Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – LCM Contracting, owned by Lucas Silversmith in Medina, works on a new concessions stand at Bullard Park in Albion. These photos are from Wednesday, the second day LCM was on the job.

The new concessions stand will be 15 by 20 feet and 16 feet tall with a second floor press box. The building will have tan-colored walls and a brown roof.

The Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program has been doing fundraisers and collecting donations for the project, which will cost about $25,000 to $30,000.

The concessions stand will be available for other organizations, not just the youth football program, village officials said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Roland J. Martin is recognized during Tuesday’s Shelby Town Board meeting for his upcoming 100th birthday on Aug. 9. His daughter Margaret is at right. 

SHELBY – The Shelby Town Board has issued a proclamation recognized Roland J. Martin for his 100th birthday on August. 9 and for his 50 years of service to his community.

Martin joined the U.S. Army in 1945 during his senior year in high school. At the end of World War II, he stayed in the Army as part of the Occupation of Japan, Shelby officials stated in a proclamation.

He married Alice Knights in 1956 and they moved to Martin Road, raising their children, William and Margaret.

“Roland has been a life-long resident of the Town of Shelby and is the fourth generation to farm his family’s land,” the proclamation states.

He served as a trustee on the session of the Medina First Presbyterian Church.

“He has lived his life as a man of integrity, kindness and continues to inspire his family and all who are lucky enough to know him,” Town Supervisor Jim Hemingway stated while reading the proclamation.

ALBION – The Albion summer recreation program is cancelled today due to the air quality alert.

The volleyball camp also will be cancelled for today.

The summer rec program is expected to be back on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bullard Park.

Robyn Ottaviano sent in this photo she took of people out enjoying Glenwood Lake in Medina on Wednesday despite the hazy sky. “Very eerie yellowish sky and it smells like smoke,” she said.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued another Air Quality Health Advisory today due to fine particulates. The advisory include Orleans County and all of New York State. The advisory lasts until midnight and follows an air quality alert from Wednesday.

Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 200 for fine particulates, the DEC said.

 When pollution levels are elevated, the NYS Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

“People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease,” the DEC said.

In Orleans County, today is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high of 82.

Robyn Ottaviano also took this sunrise photo on Wednesday morning. The wildfire smoke affected the sky in the morning.

Local runners, walkers welcome to join Brett Sobieraski at local high school tracks

Photos by Tom Rivers: Brett Sobieraski is shown this morning at the Albion High School track where he plans to run 55 miles or 220 laps on Saturday. He is joined by Renee Hungerford, left, and Jackie Dunham, two leaders of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. Sobieraski will conclude an 8-day fundraiser the following Saturday with 15 more miles around the Albion track.

ALBION – Brett Sobieraski has swum across Lake Ontario, completed 50 marathons every day for 50 days, and run 175 miles along the Erie Canal.

The Carlton resident has a new endurance challenge: running 400 miles over eight days – 55 miles each of the first seven days with a final 15 miles on day 8.

That new challenge starts on Saturday morning at the Albion High School track. Sobieraski will be running at local high school tracks over the eight days. His goal is to raise $20,000 for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, and to hopefully unite local residents during what he said is a time of divisiveness.

“I wanted to do an event to bring the community together,” Sobieraski said this morning at the Albion track. “Instead of condemnation, let’s celebrate.”

He welcomes people to join him on the track, even if it’s one lap – walking or jogging.

Sobieraski expects he will be running 220 laps for about 12 hours each of the first seven days, while the final day of 15 miles should be about 3 hours of running.

Each day he will start at 7 a.m., except the final day on July 25 that begins at 8 a.m.

The schedule includes:

• Saturday, July 18 – Albion High School for 55 miles
• Sunday, July 19 – Lyndonville HS for 55 miles
• Monday, July 20 – Batavia HS for 55 miles (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 21 – East Rochester HS for 55 miles (Special Remembrance Day for Fallen Officers)
• Wednesday, July 22 – Kendall HS for 55 miles
• Thursday, July 23 – Medina HS for 55 miles
• Friday, July 24 – Holley HS for 55 miles
• Saturday, July 25 – Albion HS (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.) for the grand finale of 15 miles

Community Action representatives will be there each day to share about the agency’s mission, and also to collect donations. Sobieraski has raised $3,366 online so far from 51 donors. Click here for more on donating online, or to register to join on the track. People don’t need to register to walk or run with him at the track. They can simply show up.

Renee Hungerford, the Community Action chief executive officer, said she appreciates Sobieraski willingness to highlight the work of the agency, and to raise money at a time when Community Action faces funding cuts.

“Our agency has helped individuals and families build stronger futures,” Hungerford said. “Every day, our dedicated team provides services that touch lives across our region – from Head Start and early childhood education programs to food assistance, transportation services, weatherization and energy programs, housing support, workforce development, youth services, and much more.”

Brett Sobieraski has been training for months for the 400-mile run over eight days from July 18 to July 25.

Sobieraski said Community Action offers a “hand up” and not a handout in assisting people in overcoming some barriers and hardships.

“They stand out for all the great things they do,” he said about the agency.

Jackie Dunham, the director of operations for Community Action, has helped coordinate the Community Action 400 event with Sobieraski. The two have been friends for several years.

The agency will have copies of the two books by Sobieraski for sale, and well as T-shirts about the Community Action 400. There also will be items up for raffle, including a cleat from new Buffalo Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb.

Sobrieski, a retired Rochester Police sergeant, currently works as an investigator for the Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force. He also is a member of this year’s Leadership Orleans class.

He has completed endurance challenges before. In 2015, he swam 32 miles across Lake Ontario for a charity that helps support the surviving spouses and children of fallen soldiers. In 2018, he ran over 175 miles for 50 hours nonstop to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics.

In 2023, Sobieraski announced he would be running a marathon every day for 48 days, traveling on foot from Florida and Rochester, going 26.2 miles a day. He would run the marathons to honor the memory of Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022. Sobieraski also sought to raise $100,000 for Mazurkiewicz’s family.

That goal was expanded to 50 marathons in 50 days, and Sobieraski would raise $110,000 for the family. In the last 5K of the final marathon, 850 people joined him in Rochester.

Sobieraski turned 60 yesterday. He said the distance will take a toll on his body. If people join him on the track, it will help him to keep moving.

“Having anyone, even strangers, come out will be a giant pick-me-up,” he said.

Town Board seeks to make the positions be appointed

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dale Root, the Shelby highway superintendent, speaks during Tuesday’s Town Board meeting, going over a monthly report for the Highway Department.

SHELBY – The Town Board will give voters the chance to decide whether the town keeps the town clerk and highway superintendent as elected positions or instead changes to having those officials be appointed by the Town Board.

The issue will be on the ballot during the Nov. 3 election, with each position its own referendum. In Orleans County, all 10 towns currently have the town clerk and highway superintendent as elected positions. In the four villages, the clerk and DPW superintendent are appointed.

During a June 30 public hearing, many of the speakers opposed the change proposed by Shelby, saying it would take away residents’ voting rights to pick the officials in those two jobs.

But Town Board members say residents will still have in a say in how those jobs are filled by who they elect to be on the Town Board.

Town Supervisor Jim Heminway said the appointment process would better ensure highly qualified people would serve as town clerk and highway superintendent.

Some of the speakers during the June 30 public hearings said the local Republican Committees in Orleans County are ultimately the ones that decide who serves in the key town positions.

Republicans have a 2-to-1 enrollment advantage over Democrats, making it difficult for a Democrat to get elected. It is also very challenging to run as an upstart Republican candidate without the committee’s backing, some of the speakers said.

Several town highway superintendents and town clerks also spoke at the hearing, saying it is better for the community to have elected people in those jobs, who ultimately answer to residents and not the Town Board.

The referendums will ask voters whether they support abolishing the highway superintendent and town clerk as elected positions and then create a hired  office of town clerk and hired office of highway superintendent.

Town Councilman John Pratt said the voters will decide if the positions remain elected or not.

“It’s not taking your vote away,” Pratt said during Tuesday’s Town Board meeting. “You have a choice when you cast your ballot in November. The board believes you will get the most for your tax dollars by voting for this change. If you’re happy with the current system as it is, then vote against it (the change).”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Aaron D’Angelo walks out of the courtroom in the Orleans County Courthouse this morning after being arraigned before Judge Sanford Church. D’Angelo is being held without bail in the Orleans County Jail.

ALBION – The man who allegedly stabbed two brothers in February, killing one and seriously wounding the other, was arraigned in Orleans County Court today.

Aaron D’Angelo, 36, of Medina was charged with murder and attempted murder after two brothers were stabbed on Feb. 7 in Shelby.

D’Angelo allegedly caused the death of Dale R. Lang, 65, who was pronounced deceased at the scene, 4643 South Gravel Road (Route 63).

His brother John Lang, 67, also suffered multiple stab wounds and was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital and then Erie County Medical Center. John Lang has recovered after being stabbed about 20 times.

D’Angelo was arraigned in county court this morning for second-degree murder, attempted murder in the second degree, first-degree assault, menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

He also was arraigned on a separate indictment from November for second-degree strangulation, and two counts of criminal contempt in the first degree, for allegedly choking his mother and violating orders of protection she had against him.

County Court Judge Sanford Church continued to have D’Angelo be held in the county jail without bail for the murder and attempted murder charges. For the charges against his mother, D’Angelo is being held on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond and $200,000 partially secured bond.

Public Defender Joanne Best is representing D’Angelo. She asked for “reasonable bail,” saying he has always shown up for his court appearances.

D’Angelo has been in the county jail since his arrest. There was a 730 exam to determine his mental capacity and he was found to be competent, District Attorney Susan Howard said.

D’Angelo is next scheduled to appear in county court on July 29 for a conference.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Connor Jurs, 13, of Kent holds one of the fish he caught last year during the Danny Spierdowis Memorial Kids’ Fishing Derby. There were 67 participants last year. Prizes go to kids who catch the most fish by cumulative weight and also for the longest fish. There are different age divisions.

Press Release, Albion Sportsmen’s Association

ALBION – Free fishing. Free food and drinks. Lots of prizes.

What better way to spend a Saturday.

The 30th Annual Danny Spierdowis Memorial Kids’ Fishing Derby will be from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 1 at Albion Sportsmen’s Association on Keitel Road. Pre-registration begins at 8:30.

The derby is open to Orleans County residents only, ages 16 and under, with prizes given to all entrants and special prizes awarded to the winners in all age groups and categories. Last year, 18 children won fishing poles and all entrants received gift bags of tackle and candy.

The not-for-profit club provides drinks and lunch to all the children and parents.

The derby is named in honor of Danny Spierdowis, who died at age 19 in a car crash Jan. 20, 1990.

Anyone wishing to participate in the derby must register by July 28 by calling or texting Scott DeSmit at 585-815-5150. You can also email him at desmitmail@yahoo.com. Please provide the names and ages of the children and the number of adults attending.

An air quality alert has been issued beginning midnight tonight through midnight Wednesday night for Orleans County due to wildfire smoke from northern Minnesota and Canada.

The air quality alert much of Western New York, Central New York and eastern Lake Ontario region.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued the advisory due to an Air Quality Index value of 135 for fine particulates in the outdoor air. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern, the DEC said.

When pollution levels are elevated, the State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

“People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease,” the DOH said. “Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician.”

The highs the next few days include 89 on Wednesday, 86 on Thursday, 83 on Friday and 85 on Saturday.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Two dinosaur murals have been finished outside the Hoag Library on the sidewalk.

Becky Patterson, an artist from North Tonawanda, created the murals in tempera paint. They should hold up for the summer.

Patterson is shown last week working on one of the murals. The dinosaurs tie into the summer reading theme of “Unearth a Story.”

Here is the finished mural from last week.

Patterson also made this three-dimensional T-Rex.

She also made these dinosaur designs where children are encouraged to color the inside the lines with chalk throughout the summer.

Group seeks stronger environmental review at STAMP

Press Release, Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation

Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation welcomes Governor Kathy Hochul’s one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data center construction in our state. We agree that more study is needed to assess the impacts of these facilities on our shared environment – our waters, air, and plant and animal species – and on our utility rates, electrical grid, and quality of life.

The moratorium pauses permitting for data center project applications, like those of STREAM’s proposed data center at STAMP, that have not yet been deemed complete by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). During the pause created by the moratorium, the Department of Public Service and DEC will carry out a General Environmental Impact Study in relation to data centers in the State, in order “to assess the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of data centers in the State, including energy demand, water use and quality, air quality, disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities, and noise levels.”

We urge GCEDC, the STAMP developer, to use the moratorium pause to conduct its own Environmental Impact Study of the possible impacts of data centers at STAMP, something DEC first called upon GCEDC to do over six months ago, but which GCEDC has thus far refused to do.

Over the last many months, residents of the GLOW Region and our statewide allies have powerfully and repeatedly called on local and statewide decisionmakers – including Governor Hochul – to stop the STAMP data center. We have demanded that they listen and take action in response to our overwhelming opposition. This moratorium is an appropriate response to our community’s serious concerns about hyperscale data centers and the impacts they will cause on our neighborhoods, our way of life and cost of living, and our environment.

We know who would profit from this data center: Big Tech, Private Equity, and GCEDC – not Genesee County residents or the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. We will continue to fight to protect our communities, our environment, and a livable future for us all.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also issued a statement in response to the one-year moratorium

“I applaud Governor Hochul for taking decisive action on data center construction. Today’s executive order sends a clear message New Yorkers deserve a say in how this technology impacts their lives and communities.

“This one-year moratorium is fundamentally about trust. Right now, New Yorkers aren’t convinced these massive facilities benefit them. Before we move forward, our communities need ironclad guarantees that their energy bills won’t spike, their water will be protected, and their air will remain clean.

“At the federal level, my mission is to ensure AI innovation benefits every American, not just a powerful few. That requires establishing clear, reliable rules of the road. We must build a framework that protects our kids from harmful algorithms and social media tools; shields seniors and consumers from AI-driven scams and fraud; and safeguards American jobs and livelihoods from displacement.”

Board said site has been overwhelmed by brush and construction material from outside village

Photo by Tom Rivers: A gate is locked to prevent access for people to dump brush at the village of Medina’s compost site on North Gravel Road next to Boxwood Cemetery. Medina officials said people were leaving construction materials and other debris.

MEDINA – The Village Board doesn’t anticipate reopening the compost site for brush dumping anytime soon.

The site has been closed for about six weeks for people to unload brush and lawn clippings. That was the intended use, but the site has been overwhelmed with construction materials and debris, as well as brush from people from outside the village.

The board was considering allowing village residents to come to the village office and get a key to open a locked gate, but has decided against that.

The village DPW picks up brush the first Monday each month. It is usually a one-day job, but this month it took 2 ½ days to get all the brush piles around the village, said Jason Watts, superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

He wants to go at least another month with the gate closed at the compost site and gauge how much brush is left around the village. He expected there would be more than normal due to people being unable to use the compost site.

“Right now is prime time for brush with everyone cleaning up their yards,” Watts told the Village Board on Monday evening. “I feel bad for residents leaving brush and having it sit out all month.”

He urged people to have it out in time for the first Monday of the month. He said the DPW starts picking up from the east end of the village first and then works through to the west end.

Trustee Mark Prawel said he favors just having the DPW pick up the brush and not having any dumping by residents or people outside the village. The brush piles are burned at the compost site, which is a concern for some neighbors.

He said the site has too much brush and other materials already.

“I don’t see how we can open it up when we don’t have a solution for getting rid of what we have now,” Prawel said.

Village Board members said they expect residents will get used to leaving the brush by the curb and not dumping at the compost site.

Governor seeks to repeal sales tax exemptions for projects

File photo by Tom Rivers: A massive data center, totaling 2.2 million square feet, has been proposed for the STAMP site off Route 63 in the town of Alabama. Stream US Data Centers said it would spend $19 billion on the project. Stream is seeking $1.43 billion in sales tax exemptions – $715,944,000 locally and $715,944,000 to the state.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed an Executive Order to create the nation’s first moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, establishing the strongest standards for data center development and creating a blueprint to support localities.

The Governor is temporarily pausing State environmental permits for up to one year in order to build a nation-leading regulatory framework that protects ratepayers, the environment, the energy grid and communities across the state.

“New York has always been at the forefront of innovation and change but we’ve also always guaranteed that New Yorkers benefit. As data center development threatens to hike up utility bills, deplete our natural resources, and create uncertainty for New Yorkers, it’s my responsibility to take action and lead,” Governor Hochul said. “New York will lead the way in creating the strongest standards in the nation for data center development, ensuring that when companies succeed because of New York, New Yorkers succeed too.”

New York State is experiencing unprecedented growth in demand for data center development driven by artificial intelligence and other computing operations. The increase in demand has led to proposals across the state for the construction and operation of data centers that could require massive amounts of energy and water to run and cool thousands of computer servers.

Earlier this year, the Governor directed the Department of Public Service (DPS) to begin the Energize NY proceeding, which will require data centers to either pay more for their energy or supply their own, allowing the state to keep energy more affordable for New Yorkers.

As part of that proceeding, the Governor is now also directing DPS to develop a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for data centers to ensure new data centers coming online are being held to consistent standards. During the development of this GEIS, which will take up to a year, a moratorium will be in place and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will not issue any discretionary permits not already deemed complete.

The state will use the GEIS to assess the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of data centers in the state, including their effect on energy demand, water use and quality, and air quality. Once the State finalizes these standards, the moratorium will be lifted, allowing new data center projects to proceed as long as they follow state, zoning code and other local approvals.

Dr. Kirk Scirto, a family medicine specialist at Tonawanda Family Care Center, spoke at public hearings on Feb. 3, 2025 at the Alabama Fire Hall. He called data centers “parasitic centers.” He said the constant noise from the data centers is comparable to the sounds of jet engines. The impact from the noise and light will have negative impacts on neighbors and wildlife, he said.

The Governor also directed Empire State Development (ESD) to issue a Community Investment Framework (CIF) within 60 days, which will provide clear guidance to local entities to help them negotiate community benefits as part of any large-scale data center deal, including local infrastructure improvements, child care investments, and direct financial support for their community.

The CIF will also establish frameworks that provide organized labor a seat at the table and prioritize prevailing wage standards and project labor agreements for data center construction, local hiring, apprenticeships and workforce development to maximize economic benefits. This framework will additionally include a formula to help communities assess where to begin investment negotiations. An outline of the CIF is currently available on ESD’s website, and the public is encouraged to submit feedback.

Additionally, the Governor is directing DPS to consider creating a New York Grid Acceleration Fund to require data centers to invest in the state’s aging grid infrastructure and energy needs so all New Yorkers benefit from responsible development. The fund could support the procurement of new clean energy supply and establishment of an insurance pool to which developers may need to contribute to protect against speculative large loads that create uncertainty and increase costs. DPS will also consider approaches to require data centers to fund new clean electric generation dedicated to their operations, including but not limited to customer-sited distributed energy resources and battery storage.

Finally, Governor Hochul is pursuing legislation to repeal sales tax exemptions for massive data centers across the state.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has ensured New York is leading the nation in AI innovation and development. As part of her FY25 Budget, the Governor launched Empire AI, a nation-leading initiative to advance AI research for public good. This year, she launched the FutureWorks Commission to advise on policy and private sector actions to protect the security of workers while harnessing the economic benefits of AI for all New Yorkers. This blue ribbon Commission is composed of nation-leading experts, workers’ advocates, and business leaders, and will be charged with advising Governor Hochul on how to navigate the AI transition, so that the benefits of AI can be shared among New York’s families, workers, and small businesses — not just large corporations.

POINT BREEZE – For the second this summer, a concert at the Orleans County Marine Park has been rescheduled due to hot weather.

The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association and Friends of the Orleans County Marine Park announced that the concert planned for this evening featuring Feedback has been rescheduled to Aug. 18.

The June 30 concert with Something Else also was rescheduled to Aug. 11 due to a heat advisory.

Today’s high temperature is forecast to reach 93 degrees with heat index values as high as 105 expected.

A heat advisory for Orleans County is in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.