Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steve Smith

CARLTON – A Medina woman is dead and four other people are hospitalized tonight following a two-car crash in the Town of Carlton.

Ashley D. Morehouse, 28, was pronounced dead after the car accident at about 7:10 p.m. at the intersection of Oak Orchard River Road and Waterport Road (State Route 279).

Morehouse was operating a 2000 Pontiac 4-door sedan and travelling west on Oak Orchard River Rd., when she failed to stop for the stop sign at Waterport Road.  Morehouse’s car entered the intersection and was struck by a northbound 2003 Pontiac Suburban operated by Lorrie D. Kuhns, 53, of Batavia. Upon impact, both vehicles ended up off the roadway on the northwest corner of the intersection.

Morehouse was pronounced dead at the scene by Orleans County Coroner Scott Schmidt.  A front-seat passenger in her car is identified as Gary L. Weese, 40, of Batavia. He was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by Mercy Flight helicopter.  Morehouse’s 4-year-old son, identified as Dominic Amrhein of Medina, was transported by Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance to Strong. The child was a rear seat passenger in an approved child safety seat.

Lorrie Kuhns and her husband (front-seat passenger) Thomas S. Kuhns, 61, of Batavia were both transported by Medina FD ambulance to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.

Carlton and Albion firefighters responded to this incident. While it remains under investigation, it appears that sun glare may have been a contributing factor.

The on-scene investigation was conducted by Deputy M.J. Emens, assisted by Deputy J.J. Cole, Deputy K.J. Colonna, Lieutenant R.E. Perry, Investigator C.L. Black, and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan.

Press release, Project Life

WATERPORT – For the first time in seven years Project Life is welcoming the arrival of two war orphans from Afghanistan.

The children from Jalalabad will spend two months in Orleans County for Project Life’s annual War Orphans Rehabilitation Program. The young Afghan boys will join other orphans from around the world for rest and recovery in the peace of the western New York countryside.

“We are delighted and so grateful that we were able to get these Afghan orphans here,” said Linda Redfield, program director for Project Life. “The security situation in Afghanistan has been very difficult for years now, but with amazing help from local friends there and our elected representatives here we have now succeeded in restarting our Afghan program.”

Project Life is an all-volunteer, locally based program that brings small groups of orphans here every summer from international war zones. The children are hosted by local families and benefit from daily English instruction, art therapy, physical recreation, and lots of field trips in the area. They also receive free medical and dental care donated by local health professionals and medical facilities.

At the end of the program the orphans return to their extended families in their home countries.

“After two months of peace and relaxation with caring American volunteers, the orphans go back happier, healthier and much more hopeful about their future,” Redfield said. “They have family at home who love them – but they also have lifelong friends here.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Congressman Chris Collins, through their local offices, offered invaluable assistance to Project Life and played a vital role in making it possible for the two Afghan war orphans to join this year’s program.

Photos by Tom Rivers

WATERPORT – Nicole Washington of Albion leads a group in singing “Let It Rise” during the first open mic at The Lord’s House on Route 279 in Waterport tonight. Washington’s 16-year-old daughter, Olivia, plays the keyboards in back.

Several singers took turns performing Christian-themed songs in the church, which opened in October last year in a former United Methodist building.

Washington and her husband David are co-owners of Godpazz. They would like to do more Christian-based open mic events at other venues in the area.

“People think church is just ‘Amazing Grace,’ but there is a lot more,” said Mr. Washington, a record producer. “We’re trying to unify the neighborhood.”

At the open mic events, he welcomes contemporary gospel, jazz, hip hop and country, which can all be done while spreading a Christian message.

Darneisha Thomas, 17, of Batavia brought many at the church to tears with her performance of “You Care For Me.”

Washington’s brother-in-law Eddie English is pastor of The Lord’s House. English and his congregation have continued to work on the building, which had been left vacant for many years. The sanctuary has been repainted, there are new chairs, lights, a chandelier, a ramp leading to the church and other improvements.

The congregation has doubled in size from about 25 when it was meeting in Albion a year ago to about 50 for Sunday services now.

The church wants to do more open mic events in the future, said Rose English, who works alongside her husband in the ministry.

She praised the singers who participated in the debut event tonight. One of the singers, Aretha Jackson of Batavia, sang a moving rendition of “Jesus Loves Me.” Jackson is blind and received a standing ovation.

Aretha Jackson sings “Jesus Loves Me.”

Photo by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – Several businesses at Point Breeze are now proclaiming the community’s status as “The Ultimate Fishing Town.”

I noticed this banner on Narby’s Superette and Tackle today. Other sites have the banners. The businesses paid for them and aren’t part of the $25,000 the community won to promote the fishery.

Point Breeze won the title in an online contest through the World Fishing Network.

To read more about the Ultimate Fishing Town award, click here.

CARLTON – Candidates for Carlton town offices met with Carlton Democrats last night, seeking the party’s support for the Nov. 5 election. But only one Republican, who currently isn’t a town official, received Democratic Party support.

Incumbent Town Clerk Pam Rush and her GOP challenger Lea Olles both asked Democrats to back them. But during a party caucus at the home of Aggie Recco, 37 Democrats didn’t reach a majority of support for the clerk candidates. In fact, there were more no votes than votes of support for the candidates, said Jeanne Crane, a Carlton Democrat and chairwoman of the Orleans County Democratic Party.

The Carlton Democrats also declined to support either Highway Superintendent David Krull or his challenger Paul Snook, Sr.

The Democrats did support one Republican, Bilal Huzair, for Town Board. Huzair is endorsed by the Conservative Party and also will be in a Republican Primary on Sept. 10 against incumbent Republicans Joyce Harris and Jim Shoemaker.

Democrats also backed a member of their own party, Doug Hart, for a Town Board seat.

Crane said the crowd of Democrats for the party caucus was the most she can recall.

She said the controversy over town-wide reassessments, which ignited an uproar from residents this spring, has many residents watching town government closely.

“Carlton this year is the hotbed,” she said.

The Republican candidates for town clerk, highway superintendent and Town Board will square off in a Primary on Sept. 10. The general election will be Nov. 5.

Photos by Michael Karcz

CARLTON – The Orleans Hub has highlighted several local venues for live music in the county this summer. The list keeps growing. Ho-Jack’s Bar and Grill had a talent show and karaoke on Saturday.

Jackie Madejski and Gregg Albertson were among the musicians who performed at Ho-Jack’s on Route 98. The two sang several songs, including originals by Albertson.

Following their performance, the microphone was available for karaoke. Jackie’s father, Dr. Tom Madejski, took a turn and sang “Surfin’ Bird.”

Driver needed to be extricated from wooded embankment

Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steve Smith

CARLTON – An Orleans County woman is hospitalized following a one-car crash Saturday night in the town of Carlton.

The incident occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m., in the 1400 block of Oak Orchard River Road.  Sandra M. Flanagan (sole occupant), of Kent, was operating a 2004 Ford Taurus westbound on Oak Orchard River Rd., when she failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle crossed the center line and ran off the south side of the roadway.  The vehicle jumped a guard rail and rolled approximately 100 feet down a steep and heavily wooded embankment that leads to Oak Orchard River. The vehicle came to rest upside down against a tree.

Flanagan was trapped in the wreckage for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes before being extricated by Carlton and Albion firefighters. Once removed from the vehicle, she was brought back up the embankment by Rope Rescue Teams from the Clarendon and Holley fire departments. Flanagan was then flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by Mercy Flight helicopter.  A crew from Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance also assisted at the scene.

While the incident remains under investigation, it appears that both alcohol and unsafe speed were contributing factors.  Charge(s) against Flanagan are pending her recovery.

The incident was investigated by Deputy K.J. Colonna, assisted by Deputy J.W. Halstead and Sergeant G.T. Gunkler.

Photos by Michael Karcz

POINT BREEZE  – The Old Hippies entertained on Tuesday night during the summer concert series at the Orleans County Marine Park. The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association organizes the series with support from Orleans County Tourism and the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

The series concludes on Tuesday with a concert by the Sophisticats from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Lyons Collision in Medina, Carlton firefighters and local police work to reopen Route 98 at the Bridges this morning after a boat trailer got snagged in a guard rail by one of the bridges.

CARLTON Since the bridge over the Oak Orchard River was closed in December 2011, Sharon Narburgh has worried traffic to Point Breeze could be cut off if anything happened to the other bridge on Route 98 leading to the Point.

Narburgh’s fear became a reality this morning. A truck pulling a boat on a trailer created a two-hour bottleneck near Narburgh’s store, Narby’s Superette and Tackle.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was making a right hand turn on 98. The driver didn’t make a wide enough turn and the boat trailer was snagged in a guard rail. An axle on the trailer broke. The truck and trailer were stuck on 98, cutting off traffic in both directions.

“This happens a lot,” Narburgh said about the bottleneck. “The state knows this is a bad situation.”

Narburgh and Orleans County officials want the smaller Oak Orchard River bridge to be reopened. But that will take money. The state hasn’t approved funding for the small span.

The County Legislature last week approved a contract to pay Ramsey Contractors of Lakeville $15,000 to remove the small bridge. Once it’s gone, the county and state Department of Transportation can better inspect the site to look at bridge options for the site.

The bridge over Oak Orchard River, one of the bridges at Point Breeze, has been closed since last year. The County Legislature last week approved a bid to remove the bridge.

Lining up the money to pay for the project is another issue.

Narburgh bemoaned the situation on Tuesday.

“We just won the ‘Ultimate Fishing Town’ and people can’t get down here,” she said. “It’s costing me money. It’s costing all of us money.”

Lyons Collision in Medina freed the truck and trailer. Carlton firefighters and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene.

Church has service and picnic at Orleans County Marine Park

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Rev. Dan Thurber, pastor of the Oak Orchard Assembly of God, delivers the sermon underneath a pavilion a the Orleans County Marine Park.

POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina didn’t have church inside its building on Route 104 today.

The congregation instead had its service at the Orleans County Marine Park. The church has been coming to the Marine Park once a year for a church service since 2011.

The Rev. Dan Thurber, the church’s pastor, said he wants the congregation to get outside and see God’s glory in nature. The Marine Park, which is nestled along the Oak Orchard River, is a beautiful spot in the county, Thurber said.

After the service today about 100 people joined together for a picnic at the park.

Thurber said he would like to partner with more churches in the future for a joint service at the Marine Park.

Lineup is part of Yacht Club’s 75^th anniversary celebration

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – About 20 boats floated down the Oak Orchard River this morning in a parade of boats.

The Oak Orchard Yacht Club has been doing the parade for years. Today’s parade is part of the 75^th anniversary celebration for the Yacht Club. Festivities began on Friday and end today.

The club will be serving hot dogs, chips and soda today for friends and neighbors until 3 p.m. The clubhouse is on 1103 Archbald Rd. There will also be a slide show presentation about the club’s history today at 3 p.m.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

CARLTON – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will offer a Boating Safety & PWC Certification Course on Saturday, July 27 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The class will be held at the Carlton Fire Department Recreation Hall at 1853 Oak Orchard Road (Route 98). This training is mandatory for all persons operating Personal Water Craft (Jet Skiis/Waverunners).

The class size will be limited to 45 students. There is no fee for the course, however students must pre-register and obtain a course booklet.  To pre-register you must appear in-person at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office – 400 Public Safety Bldg., 13925 State Route 31, Albion. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For additional information, contact Deputy Erin Fuller (Sheriff’s Marine Unit) at (585) 682-4366 or (585) 589-5527.

Bands will play on Tuesdays during the summer

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – The band Blind Leading the Blind performs at the Orleans County Marine Park tonight during the start of the “Summer Concert Series in the Park.”

Bands will perform from 6 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Aug. 20. The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association planned the concerts in partnership with Orleans County Tourism and the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. Admission is $2 per person or $5 for a family.

The Clarendon Lions Club will be at the park for each concert serving hamburgers and sausage. Club members working the grill tonight include Kevin Johnson, left, and Don Knapp.

The park is located on Route 98, near the Lake Ontario State Parkway.

To see a schedule of concerts, click here.