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Hoag keeps up tasty treat tradition

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Susie Gaylord, an administrative assistant at Hoag Library, helps serve hors d’oeuvres and entrees prepared by the Crooked Door during last Thursday’s Tasty Treats at the library.

Debbie Martillotta, co-owner of the Crooked Door with her husband Joe, is pictured at right.

The event is organized by the Friends of the Library and attracted about 60 people.

Tasty Treats started seven years ago and has become a popular tradition at the library, a way for the organization to express its thanks to the community, said organizer Grace Kent.

This year’s event included a silent auction for an oak chair from Swan Library that was painted by artist Cheryl Watson of Lyndonville. The winner will be announced on Dec. 23.

Joe Martillotta, center, talks to the group about some of the entrees at the Crooked Door. Mary Anne Braunbach, Friends president, is pictured at right by the podium.

43 bags of crack cocaine seized from Lockport man in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2013 at 12:00 am

John Butler

ALBION – A Lockport man faces drug charges after police seized 43 bags of crack cocaine on Friday, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is reporting.

John H. Butler, 32, of 5794 Sweetwood Drive, Apt. G was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, and one count of aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree.

The Task Force worked with Albion village police and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department to execute a search warrant on Butler’s vehicle, which was parked at 131 South Main St. in the American Legion’s lot.

Police seized 43 bags of crack cocaine from the vehicle. The Niagara County Drug Task Force and Niagara County Sheriff’s Department also searched Butler’s apartment in Lockport.

Butler was arraigned in the Town of Albion Court by Justice Kevin Howard. Butler was sent to county jail with no bail due to his previous criminal history. He is to return to Town Court on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

The investigation is still ongoing and further charges and arrests are pending.

Rothmund pleads guilty to Albion bank robbery

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Rothmund in his July mugshot

ALBION – Jeremy Rothmund, 30, pleaded guilty today to first-degree robbery in Orleans County Court today. The Rochester man will be sentenced to no more than 15 years in state prison as part of a plea deal.

He will be sentenced by Judge James Punch on March 3 at 2 p.m.

In an Oct. 21 court appearance, Rothmund confessed in court that he robbed the Bank of America in Albion on July 2, showing up at the bank wearing a mask and threatening a clerk with a bomb that later was discovered to be fake.

Rothmund faced a maximum of 20 years in state prison. The plea reduces the max to 15 years.

The plea deal doesn’t include Rothmund’s admitted role with two other bank robberies in the town of Greece. Rothmund on Oct. 16 also injured a corrections officer in the county jail. The plea for the Albion robbery doesn’t include that incident, either.

In the October court appearance, Rothmund said his girlfriend, Elyse A. Hoffer, didn’t know he was robbing banks when she drove him to the locations. Rothmund said he told her to park behind the Freeze-Dry building on Route 31 near the railroad tracks while he went to buy drugs in Albion on July 2.

Rothmund returned with a bag full of $18,000. He said he told Huffer to drive fast out of town. (The two were later stopped and arrested in Holley after a resident identified them in Albion and called the police.)

Punch on Oct. 21 questioned Rothmund about the claim that Huffer didn’t know she was driving the getaway car from a robbery. Rothmund told the judge she didn’t know beforehand if he was robbing a bank, but she later realized it.

Rothmund in court today said Huffer did aid him in the robberies.

Dress of collard greens from Holley farm gets national attention

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Theresa Bowick models the dress she made of collard greens during a stop at the Rochester Public Market in October.

HOLLEY – A dress made from collard greens grown at a Holley farm will be featured on national television on Friday.

Theresa Bowick, a nurse and author of “Collard Green Curves,” will appear on the Steve Harvey Show. She filmed her segment in Chicago about three weeks ago. The show on Friday begins at 10 a.m. on channel 8 in Rochester, WROC TV.

Bowick of Rochester connected with Wally and Carol Liese at the Rochester Public Market, where the Holley farm has been a long-time vendor.

“Their greens were so big and pretty,” Bowick said. “They hand-picked them and I’m truly grateful.”

Randy, Carol, Wally and Colleen Liese grew and hand-picked the collard greens that Bowick used to make a dress for the Steve Harvey Show that will air 10 a.m. on Friday.

Bowick shares a message about healthy eating. Collard greens are popular in the African American community. The vegetable is very nutritious.

Bowick has become a collard green ambassador, urging people to give it a try. She shares ways to prepare the greens.

In her book, Bowick writes about losing 75 pounds and embracing a more physically active lifestyle. For more information on her book, click here.

Public Square in Holley adds some holiday spirit

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

An antique and collectibles shop has a horse and Christmas lights mounted above the store’s faÃ§ade in the Public Square.

One of Holley’s mainstays, Sam’s Diner, has a holiday theme in its front window.

Eastern Orleans Community Center is spruced up for the holidays. Volunteers for Community Action have been ringing the bells for the annual red kettle fund-raising drive.

Last night during a very chilly Parade of Lights two volunteers from the American Legion were trying to raise funds through the red kettle. Legion Commander Chuck Eberhardt, left, and Al Pulcino expect to put in several shifts for the red kettle this year.

Main Street sites in Lyndonville are decked out for holidays

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

Route 63 in Lyndonville has a stretch of grand old houses, and several of them are decked out in holiday decorations, including this house at 8 Eagle St., at the South Main Street intersection.

Just south of that location, at 142 South Main St., one of the area’s finest cobblestone houses is lighted up for the holidays.

This house was built in 1846 and is the only Lyndonville location listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Jackson Blood, an early Lyndonville resident, built the house and lived there until 1875.

The downtown decorations for the holidays have been upgraded thanks to funds from the Lyndonville Lions Club and the Lyndonville Area Foundation.

East Shelby church welcomes public to celebrate a less frantic Christmas

Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Gingerbread, caroling and carriage rides are part of the day

Press release, East Shelby Community Bible Church

EAST SHELBY – Have you ever wished you could celebrate Christmas the way your grandparents did – simple, no commercialism, with the emphasis on the birth of Jesus Christ?

The congregation of the East Shelby Community Bible Church would like to invite everyone to be able to do just that by joining them as they celebrate the real meaning of Christmas in West Jackson Corners. Come experience “The Smells and Tastes of Christmas Past” today from noon to 5 p.m.

Begin your afternoon in the church listening to the church’s “Band of Renown,” which will begin playing at noon. The band has been practicing for weeks to provide you with a wonderful concert of Christmas hymns and carols.

Afterwards walk across the road to West Jackson Corners and experience the true meaning of Christmas in a restored 19th century village. West Jackson Corners was the original name of East Shelby in the early 1800s.

While visiting West Jackson Corners take a sleigh ride. There will also be a special team of horses this year called “Norsk Heist.” They are Norwegian horses that are small and powerful. Come and enjoy a sleigh ride pulled by these specialty horses.

Listen to a tale of long ago, hear the Dickinson style Christmas carolers, view the two 20-foot Christmas trees in the village square, see the lights, taste a pioneer Christmas dinner cooked over an open hearth, or sing your favorite Christmas songs along with the church choir.

Check out an old fashion toy display in the local country store, view a living manager scene in the barn at the edge of town, make an old fashioned garland with pine cones, nuts, berries and cinnamon, taste homemade hot chocolate, or just visit with the folks from West Jackson Corners.

Be sure to come back to the church and view the 16-foot Christmas tree in the church sanctuary, the candelabra ready for lighting on Christmas Eve and the traditional holiday greens decorations. While in the church sample traditional holiday snacks and desserts prepared and served by the ladies of West Jackson Corners.

As you enjoy the holiday foods, have a cup of coffee or a special Christmas punch and watch the folk dancing by some of the teens of the church.

Stop in at the 19^th century parsonage next door to the church. The parsonage, restored to its 19^th century splendor, will be decked out for an old fashion Christmas.

While there visitors will also have a chance to decorate a homemade gingerbread man in the kitchen, watch heritage craft demonstrations in the living room and visit the children’s craft corner. Upstairs in the parsonage is Santa’s workshop where youngsters can make their own wooden toy.

Be on hand at 4:30 p.m. when the children greet Santa Claus as he arrives by horse drawn sleigh at West Jackson Corners.

Medina choir keeps up long tradition with holiday concert

Contributed Story Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo courtesy of Chris Busch

MEDINA – The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir performs tonight during its annual community holiday concert at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

A big crowd of about 700 people turned out to hear the 102 singers in the A’Cappella Choir perform in the church, a 50-year holiday tradition in Medina. The group memorized 16 songs and will perform for other groups during the holiday season.

The choir is directed by Lisa Roeseler.

Medina choir continues holiday tradition

Contributed Story Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos courtesy of Chris Busch
MEDINA – The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir performed Sunday night to a capacity crowd of 650 people at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The choir performs a variety of music – both sacred and secular genres. Choir Director Lisa Roeseler leads the group.

A big crowd turns out each year for the concert, with some showing up two hours early to get a seat at the church. The concert used to be held at the Presbyterian Church but was moved to St. Mary’s where there are more seats.

As tradition each year, the choir processes in singing “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and processes out singing “Silent Night.”

Lisa Roeseler is the choral director, Music Theory instructor and the Music Skills teacher at Medina High School. The choral groups she directs include A’Cappella Choir, Mixed Chorus and the A’Cappella Select Ensemble. Lisa gives instruction in Music Theory 1, Music Theory 2 and AP Music Theory.

The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir has been a much beloved tradition for about a half century. The ensemble was begun under the direction of Eastman graduate Robert Conner. The ensemble quickly gained a regional reputation for excellence receiving many accolades. Conner, the man who started the tradition, attended Sunday’s concert and received an ovation.

Huge crowd for “Christmas Peace” concert in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2013 at 12:00 am

Genesee Chorale, Albion students usher in the season

ALBION – A Christmas concert this afternoon was standing room only in the First Presbyterian Church with about 500 people filling the church pews.

The 70-member Genesee Chorale, directed by Ric Jones of Medina, performed the “Christmas Peace” concert that included several selections from Albion student musicians.

The concert is part of the Eastman at Albion series that started with three spring concerts in 2009. The group has added a Christmas concert the past four years.

Jones praised the community for turning out in force for the concert today.

“As performers you can’t imagine how awesome it is to see a slew of people in the audience,” Jones told the crowd.

The Chorale sang Christmas classics including “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Star In The East,” and several others.

Evan Steier plays the trumpet with other members of the brass ensemble in the balcony of the First Presbyterian Church.

Shannon Broda and the woodwind quintet perform “We Three Kings.”

Kelley Flanagan and the flute choir play “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” while the women’s and men’s ensembles wait for their turn to sing.

The Eastman series continues in the spring with a concert by Mitzie Collins on March 9 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the return of Albion native Susan Fancher, a world-class saxophonist, on April 6 at the Prebyterian Church.