“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 6, No. 8

Photograph of Henry Spencer courtesy of the University of Rochester

The history of Orleans County’s African American population in the earliest decades of our area is scarce and unknown in many aspects.

Some residents may be familiar with the story of Richard Gordineer who, as an infant, was sold by his father to Joseph Grant; Grant eventually settled in the Shelby/Medina area. After New York abolished slavery in 1827, Gordineer became a free man and a well-respected citizen of Medina. Other stories involve families, like those of Henry Spencer and Jacob Carter, who came to Western New York with local Union army officers at the conclusion of the Civil War.

Spencer came to Orleans County with Lt. Hiram Sickels of the 17th New York Light Independent Artillery sometime around 1866. After earning enough money working for George Sickels, he brought his wife and children to this area. One of Spencer’s sons, Henry Austin, spent the majority of his teenage years working for Asa and William Howard as an errand boy until he reached adulthood. While he worked, he made his best efforts to attend the local schools, which he attended for approximately three months out of the year. A biographical sketch of Spencer noted that he kept up with his fellow classmates by “burning the midnight oil.”

He attended Miss Mabel Foster’s boarding school in Philadelphia, becoming the first African American admitted to that institution where he quickly became one of the more popular students. Spencer then attended the Brockport Normal School, where he was one of the few African American students at an institution with several hundred students.

The impressive young man graduated in 1880, about 10 years after Fannie Barrier Williams became the first African American student to graduate from the school. During commencement week, Spencer was selected as the Gamma Sigma orator, an honor that earned him a full scholarship to the University of Rochester shortly after. It was not the scholarship that was unprecedented, but Spencer’s acceptance to the University, which marked the first time in the history of the institution that an African American was accepted into the institution.

Upon the conclusion of his schooling, he studied law under the Hon. George H. Smith of Rochester while working to support his family. Spencer was appointed to a position in Albany in the speaker’s room thanks to a former University of Rochester classmate, Hon. James M. E. O’Grady. When S. Fred Nixon assumed the role as speaker of the State Assembly, Spencer was appointed as Nixon’s confidential clerk, a position which he continued to hold through the tenure of the Hon. James Wadsworth, Jr.

Upon his retirement in 1929, he had served in government for over 30 years and worked for a period of time under Governor Alfred E. Smith and other prominent state officials. At the time of his death on September 25, 1935 in Rochester, he was one of the area’s more prominent African American citizens. He was a past grand master of the New York State Colored Masons, an organization which consisted of over 2,000 members across New York.

Provided photo: Author Sarah Klaiber is shown with students Robert Lewis, Jr., Isabelle Perkins, Kamaryon Warren, Hailey Session, Patrick Grollmes and Erin Allis.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Author Sarah Klaiber says her battle with depression inspired her to write her book, Treasures.

“It was about my journey about appreciating the positives in my life and helping to improve my mental wellness with more natural means,” she said.

She recently read her book to students at Medina’s Oak Orchard Elementary. “I want them to know that it is OK to feel blue sometimes and to look to the things in their lives that make them happy, their treasures so to speak. There are so many people, young and old, who suffer from depression and I think it is great that schools are now focusing on that and how to help students cope with these emotions.”

Studies show that one in five young people will experience a mental health challenge each year, with issues like depression and anxiety acting as significant impediments to academic success for students. There is a campaign in many schools to promote mental health understanding and dialogue, and decrease shame, prejudice and point students and parents to available resources like guidance counselors and social workers.

School librarian Molly DeBottis appreciated the message that Klaiber shared with the students.  “Her message is so important about happiness and mental health,” DeBottis said. “It is good that we are starting at a younger age discussing this with them.”

The school librarian also is grateful that Klaiber discussed the writing process with the Medina classes.

“It helps them to see the possibilities about being an author and what they are capable of,” DeBottis said.

Youth Bureau also wants to honor adults who work and volunteer on behalf of children in Orleans County

HOLLEY – The Orleans County Youth Board wants to honor local youths for their community service and adults for their work on behalf of children in Orleans County.

The Youth Board is sponsoring its 38th annual Youth Recognition Dinner on May 14 . The Youth Board each year recognizes about 20 youths for their outstanding community service or if they have taken on an extraordinary role in their family. The nominees should be between 14 and 21.

In addition to the youth awards, at least two adults will be honored for their service to young people.

The Helen R. Brinsmaid Memorial Youth Worker Award recognizes a youth-serving professional whose work surpasses normal expectations.

The award is open to all youth-serving professionals including administrators, caseworkers, counselors, school personnel, juvenile justice workers and others who work with youth and families.

John Grillo, the long-time wrestling coach for Holley and Kendall, received the award in 2019. Grillo also works part-time as Albion’s recreation director.

The Eileen Heye Adult Volunteer Recognition Award is given to an adult who provides service as a volunteer to Orleans County youth. The Youth Bureau is looking for nominees who are role models for youths, and give of themselves to better the life of children. This might include working directly with young people through youth groups or organizations or by advocating for youth services.

Ken Spohr, a Boy Scout leader in Kendall, received the award in 2019.

Nominations are due to the Youth Bureau by March 27. For more information, call the Youth Bureau at (585) 344-3960, or email youthbureau@co.genesee.ny.us, or click here to see links to the application’s on the Youth Bureau’s web page.

Courtesy of State Police: This unidentified man allegedly scammed cashiers out of extra money at Ridgeway and Niagara County.

State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man who is allegedly scamming cashiers.

State troopers out of Albion on Feb. 11 responded to Champs Mini Mart on Ridge Road in the Town of Ridgeway for a fraud complaint. The pictured suspect goes into the store and buys a $2 in Lotto ticket and attempts to pay with a $100 bill.

During the transaction the suspect asks for different denominations of the bills for change, ultimately getting $150 back. The pictured black male is suspected throughout Niagara County with other law enforcement agencies of doing the same scam to cashiers.

If you have any information on the identity of this suspect, contact the State Police at 585-344-6200.

The towns of Barre and Ridgeway are seeking a six-month moratorium on applications to construct battery storage facilities for solar projects.

The Orleans County Planning will review the requests during its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 27) in Conference Room C, County Administration Building, on Route 31.

The County Planning Board makes recommendations to the towns on zoning and land use requests.

Barre and Ridgeway are seeking a moratorium so the towns can review their zoning and perhaps update the regulations.

The Planning Board on Feb. 27 also will review the site plan for a beauty salon in Ridgeway at 3930 Salt Works Road in the Light Industrial District.

Planners will also make a recommendation for Yates to either approve or deny an area variance, the site plan and a special use permit for  a telecommunications tower at 1200 County Line Road in the Agricultural/Residential District.

ALBION – Oak Orchard Health recently presented staff awards to employees who have worked at the healthcare organization on milestone anniversaries of five years or more.

Oak Orchard Health has healthcare sites in Albion, Brockport, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.

Mary Ann Pettibon, Oak Orchard Health chief executive officer, thanked all employees for their dedicated service. In 2019, Oak Orchard Health served over 23,000 patients.

• The following were recognized for five years of service: Barb Marshall, Cassie Schultz, Cortney Bower, Diana Cook, Dr. Kenya McIntosh, Faith Robinson, Jolie Powers, Marco Rivas and Stacie Bridge.

• The following were recognized for 10 years of service: Amberley Merritt, Ashley Young, Mary Rich, Paula Corser, Shauna Ketchum and Wendy Nupp.

• Alicia Rich and Jenn Proia-Cessna were honored for 15 years of service.

• Pauline Murphy was recognized for 20 years of service.

• The following were recognized for 30 years of service: Lori Starkweather, Natalie Pettine and Veronica Rangel-Paz.

The late Nancy Albanese was dedicated nurse for more than 40 years at Medina Memorial

Provided photo: The late Nancy Albanese of Medina will be honored by family and friends with a renovation in of recovery room at Medina Memorial Hospital.

MEDINA – Nancy Albanese loved every minute of her job in the post-anesthesia care unit at Medina Memorial Hospital, where she was recovery room nurse for more than 40 years.

After her death August 21, 2019 at the age of 89, her family approached hospital personnel and announced they would like to create a memorial in Albanese’s name.

“She lived and breathed this hospital her entire life,” said operating room nurse Kim Gray.

Soon after the word got out, people in the community started asking if they could also contribute.

“Although the family had planned on funding most of the project, when they were made aware of the interest in the community, they realized more could be done for the unit and they didn’t want to turn down this opportunity,” said Heather Smith, director of the Orleans Community Health Foundation.

The hospital plans to renovate the recovery room unit where Albanese worked, and create a more aesthetically appealing atmosphere for patients, Smith said. Medina Memorial plans to paint and install lockers so patients have a place to lock up their belongings. They are also going to purchase a new nurse’s desk and chair, new privacy curtains and storage cabinets. Additionally, they would like to install new lighting and flooring.

To date, more than $12,000 has been raised of the $30,000 goal.

Smith said the family is really touched by the community’s response to news of the memorial.

The idea for the project was suggested to the hospital by Albanese’s brother, David Shanely of Orchard Park. The hospital has met with him and Albanese’s daughter, Mary Thomas, who lives with her husband Michael in New Hampshire.

Gray was 10 years old when she first met Albanese.

“My mom was a secretary and worked at the hospital,” Gray said. “When I was in nursing school and had to have my test for TB read, the college said if I knew a nurse who would read it, I wouldn’t have to drive all the way in to Buffalo, and Nancy did it.”

Albanese became a mentor to Gray, who was feeling overwhelming in nursing school.

“Nancy asked me how nursing school was, and I started bawling,” Gray said. “I told her I didn’t know if I could do this. She encouraged me and told me I could do it. She would touch base with me on a regular basis. She said if I ever needed anything, she was there for me, or I could come over any time and just vent. After my grandparents died, Nancy became like a grandmother to me. We remained close, even after she retired and moved into the Willows. Because her only daughter lived out of state, the hospital became her second family. After she retired at the age of 84, there wasn’t a day when patients didn’t ask about her. She wanted to care for the community, and I want to be like her.”

“My mother’s siblings and I knew how much she loved the hospital,” said her daughter Mary Thomas. “She lived for the hospital. In a sense, it was part of her. All those years growing up, I knew what a good nurse she was and how much she loved it. When people came out of anesthesia, she created a sense of calmness. She was the nurse you wanted there after you’d had surgery.”

Thomas said the hospital filled a large void in her mother’s life after her father died in 1986.

“She had a lot of friends and belonged to a lot of organizations, but the hospital was the biggest part of her life,” Thomas said.

Albanese was a member of the Association of Twigs, Tuesday Club, Beta Sigma Phi and Catholic Daughters at St. Mary’s. She served on the board of Hospice of Orleans County and the Medina Memorial Hospital Foundation. She was a 1948 graduate of DeSales High School in Lockport and Johns Hopkins University with a degree in nursing. She worked for many years for Dr. Angelo Leone until his retirement, then earned a registered nurse degree at Genesee Community College. She enjoyed playing bridge, knitting and baking.

The memorial to Albanese will feature a plaque outside the recovery room on the third floor of the hospital. All donors will be recognized for their contribution on the plaque. Special donor naming opportunities include four lockers at $1,000 each (donor’s name will be engraved on a plate on the door); and two storage cabinets at $3,500 each (donor’s name will be engraved on a plate secured to the outer frame of the cabinet).

Anyone interested in donating to the Nancy Albanese Memorial Renovation Project may go to www.supportOCh.org/programs and make their pledge. They may also mail a check to Orleans Community Health Foundation or drop them off at 200 Ohio St.

Work will begin as soon as the fund drive ends.

Photo courtesy of Cathy Fox

ALBION – State officials of the American Legion visited Orleans County last Thursday and were honored at a dinner at Tillman’s Village Inn. From left are Dennis George, Sons of the Legion Detachment commander; Mike McDermott, American Legion commander; and Linda Tome, Auxiliary president.

The Orleans County American Legion family hosted a testimonial dinner Feb. 13 at Tillman’s Village Inn honoring the Legion’s Department of New York state leaders.

This was the 57th county out of 62 in New York state visited since September by the trio of leaders.

“Our Orleans County American Legion family was honored to have them visit us,” said Cathy Fox of Medina, Orleans County American Legion president.

The leaders spoke passionately about their individual projects, for which they try to raise fund throughout the year, Fox said.

Tome’s focus is Stop Soldier Suicide; George’s is the National Emergency Fund and Child Welfare Foundation; while McDermott supports the National Emergency Fund and America’s Vet Dogs.

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Courtesy of Department of Environmental Conservation

What is the Plastic Bag Waste Reduction Law?

Article 27 of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) has been amended to create a new Title 28 for the New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act. The law takes effect March 1, 2020 and prohibits the distribution of plastic carryout bags by retailers in New York state.

Which retailers are no longer allowed to provide plastic bags?

Any person required to collect tax will no longer be able to provide plastic carryout bags, as defined in Title 28 of the ECL, to their customers.

What does the term “plastic carryout bag” mean? Does this include all plastic bags?

“Plastic carryout bag” means any film plastic bag, other than an exempt bag, that is provided to a customer by a person required to collect tax to be used by the customer to carry tangible personal property, regardless of whether such person required to collect tax sells any tangible personal property or service to the customer, and regardless of whether any tangible personal property or service sold is exempt from tax under Article 28 of the New York State Tax Law.

“Exempt bag” means a bag that is:

• Used solely to contain or wrap uncooked meat, fish, seafood, poultry, or other unwrapped food, flower, or plant item;

• Used by a customer solely to package items from bulk containers, including fruits, vegetables, grains, candy, small hardware items (such as nuts, bolts, and screws), live fish, or live insects;

• Used solely to contain food sliced or prepared to order;

• Used solely to contain a newspaper for delivery to a subscriber;

• Sold in bulk quantities to a consumer at the point of sale that were specifically prepackaged in a manner to allow for bulk sale (for example, quantities of bags prepackaged in individual pre-sealed boxes) or prepackaged in individual boxes or containers for sale to a customer;

• Sold as a trash bag;

• Sold as a food storage bag, such as those in snack, sandwich, quart, and gallon sizes;

• Used as a garment bag, such as those used by a dry cleaner or laundry service;

• Provided by a restaurant, tavern, or similar food service establishment, as defined in the state sanitary code, to carry out or deliver food;

• Provided by a pharmacy to carry prescription drugs;

• A reusable bag, as that term is defined in proposed Part 351 draft regulations; or

• A film plastic bag for which there is no reasonable or practical alternative for storing, containing or transporting items, as determined by the department.

What is considered a reusable bag? What does the term “durable” mean within the definition of a reusable bag?

“Reusable bag” means a bag that:

• Is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuses;

• Has a minimum lifespan of 125 uses, with a use equal to the ability to carry a minimum of 22 pounds over a distance of at least 175 feet;

• Holds at least 22 pounds for the duration of the lifespan of the bag;

• Has at least one strap or handle that is separately attached, does not stretch and is fastened to the bag in such a manner that it allows the bag to meet the strength and durability standards in paragraphs 351-1.2(n)(2) and (3) of proposed Part 351 draft regulations, unless otherwise approved by the department; and

• Is hand washable or machine washable;

• Has a minimum thickness of 10 mils for bags made of petroleum-based or non-petroleum-based low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or other plastic material of petroleum or non-petroleum origin;

• Has a minimum fabric weight of 80 grams per square meter (GSM) for bags made of any non-film plastic of natural, synthetic, petroleum based, or non-petroleum-based origin, including woven or nonwoven polypropylene (PP), polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), cotton, jute, or canvas; is made of a combination of the materials specified in subparagraphs 351-1.2(n)(5)(i) and (ii) of proposed Part 351 draft regulations; or has a design of equivalent material strength and durability, as approved by the department.

How does this law affect the current NYS Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Law? Can consumers bring in exempt bags, leftover bags, and other film plastic to be recycled?

This law expressly keeps the requirements for retail stores required under Title 27 of Article 27 of the ECL to continue to collect film plastic from consumers for recycling.

Is it sanitary to reuse bags?

Yes, one of the benefits of reusable bags is that they can be cleaned regularly.

If consumers buy prepared food at a grocery/retail/convenience store, or pick up a prescription from a pharmacy inside a retail store, can they receive a plastic bag?

Yes, but only for those specific items. Plastic bags used solely to contain food sliced or prepared to order or are provided by a pharmacy to carry prescription bags are considered exempt uses, regardless of location. In locations where a local law has been passed implementing the 5-cent paper carryout bag reduction fee, such fee would not be charged on a paper carryout bag provided by a pharmacy to carry prescription drugs, since the fee only applies to paper bags that serve as an alternative to banned film plastic bags.

Can supermarkets package groceries for home delivery in plastic bags or are those bags also banned?

The law does not have a specific exemption for plastic bags used for the home delivery of groceries. If the plastic bag is provided by a supermarket, and the plastic bag is to be used by the customer to carry groceries, then the supermarket will no longer be able to package groceries in plastic bags for home delivery.

However, the exemptions for bags used to contain food sliced or prepared to order, bags used to contain unwrapped meat, fish or poultry, and bags used to package bulk items, such as fruits, vegetables, grains and candy apply. So plastic bags could be used to contain these items, thereby keeping items separated and free from contamination from other items and providing some protection against spills from raw meat containers. These exempt plastic bags could then be placed in reusable bags or paper carryout bags for delivery to the consumer.

Paper Carryout Bag Reduction Fee

Beginning March 1, the New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act authorizes counties and cities to impose a 5-cent paper carryout bag reduction fee on paper carryout bags that certain sales tax vendors provide to customers. It also bans businesses from providing plastic carryout bags to customers, unless such bags are exempt bags.

Launches petition for ban, also wants to prohibit vaping ads targeting youths

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, surrounded by national leaders in the fight to combat vaping, today launched a new campaign to ban all flavored nicotine vaping products, including menthol flavors, and to restrict vaping advertisements aimed at youth in the Enacted Budget this year.

The Governor’s proposed legislation would authorize the State Department of Health to regulate the sale of vaping product carrier oils deemed to be a public health risk. The legislation would also prohibit the online, phone and mail order sale of e-cigarettes; only registered retailers would be allowed to purchase e-cigarettes using those methods. The campaign includes a new hashtag – #NoVapeNY – as well as a petition where New Yorkers can show their support for the legislation and a new website – ny.gov/endvaping – with more information about the proposals.

“The dangers of vaping and flavored e-cigarette products are becoming more apparent by the day, and it would be a tragedy if our successful efforts to combat the tobacco industry were reversed by allowing the vaping industry to get a whole new generation hooked on their products,” Governor Cuomo said. “This is a scourge on our state and our nation: if these chemicals don’t kill you, you wind up addicted to nicotine.”

From 2014 to 2018 youth use of nicotine e-cigarettes has increased by 160 percent. Nearly 40 percent of 12th grade students and 27 percent of all high school students are now using e-cigarettes. Flavored nicotine e-liquids are the principal marketing strategy of the vaping industry. One in five youth believe that nicotine e-cigarettes are both harmless and not addictive.

Ban the Sale of Flavored Nicotine Vaping Products

The Governor introduced legislation banning the sale of all flavored nicotine vaping products, including menthol — an extension of the State’s ongoing efforts to reduce youth use of both tobacco and vaping products. With this ban New York continues to lead the charge on limiting the use of flavorings in all vaping products and provide critical support to local communities who are fighting this growing epidemic.

Restrict Vaping Ads Targeted to Youth

The Governor’s legislation will restrict vaping-related ads targeted to youth, including those in more traditional forms of advertising such as newspapers and magazines, as well as in digital formats in periodicals, social media and on websites with significant youth viewership. Advertisers will also not be allowed to make vaping product safety claims or pitch vaping products as smoking cessation options without FDA-approval.

Ban Harmful Unregulated Carrier Oils

Following the alarming number of hospitalizations and deaths involving patients who had reported a history of using e-cigarettes or vaping products, Vitamin E acetate — which is sometimes used as an e-liquid diluent — has been identified as a chemical of concern. In order to quickly respond to the proliferation of these dangerous, untested and unregulated chemicals used in vaping related products, the Governor will also advance legislation to empower the Department of Health to ban the sale of vaping carrier oils that include chemicals or ingredients that when inhaled through a vaping device are deemed to be dangerous and a significant public health risk.

Limit Online Sale of Vaping Products

The current sale of e-liquids and e-cigarettes through online, phone and mail order allows underage youth to purchase products unlawfully and circumvent sales taxes. Therefore, the Governor will advance legislation restricting the online, phone and mail order sale of e-liquids and e-cigarettes only to licensed vaping product retailers. Only registered retailers would be allowed to purchase e-cigarettes using those methods. This restriction, which already applies to the sale of conventional tobacco products, will help stop the illegal sale of dangerous vaping products to underage purchasers.

End the Sale of Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products in Pharmacies

Healthcare-related entities should not be in the business of selling tobacco, the leading cause of preventable death in New York State. Ending the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products in pharmacies will help reduce the availability, visibility and social acceptability of tobacco use, especially to youth.

Prohibit the Use of Coupons for Tobacco and Nicotine Products

Research indicates that the price of tobacco products is closely tied to prevalence, especially among youth who are almost twice as “price sensitive” as adults. As a result, New York has the highest state excise tax on cigarettes and one of the lowest youth smoking rates in the nation. But the tobacco industry is also fully aware of the effect of price on smoking rates and invests nearly 85% of its over $9 billion a year marketing budget on price-reducing promotions including direct to consumer coupons and in-store discounts. These discounts undermine the public health impact of New York’s tax and prohibiting coupons and discounts would eliminate an important source of industry price manipulation.

CARLTON – An Albion man was arraigned for attempted murder in the second-degree for after he allegedly fired two shots from a rifle on Jan. 2 at Roadies Pizzeria and Sports Bar on Route 98.

Scott A. Foley, 52, also was arraigned in Orleans County Court today on charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees, reckless endangerment in the first degree, and driving while intoxicated.

The charge of attempted murder in the second degree carries a maximum of 25 years in prison. It is a more serious charge from when Foley was arrested on Jan. 2 with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree the most serious charge.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Foley showed a depraved indifference to human life by firing the rifle twice from his vehicle in the parking lot. One of the rounds was recovered inside the pizzeria and sports bar.

Foley was at Roadies and was asked to leave by one of the co-owners after a “disturbance,” Cardone said.

Foley left and returned, allegedly shooting a rifle from the parking lot.

Cardone said the incident was unprovoked and “an extremely serious situation.”

Foley has been in the county jail since his arrest. His attorney, Jim Doyle, asked that bail be set at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond. He said Foley isn’t a flight risk and would makes all of his court appearances.

Judge Sanford Church set bail at $15,000 cash or $75,000 bond. The judge also issued two orders of protections for a co-owner of Roadies and an employee.

• In another case today, a 17-year-old boy from Albion was arraigned on several counts for his role in allegedly being part of break-ins at a used car business on Ridge Road in Ridgeway and a bottle/can redemption center on Hamilton Street in Albion.

The boy, who is expected to get youthful offender status, was arraigned on two counts of burglary in the third degree, one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree, two counts of criminal mischief in in the third degree, and one count of petit larceny. He is one of three co-defendants in the case.

• The judge also issued a warrant for Jason Pullen, 35, of Rochester who has missed his last three court appearances. He was arraigned on Dec. 12 for grand larceny in the fourth degree for allegedly stealing a trailer.

ALBION – A former corrections officer at the Albion Correctional Facility was sentenced today to six months in the Orleans County Jail, plus 10 years of probation for a criminal sex act with an inmate.

David F. Stupnick, 26, of Medina also will have to register as a sex offender. A hearing was set for April 9 to determine what level he will be as a sex offender.

Stupnick pleaded guilty on Dec. 12 to criminal sex act with an inmate in the third degree. He allegedly had inappropriate sexual relations with two female inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility.

Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church issued orders of protection for the two victims.

Stupnick was arrested on May 17 by State Police and was charged with four counts of sex abuse in the 2nd degree, two counts each of criminal sex act in the 3rd degree and official misconduct.

His attorney, Cheryl Meyers Buth, asked for no jail time and only probation and community service. She said Stupnick has lost a $70,000 a year job and been prominently featured in the news throughout Western New York since his arrest. She said he fell victim to his emotions with the crime.

District Attorney Joe Cardone asked for jail time, saying corrections officers are well educated by the state Department of Corrections that they are not to have any sexual relations with inmates.

“This stuff wasn’t appropriate,” Church said during Stupnick’s sentencing. “There has to be penalties for type of conduct.”

The judge also imposed $1,425 in court fees and fines on Stupnick, including $1,000 for a sex offender victim fee, $300 for a court surcharge, $50 for a DNA database fee and $25 for a crime victim’s fee.

DePaul in July 2018 presented these renderings of how the building would look in Albion, including new sidewalks by the property on Liberty and Beaver streets.

ALBION – Construction of a 40-unit apartment project is expected to start this spring, after several years of lining up financing.

DePaul Properties of Rochester last year took down three houses on Liberty Street, between the railroad tracks and Beaver Street.

That block will be home to the DePaul Boxcar Apartments, which will have 36 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units. The one bedroom units can have up to two people and the two-bedroom apartments have room for up to four people.

“We expect tenants could begin to move in in November 2021,” said Gillian J. Conde, vice president for DePaul Properties. “We will update that projection as we go – weather is always the largest factor.”

DePaul will have staff on site to oversee the apartment complex, and also to take residents to appointments with a DePaul van.

DePaul is designing the project to support people with disabilities, including senior citizens and veterans. The organization will do extensive background checks for credit, criminal and sex offender history and evictions.

“DePaul is excited to bring new housing to the village and looks forward to being an active member of the Albion community,” Conde said.

DePaul is calling the property the Boxcar Apartments to reflect its location next to the railroad.

The new apartments will be created to fill the need for housing for persons earning up to $31,800 for a single person and a family of four earning up to $45,420, Conde said.

“The site will be enhanced with safety features that allow ageing in place, with details that address mobility issues, lighted ADA bathrooms and appliances,” she said in an email this morning. “Twenty of the apartments will offer on-site supported housing supports for persons that are frail-elderly or those with in recovery for mental health. All units are one-year leases with an on-site property manager, full-time maintenance person and nights and weekends security.”

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has penned a letter to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie requesting that Library Aid be fully funded in this year’s state budget.

Gov. Cuomo plans to cut Library Aid by $5 million this year, for a total of $91.6 million, according to his Executive Budget proposal. Furthermore, the governor aims to cut Library Construction Aid by $20 million back to a total of $14 million.

“This level of state aid is inadequate for libraries within this state and there are no other educational institutions expected to function at this level of state aid,” Hawley wrote in the letter to Heastie. “It is imperative that increases in Library Aid are made each year in proportion to the general education funding. As you know, library monies in the budget are not in line with education funding – it is separate, therefore, libraries are not recipients of those increases.”

In previous budget negotiations, Hawley was successful in working with members across the aisle and the governor in restoring proposed cuts to Library Aid.

“There should be no barrier when it comes to providing our constituents with the essential tools necessary for their betterment,” Hawley wrote. “Our constituents, who range from toddlers to the elderly, depend significantly on the services provided by our libraries. In addition, access to resources for job training, start-up businesses, consumer health, education, financial and technology training come from our libraries.”

GAINES – Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Ginny Kropf

I recently got a phone call from Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, asking if I would be willing to join the upcoming Sunday afternoon art classes taught by Pat Greene of Medina.

Me? I don’t have an artistic bone in my body. At least not the kind of art Pat Greene would teach. Pat actually paints and creates beautiful things. My artistic ability stops at stick figures and paint-by-number.

But I admire Doug and all he is doing for the Cobblestone Society, so I agreed.

The classes are geared to artists (or would-be-artists) of all levels – from beginners to advanced. And Pat said the first class would be different – something that everyone would be able to do.

So with that in mind, I arrived at the Cobblestone Church at 1 p.m. on a recent Sunday and was directed to sit in the front row. I immediately thought Pat realized I was going to need a lot of help and she had me right under her nose.

There were eight of us and I recognized Kim Remley of Albion, who I learned as the afternoon wore on was already a painter.

Pat began unpacking stacks of magazines and spread them out on the table, telling us all to come and pick out several. Then we were to go through them and tear out pages with images which appealed to us. Our first art lesson was going to be collage.

Pat said she decided to do this kind of class because she had done oil painting and watercolors and wanted to try something new. This was a jumping-off point for anything else we might want to do, she said.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: This artistic creation is mostly a collage created by Ginny Kropf, who admits she has little artistic ability. She shared her meager attempt at collage in the Cobblestone Museum’s Sunday painters’ class. Three classes remain.

“You may want to stamp it or stencil it,” Pat said. “It’s good to switch things up a bit. It could be surrealistic or it could tell a story – whatever inspires you.”

I love to cook, so the first thing I saw in the magazine I grabbed was a full-size picture of a pineapple upside down cake. Then a display of multi-colored peppers caught my eye, along with a couple of photos of lobsters. Pat began telling us about color and how we could choose a theme or things of the same color. I seemed to be drawn to things which were yellow and orange – although green is my favorite color.

The first thing we were supposed to do was choose a board – our blank canvas. Pat poured out a little green paint in a tiny paper cup, handed me a brush and told me to paint the entire background. I slathered the paint on so thick it wasn’t dry 45 minutes later, so we stood it on the floor in front of the register.

As we worked, Pat was giving us instructions or suggestions on how to proceed. She suggested tearing out our pictures instead of cutting them to give a more interesting edge. After deciding where we were going to place our pictures, we applied the decoupage and using a straight piece of cardboard, smoothed out the wrinkles.

Seated next to me was Joy Merriman of Waterport, who I soon learned was not a novice, but works in collage with fabric and paint. She had found a picture of a large red bird with giant plumes and massive tail feathers. She began cutting the bird apart and I soon saw her creation take shape.

“It reminds me of decoupage we did in Girl Scouts,” Joy said. “It’s fun to try something new.”

I wanted to try and create texture on my board by using a plastic leaf Pat provided. I held the leaf down like she said and started brushing the paint over it, but when I picked the leaf off, all I had was smudges of paint. So I started pasting my pictures over it in random fashion.

Pat suggested I try to fill in around my pictures by brushing in the spaces with a little paint. So I guess you could say I did paint.

I was put to shame, however, when I saw Kim Remley’s creation. She had decoupaged a dog right in the middle of her board, standing upright on all four legs. Then she painted around him to make it appear he was coming out of fog or clouds. Her talent as a painter was obvious.

As I watched the other women work, I realized how un-artistic I really am. But I’m not going to give up and I promised Doug I’d be back for the next class and whatever that brings.

I see the March class is on “drawing” words, and words are right up my alley, so I’m looking forward to making a better impression in that class.

There are still openings for the remaining classes on the last Sunday of February, March and April, and anyone can sign up by calling the museum at 589-9013 or e-mailing director@cobblestonemuseum.org. Each class will feature a different art form.

Pat promises everyone will start with a blank canvas and go home with a completed work of art.

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