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Hospice celebrates Light-A-Life and other community Christmas gifts

Posted 10 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Hospice of Orleans Light-A-Life participants look for their loved ones’ names among the ornaments.

Press release
Hospice of Orleans

ALBION – Some Christmastime traditions are worth a bit of sacrifice, even withstanding frigid air for a half-hour or more. That’s just what more than 60 people did last Saturday as they witnessed the lighting of the Hospice of Orleans’ memorial tree on the front lawn of the Route 31 campus.

The annual Light-A-Life event provides a way for family and friends of people who have passed away – not just Hospice patients, and not only those who have died recently – to remember their loved ones, while also supporting Hospice of Orleans.

The tree is available to any for whom a measure of comfort can be found in paying tribute to a loved one in this manner. Light-A-Life participants purchase an ornament in memory or honor of their chosen designee.

The purchaser takes home an ornament for his/her own tree, and Hospice creates a paper laminated ornament for the outside tree, which was donated by Jerry and Carol Culhane of Gaines. Bill Downey of Albion donated his sign-making services to identify the tree’s meaning to passersby.

A crowd gathers for the annual Hospice of Orleans Light-A-Life tree-lighting ceremony Dec. 7.

Brandi Hazel DiMatteo attended in memory of her grandparents, Merle and Eleanor Hazel. “The tree lighting at Hospice used to be me and Grandma’s annual event to find Grandpa’s name on the tree. Unfortunately, I was looking for both their names this year. My aunt Linda Wilkins and I were there to show our love. We’re missing them everyday more and more.”

Hospice Board Member Craig Lape sang a solo rendition of the Alabama song, “Angels Among Us,” prompting tears from many present, some of whom quietly sang along.

Pastor Linda Haight, a Hospice spiritual care coordinator, offered a reflection about how grieving is still allowed, even at this merry time of year. Her meditation will be available on the Hospice website (www.hospiceoforleans.org – lower left, “Latest News”).

In addition to the Light-A-Life, Hospice is celebrating the first anniversary of the opening of the Martin-Linsin Residence this month. To help deck the halls, Albion Ace Hardware donated a 7.5-foot pre-lit Christmas tree for the main living area. Hospice friend Winnie Wawrzyniak donated a second tree, which is on display in the indoor courtyard. County House Christmas Trees contributed two fresh wreaths. And Walmart of Albion gave a gift card toward other Christmas decorations.

The piano students of Bonnie Heck of Lyndonville will be giving a recital at the Residence on Dec. 14. Eccles Piano Studio of Albion is hosting a Hospice benefit recital at the Albion Free Methodist Church on Dec. 20. In addition, various carolers and other visitors are planning appearances at the Residence. Even Santa is rumored to be stopping by.

“Having so many people pitch in is so heartening,” said Hospice Development Director Marsha Rivers. “That’s what makes this ‘the most wonderful time of year’ – not that everything is perfect, but that people open their hearts and their pocketbooks to help their neighbors. The reason we love Christmas is because Christmas is about love.”

Dress of collard greens from Holley farm gets national attention

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Theresa Bowick models the dress she made of collard greens during a stop at the Rochester Public Market in October.

HOLLEY – A dress made from collard greens grown at a Holley farm will be featured on national television on Friday.

Theresa Bowick, a nurse and author of “Collard Green Curves,” will appear on the Steve Harvey Show. She filmed her segment in Chicago about three weeks ago. The show on Friday begins at 10 a.m. on channel 8 in Rochester, WROC TV.

Bowick of Rochester connected with Wally and Carol Liese at the Rochester Public Market, where the Holley farm has been a long-time vendor.

“Their greens were so big and pretty,” Bowick said. “They hand-picked them and I’m truly grateful.”

Randy, Carol, Wally and Colleen Liese grew and hand-picked the collard greens that Bowick used to make a dress for the Steve Harvey Show that will air 10 a.m. on Friday.

Bowick shares a message about healthy eating. Collard greens are popular in the African American community. The vegetable is very nutritious.

Bowick has become a collard green ambassador, urging people to give it a try. She shares ways to prepare the greens.

In her book, Bowick writes about losing 75 pounds and embracing a more physically active lifestyle. For more information on her book, click here.

43 bags of crack cocaine seized from Lockport man in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2013 at 12:00 am
John Butler

John Butler

ALBION – A Lockport man faces drug charges after police seized 43 bags of crack cocaine on Friday, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is reporting.

John H. Butler, 32, of 5794 Sweetwood Drive, Apt. G was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, and one count of aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree.

The Task Force worked with Albion village police and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department to execute a search warrant on Butler’s vehicle, which was parked at 131 South Main St. in the American Legion’s lot.

Police seized 43 bags of crack cocaine from the vehicle. The Niagara County Drug Task Force and Niagara County Sheriff’s Department also searched Butler’s apartment in Lockport.

Butler was arraigned in the Town of Albion Court by Justice Kevin Howard. Butler was sent to county jail with no bail due to his previous criminal history. He is to return to Town Court on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

The investigation is still ongoing and further charges and arrests are pending.

Rothmund pleads guilty to Albion bank robbery

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Rothmund in his July mugshot

ALBION – Jeremy Rothmund, 30, pleaded guilty today to first-degree robbery in Orleans County Court today. The Rochester man will be sentenced to no more than 15 years in state prison as part of a plea deal.

He will be sentenced by Judge James Punch on March 3 at 2 p.m.

In an Oct. 21 court appearance, Rothmund confessed in court that he robbed the Bank of America in Albion on July 2, showing up at the bank wearing a mask and threatening a clerk with a bomb that later was discovered to be fake.

Rothmund faced a maximum of 20 years in state prison. The plea reduces the max to 15 years.

The plea deal doesn’t include Rothmund’s admitted role with two other bank robberies in the town of Greece. Rothmund on Oct. 16 also injured a corrections officer in the county jail. The plea for the Albion robbery doesn’t include that incident, either.

In the October court appearance, Rothmund said his girlfriend, Elyse A. Hoffer, didn’t know he was robbing banks when she drove him to the locations. Rothmund said he told her to park behind the Freeze-Dry building on Route 31 near the railroad tracks while he went to buy drugs in Albion on July 2.

Rothmund returned with a bag full of $18,000. He said he told Huffer to drive fast out of town. (The two were later stopped and arrested in Holley after a resident identified them in Albion and called the police.)

Punch on Oct. 21 questioned Rothmund about the claim that Huffer didn’t know she was driving the getaway car from a robbery. Rothmund told the judge she didn’t know beforehand if he was robbing a bank, but she later realized it.

Rothmund in court today said Huffer did aid him in the robberies.

Medina choir continues holiday tradition

Contributed Story Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos courtesy of Chris Busch
MEDINA – The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir performed Sunday night to a capacity crowd of 650 people at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The choir performs a variety of music – both sacred and secular genres. Choir Director Lisa Roeseler leads the group.

A big crowd turns out each year for the concert, with some showing up two hours early to get a seat at the church. The concert used to be held at the Presbyterian Church but was moved to St. Mary’s where there are more seats.

As tradition each year, the choir processes in singing “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and processes out singing “Silent Night.”

Lisa Roeseler is the choral director, Music Theory instructor and the Music Skills teacher at Medina High School. The choral groups she directs include A’Cappella Choir, Mixed Chorus and the A’Cappella Select Ensemble. Lisa gives instruction in Music Theory 1, Music Theory 2 and AP Music Theory.

The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir has been a much beloved tradition for about a half century. The ensemble was begun under the direction of Eastman graduate Robert Conner. The ensemble quickly gained a regional reputation for excellence receiving many accolades. Conner, the man who started the tradition, attended Sunday’s concert and received an ovation.

Huge crowd for “Christmas Peace” concert in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Genesee Chorale, Albion students usher in the season

ALBION – A Christmas concert this afternoon was standing room only in the First Presbyterian Church with about 500 people filling the church pews.

The 70-member Genesee Chorale, directed by Ric Jones of Medina, performed the “Christmas Peace” concert that included several selections from Albion student musicians.

The concert is part of the Eastman at Albion series that started with three spring concerts in 2009. The group has added a Christmas concert the past four years.

Jones praised the community for turning out in force for the concert today.

“As performers you can’t imagine how awesome it is to see a slew of people in the audience,” Jones told the crowd.

The Chorale sang Christmas classics including “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Star In The East,” and several others.

Evan Steier plays the trumpet with other members of the brass ensemble in the balcony of the First Presbyterian Church.

Shannon Broda and the woodwind quintet perform “We Three Kings.”

Kelley Flanagan and the flute choir play “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” while the women’s and men’s ensembles wait for their turn to sing.

The Eastman series continues in the spring with a concert by Mitzie Collins on March 9 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the return of Albion native Susan Fancher, a world-class saxophonist, on April 6 at the Prebyterian Church.

Public Square in Holley adds some holiday spirit

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

An antique and collectibles shop has a horse and Christmas lights mounted above the store’s façade in the Public Square.

One of Holley’s mainstays, Sam’s Diner, has a holiday theme in its front window.

Eastern Orleans Community Center is spruced up for the holidays. Volunteers for Community Action have been ringing the bells for the annual red kettle fund-raising drive.

Last night during a very chilly Parade of Lights two volunteers from the American Legion were trying to raise funds through the red kettle. Legion Commander Chuck Eberhardt, left, and Al Pulcino expect to put in several shifts for the red kettle this year.

Main Street sites in Lyndonville are decked out for holidays

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

Route 63 in Lyndonville has a stretch of grand old houses, and several of them are decked out in holiday decorations, including this house at 8 Eagle St., at the South Main Street intersection.

Just south of that location, at 142 South Main St., one of the area’s finest cobblestone houses is lighted up for the holidays.

This house was built in 1846 and is the only Lyndonville location listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Jackson Blood, an early Lyndonville resident, built the house and lived there until 1875.

The downtown decorations for the holidays have been upgraded thanks to funds from the Lyndonville Lions Club and the Lyndonville Area Foundation.

East Shelby church welcomes public to celebrate a less frantic Christmas

Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Gingerbread, caroling and carriage rides are part of the day

Press release, East Shelby Community Bible Church

EAST SHELBY – Have you ever wished you could celebrate Christmas the way your grandparents did – simple, no commercialism, with the emphasis on the birth of Jesus Christ?

The congregation of the East Shelby Community Bible Church would like to invite everyone to be able to do just that by joining them as they celebrate the real meaning of Christmas in West Jackson Corners. Come experience “The Smells and Tastes of Christmas Past” today from noon to 5 p.m.

Begin your afternoon in the church listening to the church’s “Band of Renown,” which will begin playing at noon. The band has been practicing for weeks to provide you with a wonderful concert of Christmas hymns and carols.

Afterwards walk across the road to West Jackson Corners and experience the true meaning of Christmas in a restored 19th century village. West Jackson Corners was the original name of East Shelby in the early 1800s.

While visiting West Jackson Corners take a sleigh ride. There will also be a special team of horses this year called “Norsk Heist.” They are Norwegian horses that are small and powerful.  Come and enjoy a sleigh ride pulled by these specialty horses.

Listen to a tale of long ago, hear the Dickinson style Christmas carolers, view the two 20-foot Christmas trees in the village square, see the lights, taste a pioneer Christmas dinner cooked over an open hearth, or sing your favorite Christmas songs along with the church choir.

Check out an old fashion toy display in the local country store, view a living manager scene in the barn at the edge of town, make an old fashioned garland with pine cones, nuts, berries and cinnamon, taste homemade hot chocolate, or just visit with the folks from West Jackson Corners.

Be sure to come back to the church and view the 16-foot Christmas tree in the church sanctuary, the candelabra ready for lighting on Christmas Eve and the traditional holiday greens decorations. While in the church sample traditional holiday snacks and desserts prepared and served by the ladies of West Jackson Corners.

As you enjoy the holiday foods, have a cup of coffee or a special Christmas punch and watch the folk dancing by some of the teens of the church.

Stop in at the 19th century parsonage next door to the church. The parsonage, restored to its 19th century splendor, will be decked out for an old fashion Christmas.

While there visitors will also have a chance to decorate a homemade gingerbread man in the kitchen, watch heritage craft demonstrations in the living room and visit the children’s craft corner. Upstairs in the parsonage is Santa’s workshop where youngsters can make their own wooden toy.

Be on hand at 4:30 p.m. when the children greet Santa Claus as he arrives by horse drawn sleigh at West Jackson Corners.

Medina choir keeps up long tradition with holiday concert

Contributed Story Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo courtesy of Chris Busch

MEDINA – The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir performs tonight during its annual community holiday concert at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

A big crowd of about 700 people turned out to hear the 102 singers in the A’Cappella Choir perform in the church, a 50-year holiday tradition in Medina. The group memorized 16 songs and will perform for other groups during the holiday season.

The choir is directed by Lisa Roeseler.

Dairy farmer found other uses for old horse weight

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 December 2013 at 12:00 am

John Long has witnessed changes on the farm landscape

John Long holds the 18-pound horse weight that has been in his family for generations.

GAINES – For the many years John Long and his father Frank milked cows on Zig Zag Road, they used an old horse weight as a door stop in the milk house.

Frank Long started the farm in 1937 at Zig Zag Road. John Long sold the cows in 1988, when he turned the farm’s focus on crops. He also had a retail straw and hay business.

He kept the old horse weight, which weighs 18 pounds and has a ring. It is a relic from the horse and buggy era. Orleans Hub has posted many articles about the rather incredible collection of hitching posts, mounting blocks and carriage steps that remain on many properties in the area. Albion and Gaines, in particular, have many of these. There are also quite a few in Medina.

Long wanted me to see the horse weight, which his father referred to as a horse block.

John Long treasures the horse weight. He scrubbed it and gave it a new coating of black paint.

Horse weights were movable blocks, made of iron or stone, that were carried in carriages. Not every place had a hitching post to tie up a horse. So people brought along a horse weight to tie up their horse and keep it in place.

I had never seen a horse weight before until Long showed it to me on Thursday. He takes pride in the relic. He has it scrubbed up and painted black. It’s been in his family for many, many years.

Long, 79, remembers when horses were a bigger part of Albion. He can recall hitching posts along Caroline Street and a drinking fountain for horses on the Courthouse Lawn.

I asked County Historian Bill Lattin if he thinks there are many surviving horse weights these days. Lattin has two, including a heavy sandstone weight that he suspects was used to hitch a team of horses. He also has a smaller one, similar to Long’s.

But Lattin hasn’t seen too many of the weights.

Long likes the history of the area. He lives outside the eastern end of the village of Albion. Long and his wife Loretta raised two sons – Jeff and Doug – out in the country.

John Long said almost every farmer in the area used to grow tomatoes to feed the processing plants in Albion.

Many of the roads near him – Kietel, Densmore, Lattin and Sawyer – are named for pioneer settlers. Zig Zag Road used to be call Wickham Road, named for another pioneer. Long doesn’t know why the name was changed.

He’s seen a lot of changes in local agriculture. Long’s farm and almost every other farm oepration in the area grew a lot of tomatoes to feed the processing plants in Albion.

Lipton’s (across from McDonalds) stopped buying local tomatoes in 1961 and then Hunt’s took its last local crop in 1969. Hunt’s had an enormous facility, the former Chase site in Albion plus more space on East Avenue going to Platt Street, where Helena Chemical is currently located.

“In the fall you could smell the ketchup cooking in Albion,” Long said.

Many local farmers grew tomatoes for Lipton’s and Hunt’s. These days you don’t see much acreage for tomatoes.

Instead, Long said it feels like corn is everywhere. He rents out his land and two farmers who use it for corn.

“Corn is king now because of the ethanol,” Long said.

Most of the corn has been harvested next to Long’s former dairy farm on Zig Zag Road. Long sold much of equipment from the barn in an auction in October.

Holley lights up for the holidays

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Holley’s Parade of Lights passes through the Public Square tonight. Several local fire companies and other community organizations and businesses joined for the parade that started at the elementary school.

Santa stands at the back of a golf cart and greets people lined along the parade route, including people in front of the Community Free Library.

The crowd braves the bitter cold to watch the Parade of Lights pass through the Public Square.

Bentley Brothers in Albion and Brockport was among the local businesses that joined in the parade.

Holley’s Department of Public Works decorated its trucks for the parade.

Several nearby fire companies, including Clarendon, participated in the Parade of Lights.

Before the parade, Mayor John Kenney read names of people honored with memorial bulbs on a Christmas tree at Public Square.

Holley lighted the tree, a tradition that dates back about three decades.

Big holiday doings in Holley and Lyndonville today

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 December 2013 at 12:00 am

The Holley and Lyndonville communities both are celebrating the holidays in a big way today.

In Holley, the events started at 10 a.m. with a breakfast with Santa. There will be a memory bulb tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. in the Public Square. The day will be capped with a parade of lights at 6:30 p.m.

For a full list of events, click here.

The first “Christmas in Lyndonville” celebration includes a lineup of events from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Santa will arrive at 5 p.m. at Veterans’ Park and will flip the switch that will turn on the lights for 26 Christmas trees decorated by the community.

For a full list of events, click here.

Lyndonville creates a new holiday tradition

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Community decorates 27 trees at Veterans Park

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Community members decorated 27 Christmas trees at Veterans Park as part of a new holiday tradition in Lyndonville.

The village pushed to start the project after Wes Bradley, a Yates Town Councilman and Lions Cub member, pitched the idea. He saw it at Oakfield last year when there were 53 trees lighted and decorated by community members.

Oakfield shared its planning tips with Lyndonville officials. Bradley was hoping for maybe 15 or 20 trees the first year. With a strong showing this year, Bradley thinks the community could do 40 or 50 next year.

He’d like to add horse-drawn carriage rides and more events as part of day-long celebration.

“This has been a little morale boost for the community,” Bradley said this evening while serving hot cocoa and cookies in the Village Hall.

After arriving on a trailer that looked like a sleigh, Santa greeted the crowd at Veterans Park.

Santa flipped the switch at the North Pole Electric Station, lighting the 27 trees decorated by the community.

Santa then met with youngsters at the Village Hall. Grayson Voltz of Lockport didn’t take a liking to the jolly ole’ elf. Grayson’s mother Jessica Voltz is a Lyndonville native.

Ethan Merrill, 7, of Albion was comfortable with Santa, and happily shared his wish list for Christmas.

DA: 4 burglars can expect lengthy state prison sentences

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Police believe group was responsible for 32 burglaries

Police agencies in three counties worked together to arrest Jonathan Banks, top left; Isaiah Bonk, top right; Jasper Lloyd, bottom, left; Thomas Shingleton, bottom right.

ALBION – Police from multiple agencies in three counties believe they have arrested the people responsible for 32 burglaries in August and September, a rash of break-ins in Albion, Medina, Oakfield and Lockport.

The four are all in jail and Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone said they will face long prison sentences.

One of the suspected burglars, Jonathan Banks, 21, of Medina, was arrested by Lockport police in September. After his arrest, there weren’t additional burglaries, police officials said.

Police officers continued to work on the cases and had a break through last week when Medina police arrested Isaiah Bonk, 20, of Medina. He was arrested following a foot chase. He gave information to police that led the arrests of two others who were part of the crimes.

Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said the four were persons of interest in the crimes before their arrests. Police from Albion, Medina Lockport and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department were in daily communication, sharing information and gathering evidence.

“Criminals don’t follow jurisdictional lines and neither do we,” Nenni said at a news conference at the Village Hall. “We became one big sheriff’s department or police department.”

The following were arrested:

Jonathan Banks, 21, of 4886 South Townline Rd., Medina, faces 10 counts of second-degree burglary, one count of attempted burglary and attempted robbery in the second degree, six counts of grand larceny, seven counts of petit larceny, three counts of attempted petit larceny, and four counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief.

He is held in Niagara County Jail on $160,000 bail.

Banks was involved in a high-profile crime in May when he took a 12-year-old girl from Albion overnight to Buffalo. The girl was subject to a missing persons report. Banks was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Law enforcement officials gathered at 11 a.m. today at Albion Village Hall to discuss the arrests of four people in a rash of break-ins in August and September. The group includes, from left: Lockport detective Kevin Schrader, Orleans County DA Joe Cardone, Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert, Albion Police Chief Ronald Nenni (at podium), Medina Police Chief Jose Avila and William Sheron, undersheriff at Genesee County Sheriff’s Department.

Isaiah Bonk, of 531 East Center St., Medina, faces nine counts of second-degree burglary, one count of attempted burglary in the second-degree, six counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, seven counts of petit larceny, three counts of attempted petit larceny, and four counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree.

He is held in Orleans County Jail on $50,000 bail.

 Jasper Lloyd, 20, of 107 East Bank St., Albion, was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, two counts of grand larceny and one count of criminal mischief in the fourth degree.

He is in Orleans County Jail on $50,000 bail.

Thomas Shingleton, 36, of 177 Bates Rd., Medina, has been charged with one count of attempted burglary in the second degree and one count of attempted petit larceny. He is in Orleans County Jail on $20,000 bail.

The four worked together in the crimes, but not necessarily all four at each location, Nenni said. With some of the break-ins, one or two of the burglars may have been at the scene. They sometimes provided each other with rides after the burglaries, Nenni said.

Albion had 20 break-ins. There were five in Medina, three in Lockport and four in Oakfield.

The burglars tended to hit multiple locations each night. They would go through unlocked doors or cut out screens in windows to gain access.

“It was alarming to the victims to have people come into their house,” Nenni said.

One of the victims from Albion attended the news conference. He said the burglary in August traumatized his young son, who wouldn’t sleep the rest of the summer unless a parent was by him.

The family used to keep its windows open in the summer to let in a breeze. After the crime, their windows were locked tight.

“You never expect someone to come through the screens,” the victim said.

Nenni said the burglars took cash, credit cards and electronics. The credit cards were never used after being stolen. Some of the electronics were sold. Nenni estimated the burglars took about $20,000 all together in cash and electronics.

There was also about a $20,000 cost to taxpayers for the officer overtime on the case, he said.

Nenni and the police leaders said the investigation is continuing.