Provided photos
June Persia, an employee at the Save-A-Lot in Holley, waters bouquets of flowers for Hospice of Orleans. The agency had 60 volunteers selling flowers at 35 locations this past week.

Last year the fundraiser raised more than $8,000 to support Hospice services for residents of Orleans County.

Lynn Burgess, owner of Lynn’s Salon on West Park Street in Albion, is one of the new businesses selling flowers for Hospice. George’s Fancher Road Service in Albion also agreed to help sell the flowers for the first time.

At Sam’s Diner in Holley, Joe Andreano of Holley, 95, bought a Spring Bouquet for his wife. “I’ve got a good wife,” he said with a smile.

The local school districts sold flowers this week. The following businesses also supported the event by selling the flower bouquets:

In Albion – Ace Hardware, Albion Fitness Center, Arc of Orleans County, Cobblestone Country Federal Credit Union, Country Lane Veterinary Services, CRFS, Crosby’s, First Niagara, George’s Fancher Road Service, Fischer’s Newsroom. Heads Up Salon, Lakes Plain Medical, Lynn’s Salon, Rainbow Preschool, Village House, Save-A-Lot and Crosby’s in Gaines.

In Holley/Clarendon – Save-A-Lot, Crosby’s, First Niagara, JP’s Farm Market, Sam’s Diner and Stockham Lumber.

In Kendall – K & K Crosby.

In Lyndonville – EZ Shop, M & T Bank and Signature Styles.

In Medina – Bank of Castile, Bread Basket, C & H Computer, Cas-Nic Cookies, Crosby’s, Key Bank, Lake Plains Medical, Medina Memorial Hospital and The Book Shoppe.

The bouquets are available today at Save-A-Lot in Albion and Tractor Supply in Medina.

Provided photo – Participants in the “Just Roll With It” event are pictured last Saturday at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

Press Release, Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern

ALBION – Just Friends, a youth mentoring program through Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, held the “Just Roll With It” event last Saturday.

The event was held at Oak Orchard Bowl and about 60 people attended, including children participants, parents/guardians, mentors, volunteers and staff. Just Friends would like to thank Randy Hanks of Oak Orchard Bowl for being a wonderful host and providing a fun afternoon for all.

Just Friends is a youth mentoring program for children who live in Orleans and Genesee counties. Participants range in age starting at age 5 and are matched with positive adult role models in the community who act as a mentor.

Children are referred to the Just Friends program by social workers, school counselors, family members and friends.

Each child is welcomed into the program and invited to every event in Orleans County. The goal of the program is to match a child (mentee) with a positive adult (mentor) in the community.

The mentor is required to spend four hours a month with the mentee in addition to attending events held by Just Friends. Just Friends also provides “Back to School Days” every August, and backpacks and necessary school supplies are provided for every child in the program.

At the “Just Roll With It” event, all school supplies were replenished to get the children through the remainder of the school year. Just Friends encourages and assists children to be prepared for school as well as giving them confidence by having all needed supplies.

The next event for Orleans County Just Friends will be held at Hoag Library on April 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. This event is “Snacks & a Movie” and will include a family movie, popcorn and drinks, an Easter egg hunt and special Easter treats for each child participant.

Just Friends is accepting donations of Easter baskets, plastic Easter eggs, candy and small toys for this event. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about Just Friends, please call Jacki Mowers-Sciarabba, program coordinator at (585) 589-9210.

Joel Johnson

MURRAY – A Hamlin man was arrested on Thursday following a three-month investigation into the sale and distribution of cocaine in Orleans County and the Town of Hamlin, the Orleans County Major Felony Task Force reported today.

Joel E. Johnson, 31, of 15 Fox Hollow St. was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (a Class B felony).

Law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence and seized over 20 grams of cocaine, a quantity of prescription hydrocodone pills, over $1,100 in cash, and scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia.

Johnson was arraigned in the Murray Town Court by Town Justice Theodore Spada. Johnson was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. He is to return to Town Court on March 9 at 5 p.m.

Johnson faces further charges in Monroe County regarding criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminally using drug paraphernalia, the Task Force reported.

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force executed the search warrant along with the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

Provided photo

A delegation of SCOPE (Shooters Committee On Political Education) attended SCOPE Lobby Day in Albany on Tuesday. SCOPE members from Orleans, Genesee and Niagara counties rode a bus together to Albany and met with members of the Assembly and Senate who represent the area, including Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, pictured in this photo in center (in suit).

The SCOPE members boarded a bus in Le Roy at 4 a.m. In Albany, they pushed for full repeal of the SAFE Act, defunding of the SAFE Act and uniform pistol licensing requirements across New York State with no additional restrictions added by the local licensing, said Mattie Zarpentine of Holley, the WNY coordinator for New York Revolution, a group opposed to the SAFE Act.

February had highest average for unique visitors, daily pageviews

Photo by Tom Rivers  – Jeremy Graham uses a snowblower on Feb. 2 to clear out his driveway on East State Street in Albion when a snowstorm hit the area, shutting down local schools for the day. February was a month of punishing winter weather.

Orleans Hub set a new record in February with highest daily average for unique visitors and daily pageviews.

The site was coming off a big month in January when we crushed our record for average daily unique visitors. The 6,650 average for unique daily visitors in January topped the December record of 5,650 by 17.7 percent or 1,000 “uniques.”

I was hoping we could stay above 6,000 for February, which is usually a slow news month. A lot of our January traffic was driven by interest in the Medina village dissolution issue. Village residents voted down that referendum on Jan. 20.

But we topped January’s numbers with a 6,780 daily average for unique visitors in February. We had 615,029 total pageviews over 28 days for a 21,965 daily average, which tops the 21,317 daily average in January, when we had 660,825 pageviews over 31 days.

We frequently posted winter weather advisories, wind chill warnings and hazardous cold outlooks from the National Weather Service. Orleans Hub frequently wrote about the brutal weather and school closings, which are always a draw for readers.

Photo by JC Photography (Jesse Colmenero)

A story about the life of Brian Bellan and his 12 children was the most popular story of the month in February on the Orleans Hub. The Bellan family is pictured last fall at Mount Albion Cemetery. The group includes, front row, from left: EmmaLee and Karina; Second row: MiKayla, Richie, Da’Ron, Austin and Elizabeth; Back row: Briana, Porter, William, Kyson, Bryce, Kim and Brian.

In February, brutally cold weather was often in the news. The temperatures set a new record for coldest month ever for Buffalo and Rochester.

But we didn’t just write about the weather. Nor did readers of the Orleans Hub. We’ve been receiving lots of letters to the editor, and one by Dr. David Stahl of Medina was the second most popular story of the month in terms of “clicks,” or how many times the story was clicked on.

Here are the top five stories for the month:

1. Father of 12 leaves legacy of love in Medina

2. Doctor says billing irregularities at Medina hospital

3. County sells former Apollo Restaurant in Albion

4. Injunction seeks to stop ‘Squirrel Slam’

5. Community will rally for Rustay family

Mike and Cheryl Wertman have also been busy covering the local sports scene. Mike’s story on Feb. 9 was the first story about Roosevelt Bouie being inducted in the Syracuse University Hall of Fame.

Bouie, a former Kendall High School star, had his No. 50 retired by Syracuse. He is pictured here with several of Kendall’s senior players. They include, from left, Mookie Nauden, Will Condo, Taylor Kingsbury and Tania Arellano. They are in front of the case that displays Bouie’s retired Kendall jersey.

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board wants to support a concrete batch plant in Albion but planners said they need to see more information before casting a final vote.

David Hill of Gasport wants to put a small concrete plant at the southwest corner of West Countyhouse Road and Route 98 in Albion. Hill would have a storage hopper and gravity-fed discharge truck loading tower with an 85-foot antenna.

His site plan includes entrances on West Countyhouse Road and Route 98, as well as 12 parking spaces for employees and a 4,200-square-foot wood framed building.

Planners said they support the concept of the project, but they wanted to see a stormwater management plan before a final vote.

Dan Strong, the Albion code enforcement officer, said that issue could be resolved with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the project review shouldn’t be held up by planners. Hill said he didn’t want to spend $10,000 for an engineer to work on the plan if the Planning Board wouldn’t support the project.

Joe Sidonio of Murray and other planners said the board likes the overall concept and plan for the project. However, the board wouldn’t be doing its due diligence if it voted to support the project without the stormwater management plan, said Marty Busch, a board member from Medina.

The board voted that the application was incomplete because there wasn’t a stormwater management plan.

Hill owns a construction business that uses concrete. He expects his company will be the main user of the concrete. He intends to make the product available to other contractors and customers.

The proposed Transit Concrete would develop about 2 acres of a 14.7-acre site. Most of the property would keep the existing vegetation.

Hill estimated about 12 trucks would go back and forth to the site each day, which would be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week, except for Sunday.

Ron Vendetti of Holley, a Planning Board member, thought it would be better to eliminate the driveway for Route 98 and have trucks enter and leave a single driveway on West Countyhouse Road.

Strong didn’t see a problem with another entrance on Route 98, which Strong said already is a main truck route to and from Albion.

Board backs zoning change for former NYSEG in Albion

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday backed two car sales and repair businesses, with one in Shelby and the other in Albion.

Shawn Cobb wants to relocate his business by Frank’s Auto on Route 31 across the street on vacant land currently owned by Griffith Energy, just west of the Environmental Construction Group.

Cobb wants to establish a 50-space lot for selling used cars and also build a 30-by-40-foot wood framed building as an office and for vehicle repairs.

Planners said the new setup will ease some of the congestion in Cobb’s existing location.

The Planning Board on Thursday also recommended the Town of Shelby approve the site plan and a special use permit for Lance Hudomint to operate a motor vehicle repair shop at 10666 Maple Ridge Rd., the former location for Medina Car Sales.

“I’ve wanted to open my own repair shop,” Hudomint told county planners. “It’s been a dream.”

Hudomint will fix vehicles out of a 32-by-60-foot building. The location will also be used by Jim Paxon of Rochester to sell used cars. Paxon said he would have a maximum of 18 cars for sale at the site.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The former New York State Electric and Gas building at 366 Washington St. had its zoning changed from commercial to residential after the building sat empty for more than a year. The new owner wants the zoning to be changed to allow for business uses.

The Planning Board also recommended the Village of Albion change the zoning for the former New York State Electric and Gas building at 366 Washington St. The site was long used for commercial and business purposes, but after it sat empty for more than a year the site’s zoned was changed to residential to reflect the neighborhood.

The 4,215-square-foot stone building has several truck bays. It would be an ideal site for businesses that do auto repair, construction, HVAC, roofing/siding, distribution, storage, landscaping as well as other uses, building owner Charles Maloy told the Albion Village Board in December.

The village favors the zoning change, including for two neighboring vacant parcels.

“There’s no way this will ever be residential,” Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti told the County Planning Board.

The property abuts an existing General Commercial district that runs along West Avenue. The former NYSEG and two vacant spots would be the first General Commercial sites with frontage along Washington Street.

Planning officials noted that there has been little residential development on the street after a few starter homes were constructed several years ago. The Albion Correctional Facility is down the street to the west.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature again gave a unanimous vote for the repeal of the SAFE Act on Wednesday. The Legislature opposed the gun control measure soon after it was passed by the State Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January 2013.

County legislators say the legislation makes criminals out of law-abiding gun owners, and also has imposed financial burdens on counties and gun owners. The SAFE also “does not increase the safety of the public,” according to the resolution approved on Wednesday.

Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to local state legislators, Gov. Cuomo, local towns and villages, and InterCounty of Western New York.

The Legislature was praised by Mattie Zarpentine of Holley, regional director for New York Revolution, a group that formed after the SAFE Act was passed.

Zarpentine said 52 out of 62 counties have gone on the record to oppose the SAFE Act, which she said is unconstitutional and an infringement on Second Amendment rights. Orleans County is the only county to have the Legislature and all of the town and village boards formally oppose the SAFE Act.

“Orleans County residents should be extremely proud of our strong stance in support of our Constitutional rights,” Zarpentine said during Wednesday’s Legislature meeting. “Those resolutions sent a very clear message.”

She was joined by about a dozen New York Revolution supporters at the Legislature meeting.

“Here we are, nearly two years after the passage of that resolution, unwavering in our resolve to fight tyranny,” Zarpentine said in an address to the Legislature. “What we understood about the SAFE Act back then has proven true: It has done nothing to make us any safer. It has only managed to infringe upon the freedom of the law-abiding citizens of New York.”

County Legislator Don Allport, R-Gaines, echoed those comments, saying the state government has been “overbearing” in the SAFE Act, limiting residents’ right to bear arms.

File photos by Tom Rivers – Volunteer firefighters move hoses to get ready to battle a fire in Carlton on Route 98 on Jan. 23.

GAINES – Orleans County needs more firefighters, especially for the calls during the morning and early afternoon, when many of the firefighters are working their full-time jobs, said Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management director.

“There is a serious shortage of firefighters in the county,” Banker told town and county officials this evening during the Orleans County Supervisors and Legislators Association. “It’s not critical at this point.”

But he worries there won’t be enough firefighters for speedy responses for some calls. There are 12 fire departments in the county and Banker said they all could use more volunteers, and not just for fighting fires and assisting at car accidents.

The departments need people to direct traffic, serve as bookkeepers and help in other roles.

“There’s a job for everyone to do,” Banker said. “We really do need help countywide.”

Dale Banker (left), the Orleans County emergency management director, is at a fire scene in Carlton on Nov. 7. He is talking with Marty Zwifka, a deputy fire coordinator.

Banker said the training requirements have become more onerous for the volunteers. It’s now a 104-hour training commitment to become a basic firefighter. And the training books are $70 each.

Banker has served in the local fire service for 40 years, beginning as an explorer at age 15 with the Albion Fire Department. He started as EMO director in July, replacing Paul Wagner who retired after 14 years.

Banker said the firefighters and other emergency responders received a big boost last year with a new radio system.

He also is pleased with the success of a youth group for Holley students, where they learn firefighting skills under guidance of the Clarendon, Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray fire companies. The program has about a dozen teens on track to become firefighters.

Banker said Albion, Carlton and Barre would like to start a similar program, mentoring Albion students. Banker said those type of programs can help develop a new generation of firefighters.

He asked the town and county leaders to spread the word about the need, and how the local fire departments can find spots for willing community members.

County Legislator Lynne Johnson praised Banker for his work since becoming EMO director.

“He’s come into the job and he’s dove into it,” she said.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has gone on the record several times the past two years, stating its opposition to the SAFE Act, a controversial gun control measure approved by the State Legislature and Gov. Cuomo in January 2013.

With a new legislative season beginning in the state capital, and with Gov. Cuomo starting his second term, county legislators plan on again stating their support for repeal of the “Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement” Act. Two state senators, Michael Nozzolio and Katherine Marchione, have already introduced legislation in the State Senate to repeal all of the legislation or parts of it.

The County Legislature will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the County Clerks Building at 3 South Main St. An agenda for the meeting includes a resolution that supports repeal of the SAFE Act.

The resolution states the County Legislature supports the Second Amendment and the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

Other reasons the Legislature cites for supporting the repeal of the SAFE Act include:

The lawful ownership of firearms is a recreational benefit to residents through hunting and target shooting, along with an economic and environmental benefit for the region with several locally owned and operated gun/sporting businesses.

SAFE Act legislation was “rushed” into passage in January 2013 and the legislation will have a detrimental effect on hunters, sportsmen and legal gun owners, creating a hostile environment both for them and for the sale and manufacture of legal firearms.

The legislation prohibits the sale of firearm magazines with a capacity larger than seven rounds and few or no low-capacity magazines currently exist for many firearms commonly used by law-abiding citizens.

“The legislation fails to offer little meaningful solutions to gun violence and places undue burdens where they don’t belong, squarely on the backs of law-abiding citizens.”

Many parts of the SAFE Act place an unfunded mandate on the local Sheriff Departments, County Clerk’s Office and County Judges.

There will be significant financial impact on the county due to the approximately 4,850 Orleans County pistol permits that will have to be renewed requiring additional manpower and computer systems.

Requiring gun owners to verify ownership of certain types of firearms every five years, in addition to registering them on permits that also must be renewed every five years, is “unnecessarily burdensome” to the residents.

“This legislation effectively treats countless New York State law abiding gun owners as criminals.”

Photos by Tom Rivers
The Lenten season kicks off tomorrow with Ash Wednesday. For 40 days many Christians will try to give up some indulgences, including gorging on richer, fatty foods.

With a day before the start of Lent, some churches served up pancakes this evening as part of “Shrove Tuesday,” also known as “Fat Tuesday” in New Orleans.

In the top photo, Kevin Doherty at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion has pancakes on the grill as part of a church dinner.

The Episcopal church will host Lenten lunches in Albion starting next Wednesday through the Easter season.

Georgia Thomas works in the kitchen during a pancake dinner at the Millville United Methodist Church. Millville and Knowlesville United Methodist churches are part of a merged congregation with two church locations. The Knowlesville site will serve fish fries on Fridays up until Easter. The first one is this Friday.

The Presbyterian Church in Medina hosts Lenten luncheons on Thursdays with churches in the Medina area taking turns preparing the meal.

Cathy Rosenberg pours maple syrups into bottles as part of the pancake dinner at the Millville church, which served 97 meals this evening.

Photo by Tom Rivers  – The front doors at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion were closed on Sunday when the church cancelled its service due to the extreme cold.

Today brings a record-breaking freeze. The minus 10 degrees overnight outside the Buffalo Niagara International Airport broke a record of minus 8 set in 1904, The Buffalo News reported.

In Orleans County, it was minus 5 in Albion at 7:30 a.m. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning until 10 a.m. today. The wind chill could feel as harsh as minus 25 degrees.

The temperature should reach 7 today, before falling to minus 2 for the overnight low, the Weather Service said. Tuesday it should “warm up” to a high of 17.

With no travel advisory, some dedicated faithful attend Mass, church services

Photos by Tom Rivers
This couple walks along the sidewalk on West Park Street after attending Mass at Holy Family Parish in Albion this morning.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is one of seven historic churches at the Courthouse Square in Albion. Only two of the churches, St. Joseph’s and Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, are open today.

The front steps at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church were shoveled this morning for Mass.

The Catholic church normally has about 120 people attend Sunday morning Mass. There were 48 people in the pews this morning for the 8 a.m. service.

“Forty-eight people came out,” said Father Richard Csizmar, pastor of the parish. “That really is something.”

There were another 105 people who attended Mass on Saturday evening.

Csizmar said there is typically one Sunday a winter where the weather is so treacherous that few people make it to church. Today was unusual because Bishop Richard J. Malone told Catholics in Western New York they were excused from their church obligation due to the brutal cold.

The doors at the First Baptist Church in Albion have been bombarded with snow.

Csizmar was impressed with the turnout this morning, but he didn’t want parishioners to put themselves in danger by coming.

“You hope people will use good judgment,” he said.

Csizmar lives next door to the church. He said priests in other parishes have to drive many miles, sometimes leading Mass at two or more churches.

Helen and Ed Wilkins were among the 48 at Mass this morning. It was minus 4 degrees when they drove into Albion just before 8.

“We just like being here on Sundays,” Mrs. Wilkins said. “It was sparse but we did our duty. You need your faith.”

Pullman Memorial Universalist Church resembles an igloo this morning with all the snow and ice.

Pullman Memorial leaders watched the news to see if there was a travel advisory in Orleans County. There wasn’t, so Pastor Lee Richards and Board President Gaye Smith decided church would go on at 11 a.m.

Richards drove to Albion from Rochester and Smith travelled from Kendall. They said the roads weren’t too bad, but the temperature is very cold.

Smith was determined to get to Albion for a church board meeting that started at 9. There was a quorum of board members as the church plans a wine-tasting on March 21, mulls a roof repair project, reviews grants and works on other church business.

“We have a lot going on,” Smith said.

Richards said he would be reluctant to ever cancel a church service. If there was a travel advisory, the church may have closed for today.

“Church is important,” he said. “There’s no two ways about it. People need an opportunity to connect.”

Today is forecast for a high of minus 2 degrees. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. for Orleans and several other WNY counties. Wind chills could fall to minus 30 today.

A motorist drives south on Main Street in Albion this morning. Traffic is very light with the area gripped in a deep freeze.

The following churches are closed on Sunday due to the severe weather forecast for Sunday morning:

Albion Free Methodist Church

Albion United Methodist Church

Barre Center Presbyterian Church
Carlton United Methodist Church

Christ Episcopal Church in Albion

Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church
First Baptist Church in Albion

First Presbyterian Church of Albion
Gaines Carlton Community Church

Light of Victory Church in Albion

Lyndonville United Methodist Church

Medina United Methodist Church

Next Steps Ministry in Albion

Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Medina

United Methodist Church of the Abundant Harvest in Knowlesville and Millville

In addition, Catholics in Western New York are urged to exercise caution when it comes to attending Mass on Sunday.

“People need to use their best judgment when it comes to venturing out into subzero temperatures, brutal wind chills and heavy snow,” Bishop Richard J. Malone said. “For those reasons, Catholics will not be held to the Sunday Mass obligation. It is also important that we comply with local travel restrictions and advisories that may be in place.”

Any churches that will be closed on Sunday are welcome to send notice to Orleans Hub by text or phone at (585) 590-2870 or by email at tom@orleanshub.com. Include a contact number for verification purposes.

Photos by Tom Rivers – The cross at the Oak Orchard Assembly of God on Ridge Road in Medina stands tall by the church. This photo was taken on Thursday.

At least two churches in Orleans County have cancelled Sunday morning services due to the deep cold expected on Sunday.

Temperatures are forecast to be below 0 with wind chills at minus 35 degrees. That has prompted the First Baptist Church in Albion and Barre Center Presbyterian Church to cancel services on Sunday.

Aleka Schmidt, pastor at the First Baptist Church, said on Facebook that church will be closed on Sunday “due to unsafe weather conditions.”

The Barre Center church said “severe weather” prompted church leaders to cancel the service and postpone a Valentine’s brunch.

Catholics in Western New York are urged to exercise caution when it comes to attending Mass on Sunday.

“The safety and well-being of everyone is paramount,” Bishop Richard J. Malone said. “People need to use their best judgment when it comes to venturing out into subzero temperatures, brutal wind chills and heavy snow. For those reasons, Catholics will not be held to the Sunday Mass obligation. It is also important that we comply with local travel restrictions and advisories that may be in place.”

Any churches that will be closed on Sunday are welcome to send notice to Orleans Hub by text or phone at (585) 590-2870 or by email at tom@orleanshub.com. Include a contact number for verification purposes.

The cross stands out in the white snow by Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina.