Drivers urged not to swerve if deer enters roadway
Photo by Tom Rivers: These deer are shown by West Barre Road in Barre on Oct. 12, 2018
Press Release, State Police
Every October and November, State Troopers handle an increased number of vehicles collisions striking deer in Troop A – Western New York. Operators should use caution around dusk and dawn.
If you are operating a vehicle and a deer enters the roadway do not swerve. When an operator swerves to avoid a deer, the vehicle is more likely to strike another vehicle or exit the roadway striking trees or utility poles.
If you strike a deer, remain at the scene and call 911. An accident report can be completed by Troopers if your vehicle has over $1,000 in damage or if an involved person has been injured.
State Police Troop A stats for car/deer collisions include:
GOP in Assembly wants to establish youth apprenticeship program for many technical careers
Press Release, State Assembly Minority Conference
SANBORN – Assemblymen Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River), Mike Norris (R,I,C,Ref-Lockport) and Angelo Morinello (R,C,I,Ref-Niagara Falls), alongside other members of the Assembly Minority Conference, hosted a forum on Tuesday evening in Sanborn to discuss the best ways to transition students from high school into the workplace and ensure they possess the skills required to obtain a career in the trade or field of their choosing.
The Assembly Minority Task Force on Learning for Work hosted its first of six regional forums at Orleans/Niagara BOCES. Specifically, the forum sought feedback from educational, trade and industrial leaders, students and the public in regard to the proposed Learning for Work Program (A.4255, Ra) and its role in helping to address the “middle-skills gap” in the state.
“Our Conference’s ‘Learning for Work’ legislation would create an apprenticeship program aimed at furthering students’ workplace education through hands-on experience, helping to prepare them for a wide variety of technical careers,” said Assemblyman Blankenbush, task force co-chairman. “There are available jobs out there, and if we can successfully combine coursework with real-world training, we can pair up skilled workers with those vacant positions. Our state’s economic health, viability and competitiveness depend on a well-trained, skilled workforce.”
“Four-year degrees are a great tool for some individuals to achieve their career goals, but too many young people are told at an early age they must obtain one in order to succeed. That’s simply not the case,” said Assemblyman Norris, task force co-chairman. “As early as middle school, we must start encouraging more students to enroll in technical and trade-school programs, and that starts with proper messaging. Success should not be measured by how long someone goes to school; it should be measured by how well-suited an individual is for the program and career path they’re on.”
The feedback and first-hand information gathered during the task force forums will be used to better understand the strengths of, and areas in which to improve, current legislation to ensure all students are well-equipped to enter the 21st Century workforce. At the conclusion of the forums, a report, including a summary of findings and targeted policy solutions, will be generated and brought to the Legislature.
“When it comes to workforce development, more can be done to prepare students for their potential career paths early on in high school. Rather than touting the benefits of earning a degree from a four-year college, we should acknowledge that every student has a different skill set. The Learning for Work Program goes to great lengths to provide students with workplace experience and valuable skills that will help them later in life,” said Assemblyman Morinello. “If we continue exposing students to real-life experiences and utilizing BOCES programs, apprentice programs, community colleges’ course offerings and foster relationships with the local business community, we can help fill the skills gap that currently exists in New York.”
“This task force is seeking to build on the legislation our Conference has been promoting for years, and further integrate support for learning and skills-development and long-term employment by bridging the skills gap that currently exists,” said Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia). “I am confident what we have learned here this evening will help to elaborate on the framework that currently exists and set today’s students up for successful futures.”
The next regional forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica. For more information about the task force, please contact the Assembly Minority Office of Public Affairs at 518-455-5073.
Photo courtesy of NYS Department of Transportation: The canal bridge on Densmore Road has reopened following repairs.
Press Release, NYS Department of Transportation
ALBION – The New York State Department of Transportation today announced that the bridge carrying Densmore Road over the Erie Canal in Albion re-opened following a six-month closure as part of an ongoing $11 million project to rehabilitate seven Erie Canal Truss Bridges across Orleans County.
Repairs included replacing the flooring system, low chords, gusset plates and truss members with high-strength galvanized steel to raise the legal weigh limit on the bridge and provide continued safe access for residents, local farms and businesses in the area.
The bridge carrying Densmore Road over the Erie Canal was the second in a series of seven canal bridges to close for repair as part of this project. The DOT has also reopened the Bennetts Corners Road bridge in Murray after repairs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2019 at 2:55 pm
ALBION – Registered voters in Orleans County will have the option to cast their ballots in early voting this year.
The county will accept ballots at the Board of Elections from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3. The county will have election inspectors on site and residents can vote as in any other election.
The option is part of a state mandate to allow greater access to the polls. The state is providing Orleans County with $27,251 towards the cost of implementing the reform.
The state is requiring at least one polling location for early voting for every 50,000 registered voters. The county was able to meet the standard with one polling location because it has 24,590 registered voters.
The Board of Elections moved in July from a suite in the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility to the new addition on the County Administration Building, located behind the nursing home at 14016 Route 31.
The county will have four election inspectors on duty – 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats – for early voting.
The hours the polls will be open include:
Oct. 26-27 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oct. 28 (Monday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 29-30 (Tuesday and Wednesday) from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Oct. 31-Nov. 1 (Thursday and Friday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nov. 2-3 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The general election is Nov. 5 with polls in the 10 towns in Orleans County open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2019 at 1:43 pm
Funding would target economic development, housing, and waterfront
MEDINA – Village officials have been anxiously awaiting word from the Governor’s Office whether Medina will be awarded a $10 million grant through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Ten of those grants will be announced around the state. Gov. Cuomo has already announced five: Fulton in Central New York, Baldwin in Long Island, Peekskill in the Mid-Hudson, Hornell in the Southern Tier and the Niagara Falls Bridge District in WNY.
Medina is in the Finger Lakes region. This is the fourth round of the DRI, where communities submit applications and the state decides the winner. Previous $10 million grant winners in the Finger Lakes region include the City of Geneva in 2016, the City of Batavia in 2017 and the Village of Penn Yan last year.
‘Within the past few years, it has become increasingly evident that this historic and vibrant village has become a destination for young entrepreneurs, hastening a multifaceted commercial and cultural renaissance driven by considerable private investment.” – Chris Busch, Medina Planning Board chairman
Medina faces stiff competition for the $10 million. Some of the applicants include the Village of Waterloo, City of Canandaigua, Town of Seneca Falls and the Village of Newark.
Medina Mayor Michael Sidari said the community has put together a strong application. It benefitted from the work of committee that completed a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan to better utilize the Erie Canal, Oak Orchard Creek and Glenwood Lake.
The DRI program is intended to transform vulnerable, vacant or forgotten areas of the state into livable, walkable, dynamic neighborhoods.
Communities should show existing momentum with public and private investment in the neighborhood and surrounding areas.
Medina was able to count $375 million in recent investment, led by Baxter which acquired the Medina operation of Sigma International for about $250 million and has spent another $10 million upgrading its facility in the Olde Pickle Factory.
“Medina has experienced outsized capital investment and job creation in recent years for a community of its size,” the village states in its application. “Companies like Fortune 500 Baxter have invested an estimated $10 million in local infrastructure and added 400 jobs since 2012, many of which pay more than $100,000 per year.
“Canadian firms like Brunner, Pride Pak, and Hinspergers leverage Medina to access US markets, while local investors have contributed more than $10 million to grow their own businesses and to restore some of the most historically significant properties in New York State. Funding from the DRI will allow Downtown Medina to build off these recent economic successes and will likely encourage additional private investment into our growing and diversifying economy.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: Medina officials believe the Canal Basin could be a bigger asset with more amenities for boaters and better entrances and seating areas on the rear sides of Main Street businesses.
Some of the recent investments in Medina include:
• $6 million at Bent’s Opera House, for restaurant, hotel and performing art space;
• $10 million by Brunner on a 48,000-square-foot expansion in 2014;
• $6.75 by Cobblestone Hotel for a new 10,567 square-foot building will include 58 hotel rooms, a 50-plus person conference room, and a bar.
• Hinspergers Poly Industries, multi-million investment, doubling the complex to its current 83,000 square-foot footprint.
• Newell Shirt Factory Building – $1.5 million historic restoration project converted an 1876 shirt factory into a trendy, upscale coffee shop and craft cocktail bar with law offices and extended-stay lofts on the upper floors.
• The Olde Pickle Factory (Fisher Price) – Nearly $8 million has been invested in this 430,000 square-foot facility to create a state-of-the-art facility that can house a diverse array of tenants.
• Pride Pak – $30 million in 2016 to construct a 68,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility for vegetable processing and packaging.
• Takeform has invested more than $10 million in the last 5 years in infrastructure, equipment, software technology, and human capital, and recently completed a 15,000 square-foot expansion to accommodate growth.
• BMP spent $1.8 million to double manufacturing space in 2004.
• Western New York Energy spent $90 million in 2006-07 to build the first ethanol plant in the Northeast United States.
• 414/416 Main Street – $750,000 investment to transform 9,000 square feet into a single-family home, co-working space and a restaurant (Mile 303).
• Village of Medina water and sewer upgrades at $8 million. The village has recently begun a $7.3 million upgrade to its wastewater treatment plant and completed a $800,000 upgrade to its water system. These investments will facilitate the expansion of the Medina Business Park and the growth of the village.
Medina wants to build off those successes and investments. Medina lists $29 million in projects. If the community’s $10 million application is approved, Medina will need to work with the state to determine how to divvy up the $10 million.
Medina wants to add pedestrian amenities to the pathway behind the buildings facing the Canal Basin.
Medina’s application lists the following projects to be considered for DRI funding:
• Streetscape Improvements at an estimated $1 million in DRI funding
Medina wants to improve the downtown pedestrian experience through street furniture, landscaping, and crosswalk enhancements on Main Street and Pearl Street.
The village wants to enhance crosswalks; add more benches, bike racks, trash receptacles and pedestrian lighting; and plant more street trees and shrubs.
• Rail with Trail, a multi-use trail along the Medina Railroad from the museum to Main Street, at an estimated DRI funding request of $200,000
The village wants to improve a gap within the pedestrian network and improve the connectivity from the Railroad Museum to the downtown. A “rail-with-trail” would create a multi-use path alongside the rail line.
• The Canal Village Farmer’s Market would become a year-round market with a community kitchen, distillery and event space as part of a $3 million project, with $2.8 million in DRI funding
The market is in its fifth year at the northeast corner of West Center Street and West Avenue. The market, which is run by Orleans Renaissance Group, currently operates on select weekends throughout the year out of a small building and temporary stands in the parking lot.
The ORG is seeking to construct a large, enclosed structure to allow for continuous, year-round operation of the market. The structure will be anchored by three tenants: the farmer’s market with a community kitchen and exhibit space; a distillery or microbrewery on the second floor; and a rooftop event space.
• Canal Basin Park – Improved waterfront access and amenities at the Canal Basin Park for $2 million, to be funded with the DRI.
The village in its application says the spot is hampered by an “overabundance of paved parking space and limited recreational access to the Erie Canal.” Medina wants to increase public access to the waterfront area and encourage recreational and passive use at this prime waterfront location.
Recommended improvements include:
• Installation of a pedestrian boardwalk along the rear facades of Main Street buildings;
• Conversion of the existing parking space into public greenspace with access to the Erie Canal;
• Construction of a promenade along the Erie Canal;
• Installation of boating docks on the Erie Canal;
• Comfort amenities, such as restrooms and showers;
• Crosswalk enhancements to improve pedestrian connection across East Center Street.
The village anticipates the changes would prompt building owners to “activate the rear facades of the buildings on Main Street, creating commercial opportunities on both sides of these structures and allowing for the development of new businesses.”
• State Street Park – enhanced programming to make the park a year-round recreational destination, with an ice skating rink, enhanced lighting, boat tie-ups, benches and bicycle racks, and a construction of a nature trail at a $600,000 cost, with the DRI funding $500,000.
The installation of motor boat tie-ups will allow boaters on the canal to join in on the enjoyment of local musicians’ performances at the bandstand during the summer months while the ice skating rink will allow for winter activities and encourage continued use of the park even during the off-season, the village stated in its application.
• Lions Park Boater Access – The village seeks $250,000 for the DRI to install boat tie-ups and docking facilities at the Lions Park near the Route 63 lift bridge.
The village, in its application, says boater amenities and docking infrastructure are limited within Medina. Throughout the community engagement process, the public consistently expressed a need for additional boater amenities along the waterfront.
This project also includes the creation of a fitness trail through Lions Park, with various pieces of fitness equipment located along the trail.
• Medina Falls Overlook – The village wants to better utilize the Medina waterfalls by adding a viewing platform and overlook off the Erie Canalway Trail, near the Horan Road Bridge. The project would cost an estimated $1.9 million with the DRI funding $1.5 million.
“Medina Falls is one of the Village’s stunning natural wonders,” according to the village’s application. “Its 40-foot drop dazzles onlookers and makes a great challenge for any kayakers willing to brave it. The scenic Falls, however, lacks an easily accessible viewing point and is obscured by brush, foliage, and a significant grade change that can be dangerous for interested onlookers to traverse.”
• Wayfinding Signage – Install a cohesive and well-branded system of wayfinding and directional signs at a cost of $200,000 with the DRI funding $150,000.
The signs would direct visitors to the Erie Canal, Waterfalls, public parking and other resources. Medina wants to add gateway signs, directional signs, kiosks and interpretive signs, light pole banners and identification signs for destinations and parking areas.
• Small Grant Fund – This fund will support economic-development related activities through the distribution of small grants to local businesses and investors. Medina would like a $900,000 fund with the DRI paying $600,000.
The fund is intended to support projects that retain jobs, generate increased economic activity, and improve the economic viability and livability of Downtown Medina. Eligible projects could include historic rehabilitation and repair, facade improvements, land acquisition, new construction, and event programming.
• Mustang City: Adaptive Reuse of the old Medina High School – A $9 million project with the DRI request at $3 million.
A developer, Talis Equity, seeks to transform 90,000 square feet into 40 loft apartments. Mustang City will fulfill Medina’s need for additional housing options and will allow for a new kind of “maintenance-free” living, with amenities and services including grocery delivery, cleaning, and laundry pickup. Just steps from the Erie Canal and downtown’s restaurants, shops and nightlife, Mustang City will provide attractive living options for anyone from young entrepreneurs to retirees, according to the village’s DRI application.
• Snappy’s Mixed-Use Development: This project at $1.8 million includes a $1 million DRI request. It would redevelop the Snappy facility on Commercial Street by the Erie Canal into a mixed-use commercial and residential space. The property could be redeveloped with the first floor for commercial uses and the second floor for residential.
The Marina on Main would transform four storefronts on Main Street.
• Marina On Main – This project at 333-339 Main St. would create a canal-side indoor and outdoor event space at an estimated cost of $1.65 million. The DRI request is for $1 million.
Marina on Main is envisioned as an upscale, multi-use event center with both indoor and outdoor seating to cater to a variety of events and special occasions including weddings, reunions, and other large gatherings for 200-plus guests. The ground floor is envisioned as a mixed-use space with connectivity to the canal.
This project proposed by the Zambito family will revitalize and repurpose four underutilized storefronts along Main Street. It will also improve the rear facades along the canal, which presently detract from the pedestrian experience along the trail.
• Walsh Hotel Mixed-Use Redevelopment – The building at 525 West Ave. would be rehabilitated and redeveloped, creating a mix of apartments and hotel rooms. The project is an estimated $1 million with the DRI request at $600,000.
Tim Cooper is working to turn the 9,400-square-foot building to include either 8 apartments, 6 to 8 hotel rooms, or a combination of both on the 2 upper floors. The ground floor will house The O’Brien & Ceallaigh Bar and Lounge.
• Medina Railroad Museum Campus – The $1.5 million project seeks $1.2 million in DRI to create a welcome center on Main Street and courtyard space.
The Medina Railroad Museum is one of the largest tourism drivers in the village, drawing approximately 40,000 people annually. The museum wants to expand its footprint and to create more of a campus-like complex. The campus will extend east from the existing museum building to the old train station near Main Street, creating a visible and intriguing presence along the main thoroughfare.
The train station building, which is owned by the village, will act as a welcome center and small exhibit space, attracting people off Main Street and to the museum (while the senior citizen’s center that presently occupies this space will be relocated to City Hall).
A landscaped pedestrian plaza will connect the train station to the existing museum building.
On the southern side of the tracks, the campus plan calls for the creation of a park-like courtyard space adjacent to the library. This courtyard will include the installation of two, permanent dining cars – to be rented out for weddings and other events – as well as an enclosed pole barn building, which will be used to store and repair cars.
The campus is intended to strengthen the museum’s position in the village, to enhance its status as a regional tourism generator, and to bring visitors into downtown.
• Medina Hotel and Conference Center – This $4 million project includes $2 million in the DRI. It would repurpose the former Dipson Diana Theater (currently Medina Theater) into a conference center at 601-611 Main St.
The theater sits underutilized in a prime location on Main Street. This project by the Cardone family proposes to stabilize and restore the theater and to transform it and the adjacent former warehouse into a conference center and hotel complex.
The former 7,900 square-foot theater will be converted into a large event space with capacity for more than 350 people and will also feature a restaurant in the ground floor. The adjacent 20,000 square-foot former warehouse will be converted into a hotel to accommodate conference-goers and other visitors.
“Within the past few years, it has become increasingly evident that this historic and vibrant village has become a destination for young entrepreneurs, hastening a multifaceted commercial and cultural renaissance driven by considerable private investment,” wrote Chris Busch, Medina Planning Board chairman, in a letter of support for the application.
The rear side of businesses on Main Street, facing the Erie Canal, would benefit with better facades, seating areas and a path for pedestrians.
“Medina’s ‘renaissance’ and revitalization has and will continue to attract young families, tourists, culture seekers, trail, cyclist and history enthusiasts, recreational boaters and entrepreneurs seeking to invest and grow in a thriving community.”
Busch said a $10 million DRI grant would be “a transformative breakthrough event in the economy of Medina and the region.”
He praised the Medina officials and community leaders for putting together the application and presenting a vision for the community.
“Medina’s successful application for DRI funding will without a doubt, lead to dramatic improvement in the regions’ key economic indicators of job creation, continued private investment, expansion of tourism, and increase of tax revenues, as well as the preservation of vital cultural and historic assets,” Busch said in his letter of support.
LOCKPORT – Niagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour has announced that he will retire Dec. 30, 2019, after 11 years as sheriff.
James R. Voutour
Sheriff Voutour was elected in a hard-fought race in 2008 following the retirement of Sheriff Thomas Beilein. Sheriff Voutour was re-elected to two more terms in 2012 and 2016 and was unopposed each time, receiving the endorsement of every political party in Niagara County. He served as the 56th sheriff of Niagara County.
Voutour was first hired September 6, 1993 as a Niagara County Deputy. He was promoted to the ranks of Sergeant, Captain and Chief Deputy during his tenure and served the Sheriff’s Office for more than 26 years.
“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Niagara County as their sheriff for 11 years,” he said. “The people of Niagara placed their trust in me for three elections and for that I am truly grateful. I have always believed in term limits and I feel that it is my time to move on to a new chapter and allow a fresh face to take the reins. It’s not easy being married to the sheriff or having the sheriff as your dad. My family has made tremendous sacrifices for many years and they deserve a break. I could not have done my job without my wife, Pilar, at my side, always picking up the slack. “
“My co-workers, some 350 strong, are truly the best in the business. They are loyal, dedicated, brave and true professionals. I will miss them greatly but I am confident they will carry on with the mission, keeping you safe.”
“I will leave the Office in the hands of my Undersheriff, Michael Filicetti. He has served at my side for more than eight years. He is an ethical, bright and dedicated law enforcement officer. I have no doubt he will take command and move the Office of Sheriff forward.”
“As for my future, I was blessed to receive a great offer in the private sector. I will soon start chapter 2 with a large law enforcement technology company as a police consultant. I will have a tremendous opportunity to continue to contribute to law enforcement with a significant decrease in responsibility and stress while spending more time with my wife and daughters.”
Provided photo: Elly Stevens of Kendall, right, is pictured with her granddaughter, Amanda Stevens of Chili, who is holding a copy of a Stevens’ new book, In Searching for Serenity in My Crazy Life. Stevens also has written a crime novel, Dangerous Passion.
KENDALL – Living on the shore of Lake Ontario can be “heaven” or “hell,” as author Elly Stevens describes her current life — “heaven” when it’s full of the beauty of nature; “hell” when weather changes everything.
Stevens penned her relatable stories in her memoir, Searching for Serenity in My Crazy Life, covering not only her life on the lake in Kendall, but also many years in Rochester, Greece and three years in South Carolina.
Stevens came from a family of story-tellers, and almost every conversation started, “Remember when…?” Elly’s grandmother, Mary Kujawa Littlebetter, often told her stories of growing up in Albion, but so many of those stories were lost over the years.
Not wanting that to happen to her own stories, Stevens started writing a detailed history of her own life. And when her granddaughter, Amanda Stevens of Chili, started asking her to tell her stories, Stevens wanted to do something special for her – put them in a book for her 16th birthday.
In April 2018, Stevens received a call from Joe Janowicz, who worked with Stevens in the publications group at Kodak in the 1990s. He asked her to edit his horror novel, Bang-Bang You’re Dead, and she agreed. Joe encouraged Elly to do her own writing and, together, they began their journey to publishing.
In Searching for Serenity in My Crazy Life, Stevens travels through significant stages of her life — early childhood, growing up in an ethnic neighborhood, her first kiss, her marriage, the birth of her son, her career at Kodak, learning how to face and embrace retirement, the delight of a granddaughter, the passing of friends and family members, the remodeling of a house, the joy of nature, and the beginning of new “life” at age 70. She searches for serenity along the way.
Some stories may spark memories, such as the 1966 blizzard, the 1991 ice storm, and September 11, 2001. And she shares the story of the First Norwegian Settlement in the United States in Kendall.
Stevens is scheduled to have a book signing for Searching for Serenity in My Crazy Life at Lift Bridge Bookstore in Brockport, Oct. 26, from noon to 2 p.m. The book is also available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online. Find out more about Stevens’ books at www.AuthorEllyStevens.com or connect with her on Facebook.
The Medina Mustang Band traveled to Victor on Saturday for the band’s fifth competition this season.
Medina earned first place with a score of 84.70 in Small School 1 class. This was the second-best score in the state for the week, topped only by New Hartford earning an 84.75 at their competition in New Hartford.
Medina will compete at Orchard Park this Saturday and at the state championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on Sunday, Oct. 27.
There are still seats available on the spectator bus for the Dome. Tickets must be reserved by Oct. 18 and are $25 per person. To reserve a seat, contact Jim Steele at 585-317-9389 or email at jsteele@medinacsd.org.
Calling hours and funeral services are set for two Lyndonville graduates who were killed in a car accident last Thursday on their way to work at Lake Ridge Fruit, an apple packing facility on Route 104.
Brooke Allen, 21, was driving when she struck a deer at 6:49 a.m. on Route 104. The car swerved, hit a guardrail and landed upside down in Beardsley Creek in about 5-foot-deep water.
Allen and her passenger, Richard “Ricky” Forder, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Allen graduated from Lyndonville in 2016. Among her survivors is a 1-year-old son, River.
Richard Forder
Relatives and friends may call on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Oak Orchard Assembly of God Church, 12111 Ridge Rd., Medina, where her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the Rev. Andy Sass officiating. Burial will follow immediately at Lynhaven Cemetery.
Memorials for Brooke may be made to the family for the loving care and support of her son.
Ricky Forder graduated from Lyndonville in 2018. He played on the school’s basketball and baseball teams. He enjoyed spending time with friends and family, going fishing, and dancing to music.
Ricky’s relatives and friends may call from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home, 21 West Ave., Albion. His funeral service will be from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at the funeral home.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 14 October 2019 at 4:57 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina/Lyndonville’s Hunter Heil , shown here flipping the ball into play, and his Mustang teammates will face Roy-Hart on Tuesday evening at Gasport for the Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer championship.
In a schedule makers dream league finale, Medina/Lyndonville will take on Roy-Hart at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gasport for the Niagara-Orleans boys soccer championship.
The Mustangs and Rams bring identical 8-1 N-O records into the contest. The Rams won the earlier season meeting at Vets Park by a 3-1 margin.
The Mustangs are seeking their first N-O title since 2014 and the Rams their first since 2000.
On the gridiron, Albion will host rival Medina/Lyndonville/Barker at 7 p.m. Friday in the regular season finale. On Saturday, Holley will host Pembroke at 1:30 p.m. in an 8 Man Division contest.
Weekly Schedule Tuesday Boys Soccer: Medina/Lyndonville at Roy-Hart, Albion at Livonia, 6:30 p.m. Girls Soccer: Wheatland-Chili at Holley, 6:30 p.m. Field Hockey: Newfane at Barker, Medina at Akron, Roy-Hart at Wilson, 4:45 p.m. Cross-Country: Roy-Hart and Medina at Barker, Newfane and Wilson at Akron, 5 p.m. Volleyball: Albion at Medina, Newfane at Wilson Roy-Hart at Akron, 6 p.m.; Kendall at Lyndonville, Holley at Alexander, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Soccer: Medina/Lyndonville at Cal-Mum, 6 p.m.; Holley at Alden, 7 p.m. Girls Soccer: Lyndonville/Medina at Kendall, 6:30 p.m. Volleyball: Kendall at Medina, 6 p.m.
Thursday Boys Soccer: Northstar at Kendall, 6 p.m.; Byron-Bergen at Albion, 6:30 p.m. Girls Soccer: Albion vs. Keshequa, 7 p.m. at GCC Field Hockey: Barker at Roy-Hart, 4:45; Kenmore at Newfane, 5 p.m.; Wilson at Medina, 7 p.m. Volleyball: Notre Dame at Holley, Lyndonville at Alexander, Albion at Kendall, 6:30 p.m.
Friday Football: Medina/Lyndonville/Barker at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart, 7 p.m. Boys Soccer: Medina/Lyndonville at Pembroke, Holley at Wheatland-Chili, 6:30 p.m. Girls Soccer: Byron-Bergen at Kendall, 5 p.m.; Lyndonville/Medina at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.; Attica at Holley, 6:30 p.m. Volleyball: Holley at Lyndonville, 6:30 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2019 at 4:56 pm
ALBION – The state Department of Transportation will present a plan on Thursday for extensive repairs to the Main Street lift bridge in Albion.
The DOT will answer questions about the project from 3:30 to 5:30 during a public meeting at Hoag Library.
The Main Street lift bridge is slated for $15 million in repairs and construction work beginning in 2022, with the project keeping the bridge closed for 18 months until 2023.
The bridge was originally built in 1914. It typically closes a few days each year for short-term repairs. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.
The DOT said the work includes installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace the steel floor system and select truss members.
Updates will also be made to the mechanical and electrical components of the lifting mechanisms. The lift tower will also be rehabilitated.
In addition, the bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches will be improved and bridge will be repainted.
DOT staff will be on hand to share project information at the open-house-style meeting, and will receive public comments and answer individual questions.
Those interested in attending may arrive at any time during the scheduled meetings to review project details, including the scope of work and planned traffic detours during construction. No formal presentation will be made.
The DOT also has a public meeting scheduled to discuss the plans for closing and repairing the lift bridge in Brockport on Route 19. The Brockport meeting will be on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the A.D. Oliver Middle School auditorium, 40 Allen St.
For further information, or to request a sign language interpreter or assistive listening system, contact Katherine Fragale at 585-371-9245 or Katherine.Fragale@dot.ny.gov.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2019 at 12:47 pm
ALBION – The design for a new mural inside Hoag Library will show swans flying high over the Erie Canal.
Hoag Library patrons were asked to help pick the winning design. Stacey Kirby Steward, an Albion native, proposed three options for the mural, either showing swans, eagles or hawks in flight over the canal.
The vote totals include 71 for swans, 62 for eagles, and 27 for the hawk design.
The Library’s Board of Trustees approved the swan design after the community vote. Steward will paint the mural off-site and it will be installed in the Curtis Room, the largest meeting space in the library.
Betty Sue Miller, library director, said the mural could be in place in January.
An anonymous donor is funding the project.
This is the second art project at the library by Steward. She designed the stained-glass window with swans.
Before moving into the Hoag Library in July 2012, Albion’s public library was known as the Swan Library, where it opened at 4 North Main St. in 1900 and remained the library’s site for 112 years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2019 at 11:40 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Dr. Tony Sidari, right, holds his son Tristan, 3, while he gets his flu shot this morning from Rebecca Manella, a registered nurse at Orleans Community Health. Karrie Mikits, another RN, is helping with the shots during a flu clinic today at Orleans Community Health’s Albion location at the corner of Butts Road and Route 31.
The shots were offered this morning from 9 to 11, and will again be available again from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the Albion healthcare site.
Today is one of the “Say Boo to the Flu” events in honor of Sidari’s late son, Leon, who died from the flu on Christmas day in 2017.
At the time, the Sidari family was living in san Antonio where Tony and his wife Laura were both working as doctors. The couple grew up in Albion.
The family recently moved to Ithaca, where Laura’s parents, Nathan and Gail Lyman, are located. Tony works as a rheumatologist and Laura is a psychiatrist.
Cindy Perry meets Aria Sidari, 4 months, who is held by her mother Laura Sidari at Orleans Community Health in Albion this morning. Perry is the director of education, outreach and marketing at Community Partners, which is part of Orleans Community Health.
Perry and OCH are running a “Say Boo to the Flu” clinic in honor of Laura’s son, Leon Sidari. The event includes funding from the Albion Rotary Club. The flu shots are covered by private insurance or through a child vaccination program.
The first clinic was last week at Holley Central School and 118 children received flu shots.
Last year there was the one “Say Boo to the Flu” event. This year is has expanded throughout the county by Orleans Community Health in partnership with Orleans County YMCA, Orleans County Health Department, Oak Orchard Health, Rotary and Middleport Family Health Center.
Other upcoming clinics include:
• Oct. 15, from 2:30 to 6 p.m. at Lyndonville Elementary School
• Oct. 16 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Kendall Elementary School
• Oct. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Orleans County YMCA in Medina
• Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oak Orchard Health, 301 West Ave., Albion
• Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hoag Library in Albion
The “Say Boo to the Flu” welcome team at Orleans Community Health’s Albion location today includes Cindy Perry, Albion Rotary Club member Bonnie Malakie, and Jessica Capurso, a prevention educator with Community Partners at Orleans Community Health. All three are members of the Albion Rotary Club. They have several activities for children while they wait for their shots.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2019 at 8:37 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Likan Li (Andy Li) plays “Etude in E Major” and “Allegretto” recently during the fourth annual “Leaves of September” concert at the Colonnade, 229 West Center St.
Likan Li is a student with the Voice Gavel Club in Toronto. Several of the students performed in Medina. The Voice Gavel Club is a youth leadership program, and an affiliation of Toastmasters International.
Jia Rui (Jerry) Fan, president of the Voice Gavel Club, welcomes the crowd to the concert. Jerry also performed “Little Bit Sweet” on his saxophone.
Students recited poetry and compositions, including writings by Dr. Asaf Durakovic, one of the founders of the World Life Institute about 25 years ago. The WLI organized the concert.
Jasmine Shi performs “Sonata in D Major” during the concert.
Andrew Mao (left), 14, and Jia Rui (Jerry) Fan, 17, are pictured with a handmade dragon costume that was used in a performance of the Chinese Dragon Dance. The Gavel Club students performed that traditional dance for the first time in Medina during the concert.
The dance started in China to call on rain, but is now used for entertainment.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 October 2019 at 9:41 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
A farmer was out this afternoon harvesting soybeans on East Barre Road in Barre. It was a bright sunny day.
Farmers have benefitted from a warm fall, without a hard frost, which has given crops more time to mature. The extra time has been helpful because a wet spring delayed the planting for many local farmers.
These deer ventured out of the woods by the Erie Canal in Albion, just east of the Ingersoll Street lift bridge.
This group had at least five deer. They are pictured at about 6:15 p.m.
These are two different deer. They were getting a drink from the Erie Canal, close to the Brown Street bridge.
The deer scampered down a hill by the towpath.
This caterpillar was also on the move on the towpath in Albion.
Stevens came from a family of story-tellers, and almost every conversation started, “Remember when…?” Elly’s grandmother, Mary Kujawa Littlebetter, often told her stories of growing up in Albion, but so many of those stories were lost over the years.
