By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Tom Drennan greets some of his supporters, including Michael Hanlon at left, during a chicken barbecue dinner this evening at the Elks’ Club in Albion. Drennan, the current chief deputy at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, is running for sheriff and faces a Republican Primary on Sept. 10 against Randy Bower.
ALBION – Tom Drennan’s supporters showed up in force today to buy chicken barbecue dinners and lend support for the chief deputy seeking to become the next county sheriff.
Drennan has worked 23 years for the Sheriff’s Office, starting as a road patrol deputy in September 1992. He has been promoted to lieutenant, criminal investigator, major and chief deputy.
He is running a campaign with a message that “Experience Matters.” He faces Randy Bower in a Republican Primary on Sept. 10. Drennan has the Republican Party endorsement. Former Medina police investigator Don Organisciak has the Democratic Party endorsement for the Nov. 3 election.
Drennan’s supporters include a who’s who of local law enforcement leaders, including District Attorney Joe Cardone. The DA says he can’t endorse a candidate, but he said Drennan would be an asset for the county as sheriff.
“I’ve worked with Tom for 23 years,” Cardone said. “There hasn’t been a major investigation he hasn’t been involved with. He brings years and years of experience and good judgment to the job.”
Tom Drennan was out directing traffic on Route 98 during the 10-mile race in Albion, the debut of the Metro 10 that included about 400 runners.
David Green, a retired sheriff, served in that role for 20 years as a Democrat. Green is now the vice chairman of the Democratic Party and has taken some heat from Democrats for backing Drennan.
Green said he has known Drennan since he was a young boy. Green was friends with Drennan’s parents, the late Jack and Helen Drennan.
“I have known him and his family for 50 years,” Green said at the Drennan benefit this evening.
Green was sheriff when Drennan was hired 23 years ago. Green said Drennan has received many promotions and completed numerous training classes, developing contacts in the law enforcement community.
“The other two (Bower and Organisciak) are both good guys,” Green said. “But I think Tom is the best prepared. He’s worked hard to get to this point.”
Four members of the civilian staff at the Sheriff’s Office, who all work with Tom Drennan, serve up chicken barbecue dinners. The group includes, from left: Sandy Wolfe, Nicole Spohr, Debbie Hughson and Allison Lavigne. Karen Narburgh also is pictured at the end of the line. The group served 700 dinners today.
Allison Lavigne works as civilian staff in the office with Drennan. She and her civilian co-workers helped serve the chicken dinners today. They support Drennan to lead the Sheriff’s Office.
“He’s one of the most honest and respectful people I’ve ever met,” Lavigne said. “I believe he has the county’s best interest at heart. It’s not personal for him. He’s thinking of the county.”
Rocky Sidari, a former Albion fire chief, has 25 years with the Fire Department. He also started as a county cornorer in January, and he said Drennan has been helpful since Sidari started the new job.
“Whenever we had a serious fire, he’s been there,” Sidari said. “He’s dedicated and professional. It doesn’t matter the call, he’ll jump in. Honestly, I think he’d be one of the best sheriffs we’ve ever had.”
Drennan greeted people at the Elks door during the benefit. He said he’s pleased with the campaign and the encouragement from the community.
“The support has been awesome,” he said. “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s been enjoyable.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – An agency that serves people with disabilities in Orleans County voted to merge with a sister agency in Genesee County.
The Arc of Orleans County and Genesee ARC are already sharing a director, Donna Saskowski. The Arc of Orleans board of directors wants to join the two agencies, seeing an opportunity for reduced administration costs while preserving needed services for residents, said Don Allport, a member of the Arc board and a past president for the agency.
“The services will stay here,” Allport said during today’s Orleans County Legislature meeting. He is also a county legislator.
“It was a unanimous vote,” he continued. “We’re looking to a bright future.”
Allport said the smaller-county ARC chapters have struggled with Medicaid reductions and reimbursement changes through the Affordable Care Act.
“The smaller Arc’s are being forced to combine,” he said.
However, he thinks Orleans and Genesee are the first to do it.
The Genesee ARC board still needs to approve the merger and Allport said that board is expected to back the union this evening.
An exploratory committee has been looking at the issue with help from a consultant. The agency in Genesee County operates on about a $13 million annual budget with 340 staff members. In Orleans, the Arc has a $12 million budget and about 300 employees.
Saskowski, in an interview earlier this month, said some of the ARC chapters in the state are reducing programs and staff due to shrinking government reimbursements and other fiscal challenges.
“We might be able to provide services in a better manner and be more stable as an agency,” Saskowski said about a possible merged agency.
Two counties with a bigger land area, Livingston and Wyoming, have a single ARC chapter, the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming.
Photos and report courtesy of Howard Owens, The Batavian
BERGEN – Two people from Orleans County were killed in a car accident just after midnight on Sackett Road in Bergen. Police have not released the names of the people who were fatally injured in the crash.
A trio was returning from the Livingston County Fair in a red Mini Cooper. They were eastbound on Sackett Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle. A front seat passenger, who was transported to Strong, told a deputy a deer was in the roadway.
There was also fog at the time of the accident, which occurred at an S-curve.
The driver, a male in his 30s, and a back seat passenger, in her 20s, sustained fatal injuries, The Batavian reported (click here). The driver was wearing a seatbelt, the back seat passenger was not. The front seat passenger, also in his 30s, was wearing his seat belt.
The vehicle crossed the center line and traveled in a straight path for some distance before exiting the roadway on the south shoulder just before a ravine. At that point, it appears the vehicle flipped and struck a tree. All three occupants were from Orleans County.
Primary family notifications are complete, though the names of the victims have not yet been released.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – A truck hauling apples travels on Main Street in Medina on Tuesday evening.
A flash flood watch is in effect for Orleans County and Western New York today, beginning at 8 a.m. through this evening.
The National Weather Service says a strong storm system over the upper Great Lakes will bring warm and moist gulf moisture northwards into the lower Great Lakes region in advance of a slow-moving cold front. This will result in showers and thunderstorms with torrential downpours, which may result in localized flooding, the Weather Service says.
The weather will be sunny for the weekend with highs of 74 on Friday, 75 on Saturday and 78 on Sunday, according to the Weather Service.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Bower and his supporters believe they are poised to pull off upset
Photos by Tom Rivers – Randy Bower meets with about 100 of his backers and campaign team members on Wednesday night at St. Mary’s Athletic Club in Albion.
ALBION – Randy Bower’s campaign to be the next Orleans County sheriff may have appeared over on May 7.
That night, the Orleans County Republican Committee endorsed Tom Drennan to be the next sheriff, succeeding Scott Hess who is retiring on Dec. 31. About 70 members of the committee gave about 60 percent of the group’s support to Drennan.
There was speculation that Bower, a county dispatcher the past 29 years, would drop out of the race. He already had the Conservative endorsement, but many wondered if he would buck the Republican Party leaders and force a primary.
Bower refused to back off. He submitted Republican petitions signed by more than 900 people, well above the 525 threshold to force the primary.
“The energy has been phenomenal,” Bower, 50, said after a meeting with about 100 campaign supporters at St. Mary’s Athletic Club in Albion.
Bower has gained a following on the campaign, impressing his supporters with his energy in going to so many community events and talking to residents regardless of their background, from political party affiliation to socioeconomic status.
“I’ve seen him a lot more than his opponent,” said Bill Francis of Albion, who attended a rally for Bower on Wednesday night at St. Mary’s. “He’s thought this through from the get-go.”
Randy Bower speaks with his campaign supporters at St. Mary’s with about three weeks to go before the Republican Primary.
Francis chatted with Bower at the Lyndonville Fourth of July Parade. Bower had a booth after the parade and gave Francis one of the red “Bower for Sheriff” T-shirts. More than 300 people have those shirts and Francis said he is proud to wear it.
“You want my vote, you have to come talk to me,” Francis said.
Bower has been paralyzed from the waist down since a car accident at age 18. Francis has a daughter Erica, 25, who is legally blind and deaf. He sees a determination in his daughter to not let her disabilities keep her from an active life.
“Just like my daughter, Randy lets nothing bother him or hold him back,” Francis said.
Bower talks about living a “blessed life” with his wife Robin and their children: Jessica, 23; and Jacob, 20.
He is running to be sheriff to build a strong team in the Sheriff’s Department that he said will focus on service to residents, from stepping up road patrols by Lyndonville and Kendall schools, to timely delivery of civil papers to pushing for state-funded drug and alcohol addiction programs for inmates in the county jail.
Bower thanked his campaign team for their help the past few months, and then gave them more instructions before the primary on Sept. 10.
Bower has been campaigning with Chris Bourke, a 31-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, who would serve as undersheriff if Bower is elected. Bourke has been a lieutenant the past 18 years and a K-9 handler.
(Besides the primary, there is a general election on Nov. 3 and the Democratic Party has endorsed Don Organisciak, who worked 30 years in Medina, with 16 years as a patrolman, then a year as a sergeant and the final 13 years as the Medina Police Department’s first full-time criminal investigator. Both Bower and Drennan have other lines for the general election with Bower backed by the Conservative Party and Drennan picking up the Independence Party line.)
Bower has attended numerous community events, from chicken barbecues at churches to big community parades.
He has 700 campaign signs out on yards, bold red signs with the sheriff star. At least 300 people are wearing “Randy Red,” the bright red shirts that say “Bower for Sheriff.”
Randy Bower urges his supporters to keep wearing their red “Bower for Sheriff” shirts and work to get out more campaign signs.
He has the support of the Deputy Sheriffs Association, and the union for corrections officers and other civilian staff. Each of those unions has given $2,000 towards his campaign.
“They have been tireless in their efforts,” Amy Jenks, a member of the Deputy Sheriffs Association, said about Bower and Bourke. “If they are working this hard campaigning, imagine what they could do for the county if they win the election.”
Bower said the support within the department, plus the community has him optimistic he will win the Republican primary on Sept. 10.
His father, George Bower, was an Orleans County legislator for more than two decades, and won more than 10 county-wide elections.
“I’ve been very impressed,” George Bower said about his son. “He is surrounded by a lot of good people. He goes to the chicken barbecues and talks to the people. He has a great personality and he is a great kid, and he has been like that since he was 18.”
Randy Bower said voter turnout will be the key for the primary. He and his key supporters will be reaching out to Republicans to get out the vote on Sept. 10.
“This is the first time I can remember a contested sheriff’s election with this kind of energy,” Bower told his supporters.
He showed no signs of exhaustion from the pace of the campaign.
“Throughout this whole time, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed this job and being with the people of Orleans County,” he said.
Drennan has been chief deputy in the Sheriff’s Department the past nine years. He has worked in the department for 23 years. He has a campaign event on Aug. 27 at the Albion Elks Club. Orleans Hub plans to stop by and talk with Drennan and his supporters.
BATAVIA – The third annual golf tournament by officers from the Orleans Correctional Facility raised $6,500 for Crossroads House in Batavia.
The correctional officers had the tournament on July 20 at the Chestnut Hill Country Club.
In addition to supporting the Crossroads House, the tournament was held in memory of an officer who died suddenly earlier this year. Josef Young, who was assigned to Orleans Correctional Facility, was 49 when he died unexpectedly in January.
The Crossroads House is a comfort care house for the dying. The 24-hour care giving home serves the communities of Genesee and Wyoming counties at no cost to the patients or family.
The golf tournament had 142 golfers and numerous volunteers. Officers and civilian staff from Orleans Correctional Facility organized the tournament and were supported by local businesses in the area that donated raffle items and sponsored tee signs.
Numerous members of the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association from Attica, Gowanda and Wende correctional facilities also supported and attended the tournament.
“Since Crossroads House relies 100 percent on the generosity of the community, efforts like the NYSCOPBA Orleans Sector Golf Tournament are an integral part of continuing to provide Comfort Care for the dying,” said Jeff Allen, executive director at the Crossroads House. “The proceeds from the tournament helped to fund the installation of security cameras without impact to our budget. Because of the efforts of the Orleans Correctional Facility staff and the participants of the tournament, Crossroads House is a safer place for the residents, families, and volunteers.”
Last year the tournament benefited the American Heart Association, which received $7,000 in the name of Officer Duane Catanesi, who passed away suddenly in 2014.
The golf tournament has now raised and donated over $20,000 to charities in Western New York over the past three years in honor or memory of correctional officers.
“I would like to thank each and every officer who volunteered their time in organizing and participating in this important charity event,” said Western Region Vice President Mike Dildine. “For three years now this tournament has supported great organizations who are dedicated to helping others. NYSCOPBA members raise money for a wide variety of charities throughout western New York every year. I am extremely proud of our members and the impact they have on the communities they live and work in. They work in a profession that is constantly scrutinized and criticized and they don’t get enough credit for how they serve the public.”
A man and woman from Rochester were arrested on drug charges on Tuesday, following an undercover buy operation of oxycodone pills by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.
The following were arrested:
Charles A. Verstreate
Charles A. Verstreate, 46, of 44 Lennox St. He was charged with 1 count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felony) and 1 count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felony).
Verstreate was arraigned in the Murray Town Court by Town Justice Gary Passarell and committed to the Orleans County Jail without bail due to Verstreate’s extensive criminal history, the Task Force reported. Verstreate is to return back to the Murray Town Court today at 6 p.m.
Jennifer L. Liberacki, 32, of 44 Lennox St. She was charged with 1 count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
Liberacki was issued an appearance ticket for Murray Town Court on Aug. 19 at 4:30 p.m.
Contributed Story Posted 11 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Provided photos, Habitat for Humanity
MEDINA – Orleans Habitat for Humanity is announcing the winner of this year’s playhouse. Jason Miller of Lyndonville won the playhouse after buying a ticket as part of this year’s drawing.
The event raised about $1,600 for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Miller’s name was drawn on Aug. 1, the final day of the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Habitat also announced it received a check for $2,263 from the Valu Home Centers Company. This represents the amount collected by the local Valu store on Maple Ridge Road during the campaign sponsored by Valu to benefit Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the WNY area.
Customers in the Medina store purchased tickets for a chance to win a new Ford Focus. That money benefits the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. The winner of the new car was a customer of a Bradford, PA store, but all the Habitat affiliates received proceeds because of the annual support provided by Valu Home Centers.
In the photo, Kay Van Nostrand (center), president of the Orleans Habitat, holds the check with Valu cashier, Allison Boring (left), and store manager, Jeff Osgood.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 August 2015 at 12:00 am
2 agencies are looking at more collaboration, possible merger
Photo by Tom Rivers – Donna Saskowski has been leading the Arc of Orleans County as executive director since April 1 on a six-month trial basis. She also is the executive director for the Genesee County ARC. She has led that agency for 11 years.
ALBION – The Arc of Orleans County and Genesee County ARC, two agencies that serve developmentally disabled residents, have collaborated with joint staff training for several years, as well as shared information technology services.
The two agencies since Aril 1 have shared an executive director. Donna Saskowski has led the Genesee County ARC for 11 years. The Arc of Orleans had been without a permanent executive director since Kellie Spychalski left in December to work in Niagara County with Opportunities Unlimited.
Patricia Kepner served as interim director for the Arc of Orleans for more than a year until Saskowski became the shared director on April 1. Kepner continues as director of quality assurance and the Camp Rainbow director for the Arc.
The two agencies are looking at more ways to share services, a discussion and study that could lead to a merger, Saskowski said today at the Arc’s administrative offices on Caroline Street.
An exploratory committee is looking at the issue with help from a consultant.
“I see opportunities,” Saskowski said. “We certainly compliment each other.”
The agency in Genesee County operates on about a $13 million annual budget with 340 staff members. In Orleans, the Arc has a $12 million budget and about 300 employees.
Saskowski said some of the ARC chapters in the state are reducing programs and staff due to shrinking government reimbursements and other fiscal challenges.
“We might be able to provide services in a better manner and be more stable as an agency,” Saskowski said about a possible merged agency.
Two counties with a bigger land area, Livingston and Wyoming, have a single ARC chapter, the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming.
Saskowski said if the discussion and study doesn’t lead to a merger, she expects there will be more partnering among the two agencies.
Her goal is to preserve as many programs and services as possible for developmentally disabled residents and their families. She has pushed for shared services, even when it resulted in more work for her by working in two counties.
“I’m more of a believer of being more efficient at the administrative level and putting those savings into programs,” she said.
She said the Arc chapters are wrestling with how to provide and foster community based employment for development disabled residents. The state is limiting sheltered workshops, where Arc consumers do light packaging and other tasks for businesses. The state isn’t allowing more people into those sites, instead pushing for other employment in the community.
Saskowski said agencies need to continue prevocational services, and try to have choices for developmentally disabled adults in the workplace.
She also wants more housing choices for developmentally disabled adults, which could be semi-independent living in apartments, additional “group homes” known as IRAs (Individualized Residential Alternative), or certified apartments where a staff members check in periodicaly to make sure the residents are taking medications and maintaining their living space.
Saskowski also worries about the state push for a $15 minimum for fast food workers. That could pull away employees from human services agencies, she said.
She would like to see more funding from the state for the ARC chapters, so ARC employees can earn more money.
Unlike fast food restaurants, which can raise prices to pay employees more, Saskowski said the agencies can’t pay employees more without assistance from the state.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced six new patrol boats that will assist local law enforcement agencies across the state with keeping waterways safe.
One of the new vessels is assigned to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.
“More people than ever are taking advantage of the recreational opportunities at New York’s many lakes, rivers and coastal waters and we’re committed to ensuring that they remain safe for residents and visitors alike,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release today. “These new patrol vessels will assist local law enforcement efforts and will provide them with additional means to ensure those out on the water are abiding by the law.”
In addition to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, the new Brunswick Justice patrol vessels are assigned to the Babylon Police Department (Suffolk County), Irvington Police Department (Westchester County), Lewis County Sheriff’s Department, Livingston County Sheriff’s Department, and Port Chester Police Department (Westchester County).
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation purchased these vessels, which range in value from $70,000 to nearly $130,000. The transaction was made possible through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, which provides funding to states to assist with recreational boating safety. Local police agencies will use the patrol vessels to enhance recreational boater safety and enforce New York State Navigation Laws.
“With our exceptional lakes, rivers and bays, New York State has a strong tradition of boating and fishing – and we want to make sure people visiting our waterways stay safe,” State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said. “Local marine patrols help keep our waterways safe by discouraging dangerous boating practices and serving as first responders in on-the-water emergencies.”
The State Parks Marine Service Unit is responsible for the general coordination of boating safety programs and supports marine law enforcement efforts across the state, including patrols, training and funding for local marine enforcement activities.
Provided photo – Laura Allen, left, and Rachel Hicks of Albion Agencies are pictured with a display at the Albion business on Main Street, where Albion Agencies is collecting school supply donations for children.
ALBION – A local business is accepting school supply donations to help Community Action of Orleans & Genesee with its annual push for pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks and other supplies.
Albion Agencies will accept the supplies at its 30 North Main St. location. The business is promoting the event in its quarterly email newsletter as well as on social media.
The effort has resulted in many donations from employees, customers and other community members. That allowed Albion Agencies to collect a substantial donation for Community Action to distribute to local learners in early August to get them prepped for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year.
Albion Agencies, with roots going back 170 years, is teaming up with Community Action, an agency celebrating its 50th year in 2015.
Community members are welcome to drop off items at Albion Agencies, or at Community Action’s site at 409 East State St. Call Community Action at (585) 589-5605 for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Two people were seriously injured in a one-car accident on Horan Road in Ridgeway on July 19. It took firefighters almost an hour and a half to extricate the driver from the car.
Orleans Hub had a strong month in July, averaging 6,569 daily users or 203,627 over 31 days. The 6,569 average was exactly the same as in June, an uncanny statistical match.
We had a total of 617,809 page views. There were 16 articles that topped 1,000 page views or “clicks,” which I think is the most we’ve ever had in a month since we started the Orleans Hub in April 2013.
The top five stories (the ones with the most “clicks”) last month include:
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 3 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair ended its annual six-day run on Saturday, with the fair drawing thousands of people each day to the hamlet of Knowlesville.
Krsitina Gabalski was at the fair each day. Her two children, John and Peggy-Jo, are active in the 4-H program.
The top photo shows Naomi Haberger, Emma Mathes and Saleya Williams – all members of the Adventurers 4-H club – wearing their matching outfits as “mannequin models” in the Trolley Building on Saturday afternoon.
Fair Royalty were selected Saturday afternoon. Left to right: Princess alternate Olivia Kroening, Princess Lilly Mathes; Prince alternate Jack Cecchini, Prince Owen Shaw; Dutchess Alternate Emma Mathes, Dutchess Megan Blackburn; Duke Brian Shaw; Queen Alternate Peggy-Jo Gabalski, Queen Natalie Mrzywka, and Duke Alternate Justin Robinson.
Roman Brege, 8, takes a breather during the Pie Eating Contest on Friday evening. Brege came in second place in the Piglet Division (10 and under). First place in the division went to 9-year old Jillian Ray. In the Hog Division (11-17-year olds), first place went to 14-year old Dalton Moyer and second place went to 13-year old Haley Mayer. In the Old Boar Division (ages 18 and up) first place was taken by John Burgio and second place went to Sue Moyer.
Megan Bruning of Bruning Ware in Medina throws a pot during her pottery demonstration Friday afternoon in the Trolley Building.
4-H’ers work to pass hula hoops down a line all while continuing to hold hands during the Ag Olympics held Friday morning at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Three teams competed during the event.
Things got a little messy and very fun during the “Musical Chairs” game at the 4-H Ag Olympics on Friday morning at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Participants not only had to sit when the music stopped, they had to burst a balloon on the chair seat filled with shaving cream.
Elsa Bieliski, left, and Brigid Keller, both 15 and from Medina, prepare to share their yummy brownie sundae at the Leader’s Pie Stand.
The crew exits a Mercy Flight helicopter Saturday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. The helicopter landed on the south lawn of the fairgrounds as part of the “Kids Love Trucks Day.” Youngsters were able to get an up-close view of the helicopter and emergency trucks/vehicles from fire departments, law enforcement agencies and ambulance services around Orleans County.
Fire trucks and emergency response vehicles from across Orleans County were on display for fairgoers Saturday afternoon during the final day of the fair.
Theresa Jewell works on her loom in the Lartz Building. She is weaving a scarf. Jewell owns Stoney Meadows Alpacas and Fiber Boutique on Glidden Road in Clarendon and this was her first year as a vendor at the fair.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 August 2015 at 12:00 am
~Tribute~
Photos by Tom Rivers – Bob Waters, president of the Medina Sandstone Society, gives a rallying cry on Dec. 11, 2013, during the inaugural induction of the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame. Waters believed the community should take pride in its history, including the many landmark buildings around the state made from the local stone.
MEDINA – Orleans County lost one of its biggest boosters last week with the death of Robert E. Waters. The former publisher lived a full life, leading the local newspaper, raising two daughters with his wife Barbara, and playing an influential role in civic affairs.
Waters was a community dynamo for nearly a century. In addition to leading the local newspaper, Waters was a key leader in finding a new use for the Medina Armory when it closed in 1977. It would become a YMCA. (The Y recently completed more than $500,000 in upgrades to the former Armory, setting the building up for years of more use.)
Waters relished life in a small town. He was pleased with the recent resurgence of the downtown Medina business district, with the influx of investment and young entrepreneurs.
“It used to be young people couldn’t wait to get out of here,” he told Orleans Hub in April 2014 when he was being honored as a Heritage Hero by Genesee Community College and Orleans Hub. “I’ve always been a small-towner. Maybe the small town is coming back.”
The Heritage Heroes were honored for the first time in April 2014 as part of the Civil War Encampment. Waters stood out for a lifetime of commitment to the community.
He used the written word to preserve local history. He has written publications – he wouldn’t call them books – about Medina’s sandstone past, the community’s boom years from 1900 to 1930, and a publication of penny post cards about Medina in 2012: “Greetings from Medina, New York.”
Bob Waters in April 2013 signs a copy of the Medina Sandstone Society’s latest publication, “Medina, My Home Town – Fond Memories.” Waters tended the Sandstone Society’s booth at the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Home and Garden Show.
While Waters loved the written word, he has also provided leadership and some of the heavy lifting for community projects, perhaps most notably the reuse of the former Armory on Pearl Street.
That 90,000-square-foot structure was built in 1901. After the state closed the building in 1977, Waters and the Armory Action Committee met weekly and negotiated with the state to keep the utilities on, make needed repairs and eventually transfer the site to the community so it could be used as a YMCA.
“When the National Guard left, the property could have gone down hill in a hurry,” Waters told Orleans Hub last year. “Now the Y is just running with it.”
Even at 90, he was leading the Medina Sandstone Society as the group’s president. Waters turned the Sandstone Society into a dedicated group that relishes the rich local history of the area. He backed efforts to create a Sandstone Hall of Fame that inducts buildings and landmarks made of the local sandstone.
Waters also pushed to create the Sandstone Trust that doles out small grants to community projects, from restoring stained glass windows, boosting the archives at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, and repairing stonework at the former Armory, as well as numerous other initiatives.
Waters was meticulous in his dress, wearing suits and bowties. But he was far from pretentious. Many residents received notes from Waters over the years, praising them for their good works, whether opening a new business, planting flowers or painting their house.
Waters exuded enthusiasm for the community.
“He loved the character of small-town life,” said his daughter Julie, who works in central communications for Cornell University. “He believed that small towns have a lot of vitality.”
When the bishop of the Western New York Diocese for the Episcopal Church visited Medina on June 17, Bob Waters gave him a tour. The Right Rev. R. William Franklin is pictured at Medina City Hall with Waters after the two looked at the Sandstone Hall of Fame, which includes St. Paul’s Cathedral in Buffalo, a giant Episcopal church made of sandstone from quarries in Hulberton.
Waters graduated from Medina High School in 1942 and served in World War II with the Army. After he earned a degree from Miami University of Ohio, he joined the family business, The Journal-Register in Medina, in 1949.
The paper would expand its coverage under Waters, with a big push to cover all of Orleans County. Mike Wertman was hired as a reporter in 1978. He covered local sports and other community news, including local government.
At that time, Waters wanted more in the newspaper from outside Medina. He pushed Wertman and the staff to be a county-wide paper, and Waters embraced coverage of girls sports. He would make sports a full-time job for Wertman. Waters gave this advice to Wertman: “The more names you could get in the paper, the better.”
Wertman said Waters was influential in the careers of many journalists. Many got their start at The Journal with Waters as their mentor. Behind closed doors with staff, Waters was optimistic, looking for the good in the community and its residents.
“He was always positive and pro-Medina,” said Wertman, who now covers sports for the Orleans Hub.
After selling The Journal and the former Albion Advertiser to a large newspaper chain, Park Newspapers, in 1985, Waters would work 10 years as communications director for State Sen. John Daly and his successor, George Maziarz. Waters also served on the Ridgeway Town Board for a decade, and was deputy town supervisor.
He stayed active and engaged in community issues, and found time for golf at Shelridge. He enjoyed playing the game with friends, and his grandson, Cody. Bob was one of five founders of Shelridge Country Club and was its first president.
Julie Waters said the family nearly lost him when he was 40 and in the backyard with his kids. A stray bullet from a target shooter struck Waters in the cheek and left his neck. The injury gave him problems the rest of his life, but Waters and family were grateful for 50 more years.
“He almost died, but he survived,” his daughter said. “We always felt it was a gift that he lived and we had a father.”
Julie said she is grateful to the community for the outpouring of tributes for her father.
“People have expressed a lot for his love of community and family,” she said.
Bob Waters, right, shows Medina resident Roland Howell the Sandstone Hall of Fame during a reception in February 2014. Waters relished his friendships and local history.
On a personal note, I’ve been friends with Bob for 20 years since I moved to Orleans County and had my first newspaper job with the Albion Advertiser. I often went to the Medina office of The Journal-Register to drop off film and lay out the Albion paper.
Bob would often stop by. He sprinkled kind words around the news room, especially for the reporters. He offered some background on the issues of the day.
We remained in touch when I joined The Daily News in Batavia. We became closer friends the past two years. I really enjoy learning about the area’s Medina Sandstone history, and the seeing how far the stone travelled in building mansions, churches and other important community buildings all over the state and beyond.
I thought a Sandstone Hall of Fame would be a nice way to celebrate that heritage. I pitched the idea to Waters and some of the Sandstone Society members. They endorsed the effort – and did all the work.
Bob, like a lot of newspapermen, watched the grim state of the industry with concern. The Journal-Register closed last year. Other small-town papers have also shut down and many larger papers are a shell of themselves.
Bob was a big encourager when the Orleans Hub started. He wanted the local news covered. He even declared himself a “Hubster” in a recent email.
He has been a role model for many in the community, showing the importance of valuing people and history. He was unapologetic in his love for Medina.
He also showed it doesn’t always take a big capital campaign to make a difference. Sometimes it just takes a hand-written note.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Buyers were out in force on Saturday evening, paying well above the market price for animals raised by 4-H’ers.
Jayden Neal, 12, of Albion is pictured with a pig that received the highest bid of seven swine. Bentley Brothers in Albion paid $6.75 per pound for the 264-pound pig or $1,782. Andy Beach, left, and Zach Welker keep an eye on the bidders.
The auction raised $18,888 for 4-H’ers, who sold a steer, pigs, lambs, meat goats, meat rabbits, and processed chickens and turkeys. (The live chickens and turkeys were banned from county fairs this year due to avian influenza.)
Robert Bannister, right, serves as auctioneer for the 4-H Market Meat Auction. His sister Jayne Bannister is in the ring with the lone steer in the auction. Panek Farms paid $4.50 a pound or $5,378 for the 1,195-pound animal.
Jim Panek, co-owner of the farm, said the Panek family wants to support the 4-H program and the kids who raise livestock.
He said the meat from the animal would be split up among family and employees of the farm.
John Gabalski, 14, of Byron has a pen of rabbits for sale in the auction. They sold for $70 each.
Ian Smith, 17, of Lyndonville is pictured with his grand champion rabbit. Laura Bentley from Bentley Brothers paid $105 for the rabbit.
Smith said a meat rabbit usually commands about $20. He said he would use the extra money from Bentley to buy cages, bowls and hutches for his rabbits.
Zach Welker eyes a bidder for a turkey raised by Grace Sapienza of Hilton. The turkey was already processed. Grace held up a poster with pictures of the animal. The 18-pound bird sold for $55.
Zachary Neal, 10, of Albion gives his pig a final brush before heading into the show ring. Zachary’s brother Jayden, left, also raised a pig for the auction. The brothers were happy with the prices for their pigs. Jayden received $6.75 a pound and Zachary got $5.25 a pound for a 224-pound pig from Lee Shukhecht and Sons in Elba.
Anna Wagester, 12, of Batavia watches the bids for her rabbit, which sold for $87.50. She also had a meat goat in the auction. Her mother Jennifer Wagester is director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County.
