Julie Miller of Barre took this photo at 10 a.m. of a farm on Eagle Harbor Road. The sky was dark and the onslaught of snow had just begun.

Nola Goodrich-Kresse took this picture at Shadigee, the beginning of Route 63 North in Lyndonville. It was windy before the snow started falling.

Jason Jones took this picture of the Walsh Hotel in Medina while blizzard-like conditions descended on the area.

Dave Ingerson took this picture of the intersection of South Main and Route 31A in Medina. The roads were so bad the county issued a travel advisory and Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Orleans and several other counties.

Snowfall will pick up and temps will drop

Photos by Tom Rivers

A man walks along East Bank Street in downtown Albion this afternoon. The downtown was largely deserted due the nasty winter storm. A travel advisory also has been issued by the Sheriff’s Department.

David Nichols shovels in front of his house on East State Street in Albion.

The National Weather Service says there will be moderate to heavy snow falling this afternoon throughout Western New York, which is under a blizzard warning due to the snowfall and winds. The area could receive a foot or more of snow and winds could gust up to 50 miles per hour.

Traffic slowly moves along Main Street in Albion this afternoon in front of the First Presbyterian Church and the Orleans County Courthouse.

A blizzard warning is in effect until 2 a.m. tonight. Temperatures are expected to drop into the teens after 5 p.m.

Bonnie Velez shovels her sidewalk on East Park Street in Albion.

Stan Farone of Albion has a snowblower rigged to a tractor. It came in handy today so he could clear his driveway and sidewalk on East Park Street.

The Albion Department of Public Works has been busy plowing streets. Here the plow truck heads east on Bank Street near Platt Street.

James Fisher of the Albion Fire Department responded to a fire call on Ridge Road in Gaines. The chimney fire was quickly put out and brought under control. Fisher watches firefighters on the roof of the house.

Due to the inclement weather, Oak Orchard Health will close its health care sites at noon in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport and Warsaw in Wyoming County.

The county remains under a travel advisory and a blizzard warning is in effect until 2 a.m. The National Weather Service says 10 to 16 inches of snow could fall today and overnight.

With a travel advisory in effect and the snow coming down fast and furious, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina is taking an unusual step in closing at 2 p.m. today.

“We try to stay open but there are times when prudence must reign,” said Catherine Cooper, library director.

Lee-Whedon is usually open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Other libraries in Orleans County didn’t open today, including Hoag Library in Albion and Community Free Library in Holley. The Yates Community Library in Lyndonville is closed on Wednesdays.

Cooper said most of the libraries in the three-county NIOGA system are closed today.

Sheriff says no unnecessary travel until further notice

Photos by Tom Rivers – Motorists drive at the routes 31 and 98 intersection in Albion this morning.

Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess has issued a travel advisory for all of Orleans County from 10 a.m. today until further notice.

The sheriff said heavy snow and poor visibility make driving dangerous. He said there should be no unnecessary travel until further notice.

A motorist heads north on Route 98 in front of Tim Hortons this morning.

Employees should report to jail, nursing home, public safety

ALBION – Orleans County offices will be closed on Wednesday and all nonessential personnel are directed to stay home, Legislature Chairman David Callard decided tonight.

Employees are to report at the jail, nursing home, highway department and for public safety jobs with the Sheriff’s Department and dispatch.

The county has closed the County Administration Building, Mental Health Building, Legislative Office and Clerk’s Building for Wednesday. This is the first time the offices have closed since the storm in October 2006, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county chief administrative officer.

Orleans is under a blizzard warning for Wednesday.

Five area schools will be closed on Wednesday

Update: Albion Central is closed on Wednesday.

Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts have cancelled classes and activities on Wednesday due to the impending severe weather.

The National Weather Service has upgraded the Winter Storm Warning for Orleans and surrounding counties to a Blizzard Warning, in effect from 2 a.m. on Wednesday until 2 a.m. on Thursday.

The storm may result in accumulations of 9 to 17 inches with wind gusts up to 45 mph creating periods of whiteout conditions.

The National Weather Service warns, “Conditions will rapidly deteriorate Wednesday morning with relatively light snow becoming heavy by late morning. The combination of heavy snow and blowing snow will make travel extremely difficult to nearly impossible Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening. Visibility will be reduced to near-zero at times with deep snow cover on roadways during the peak of the storm along with significant blowing and drifting of snow.”

The area will be hit with a major dumping of snow on Wednesday, with 10 to 17 inches in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

It has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Orleans and several counties, a warning that is in effect from 2 a.m. Wednesday to 2 a.m. Thursday.

The storm will bring a mix of heavy snow and blowing snow. Northeast winds at 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45 MPH, will create near whiteout conditions at times, the Weather Service advised.

“The combination of heavy snow and blowing snow will result in severe winter travel conditions,” the Weather Service said. “Driving will become extremely difficult or even nearly impossible at times.”

ALBION – With blizzard-like conditions in the forecast for Wednesday, the County Legislature meeting has been cancelled. It had been scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and will be rescheduled, Legislature Clerk Nadine Hanlon advised tonight.

County officials have also closed the county office building, Clerk’s Building, and Mental Health Building. The jail, nursing home, highway department and public safety services will be open.

Albion Town Justice Kevin Howard also has closed court for Wednesday due to the weather conditions.

Two school districts announced this evening they were closing on Wednesday with the threat of a major snowstorm.

Orleans County is expected to get about a foot of snow on Wednesday. Both Holley and Kendall schools will be closed.

In addition, Albion town court has been cancelled for Wednesday.

Orleans Hub will update the list of closings if we get more from school officials.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion, is site leader for the new Jobs for Life program in Orleans County. He discussed the program during a meeting with the Albion Rotary Club last week. Lindsay welcomes mentors and businesses to be part of the program.

ALBION – A group of churches is trying to “flip the list,” and the break the cycle of poverty for local residents.

The churches have formed Hands 4 Hope Orleans and launched a “Jobs for Life” program that is designed to give residents basic job skills, and also connect them to job opportunities and a mentor who will be a source of encouragement. The Rev. Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion, is site leader of the program.

“We’re trying to do things that foster independence and help people become self-supporting,” Lindsay told the Albion Rotary Club on Thursday. “We want to put jobs at the top and get people out of the cycle of dependency.”

Hands 4 Hope Orleans started the 16-class program on Jan. 27.  The class meets twice a week at Hoag Library. Local business leaders have volunteered to help lead some of the classes. The first group of five students is scheduled to graduate on March 24.

Lindsay said he has witnessed big changes in the students in about six weeks of classes. They have gained confidence and direction.

He urged the Rotary Club, which includes several local business owners, to consider hiring a Jobs for Life graduate. The first class is expected to include five graduates. Lindsay expects to have additional classes in the future.

Each graduate will receive a certificate and businesses can have faith the students have learned the importance of values, showing up on time, conflict resolution, team work, a positive attitude, taking responsibility and overcoming roadblocks.

“We want this certificate to mean something to employers,” Lindsay said.

Besides Harvest Christian Fellowship, the Oak Orchard Assembly of God, Light of Victory, Albion Free Methodist Church and Alabama Full Gospel are all helping with Jobs for Life. For more information on Hands 4 Hope Orleans, click here.

Only 3 districts in country recognized with Magna

MEDINA – A program through the Orleans/Niagara BOCES that connected the community with veterans has been recognized with one of three national awards “for taking bold and innovative steps to advance public education,” according to the National School Boards Association.

The local BOCES will receive a Magna Award for its Literacy Zone/Men’s Cooking Class. The Literacy Zone provides adult education and is run by the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

“This project encompasses lifelong learning at its best,” said Susan Diemert, literacy specialist for Orleans/Niagara BOCES. “From children to adults, the value of education and support for each other was a result of a project that developed from a simple idea. A community worked together to provide the awareness needed to help those less fortunate.”

Provided photo – Members of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES Board of Education and the Literacy Zone coordinator include bottom row, from left: Wendy Swearingen (Lew Port), Dr. Thurston Dale (Medina), Susan Diemert (Literacy Zone Coordinator), Rebecca Albright (Wilson), Maureen Kaus (Niagara Wheatfield) and Joanne Woodside (Lockport).  Back row, from left: Johnny Destino (Niagara Falls), Ruth Smith (Barker), Thomas Klotzbach (Lyndonville), Janice Covell (Starpoint) and Donald Joslyn (Albion). Missing: Keith Bond (Royalton Hartland), Michael Carney (North Tonawanda), James Reinke (Newfane).

An independent panel of school board members, administrators, and other educators selected the Magna winners from nearly 250 submissions. The NSBA recognized the program for advancing student learning and encouraging community involvement in schools.

Orleans/Niagara BOCES Adult Literacy program began a new initiative in July 2013 called a Literacy Zone Welcome Center located at the Christ Community Church in Lockport. It was patterned after the Niagara Falls program that was started in 2009.

A Literacy Zone Welcome Center is located in an impoverished neighborhood in a city with high levels of unemployment, illiteracy, and underemployment. It invites individuals and families to come to a facility for high school equivalency, remediation, computers skills, and job readiness and career preparation.

The Literacy Zone staff can assist the individual to find solutions to help break barriers and move in a positive direction toward employment, training, post secondary, and a more productive life.

“This project made a difference in the lives of all that were involved,” Diemert said. “Orleans/Niagara BOCES Adult literacy program is more than just an academic program. Our goal is to help people to recognize what challenges they have and how to develop a plan to overcome the barriers to create a brighter life for themselves and their families.”

The Orleans/Niagara BOCES won the grand prize for districts with 5,000 or fewer students. Other Magana winners include the St. Charles Parish Public Schools in Luling, La., and the Kent School District in Kent, Wash. Each of the grand prize-winning school districts will receive a $5,000 contribution from Sodexo during a special presentation at NSBA Annual Conference on April 5-7 in New Orleans.

Diemert said the Lockport program has been successful due to partnerships in the community. The BOCES worked with more than 60 agencies and community organizations to run the program and strive for successful solutions for the students.

The group partnered with the Kids Breaking Free Foundation, a community enrichment organization supportive of educating at-risk youth and their families. The Men’s Cooking Class was a result of this partnership. The men learned how to slice and dice, learn recipes, and budget for healthy meals for their families. The idea to cook for the veterans sparked other community involvement and partnerships to raise awareness for the local veterans in Niagara County.

KBFF was also running a book club for fourth- to sixth-graders who were reading a book about veterans. This resulted in a canned food drive to benefit veterans and their families.

The class on July 5 last year prepared salads and manned the grills on one of the warmest days of the summer at the Elks Lodge in Lockport. Kids Breaking Free Foundation, volunteers from veterans’ organizations, and Orleans/Niagara BOCES staff helped plan and run the event on July 5.

“It was a wonderful day and uplifting to see so many people supporting our local veterans,” said Chuck Diemert, Literacy Zone Coordinator.  “What started as a simple lunch developed into a partnership with many groups and individuals resulting in a community project that would raise money and awareness to address the needs of thousands of veterans in our community.”

The Orleans/Niagara BOCES serves 13 school districts in the two counties.

Dr. Clark Godshall, District Superintendent of Orleans/Niagara BOCES, said he is proud of the Board of Education and the Literacy Zone staff members.

“To receive national recognition for their outstanding achievement just highlights the thoughtful and deliberate work they do to improve the lives of our students and the community,” Godshall said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Orleans County Music Educators Association put on an All County Music Festival this afternoon at Medina High School Auditorium.

Three retired music teachers from the county led the students. David Stacey, pictured in the top photo, retired from Lyndonville in 2012 after 35 years of teaching.

He directs the All County Senior High Band, which is performing “Amazing Grace.” Stacey said he was thankful to have a chance to work with music students again. The band played four numbers.

Kyler McQuillan, left, of Albion plays a trumpet solo while Thomas Follman of Lyndonville plays a solo with his tuba during the Senior High Band’s performance of several Beatles songs. There were about 80 students in the All County Senior High band from the five school districts in Orleans County.

Mary Campbell, a retired music teacher who worked in Kendall and Medina, leads the All County Junior High Chorus. The group performed five songs, including “Come In From The Firefly Darkness.” There were about 110 students in the chorus.

Mike Grammatico, a retired music teacher who worked 10 years in Lyndonville and 23 years in Albion, directs the All County Elementary Band. The band of 80 students is performing “March Of The Phantom Brigade.”

Another music teacher, Matt Schroeder, also worked with the elementary students. Schroeder teaches music at Cleveland Hill Schools in Cheektowaga.

The Orleans County Music Educators Association is celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year.

Melayla Wenner is healthy with strong lungs

Photo by Tom Rivers – COVA paramedic Steve Cooley holds Melayla Wenner, a baby he delivered in an ambulance on Feb. 27. Melayla visited the COVA crew today at the organization’s headquarters, 239 South Main St. Terry Bentley, back right, helped deliver the baby. Jake Crooks, also in back, drove the ambulance.

ALBION – Ayla Staats has watched television shows before when babies were born in an ambulance. She didn’t think that would ever happen in real life. She thought a woman would feel the baby coming, and give herself plenty of time to get to the hospital.

Staats gave birth to two children before her third child was born on Feb. 27. She was in labor for 17 hours with the first baby, followed by 15 hours with the second child.

Her daughter was due Feb. 24. Last Thursday, after the baby missed her due date by three days, she suddenly decided she wouldn’t wait any longer.

Melayla Wenner was born only 30 minutes after Staats’s water broke. Melayla was born in an ambulance on Feb. 27 at 11:51 a.m. The ambulance was staffed by Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance and was traveling on Route 31 near Manitou Road when the baby took her first breath.

Today, eight days after her birth, Melayla and her mother visited the COVA headquarters at 239 South Main St.

“I just wanted to say, ‘Thank you,’” said Ayla Staats. “They did an awesome job.”

Terry Bentley, an intermediate EMT with COVA, holds a baby she helped deliver last week. The baby’s mother, Ayla Staats, is pictured in back with Jason Spencer, COVA administrator.

Eights days after she was born in an ambulance, Melayla Wenner visited the crew at COVA this afternoon. The baby is pictured with Steve Cooley, right, the baby’s mother Ayla Staats, intermediate EMT Terry Bentley, and COVA driver Jake Crooks, left.

Staats lives in Medina. She was visiting her mother in Albion last Thursday when they decided to call the ambulance. That was 11:15 a.m. COVA was on the scene at 11:20.

The birth was a first for Steve Cooley during his 22-year career as a firefighter and paramedic for 22 years. He took the lead in the delivery and was assisted by Terry Bentley, an intermediate EMT.

Both Cooley and Bentley tried to keep Staats calm. Initially they didn’t want her to push too hard. But when the baby’s head showed, they encouraged Staats to keep going and push out the baby.

When the baby was born, they wiped her off and kept her warm. It was another seven minutes before they reached Unity Hospital in Rochester. Hospital staff and another ambulance crew were waiting for them.

Staats said she was scared and nervous as the birth moved quickly. She praised Cooley and Bentley for taking control of the situation and delivering a healthy baby, weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long.

COVA has delivered other babies during its 35-year history, but it’s not very common, said Jason Spencer, paramedic and administrator for COVA. The crew trains for it, and was ready on Feb. 27.

If Lakeside Memorial Hospital in Brockport was still open, Melayla probably would have been born there. Medina Memorial Hospital also would have been a close option, but that hospital closed its maternity wing in July 2011.

Spencer said Melayla is the first baby COVA has delivered since the two hospitals stopped delivering babies. Now, COVA has a longer ride to get a patient to a hospital.

Jake Crooks drove the ambulance last Thursday during a cold, snowy day. Staats was on a stretcher in the ambulance, which she said was kept warm.

Staats said she is grateful she called for an ambulance. She thought she had a lot of time. She almost had her mother drive her to the hospital.

“I’m happy they delivered my baby,” Staats said. “She’s healthy and her siblings love her.”

Lawhorn

A Rochester man faces numerous drug charges after being arrested today following a year-long investigation in the sale and distribution of crack cocaine from Rochester to Orleans County, the OC Major Felony Crime Task Force reported.

Luke L. Lawhorn, 27, of 136 Copeland St., Rochester, was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.

The Task Force arrested Lawhorn today on Lyell Avenue in the city with assistance from the Rochester Police Department. He was arraigned by Judge James Punch in Orleans County Court on a sealed indictment. Lawhorn was remanded to Orleans County jail on $25,000 bail or bond.

Lawhorn was to graduate from the Monroe County Drug Court on Friday. He was in that program following a 2011 drug arrest in Rochester, the Task Force reported.

The Monroe County Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted with the investigation. The Task Force said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges and arrests are pending.