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By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2024 at 8:38 am
Board will discuss with school district whether ACS can help with expense in future
Photo by Tom Rivers: Sgt. Will Francis of the Albion Police Department stops traffic on East Avenue this morning so a student could get across the street. The Albion PD has been filling the role of crossing guard since the school year started last week.
ALBION – The Village Board agreed on Wednesday to fund a crossing guard after the position was cut from the village budget for 2024-25.
The school year started last week with no one as a crossing guard. Some of the board members wanted the school district to assume the responsibility but the district said state law requires the local village, town or city to fund the position. A school district can pay for a second crossing guard, but not the first one.
John Gavenda, the village attorney, said he has discussed the issue with the school attorney and the district is willing to negotiate helping to fund the position, but it is a question of how to do it legally or if it can direct any money to cost. Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said there may a “legal loophole” where the district could help with the exepense.
Trustees Tim McMurray and Greg Bennett for the Village Board said it is a small price to pay for making East Avenue safer for kids to cross in the morning.
Having a crossing guard for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon would cost about $6,200 for the school year at $17 an hour, spread over 182 days.
Trustee William Gabalski didn’t want to commit to the cost for the full school year yet. He made a motion that the village pay the expense for the first semester, and try to get some help from the school district for the second semester, which begins Jan. 27.
District officials told the village the crossing guard may only be needed for a half hour in the morning and then the afternoon, from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m., and 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. That would reduce the cost to about $3,100 a year.
The board will have the police department reach out to the crossing guard from last year to see if she is still willing to serve in the role, and if she would do it in the half hour increments. The board, however, said it would pay for the one-hour shifts in the morning and afternoon if that is needed.
McMurray said he can understand why the burden falls on the village for funding the position.
“It’s village residents who are walking to school,” he said.
Bennett said the law clearly states it’s a village responsibility, so he doesn’t want to see any more instances where the position is cut by the village in the future.
“The law says it should be on us,” Bennett said about the village responsibility. “I don’t know why we’re compromising over something that is a law.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) announced her bill, which she led alongside Congressman David Kustoff (TN-8), the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, unanimously passed the House Ways and Means Committee Markup on Wednesday.
This legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to postpone tax deadlines and reimburse paid late fees for United States citizens who are wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad and terminate the tax-exempt status of terrorist-supporting organizations.
“No American who has suffered the injustice of wrongful detention or hostage-taking by our adversaries should return home to face penalties from their own government,” Tenney said. “The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act will ensure that American hostages, wrongful detainees, and their families are not further burdened with tax penalties for circumstances beyond their control. Thank you to Chairman Smith, Representatives Dina Titus, David Kustoff, and Brad Schneider for joining me in championing this effort and working to ensure that when American hostages and wrongful detainees are returned home, they are not penalized.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 September 2024 at 9:28 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall edged rival Holley in five sets 25-20, 25-23, 24-26, 23-25, 15-8 in a Genesee Region League volleyball match this evening at Holley. Here Kendall’s Lia Larson sets the ball as Holley’s Cadence Lujan waits for a possible return.
Holley’s Ali VanAmeron, who had 9 kills and 3 aces on the evening, spikes against Kendall’s Irelynn Maloney.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 September 2024 at 8:35 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Alexa Robinson drives the ball up field for Lyndonville/Barker ahead of a trio of Attica players during this afternoon’s home field loss.
A lightning quick goal in the opening minute sparked Attica to a 4-3 win over Lyndonville/Barker in a Genesee Region League girls soccer game this afternoon at Lyndonville.
Braelynn Dillenbeck scored a goal in the first half and Alexa Robinson had a pair of goals in the second half for the Lady Tigers which trailed 3-1 at the half.
Kendall 9, Alexander 0
Kendall romped to a 9-0 G-R win over Alexander as Ava Quintern scored 5 goals, Izzy D’Agostino 2 and Olivia Sawyer and Leann Clay 1 each.
D’Agostino also had 3 assists and Sophia Picardo 2.
Holley 3, Bloomfield 0
Holley blanked host Bloomfield 3-0 in a non league game as Alivia Wolf, Mia Thom and Hanna Ostrom each scored a goal.
Wolf, Brynn Thomas and Jayna Burris each had an assist.
Jayda Shampine made 5 saves to earn the shutout in goal.
Lillyanna Reyes of Lyndonville/Barker battles for control of the ball with Attica’s Alannah Giboo.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 September 2024 at 8:22 pm
Taking over sole possession of first place, Akron scored a 230-240 win over Roy-Hart in a key Niagara-Orleans League golf match this afternoon.
Brodie Hill took medalist honors with a 39 for Akron which improves to 5-0. Cam Wild added a 42, Thunder Hallett 46 and Aiden Romesser 47 for the Tigers.
Tyler Rothwell shot 42, Gavin Heideman 47 and Isaac Smith 49 for Roy-Hart which slips to 3-1.
Barker evened its record at 2-2 with a 260-277 win over Albion which is now 1-3. Nate Popovich earned medalist honors for Barker with a 42.
In the other match, Medina won by forfeit over Newfane to improve to 3-2.
Cam Fike earned medalist honors with a 43 for Medina as Ryleigh Culver shot 45 and Tyler Allen 47.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 September 2024 at 3:00 pm
ALBION – A Batavia woman pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court this morning to attempted assault in the second-degree.
Katelyn Jimenez, 31, admitted in court to having a machete on June 2 and attempting to cause physical injury with a machete. She could face a maximum of 1 to 3 years in state prison when she is sentenced in about two months.
Jimenez was charged on June 2 when a man, age 32, was unconscious and bleeding from a laceration to the back of the head at Heritage Meadows Apartments in Carlton.
Jimenez was charged with second-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and criminal impersonation in the second degree.
She pleaded guilty to a reduced charge today in court. As part of her sentencing, Judge Sanford Church said he would consider a treatment court option for Jimenez. She remains in Orleans County Jail on bail of $10,000 cash, $50,000 bond and $100,000 partial secured bond.
In other cases in County Court today:
• Andria Meiers, 51, of Medina pleaded guilty attempted insurance fraud in the second degree. She allegedly claimed a burglary caused $7,800 in damages to her residence and attempted to file a proof of loss statement with an insurance company for $7,800.
She will be sentenced on Nov. 6 and faces a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison.
• Mitchell Gardner, a former inmate at Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion, was arraigned for aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate.
Gardner, 22, allegedly threw urine at a corrections officer in the Albion prison on Dec. 20, 2023. He is now an inmate at the Attica Correctional Facility.
• Caitlyn Collins, 33, was arraigned for second-degree assault. Collins was an inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility on Feb. 20 when she allegedly struck a corrections officer in the face, and that officer then fell into a wall. Collins is now an inmate at Beford Hills Correctional Facility.
Two people also were sentenced in County Court last week on Sept. 4:
• Christian Strickland, 25, of Medina was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated. He was charged on Dec. 21.
Strickland also will have his driver’s license suspended for six months and must use an inter-lock ignition device that measures his blood alcohol content for three years when he is released from prison.
• Edward Ruckdeschel, 62, of Batavia was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in state prison for a string of break-ins in Carlton.
The time for third-degree burglary will be served concurrently as part of a sentence in Genesee County for car thefts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 September 2024 at 12:27 pm
Provided photos
BATAVIA – For the fourth year there is a display of 2,977 American flags at the Batavia VA Medical Center in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
The VA had a memorial service today at 11 a.m.
Volunteers set up the flags on Sunday and they are in a display representing the two World Trade Center towers that collapsed after being struck by hijacked planes.
A group of about 30 volunteers placed the flags in the ground on Sunday. The flags will stay up until Saturday. Cindy Baker of Medina heads the volunteer services at the VA in Batavia.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 September 2024 at 11:56 am
SOMERSET – A 78-year-old man from Florida was killed in a car accident on Tuesday afternoon in the Town of Somerset, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Louis A. Greenwald of Lake Wales in Florida was driving a 2024 Nissan northbound on Carmen Road at about 2:31 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office said he failed to yield the right of way to a 2019 GMC driven by Earl Foster, 77, of Wilson. Foster was east bound on Lake Road.
The GMC stuck the Nissan, after which it traveled into the cornfield northeast of the intersection where it came to rest. The Nissan came to rest in the intersection upon the roadway, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Foster was transported by ambulance to Lockport Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Greenwald was transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC where he was succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Joey Molisani and his girlfriend Julia Domiano help his mother Ike Watts arrange baskets for a raffle at Shelby Fire Hall on Saturday to benefit her team in supporting suicide prevention. Watts and her family have participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk every year since 2016 as Team Fuller 155, in honor of her cousin Erin Fuller, whose badge number with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department was 155. (Right) Ike Watts looks at all the goodies in a basket donated for their second annual raffle to benefit suicide prevention. Theme of the basket is “Proud to be Polish.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 September 2024 at 11:39 am
SHELBY – When Erin Fuller, an Orleans County deputy, died by suicide at age 45 on Sept. 12, 2015, it left his family lost and heartbroken.
When Jason and Ike Watts saw an advertisement for Out of the Darkness Walk in Buffalo to benefit suicide prevention, they knew they had to get involved.
Since 2016, the Watts and their family have walked and tried to seek donations for the cause. They weren’t as successful as they wanted, until the idea came up last year to have a basket raffle.
“Basket raffles are always a hit, so I called a couple of friends and asked their opinion,” Ike said. “We had our first raffle last year and it was extremely successful. We had a great turnout and people wanted to know if we were going to do it again this year.”
Their second annual basket raffle to benefit their team in support of suicide prevention will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Shelby Fire Hall. Drawing of tickets will begin at 5 p.m.
The afternoon will include refreshments sponsored by Medina FFA volunteers, special raffles and a 50/50 raffle.
The Watts have a motto they live up to. “We support the fighters, admire the survivors, honor the taken and never give up hope.”
The support they’ve already received this year is overwhelming.
“Donations were slow at first, but in the last few days, a lot of people have stepped up to donate, for which I’m extremely grateful,” Ike said.
The fire hall already has a record number of baskets and donations will still be accepted by calling Ike at (585) 590-0291, Tammy Fearby at (716) 239-0185, Rebecca Lacy at (585) 750-4425 or Christine Crane at (585) 590-2608. Also volunteering to help is Todd Eick, a co-worker of Ike’s in the Medina Central School system.
Ike said some of the baskets are incredible, including one from the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, a “Proud to be Polish” themed basket valued at more than $300, and one from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Association called a “Thin Blue Line” basket.
One thing which Ike can’t stop thinking about is the spread sheet on which they log in each basket as it is received. The basket from the Sheriff’s Department was the 155th one, the number of Erin’s badge.
Another very special basket is one she created called “A Walk to Remember” in memory of the late Wilson Southworth, who enjoyed daily walks admiring Medina.
“It is my hope that whoever wins this basket will walk around Medina and admire everything our small town has to offer,” Ike said.
She thanked Ron Stork and his wife Cherie, Lee and Maureen Blackburn and Case-Nic Cookies for contributing to this basket, filled with merchandise and gift certificates from 15 businesses in downtown Medina.
Ike is also excited to announce the Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition has joined as a co-sponsor of the fundraiser.
Another new feature this year is a banner with the name Fuller 155. For a donation of any amount a person can purchase a heart for a loved one and the Watts family will carry it in the walk on Sept. 21.
“The banner may have Erin’s name on it, but the cause is for so many people we’ve lost or are struggling,” Ike said. “Suicide prevention is not an easy subject to talk about, but by doing this raffle we hope it eases people’s mind that it’s OK to talk about it.”
As you may have heard, Hospice of Orleans has paused operations at the Martin-Linsin Residence due to low referrals and high operational costs.
A few of us who were recently employed would like to form a group, “Friends of Orleans Hospice & MLR” to see if we can turn this unfortunate event around. A lot of work, effort, money, support and love have went into creating the MLR. It would be tragic to see this irreplaceable local asset sit empty.
Last year, Hospice of Niagara stepped up to provide administrative services and clinical guidance. They were able to provide generous wage increases as well as hire on additional staff. It is unfortunate to see that only a couple months ago, we had such positive changes happening and an average of six to seven beds filled… to slowly watching referrals dry up and no new residents being admitted. As front-line care givers, it was our honor to take care of your loved ones, our neighbors, and this community.
As a community, we have already suffered the sale of the Orleans County Nursing Home, watched the ratings of local skilled-nursing facilities fall, and most recently have been dealing with the effects of COVA going under. Will the dream that built the Martin-Linsin Residence be the next to fade into the golden nostalgia of better days or is there something we can do as a community to rally behind Hospice of Orleans?
If you are interested or have already been involved in supporting Hospice of Orleans over the years, we would like to invite you and the public to meet Tuesday, September 17th at 6 p.m. to the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church to discuss, share information, and come up with ideas to continue to support these amazing services.
*This is not an official function of Hospice of Orleans, there will not be anyone from administration present to answer questions. If enough people are interested and we can get a group formed, hopefully in the future they would be willing to meet and provide some insight into what the future holds.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 September 2024 at 10:28 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The entrance to Albion’s new Richard C. Diminuco Sports Complex .
Friday’s Albion home opening football game against Depew will be a special one for the Purple Eagles sports program.
Over the past two years Albion’s sports facilities have undergone a dramatic up grade.
Those improvements include a new artificial turf football field surrounded by a new all weather track and a new artificial turf combination soccer/softball field. In addition, the high school gymnasium is being completely redone and the tennis courts have been rebuilt.
Richard Diminuco
Prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff there will be a special dedication ceremony as those new turf facilities will be named the Richard C. Diminuco Athletic Complex in honor of the Purple Eagles former long time football coach and athletic director.
Those ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m.
Diminuco served as Albion’s varsity coach for 30 years from 1979 to 2008 during which time he led the Purple Eagles to 12 division titles, 4 Section VI titles and over 200 victories. He also served as Athletic Director for much of that time.
On the field, Albion will be looking to rebound from a 32-7 season opening loss at Olean while Depew will be looking to keep the momentum from a 43-14 win over Dunkirk.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 September 2024 at 9:12 am
Courthouse dome will be lighted up in gold color for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Provided photo
HOLLEY – Mayor Mark Bower, second from left, issued a proclamation from the Holley Village Board on Tuesday declaring September as “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.” He is shown with Diane Valentine, left, and Tina and Jeremy Neal.
Valentine’s son Evan Valentine, age 18, passed away from acute myeloid leukemia on Feb. 21, 2021.
The Neals’ son, Byron, passed away at age 8 from cancer on April 14, 2023.
They are among several local families with children affected by cancer. The proclamation from the Village of Holley is part of an effort to raise awareness of childhood cancer, and boost funding for research.
The Murray Town Board also plans to issue a proclamation during its board meeting on Sept. 16, and the Orleans County Courthouse Dome will be illumined in a gold color from Sept. 16-30 in a show of support for childhood cancer awareness.
Bower, in his proclamation, said cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children, with 43 children per day or 15,780 children diagnosed with cancer annually.
There is a need for new cancer drugs to be approved by the FDA, and more funding to carry this out, Bower said.
The proclamation notes that hundreds of non-profit organizations at the local, state and national level are helping children with cancer and their families cope with the associated educational, emotional and financial support.
“All of us have been directly or indirectly impacted by this terrible disease,” Bower stated in the proclamation.
Orleans County Democrats are alive and well. We are not in a “mess or shambles.” I’m not sure where Mr. Capurso is obtaining his information but obviously has not been given all the facts.
In July we held our 65th picnic which was attended by David Wagenhauser for Congress (24th District) along with some local Republican candidates who always support us. Earlier this year, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was at the Hoag Library in Albion for a reception.
We have had a booth at the 4-H Fair for years, distribute literature and have registration forms available.
We have a website and Facebook and both are updated almost daily. We have emails for Friends of Democrats which we contact when we have events.
In the past we have attended Legislative Sessions and have tried to enact changes regarding the county legislators at large and we continue to try to make a change on this subject.
We have held pizza parties for Young Dems in Medina which was well attended.
At this time we are getting out information and signs for Harris/Walz, Gillibrand and Wagenhauser. I do admit that getting candidates to run for County offices is a daunting task. We do try.
I’m not sure how many relatives you have in Orleans County but do encourage them to join us. Contact any committee member for time and place, we meet monthly.
Jeanne Crane
Waterport
Former Chairwoman of Orleans County Democratic Party
