Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Rich Neal rings the bell at the First Baptist Church in Albion at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday.

Churches in Orleans County are urged to ring their bells for a minute at noon on Tuesday as part of a bicentennial celebration for Orleans County.

The bell in the courthouse dome will be rung for a minute at noon.

Orleans was officially formed on April 15, 1825 when it was recognized by the State Legislature, separating from Genesee County.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas has dropped 8 cents nationally to $3.18 and 3 cents statewide to $3.11 in the past week, AAA reported this morning.

A year ago, the national average was at $3.63 while the average in the state was at $3.51.

In Orleans County, the average price for regular unleaded is up 3 cents from $3.143 a week ago to $3.176 today.

“Prices at the pump are coming down even though this is the time of year when gas prices go up,” AAA said. “Supply and demand are the main reason for the dip. After OPEC+ announced it’s increasing oil production next month by more than 400,000 barrels a day – much more than expected – the price of crude oil has been falling. Oversupply coupled with tepid gasoline demand is resulting in lower pump prices.”

Here are the average prices in counties around Western New York:

• Orleans, $3.176
• Genesee, $3.131
• Niagara, $3.048
• Monroe, $3.090
• Erie, $3.068
• Livingston, $3.128
• Wyoming, $3.111
• Cattaraugus, $3.163
• Chautauqua, $3.324
• Allegany, $3.140

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced flags on state buildings will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, April 14, in honor of former Congressman John LaFalce, whose district included Orleans County and other parts of Western New York.

LaFalce won his first election to the New York State Senate in 1971, then moved to the State Assembly in 1973. He then won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served three different districts from 1975 to 2003.

His death at age 85 was reported on Saturday.

“John LaFalce had a profound influence on my early career, recruiting me from a large DC firm to serve as his Legislative Counsel on Capitol Hill and putting me on the path to a lifetime of public service,” Governor Hochul said in a statement. “A true champion for Western New York, John cared deeply about his constituents and worked tirelessly to bring transformative projects home to the district he loved. My thoughts are with his wife Pat, his son Martin, and all who loved him.”

Program offers physical, occupational and speech therapies

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Gary Wakefield of Lyndonville is surrounded by personnel in Medina Memorial Hospital, where he is a patient in the sub-acute rehab wing. From left are Josh Hotz, physical therapy assistant; Amanda Luckman, admissions coordinator; Randi Ingersoll, director of care management; Wakefield; and Mackenna Fagan, certified occupational therapy assistant.

MEDINA – Not only is Medina Memorial Hospital celebrating its 100th anniversary during 2025, but it is also basking in the successful growth of its subacute rehab program.

According to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach at Orleans Community Health, during 2024, Medina Memorial Hospital’s transitional care unit/subacute rehab doubled the number of patients served. In addition, the hospital has developed a very successful partnership with Orchard Manor which is providing dialysis patients with transportation, allowing them to get care close to home.

Amanda Luckman, admissions coordinator, said they had been able to double admissions and maintain that high census throughout the past two years. She explained a subacute rehab is able to offer three different therapies – physical therapy, occupational therapy (for daily living) and speech therapy.

“Our goal for subacute therapy is to get the patient back to their physical baseline,” said Randi Ingersoll, director of care management. “It is important for the community to know when they have an injury or illness and can’t do the things they did before, they can come here for subacute rehab.”

Luckman added the hospital now accepts most insurance plans. If a patient needs a longer stay than initially approved, they can work around that. She also explained a newly developed relationship with Orchard Manor means if a patient needs a long-term stay, the hospital will send them there.

Gary Wakefield of Lyndonville was recently admitted to Medina Hospital for rehab and praised the care he was getting.

“It is really great that I can get the rehab I need close to home,” Wakefield said. “The crew here are wonderful. I’d recommend this to anyone.”

Another important advance in care for the hospital and their relationship with Orchard Manor is offering medical transportation, which enables the hospital to transport Orchard Manor patients to Lake Plains dialysis.

“We have been able to continue enhancing our relationship with Orchard Manor by being able to send them more patients who are already on dialysis at our Lake Plains Center,” Ingersoll said. “It has made the discharge planning process smoother, as patients now do not have to worry about how they will get their treatments. It has been a relief to all of us involved in the patient’s care, as well as their families.”

Robinson said Orleans Community Health has two handicap accessible vans in service. Since last September one has been dedicated to dialysis patients.

Luckman said the hospital has been working closely with Rochester Regional Health to welcome even more dialysis patients.

“From an admissions standpoint, having a referral requiring dialysis can be more rigorous because of the issue of transportation,” she said. “Through our partnership with Lake Plains Dialysis, we are able to help more community members receive exceptional therapy and dialysis. We have even had cases from our Batavia dialysis site who were able to come to Medina while having rehab. It is comforting to know we are able to provide our own reliable transportation to and from dialysis.”

Ingersoll added it is important for people to know they can choose where they want to go for rehab.

“We have pre-registry, so if a patient knows they are having surgery and going to need rehab, they can call me and let me know they are going to need a bed,” Luckman said. “I like to tell people there are benefits to coming here for rehab. We have private rooms, intense but kind therapists and, being in a hospital setting, there is a doctor available 24/7. Another benefit is if a patient needs an IV or antibiotic, we can administer that.”

The staff is very proud of their growth during the past several years. When Ingersoll started working at the hospital in 2021, she said the average daily census in rehab was six. It has been 16 for the past two years. For the year, 122 patients were served, and that number for the past two years has doubled to 244.

“We are looking to grow even more,” Ingersoll said.

The rehab unit has the capacity to hold 22 patients.

The hospital has also developed a relationship with Hospice, which has temporarily closed or paused the Martin-Linsin residence in Albion.

“Since Hospice closed the Martin-Linsin residence, we have a contract with them and have designated two rooms for hospice patients,” Luckman said.

She said most insurance companies will cover their stay.

Diane Shiffer among ‘grandfluencers’ who are 60-plus with enormous followings

CBS Sunday Morning today featured Diane Shiffer of Albion who has about 1 million followers on both Instagram and TikTok. Shiffer’s uses the hashtag: “YourChubbyVintageNana.”

ALBION – CBS Sunday Morning today highlighted social media who are 60 and older with enormous followings. Diane Shiffer of Albion is among the “grandfluencers” with a massive following on both Instagram and TikTok.

Shiffer, 68, is a retired educator and social worker. She started to go viral on social media during the pandemic in 2020 when she posted short videos of her in daily life – baking, sewing, doing household chores, sharing words about kindness, and showcasing some of her vintage finds, such as potholders.

Shiffer told the story to CBS about how she first went viral. She accidently took a time lapse video of her doing her hair. She posted it on social media and amassed about 2 million views. She also suddenly had hundreds of thousands of followers.

Shiffer uses the hashtag: “YourChubbyVintageNana.” She speaks directly to her followers in her videos, calling them “my sweeties.”

Instagram: These screenshots from Diane Shiffer’s Instagram account show posts of her doing a household task of the laundry, left, and then her making an announcement she will be writing a book and welcomes title suggestions.

CBS correspondent Faith Salie said Shiffer’s “soothing voice and infectious laugh” are a big part of her appeal. Salie said about Shiffer, “spending time with her feels like a warm hug.”

Other “Grandfluencers” with a large social media following have used that to make big money by promoting products. Shiffer hasn’t done that. She announced she does have a book deal focusing on her messages of kindness to others and oneself.

Shiffer about a year ago did something out of the norm. She asked her social media followers to donate to a family in Medina that suffered a tragic loss. Those followers responded in a big way, donating $100,000 to a Medina family that suffered heartbreak with a miscarriage and then a hospitalization.

Click here to see the feature on CBS Sunday Morning.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 14

ALBION – Listen for the peal of the Courthouse Bell in Albion at noon on Tuesday April 15, 2025!

The bell will ring for one minute on that date, in celebration of the Orleans County Bicentennial. Churches throughout the county are encouraged to ring their bells also.

Albion’s Courthouse bell was installed in the dome in 1860, two years after the construction of the building. The cost of hanging it was $24.06. At one time it was used regularly to indicate when the Court was called to session.

It was rung on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, by some boys who had gained access to the belfry, on January 19, 1959, to celebrate the Courthouse Centennial and again in 1976 for the country’s Bicentennial celebration.

According to a File Feature reference in the Journal-Register newspaper, the bell was next rung on August 20, 1985, by David Stevenson, an employee of the County’s Buildings and Grounds Dept. who had joked that he would ring the bell if his first grandchild was born on his birthday.

The ringing of the bell at noon on Tuesday, April 15 will mark the beginning of the Bicentennial event to mark the 200th anniversary of the formation of Orleans County on April 15, 1825.

The event will take place in the Courthouse, a fitting location, long recognized as “a central focus for the citizens of Orleans County,” to quote Irene Gibson, author of Historic Sites in Orleans County, New York. Hon. Sanford A. Church will launch the event which will feature Proclamations and remarks by legislators and historians, followed by cake, of course.

Seating is still available. Descendants of the early settlers are encouraged to attend. The event may be viewed remotely on the Orleans County Tourism Facebook page (click here).

Photo by Tom Rivers: John LaFalce, a retired congressman, speaks on April 22, 2018 during a fundraiser for the Geneses-Orleans Ministry of Concern during the agency’s 50th anniversary celebration.

John LaFalce, a powerful former congressman whose district included Orleans County, has died at age 85.

LaFalce served in Congress for 28 years until the end of 2002. During his tenure, he helped many of the towns and villages in Orleans County secure federal Housing and Urban Development grants to expand public water, including in very rural areas.

LaFalce, a member of the House Banking Committee, was critical in getting Dime Bank to come and expand in Albion in the late 1990s.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer issued this statement about LaFalce this afternoon:

“Congressman LaFalce was as Buffalo as they come,” Schumer said. “He had one of the biggest brains and the biggest heart. John was a legislative giant and a dear friend going back to our time serving together in the House. He would see a problem, whether in his beloved city of Buffalo or across the country, and dedicate every fiber of his being to making sure it was solved.

“His dedication to public service and passion for helping others knew no bounds. He loved Buffalo and always defended Western New York. He was a good and loyal friend, and I will deeply miss him. My prayers are with his loved ones and Western NY as they mourn this tremendous loss.”

LaFalce, a graduate of Canisius College, served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967 during the Vietnam War. He was a lawyer in private practice and then was a state senator and assemblyman before being elected to Congress at age 35 in 1975.

Gerrymandering pitted him against another long-time member of the House, Louise Slaughter of Rochester, in 2002. LaFalce opted to retire rather than face Slaughter in a what would have been a bitter primary of two Democrats.

LaFalce was in Orleans County for the 50^th anniversary of the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern in April 2018. During that celebration at Hickory Ridge in Holley, LaFalce praised the agency for serving residents in need for a half century. He was an honorary board member for GOMOC.

LaFalce said the Ministry of Concern followed one of the great commands of Jesus by loving their neighbor, by providing shelter, clothing and food.

“You are sharing love for your neighbors in Genesee and Orleans counties when you provide for those in need,” LaFalce said during the celebration.

MEDINA – A pedestrian was struck by a car and killed today in Medina at the corner of West Center Street and West Avenue.

“Tragically the pedestrian involved in the accident was pronounced dead at the scene,” the Medina Police Department posted on its Facebook page.  “We will release further information pending notification to family.”

The State Police accident reconstruction unit is assisting with the investigation.

The pedestrian was struck at about 11:40 a.m.

Photo by Kyle Gill

ALBION – The Albion Rotary and Interact Clubs picked up trash along the railroad tracks in Albion this morning and filled 19 garbage bags with a total weight of 307 pounds. That topped the 291 pounds from a year ago.

Albion Rotary has done the cleanup the past five years with students from Albion Central School.

Pictured from left include Makenzie Cook, Lillian Fisher, Ayme Vallejo-Morales, Cordelia Rivers, Adam Burgio, Tom Rivers, Maddison Button, Tim Archer and Mike Schmackpheffer.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Adam Burgio, an Interact Club member, hunts down litter just east of Platt Street.

Mike Schmackpheffer, a prospective Rotarian, helped the garbage collection. He is getting trash near the wall by Dunkin’ Donuts.

Lillian Fisher, an Interact member, tosses a bag of litter into the dumpster at Ace Hardware. Rotary and Interact thank Ace Hardware for use of the dumpster.

A dense fog advisory is in effect until 11 a.m. today in Orleans County and much of Western New York.

Visibility will be as low as one quarter mile at times in dense fog, creating hazardous driving conditions, the National Weather Service said.

The high temperature today will be 45 followed by 54 on Sunday, 63 on Monday, 45 on Tuesday and 46 on Wednesday.

Press Release, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Western District of New York

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kyle Stack, 39, of Medina was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child sexual abuse material involving prepubescent minors, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in December 2019, Adobe Systems Inc. reported that four images containing child sexual abuse material were uploaded to Adobe’s servers from screen/username “Kyle Stack.”

Subsequent investigation traced the uploads to the defendant. In July 2020, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Stack’s Bates Road residence, seizing six electronic devices, two of which were later found to contain child sexual abuse material.

A forensic review of Stack’s cell phone recovered a total of 4,822 images and 32 videos of child sexual abuse material, as well as 2,319 images and four videos of child erotica, and 25 animated child sexual abuse material. A review of his laptop recovered 3,476 images, eight animated images, 16 images of child bestiality and bondage, 5,930 videos, three animated videos, and 43 child bestiality and bondage videos.

Stack made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES would like to issue a huge thank you to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee’s Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More for giving our students a “Cinderella” moment!

Store manager Cassie Healy brought in prom dresses for our students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center and the Orleans Learning Center so they would feel like the a million dollars at their proms.

“It looks like we had 29 girls get dresses, which would make it the most successful event we had to date,” Healy said. “We definitely hope to come back next year!”

Orleans Learning Center School Counselor Melissa Gailie said, “We can’t thank Cassie enough for the dresses. It was such a wonderful experience for all of the students!”

From left include Molly Wadhams (Trainer at Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More), Cassie Healy (Store Manager, Classroom Instructor and Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More) and Jackie Dunham (COO of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

Governor willing to delay state budget until changes with discovery requirements

Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor – Governor Kathy Hochul on March 24 convenes a domestic violence prevention roundtable with survivors, advocates and law enforcement. She said “technicalities” are causing too many cases to be dismissed due to the discovery laws where the prosecution has strict timelines to turn over evidence.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said too many cases in the court system are being dismissed due to “technicalities” on how quickly the prosecution has to turn over evidence to the defense.

She is demanding changes in the discovery laws that set strict timelines for handing over evidence to the defense. She is joined by the district attorneys around the state in seeking changes to the discovery laws.

Hochul is so adamant she is willing to hold off on approving the state budget.

“I’m really proud to be fighting on their behalf, and people all over this state who are denied the justice because of some technicality in the discovery laws that are written out,” Hochul said on Thursday in Albany after meeting with domestic violence survivors. “And they put their heart and soul into trying to get justice and it’s thrown out because something minor, irrelevant, is missing — I’m going to keep fighting until we fix this. I’m going to keep fighting to put this in the budget.”

 The Orleans County Legislature on March 24 also passed a resolution seeking changes in the discovery laws.

The Legislature said early and thorough discovery of evidence is not only fair to defendants, “but also facilitates meaningful plea discussions and efficient resolution of cases.”

However, the state’s reformed discovery laws in 2019 have put an “unreasonable drain on resources and forces DA offices to make difficult decisions on which cases they can prosecute,” county legislators said.

The new laws force prosecutors to collect all material that “relates to” a case within short timeframes, and then to certify the entirety of evidence by filing a Certificate of Compliance.

“The breadth and scope of discoverable material under New York’s new discovery statute is unparalleled nationwide, and includes any material that merely ‘relates to’ an incident regardless of its utility, relevance, or admissibility,” according to the Legislature’s resolution.

New York is the only state that allows cases to be dismissed due to minor discovery violations. Since the new discovery laws were enacted, speedy trial dismissals in the state are up from 12,398 cases in 2019 to 42,212 cases in 2023, according to the Office of Court Administration.

The District Attorneys Association of the State of New York wants the discovery laws amended.

Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard is among the district attorneys seeking discovery law changes. Before 2020, it was a much simpler process of handing over the paper police reports to defendants, she said.

Now, there is a digital management system where a the initial discovery obligations must be submitted within 20 calendar days after arraignment if the defendant is in custody, and 35 calendar days if the defendant is not in custody.

“That’s not a lot of time,” Howard said. “Small departments don’t have the staff to download and get in the files. The discovery laws have made it very difficult for us.”

Hochul is seeking to not have cases be automatically dismissed if the all the evidence isn’t turned over in the time frames. The governor also wants to narrow the required materials to be those “relevant” to a case and not “related” – which would lower the workload on law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney offices.