Photo courtesy of Rick Merrill
ALBION – Scouts from the Albion area spent Wednesday evening putting American flags on the graves of soldiers at Mount Albion Cemetery.
Scouts in the Albion area every year place flags on veterans’ graves at Mount Albion and St. Joseph’s Cemetery, both on Route 31. The Scouts take care of the veterans at the two cemeteries before Memorial Day, which this year is May 27. The effort includes about 2,000 flags.
ALBION – The Erie Canal lift bridge on Main Street in Albion is closed today for repairs.
The estimated time of closure is from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Ingersoll Street lift bridge is an alternate route.
Courtesy of Cobblestone Suites: The proposed 58-room hotel in Medina will look similar to this Cobblestone Suites hotel in Pennsylvania.
MEDINA – Officials from Cobblestone Inn and Suites will have a ground-breaking celebration today for a new hotel in Medina, which will be the company’s first in New York.
The weeks of rain will prevent an actual groundbreaking, but the company wants to celebrate the start of the project in Medina.
The $6.75 million hotel will be located at the Medina Business Park on Maple Ridge Road, across from Genesee Community College.
The hotel will have 54 rooms and 4 extended-stay suites. The hotel owner estimated it would create 12 full-time jobs when its open with an average salary of $29,000. The project will create 275 construction jobs.
The 3-story hotel will be the first chain hotel in the county and is expected to keep more visitors in Orleans for overnight stays, boosting occupancy and sales taxes. The occupancy tax is used to promote tourism in the county.
BriMark Builders has been working on the project in Medina for a few years. It secured Planning Board approval from the Village of Medina and Orleans County in 2017. BriMark is based in Neenah, Wisc.
Cobblestone Inn and Suites has built about 80 hotels with most of them in small towns, typically working with investors in the host community. An investor from Pennsylvania is leading the effort to build the project in Medina.
The project includes 65 parking spots, an access drive, outdoor patio, sidewalks, dumpster enclosure, and an optional future gravel truck parking area.
ALBION – Normally the Albion Midget League is well into its season but this year the six teams have only been on the field a few times for practice.
The season was scheduled to open on May 4 but was pushed back to May 18. Today, after a walk-through on the soggy Midget League Field behind the Albion Town Hall, opening day was pushed back two more weeks until June 1, nearly a month later than usual.
Dan Bartlett, coach of Sandstone Park, said the extra two weeks should ensure the six teams all get in enough practices to be ready for opening day.
After washouts on Monday and Tuesday, the teams hoped to practice today. But then the rains returned late this afternoon.
“Enough of this rain, enough,” Bartlett said.
Besides the muddy base paths, pitcher’s mound and batter’s box, the fields are so wet it’s hard to get a lawn mower out to cut the high grass.
The Albion Midget League, which started in 1956, will have an opening day ceremony at 11 a.m. on June 1, and all of the players – about 125 in the league – will be introduced at the Midget League Field. A ceremonial first pitch will be tossed and then it’s time to play ball.
June 1 also is the date for the annual chicken barbecue to benefit the league.
The season is slated to end with the championship game on July 20. The Barre Cubs have won the title the last four years. The other teams include Sandstone, St. Mary’s, the Vets, Rotary-Lions and Carlton.
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Village of Albion was joined by five seventh-graders today in planting a tree on South Clinton Street near McDonalds. Garric Winterkorn, left, and Willem DeRuysscher shovel dirt to plant the tree.
The seventh graders are pictured with Mayor Eileen Banker, who shared remarks during a tree-planting celebration.
Pictured from left include Willem DeRuysscher, Garric Winterkorn, Hannah Pahura, Julia Fuller, Mayor Eileen Banker and Mia Olles.
Hannah Pahura, one of the seventh-graders, also spoke about a tree’s worth, including offering shade, improving air quality, protecting topsoil, and providing shelter for many species of birds.
“When you plant a tree, you plant hope,” Pahura said.
Her father, Jay Pahura, is Albion’s DPW superintendent.
Tim Archer, the service learning teacher at Albion, helped organize today’s tree planting ceremony. The newly planted tree is a sugar maple.
The village is working to become a Tree City USA Community.
Albion is using a state grant to do a survey of all the village-owned trees. That initiative includes a tree management plan and will identify spots to plant new trees.
Julia Fuller shares a reflection about trees.
Press Release, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Nolan Donald, 20, of Lyndonville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition, and possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing marijuana. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth T. Molisani, who is handling the case, stated that between February 2018 and April 18, 2018, the defendant was addicted to, or was an unlawful user of, marijuana.
On April 18, 2018, Donald was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at his residence on North Lyndonville Road. Inside the residence, investigators recovered a 9mm, semi-automatic pistol, loaded with eight rounds of ammunition; a 12-gauge shotgun; 79 rounds of ammunition; a small quantity of marijuana; edible marijuana cookies; and plastic baggies.
Following his arrest, the defendant admitted that he sold marijuana for approximately two years preceding his arrest and continued to sell marijuana and other marijuana products up until the time of his arrest. Donald also stated that he has used marijuana every day for the past year and a half.
Between February 17, 2018, and April 18, 2018, the defendant posted videos and photos to the social media application “Snapchat” in which he appeared to be in possession of a pistol and large quantities of marijuana, and using what appeared to be marijuana and prescription medicine.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 20, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with 11 Senate colleagues, today introduced a new bill to protect American elections from interference. This legislation comes as Florida’s governor announced that two counties in the state were hacked during the 2016 elections. The Protecting American Votes and Elections (PAVE) Act of 2019 would take measures to fix the vulnerabilities in the nation’s federal election infrastructure and help secure American elections from hackers. This includes creating new cybersecurity standards, providing state and local governments with resources to guard against cyberattacks, and mandating paper ballots for all federal elections.
“Voting is one of the cornerstones of our democracy, and we must never allow our elections to be vulnerable to interference again,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The PAVE Act would help ensure the validity of election results by requiring a paper receipt for every vote, providing states with the resources they desperately need to upgrade their voting machines, and creating new cybersecurity standards at the voting booth. Congress has a responsibility to secure the integrity of our elections, and I am proud to join with Senator Wyden to introduce this bill that strengthens our country’s election infrastructure.”
There are currently no mandatory standards for election cybersecurity. The PAVE Act would give the Department of Homeland Security the authority to set, for the first time, minimum cybersecurity standards for voting machines, voter registration databases, electronic poll books used to ‘check in’ voters at polling places, and election night reporting websites. Additionally, the legislation would ban internet, WiFi, and cellular connections for voting machines.
Furthermore, the PAVE Act would ensure that state and local governments have the resources to defend against cyberattacks by foreign intelligence services. The bill would provide $500 million dollars for state and local governments to buy new, secure ballot scanning machines, and $250 million to buy new ballot marking devices to be used by voters with disabilities. The bill would permit the federal government to reimburse states the cost of conducting post-elections audits, as well as the cost of designing and printing ballots.
The PAVE Act would also require paper ballots and statistically rigorous “risk-limiting” audits for all federal elections. These two measures are recommended by experts in a 2018 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2018 report on election security and would help ensure that every vote can be subjected to a manual recount.
The Protecting American Votes and Elections Act of 2019 is also cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA).
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The apple blossoms are starting to come out in orchards in Orleans County. These blossoms are on Rhode Island Greenings, an old-time apple variety, on Hurd Road.
The orchards will be a sea of white petals while the blossoms are blooming. The annual spring event has been delayed a little with the cool temperatures.
New York is the country’s second-leading apple producer behind Washington State. New York produces about 30 million bushels of apples annually, which is just ahead of the crop in Michigan.
Orleans County is one of New York’s leading apple-growing counties, behind only Wayne.
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Keeler Construction in Albion is busy today putting new pavement on Route 31 in Holley. This photo is on the west side of the village, looking down from the railroad overpass.
The state Department of Transportation hired Keeler for the job, which started last month and includes milling and repaving Route 31.
A flagman keeps an eye out for motorists on Route 31. The project has slowed down traffic.
The DOT next year will pave Route 237 in the village.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The family of John E. Butts of Medina gave his dog tag and also his diary to the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Memorial Day in 2015. The dog tag was covered in blood, and that blood corroded the metal, causing it to split. The village named a park for Butts and the American Legion post also bears his name. He died in World War II in Normandy. Butts had already been wounded when he led a charge to distract the enemy. He was fatally wounded, but his battalion was able to advance.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature next week will recognize the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, and wants to acknowledge veterans and descendants of Orleans County men who were present for the invasion on June 6, 1944.
The Legislature meets at 4:30 p.m. on May 22 at the top floor of the County Clerks’ Building next to the County Courthouse.
Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard and Nadine Hanlon, clerk of the Legislature, are compiling a least of local soldiers who fought at D-Day.
The list so far includes:
• PFC Clifford Williams – Killed on July 24, 1944 at Saint-Lô
• Pvt. John E. Rosenbeck – Killed on July 16 or 18, 1944 at Saint-Lô
• Pvt. James Campas – Killed on June 6, 1944 (listed as Erie County but born in Medina)
• Sgt. George Quinn
• Lt. William Barnum – Killed on July 14, 1944 at Saint-Lô (buried in Netherlands)
• Lt. John Butts – Killed on June 23, 1944 in Normandy (originally buried in Normandy, now at St. Mary’s in Medina), Medal of Honor recipient
Survivors:
• Kenneth Owen of Shelby – 82nd Airborne
• Donald Stirk of Albion – Combat Engineer, wounded
• Lt. Elwin Smith of Barre – Pilot who flew paratroopers in for initial invasion
• William Lattin – Glider Pilot, flying in bazooka team for engagement
Family of other local soldiers who were part of D-Day are encouraged to send service information and a photo to either Matt.Ballard@orleanscountyny.gov or Nadine.Hanlon@orleanscountyny.gov. Those who plan on attending the Legislature meeting on May 22 are encouraged to let Hanlon know. She can be reached by email or at (585) 589-7053.
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MEDINA – A Medina second-grader who collected three carloads of food for homeless in Buffalo will be recognized on Thursday as a Western New York “Real Hero.”
The American Red Cross is presenting awards to 16 people. They will be recognized during a breakfast at The Park Country Club in Williamsville.
Caliyah Boston, 7, of Medina and Medina native Evette Phillips are both receiving “Good Neighbor” awards.
Caliyah Boston is pictured with Evette Phillips, leader of We R Buffalo Strong, in October. Caliyah helped to give away the food to homeless people in Buffalo.
Phillips founded “We R Buffalo Strong.” The organization strives to make a difference in the lives of the homeless, elderly and veterans within her community by providing them with food and other crucial resources.
Caliyah selflessly collected and donated three carloads of supplies, including food and clothes, for this organization.
Phillips has been taking food to homeless people in Buffalo for the past five years, often bringing grills and cooking meals with them.
Caliyah’s family heard about the organization through social media and wanted to collect food to be donated to We R Buffalo Strong. Caliyah’s second grade classmates and others at Oak Orchard Elementary School helped with the effort, which resulted in three carloads of food and clothing.
Phillips in 2017 was named the “Humble Humanitarian of the Year” by Compass House of WNY, which runs a shelter for homeless children ages 12 to 17. She typically meets the homeless on the street behind the Buffalo public library.
Phillips said she doesn’t just hand out food. Sometimes there are tail-gate parties, cookouts and TV’s hooked up to watch the Bills games together.
She was impressed by Caliyah’s good heart and motivation to help the homeless. Phillips didn’t realize the two had a Medina connection until Caliyah showed up wearing a Medina Mustang sweatshirt.
The Real Heroes Breakfast on Thursday celebrates the Red Cross mission of alleviating human suffering by recognizing people from throughout the region who have performed heroic acts during times of crisis. The heroes include first responders as well as ordinary citizens who performed life-saving acts.
Proceeds from the Real Heroes Breakfast benefit the Red Cross, which provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
The Western New York Chapter serves communities in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.
Press Release, GCC
Genesee Community College’s Albion and Medina Campus Centers have announced the Spring 2019 Instructors and Students of the Semester.
Each semester, one instructor and one student from each campus center are recognized for their outstanding instructional and/or academic performances. For several weeks, the campus centers collect nominations from fellow teachers, colleagues and students and a small committee led by James Simon, associate dean at Medina and Albion Campus Centers, determines the winners.
ALBION CAMPUS CENTER
Paul Brew
Paul Brew has been selected as the GCC Albion Campus Center Spring 2019 Instructor of the Semester. Brew is new to the GCC Albion faculty this semester and teaches history and political science. The students who nominated Mr. Brew said, “He is an instructor that will always be there to help, and doesn’t want anybody to fail his class.” Another student stated: “History is a tough subject for me, but the way he teaches it really made me like history!”
Brew of Rochester is a graduate of Churchville-Chili High School, and over his lifetime he gleaned his higher education from Monroe Community College, Empire State College, SUNY Brockport and GCC. He earned a Master’s degree in World History. “I went right from high school to work and instantly became addicted to the paycheck. Money does not equal happiness, and I wish I would have gone to college sooner.”
In his insights on the Albion Campus Center, he shared that “GCC is a place where people trump paperwork every time. You can get just about anything done with an actual person.”
In addition to teaching, Brew enjoys doing Isshin Ryu Karate, playing World of Warships video games and writes Sci-fi. He cites his most rewarding teaching experience as “Every time a student tells me they hate history but enjoyed my class.” His word of advice to new instructors? “Meet students where they are.”
Carl Roach III
Carl Roach III has been selected as the GCC Albion Campus Center Spring 2019 Student of the Semester. Roach is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with expected graduation in Spring 2020. He has a long-term life goal of “achieving a technology breakthrough that will ultimately lead to a greater understanding of our very human nature and the world around us.”
Roach chose to further his education at GCC in order to “achieve his dreams and goals in life.” He notes that the strong support of his family helps drive his aspirations. “Without their support, I would be lost.” Other major influences in his life are the “various learning and teaching styles offered through the intellectual instructors and programs” at GCC. His nominating instructor said, “Carl is driven and curious to be the best version of himself. Not only does he actively participate and add value to every class discussion, but he encourages and teaches his peers to achieve success in the classroom.”
Outside of school, you can find Roach skateboarding, running, playing guitar and pursuing his love of computer technology, philosophy, history and learning. Roach resides in Albion.
MEDINA CAMPUS CENTER
Dr. David Voss
Dr. David Voss has been selected as the Instructor of the Semester at Genesee Community College – Medina Campus Center for the spring 2019 semester. Dr. Voss teaches Introduction to Chemistry at the Medina Campus this semester and has taught at GCC since 2007. He also teaches chemistry and forensic science at Medina High School. The student nomination stated, “He is an awesome professor, super helpful, and provides encouragement for his students. I really enjoyed every second of his class!”
When asked about one piece of advice he would give to new instructors, Dr. Voss said, “Smile every day and have fun teaching your class.” He received this advice from a former student on a post-it note during his first year of teaching and he still carries this advice with him. Voss indicated that hearing about former students who are doing well and enjoying life is the most rewarding aspect of his job.
When asked about his feelings regarding GCC Medina Campus Center, he said, “The staff and faculty are incredibly caring and supportive. They want every student to be successful. It’s a great place to go to continue your education.”
Dr. Voss earned his B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Bioinorganic Chemistry from University at Buffalo. He enjoys sports, reading and gardening. He is married and has four children, a dog and two cats, and resides in Barker.
Amy Schrader has been selected as the Student of the Semester at the Medina Campus Center for the spring semester. Amy is pursuing a Nursing A.A.S. degree and she is a full-time student at GCC, expecting to graduate in May 2021. After she completes her degree, she plans to continue her education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Amy’s career goal is to work as a registered nurse at Medina Memorial – Orleans Community Health, where she currently works as an L.P.N. in the dialysis department.
The instructors who nominated Amy expressed that she is an excellent student with exceptionally strong work ethic, diligence and determination. Professors commented that she is an “inspiration” and positive role model to traditional students as “they can see in her how hard work pays off.” Amy has certainly made a very positive and lasting impression during her time at GCC.
When asked why she decided to attend college, Amy shared that she wanted to further her education as a nurse and to be better able to provide for her family. Her advice to new students: “Work hard, don’t give up, and have perseverance. It’s all going to be worth it!”
Amy is married, has two children and resides in Medina.
Jennifer Ashbery
ALBION – The Board of Education has hired the next high school principal at Albion.
Jennifer Ashbery, the vice principal at the elementary school the past six years, will start as the high school leader on July 1.
She was one of two finalists interviewed by the Board of Education on Monday night.
Ashbery is a 1993 graduate of Albion. She worked as a fifth grade teacher for 14 years before shifting to administration six years ago.
“I’m just excited and honored,” she said today about her new position at the school district. “I see an opportunity to lead and be a positive influence.”
She said she will work with teachers and staff “where the overarching focus will be on students, helping them to be critical thinkers and problem solvers.”
Ashbery said she has been fortunate to grow up and work at Albion Central School. She said her time as a student at the former Waterport Elementary School, from fourth to sixth grades, was particularly critical for her.
“That was really instrumental in developing a passion for education and teaching,” she said.
Ashbery has twin daughters who are currently sixth-graders at Albion.
The district currently has an interim principal following the resignation of Matthew Peterson. He left Albion in January to work as principal at Oakfield-Alabama Central School.
Photos courtesy of Medina Fire Department
MEDINA – Donato Rosario, right, is saluted by Medina Fire Chief Tom Lupo on Friday when Rosario graduated from the NYS Recruit Firefighter Training program at Montour Falls.
Medina Fire Chief Tom Lupo, left, and Lt. Steve Cooley attended the graduation ceremony for Rosario on Friday.
Rosario, 20, interned with the Fire Department when he was a senior at Albion High School two years ago. That experience made him want to be a firefighter. He has been a volunteer firefighter with Carlton for about a year.
“I fell in love with it,” Rosario said about firefighting.
He initially had a career goal of working as a chiropractor. But he couldn’t find an internship with that profession locally. So he connected with the Medina Fire Department and joined firefighters on some of their medical calls, as well as fire scenes.
He was impressed by their professionalism, knowledge of the human body and their life-saving work in their dual roles as medics and firefighters.
Rosario was hired as a career firefighter with Medina, and just completed the 11-week training program through the state. He learned the basics of firefighting, auto extrications, handling hazardous materials, and simulated responses to live burns.
Rosario, one of 56 to graduate in the class, said the program also has a focus on decision-making in many different emergency situations.
“After 11 weeks of the most intense physical and mental training of my life, I’m officially a firefighter,” he posted on Facebook on Friday. “Thank you to everyone who has stood by me and pushed me along the way. To my fellow firemen, remember why we do this and always wear your badge with pride and honor, we’ve earned it.”
Rosario is the first member of his family to be a firefighter. He urged more people to give it a try. He proves you don’t have to be from a family in the fire service to be welcomed by a local department.
“I would encourage more people to try it,” he said. “You can stop by a firehouse and we’ll show you around and show you what we do.”
Photos courtesy of Medina Central School
MEDINA – About 150 Medina High School students and staff chose to do something good for their school and their community on their annual Make An Impact Day on Monday.
The teams spent half their day taking on service projects or beautifying their school. Medina School District had the afternoon off, but students volunteered their time instead of leaving.
The school has been participating in this event for several years. The rain kept many of the projects indoors, but there were some teams that were up for braving the elements and cleaning up local parks.
