry for the 122nd time at 7 p.m. Friday on Spierdowis Field.
Albion’s old Alumni Field with its concrete bleachers is shown here in a circa 1970 photo with a portion of the middle school visible at the right.
BARRE – The Van Lieshout dairy farm at the corner of East Barre Road and Route 98 will host presentations and tours on Oct. 25, highlighting energy efficiency upgrades and resources available to farmers.
The farm is participating in a no-cost energy audit with the Agriculture Energy Audit Program through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Equipped with the results of the energy audit, the Van Lieshout dairy farm worked with National Grid to install robotic milking equipment and other energy efficient equipment.
National Grid’s Energy Efficiency and Economic Development programs provided approximately $90,000 to the project. By purchasing highly efficient products, the Van Lieshouts will save an estimated 311,000 kWh per year, which equates to approximately $31,000 per year in electrical costs.
During the open house from 10 a.m. to noon, farmers can hear directly from the Cyndy Van Lieshout about her family’s experience with various programs and services they used to help the farm become energy efficient and sustainable.
The Van Lieshout Dairy Farm, a third-generation family owned and run operation, has been in business since 1978. Investing in energy efficiency and making these upgrades will better position Cyndi’s son, Garrett, to manage the business in the future as the current generation prepares to retire in a few years.
The Van Lieshouts completed a Cornell Dairy Farm Business Summary on an annual basis to assess their business and plan for a sustainable future. For this project, they used Pro-Dairy’s Dairy Acceleration Program, now known as the Dairy Advancement Program, funded through New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to cost share their facility engineering.
Representatives from NSYERDA, National Grid, and Cornell Cooperative Extension will be on hand to answer questions and provide additional information.
Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the newly installed equipment. Light Refreshments will be provided. The farm’s address is 4775 Oak Orchard Rd.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 October 2019 at 7:59 am
BARRE – The town has been awarded $1.1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Water District No. 10. That includes a $601,000 grant and $500,000 loan.
The water district will serve 31 residential customers on parts of Angevine, McNamar and Transit roads. The district will replace wells that lack safe, potable water. Installing water mains will provide reliable water service to the residents as well as adequate fire protection, the USDA said.
The USDA is providing the funding through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Eligible applicants include rural cities, towns and water districts.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Landmark Society of Western New York unveiled its annual list of “Five to Revive,” which included the hamlet of Childs in the Town of Gaines, Orleans County. The district is home to several cobblestone buildings, Tillman’s Village Inn and other historic structures.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 October 2019 at 6:35 pm
Designation from Landmark Society has spurred preservation projects in Holley, Rochester region
ROCHESTER – The Landmark Society of Western New York unveiled its 7thannual list of “Five to Revive,” which are historically significant sites that are need of protection and financial resources.
The list includes the Childs hamlet at the intersection of routes 98 and 104 in Gaines. The hamlet includes three cobblestone buildings – a church, house and schoolhouse – that are a National Historic Landmark, a designation approved by the federal Department of Interior in 1993.
Larry Francer, associate director of preservation for the Landmark Society, turns over the display highlighting Childs as a historic district in need of protection, and also investment.
That is highest historic status given to a site, one of the few in Western New York, said Cynthia Howk, architectural research coordinator for the Landmark Society.
“This is the crème de la crème of historic sites,” Howk said today.
The Landmark Society says the district is threatened by an “automobile-oriented design” that is dangerous to patrons of the museum and local businesses. The Landmark Society also is concerned about “insensitive new developments.” A new Dollar General has been proposed for construction across from the schoolhouse, which was built in 1849.
Here is the full writeup from the Landmark Society on the hamlet of Childs in Orleans County:
“The unincorporated hamlet of Childs is located a few miles north of the Village of Albion, at the intersection of State Routes 98 and 104. The hamlet is home to the Tillman’s Historic Village Inn and Fair Haven Inn, several pre-Civil War wood frame and brick historic houses, and the National Historic Landmark Cobblestone Museum. Also known as the Ridge Road, Route 104 has served as a main artery for east-west travel between the Genesee and Niagara Rivers since the early 19th century. Childs has functioned as a stopping point along the route since the first portion of the Village Inn was built in 1824.
“The hamlet’s history as a transportation corridor, which initially allowed it to flourish, has paradoxically contributed to its present-day struggles. Automobile-oriented design and development have made the hamlet inhospitable and dangerous to patrons of the Museum and local businesses while insensitive new developments threaten to further erode the character and vitality of the historic hamlet.
“The future economic potential of Childs lies in its unique historic character. Modern planning and zoning practices that encourage sensitive new construction, along with the addition of pedestrian-oriented infrastructure and design, could help guide the hamlet’s growth and enhance its economic development.”
The Town of Gaines is proposing to extend the commercial district on Route 104, to east of the historic district going to near Brown Road. That would give developers more options for buildings that are away from the historic district. The town also is looking to expand the commercial district near the intersection of routes 104 and 279.
The Cobblestone Museum resisted the Dollar General, and more than 1,100 people supported a petition against the store in the historic district. Town officials said the developer hasn’t communicated with Gaines in several months about the project.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Nelson Leenhouts, chairman and CEO of Home Leasing, addresses a crowd on Nov. 11, 2016 outside the former Holley High School. Leenhouts is leading the redevelopment of the site into senior apartments and the village offices. The “Five to Revive” designation drew the company’s interest in the property in 2013.
Childs is the fifth site in Orleans County to make the “Five to Revive” since 2013. The old Holley High School was on the debut list in 2013. That designation drew the attention of Home Leasing, a Rochester company.
Home Leasing started construction in November 2018 on a $17 million transformation of the former Holley High School, turning it into 41 apartments and the village offices for Holley.
The school transformation was cited as one of the biggest success stories of the “Five to Revive.”
Hillside Cemetery and chapel in Clarendon made the list in 2014. The designation also was helpful for Clarendon to secure a state grant to put a new roof on the Hillside chapel and repair stained-glass windows.
In 2016, the Landmark Society highlighted the deteriorating condition of the Lake Ontario State Parkway as a “Five to Revive.” The state Department of Transportation has since repaved part of the Parkway in Hamlin and near Kendall.
Last year, the Odd Fellows Hall in downtown Holley made the list. The village has since been able to gain title of the property and can now guide its redevelopment, said Thomas Castelein, chairman of the Five to Revive Committee.
The Landmark Society is pleased with several success stories since the list started. The Five to Revive has rallied communities around important buildings and locations, drawn attention to the sites, and helped bring much-needed financial resources to the properties.
“All of these success stories are dependent upon partnerships and alliances,” Castelein said. “There wouldn’t be success stories without everyone working together.”
Matthew Lenahan, vice president of preservation for the Landmark Society, welcomes a crowd to the unveiling of the 7th annual “Five to Revive.” The event was held at The Historic Parsells Church on Parsells Avenue in Rochester. The church was picked to represent a growing concern in the region – large church buildings with relatively small congregations and dwindling financial resources. The Parsells Church was picked to represent the challenge of adaptive reuse of a historic house of worship.
Besides the Childs Historic District in Orleans County, other sites include:
• Highland Reservoir and Cobbs Hill Reservoir in Rochester
• 6 Madison Street in the Susan B Anthony Neighborhood in Rochester
• King’s Daughters and Sons Building, Dansville
• Adaptive Reuse of historic houses of worship – a thematic listing to shed light on people trying to adapt old churches to new uses. Four buildings were selected to represent the theme. They are the Historic Parsells Church, 345 Parsells Ave., Rochester; Trinity Church, 520 S Main St., Geneva; Logan Community Center, Town of Hector, Schuyler County; Former Wesleyan Church, 140 Fall St., Seneca Falls.
Click here for more information about this year’s Five to Revive.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will once again participate in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative on Saturday, Oct. 26, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This is a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration, the Orleans County Health Department and the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse (GCASA).
This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications for safe and proper disposal. Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue.
The following are collection points:
• Orleans County Public Safety Building – 13925 State Route 31, Albion
• Holley Fire Department – 7 Thomas St., Holley
• Medina Fire Department – 600 Main St., Medina
Special thanks to the Holley and Medina fire departments for providing space within their facilities for this event.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 October 2019 at 10:57 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Andrew Meier is pictured on March 28, 2016, while leading his last meeting as Medina’s mayor.
MEDINA – A Medina attorney is stepping out of his normal realm to become the honorary chair of Orleans Community Health’s Treasure Island.
Treasure Island will celebrate its 26th year on Nov. 2 at Sacred Heart Club as the annual fundraiser for Medina Memorial Hospital (Orleans Community Health).
“Our hospital is essential to not just the physical and emotional health of the community, but also to its economy and sustainability in the long term,” said Andrew Meier, a partner in the law firm of Webster, Schubel and Meier. “It’s a partner to our Medina Ambulance Service. It’s a critical community amenity that can help attract new residents and businesses.”
Meier continued to say Medina Memorial Hospital has made great strides in the last few years, and Treasure Island will help the hospital grow even further into its essential role.
This growth is already being noticed with the announcement by the Orleans Community Health Foundation that three new doctors have joined the hospital and proceeds from Treasure Island will go toward the purchase of equipment for these doctors, all of whom are able to perform surgical procedures.
The first new doctor is Anees Fazili, a urologist from Rochester who also has an office in Batavia.
The other two doctors are twin podiatrists, Peter and Paul Stasko, who are affiliated with Rochester Regional Health.
“I’m honored to be just one concerned citizen among many others who support this event and the work of healthcare workers in our home town,” Meier said.
Community support is vital to the success of this event, said Heather Smith, executive director of Orleans Community Health Foundation.
“This event cannot be successful without community support,” Smith said. “Treasure Island provides a unique marketing opportunity, touching several hundred individuals, while allowing the community to see donors’ investment back into their hometown healthcare system. Orleans Community Health exists to be your community-focused medical center, providing you and your loved ones with quality services here at home.”
The public can donate to Treasure Island in a variety of ways – by offering an auction item, gift certificate or raffle basket; by purchasing an ad in the program; by making a cash donation; or by purchasing tickets.
Individuals can purchase tickets online or pre-register for the event by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 October 2019 at 10:42 am
Photo courtesy of Riley Seielstad
After the Democratic Presidential Debate on Tuesday night, Albion native Riley Seielstad and candidate Elizabeth Warren got their photo taken together.
Seielstad, 19, is a sophomore at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. She is an early childhood education major and also a member of the equestrian team.
She put her name in for a ticket to attend the debate but initially didn’t get picked. So she went home to Albion for fall break this past weekend. Then she got a call she had been upgraded to a standby ticket. And then another call came that she had a ticket.
Seielstad cut her fall break short and made the 5 ½ drive back to Otterbein for what she said was a once in a lifetime chance to see a presidential debate in person.
Her parents, Erik and Marlene Seielstad, saw Riley on TV just before the debate and then after, getting her photo taken with Warren, one of the leading candidates.
Riley wore a similar purple blazer as Warren. The matching blazer caught Warren’s attention and she approached Riley, saying, “Great minds think alike.”
Riley said the campus has been “insane” the past week with preparations for the debate. The gymnasium was turned into the setting for the 12 candidates.
She was impressed by the candidates, who debated for three hours without any teleprompters. Sometimes they would attack each other’s positions on the issues. Riley would then observe them being friendly with each other during the commercial breaks, not showing any animosity.
“They were digging into each other a lot during the debate,” Riley said this morning. “But then at the commercial break they were friends. They didn’t hate each other.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 October 2019 at 9:58 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Quarterbacks Thomas Furmanski of Albion, left, and Brian Fry of Medina/Lyndonville/Barker will lead their teams into Friday’s 7 p.m. rivalry contest at Albion.
The 122nd renewal of one of the state’s oldest schoolboy football rivalries will be renewed Friday night as Albion hosts Medina/Lyndonville/Barker at 7 p.m.
Albion, which has won three of the last four meetings including a 34-12 victory last fall, holds a 67-49-5 lead in the all-time series which dates back to 1898.
Albion, which is looking to rebound from a 42-30 loss at Amherst last Saturday, brings a 5-1 record into the contest.
Medina/Lyndonville/Barker, which is looking to keep the momentum from a 20-14 victory at Akron last Friday, is 2-4 on the season.
The victor will receive the “Doc’s Rock” Trophy which is given in memory of the late Larry “Doc” Decker who served as a coach and teacher at both school districts.
Quarterback Thomas Furmanski, who has passed for 9 touchdowns and run for 3 more, leads the Albion offense. Kevin Hillman has been on the receiving end of 6 of those TD aerials.
On the ground, the Purple Eagles have Tyray White with 6 rushing touchdowns, Brillance Johnson 4 and Deyonci Farley 3.
The Purple Eagles defense has also contributed to the point production as Chris Shabazz has returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns and Hillman returned a fumble recovery for another TD.
Mustangs quarterback/wide receiver Brian Fry has had a hand in 10 of the team’s 11 touchdowns to date including 5 rushing, 2 passing, 2 receiving and 1 on a kickoff return.
JV game to match unbeatens
It will be a clash of unbeatens when the Albion and Medina JV teams meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at Vets Park as both teams have 6-0 records.. Over the past two years the Purple Eagles and Mustangs have both compiled 13-1 records.
Holley, Roy-Hart have home games
Holley will host Pembroke at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in an 8 Man Division game. The Hawks and Dragons are both 2-1.
Roy-Hart will host Akron at 7 p.m. Friday in a C North Division game. The Tigers are 2-2 in the division and 3-3 overall while the Rams re 0-4, 0-6.
Drivers urged not to swerve if deer enters roadway
Photo by Tom Rivers: These deer are shown by West Barre Road in Barre on Oct. 12, 2018
Press Release, State Police
Every October and November, State Troopers handle an increased number of vehicles collisions striking deer in Troop A – Western New York. Operators should use caution around dusk and dawn.
If you are operating a vehicle and a deer enters the roadway do not swerve. When an operator swerves to avoid a deer, the vehicle is more likely to strike another vehicle or exit the roadway striking trees or utility poles.
If you strike a deer, remain at the scene and call 911. An accident report can be completed by Troopers if your vehicle has over $1,000 in damage or if an involved person has been injured.
State Police Troop A stats for car/deer collisions include:
