By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 September 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A former Medina resident was sentenced to three years in state prison today for attempted sexual abuse in the first degree.
Patrick E. Sewar, 23, is a former resident on Knowlesville Road. He most recently has been living at the Holley Hotel.
He admitted in court to inappropriate touching with a 7-year-old girl. He did not have sex with the girl, according to court officials.
He also faces charges in Genesee County for allegedly molesting another child at Darien Lake on June 24, 2013.
Orleans County Court Judge James Punch sentenced Sewar to three years in state prison, plus another 10 years of post-release supervision.
Two other people were sentenced today in court.
Brigitte Lutsch, 20, of Brockport was sentenced to a year in state prison after violating the terms of Drug Court.
Lutsch admitted in a previous court appearance that she helped sell cocaine in Albion on Oct. 6. She allegedly drove a drug dealer to Albion. She said she was aware cocaine was in her vehicle and that the drug was to be sold.
She faced a maximum of 2 ½ years in state prison for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. However, she was allowed to enter Drug Court. If she successfully completed Drug Court the charge would have been reduced to a misdemeanor, but she didn’t meet the terms of the program.
A Hamlin woman was sentenced to six months in county jail for attempted burglary in the second degree after she allegedly stole about $1,400 from a Kendall residence last Oct. 23.
Melissa Thomas, a resident of Orleans-Monroe County Line Road, also was sentenced to five years Probation after she is released from jail.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Kim Keil, left, and Noelle Wiedemer opened Wide Angle Art Gallery at 525 Main St. The site will be a showcase for artists, including student art work, and also will offer workshops for painting, photography, science in art and other topics.
Pat Curry created this piece of artwork, “Fly Away,” as well as many of the paintings in the debut exhibits at Wide Angle Art Gallery.
Wide Angle Art Gallery celebrated its debut on Saturday with work from four artists showcased, including this dress made by Pat Curry from Wegmans receipts.
MEDINA – The arts scene just found a new venue in Orleans County with the opening of Wide Angle Art Gallery at 525 Main St.
Kim Keil and Noelle Wiedemer opened the gallery on Saturday to an enthusiastic crowd. The gallery displayed works from four artists and promoted upcoming workshops, including one for children ages 10 to 14 on acrylic painting. That class will be Oct. 4.
Keil teaches chemistry at University of Buffalo and Wiedemer teaches in the museum studies program at Buffalo State. They are accustomed to the art scene in bigger cities. But they see potential in a gallery and art-related workshop in small-town Medina.
“We’ve watched all the new stores pop up and the ones that are established,” Wiedemer said. “It’s fantastic.”
Medina is drawing media attention from outside the area for its downtown business revival in a historic district, Wiedemer said.
“People know where Medina is and they are willing to make the trek out here,” she said.
While Medina has added new businesses in recent years, an art gallery seemed to be missing from Main Street, Wiedemer said.
The two-story location includes an upstairs workshop that could be used for one-day classes or sessions that lasts several weeks. Wiedemer said visiting artists will lead some of the programs.
“We have the space and it won’t just be limited to Medina,” she said. “We want to be a Western New York hub.”
Wiedemer and Keil both said Medina is nestled in a beautiful area that will draw artists and students to see the water, orchards and other lush landscapes.
“The seasons are gorgeous,” Wiedemer said. “We’re very lucky out here.”
For more on the gallery, visit wideangleartgallery.com.
ALBION – County personnel met at Marti’s Restaurant on Nov. 6, 1947 for a banquet when this photo was taken. Celia Keeler, clerk for the Board of Supervisors, is pictured second from left. She died on June 5 at age 106. She is the last known living person in this photograph.
Pictured, left to right around the table, include: Herb Holt, clerk of the highway department; Celia Keeler, clerk for the Board of Supervisors; Justin Robert, Shelby town supervisor; Katherin Mathews, secretary to child welfare agent; unidentified, machine agent; J.J. Beach, Ridgeway town supervisor; Ole Orsland, Kendall town supervisor; Earl Strickland, Carlton town supervisor; Henry De Lano, Barre town supervisor;
Ross N. Wilson, Albion town supervisor; Harold Farnsworth, secretary for civil service; Mark Heath, county attorney; John Kast, Gaines town supervisor; Mrs. R. Beebe, Murray town supervisor; Henry Hannan, highway superintendent; M. Harris, custodian; Geraldine Barry, deputy county treasurer; Manley Morrison, Yates town supervisor; unidentified, machine agent; and Cassius Webster, Clarendon town supervisor.
Photos by Sue Cook – The memorial garden is nearly completed.
By Sue Cook
Staff reporter
MEDINA – Last year, two members of the Memories of Medina Facebook page passed away leading the group to create a memorial garden in their honor.
At the Glenwood Lake boat launch site just north of Boxwood Cemetery, the garden is already nearing completion and is expected to be finished by the end of the year.
“I came down here to my thinking spot,” said Dayton Hausman, one of the garden organizers. “I looked around and said there’s no color down here. It’s just green by the water.”
The garden was created originally in honor of Michelle Stanton Jones who lost her battle with cancer on July 29, 2013. She was an early member of the Memories of Medina Facebook page. Its original purpose was to share news, memories and other tidbits of Medina, while also offering a way for members to network and make new friends. Stanton Jones organized meet-and-greet events through the page for the people of Medina to meet each other.
Provided photo – This photo shows early construction by Glenwood Lake.
The garden site coincided with being the location of the very first meet-and-greet that Stanton Jones headed. The group met under the pavilion, which is only about a hundred feet from the garden.
“Michelle lived out by Lake Ontario, so she loved the water,” Hausman said. “Just about anyone who grew up in Medina says Glenwood is our little secret.”
“It’s always just quiet and peaceful,” said Tim Bensley. “If you were to put a place where you’d go sit and think, this would be it.”
“Behind this was idea of reflection and to add color,” added Hausman.
The garden also honors Linda Froman, a prominent business woman and active community member. She was also a big player in the Memories of Medina page and passed away two days after Stanton Jones.
Photo by Sue Cook – Lynn Stanley donated the angel in the garden in honor of her son.
“There was a loose committee of individuals in the group that agreed to give it a shot,” Hausman said. “We went to the town of Ridgeway and presented our ideas and they backed us. They gave us permission and we met with Mark Goheen from the highway department and got the rules and regulations of what we could and couldn’t do. They were very supportive.”
The garden is funded by donations. Many monetary donations have been made by local businesses and Medina residents. Collection jars were also left at many businesses. Almost all of the features of the garden, such as the angel and birdhouse, were donated by community members.
Hannah Pollard of Grant-Pollard Insurance also organized a basket raffle that brought in about $10,000 in donations. This is what prompted the garden to be upgraded from a little 6′ by 9′ space designed to look like a smiley face to 100′ by 37′ series of rings and hearts. Some of the money will be left over after the garden is completed for any ongoing maintenance of the site.
Provided photo – Volunteers began spreading the stone.
Tim Bensley, owner of Bensley’s Home Services, used his construction experience and the volunteer support of high-schoolers to create the space. About 12 Medina High School grads and students, mostly young women, assisted in making the space with six of them showing up regularly.
“It been truly an emotional experience to come down here and work,” Bensley said. “There’s so many things that happen when you’re down here. There were these two geese. As soon as I would get here, these geese would arrive. They’d land in the lake, we’d work, we’d leave, they’d fly off. I was calling them Linda and Michelle, like they were checking up on me.”
Local businesses also helped in other ways. JC Signs lettered the sign that stands over the entry path. Art Hill Excavating and Shelby Stone contributed materials and Medina Lumber and White Pines Nursery gave discounts toward their purchases.
Provided photo – The view from the garden is especially picturesque on a sunny day.
“It’s a community project that came out of a lot of sadness, but it’s a source of pride,” said Hausman.
Besides two plaques being created for Stanton Jones and Froman, memorial plaques are also available for purchase to remember others. So far about 30 plaques have been purchased. They are available for $75 and can be purchased at Grant-Pollard Insurance in Medina from Hannah or Libby Pollard.
The plaques will be used to line the top edge of the center ring in the garden at first. There is space for 127 on there. If more space is needed as time goes on, further concentric rings will be constructed expanding outward.
“It’s far more than any of us ever imagined,” Bensley said. “It’s kind of grown over the year.”
The remaining construction at the site includes the installation of six stone benches, a large centerpiece of a stone circle with a heart in the center, the installation of the plaques and the addition of solar lights. The dedication ceremony will take place in the spring when the plants in the garden are colorful.
Photo by Sue Cook – Lyndonville Assistant Chief Ben Bane, left, is pictured with Mya Heideman, Alia Childs, Emily Brown and Chief Jason Gerety.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
LYNDONVILLE – Three Lyndonville girls were recognized by the Lyndonville Fire Department for acting quickly to prevent a house fire.
Mya Heideman, 9, Alia Childs, 10, and Emily Brown, 11, were out last Monday evening when they saw a dog in a home on Maple Avenue with foggy looking windows. They could hear the smoke detectors inside going off. The girls raced home to Alia’s house on adjacent Lynwood Drive and had her mother, Holly Childs, call 9-1-1.
The fire department sent two trucks to investigate. Upon opening the front door, the dog trapped inside ran out. The entire first floor was engulfed in smoke. Their investigation revealed food burning on the stove had accidentally been left cooking by the homeowner. The dog was retrieved later that night, suffering no apparent ill effects from the smoke.
Fire Chief Jason Gerety said the home was very near catching fire and that the girls’ fast response saved the life of the dog, as well as the house. He presented them with framed awards on Friday evening, saying, “Your community thanks you. It could have been a lot worse than it was.”
“You did the right thing,” he continued. “Never hesitate to call 9-1-1 or tell a grown up. If that had gone a little bit longer, that dog wouldn’t have made it out of the house and the homeowner would have been burying her pet. You guys recognized it and did the right thing and I’m proud of you.”
Chief Gerety then suggested that the girls do one more step next time if they ever need to call 9-1-1 again.
“There’s only one thing you might have done different,” he said. “If you think of it, try and grab the house number next time.”
The girls hadn’t thought to get the house number and had described which street the home was on and said it was the “house with the gnomes.” Immediately, the Chief knew which home they were talking about and they went straight there.
Holly Childs, Alia’s mother, said, “I’m really proud of the girls. They acted really fast.”
Homeowner Rose Carter was in attendance at the award ceremony. She shares the home with her fiance, Eric Morton, who was not home at the time of the incident.
“I left chicken on the stove and forgot about it and went to Lockport,” Carter said. “When I came back the fire company was there. They said these girls, heroes of mine, rescued the dog. They called 9-1-1. These are my heroes right here. I can’t thank them enough.”
The girls all agreed that it felt really good to be called heroes. Their advice to anyone that ever thinks there might be a problem like a fire is to just call 9-1-1.
Staff Reports Posted 13 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Al Scalzo
Al Scalzo of Medina sent in two photos from the Monday night “Supermoon.” It was the third time this season we had a Supermoon, when the moon is full and at its closest orbit to the earth.
Photo by Al Scalzo
The Supermoon on Monday also was known as a Harvest Moon because it is near the autumn equinox.
Photo by Chris Busch
Chris Busch of Medina was stepping out of the Post office on Wednesday afternoon when the Sun appeared to cast a heavenly halo over the top of the First Baptist Church. Busch said this photo doesn’t do justice to the scene.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Hoag Library hosted its first health fair today with about 25 vendors attending the three-hour event.
In the top photo, Dr. Ahmet Guler, a cardiologist for Medina Memorial Hospital and Orleans Community Heath, talks with Cindy Perry, director of health education, wellness and outreach for the hospital and OCH.
Dr. Guler was hired as a local cardiologist in July. He promoted the hospital’s new vein center at today’s health fair. The Albion Urgent Care Center also offers vein screening services. Guler said Medina has the only vein center between Rochester and Buffalo.
The Care Net Pregnancy and Family Center in Albion also attended the health fair, trying to promote its services, which include pregnancy tests, ultrasound, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and other family services. In this photo, Sara Moore, left, is pictured with center director Gloria Lear. Moore is the nurse manager for Care Net, which is located across from McDonalds. The center has its annual “Walk/Run for Life” next Saturday at Mount Albion Cemetery beginning at 10 a.m.
Wayne Litchfield, the coordinator for VALOR, talks about the program with Leanne Serrato, a registered nurse with Medina Memorial Hospital. VALOR stands for Volunteer Alliance Linking Orleans Resources. The group provides volunteer support for public health preparedness.
“Unless it affects you personally, you don’t know the services that are out there,” said Nola Goodrich-Kresse, public health educator for Orleans County. She helped plan the health fair with Hoag Library staff.
She expects the health fair will become an annual event at the library.
“By coming here you now have names and faces to connect with organizations,” Goodrich-Kresse said.
Lyndonville Central School will host a health fair on Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of its homecoming weekend.
Photos by Sue Cook – Children gather for a photo during the first Comic Con party at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Friday night.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library wanted to offer something new to patrons and decided the release of the new Captain America movie on Friday was a great day to celebrate with Comic Con.
The most famous examples of the convention are the San Diego and New York Comic Cons. They are conventions held around the world for people to get together and celebrate the pop culture of comic books, video games, movies and general science fiction.
This is the first year the library has held the event, but Kristine Mostyn, the assistant library director, said that the library wants to make it an annual event.
“There’s comic book movies coming out for like the next five years or so,” Mostyn said. “I’m planning on continuing it as long as it’s popular. I was trying to think of a program that people of all ages would enjoy, but also had the fun aspect that you could dress up and be a kid again.”
The event took place after hours throughout the main area of the library.
“We wanted it to be a loud, boisterous and fun program, but we didn’t want it while we were open where we’d disturb other people,” she said. “Plus, having the lights off for the film limits the ability for others to use the library.”
Library staff that are fans of the con genres helped out during the event and some even got into the spirit by dressing up. Mostyn dressed as Elphaba from Wicked and Children’s Librarian Suzanne McAllister came as Darth Vader from Star Wars. Staff also brought some props from their personal collections, such as light sabers, for con-goers to use in photographs.
Props were provided by the library staffers for the kids to wear for pictures.
“It was fun because the staff was enthusiastic about it, too,” Mostyn added.
The kids participated in several events to win prizes throughout the evening.
Because dressing in costumes is traditional for Comic Cons, the library held a costume contest. Aaron Lama won the event dressed as Iron Patriot from the third Iron Man film. He was awarded a life-sized cardboard stand-up of the character Loki from Thor.
Kristen Helton brought her son, Trent Ingerson, dressed as a Sith Lord from Star Wars. “It’s just a fun event. I hope they do this every year,” she said.
The children also participated in a superhero scavenger hunt. They had to seek out the symbols of superheros from all over the library. Those who completed it were entered into a raffle. Mason Moreland and Andrew Schmidli won faux vintage metal signs of Spiderman and Wonder Woman.
During the trivia contest, the kids were asked questions about the most popular heroes, such as how Superman got his powers or who Batman’s sidekick is. Timmy Vasquez won a Justice League poster.
The kids also took a 30-minute drawing lesson from local art hobbyist Jeffrey Leigh. He taught the children how to draw several popular characters.
Provided photo
To wrap up the evening, everyone gathered around the projector screen for a viewing of the movie “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
“I picked the day to coincide with the day the movie coming out on DVD. It’s still new and people that haven’t seen it in theater haven’t seen it on DVD yet,” Mostyn said.
She is hoping to draw older kids next year to participate with the younger kids. The average age of kids at the event was between 6 and 10, although a couple of 18-year-olds joined the fun. She is hoping that older siblings might attend with younger ones next year and that they might even choose to dress up as well.
Mostyn also plans to try and get a real comic artist to come in next year. She knows of a successful comic book artist in Lockport that she is hoping to invite to talk about how comic creation can be a worthwhile aspiration.
“I tried to get all aspects of being a comic book lover, or just sci-fi and fantasy in general,” Mostyn said. “I thought this was a good way to embrace this for our community. There is nothing like this. I’m hoping it will grow.”
Photos by Sue Cook – Anni Skowneski takes the plunge first as ice water is dumped over her head.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
ALBION – In the last few months, people worldwide have been doing the Ice Bucket Challenge and today Community Action in Orleans County got in on the action.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is a viral marketing campaign for the ALS Association to raise awareness of ALS, a lethal neurodegenerative disorder also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. The challenge involves a person filling up a bucket with ice water, they get someone to film them, then they challenge other people to do it followed by dumping the water over their head. A person can opt out by donating money.
It’s become very popular to make a video of the challenge and still donate money to the cause. Several celebrities have joined in the challenge including Liam Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr. As of Friday, the ALS Association has raised $112.4 million dollars which will go toward patient care and research.
“We had this brainstorm that we would gather as many staff together as possible to do this Ice Bucket Challenge,” said Annette Finch, director of community services for Community Action. “We felt that being in the community and being community-minded, we should do something for another charity.”
Theresa Price reacts after the ice bucket is dumped on her head.
On a chilly Saturday morning 10 employees from Community Action in Albion took the challenge together. (Click here to see the video.) The group challenged all other Orleans County transportation services to do do it, too, and lined up in front of a Community Action bus during the challenge to drive the point home.
“This is just to show awareness of ALS and how severe it can be,” said Theresa Price, a Head Start employee. “A couple years ago I didn’t know what it was until I did a walk with my niece. She explained it to me and what it is. This is to show awareness and get it out there how serious this is.”
Community Action will be making a donation to ALS through the Community Action Angels in Action fund in the near future, though they have not determined an amount yet. Many of the participants will also donate on their own as well.
“I’m very proud of the staff for coming out on a cold, rainy Saturday to do this for charity,” Finch said. “That’s what we’re all about here.”
The group raises their arms and lets out a victory cry after completing the challenge together.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2014 at 12:00 am
Four C’s was sold in August to Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina
Photo by Tom Rivers – Gene Christopher and his son David Cristofaro are pictured on Wednesday evening when they treated about 130 friends and customers to dinner at The Village Inn.
CHILDS – For 30 years the Christopher family made charter boat captains and other customers feel at home along the Oak Orchard River.
Gene and Judy Christopher and their sons David and Darrick operated Four C’s Marina. They did it with class, said Sharon Narburgh, owner of Narby’s Superette and Tackle for nearly 50 years.
“They did a service and the people don’t forget that,” Narburgh said.
She attended a dinner on Wednesday at the Village Inn, when the Christophers treated 130 friends and customers to an appreciation dinner. The Christophers sold their marina last month to Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina and Rod Farrow.
Bud and Peggy Fischer of Spencerport were long-time customers at Four C’s. The Christophers won the admiration of the Point Breeze community, the Fischers said.
“They were always concerned about our welfare,” Mr. Fischer said. “Gene and his wife are very special people. They’re very accommodating.”
Mrs. Fischer said the Christophers were always “above the table” in dealing with the public.
“He always told you like it was,” she said.
Besides the marina, the Christophers expanded the operation to lodging and a next-door café. The marina was the first job for the boys, Darrick and David.
Judy Christopher was a strong presence at the marina for its first 29 years. She died from cancer at age 70 last Aug. 3. Gene credited his wife for doing so much for Four C’s, especially when he was juggling his full-time job before he retired about 15 years ago.
Robin Boyle worked as a cook and waitress at the café, and also helped detail boats and work in the office. She said the Christophers treated people with respect and class.
“They were always honest and they were very good role models,” Boyle said. “Their customers kept coming back. They developed a very good rapport with everybody.”
Gene and David worked the room on Wednesday at the Village Inn, exchanging hand shakes and hugs with many of the attendees.
“This is just a thank you from us to them,” Gene said.
