By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 June 2019 at 5:24 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Maizy Ehrhardt, a Holley fifth-grader, is all decked out in red, white and blue during the elementary school’s Flag Day celebration this morning.
More than 500 elementary students walked from the elementary school to the Historical Society depot past the Public Square. Students sang patriotic songs and the elementary school band also performed the “Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” and “My Country ’Tis of Thee.”
Lindsay Cooper, a kindergarten teacher, joined her students in wearing red, white and blue on the patriotic day.
Holley has been celebrating Flag Day with a parade through the community for 62 years. It is one the highlights of the year for the school and community.
Ryker Knight, a fifth-grader and a Boy Scout, served as one of the student emcees for the program today.
The program included the presentation of the Catherine B. Press awards, which went to fifth graders, Grant Smith and Caydence Merkley. This is the highest good citizen award at the school district. It was started by Catherine Press, a school secretary. The award goes to students who display character, respect, citizenship, kindness and responsibility.
A student in each classroom was recognized with a “Good Citizen” award. Those students include:
• Pre-kindergarten – Keyana Vicens, Nora Restivo and Emma Marquez.
• First grade – Yliazit Cortes, Lauren Fredendall and Savanna Antram.
• Second grade – Jayden Miller, Angel Vazquez-Mendoza, Carsyn Mogle, Cayden Vangelder and Zakkerya Jenks.
• Third grade – Brianna Pellegrino, Max Milazzo and Kailyn Robinson.
• Fourth grade – Haidynn Mullins, Oliver Fox and Isla Schultz.
• Fifth grade – Landen Goodrich, Ryker Knight and Grant Smith.
• Sixth grade – Chris Mosier, Frances Caraballo-Vazquez, Cora Hudzinski and Donovan Hendrick-Hayes.
These students make their way down Route 31 during the parade.
Albion and Holley Police Chief Roland Nenni, left, and Albion Lt. David Mogle helped direct traffic during the parade that passed through the intersection of routes 31 and 237.
These students wave flags while walking through the Public Square.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 June 2019 at 1:57 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman: The Medina Mustangs baseball players and coaches stand for the national anthem before today’s state semifinal game in Binghamton against Schuylerville.
UPDATE 3:44 p.m.: Schuylerville wins, 6-3, over Medina to advance to the championship game.
UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: Medina down 6-3 after six innings.
UPDATE 3:33 p.m.: Chris Goyette on the mound for Medina in bottom of sixth with score tied at 3.
UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Medina down 3-2 after 5 innings.
UPDATE 2:47 p.m.: Tied at 2 after 4 innings.
UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: 1-0 after three innings, Medina in the lead.
UPDATE 2:13 p.m.: Still 1-0 after two innings.
UPDATE 2:02 p.m.: Medina leading 1-0 after first inning. Brian Fry with leadoff triple.
BINGHAMTON – Medina is the away team and bats first. Trevor Luthart is on the mound for Medina. He won 10 games so far this season with 96 strikeouts in 68 innings. (See video of him firing in a pitch during the first inning.)
The game was scheduled to start at 2, but was moved up to about 1:45.
Medina brings a school record 21-2 mark into the game while Schuylerville is 17-7.
Orleans Hub will post updates to game. Sports editor Mike Wertman and photographer Cheryl Wertman are at the game.
A contingent from Medina made the trip to Binghamton to cheer on the Mustangs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 June 2019 at 1:04 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman
BINGHAMTON – The Medina Mustangs baseball team takes infield practice just before 1 p.m. today.
Medina is in Binghamton for the Class B state semifinals against Schuylerville. The game starts at 2 p.m. at Broome Community College with the victor advancing to Saturday’s state title contest at Binghamton University.
Medina brings a school record 21-2 mark into its second ever appearance in the state semis. The Mustangs advanced by defeating LeRoy 10-2 in the Far West Regional.
Schuylerville, which is 17-7, is making its first ever appearance in the semis.
Orleans Hub will post updates to game. Sports editor Mike Wertman and photographer Cheryl Wertman are at the game.
Recently, Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I,Ref-North Tonawanda) joined Assembly members Angelo J. Morinello (R,C,I,Ref-Niagara Falls) and Michael Norris (R,C,I,Ref-Lockport) to introduce legislation providing local input on energy projects.
The bill (S.6338) would ensure the presence of local representation on any siting board for electric generating projects proposed across the state. Currently, there are 25 proposed electric generating projects proposed in New York with 19 of them lacking a full representation on the projects siting board.
Under the state’s Article 10 law, each host municipality of an electric generation project may nominate four individuals to be considered as an ad hoc member on the siting board. From that list, the State Senate and Assembly are granted the first opportunity to appoint one community member each to the siting board.
Should the Legislature not act within the allotted time frame outlined by the law, the governor is then given the opportunity to appoint two members from the localities list. If the governor also fails to appoint two community members in the outlined time frame, a quorum of the five permanent members, who are all appointed by the governor, may meet and make a decision on the project.
“The ability for local residents and host municipalities to voice their concerns is essential in siting energy projects,” Ortt said. “It is unacceptable for a siting board to act without any local representatives included in the discussions, and for the Legislature and governor to abdicate their responsibilities is equally as troubling. My legislation would ensure that no electric generation project is approved without input from the host municipality.”
The Senate Majority Leader, Speaker of the Assembly and governor all failed to approve any candidates nominated by Cambria and Pendleton for the Bear Ridge solar project. Assembly members Morinello and Norris recently introduced an Assembly version of the Senate legislation calling for local representation to be included on any current and future electric generation projects.
“Local control and input is critical when determining the viability and desirability of an energy project in a community,” Norris said. “New York State already has far too much overreach and authority in making decisions that should be kept at the local level. A community should determine where and how electrical generating projects are constructed, not a board of politically appointed bureaucrats that do not carry the best interest of a host community.”
“It is not right to avoid local input on decisions affecting a community by failing to appoint ad hoc members to the siting board,” Morinello said. “Article 10 appears to have the effect of all decisions made by Albany bureaucrats.”
Provided photo: Ronan Tynan, an acclaimed tenor, first performed in Medina on Sept. 17, 2016.
MEDINA – The Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc. is pleased to announce the return of one of the world’s great voices to Medina. Irish tenor Ronan Tynan will be back in Medina on Oct. 5 for a concert at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
He performed to a sold-out crowd of 650 at St. Mary’s on Sept. 17, 2016.
“Dr. Tynan absolutely electrified a sold-out, capacity audience in 2016,” said Chris Busch, chairman of the ORG. “People came from as far away as California to see him perform here. Experiencing one of the world’s great tenors in the incredible setting of St. Mary’s sanctuary was absolutely breathtaking. This is a must-see concert event and will sell out very quickly.”
The ORG has worked to promote cultural events and preservation projects in the community for more than decade, putting on first-rate concerts highlighted by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the world-renown a cappella quartet, Anonymous 4.
Tynan’s performance in 2016 was ORG’s biggest event to date. The concert sold out with 650 in the historic church. Extra chars had to be retrieved from the balcony and other rooms to accommodate everyone. Tynan’s powerful voice filled the church, and he had the audience laughing with some of his stories. He was joined by his accompanist, Bill Lewis.
Tynan has performed at historic events around the world. His memorable renditions of “God Bless America” have been heard at the World Series, The Belmont Stakes, and other momentous events.
He is a Sony recording artist who has released more than 10 titles, four of which have achieved platinum status. Additionally, between 1981 and 1984, Tynan amassed 18 gold medals and 14 world records while participating in the Paralympics. Nine of his records haven’t been surpassed.
Tynan has also performed for four U.S. Presidents. He performed as a single soloist at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan and most recently at the funeral of President George H. W. Bush. As well, Tynan has sung for two Popes– Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica and Pope Benedict at the Concert of Hope.
Tickets are on sale now and available online at www.medinaalive.com. All are general seating.
State seeks to protect public health in midst of measles outbreak
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday signed legislation sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz that removes non-medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements for children.
The United States is currently experiencing the worst outbreak of measles in more than 25 years, with outbreaks in pockets of New York primarily driving the crisis. As a result of non-medical vaccination exemptions, many communities across New York have unacceptably low rates of vaccination, and those unvaccinated children can often attend school where they may spread the disease to other unvaccinated students. This new law will help protect the public amid this ongoing outbreak.
“The science is crystal clear: Vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to keep our children safe. This administration has taken aggressive action to contain the measles outbreak, but given its scale, additional steps are needed to end this public health crisis,” Governor Cuomo said. “While I understand and respect freedom of religion, our first job is to protect the public health and by signing this measure into law, we will help prevent further transmissions and stop this outbreak right in its tracks.”
Although the State can claim high immunization rates overall, preventable diseases like measles remain a public health threat when administrative loopholes allow children to go unvaccinated, carrying the potential to harm communities—and especially our most vulnerable residents—throughout the state.
Statewide, 96 percent of school-age children have been inoculated against measles, mumps and rubella, with the “MMR” vaccine, but a measles outbreak continues to affect communities in several parts of the state where the rate is lower. New York State currently allows both medical and religious exemptions to the MMR and other vaccines for students attending school.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “Governor Cuomo’s leadership has continually raised the standard of public health and well-being across New York State. Immunizations give children the best protection from serious childhood diseases and are safe and effective. The efforts taken today stand in stark contrast to the disturbing anti-vaccination trends nationwide and underscore New York’s commitment to protecting public health.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 June 2019 at 7:18 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – With fire sirens blaring the community gave the Medina baseball team a big sendoff this evening as the Mustangs head for Binghamton and the state semifinals on Friday afternoon. Led by the Medina Police Department the sendoff parade included fire trucks from Medina, Shelby, East Shelby and Ridgeway. The Mustangs will face Schuylerville in the Class B semis at 2 p.m.Friday at Broome Community College with the victor advancing to Saturday’s state title contest at Binghamton University. Click here to see a video of the team heading out of town with much fanfare.
Here Mustang players including Trevor Luthart, AJ Seefeldt, Xander Payne and Joe Cecchini load their gear onto the charter bus.
Mustang players here get together for a photo before boarding the charter bus. From left are Nate Sherman, Matt Saj, Trevor Luthart, Aidan Paul, AJ Seefeldt, Corey Saj, Austin Mosher, Joe Cecchini, Zach Fike, Xander Payne, Brian Fry, Chris Goyette and Tyler Chinn.
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville fourth-grade roster had famous names such as Steve Irwin, Rosa Parks and Barack Obama for one afternoon. Students last week participated in a Biography Wax Museum as a culminating event to a research project.
Nicole Adamson’s students studied historical figures and popular names prior to the event. The students created poster displays about the individuals and had a start “button” on the poster. The fourth-graders stood still in front of their posters until a visitor pressed the button. The students then came to life as the characters and shared facts about themselves.
“My favorite part of the project was to dress up as Amelia Earhart,” said fourth-grader Alviia Goigova. “She was brave enough to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.”
Sarah Corser as Marie Curie, a physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
Each student ended their speech with an inspirational wish for their visitor.
“I hope I inspire you to keep trying and persevere,” said Sarah Corser as she portrayed Marie Curie.
“I hope to inspire you to help injured animals,” said Logan Gerling, who was Steve Irwin.
“I hope to teach you to do anything if you try hard enough,” said Grant Freeman as Jackie Robinson.
Nicole Adamson’s fourth-grade class portrayed many famous figures, including King Tut, Edgar Allen Poe, Harriet Tubman, John F. Kennedy, Charlie Chaplin, Steve Jobs and Helen Keller.
Grant Freeman as Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era. He played his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He won the most valuable player award with the Dodgers.
Logan Gerling as Steve Irwin, “The Crocodile Hunter” who was an Australian zookeeper, conservationist and television personality.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2019 at 3:51 pm
ALBION – The kickoff concert for Albion’s “Concerts on the Canal” series this evening has been cancelled due to rain in the forecast.
Sweet Tumbleweed will make up the concert on Aug. 22. The band plays soft rock, Americana, blues and country.
The concert series is every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gazebo behind the Albion fire hall.
The concert lineup for 2019 includes: June 20, Crandall, Wood and Main; June 27, The Trellis Cooper Band; July 11, Eagle Creek; July 18, Creek Band; Aug. 1, The Dave Viterna Group; Aug. 8, Jonesie & the Cruisers; Aug. 15, Who Dats; and Aug. 22, Sweet Tumbleweed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2019 at 3:31 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club awarded $3,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors today. Pictured, from left, include Harrison Brown, Mckenna Boyer and Jacob Ettinger. They are pictured by the Rotary sign outside Tillman’s Village Inn.
Harrison Brown won the $1,250 Edward Archbald Memorial Scholarship, given to a senior who shares Archbald’s love of sports, recreational activities, community service and work experience. Harrison is an Eagle Scout who has been active in the FFA. He also was a captain for the varsity soccer team, which enjoyed a winning season this fall, and was a leader on the swim team which won a Sectional title. He will be in the Army ROTC as a student at Cornell University. He would like to be the eighth generation of his family to work with the Brown fruit farm, which started 214 years ago.
Mckenna Boyer won the Dick Eddy “Service Above Self” Scholarship, a $1,250 award that is given to a student committed to community service and leadership, and who displays high potential for future accomplishment. McKenna has been her class president, and has been active in the school’s music program, as well as the Rotary Interact Club. She has volunteered at Rotary events, including the golf tournament, St. Patrick’s ham dinner and the hot dog stand at the Strawberry Festival. She will be majoring in business at Genesee Community College.
Jacob Ettinger was awarded the $500 Rotary Career Advancement Prize for a senior committed to community service, school activities and work experience. Jacob has been active in the school’s music program and also performs in the quartet known as The Billies. He also is on the masterminds and chess teams. He wants to be a civil engineer and will begin his studies this fall at GCC majoring in engineering science.
Provided photo: Assemblyman Steve Hawley meets with Maureen Torrey, center, of Elba and Shelley Stein of Le Roy, both from Grow-NY, at Wednesday’s New York Farm Bureau Rally in Albany.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) met with supporters at a rally in Albany on Wednesday organized by the New York Farm Bureau and Grow-NY regarding the concerns of allowing farm workers to unionize.
Hawley, the former owner and operator of Hawley Farms in Batavia, is a longtime member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and has been outspoken on the damaging effects labor regulations would have on the family farming industry.
“I was proud to stand with dedicated farmers, activists and producers yesterday in Albany as we push back against labor regulations being advanced by New York City politicians,” Hawley said. “Our family farms are already struggling under suffocating minimum-wage mandates and low commodity prices, and to regulate an industry which thrives off the necessity to operate unique hours at different times would be devastating.”
Net farm income is down 50 percent from just a few years ago and farmers have little to no control over the prices they receive for what they produce, unlike most manufacturers who can set their own prices. According to a 2019 report from Farm Credit East, mandatory overtime would increase labor costs on farms by almost $300 million and decrease net farm income by almost 25 percent.
“We know what works best for our family farms and that is the ability to regulate their own labor to produce the best results,” Hawley said. “I will continue to stand in the way of harmful farm mandates as session nears its end next week.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2019 at 12:04 pm
ALBION – Four people were sentenced in Orleans County Court today and all received some incarceration.
Luis Ramos-Perez, 30, received the longest sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison. He was charged with DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle after being stopped on Dec. 14 in Albion. He registered a BAC of 0.15 percent, about double the legal limit. He has two prior charged for driving under the influence or intoxicated.
He was recently released from prison when he was arrested again for another DWI.
Ramos-Perez apologized in court. He spoke through an interpreter.
“I just want to say I feel bad for I did,” he said. “I do accept that I have problems with alcohol.”
Ramos-Perez has family in the area, including children.
County Court Judge Sanford Church said Ramos-Perez has proven to be a danger to other people on the road. The judge also revoked the driver’s license for Ramos-Perez for a year.
• Michael J. Miller II, 44, of Medina was sentenced to six months in the county jail and five years of probation.
He was charged on Sept. 22 on Townline Road in Yates and registered a .24 BAC, which is three times the legal limit. This is his third DWI offense and all have been with a BAC over .20 percent, the judge said.
“I apologize for the decisions I made that night,” Miller said.
His attorney, Neil Gunther, asked for only probation or weekends in jail. But Judge Church said Miller has shown he is a danger to the community by driving when he is highly impaired.
• A Batavia man was sentenced to two months of weekends in jail plus five years of probation.
Dominic Bennett, 27, previously pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. He was in a one-car accident on Oct. 27 on Route 31 in Albion, and was taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. He has recovered from his injuries.
• Spencer Freeman, 20, of Albion also was sentenced to two months of weekends in jail and five years of probation.
He previously pleaded guilty to criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the seventh degree.
He admitted to having about $1,500 worth of stolen items on Nov. 13, including a Play Station, an Alexa, X-Box and flat-screen television. Freeman also said he had Xanax bars, which are a controlled substance.
The weekends in jail will allow him to continue his full-time job.
LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville resident faces several charges after a two-car motor vehicle accident on May 29.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office responded to Platten Road in Lyndonville for a two-car MVA. Upon arrival, deputies observed one vehicle crashed into a tree and another on the shoulder of the road near the other vehicle, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said today.
During the investigation of the accident, it is alleged that Bryan Babcock, 29, of Lyndonville was westbound when he crossed over the lane and struck another vehicle.
Several hypodermic syringes and baggies containing a whitish power were recovered from Babcock, who was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, and possession of a hypodermic instrument.
He was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to return to the Town of Yates Court.
The National Weather Service has issued a lakeshore flood watch for Orleans and Niagara counties on Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The combination of record high lake levels and moderately strong west winds will result in greater wave action and an increase in lakeshore flooding on the shoreline of Lake Ontario, the Weather Service said.
Lakeshore flooding may increase, especially in bays, inlets, and other low-lying areas along the shoreline. The wave action will produce an increase in shoreline erosion, the Weather Service said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2019 at 7:11 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The summer park supervisors in Albion include, front row, from left: Mckenna Boyer, Preston Flugel and Gerardo Solis. Back row: Kiara Smith, Caitlynn Snook, Kaitlyn Van Skiver, Laureen Freeman and Sarah Graham.
ALBION – The Village of Albion will continue its summer parks program, but this summer the program will be at Veteran’s Park at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Road.
There will be park supervisors on duty from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday through Friday. They will lead supervised recreational games and activities. The program starts on Wednesday, June 26, and continues until Friday, July 26.
There will arts and crafts, water games, obstacle courses, bowling trips at Oak Orchard Lanes and many other activities. A senior citizen picnic is planned for July 23. A GaGa Ball Pit also has been added at Veteran’s Park for this summer, said John Grillo, the recreation director for Albion.
The program is free to children in the Albion school district. Parents and guardians are urged to attend registration the first week of the parks program to meet the supervisors and fill out important paperwork.
The summer parks program is usually based at Bullard Park, but that site on Route 31 is under construction with a new splash pad, amphitheater, bathrooms and other improvements.
Veteran’s Park is smaller than Bullard and that will make it challenging for some of the games, especially for the older kids. The popular children’s carnival won’t happen this year because there isn’t enough space at Veteran’s Park for the event.
The parks program holds several weekly camps. Those camps will continue this summer, except for baseball. That camp has been at Bullard, but there isn’t enough room for it at Veteran’s Park.
The parks program will also offer the following camps: wrestling for grades 6-12 at the Albion High School gym, July 1-5, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; volleyball for grades 6-12 at Albion HS gym, July 1-5, from 10 a.m. to noon; tennis for grades 5-12 at Albion HS tennis courts, July 8-12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; and tennis for grades 5-12 at Albion HS tennis courts, July 15-19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
