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Chamber Award for Community Service: Ken DeRoller

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Kendall resident has been involved in numerous community causes

Photos by Tom Rivers – Ken DeRoller is pictured outside his Kendall home where he lives with his wife of 46 years, Susan.

KENDALL – A Kendall resident has decades of giving back to the community, through the Fire Department, leading the local Planning Board, and serving in the Lions Club and other public offices.

Ken DeRoller, 68, is being recognized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce with a community service award. He will be honored on Sept. 20.

“Community service is my passion,” DeRoller said at his home on Kendall Road. “I appreciate our environment and our community.”

DeRoller grew up in Spencerport, but visited Kendall often as a kid. His parents had a cottage on Norway Heights. Just before his sophomore year in high school, the family moved to the cottage year-round. He married a Kendall native, the former Susan Preston. They raised two children in Kendall, Marc and Kelly. The DeRollers have three granddaughters.

Mr. DeRoller worked 38 years at Kodak, retiring 12 years ago in the information technology department as a business analyst. He also worked with materials handling and logistics for the company.

He joined the Fire Department and was an active firefighter for 18 years. He continues as a social member.

He served 25 years on the Town Planning Board, including 15 years as its chairman. DeRoller was particularly interested in the lakefront and making better use of the 7 miles of lakefront in Kendall.

He helped write the comprehensive plan that made it possible to turn a former Salvation Army Camp into the Cottages of Troutburg. The first cottages are being built and the infrastructure is going in for the Cottages at Troutburg, a project that could add 400 cottages to the Kendall tax rolls, adding tax base and residents to shop at local businesses, DeRoller said.

County Clerk Karen Lake-Maynard, right, administers the oath of office on Jan. 2 to the following legislators, from left: David Callard of Medina, Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville, Ken DeRoller of Kendall and Fred Miller of Albion.

DeRoller also led the Kendall-Yates-Carlton Waterfront Plan, which took nearly two decades to develop and secure approvals from state and federal officials. The plan promotes recreational opportunities along the 24 miles of shoreline in the three towns. The plan was instrumental in helping the county secure grants for the Marine Park and also for the dredging of the Oak Orchard Harbor.

DeRoller enjoys digging into the details of plans and budgets. He worked as town assessor for four years, and also has been a member of the Orleans Economic Development Agency for the past 12 years.

“He has a passion for Orleans County, for economic development and for everything he does,” said Jim Whipple, Orleans EDA director. “I couldn’t ask for a better board member or a better person.”

DeRoller gives each role in the community his full attention, Whipple said.

“He’s a real asset for Orleans County,” Whipple said.

DeRoller also has been a member of the Lions Club for 30 years and in June was named a Melvin Jones Fellow, the Lions’ top award for humanitarian service. He works with the Leos, the youth component of Lions which includes about 70 students at Kendall.

He urges the students to come back to Kendall as adults and give back to the community.

“He has been instrumental with the Leo’s Club, doing community service projects with the students,” said Terry Bliss, a past president of the Kendall Lions Club and former district governor.

He said DeRoller acts a mentor to many in the community. He also helps line up speakers for the club, bringing in local and state community leaders to address the Lions.

DeRoller joined the Orleans County Legislature in January. He is the Public Safety Committee chairman. He also has pushed the local village and town boards to press the state for more infrastructure funding. He secured formal resolutions from each village and town board about the issue.

Well-maintained roads and bridges are critical for the county’s economic development and quality of life, DeRoller said. He also helped rally residents to submit 70 letters asking the state to better maintain the Lake Ontario State Parkway.

DeRoller said he’s thankful for the Kendall community and the many ways he’s been able to contribute.

“You try to make a difference,” he said.

Temperatures will drop after today

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – It was another dazzling sunset last night on a warm September day. This photo shows the sun setting behind the Albion Central School campus, looking west from the soccer fields.

Today is forecast to reach 81 degrees. The temperatures will drop on Thursday with a high of 69 and low of 49. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the highs are forecast at 62 degrees.

Albion PD issues 72 traffic tickets during opening week of school

Posted 10 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Press release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

ALBION – The Albion Police Department recently conducted a three-day Speed Enforcement Detail in the School Speed Zone on East Avenue.

The Police Department conducted the detail during the opening week for the Albion Central School on Sept. 3-5. The Albion Police Department received a $5,040 grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to participate in the statewide Police Traffic Services Program.

The goal of this grant is to increase seatbelt usage and reduce speeding, and aggressive, distracted and other dangerous driving behaviors in an effort to reduce serious injury and death from traffic crashes.

During the opening week of school Albion Police Officers issued 72 Uniform Traffic Tickets for various Vehicle & Traffic Law violations including the following:

63 – Speeding in School Zone Tickets;
3 – Uninspected Motor Vehicles;
2 – Aggravated Unlicensed Operator 3rd Degree;
1 – Unregistered Motor Vehicle;
1 – Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle;
1 – Seatbelt Violation;
1 – Stop Lamp Violation.

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 among the top goals of the Albion Police Department. We will continue to strive to make our community safe.

Cuomo, Hochul get most of meager turnout in Orleans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Andrew Cuomo and his running mate, Kathy Hochul, have about 60 percent of the state-wide votes with 55 percent of precincts reporting. That is enough for the Associated Press to declare them winners.

Cuomo and Hochul faced spirited challengers in law professors Zephyr Teachout for governor and Timothy Wu for lieutenant governor.

Hochul, a former member of Congress whose district included Orleans County, campaigned hard in New York City in recent weeks. Neither she or Cuomo made an appearance in Orleans during the campaign.

Orleans is hardly Democrat country. Republicans have about a 2 to 1 edge in enrollment. Voting today in the Democratic primary was particularly meager with 248 voting for Cuomo, 119 for Teachout and 36 for Randy Credico, a comedian and activist. There are about 5,500 registered Democrats in the county so today’s vote totals – 403 – was less than 10 percent of the Democrats.

Hochul had a bigger majority in Orleans than Cuomo. She received 297 votes to Wu’s 103 or 74 percent of the total. Cuomo received 61 percent of the Orleans vote.

Hochul issued this statement at 11:04 p.m.:

“I am sincerely honored that Democrats from every corner of this state have put their faith in me to be their nominee for Lieutenant Governor. As a proud daughter of Buffalo, I have a deep gratitude for the support and encouragement they have shown to me. And I would also like to thank Tim Wu for running such a spirited campaign.

“I congratulate Gov. Cuomo, who has once again shown that he is the choice of all New Yorkers. His accomplishments over these past four years have been nothing less than extraordinary, and his vision for the future of our state is exactly what we need to keep New York moving in the right direction.

“New York has made so much progress under the leadership of Gov. Cuomo. From creating jobs to cutting taxes, to getting government to function once again, we have turned this state around, and this November, we will continue our march forward.”

Ortt wins GOP primary for State Senate

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Robert Ortt, mayor of North Tonawanda, is pictured on Monday speaking at a pro-gun rally in Albion. He defeated Gia Arnold today in a Republican primary, getting 71 percent of the three-county vote.

NORTH TONAWANDA – Robert Ortt won a decisive victory in a Republican primary today against Gia Arnold of Holley.

Ortt, the North Tonawanda mayor, received 71 percent of the vote from Republicans in three counties, 4,927 votes to Arnold’s 2,007.

Ortt received 78 percent of the votes in Orleans County, 829 to Arnold’s 229.In Niagara County, Ortt had 3,998 votes to Arnold’s 1,154. The district also includes a portion of western Monroe County, where Ortt received 100 votes to Arnold’s 24.

He now has the Republican, Independence and Conservative lines for the Nov. 4 election against Johnny Destino, a Niagara Falls attorney running as a Democrat.

They are vying for the seat currently filled by George Maziarz, who opted not to seek re-election.

“I want to thank everyone who contributed to this victory tonight,” Ortt said in a statement tonight. “We won this race the same way we will win in November – with grassroots campaigning, taking our message directly to the voters of Niagara, Orleans and Monroe Counties.

“Albany is broken and we need a proven public servant to fight on behalf of the residents of the 62nd Senate District. As a combat veteran and mayor of my hometown of North Tonawanda, I have dedicated my life to public service and am committed to fighting for the values of my community.”

Ortt, 35, said he will work to reduce the cost of government and help create good-paying jobs.

“I will commit myself to standing up for your constitutional freedoms, something I swore to do when I put on the uniform of a United States solider,” he said. “Tonight is only step one. Tomorrow we continue to take our message to every corner of the 62nd Senate District to ask for their support in sending a combat veteran and chief executive to Albany.”

Albion physician carried out last execution in Madison County

Posted 9 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – In this photograph at Cazenovia Town Hall, Dr. Stephen M. Potter is seated on the right – circa 1860s.

By Matthew Ballard
Co-director of Cobblestone Museum

Physicians, sworn to uphold the Hippocratic Oath, rarely take the life of a person intentionally. Instead, they take in their hands the lives of their patients with the sole intent of preserving the person’s physical wellbeing and health. Yet one of Albion’s earliest practicing physicians was forced to deliberately end a man’s life in 1854.

Stephen M. Potter was born Oct. 6, 1794 at Westport, Mass., the son of Benjamin Potter and Amy Manchester. Benjamin was all but a young man at the outbreak of the Revolution in 1775, nonetheless Stephen’s grandfather faithfully served the fledgling nation as a seaman aboard the brigantine “Hazard” under command of John Foster Williams.

Stephen followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and enlisted with the 98th Regiment of New York Militia during the War of 1812, serving as a private in Capt. Plinney Draper’s company under the command of Col. Christopher Clark. Potter was paid $6.70 for his service in October and November of 1814 at Smith’s Mills, receiving his discharge on Nov. 17 of that same year.

Around 1817, Stephen married his first wife, Miss Mary “Polly” Moore and commenced his studies in medicine at Manlius, NY under his brother-in-law, Dr. Henry Buell Moore. With this marriage Polly gave birth to their daughter, Mary Louise. After Polly’s death on July 29, 1823, Stephen remarried to Huldah Collins in another short-lived marriage. Dr. Potter buried his wife at Mt. Albion Cemetery in 1833, leaving an adjacent plot for himself when his time on this earth came to an end.

In 1838, Dr. Potter was once again united in marriage, this time to Ann Harding, the widow of Lewis Crittenden who was killed by a falling tree at Jackson, Mich. in 1833. With this marriage he became the step-father of Sarah Ann Crittenden who would later marry Dr. Thomas Cushing of Barre on December 27, 1848. Ann gave birth to Stephen’s first son, Louis Albert Potter, on October 10, 1839 in Albion.

It was shortly after the birth of his son that Stephen decided to return to Madison County where he settled in Cazenovia. His time in Orleans County was short, but Dr. Potter was considered a respectable and kind gentleman whose presence was felt beyond the practice of his profession.

Dr. Potter became a highly regarded citizen of Madison County, receiving the nod from the Democratic Party for his first run at political office. Representing Madison County, Dr. Potter was elected as an assemblyman to the 69th New York State Legislature in 1846; a position he held for one term. It was in 1852 that he received the vote of confidence from his fellow citizens of Madison County when he was elected to serve as county sheriff. Serving three terms, Dr. Potter was involved in one of the most significant criminal cases in the history of the county.

In October of 1853, the murder trial of John Hadock of Madison County was brought before the court by William E. Lansing, the county district attorney at the time. Hadock was accused of murdering Mary Gregg, a flirtatious newlywed who had convinced Hadock that she was interested in marriage. When Gregg married another man, an enraged Hadock took extreme action. After the body of Gregg was discovered, it was determined through the work of Dr. Potter that Hadock had shot Gregg through an open window.

After receiving a confession from Hadock, it was deemed that he was not mentally fit to receive his sentence at the gallows. After the issuance of a stay of execution, a jury was summoned by Sheriff Potter to determine Hadock’s mental state. Following two hours of deliberation, the jury could not reach an agreement and were thus dismissed. With no further action from Gov. Seymour, Sheriff Potter was legally required to carry out the duties of his office.

During these times, executions were carried out by the elected sheriff and this case would prove to be no different. At 11 a.m. on a Friday morning, Feb. 24, 1854, John Hadock was hanged from the gallows away from the prying eyes of local citizens. The hanging of Hadock represented the last legal execution to take place in Madison County, all at the hands of Dr. Stephen M. Potter.

Potter died Oct. 4, 1885 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery at Cazenovia, NY.

For more on the Cobblestone Museum and its “Medicine at the Museum” exhibit and lecture series, click here.

Medina teachers dress in blue to send a message: “Students aren’t test scores”

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – The high school staff is pictured sitting on bleachers during Monday’s “Day of Action.”

MEDINA – Faculty at Medina Central School dressed in blue on Monday, joining many teachers across the state and country in a “Day of Action,” where they sought more funding for schools and less testing for students.

Medina teachers support testing of students, but say the “Common Core” has put “undo anxiety” on children and their families, according to the Medina Teachers Association.

As part of the Day of Action, Medina teachers adopted the following pledge:

“I shall continue to create a positive learning environment and educational experience for all students and pledge to respect each of my students as a unique person, and not a test score.”

Teachers at Clifford Wise Middle/Intermediate School are pictured inside the school library.

Joe Byrne, president of the Medina Teachers Association, said classrooms are not factories.

“The reality is that state assessments have stressed students, parents, and teachers alike and have done little to improve student education,” he said. “Testing cannot measure the influence of good teaching, which often takes years to reach fruition in the lives of students. Assessing teachers on the test scores of their students stifles creativity in the classroom and deprives children a love of learning.”

The state has implemented a teacher evaluation system, the Annual Professional Performance Review. The APPR is intended to hold teachers accountable for yearly academic progress of their students by including standardized test scores as part of their evaluation.

But the MTA says the value of a good teacher cannot be measured by standardized test scores. The teachers union says taxpayer dollars would be far better spent on programming that empowers students to become healthy, educated and productive citizens.

“It’s sad to think that these test scores are defining our students,” said elementary teacher Kris Colonna. “Each child should be recognized as special and unique. These tests do not reflect the growth of the whole child.”

Teachers held rallies throughout the state on Monday, including in Albany, Binghamton, Rochester, Syracuse, New York City, Yonkers and West Seneca.

The staff at Oak Orchard Elementary School join for a picture on Monday.

9-11 memorial ceremonies planned for Thursday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – This memorial to victims in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was dedicated two years ago in Medina’s Rotary Park.

ALBION – The community is invited to two memorial events on Thursday for the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when nearly 3,000 people were killed.

There will be a 10 a.m. service at the Elks Lodge on West State Street in Albion, with first responders recognized. Police officers, firefighters, emergency medics and citizens will light candles and place memorial wreaths. Larry Montello, an active member of the American Legion, is organzing the event to honor the people who were killed in terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a downed airplane that crashed in rural Pennsylvania.

Participants are asked to gather at the Elks Lodge at 9 a.m. Community Action will provide refreshments.

The service will also include the playing of taps, the raising of a 9/11 flag and a gun salute.

Later at 6 p.m., there will be a candlelight vigil in front of the Orleans County Courthouse.

Albion approves contract with school custodians

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – The Board of Education approved a four-year contract with its custodians and maintenance workers on Monday, an agreement that gives the workers 3 percent raises annually but also makes them pay more towards their health insurance.

The workers in the CSEA union had been without a contract since June 30. The workers are cleaners, custodians and maintenance workers. The union members are scheduled to vote on the contract on Sept. 10.

They will see their share of health insurance costs rise from 10 to 15 percent as part of the contract. They also will need more unused sick days to earn healthcare coverage after they retire.

The previous contract required 20 unused sick days to be eligible for a year of health insurance coverage in retirement. The new contract will require 25 unused sick days to earn a year of health insurance. (Retirees pay 15 percent of the health insurance cost.)

The district has its teachers under contract and is trying to reach an agreement with the union representing support staff – aides, building secretaries, physical therapists and registered nurses in the schools. That group has been without a contract for more than two years.

Medina’s baseball team was tops in WNY in 1908

Posted 8 September 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian

MEDINA – Here we have the Medina Baseball Club pictured on a postcard, noting that they were the champion baseball club of Western New York for the 1908 season.

Pictured, front row, from left: Patrick Burns, leftfield; L. Mead, mascot; and R. Hainggrey, second base.

Seated: Frank Boyle, third base; Charles Bacon, catcher; John M. Comerford, manager; Leo Comerford, pitcher; and Le Roy Montgomery, shortstop

Standing: Frank Shultz, right field; Fred Tillman, pitcher; Howard Olds, scorer; Joseph Reil, first base; and Hugh Montgomery, centerfield.

I find in interesting that the 1911 Orleans County Directory lists Bail, Bacon, Boyle, H. Montgomery, L. Montgomery, Haingrey and Reil all as upholsterers.

High-level work in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Tom Snyder and Lisa Trippensee were out Sunday afternoon in a lift painting the windows at Slack Insurance Agency, 441 Main St.

Snyder also recently painting a building he owns at 413 Main St., the site of the former Journal-Register.

Medina woman sentenced to 2 years in prison for drug charge

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 September 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A Medina woman was sentenced to 2 years in state prison today after she pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Serina Winters admitted in court on March 3 that she had prescription narcotics and gave them to her estranged husband. Winters, 37, of 909 Church St., Apt. 1 faced numerous drug charges but those charges were dropped as part of a plea deal when she plead guilty to CPCS in the fifth degree, which has a maximum sentence of 2 ½ years in state prison.

“You have a horrible record,” Judge James Punch told Winters during sentencing this afternoon. “You’re completely irresponsible. There is no consideration for any one but yourself.”

Winters will also have one year of post-release supervision when she is out of prison.

In another drug case in county court, Freddie Taylor of Rochester pleaded guilty to criminal possession of controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Taylor, 45, of 510 Mt. Read Blvd. was arrested on April 1 on several drug charges. He admitted in court today he had cocaine in Albion on Feb. 3.

As a second felony offender, Taylor faces a maximum sentence of 4 years in state prison. He will be sentenced on Nov. 24. Punch agreed to lower Taylor’s bail from $250,000 to $25,000 which Punch said is more in line with the charge.

Hawley and Albion FD host car seat check on Saturday

Posted 8 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Press release, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley

ALBION – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) will be hosting a free car seat safety check at the Albion Fire Hall this Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. The fire hall is located at 108 North Platt.

“As a father, I can tell you there’s nothing more important about your car than the kids riding in the backseat,” Hawley said. “I would encourage all parents to come down to our car seat check and ensure that their children are as safe as they can be.”

Cortland County man dies in car accident this morning in Ridgeway

Posted 8 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

RIDGEWAY – A Cortland County man is dead following a one-car crash this morning in the Town of Ridgeway.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m., Paul R. Brundage, 61, of Marathon drove his 2004 Honda Suburban into the driveway of a private residence off the 3600 block of Horan Road, near Portage Road.

He then exited the vehicle and collapsed. When approached by the homeowner, Brundage said he “needed help and needed to go to the hospital.” The homeowner called 9-1-1 but before EMS arrived, Brundage got back in his car and drove off, despite efforts by the homeowner to prevent him from doing so. A short distance away, his vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a tree.

Brundage was transported by Medina Fire Department ambulance to Medina Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m.

The incident was investigated by Deputy M.C. Mele, assisted by Investigators K.M. Strickland Jr., and D.E. Foeller Jr. That investigation is now joined by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester.

After delays, murder trial begins on Tuesday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 September 2014 at 12:00 am

Miller faces 25 years in state prison if convicted

Frederick Miller

ALBION – A murder trial that has been delayed three times will finally begin on Tuesday with jury selection scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at the Orleans County Courthouse.

Frederick Miller, 62, is accused of bludgeoning and stabbing Rachel Miller several times, causing her death on March 4, 2013. If convicted of second-degree murder, he could be sentenced to 25 years in state prison.

The trial was first delayed when Miller switched attorneys from the public defender to Robert King of Rochester. It was delayed again when King in March filed paperwork for a psychiatric defense, claiming Miller subjected to emotional abuse by his live-in girlfriend.

But King withdrew that defense when Miller refused to meet with a psychiatrist. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch on April 28 said he was forced to preclude expert psychiatric testimony because Miller refused to cooperate.

The trial was set to start on May 12, but was again pushed back. King, the defense lawyer, filed a motion to review evidence that District Attorney Joe Cardone sought to add to the prosecution’s case. Cardone filed an amended indictment and King requested time to explore the evidence and alleged proof.

Orleans County Court Judge James Punch opted on May 12 to delay the trial so King would have time to file a motion about the amended indictment.

Rachel Miller, 53, died of blunt force trauma combined with multiple stab wounds on March 4, 2013. The couple allegedly had a fight at a home they shared on Oak Orchard River Road, according to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.