By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – A tree stands in front of the County Clerks’ Building in Albion in this photo taken Wednesday at about 5:45 p.m.
The weather will finally warm up above freezing on Friday, ending a miserable stretch of days in a deep freeze. Today is forecast to reach a high of 26 degrees, but this morning it’s only in the teens.
On Friday it will warm up to 42 degrees, with a high on Saturday of 35, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Medina FD has 50 smoke detectors available
Photo by Tom Rivers – This photo shows the clock at Rotary Park in Medina on Tuesday night.
It might not feel like it today, after more snow fell on Orleans County and temperatures remain below freezing, but spring is around the corner. One annual rite will be early Sunday morning when the clocks spring forward an hour.
That officially happens at 2 a.m. on Sunday. The Medina Fire Department urges people to use this time to also inspect, test and clean their smoke detectors.
About 3,000 people die in fires each year, and nearly two-thirds die in homes without smoke alarms or without working smoke detectors, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The Medina firefighters union, IAFF Local Union 2161, has teamed with Evans Ace Hardware to purchase 50 smoke detectors at a discounted price. Those smoke detectors are available to village of Medina residents.
Firefighters are willing to install them. Any village resident can stop in or call the firehouse at 798-1661 during business hours to inquire about a smoke detector install.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Pastors from four churches in the Albion area led an Ash Wednesday service tonight at the First United Methodist Church.
About 40 people attended the service, which included music by the Joyful Good Shepherd Ringers, a group that includes Diane Scharping, pictured in front.
Ash Wednesday was celebrated by millions of Christians around the world today. They received an ash marking on their foreheads in the shape of a cross, an outward symbol that Christians have been marked by God, said David Beach, pastor of the Gaines Carlton Community Church.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a time of reflection, repentance and sacrifice leading up to Easter.
Jack Laskowski, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Albion, delivered the message during the service. Marie Follett, the organist, is pictured in back.
Other pastors that participated in the service include Jon Rieley-Goddard of the Gaines Congregational United Church of Christ and Edward John Devine of the First Baptist Church in Albion.
ALBION – In this picture taken around 1920 we see Weston Weatherbee’s homemade telescope.
The photo was taken behind his house on Ingersoll Street in Albion. Shown here are, from left: Wilbur Phillips, John Gilmore and Weston Weatherbee, whose special interest was comets.
Weatherbee served as Orleans County sheriff from 1905-06.
Provided photo – Assemblyman Steve Hawley, center in front row, is pictured with other lawmakers, highway superintendents and highway workers in the State Capitol advocating for local roads. They are pictured at the Million-Dollar Staircase.
Press release, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley
ALBANY – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) joined county and town highway superintendents from throughout the state in seeking an additional $50 million in state funding to improve local roads and bridges.
This funding is necessary to improve New York’s deteriorating local infrastructure, and will also create jobs related to infrastructure improvements, Hawley said. These roads cost each New Yorker an average of $1,600 in damage to vehicles because of roads in disrepair, he said.
“After a particularly harsh winter, the importance of having well-maintained roads has become clear,” Hawley said. “We need to make sure that our roads and bridges are safe for the people who rely on them to go about their day to day lives. I stand with highway superintendents across the state in saying that our local roads do matter, and proper funding is critical to keeping them safe.”
Press release, Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force
MEDINA – A Medina man was charged today with criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance after a month-long investigation into the sale and distribution of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in the village of Medina, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported.
The Task Force and the Medina Police Department arrested Jesse S. Bolt, 38, of 723 South Main St., Apartment 1. He was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
Bolt was arraigned in the Town of Shelby Justice Court by Judge Dawn Keppler. He was sent to Orleans County Jail on $25,000 cash bail or bond. Bolt is to return to Shelby court 6 p.m. on Thursday.
This investigation is still ongoing and further charges and arrests are pending, the Task Force reported.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2014 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Schwenk’s Wine Cellars in Kent pours wine during the Wine About Winter event on Feb. 1, which sold out with 750 participants. Schwenk’s was in the basement of the Bent’s Opera House.
MEDINA – They draw lots of people and breathe new life into large old buildings. Wineries and microbreweries have been “wildly successful” in other Western New York communities, said Martin Busch, Medina’s code enforcement officer.
He is part of a village government that is working to tweak the zoning in the downtown and in the business districts to state that wineries and microbreweries are allowed uses.
The current village code doesn’t specify wineries and breweries are allowed. That doesn’t mean they are prohibited in Medina, but the businesses would have an unpredictable path if they tried to pursue that type of project in the village. They would need approval from the Medina Zoning Board of Appeals.
The current language in the code doesn’t give the village controls over the businesses, either. Medina wants to welcome the business ventures, while also establishing standards for noise, odor, and storage and disposal of waste products.
Busch said “more than one” business is interesting in Medina for a winery or brewery. The community is ideally located in the middle of the expanded Niagara Wine Trail, which now runs from near Niagara Falls to the west side of Rochester.
The wineries and breweries have been successful in former cold storages and other large buildings in Western New York, Busch said. He visited the Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company in Wilson, which opened in May in a former cold storage. That brewery is part of a restaurant and has attracted customers to that community.
He sees a winery and brewery feeding other nearby businesses in Medina, including agriculture that would provide hops and grapes to make the product. The businesses could also help the village by using water and sewer services, Busch said.
The Village Planning Board will consider a zoning revision. It won’t be a radical change. It may just be an insertion of a paragraph about breweries and wineries in the business district.
Any changes would require a public hearing through the Village Board. The changes could be approved as soon as in May or June.
“We’re trying to get ahead of the game if someone applies,” said Planning Board member Todd Bensley.
CLARENDON – Our picture shows the Clarendon Cheese Factory in the 1930s. It was built by Herb Keople in 1914 and started operating in 1915.
Thousands of pounds of cheese were produced a day during the peak season of May and June. Demand for the Clarendon Brand Cheese was so great that Keople even sub-contracted work.
Local farmers supplied the milk. When they could get more money for their milk than Keople was willing to pay, he closed the cheese factory in 1943.
The site was located on Hulberton Road and was later converted into a house.
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Public Health Educator for the Orleans County Health Department
This Friday, March 7, is National Dress in Blue Day to increase awareness of colorectal cancer. The Orleans County Health Department is encouraging everyone to wear blue on the 7th, to promote Colorectal Cancer Awareness Week.
So, what exactly is colorectal cancer? It is sometimes called a silent disease because the warning signs may not be noticeable and many feel uncomfortable talking about it. The problem is the longer you go without checking into it, the bigger the problem becomes, literally. So swallow your uneasiness and learn more about this cancer.
The good news however, is colon cancer is 90 percent curable when detected early so colorectal screening can save your life.
Colorectal cancer refers to cancer in two different parts of the digestive tract, the colon and the rectum. The following are certain factors that increase a person’s risk for getting the disease:
A family history of colon cancer.
A personal history of colon cancer.
A personal history of intestinal polyps. A polyp is a mass of tissue that develops on the inside wall of a hollow organ such as the colon. Polyps are benign (non-cancerous), but may become cancerous over time. Most, perhaps all, colorectal cancers develop in polyps.
A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease also known as ulcerative colitis.
Aging. Colorectal cancers occur most often in people over the age of 50 and the risk gets higher as the person gets older.
A high-fat or low-fiber diet. A healthy diet also reduces major sources of fat such as meat, dairy products, and oils used in cooking and salad dressings. A healthy diet also contains fiber from vegetables, fruits, whole grain breads and cereal.
Physical inactivity. It is recommended that everyone engage in physical exercise at least 30 minutes per day most days of the week.
So, how do you find out more about colorectal cancer? If you are 50 and older or any of the above items describe you, talk with your doctor about screening. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, you may qualify for free cancer screening.
To see if you are eligible call Community Partners / The Cancer Services Program of Genesee and Orleans County at 798-6641 or 344-5497 and for the Wyoming County Cancer Services Program call 786-8890.
The important key to fighting colorectal cancer is knowing your body and being aware of potential symptoms no matter how old you are. Some warning signs to look for include:
A change in bowel habits
Frequent gas pains
Weight loss with no known reason
Stools that are narrower than usual
A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
Blood in or on the stool
Constant tiredness
Diarrhea or constipation
General stomach discomfort (bloating, fullness, and/or cramps)
One of the tests used to aid in diagnosis is called the FIT (fecal immunochemical test) kit -it is easy, there are no dietary or medication restrictions – just swish the brush (not scoop the poop)! This test is done in the privacy of your home. It is only a test for blood and not a test that directly detects cancer. This test is used because colorectal cancer may cause bleeding that cannot be seen. Other conditions (ulcerative colitis, intestinal polyps) may also cause bleeding, so having blood in the stool does not always mean a person has cancer.
So do not make any excuses about not being checked for colorectal cancer. If you are at risk or are experiencing any of the warning signs talk to your doctor now. It may be nothing which is great, but if it is something, get it taken care of so it doesn’t get worse. Remember, there is no excuse worth your life!
Pull out your best blues on Friday and join us as we encourage others to be aware of colorectal cancer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 March 2014 at 12:00 am
State Sen. George Maziarz has the endorsement of the Niagara County Conservative Party for re-election in the 62nd Senate District, which includes all of Orleans and Niagara counties, and the towns of Sweden and Ogden in Monroe County.
“Standing strong for conservative principles has never been more important in Albany,” Maziarz said in a news release. “I am extremely grateful that the Niagara County Conservative Party knows where I stand on the issues, and I appreciate their support and partnership. I look forward to working with them on everything from improving our economy to protecting gun owners’ rights. ”
Maziarz was first elected to the State Senate in 1995. He may face a challenge for another two-year term from Gia Arnold of Holley, who is a leader in New York Revolution, a group opposed to the SAFE Act.
Daniel Weiss, chairman of the Niagara County Conservative Party, said Maziarz consistently receives high marks from the state Conservative Party in the organization’s annual ratings system.
“Sen. Maziarz has been a great advocate for the conservative values we hold dear,” Weiss said. “These include controlling spending, reducing the tax burden, and respecting the morals of all New Yorkers. We want to thank him especially for his ardent support of Second Amendment rights and his vocal opposition to the SAFE Act. On this issue and others he has been our steady voice.”
