news

Holley ‘Five to Revive’ banner on old school

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo from Village of Holley – The Village of Holley is trying to draw attention to the old Holley High School and its inclusion on the inaugural “Five to Revive” list by the Landmark Society of Western New York. The Village Department of Public Works – Pete Surowy and Dylon Love – installed a banner on the building today. Deputy Mayor David Dill is standing on the ground at the bottom of the ladder.

HOLLEY – When the debut list of “Five to Revive” came out in May, featuring sites in the Rochester area in desperate need of improvement, the old Holley High School made the list.

Today, the village Department of Public Works put a banner on the old school, noting its place on the Five to Revive.

The Landmark Society of Western New York in May announced the list of five properties in need of investment.

“Whether buildings, landscapes or structures, they are significant historic properties whose rehabilitations can become catalytic projects for the neighborhoods and communities that surround them,” the Landmark Society stated then.

Landmark Society staff picked the five sites, calling them “irreplaceable historic resources.” The Landmark Society offered to work collaboratively with owners, municipal officials and developers to facilitate investment and foster rehabilitation so that these structures can again play an active role in their communities.

In addition to the Holley school, the Landmark Society picked the following as Five to Revive: the Pulaski Library, 1151 Hudson Ave., Rochester; Former Eastman Dental Dispensary, 800 Main St., Rochester; Pedestrian Bridges in Genesee Valley Park, Rochester; Sampson Theatre, 130-136 East Elm St., Penn Yan.

The Holley school is located at the corner of routes 31 and 237. It was last used about three decades ago by Liftec Manufacturing, which went bankrupt. The site was last used as a school in the early 1970s.

The Landmark Society said the former school is a highly visible anchor in a historic Erie Canal village.

“Its notable historic and architectural significance, combined with its prominent location and scale of design, make it an important candidate for rehabilitation and re-use after nearly 30 years of vacancy,” according to the Landmark Society.

For more on the Five to Revive, click here.

‘Brothers’ from Vietnam relish chance to reconnect

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Joe Pagan of California on Saturday addressed a group of Vietnam War veterans who gathered locally for a reunion.

Twenty years ago they reconnected for the first time since the Vietnam War. Since then, the 57th Assault Helicopter Company has made their reunions a top priority every other year.

“Everybody talks about the Band of Brothers. When we see each other, we don’t shake hands, we hug,” said Joe Pagan, a mechanic or “witch doctor” for the helicopters during the war. He was tasked with “fixing anything that breaks.”

Pagan, a resident of Riverside, Calif., was chairman of a past reunion of the 57^th in Houston. The group gathered again on Aug. 22-25, this time staying at the Clarion in Batavia.

They flew in from all over the country. Albion resident Charlie Nesbitt, a pilot with the 57^th from 1968-1969, was chairman of the group’s 11^th reunion, which was attended by 67 veterans.

They toured sites in Western New York, including Niagara Falls, the Lockport Locks, the Cobblestone Society Museum, downtown Albion, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and the Village Inn. They also took a boat ride along the canal.

Mostly, they talked and reconnected.

“You spend the worst year of your life with these guys,” Pagan said. “You build a bond that’s no comparison.”

Pagan has been to all 11 reunions. When some members of the group wanted to have a reunion 20 years ago, they each picked a few names and tried to track down veterans through mail and phone calls. Now the group has its own web site, and that has helped veterans get back in touch with the 57^th. The group also takes out ads in military magazines, informing veterans about the reunions.

Several veterans attended the reunion for the first time from Aug. 22-25. The attendees included generals, pilots, gunners, mechanics, crew chiefs, cooks and anyone else who served in the 57^th, a group that flew special forces soldiers in and out of enemy territory.

“When I was in Vietnam, this unit was my family,” said Bob Tobey, a Massachusetts native who now runs a coconut farm in Jamaica. “We watched each other’s back.”

Tobey was a pilot in Vietnam. He said the 57^th took people from all over the country, of varying backgrounds and talents, and developed a highly efficient and skilled team.

“We all worked together like clockwork,” Tobey said. “We were a group of people thrown together and it worked.”

Gary Beikirch was one of the special forces soldiers who was brought in and out of battle by the 57^th. Beikirch is one of 79 living Medal of Honor winners. He addressed the 57^th reunion on Saturday night.

Beikirch won his medal for his extreme bravery during the Seige of Dak Seang, a battle supported by aircrews from the 57^th. On April 1, 1970 a massive force of North Vietnamese attacked a camp in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Although suffering multiple wounds Beikirch continued to perform his duties and rescued numerous American and indigenous personnel. For his actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 15, 1973.

Beikirch returned to Rochester and worked 33 years as a middle school counselor.

“I’ve had a lot of years of life because you had my back over and over again,” Beikirch told the 57^th veterans.

He repeated a message he often shared with middle schoolers about the importance of having goals and a vision for the future. He told the veterans they still have a lot to give.

“There is much more for us to do as men who have fought,” he told the group.

Rochester woman pleads guilty to cocaine sale

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2013 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A Rochester woman pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today to selling cocaine.

Raquel T. Torrez, 34, of 256 Ave. D, Rochester on June 19 was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. She pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. As part of her plea, she will be sentenced to no more than six months in jail on Nov. 18.

Torrez was among eight people arrested in June by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, following an eight-month investigation into the sale and distribution of cocaine in the Albion area.

Torrez apologized to County Court Judge James Punch in court today, saying her use of cocaine led her to make bad decisions.

District Attorney Joseph Cardone said Torrez was involved in at least four drug sales.

Torrez said she sold cocaine for money so she could support her own drug habit.

Storm drenches Courthouse Square

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – It was about 2:15 this afternoon when the storm clouds burst, drenching Orleans County.

I was in the main courtroom in the Orleans County Courthouse when the room suddenly got much darker from the stormy sky outside. Then we could hear the rain pounding against the windows.

After court was over, I took a picture through one of the windows. The County Clerk’s Building is next door to the Courthouse. Both are part of the Courthouse Square, a cluster of about 35 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Professional photographers pick 2 photos by Landis for esteemed show

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2013 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Two photographs by Bruce Landis have been accepted into the General Collection of Professional Photographers of America’s 2013 International Photographic Competition, with one additionally accepted into the Loan Collection.

Landis, an Albion photographer since 1974, took a photo of a Mandarin duck while on a nature walk in California.

“This male duck happened to be at the right place at the right time and I had my camera ready to go,” Landis said. “With wildlife photography, there is always a degree of planning, and a degree of luck. It is so exciting when everything goes together perfectly, especially when the window of opportunity is so short.”

The duck photo is now part of the Professional Photographers of America, international permanent loan collection.

The PPA also picked a photo that Landis took of an airplane for the PPA’s general collection. The airplane is a Fairchild PT – 26, owned by The Vintage Aircraft Group, a volunteer, not-for-profit organization that specializes in the restoration of World War II liaison and trainer aircraft. The group is based out of Pine Hill Airport in Barre.

This type of aircraft was used as a flight trainer during World War II, in the United States, Canada, Norway and other countries. Built in 1943, there are approximately 100 still able to fly. Tony Rubiano, a flight instructor, is in the front pilot seat and instructor pilot Gene Haines is in the back seat.

“We have been talking for years about doing an air-to-air photo session, and timing just never worked out until now,” Landis said.

The two photos – “Drake on the Rocks” and “The Old PT” – will be on display at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona from Jan. 12-14, 2014. This International Photographic Exhibition is held in conjunction with Imaging USA, an annual convention and expo for professional photographers and several photographic associations.

A panel of 43 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from nearly 5,000 total submitted entries at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia.

Judged against a standard of excellence, just over 1,800 images were selected for the General Collection and just 682 (about 7 percent) were selected for the esteemed Loan Collectionthe best of the best.

The Loan Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated “Loan Collection” book, and more than 200 selected General Collection images will be published in the “Showcase” book by Marathon Press.

Landis started his photography career in 1974 and has been working out of a studio since 1978 at 13382 Ridge Rd.

Landis is currently taking many senior portraits and he said he took the photos of many of the seniors’ parents at their weddings and also for their senior portraits a generation ago.

“Preserving memories is our main mission and it is so rewarding to have clients remembering and sharing those with me after so many years,” Landis said.

Albion resident gets to play drums, take a bow before 10,000

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos courtesy of Thom Jennings – Trevor Jennings, center, plays the drums with Rusted Root after the Pittsburgh band played an encore last night in North Tonawanda.

NORTH TONAWANDA – After Rusted Root played a concert before 10,000 fans at Gratwick Park in North Tonawanda last night, the band agreed to an encore.

But before the band would return to stage, they made Trevor Jennings come out and perform with them. Trevor, 19, was backstage with his father Thom Jennings, who helped promote the concert.

Thom and his son have known Rusted Root’s drummer Preach Freedom for a few years. He has encouraged Trevor, a former member of the Albion marching band, to keep drumming. Trevor is a student at Buffalo State College and he plays with the African Drum Ensemble at the college.

Last night he joined the band for the encore, and then was invited to take a final bow with the group.

Only 2 Orleans municipalities haven’t opposed SAFE Act

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2013 at 12:00 am

NY Revolution wants Orleans to be first county where every town and village weighs in against gun law

MEDINA – A group that formed this year after the state passed an anti-gun law, the SAFE Act, is close to convincing the county, all 10 towns and four villages to officially oppose the law.

Only the villages of Lyndonville and Medina are yet to pass official resolutions in opposition to the SAFE Act. The Village Boards for both municipalities are considering resolutions against the SAFE Act.

“We’d be the first county in the state to have all of them pass resolutions,” said Gia Arnold of Holley, the state-wide coordinator for NY Revolution.

She attended tonight’s Medina Village Board meeting. Resident David Krug addressed the Village Board, and asked for a resolution against the SAFE Act. That vote may come at a Medina meeting in September.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature approved the SAFE Act in January, which the governor said was designed to tighten gun control laws. But the law has been widely criticized for its approval without a public hearing and “for turning law-abiding citizens into law-breaking citizens.”

One controversial piece of the legislation requires magazines that can hold no more than seven bullets, when most magazines hold 10.

The legislation was hastily crafted without any vetting from the public, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley has said, leading to bad policy.

Krug, the Medina resident, said he hopes the widespread opposition to the law at the local level will convince the governor and Legislature to either revise or repeal the SAFE Act.

In 1953, local Scouts headed for Jamboree in California

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 August 2013 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Dick Pilon of Albion recently found a newspaper clipping from Aug. 2, 1953, that showed a photo of Albion area Boy Scouts preparing to leave for the Scout Jamboree in California. Pilon was among the contingent that embarked on the journey.

The group includes from left: James Fisher, Erling Maine, William Allen, Charles Derwick, Paul Canham, Fred Daniels, Richard Pilon, Arnold Ford, Marvin Sayles and George LaMont.

45 years later, Nesbitt awarded ‘Distinguished Flying Cross’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 August 2013 at 12:00 am

Vietnam vet honored for heroism with rescue in enemy zone

Photo by Tom Rivers

BATAVIA – On Nov. 14, 1968, Charlie Nesbitt and his crew members were told an American soldier was stranded in enemy territory in the jungles of Laos, across the border from Vietnam.

Another helicopter had been hit with a rocket and crashed. The crew needed to be rescued. Nesbitt flew a helicopter in and got out everyone, except one gunman, John Grimaldi, who was separated from his crew.

Nesbitt was a pilot in the Vietnam War and an aircraft commander of a helicopter. On Nov. 14, he took the recovered crew members back to safety, and then returned to enemy territory to find Grimaldi.

“Charlie took it upon himself to say, ‘We’re gonna go back and get him,’” said Jim McKenzie, Nesbitt’s copilot.

The crew spent 9.2 hours in the air, including 3.5 hours exposed to enemy fire.

“He was in the jungle and we could see him, but we couldn’t get down to get him,” Nesbitt said Saturday night.

An onslaught of enemy fire and tiny landing areas made the task difficult. Nesbitt and his crew refueled twice, and the group finally was able to rescue Grimaldi.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Bob Williams, left, pins the “Distinguished Flying Cross” on Charles Nesbitt during a ceremony Saturday night in Batavia, when Nesbitt received the award during a reunion of the 57th Assault Helicopter Company, a group of Vietnam veterans from throughout the country.

McKenzie nominated Nesbitt for the Silver Star. McKenzie obtained the witness statements from the crew and submitted all the paperwork. But Nesbitt never got the medal.

Nesbitt served in Vietnam from May 1968 to May 1969. He flew helicopters that teamed with special forces soldiers. The pilots flew in those teams, often dropping them in the enemy zones where the helicopters were vulnerable. The special forces typically worked for about a week on secret missions to study the enemy. Then the helicopters would swoop in and pull the teams out of dangerous zones.

In 1999, McKenzie, who now lives in Texas near Dallas, was in Albany and met with Nesbitt for lunch. Nesbitt was a state assemblyman at the time.

McKenzie discovered then that Nesbitt never received his medal for rescuing Grimaldi. McKenzie made it a mission to get Nesbitt the long overdue award.

It wasn’t easy. McKenzie had to resubmit the nomination package, obtaining witness reports from the crew. He met with three congressmen and numerous congressional staffers. The process seemed stuck until 18 months ago.

McKenzie taught at West Point, and one of his former students was a district director for Congressman Randy Forbes of Virginia. Forbes took up the issue. On Aug. 9, Nesbitt was notified by mail that he would be receiving the “Distinguished Flying Cross” medal. On Saturday, his commander Bob Williams pinned the medal on Nesbitt’s chest. Richard Kleint, the crew chief on the helicopter, attended the ceremony, flying in from Salem, Oregon.

The medal citation notes that Nesbitt “flew aircraft in hostile enemy territory on three separate occasions while drawing enemy fire to accomplish the rescue of soldiers and crew members downed by enemy fire. His valorous actions were an inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.”

Nesbitt received the award in front of about 160 people at the Clarion in Batavia. It was part of a four-day reunion for the 57^th Assault Helicopter Company, a group of pilots, crew chiefs, mechanics, gunners, cooks and other soldiers, including generals.

After the war, Grimaldi returned to Maine, where he has lived for 45 years.

“There is no greater reward than to find out two years ago that John Grimaldi is still alive in Maine,” Nesbitt told the group at the Clarion. “There is no greater reward for us. He’s had 45 years of life he wouldn’t have had.”

Nesbitt was chairman of the reunion for the 57^th Assault Helicopter Company from Aug. 22-25. The group meets every two years for a gathering.

“Everyone of you could be up here,” Nesbitt told them. “I know all about you. Each and every one of you could be up here. I thank you for being my friends.”

Nesbitt thanked McKenzie for his “dogged determination” in securing the “Distinguished Flying Cross.” Nesbitt received the honor in front of his six grown children.

McKenzie said Nesbitt deserved the recognition.

“I was shocked he never got the medal,” McKenzie said. “He was the pilot and he said we had one of our men down and we had to go get him.”

‘Ultimate’ fishing banners at Point Breeze

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 August 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – Several businesses at Point Breeze are now proclaiming the community’s status as “The Ultimate Fishing Town.”

I noticed this banner on Narby’s Superette and Tackle today. Other sites have the banners. The businesses paid for them and aren’t part of the $25,000 the community won to promote the fishery.

Point Breeze won the title in an online contest through the World Fishing Network.

To read more about the Ultimate Fishing Town award, click here.

Albion closes downtown farmers market for ‘safety reasons’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 August 2013 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Two weeks ago the village opened a new farmers market on East Bank Street in downtown Albion. It lasted two Sundays.

The Village Board voted on Friday to shut down the market due to “safety concerns.” Only one vendor, Vendetti Farms of Murray, had been at the site for the first two weeks.

Village Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti, the brother of the farm owner, was managing the market and was there from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. Vendetti said the market was building a customer base, and he was hopeful more farms would join.

Vendetti has some enemies in the village, including an Albion couple currently in a lawsuit with the village over a certificate of occupancy. That couple has been disruptive at the market, videotaping customers, Vendetti and the farm staff, Mayor Dean Theodorakos said.

“I worry that continuance of the market may result in escalation of bad behaviors, thus the decision to close for safety concerns,” the mayor said this morning. “I still believe the market is a great idea for downtown and hope we can bring it back next year.”

A calm and colorful night at Point Breeze

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 August 2013 at 12:00 am

POINT BREEZE – The sun cast an array of colors while setting last night at Lake Ontario. Jerome Pawlak of Albion was at Point Breeze and took this photo of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.

I’ve seen a lot of photos of the lighthouse since it was erected in 2010, and I think this is the best one. Thank you to Jerome for sharing it.

Kailey Winans dares to dream

Contributed Story Posted 23 August 2013 at 12:00 am

Albion native performs cabaret show at Studio B

Photos by Michael Karcz

ALBION – Kailey Winans returned to Albion tonight for a cabaret show with her former choir teacher and musical director Gary Simboli.

They performed “Dare to Dream” at Studio B and Gotta Dance by Miss Amy. Kailey started her cabaret life nearly a year ago. The show she performs, “Dare to Dream,” was put together by Winans using songs and stories to tell about her journey through college with all of its ups and downs.

Winans went to Wagner College in Staten Island, and afterward moved to Manhattan. Simboli not only accompanied Winans, but he added some stories and songs from his own college experience.

Kailey debuted her Dare to Dream cabaret at the prestigious Don’t Tell Mama in New York City in August 2012.

Albion band gives farewell concert

Contributed Story Posted 23 August 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos courtesy of Michael Whiting of Whiting’s Village Studio – Dylan DeSmit, left, and Taylor Whittier give an enthusiastic performance during last night’s final concert for Above the Fog, a band that started seven years ago.

Chad DeSmit plays the guitar.

ALBION – Above the Fog played its final concert last night outside Hoag Library in Albion. The band includes lead singer Taylor Whittier and the DeSmit brothers – Dylan, Chad and Alex. The band has been performing together for seven years and has starred at many local venues.

The musicians still expect to make an impact on the local music scene.

Alex DeSmit, the youngest of the DeSmit brothers, plays the drums during Above the Fog’s farewell concert.

Dylan DeSmit plays the guitar and also has been a songwriter and vocalist for the band. Taylor Whittier has been the band’s high-energy lead singer.

Carlton Democrats pass on incumbent Republicans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2013 at 12:00 am

CARLTON – Candidates for Carlton town offices met with Carlton Democrats last night, seeking the party’s support for the Nov. 5 election. But only one Republican, who currently isn’t a town official, received Democratic Party support.

Incumbent Town Clerk Pam Rush and her GOP challenger Lea Olles both asked Democrats to back them. But during a party caucus at the home of Aggie Recco, 37 Democrats didn’t reach a majority of support for the clerk candidates. In fact, there were more no votes than votes of support for the candidates, said Jeanne Crane, a Carlton Democrat and chairwoman of the Orleans County Democratic Party.

The Carlton Democrats also declined to support either Highway Superintendent David Krull or his challenger Paul Snook, Sr.

The Democrats did support one Republican, Bilal Huzair, for Town Board. Huzair is endorsed by the Conservative Party and also will be in a Republican Primary on Sept. 10 against incumbent Republicans Joyce Harris and Jim Shoemaker.

Democrats also backed a member of their own party, Doug Hart, for a Town Board seat.

Crane said the crowd of Democrats for the party caucus was the most she can recall.

She said the controversy over town-wide reassessments, which ignited an uproar from residents this spring, has many residents watching town government closely.

“Carlton this year is the hotbed,” she said.

The Republican candidates for town clerk, highway superintendent and Town Board will square off in a Primary on Sept. 10. The general election will be Nov. 5.