By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2020 at 8:42 pm
Provided photos from Orleans EMO: The Monroe County Fire Bureau Hazmat Team works to contain the leak on an overturned tanker.
CLAREENDON – Emergency response crews have stopped the leak of liquid nitrogen fertilizer after a tractor trailer rolled over at 3:30 p.m. on Route 237 in Clarendon.
The crews are expected to be there for a while longer on the cleanup, the Orleans Emergency Management Office said.
The spilled product poses no significant health risk and is primarily an eye and skin irritant. Air quality monitoring is being done in the area of the scene, with no adverse readings are being indicated at this time, said the Orleans EMO.
The Clarendon Fire Company and Monroe Ambulance were dispatched to the accident in the area of 4602 Holley-Byron Rd. Upon arrival Clarendon firefighters reported a tractor trailer on its side with liquid nitrogen dumping from the top hatch of the trailer, and the driver out of the vehicle sitting on the side of the road.
The driver suffered minor injuries and was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Monroe Ambulance.
The tractor trailer was carrying approximately 6,100 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer at the time of the accident. As of 5:45 p.m., Monroe County Fire Bureau Hazmat Team was able to stop the leak. At this time, crews are working to drain the remaining liquid nitrogen from the tank, before the truck and trailer can be removed, the Orleans EMO said.
The accident shut down a section of Route 237 between Church Street and Hinds Road.
The NYS DEC Spill Response Team is on scene and monitoring the situation and assessing the potential environmental impact. Holley-Byron Road (Route 237) remains closed at this time between Church Street and Hinds Road in the Town of Clarendon.
At this time the following agencies have been involved with the response: Clarendon, Holley, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, Barre and Albion Fire Departments, Orleans County Emergency Management, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Ambulance, Monroe County Fire Bureau, NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Police, National Grid, A.D. Call and Son’s, and Kerhaert’s Towing.
“It was quite a team effort,” said Dale Banker, Orleans County EMO coordinator. “Great work by all.”
Albion, Kendall and Brockport are standing by to cover jobs in the eastern and central portions of the county. Crews will be on scene for quite some time this evening as cleanup efforts continue, the Orleans EMO said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2020 at 6:45 pm
CLARENDON – An Orleans Hub reader sent in these photos of a tanker after it flipped at about 3:30 p.m. on Route 237 at the curve near the Hanson quarry.
The tanker leaked several thousand gallons of liquid fertilizer with nitrogen.
Route 237 is shut down between the Route 31A intersection and Hinds Road.
The State Police is handling the situation with assistance from many local fire departments, the DEC Spill Response Team, Monroe County Hazmat Team and other first responders.
The tanker rolled into the cattails at the curve, which is a wetland.
The driver of the truck was taken by ambulance. A person who was one of the first on the scene said the driver didn’t appear to have serious injuries.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2020 at 5:41 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
CLARENDON – Numerous fire departments and hazmat response crews are in Clarendon after a tanker flipped on the curve on Route 237 and spilled thousands of gallons of liquid fertilizer with nitrogen.
The accident happened at about 3:30 p.m. Route 237 is shut down between the Route 31A intersection and Hinds Road. The tanker flipped on the curve near the Hanson quarry.
Media are not allowed close to the scene. The State Police is handling the situation with assistance from many local fire departments, the DEC Spill Response Team, Monroe County Hazmat Team and other first responders.
The tanker rolled into the cattails at the curve, which is considered a wetland.
The driver of the truck was taken by ambulance. A person on site said the driver didn’t appear to have serious injuries.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 July 2020 at 10:15 am
Jeremy and Tracy Van Ameron opened Van’s Pit Stop right before Covid-19 pandemic hit
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jeremy Van Ameron stands with his daughter Ali and wife Tracy in front of their store on Route 237 in Clarendon. Jeremy, who owns an auto repair shop in Albion, plans to move that business to Clarendon in the near future.
CLARENDON – An Albion businessman and his family are being welcomed into the town of Clarendon, and applauded for committing to a new business during the recent pandemic.
Jeremy Van Ameron and his wife Tracy purchased the convenience store and gas station on Route 237 in October. They spent months cleaning and remodeling, with plans to move his auto repair shop there.
“We started selling food and gas in February, and then the pandemic hit,” Tracy said. “We had to shut down our seating area inside.”
“Then gas prices dropped off because nobody was going anywhere,” Jeremy said. “But the Clarendon community helped us a lot. They provided a ton of support.”
Tracy said they were in awe of the amount of support the community provided.
“That’s what us locals do,” said Nyla Gaylord, coordinator of the Clarendon Farmers’ Market, which the Van Amerons invited to set up this year on their property. “We like to hang out and talk, and the Van Amerons put tables out in front for us.”
Gaylord commended the Van Amerons for not giving up when things were so difficult. She said Tracy, who is a software engineer for L3 Harris Corporation, not only had to work her job during the pandemic, as well as the new business, but she was faced with home schooling her children: Justin, 16 and Ali, 12. A son Zach was a student in college.
Jeremy grew up in Albion, but moved back to Clarendon in 1997. Since purchasing the convenience store they call Van’s Pit Stop, they have expanded the menu to include wings, chicken tenders, hot and cold subs, steakburgers, various sides and a pit plate of two hamburgers or cheeseburgers, fries or home fries, macaroni salad and meat sauce. A variety of breakfast sandwiches are also available.
A Friday night fish try has become very popular, Jeremy said. They use only fresh, skinless haddock, with comes with fries, cole slaw or macaroni salad.
They just recently added ice cream.
The store is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The kitchen closes each night one hour before the store closing.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 July 2020 at 9:51 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Luchiya Zbanke of Holley, left, who displayed her paintings and hand painted Panama hats, at the Clarendon Farmers’ Market on its opening day Thursday, talks with Nyla Gaylord. Gaylord, who started the market, holds a dozen of her eggs, which she sells as a market vendor. The market will be open from 3:30 to 6 p.m. every Thursday at its new location, Van’s Pitt Stop on Route 237.
CLARENDON – The Clarendon Farmers’ Market opened for the season on Thursday at its new location at Van’s Pitt Stop on route 237, just north of Clarendon’s four corners.
Participation was light for the first day, because of a late growing season, said Nyla Gaylord, who is the market coordinator. Things will pick up as the season progresses, she said.
Vendors for the first day included Theresa Jewell of Holley with alpaca socks and boot liners, homemade masks and sunbonnets; Terry Garrison of Albion with handmade kitchen towels and crocheted baby blankets; Dawn Pulcino of Holley with baked goods, homemade jellies and lemonade; Luchiya Zbanke of Holley with paintings and hand-painted Panama hats; and Gaylord with eggs.
Gaylord originally started the market on the grounds of the Historical Society, but said they made the decision to move to Van’s Pitt Stop on Route 237, hoping for more traffic and to support the new local business.
“Together, it’s a win-win situation,” Gaylord said.
Elaine Ryan, left, and Theresa Jewell of Holley hold a mannequin wearing a sun bonnet and mask, which Jewell sold in her booth at the Clarendon Farmers’ Market on Thursday, along with alpaca socks and boot liners. Jewell and her husband Chuck are members of the Empire Alpaca Association.
The vendors who braved the hot temperatures to be at the market’s opening day were all happy to be able to participate and showcase their wares.
Jewell and her husband Chuck own Stoney Meadows Alpacas and Stone Mountain Looms at their farm on Glidden Road. They are members of the Empire Alpaca Association and support fiber growers from all over the area, who bring their fiber to the Jewells, who then send it to the mill. The Jewells also support Medina FFA and have donated animals for teacher Todd Eick and his students.
Theresa Jewell said she and her husband will take their alpacas to a show in Syracuse in October, along with the Medina FFA, where they will explain fiber growing to the public.
Clarendon Town Supervisor Dick Moy visited the Farmers’ Market Thursday to show his support.
“He is very supportive of us,” Gaylord said. “He makes Clarendon ‘friendly’.”
Dawn Pulvino of Holley, left, sells a jar of her homemade jelly to Mary Ann Siembor at opening day of the Clarendon Farmers’ Market on Thursday. At rear is Pulcino’s dad, Alfred Pulcino III. Dawn, who runs a bakery, also sold crustadas, fudge, biscuits and lemonade.
Terry Garrison said she crochets all winter and her baby blankets and hand towels are a big hit. She prices her items reasonably, selling the hand towels for three for $5.
“I sell a lot of them,” she said.
Dawn Pulcino, who runs a bakery in Holley, said her first customer on Thursday bought all her homemade fudge, but she still had a large assortment of jellies, biscuits for 50 cents, lemonade, fruit crustadas and penny candy.
Her jellies included traditional strawberry, plum and orange marmalade, and combinations, such as strawberry rhubarb and raspberry habanero. She offered samples on crackers or pretzels. In the future, she will have homemade vanilla and orange extracts.
Luchiya Zbanke of Holley was thrilled to be part of the Farmers’ Market with her paintings, T-shirts and hand-painted Panama hats. A native of Romania, she has only been in the United States for four years and in Holley with her husband Marciel for the last two. She recently became a citizen, Gaylord explained.
The Clarendon Farmers’ Market will be open from 3:30 to 6 p.m. every Thursday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 6:28 pm
Photos courtesy of Jak Kohmann
CLARENDON – The Boy Scout Troop 59 and some community members this morning placed more than 600 flags at veterans’ graves at cemeteries in Holley and Clarendon.
Jak Kohmann, Scoutmaster of Troop 59 in Clarendon, thanked the following people for their help placing the flags at veterans’ graves:
Randy, Tyler and Lily Moore
Dave and Dawson Arnold
Chad, Chrissy, Hunter and younger brother Sommerfeldt
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2020 at 9:18 pm
‘She is funny and she keeps everybody moving. She is such a happy baby.’
Provided photos: Clarissa Bowen has been a part of the Bowen family in Clarendon since she was born. Her adopted mother, Crystal, delivered the baby with the biological mother on May 7, 2019. Clarissa officially joined the family after an adoption ceremony by Skype this afternoon.
Clarissa Bowen, 1, is a happy baby.
CLARENDON – A Clarendon family this afternoon officially welcomed a new member, Clarissa Rose Bowen, after an adoption ceremony.
Orleans County Family Court Judge Sanford Church presided over the proceeding with attorneys for the Bowen family, Clarissa and child’s biological mother. What was unusual? The ceremony was done through Skype.
Crystal Bowen, Clarissa’s adoptive mother, is thankful the court worked out the details through Skype so Clarissa’s adoption could be official and not have to wait for an in-person proceeding. The Bowen family said the attorneys said it was one of the first adoptions finalized in the state through Skype.
The courthouse is currently off-limits due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s cool they got it done with everything going on,” Mrs. Bowen said this evening.
Clarissa has been with the Bowen family since soon after she was born on May 7, 2019.
She joins Crystal and her husband Jason, and their five biological children: Jared, 14; Chelsea and Cassidy, who are Leap Year twins age 12; Chloe, 10; and Cheyanne, 6.
Crystal is friends with the baby’s biological mother. The mother, when she was six months pregnant, had already asked Crystal and her husband to adopt the baby. Clarissa’s birth certificate even includes the Bowen last name.
The biological mother was home in her apartment when she went into labor at 7:30 a.m. on May 7, 2019. Crystal headed to her apartment to take the biological mother to the hospital that day. But there wasn’t enough time. Crystal called 911 and she delivered the baby in the apartment.
The Bowen family includes: Crystal and Jason Bowen in back, and children from left: Cassidy holding Clarissa, Cheyanne in front, Chloe, Jared and Chelsea.
The biological mother remains friends with the Bowen family, and she sees Clarissa often.
“Clarissa is a wonderful addition to our family,” Mrs. Bowen said. “We love her very much and couldn’t imagine life without her.”
Mrs. Bowen, 40, was adopted herself at age 10. She said she had a tough time before that in foster care. She grew up in North Carolina before being adopted by a family in Webster when she was 10.
Even with five biological children, she wanted to either be a foster or adoptive parent.
“I came from a rough past,” she said. “You can either let your past make you or break you. You can use it as an excuse to break you or you can better yourself.”
The family celebrated Clarissa’s adoption today.
Mrs. Bowen said her home in Clarendon has always been open to children in the community (except the past two months during the Covid-19 pandemic).
“People know they can come to our house and feel safe,” she said.
Her husband works as a truck driver for a roll-off company. Mrs. Bowen is a cosmetologist who does hair and nails. Hair salons are currently closed in New York because of Covid-19. The Bowen kids attend Holley Central School. They are missing their friends and teachers a lot after about two months of being home due to the pandemic.
Clarissa is well loved by her siblings.
“She has fit right in,” Mrs. Bowen said. “She is a beautiful baby. She is funny and she keeps everybody moving. She is such a happy baby.”
The Bowens may still pursue fostering other children. Mrs. Bowen encouraged others in the community to consider being foster or adoptive parents.
“I would be open to helping another child,” she said. “As adults, that’s our job. It takes a village to raise a child. People should ask themselves if they have that love to give.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 March 2020 at 10:15 am
Provided photo
CLARENDON – Courtney Campbell wore a dinosaur costume on Friday on Route 31A, sending a message that “Extinction Sucks #STAYHOME.”
Campbell wanted to encourage people to stay home as much as possible. If they must go out, practice social distancing, staying at least 6 feet apart from other people. Following those guidelines can help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“Non-compliance may prolong the spread of COVID-19 as well as increasing the spread which can overwhelm our healthcare systems,” the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments said on Friday.
The Health Departments recommended people stick to the basics, limit exposure to the public, wash hands frequently, stay home if ill with any respiratory illness, and keep at least 6 feet from other people.
CLARENDON – Due to the rapidly escalation of the COVID-19, coronarvirus, the Clarendon Town Offices, Court and Highway Department will be closed to the public until further notice. At this point, the Town Court intends to resume April 30.
Offices will continue to operate but will restrict exposure in order to provide essential government services. If you have questions you may email us or call the appropriate office.
Please deposit any necessary payments/documents in the drop box, located to the west of the Town Clerk Office door. Include your name and phone number so we can contact you if necessary.
We regret this decision. In the best interest of our community it has become necessary to help prevent the spread of the virus. This is a routine precautionary measure and not a cause for panic. Thank you.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Firefighters from Holley and Clarendon served as pall bearers for Jon DeYoung’s funeral today. They are shown placing his coffin in a Clarendon fire truck. A caravan of fire trucks and firefighters then followed from Holley to Mount Albion Cemetery for DeYoung’s burial.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2020 at 11:02 pm
Jon DeYoung led fire company while getting chemo, radiation treatments
Jon DeYoung
HOLLEY – Jon DeYoung’s friends and family, and many local firefighters said goodbye today to the long-time Clarendon volunteer firefighter, who served as fire chief and continued to answer numerous calls while undergoing chemo and radiation.
DeYoung, 55, died on March 10. He fought cancer for seven years.
He inspired many in the community with his dedication to the fire company, and also for his steadfast support of his three sons – Jeremy, Jon Jr. and Tyler – while they played sports at Holley and then when they followed his example in becoming volunteer firefighters in Clarendon.
“Everything in his life had to do with making a real connection to real people,” said the Rev. Aleka Schmidt, who led his service today at Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes in Holley.
She praised DeYoung for living out four tenants – courage, honor, commitment and duty.
DeYoung was known by many in the community as a dedicated firefighter. He was also a devoted family man, who loved to hunt, go camping and spend time on the golf course. (He had more fun finding other peoples’ lost golf balls than actually playing the game.)
The ladder trucks from Clarendon and Bergen were extended to make an arch at Mount Albion Cemetery.
When his sons played baseball, DeYoung would take them to the field early and throw them batting practice. He was eager to help the coaches with the team, and offered lots of encouragement to all the players.
His sons also played soccer, basketball and ran cross country. DeYoung would bring a bike to games and meets, and ride along the 3.1 mile cross country course at different check points to cheer on the runners.
He made all the games, while working full-time in Rochester as a tool-and-die designer for Acro Industries, and responding to hundreds of fire and EMS calls.
“He was a superhero, a magician,” said his son Tyler, 25. “I don’t know how he did it.”
His brother Jon Jr., 28, is a captain in the fire company. He said his father had a drive to help other people.
Jeremy, 30, is a life member in the fire company. He said his father enjoyed being a mentor to the firefighters and Holley’s young athletes. He was patient in teaching skills and providing motivation.
The flag was lowered at the Clarendon fire hall in honor of Jon DeYoung, and his helmet and turnout gear were set by a memorial for firefighters.
DeYoung was well regarded among the fire departments in the county, especially in the eastern battalion – Holley, Clarendon, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Kendall. DeYoung didn’t see those departments as rivals. He saw them as one unit, said Bob Freida, a past Clarendon fire chief and one of DeYoung’s close friends.
Today at the funeral, firefighters from Holley and Clarendon served as pallbearers. Freida said DeYoung would have appreciated that, without any one department being singled out.
He supported a firefighter youth group for children, with the hope they would eventually join a fire company. That youth group mostly includes students in Clarendon, Holley and FHM fire districts.
Dan Campbell, past fire chief, and another close friend for DeYoung, shared the firefighter’s prayer at the funeral home. Campbell also said DeYoung had a great sense of humor and was a fun person to be with.
“No words can do justice to his sacrifice,” Campbell said during the service today. “We lost one of our bravest. Jon battled this disease the past seven years and never gave up.”
Several fire trucks from the eastern battalion as well as Barre were part of the funeral processional for 10 miles to Mount Albion Cemetery.
DeYoung was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in April 2013. In October 2014, he had surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to remove his colon, prostate, bladder and stomach. That kept the cancer away for more than three years. It was back in December 2017.
That meant more chemo and radiation. Through it all, DeYoung kept going to fire calls.
Last April 27, the Fire Company’s Board of Directors presented DeYoung with the Firefighter of the Year award.
At that time, DeYoung was fighting cancer for the fourth time, and continued to put on the turn-out gear and respond to many of the fire calls and accidents. He also attended committee meetings and training sessions.
“Regardless of everything going on he stays very active and is at the fire scenes, the trainings and all the committees,” Freida, president of the fire company, said then. “He is truly doing the job as fire chief. We wanted to recognize him for his determination and fight to continue to give back to his community.”
Despite having a rough day with his illness, DeYoung made sure to attend the banquet last April so he could present the Chief’s Award to his son, Jon DeYoung Jr., who worked three years to get new rescue tools for the fire company.
DeYoung also was able to recognize his other sons for milestone anniversaries of service to the fire company. Jeremy in 2019 reached the 15-year milestone as a volunteer firefighter while Tyler reached 10 years.
“As the Chief and father of these young men I couldn’t have been more proud,” DeYoung posted on his Facebook page after the banquet.
Firefighters including Troy Kingdollar, front left, and Bob Freida, front right, served as pallbearers for DeYoung. They are shown at Mount Albion Cemetery.
Freida was one of the pallbearers at the funeral today. He presented a folded American flag to DeYoung’s wife of 31 years, Brenda, a former EMT.
Freida and DeYoung both have about 35 years as volunteer firefighters. They are buddies and long-time leaders for the fire company. DeYoung was fire chief seven years, and was the deputy chief during Freida’s eight years as chief.
“He was just a good, wholehearted person,” Freida said. “No matter what you threw at Jon, he was always there.”
Freida said the two responded to many difficult calls together – serious car accidents and fires.
Bob Freida has a black stripe on his badge to symbolize the mourning among firefighters at the funeral today.
“I truly consider him a brother,” Freida said.
An Orleans County dispatcher gave the last call for DeYoung today at about 11:30. It was the final call for DeYoung and badge number 171.
“Thank you for 35 years of unwavering dedication to your family and community,” the dispatcher said in a message broadcast at the funeral home. “Your legacy will never be forgotten.”
DeYoung grew up in a firefighting family. His father, the late Richard DeYoung, was a firefighter in Rochester and then joined the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company. His son Jon joined 35 years ago when he was 20.
Jon was the fire chief right up until Jan. 1. He was succeeded by his brother, Jim.
Jon was a long-time leader for the fire company. He could be counted on to do the training needed to respond in many emergency situations, from interior firefighting, motor vehicle accidents and extrications, to medical calls. He knew what to do and kept a calm head.
DeYoung lived on Brown Schoolhouse Road, 2.8 miles away from the fire hall. He was determined to get to as many calls as possible, even when he was camping with his wife Brenda in Byron at Southwoods RV Resort, where he made many friends.
If it was a major holiday, and the family was sitting down for dinner, DeYoung would still respond to the fire call. When his sons became teen-agers and young adults, they joined him on those calls.
He knew all families of firefighters sacrifice when there is training, committee meetings, parades and fire calls.
In one of his last public acts, DeYoung attended the most recent fire company banquet on Feb. 15. This time he was in a wheelchair. He insisted on being there so he could present the Fire Chief’s Award to his wife of 31 years. He wanted to acknowledge Brenda’s support behind the scenes for so many years and for her love and care in his cancer fight.
