By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am
DA waiting on blood tests in Carlton murder
ALBION The public defender will represent Dennis Buehler, a Kendall resident who is accused of shooting his wife and setting his house on fire on March 4.
Buehler allegedly shot his wife with a shotgun during an argument. His wife, Linda Buehler, ran from the house, which Buehler then allegedly set on fire. The Buehlers’ house at 923 Peter Smith Rd. was destroyed by the fire.
His wife survived the gunshot wound to her shoulder. Buehler, 64, has been charged of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree arson.
Mrs. Buehler has filed for divorce, which has frozen Buehler’s assets. He can’t hire an attorney so Orleans County Court Judge James Punch assigned Public Defender Sanford Church to the job on Monday. Buehler can still hire his own attorney if he can work out paying for one.
Buehler is scheduled to reappear in County Court on July 1.
In another high-profile case, Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone said it will take about six more weeks for results to come back on blood tests in a Carlton murder on March 4.
Cardone is waiting for results from blood samples at the scene and two blood trails. Frederick Miller, 61, has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly bludgeoning and stabbing his live-in girlfriend Rachel Miller.
She was found dead about 150 yards east of Miller’s house on Oak Orchard River Road by an Albion Central School bus driver.
The Niagara County Forensics Lab is doing the blood analysis for the Orleans County DA.
The two crimes both occurred the same day. Cardone said he is working to have both cases ready to go to trial in the fall.
Miller is scheduled to reappear in County Court on July 8.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Medina S & L president believes bank has been critical in Main Street renaissance, other local projects
Photos by Tom Rivers – Tim Moriarty has been president of the Medina Savings and Loan the past 17 years.
Medina Savings and Loan has been in business for 125 years. It was the only bank in Orleans County to survive the Great Depression. It has stayed locally owned and locally focused in an era on bank consolidations.
Tim Moriarty, 58, grew up in Medina, and worked for Ernst and Winney in Charlotte, N.C., and banks in Rochester (Security Trust and Rochester Community Savings Bank) before returning to his hometown. He has been president of the Savings and Loan for 17 years.
The bank has 15 employees with most of them working out of the bank’s main office on Maple Ridge Road, next to Tops. In 2006, the Medina S & L opened a second office in the Albion Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Moriarty is active in the community as a member of the Medina Lion’s Club, the Medina Sandstone Society and the Shelridge Country Club. He is a past president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce and coached Little League for 11 years.
He talked about the bank and is career during an interview last Wednesday at the S & L.
Question: You mentioned you worked at Security Trust and the Rochester Community Savings Bank. Did we have more banks back in the 1980s?
Answer: Yes. I tell people a little story. I used to bowl in a banker’s league when I was in Rochester. There were 16 teams represented by 12 different banks. Not one of those banks exists today. Rochester Savings, Community Savings, Monroe Savings, Columbia Savings, First Federal Savings, First National Central Trust, Lincoln First, Security Trust – They’re all gone.
‘We don’t loan outside our area. We’re here for projects that make economic sense to help build a better community.’
Question: It seems like there continues to be a buying spree, if you look at First Niagara.
Answer: They’re a little different. First Niagara bought to buy, to get big and not for value. That’s the difference.
Question: How unusual is it to have a local Savings and Loan these days?
Answer: It’s less and less in New York. In the country most of the banks are still small community banks. I’m not sure why New York has been getting hit harder than the other states.
Question: Is the small community bank a better model than the bigger banks?
Answer: I think there is a need for both. You need big banks for large commercial customers. But the problem with the big banks is they have a lot of activities that have nothing to do with banking and that puts them at risk of failing like in 2008 and ’09.
The reason it’s an issue is you have FDIC insurance on their deposits. If they fail it puts a major hurt on that.
If you look at community banks, I can go up and down Main Street and you’d be shocked at the projects we’ve done. Right now we’re helping the United Methodist Church get the old Apple Grove done. I can go all over Medina and see the different projects we’ve done. The bigger banks are not interested. We’re small for them.
The big banks just take the deposits and siphon it out of the community. And then they invest it in Hong Kong and their growth areas like Singapore. That’s where they want to focus their attention. They’re siphoning out the money.
In a community bank we reloan it in the community to help with growth in the community and improving the community. We don’t loan outside our area. We’re here for projects that make economic sense to help build a better community.
Question: I really hadn’t thought about that, that a bank has played a part in Medina Main Street revival the past 10 years. People need to borrow money to make some of these projects happen.
Answer: We’ve done a lot of the projects up and down Main Street.
The Medina Savings and Loan was the lone Orleans County bank to survive the Great Depression.
Question: Has the Albion site in Wal-Mart resulted in projects in the Albion area?
Answer: We don’t seem to get the people coming in there for requests like we’d like to. We’re there to do it, but it’s been a little bit more difficult getting that connection. There hasn’t been as many projects as in Medina.
Question: Why did you open the site in Albion?
Answer: We’re trying to broaden our base. We’ve helped a number of small businesses in Albion and Medina. We’d like to see more loan demand in Albion.
Question: People perceive Orleans as being a struggling county. But you might see it differently, working with some of the innovators.
Answer: Retail Medina has done a lot better than a lot of small towns. I wonder if it’s just far enough from the malls that people will think local first before they go out. I like to think that we’re a part of it. There are projects that I know that got done where people initially went to other bigger banks and we ended up doing them and helped make it a better community.
Question: You were the only bank to survive the Great Depression in Orleans County. Why do you think the Medina Savings and Loan has endured all these years?
Answer: It’s a risk business. You have to manage risk.
Question: Has the banking business got harder during your career?
Answer: Oh, definitely. There are a lot more regulations regarding everything, from lending to taking deposits. We can’t take a double-endorsed check anymore. People get mad at us, but we have regulations. We have to know the customer to make sure you’re not a terrorist or a money launderer.
There are many, many ways they have regulated the business.
The other factor: This current economic environment. Anytime you don’t let market forces determine market prices, you create a bubble. You create a distortion. That’s what’s going on right now with the Fed. You’re creating a bubble.
Question: Is that the low-interest rates?
Answer: They force the rates down with their buying program. They’re not letting them be priced according to the risk and what the market should bear.
‘There are projects that I know that got done where people initially went to other bigger banks and we ended up doing them and helped make it a better community.’
Question: It seems that would make it hard for the banks to make money?
Answer: It is. It’s tough on the smaller banks. We rely on taking in money and making loans, earning a differential, managing the credit risk, and managing the interest rate risk.
A lot of the community banks don’t have all of the big brokerage firms, investment banking firms and those other activities where they generate a lot of fees – the credit card business. Some of the smaller banks have got into insurance. There are thousands of smaller community banks like us that haven’t gotten into insurance. We’ve stuck to core banking.
Question: People may wonder if Medina Savings and Loan has been approached by a bigger bank as part of one of these buying sprees?
Answer: We’re not a stock-owned institution. Our ownership is more closely associated to the concept of a credit union. Someone can’t just come in and buy us up. There’s no stock. It’s really a cross between a credit union and the stock-owned banks. The charter was established originally to spur home ownership and savings. That’s why it’s called savings and loan.
Question: So you’re not going to go buy up other places either?
HOLLEY – The Holley Canal Park was peaceful this evening, perfect for a stroll. The park is located off East Avenue. It includes docks, a gazebo, picnic tables, grills and camping spots for tents.
Trails at the park lead to a playground, fishing spots and the waterfalls.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A Brockport man was sentenced on Monday to six years in state prison for possession of a weapon and attempted burglary.
Mitchell Hamlin, 21, was charged with third-degree attempted burglary after allegedly breaking into several cars in Clarendon on Aug. 9. A second felony offender, he was sentenced to four years in state prison for the burglary crimes.
His more serious crime allegedly occurred Feb. 22 when he was carrying a loaded handgun without a license. He was stopped in the town of Barre and had the gun in his pants. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch sentenced Hamlin to six years in prison for weapons charge, which runs concurrently with the attempted burglary sentence.
“Before you kill somebody I’m going to have to lock you up for a while,” Punch told Hamlin during the sentencing.
Hamlin has recently completed his GED. He said he wants to be a productive member of society.
“I’d like to apologize to the victims,” Hamlin told the court. “I realize what I did was wrong.”
Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard asked for a long sentence for Hamlin.
“It’s obvious, your honor, that’s he’s dangerous,” Howard told Punch. “He’s violent.”
Punch said Hamlin has a “toxic combination of crimes with drugs, weapons and other crimes, including this burglary.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Ross Gaylord is pulling back from some village duties
Photo by Tom Rivers – Village Trustee Ross Gaylord attended his final meeting as a village trustee tonight. He was praised by his fellow board members for a half century of service to the community. Trustee David Dill is at right.
HOLLEY – He has been a volunteer in the Holley Fire Department for 52 years. He has served on the Village Planning Board for nine years and logged 13 years on the Village Board.
Ross Gaylord has been a committed community member. Tonight he attended his last meeting as a village trustee. Gaylord isn’t seeking re-election. (Four candidates are running for two positions during the June 18 election.)
“It’s been fun over the years, but it’s time to relax,” Gaylord told his fellow board members just before the meeting was adjourned.
Mayor John Kenney made a point of thanking Gaylord for a long record of community service. The mayor said Gaylord has been a mentor and a resource, with lots of knowledge about the village.
Gaylord would also attend county and state meetings “on his own dime,” to be a more effective trustee, Kenney said.
Gaylord, 76, is a retired printer. The former Holley fire chief said he is most pleased the Village Board was able to convince Jerome Pawlak to open the Save-A-Lot grocery store last year. That filled a void in the community. Jubilee closed in 2006, leaving Holley without a grocery store.
“That was major,” Gaylord said about Save-A-Lot coming to town.
Gaylord said he won’t entirely stay away from the Village Office.
“I’ll probably stop in once in a while,” he told the board.
CRFS, in expansion mode, could hire many of the employees
Press Release, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office
ALBION – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Monday and urged the bank’s leader to give priority to Albion workers for 150 Chase jobs in Rochester and also help connect Albion workers with local employers such as Claims Recovery Financial Services.
Chase announced on Thursday it would close its Albion mortgage servicing facility that has 413 employees. The site will shut down in September.
Claims Recovery is a fast-growing post-foreclosure claim recovery firm in Orleans County that is eager to hire. CRFS now employs 550 workers in Albion and Medina and is looking to fill 178 openings. The company has plans to further expand and increase employment.
“Last week’s unexpected announcement that JP Morgan will close its Albion facility has hit the community like a ton of bricks,” Schumer said. “I was blindsided by the announcement, and upset that we were not given more of an opportunity to address the issues ahead of time. But the workers there need our help and we need to be proactive in finding Albion employees new work.”
Chase says the decision is final. Schumer has been working to help reduce the impact of impending job losses in Albion by identifying new work opportunities for the Albion employees.
Schumer spoke by phone this weekend with CRFS CEO Jodi Gaines. Schumer said that much of the employees’ skills at Chase in Albion can translate to the work done at CRFS. He wants Chase to coordinate with CRFS and other local companies in Western New York in terms of timing, severance and other important factors in order to find work for the Chase employees.
“I believe that CRFS is one of our best bets to get these soon-to-be displaced workers new employment opportunity,” Schumer said. “Connecting with this fast-growing local employer and others in Western New York is the very least JP Morgan can do to help reduce job losses in Albion.”
Sandstone Society marks bank’s milestone anniversary
Photos courtesy of Dave Miller – Medina Savings and Loan celebrated its 125th anniversary on Saturday. As part of the celebration, the Medina Sandstone Society unveiled a sandstone plaque by the bank’s front door. Pictured, from left: Medina S & L President Tim Moriarty, Sandstone Society President Bob Waters, and Charles Slack, chairman of the board for the bank.
The plaque celebrates the bank’s longevity as a local institution.
MEDINA – The Medina Savings and Loan marked its 125th anniversary on Saturday during a customer appreciation day at the bank on Maple Ridge Road.
The bank has been critical to growth of the community for more than a century, providing capital for businesses to open and expand, and residents to purchase homes.
Medina S & L was the only bank in Orleans County to survive the Great Depression. In 2006, the bank opened a second location in the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Albion.
The Medina Sandstone Society unveiled a plaque by the front door, praising the bank for “providing a rock solid foundation for community growth since 1888.”
Provided photo – The student staff for the 2013-14 Medina Mustang Band are pictured after Friday’s awards banquet.
Press Release
Medina Mustang Band Boosters
MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Marching Band honored band members on Friday during a banquet. In addition to honoring students, the band and Mustangs Boosters honored Larry Meyer with the “Harry L. Dinkle Band Booster Award.”
Instructional staff were recognized including Roxanne Morgan (Twirlers), Jeanette Sheliga (Drill, marching instructor and instrument repair), Katie Toub (Assistant Band Director and Pit instructor), Jeff Pask (Percussion instructor), Diana Baker and Lindsey Little (Colorguard Instructors), Vinnie Monacelli (Visual Design and Colorguard instructor), Kristen Costa (Colorguard Design and instructor), Jerry Kelsey and Joe Organisciak (Music Arrangers), Joe Guadagnino and Brian King (Percussion instructors).
Band members were recognized for their achievements.The NYSFB Conference Scholarship was given to Maggie Laszewski. The Mustang Band Booster Memorial Scholarship was given to Matt Stanton, while the Mustang Band Booster Service Scholarship was presented to Rene Miller.
Medina’s Winterguard, Dance Team and Twirlers were recognized for their first place standing at the Gorham pageant.
Once again Medina students participated in NYSSMA solo festival in April 2013 in Penfield. The elementary school sent 22 students, the middle school sent 32 and there were 35 from the high school. Overall these students received scores ranging from Excellent, Outstanding, A-, A, A+ and two students, Jimmy Jo Soha and Cameron Morgan received perfect scores of 100.
Outstanding Band Member awards were given in three categories. Outstanding Rookie to T. Kiebala, M. Johnson, B. Zakes and J. James. Most Improved went to J. Phillips, M. Bellan, J. Houseman and C. Donley. Most Valuable went to Z. Roeseler, C. Gardner, C. Morgan and C. Doherty.
Director’s Awards were given to James Wisniewski and Emma Fox by Mrs. Pritchard and to Tyler Soha and Kelsi LaSpada by Mr. Steele.
The Alfred Hartway Drum Major Award was presented to Drum Major MaggieLaszewski, and Matt Stanton and Zach Roeseler, both assistant drum majors.
The Joseph C. McCain Award was given to Adam Wengryzcki (a junior) and Maggie Laszewski (a senior).
Students were also recognized for perfect attendance and service. Graduating Seniors were given their medallions.
Another highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2013-2014 student staff:
Drum Major – Cameron Morgan; Assistant DM – Matt Prawel and Jenna Brien; Flute Section leader – Samantha Wendling; Clarinet SL – Shannon Allen; Saxophone SL – Jenna Brien; Mellophone SL – Kelsey Evoy; Trumpet SL – Marc Vanderlaan; Low Brass SL – Barry Rogenmoser; Pit SL – Hannah Pask.
Band Managers – Adam Wengryzcki, Cody Taylor, Jon Carlo Gonzalez, Tessa White and Emilee Austin; Attendance officer – Julie Brien; Uniform Manager – Addison Zavitz and Andrea Toussaint; Secretary/Librarian – Bailey Allen and Tristan Sanders; Colorguard managers – Victoria Rice and Krystal Kerstetter; Colorguard Captain – Melissa Oosterling and Head of Percussion – James Soha.
The Fall Field Show for 2013 will be “The Pursuit of Gold” about the Olympics. Work begins immediately as the students learn their music before Band Camp in August. Fundraisers also begin this summer with 4-H Parking in July, and Car Wash and Chicken BBQ in August.
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department
CARLTON – A 25-year-old Lyndonville woman died today in an accident at the routes 98 and 18 Y intersection.
Jessica Artica was traveling north when she stopped at the Y intersection in a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. She then proceeded to cross into the path of an eastbound 1985 Peterbuilt dump truck operated by John Bush, 56, of Waterport. The truck is owned by Lynn-Ette and Son Farms of Kent.
Artica was pronounced dead at the scene by Orleans County Coroner Joe Fuller. Bush was not injured in the accident.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred at 10:49 a.m. It appears that speed and alcohol were not a factor in the accident, Chief Deputy Thomas Drennan said. There were no tickets issued to Bush.
The Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by Carlton FD, Albion FD, Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance and New York State Police DOT Inspectors.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Two Medina men were sentenced today to five years probation, 150 hours of community service and joint restitution for setting a house on fire last September.
Edward Schneider, 21, and Christopher Swan, 21, were charged with third-degree arson after a vacant house was set on fire last Sept. 12. The building at 11228 Ridge Rd. in the town of Ridgeway was owned by Schneider’s mother, Antoinette Schneider. She had insurance on the house.
The two also were charged with second-degree assault, a Class D Felony, because a firefighter was injured while fighting the fire.
“This was a foolish, bad decision you guys made,” Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said during the sentencing. “You could have killed someone by your actions.”
The two men are long-time friends. Punch ordered that they have no contact with each other. They also have to share a $484 restitution bill.
The judge told them to seek and maintain gainful employment. Their wages will be garnished until the restitution is paid.
