By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Town also approves resolutions for AIM funding, repeal of SAFE Act
File photo by Tom Rivers – A member of the White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps from Dansville performs in the Albion Strawberry Festival in June 2013. About 10 marching bands usually perform in the festival parade.
ALBION – The Albion Town Board agreed to provide town funds for the first time to help put on the Strawberry Festival, a two-day bash that is the Albion community’s biggest celebration each year on the second Friday and Saturday in June.
The Town Board would like the funds to go towards the costs in bringing in the many marching bands for the event, and perhaps the cost of a fishing pond that may be part of this year’s event, Town Supervisor Matt Passarell said.
This year’s Strawberry Festival will include a fishing theme and organizers are working on some fishing-related activities.
The parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday during the festival is one of the big highlights of the two-day fest. The marching bands don’t perform for free. Altogether they cost about $5,000.
Some of the bands have increased their appearance fees, and other festival costs have also been rising. The contribution from the town will help the festival committee continue to offer an array of entertainment, the Town Board was told.
The Rotary Club is the sponsor of the festival, which costs about $18,000 to $22,000 to put on over two days. Karen Sawicz, a Rotarian, attended Monday’s Town Board meeting and made the pitch for funding.
Passarell said the money would come out of the town’s B Fund for outside-village residents. That way village residents aren’t paying twice towards the festival, Passarell said. The village provides manpower with the DPW, police and other staff for the event.
In other action, the Town Board approved two resolutions about state issues. The board stated its support for a fairer system for distributing Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM), a formula that currently directs 90 percent of a $715 million pot to upstate cities.
The Town Board also stated its support for repealing the SAFE Act, a gun control measure passed by the State Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January 2013.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – Carlton firefighter Ben Diltz tries to break up some of the wreckage from a fire this morning at a garage owned by William Wells at 13324 Hanlon Rd.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 5:34 a.m., but the garage had already mostly collapsed.
Orleans County fire investigators are at the scene, looking for the cause of the fire.
Firefighters are trying to cut through metal and wood to put out hot spots.
The Town of Carlton Highway Department is expected on the scene with a backhoe to spread out the smoldering debris, to prevent fire flareups.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge James Punch.
Rodrick S. Griffin, 31, of Eagle Street in Medina was sentenced to 1 ½ years in state prison plus two years of post-release supervision.
He was arrested last June on several drug possession and sale drug charges as well as criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. He has been in jail since then with bail at $200,000.
Griffin admitted in court on Oct. 27 that he sold marijuana on May 20 and also had a .22-caliber revolver at his residence. He pleaded guilty to criminal sale of marijuana in the third degree and to criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Griffin was charged after police say he sold 27 ounces of marijuana on West Avenue in Medina. The gun was discovered at his residence.
Judge Punch sentenced Griffin to one year in prison for the weapons charge, a sentence to be served at the same time as the drug charge.
Griffin has a prior felony. His attorney, Nathan Pace, said Griffin took responsibility and admitted his guilt with the latest crimes. Griffin is only a credit away from earning an associate’s degree, Pace said, asking the judge for leniency.
“You admitted guilt and that is worth something,” Punch said during the sentencing.
Griffin could have been sentenced to 2 years in prison.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A former Albion woman admitted in Orleans County Court today she illegally sold prescription drugs last April.
Ivy E. Schell, 19, was living in Buffalo when she was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
She pleaded guilty today to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and told the court she sold Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen in Albion last April.
The charge carries a maximum of 2 ½ years in state prison, but a plea deal today caps Schell’s sentence at a maximum of 1 year in state prison, plus a year of post-release supervision.
She will be sentenced on June 1.
In other cases:
Katherine Taylor, 25, of Main Street in Waterport pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a charge with a maximum of 2 ½ years in state prison.
Taylor admitted she sold cocaine. She has no prior felonies.
The judge said he would consider a plea deal with no jail time, but there would be other conditions. A sentencing date wasn’t set, but it will likely be in about three months.
Joel Hernandez, who has a prior driving while intoxicated charge in Albion, pleaded guilty to another DWI on Oct. 26, 2014 in Albion. He also admitted to driving without a license for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
As part of a plea to DWI and AUO, Hernandez would be sentenced to no more than a year in jail and then be deported.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Civil War re-enactors marched down Main Street in Medina in this file photo from April 27, 2013. The re-enactors will be back next month.
Press Release, GCC
MEDINA – The fourth and final Civil War Encampment put on by Genesee Community College to mark the 150th anniversary of the war that defined our nation promises to be one of the most interesting to date.
The event is set for April 24-26 at GCC’s Medina Campus Center, 11470 Maple Ridge Rd. The weekend will include an Education Day on Friday for local school districts, educational activities throughout the weekend including a nationally recognized Frederick Douglass impressionist, reenactments of skirmishes, artillery and cavalry, a surrender ceremony at noon in downtown Medina on Saturday, and a panel discussion featuring distinguished guests from the popular online journal The Emerging Civil War.
The Emerging Civil War (ECW) was founded by Chris Mackowski and Kristopher White with a goal of providing fresh perspectives and original scholarship related to the American Civil War (1861-1865).
GCC Assistant History Professor Derek Maxfield is a contributor to ECW and will moderate a panel discussion at the Encampment featuring Dr. Mackowski, a professor of journalism and mass communication at St. Bonaventure University, and historian Kris White, who teaches at the Community College of Allegheny County near Pittsburgh and previously served as staff military historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia where he continues to volunteer.
The discussion, “So What Have We Learned? The Sesquicentennial, The Civil War and American Memory” is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, in the main tent at the Encampment.
Dr. Mackowski
“The Civil War’s sesquicentennial has been a great opportunity to introduce people to America’s ‘great story,'” said Dr. Mackowski. “Even though the anniversary is wrapping up now, it’s the perfect time for people to ask ‘What did the Civil War mean? Why is it still relevant today, to me?'”
White
“We love getting out on the front lines and talking with people about the war because it’s the best way to help nurture the public’s interest and help people understand it better,” said White.
You can learn more about ECW at its website by clicking here.
“I am so pleased that historians from the Emerging Civil War will be joining us for our last Civil War Encampment,” said Prof. Maxfield. “I have been very impressed by the caliber of work on ECW and was honored to be invited to join their ranks. To borrow a phrase, I think having a panel of ECW experts part of the Encampment schedule kicks things up a notch.”
For updated information about the GCC Civil War Encampment, visit https://civilwaratgcc.wordpress.com/.
Besides the Encampment, GCC’s Civil War Initiative (CWI) is pleased to be part of the upcoming Commemorative Civil War Ball planned for March 21 at the Clarion Hotel in Batavia. GCC is a co-sponsor of this event being put on by the Daughters of the American Civil War, a Batavia group dedicated to honoring women of the Civil War era.
The Ball, set for 7-10 p.m., will feature Civil War music provided by City Fiddle with a dance master to call the dances. Dance instruction will be offered free of charge to ball attendees from 1 to 3 p.m. the afternoon of the event in the Clarion ballroom.
Pre-sale tickets for the ball are available online by clicking here. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Genesee Veterans Support Group and the Genesee County Historians Association.
In addition the popular CWI lecture series continues this spring with the following upcoming events which are free and open to the public:
Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at the Albion Campus Center
Sarah Handley-Cousins, a PhD candidate at the University of Buffalo, will speak about Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.
Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at the Dansville Campus Center
GCC adjunct history instructor Dan Hamner will speak about “The Civil War in Indian Country.” Connections between the Civil War and Native American culture, politics, and diplomacy are often overlooked. Hamner will examine them through the eyes of three key Native American figures from the period.
Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. in Room T102, Batavia Campus
A panel of GCC Historians moderated by Prof. Derek Maxfield will address “Reconsidering the Civil War: GCC Historians Consider Historiography and American Memory.” The discussion will feature Professors Garth Swanson, Charles Scruggs, Timothy Palmer, Peter Francione and Dan Hamner as well as Orleans County Campus Centers Associate Dean Jim Simon.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the Medina Campus Center
A special panel discussion moderated by Prof. Maxfield entitled, “Reconsidering the Civil War and American Memory” will feature Assoc. Dean Jim Simon, Dan Hamner, GCC adjunct instructor and Bill Lattin, former Orleans County historian.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the Dansville Campus Center
Author, historian, and reenactor Robert Yott presents “Lincoln’s Other War.” In order to preserve the Union, President Lincoln had to court the border states, manage inept or politically ambitious generals, and hold the radical faction of his party at bay. Yott will speak about the “fire in the rear” that required Lincoln’s constant attention and constituted his “other war.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County Highway Department employee Ryan Hill fills a pothole today at the intersection of Knowlesville Road and Route 31 in the Town of Ridgeway. (Greg Rosato is pictured in back.)
The Highway Department has two crews out today using Cold Patch to fill potholes, which have proliferated from the punishing winter.
Greg Rosato has a shovel full of Cold Patch for one of the potholes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The Holley Waterfalls, one of Orleans County’s most scenic spots, is covered in snow and ice, except for an open spot at the bottom of the falls where the water is still roaring.
The snowy photos were taken on Friday. I’ve contrasted them with photos taken from similar angles in early October 2014.
The water flows under the Erie Canal from the east branch of Sandy Creek.
The falls appear frozen but they are still very much alive and moving under the ice.
This spot is popular in the fall and summer for wedding pictures and senior portraits.
A pedestrian bridge stretches across the creek.
After about 10 weeks of bitter cold, the temperatures will warm up this week with highs in the upper 30s through Friday.
Photos by Howard Balaban
MEDINA – Medina High School hosted the Mustang Band’s annual basket raffle Friday evening, with an estimated 500 people attending to bid on about 200 items.
According to raffle volunteers, the event typically brings in between $6,500 and $7,500 for the band, and they estimated this year’s festivities raised closer to the higher amount.
Provided photo – The Medina Winterguard performs at Lancaster High School on Saturday, an event with 27 guard units.
Medina was the only unit in the Scholastic A class and the Mustangs scored 72.26, another increase for the season.
Medina will host a Winterguard competition this Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. with 19 units from Western New York and Canada. Medina is scheduled to perform at 7:47 p.m.
Medina’s Winterguard uses movement, costumes, acrobatics and spinning flags and rifles to depict the metamorphosis from caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Fourth annual ‘Run for God’ starts in snow
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Before heading out on about a 2-mile run and walk today, a group of 50 people in the “Run for God” program held hands and joined in a prayer outside the Albion Free Methodist Church.
Today was the first run, which alternated with 60-second runs followed by 90-second walks. The program builds up participants to complete a 5-kilometer race, which will be at the Albion Strawberry Festival on June 13.
Mark Moore, front, and Thom Jennings were out for the kick-off session of the 12 week “Run for God” program organized by the Albion Running Club and Albion Free Methodist Church.
The participants will be getting together for a weekly run at 3 p.m. at the Free Methodist Church. They share running tips and spiritual lessons. They can also join for a group run at 2 p.m. Saturday with the “Fit in 50” through the Albion Running Club that meets at GCASA’s community room at East Avenue across from the middle school.
Participants are also urged to get out on their own or join friends for another run/walk during the week.
This year’s program includes a kids’ running group. Clara Bolton, center, is among the young runners in the program. Her mother Dana Bolton is one of the leaders for the kids’ running program.
Tom Smith, left, and Sheila Lemcke are the adult leaders for Run for God. They are sharing Bible verses and running tips before the run/walk.
Lemcke started running through Run for God and lost more than 100 pounds and finished a half marathon.
“The best way to start is by taking one step at a time,” Lemcke told the group.
More participants are welcome to join the program, which next meets 3 p.m. Sunday or the “Fit in 50” at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Provided photo – Participants in the “Just Roll With It” event are pictured last Saturday at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
Press Release, Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern
ALBION – Just Friends, a youth mentoring program through Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, held the “Just Roll With It” event last Saturday.
The event was held at Oak Orchard Bowl and about 60 people attended, including children participants, parents/guardians, mentors, volunteers and staff. Just Friends would like to thank Randy Hanks of Oak Orchard Bowl for being a wonderful host and providing a fun afternoon for all.
Just Friends is a youth mentoring program for children who live in Orleans and Genesee counties. Participants range in age starting at age 5 and are matched with positive adult role models in the community who act as a mentor.
Children are referred to the Just Friends program by social workers, school counselors, family members and friends.
Each child is welcomed into the program and invited to every event in Orleans County. The goal of the program is to match a child (mentee) with a positive adult (mentor) in the community.
The mentor is required to spend four hours a month with the mentee in addition to attending events held by Just Friends. Just Friends also provides “Back to School Days” every August, and backpacks and necessary school supplies are provided for every child in the program.
At the “Just Roll With It” event, all school supplies were replenished to get the children through the remainder of the school year. Just Friends encourages and assists children to be prepared for school as well as giving them confidence by having all needed supplies.
The next event for Orleans County Just Friends will be held at Hoag Library on April 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. This event is “Snacks & a Movie” and will include a family movie, popcorn and drinks, an Easter egg hunt and special Easter treats for each child participant.
Just Friends is accepting donations of Easter baskets, plastic Easter eggs, candy and small toys for this event. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about Just Friends, please call Jacki Mowers-Sciarabba, program coordinator at (585) 589-9210.
Provided photos
June Persia, an employee at the Save-A-Lot in Holley, waters bouquets of flowers for Hospice of Orleans. The agency had 60 volunteers selling flowers at 35 locations this past week.
Last year the fundraiser raised more than $8,000 to support Hospice services for residents of Orleans County.
Lynn Burgess, owner of Lynn’s Salon on West Park Street in Albion, is one of the new businesses selling flowers for Hospice. George’s Fancher Road Service in Albion also agreed to help sell the flowers for the first time.
At Sam’s Diner in Holley, Joe Andreano of Holley, 95, bought a Spring Bouquet for his wife. “I’ve got a good wife,” he said with a smile.
The local school districts sold flowers this week. The following businesses also supported the event by selling the flower bouquets:
In Albion – Ace Hardware, Albion Fitness Center, Arc of Orleans County, Cobblestone Country Federal Credit Union, Country Lane Veterinary Services, CRFS, Crosby’s, First Niagara, George’s Fancher Road Service, Fischer’s Newsroom. Heads Up Salon, Lakes Plain Medical, Lynn’s Salon, Rainbow Preschool, Village House, Save-A-Lot and Crosby’s in Gaines.
In Holley/Clarendon – Save-A-Lot, Crosby’s, First Niagara, JP’s Farm Market, Sam’s Diner and Stockham Lumber.
In Kendall – K & K Crosby.
In Lyndonville – EZ Shop, M & T Bank and Signature Styles.
In Medina – Bank of Castile, Bread Basket, C & H Computer, Cas-Nic Cookies, Crosby’s, Key Bank, Lake Plains Medical, Medina Memorial Hospital and The Book Shoppe.
The bouquets are available today at Save-A-Lot in Albion and Tractor Supply in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Marlee Diehl will lead 70 clubs in WNY, Southern Ontario
Photos by Tom Rivers – Marlee Diehl is pictured by the Rotary sign outside Tillman’s Village Inn, where the Albion Rotary Club meets every Thursday for lunch and a program at 12:15 p.m.
ALBION – A member of the Albion Rotary Club is on track to become district governor of the 70 Rotary Clubs in Western New York and Southern Ontario.
Marlee Diehl will be the third woman to serve in the role as district governor for District 7090. Her term starts in 2017-18.
She has been active in many district events and committees, and will continue in the district leadership until her term starts as district governor. Diehl already serves as an assistant district governor for the clubs in Orleans and Genesee counties, and helps plan the annual district conference.
Retaining and growing membership, committing to community service and celebrating the volunteers in Rotary will be a part of her message as district governor, Diehl said.
“Fun and fellowship are the biggest things in Rotary while doing good in the community,” she said.
The 70 clubs had about 3,200 members collectively about 10 years ago and are down to about 2,400 now.
Diehl wants to reach out to younger adults, perhaps through Rotaract Clubs which have less of a time commitment for members. There are three Rotaracts right now in the district that are affiliated with colleges. There are also 18 Interact Clubs at high schools, including one in Albion.
Diehl wants to engage more students in Rotary, and also reach out to retired people and other community members who also have a lot of energy to give to Rotary and the community.
She will encourage existing members to invite prospective members. She also wants existing Rotarians to celebrate each other, because many Rotarians are committed to service in their community and beyond.
“Every Rotary Club and every Rotarian is different and they all come with their own life story,” she said.
Marlee Diehl has been active in Rotary since 1994, when she joined a club in Hamilton, Ontario.
Diehl’s husband Bill is current president of the Albion Rotary Club. They met at a Rotary conference in Toronto in 2009, when they were both at a training session for incoming Rotary presidents.
Bill was to be president of the Albion club for the first time in 2009-10, while Marlee was to be president of the Hamilton, Ontario club.
They became friends at that conference and would marry in December 2011. Mrs. Diehl emigrated and now lives with her husband in Carlton.
For about 35 years she worked as a recruiter, helping companies find executives and leaders in management. While connecting with business leaders, she noticed many wore Rotary pins or had Rotary posters on their walls.
When she was looking for an outlet for community service, she turned to Rotary and joined the Hamilton club in 1994.
“I believe that those who find success in life should also give back to their community and the world at large in as many ways as they can find,” Diehl said.
She is also active at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion and the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association.
A local Rotary Club recently had one of its members serve as district governor. John Heise of Holley led the district during 2010-11.
MURRAY – A Hamlin man was arrested on Thursday following a three-month investigation into the sale and distribution of cocaine in Orleans County and the Town of Hamlin, the Orleans County Major Felony Task Force reported today.
Joel E. Johnson, 31, of 15 Fox Hollow St. was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (a Class B felony).
Law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence and seized over 20 grams of cocaine, a quantity of prescription hydrocodone pills, over $1,100 in cash, and scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia.
Johnson was arraigned in the Murray Town Court by Town Justice Theodore Spada. Johnson was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. He is to return to Town Court on March 9 at 5 p.m.
Johnson faces further charges in Monroe County regarding criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminally using drug paraphernalia, the Task Force reported.
The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force executed the search warrant along with the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.
