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LPN students at BOCES have 100% passing rate

Posted 21 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – Students in the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’s 2015 Licensed Practical Nursing Class all passed. The group includes, from left, seated: Courtney Burdick, Melissa Olles, Raquel Golson and Marissa Catalano. Standing: Ashley Zuercher, Katelyn Fletcher, Nelly Galicia, Jonathon Furlong, Krystina Daniel, Alexander Gow, Amanda Frazier, Stephen O’Brien, Amanda Hyde and Mindy Barber.

Press Release
Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Orleans/Niagara BOCES’s 2015 Licensed Practical Nursing students have achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses.

The state average is 79 percent and traditionally the Orleans/Niagara BOCES LPN classes do pass the exam with above average scores.

“The success of our program is directly related to our teaching staff,” says Nursing Coordinator Karen Kwandrans. “They go above and beyond to make sure that our students are prepared for this test and learn all the skills they need to be successful in this career and anything they choose to pursue in the medical field after this program.”

The class takes 14 1/2 months to complete and is a combination of classroom instruction, lab work and clinical instruction at local hospitals and healthcare facilities.

“It is a wonderful gateway for students to go for their RN degree and beyond,” Kwandrans said. “We have been approached by several schools to observe this program and talk to our teachers. Everyone wants to know what a class that can pass at 100 percent looks like.”

Kwandrans says the demand for nurses is high and she is constantly approached by medical facilities and physician’s offices who want first crack at the school’s graduates.

“Let me put it this way,” she said. “Anyone who has graduated our LPN program, who wants a job, has a job.”

The latest LPN program is getting ready to start up around the end of August at the Medina site located at 4232 Shelby Basin Road and Kwandrans encourages anyone interested to contact her office at (716) 731-6800, extension: 4445.

“It’s not too late to be tested for entrance into our program,” she said. “We have testing dates on July 29, Aug. 6 and Aug. 10. Many of our students qualify for financial aid and loans and our financial aid officer is available to talk to as well.”

Golf Tournament raises $5,000 towards van for veterans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club held its annual Curtis Lyman Memorial Golf Tournament last Thursday, and the club raised about $5,000 that will go towards a van to transport veterans to medical appointments.

The top photo shows one of the vans for veterans in the Lyndonville Fourth of July Parade. David Barhite is pictured in the passenger’s seat.

The Rotary Club last year also used the golf tournament proceeds to give $5,000 for a low-mileage van for Orleans County Joint Veterans Council.

The Veterans Council has five vans that it uses to take veterans to medical appointments. The Council is trying to replace high-mileage vans with low-mileage ones.

“They really have a big need to continually replace those vans,” said Cindy Perry, the golf tournament chairwoman. “It’s a revolving need.”

The Veterans Council acquires and owns the vans, and the VA pays for the gas and maintenance. The service is free to veterans. About 30 residents are faithful volunteer drivers, taking veterans back and forth to medical appointments.

There were about 70 golfers in the tournament at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

The winning men’s team shot a 57 in a scramble. Pictured from left includes: Jeremy Nardone, Erik Lunger, Ray Wager and Brian Klos.

The winning women’s team shot a 70. The team includes, from left: Kelly Froman, Mary Guzik, Barb Budde and Mari Ehrenreich.

Dollar Tree opens in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Drew Goodwin, an employee with Premier Sign Systems in Rochester, runs pennants from the new Dollar Tree store to a light post in the parking this morning.

The store opened at 9 a.m. It’s in the Route 31 plaza that includes Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot, Save On Beverage Center and Peebles.

Contractors worked in recent months to ready 9,000 square feet of space for Dollar Tree. This is the store where the items are $1.

Employees said they weren’t able to speak with media or allow photos inside. Questions were referred to the company’s corporate offices in Chesapeake, Va.

Holley man sentenced to state prison for burglary

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2015 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A Holley man, who admitted he broke into a Holley residence last November, was sentenced to 2 to 6 years in state prison today.

Christopher D. Helsdon, 25, in May pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary. He faced a maximum 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison. Judge James Punch gave him a little less than the maximum.

Helsdon, in a previous court appearance, said he was on heroin when he entered an unlocked Holley house on Nov. 12. Although under the influence of the drug, Helsdon said he was aware of what he was doing.

He said he stole items with the intention of selling them to a pawn store so he could buy heroin.

In another sentencing today, Curtis Stipp, 23, of Middleport was sentenced to weekends in jail over the next 60 days as well as five years of Probation.

Stipp in April pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. He admitted he had “100-some” pills of oxycodone and intended to sell them on Nov. 22, 2013.

Monster tractors bring fury to Murray

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – Dustin Clark of Phelps and his modified tractor, “Policy Peddler,” pull a 40,000-pound sled along a dirt track in Murray on Sunday.

Clark finished fifth in the modified class with a pull of 243.0 feet. He was one of about 50 competitors in the Murray Tractor Pull, which is a sanctioned event by the Empire State Pullers.

Dustin Clark has his helmet off after competing. The Murray course on Groth Road attracted about 1,000 fans for the two days of tractor pulling on the weekend.

Two young fans, with their ears covered from the roaring noise, watch Rick Krause of Ashland, Ohio, compete in the modified class.

Krause and “Unfinished Business” won the modified class with a pull of 336.11 feet.

Mark Cole of Pavilion competes with “The Gambler” in the modified class. Cole was sixth with a pull of 200.0 feet. He was the “Puller of the Year” from 2009-2012 for the Empire State Pullers.

Lloyd Christ rides a Kubota and checks on the race on Sunday. Christ built the course for the tractor pulling event on Groth Road about 15 years ago. He also competes in the heavy superstock class.

His son, Scott, also competes and won the the super farm class on Sunday.

For more on the Empire State Pullers, click here.

A modified tractor pulls the 40,000-pound sled down the track.

Sheriff identifies people in serious Ridgeway accident

Posted 19 July 2015 at 9:20 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers – Law enforcement officers check the scene of a serious car accident this afternoon in Ridgeway on Horan Road. This photo shows the scene after the driver and a passenger were both transported by ambulance and Mercy Flight helicopter.

Press Release
Orleans County Sheriff
Scott Hess

RIDGEWAY – A man and a teenager are hospitalized tonight following a one-car crash late this afternoon in the Town of Ridgeway.

The incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m., in the 3500 block of Horan Road. A 2007 Hyundai 2-door sedan was traveling north when it crested a hill and the driver then apparently lost control on the down slope.

The vehicle crossed the center line and left the roadway on the west side. The car struck a mound of earth in the driveway of a private residence and became airborne. It continued approximately 60 feet in the air before striking a tree. It then spun 180 degrees and struck a second tree before grounding and coming to rest facing south.

The front seat passenger and registered owner of the vehicle is identified as Emmitt R. Weese, 50, of Holley. Weese was trapped in the wreckage for about 25 minutes before being extricated by Ridgeway and Shelby firefighters. He was flown by Mercy Flight helicopter to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.

The driver of the vehicle is identified as Austin D. Winters, 16, of Medina. Winters was trapped in the wreckage for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. He was also extricated by firefighters and then flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Both individuals sustained what were described as “life-threatening” injuries.

Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Medina Fire Department Ambulance crews, who also transported victims to awaiting helicopters. A crew from Lyons Collision Service also assisted firefighters at the scene.

While the incident remains under investigation, it appears that excessive speed was a contributing factor. Both driver and passenger are facing charge(s) pending their recovery.

The incident was investigated by Deputy A.A. Breuilly, assisted by Sergeant G.T. Gunkler and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan. Deputies were assisted at the scene by Medina Police Sgt. M.R. Borrell & Officer J.R. Frentz.

Mercy Flight takes 2 from car accident in Ridgeway

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2015 at 7:50 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

RIDGEWAY – Two people were seriously injured in a one-car accident this afternoon on Horan Road in Ridgeway.

The car left the road and the back end crashed into a tree. The driver of the vehicle was pinned and it took firefighters and Lyons Collision more than an hour to free the driver, who was then taken by Medina ambulance to a Mercy Flight landing zone.

Firefighters work to free the driver from the wreckage.

The accident occurred at about 4:48 p.m. The passenger was also seriously injured and taken by Mercy Flight soon after the accident. The driver was freed from the wreck at about 6:20 p.m. Many long-time firefighters said it was one of the most difficult extrications they’ve done.

The car was wrapped around a tree and the dashboard had moved forward against the driver’s legs, making it difficult to release him.

The driver remained conscious during the rescue effort, and gave his grandmother a thumbs up that he was doing OK while a crew of about 40 people tried to get him out. Firefighters said his vital signs were good at the scene.

Authorities haven’t released the names of the driver or the passenger.

The accident occurred on a section of Horan Road, north of the village line where there are many bends and dips in the road.

The neighbor with the tree in her yard called 9-1-1 after hearing the crash. When she went out to her front yard, she said she started praying for the people inside.

“This is a nasty hill,” said the neighbor, who asked not to be identified. “The sound was something I never want to hear again.”

Another neighbor a few houses north said there are frequent accidents on the road. He would like to see a lower speed limit clearly marked north of the village line. He said people drive 55 miles per hour or faster, when the top speed should be closer 35 mph.

The road also doesn’t have shoulders and there are no center line markings.

The car left the road and its tire marks could be seen in the one neighbor’s front yard and driveway before hitting the tree.

Ridgeway, Shelby, Medina and Lyndonville firefighters all responded to the scene, along with Medina Police Department, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, Mercy Flight and Lyons Collision.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

EAST SHELBY – Sheep are pictured today at the Old Tyme Day celebration at West Jackson Corners, the area by the East Shelby Community Bible Church on East Shelby Road.

The church is having its annual old-fashioned day celebration today. Orleans Hub will more photos posted later today from that event.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. today for Orleans and several other counties in western and central New York.

East Shelby Church celebrates old-fashioned fun

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

SHELBY – Phoebe Allen, 6, of East Shelby rides a horse that is led by Leah Sheelar. There were several horses available for rides today at Old Tyme Day at the East Shelby Community Bible Church.

The church celebrated its annual old-fashioned festival today, and a few thousand people were served pie, hot dogs, popcorn and candy – all for a penny.

The church also treated people to wagon rides, candle-making, horseback rides and many other activities that were light on technology.

Sandra Snyder of Medina stays busy making popcorn, which proved a popular snack even on a hot and humid day.

Lydia Miller, 9, of Albion shows her skills in walking with stilts.

These “townspeople” showed up at the town meeting agitating for women’s rights. They include, from left: Brie Olsen, Olivia Doberstein and Becca Nigro.

The church brings to life the West Jackson Corners hamlet for Old Tyme Day and the community held a mock election for mayor.

Here is one of the ballots for mayor. Each candidate ran an energetic campaign during the festival today, delivering stump speeches and passing out propaganda.

Alice Root, a volunteer with the church, has the pies ready for the crowd. The church served up 285 pies – more than 2,000 slices of pie altogether.

The pie and everything else were only a penny today.

Doug Fairbanks of Arkwright in Chautauqua County leads this wagon ride.

West Jackson Corners was full of people and activities by the church on East Shelby Road.

Erik Olsen, pastor of the church, leads the town meeting at West Jackson Corners.

Susanne Keryk, left, and her daughter Karen made flowers and animals out of balloons. Susanne’s son Keenan was also a balloon artist.

Hall & Oates band member performs in Medina on Wednesday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Eliot Lewis will play at Bee Garten

Photo courtesy of Eliot Lewis – Eliot Lewis will do a solo show Wednesday in Medina before playing with the Daryl Hall & John Oates band in Niagara Falls, Ont., on Thursday.

MEDINA – The concert series at the Bee Garten in Medina will feature a high-profile musician on Wednesday when Eliot Lewis, from the Daryl Hall & John Oates band, plays a solo show.

Lewis will play the following night in Niagara Falls, Ontario, at Fallsview Casino Resort. He welcomes a chance to share his music, including in small towns.

“I love trying out new places and having new experiences,” Lewis said by phone. “There’s been a lot of great surprises.”

Lewis plays the guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums, and he is a rock, R&B, and soul singer, a songwriter and producer. He joined Hall & Oates in 2003. He was a member of The Average White Band, a Scottish soul band, from 1989 to 2002.

“Playing with Hall & Oates is an amazing day job,” Lewis said. “They have so many great songs.”

Lewis has his own music, with five albums to his credit. He has played in major venues all over the world, as well as on The View, The Voice, Conan O’Brien, Today Show and Jimmy Kimmel.

Lewis is a featured performer on the award-winning TV show, Live From Daryl’s House with Daryl Hall. Lewis said Live From Daryl’s House has been a big boost for his career.

In Medina, he will share his own music following a question and answer session with the audience. He said he will talk about some of his musical experiences. Tickets are also available for dinner with Lewis before the show. For more on tickets and the Bee Garten, click here.

Thom Jennings is coordinating the concert series at the Bee Garten, the former Boiler 54 at 113 West Center St. Jennings writes concert reviews for the Niagara Gazette. After reviewing a Lewis concert last year, Jennings and the musician stayed in touch. Jennings reached out to him about performing in Medina.

Lewis said he is happy to play at the Bee Garten.

“I want to support anywhere that supports live music,” he said. “I’m always open to new musical experiences.”

For more on Eliot Lewis, click here.

Flash Flood Watch issued for Sunday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

GAINES – A swing hangs next to a former cobblestone schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road, just north of the Erie Canal, in this photo from today.

A group of preservationists are trying to clean out and save the former schoolhouse, which was built in 1832, making it one of the oldest cobblestone buildings in the area.

The region could see a lot of rain on Sunday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Flash Flood Watch for Orleans and several other counties in western and central New York. The watch is in effect from Sunday morning until 11 p.m.

The Weather Service said torrential downpours could cross already saturated soils. The excessive runoff could result in rapid rises on small streams and creeks, in addition to poorly drained areas.

Weather Service warns of extreme heat on Sunday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – This birdhouse is pictured along the Erie Canal in Albion with the Keitel Road canal bridge in back.

The National Weather Service is warning of extreme heat in Orleans County on Sunday when the high is forecast to reach 91 degrees with 72 percent humidity. That will make it feel like about 95 degrees.

Today will be mostly sunny with a high near 83 degrees.

Thunderstorms swept through the area last night, and the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning between 4:15 and 7:15 a.m. for Orleans, Genesee, Wayne and Monroe counties.

Albion’s Dye Hose prepares for parade in 1889

By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 18 July 2015 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Formed amidst the vast wilderness that was Upstate New York, Albion was built within dense old-growth forests that covered the region. The untouched and uncultivated land proved to be both dangerous and threatening for early settlers.

Wooded regions were filled with deadly animals that have gone unseen in this area for decades, but the most deadly threat to early settlement was fire.

Dating back to 1829, Albion’s earliest protection against the threat of fire was prevention. Fire wardens sought to eliminate dangerous scenarios that often led to devastating disasters, yet for those occasions where the inevitable fire broke out, the bucket brigade became the last defense against these deadly occurrences.

Between 1831 and 1880, Albion witnessed the development and transformation of the area’s fire fighting force from the establishment of a rudimentary group of young men to the creation of a well-developed and complex system of multiple fire companies.

The earliest fire garage was situated on North Main Street at the site of Gurney’s Old Coach Inn, then adjacent to the Village Hall. On Nov. 14, 1874 the new Village Hall was constructed on the northwest corner of East Bank and Platt Streets. On the second floor, the building contained a large auditorium for meetings and entertainment while the first floor contained village offices and space for the storage of fire apparatus.

It was during this time that Village of Albion President William B. Dye took an active interest in the establishment of a new fire company – Dye Hose Company No. 5. Under the direction of George W. O. Shourds as temporary chairman, Robert Beach was selected as President and W. Lettis as foreman of the organization with approximately ten charter members. George Shourds and Morgan A. McLean were the last two surviving charter members when the organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1932.

The company was formed the week ending on May 28, 1881 and the group participated in their first practice at the Orleans County Fairgrounds on July 19, 1881. Adler, Dye & Company furnished the new uniforms, which consisted of blue coats, white shirts, white caps, and white pants lined with red trim. On their second anniversary in May of 1883, the Village of Albion Trustees purchased a new four-wheeled hose cart for the company at a cost of $500.

In this image, you will see Dye Hose Company No. 5 lining up for a parade on July 4, 1889 in front of the present Village of Albion Police Station. The building originally served as a garage for fire apparatus and the original doors and many windows have since been bricked over.

It is presumed that the hose cart in tow is the original cart purchased for the company in 1883. This photograph was taken from the northeast corner of Platt and East Bank Streets looking northwest – notice the boardwalk situated along the dirt streets.

This piece originally appeared as part of the Revisiting Old Orleans series at www.orleanscountyhistorian.org.

Runners complete 5K trek around fairgrounds

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 18 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos and article by Kristina Gabalski

KNOWLESVILLE – The early morning weather was cloudy and muggy, but 33 participants made their way through the 2nd annual Orleans County 4-H Fair 5K Fun Run sponsored by the 4-H Fair Committee.

Participation was up exponentially from the first run in 2014, which had only two runners.

“This year is a much greater success than last year,” Fair Committee Chairman Mark Moore said following the run. “Thanks for supporting the fair.”

Grace Gregoire, left, and her mother Kellie Gregoire of Murray head for the finish line together at this morning’s 5K Fun Run.

Proceeds from the event benefit Orleans County 4-H programs.

The run looped around the fairgrounds – south along Wood Road; west on West Countyhouse Road; north on Taylor Hill Road; and back to the fairgrounds for the finish.

The Fun Run is not timed, but first place male and female runners, and first place male and female 4-H finishers were recognized.

Will Gregoire makes a sprint to the finish as the first male 4-H’er to cross the line at the 2015 Orleans County 4-H Fair 5K Fun Run. His twin brother, Jacques, is just behind on the left.

Evan Steier was the first male finisher. The first woman was Elizabeth Hawes. The first female 4-H’er was Emma Mathes and the first male 4-H’er was Will Gregoire.

The fun run kicked off a week of fair preparations. The Orleans County 4-H Fair runs the week of July 27-Aug. 1.

Evan Steier

Emma Mathes

Cuomo forms Task Force to target worker exploitation at nail salons, farms, other industries

Staff Reports Posted 17 July 2015 at 12:00 am

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a first-of-its-kind statewide Task Force to root out worker exploitation issues in multiple industries in New York State.

Building on the governor’s initiative to protect workers in the nail salon industry, the Task Force will identify and halt illegal practices in more industries across the state, including at farms.

The Task Force is composed of 10 state agencies including the Department of State, Department of Labor and Department of Agriculture and Markets, and will work in partnership with an advisory committee that is charged with providing legislative, regulatory and administrative recommendations. Cuomo made the announcement while in the Bronx signing legislation to protect and support nail salon workers in New York.

“If there is a state that is going to take a stand against worker exploitation, it is New York,” Cuomo said in a statement today. “New York offers a promise that our arms and hearts are open to those who come here to work and build a better future for themselves – and we will not tolerate worker exploitation, period. It’s not a Democratic or a Republican issue – it’s what we believe, and together we’re going to make this a reality.”

The multi-agency Task Force is a critical addition to New York’s fight against worker exploitation and builds on the Governor’s initiative protecting workers in nail salons. The governor was joined today by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to sign legislation that helps protect nail salon employees from unsafe working conditions and unfair labor practices.

“The Assembly Majority has a long history of defending the rights of workers in every industry,” Heastie said. “Indeed, worker exploitation is pervasive problem across many industries. Gov. Cuomo’s Task Force will examine workers’ rights and conditions across our state and I look forward to the recommendations.”

The Task Force will begin by addressing issues that were discovered based on worker complaints directly to the state and referrals from advocacy organizations. Workers are often victimized through wage theft, human trafficking, retaliation, unsafe or unsanitary working conditions, unstable or unscheduled hours and illegal deductions for supplies, training or uniforms, Cuomo said.

Anyone with information of suspected worker abuse should contact the Task Force Hotline at 1-888-469-7365. Callers can remain anonymous.

Enforcement efforts will focus on industries with the highest rates of employer non-compliance and where workers are least likely to come forward, for fear of retaliation. Specifically, industries were selected based on geographic or community isolation of the workforce within the industry, danger of the occupation based on reported death rates, state-wide investigator experiences, evaluation of high violation rates for complaints with a low number of complaints, prevalence of off-the-books employment by industry and statistics and percentage of the immigrant workforce in each industry.

Initial target areas include industries such as nail salons, farming, childcare, cleaning, home health care, laundry, restaurants, retail, construction, landscaping, car washes, supermarkets, janitorial services and truck and waste disposal drivers.

The Task Force will include representatives from state agencies including the Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of Health, Workers’ Compensation Board, Department of Tax and Finance, Department of Agriculture and Markets, Office of Children and Family Services, Office of Faith Based Services, Division of Criminal Justice Services and State Police.

The agencies will have more than 700 investigators, including multilingual investigators who speak Bengali, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Hindi, Haitian Creole, and Korean. Language access services will be available in all languages at all agencies.

The Task Force will work in partnership with an advisory committee that will meet monthly and is charged with providing legislative, regulatory and administrative recommendations to the administration. The committee will be charged with providing its first set of recommendations by December of this year to be considered for next year’s legislative session.