Photo courtesy of Tim Archer, Albion Rotary Interact Club advisor
ROCHESTER – Albion High School Rotary Interact Club members recently spent part of the day at Foodlink in Rochester, helping the organization sort and stack food items for families in the local five-county region.
Pictured from left include: Annalise Steier, Aubrey Boyer, Ally Mathes, Cody Wilson, Samantha Basinait, Emily Mergler and Alanna Holman.
Foodlink helps supply Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. Interact students perform numerous community service activities throughout the school year.
Welcome to Positive Perks! Allow Me to introduce myself and the motivation behind The Blog Positive Perks From A Sassy Small Town Missus.
Do you get up in the morning and want to see the positivity in the world? Well you are not alone because so do I. The world is full of good vibes and good people. Sometimes you have to dig deep, but often goodness is right in front of you.
I told my dog Charlie, who is a rescue and came to us very afraid of people, that people are good! I find that a simple smile or hello can change a person’s entire day…and it is free. If your day is a little “grey” show someone else some kindness and see how it helps brighten your day while bringing warmth to others.
When you start to see the world through the eyes of compassion it can change the way you perceive the world. So go outside, feel the sun on your face, breathe in fresh air, see all the goodness that can be found in the most unexpected places.
While this Perks Page may not always be a direct commentary on positivity, I hope to share moments, memories, silliness, sights and sounds that bring Me Joy. If I am lucky, they will bring you joy, too. If you feel inspired to comment please do. I want to believe that by sharing our own experiences of positivity, happiness, adventure, peace, friendship and love we can prove the world is a blessed place full of kindness. That is My motivation in a nutshell as I begin this new chapter….”Act II” of a 50+ year old Sassy Small Town Missus.
As we approach Thanksgiving, I am so thankful that our community Pennysaver and Orleans Hub have invited me to share my blog post with you in this format for the next few weeks! My wish is that it will add a little happiness to your Sunday. To view My Blog live online just go to www.PositivePerksPosts.com were you can join in and leave comments on individual posts.
Currently this blog has created 13 posts, so as we go forward I will share new posts of positivity sprinkled with some of Positive Perks previous top posts. Happy Perks to Everyone!
Truly, Debbie Burgoon London
Your Sassy Small Town Missus from Albion. Happy Thanksgiving.
Photo from Iroquois Trail Council: The local council of the Boy Scouts of America is moving its service office to this site in Oakfield at 102 South Main St.
OAKFIELD – The office for the Iroquois Trail Council is moving from Batavia to Oakfield. That service office of the local council of the Boy Scouts will be closed next week while the office moves from the GO Art! building at 201 East Main St. in Batavia to 102 South Main St. in Oakfield.
“The address is central to our 5-county service area, and is about a 5-minute drive from the Batavia Tops, Walmart & other retailers,” the Boy Scouts announced in an email to supporters today. “We will reopen for regular business in our new location on Monday, December 2.”
The Boy Scouts welcome the community for a grand opening celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 14 at the office in Oakfield.
Local Scouting leaders did an exhaustive search of properties in and around the Batavia area. The local council said the Oakfield location on Route 63 will lower annual operating costs “while investing in our own property instead of continuing to rent shared space in downtown Batavia.” This is in keeping with the scouting principle of being “thrifty.”
The Oakfield location also has ample grounds for an outdoor training area where leaders can learn the basics of outdoor teaching methods.
“Although a significant lead gift and many additional contributions have helped to make the Service Center purchase possible, the Council is seeking gifts to help make the space fully functional,” the Council stated in the email to supporters.
For information on giving opportunities, contact Scout Executive Jim McMullen at 585-343-0307 or info@itcbsa.org.
This file photo from 2014 shows three turkeys outside Al Capurso’s house in Gaines.He raised the turkeys with his son Kenny.
The 2019 New York Farm Bureau Market Basket Survey reveals a 15 percent price decrease for the classic Thanksgiving Day dinner compared to the price of last year’s meal.
The average total price this year, which includes a 16-pound turkey, is $48.73. This is down over last year’s survey of $57.54, much of that attributed to a reduction in retail turkey prices.
Turkey prices are about $1.27 per pound in New York State, down about 31 percent on average in this informal survey compared to 2018. Prices found by volunteer shoppers ranged from $.37/lb. to $2.49/lb. This price is comparable to the national average of $1.30 per pound. As we move closer to Thanksgiving, turkey prices may continue to drop in the stores, reflecting sales in the final days before the holiday.
The New York numbers did show modest price increase in several categories including for a gallon of whole milk, Libby’s Pumpkin Pie Mix, and for many of the vegetables on the list.
This year’s survey also includes comparable numbers for an expanded menu that includes a four-pound ham, five-pound bag of russet potatoes and a package of frozen green beans. New York Farm Bureau included those in the survey for the first-time last year, reflecting more diversity in traditional Thanksgiving meals. When those prices are included, the total meal price jumps to $62.26.
The survey reveals that the classic meal remains affordable with a price point of under five dollars per person for a 10-person meal. The affordability demonstrates that although farmers and ranchers are dealing with a variety of issues, consumers still benefit from lower retail prices, in part because the actual cost of the food – the portion paid to farmers – is only eight cents of each dollar consumers spend on food at the store.
“It is good news for consumers that this year’s dinner is more affordable than last Thanksgiving,” said Phyllis Couture, Chair of New York Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Committee. “Farmers have faced a difficult year with low commodity prices, weather challenges and trade disruptions, but because of their tenacity and hard work, Americans can still enjoy a nutritious dinner on their tables. This season, we should all give thanks to the farm families and their employees in New York who make it possible to feed ourselves.”
This survey is one of the responsibilities of the NYFB State Promotion and Education Committee which also participates in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Quarterly Market Basket Survey. AFBF’s 34th annual informal national price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average national cost of this year’s feast is $48.91, slightly more than New York’s number. The national price for the expanded menu is $62.32. More information on the national survey can be found at www.fb.org.
New York Farm Bureau’s volunteer shoppers sampled prices at 31 different supermarkets throughout the state trying to get the best prices available, but they did not use promotional coupons or special deals such as “buy one-get one free.”
The shopping list includes 15 common Thanksgiving food items ranging from turkey and rolls to stuffing and celery to pumpkin pie mix, enough to feed 10 people around the dinner table. An average for miscellaneous ingredients, like flour and butter, is also included.
The 2019 Thanksgiving survey displayed considerable price variation across the state as well as within the regions surveyed. No area had the highest or lowest in every category. The best advice for shoppers is to compare prices to save money. The numbers below reflect the overall average of the volunteer shoppers, and this is not meant to be a true scientific survey, but rather a snapshot of what shoppers may find leading up to the holiday.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The bridge on Route 104 in Ridgeway is shown last month. The bridge over Oak Orchard Creek is scheduled to be replaced in 2021.
RIDGEWAY – The State Department of Transportation is planning to replace a bridge on Route 104, with the work to start in 2021.
The DOT will have a public information meeting on Dec. 12 at Ridgeway Town Hall in Medina to discuss the project. The open-house style meeting will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Ridgeway Town Hall, 410 West Ave. in Medina.
DOT staff will be on hand to share project information, receive public comments and answer individual questions. No formal presentation will be made as part of the meeting
Those interested in attending may arrive at any time during the scheduled meeting to review project details, including the scope of work and planned traffic detours during construction, which is slated to begin in 2021.
For further information, or to request a sign language interpreter or assistive listening system, please contact Katherine Fragale at 585-371-9245 or Katherine.Fragale@dot.ny.gov.
U.S. Attorney says defendants profited from crimes that fueled drug overdoses in Monroe County
Press Release, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., Western District of New York
ROCHESTER – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that five defendants, including a former Holley resident, were arrested in two separate complaints involving multi-million dollar schemes to buy and re-sell stolen merchandise.
Thomas Nary, 35, of Rochester, Eric Finnefrock, 27, of Rochester (formerly of Holley), Ralph Swain, 30, of Farmington, Devin Tribunella, 35, of Rochester, and Wade Shadders, 22, of Rochester are all charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, selling and conspiring to sell stolen goods across state lines, and engaging in financial transactions involving the proceeds of this unlawful activity. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Defendants Finnefrock, Swain, and Tribunella are also charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
According to the complaint against defendants Nary, Finnefrock, and Swain, Nary owns and operates Rochester Pawn & Gold (RPG) located at 1440 Dewey Avenue in Rochester. RPG has one of the highest volumes of purchases and sales of any pawnshop in Monroe County. Finnefrock has been an employee of RPG since April 2015. Swain has been an employee since March 2018.
According to the complaint against defendant Tribunella and Shadders, Tribunella owns and operates Royal Crown Pawn & Jewelry (Royal Crown) located at 3635 Dewey Avenue in Rochester. Like RPG, Royal Crown has one of the highest volumes of purchases and sales of any pawnshop in Monroe County. Shadders has been an employee since April 2019.
The complaints state that individuals struggling with opiate addiction have been stealing merchandise from Rochester area retail stores, including CVS, Wegmans, Walmart, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Circuit City, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot, and selling the stolen merchandise to pawnshops, such as RPG and Royal Crown.
The defendants are alleged to have knowingly purchased stolen, new-in-box goods from these individuals for a fraction of the retail value. In order to perpetuate this scheme, the defendants made false and fraudulent representations in an online database known as LeadsOnline as well as in their User Agreements with eBay and Amazon. The defendants would subsequently re-sell the stolen goods on eBay and Amazon and ship them to buyers, including to buyers located outside of New York State.
The complaints further allege that the defendants specifically recruited individuals who struggle with addiction and who use the proceeds of their “sales” of stolen merchandise to purchase illegal drugs. The defendants would identify those items they were interested in having stolen based on what was in high demand or selling at a high profit on eBay. The defendants purchased numerous new-in-box items from the same boosters multiple times per week and sometimes even multiple times each day. The defendants typically bought the stolen merchandise for a small fraction, approximately 30%, of its retail value.
Between January 1, 2015, and August 14, 2019, defendants Nary, Finnefrock, and Swain, are accused of purchasing and re-selling at least $12,481,840.48 worth of stolen goods on eBay and Amazon at RPG.
In addition, between January 1, 2017, and September 16, 2019, defendants Tribunella and Shadders are accused of purchasing and re-selling $3,248,426.79 in stolen goods on eBay.
Notably, the easy access to cash these entities provided to drug users who were willing to steal merchandise has contributed to the opioid epidemic in the Rochester area community. For example, in 2018, 930 people overdosed in Monroe County. Of those, 542 (over half) had a history of selling stolen merchandise to pawnshops.
Similarly, as of September 24, 2019, 228 of the 522 individuals who have overdosed in Monroe County so far this year, have a history of selling to pawnshops. Moreover, during 2018 and 2019, there have been 15 recorded instances of individuals selling merchandise to RPG and Royal Crown within five days of overdosing; three of those overdoses were fatal.
By way of example, on October 18, 2019, an individual identified as V.C. suffered a fatal overdose. V.C. had three recorded sales to RPG for a total of $650 in the weeks prior to his death, with the last sale occurring on October 17, 2019, the day before V.C.’s death, when V.C. sold an Apple iPad to RPG for $130.
This cycle of theft and re-sale has also resulted in Monroe County having some of the highest incidents of retail theft in the country, according to statistics maintained by nationwide retailers.
“While the link between property crimes and drug addiction has long been recognized, this prosecution demonstrates an undeniable link between the property crimes from which these defendants’ profited and overdose deaths in our community,” stated U. S. Attorney Kennedy. “The conduct of RPG and Royal Crown was egregious. It’s one thing to come up with a scheme that deprives retailers of their profits. However, it is unconscionable to devise a scheme, as these defendants are alleged to have done, in which success is defined as the ability to get drug addicted individuals to do your dirty work by rewarding them with the means to do further harm to—or even kill—themselves.”
“The irresponsible and malicious business operations purported by Royal Crown Pawn & Jewelry and Rochester Pawn & Gold go well beyond illegal financial activities,” stated IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan D. Larsen. “The defendants’ actions fuel the current opioid crisis, endanger a community and threaten the stability of our economy. IRS special agents use their financial investigative expertise to end these types of crimes and bring criminals to justice.”
Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary stated: “Organized retail crime is a serious and growing offense. The Rochester Police Department will work to hold Pawn Shop operators responsible when they do not comply with the current system of checks and accountability.”
$30 million available for businesses in Orleans, 7 other counties
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the application period for the Lake Ontario Business Resiliency Program is now open to businesses and other organizations directly impacted by the historic flooding of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River earlier this year.
The Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative Commission has made available up to $30 million to support resiliency-related capital improvement projects at affected businesses and other eligible organizations, which may qualify for reimbursement of up to 50 percent of project costs, with a maximum award of $200,000.
“The historic flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River left unprecedented damage in its wake, and we have committed significant resources to help ensure impacted businesses can make repairs, recover and once again drive our regional economies forward,” Governor Cuomo said. “As we continue to focus on regionally-significant rebuilding and resiliency efforts, it is critical to make this funding available to businesses as it will provide much needed support and financial relief and help all communities with their recovery efforts.”
Eligible applicants include most private businesses, homeowner’s associations, certain not-for profits, farms, and owners of multiple dwellings used for business purposes located in the eight-county coverage area.
Additional requirements include:
• Applicants must have been impacted by flooding between January 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019, or, if not directly damaged and sufficient funding is available, possess a demonstrated vulnerability to future flood-related damage.
• Applicants must receive a local matching contribution from their municipality totaling at least 5 percent of the program assistance funds. This contribution may include, but is not limited to:
Tax abatements and exemptions, including from an Industrial Development Authority
Local government fee waivers of the costs of ordinarily due permits and fees
Direct expenditures by local governments on project-related infrastructure costs
Eligible capital projects must reduce the applicant’s vulnerability to risks that were experienced during the high water events along the shores of Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and other nearby waterways such as flooding or erosion.
Examples of eligible projects could include:
• Elevating and or moving, landward, non-water dependent features such as offices, restrooms, stores, restaurants, parking or boat storage;
• Raising/relocating fueling facilities;
• Converting to floating docks or other docks that allow for movement with water levels (adapted to both high and low water) such that docks can raise to a minimum elevation;
• Strengthening existing dockage by evaluating and strengthening connection points between dock sections (typically the weakest point in a dock’s design); and
• Retaining and/or creating vegetated buffers along the waterfront.
Applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2020. Applications and program guidelines, including the full list of project criteria, are available on the Empire State Development website (click here).
The funding is a component of Governor Cuomo’s REDI, which includes a multi-agency commission that has been studying ways to strengthen infrastructure along Lake Ontario’s waterfront while bolstering the region’s local economies. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million to rebuild the shoreline, as well as improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario.
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner, President & CEO-Designate and REDI Commission Co-Chair Eric Gertler said, “Businesses are a key part of a community’s vibrancy, and their resilience is essential to a region’s long-term economic success. We have partnered with all stakeholders throughout the REDI process, including the business community, to ensure the necessary expertise and resources are available to not only rebuild, but to rebuild to a higher standard of resiliency in the face of future storms.”
ALBION – This morning five Albion High School students participated in the annual Oratorical Contest. They include, from left: Molly Wadhams, Ashlyn LeBaron, William Barnosky, Quinn McCue and Declan McCue.
Students wrote and presented a speech that pertained to some aspect of the U.S. Constitution. They had to research a topic of interest to them and use supporting documents to state their case. Social Studies teacher Rich Gannon is the organizer of this event and if requested, offers assistance and feedback to students as they research information and prepare their 8-10 minute speech.
Molly Wadhams took first place with her oration entitled “Freedom of Speech – Stand Up.”
Ashlyn LeBaron was the second place winner. She delivered an oration about “Religious Freedom.”
William Barnosky spoke about the “Multiple Purposes of the U.S. Constitution.”
Quinn McCue’s speech was “The Rights, Duties and Obligations of Citizens,” while her brother, Declan McCue, delivered an oration about the “Rights of Americans.”
The school contest is sponsored by the American Legion Sheret Post #35. Gary Befus (Adjutant), Wally Skrypnik (Commander), Phil Warne (Finance Officer), Joe Gehl (Board Member) and Bob Gilsinan (Vice-Commander) were judges for the contest. Students received a monetary prize from the Legion.
The first and second place winners will now move on to the County level competition. It will take place on Dec. 7 at noon in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2019 at 11:40 am
BATAVIA – The Lyndonville school superintendent is one of three finalists to be the next leader of the Batavia City School District.
Jason Smith
Jason Smith is a Batavia resident. He has served as Lyndonville superintendent the past eight years.
Smith grew up in Batavia and has worked as a teacher and vice principal in Albion, and then as a principal in Elba, before going to Lyndonville.
The Batavia district held community meetings this week for the public to meet the finalists. Besides Smith, Batavia is considering Anibal Soler, Jr., an associate superintendent for the Buffalo Public Schools; and Joleen Dimitroff, principal of Sweet Home’s Glendale Elementary School.
The district wants to have the new superintendent in place by Feb. 3, according to The Daily News in Batavia.
In a press release from the Batavia school district, Smith is praised for leading extensive curriculum work at Lyndonville in math and English Language Arts with full alignment to the Common Core. Those changes resulted in a near 100 percent increase in math scores from 2013 to 2014.
Smith implemented APPR requirements with alignment to the Framework for Teaching and Leadership standards and provided on-going administrator professional development to ensure consistency of teacher observations.
At Lyndonville, he supervises over 100 staff and faculty members, and a student body of about 650.
Orleans Community Health will continue to offer many services in Medina, Albion and Batavia
Press Release, Mark Cye, President/CEO of Orleans Community Health
MEDINA – Due to the recent $1 million reduction in state funding, Orleans Community Health (OCH) will be implementing staff reductions and re-assignments in order to maintain health services in our community.
The re-evaluating of operations is nothing new to the healthcare industry but is essential to allow us to keep providing the quality care that Orleans Community Health provides.
OCH will continue to meet your needs as a community hospital by offering quality services including: Surgical, Medical Surgical, Transitional Care, Emergency Department, Imaging, Cardiac, Laboratory and Residential Care.
We will also continue to offer Renal Dialysis in Batavia and Medina, as well as Primary Care, Walk-In Care, Laboratory, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Occupational Health Services in Albion.
In addition, we will continue to explore viable options to expand services to our local community while maintaining fiscal stability. We recently added podiatry and urology services and in December, we will be opening a Wound Care Center at the hospital.
Our mission continues to be to improve the health of the community we serve by providing equal access to quality health care services, at the right time, in the right place, with the most efficient use of resources.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2019 at 10:24 am
CARLTON – The Lakeside Bridge in Carlton, north of Kuckville, will get significant repairs over the winter and will be closed to traffic several hours during work days.
The Orleans County Legislature on Thursday approved a $308,126 construction bid from C.P. Ward in Scottsville.
The Lakeside Bridge will get new deck panels, expansion bearings on the east end and underside truss bearings.
The federal government is paying 80 percent of the costs, with the state paying 15 percent and the county the remaining 5 percent.
The bridge is the only way across Johnson Creek in the area known as the peninsula by Lake Ontario. The contractor can’t close off the bridge for months while the work is done because residents and service vehicles need to get across.
John Papponetti, the county highway superintendent, said he expects work to start next month and be complete in early April.
The contractor will likely have the bridge closed to traffic from 8 to 11 a.m. and then from noon to 3 p.m. on days when the contractor is on site. That will keep the bridge open to traffic for most of the day, and still allow contractors to get work done.
Papponetti said the contractor will develop a schedule – which is dependent on weather – and that will be communicated with residents in the community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2019 at 8:42 am
Medal of Honor recipient returns to alma mater with message of thanksgiving for small-town life
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – David Bellavia, a 1994 Lyndonville graduate, returned to his alma mater on Thursday. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 25 during a ceremony at the White House.
In this photo, he shows the medal to fourth-grader Christopher Atkins. Elementary students lined the hallway for Bellavia, who was a staff sergeant in the Army.
David Bellavia speaks to about 400 students in grades 5 to 12 during an assembly at the school. Students were shown a video of him while he was deployed to Iraq.
He received the nation’s highest military honor for risking his life on Nov. 10, 2004 – his 29th birthday. Bellavia defended his fellow soldiers while serving in the second battle of Fallujah, Iraq.
As a squad leader in Operation Phantom Fury, a 2004 American offensive on the western Iraqi City of Fallujah, Bellavia saved his entire squad when he cleared a housing block of enemy combatants who had pinned down his unit. Once Bellavia secured the safety of his squad, he re-engaged with the enemy combatants, re-entered the house where enemy fire was located, proceeded to kill four enemy insurgents, and wounded a fifth.
During a speech to 400 Lyndonville students in grades 5 to 12, Bellavia said he often thought of his time at Lyndonville school while he was deployed. He thought of teachers and classmates, and those memories gave him comfort and courage in battle.
During battle, he said he would think of his soccer coach, teachers and classmates.
“What gives you the energy and drive to face fear? This is what you think about,” he said scanning the crowd of students and teachers. “It’s right here. This is my safe space when I get freaked out.”
Lyndonville students and staff met with Bellaria after his speech and he accommodated the many requests for photos.
He told the students they live in a great community, where people are engaged in service to others. They can be in multiple school activities – several sports, the band, the musical and more. They know their classmates and the kids in the grade levels above them and below them.
It’s a great place, the greatest town in the world, but Bellavia didn’t realize when he was in school.
“I spent my childhood just wanting to get out of here,” he said. “You get out in the world and you realize I have the best hometown in the world.”
Bellavia told the students receiving the Medal of Honor is like “being struck by a comet.” He is grateful for the attention it has brought to the unit he served with in Iraq, and he is happy when the media highlight his hometown.
He urged people to consider serving in the military. If they don’t follow that path, they can contribute to the community and society in so many others ways. Being from Lyndonville isn’t a deterrence in pursuing their dreams. The school district has produced doctors, lawyers, innovative farmers, and top performers in many fields.
“There are no excuses to not launch of Lyndonville and go into the next stratosphere,” he told the students. “That is what we’re doing here.”
Students lined the hallway for David Bellavia in his return to the school on Thursday.
He encouraged the students to always give an honest effort, even when the outcome seems bleak.
Bellavia played varsity soccer and basketball for the Tigers. The basketball teams struggled during his era, but Bellavia said the team played hard in their games, even in blowouts. The opponents knew they Lyndonville wouldn’t just lie down despite a disadvantage in size. (Bellavia said the team had a 5-foot, 8-inch center.)
“In Lyndonville, we’re never going to let you beat us,” he said. “We don’t quit.”
He is proud of the effort from those basketball and soccer teams. He even recalled a win over the powerful Kendall boys soccer team.
Before the student assembly, Bellavia met with Lyndonville community leaders, including Jim Simon, the Yates town supervisor. Simon had a long career in the Air Force. He and Bellavia are saluting each other.
Bellavia said people often thank him for his military service. He wasn’t sure how to respond. But a Vietnam War veteran told him he should tell people, “You are worth it.” That is what he often tells people now while he is traveling around the country.
David Bellavia embraces math teacher Jim O’Connor after Bellavia’s presentation. Jeff Gress is another teacher at left.
Bellavia was asked if he could do anything different if he could go back in time when he was a student. Besides a better haircut instead of the long hair he had then, he said he wished he had thanked the teachers and staff for their dedication. He wished he had let his friends know how much they meant to him.
“Tell people you care,” he said. “Tell your mom and dad, your granddad that you love them.”
After Bellavia concluded his presentation, one of his former teachers – Jeff Gress – yelled out, “You were worth it, Dave.”
David Bellavia had many funny comments during his presentation. Jason Smith, the school district superintendent, laughs at one of Bellavia’s one-liners.
Each student had a chance to hold the Medal of Honor. Bellavia is the first living Iraq War veteran to receive the nation’s highest military honor.
Dr. Clark Godshall, superintendent of the Orleans-Niagara BOCES, holds the Medal of Honor during a meet and greet with Bellavia before the student assembly.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2019 at 9:38 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Skip Draper today presented a recognition award to the Medina Marching Band for winning the state title last month at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Accepting the recognition for the band includes from left: McKenna Callard, Lacey Kenward, Jada Draper and Miranda Zelazny.
Medina on Oct. 27 won the Small Schools 1 Division in New York State Field Band Conference Championship. Medina scored 91.6, which topped the seven other marching bands in the division.
The band this season performed to a program titled, “Walk the Path.” This was Medina’s 53rd season competing as a marching band.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2019 at 9:16 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone spoke at today’s County Legislature meeting and shared concerns over new state laws that will eliminate bail for non-violent felonies and all misdemeanors and violations. (County Legislator Skip Draper, left, and County Attorney Kathy Bogan listen to Cardone’s presentation.)
New discovery laws also mean defendants will be seeing names and addresses of informants and witnesses, and the DA’s Office needs to turn over all documents and body cam video to the defense within 15 days of an arrest. That includes lab results. The DA currently has 45 days to provide all that information and lab results.
“This is unchartered territory for us with how our criminal justice system works,” Cardone said during today’s meeting. “These are all new things we’ve never had to deal with before.”
Law enforcement officers and elected officials held many news conferences today around the state, including one in Clarence, urging the state to delay implementing the reforms.
The state hasn’t provided funding to meet the new statues. In Orleans County, four new positions will need to be created – two in the District Attorney’s Office and two in Probation – at an estimated cost of $350,000.
The State Legislature and Gov. Cuomo passed the discovery laws and bail reform as part of the state budget approved on March 31. Cardone said the legislation was snuck into the budget without feedback from the public or law enforcement community.
He worries people will be given appearance tickets and released into the community where they could be a danger to others and themselves.
Many people are arrested for drug crimes and time in jail can often help them get sober and be connected to treatment, Cardone said.
On Jan. 1, they will be released soon after an arrest.
Judges will be releasing most people facing felonies on their own recognizance, with an appearance ticket for an upcoming court date. (Another new requirement: Law enforcement officers need to get contact information from the defendants and send them reminders about court appearances.)
Judges can hold people in jail if they are charged with murder, violating orders of protection, rape and child pornography. Some felonies, such as second-degree manslaughter, illegal drug possession and sales, even second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary won’t have options for bail.
“Our concern is we need to protect our local community,” Cardone said. “These are very serious times and very serious concerns.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2019 at 8:45 pm
LYNDONVILLE – Mike Luczak was driving on West Yates Center Road in Lyndonville with his 3-year-old son when the glass shattered in the back window of his 2012 Ford Focus.
Luczak was alarmed by the broken glass, and a small hole in the back seat of the his car. He is thankful he and his son weren’t harmed.
He posted on Facebook about the incident that happened at 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday. That Facebook post has been widely shared.
State troopers and DEC conservation officers have been working on the case since the incident and haven’t found a bullet despite a thorough search of the car and the broken glass. They have canvassed the area and there weren’t any hunters in the area at that time or people doing target practice, said Vern Fonda, a DEC conservation officer.
The hole in the back seat also appears to be a burn mark and not from a bullet, Fonda said.
“We have no idea what shattered it,” he said. “We found no signs of a bullet or a round. We have nothing consistent inside the car with a bullet.”
Fonda and the officers checked the fields for a half mile from the incident and there weren’t any footprints in the snow. They went house to house and have pursued other leads.
Luczak hit a deer with the car about a month ago, Fonda said. He thinks it’s possible that there was spontaneous glass breaking, which sometimes happens days or weeks after a car or glass is hit hard.
“We found no evidence that anybody was hunting or shooting,” Fonda said. “I don’t want residents in my area to be scared about it.”
