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Parents of children birth to age 5 invited to literacy program in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2016 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – Gretchen Murray Sepik of Albion stars as Erie Canal Sal during a performance at the Strawberry Festival in June 2013. She will be part of a family fun night to promote storytelling and literacy on March 31 at the elementary school. The literacy effort will be on four Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning Feb. 11.

ALBION – A four-part literacy program will give parents of children from birth to age 5 tips on helping their children excel at school.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is teaming with Albion Central School and the Albion Rotary Club to run literacy workshops on four Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m.

The first workshop will be at the elementary school this Thursday and will focus on early brain development, the beginning of speech and use of technology with young children.

“Parents are first and foremost their children’s first teacher,” said Bonnie Malakie, director of the Head Start program through Community Action. “This will help parents with fulfilling their role.”

The program will bring in specialists in speech pathology, language development and storytelling.

The program is free and open to parents in the Albion school district. Child care will be provided. Parents should enter at about 5:45 p.m. through the community entrance in the back of the school.

Besides the Feb. 11 workshop, other sessions include Feb. 25 on story telling (will help parents tell their own stories) and will focus on making reading fun; March 10 will focus on prekindergarten and kindergarten readiness with the parents’ role. The workshop will include classroom visits.

The program will conclude on March 31 with a family fun night that includes children’s author Josie Waverly, professional storyteller Gretchen Murray Sepik, and other games, stories, prizes, refreshments and a book fair.

For more information, contact Community Action at 589-5683.

3 are arraigned on felony charges in County Court

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2016 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Three people were arraigned in Orleans County Court on Monday for alleged felony crimes, including drug sales, driving while intoxicated and burglary.

A Rochester man arrested in December following a three-month investigation into the sale and distribution of crack cocaine from Rochester to Orleans County was arraigned on charges of third degree criminal possession and criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Maurice D. Jacobs, 37, of Conkey Avenue has no prior felonies, but he does have a long history of misdemeanor convictions as well as failures to appear at court, County Court Judge James Punch said. He set bail at $20,000 for Jacobs.

In other arraignments:

A resident of Ridge Road in Holley had his bail increased from $100 in the Kendall Town Court to $25,000.

Norman Henhawk, 58, allegedly was driving drunk on Dec. 5 when he went through a stop sign and hit another vehicle, causing injuries to people in the other vehicle and Henhawk’s passenger, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.

Henhawk was arraigned on reckless endangerment in the first degree, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, operating under the influence of alcohol and driving while intoxicated.

The DA said Henhawk has two prior felonies and several misdemeanors.

“This is a serious crime and he has an incredibly serious record,” Punch said in setting bail.

Mary Golding, 51, of Harris Road in Waterport was arraigned for second-degree burglary and pettit larceny. She allegedly stole money and jewelry from a Harris Road resident in November.

Judge Punch set bail at $5,000 for Golding.

Medina firefighter at Orchard Manor given new jacket from MFD

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photo

MEDINA – Don Lepkoske, a former Medina firefighter who is now a resident at the Orchard Manor Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, was surprised on Monday when members of the Medina Fire Department stopped by and presented a new monogrammed jacket.

The Fire Department placed the order for new jackets and wanted to include Lepkoske. After a visit with Lepkoske, firefighters sounded the truck’s siren, leaving Don with big smile.

Pictured, front row, from left: Jeff Tuohey, Don Lepkokse, and Ferdinando Papalia. Back row: Don Marchner, Sergio DiCenso, Mike Sidari, Dell Stork, Captain Jonathan Higgins, and Josh Wolck.

GCC professor will talk presidential primaries in lecture Tuesday

Staff Reports Posted 8 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Derek Maxfield will explain caucuses, open and closed primaries

BATAVIA – What is the difference between a caucus and a primary? Why is it important? How long will it take for each party to choose its nominee?

For answers to these questions and more, join GCC Associate Professor Derek Maxfield at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9 – the day of the New Hampshire Primary – for a presentation on the presidential nominating process. The presentation will be at the GCC Batavia campus in the Conable Technology Building.

Maxfield has worked on a presidential campaign before. About 30 years ago he served on the staff for Sen. Paul Simon as he sought the Democratic nomination. Maxfield said the experience was exhausting and exhilarating.

He returned to New Hampshire on Jan. 29 to see a campaign rally in person for Donald Trump. Maxfield said Trump clearly has a following with more than 1,500 people at the event in Nashua. (Maxfield predicts Trump will win on Tuesday.)

Maxfield will discuss how different states choose delegates. Iowa held the first caucus last week and New Hampshire has an open primary tomorrow, where non-affiliated voters can cast a ballot during the primary. Other states like New York have closed primaries where only Republican and Democratic can vote in their respective primaries. (New York’s primary is scheduled for April 19.)

Maxfield also will discuss how candidates accumulate delegates. New York has 291 Democratic delegates and 95 Republican delegates up for grabs.

Maxfield said it is proving to be an exciting race thus far. It is possible no candidate will have all the needed delegates to secure the nomination in time for the convention. He will discuss a brokered convention, and also the possibility of Donald Trump going outside the party if he doesn’t have enough delegates and still pursues the presidency.

Medina Winterguard wins 1st at Victor competition

Staff Reports Posted 8 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photo

VICTOR – Medina’s Varsity Winterguard took first place against nine other guard units during a Winterguard show on Saturday at Victor Central School.

There were 28 guards performing altogether in eight different classifications, plus one guard in exhibition. Medina’s Winterguard scored 62.21 points to take first in the A1 class. The students performed at a quick pace using flags, rifles and acrobatics.

Medina will next compete March 5 in Lancaster and then Medina has its Home Show on March 12 with both the Varsity and Cadet guards performing. The Medina Home Show, Colorburst 2016, will be in the High School Gym. The doors open at 4 p.m., the show starts at 5 and there are 20 guards performing. The Medina Cadet guard performs at 5:21 and the Varsity guard at 7:40.

4 are sentenced at county court, including 3 to state prison

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 February 2016 at 12:00 am

ALBION – An Albion man who admitted to selling cocaine was one of four people sentenced in Orleans County Court today by James Punch.

Brandon Honore, 30, of East Park Street pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. He is a second felony offender with a previous drug charge for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree. He has another prior felony and has already been in state prison.

Honore was arrested in July when 20 people were charged a seven-month investigation into the sale and distribution of drugs in Orleans County.

His attorney, Kevin McKain, said Honore had been working full-time for six years before the drug charge last July. McKain asked that the judge not revoke Honore’s driver’s license as part of the sentence and Punch agreed to let Honore keep the license when he is released from prison.

McKain said Honore has turned his life around and will be a productive citizen when he is out of prison.

Punch said Honore needs to be sent to prison.

“You have a long criminal history of drug crimes,” Punch said during sentencing this afternoon. “This is a serious and protracted criminal history.”

The judge also sentenced Honore to two years of post-release supervision. He told Honore to stay away from drugs or else the next sentence will be longer.

“You are introducing serious, harmful drugs into this community,” Punch said, calling Honore “a drug salesman.”

In other sentencings today:

A Medina man was sentenced for his fifth alcohol-related offense. Bradley Dunaway, 52, of Oak Orchard River Road was sentenced today to 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison for felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Dunaway had been drinking prior to an accident on June 20 at Ridge Road and Culvert Road in Ridgeway. Dunaway registered a 0.18 blood alcohol content, more than double the legal limit.

A Medina resident was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison for DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Justin R. Carpenter, 31, of Medina was stopped on Aug. 22 by state police.

He registered a 0.20 Blood Alcohol Content, 2 ½ times the legal limit. He has a prior misdemeanor DWI from November 2006 in the Town of Shelby.

A 19-year-old Bergen woman avoided jail and was sentenced to 3 years of probation. Kuyanna Kuyal pleaded guilty to seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a charge that normally carries a maximum of a year in jail.

Kuyal has no prior criminal record. She admitted in a previous court appearance that she was in a car on May 7 when cocaine was sold. Kuyal allegedly assisted in cocaine sales, but did not possess the drug, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.

Judge Punch said today that Kuyal “wasn’t the driving force behind the crime.” He wants her to seek mental health treatment and continue with treatment through the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Albion student advances to state oratorical contest

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photo

Meredith Patterson, an Albion senior, won the zone competition for the American Legion Oratorical Contest and advances to the state competition on March 5 in Albany.

The zone event was held Saturday in Mount Morris. Another Albion student, Kyle Thaine, also competed. He won the district competition in Buffalo last month. Thaine and Patterson both advanced to the zone competition.

Patterson won an $800 scholarship for the Zone 5 victory and will receive another $2,000 scholarship for competing at the state level.

The participants at the zone event needed to deliver an 8- to 10-minute speech without notes about the Constitution. Each contestant also needed to speak for 3 to 5 minutes on one of five topics, assigned at the contest.

Patterson is valedictorian for the Class of 2016. She is also captain of the cross country team, a drum major in the marching band, and a lector at Holy Family Parish. She wants to attend an Ivy League school to major in political science.

Ministry of Concern adds development director to attract funding, volunteers

Staff Reports Posted 8 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – Nyla Gaylord is the new director of development for the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern.

ALBION – The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, known by many in the community as “The Agency of Last Resort,” has appointed Nyla Gaylord as director of development.

In this newly created position for GOMOC, Gaylord will focus on securing new sources of funding, recruiting volunteers, and program development.

“The Ministry of Concern, like so many small not-for-profits, is struggling to manage the impact of reductions in funding,” said Laverne Bates, executive director. “(The new position) will enable us to focus on securing funding for current operations and expand services.”

Gaylord, a resident of Clarendon, most recently worked as the director of development and community relations for Hospice of Orleans, Inc. She has worked as a grant writer and with other not-for-profit agencies.

“It is such a pleasure to work locally and see all of the great things being done in Orleans and Genesee County – yet there is so much more that can be done,” Gaylord said. “I believe that the Ministry of Concern has an important role to play in improving the lives of the poor and working poor in our communities.”

The Ministry of Concern grew out of a grass roots effort of local churches which organized in 1968 to respond to the needs of farmworkers and the poor.

Today, nearly a half century later, the agency serves residents who face crises, from shut-off notices for utilities to not having basic furniture.

GOMOC runs a program where donations of used furniture are delivered to families in need. The Just Friends, E-3 Team Youth Mentoring program provides mentors (coaches) to youths in need of positive adult connections. Emergency services are provided to help when other resources are not available. To donate or volunteer, call 589-9210 and speak with the new director of development.

GOMOC’s office is in downtown Albion at 121 North Main St. – the third floor of the Albion Visitors’ Center. Assisting people with utilities is the biggest category of need for GOMOC in Orleans County. GOMOC served 1,281 clients with utility bills in 2014.

The breakdown of other cases in Orleans includes 664 with furniture and appliances; 247 for holiday assistance; 223 for personal care items, food and baby supplies; 92 for prescriptions; 79 for school supplies; 50 for gas and transportation; 25 for emergency shelter and housing; and 136 for other.

For more on the Ministry of Concern, click here.

Albion Interact Club connects with Senior Citizens through bingo

Staff Reports Posted 8 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photo, Albion Central School

ALBION – Some residents at the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion last week enjoyed a game of bingo with members of the Rotary Interact Club.

The following Rotary Interact Club members are pictured from left: Vivian Rivers, Haley Bader, Emily Blanchard and Nikki Eldred with Villages residents Joy Wieme, center, and Lucille Bloom, right.

SOS president asks Cuomo to fill local seat on Siting Board

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 February 2016 at 12:00 am

YATES – The president of the citizens group opposed to the wind turbine project proposed in Yates and Somerset has written Gov. Cuomo a letter, asking him to fill the seat on a Siting Board for the “Lighthouse Wind” project.

There are supposed to be two local representatives and five leaders of state agencies on the “New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment.” That board will review the proposed project that includes up to 71 turbines that could peak at 620-feet high in the two towns.

One local representative has been named to the board. Randy Atwater, president of the Barker Board of Education, was appointed by John Flanagan, majority leader of the State Senate.

Carl Heastie, speaker of the State Assembly, also could have named a local representative but he didn’t act on the matter.

Now Pamela Atwater, president of Save Ontario Shores and wife of Randy Atwater, is pressing Gov. Cuomo to fill the other local seat.

“The Article 10 Board, even with two local appointees, is already heavily skewed against local government and community Home Rule,” Atwater wrote to Cuomo. “To enter the next phase of the siting process with one local representative position unfilled would be unfair, a further insult to the concept of Home Rule and would send a signal that the entire Article 10 process is preconfigured to ignore legitimate local and regional concerns.”

The board includes five leaders of state agencies – chairman of the Department of Public Service, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, commissioner of the Department of Health, chairman of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the commissioner of Economic Development.

The loss of “home rule” for the project has been denounced by many local municipal boards and elected officials, including the town boards in Yates and Somerset; the Erie, Niagara and Orleans county legislatures; and Congressman Chris Collins, State Sen. Robert Ortt and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Surveys in Yates and Somerset have also showed strong opposition by residents to the project.

Apex Clean Energy has submitted a preliminary scoping statement and has until Feb. 11 to respond to “several hundred” comments on the PSS. After those responses, Apex officials said they look forward to more formal conversations about the project with the community and state agencies, said Taylor Quarles, development manager for Apex’s proposed Lighthouse Wind project.