By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Editorial
Photo by Tom Rivers – Amish men work on building a new milking parlor on Friday at Marcus Miller’s farm on Fruit Avenue in Ridgeway.
Properties were abandoned, fields were unplowed, and barns looked to be on the verge of collapse.
It was late 1990s and early 2000s when the Amish and Mennonites started to move into Yates and Ridgeway, buying land that had been fallow and forlorn for years.
They started farms and many other businesses that would need the support of the community, including the outside “English,” to survive. I remember when the businesses started opening. I was doubtful general merchandise stores could draw enough customers, especially on Waterbury Road, Millers Road and some of these off-the-beaten-path locations.
But many of these stores have been a big success, expanding (but not too big) and in some cases relocating where there is more space. There are now about two dozen Amish and two dozen Mennonite families in the county, mostly in Ridgeway and Yates.
The Amish community has been in the news in recent days after a fire on Tuesday at a milking parlor on Fruit Avenue in Ridgeway. Marcus Miller had just built the milking parlor two years ago for his herd of 45 cows. The cows survived, but parlor was a total loss.
Marcus Miller watches firefighters while they work to put out a fire at his milking parlor on Tuesday morning.
The former building has been removed and new framing and metal siding installed for a new structure. This photo was taken on Friday afternoon.
The crumbled parlor was pushed off site on Tuesday and the framework started for a new milking parlor. Miller’s cows needed to be milked and a neighboring dairy offered to fill in until Miller was back up and running.
The men in the Amish community have stepped away from their own businesses for a little while to help get Miller’s parlor rebuilt. Amish have come from Holmes County in Ohio, including about a dozen who arrived on Friday and will keep working at the site today.
The new building, a replica at 42 by 70 feet, is expected to be enclosed today. Miller said he will then work to get the plumbing and milking equipment installed. He could be milking cows at the site again in two weeks.
“It’s been a blessing for everybody to see the help,” he said at the farm on Friday.
The Amish work ethic and their generous spirit has inspired many this past week, as it should.
They have another trait that serves them well: optimism.
Houghton Mifflin provides this definition of optimism: “A tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation.”
The first Amish family moved to Yates in 1998. The first Mennonites arrived in 2000. An estimated 200 now live in the county.
In 2000, the county had a total population of 44,164 people, according to the U.S. Census. That dropped to 42,883 in 2010 and the most recent estimate in 2013 put it at 42,335, a 4.14 percent drop or 1,829 fewer people since 2000.
State-wide, New York grew 3.56 percent or by 674,670 people in those 13 years (from 18,976,457 in 2000 to 19,651,127 in 2013).
In Orleans we have been shedding residents because many people don’t see enough opportunity in the community. They see neighborhoods in decline. They want out.
But talk to the Amish and Mennonite, and they see opportunity. They were drawn by the rural community and the low-priced real estate. They like the landscapes and the distance from the cities. They saw their neighbors are nice and their customers are loyal.
They looked around and liked what they saw, even the houses, barns and farmland that needed lots of attention.
They were up for the tasks of improving the land, the properties and starting fresh. We have been a stronger and better community because of their energy and work.
You hear a lot of gloom and doom around here, from residents, business owners and our school and government officials. There are many vacant and run-down houses, shuttered schools, and abandoned factories and commercial sites. Several bridges are closed, and many parks and cemeteries look neglected.
As the to-do list gets longer, you sense despair among the residents and local leaders.
I stood near Miller while the smoke poured out of his parlor on Tuesday morning. It had to be a devastating feeling. Miller is 34 with a wife and two children. He moved from Ohio to Ridgeway in 2012.
Miller has had plenty of help getting the site cleared and rebuilt. But he deserves credit for not walking away, for recommitting during a hardship, for seeing potential amidst the ruin.
That is one of the great lessons we should learn from the Amish: to not be so focused on the bad and the challenges, and to instead look at the potential, and to commit ourselves to the task of making it better.
A lake effect storm is dropping 4 to 10 inches of snow on Orleans County, prompting officials to close all local schools today in the county.
The following are closed: Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina, as well as the Orleans County Christian School and the Orleans-Niagara BOCES in Medina.
Photo courtesy of Holley Fire Chief Pete Hendrickson – Firefighters respond to the scene at the railroad crossing in Hulberton earlier today when a train struck a pickup truck.
Scott Christ’s pickup was mangled after the accident.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess
MURRAY – A Holley was injured this morning when the pickup truck he was operating was struck by a freight train in the Town of Murray.
The incident occurred at about 11:20 a.m. in the 3600 block of Hulberton Road, where it crosses the Falls Railroad Line, between Telegraph and Lynch Roads.
Scott P. Christ, 51, was operating the 2010 Dodge Ram, travelling north, when it was struck by the eastbound train. Christ, who was the sole occupant of the truck, was transported by Monroe Ambulance to Strong West Emergency in Brockport. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The train, owned and operated by Genesee Valley Transportation Company in Batavia, consisted of a locomotive and two freight cars. One was a tanker containing ammonium nitrate and the other was refrigerated storage containing frozen vegetables. Neither of these cars nor their contents was compromised as a result of the collision. There was minimal damage to the locomotive.
The incident was investigated by Deputy E.N. Fuller, assisted by Sgt. D.W. Covis and Lt. C.M. Bourke. Investigation has determined that the railroad crossing lights were functioning properly at the time of the incident.
Personnel from the Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Departments and Holley Volunteer Ambulance also assisted at the scene. Investigator(s) from Genesee Valley Transportation responded to the incident as well.
MEDINA – Orleans Radio, an on-line site that has been streaming music by local musicians, will host a live debate on Sunday about the proposed dissolution of the Village of Medina.
The debate will be broadcast live from 1 to 3 p.m., and can be accessed at OrleansRadio.com. Alex Feig is the site’s founder and he will host the debate on Sunday, trying to help educate the public before the Jan. 20 vote. Village residents will go to the polls from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center to decide if the village government should be dissolved.
The debate will include dissolution supporters and foes. Medina Mayor Andrew Meier and One Medina leader Dean Bellack will have a chance to advocate for dissolution. Dissolution opponents – Village Trustee Mike Sidari and former Trustee Owen Toale – will get a chance to share their views.
Feig will moderate the debate, which will be broadcast from the conference room at the Paper Boys. The speakers are expected to discuss the dissolution proposal, impact on village services and taxes, voting eligibility and collateral effects on the community, according to Feig.
The debate will be available to hear in a podcast after the live broadcast.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Orleans County residents have been busy this morning shoveling, snow-blowing and plowing, trying to dig out from a lot of snow. Up to 10 inches was expected in parts of Orleans.
In the top photo, Michelle Bonnice brushes off her car on Platt Street in Albion. She is visiting her parents, Phil and Harriette Greaser.
Don Powell shovels the front of the Greasers’ property, which faces the Orleans County Courthouse.
Winds whip snow from the top of the buildings in downtown Albion.
Visibility was starting to improve at 9 morning as cars pass along the Main Street lift bridge in Albion. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook until 10 a.m. today.
All of the schools closed today due to the snow and poor visibility in the morning. This car is pictured on Platt Street near the Erie Canal.
Temperatures are forecast to reach a high of 20 degrees today, followed by highs of 16 on Saturday and 28 on Sunday, according to the Weather Service.
MEDINA – After serving in local law enforcement for almost 27 years, newly appointed Ridgeway Town Justice Joe Kujawa is seeing things from a different perspective.
“I knew I wouldn’t be a police officer forever,” Kujawa said.
A few years ago, when his shift at the Medina Police Department changed to days, he started having much more interaction with the local courts in Ridgeway and Shelby.
“I got to know Larry (Sanderson) and Dawn (Keppler), and I got interested in the other side of the law,” he said. With the police department, he said it was difficult to see a case through to the end unless it went to trial. (Sanderson was the judge in Ridgeway and Keppler serves as Shelby’s judge.)
“It’s nice to make that step to the other side and see cases get completed,” Kujawa noted.
Kujawa’s first day behind the bench was Jan. 5 with a docket of about 20 cases. He was accompanied by Keppler. She was there as a mentor in some cases, and she took the lead in a few, Kujawa said, “because they were cases she wanted to finish.”
The new cases were handled by the new judge, who thanked his new colleague.
“Dawn’s been great throughout this whole process,” he said. “She’s been a great mentor, and she’s a real good person.”
Much of the month leading up to Kujawa’s first day behind the bench was hectic, as his retirement from the Medina Police Department took effect and he spent a week in Albany training for his new post. And, like most people starting something new, Kujawa said there were some nerves to battle the night of Jan. 4.
“I still got butterflies,” he chuckled. “I made sure to get there early on Monday, and looked over the docket. When all eyes are on the new judge, you want to make a good first impression.”
This past Monday’s docket featured penal law cases like disorderly conduct, trespassing, and other similar types of offenses. There were no felonies over which to preside. As Kujawa explained, “All cases start in local court, and the only time a town judge would have jurisdiction over a felony is at the initial arraignment.” The felonies then move up to Orleans County Court before Judge James Punch.
The arraignments can happen at any time, and both Kujawa and Keppler, along with Yates Town Justice Don Grabowski, all are perennially “on call” for such things and serve as back-ups to each other.
Kujawa was appointed by the Ridgeway Town Board after receiving the endorsement of the Republican Committee. His name was chosen from a group of three candidates. While he said pursuing a judgeship was something he had discussed with Sanderson, the latter’s declining health led to the process happening sooner than expected. Sanderson resigned as a local judge in November after 22 years. (Sanderson died on Monday at age 73. Click here to see his obituary.)
Leaving the police force behind meant leaving behind brothers in blue, which is something Kujawa said he will miss about his long-time job.
“They’re a good bunch of individuals who love their work,” he said. “I’ll also miss the daily interactions with the people I saw, the merchants I visited. Everybody likes to see police officers on the streets, and I’d stop by businesses to talk.”
After wearing a uniform for so long, putting on a black robe “felt different” but training in Albany helped Kujawa put the new garb in perspective.
“They said, ‘Town justices are the gatekeepers of the judicial system,'” he recalled. “You’ve got to respect the power of the position, and others should, too.”
The change in Kujawa’s role in the community, and when it occurred, created a bit of a whirlwind for his family during the holidays, but the adjustment has not been too difficult.
As the saying goes, behind every good man is a great woman, and Kujawa’s wife Barb has been supportive of his new post. She did note, however, that when he first mentioned his desire to serve on the bench, it came as a shock.
“I was used to him being a cop,” she said. Becoming a judge “happened sooner than we expected, but I’m glad he’s happy. I’m happy, too.”
Photo by Howard Balaban – Barb and Joe Kujawa are pictured at home.
Barb added that her job in town – she is manager of the gift shop side of Rosenkranz Pharmacy in downtown Medina – has allowed a number of people to stop by and extend their congratulations.
She also said that the couple’s three children are proud of their dad.
“They saw that he wanted something, he pursued it, and he took the proper steps to achieve it,” she said.
Kujawa had noted how Barb was “still adjusting to me not having a set schedule every day.” However, his wife gently disagreed.
“Joe’s not a ‘sitter,'” she said. “I know that he won’t be staying home; he’ll always be out doing something.”
Barb said the most telling difference with her husband’s new job was a newfound sense of security, for even though Medina is not necessarily a hotbed for violent crime, one never knows.
“The biggest difference to me is watching the sirens go by, and not having to worry about him being in the car, or where he’s going,” she said.
She recalled how she used to stay up at night listening to the police scanner and worrying about her husband’s well-being. “Finally I told myself I had to stop,” she said.
However, in other parts of the country there are spouses of officers who do continue to worry, as they live in places where police officers’ actions have come under increased national scrutiny thanks to the advent of instant communication and social media, Kujawa was asked his opinion about such things as anti-police protests in New York City and Ferguson, Mo. He said seeing the news left him feeling both anger and sympathy.
“If they’re so angry with the police and don’t trust the police, who will they call if they need help?” he said. “It’s culture shock for me to see those kinds of things, because Medina isn’t like that.
“Still, the police are necessary,” he continued. “Everybody wants the law enforced…and people need to remember that those on the job are trained to make split-second decisions.”
He explained that in today’s world many split-second decisions are dissected for months after the fact.
“We should present someone a scenario and ask them what they’d do,” Kujawa suggested, before snapping his fingers. “Time’s up. What’d you decide? That’s how much time a police officer may have to make a decision.”
He further stated, “I feel for the guys on the other side of the tape in those areas. I can’t imagine the intense focus on them, and the fear they must have of making a mistake.”
Yet with the news focusing on the proverbial worst, Kujawa said he is looking forward to possibly seeing people at their best. After all, as a judge he now has the authority to officiate wedding ceremonies.
“That’ll be different,” he smiled.
Kujawa said moving forward in his judgeship would not have been possible without the support of his entire family, from his wife, to the couple’s children, and their grandchildren. The two oldest are in kindergarten and decided to help him out this past Christmas.
“They got me a box of candy canes for Christmas,” he said. “They told me they were for me to eat in case I got hungry on the bench.”
ALBION – Tops Friendly Markets announced today that it will close the pharmacy department in its Albion store and use that space to offer shoppers more product choices. The company will continue to serve customers from 52 pharmacy locations within its network of stores.
The pharmacy department closing at the Albion store located at 408 West Ave. will be effective later this month and is part of Tops’ decision to closed pharmacy departments in 27 of its 79 pharmacies.
Prescription files at the Albion Tops will be transferred to the Rite Aid pharmacy in Albion at 10 East Ave., Tops officials said.
Tops and Rite Aid are working together closely to ensure the transition will be as seamless as possible for customers.
“Tops does not have a one-size-fits-all approach to our stores, which means our neighborhood locations vary greatly by size and offering.,” said Frank Curci, Tops chairman, president and CEO. “Space inside some of our supermarkets is at a premium and some of our locations are not filling enough prescriptions to make the most efficient use of our resources. A business decision was made to close out select pharmacy departments.”
In the available pharmacy spaces, Tops will continue expanding its offerings in health products, beauty products, fresh food, deli and other product areas. Customers will have more access to a wider selection of products, while still having a conveniently located outlet for their prescription needs, Curci said.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – This photo was taken at Crosby’s in Albion when gas dropped below $3. On Wednesday, the price was down to $2.79 at the same station.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) wrote Attorney General Eric Schneiderman again on Tuesday, urging him to investigate the disparity in gas prices from county to county.
Hawley, whose district is comprised of Genesee County and parts of Monroe and Orleans counties, said the noticeably higher price of gas in his hometown of Batavia as compared to prices paid in surrounding counties. Hawley has written Schneiderman several times on this issue, urging him to investigate and take action on the fluctuation of gas prices in his district.
“In most instances Genesee and Orleans county gas prices range much higher than the surrounding counties,” wrote Hawley. “I have seen firsthand the pricing of gas stations in Batavia costing $.15-$.25 more per gallon than the various stations located in the surrounding contiguous counties: Erie and Monroe. I know there are many variables which determine the price per gallon of gas but it seems to me that the price should not differ significantly from county to county.”
Hawley has raised this issue before in the past five years. He said many of constituents feel frustration with the drastic fluctuations in prices.
Doug Jordan of Hamlin sent in this photo of a horse and buggy from last year when he lived in Lyndonville.
Orleans County could be hit with 4 to 6 inches of snow tonight through 10 a.m. Friday.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a lake effect snow advisory for Orleans and Niagara counties from 10 p.m. today through 10 a.m. Friday. About 3 to 5 inches are expected tonight with another inch in the morning.
The snow will be combined with southwest winds at 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45 mph. That could reduce visibility to less than a quarter mile at times.
“If you will be traveling across the region be prepared for rapid changes in road and visibility conditions,” the Weather Service said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Village, about same size as Medina, dissolved after 2011
MEDINA – On March 16, 2010, the Village of Seneca Falls made history. In a narrow vote, village residents approved the largest village dissolution in New York.
Seneca Falls had 6,681 village residents in 2010, according to the Census. That is just a little bigger than the Village of Medina, which has 6,065 residents.
Dissolution barely passed in Seneca Falls with a 1,198-1,112 vote. Dissolution took effect on Dec. 31, 2011.
Don Earle, Seneca Falls town supervisor, will be in Medina on Jan. 16 to share his community’s experience with dissolution, discussing impacts on taxes and services, and the community’s reaction to the changes.
He will be at Medina Theatre on Jan. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. He will be joined by Don Colquhoun, chairman of the Medina Dissolution Committee; and Dean Bellack, one of the leaders of One Medina, which favors the village dissolution.
“It’s very important to hear from someone who has done a successful dissolution,” Bellack said. “We want to show people the end result.”
Earle’s presentation will be from 5:30 to 6:30 with a reception to follow for residents to meet Earle and the other presenters.
Medina village residents will vote on the issue on Jan. 20 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center.
The town leaders in Shelby and Ridgeway have bitterly opposed dissolution since a plan was approved last April by the Dissolution Committee. That plan, which keeps existing village services, doesn’t need to be followed by the towns if dissolution is approved.
Village DPW, police and firefighters all have stepped up efforts in recent weeks to oppose dissolution.
“A lot of people are focused on fear,” Bellack said. “The town supervisor from Seneca Falls understands the issue and the transition. He can help people understand how it can look in the future.”
One Medina wants to dissolve the village, and then work towards a consolidation of the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway. The town leaders say they aren’t interested in a consolidation between Ridgeway and Shelby, but Bellack said a merger would make sense in the future.
“I believe in my heart people will embrace dissolution,” Bellack said. “Ultimately one government rather than three is a better business model for forever. Dissolution is the first step and it’s the hardest.”
The Shelby and Ridgeway town officials also are having a joint public forum on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. That meeting will be at the Medina High School Auditorium, and town officials will urge village residents to oppose dissolution.
Press Release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni III
ALBION – The Albion Police Department has arrested five people who were allegedly either responsible for committing crimes and/or involved in the possession of stolen property taken during crimes that occurred in November and December.
The Albion Police Department has recovered numerous items that are stolen or believed to have been stolen. The items were seized during search warrants and as a results of the arrests.
The following were arrested:
Farrell
Jeffrey J. Farrell Jr., 27, of 431 West State St., Albion. He was charged on Dec. 20 with six counts of petty larceny, three counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, one count of unlawful dealing with a child in the first degree, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
He was jailed on $5,000 bail. He is to return to Albion Town Court at 9 a.m. on Jan. 14.
Vitale
Christopher N. Vitale, 29, of 260 East Park St., Albion. He was charged on Dec. 27 with two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, one count of unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree, one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, and NYS parole warrant.
He was jailed on $10,000 bail and is to return to Albion Town Court at 9 a.m. on Jan. 13.
Vitale
Dawn M. Vitale, 40, of 260 East Park St., Albion. She was charged on Dec. 27 with two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, one count of unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree, and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana.
Vitale was released on her own recognizance. She is to appear at Albion Town Court at 9 a.m. on Jan. 13.
Thomas
Christine L. Thomas, 26, of 431 West State St., Lot 9, Albion. She was charged on Dec. 29 with one count of criminal possession of stolen property, one count unlawful dealing with a child in the first degree, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
Thomas was released on her own recognizance. She is to appear at Albion Town Court at 9 a.m. on Jan. 13.
Vasquez
Thomas R. Vasquez Jr., 28, 309 Catherine St., Medina. He was charged on Jan. 6 with two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree.
Vasquez was released on his own recognizance. He is to appear at Albion Town Court at 9 a.m. on Jan. 20.
Three search warrants were conducted as part of the investigation, with two in the Village of Albion at 431 West State St. Lot 9 and 260 East Park St. A search warrant was also executed in the City of Batavia at 136 Summit St.
As a result of the search warrant in Batavia, Philip R. Ayala, 29, of 136 Summit St., was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, and unlawful possession of marijuana. He is being held without bail.
The owners of many of the items now in possession of the Albion Police Department are yet to be identified. Albion Police is asking residents in the village and surrounding areas to check for items that may have been stolen or may be missing without their knowledge.
The items recovered range from small hand tools, power tools, air compressors and snow blowers.
Residents should contact the Albion Police at (585) 589-5627 if they think they are missing items that may have been recovered by the Police Department.
These crimes had a great impact on the victims and continued until aggressive investigative police action was taken, Police Chief Roland Nenni III said.
The investigation was very time consuming and the officers who worked on the cases spent much of their time away from their families during the holidays. The successful investigation was made possible because of the combined efforts of the Albion Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Air and Marine, Batavia Police and Emergency Response Team, and the Genesee County Drug Task Force.
KENDALL – In this picture from the early 1900s, we get a view of the Nelson Stevens Furniture Store in Kendall.
Some of the visible merchandise includes: mattresses, rocking chairs, a Morris chair, a roll-top desk, coil springs for beds, framed pictures, chinaware, and even rubber boots. The store was illuminated with acetylene gas lights from the ceiling.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – The fire at a milking parlor on Tuesday morning killed a pregnant dog and two calves, fire investigator Walter Batt said today.
The dog was inside the milking parlor and was due to soon give birth. Farm owner Marcus Miller used a heat lamp to try to keep the dog warm.
The dog was contained inside by 4-by-8-foot sheets of OSB (Oriented Strand Boards). Batt said the lamp caught the OSB boards on fire.
The milking parlor was a total loss and was removed on Tuesday afternoon. Miller and the Amish community already have started to frame a new milking parlor that Miller said he hopes to have up and running in about three weeks. His herd of 45 cows all survived the fire and will be milked at a neighbor’s farm until the new parlor is ready.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Barre firefighters John Egloff, left, and Pat Lamka run a chain through a chimney at 13496 West Countyhouse Rd. They also put dry chemical powder in the chimney to help put out a fire and break up the creosote.
Firefighters were called to the scene at 2:10 p.m. Albion, Medina and Barre firefighters worked to clear the chimney in the house owned by Jerry Belcher.
Dale Banker (right) is the county emergency management coordinator. He joined firefighters at the scene. It was only 7 degrees out.
