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Latest survey of youth behavior shows increase in marijuana, drop in tobacco and alcohol

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Dr. Dan Webb, co-owner of Catalyst Research in Depew, goes over the latest survey of about 1,500 students in grades 7 through 12. He presented the survey results this morning during a meeting of the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition.

ALBION – The strong societal message against tobacco and alcohol seems to be working with big drops in use by youths in Orleans County from 2005 to 2015.

Every two years students in grades 7 through 12 are surveyed on their use of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana. (Since 2013, students have been asked if they use non-prescribed prescription drugs as well, and in 2015 they were asked for the first time about e-cigarettes.)

Alcohol use among students has dropped from 28.1 percent in 2005 to 16.7 percent of 1,572 students in 2015. The survey includes students in Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts. Albion does its own survey.

In the survey, students are asked if they used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, non-prescribed medications and e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.

Alcohol use is down 41 percent in the decade, the biggest drop. It continues a steady downward trend from 23.6 percent in 2009, 20.3 percent in 2011, 19.1 percent in 2013 and 16.7 percent in 2015.

Tobacco use is down from 13.6 percent in 2005 to 8.5 percent in 2015, a 38 percent decline.

Marijuana use is down 14 percent since 2005, from 12.1 percent to 10.4 percent. However, it was at 9.3 percent in 2009 and has gradually increased to 10.2 percent in 2011, 10.3 percent in 2013, and 10.4 percent in 2015.

The marijuana number is lower than other communities that are seeing 15 to 20 percent use among students, said Dr. Dan Webb, co-owner of Catalyst Research, which compiles the data in the survey for the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition.

“Most of the numbers are going in the direction we want,” Webb told about 25 coalition members this morning during a meeting at the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

The survey shows some areas of concern, particularly with perception of risk by students. In 2005, 80.6 percent said they viewed marijuana use as risky and dangerous. But in 2015 that percentage dropped to 53.0 percent.

Students also reduced their perceptions of alcohol and tobacco risk with alcohol’s perception of risk down from 69.5 percent in 2005 to 65.4 percent last year. Tobacco also was viewed less harshly by students in 2015 (78.1 percent say it’s risky and dangerous) compared to 86.5 percent in 2005.

Parents, however, are perceived by students as being strongly opposed students using alcohol (95.6 percent), tobacco (93.9 percent) and marijuana (90.5 percent). That 90 percent threshold is important for keeping some students from trying the substances and products, Webb said.

Students reported more pressure from friends not to use tobacco or alcohol compared to 2005. However, the perception of friends’ disapproval for using marijuana dropped from 81.4 percent against in 2005 to 73.8 percent in 2015.

The coalition started asking students about non-prescribed medications in 2013 and 2.7 percent said then they had taken non-prescribed prescriptions in the previous 30 days. That percent increased to 3.4 percent in the latest survey.

Webb said e-cigarettes are proliferating with vape shops in many communities selling flavors of products like they are selling candy.

Nearly 30 percent of students, 29.2 percent, say they have tried an e-cigarette and 14.7 percent said they used one in the previous 30 days. The survey also asked if the students ever added substances to the e-cigarettes besides nicotine and 10.3 percent said they did.

The survey results will be shared with each participating school district, including a breakdown of the survey responses for each district. The district data will be shared confidentially with each district.

For more on the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition, click here.

County jail will step up services for drug-addicted inmates

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Scott Wilson, superintendent of the Orleans County Jail, said the county is working on initiatives for inmates struggling with drug addictions and also mental health issues. He addressed the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition this morning.

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is teaming with other agencies in the county to soon start several initiatives for inmates wrestling with drug addictions and mental health issues.

When inmates are released from the jail, they will be injected with a shot of Vivitrol, which helps fight opiate addictions. The Sheriff’s Office secured free shots from a manufacturer. The shot lasts for about 14 days.

The Sheriff’s Office also has been helping inmates secure health insurance coverage. Scott Wilson, the jail superintendent, said many inmates do not have health insurance. After a recent push, he said about 98 percent are now on Medicaid.

That program will start covering Vivitrol in July, which should ensure people who leave the jail can receive continued shots of Vivitrol to help fight their opiate addictions, and reduce the rates of committing new crimes, Wilson told the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition this morning.

He shared other initiatives at the jail and community. Wilson is part of a team from the county going to Albany next week for crisis intervention training with mental health. The training will give guidance for law enforcement, mental health staff, probation and other agencies who work with people having mental health issues.

Roland Nenni, the police chief in Albion and Holley, is helping to organize the National Night Out on Aug. 2 at Bullard Park.

Police officers will be trained in using discretion in making an arrest and using force with someone having a mental health crisis, Wilson said.

The team from Orleans will work with other professionals next week in Albany to map out how services can best be provided in Orleans County, said Mark O’Brien, director of the Orleans County Mental Health Department.

Wilson said a re-entry coordinator will be added at the jail from an existing staff member. Wilson said addressing the addiction and mental health issues should reduce the inmate population, saving taxpayers and helping more people to be productive citizens.

The Drug Free Communities Coalition shared other efforts today, including a Narcan training program on March 10 at Hoag Library in Albion. Agency leaders and community members at 3 p.m. can learn how to administer Narcan to someone having a heroin overdose.

The Drug Free Communities Coalition is offering the Narcan training in response to opioid epidemic. For more information contact Sarah May at smay@gcasa.org.

The second annual National Night Out will be at Bullard Park on Aug. 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will include demonstrations from K9 teams and law enforcement professionals, as well as games and activities for children.

Roland Nenni, the police chief in Albion and Holley, urged agency leaders to come to the three-hour event and offer games and prizes to make it more fun for families.

Independence Party backs Collins for re-election to Congress

Staff Reports Posted 23 February 2016 at 12:00 am

File photo – U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, marches in the Fourth of July parade in Lyndonville last summer.

CLARENCE – Chris Collins has the support of the New York State Independence Party in his re-election bid for a third term in Congress.

Collins represents the 27th Congressional District which includes eight counties, including Orleans County.

“I am honored to once again receive the endorsement of the New York State Independence Party,” Collins said in a statement. “Independent thinking and a commitment to finding solutions for Western New Yorkers has allowed me to successfully represent New York’s 27th district. Whether it’s reducing government spending, limiting the expansion of Obamacare, or working to expand middle class job opportunities, I will continue fighting for the interests of Western New Yorkers and their families.”

The Independence Party endorsed Collins today for another two-year term. He was first elected in 2012, and re-elected in 2014.

“We are proud to support Congressman Chris Collins for re-election,” said Frank MacKay, NYS chairman of the Independence Party. “Washington needs representatives who will work across party lines to find ways to move our country forward. Congressman Collins has done that in Washington, and we are proud to once again offer him our support.”

Orleans uses K9s to search jail for contraband

Posted 23 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Orleans County Corrections Officer Chris Shabazz watches while an Erie County K9 team searches the Orleans County Jail on Saturday.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower

ALBION – The Erie County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division K9 Unit on Saturday partnered with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to search the Orleans County Jail for contraband.

The purpose for this partnership will be to promote officer safety and to serve as a deterrent for those individuals that may attempt to smuggle dangerous contraband into the jail.

The partnership will allow the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to utilize passive K9 services on a continued basis to fight the introduction of contraband.

K9 contraband searches will now be conducted at periodic intervals to promote safety and security for the employees as well as the inmates who are confined within the Orleans County Jail.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to creating a contraband-free jail and will use all available options to ensure that this goal is achieved.

Orleans County Sheriff’s Office personnel are pictured with two K9 teams from Erie County on Saturday. The Orleans County personnel include back row, from left: Chief Deputy Michael Mele, Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson, Sheriff Randy Bower, Deputy Jeff Cole, and Undersheriff Chris Bourke.

Albion fourth grade class collects 208 new winter clothing items

Staff Reports Posted 22 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photo, Albion Central School

ALBION – Fourth-graders in Mr. Epperson’s class at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School collected 208 winter clothing items – hats, mittens and scarves – to be shared with students who need them.

The photo shows Mr. Epperson’s class. The students in early February organized a building-wide event called “Sharing the Warmth with Others.” Their goal was to collect new winter clothing items.

Kelsey Froman, a student in the class, took the lead in the effort for the second year in a row. In the first year, students collected 256 items.

When asked how she came up with the idea, she said: “Last year while I was riding the school bus to school, I noticed that some kids didn’t have warm clothing and it was very cold outside, so I decided to ask if I could collect some at school to give to them.”

Albion man sentenced to prison for DWI

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 February 2016 at 12:00 am

ALBION – An Albion who was charged with driving while intoxicated on July 25 in Medina was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison today.

John L. Sunday Jr., 46, of Crandall Road registered a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal limit of .08 percent. He has a prior DWI conviction in Ridgeway from Aug. 23, 2010.

Sunday has a criminal record going back to the 1980s, but his attorney Dominic Saraceno said Sunday “has the potential to be a law-abiding citizen.” Sunday went 13 years without an arrest in one stretch, Saraceno said.

He also noted Sunday had been on probation four times before and completed three of his probations without a violation.

Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said Sunday represents a danger to public.

“You were driving very drunk and very erratically,” Punch said this afternoon during sentencing. “I’m afraid you’re going to kill somebody on the streets.”

The judge also fined Sunday $525, revoked his license for a year and required him to install an interlock ignition device in the future that will measure his BAC when he starts a car.

In other cases today:

A Medina man accused of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine in Orleans County was arraigned on additional charges today.

Joshua L. Miller, 35, of 4706 East Shelby Rd., was arraigned in County Court on Dec. 14 for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine in the third degree, and criminal possession of precursors of methamphetamine.

Today he was arraigned on four counts of both criminal possession and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Judge Punch increased Miller’s bail from $100,000 to $150,000. Miller has a prior felony and five prior misdemeanors.

A Barre resident on probation after being convicted of first-degree sexual abuse pleaded guilty to violating his probation and could face up to 7 years in state prison.

Joseph A. Smith, 21, of 4750 Oak Orchard Rd. was convicted in Ontario County for first-degree sexual abuse on Nov. 15, 2011. He allegedly had sexual contact with a child less than 11 years old.

He admitted today to violating his probation by leaving the area in a visit to Alabama without notifying probation, consuming alcohol on another occasion, meeting unsupervised with a 17-year-old girl, contacting a 17-year-old girl through social media, and being discharged from a sex offender program for noncompliance due to the drinking violation.

Judge Punch said those represent “substantial violations” to Smith’s probation. Smith will be sentenced on March 28 at 2 p.m.

Albion planners give final OK to tortilla store

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 February 2016 at 12:00 am

ALBION – The Village of Albion Planning Board has given the final approval for a new 1,800-square-foot building to make and sell tortillas at 439 West Ave.

The Planning Board last Wednesday voted on the project by Gabriel Rodriguez. He will put the new building next door to his home, where he also sells boots and clothing.

The tortilla store will share the driveway to the residence and the other business. The site is west of King Street in a General Commercial district.

In another project, ARG Disposal shared its plan to use the former New York State Electric and Gas building at 366 Washington St.

The 4,215-square-foot building would be used as ARG’s headquarters for its roll-off business. The building is currently vacant.

Hall of Fame rider sees rebirth in amateur, pro flat-tracks

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Chris Carr, 7-time national grand champion, attends Crusaders Motorcycle Club annual banquet

Photos by Tom Rivers – Chris Carr, a famed motorcycle racer, addresses about 200 people on Saturday during the annual meeting for the Crusaders Motorcycle Club.

Chris Carr addresses the motorcycle group at the Elks’ Club in Albion. After his presentation, trophies were handed out to the top riders for the 2015 season.

Chris Carr shares life lessons and highlights from his career. He was given a standing ovation by the Crusaders Motorcycle Club.

Jeremy Higgins accepts the award for rider of the year for 2015.

Evan Van Ameron is congratulated by Chris Carr for being the top driver in the 125cc class.

Kyle Tambe won the 250 Amateur division and also was awarded the Chris Miller Award for the driver that shows the most potential to go pro.

ALBION – Before he was a seven-time grand national champion, Chris Carr developed his skills on amateur flat tracks in Northern California.

Carr, 48, was a dominant rider in the American Motorcycle Association, and was inducted in the AMA Hall of Fame. He attracted major corporate sponsorship and set the record for fastest speed on a motorcycle at 350.884 miles per hour.

But it started at tracks similar to the one on Culvert Road in Medina. The Crusaders Motorcycle Club runs that track, and has raced there every year since 1957.

“That is to be admired for you guys keeping it going for so long,” Carr told about 200 people at the annual meeting for the club on Saturday night.

Carr remains a star among dirt track riders. The Crusaders handed out trophies and awards on Saturday for kids and adult riders. They all had their picture taken with Carr.

The Hall of Fame rider was invited to the banquet on Saturday by Dave and Rhonda Waters, long-time members of the Crusaders. Carr, who now works as commentator, said there has been a “rebirth” in flat track racing at the amateur and pro level. (The Crusaders have about 150 riders during their Sunday races.)

Carr first started racing as a 6-year-old. He lost more than he won as an amateur and as a professional.

“It’s OK to fall and crash,” Carr told the group. “But get yourself back up and finish the race.”

The drive to complete the course may be the most important quality a rider can have, which will benefit the racers in other facets of their lives, Carr said.

Riders need to show respect for other competitors and not put others at unnecessary risk, he said. Carr has been in 28 races in his career where another rider died, including the first time when he was 8 and as 12-year-old was killed in the same race.

“Have respect for each other,” Carr said. “That is someone’s son or daughter.”

Carr said he enjoyed the thrill of competition in racing more than he did playing baseball and basketball as a kid. He is grateful he made a career out of racing, with sponsors and many victories.

He said it is a difficult career to race as a professional and win enough to make money, and have corporate support.

“You’re not a pro unless you are making money at it,” Carr said. “A pro is a guy with more money in his banking account at the end of the year than when he started.”

Some of the youth riders are pictured with their trophies.

The Crusaders recognize the top riders at the local track for 2015, including Jeremy Higgins of Bergen, who was the track champion.

The top three riders in each division include:

50cc shaft: Brody Hazel, first; Braydon Blair, second; and Madison Davis, third.

50cc chain: Spencer Burley, first; Justin Ball, second; Alexis Van Ameron, third.

65cc: Jacob Peacock, first; Theo Storrs, second; Nick Klaes, third.

80cc: Brandon Newman, first; Owen Flower, second; Jacob Delamarter, third.

125 4-stroke: Zachary Van Ameron, first; Ryan D. Scavuzzo, second; Kyle Lonnen, third.

125cc: Evan Van Ameron, first; Rodney Davis, second; Damien Gamble and Colby Petrie, third (tie).

250 Amateur: Kyle Tambe, first; Justin Parker, second; Evan Van Ameron, third.

Senior: John Parker, first; Ken Shaffer, second; and John Kehoe, third.

Open Amateur: Timmy Wells, first; Brian Wass, second; Kyle Tambe, third.

Open Expert: Jeremy Higgins, first; Bradley Hazel, second; Justin Jones, third.

Expert Premiere: Jeremy Higgins, first; Jon Welles, second; Bradley Hazel, third.

Retired Young: Justin Carpenter, first; Brandon Grimes, second; and Jeremy Thompson, third.

Retired Middle: Les Washbon, first; Tom Palmeri, second; Roy Standish, third.

Retired Old: John Langfelder, first; Guy Hughson, second; and Arnie Mahnke, third.

Track Worker Awards: (Men’s) Andy Morrison, first; Eric Vick, second; Tim Lonnen, third. Women’s: Jodi Zacher, first; Joann Coyle, second; Dawn Hazel, third.

Bradley Hazel, one of the top riders last year, thanks his family for their support.

New ministry takes prayer requests, gives bags of food

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Hands 4 Hope is an outreach with volunteers from many churches

Photos by Tom Rivers – Hands 4 Hope set up on Liberty Street by the First Baptist Church in Albion on Saturday, giving bags of food and taking prayer requests. The group includes, front row, from left: Dante Burgio, Amanda Basamania, Greg Stanton, Ron LaGamba and Cory Holz. Back row: Darrell Burgio, Jack Burris and Kevin Lemcke.

ALBION – The “hands” were out on Saturday, knocking on doors, flagging down cars and standing near a former red delivery van. The group, Hands 4 Hope, was offering prayers and free bags of food.

It was the fourth Saturday Hands 4 Hope has been out. They started on Jan. 30 on Lydun Drive in Albion. They have been in Medina at the corner Orient and Star streets, in Holley near Thomas Street and Public Square, and Liberty Street in Albion on Saturday near Beaver and West Park streets.

Hands 4 Hope is modeled after the Care-A-Van Ministries in Batavia, which has been operating for 16 years.

Jack Burris, owner of Burris Cleaning Service in Albion, pushed for Hands 4 Hope in Orleans County after seeing the success of Care-A-Van. Burris has shadowed Care-A-Van for nearly a year, going on outreach with Care-A-Van founder Paul Ohlson.

Care-A-Van also has red vans where it takes bags of food and welcomes people to step up in the truck and share their prayer concerns. Ohlson and volunteers are happy to pray with them.

Jack Burris stands by “Clifford,” a van now used for an outreach ministry. The hand on the left side of the van includes the sign for “love.”

Burris said he felt a prompting from God to try a similar ministry in Orleans. He found a van on eBay and connected with Greg Stanton from Stanton Signs in Medina to paint the logo. Burris calls the red van “Clifford.”

The past four Saturdays have been eye-opening, and confirmation to Burris and the ministry volunteers that there is a need for the food and prayers.

Many of the people who stop by Hands 4 Hope are in dire straits, feeling the stress of too many bills and not enough money. Many also are not connected from church and feel distant from God.

Burris and the volunteers hand off bags of food, hoping that will ease some of the stress of the physical needs. After that he says Hands 4 Hope will gladly appeal to a higher power. Burris will pray in the truck, writing down the prayer requests in a notebook, offering to keep the people and their concerns in his prayers in the future.

The first four Saturdays, Hands 4 Hope gave away 133 “shares” of food. No one declined a prayer.

“It’s not about the food,” Burris said. “It’s about the hope.”

These signs direct people to Hands 4 Hope van.

Burris said he expects Hands for Hope will be in Albion two Saturdays a month, and Holley and Medina once each. The months with five Saturdays he will wait to see where the group is led to minister.

So far the food has been paid for with an anonymous donor. Burris buys it from Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot. The volunteers separate the food into 40 shares on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, the group gathers a half hour before the 10:30 a.m. start time. They spend those 30 minutes praying for the people they will see that day.

Cory Holz stood outside the van on Saturday by the First Baptist Church. Holz welcomed people, chatting with them while they waited their turn. He also helped some up a step into the back of the vehicle.

Holz and his father Rick have volunteered with Care-A-Van in Batavia. They also attend the Albion Free Methodist Church with Burris.

Holz said some people have “preconceived ideas” about church. He welcomes the chance to bring a ministry out into the community, and not wait for people to come inside a church building.

“You’re getting out on a much more personal level,” Holz said about Hands 4 Hope.

People share about their challenges, which may include physical ailments, paying their bills, finding a reliable car and job.

“There is a ginormous need,” said Greg Stanton of Medina, one of the volunteers Saturday and the sign painter.

He went in the Albion neighborhood near First Baptist, knocking on doors and telling people about the ministry on Saturday morning. Stanton said he is one of the “fisherman” for the ministry. Burris says the volunteers are all the “hands.”

Burris feels like the effort has been blessed. The first Saturday they had 40 shares ready and went to the Lydun Drive neighborhood. They didn’t have any advertising except for the red truck. They knocked on doors and people came out. Everyone wanted a prayer. They welcomed the food.

There were exactly 40 people who came to the van for a share of food. That was how many shares of food had been prepared.

Burris isn’t sure what God has in store for Hands 4 Hope.

“We’re taking a leap of faith,” he said.

Hands 4 Hope has a Facebook page (Click here). Donations and mail can be addressed to Hands 4 Hope at P.O. Box 495, Albion NY 14411.

Medina FD responded to nearly 3,000 calls in 2015

Staff Reports Posted 21 February 2016 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – Congressman Chris Collins, right, visits with Captain Jonathan Higgins at the Medina Fire Department on May 8. The Fire Department was approved last year for a federal grant for $77,837 to purchase new fire hoses, nozzles and a thermal imaging camera.

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department responded to 2,834 requests for service in 2015 with 2,558 of those for ambulance service, and the other 276 for fire or fire-related calls.

The average response time from call dispatched to arrival on scene for all calls inside the Village of Medina was 2 minutes, 45 seconds, said Steve Cooley, a firefighter/paramedic for the MFD and the department’s public information officer.

The total call volume is just below the 2,986 in 2014, the most calls ever for the Fire Department. In 2013, the previous high, the total calls were 2,755. That makes 2015 the second-most ever for the Medina Fire Department.

In 2015, the busiest months for calls were March (269) and July (263).

Several firefighters completed training programs last year, Cooley said. Two firefighters (Young and Wolck) completed Fire Instructor II School. Two firefighters (Lang and Jackson) completed Paramedic School, and two firefighters (A. Wengrzycki and Parker) completed their EMT Basic. Three firefighters (Herriven, Jenkinson and Lang) also graduated from the NYS Fire Academy Recruit Program.

Firefighter Young was chosen by the village to be the Municipal Training Officer. Young overhauled the department’s training program for both career and callman firefighters.

Cooley, in the departments annual report, said each career firefighter must complete at least 100 hours of fire training on top of the required EMS continuing education hours. Each callman firefighter also has an annual amount of required training that must be completed. Total training hours logged by all firefighters in 2015 was 4,187.

Firefighters participated in 60 hours of Community Education/Fire Prevention this year. All classes at both Head Start School and Oak Orchard Elementary School received a Safety/Fire Prevention Seminar.

The Fire Department also received a $77,837 grant from the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant to purchase new hose lines (supply and attack), new nozzles as well as a new thermal imaging camera.

“This past year we also witnessed the retirement longtime Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich. Chief Zinkievich selflessly served the department, the village and all of Orleans County faithfully for 21 years here as a firefighter,” Cooley said. “We wish Todd a very happy and prosperous retirement!”

Cooley said the new year has been busy with calls and training for Medina firefighters.

“It is our pleasure to serve you,” he said in a message to the community. “Rest assured, if you require our services you will receive highly trained firefighters, EMTs and paramedics in an expeditious manner.”

Deputies locate despondent Irondequoit man in Murray

Staff Reports Posted 20 February 2016 at 12:00 am

MURRAY – A man who was acting suicidal on Monday was located by law enforcement officers from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Deputies arrived to Hindsburg Road in Murray on Monday after Town of Murray Highway Department snowplow operator Dennis Mandigo called 911 to report a car fire in a field on Hindsburg Road near Transit Church Road.

Mandigo also reported at about 11:30 a.m. that he had spoken to a man near the scene and, minutes later, the person walked away. Deputy Jeff Gifaldi arrived and found the car fully involved with fire. The man had left the scene.

Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley fire departments responded and extinguished the fire.

Gifaldi contacted the Irondequoit Police Department and advised that he was investigating a suspicious fire. The Irondequoit Police Department was asked to go to the home of the registered owner of the burning vehicle in an attempt to locate him, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said in a news release.

Irondequoit Police advised that they had just received information from a relative of the registered owner that indicated the owner was suicidal and was intending to burn himself up in a vehicle, Bourke said.

Sgt. Dean Covis located footprints in the snow that led into a field. Covis and Gifaldi tracked the prints through fields and woods for approximately 2.5 miles. There was a snowstorm occurring at this time which made it difficult for perimeter sheriff patrol units to observe the subject, Bourke said.

After approximately two hours, the suicidal man was located by Bourke coming out of a field on Creek Road near Route 104.

The man was taken into custody without incident and transported to Strong for an evaluation.

4-H competition tests poise, public speaking

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 20 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Andrew Moore of Albion and Emma Wilson of Medina co-present on Mustang Adoption and Gentling during Orleans County 4-H Public Presentations this morning at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

KNOWLESVILLE – For Orleans County 4-H’ers, February means the annual Public Presentations program, and some of the final presentations of this year were held today at the Education Center on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Public Presentations were also held on Feb. 6 and Feb. 13. A final round of presentations will be held at Kendall Elementary School this Thursday.

The program is part of the 4-H Communications and Expressive Arts project area and helps participating youth to grow in confidence and career readiness.

Participants through public speaking develop poise and learn to express ideas clearly, respond spontaneously to questions and to gain subject matter knowledge.

“The most impressive thing is the width, breadth and variety of topics” chosen by 4-H presenters, said Robert Batt, 4-H educator in Orleans County.

Topics chosen this year included various cooking and baking demonstrations; Jamaica; land trapping; dangers of smoking; popcorn; winter camping and farm equipment.

4-H’ers who receive the highest evaluation of their presentation can move on to the district and state levels.

Lillian Mathes of Holley explains the meaning of the four h’s in 4-H during her Public Presentation Saturday morning at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. “I love to learn by doing,” Lillian said during her talk.

Meganne Moore of Albion chose to recite Shel Silverstein’s poem, “Peanut-Butter Sandwich” while enrobed in a purple cape.

Workers lay tracks for trolley in 1908

By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 20 February 2016 at 12:00 am

B. L. & R. Railway operated in Orleans from 1905 to 1931

Volume 2, Issue 8

This image shows the construction of the Buffalo, Lockport & Rochester Railway through Medina in 1908. Looking north, workers are in the process of laying tracks on Main Street towards Commercial Street where the rail line would turn west and run to Salt Works Road.

The iconic clock tower of White’s Hotel can be seen in the background as well as a large advertisement for Daniel D. Holdredge’s crockery and undertaking business.

The earliest efforts to construct an electric interurban railway through this area started around the turn of the century. Discussion of forming a railway that ran from Batavia to Olcott through Medina were amongst the very first plans for a trolley system. However, the 1.7-mile Albion Electric Railway was the only successful line in these early years.

Chartered in 1905, the Buffalo, Lockport & Rochester Railway was a combination of the Albion & Lockport Railway, the Albion & Rochester Railway, and the Albion Electric Railway. The company was organized by Woods and Nicholls of Toronto and there was talk that the formulation of such a railway would lead to a connection between Canada and Western New York.

By Sept. 3, 1908 the section spanning from Rochester to a point west of Albion was in full operation and two months later, on Nov. 17, tracks were finished to Lockport. Based on that timeline, we can surmise that this photograph was taken sometime between Sept. 3 and Nov. 17, 1908.

With stations located at Medina, Knowlesville, Albion, Hulberton, and Holley, the trolley tracks ran down East Center Street, turned north on Main Street to Commercial Street and ran north of Medina’s residential neighborhoods.

While the company was in the initial stages of planning the railway’s route, Medina residents were vocal in their opposition to tracks running in front of their homes. Despite this opposition and the eventual rerouting of the rail line, Medina residents could enjoy a trip to Buffalo and back for $1.14 or travel to and from Rochester for $1.60.

The original operators of the rail line sold their interests in the B. L. & R. Railway to Clifford Beebe and operated under an electric railway group based out of Syracuse known as the “Beebe Syndicate.” During the era of the First World War, Beebe was experiencing financial difficulties and the company was sold to a Rochester based interest that reorganized the line as the Buffalo, Lockport & Rochester Railroad in 1919.

Despite the early successes of the B. L. & R., the advent of the Great Depression led to the eventual collapse of the railway in 1931. The tracks remained unused until they were dismantled and removed in 1936.

As an interesting sidenote, a railcar used on this trolley line and stored at Knowlesville for a number of years. The wood car number 206 was eventually relocated to the New York Museum of Transportation at Rochester in 2010 where it is awaiting evaluation for future restoration.

50s and 60s tunes celebrated at Medina concert

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Marcy Downey performed several popular songs from the 1950s and 1960s during a concert Friday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, including Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley.

Downey of Albion performed for the first time in the Medina library’s “Finally Fridays” concert series, which is in its 15th season. The series started on Jan. 8 and includes concerts at 7 p.m. on Fridays.

About 200 people attended Downey’s concert. Upcoming performers include Emerald Isle (Celtic music) on Feb. 26, The John Cole Blues Band (blues, shuffle, swing and soul) on March 4, and the Dady Brothers (Irish music) on March 18.

One concert-goer takes a video of Downey singing.

A crowd packed the library, which includes a performance area that is used during story hours as well as the concerts.

Temperatures in 50s a week after it reached zero

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 February 2016 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A snowwoman, with batteries with black duct tape for eyes, stands on East Park Street this morning. The temperatures are in the mid-50s today after being only about 0 degree a week ago.

Sunday is forecast for a high of 42, followed by a high of 28 on Monday and a high of 36 on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.