Photos by Tom Rivers – Joe and Sue Fertitta have begun the process of turning the old stone store building, currently an eyesore at the corner of routes 31A and 237 in Clarendon, into an attractive asset for the town.

CLARENDON About two years ago the Town Board nearly unleashed the wrecking ball on a prominent building at the corner of routes 237 and 31A.

The building, a former store that dates back to 1836, had fallen into disrepair. Neighbors complained about rodents from the structure as well as its dilapidated appearance.

During a July 2011 meeting, some residents asked the structure to be torn down. The town owned it because a previous owner stopped paying taxes on the property.

But a small group of residents saw potential at the site. They asked the board for time to clean up the property and work to find a buyer.

A new owner, with a track record of reviving worn-out structures, is now working on the Clarendon Stone Store. Joe and Sue Fertitta expect to have the project done next summer, with a tenant living in the upstairs and the first floor available for offices.

Besides gutting and renovating the building, the couple plans to put on a front porch to match the building’s original look.

“A lot of people have helped to make this happen,” Town Supervisor Richard Moy said Friday during a celebration at Town Hall.

Town Supervisor Richard Moy, right, presented the keys of the Clarendon Stone Stone to Sue and Joe Fertitta on Friday. The couple also was presented a souvenir T-Shirt from the town’s bicentennial. An image of the store is on the back of the shirt. Mrs. Fertitta is holding the couple’s granddaughter, Jazlyn.

He presented the keys to the building to the Fertittas. He also gave them a shirt from the town’s bicentennial, which has an image of the stone store on the back.

“This shows it can be done,” said Erin Anheier, chairwoman of the Old Stone Store Preservation Committee. “These buildings can be saved.”

The town established the Old Stone Store Preservation Committee to work on the project. Anheier connected with the Landmark Society of Western New York, which hired a firm to do an engineering report on the structure. Community donations helped pay for the study that showed the structure was still solid.

Anheier and the committee were also successful in getting the building, one of the oldest stone commercial buildings in the area, on the state and national registers of historic places.

“To see a stone store building from the 1830s is extremely rare,” said Caitlin Mieves, a preservation planner with the Landmark Society.

A historic photo shows the Clarendon Stone Store back in its heyday.

The building was last used as a store in 1975. It not only served as a hub for commerce for nearly 150 years, but was the center of the community from a social aspect, Mieves said.

She praised the town for giving the building a chance for a new life, and for the group of volunteers for spearheading the project.

The local committee and Landmark Society worked with the town to find an owner for the building. The property is being transferred to the new owners for only $1. But the new owner needed to submit a plan so the building would resemble its original splendor.

This rendering shows how the former Stone Store building in Clarendon should look after renovations and upgrades, including a new porch. (Bryant Design Studios)

The Fertittas of Parma have revived many structures that were in a state of ruin, including a condemned house on Bennetts Corners Road in Clarendon. Melissa Ierlan, the town code enforcement officer, reached out to the Fertittas.

“This is a walk in the park compared to what we’ve done before,” said Mrs. Fertitta.

She and her husband have already hauled out two dumpster loads of garbage and debris from the building.

They have made a few exciting historical finds as well, she said. They took out the drop ceiling in the first floor, which exposed the original wooden beams in the building. They have found a black-and-white photo from a previous owner, Wes Potter.

They also discovered his daughter Stephanie’s school identification card, from the 1955-56 school year at St. Mary’s Catholic School. Three old buttons have also turned up. Mrs. Fertitta showed off the relics to town officials on Friday.

“We love doing this,” she said about rehabbing buildings.

Sue Fertitta shows three buttons and a school identification card from 1955-56 for Stephanie Potter, daughter of the building’s previous owner.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

CLARENDON – An Albion man was sent to Orleans County Jail this afternoon following the investigation of an over-night crash in which the vehicle he was operating struck a building.

The incident was reported at about 6 this morning in the town of Clarendon at 15670 Mansfield Rd. Sometime during the night, a 2010 Hummer was travelling south on Hindsburg Road, towards the T-intersection with Mansfield Road.

Brandon D. Kirby, 26, was driving the vehicle. He crossed Mansfield Road, onto private property and struck the building owned by Acme Powerwashing Inc., of Holley. The operator fled the scene on foot at that time. The incident was reported after being discovered by an employee of the business.

Kirby, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was subsequently located approximately four hours later. He was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 2^nd Degree, Operating a Vehicle Without an Ignition Inter-Lock Device, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Incident, and Failure to Stop for a Stop Sign.

Kirby appeared before Town of Clarendon Justice Richard Kemp and was committed to the county jail in lieu of $500 cash bail. A Parole Detainer was also placed against him.

The incident was investigated by Deputy J.A. DeFilipps and the arrest was handled by Deputy M.C. Mele. Investigator K.M. Strickland Jr. also assisted with the investigation, as did the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

HOLLEY – A crusader about the dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone will address Holley students today. Jacy Good was nearly killed in a car accident while riding home with her parents on her college graduation day in 2008.

Good’s parents were both killed in the accident, caused by an 18-year-old who ran a red light because he was distracted while talking on his cell phone. Good sustained serious injuries in the Pennsylvania crash.

She will speak with Holley students today at 1 p.m. in the middle/high school auditorium.

“Jacy’s story is powerful and moves both students and faculty,” said Robert D’Angelo, Holley school superintendent. “It is especially important for teens to hear Jacy’s message. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and using cell phones increases crash risk. Jacy’s story helps students understand that they will be safer if they disconnect while driving.”

Good has appeared on Oprah and in People Magazine. After the loss of her parents, Good joined FocusDriven – Advocates for Cell-Free Driving.

FocusDriven is a survivor advocate network that supports cell phone distracted driving victims and their families. Individuals and families educate the public by sharing their personal stories.

The New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee works with FocusDriven to provide Good’s presentations in schools across the state.

“My college graduation day should have been a time to celebrate,” Good said. “Instead, my entire world was shattered because of an unnecessary cell phone call. People need to understand the dangers of using a cell phone – handheld or hands-free – while driving. Lives are at risk and poor decisions can have life-long consequences.”

Artist Stacey Kirby created this palette, which was on display in Bindings Bookstore in Albion.

HOLLEY – A public art project that has promoted businesses and local artists will wrap up on Sunday during a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

The public is welcome to meet many of the artists who created paintings of local scenes and other subjects. Final bids will also be accepted for the artwork.

Some of the proceeds from the project will be used for art scholarships at the five school districts in Orleans County.

Artist James Cooper painted this palette for the a lily and a sparrow store in Medina.

Artists created 73 palettes that have been on display in businesses throughout the county. The project is organized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber put a poster in each business window to indicate a palette on display. Shoppers have submitted bids to buy the artwork and they have voted on their favorite artwork. The project kicked off in May.

Carol Culhane painted this palette of the Charles Howard Santa Claus School in Albion. The palette was displayed at Five Star Bank in Albion.

Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steve Smith

MURRAY – Two motorists escaped injury this afternoon when their vehicles collided and then one of them struck a house.

The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m., in the 17000 block of Ridge Road (State Route 104) in the town of Murray.

Ashlee Rae Putnam, 20, of Brockport was operating a 2000 Chrysler sedan west on Ridge Road, when her vehicle drifted into the eastbound lane and collided with a 1998 Buick sedan operated by Joanne T. Meyers, 75, of Holley.

After the two cars collided, Meyers’ vehicle ran off the south side of the roadway, travelled across a residential lawn and struck the attached garage of a house at 17054 Ridge Rd.

Both drivers, who were each alone in their vehicles, refused medical treatment at the scene.

Putnam indicated that a problem with the steering mechanism caused her to lose control. The incident was investigated by Deputy T.N. Tooley.

Waterfalls, canal park are missed by many

Photos by Tom Rivers – Holley’s Canal Park has become a popular spot for boaters, campers and others out for a stroll.

HOLLEY – David Dill, Holley’s deputy mayor, knows many people, including residents of Holley and Orleans County, drive through the village on Route 31 and don’t realize the village is home to a waterfalls, a canal park and trail linking the sites.

“You don’t know how many people live here and tell me they don’t know it’s here,” Dill said.

The attractions are widely praised once they are discovered.

The village is working to put up “wayfinding” signs on Route 31 so people are directed to the sites that are only a few blocks off Holley’s main road.

The canal park is on East Avenue, right next to Holley lift bridge on the Erie Canal.

The waterfalls are on Frisbee Terrace. Drive past Save-A-Lot, the village sewer plant and head to the end of the street to discover the waterfalls.

The Holley Waterfalls is an asset for the Holley community. The village has recently added a pavilion, grills and other amenities near the waterfalls.

The signage will be paid for through $67,500 Brownfield Opportunity Area Program grant from the state. Most of that money helped Holley complete Phase 1 of a plan to identify brownfields in the community and begin developing action steps for reusing the property.

The old Holley High School and the former Diaz Chemical sites are the most prominent locations that need attention. Dill said the plan looks at other underutilized sites in Holley or properties that may be contaminated. Holley is seeking additional funding for Phase 2 of the plan.

The first phase paid for a parking study of the business district. That report showed there are 203 parking spaces within two blocks of the Public Square, which is plenty of parking for businesses, Dill said. Those spaces include a lot next to the old school.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department

MURRAY – An 18-year-old Murray man was sent to jail on $15,000 bail after being charged with endangering the welfare of a child, use of a child in a sexual performance and disseminating indecent material to a minor.

Damien Jost of 16699 Ridge Rd., Lot 29 was arrested on Monday. An investigation showed he was allegedly sending and receiving photos of a victim less than 15 years old that he was messaging on-line.

Investigator Ken Strickland assisted by Deputy Jeff Cole in the investigation. An order of protection was issued for the victim.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff

CLARENDON – Two Orleans County women are hospitalized this morning following a two-car head-on crash in the Town of Clarendon. The incident occurred shortly before 8 a.m., on East Lee Rd. (State Route 31-A) at intersection with South Manning Rd. Randi Lee Johnson, 28, of Albion, the sole occupant, was operating a 2012 Jeep SUV westbound on East Lee Rd., when her vehicle crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound 2001 Ford Taurus operated by Sherell L. Lindsey, 29, of Medina. Lindsay was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Johnson was able to escape her vehicle before it burst into flames and was totally consumed by fire. She was transported by Monroe Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Lindsey was trapped in her vehicle for approximately 45 minutes, before being extricated by Clarendon, Holley and Barre firefighters. She was flown to Strong by MercyFlight helicopter.

The incident remains under investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were assisted at the scene by State Troopers from the Albion barracks.