By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The proposed 2016 Albion town budget would keep the tax rates the same – $4.25 per $1,000 of assessed property outside the village and $2.85 for property inside the village.
The Town Board had a public hearing Monday evening on the budget, which includes 2 percent raises for town employees except for the five Town Board members and the highway superintendent. The pay for those positions will stay the same.
The budget includes a wild card with The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, the former county nursing home. That is on the tax rolls for the first time with a $6,618,900 assessment. However the owners, Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC, are seeking to reduce the assessment to $2.5 million with a legal challenge.
If the assessment stays at $6,618,900, the town stands to gain another $28,130 in tax revenue. If the assessment is $2.5 million, the town would collect $10,625 in taxes.
Town Supervisor Matt Passarell said the budget includes conservative numbers for the nursing home. However the assessment challenge ends up, Passarell said the facility will give the town’s tax base a nice increase.
Passarell and the Town Board said the town will continue to chip in with programs inside the village, with $8,000 set aside for the village parks program. The town also expects to continue with $1,000 towards flowers in the downtown business district.
“This board has been very proactive in reaching out to the village,” said Richard Remley, a Town Board member.
Passarell and the board said they would like to continue meeting regularly with the Village Board to discuss ways to share services and other cooperation.
The preliminary budget includes $919,081 for the general and highway funds, which is a tiny increase over the $918,277 in 2015.
The fire protection portion of the budget is its own line item and shows a decrease for 2016, down from $113,189 to $105,000. That will also result in a drop in the fire protection rate, which was $1.23 in 2015.
The Town Board plans to adopt the budget on Monday at 7 p.m. during a meeting at Town Hall.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Patrick Whipple fills out his ballot today at Yates Town Hall, which has been busy with voters.
YATES – Long-time Yates residents are seeing something today they don’t recall in their lifetimes: A big flock of people has turned out at the polls for a local election.
There has been a steady stream of people throughout the day on Main Street for people to vote at Yates Town Hall. By 5 p.m., 550 people had cast ballots out of 1,466 registered voters, or about 40 percent of the eligible voters. There were still four hours to go till the polls closed.
“There have been a lot of new faces,” said one of the poll workers. “This just doesn’t happen like this in this little town.”
Most of the local elections in Yates offer a slate of unopposed candidates. Turnout is light at the polls. But this election, there is a race for town supervisor, and three candidates are vying for two other spots on the Town Board.
Jim Simon, a write-in candidate for town supervisor, arrived at 6 a.m. and has been standing by this sign all day, hoping to connect with voters.
Jim Simon mounted a write-in campaign after losing the Republican Primary in September to incumbent John Belson for town supervisor. It was close, with Belson winning 153-146.
But Simon stayed committed in the race. He stood by the Post Office beginning at 6 a.m. with a big sign urging people to vote for him, John Riggi and Glenn Maid. All are vocally opposed to a proposed wind turbine project in the community.
A citizens group, Save Ontario Shores, formed when Apex Clean Energy announced its plan for 60 to 68 of the turbines in Somerset and Yates.
The election workers established 100-foot buffer zones for candidates to not campaign before voters entered the Town Hall to cast their vote. Simon stood in front of the Post Office. He had many conversations throughout the day.
“It’s great to see everyone exercising their Constitutional right to vote,” he said.
There was a sign not far from Simon displayed high, promoting Wes Bradley, a town councilman who wasn’t endorsed by SOS. The sign urges voters to support a “fair and impartial” town official. That is the same message in signs for Belson.
Richard and Linda Fisk arrived across the street from Simon at 7 a.m. They were there to support Belson and Bradley. The couple has lived in the Lyndonville community for more than 70 years.
They said they hadn’t seen a bigger crowd to Main Street since the Fourth of July, when Lyndonville hosts a big festival.
“There has been a lot of interest and a lot of traffic,” Mrs. Fisk said.
Richard and Linda Fisk have stood by their 1948 Mercury truck since 7 this morning. The truck includes a stuffed animal of a dalmation. “Fear Not The Wind” is painted on the truck door.
The Fisks said they have known Belson and Bradley for many years, and both are long-time community servants with the best interests of the community in mind.
“I’m doing this to keep the Town Board where it’s at,” Mrs. Fisk said. “I believe in what I’m doing. I believe it’s best for the town.”
They said they have received many honks of support and thumbs up from passing motorists.
The Fisks even chatted with Simon during the day and SOS members. Everything was civil, Mrs. Fisk said.
“We’re not at each others’ throats,” she said. “The bottom line is everyone has their own opinion and they’re entitled to it.”
Glenn Maid (left), a candidate for Town Board, is pictured with Anne Smith, treasurer of Save Ontario Shores, and Paul Lauricella, a candidate for County Legislature.
Some Save Ontario Shores members were on the north side of the Town Hall, near the library looking to speak with residents before they voted.
“We want to elect our candidates,” said Smith, who has been out since 9 a.m., hoping to chat with voters.
“We’ve had a lot of thumbs up from people and horns beeping,” she said.
Lauricella has been an active government watchdog in recent years. He often speaks about voter apathy. But he was smiling about the busy election polls today in Yates.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much traffic on Election Day,” Lauricella said. “It’s the revolution of Lyndonville. Isn’t it wonderful?”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Albion voters can cast their ballots at the Hoag Library, one of the polling locations in Orleans County. To see a list of polling locations, click here.
A hard-fought campaign for Orleans County sheriff will conclude today when residents go to the polls and pick among three candidates: Don Organisciak, a Democrat; Randy Bower, a Republican and Conservative; and Tom Drennan, who is backed by the Independence and Reform parties.
It has been a contentious race going back to the spring. Drennan, the chief deputy for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, was endorsed by the Orleans County Republican Committee on May 7.
However, Bower, a public safety dispatcher, mounted an aggressive charge during the summer and won the Republican Primary on Sept. 10 over Drennan by 21 votes, 1,671 to 1,650. Bower has been highly visible at community events in recent months, from church chicken dinners to the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Drennan has stayed in the race and also has been showing no signs of let up before Election Day with meet-and-greet events as recently as Sunday in Carlton.
Organisciak is a retired Medina police officer and investigator. He is currently a part-time Medina school bus driver. He, too, held meet-and-greet events last week and has attended numerous community festivals and events since the summer.
The sheriff’s race isn’t the only county contest on the ballot today.
Two incumbent county legislators have opposition. Republican Don Allport faces a challenge from James White, a 21-year-old Democrat, for a county-wide legislator position from the central towns. Republican Lynne Johnson is challenged by Paul Lauricella, vice chairman of the County Conservative Party, for a District 2, which includes Yates, Ridgeway and a portion of Shelby.
Other county candidates are unopposed, including David Callard for at-large legislator (west); E. John DeFilipps for at-large legislator (east); William Eick for District 1 (Barre, Clarendon and most of Shelby); Fred Miller for District 3 (Albion and Gaines); and Kenneth DeRoller for District 4 (Kendall, Murray and Carlton).
A county coroner, Rocky Sidari of Albion, also is on the ballot. The former Albion fire chief is unopposed and backed by the Republican, Conservative and Reform parties.
Here is how the Hoag Library main meeting room looked at about 7 a.m. today, with several spots set up for voters to cast their ballots.
The candidates for town positions include:
Albion
Matthew Passarell (R,C) is unopposed for town supervisor and Sarah Basinait (R, D) is unopposed for town clerk. There is a three-way battle for two Town Board positions. Darlene Benton, a Democrat, joins the ballot with Republican Paul Fulcomer and Anthony (Jake) Olles, who is backed by the Democrats and Republicans.
Michael Neidert and Jed Standish are vying for highway superintendent. Neidert is backed by the Democrats and Republicans. He won a Republican primary over Standish, who is running under the Reform and “All In For Albion” independent party.
Barre
There is a race for town supervisor with incumbent Mark Chamberlain, a Republican, challenged by Cyndy Van Lieshout, a Democrat. Republicans have backed Larry Gaylard and Sean Pogue for Town Board, and Democrats are challenging them with Joe Grabowski and Richard Bennett, a former county legislator.
Dale Brooks is unopposed for highway superintendent after winning a Republican primary. Maureen Beach (R, D) is unopposed for town clerk.
Carlton
The Republican candidates are unopposed on the ballot, including Gayle Ashbery for town supervisor; John Fitzak and Dana Woolston for Town Board (4-year terms); Marcus Coville for Town Board (2-year term); and Patricia Russell for town justice. Frank Lauta is mounting a write-in campaign for Town Board.
Clarendon
There is a three-way race for highway superintendent. Larry Swanger, the incumbent, won a Republican Primary on Sept. 10 with four candidates. Swanger is on the ballot today with the Republican, Independence and Reform lines. He is challenged by Tracy Bruce Chalker (Conservative, Labor Force) and Frederick K. Seeman III (A & K Party).
The other Republican candidates are all unopposed, including Richard Moy for town supervisor, Thomas M. DiFante and Kevin Rombaut for town justices, William Campbell and Allen Robinson for town councilman, and Susan Colby for town clerk.
Gaines
The Republican Town Board candidates – Carol Culhane for town supervisor, and Mary Neilans and Richard DeCarlo for councilmen – are challenged by a Democratic Party team including Patrick Swiercznski for town supervisor, and Bill Lattin and Pete Toenniessen for councilmen. Ron Mannella is unopposed for highway superintendent and is running with five political party lines.
Kendall
It’s quiet in the Kendall town elections with the candidates all unopposed, including Anthony Cammarata for town supervisor, Barbara Flow and Margaret Lynn Szozda for Town Council, and Warren Kruger for highway superintendent.
Murray
The candidates are all unopposed including John Morriss for town supervisor, and Lloyd Christ and Edwin Bower for councilmen.
Ridgeway
Town Supervisor Brian Napoli and Town Justice Joseph Kujawa are unopposed. Three people are seeking two spots on the Town Board, including Mary Woodruff and Sarah Fisher, who have the Republican line. Incumbent Paul Blajszczak is running under the independent “Badger Party.”
Shelby
The big race in Shelby is for highway superintendent, with incumbent Michael Fuller challenged by Ed Houseknecht, the former county highway superintendent and Medina Department of Public Works superintendent. Fuller has the Republican, Independence and Reform party lines, while Houseknecht is backed by the Conservative Party.
The other Shelby candidates are unopposed, including Merle “Skip” Draper for town supervisor; Kenneth Schaal, Jr. and Dale Stalker for Town Council; Dawn Keppler for town justice; and Darlene Rich for town clerk.
Yates
After winning a close Republican primary for town supervisor, incumbent John Belson faces a write-in campaign from Jim Simon. There is also a three-way contest for two town council positions. Wesley Bradley and John Riggi are backed by the Republican Party and Glenn Maid is running with the Conservative Party. Town Clerk Michele Harling and Highway Superintendent Roger Wolfe are unopposed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Jeremy Hogan, owner of O’Brien’s, leading effort for micro-brewery on Main Street
Jeremy Hogan
MEDINA – The owner of O’Brien’s is working to open a new micro-brewery in downtown Medina. Jeremy Hogan said he is establishing the Barge Brewing Company on North Main Street.
The new business will be located in the Zambito Realtors building, next to NAPA Auto Parts. The brewery will have a Main Street storefront and will back up to the canal and have access in the Canal Basin for boaters.
Hogan expects the business will be ready for a “soft opening” in March, and will be ready for bigger crowds and bus tours in May.
He has already begun work on converting the space, which once was a bowling alley. It will become a tasting cellar, production area and retail store for beer and merchandise.
“This is a project I’ve been working on for quite some time, and I’m glad to say the time is finally right and the pieces have all fallen into place,” Hogan said.
He has owned O’Brien’s, a tavern on Main Street, the past four years. Hogan also worked in the software and information technology industries before returning to his hometown of Medina. He plans to keep O’Brien’s open, with the sites as complimentary businesses.
“There’s no doubt that craft beer is experiencing a boom such that the average American lives within 5 miles of a brewery,” Hogan said. “That kind of saturation might indicate the movement has topped out, but the trend we see is in smaller batches and a hyper local experience, more of a nano brewery.”
Hogan has been a home brewer. He will bring in master brewers to create the beer at the Barge Brewing Company.
“We create a large scope of beers rather than focusing on scaling one flagship recipe that is mass marketed and mass produced,” he said. “I know from my experience running a tavern that there is no shortage of beer enthusiasts and an ever-growing connoisseurship of craft beer drinkers.”
Each of the recipes has a bit of Medina in its foundation, from sourcing local ingredients to highlighting and celebrating the local heritage and famous visitors, Hogan said.
He plans to offer a standard American Pale Ale called Barge Beer; a highly hopped, higher alcohol double IPA called The Muleskinner; a seasonal Bock that honors John Steinbeck’s visit to Medina called Steinbock; a raspberry infused ale named for Medina’s first lady (Frances Folsom who married U.S. President Grover Cleveland) called Framboise Folsom; a grog-inspired ale in tribute to a pirate known to frequent the Great Lakes called Skull Dugger.
Hogan also plans to offer a milk chocolate stout, a vanilla bourbon porter, a cherry lime shandy and other brews.
“That’s the main benefit of doing smaller batches,” he said. “We can release anything that suits the season or strikes our fancy.”
Hogan has reached out to locals in the industry. Hogan said Barge Brewing is working on a cask-conditioned barleywine in partnership with Jonathan Oakes of Leonard Oakes Winery and a mead-based beer called a “braggot” with Bryan DeGraw of 810 Meadworks.
There will also be a menu created in part with J.J. Heideman of Bad Ash BBQ and an exclusive catering agreement with Zambistro for parties and events. Hogan is also developing custom beers for Zambistro and Bad Ash, as well as a Stout and Irish Red that will be available exclusively at O’Brien’s.
Mayor Andrew Meier said Barge Brewing will be an exciting addition to the downtown, drawing customers that should visit other local businesses.
“Jeremy’s business concept is fresh and inspired,” Meier said. “Medina’s emerging craft beverage scene will benefit from the uniqueness of Barge Brewing’s nano-brewery model. This new business will help Medina emerge as a standout food and beverage destination in WNY.”
The Village of Medina became more winery and brewery friendly last year with the creation of code variances to allow for that type of industry in the historic downtown area.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2015 at 12:00 am
The Republican Party candidates include, from left: Mary Neilans for town councilman, Carol Culhane for town supervisor, and Richard DeCarlo for town councilman.
GAINES – Gaines residents will go to the polls on Tuesday (Nov. 3) and will have choices for the Town Board, with a slate of Democrats squaring off against three Republicans.
That doesn’t happen too often in Orleans County in recent years, where in many towns the Republican candidates run unopposed.
Carol Culhane leads the Republican ticket. She is seeking a third two-year term as town supervisor. Culhane said she has worked to sort out town finances, including correcting some overcharging with water districts and reducing unbilled water by improving the town’s water meters.
She has worked to promote the Ridge Road corridor by pushing for new town signs and working on the project to open Fair Haven Treasures. She manages that site for owners Ray and Linda Burke. It has several artisan vendors.
Culhane has worked as a professional artist the past 26 years. She created the artwork for the new town signs, which include a cobblestone and patriotic theme. Culhane notes Gaines had a role in the War of 1812.
“We wanted to show the history and patriotism of the area,” she said.
Culhane owns Oak Orchard Galleries. She also works on several community projects, and was a liaison to the Santa Claus community when about 250 Santas came to Albion and Gaines for a Santa Claus Convention in April. The Santas helped dedicate an International Peace Garden at Fair Haven.
Culhane and the Town Board last month presented a budget for 2016 that would reduce the town tax rate by 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed property.
“The costs are down through conservation, oversight and management,” she said. “We tightened our belt.”
The town also benefitted from a boost in its tax base by $851,000 with most of that credited to the growth at Intergrow Greenhouses.
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Democratic Party in Gaines endorsed three candidates for Town Board, including, from left: Bill Lattin for councilman, Patrick Swiercznski for town supervisor, and Pete Toenniessen for town councilman.
Swiercznski is a familiar name in Gaines. Patrick is following his father Ted Swiercznski in pursuing local politics. Ted Swiercznski was a Gaines and county official, and remains active in the local Democratic Party.
Patrick Swiercznski has worked the past 25 years in local construction with Keeler Construction, the Pike Company, and then with Keeler again since 2004. Swiercznski primarily works as a surveyor for Keeler.
“I work with state, town and county governments on the various public works projects, working to keep them within budgets,” he said.
Keeler and governments often work on tight time constraints to get big projects done by deadline, Swiercznski said.
He would like to see the town be more active in addressing so-called “zombie” houses, which are properties in the midst of an unfinished foreclosure. Often a bank-owned house will be left vacant for years. It’s become an issue locally, state-wide and beyond.
“The ghost properties are abandoned and need to be cleaned up,” Swiercznski said.
He was nominated to run for town supervisor during the Democratic Party caucus.
“People thought enough to nominate me, and I don’t want to let them down,” he said.
The Town Board will have at least two new members in 2016 because incumbents David Kast and Doug Syck aren’t seeking re-election.
The Democrats have backed Bill Lattin and Pete Toenniessen. Lattin served on the board for 30 years from 1979 to 2009, before a two-year term as town supervisor. He retired as county historian last Dec. 31 after 35 years in position. A former school teacher, he also was director of the Cobblestone Museum for 40 years.
“Certainly I have a long-time interest in the Town of Gaines,” Lattin said. “I feel there are some things that need to be addressed.”
Lattin would like to see more attention given to the “zombie homes.” He also wonders if it is prudent for the town to reduce the tax rate by 30 cents.
“I question what the town is scrimping on that a future administration will have to make up for,” he said.
Lattin would also like to continue support for growing the community’s agriculture businesses. He said he is pleased to see the expansions at Intergrow and Lake Ontario Fruit, which runs a packing and distribution site on Route 104.
Pete Toenniessen worked 30 years at Kodak. He has been a school bus driver the past 18 years and has been an active adult volunteer with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H and the Fair Board.
“A lot of the areas need to be cleaned up in the town,” Toenniessen said.
He said he backs Right-To-Farm laws and wants to see Gaines welcome farming.
“The farmers are our lifeblood,” he said.
The Republican candidates for Town Board include former Town Supervisor Richard DeCarlo and Mary Neilans, a local veterinarian.
DeCarlo was on the Town Board during recent water district expansions. A retired industrial arts teacher from Churchville-Chili, DeCarlo also started and developed Heritage Estates, which has 163 units off Brown Road in the Village of Albion.
DeCarlo said he will be an advocate for taxpayers, particularly with the fire contract with the Village of Albion. The town has budgeted for a 5 percent increase in the contract for 2016.
Neilans lives in a historic cobblestone house on Route 98 that was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. She has been a regular attendee at Town Board meetings the past four years.
“I’m knowledgeable on the issues, and I’m willing to put in the time and effort,” she said.
Neilans and Culhane are both also endorsed by the Conservative Party. Neilans also was a trustee for nine years on Niagara County Community College, dealing with a budget and employees much larger than in Gaines.
Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Town Hall. Ron Mannella is also on the ballot for highway superintendent. He is unopposed and is running under five party lines: Republican, Democratic, Conservative, Independence and Reform.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2015 at 12:00 am
2 others plead guilty and could be sentenced to prison
ALBION – An Oakfield man was sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison today for a burglary in Barre last year.
Jeremy Lyons of Pearl Street pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary. Lyons, 30, admitted he broke into a house on Eagle Harbor Road in Barre on Aug. 10, 2014.
He said in a previous court appearance he was retrieving items that belonged to him. He took those items and also stole copper piping, he told County Court Judge James Punch.
As part of the sentencing today, Lyons will be required to pay $500 in restitution to the victim of the crime, plus another $18,695.25 to New York Mutual, an insurance company. That is to be paid in three years.
In other cases in County Court today:
A Rochester man admitted he sold cocaine from his car in Holley on March 6, 2015.
Roy L. Carter, 39, made the sale to an undercover officer, Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard told Judge Punch.
Carter pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. As part of a plea deal, he will face no more than 5 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 1.
An 18-year-old from Holley pleaded guilty to first-degree rape for having sex with his 10-year-old sister when he was 16. The man is eligible for youthful offender status, so Orleans Hub won’t list his name. If he is granted youthful offender, he also won’t be included on sex offender lists.
The man faces a maximum of 1 ½ to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 30. He is in jail on $25,000 bail.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A Medina man was arraigned in Orleans County Court today on second-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.
Michael B. Collier Jr., 23, of East Oak Orchard Street allegedly stabbed Lucas Porter, 16, of Albion 10 times, Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard said. The alleged incident occurred on Oct. 24.
One of the wounds was close to Porter’s heart. He is recovering from the attack, Howard said.
Porter showed up bleeding at the Mark’s Pizzeria in Medina, and then received medical treatment.
Collier has a lengthy criminal history despite being only 23, Howard said in court today. He has two prior felonies, three misdemeanors, two parole revocations and a prior failure to appear in court.
Judge James Punch set bail at $100,000 for Collier, who is in Orleans County Jail.
ALBION – A Rochester man was driving a stolen 2010 Mercedes-Benz in Albion on Halloween when the plate reader system in an Albion patrol vehicle detected the stolen car on North Main Street, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said.
Officers originally lost sight of the vehicle because of heavy traffic conditions. The Mercedes-Benz was later located at 7:30 p.m. and stopped in the Crosby’s convenient store parking lot located at 204 South Main St.
The driver, Xavier A. Lowry, 24, of 104 Hobart St., Rochester was the sole occupant of the vehicle and taken into custody.
The vehicle was found to have been stolen from the City of Rochester several days before, Nenni said. The vehicle had a suspended registration and a quantity of marijuana was found inside the vehicle. Lowry is also suspected of operating the vehicle while impaired by drugs, Nenni said.
Lowry was charged with the following offenses: Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th Degree (E Felony), Operating a Motor Vehicle Impaired by Drugs (Misdemeanor), Operating a Motor Vehicle with Suspended Registration (Misdemeanor), and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (Violation).
Lowry was arraigned in the Town of Murray Court and committed to the Orleans County Jail on $5,000 bail. He is to return to court on Nov. 4 at 9 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2015 at 12:00 am
The Warrior House in West Shelby on Salt Works Road hosted six veterans from Thursday through Sunday for hunting and fellowship. These three include, from left: Albert Gonzalez from Theresa, near Fort Drum in northern New York; Shannon Girard from Lafayette, La.; and Shane Weyant from Holidaysburg, Pa.
SHELBY – Shannon Girard, 40, says he “slept like a baby” over the weekend on a hunting retreat for wounded veterans.
That is a big deal for Girard and the other veterans, who may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and constant physical pain.
Girard was deployed as a medic to Iraq in 2004-05. The Lafayette, Louisiana resident said the hunting getaway is a perfect way for veterans to calm their nerves and bodies, while connecting with others in the military.
“The best therapy is bringing people together,” Girard said on Saturday after a morning of bow-hunting.
He arrived on Thursday to the Warrior House on Salt Works Road in West Shelby. The house is owned by Peter Zeliff Jr. He has opened the house and his property for veterans to go hunting. Zeliff has assembled a team of volunteers to provide the veterans with food, and also to serve as guides while they pursue geese, pheasants and deer.
“You can decompress when you come out here and be in nature and see the beautiful sunrises and sunsets,” Girard said.
He was on the first hunting trip through the Warrior House in September, when 13 soldiers came together to hunt, with five referred through Chappy’s Outdoors and eight from Operation Injured Soldier. Girard heard about the Warrior House through Chappy’s Outdoors.
Provided photo – Brian Crane of Lancaster holds a goose he shot while hunting on Saturday morning.
Girard was flown up from Louisiana, with his expenses all covered. Girard said being in rural West Shelby was a stark contrast from what he expected when he boarded the plane to head to New York.
“Just being here it’s a whole different world,” he said. “Everyone thinks New York is a city, but there is a countryside. It’s beautiful.”
Brian Crane, 35, of Lancaster didn’t have to go to far to get to the Warrior House. Crane arrived to the site on Thursday night with his father, Rodney Crane of Conesus in Livingston County.
The younger Crane has a lower-back injury from his military service. He enjoys hunting, especially with his father. The two say it is increasingly difficult to find land to hunt as fields are posted or bought for development.
On Saturday morning, Crane shot his first goose.
“It gets you away from the stresses of life,” he said.
Crane heard about the Warrior House through Ed Spence. They were in the same unit together. Spence, 45, of the Town of Alabama in Genesee County was injured while training in 2007. He suffered four herniated discs in his back.
Ed Spence of Genesee County has become a leader with Operation Injured Soldier.
He was in bed and a wheelchair after the accident. An invitation to go fishing and then hunting in Michigan helped get him out of a funk.
“It gave me my life back,” Spence said.
He used to work full-time as a firefighter in paramedic for the City of Batavia. He is now the volunteer director for Operation Injured Soldier in the Northeast Region.
He has the connections to wounded veterans and will refer them to the Warrior House. Spence said there are so many wounded veterans that the Warrior House could be busy every weekend. He knows of only one other place like the Warrior House in the country: Brave Heart Estates in Michigan. The sites welcome veterans to come hunt.
Tim Wolcott of Albion volunteered as a guide for the hunters this past weekend. Wolcott, 48, served in the Army from 1987 to 1991. He enjoyed meeting the veterans at the Warrior House, staying up late telling stories and getting up at 4 a.m.
“We’ve had a lot of laughs,” Wolcott said. “It’s about making new friends. It’s not about killing animals. It’s about bringing people together.”
Photo courtesy of Thom Jennings – Tim Wolcott serves as a hunting guide for veterans through the Warrior House.
Wolcott said the Warrior House “will definitely grow.” He said there are plans for a rifle range and hunting trips for kids who lost a parent to war.
“These are kids who don’t have someone to take them hunting,” Wolcott said.
Sue Zeliff said she her husband Pete Jr. are thankful for the support in developing the Warrior House. She was busy Saturday preparing lunch and serving the veterans their meals.
“We’re very fortunate we can give back to the people who have given so much,” she said.
Provided photo – Medina students are recognized at Sunday’s state championships. The group includes, from left: Alexis Neuman (Guard captain), Andrea Toussaint (assistant drum major), Amanda Lunden (drum major), Tristan Sanders (assistant drum major) and Brittanie Goodin (Guard captain).
SYRACUSE – The New York State Field Band Conference held its 42nd Annual Championship Show on Sunday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, and the Medina Mustang Band finished second in its class.
Medina competed with six schools in the SS1 class. Medina’s score of 91.20 only trailed East Syracuse Minoa, which took first with 91.65, a mere .45 difference.
Band Director Jim Steele commented that regardless of the outcome, they all hold their heads high having given a great performance to remember this season. There are 52 bands competing and only six bands go home as State Champions. All of the students are champions in the eyes of the staff and boosters as we have all become better people, musicians/guard members, friends and family through this process, Steele said.
Throughout this process starting with band camp, the band has had many highs as well as a few lows, but the bottom line is that the band is a family and family sticks together through thick and thin, Steele said.
The New York State Field Band Conference was formed on Feb. 6, 1972 and while competitions were held since then, the first championship show was held Nov. 2, 1974. The championships have been at the Carrier Dome since 1980.
There are six classifications of schools based on school population, history of past placement in competitions, number of staff members, their experience and past success, along with the age and experience of the band members.
While Medina has 130 students in the marching band in grades 7-12, 35 of the band members are rookies.
Medina has been competing in this conference since 1976 and over the years the school has won the championship 13 times.
Other first place winners on Sunday include: LS3-West Seneca; LS2-Jamestown; SS3-Roslyn; SS2-Central Square; National-Victor.
