ALBION – An Albion man admitted in Orleans County Court on Thursday to selling cocaine in the county in January.

Jason Abron, 44, of Lydun Drive pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. As part of a plea agreement, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 4 years in state prison on Dec. 20.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Abron was arrested on March 9 after a series of controlled buys through the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.

In other cases in County Court on Thursday:

• Jason P. Muck, 40, of Lyndonville pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated and could face up to a year in jail when he is sentenced on Nov. 29.

He was charged after being stopped on March 30 by State Police on Route 63 in the Town of Yates. He registered a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.17 percent, about twice the legal limit.

• A Wyoming County man admitted to accepting about $8,000 for two construction jobs in Orleans County without doing the work.

Dean Smith Jr. pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree and will be sentenced on Dec. 20. He could face jail time and probation as part of a plea agreement.

• Jenna Zagara of Lockport admitted to using someone else’s credit card without approval to pay bills. She allegedly racked up $1,905 in unauthorized spending. She has already paid restitution.

She pleaded guilty to petit larceny. As part of a plea deal, she won’t face time in jail when she is sentenced on Dec. 20.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Scott Caraboolad and three other members of the Ride 4 Life team did a stunt show on Thursday evening at Medina’s Canal Basin. They also performed Thursday morning at Lyndonville Central School.

The team does daring feats on motorcycles and also gives a message of overcoming addictions and hopelessness. The team travelled to Orleans County from near Akron, Ohio. Ride 4 Life is also performing today at Kendall Central School and at 6 p.m. in Albion in front of the County Courthouse.

They will be doing three shows on Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m., at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.

Scott Caraboolad talks to the crowd in Medina. He shared about becoming a Christian in 2010. His faith has helped him turn away from drugs. “It was all darkness in front of me,” he said. “I was going to end my life. God gave me a second chance.”

Scott Caraboolad zips along a closed off Canal Basin in Medina. He did wheelies and many other tricks on his motorcycle.

Caraboolad and the other riders burn rubber in the Canal Basin.

Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and several other agencies and organizations worked to bring the Ride 4 Life to the community for the second straight year.

There is no admission charge to attend an event.

MILLVILLE – Orleans County Adult Learning Services celebrated another successful year during its annual dinner meeting Thursday night at Millville United Methodist Church.

Barry Flansburg, speaking on behalf of Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, summed it all up when he congratulated OCALS on its 12 years and all the positive things reported at the meeting.

Mitzi Fredericks, left, who helped organize the after-school reading program at Lyndonville Central School, and reading teacher Susan Hutter receive certificates of appreciation from Mary Lee Knights, outgoing president of OCALS, during their annual meeting Thursday night.

“It’s a great night when I can attend a meeting and not hear one complaint,” Flansburg said. “You’re growing and doing more all the time.”

Outgoing president Mary Lee Knights said it was a record year, with tutors spending 575 hours with 25 people. More than 400 hours were spent helping students in Medina, Albion and Lyndonville school districts.

During the official board meeting, officers elected for next year were president, Nicole Goodrich; vice president, Don Colquhoun; secretary, Pam Foss; and treasurer, Keith Ward.

Goodrich and Georgia Thomas were re-elected to a second term on the board, and new member Carolyn Wagner was elected for a three-year term.

In the absence of Keith Ward, Colquhoun gave a financial report, saying their main source of income was from United Way of Orleans County. He also acknowledged support of $4,500 a year from the Lyndonville Foundation for the past two years, and the invitation to apply for a third year of funding.

Volunteer Barb Dunham said OCALS is beginning to get referrals from more organizations in the community, including Pathstone, the Arc of Genesee Orleans, Iroquois Job Corps, social workers and teachers.

“The community is realizing we are out there,” Dunham said.

Knights said while the organization is keeping up with the needs of the community, OCALS still needs tutors, especially in Albion.

Don Colquhoun of Medina received a special award from Mary Lee Knights at OCALS’ annual dinner meeting Thursday night, in recognition of his contributions to the organization.

Cindy Blosenhauer, who developed the Little Blue Book Shelf reading libraries, has been out in the community spreading awareness of OCALS. She attended the annual birthday party at ABCD Daycare in Holley and would like to expand to ABCD Newfane next year.

Childrens’ books and books in Spanish are needed for the Little Blue (Community) Book Shelves, which are placed in a dozen strategic locations throughout Orleans County.

She also said OCALS has been involved for three years in the Farmworkers’ Coalition, which works with the migrant population.

“This was an eye opener,” Blosenhauer said. “The families are those known as ‘dreamers,’ whose children, 5 and 6 years old, were the ones who had to walk to the country store because their parents were in fear of being spotted.”

She also said she has tutors about to start in Newfane and has another at the Holley Community Center.

Colquhoun reported on the Workplace Literacy Program, which he has been trying to market to local businesses for the last three years. Its purpose is to help people who are in danger of losing their jobs learn the skills they need to keep their job. The program has been slow to interest local businessmen, so Colquhoun said they are going to offer it free for one year.

He also said Lyndonville churches are making a serious effort to identify people in that area who might need help with literacy issues. Blosenhauer has attended a Parents’ Night at Lyndonville School and will go again the spring, Colquhoun said.

Peggy Dollinger of Albion, planted a kiss on the cheek of Mary Lee Knights after being named OCALS’ Student of the Year Thursday night at the Millville Methodist Church. At right is Dollinger’s tutor Adrienne Daniels.

Knights said OCALS has only one major fundraiser a year – a bake sale during the fall at her pumpkin farm on Knowlesville Road. She said they sell baked goods, some for just pennies, and yet they make more than $1,000.

Recognition was given to Peggy Dollinger, who was named Student of the Year; Neeven Boulos and Jan Meland, Tutors of the Year; Jackie Keller, Employee of the Year; and Don Colquhoun, Volunteer of the Year.

Special Key Contributor awards were presented to Terry and Kevin Novak of Byron and Donna and Shane Seyler of Corning. The women are both daughters of Don and Rose Ruck of Byron, and it was their donation to the Hoag Library’s building fund which has assured OCALS a permanent reading room in the Albion library.

“They gave us money when we were down and out and didn’t know if we could keep going,” Knights said.

She also thanked Joe Gehl, a former tutor, whose family in Texas sends a donation every year.

Mary Lee Knights gave recognition to Terry Novak of Byron for her support of OCALS since it was founded by Novak’s mother Rose Ruck nearly a decade and a half ago.

Dollinger was ecstatic with her award, kissing Knights and saying “I love you.”

The student spent more hours studying than Knights could ever imagine, she said.

Dollinger was tutored by Adrienne Daniels of Albion.

In another presentation, Margie Eason, Limited English Proficiency coordinator and instructor at Iroquois Job Corps, gave a plaque to OCALS, and received a certificate of appreciation from Knights for cooperating with OCALS.

Boulos and Meland are the first to teach English as a Second Language as a team, Knights said. Boulos, who speaks a foreign language, was able to figure out what the people needed most, in terms of doctors, prescriptions or goods at the store. Then he would tell Meland, who could get what they needed.

The Employee of the Year award is not given every year, but Knights said Keller was more than deserving.

“I have dealt with Jackie every year I’ve been involved with OCALS, and she never fails to go above and beyond in anything I ask her to do,” Knights said.

In naming Colquhoun as Volunteer of the Year, Knights said he was the missing key OCALS didn’t have.

“His guidance has brought us to the top,” she said about the retired director of the Arc.

A dozen organizations and individuals received certificates of appreciation, including Hoag Library; Lee-Whedon Memorial Library; United Way of Orleans County; Lyndonville Foundation; Albion, Lyndonville and Medina school districts; Millville United Methodist Church; Virginia Kropf; Farmworkers’ Coalition; Iroquois Job Corps; and Community Bookshelf business owners.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo received about 60 percent of the vote among Orleans County Democrats who went to the polls today. He had 490 votes to 333 for Cynthia Nixon, the actress who has become an activist. He is the projected winner statewide, multiple media organizations are reporting.

In Orleans County, only about 16 percent of the 5,219 registered Democrats went to the polls today. There are also 131 absentee ballots that went out, with 76 returned so far, according to the Board of Elections in Orleans County. The ballots will be counted on Tuesday, and they will be accepted until Thursday as long as they are postmarked by Sept. 12.

In the other state-wide races:

• Lieutenant governor:

Kathy Hochul, 605

Jumane Williams, 197

• Attorney General:

Sean Patrick Maloney, 428

Letitia James, 118

Leecia Eve, 37

Zephyr Teachout, 215

Members of the Reform Party also have three candidates running for attorney general. Nancy Sliwa received 18 votes in Orleans, followed by Mike Diederich with 8 and Christopher Garvey with 7.

Neil Valentine held off a primary challenge from Joe Sidonio to fill a one-year term on the Murray Town Board, 244-220, in today’s Republican Primary.

Valentine was recently appointed to the board to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Ed Bower.

Murray Republicans also had races for the GOP Committee in six districts. In each district, two people were elected.

District 1: Ed Morgan and Michael Mele were endorsed by the GOP Committee and are challenged by Cynthia Piedimonte and Gerald Ramsey. Morgan, 52, and Mele, 49, topped Piedimonte, 24, and Ramsey, 20.

District 2: Mark Porter and Douglas Heath are endorsed by the committee. Anthony Peone forced a primary. Porter received 25 votes and Heath, 26, in holding off Peone, 17.

District 3: Kathleen Case and Ron Vendetti are endorsed by the committee. Kerri Neale forced a primary. Neale was the top vote-getter with 44, followed by 32 for Case and 24 for Vendetti.

District 4: Kimberly DeFrank is endorsed by the committee. Dirk Lammes Jr. and Joe Sidonio both submitted petitions to serve as members of the Republican Committee. Lammes led with 72 votes, followed by Sidonio with 66 and DeFrank with 64.

District 5: Cynthia Oliver and Lynn Wood are endorsed by the committee and are challenged by Arthur Knab and Joseph Kellenberger. Oliver and Wood were both elected with 48 votes, followed by 23 each for Knab and Kellenberger.

District 6: Robert Miller and Glenn DeFrank are endorsed by the committee. Kellie Gregoire forced a primary. Gregoire led with 44, followed by 35 for Miller and 34 for DeFrank.

Murray mailed out 30 absentee ballots and 21 had been returned by today. The ballots will be opened on Tuesday. The Board of Elections will accept ballots until next Thursday as long as they are postmarked by Sept. 12.

Gaines also had a Republican Primary for a Town Board position. Corey Black defeated Joe Gangi, 80-52.

ALBION – A Buffalo man who fired a gun inside O’Brien’s Tavern in Medina on Dec. 10, 2017 was sentenced to 4 years in state prison today.

Patrick Casanova, 24, has three other charges for possession of a weapon as part of nine arrests in the past two years, District Attorney Joe Cardone told County Court Judge Sanford Church at sentencing this morning.

“This defendant for years has been involved in numerous incidents involving firearms and menacing individuals,” Cardone said. “This is an individual who clearly belongs in prison.”

Casanova is represented by Public Defender Joanne Best. She said the three other weapons charges were dismissed.

The charge in Orleans County, criminal possession of weapon in the second degree, is his first felony conviction as an adult, Best said.

She said Casanova didn’t have any intent to hurt someone when the gun was fired at O’Briens. She said Casanova is bipolar with emotional instability issues. His mother was murdered while he was incarcerated as a youthful offender, Best said.

“He is not denying he has some very serious issues he has to resolve,” she said.

Casanova apologized for the crime and acknowledged, “I know my record is not good.”

Best asked the judge for a 2-year sentence which was the minimum as part of a plea deal. The maximum was 7 years in prison.

Judge Church decided to give Casanova 4 years in prison. That sentence will also satisfy the sentence for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. Casanova faced a year in jail for that charge.

The judge urged Casanova to take full responsibility for his conduct, and work towards a law-abiding life.

“You’re young enough where it’s not too late to turn things around,” Church said.

HOLLEY – A judge this afternoon ordered candidate signs that were removed from Holley Central School to be put back.

The school district took the signs down just before the polls opened at noon today for a primary. The signs were for Joe Sidonio, who is running for a spot on the Murray Town Board and also the Town Republican Committee. He has been campaigning with about 10 other candidates for spots on the Republican Committee who also had signs removed.

No political signs are allowed within 100 feet of a polling place, which for Murray is at the Holley Junior-Senior High School.

Sidonio and other Republican Committee candidates had signs near the school facing Lynch Road, outside the 100-foot limit.

Brian Bartalo, school district superintendent, notified Sidonio at about noon that the signs were removed.

Sidonio has an election law attorney, Peter Reese of Buffalo, who filed an injunction at the State Supreme Court. Tracy Bannister, a judge in Erie County, ordered the signs to be put back at about 2 p.m.

Reese said he has been working in elections for 50 years and this is the first time heard of a polling place having legal signs taken down.

“We believe this is core constitutional rights,” Reese said. “I’ve never heard of anything like this. This is ridiculous.”

Reese said Sidonio scouted the property so he knew where he could legally place the signs.

Holley is the only school in Orleans County that is used as a polling place. Most of the polling sites are at town halls, although Albion uses Hoag Library and part of Ridgeway uses the Ridgeway fire hall.

“If they don’t want signs, they shouldn’t be a polling place,” Reese said about Holley.

Jeff Martin, the school attorney, was unavailable for comment.

The Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District is seeking volunteers its annual shoreline cleanup this Saturday.

Volunteers will collect and record the litter they pick up at nearby waterways. The volunteers are expected to head to the Widewaters of the Erie Canal near Knowlesville, the boat launch area at Lake Alice and the Dam area on the east side of Lake Alice.

Volunteers will convene at the south pavilion of Bullard Park in Albion at 9 a.m.

Contact the Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District at 585-589-5959 ext. 5 if you are interested in helping or if you have any questions.

Provided photos: A softball tournament on Wednesday with correction officers from four Western New York prisons raised $4,500 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Pictured, from left, include Mike Morosey (Collins), Neal Gruber (Lakeview), Tom Guest (Gowanda) and Kenny Gold (Orleans).

COLLINS – Correction Officers held their second annual charity softball tournament on Wednesday at Marion Fricano Park with officers from Gowanda, Collins, Orleans and Lakeview Correctional Facilities. They participated in the slow-pitch tournament to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Over 100 participants, volunteers and spectators helped raised $4,500 for Make-A-Wish of Western New York, a nonprofit organization that grants the wishes of children with critical illnesses. Founded in 1993, the chapter serves children in the 17 counties surrounding the Buffalo and Rochester areas. The local Make-A-Wish has granted the wishes of more than 3,000 children from the community.

“Yesterday was a great day of competition and comradery among our members to help raise money for a wonderful charity in Western New York,” said Joe Miano, Western Region Vice President for New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association. “Far too often we forgot how often correction officers give their time to raise money and volunteer for a variety of charities across New York State. It especially hits home when we are able to raise money to support charities like Make-A-Wish, that make such a difference children’s lives. I’d like to thank everyone who participated yesterday.”

Brandon Foster

ALBION – An Albion teen-ager who is accused of nearly killing his grandmother during a late-night attack on July 8 was arraigned in Orleans County Court today.

Brandon Foster, 17, was arraigned on charges of second-degree assault, first-degree burglary, and two counts each of second-degree burglary and petit larceny. He is represented by Joanne Best, the public defender, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Foster on July 8 allegedly went to home of his grandmother, Rachael Spearance, located just outside the Village of Albion. Foster entered the residence just after midnight. He allegedly climbed on a chair and forced a rear window open. Upon climbing through a window, Foster proceeded to the bedroom and began attacking his grandmother with a knife as she slept in bed, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said on July 9.

Spearance began fighting back. Foster then placed her in a choke hold. Spearance was able to get away from Foster’s grasp and confront him about what he was doing. Foster then stole $23 cash and the victim’s cell phone and climbed out a different window and fled the scene, Bourke said.

Spearance, while bleeding profusely, was able to leave the residence and drive to Medina Memorial Hospital. Spearance was then transported to the Erie County Medical Center by Mercy Flight. Because she is recovering from her injuries, Foster no longer is facing the initial attempted murder charge.

Best, his attorney, said Foster has no prior criminal record.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Foster was “essentially homeless” at the time of the incident. The DA asked that bail remain at $50,000 cash and $100,000 bond. Foster is currently an inmate in the Orleans County Jail.

“These are very serious charges with serious injuries with a dangerous instrument,” Cardone said.

Best responded that Foster has a place to stay available with a local family. She asked that bail be reduced.

Judge Sanford Church set bail at $25,000 cash and $50,000 bond. He also ordered a psychological and psychiatric evaluation for Foster. The judge also approved an order of protection for Foster’s grandmother.

ALBION – An Albion man was arrested on Wednesday after an investigation into the sale and distribution of high-grade marijuana being shipped from out of state to Orleans County, local law enforcement said.

Daniel Slaughter

Daniel R. Slaughter, 29, of 25 North Clinton St. was charged with 1 count of criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree, a Class D felony.

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, the Albion Police Department, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at 25 North Clinton St. They also stopped and searched a vehicle that left that address, which resulted in the arrest of an individual for felony marijuana possession.

Police seized over 1 pound of high-grade marijuana, a quantity of marijuana edibles, a rifle, ammunition, cash, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia, the Task Force said.

Slaughter was arraigned in Albion Town Court by Town Justice Gary Moore. Slaughter was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond. He is to return to Albion Town Court on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.

This investigation is ongoing, with further charges and arrests are pending in this investigation, the Task Force said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee on Wednesday presented a landscape award to the Albion Village Board for its support of flowers in the downtown and on Main Street. The Village Board, in turn, presented a citation to village resident and downtown business owner Lisa Stratton, who coordinates the efforts to have flowers in the downtown and organizes volunteers to have them watered on the weekends.

Pictured, from left, include: Joe Gehl, a director with the Betterment Committee; Lisa Stratton, president of the Albion Merchants Association; Eileen Banker, Albion mayor; and Gary Derwick, a director with the Betterment Committee.

The Betterment Committee said the flowers are a real positive in the business district for the community.

“It’s a real effort by the village and by some individuals,” Derwick said.

The Betterment Committee in the past five years has presented landscaping awards to Burger King, Albion Agencies, Suburban Electric and Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes.

In the citation for Stratton, the Village Board stated that she is “an exceptional person, who is worthy of the esteem of the community.” The board said that Stratton spends “countless hours” planning events, promoting businesses, and organizing the downtown flower effort in planters and hanging baskets.

Stratton organized having flowers planted in these planters by the municipal parking lot for the first time this year.

A new playground will replace this wooden one at Butts Park.

MEDINA – The Village of Medina is welcoming volunteers to help build a new playground at Butts Park.

The current playground is worn out, and the wooden pieces need frequent attention from the Department of Public Works. That playground will be removed and a new one will go in its place.

The village could use at least 50 volunteers to help with the new playground on Sept. 28-30.

“All skill levels are needed but some prior experience with this type of work is helpful,” said Mayor Mike Sidari.

The village needs manual labors on Sept. 28, a Friday, to help dig and level holes to prepare the site for construction. Also, on that day the village will need volunteers to sort out the parts so when construction begins everything is ready to go, Sidari said.

Saturday, Sept. 29, is a full day of prep work and final construction. Volunteers will create small structures to attach to the larger structure and prepare the larger structure for those smaller pieces. There is also a need for volunteers to help with registration and food.

“The more volunteers we have the quicker the community will be able to use the playground,” Sidari said.

If the playground is completed by the September 30 deadline, the community should be able to use the playground my mid-October.

Volunteers, civic groups and organizations interested in helping can get a waiver to sign at the Village Hall. For more information, call the Village Hall at 585-798-0710 ext. 2, stop by the Village Hall at 119 Park Ave., or click here for the village website.

ALBION – An Albion man was arrested today following an investigation into the sale and distribution of cocaine in the Village of Albion.

Clarence L. Dunbar

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, the Albion Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigations executed a search warrant at 217 Chamberlain St. Police seized over 21 grams of cocaine, cash, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia, the Task Force said in a news release.

Clarence L. Dunbar, 48, of 217 Chamberlain St. was charged with 3 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felonies) and 5 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felonies).

Dunbar was arraigned in the Albion Town Court by Town Justice Joseph Fuller. Dunbar was committed to the Orleans County Jail without bail due to his extensive criminal history, the Task Force said.

He is to return back to the Albion Town Court on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.

Additional charges and arrests are pending in this investigation, the Task Force said.

Items will be given to sexual assault victims

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina and Albion Rotary clubs today donated toiletries and new clothing to Medina Memorial Hospital with the items to be given to sexual assault victims. Those victims often have their clothing taken to be used as evidence.

The Rotary clubs are given new shirts, sweatpants and underwear to the hospital, which sees about 50 sexual assault victims each year at the emergency room. Rotary is also giving 100 bags with toiletries for showers.

Pictured from left include Medina Rotary President Carl Tuohey, Albion Rotary President Karen Sawicz, Medina Memorial ER director Kaitlyn Miller, and Medina Rotarian Edee Hoffmeister. They are pictured at Fitzgibbons Public House in Medina, where the Rotary Club held its lunch meeting today.

Miller, the ER director at Medina Memorial, said the donations will help females and males who have been victims of sexual assault. Sometimes the hospital has to give them gowns or surgical scrubs because they aren’t other clothes available.