SOMERSET – A 78-year-old man from Florida was killed in a car accident on Tuesday afternoon in the Town of Somerset, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Louis A. Greenwald of Lake Wales in Florida was driving a 2024 Nissan northbound on Carmen Road at about 2:31 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office said he failed to yield the right of way to a 2019 GMC driven by Earl Foster, 77, of Wilson. Foster was east bound on Lake Road.

The GMC stuck the Nissan, after which it traveled into the cornfield northeast of the intersection where it came to rest. The Nissan came to rest in the intersection upon the roadway, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Foster was transported by ambulance to Lockport Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Greenwald was transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC where he was succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

SHELBY – When Erin Fuller, an Orleans County deputy, died by suicide at age 45 on Sept. 12, 2015, it left his family lost and heartbroken.

When Jason and Ike Watts saw an advertisement for Out of the Darkness Walk in Buffalo to benefit suicide prevention, they knew they had to get involved.

Since 2016,  the Watts and their family have walked and tried to seek donations for the cause. They weren’t as successful as they wanted, until the idea came up last year to have a basket raffle.

“Basket raffles are always a hit, so I called a couple of friends and asked their opinion,” Ike said. “We had our first raffle last year and it was extremely successful. We had a great turnout and people wanted to know if we were going to do it again this year.”

Their second annual basket raffle to benefit their team in support of suicide prevention will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Shelby Fire Hall. Drawing of tickets will begin at 5 p.m.

The afternoon will include refreshments sponsored by Medina FFA volunteers, special raffles and a 50/50 raffle.

The Watts have a motto they live up to. “We support the fighters, admire the survivors, honor the taken and never give up hope.”

The support they’ve already received this year is overwhelming.

“Donations were slow at first, but in the last few days, a lot of people have stepped up to donate, for which I’m extremely grateful,” Ike said.

The fire hall already has a record number of baskets and donations will still be accepted by calling Ike at (585) 590-0291, Tammy Fearby at (716) 239-0185, Rebecca Lacy at (585) 750-4425 or Christine Crane at (585) 590-2608. Also volunteering to help is Todd Eick, a co-worker of Ike’s in the Medina Central School system.

Ike said some of the baskets are incredible, including one from the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, a “Proud to be Polish” themed basket valued at more than $300, and one from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Association called a “Thin Blue Line” basket.

One thing which Ike can’t stop thinking about is the spread sheet on which they log in each basket as it is received. The basket from the Sheriff’s Department was the 155th one, the number of Erin’s badge.

Another very special basket is one she created called “A Walk to Remember” in memory of the late Wilson Southworth, who enjoyed daily walks admiring Medina.

“It is my hope that whoever wins this basket will walk around Medina and admire everything our small town has to offer,” Ike said.

She thanked Ron Stork and his wife Cherie, Lee and Maureen Blackburn and Case-Nic Cookies for contributing to this basket, filled with merchandise and gift certificates from 15 businesses in downtown Medina.

Ike is also excited to announce the Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition has joined as a co-sponsor of the fundraiser.

Another new feature this year is a banner with the name Fuller 155. For a donation of any amount a person can purchase a heart for a loved one and the Watts family will carry it in the walk on Sept. 21.

“The banner may have Erin’s name on it, but the cause is for so many people we’ve lost or are struggling,” Ike said. “Suicide prevention is not an easy subject to talk about, but by doing this raffle we hope it eases people’s mind that it’s OK to talk about it.”

Courthouse dome will be lighted up in gold color for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Provided photo

HOLLEY – Mayor Mark Bower, second from left, issued a proclamation from the Holley Village Board on Tuesday declaring September as “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.” He is shown with Diane Valentine, left, and Tina and Jeremy Neal.

Valentine’s son Evan Valentine, age 18, passed away from acute myeloid leukemia on Feb. 21, 2021.

The Neals’ son, Byron, passed away at age 8 from cancer on April 14, 2023.

They are among several local families with children affected by cancer. The proclamation from the Village of Holley is part of an effort to raise awareness of childhood cancer, and boost funding for research.

The Murray Town Board also plans to issue a proclamation during its board meeting on Sept. 16, and the Orleans County Courthouse Dome will be illumined in a gold color from Sept. 16-30 in a show of support for childhood cancer awareness.

Bower, in his proclamation, said cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children, with 43 children per day or 15,780 children diagnosed with cancer annually.

There is a need for new cancer drugs to be approved by the FDA, and more funding to carry this out, Bower said.

The proclamation notes that hundreds of non-profit organizations at the local, state and national level are helping children with cancer and their families cope with the associated educational, emotional and financial support.

“All of us have been directly or indirectly impacted by this terrible disease,” Bower stated in the proclamation.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) alongside Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), introduced the People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act to expand eligibility to include veterinary care expenses under tax-advantaged health care spending accounts, specifically Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) by amending Internal Revenue Code Section 213(d).

The PAW Act would allow pet owners to use their HSA or FSA accounts to pay for up to $1,000 for veterinary care or a pet health insurance plan, while permitting an unlimited amount of these funds for service animals.

It aims to assist veterans with PTSD and individuals with disabilities by ensuring the IRS relies on an up-to-date Federal definition of “service animal,” which includes animals trained to assist with both physical and mental disabilities. Additionally, the bill maintains current HSA and FSA contribution limits, ensuring that there will be little to no impact on federal expenditures.

“Our pets and service animals are cherished members of our families, and it’s essential that owners have the ability to pay for quality care,” Tenney said. “The PAW Act offers greater flexibility to pet owners by allowing them to use HSAs and FSAs for pet care expenses. This legislation will help veterans, and all pet owners afford veterinary care for their beloved pets and service animals.”

“MetLife strongly supports the PAW Act, which helps pet parents address unexpected veterinary expenses resulting from a pet’s illness or accident,” said Brian Jorgensen, Head of Pet Insurance, MetLife. “This bill is a critical step towards promoting the health and well-being of pets by helping pet parents access the care their pets need while protecting their financial wellness. We are proud to support a bill that aligns with MetLife’s purpose of helping people care for their loved ones, both human and animal.”

Photo courtesy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

BARRE – A tractor trailer tipped over on Route 98 this evening, crashing into a guard rail near the Genesee County line.

The driver was taken by ambulance to be treated for a head injury at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

A section of Route 98 continues to be closed to traffic due to the accident, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said.

The truck was loaded with cabbage and the weight shifted, causing the trailer to sway off the roadway and strike a guard rail near the county line, he said.

“The impact made the trailer axel become detached from the trailer,” Bourke said.

Information from New York National Guard

A National Guard soldier from Albion has been promoted, Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general for the state of New York, announced.

Daelonte Ortiz from Albion and assigned to the Company D, 427th Brigade Support Battalion, received a promotion Aug. 26 to the rank of specialist and will take on additional responsibility and leadership.

Army National Guard promotions are based on a soldier’s overall performance, demonstrated leadership abilities, professionalism and future development potential.

These promotions recognize the best-qualified soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

Army National Guard Citizen Soldiers who serve our state and nation are eligible for monthly pay, educational benefits (from the state and federal government), travel across the globe, technical and leadership training, health and dental insurance and contributions towards retirement programs similar to a 401(k).

Provided photo: From left include Ryan Hasenauer, director of marketing for Batavia Downs; Bob Stilwell; Jennifer Stilwell, president of Make a Difference Rescue; and Henry Wojtaszek, president and CEO of Batavia Downs.

Press Release, Batavia Downs Gaming

BATAVIA – Batavia Downs Gaming President and CEO Henry Wojtaszek presented representatives from the Make a Difference (M.A.D) Rescue with a check for $4,200 to help support their efforts rescuing abandoned street dogs of Puerto Rico.

Unclaimed Funds, along side donations and the sale of bottle openers helped raise the money.

“We are appreciative to Cindy DeCarlo and the whole team at Batavia Downs,” said Jennifer Stilwell, President of M.A.D. which is based in Albion. “These funds are so important for us to continue our work of rescuing and rehabilitating the street dogs of Puerto Rico. With these funds we can continue to find them their forever homes here in Western New York and beyond.”

“There are lots of animal lovers, both here amongst our staff and our guests, “said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Batavia Downs.  “As a dog owner myself, I know the joy a dog can bring to a family.  We are happy to help Jennifer and her team in their efforts to make life better for these dogs as they find new owners.”

About Batavia Downs/WROTB

Western Region Off-Track Betting Corporation is a public benefit corporation with headquarters in Batavia, NY. WROTB owns and operates 9 branches, as well as Batavia Downs Gaming, a standard bred racetrack and gaming facility. Since its inception, Western Region OTB has generated over $232 million in operating and surcharge revenues to the taxpayers of participating municipalities.

About Make a Difference (M.A.D) Rescue

M.A.D Rescue is a Western New York based non-profit that is passionate about the recovery, rehabilitation and adoption of the homeless, abused and abandoned street dogs of Puerto Rico.

St. Rocco’s Festival grounds will remain with ONE Catholic

Photos by Tom Rivers: St. Stephen’s Catholic Church will be closed and sold as part of plan by the Diocese of Buffalo to restructure parishes.

Diocese of Buffalo leaders this morning will announce the final decisions on which parishes and other properties will be closed and sold.

Bishop Michael Fisher is expected to announce the recommendations from June will be final for Orleans and eastern Niagara, which includes closing and selling St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Kendall and St. Stephen’s in Middleport.

The church in Lyndonville was badly damaged in a fire last year, with the church building then razed. The Diocese will sell the former rectory and property in Lyndonville, according to an announcement posted last evening from Father Mark Noonan, pastor of ONE Catholic which includes Orleans and eastern Niagara churches.

“These decisions have been difficult to countenance and consider over the last few months since we received the Recommendations from the Road to Renewal Team,” Father Noonan posted in a message to the community. “It is painful to lose things that we have known, loved and treasured. Our Churches are sacred places that have been blessed by God through the Church in order to enable us to be with the Lord in the celebration of the Sacraments. It is sorrowful to let go of them. And in the same moment, we know and trust that God, who is ever faithful, will guide us in his pathways and always be with us in the Holy Eucharist.”

Bocce is played on Sept. 1 during the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton. The event draws a crowd of several hundred people for food, bocce, and other activities, in an popular fundraiser for the Catholic parish. The Diocese backed off an early recommendation to sell the grounds.

The Diocese switched one of its recommendations for ONE Catholic. The Diocese was planning to sell the St. Rocco’s festival grounds in Hulberton. But the final plan calls for ONE Catholic to keep it. That will be a relief to the Holley community, which celebrated the 49^th St. Rocco’s Italian Festival on Sept. 1.

The other church in ONE Catholic, St. Patrick’s in Barker, will move out of ONE Catholic and into a family of parishes in central Niagara.

Father Noonan said the transitions will take place at various times between Oct. 1 and June 8, 2025. The specific dates have not been set, he said.

“Now having received these decisions, we will move forward with God’s help and grace,” Father Noonan said. “I will continue to provide information on this process in the weeks ahead. As the ONE Catholic Community, we will deepen our mission of faith, charity, evangelization, and stewardship in this portion of the Vineyard of the Lord.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Sandra Shaw is shown inside the children’s library at Community Free Library on Saturday. This week is Shaw’s last week working at the library. She is retiring.

A retirement celebration is tentatively planned for Oct. 17.

Shaw has worked as the library director the past 19 years, and was a clerk for seven years before that.

She led the library in acquiring a former video store next door where the library expanded in 2008 and dedicated that space for children’s programs and materials.

“Having a place for children to come in and play is wonderful,” Shaw said.

She also has led the library in adding two large murals on the back side of the brick building. Tony Barry completed a mural about the community’s canal heritage last year, while Arthur Barnes painted a mural of Holley’s agricultural ties this summer. Shaw secured funding from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council for those projects.

Shaw said she is “happy and sad” as she nears the end of her career in the library.

“We have embraced children and history,” she said.

Sandra Shaw is shown in June 2022 getting ready for a book sale at the library, which also hosted an art show.

Tersha Choy, the library board president, said Shaw has been a great advocate for the library, meeting frequently with many community leaders to promote programs at the site. She secured grants from the state to replace the roof, air-conditioning and furnaces.

She wanted the library accessible and comfortable for community members. During the Covid-19 pandemic when the library was closed to the public, Shaw and the library staff took requests from residents for books, and then had the books ready in the lobby for pickup.

“She has been the heartbeat of the library for more than 20 years,” Choy said. “She has kept the library alive through all sorts of challenges – through Covid and the ups and downs of the economy.”

The board has hired Amanda Anderson, a former clerk at the library, to succeed Shaw as the next director.

Barb Kerns, a long-time board member for the library, said Shaw pushed for the library to connect with the community, running a vibrant summer reading program, an active community Christmas party, and a wine-tasting event to raise money for the children’s program.

On Veterans Day, Shaw has welcomed about 100 people each year who wrote Christmas cards to veterans. That typically totaled about 500 cards.

“The big thing with her has been having the library serve the community,” Kerns said.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Society and Museum has announced the recipients of their 2024 Historic Preservation Awards.

The event will take place Oct. 25 at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville, and feature Albion native and daily host on WXXI-FM Brenda Tremblay as emcee.

Keynote speaker will be Wayne Goodman, director of the Landmark Society of Western New York.

Brenda Tremblay and Wayne Goodman will be speakers at an Oct. 25 awards presentation.

“We are pleased to announce that this year’s keynote address will be presented by Wayne Goodman,” Farley said. “Goodman is executive director of the Landmark Society of WNY, one of the nation’s oldest and most active historic preservation organizations. It is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to helping our region’s communities preserve and capitalize on their rich architectural, historical and cultural heritage.”

The Landmark Society’s service area covers nine counties in Western New York, centered on the city of Rochester.

In addition to her hosting duties on WXXI-FM, Tremblay produces and hosts the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s radio concerts on Monday nights and collaborates with WXXI news to cover the arts across all media services. Outside the broadcast studio, singing is her passion and she has performed with choirs in Carnegie Hall, Westminster Abbey and in the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. Currently she serves as music director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brockport.

Farley said again this year they have received award nominations which represent a tremendous assortment of historic structures in many architectural styles and building materials.

“The nominees are integral to building stronger neighborhoods, boosting local economies and saving the places that are special to all of us,” Farley said. “The Historic Preservation Awards celebrate those who work so hard to protect that shared heritage.”

Farley continued to say each of the building owners is to be commended for making a conscious decision to preserve and maintain their historic structures with prudent and wise choices of design and materials that complement the historic character and quality of their buildings.

This year’s award winners are Gaines Basin Schoolhouse, owned by the Orleans County Historical Association; the Butterfield cobblestone home owned by Erin Anheier and Russ Bosch of Clarendon; Murray-Holley Historical Society/railroad depot owned by the village of Holley; Holley Gardens, owned by Home Leasing; the William V.N Barlow house in Albion, owned by Gar and Virginia Trusselle; and the Isaac Bennett house in Medina, owned by Delbert Young.

Photos courtesy of Cobblestone Museum: The Orleans County Historical Association led the effort to save the Gaines Basin schoolhouse.

The Gaines-Basin District #2 schoolhouse building was donated to the Orleans County Historical Association by the Panek family, who own the land surrounding the schoolhouse. Restoration by the Historical Association required much exterior repair work. Visitors will be able to step inside and see the restored interior.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 2017, this is the earliest documented cobblestone building in Orleans County. It operated continuously from construction in 1832 until 1944, when students were then sent to school in Albion. Since that time it mostly sat vacant and/or been used for agricultural storage.

A small log cabin in back of the schoolhouse was built in 1930 by Boy Scouts in Albion. It was originally located on Linwood Avenue. In 2020, in was given to the Orleans County Historical Association by Pat and Ralph Morehouse and moved to its present site. Restoration and further preservation of this unique folk landmark is still ongoing. This property was nominated by the award by Cobblestone Museum director Doug Farley.

This cobblestone home on Bennetts Corners Road was built in 1849.

Matt Holland, Cobblestone Museum president, nominated the Butterfield cobblestone house at 4690 Bennetts Corners Rd., Holley.

This Greek Revival house was built in 1849 of lake washed cobblestone for Orson Butterfield. The date is proudly proclaimed, incised in a datestone set in the front gable of the main part of the house. The form of the house is that of the standard 19th century New York state farmhouse – two-story main portion, one and one-half story wing at one side and a rear one and one-half story wing. An unusual feature on the front is the use of a small limestone block, about the size of a brick, at the top of the window openings to serve as a seat for the limestone lintels.

A porch with square wood columns extends across the front of the side wing. The porch has retained its original floor of stone slabs. Protected from the weather by the porch roof, the cobblestone front of the wing still has all of its original crispness of detail. In the gable end of the side wing there is an attic window which is importantly trimmed in wood – another unusual feature, which is also repeated in the addition. The Butterfield cobblestone home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gar and Virginia Trusselle own this historic home on South Clinton Street in Albion.

The William V.N. Barlow house at 223 South Clinton Street in Albion is a brick building erected in 1879 in an eclectic mix of contemporary architectural styles, including Second Empire, Italianate and East Lake. It’s interior features high intricate Eastlake-style woodwork. It was the home of a prominent local architect who designed many major buildings in Alboin. A two-story brick structure on a Medina sandstone foundation, it and an accompanying barn were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Features include a projecting bay window on the west façade, topped with a mansard roof pierced by gabled dormer windows and porches on the north and south sides. This home was nominated by Bill Lattin, Cobblestone Society trustee and former Orleans County historian.

This Medina sandstone house on State Street is the oldest sandstone home in Medina.

The Isaac Bennett House at 203 State St. in Medina is owned by Delbert Young, and is the oldest Medina sandstone house in Medina. In was built for Isaac Bennett in the late 1820s to the early 1830s. Bennett procured the stone for building purposes on the east side of Oak Orchard Creek.

The front of this house faces south, rather than State Street, the reason being when the house was built there was a street which ran along that side of the house toward a canal bridge which is no longer there.

Delbert Young purchased the property from Rick and Marilyn Drilling. When Bill Lattin nominated this house for an award, he said, “This is one of Medina’s outstanding homes, both in its appearance and architectural integrity. It is nicely restored and well-kept.”

Photo courtesy of Dan Mawn: Holley second-graders are shown in May 2022 outside the 1907 New York Central Depot. It closed in 1954 and now is the Murray-Holley Historical Society Museum. It exhibits local artifacts of the Erie Canal and railway eras, and houses an interpretive center for genealogical research.

The Murray-Holley Historical Society, located in the railroad depot on Geddes Street Extension  in Holley was constructed in 1907 and moved in 1988 to the current site by the Murray-Holley Historical Society. It was dedicated as a museum for all citizens of the area. The depot museum exhibits local artifacts of the Erie Canal and railway eras. It also houses the interpretive center for genealogical research. The property was nominated by Raymond Santoro of Holley.

The old Holley High School/Holley Gardens  is owned by Home Leasing. It represents adaptive reuse and historic preservation of the former Holley High School. Overall, the project received $17 million worth of renovations. The building was last used as a school in 1975. After two years of construction, Home Leasing has the building fully occupied with 41 apartments for seniors and the Holley village offices.

Originally constructed in 1931, the three-story Neo-Classical brick building served as a high school until the mid-1970s. It sat unused during the decades it was closed. The school’s original auditorium was kept largely intact to be used as a public meeting space for the village’s board meetings and other public forums.

The area beneath the balcony was renovated to house the village’s administrative offices. Seven of the apartments are available for households where at least one member is a person with a physical disability who will have access to supportive services provided by Independent Living of Genesee Region. Developer Home Leasing is a partner with Edgemere Development. The property was nominated by Holley Mayor Mark Bower and Erin Anheier, a former Cobblestone Museum president.

In addition to the awards, the evening will also feature a buffet will all the trimmings and a cash bar. Donations to offset the cost of the meal and to further the Cobblestone Society’s preservation agenda will be accepted with dinner reservation. Reservations can be made by calling the museum at (585) 589-9013.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a tornado warning until 9 p.m. for southwestern Genesee and north central Wyoming counties.

The warning was issued at 8:33 p.m. and people are urged to take cover.

The Weather Service said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Pembroke and was moving southeast at 15 mph.

“Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter,” the Weather Service said. “Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.”

Locations impacted include Batavia, Darien Lakes State Park, Pembroke, Attica, Oakfield, Stafford, Corfu, Alexander, East Bethany and Dale.

CARLTON – One person was killed in a fire last night in Carlton, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said.

Firefighters were dispatched to 1850 Sawyer Rd. at about 3:40 a.m. Firefighters from Carlton, Kendall and Albion arrived to a fully involved fire at a house trailer, which the blaze spread to two sheds and two vehicles.

A deceased person was found inside the trailer, Bourke said. The body was transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities are trying to get a positive identification and then work to notify next of kin.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies, investigators and Chief Deputy Jeff Gifaldi are working to determine the cause of the fire with line officers from Carlton Volunteer Fire Company, Orleans County Emergency Management Office fire investigators, and the state fire investigators and K9 unit.

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call Orleans County investigators at (585) 589-5527.

Officials are trying to determine the cause of the fire.