Provided photo
LYNDONVILLE – State Sen. George Maziarz was the guest speaker Monday for the Young Entrepreneurs’ Class at Lyndonville Central School. Maziarz spoke about business development in Western New York.
In addition to the Young Entrepreneurs’ Class, Lyndonville is offering a career exploration program for students this school year.
ALBION – A village resident was sentenced to six months in jail and five years on Probation for selling prescription drug narcotics from his West Academy Street home.
Vance R. DeRoller, 45, faced a maximum sentence of 5 ½ years in state prison when he was charged with 21 counts of either criminal sale or criminal possession of a controlled substance after being arrested in June.
DeRoller sold hydrocodone pills that were mixed with acetaminophen, a pain reliever. Hydrocodone and acetaminophen combined are considered a narcotic.
DeRoller pleaded guilty in August to fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
Press release, Pullman Memorial Universalist Church
ALBION – The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church will have a free screening at 7 p.m. on Wednesday of a documentary about child slavery and child trafficking.
“Not My Life” is narrated by Glenn Close. Filmed on five continents and in a dozen countries, the film takes viewers into a world where millions of children are exploited every day, including here in the United States, through an astonishing array of practices, including forced labor, domestic servitude, begging, sex tourism and child soldiering.
Challenging as it may be, the film’s message is ultimately one of hope. The viewing is open to the public. A discussion will follow the film.
The church is located at 10 E. Park St.
Photos by Tom Rivers – Albion agriculture science students Allyson Irwin, left, and Basilia Casanova walk across a corn field today after riding in a combine with Alan Panek from Panek Farms.
ALBION – Six months ago on a warm May 22, Albion students planted their first crop of corn on a 5-acre land lab.
Students have kept a watchful eye on the crop since then, with the ag science class out frequently to measure the plants and count the kernals. Part of the corn was used as a maze for elementary students to explore last month.
Today, on a windy Nov. 18, the crop was harvested. Eighteen students took turns riding in a combine with Alan Panek, an Albion graduate. His brother Phil, another recent grad and Albion FFA alumni member, gave students a ride in a grain cart.
The machines are outfitted with GPS controls that will give measurements on crop yields. Students will compare the yields for different seed varieties and the spacing between the plants and rows.
Alan Panek drives the combine over a 5-acre land lab of corn. Albion student Elizabeth Bentley is in the combine with Panek. Students also rode in a grain cart during today’s harvest. Panek Farms supplied most of the equipment for today’s harvest. New Holland also brought along a demo combine to help with the project.
Panek Farms also is farming 63 acres next to the land lab. The farm harvested that corn today. Panek agreed to turn over any profits from the crop to the school district to support FFA and the ag program.
The farm will share its financial data for growing the crop and its revenue for the 63 acres. Back in May it looked like corn might fetch $6 a bushel. But that price has fallen to just above $4, giving students in education in the commodity price roller-coaster, especially in recent years.
Zach Neilans climbs the ladder and gets ready for his turn in the combine.
Press release
MURRAY – A Brockport man remains hospitalized today after crashing his car Sunday morning in the town of Murray.
The incident occurred at about 10:50 a.m. Erich R. Baase, 34, was operating a 2001 Jeep SUV westbound on State Route 31, when he failed to negotiate a curve in the hamlet of Fancher.
The vehicle ran off the north side of the roadway and overturned before coming to rest upside down in a drainage ditch. Baase fled from the wreckage before the arrival of Sheriff’s deputies and emergency responders. A search that included a State Police helicopter ensued and lasted approximatey 45 minutes before Baase surrendered.
He had sustained a head injury in the crash and was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance. He remains in satisfactory condition.
Pending his recovery, he faces charges including Unsafe Speed, Operating a Vehicle without an Ignition Interlock Device, and Leaving the Scene of an Incident without Reporting. Additional charges are pending blood test results.
The incident was investigated by Deputy A.L. Jenks, assisted by Lieutenant C.M. Bourke.
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Leah Mead, a student with a work study job at Genesee Community College, had the unenviable task of changing the letters to the GCC sign today when the area is under a high winds advisory.
Mead changed the sign for the GCC center in Albion on Route 31. Mead put up a Thanksgiving message that asked passersby, “What are you thankful for?”
Some Orleans County residents are without power this morning after a storm roared through the region last night.
National Grid is reporting 117 homes are without power in southern Orleans County and northern Genesee near the wildlife refuge. That area includes the town of Shelby near East Shelby Road.
National Grid reports that 16 customers in the village of Albion are also without electricity this morning. In both outages, the power company says it is assessing conditions.
The company reported there were 279 power outages in the region, affecting nearly 6,000 customers.
Press release, Siena College
Loudonville – Governor Andrew Cuomo now has the lowest job performance rating he’s had since becoming governor, according to a Siena College poll released today.
Forty-four percent give him a positive job performance rating while 56 percent give him a negative rating (down from 52 – 47 percent positive last month). His favorable rating is virtually unchanged from last month.
In potential 2014 matchups, Cuomo overwhelms Rob Astorino, Ed Cox and Carl Paladino by between 37 and 41 points.
Cuomo is viewed favorably by 61 percent of voters and unfavorably by 32 percent (from 62 – 32 percent last month).
Fifty-one percent are prepared to re-elect him, while 41 percent would prefer someone else (from 52 – 38 percent in October).
“While Cuomo maintains his nearly two-to-one favorability rating, voters are less enthralled with the job he is doing as governor,” said pollster Steve Greenberg. “More than twice as many voters think he’s doing a poor job compared to an excellent job, and more voters now think Cuomo is doing a fair (39 percent) or poor job (17 percent) than at any time in his three years as governor.”
“However, nearly a year before he faces voters again, Cuomo is in a commanding position to win re-election.”
Whether he’s matched against the state Republican chairman (Cox), the recently re-elected Westchester County Executive (Astorino), or his 2010 opponent (Paladino), Cuomo currently has the support of between 62 and 65 percent of voters, Greenberg said.
ALBION – Local history buff and nursing home supporter Al Capurso believes the county’s push to sell the nursing home is contrary to a law approved in 1830 – by county officials back then.
Capurso has presented copies of a resolution from 1830 to county legislators and the county attorney. They say they will look into the issue.
Capurso is a member of the Concerned Citizens of Orleans County, a group that has fought the Legislature on its push to privatize The Villages of Orleans, 120-bed facility of Route 31 in Albion.
Before it had a Legislature, the county had a Board of Supervisors that governed county affairs. That body in a series of resolutions in 1829 and 1830 created the precursor to the nursing home with the Alms House.
Capurso believes the county is still responsible for the care of the infirm, according to the resolutions from 183 years ago.
Capurso found references to the alms house and a resolution on June 22, 1830, where it was stated: “Resolved, That the distinction between the town and the county poor be and the same is hereby abolished, and that the expense of maintaining all the poor shall be a county charge.”
Capurso cited a book from more than a century ago, which included the resolution and background on the alms house. Isaac Signor wrote that book, Landmarks of Orleans County 1894.
County officials want to see the original documents, and that could take some digging. The resolutions from 1829 and 1830 are in storage in the mental health building.
Capurso raised the issue at last week’s Legislature meeting. Two senior citizens, Dee Smith and Adolf Genter, both voiced their support for keeping the nursing home under county ownership.
The Legislature has transferred the property to a local development corporation, and the three-man board for the LDC may vote next month to sell the site. Two qualified bidders have submitted proposals for the nurisng home.
The Legislature last week voted to keep William Gillick and Gillick Advisors as the administrator of the facility. The firm is paid $132,000 annually.
Gary Kent, a legislator candidate in the recent election, questioned why Gillick is being retained when The Villages had a 92 percent occupancy in 2012 and 93.5 percent this year. If the site was at 98 percent occupancy, an achievable industry benchmark, Kent said that would improve the financial picture by $500,000 a year.
Legislator George Bower said the occupancy level lags due to the 12-bed rehab clinic which includes many short-term residents and open beds. Bower praised Gillick for managing the staff.
ALBION – A Kendall resident could be sentenced to up to 15 years in state prison for shooting his wife and then setting his house on fire.
Dennis Buehler, 64, pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today to second-degree attempted murder and third-degree arson.
He could have faced 25 years in prison for attempted murder, plus additional time for third-degree arson. His plea today sets the maximum sentence for both crimes at 15 years. He will be sentenced Jan. 27.
Buehler said in court today that he shot his wife Linda with a shotgun on March 4.
“Your intent was to kill her?” Orleans County Court Judge James Punch asked Buehler in court.
“Absolutely,” he replied.
After she was shot in the shoulder, Mrs. Buehler then fled the house, which Buehler then set on fire with propane. The house at 923 Peter Smith Rd. was destroyed by the blaze.
Buehler said he wasn’t intoxicated when he committed the crimes.
He will remain in the county jail without bail until the sentencing.
Theodorakos
ALBION – The village will have a new mayor on April 1. Dean Theodorakos isn’t seeking re-election in March.
Theodorakos has served as mayor for about five years. He also served as a village trustee and a member of the Planning Board before he was mayor.
Theodorakos and his wife Dele both grew up in Albion. After moving to Rochester for most of their adult lives, they returned to their hometown about a decade ago and both became active in community affairs.
“I’ve enjoyed it and I feel like I made a positive difference,” Theodorakos
said following a Village Board meeting this evening.
Theodorakos continues to work full-time in Rochester as a senior accountant for Kodak. He said the demands of the job, plus a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren, prompted him to not run again for mayor.
“There’s a benefit to having some new players come in and stir things up,” he said.
Theodorakos said the village has been busy with several projects the past five years. It has upgraded its sewer plant, sanitary and storm sewers, and overhauled some roads, most notably at Meadowbrook Drive, McKinistry Street, East State Street and Crimson Drive.
The mayor drives around the village and sees a lot of recent investment, including in the downtown, and along routes 31 and 98. Some local merchants have invested in the village, and some national chains – Kentucky Fried Chicken, Advance Auto Parts and soon Dunkin’ Donuts – have picked Albion for businesses.
Theodorakos is pleased that the former Chase site will soon be the home to Claims Recovery Financial Services. That company started in Albion a decade ago with founder Jodi Gaines. It now has about 600 workers and projects to grow to 750.
“There’s investment being made in the community so people must like what they’re seeing,” Theodorakos said.
The mayor was a volunteer on the campaign to build a new public library in Albion. He sees the Hoag Library as a major asset for the community.
The village had been working on housing rehab projects in a partnership with PathStone. But some of the government funding has dried up. Theodorakos said he hopes the investments in infrastructure and a more vibrant local business scene can stir housing investments.
“Going forward the focus should be on housing,” he said.
Some of the properties in the village sit in foreclosure, and it’s difficult to determine an owner who will take responsibility for the sites, Theodorakos said.
There is the potential for a lot of turnover on the board. Fred Miller will vacate his position after Dec. 31 because he was elected to the Orleans County Legislature. Two of the four other trustee seats – Kevin Sheehan and Eileen Banker – are also up for election in March.
Theodorakos said the village should be in good hands with a new election because of a dedicated team of department heads.
The board and the department heads work together to craft a village budget that will be an immediate task for the new board. The current budget totals $6.3 million. The village has about 50 employees.
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A cyclist passes by the Erie Canal in Medina’s canal basin. Main Street is a block away. A row of historic Medina sandstone buildings back up near the canal.
This photo was taken from the north side of the canal. The historic waterway officially closed for the season on Friday and will soon be drained for the winter.
The canal’s 190th annual season kicks off in May.
Provided photos – Natalie Mrzywka, 15, of Holley is raising turkeys for the auction on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. She helped build a new coop for the turkeys.
KNOWLESVILLE – Several 4-H youths have been raising turkeys the past four months that will be auctioned off at a sale Saturday at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
The turkey auction is new for the 4-H program, which has a meat auction during the fair in July.
The auction on Saturday with 22 turkeys gives the public a chance to buy turkeys before Thanksgiving while also supporting local 4-H youths.
There will be a preview of the turkeys beginning at 6 p.m. at the Trolley building on Route 31 with the auction starting at 6:30.
In addition the 4-H Market Auction Committee will be hosting a spaghetti dinner starting at 6 p.m. Tickets for the dinner cost $8 and children’s size (half portions) can be purchased for $4.
Nicole Mrzywka, 12, also joined in raising turkeys for the auction.
“The work that the 4-H members have put into these projects is apparent and they would greatly appreciate your support,” said Kerri Richardson, a community education coordinator for the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
The auction is a “win-win-win” program for Orleans County 4-H, its youth, and community members, she said.
“The 4-H’ers win from the learning experience: taking on the responsibility of raising high quality livestock and developing a marketing technique for its sale, and obtaining funds for college or for future projects,” she said.
The turkey buyers are purchasing fresh, locally grown turkeys for their Thanksgiving dinner, while the 4-H community benefits from the sales of the spaghetti dinner tickets. Ticket funds are used for future 4-H market auction educational programs.
For more information, call the Extension at (585) 798-4265.
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for tonight until 1 a.m. Nov. 18.
The warning applies to Orleans County and the following other counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Wayne and Wyoming.
RIDGEWAY – We’ve run a few features on unpaved roads in Orleans County in the past month.
But this little obsession actually started months ago. The first time I stopped to take a picture of one of these roads was late in the summer. I was on Marshall Road in Yates and entered Ridgeway when I noticed the dirt road to the east.
I took a couple pictures of Palmer Road and wondered then if there were many more of these roads in the county.
I would have posted these photos earlier but I just found the pictures today after going through my memory cards. (I’m accumulating quite a collection of these.)
I’ve received a lot of tips about these roads and will try to hunt them down in the coming months.
