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Albion names English teacher its Educator of the Year

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2015 at 12:00 am

School district also recognizes retiring staff

Emily Wemmer

ALBION – A high school English teacher who has served as advisor to the Student Council has been named “Educator of the Year” by the Board of Education.

Emily Wemmer was announced as the top educator during an awards reception on Monday, just before the Board of Education meeting.

Board President Margy Brown noted that Wemmer started her career at Albion in 2007 and attained tenure in 2010. She has served a Student Council advisor since 2009.

“Her work with this group has really made an impact with her students and the community,” Brown said. “The group has made a commitment to community service and runs several clothing and food drives throughout the year. They host an annual Costume Closet in October of each year to help families celebrate Halloween.”

The Student Council also has been active with the Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House with events such as the annual “Walk for a Cause” in September.

The group collects cleaning supplies for the Ronald McDonald House and pop tabs are donated to the Golisano Children’s Hospital. The hospital recycles the tabs and the proceeds help fund life-saving treatments, Brown said.

Wemmer and the Student Council also organize the annual Senior Citizens’ Day, which is popular with both students and seniors.

Provided photo – The following Albion Central School staff are retiring after this school year, from left: Judy Brace, Linda Logan, Dawn Bower, Pat West and Sharon Lang. Missing from photo include Anna Klosin and Richard Sanford.

The Board of Education also recognized retiring staff during Monday’s reception.

The following are retiring: Judy Brace after 27 years, Linda Logan after 34 years, Anna Klosin after 30 years, Dawn Bower with 23 years of service, Pat West with 22 years, Sharon Lang with 19 years and Richard Sanford with 15 years.

This group of retirees has more than 170 combined years of service to the Albion Central School.

The board also recognized teachers and staff for the following milestone anniversaries:

10 years of service: Jill Albertson, Melody Beecher, Dawn Brower, Patricia Levandowski, Holly McNair and Cassondra Schomske.

15 years: Lu Johnson, Christopher Keller, Adam Krenning, Shawn Ragonese, Jennifer Rowe, Richard Sanford, Kevin Smith and Angie Wolfe.

20 years: Kevin Feder, Cathy Galbreth, Carrie Kozody, Terri Monacelli, Toni Plummer, Tom Ritchey, Pam Sargent, Richard Shrout, Sue Webster and Kelly Wadhams.

25 years: Jodi Shaffer, Karen Spierdowis and Lisa Werner.

30 years: David Draper, Paul Drought, Ralph Englert, Anna Klosin, Douglas Mergler, Ellen Reichert Goff, Gary Simboli, Wayne Wadhams and Kathy Winans.

35 years: Linda Logan.

Mustang band wins many first place awards at Gorham pageant

Posted 4 June 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – Medina Mustang Band members are pictured with some of the band’s awards from the Gorham Pageant of Bands on May 29-30.

Press Release
Medina Mustang Band

MEDINA – The Marcus Whitman Central School District held its 54th Gorham Pageant of Bands May 29-30. This pageant represents an opportunity for students in the various band programs to come together and perform.

Twelve schools in total participated in the various components including concert, twirlers, percussion, color guard, jazz and parade. Of these, seven participated in parade.

In Jazz Band, Medina Junior High Class A earned 1st place with a score of 89.5. In High School Class A, Medina placed first with a score of 97.5 followed by Albion with 95.

Medina’s Specialty award for jazz was a Middle School soloist, Kody Leno, a trombonist. In High School, the jazz band received awards for best rhythm, brass and woodwinds sections.

Medina was the only competitor in Twirling and took first place with a score of 93.5.

In Color Guard, Medina earned first place in Scholastic A with a score of 96.4. Medina earned first place in Percussion Standstill with a score of 97.

Concert band competition concluded with Medina Middle School earning first place with a score of 167.5 and the High School with 191.5.

The parade down Main Street included seven schools. In High School Class A, Medina took first place with a score of 96 while Albion in the High School Open Class took first place with a score of 87.5. Medina also earned Class Champion and Grand Champion.

The Robert Steele Award was started in 1994 and named after Jim Steele’s father who was the band director in Gorham (Marcus Whitman) for 37 years. It is given to band directors, administrators, boosters who promote music education and are a strong role model and supporter of their school’s music program. This year’s recipient was Shawn Halquist, band director at Brockport High School.

The Medina Mustang Band and all of its components are under the co-direction of Jim Steele and Cheri Pritchard. Friday is the Band Banquet and Awards Ceremony and marks the official end of the 2014-2015 season.

Democrats endorse retired Medina police officer for sheriff

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2015 at 12:00 am

ALBION – The Orleans County Democratic Committee unanimously endorsed a retired Medina police officer and investigator to be the county’s next sheriff.

Donald Organisciak has Democrats backing to run against Republican-endorsed Tom Drennan, the current chief deputy of the Sheriff’s Department, and Randy Bower, a county dispatcher who has the Conservative Party endorsement. Incumbent Scott Hess is retiring after Dec. 31.

About 20 members of the Democratic Party Committee met on Wednesday and gave the party endorsement to Organisciak.

“He has a good track record,” said Jeanne Crane, chairwoman of the Democratic Party.

The Democrats last month endorsed Fred Miller for another two-year term as county legislator. Miller, the owner of Family Hardware in downtown Albion, is the only Democrat on the seven-member County Legislature. The Republican Party opted against endorsing a candidate to run against him this election.

Democrats endorsed another candidate for Legislature on Wednesday. James White, a current senior in college, was backed to run for legislator against incumbent Don Allport for an at-large seat.

Crane said White was been active at Democratic Party events.

“He’s always been interested in politics,” she said about White. “The committee felt he was young and we don’t want to discourage anyone.”

Crane said the party still has time to endorse additional candidates for county offices.

Strawberry Festival picks royalty, poster for upcoming event

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Strawberry Festival Committee has named the royalty and the winning poster for this year’s 29th annual festival, set for June 12-13.

To be considered for the royalty, Albion students had to write an essay about this year’s festival theme: “Hook, Line, and Strawberry!”

The royalty will be included in the parade at 10 a.m. on June 13 and will serve as ambassadors during the festival. The group includes, from left: Chase Froman, king; Kelsey Froman, princess; Vivian Rivers, queen; and William Barnosky, prince.

The festival committee also picked the winning student artwork that will be used on posters and other promotion materials.

Meghan Hurley holds the winning poster with the fishing and strawberry theme. Meghan and the top three poster artists will each receive $25 for their efforts.

Ashlee Bocach holds the second-place poster.

Elena Mergler holds the third-place poster design.

For more on the Strawberry Festival, click here.

Hawley supports effort to add 100-plus corrections officers

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2015 at 12:00 am

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said he supports an effort to add 103 corrections officers to state prisons throughout the state.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that the state will hire the additional full-time correctional officers to bolster safety and security throughout the state’s network of correctional institutions. The governor made the announcement following a tour of Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie.

Orleans County has two state prisons: the Orleans Correctional Facility for men and the Albion Correctional Facility for women.

Cuomo made the push to add corrections officers while also trying to build support in the State Legislature for raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York.

New York State is one of only two states in the nation that automatically prosecute 16- and 17-year olds as adults. Currently in New York, youth are detained with the adult population in local jails while awaiting trial. If convicted as adults, these teenagers are then matriculated into the greater adult prison population.

Cuomo wants the Legislature to have 16- and 17-year olds be processed as juveniles for all crimes except for crimes of serious violence, and the governor wants all minors to have access to rehabilitation services.

Hawley issued a statement this afternoon saying he supports the additional corrections officers. Hawley didn’t say whether or not he supports Cuomo’s push to raise the age of criminal responsibility in New York.

Hawley, in his statement today, said the new corrections officers will help offset the recent increased violence in prisons related to changes in the Rockefeller Drug Laws and the infiltration of synthetic marijuana into facilities across the state.

Hawley said the added staff will improve the safety for members of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.

“New York State has several extremely dangerous maximum security prisons that need increased resources,” Hawley said. “On behalf of local NYSCOPBA chapters and members, I am pleased to hear that the state will be hiring over 100 new employees to protect our prisons and surrounding communities. The additional officers will be employed at prisons that completed a security staffing review for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

“Corrections officers have one of the most dangerous roles in law enforcement, but their success is paramount to keeping violent criminals behind bars and out of society. It is unfortunate that they are often put on the back burner to traditional police officers because they are just as crucial to society’s safety. I will continue to support NYSCOPBA and corrections officers across the state during my time in the Legislature.”

Albion police issue 67 tickets during ‘Buckle Up’ enforcement

Posted 3 June 2015 at 12:00 am

Press Release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

ALBION – The Albion Police Department participated in the “Buckle Up New York Campaign” from May 18-31. The Police Department was awarded a $5,250 grant from the New York State Governors Traffic Safety Committee to participate in the Police Traffic Services Program.

During this 14-day enforcement wave, Albion police officers issued 67 tickets for various Vehicle & Traffic Law violations including the following:

34 seatbelt tickets
2 speeding tickets
10 uninspected motor vehicles
3 unlicensed operators
3 aggravated unlicensed operator 3rd degree
1 aggravated unlicensed operator 2nd degree
5 operating while registration suspended/revoked
5 unregistered motor vehicles
1 displayed forged certificate of inspection
1 inadequate/no muffler
1 leaving the scene of a property damage accident
1 unregistered trailer

The Albion Police Department hosted two multi-agency road checks during the campaign period with assistance from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and New York State Police. The road checks were conducted on South Main Street in the Village of Albion.

The main factors that cause fatalities in motor vehicle accidents continues to be speeding, not wearing seatbelts and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The safety of our streets continues to be one of the number one goals of the Albion Police Department. We will continue to strive to make our community safe, Chief Nenni said.

Holley students build storage sheds, dugouts

Posted 3 June 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos courtesy of Holley Central School – Kyle Ierlan, right, nails a truss to the shed while teacher Tim Rogers supervises.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Since the first week in April, Tim Rogers’ Technology classes at Holley Middle School/High School have been busy building two storage sheds and two dugouts.

The storage sheds are for a Holley staff member and a member of the community. The dugouts are for the Holley modified soccer field. They hope to distribute the finished products in June.

Connor McGrath, left, and Ricci Shenck work on building a truss for the dugout.

The 16′ by 6′ dugouts were requested by the Sports Boosters, which paid for the materials while the Technology students provided the labor.

The 10′ by 12′ shed for a staff member and the 12′ by 12′ shed for a community member also had materials paid for by the requestors. Students can be found working on these projects outside the technology classrooms Monday through Friday during first and second periods.

“They love doing these large projects,” said Holly Moore, instructional aide for Technology. “They feel good about building the dugouts because they’re for the school.”

This photo shows one of the sheds that isn’t quite finished.

“I wish I could have nine periods of this class,” said ninth grader Kyle Ierlan. He hopes to attend a trade school after graduation and pursue a machine shop or welding career.

“Some kids might pursue carpentry after high school, but it’s just good to know these skills,” said 11th grader Ricci Shenck.

Ninth grader Melanie Norman agrees. “I wanted to learn how to do some stuff around the house and I didn’t know how, so I decided to take this class,” she said. “It’s better than algebra, even though there’s a lot of math involved in building.”

Orleans Hub set new record for sports traffic in May

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Aaron Metz makes a diving catch in right field for Roy-Hart in a game against Medina on May 11. Medina would win the game and also its first Niagara-Orleans League baseball championship since 1995.

Orleans Hub had another solid month in May, averaging more than 6,000 unique visitors each day. The site set a new record for page views with sports with 33,995. That topped the previous record of 29,669 in October 2014.

Mike and Cheryl Wertman were busy covering spring sports, offering a complete daily report on high school baseball, softball, tennis, track and field, and lacrosse, as well as other youth sports.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Nick Passarell slides into home ahead of a tag attempt by Lyndonville catcher Michael Wells in Holley’s 4-3 victory over Lyndonville on May 2. Holley went on to win its first Class C Sectional Title since 2009.

Here are the top six news stories (the ones with the most “clicks”) for May:

1. Driver who went airborne taken by Mercy Flight following crash in Albion

2. Man, 27, who impregnated teen deemed Level 2 sex offender

3. Law named for Orleans girl killed in 2009 accident passes State Senate

4. Randy Bower stays in race to be next sheriff

5. Driver of Hummer in satisfactory condition, facing DWI

6. Report: Albion and Medina among top 20 best small towns in NY

Photo by Tom Rivers – A Hummer is pictured after an accident in Gaines on May 23 near the 5 Corners on Route 98. The driver of Hummer was going at a high rate of speed, hit another vehicle on Route 98 near the 5 Corners and then went airborne, flipping in the air at least once, before hitting a tree and coming to a stop near the embankment. This photo shows where the Hummer took some of the bark off a tree.

Young Preservationists will tour Medina success stories

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2015 at 12:00 am

File photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Landmark Society’s Young Urban Preservationists plan to be in Medina on June 13 to see the renovation efforts at the former R.H. Newell Shirt Factory on West Center Street. That building has been renovated the past decade by local attorney Andrew Meier.

He has made first floor space available for a coffee shop, a meadery and a performance venue out back. The second floor includes law offices and the top floor has loft apartments and hotel rooms.

The Young Urban Preservationists have visited many preservation success stories in the City of Rochester. The trip to Medina is the first outside Rochester for the group, said Caitlin Meives, a preservation planner with the Landmark Society of Western New York.

“We want to showcase all the cool stuff going on in Medina,” Meives said today.

Chris Busch, president of the Orleans Renaissance Group, is pictured in the main performance hall of the Bent’s Opera House. ORG is trying to restore the building, a dominant structure on Main Street.

The young preservationists will look at the Newell building, tour the Bent’s Opera House and get an update on that preservation effort, and visit other spots in the community.

Meives wants to highlight the young entrepreneurs in Medina who are leading the preservation efforts in the community, as well as a resurgence in the downtown business district.

810 Meadworks is one of several new businesses to open in downtown Medina.

The group from Rochester plans to be in Medina from 2 to 10 p.m. The schedule includes a stop at the 810 Meadworks, the new meadery in the Newell building.

The group will also take in a concert at the open air venue in the building. Meadworks owners are offering live music in the former Boiler 54 performance space this year. Meadworks is calling the venue “The Beegarten.”

Meives said the Medina trip is part of the “Backroads & Byways,” a series of day trips to small towns in the region that are promoting preservation.

For more information, click here.

Scholarship honors boy who suffered abuse and couldn’t attend school

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2015 at 12:00 am

Devante Boston, 17, has been in healthcare facility after assault when he was 4

Provided photo – Mindy Cogovan, aunt of Devante Boston, presents a $1,850 check to scholarship winner Matthew Cochrane, while Devante’s great aunt Phyllis Winters looks on. Devante’s family and friends created the one-time scholarship for a Medina student pursuing a medical career. Devante would have graduated with the Class of 2015.

MEDINA – Devante Boston will turn 18 on June 13. He should have graduated with the Class of 2015 later this month.

But Devante has been hospitalized or in a healthcare facility since he was 4. He has never been able to attend school.

Devante suffered brain damage in May 2002 when David Ricks threw him against the wall. Ricks was sentenced to a maximum 20-year sentence in state prison for first-degree assault.

Ricks, now 37, is in Wyoming Correctional Facility in Attica. He could be conditionally released on July 2019.

Devante has been unable to walk or talk since the assault. He is in a healthcare facility in Buffalo and his family said he functions at about a 6-month-old’s level.

Some of his family members pushed to start BRAVE (Bringing Real Awareness to Victimization Everywhere) about 11 years ago. The group tries to advocate for victims of crimes and their families.

BRAVE and Devante’s family wanted to create the one-time scholarship this year for a member of the Class of 2015 who will study for a medical career. Matthew Cochrane is going into the field of neuroscience. He was presented the scholarship last week.

Devante’s great aunt Phyllis Winters wanted to create the scholarship and hoped to raise $1,000 from family, friends and BRAVE. They were able to give $1,850.

“I just wanted to honor Devante because I knew he wouldn’t be walking across that stage,” Winters said today.

There were eight applicants and Cochrane stood out.

“We wanted to give back to a person going into the medical field because the health care field is all that Devante knows,” Winters said.