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.”
Staff Reports Posted 20 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman
MEDINA – Before tonight’s Medina Mustang football game at home versus Akron, both teams and their fans observed a moment of silence for Damon Janes, a Westfield-Brocton football player who died Monday following a hit in last Friday’s high school football game against Portville. Teams from throughout Section 6 are pausing before each game tonight and Saturday to remember Janes.
Before each game, the following statement will be read: “On behalf of the entire Section 6 of New York State Public High School Athletic Association, we offer our deepest condolences and support to family, friends, classmates of Damon Janes, including school communities of Brocton, Westfield and Portville. Please know you’re in the hearts of the entire Western New York Athletic Community.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Leonel Lopez-Alvarado
ALBION – A village resident, who is wanted for aggravated assault with a firearm in Michigan, was arrested today at his residence, 129 West Academy St., the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported.
Leonel Lopez-Alvarado, 30, is in the country illegally without proper documents, the Task Force reported today. He has twice been deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs, in 2009 and again in 2010.
Police searched Lopez-Alvarado’s residence and found a loaded 9mm semi-auto pistol, ammunition, fraudulent alien registration card and social security card.
Lopez-Alvarado was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (non U.S. citizen).
He was arraigned at the Town of Albion Justice Gary Moore and committed to the Orleans County Jail on $5,000 cash bail. Lopez-Alvarado is to return back to Albion court on Sept. 24 at 9 a.m.
Lopez-Alvarado also is being held on a detainer filed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is facing numerous federal charges, including illegal re-entry into the United States. He also is facing extradition to the state of Michigan for aggravated assault with a firearm.
Police executed the search warrant in Albion after receiving information that Lopez-Alvarado was wanted for a shooting in another state. The Major Felony Crime Task Force worked the case with Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Albion Police Department.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Young Enterprises employee Shane Swann is on top of the Pratt building at 118 North Main St., coating the roof this afternoon.
Several contractors are working on the building, which is owned by Michael Bonafede and Judith Koehler. They want to have the top floor, a former opera house, reopened as a performance venue.
Andy Young, owner of Young Enterprises in Albion, was up on the roof this afternoon. He is pictured in the photo below.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Governor announces $48M for projects state-wide
Photo by Tom Rivers – An airplane comes in for a landing at Pine Hill Airport on Sept. 8, when the airport in Barre hosted a fly-in breakfast.
ALBANY – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $48 million in grants for transportation improvements across the state, including $54,000 for Pine Hill Airport, the only airport with a hard-surface runway in Orleans County.
The money for Pine Hill will help construct a new apron and taxiway connector for the west ramp.
Cuomo said the $48 million in state funds will leverage an additional $80 million in federal, state and local funding. The governor said the money will boost transportation infrastructure and support economic development.
“We are making targeted investments that will improve transportation systems across the state, provide the foundation for future economic development, and create jobs,” the governor said. “This funding will modernize aviation facilities, improve the speed of freight and passenger transit, and build cleaner and safer networks of transportation.”
The state approved $7 million for 21 airport infrastructure projects in state, $21 million in transit capital grants, and $20 million for 14 rail projects.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – The Medina Memorial Association of Twigs presents a $20,000 check to the hospital, the Twigs final payment on a $170,000 pledge for hospital lobby and ER renovations. Pictured, from left, include: Donna Poore, past president; Acting Interim Hospital CEO Dolores Horvath; and Carolyn Wisniewski, Twigs president.
MEDINA – The Medina Memorial Association of Twigs made its final $20,000 payment towards a $170,000 pledge to help the hospital remodel its lobby and emergency room.
The Twigs made a $50,000 initial payment and then followed with $20,000 checks annually over six years.
Twigs President Carolyn Wisniewski presented the final check on Sept. 9 to Acting Interim CEO Dolores Horvath, fulfilling the group’s pledge.
Most of the money was raised through the Twig Gift Shop located across from the switchboard at the hospital. The remaining funds were raised by the different Twig groups over the years.
The lobby received new carpeting and chairs in 2011. More work to the lobby as well as upgrades to the ER are expected to start at the end of 2013 or early 2014.
The Twigs have assisted with several projects at the hospital through the years.
“We are proud of our hospital and look forward to doing more projects with them in the future,” said Twigs President Carolyn Wisniewski.
Sept. 28 event will include 80 students at Mount Albion
Courtesy of Albion Central School – Albion student Kendra Morrison recounts a story during last year’s Ghost Walk about Amos Clift and how he solved the issue of some hobos that kept stealing his farm fencing.
Press release
Albion Central School
ALBION – About 80 Albion High School students will portray notable residents of Mount Albion during a Ghost Walk on Sept. 28. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. with tours every 15 minutes. The cost is $5 with proceeds going to service-learning projects.
The tours will start near the chapel of the historic cemetery on Route 31, east of the village. The tour includes the older part of the cemetery.
Students will portray the following:
Albert Warner, who embezzled money from the Roswell Burrows estate and the First National Bank.
William Barlow, a famous architect who designed and built some of our most prominentbuildings, including the Orleans County Courthouse.
Jane Lavery, who was 16 yearsold when she died in the 1859 Main Street bridge collapse while watching an aerialist attempt to cross the Erie Canal.
Ben Field, who acquired the franchise rights to make sleeper cars for the railroad. He sold his part of the business to his partner, George Pullman, for $5,000. Pullman became a multi-millionaire.
Loren Stiles, who was influential in starting the first Free Congregational Methodist Church in the world. The Free Methodist denomination started in Albion.
Amanda Bedell, mother of Grace Bedell, who was 11 when she wrote a letter to Abe Lincoln encouraging him to grow whiskers. He took her advice and met Grace during a train stop in Westfield, NY.
Sanford Church, perhaps the most prominent citizen of Albion’s past. He was an attorney, state assemblyman, state comptroller, Lieutenant Governor of NY and served as chief justice to the NYS Court of Appeals.
Emma Swan, who along with her husband, William Gere Swan, turned the Burrows mansion into thefirst public library for the Albion community.
John Proctor, an early settler in Gaines, he was the Paul Revere of the Ridge during the War of 1812.He rode east to warn people the British were advancing to Lewiston.
John Hull White, who was the grand sire of theIndependent Order of the Oddfellows.
William Butts, a Revolutionary War soldier.
Roswell Burrows, a wealthy banker (reportedly the richest man in Albion). He established the First National Bank of Albion and unfortunately trusted Albert Warner, his assistant.
Lewis Tyrell, a Civil War soldier who fought at the Battle of Petersburg with General Grant.
Emma Root, who recounts a story of a certain gentleman named Pat Flynntrying to settle his bill with a clerk at the village store.
The tour includes choral and instrumental musical selections. To reserve a spot on the tour, call Sue Starkweather Miller at the school, 589-2087.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Patricia Crowley, project director of Orleans United through GCASA, has worked with the agency since 2000 to reduce substance abuse locally. She is pictured outside GCASA’s office in Albion, the former Knights of Columbus hall.
ALBION – She has led a coalition of law enforcement agencies, faith-based groups, health-care providers, parents, youths and businesses, about 100 people working together to reduce tobacco and substance abuse in the community.
“We all help and do our part,” said Pat Crowley, project director for Orleans United, a program run through GCASA, the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
Crowley said the group’s efforts over the past five years have resulted in reduced rates of teen smoking and drug use and experimentation.
Crowley is also a member of the Medina Village Board, and is active with the Medina Area Association of Churches and the First Presbyterian Church in Medina.
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce honored her with a “Community Service Award” for 2013.
“I just love it,” Crowley said about her many roles. “Orleans is a great place to live. No matter where I live, I’ll always be involved in my community.”
Crowley grew up in Hornell. She began her career working with at-risk youth in Elmira. For 10 years she worked with kids in foster care and a group home. She then worked three years with at-risk youth in Orange County near Poughkeepsie.
In 1990, she her husband Tim moved to Medina when Mr. Crowley, a counselor with the state Department of Corrections, was hired to work at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion. Mr. Crowley is a Medina native. He now works at the Albion Correctional Facility, the women’s prison.
It didn’t take his wife long to get to know the community. She worked for the Arc of Orleans and the Head Start before taking a job with GCASA in 2000 as a prevention educator. She went into local schools, sharing an anti-drug and alcohol message, and meeting one-on-one with students who may have been fighting an addiction.
In 2004, she helped start the drug-free coalition. Four years later, the federal government approved a $125,000 annual drug-free communities grant for Orleans. The funding was for five years.
The coalition planned family-friendly activities, including roller skating at the YMCA, miniature golf and other events, including prescription drug take-back days, where the unused prescription medicine could be left at the Holley Police Department, Orleans County Public Safety Building and Medina Fire Department.
The grant also funded a survey of sixth through twelfth-graders in four local school districts about their drug, alcohol and tobacco use. The survey is done every two years.
“You need the data,” Crowley said. “The grant allows us to look at the data and assess where we are.”
The coalition just learned last week the federal government did not renew another five-year grant to fund the prevention effort in Orleans County. Crowley said the coalition will continue, and will find another way to promote its mission.
“We have people that will support us, we’ll just have to do it with less money,” she said.
MEDINA – The view in this post card shows thousands of barrels of apples stacked up along the Erie Canal dock in Medina.
The card was published by the Bickle Brothers, circa 1908. This was before the canal was enlarged here in 1911-13. Note the canal boat which is already loaded with apple barrels.
