Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott D. Hess
Nineteen people between 18 and 20 years of age have an appearance date in Town of Clarendon Court following their arrests early Sun., Aug. 4, 2013. At about 1:15 a.m., Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a Loud Party/Loud Noise complaint on New Guinea Rd., west of Upper Holley Rd.
The party was located in a wooded area south of New Guinea Rd. Deputies found numerous motor vehicles, a camper, several tents, and a large bonfire. They also found approximately 60 to 70 individuals, most of whom were consuming alcoholic beverages.
All of the nineteen arrested were issued appearance tickets for NYS ABC Law Violation – Possession of Alcohol by Person(s) Under 21 Years of Age. All were residents of Genesee, Orleans and Monroe counties. The property owner, who was not present, was notified and declined to prefer any Trespass charge(s).
The incident was investigated by Deputies D.E. Foeller Jr., A.J. Houghton, J.W. Halstead, & J.J. Cole.
MURRAY – The state Department of Transportation is closing the Groth Road canal bridge on Thursday and Friday so crews can replace deteriorated steel elements underneath the structure.
The work follows a recent bridge inspection that revealed a need for the unplanned repair work.
A detour will not be posted. Drivers can cross the Erie Canal on Telegraph or Hulberton roads.
Provided photos – The mixed winning team includes Matt Bush, Dave Cook, Cindy Perry and Pete Jones.
Press release, Orleans Community Health Foundation
HOLLEY – A hundred golfers played 18 rounds on a hot July 19 and raised $36,000 for the Orleans Community Health Foundation’s 27th annual golf tournament.
The tournament was postponed from its original date of June 14, due to extreme rain and flooding.
The $36,000 will go towards finishing up Phase 2 of the renovations in the Residential Long Term Care Facility, known as the “North Wing” at Medina Memorial Hospital. This is a 30-bed nursing care facility in the hospital located on the first floor.
The renovations to date have remodeled each of the 30 resident rooms from top to bottom. Residents are enjoying new cabinetry, windows, ceilings and flooring.
The hospital is working to finish a solarium and sun porch for the residents to use, along with new furniture in the dining area and a nurses’ station.
The winning men’s team includes Wayne Barry, Paul Burgess, Gary Hill and Dan Krisher.
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department
MURRAY – A Brockport man is hospitalized this morning following a one-car crash in the Town of Murray.
The incident occurred at about 7:25 a.m. in the 16300 block of Ridge Road (State Route 104). A 1999 Toyota sedan, operated by Richard F. Graziano, 73, was travelling west on Ridge Rd., when witnesses say the car began to drift into the eastbound traffic lane. Upon realizing this, Graziano apparently over-corrected and lost control of the vehicle, which then rolled over several times before running off the north side of the roadway and slamming into a tree.
Graziano, the sole occupant, was trapped in the wreckage for approximately 40 minutes before being extricated by Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley firefighters. He was then flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by MercyFlight helicopter.
Neither alcohol nor excessive speed appear to have been contributing factors. Deputies will try to determine if some medical issue precipitated the crash.
The incident was investigated by Deputies T.N. Tooley and M.C. Mele.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2013 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – After nearly a decade of leadership from John Heise as Holley Board of Education president, the district has a new leader.
Brenda Swanger was unanimously picked by her fellow board members to lead the district on Monday. Heise opted against seeking re-election in May. He continues as Holley’s representative on the Monroe II-Orleans BOCES board.
Swanger has served nine years on the board. She works as a real estate agent and for the town of Clarendon in accounts payable, water billing and with the budget.
“I have a passion for the school and I think we have a great community,” Swanger said this morning.
The Holley district is on an upswing, she said, citing the near-completion of a $27 million capitol project that is revamping the junior-senior high school, athletic fields, the bus garage and making other improvements.
Crews this summer are giving a makeover to the junior-senior high school foyer, library, some classrooms, and the chorus and band rooms. Swanger also said the district is committed to raising the educational performance of students.
The board is in its first year of shrinking from nine to seven members. That reduction was approved in a referendum about a year ago. Kellie Spychalski, the executive director of The Arc of Orleans County, was picked by the board as vice president.
“I like working with people and so does Kellie,” Swanger said. “We’re both proud of where we live and want to keep the district moving forward.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Cemetery in Clarendon is third in Orleans to make list
Photos by Tom Rivers – The cemetery includes a sandstone chapel that is considered an excellent example of Gothic Revival architecture.
HOLLEY – The National Park Service has put Hillside Cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places, calling the burial grounds a distinctive example of cemetery design in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The cemetery, now owned and managed by the town of Clarendon, was established in 1866 and contains 3,500 graves. The older section on the eastern side is characterized by its park-like appearance and terraced landscaping that was carved in the side of a hill.
The NPS officially added Hillside to the national list on June 25. In its report, the NPS says the cemetery monuments display symbolism common to the mid- and late-nineteenth century that emphasized the emotional and sentimental Victorian attitude toward death and commemoration.
This section of the cemetery includes a monument in memory of two Holley men who died on The Titanic in April 1912. William Doughton and Peter MCKain were quarrymen from Britain who settled in Holley. They spent the previous winter visiting relatives back home before the doomed voyage on The Titanic.
Hillside Cemetery includes a marker in memory of William Doughton and Peter McKain, two Holley quarrymen from Britain. They went home during the winter of 1912 and perished on The Titanic in April 1912.
The western portion of the cemetery, on the opposite side of South Holley Road, embodies the characteristics of the later lawn-park cemetery style, which was more open and park-like than the picturesque rural cemetery, reflecting a movement toward a more efficient use of space and improved management, according to NPS.
A centerpiece of the cemetery is a chapel in the Gothic Revival architecture style. The chapel, built in 1894, includes locally quarried Medina sandstone.
“From the chapel, both sections of the cemetery are visible, providing a sense of how attitudes toward death and burial were influenced by national trends for the people in Holley and Clarendon,” according to the statement of significance in the application to NPS.
The cemetery was named to state list of historic sites in March. The state and federal listings not only carry prestige, but could help the town secure grants to help pay for roof and window repairs at the chapel.
Two other cemeteries in Orleans County are on the National Register: Mount Albion Cemetery in Albion and Millville Cemetery in Shelby.
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department
MURRAY – A Rochester man has been hospitalized following a mishap involving fireworks in the town of Murray, the Sheriff’s Department reported.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:45 p.m. on July 4 at a campsite on private property off the 16000 block of Ridge Road.
Brent A. Mead, 19, was holding a mortar in his hands while lighting fireworks. One particular round failed to launch but instead exploded within the mortar. Mead sustained injuries to his hands and chest. He was flown by Mercy Flight helicopter to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
Charges against Mead may be forthcoming. The remaining fireworks were confiscated by the Sheriff’s Department.
The incident was investigated by Deputy T.N. Tooley.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Submitted photo by Jeff Schuner – This photo shows police officers apprehending Jeremy Rothmund in Holley not long after he allegedly robbed a bank in Albion.
ALBION – An Albion businessman pulled up to the drive-through at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, ready to deposit a check at the Bank of America.
He looked inside the bank window and saw a man wearing sunglasses with a hat on, and an ace bandage wrapped around his chin and neck. The teller indicated to the drive-through customer that the bank was being robbed.
The local merchant then hopped out of his car, leaving it running in the drive-through.
He went towards the front door of the bank and the robber said he had a bomb and thrust a box covered in wires into the merchant’s face, telling him, “I don’t care if we both die and go to Hell.”
The businessman backed off. “I’m not an Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I could tell he was under the influence of something,” said the merchant.
The resident hasn’t been named by police and asked that he stay anonymous.
Although he backed off, the businessman knew the robber was likely fleeing to a getaway car. So the merchant followed the robber behind the bank and along the railroad tracks. He watched the robber tear off his mask and get into a blue Ford Focus.
Submitted photo by Jeff Schuner – Local police descend on the robbery suspects at Woodside Court in Holley on Tuesday.
The merchant then ran back to the bank, where employees were on the phone with the police. The resident told them the getaway car was a blue Ford Focus. Ten minutes later Holley police stopped the car at Woodside Court, an apartment complex off Route 31 on the west side of the village.
Police charged two Rochester residents Jeremy J. Rothmund, 29, and Elyse A. Hoffer, 22, with first-degree robbery, third-degree grand larceny, and first-degree placing a false bomb or hazardous substance. The bomb turned out to be a fake. They’re in Orleans County Jail with each on $250,000 bail.
Rothmund was allegedly involved in two bank robberies in the town of Greece and another robbery in Monroe County in the past three weeks, Albion police said.
Police praised the Albion resident who identified the getaway car.
“I just wanted to help and be a good citizen and a Good Samaritan,” said the resident. “It all happened so fast.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Randy Andrews won the Karen Kane and Karen Cobb wrestling award for demonstrating heart and a “never quit” attitude during the wrestling season.
Brenna DeFelice is recognized for winning a Holley Sports Booster Scholarship.
HOLLEY – They were honored for academic excellence, prowess on sports fields, compassion to others and community service.
Many Holley graduates today received scholarships from the local community, awards ranging from $25 to $500. Altogether, local organizations and benefactors shared $15,000 in scholarships with students.
It was an impressive spectacle, all the awards in memory of friends, family and community leaders.
The list grows each year. One new scholarship for $200 is in memory of Eugene “Butch” Weader. He was a popular local resident and Hulberton’s unofficial mayor. He died June 16. The scholarship is funded by the VFW Eastern Orleans Memorial Post 202 and is given to a graduate entering the armed forces.
During commencement this morning, each scholarship winner was announced and stood before the crowd of about 1,000 people. The long list of scholarships showed the strong support of the local community for the students.
Zach Clark stands and is acknowledged for winning a $50 scholarship in memory of Butch Drennen. The scholarship is funded by Drennen’s family for a graduate going into auto technology.
Deanna Sommerfeldt won a $500 scholarship in memory of Richard Martin for displaying an exceptional work ethic.
Will Barniak won a $200 scholarship in memory of Noel Lutes given by the Lutes family for a soccer player who shows the most heart.
