Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steve Smith
CARLTON – A Lockport woman remains hospitalized and in guarded condition this morning after being run over by her own car Saturday night in the Town of Carlton.
The incident occurred at about 8:15 p.m. The car was parked with the engine running in a private driveway at a residence in the 12700 block of Roosevelt Highway (State Route 18). Alexis N. Thompson, 28, had just secured her 4-year-old son into an approved child restraint seat in the rear seat area of the car. Her 10-year-old daughter was in the front seat listening to the radio. The driver’s door was open.
Thompson was standing outside the car when the floor shift lever of the 1999 Dodge sedan was somehow moved from the “park” position and the vehicle began to move. Thompson apparently attempted to reach into the car to stop it when she was knocked to the ground by the open car door and the car ran over her in the driveway. The vehicle continued out into the roadway before coming to the rest. Neither of the children was injured.
Thompson was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by Mercy Flight helicopter. Carlton firefighters and Medina Fire Department ambulance personnel also assisted.
The incident was investigated by Sergeants D.W. Covis and G.T. Gunkler. Since there were no adult witnesses to the incident, deputies are hoping to interview Thompson at some point to gain additional perspective as to what occurred.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – A big crowd is expected this morning for the fly-in pancake breakfast at Pine Hill Airport. The airport started the breakfasts 50 years ago as a fund-raiser. There is another breakfast planned the second Sunday in September.
Gene Haines, one of the leaders of the airport, said the Pine Hill crew of 20 volunteers is ready to serve 700 breakfasts this morning. The breakfasts raise money to help maintain the site and keep the airport open.
The airport on Pine Hill Road is the only one in Orleans County with a hard-surface runway.
Ace Caldwell has been volunteering at the breakfasts for 40 years, “give or take,” he said this morning. The airport started serving at 7 a.m. and will have pancakes, eggs and sausage available until noon.
Pete Nesbitt, left, and Michael Buongiorne are cooking pancakes at Pine Hill Airport. Nesbitt helped start the airport in 1960 with his brother Bob and Gene Haines.
The airport is home for many vintage planes from the World War II era.
Provided photos – The Medina Marching Band won first place for its performance in the parade at Gorham. Medina also won the grand championship trophy.
Press release
Medina Marching Band
The Marcus Whitman Central School District welcomed 17 school districts to participate in the 53rd Annual Pageant of Bands held in Gorham on Friday and Saturday.
This pageant represents an opportunity for students in the various band programs to come together and perform. While concert and parade bands remain a strong focus, the event also includes twirlers, dancers, percussion, color guard and jazz bands.
In High School Jazz Band competition Class A, Medina took first place with a score of 99, seconded by Batavia with an 85. Medina Middle School took second place with a score of 93. Medina was bested by Buckman Heights (Greece Central School District) with score of 94.
Specialty awards for Jazz were Medina Middle School and High School for Best Rhythm section; Medina HS for Best Brass and Woodwinds Sections.
In Twirler competition, Medina took first place with a score of 79.5 followed by South Seneca with a 78.5.
In Color Guard competition in the Regional A class, Medina took first place with 86.1 followed by Batavia with 74.4.
Percussion Stand Still (PSS) competition involved five schools competing with Medina taking first place with a score of 83.8.
Concert Band competition concluded with Medina MS taking first place in the JRA class with score of 194.25 while Medina High School in the HSA class finished first with a score of 196.
The parade down Main Street in Gorham included 10 schools. Medina HS took first place with a score of 96.5. Medina also won Best Drum Major and Best Guard unit. Medina also took Best Class Championship in HSA with 292.5.
The Grand Championship Award took an interesting twist this year. In the High School class Medina and South Seneca were tied.
According to the rules the tie-breaker is the Concert Performance. Therefore, the HS Grand Championship Award went to Medina.
The Medina Mustang Band and all of its components are under the co-direction of James Steele and Cheri Pritchard.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Shaina Schmigel, 21, was recently promoted to sergeant
Schmigel
MEDINA – An Army paratrooper from Medina died on Friday when she was found unresponsive after a night jump at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
The Army is investigating the death of Shaina Schmigel, 21. She enlisted in the Army four years ago after graduating from Medina High School in 2010. She was promoted to sergeant in January and recently committed to four more years with the Army, said Krissi Gress, a friend of the family’s.
“Once she got in, she loved it,” Gress said. “She loved the discipline and the structure.”
Schmigel was also an intelligence analyst with the 82nd Airborne Division. She served a four-month tour of duty in Iraq in 2012. She was to be deployed to Italy with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Gress said.
Schmigel
Schmigel’s family has not been told details of her death. They’ve only been told she was found after a night-time training exercise.
“It has come as quite a shock,” Gress said.
Schmigel was a cheerleader at Medina. She spent most of her childhood in Batavia before moving to Medina about six years ago.
“She was an all-around good girl,” Gress said. “She had a peppy spirit and a big dimple.”
Schmigel excelled in the Army, taking many classes and gaining a promotion.
“She was doing everything she could,” Gress said. “Nothing was too out of reach for her.”
Schmigel is survived by her mother Karie, an older brother Matthew and a sister Sheniqua, 16, who is a student at Medina.
Orleans Hub reached out to the press office at Fort Bragg for any more information about Schmigel’s death, but hasn’t heard back from Fort Bragg yet.
Gress said the Michael S. Tomaszewski Funeral & Cremation Chapel in Batavia will be handling funeral arrangements.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Mass casualty drill trains responders to limit chaos as much as possible
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – About 25 police officers and 25 firefighters and medics spent several hours this morning at Medina Central School, training for an active shooter drill with mass casualties.
Members of a multi-agency SWAT team are pictured outside the Clifford Wise Intermediate/Middle School before the start of a drill this morning. It was the largest mass casualty drill in the county’s history.
Tom Drennan, chief deputy for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, gives firefighters some last-minute instructions about the drill, where 10 people were role playing as victims.
Drennan has been working with police and firefighters for more than a year on mass casualty and active shooter training. Drennan said recent school shootings in the country prompted local law enforcement to press for training to improve their response to try to minimize any chaos and casualties.
Corey Black, an investigator with the Sheriff’s Department, talks with police officers before the drill began. Black said the training will be helpful for responders at any larger location in the country with dozens of people, including schools, factories and government buildings.
“Denial is what gets people hurt,” Black said.
Police officers enter Medina High School and put the building in lock down.
School officials from several districts in the county observed the drill. Michael Cavanagh, Medina High School co-principal, role plays with an injury near the front entrance to the high school.
Drennan, the chief deputy, said the drill will be critiqued.
“We’ll see what we’re strong at and what we need to improve,” he said.
Mercy Flight flew in with a helicopter as part of the drill that included many medics and firefighters. (This photo was taken by Valerie Childs.)
Photos by Sue Cook – Leonel Rosario (center), one of the business owners, stands with his wife Doloers and Zach McKenna, a chef of two years at Mariachi de Oro. The new addition to the building is behind them.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
MEDINA – For a taste of authentic Mexican food, residents of Western New York flock to Mariachi de Oro Mexican Restaurant in Medina.
The Rosario family opened the restaurant nearly three years ago, and recently put on an expansion because of the popularity of the place.
The Rosarios first came from Mexico to work locally as farm workers. On Sept. 9, 2011, they opened their family restaurant to provide Medina with a taste of their home.
The flavorful recipes served are traditional dishes passed down through generations of the family, said Leonel Rosario, who shares ownership of the business with his brothers Francisco, Danato, Pablo, Sergio and Martin.
“I think that’s why we’ve had a reaction from our customers,” Leonel said during an interview at the restaurant on Route 31A, just east of the Route 63 intersection. “We have some Tex-Mex on the menu, but I’ve always focused more on really authentic traditional food. It’s mostly from Oaxaca where we are from in Mexico. Everything I cook I try to do from scratch. For me, in my heart, I want to make sure it feels good and that I’m really confident that they’re going to like it.”
Mariachi de Oro has been so popular that the business is being expanded. A new addition was added onto the front of the building.
“It looks really good,” said Leonel’s wife Doloers. “It went up really fast.”
The new addition took two half days to complete the exterior. The interior is currently being finished and set up. There will be more seating, two bathrooms, and a bar. The addition is expected to be in use sometime in June. The restaurant will also hire new employees to add to the current staff of eight.
Leonel and his family have decorated the interior of the restaurant festively to reflect their Mexican culture.
The extra seating is vital, especially on weekends, when people drive from outside the county to come eat.
“We have people from Canada coming here and Niagara Falls, Tonawanda, Orchard Park, Le Roy, Williamsville, Lewiston,” Leonel said. “It’s mostly people from Buffalo are that are driving here a lot. That’s one thing that’s keeping us so busy throughout the weekend. Even in wintertime, we have a lot of them.”
“I think they find us on the Internet and read our reviews. They are willing to come try it out and they love us.”
Once the addition is completed, Leonel says the Rosarios plan to remove the old bathroom area and utilize the space for a small stage. He wants to give customers more than just Mexican food.
“I love to cook and to do a good service to my customers, but at the same time I want to do little different things with the restaurant,” said Leonel.
He plans to have mariachi bands, live music, and dancing. Leonel was a Mexican folkloric dancer for almost 10 years. He wants to share the Mexican culture with people in the area and feels this would be a great way to do it.
He says that they are also looking to create outdoor seating at some point with an open porch some time in the future so that customers can enjoy nice weather along with their meals.
Leonel has been very happy with the community’s response to the family business as well as their own success.
“We have really loyal customers,” he said. “I’m starting to get to know some more people and my employees are really good. It’s hard to find the right people, but we’ve been so lucky.”
Leonel added, “We’re trying to bring a little more to the community. I think it will be nice for people to come to Medina and they will get a little bit of Mexico, too.”
For more information and a preview of their menu, visit their website by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – There was a lot of honking and hollering around 7:30 p.m. today when the Albion varsity baseball team returned after claiming the Sectional title.
Albion defeated Springville 8-3 in the Section VI Class A2 championship game at Lewiston-Porter.
A processional of fire trucks led the school bus along Route 31 in Albion before the team returned to the school campus.
Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steven Smith
MEDINA – A Medina woman is hospitalized after being struck by a car this afternoon in the Town of Ridgeway.
The incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m., in the 10800 block of Telegraph Road (State Route 31-E). Marilyn E. Bell, 85, was crossing the highway in front of her residence, to retrieve the mail, when she was struck. She was transported by Medina Fire Department ambulance to Medina Memorial Hospital.
Bell was struck by a westbound 2012 Chevrolet sedan was operated by Jean P. Bruning, 79, of Middleport. Bruning was the sole occupant of her vehicle and she was not injured.
The on-scene investigation was conducted by Deputy J.W. Halstead, assisted by Deputy T.C. Marano, Lieutenant C.M. Bourke, Investigator D.E. Foeller Jr., and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan. The Ridgeway Fire Department also assisted at the scene.
The investigation by the Sheriff’s Office is continuing.
Photos by Sue Cook – Lisa Beam, 8, tells Jellybean “over” to get him to hop over the obstacle. Instructor Sue Meier helps Lisa learn the technique for the leash.
The senior group lines up their dogs as if presenting them for a judge.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
KNOWLESVILLE – Today 21 4-H’ers and their dogs attended a first-time Dog Camp at the 4-H Fairgrounds and the handlers worked with their dogs to be more agile and obedient while learnig other skills.
The morning lessons were agility, competition, grooming and handling. The afternoon included emergency care, rally, basic care and fly ball.
Cornell Cooperative Extension organized the Dog Camp. The Extension works to create programs in the community to provide education, including programs for other 4-H groups that train or raise other animals.
Garrett May, 15, has his Siberian husky, Cruise, walk up a plank under instructor Susan Meier’s instruction. Cruise was reluctant to complete the walk, but with each practice run the dog would become more successful.
4-H’ers from ages 8 to 18 enrolled in the camp for the opportunity to learn more about the care and training of their dogs. Most of those enrolled in the program are working to show their dogs in shows and competition. A benefit of showing a dog through 4-H is that participants build friendships with others who share the same interests and may live outside of the area in other counties.
“It’s all about improving their relationship with their dogs, learning correct training, learning basic dog care and some of these kids do go on to compete in fairs,” said Pat Leight, leader for Canine Companions, one of the county’s three dog groups. “It’s our first year doing it, and next year we’d like to have it as an overnight camp.”
Rachel Muller, 15, trots her corgi, Teddy, to a cone and back. It requires controlling with the leash to make sure the dog keeps its head up and trots straight.
Lilianna Hanning, 12, has been in a 4-H dog group for one year. She brought her black lab with her who has won Reserve Champion at the state fair.
“We had trained Jack, but he wasn’t very good and we didn’t do competition. I went to a 4-H open house and I saw that other kids had their dogs and I thought this would be really fun. I’m glad that I joined. Today, we have to work on our agility,” said Hanning, who was excited for the day’s events.
The morning began with the kids breaking into groups based on skill level. Dog Camp students with very little experience with their dogs were put in the junior group, regardless of age.
Instructor Kathy Zipkin assisted the 4-H’ers with obedience training. “I like to try and teach kids the correct way to start obedience and hopefully build enthusiasm to stick with it.”
Jordan Crowley (front), 15, rewards Goldie for focusing her attention where he wants.
Zipkin explained that dogs are often trained with food until the behavior is established, then they are weaned off of requiring treats to perform the desired command.
Melanie Uderitz brought her son Andrew to dog camp today to work with Tank, their yellow lab.
During obedience training, Tank sat like a good boy for Andrew Uderitz, 9.
“He really wanted to join and do agility especially, so he joined the Canine Companions 4-H club. Tank gets excited to come and Andrew gets excited to come. Tank is a fast learner,” she said.
Patrick Macaluso, 14, has his terrier-mix, Zoe, show her teeth. Instructor Joanne Dohr explains how dogs need to be comfortable having their faces touched so that their teeth can be presented to a judge.
Instructor Sue Meier guided 4-H’ers on the agility course.
“There are a lot of new kids. They’ve never been acclimated to agility. They’re doing very well,” she said. “The handlers are handling them great and usually the dogs pick up on it really quick. Today, I’m teaching them how to make their dogs focus because agility is all about focusing and listening to the handler.”
The junior group learns about “stacking” their dogs from Joanne Dohr. Stacking means the dog stands straight. Their trainer adjusts their legs if needed to make them stand in a natural, squared-off position.
Dogs in 4-H shows are not required to be purebred or owned by the person training, which allows any child with any dog to participate, even with a borrowed one.
Enrollment is encouraged by the 4-H leaders because they feel it brings a stronger bond with the dog, but also provides an outlet to find new friends. It also raises confidence as kids are able to get the dog to listen to commands better over time.
4-H accepts new members throughout the year. To ask about joining 4-H, call the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension at 585-798-4265 or e-mail orleans@cornell.edu.
LYNDONVILLE – A double rainbow appeared at about 6:30 p.m. today after it rained in Lyndonville. Guin Panek took this photo at Oak Hill Farms owned by Bentley family on the north side of Route 63.
The weather will be sunny with a high of 73 on Saturday with more sunshine on Sunday with a high of 80, according to the National Weather Service.
ALBION – After the Strawberry Festival Parade on June 14, the Albion Marching Band will perform in food court and a familiar figure to the community will direct the band for a song.
The Rev. Richard Csizmar, priest at Holy Family Parish, will take the conductor’s baton for a song. He is the winner of an “Elect the Conductor” contest and will lead the band in a performance of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by the rock group Queen.
Marching band members raised $4,000 selling tickets for $1 each for people to vote for one of six guest conductors. The fund-raiser helped pay for the band’s trip to Philadelphia.
Father Csizmar was the top vote-getter, outpolling Tom Rivers, editor of the Orleans Hub; Joe Martillotta, retired teacher and former owner of The Crooked Door restaurant; Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy; Jerome Pawlak, owner of Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot; and Charlie Nesbitt, former state assmeblyman and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
“It’s just a fun, inexpensive, and unique way to support the marching band,” said band director Mike Thaine. “The kids have had a lot of fun with it.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Pro Seal and Paint of Batavia is out on high ladders today working on a building at 112-114 East Center St. Kathy Blackburn is working to turn the vacant building into an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. The new business is expected to open this summer.
Blackburn will have the storefront façades match their original 19th century appearance. The storefronts will have new awnings, fresh paint and new signs.
In the top photo, Michael Neth descends the ladder after painting part of the third floor of the building.
Neth said the wind was calm today, so he didn’t mind being up high, painting the building in Medina.
Justin Carlo of Pro Seal and Paint works on the exterior of the building that is next to Rotary Park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – They have the dream and aspiration to run their own businesses. Soon they will be done with a 12-week class that will help them avoid pitfalls to success.
A new group of entrepreneurs on June 10 will graduate from the Microenterprise Assistance Program, a class offered by the Orleans Economic Development Agency. The class gives students tips on record-keeping, marketing, legal issues, social media and other issues. Each graduate needs to complete a business plan and some are eligible for low-interest loans through the program.
The EDA has been offering MAP since 1999 and nearly 400 people have completed the class since then. The new group of graduates will celebrate on June 10 by sharing their business plans during a reception at the Crooked Door Tavern.
The spring class includes the following: Kristina Adolph, gift basket business; Brooke Albanese, arts and crafts Etsy sales; Jon Conners, JC Signs; Charles D’Agostino, Cloud Clipper Tea; Larissa DeGraw, wine made with honey; Kathy Grimes, antique restoration; Evelyn Hurt, cleaning service; Eric Richmond, restaurant; Jason Ricker, meat cutter; David Stalker, Medina Transport; Chris Van Dusen, Trailside Bicycles; Nicole Washington, undecided; and Terry Wood, Lonowood Art Co.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Editorial
MEDINA – It was nearly 18 years ago when I debuted as a professional journalist. My first story appeared in The Journal-Register in Medina. It was the first Tuesday in July back in 1996. I covered an Albion Board of Education meeting from the previous night.
It felt good to be in print, right on the front page of the community newspaper. Not long after the paper was printed and delivered, JR editor Owen Toale got a call from a School Board member, saying he needed “to do something about his reporter.” The Board member didn’t like how a few disagreements among board members were highlighted, and other less contentious news was glossed over.
That was my introduction to the business. Owen had my back and stood up for his staff. Back then in mid-1996, there were five news reporters at the JR.
Today is the final edition for The Journal after 111 years of chronicling life in Orleans County. It’s a sad day for those of us in the news business and for former JR staffers. (Two of the JR reporters I worked with went on to become lawyers. Another became a government planner and another a college professor.)
I actually started my journalism career with the Albion Advertiser, which was a weekly newspaper that shared the same owner and some of the same staff as the Journal. (That paper ceased publication a year ago.) The Journal used some of my stories from the Advertiser.
I had to go to The Journal offices on Mondays to drop off my film from a week’s worth of photos. I was back the next day to lay out the paper using X-Acto knives, wax on the back on paper and pica rulers. It was tedious, with a lot of hunching over. When I was done with the Tuesday morning ordeal I liked to treat myself to a doughnut at Corky’s Bakery.
Besides the five news reporters, the JR back then also had Mike Wertman. I marveled at his work ethic, and his amazing productivity in covering local sports. Mike also wrote the editorials and determined how the news pages would be designed with the placement of the stories.
Many of the community’s power brokers stopped in the downtown building that backed up to the Canal Basin. If people didn’t like stories, the phone rang or they showed up in person. It was all very exciting – and a little scary and overwhelming for a 22-year-old.
I was part of The Journal culture for about a year before joining The Daily News in Batavia. I was there 16 years before leaving on March 1, 2013 to help start the Orleans Hub.
I don’t regret the move, but I do miss seeing the articles and photos in print. The news stories feel more permanent when they’re in print. But clearly the Hub has an audience. We average over 4,000 unique visitors and about 12,000 page views each day. The Journal’s circulation has fallen from a high of over 5,000 to about 1,500.
The Hub has been growing. Mike Wertman joined us in late August and continues his relentless pace in covering local sports. The Hub has also been a showcase for Cheryl Wertman’s sports photography. Sue Cook also has been working part-time as a reporter.
The Hub is based out of The Lake Country Pennysaver in Albion. We get phone calls and people show up at the office when they don’t like things. We get letters to the editor and some folks have threatened to sue.
We’ve tried to fill some of the gap in local news coverage. We have a lot of news you don’t see in The Journal or The Daily News in Batavia, and they get some scoops that we don’t always have.
In many ways it’s felt like an old-fashioned newspaper war around here the past 14 months since the Hub debuted. There have been three publications with reporters covering the county, vying to be first and the most aggressive.
Orleans County is fortunate, in that way. Some communities don’t have a newspaper anymore. There isn’t an on-line news site, either.
Although many may think the Orleans Hub is a competitor to The Journal, we certainly didn’t want to see them go. The paper has been an institution for more than a century and many of its readers rely on The Journal for news.
The Journal has also been a force in recent months, especially with reports by Howard Balaban about the possible dissolution of the village of Medina. Balaban has looked at how dissolution has succeeded and failed in other communities. He has pressed local officials for their views on the topic, and has been tenacious in trying to track down Ridgeway and Shelby expenses in opposing dissolution. When the newspaper announced last month it would be closing, Balaban didn’t just coast to the finish line.
JR sports reporter Corey Desiderio also showed he is a hard-working journalist, capturing the action in local youth and high sports.
I was impressed the JR staff worked so hard, right up until the end.
This isn’t an easy time to be in the news business. Many newspapers have shut down in the past five years, including some in big cities. Many of the papers are a shell of themselves, with reduced staffs, pages and impact in the community. That’s not the fault of the reporters and editors. Many are putting in long hours, working hard and connecting with readers.
The community will miss The Journal. Through the years the staff has been committed. They deserve to take a bow.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – Residents shouldn’t be alarmed to see emergency vehicles and police at Medina Central School on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
The school is hosting a multi-agency emergency response drill.
“This drill will include emergency services from the area and school officials from Orleans County will also be on hand,” Medina school officials posted on the district’s Facebook page. “This collaborative drill is the culmination of months of planning. Thank you for your continued support.”
