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Shopping spree winner gives back to Community Action

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Don Gaines races through the aisle at Pawlak’s Save-A lot this morning, an 85-second race to fill the shopping cart.

ALBION – After he filled a shopping cart with more than $800 of food – mostly with ham and other meat – Don Gaines announced most of the bounty would be given to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Gaines and his wife Barbara won an 85-second shopping trip at Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot this morning. The event was organized by the Lord’s House, a church in Waterport. The Lord’s House sold tickets for $5 each to give people a chance for the shopping sprint and two other gift baskets.

Don and Barbara bought one ticket and hit the grand prize.

“We’re going to donate a majority to Community Action,” Mr. Gaines said. “They helped us out when we had nothing.”

Gaines remembers one time when they went to the agency and the food giveaway included steaks. A previous Community Action food recipient donated the steaks as a payback for when he needed help.

Mr. and Mrs. Gaines remember their surprise of eating a steak dinner that day when they were expecting hot dogs.

Today, Gaines first went for canned goods with salmon. He also grabbed trays of canned corn beef. Then he hit the meat freezer.

“I want to put food in peoples’ stomachs, something besides hot dogs,” he said.

Eddie and Rose English, left, are pictured with Barbara and Don Gaines, and Jerome Pawlak, right, after today’s shopping spree.

The final bill at the checkout today was $803. Gaines was given a hearty congratulations from Eddie English, the church pastor, and his wife, Rose.

Mrs. English used to work in the Rochester City School District, and organized shopping sprees for the district.

The Lord’s House meets at the former United Methodist Church in Waterport. The shopping spree was a fund-raiser for the church as it works to make masonry repairs and paint the exterior of the building.

The Lord’s House will be back at the June 13-14 Strawberry Festival selling “Soul Burgers.” The church also is planning an event – “Women Wear Many Hats” – on June 22. Each woman wearing her favorite hat at the 3:30 p.m. event will receive a gift.

“We’re trying to think outside the box,” Mrs. English said about some of the church’s outreach efforts.

Oakfield man identified as driver in fatal accident

Posted 16 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steve Smith

SHELBY – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the name of the victim in Thursday night’s motor vehicle fatality on Podunk Road in the Town of Shelby.

The deceased is identified as Jeffrey E. Muntz, 31, of Oakfield in Genesee County.

He died following a one-car motor vehicle accident at about 9:45 p.m., in the 12400 block of Podunk Road, just east of East Shelby Road. Passers-by observed a vehicle off the south side of the roadway and called 9-1-1. Those same individuals removed the driver from the vehicle and attempted life-saving measures prior to the arrival of EMS personnel.

Upon investigation, it was determined that the mid-size sedan had been travelling west on Podunk Rd., when the driver apparently lost control. The vehicle crossed the center line and ran off the south side of the roadway.

It continued approximately 165 feet before coming to rest and partially submerged in about 3 feet of marshland and about 50 feet off the roadway. The incident scene is less than ¼ mile from the Genesee-Orleans County Line.

The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Medina’s history will be told in downtown panels

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – One of the 11 bases for interpretive panels about Medina history and lore was recently installed along Main Street by Rotary Park. The panels should be added next week.

MEDINA – Next week a series of 11 interpretive panels about Medina history will be installed in the downtown business district.

The sign bases have already been installed by the Medina DPW. The panels will be added next week.

Chris Busch, the vice president of the Orleans Renaissance Group, is coordinator of the project. The panels will teach local history, and make for a more meaningful visit for tourists, he said.

“It can bring a historic landmark or event to life and allow a visitor to take home more than a picture and a memory – a deeper appreciation of our village,” Busch said.

The signs also create “the perception of importance – that this place is worth visiting historically, culturally, architecturally and economically,” Busch said.

He expects the project will generate community pride and boost awareness for Medina’s historic, architectural and cultural resources. Businesses will benefit from visitors who stay in the community longer, Busch said.

The project was spearheaded by the ORG with backing from the Medina Business Association. Sponsors paid for the mounts and Ken Daluisio of The Print Shop donated the panels and helped coordinate the project.

Busch designed the panels and they feature village’s history – its sandstone, Erie Canal and railroad prowess, and some notable characters and community leaders, as well as a tribute to immigrants who worked on the canal and quarries. One panel features Grover Cleveland and his wife, the former Frances Folsom, a Medina native. Cleveland married Folsom while he was U.S. president.

Sponsors of the project include the MBA, Gabrielle and Andina Barone, Andrew Meier, ORG, Dave and Gail Miller, Hartway Motors, Rita Zambito/Zambito Realty, Medina Sandstone Trust, Marcia Tuohey, Chris and Cynthia Busch, and the Medina Fire Department Local 2160.

Sports Reporter honored for years of dedication to high school athletes

Staff Reports Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Wertman

West Seneca – Mike Wertman, who has covered Niagara-Orleans high school athletes for nearly four decades, has been recognized for his years of commitment by a state association of athletic administrators.

Wertman and three others from the Niagara-Orleans League were presented awards on Wednesday at Erie 1 BOCES at the Chapter VI Athletic Administrators Association meeting.

Wertman is the 2014 New York State Athletic Administrations Association Community Service Award winner for his dedication in covering local high school and community sports in Section VI. Wertman has covered athletes in Niagara and Orleans counties first for 35 years at the Medina Journal Register and since late August for the Orleans Hub.

Also receiving an award was Gale Doe of Wilson High School. She received the Judith Martens Secretarial Award for her 21 years of dedicated service as the secretary to the Athletic Administrators who have served at Wilson.

Olivia Denny of Barker and Kaeli Mathias from Kenmore West received the New York State Athletic Administrators Association Scholar Athlete award for excellence in academics and athletics starring in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. Olivia is a three-sport athlete (Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball) and Kaeli in Field Hockey and Ice Hockey.

Tragedy struck with train crash in Carlton in 1883

Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin, Orleans County Historian

CARLTON – This picture was taken following the train wreck at Carlton (Ashwood) on July 27, 1883.

A freight car was blown off a siding onto the main track when an excursion train running to the Thousand Islands hit it at 9:48 p.m.

The two heavy engines were both overturned and heavy steel sleeping cars on the rear of the train crushed the light weight wooden passenger cars ahead.

As a result 17 people were killed and 25 were injured.

Our picture shows a number of curiosity seekers looking over the wreckage the next day.

Channel 4 looks at dollars spent for PR by Shelby, Ridgeway

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

The towns of Shelby and Ridgeway were part of investigative piece by Channel 4 News in Buffalo today that looked at taxpayer dollars being spent for public relations.

The two towns hired Andina Barone of Mindful Media Group to fight the effort to dissolve the village of Medina and shift some of those village services and tax burdens to the two towns. A dissolution plan sees a 46 percent increase in town taxes in Ridgeway and 10 percent in Shelby.

The towns have each spent about $3,000 for communication consulting, establishment of 24-hour call line, March print media buy, “Town messaging and dissemination,” art supervision, 5,000 stickers and 5,000 cards, according to a documents obtained by Channel 4.

A big crowd turned out last week at a public meeting about the dissolution plan, and most speakers opposed the plan.

“When each taxpayer is going to see a possible 46 percent increase in their taxes, the town has to spend resources in order to protect its taxpayers and they believed at the time that it was a prudent use of resources,” Emilio Colaiacovo, an attorney for the towns, told Channel 4.

The nearly $6,000 cost to Mindful Media Group doesn’t include the printing and mailing costs for at least three town-wide mailers about the dissolution. One mailer accused Medina Mayor Andrew Meier of mismanaging village finances. Another mailer faulted the Orleans Hub for being “unethical.”

The Channel 4 report highlights that Barone is the daughter of Gabrielle Barone, vice president of the Orleans Economic Development Agency. She is also an influential member of the Republican Party.

Colaiacovo said there is no conflict of interest with the towns hiring the younger Barone, who also does work for the EDA.

“The person you’re speaking of is an employee of the IDA. She has no vote. She has no say. She reports to the CEO of the IDA, so she can tell the CEO everything she would want him to say, he ultimately has the final say on IDA decisions along with its board,” Colaiacovo said.

Channel 4 also noted other public entities that pay for PR, including the Niagara Falls Water Board, Erie County Water Authority and the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority.

Flash flood watch issued for Orleans, WNY

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

A flash flood watch has been issued for Orleans County and most of Western New York.

The watch is in effect from today through Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service says the area could see 1.5 to 2 inches of rain causing possible flooding in poorly drained areas and small creeks.

“By Friday excessive runoff will bring significant rises to larger creeks and rivers with a few possibly reaching flood stage,” the Weather Service advised.

Residents in flood prone areas are urged to monitor weather conditions closely and to be prepared to move to higher ground.

The flood watch includes Orleans, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Niagara, Northern Erie, Genesee and Wyoming counties.

Orleans County is blooming

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County orchards are in their glory right now, with apple and fruit trees blooming for the annual spring pollination.

These photos show apple blossoms at Watt Farms on Route 98 in Albion.

The bloom is about two weeks behind schedule due to the cool spring weather, the New York Apple Association said.

“For one of the most beautiful spring sights you’ll ever see, take a ride around the countryside this weekend or next,” said NYAA President Jim Allen. “With over 55,000 acres of apple trees across the state, we’ve got millions of branches near you.”

Allen says that growers are expecting a “business as usual”-sized crop this fall following last year’s very large crop. The 2013 crop totaled out about 32 million bushels; the state’s average is 29.5 million bushels. The 2013 crop has moved to market quickly, and remaining supplies are expected to be sold out in plenty of time before the new crop arrives.

66 letters and counting about Parkway

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – The letters keep coming in, about five a week since around March 1.

Residents write to state legislators, Orleans County legislators and Carlton town officials, expressing concern about the bridge and road maintenance with the Lake Ontario State Parkway. The county has received 66 so far about the Parkway’s condition.

“Restriction detours, Bridge Closure and Road Maintenance continue on a downward path, which is having a very negative influence on safe and efficient flow of vehicle travel, which is vital to our Orleans County well being,” according to one letter about the Parkway.

County and town officials have urged residents to write to State Sen. George Maziarz and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley about the Parkway.

“LOSP is a very key resource in the North Country of Orleans County supporting our Tourism and Residential travel,” according to a prototype letter sent by several residents.

The County Legislature and several Town Boards have passed formal resolutions requesting the state not divert funds from the NYS Highway and Bridge Trust Fund. Keeping that money for intended purpose would allow the state to better maintain its roads and bridges, the local government leaders have said.

Lakeside Karate students participate in fundraising tournament

Posted 14 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Contributed photos

Press Release, Lakeside Karate

HILTON, NY – Lakeside Karate students have a smashing outcome Sat., May 10, 2014, at the Sensei Jim Grafe Memorial Karate Tournament held in Hilton, N.Y. This Karate tournament donates a portion of its proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has done so since its inception over 12 years ago. The tournament honors the memory of Sensei Jim Grafe, who was an inspirational Karate Teacher who changed many karate students’ lives before his untimely passing in 2002.

The students of Lakeside Karate in Lyndonville practiced for many months to sharpen their martial arts skills for this competition and the hard work was rewarded. If you happen to see one of the students please congratulate them on their personal achievement.

Margaret Klotzbach placed First in Girls Novice Clicker Sparring and placed 2nd place in Girls Novice Kata.

Emma Maynard placed 2nd in Girls Novice Creative Board Breaking. Connor Bell placed First in Boys Novice Kata, Second in Boys Clicker Sparring and First in Boys Novice Creative Board Breaking.

Sensei George F. Kiefer tied for First Place in Advanced Men’s Power Brick Breaking.

For further information you can visit www.lakesidekarateny.com.