news

Medina man arrested for burglary and grand larceny

Staff Reports Posted 26 November 2014 at 12:00 am

Gerardo Quiros

ROYALTON – A Medina resident who allegedly caused a standoff with police in September, forcing Ridge Road to be blocked off for several hours, faces new charges after an alleged incident on Tuesday in the Town of Royalton in Niagara County.

State Police in Lockport arrested Gerardo Quiros, 28, of Ridge Road in Medina, for burglary in the second degree, a class C felony; grand larceny in the fourth degree; criminal mischief in the third degree and criminal contempt in the first degree, class E felonies.

Troopers responded to a report of a violation of an order of protection in Royalton. The investigation revealed that Quiros enter the protected person’s residence and caused damage to personal property and stole property from the residence.

Quiros was arrested and then arraigned before a Town of Lockport judge who remanded him to the Niagara County Jail on $30,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to appear before the Town of Royalton Court on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.

Quiros faces charges of menacing and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree for the Sept. 24 incident in Ridgeway.

Medina parade will include fireworks, grand marshal for first time

Staff Reports Posted 26 November 2014 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – Some of the floats, including one by Habitat for Humanity, work their way down Main Street during last year’s Parade of Lights. The sixth annual parade with be at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

MEDINA – The 6th annual Parade of Lights will return Saturday at 6 p.m. in downtown Medina. The event for the first time will include fireworks at 5:45 p.m.

The parade committee also has picked a grand marshal for the parade. Randy Bushover will serve in the role.

“Randy is a local guy who promotes his beloved community of Medina,” said Jim Hancock, parade chairman. “He is an ambassador for Medina and is well liked and known to most of Medinans.”

Bushover will lead a tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at Rotary Park in the downtown.

“This is a honorary position and we are happy to acknowledge Randy and for all that he has done to support our community,” Hancock said about the grand marshal.

For more on the parade and the schedule of events on Saturday, click here.

Holley will celebrate new fitness center on Monday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2014 at 12:00 am

School district will discuss capital project on Tuesday; Vote is on Dec. 9

HOLLEY – Holley Central School welcomes the community to check out a fitness center on Monday during a celebration beginning at 6 p.m.

The district used an $800,000 federal Carol White grant for the project. The grant will also pay for an initiative to promote good nutrition among students, staff and families, said Robert D’Angelo, district superintendent.

The new center, located in the elementary school, will be open to the community on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. with certified staff on hand. If there is demand for more hours, the district will try to accommodate the need.

Holley will also host an informational meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the middle/high school auditorium. That meeting will include a presentation on a proposed $8.9 million capital project. The vote will be on Dec. 9 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The capital project include includes roof top HVAC units, windows, radiators, flooring and exterior doors. The district also wants to improve the student drop-off area and the playground at the elementary school and move the tennis courts.

The district already has $2.5 million set aside in a capital reserve account to cover the local share of the project, which will be mostly paid for from the state.

Shelridge completes successful season

Contributed Story Posted 26 November 2014 at 12:00 am

Contributed Photo – LONG-TERM LOYALTY – Brad Balschmiter, veteran maintenance superintendent at Shelridge, was honored this year for 30 years of unbroken certification by the Golf Course Superintendents Assoc.of America. He attended a special awards luncheon. Balschmiter uses his “off season” period each year to attend technical courses. Certified superintendents are required to get 150 hours of professional development every five years in their career.

Shelridge Country Club ended its 2014 season this month with an annual meeting that sent Matt Bush into his second term as president. Supporting Matt are John Grabowski as V-P, Steve Barnes as secretary and Marc Eglin as treasurer. Other board members for 2015 are Dave Bellucci, Elaine Casler, Rob Dennis (who has been golf chairman), Doug Beltz and Steve Lasch.

Reports were rendered on a successful 2014 club operation with favorable weather, an average of 225 members coming from Orleans, Niagara, Genesee and Erie Counties, and one major golf course improvement project — an $80,000 program to totally rebuilt, reshape and refit the sand bunkers on the course. It is a 2-year project and first half has been accomplished.

The past season was marked by the resignation of Assistant Pro Dave Rose and efforts are under way by Head Pro Dave Green to secure a replacement. He is working through the Western N.Y. PGA apprentice-ship program.

The club has received notification from the Golf Course Superintendents Assoc. of America that the Shelridge “turf boss”, Brad Balschmiter, has attained a special honor level in his year-by-year program of study and self improvement.

Contributed Photo – IMPROVED BUNKERS – An $80,000 program at Shelridge is aimed at totally rebuilding all of the sand bunkers on the course and half were completed this past season. Drainage, design and all new sand are involved and the local club reports great satisfaction so far. Club President Matt Bush, second from right, is shown as the 2-year project got its start. Shown with Bush are, from left, Shelridge Pro Dave Green, Golf Committee Chairman Rob Dennis and course Superintendent Brad Balschmiter.

Superintendents are required to put in 150 hours of professional development every few years and Balschmiter has now been certified by the association for 30 years. There are 1,500 certified superintendents as members.

“The Shelridge course played well this year,” said Pro Dave Green. “It keeps fooling visiting golfers who often come here thinking of it as an easy golf course; then they get a surprise.” Green said Shelridge now has reciprocal golf privileges with 16 other courses and welcomes a steady flow of visitors.

A final note provided by the board of directors reveals that there will be a complete change in the contract for the dining room and bar. The ownership of the Manhattan Restaurant in Lockport will take over the contract which has been held by Zambistro of Medina. Manager will be Kerry Holzman, familiar to club members as the previous bar manager.

Albion home damaged by fire

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2014 at 12:40 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A fire damaged a home at 216 Caroline St. in Albion today. The house is owned by Ashley and Ernie Woodrich.

The fire call went out at 11:42 a.m. Firefighters climbed onto the roof, and used chain saws and axes to vent the smoke from the upstairs. (Carlton firefighter Matt Olles is pictured in the top photo.)

No one was injured in the fire, which was largely under control by noon. Firefighters responded from Albion, Barre, Carlton and Medina fire departments.

Albion native tapped for key White House post

Staff Reports Posted 25 November 2014 at 12:00 am

An Albion native has been picked for a key post in the White House, Rep. Louise Slaughter announced.

Don Sisson, 35, has worked for Slaughter the past 10 years. Slaughter is the ranking member of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives. Sisson has worked for the Rules Committee since 2004 for both the Democratic and Republican sides, and most recently served as the committee’s Democratic deputy staff director.

In his new job he will be Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs.

Sisson hails from Albion. After graduating from SUNY Brockport, which is located in Congresswoman Slaughter’s congressional district, Sisson worked as a clerk for the Rules Committee and moved up in the ranks to chief clerk, director of legislative operations, legislative director, and now the deputy staff director.

He has been responsible for overseeing all the functions of the Rules Committee, including managing committee meetings for Democrats, coordinating vote recommendations for the congresswoman, and serving as the Democratic Floor Director.

“As someone who could always be counted on as a friend, as someone with extraordinarily gifted intelligence, as being able to work his way through the most dangerous Gordian knot, Don Sisson is a man for all seasons,” Rep. Slaughter said on the House Floor. “I wish him the very best of everything, but say to you without a doubt that the loss for our side, for our office, for our friends, is profound. But nonetheless, he’s going to go. I just want the White House to understand what a jewel they are getting.”

Medina students take home awards at oratorical contest

Posted 25 November 2014 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – Four Medina students participated in the American Legion Oratorical Contest, including from left: Dylan Metz, John Kelly, Chris Keller, Jon Calo Gonzalez. They are pictured with Steve Johnson and Frederick Heschke from the Legion.

Press Release
Medina Central School

MEDINA – Medina students participated in the American Legion Oratorical Contest last Thursday, speaking about “What the Constitution Means to Me.”

Chris Keller won first place for his speech and Jon Carlo Gonzalez came in second. Both students will compete in the Orleans County competition on Dec. 13 at Albion Middle School along with their Medina classmates John Kelly and Dylan Metz.

“I was very impressed,” said Todd Bensley, social studies teacher at Medina High School. “All the students did an excellent job expressing their passion for the Constitution.”

NY residents have new way to dispose of electronics

Posted 25 November 2014 at 12:00 am

Press Release, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) is advising his constituents about the new way consumers are required to dispose of electronic equipment. Starting Jan. 1, the New York State Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act will require that consumers dispose of electronic equipment by either returning it to either the manufacturer or a designated New York State Waste Collection Site.

“There is now a new way that consumers are required to dispose of their electronic equipment. I want to make sure that my constituents are aware of this change to the law so they are in compliance,” said Hawley. “The new way electronics must be disposed of is simple and easy to understand and costs the consumer nothing. If you have any questions, feel free to contact my office and we will be happy to help.”

Under this law, there are two ways to dispose of your electronics. The first way is the use the newly required product manufacturer’s take-back program. A listing of manufacturers and how to contact them about the take-back program can be found by clicking here.

The second way you can drop off your electronics is at a designated New York State Waste Collection Site. A list of collection sites can be found by clicking here. Call ahead to make sure the specific collection site is able to take back your specific piece of electronic equipment.

For more information about the new take-back program, click here. This includes a listing of electronic equipment that is covered by the program. If you have any questions or encounter any problems, call the DEC at 518-402-8706.

Students pick up roadside litter in 1969

Posted 25 November 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian

HOLLEY – The Holley Sketa-Feeders chapter of National Campers and Hikers Association met in April 1969 to pick up litter along the Holley Road and Hindsburg Road area in the Town of Murray. Here some of the group posed with full trash bags and their signage.

Fischer’s Newsstand for sale

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

Gary and Denise Withey have owned business in downtown Albion for 20 years

Photo by Tom Rivers – Gary Withey is pictured at Fischer’s Newsstand, which has been a fixture in downtown Albion for more than a century.

ALBION – A fixture on Albion’s Main Street for more than a century, Fischer’s Newsstand, is on the market.

Gary and Denise Withey became owners of the business in January 1995. The couple had a goal of owning the business for 20 years. They are now ready to sell.

“This place needs somebody younger with fresher ideas,” Mr. Withey said at the store this morning. “It’s been a good business and it’s been here forever. Albion needs a business like this in the downtown.”

Withey said sales have declined with magazines and newspapers from two decades ago, but he still has many customers who buy printed periodicals, including about 40 who reserve a daily newspaper.

The Lottery remains popular, and many customers come in for candy and coffee.

The store hasn’t changed much in decades, and Withey believes that is part of the Fischer’s appeal.

“It is still great to watch people who moved away come back and step inside here,” he said. “They have a smile on their face. As much as Albion has changed over the years, the one constant has been Fischer’s News.”

Withey and his wife have operated the store seven days a week for nearly 20 years. “You have to put your heart and soul into it,” he said.

The family is ready to step back from the store. Mrs. Withey in early October suffered catastrophic kidney failure and now is on dialysis. She is hoping to receive at-home dialysis and return to work at The Arc of Orleans County while awaiting a kidney transplant.

Her husband, who will turn 54 next week, wants a less demanding work schedule so he can be more available for his wife.

They remain thankful for the 20 years with the store. They were able to put their two daughters through college and pay off their house, while making tons of friends.

Withey first started going to Fischer’s when he was a kid, looking to buy hockey cards at the store. He was a customer as a teen-ager and as an adult before acquiring the store.

“It’s been great and we’re going to miss it,” he said. “It’s been a part of my life since I was a kid.”

For more information about the business, contact Withey at (585) 589-7283.