By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2018 at 1:06 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The 89 students who graduated from Holley on Saturday toss their caps inside the gymnasium after the commencement ceremony. Holley usually holds commencement outside at the Holley Hawks Stadium but the event was moved inside to the auditorium due to rain.
Salvador Solis is hugged by Board of Education member Melissa Ierlan during commencement on Saturday.
Dalton Thurley decorated the top of his graduation with “Game of Loans.” He is shown in the hallway with his classmates before the start of commencement on Saturday at the Jr./Sr. High Auditorium.
“I thought it was a funny take on Game of Thrones,” Thurley said.
He is headed to Alfred State College to study mechanical engineering technology.
Some schools discourage students from decorating their graduating caps, but Holley encourages it, with the art teachers even lending a hand.
Nicholas D’Amura (center), a middle/high school history teacher, was picked by seniors to be the commencement speaker. He is pictured near the front of the procession with Susan Cory (right), middle/high school principal, and Dan Courtney, middle/high school assistant principal.
The graduates head into the auditorium.
As the graduates filed on to the stage, the smartphones came out to record the event.
Madison Papaj (left), class vice president, and Melody Purtell, class secretary, announce the class gift – a $700 donation to the music department.
Nina DiLella, the class salutatorian, said the graduates’ small-town roots are an asset as they begin the next phase of their lives.
Dakota Thompson gives the valedictory address and urges her classmates to “seize the day.” The new graduates shouldn’t be hung up on their faults. “No one is perfect,” she said. “Go out there and make your dreams a reality. No one will do it for you.”
Nicholas D’Amura
Nicholas D’Amura, a middle/high school history teacher, gave the commencement address. D’Amura is a graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School and Geneseo State College. He has taught at Holley for five years. D’Amura said he is very grateful for the welcome he’s received from students, teachers and the community since he started. He told the student they are fortunate for “the tight family bond in the community.”
D’Amura said the Class of 2018 has left a mark on Holley through their thoughtfulness and caring.
“You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more spirited class,” he said.
D’Amura urged the group to thank their family members, teachers and others who helped them have success in school.
The 89 graduates are now headed in many different directions, and they will encounter numerous challenges, D’Amura said.
“Nothing in life is given to you,” he said. “It is earned. I encourage you to meet the challenges head on. Run through them.”
The commencement speaker said the world has a lot of anger, and doesn’t need any more. The graduates can make a difference by treating others with love and kindness, “even if they are unkind to you.”
Holley graduates, including Cory Caccamise (center), look at a personal note that D’Amura wrote for each student. He asked them to look under their chairs to find the message.
“Holley will remember you,” he said. “You will never be forgotten. Now go show the world what love, kindness and grit looks like.”
Holley Class President Matt DeSimone, left, joins the class in moving his tassel to signify graduation from high school. Nina DiLella is at center and Brandon Dillenbeck is at right.
DeSimone gave the welcome message during graduation. He told his classmates they are lucky to have been in a small school where they could do so many activities together with strong community support. DeSimone also noted the students were wearing ribbons in memory of victims at Parkland, Florida and other school shootings in the country this past year.
Glenn Thrower hams it up during a photo with Susan Cory, middle/high school principal.
Kyle Ierlan gets a hug from Brenda Swanger, president of the Board of Education. Kyle’s mom Melissa, right, is also on the Board of Education.
Briana Coluci stands and is recognized as one of the scholarship winners. Holley presented more than $22,000 in scholarships and awards during commencement.
BARRE – Participants in the Great Race passed through the Town of Barre today after the 9-day competition started in Buffalo with the cars headed to Rochester.
Patty Andrews took these photos of cars at the corner of Bragg Schoolhouse Road and West Barre Road.
The race started at the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum. The competition ends 2,300 miles later in Nova Scotia, Canada. This is the 35th annual Hemmings Motor News Great Race and the first time the event started in Buffalo.
The race offers more than $150,000 in prizes to participants. There are about 150 drivers of antique cars (built in 1972 or earlier). The participants are given their daily route navigation map only 30 minutes prior to the start each day.
ALBION – These members of the Class of 2018 include, from left, Gricelda Maldonado, Rylie Lear, Amaya Beach, Elisabeth Baker and Erin Doty. They were among 133 Albion students to graduate on Friday.
Class leaders include Richard Daniels, valedictorian; Tyler Kast, salutatorian; Nathanael Smith, treasurer; Allison Graham, vice president; Riley Seielstad, secretary; and Victor Benjovsky, president.
Cassandra Serafin, right, and Emily Sevor enter the high school gym with their classmates.
These junior escorts include Enoch Martin, Addison Christ, Jacob Ettinger, Devin Olles, Jace Conn, Jesse Cruz and Matthew Kovaleski.
Heather Wood, Stephanie Eehevarria Rivera and Austin Dugan stand for the national anthem sang by the senior chorus.
Devin Gaylord, left, and Demetrius Gardner take in the big moment.
Brad Sanford and his classmates celebrate commencement in the gymnasium.
Avry Magee is congratulated by teacher Kathy Winans, who is also the senior class advisor.
Madison Giattino is happy after receiving her diploma.
Caleb Pettit is congratulated by his father, Paul Pettit, who is also an Albion graduate.
Many students posed with the large letters on the front lawn of the high school. This group includes the class officers: Allison Graham, Nate Smith, Victor Benjovsky and Riley Seielstad.
Photos by Jennifer Merkel of Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES 2
LYNDONVILLE – The new graduates at Lyndonville Central School toss their caps after commencement Friday evening.
Lyndonville celebrated its 78th commencement exercises and honored 50 graduates. The ceremony took place in the Stroyan Auditorium.
Class of 2018 Valedictorian Paige Gardner, left, and Salutatorian Mercedes Benedict led the class in academics.
Angela Wachob and Ariane Wachob lend their voices to the singing of the National Anthem to begin the ceremony.
Salutatorian Mercedes Benedict began her speech expressing thanks to all of the important people in her life.
Christopher Clark II, Miranda Lembcke and Reese Ledford were part of a performance of “Have it All” by Jason Mraz.
Valedictorian Paige Gardner addresses her peers and audience members during the ceremony.
Photos courtesy of Amy Lewis
Darren Wilson of the Lyndonville Area Foundation congratulates Brody Brown for winning the Directors Award and scholarship.
David Cook presents Mariah Grabowski the Trevor T. Cook Memorial Scholarship on behalf of his son who was a decorated Marine sergeant killed in a training accident.
Superintendent Jason Smith congratulates Josephine Joy. Smith also addressed the Class of 2018. “Put your best effort into everything. You can persevere if you put your mind to it. Stay hungry, stay humble.” He shared the story of how the Brooklyn Bridge was built. He used this analogy to reinforce how dreams that seem impossible can become real with drive. Do not be defeated by circumstances, he said. Overcome challenges to achieve success. He gave each graduate a small replica of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The graduates move their tassels to signify the end of their high school careers and start of the next chapter in their lives.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2018 at 3:10 pm
ALBION – Jurors haven’t reached a decision yet in a trial against a Medina man facing sexual assault charges.
Closing statements were completed on Thursday morning and jurors started deliberations after lunch on Thursday. The jurors didn’t reach a consensus on Friday and are to resume deliberations on Monday morning at 9:30 at the Orleans County Courthouse.
The trial started this past Monday in the case involving Gerardo Quiros, 31, of Medina. He allegedly held a woman against her will for several weeks, while physically and sexually assaulting her.
Quiros is facing 24 counts, including seven counts of first-degree rape, 10 counts of criminal sexual act in the first degree, one count of third-degree assault, one count of both criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third and fifth degrees, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and unlawful possession of marijuana.
KENDALL – Kendall celebrated graduation on Friday evening with 49 students completing their high school careers. The program was held at the David J. Doyle Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium.
Three of the graduates pose for a photo, including from left Taylor Requa, Megan Hardenbrook and Lyndsay Wright.
These students include Michela Hanlon, Lyndsay Wright, Miguel Aguirre, Kierstyn Christensen and Adriana Passarell.
Kierstyn Christensen delivers the valedictory address in front of her mother, Julie Christensen, who is the school district superintendent.
Allen Tonas gives the salutatory address.
Karl Driesel, a Kendall graduate and owner of a woodworking business in town, delivers the keynote address.
Class of 2018 Officers Allen Tonas, Matthew Murray, Caleb Henion, Archer Knapp and Class Advisors Katherine Driesel and Mark Driesel present exchange student Tihamer Keresztes with a gift from his classmates.
The male graduates sat on the left side of the stage.
The women were on the right side.
The class officers lead their classmates in moving the tassels on their graduation caps.
File photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club is shown on June 25, 2016 at the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, 14064 West County House Rd., Albion. This photo shows ham radio operators, from left: Mike Moriarty of Medina, Ed Weider of Medina and Chuck Baker of Medina.
ALBION – The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club will be participating in Amateur Radio Field Day with a 24-hour marathon beginning at 2 p.m. today and ending at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Field Day is ham radio’s open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to their communities and nation.
It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
The public is welcome to stop in and get on the air with the Orleans County Amateur Radio Club, which meets at the Emergency Management Office, 14064 W County House Rd.
The local club has been in operation in Orleans County for the past 60 years.
“During this activity, we will be trying to contact as many other stations in North America and around the world using voice, Morse Code, and digital modes of communications,” said Chuck Baker, a member of the club. “In addition to the fun and food, we will be experiencing what bands are best at all hours to get information from point A to point B, testing equipment and making sure what we have is up to the task if a real emergency takes out conventional communications.”
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 23 June 2018 at 8:00 am
L-R: George Henry Ballard, Robert George Ballard, Frances A. Ballard, Mary Simpson sitting on front steps of the family home on Culver Road.
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 25
BARRE – The passing of a bicentennial is a once in a lifetime experience, a milestone that brings with it an aura of prestige and pride. For younger generations, we did not have the opportunity to experience the excitement that came with the passing of the national bicentennial in 1976, but we can look forward to other significant milestones looming on the horizon; the Orleans County Bicentennial in particular.
As we celebrate the Erie Canal Bicentennial (2017-2025), the towns of Shelby and Barre are celebrating 200 years of their “independence” from the towns of Ridgeway and Gaines, respectively (and tongue-in-cheek, of course). The Town of Barre will celebrate this milestone June 29th-July 1st with plenty of festivities aimed at drawing upon the town’s rich history, rooted strongly in the Village of Albion as well.
Bicentennial celebrations are an opportunity to draw communities together, at a time when we are perhaps not as close-knit as past generations may have recalled. It is also a time to reflect on the contributions of the “common folk,” scattered throughout the countryside, those who plowed their fields, raised their families, and made a modest living without recognition.
I often cite the writings of Arad Thomas and Isaac Signor who gave us the most complete written histories of Orleans County, however, these works forget a large portion of our community. Those who lived on modest farms or made their living off of trades often found themselves forgotten from these published histories; the poor, women, African Americans, and immigrants. So, these celebrations, those that come every once in a great while, are an opportunity to build upon our histories, a chance to capture a snapshot of life as we are experiencing it now; a time to pen an autobiography, write a journal, compile your genealogy, or record an oral history.
As I thought about my article for this week, my mind crossed Thomas Cushing of Barre, a physician who gave up the practice of medicine in favor of studying history and philosophy. His contributions to our understanding of local history often went unpublished and therefore are overlooked. I thought again about my own family and my mind rested upon my grandfather, Robert George Ballard, who was born in Barre on September 11, 1928 to George Henry and Frances Bowen Ballard. Several years prior, George purchased the family “homestead” on Culver Road from Lancelot Harling and brought his wife and daughters to the area from Niagara Falls. Robert spent the majority of his early life in Orleans County, minus a short stay in Florida in 1929 while his father sought work as a cooper.
As a young man, life for Robert was far from easy. His father found it difficult at times to make a living with a trade that was often seasonal in nature. When the Great Depression hit on October 29, 1929, George was out of work and found himself seeking odd jobs to make ends meet. He found work with a neighboring farmer in Barre making barely enough to support himself let alone his wife and children. When he pleaded for food from the farm to help feed the children, he refused. During an oral history I conducted with my great aunt in 2010, she remarked “…the bastard wouldn’t give us the sweat off his brow.”
The children attended school but were unable to graduate from high school. Robert’s sister Doris recalled nearing the end of her schooling but was forced to drop out a year early because the family could not afford new books. When Robert was nine, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. George was working for Duffy Mott in Hamlin at the time, driving the family car to and from work each day. His inability to miss work due to the family’s financial need forced Frances to take a bus each week to Roswell Park in Buffalo to receive cancer treatments.
Leaving early in the week, Doris would remain in the city until she regained enough energy to make the bus ride back to Albion where George would pick her up. Doris, who was married and living south of the swamp on Culver Road, would trek to the homestead to care for her brother while her father was at work. She recalled her fatigued mother sleeping in a room converted into a small bedroom at the front of the house, vividly remembering her mother’s radiation burns and scars. When doctors urged Frances to undergo a double mastectomy to combat the cancer, she vehemently refused. She lost her battle with cancer on February 10, 1944, one day after her 46th birthday. She left her husband, two daughters, and 15-year-old son to mourn her loss; Robert had dropped out of school shortly before her passing.
These stories, although sometimes inconsequential on the surface, tell us a great deal about ourselves and our ancestors. They tell us far more about a community than the tomes of published histories and are worthy of our preservation. So as our community continues to celebrate these monumental occasions, take some time to recall the reasons why we are afforded this opportunity. Make every effort to preserve your own history!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2018 at 11:14 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Carson Gates, president of Medina’s Class of 2018, leads the class in moving the tassels on their caps during commencement Friday in the Medina High School Auditorium, when 120 seniors received their diplomas.
The A’Cappella Choir led by Lisa Roeseler sang, “It’s Hard to Say Goodbye” and “The Halls of Ivy.”
Alexzandra Schlegel and Erin Dietz are pictured before graduation.
“I will miss my friends and the school pride,” Schlegel said.
“I will miss the teachers,” Dietz said. “They taught me everything for graduation.”
These three friends, all lacrosse players, pose for a photo while waiting for graduation to start. They include, from left: Luke Wilson, Brendan Luthart and Joe Gates.
Junior girls, who are among the top-ranked students in their class, continue a century-old tradition at Medina by carrying a daisy chain into the auditorium, ahead of the seniors. The students picked daisies and created the chain of flowers.
The daisy chain is placed at the front of the stage.
Jack Hill accepts congratulations from Superintendent Mark Kruzynski, left, and David Sevenski, president of the Board of Education.
Jack Hill gives the salutatorian’s address, which he entitled, “Gratitude.” Each graduate’s diploma included a thank you card, and Hill urged them to write a message, thanking someone for helping them get to this point in their lives.
Hill heaped praise on the teaching staff at Medina. Teachers go above and beyond the job description, with many also coaching teams and leading clubs and other programs. Many send kind notes and give the students steady praise, building their confidence.
“Teachers are some of the best people in the world,” Hill said.
The salutatorian also encouraged his classmates to use their talents as the embark on the next chapter of their lives. The best way to show gratitude, Hill said, is to use their skills in their careers and bettering their community.
They should also repay what they have been given in Medina by showing kindness to others, Hill said.
Madison Kenward, the valedictorian, spoke about a “growth mindset” and not a fixed mindset in her speech, entitled, “Yet.” Madison’s mother, Mindy Kenward, is an elementary school teacher who focuses on a growth mindset in the classroom. When her students are frustrated and worry they can’t learn something, Mrs. Kenward responds, “Maybe you can’t do it, yet.”
Madison asked her classmates through Snapchat what are some of their goals they haven’t accomplished, yet.
The graduates responded with a range of goals, from learning to play the guitar, running a marathon, being a good role model, finding Bigfoot and becoming wealthy enough to donate back to the school.
There will be obstacles in reaching the goals, but with a growth mindset you keep moving forward, taking risks, Kenward said.
Michael Cavanaugh, the high school principal, announces the next graduate: Da’Ron Bellan. His brother Kyson Bellan, standing at right, is next.
Cavanaugh delivered the keynote address to the 120 graduates. Cavanaugh has been their principal since eighth grade.
He said characteristics for success include perseverance, patience and preparation.
“Be humble, be appreciative and invest in relationships,” Cavanaugh said. “Be prepared for anything and let your moral compass be your guide.”
Dan Heil walks across the front of the stage to receive his diploma.
Jalin Cooper has a big smile after he was presented with his diploma.
Emma-Lee Drisdom and Toby Kiebala try a cookie and punch after the ceremony.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2018 at 5:43 pm
7 students seeking to help Camp Good Days
Photos by Tom Rivers: Seven members of McQuaid Jesuit Row Team in Rochester made their way to Medina on the Erie Canal at about 1 p.m. today.
The team is attempting to raise $40,000 for Camp Good Days & Special Times, a camp on Keuka Lake that is available to families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life-threatening challenges. To learn more about Camp Good Days, visit their website at www.campgooddays.org.
The crew team heads to the Canal Basin in Medina. This is the seventh year McQuaid’s crew team is rowing the length of the Erie Canal to raise money for charity. The crew team raised over $200,000 the first six years.
The team has raised $23,000 of its $40,000 goal for Camp Good Days.
The team is on an 8-day trek. Today is the longest effort – 59 miles from Buffalo to Brockport. Some of the rowers already had sore backs and blisters on their hands.
Brian Sanchez, who will be a junior in the fall, shows some of the painful blisters on his hands. He said he hopes they harden up soon and stop hurting.
Sanchez said wanted to be part of the journey with his friends and help the kids at Camp Good Days.
These crew team members include, from left: Gage Gardinier, Paddy Grace, Brian Sanchez, Owen Baira and Jake Penna. Two other members – Patrick Mayo and Rhett Crooks – were in a launch getting a one-hour break from rowing. The crew members row for two hours before getting a one-hour rest.
The crew team will be rowing for about 10 hours each day until reaching Albany. The team typically practices for an hour and a half during its season, so the trip is a big effort above the norm.
“It gets hard really fast,” said Patrick Mayo, who will be a senior this fall at McQuaid.
The crew team will be sleeping in tents. Many parents of the team members are riding along at staying at rest stops to check on the team and give them food.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Firefighters including Orleans County Deputy Fire Coordinator Jerry Bentley work to put out a fire that spread to soybean bales on June 8 at a beef farm in Barre on Mathes Road.
Press Release, Congressman Chris Collins
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Chris Collins (R-NY-27) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, celebrated the passage of H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act.
The legislation they sponsored together would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop and maintain a registry to collect data regarding the incidence of certain cancers in firefighters. The registry will improve collection capabilities and activities to address an enormous gap in research on the heath impacts of cancer incidence among all firefighters – career and volunteer.
Firefighters may experience detrimental health effects due to smoke inhalation and other harmful, toxic substances. The legislation takes a first step toward gathering this information to develop new protocols, safeguards, and equipment to protect these men and women. Senate legislation is sponsored by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
“I am extremely humbled and proud of the work we have done to get this bill on President Trump’s desk,” said Collins. “We have to prioritize the health and safety of the brave men and women who selflessly protect our communities. It has been an honor to work with Congressman Pascrell, and we have seen an outpouring of support for this legislation from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, various firefighter organizations, health care groups, our colleagues in Congress, and of course the firefighters in our districts and across America that this is intended to serve. I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law and to see all of the positive impacts this will have on the firefighting community.”
“Today is a big day,” said Rep. Pascrell. “I can’t think of many priorities more important than protecting the health of America’s firefighters. The Firefighter Cancer Registry will bring together information on firefighters’ history to help doctors and researchers find any connections between firefighters’ work and increased risk for cancer.”
A 2015 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that firefighters had a greater number of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths for certain types of cancer when compared to the general U.S. population, specifically digestive, oral, respiratory and urinary cancers, and malignant mesothelioma. The study confirmed that firefighters have an increased risk of cancer because of occupational exposure. To bolster the efforts led by researchers at NIOSH, the firefighter cancer registry will improve collection capabilities and activities related to the nationwide monitoring of cancer incidence among all firefighters – career and volunteer.
Specifically, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act will authorize $2 million in federal funds to the CDC from FY2018 to FY2022. Additionally, the legislation will:
• Develop a firefighter registry of available cancer incidence data collected by existing State Cancer Registries and a strategy to maximize participation;
• Create a registry that will contain relevant history, such as other occupational information, years of service, number of fire incidents responded to, and additional risk factors;
• Make de-identified data available to public health researchers to provide them with robust and comprehensive datasets to expand groundbreaking research; and
• Improve our understanding of cancer incidences by requiring administrators to consult regularly with public health experts, clinicians, and firefighters.
The legislation has support from several major fire organizations, including the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, New Jersey Firefighters’ Mutual Benevolent Association and the International Fire Services Training Association.
“I would like to thank Congress for passing this critical legislation, as well as Representative Collins for his leadership in introducing and championing it,” said National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chair Kevin D. Quinn. “Too many firefighters are contracting and dying from cancer caused by duty-related exposures. This registry will improve our understanding of why firefighter cancer is occurring at such a high rate, and will make it easier to prevent, detect, and treat.”
“Fire fighters are routinely exposed to numerous carcinogens over the course of their careers and deserve the best protection and prevention tools available,” said International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO General President Harold Schaitberger. “The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act will provide yet another means to study the deadly relationship between cancer and firefighting. I thank Representative Collins for his leadership on this important issue and applaud the Congress for sending the bill to the President to be signed into law.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2018 at 2:40 pm
ALBION – An organization proposing a 40-unit housing project on Liberty Street in Albion is seeking the Orleans County Planning Board’s support for the project.
DePaul Community Services, Inc. wants to build the project between the railroad tracks and Beaver Street in Albion. DePaul needs to remove three houses that are on that section of Liberty Street to make room for the housing project.
DePaul’s application for variances and a site plan review will go before the County Planning Board at 7 p.m. on June 28.
The 40-unit residential project is at 150 S. Liberty St. in Residential (R-3) District.
The Planning Board meets at the County Administration Building, 14016 Route 31 West in Conference Room C.
The Planning Board next week will also consider these referrals:
• Request for site plan review and special use permit in Gaines to operate seasonal business at 14386-14398 Ridge Rd. in Commercial Historic District.
• Request for area variance and site plan review in Gaines to convert existing structure to farm labor housing.
• Request for area variances and site plan review in Barre to operate an art studio at 4706 Oak Orchard Rd. in General Business District.
• Request for site plan review to operate wedding venue in Albion at 160 North Main St. in General Commercial District.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2018 at 10:01 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion’s Concerts on the Canal series continued on Thursday with Jonesie & the Cruisers playing many rock songs. The band is led by lead singer Gary Jones, left. Gary Withey plays the keyboards and sings.
Bands perform every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. under a tent by the gazebo behind the Albion Fire Department on Platt Street. The series continues until Aug. 2. The Lonely Ones are next to perform on June 28.
This dog is a regular at the concerts, taking in the music from a boat on the Erie Canal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2018 at 9:42 am
ALBION – Jurors in a trial against a Medina man facing sexual assault charges resumed deliberating at 9:30 this morning.
Closing statements were completed on Thursday morning and jurors started deliberations after lunch.
The trial started Monday in the case involving Gerardo Quiros, 31, of Medina. He allegedly held a woman against her will for several weeks, while physically and sexually assaulting her.
Quiros is facing 24 counts, including seven counts of first-degree rape, 10 counts of criminal sexual act in the first degree, one count of third-degree assault, one count of both criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third and fifth degrees, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Quiros has been in the county jail after his bail was revoked in January by Judge Sara Sheldon.
Theresa Jewell of Clarendon demonstrates weaving alpaca during opening day of the Clarendon Farmers’ Market Thursday.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent
CLARENDON – For the first day, the Clarendon Farmers’ Market was a big hit.
Understandably, vendors will increase as produce becomes more readily available, but market organizer Nyla Gaylord couldn’t have been more pleased.
A variety of vendors offered tomatoes, garlic bulbs, plants, crafts, beef jerky, fudge, baked goods, spice mixes, vegetable and flower plants, crocheted items and goats milk soap, to mention a few.
Gaylord sold out of her brown eggs, and enjoyed showing off her pet chicken, Goldie.
Many who stopped to shop took time to listen to the band Fox Run play country/western music. The band, whose members are nearly all in their 80s, was started by Gaylord’s aunt Joyce Tyler of Brockport and Marilyn Lafferty.
Kim’s Kitchen offered samples of homemade fudge and used the market as an opportunity to promote their new business which offers a variety of soup and spice mixes, gluten- and sugar-free meals and catering.
Gary and Rita Casale with their homemade beef jerky were among the vendors for the first ever farmers’ market in Clarendon, which opened Thursday afternoon.
Another vendor was Theresa Jewell of Stoney Meadows Alpacas and Stone Mountain Looms on Glidden Road, who was weaving an alpaca shawl. She was also selling a book she and Ashley Couch wrote on continuous strand weaving, which she said was selling very good. In addition, she had goats’ milk soap which her daughter makes.
“I think the market has potential,” Jewell said. “There has been a lot of community support and when the produce season gets going, I think it will bring more people out.”
Gary and Rita Casale, who make homemade beef jerky, were delighted with the local opportunity to sell their goods.
“When it’s this easy and this close, we’ll be here every week,” Gary said.
The market will run from 3:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday through the end of October on the grounds of the Clarendon Historical Society. Any interested vendors or entertainers are urged to contact Gaylord at (585) 703-0564 or by e-mail at Clarendonfarmersmarket@aol.com.
Shoppers take a break to listen to the country/western band Fox Den during opening day of the Clarendon Farmers’ Market.
