By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A Medina resident who allegedly stole $20,000 in lottery tickets has rejected a plea deal that would have spared her from state prison. The case against Kim Capstick will now go to trial beginning Nov. 6 and Capstick could face 1 1/3 to 4 years if convicted.
Orleans County Court Judge James Punch asked Capstick several times in court today if she wanted to go to trial and face the possibility of time in state prison. She was offered a plea deal that would have resulted in no more than six months in county jail plus five years of probation.
Capstick and her attorney Thomas Burns declined the plea offer.
Capstick worked at Curvin’s News and Smoke Shop in Medina from February 2011 to June 2012 when the alleged thefts occurred. She has been charged with one count of third-degree grand larceny.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Holley Deputy Mayor David Dill and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Mary Ellen Ridley are helping to plan a parade of lights on Dec. 7, as well as a memory bulb lighting for a Christmas tree that will be by the fountain in the Public Square.
HOLLEY – Village officials believe a popular new holiday tradition has begun, and Holley wants to build on the event, which includes a parade of lights and memory bulb lighting in the Public Square.
Holley since 1982 has lighted a Christmas tree in the Public Square not long after Thanksgiving. Residents can pay $5 to have a bulb dedicated in memory of a loved one. That person’s name will be announced during a tree lighting ceremony.
Two years ago Holley decided to expand the event, by having a parade of lights. There were five or six entries, mostly fire trucks, in the first year. Last year word spread about the parade and there were 45 entries.
The village now wants to extend the holiday celebration even more. This year’s event is planned for Dec. 7, beginning with a breakfast with Santa at 10 a.m. at the Eastern Orleans Community Center.
There will be carolers in the Public Square for several hours, with student groups from Holley Central School and the Old Paths Bible Baptist Church. Vendors are also sought to sell refreshments and crafts.
“We want people to come into town to see our businesses,” said Deputy Mayor David Dill, one of the coordinators of the holiday celebration.
Holley started the parade of lights after seeing the success of the event in Medina. That community will host its fifth annual parade of lights on Nov. 30.
Holley urges parade participants to string lights on a flatbed truck, bicycle, car or even people to be part of the fun.
For more information, call the Village Office at (585) 638-6367, ext. 103.
Contributed Story Posted 22 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Marlene Seielstad
GASPORT – A group of 13 riders from the Fuller & Company stable in Medina raised $2,868 during Saturday’s “Saddle Up for Roswell” at the Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center in Gasport.
Fuller & Company raised the most money of any stable, and rider Emma Ambrose of Medina earned top honors for raising $1,105 individually for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.
The Fuller riders include, from left: Kelsie Johnstone, Emily DelSignore, Kelsey Evoy, Lyndsay Nadeau, Linda Fuller, Meghan Fuller, Lisa Kenny, Emma Ambrose, Elisabeth Oliver, Kaitlin Zwifka, Andrea Toussaint, Makaila Cardone, Clara Stillwell, Sean Evoy and Riley Seielstad.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2013 at 12:00 am
“It’s never too late to try something.” – Carl Tuohey
Photo by Tom Rivers – Carl “Cal” Tuohey of Medina signed copies of his book, “Black Belt, Gray Hair,” on Saturday at Bindings Bookstore in Albion.
MEDINA – Carl “Cal” Tuohey was 52 when he was looking for a fun and physical activity to do with his son Jackson, 6.
Five years ago a friend suggested they try Tae Kwon-do. Tuohey was willing, and he started at the beginner level with his son and a class that mostly consisted of children.
Tuohey, a systems analysis for a Niagara Falls company, enjoyed the twice-a-week sessions. He even started writing a column in the monthly newsletter for Kwandrans Tae Kwon-do, where he was a student.
Tuohey urged people to be physically active, and to not let age keep them on the sidelines. Over four years he climbed the ranks, earning 12 belt titles, which was culminated when he earned a black belt a year ago at age 56.
“It’s never too late to try something,” Tuohey said Saturday during a book-signing at Bindings Bookstore in Albion.
Tuohey has written a book about his journey to a black belt. In “Gray Hair, Black Belt,” he talks about signing up for Tae Kwon-do at 52, when he weighed nearly 250 pounds.
He praised the supportive atmosphere at Kwandrans, where he said students and instructors are like a second family.
He became a regular contributor to the newsletter, writing about 45 articles. He shared tips about stretching and exercises, while also trying to motivate people to stick with the program and work towards the next belt.
He compiled those articles, plus other thoughts, in his 155-page book that is available at Bindings in Albion and the Book Shoppe in Medina.
These days he still tries to stay active, although he said a bum knee forced him to scale back from Tae Kwon-do. His son went on to earn a yellow belt. These days the father and son spend more time together with Scouting events.
Tuohey remains a big advocate for Tae Kwon-do and physical fitness, especially after age 50.
“I never thought I’d be a black belt,” he said. “But I kept with it.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Ashley Webb, a drum major for Le Roy, leads the band in its performance of “Ashes to Ashes” at Vets Park tonight in Medina.
Bands performed for three hours at Vets Park before judges stopped the Fall Festival of Bands
Photos by Tom Rivers
Madeline Bilicki, a member of the Medina Color Guard, is dressed as a gymnast for the band’s performance of “The Pursuit of Gold,” a tribute to Americans in the Olympics.
Cameron Morgan, Medina’s drum major, directs the 130-member band in the pouring rain. Medina was the last band to perform before judges stopped the Fall Festival of Bands due to the weather.
Melissa Oosterling, a five-year member of the Color Guard in Medina, didn’t let the rain slow her down.
Members of the pit for the Medina Mustangs keep playing despite an onslaught of rain.
A good-size crowd turned out to watch the Fall Festival of Bands. The event was scheduled to include 12 bands over about four hours, but the final hour was cut as the rain became more intense.
Staff Reports Posted 21 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman
MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Band performs during half-time of last night’s football game at Medina.
Vets Park in Medina today will host the Fall Festival of Bands. Twelve bands will compete and UB will perform in exhibition. The gates open at 4:30 and the show starts at 5:30 with the National Anthem and introductions. Medina performs at 8:15. Medina’s show is called “The Pursuit of Gold,” with the band celebrating some of the most famous Olympic moments for the U.S.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Medina Sandstone Society has been scouring New York looking at structures made of Medina sandstone. This picture shows the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.
MEDINA – They have been crisscrossing the region – and beyond – taking tours of prominent buildings made of Medina sandstone.
Jim Hancock, Dave Miller and John Slack are members of the Medina Sandstone Society. They also have been tasked by the group to work on developing a Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.
Community members have suggested buildings for the inaugural list, and the trio of sandstone enthusiasts has gone exploring to see the sites.
Hancock said the trips have been fun, and validated his belief that Medina sandstone sites are exceptional, withstanding years of harsh upstate New York winters and scorching summers.
“It is absolutely astounding when you discover the thousands of great buildings of Medina sandstone that still exist in excellent condition,” Miller said.
The Hall of Fame Committee will present the list of nominees on Oct. 10 during a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. at Medina Theatre, a sandstone building on Main Street.
That list will likely be pared down to five to seven sites in the first HOF class. The inaugural class will be voted on by the Sandstone Society board of directors.
Hancock and Miller said the first class will likely be announced in November. Photos and descriptions of the sites will go in a temporary home for the Hall of Fame. That site has not been disclosed.
A permanent home also hasn’t been picked, but Hancock favors the mostly vacant Bent’s Opera House on Main Street. The Orleans Renaissance Group is working to restore the site.
The Sandstone Society on Oct. 10 will announce the list of HOF nominees on the Medina Theatre’s large screen. The Oct. 10 event will also serve as a “thank you” to patrons who have supported Sandstone Society projects in 2013.
Hancock expects the Hall of Fame will become an annual tradition, with a new class inducted every year. He said there are numerous sites that are worthy of induction.
“It’s going to be tough to narrow them down,” Hancock said about the first class of inductees. “If they don’t make it into the Hall this year, there’s always next year.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Pastor also is working on new ‘Jobs for Life’ ministry for Orleans County
Photo by Tom Rivers – Tim Lindsay has led Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion since the church started in 1987, first meeting in the former Firemen’s Recreation Building on West State Street. In 1991, the church moved to 560 East Ave., where Lindsay is pictured.
ALBION – Tim Lindsay was turning 50 and celebrating 20 years as a pastor in Albion in the fall of 2007. As he reflected on his ministry, he did the math and realized he had preached about 1,000 sermons in Albion.
He thought about enduring principles he learned in those 20 years and preached about them in a sermon series he called “1,000 Sundays.” Members of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion gave Lindsay good feedback about the sermons.
Lindsay’s 20 years have now turned into nearly 26 years of commitment to the Albion community. He often preaches about the importance of “finishing the race,” of staying faithful to God.
Lindsay has had a few years to think about the “1,000 Sundays.” He was encouraged to expand on those principles and write about longevity in Christian life and ministry. He spent a year working on a manuscript.
The result is a 219-page book with 19 chapters. In “1,000 Sundays and Counting ” the pastor writes about his Albion church and some of the life principles he has learned. The book came out last month and is available locally at Bindings Bookstore in Albion.
“It’s not a how-to manual,” Lindsay said. “It’s a book about character.”
Lindsay grew up in Hilton. He and his wife Laurie have five grown children and five grandchildren. They were attending Golden Heights Christian Center in Brockport when that church decided to plant a new church in Albion. Lindsay was asked to lead the effort.
The Christian Center Church of Orleans County held its first service on Oct. 25, 1987 at Albion Firemen’s Recreation Building. The church was there for four years before buying a building a 560 East Ave. The church later changed its name to Harvest Christian Fellowship.
It has been influential in establishing the Orleans County Christian School and the Care Net Center of Greater Orleans, which provides free pregnancy tests and ultra-sounds, as well as support in a crisis pregnancy.
Lindsay also serves as chaplain in the Orleans County Jail and has served as a missionary to Africa. He just returned from Ghana and Togo. He distributed 200 copies of his books to Christian leaders in the countries.
Some of the principles in the book include:
Let God use the difficult circumstances of your life to form the character of Christ in you.
Leave a godly legacy for future generations.
Keep your heart tender and sensitive to Jesus even in the midst of trials.
Live for something bigger than yourself.
Find and maintain healthy relationships in the body of Christ.
Fulfill God’s vision and purpose for your life.
Lindsay is working to launch another ministry in the community, “Hands for Hope.” That initiative will partner with local businesses to connect residents to jobs that match their skill levels. Hands for Hope will run “Jobs for Life,” an eight-week job training program.
Hands for Hope includes representatives from several local churches. They want to connect residents with mentors, “who can help people when there are bumps in the road.”
Hands for Hope is aimed at unemployed and underemployed residents. Lindsay said 400 sites in the country are running the Bible-based program right now.
The churches and mentors will stress soft job skills, such as showing up to work on time, keeping a good attitude and conflict resolution skills.
“It boils down to character,” said Lindsay, who will be site leader for the project.
He believes good jobs can help lift many people out of generational poverty.
“This can help them get out of that cycle,” Lindsay said.
He welcomes businesses, churches, mentors and other participants for the program, which is expected to launch in January.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 September 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – I stopped by Liberty Fresh Farms, an onion packing house on Route 98 in Albion, last evening because my 9-year-old son is part of a Lego league through Orleans County 4-H.
The Panek family, owners of the former Remley Printing building, is letting three Lego teams practice building robots and whatnot in some of the rooms in the building.
The Paneks helped form Liberty Fresh. When I was there last night, the sun was setting and the tall stacks of onion crates were striking. I noticed a statue of a patron saint by a tree. The rainy spring made for a difficult growing year for onion farmers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 September 2013 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – Employees at Orchard Manor, a nursing home on Bates Road, voted to join the CSEA union on Thursday.
Employees approved the vote “by a comfortable margin,” said Jill Ascencio, spokeswoman for CSEA.
“It wasn’t even close,” she said this morning. “The workers definitely chose what they wanted to do.”
Orchard Manor was owned by Medina Memorial Hospital until it was sold to 600 Bates Road LLC for $4.1 million. The new owner took over Jan. 1 and hired Global Health Care to manage the 160-bed residential healthcare facility.
Chris Penna, an LPN at Orchard Manor, said changes were quickly noticed by the staff, as the new owner and management cut back on staff and basic supplies.
Staff tried to voice their concerns to management about quality of patient care, but Penna said employees didn’t feel their concerns were appreciated or addressed.
Orchard Manor staff started talking about forming a union, which led to seven staff being suspended and at least two terminated, Penna said. She was suspended the day after she spoke with The Journal-Register about the unionizing push.
“It’s a common union-busting tactic,” Ascencio said about employees losing jobs or facing suspensions. “They put on the pressure, they intimidated and they coerced. They tried to get people to back down out of fear.”
Penna said the employees banded together. She noticed that camaraderie when she started at Orchard Manor 19 months ago. She drives about 20 miles from Holley to work in Medina because she enjoys the residents and her co-workers.
“From the first day my feet hit the floor it was like family,” she said. “That why I wanted to work there because Orchard Manor had such a good reputation.”
She is hopeful the union will give the workers a stronger voice to ensure staffing levels and supplies for a high level of patient care.
“We want to make the residents the number one priority,” Penna said.
There are 114 employees eligible to be in the union, but that could change if some job titles are added or removed. Right now, the union will likely be open to CNAs, LPNs, maintenance, transportation, activities and kitchen staff.
They will need to form a negotiating team that will try to meet with management and the owner to discuss an employee contract and quality of care for residents.
Penna said employees have been under a lot of pressure in recent weeks, especially when co-workers were suspended or fired.
“We fought the good fight, that’s for sure,” she said. “We’re a family and we stuck it out. But we know the hard part isn’t over.”
