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Big turnout for benefit to help 2 children who need service dogs

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A big crowd has turned out for a spaghetti dinner today to raise money for two service dogs for Albion children. In the top photo, Ryan Orr, 8, holds a button with a picture of Kenai, the service dog that will help detect unpredictable seizures for his brother Tyler, who has juvenile diabetes.

Ruth Miller, lower right, fills to-go containers with salad. She is next to Angel Smith, a veterinary technician with Country Lane Veterinary in Barre.

The dinner started at 4:30 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Albion. Organizers have enough food for 600 meals. There are also 80 gift baskets that were donated.

Kristin Ferris is pictured with her daughter Abby, 6, who has epilepsy. The family has a black lab named Molly, which is being trained as a seizure response dog.

Molly will be trained to observe Abby for seizures. If Abby is having one, the dog will be trained to go paw at one of her parents.

“We are very grateful to the community for their support,” Kristin said.

Iva McKenna checks on the meatballs and sauce with Tony Cassidy. McKenna and her family own Country Lane Veterinary Services. They organized the benefit today.

“When you hear kids are having a hard time you want to help out,” she said. “Kids and dogs is a perfect match for us. It’s awesome that animals can do things that machines can’t.”

Jennifer Orr is pictured with her son Ryan. The family is trying to raise money for an alert dog for Tyler, 9. He is feeling sick today and stayed home. Jennifer’s friend Denise Bedford of Lockport is selling raffle tickets.

The Orrs are selling bracelets, pins and buttons. They marveled at the long line when the dinner started.

“The support is overwhelming and very humbling,” Jennifer said. “Everything is huge from this tiny town.”

Shelby firefighter feted on 100th birthday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – Firefighter Mark Watts congratulates Eddie Southcott for making a big difference in the community. Southcott was treated to a big party on his 100th birthday today at the Shelby Fire Hall.

Southcott is a World War II veteran and a long-time leader for the fire company. He was led to the fire hall in an antique car. He is currently staying at The Willows, an assisted care residential facility.

Southcott is all smiles after arriving for his surprise party.

Bob Bracey provides a steady arm for Southcott. Many community members turned out for the party today. Bracey is one of Southcott’s neighbors and also serves as a firefighter.

Ron Lasal grew up next to Southcott on South Gravel Road. Lasal made a point of stopping by and congratulating Southcott today.

“He was like a second father to me,” Lasal said. “He was great. I was over there all the time.”

Southcott is pictured in this photo when he served in World War II.

State Assembly members Steve Hawley and Jane Corwin were at the party and presented proclamations from the state, congratulating Southcott for his milestone birthday and his years of community service.

“Anytime you can recognize a veteran it is special,” Hawley said. “It’s a testament to the Greatest Generation. There are not a lot of veterans left from that time.”

The Shelby Town Board presented a proclamation to Southcott and declared it “Eddie Southcott Day.”

“It gives you an opportunity to honor a lifetime resident and a person who has contributed to others his whole life,” said Skip Draper, the Shelby town supervisor.

Southcott is a special person to Shelby firefighters. Many stop by The Willows to see him and take him out to dinner.

“It’s good to honor somebody, especially someone like Eddie,” said Sidney Watts, a past president for the fire company. “None of our members have even come close to 100 years.”

Beggars Night draws big crowds to Medina and Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
Princesses, ghosts, clowns and other creatures walked downtown Albion and Medina on Friday for the annual Beggar’s Night events.

Merchants at both downtowns handed out candy. In the top photo, cousins Maria Bregy, a princess, and Anthony Love, a Power Ranger, walk up East Center Street by Rotary Park. About 700 children participated in Beggar’s Night in Medina.

Eric Kryzdorfer, 12, of Barker dresses as a clown for Beggar’s Night in Medina.

Medina Police Chief Jose Avila directs traffic while the costumed crowd crosses the street.

Dr. Clark Bryant is Batman, handing out treats for Beggar’s Night. Bryant and his wife Donna Bryant last month opened Tea & Couture Atelier at 547 Main St.

Cindy Robinson, owner of The English Rose Tea Shoppe, hands out treats to Brody Hazel (race car driver) and his little brother Bryson Hazel (tiger). They are pictured with their mother, Amy Johnson of Lyndonville. Several of the merchants were in costume for the annual event, where children are invited into the downtown for candy.

Cousins Carson Bader and Leah Pritchard pass out candy for their aunt Laura Gardner, owner of a lily and a sparrow in Medina.

Carrie Ribbeck of Avanti Pizza is dressed as Little Red Riding Hood while passing out candy.

The Albion Merchants Association also put on Beggar’s Night. Karen Appleman, a vendor with the Uptown Browsery, has a bowl of candy for Jack Finley, a robot, to choose from.

Ryan Smith is dressed as the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland while his girlfriend Krysondra Esposito is Alice. They are outside Krantz Furniture and served apple cider and snacks to the kids in costume and their parents.

Shelby will honor 100-year-old firefighter on Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 October 2014 at 12:00 am

SHELBY – The Medina community and the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company will honor Ed Southcott on Saturday for his 100th birthday.

There will be a processional of antique cars and a fire truck from The Willows, where Southcott is a resident, to the Shelby firehall on Route 63. The community is encouraged to be out on Main Street at about 4 p.m. on Saturday when Southcott and his family head to the fire hall.

“He’s a local guy who’s super nice,” said Tom Fuller, who is chairman of the celebration party for Southcott.

Southcott is a former chief of the fire company. He has been a member for more than six decades. He also is a World War II veteran who flew bomber planes.

Saturday’s celebration will include proclamations from the U.S. Senate, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the Shelby Town Board, Orleans County Legislature and State Legislature.

Outdoors show finds plenty of footage at Oak Orchard River

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – Rush Outdoors, a TV series on hunting and fishing, filmed at the Oak Orchard River today on what was a perfect day for footage. Temperatures were in the mid-50s, leaves gently fell from trees, and fishermen were catching big fish left and right.

Tim Andrus of Kent is host of Rush Outdoors, which appears on seven networks in New York, northern Pennsylvania and southern Ontario. Andrus is pictured doing a segment for the show. Brian Kirby is the cameraman.

Kirby and Andrus marveled at the action on the river today. Anglers in one five-minute span landed a steelhead, a brown trout and a Chinook salmon.

Orleans County is a sponsor for the show and a 30-second commercial is featured during shows. The county is also listed on the Rush Outdoors web site (Click here).

Andrus and Kirby were at the Oak today filming an episode for season four of the show. It will air next year. When Rush Outdoors started, Orleans County was one of the first sponsors of the show. Mike Waterhouse, the county’s sportsfishing promotion coordinator, said it has proven a good partnership and helped to raise the profile for the county’s fishery.

“Since I grew up here, I was adamant we needed to promote Orleans County,” Andrus said. “We have such a great fishery here.”

Today’s weather will make for great TV. Andrus and the crew also filmed a show this summer when charter boat captains took Vietnam War veterans out on the lake. The weather that day was horrible, with rain and fog.

Rush Outdoors promotes the Great Outdoors in New York, with a focus on hunting and fishing. Andrus juggles being host of the show with his job as a corrections officer at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion.

The show sometimes will leave New York for hunting trips. Andrus last week was in Wyoming for a show on mule deer. He also hosted shows this year in Manitoba and North Dakota.

Carlos Ferley of West Virginia poses with a steelhead he caught today at the Oak Orchard River.

5 flee fire this morning in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Provided photo

MEDINA – Five people were able to get out of a house on fire this morning at 413 Prospect Ave.

The Medina Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 3:29 a.m. Two adults and three children were trapped inside. Medina police were also at the scene and put a ladder on the back of the house. That allowed firefighters to safely carry down the three children and assist the two adults.

Firefighters then gained entry to the house and found fire on the staircase to the second floor, said Steve Cooley, a Medina firefighter.

The fire was extinguished in less than ten minutes from the time of dispatch. Crews remained on scene checking for fire extension and clearing the structure of smoke, Cooley said. Village of Medina crews were assisted by Shelby and Lyndonville firefighters.

Two families at the house do not have to be displaced, Cooley said. The damage was limited to the stairs and an area leading to the upper apartment.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Medina Fire Department, Medina Police Department, and Orleans County fire investigators.

Astorino will address Orleans Republicans on Friday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2014 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – Rob Astorino, the Republican Party candidate for governor, will be in Orleans County on Friday for the Fall Republican Rally at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Astorino, the Westchester County executive, trails Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the polls, but Ed Morgan, the Orleans County GOP leader, believes Astorino could still pull off the upset victory. George Pataki was a little known state legislator when he defeated Cuomo’s father, Mario, in 1994.

“He’s ahead in the polls compared to where George Pataki was,” Morgan said this morning.

Morgan sees Republicans making a strong push for Astorino, and also sees Cuomo losing votes to Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins and Michael McDermott of the Libertarian Party.

“The secondary line candidates will pull votes from Cuomo and that will help Rob,” Morgan said.

The GOP candidate for comptroller, Robert E. Antonacci, will also be at the Republican Rally, which begins with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Antonacci is the Onondaga County comptroller. He faces incumbent Tom DiNapoli.

Candidates for State Legislature also are expected to speak at the rally, including Rob Ortt for State Senate and Steve Hawley for State Assembly.

The Republican Party also plans to recognize State Sen. George Maziarz, who is retiring after 19 years in the State Legislature.

For information about tickets to the rally, call Morgan at 732-7270.

Holley, Kendall have a say in $29M BOCES project

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2014 at 12:00 am

SPENCERPORT – The BOCES that serves the Holley and Kendall school districts, as well as seven districts in western Monroe County, is proposing a $29.2 million capitol project.

Residents in the nine-member Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES can vote on the proposal on Dec. 16 at the WEMOCO Educational Services Center. Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 3599 Big Ridge Rd.

This would be the first capitol project in 40 years and would include an addition and renovations so the center mirror’s a modern workplace for students in the career and technology program, BOCES leaders said.

The project calls for a 15,200-square-foot addition to the campus. That addition would cost an estimated $9.8 million. The addition will include space for classrooms, a career skills center, and early childhood and preschool programs.

The project also includes $12.3 million in work to the center’s north building, renovating classrooms, replacing rooftop units and exhaust systems, improving plumbing and electrical systems. The south building at the center would also get $6.2 million in upgrades.

There also is $968,500 slated for parking lot reconstruction, with improved bus and traffic flow, upgraded lighting and utilities, drainage and a relocated playground.

The BOCES served an average of 1,067 students each of the past five years with 44 from Kendall and 58 from Holley.

State aid would cover 63.2 percent of the project with member districts covering the remaining 36.8 percent. That share for Holley would be $400,451, while Kendall would pay $320,078.

For more on the project, click here.

Orleans unemployment rate falls to 6.0%

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Orleans County’s unemployment dropped from 7.5 percent in September 2013 to 6.0 percent last month, according to the State Labor Department.

The 6.0 percent was down from 6.9 percent in August. The county’s rate is still slightly higher than the state average of 5.6 percent. (The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in September, the lowest level since October 2008, according to the Department of Labor.)

In Orleans County, there were 1,100 unemployed people looking for work in September, compared to 17,000 in the workforce. A year earlier, there were 400 more people working in Orleans County – 17,400. There were also 1,400 unemployed looking for jobs, according to the DOL.

Fifteen of the 62 counties in the state have unemployment rates at 6.0 or higher. Bronx has the highest unemployment rate in the state at 8.5 percent.

Orleans, even with its improvement from a year ago, still has the highest rate in Western New York. Genesee County, at 4.8 percent, has the lowest rate in WNY. Hamilton County, at 3.8 percent, has the lowest rate in the state.

Albion, Medina businesses will hand out treats for Beggar’s Night

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2014 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – Linda Smith and her son Ryan serve up treats and cider from Krantz Furniture in Albion during last year’s Beggar’s Night.

Main Street in Albion and Medina will have several hundred children dressed as super heroes, goblins and other characters on Friday evening.

The business organizations in both communities are putting on their annual Beggar’s Night event, when businesses hand out candy to children dressed in costumes.

In Albion, children 12 and under are invited to meet at the fire hall on Platt Street at 6 p.m. and then tour downtown for treats.

In Medina, Beggar’s Night starts at 5:30 p.m. Children are urged to line up in the East Center Street parking lot between the Medicine Shoppe and The Print Shop. Most of the business owners will participate and many will be wearing costumes, said Cindy Robinson, Medina Business Association president.

“It’s a ‘thank you’ to the people for shopping local,” she said about Beggar’s Night.

Last year, more than 700 children participated and received candy in Medina.

“It’s fun to watch all of the kids in their costumes,” Robinson said. “They’re adorable.”

Gov. Rockefeller was no stranger to Orleans County

Posted 23 October 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian

In this picture from around 50 years ago we see Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, left, shaking hands with our assemblyman, Alonzo Waters of Medina.

“Lon” served in the State Assembly under governors Dewey, Harriman and Rockefeller from 1949 to 1965.

Because of his friendship with Rockefeller, Waters was able to get the governor to come to Orleans County several times.

When Nelson Rockefeller was running for governor in 1962, he made a stop in Albion and spoke from the front steps of the courthouse. In this picture we see a large crowd of people gathered here for the rally.

A bus which his party came in may be seen in the background. A sign posted on the bus simply states: “Go Rockefeller.”

The First Presbyterian Church also shows in the background. A number of local residents may be recognized in the crowd assembled here.

Preservationists will give Holley $5K to help get Public Square, old school on National Register

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Richard Margolis – The former Holley High School, which sits in a high-profile spot on Route 31, has fallen into disrepair and has been mostly vacant for two decades. This photo was taken for the landmark Society of Western New York, which in 2013 named the school to the inaugural “Five to Revive.”

HOLLEY – Preservation organizations from outside Holley continue to take an interest in seeing the old Holley High School be saved and returned as a contributing asset in the community.

The Preservation League of New York State will give the Village of Holley $5,000 towards the state and federal applications for historic status for the Public Square and the old school.

If the school and Square are listed on the state and national registers of historic places, a redevelopment project would be eligible for 40 percent of the capital costs in tax credits.

The Preservation League will give Holley a $5,000 “Preserve New York” grant to complete the state and federal nomination for an historic district. The district would include about 40 properties in the downtown Public Square, as well as the old school.

The project, to be completed by Bero Architecture in Rochester, will enhance this Erie Canal community’s revitalization efforts, especially opportunities to rehabilitate the vacant 1931 Holley High School designed by Rochester architect Carl Ade, Preservation League officials said in a press advisory today.

“Located in the heart of the downtown, this handsome Classical Revival building could benefit from access to state and federal tax credits that would come with the listing of the proposed historic district,” the group said in a statement.

Preservation League officials will announce the funding at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday outside the old school. They will meet with Holley Mayor John Kenney and the Landmark Society of Western New York.

The Landmark Society last year named the school to its debut list of “Five to Revive.” The group has been working with the village to draw interest in the school, and line up historic credentials so the property has access to tax incentives.

Built in 1931, the former Holley High School is a strategically located and well-recognized landmark, which occupies a prominent site in the village at the central intersection of Wright and Main streets (NYS Routes 31 & 237), the Landmark Society said in naming the school to the “Five to Revive.”

The school has been vacant for about 20 years. Kenney said developers have shown interest in the site for senior apartments.

The Public Square is in the core of the village and includes a collection of late-nineteenth and early twentieth-century commercial, religious, residential, and educational architecture.

Petition certified for dissolution vote in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2014 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – “One Medina” has enough signatures to force a vote on dissolution in the Village of Medina.

Village Clerk Debbie Padoleski certified the petitions this morning. Padoleski deemed 371 of 432 signatures turned in last week were valid. She matched the signatures with an eligibility list from the Orleans County Board of Elections. Some signatures were invalid because the addresses of the names didn’t match the list from the Board of Elections.

The 371 is more than enough. To force a referendum, a petition needs 10 percent of the eligible village voters. A petition would need at least 314 valid signatures out of the 3,137 eligible voters.

The Village Board now has up to 30 days to set a vote. That vote must then occur within 60 to 90 days of the board setting the referendum. The board next meets on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Shelby Town Hall.

Village residents David Barhite, Jim Lustumbo and Ed Weider helped gather the signatures and turned the in the petition on Oct. 16.

They want to see less layers of government and reduced taxes for village residents.

Low-key local races in Albion, Kendall

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2014 at 12:00 am

The races for governor and State Senate are getting lots of attention before the Nov. 4 election. There are also positions on the ballot in two local towns.

Albion will elect two justices on Nov. 4, and two candidates are unopposed.

Incumbent Gary Moore, a retired police officer, is seeking re-election to a four-year term. Kevin Howard has opted against re-election. Joe Fuller, a recently retired Albion police officer, has been cross-endorsed by the Democrats and Republicans for justice. Fuller is also a county coroner. Moore also has the Democratic and Republican Party endorsement.

In Kendall, two candidates are running unopposed. David Gaudioso has the Republican endorsement for town justice. Incumbent Stephen Cliff chose not to run for re-election.

Wayne M. Martin, Jr. also has the GOP endorsement for the Town Board. Martin is running to fill the remainder of a term from Patrick Snook, who resigned last January.

Data collection nearly done for Carlton assessments

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2014 at 12:00 am

CARLTON – A consultant hired by the town to collect data on 2,400 properties is nearly done with the effort.

GAR Associates Inc. is being paid $68,000 to visit every property in the town and make note of swimming pools, additions, sheds, garages and exterior property improvements. GAR has been working on the project since March and should wrap up its work this month, Town Councilman Robin Lake said.

The firm has been working with Town Assessor Gene Massey. He will use the data from GAR for assessments on all the properties. Those assessments should be out in March.

“I think it will put everyone on an even keel,” Lake said.

The town has been working to update its assessment records so accurate and fair values can be designated for the properties. Carlton was engulfed in controversy in 2013 when new values for properties were assigned. Residents packed the Town Hall to complain about some of the big increases.

Residents also complained some properties were under-assessed. The town’s records didn’t show all the structures and improvements at some properties with low assessments, town officials said.

The Town Board chose not to re-appoint its assessor and worked out an arrangement with Kendall to share its assessor, Gene Massey.

“Gene will be very approachable,” Lake said. “If you have an issue, come on in and he’ll address it.”

The board has voted to freeze the assessments at 2012 levels, rather than allow the big increases to take effect. The board voted again to keep the 2014 data at the 2012 numbers, unless there was a building project at a property.