By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2018 at 8:31 am
KNOWLESVILLE – Three senior citizens in Orleans County were honored on Thursday for their commitment to community service in retirement.
The Orleans County Office for the Aging held its annual Spring Jubilee program to celebrate “Older Americans Month.” About 200 seniors attended the program at the Trolley Building of the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
The OFA accepted nominations for outstanding seniors from the community. An advisory council then picked the two seniors who would represent the county in Albany during an awards program on May 22.
Florence Surdi, 88, volunteers with Hospice of Orleans, the American Red Cross, Office for the Aging, Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern and Holy Family Parish.
Surdi worked five years at Kodak before going back to school to earn a nursing degree. She worked in many doctors’ offices in a 35-year career.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley thanks the seniors for their many years of service to the community.
Surdi has been a very active volunteer the past 12 years, and is a past winner of Hospice’s “Volunteer of the Year.” At Hospice, she provides companionship to terminally ill patients. She also helps with the administrative office at Hospice.
“Florence calmly and efficiently handles any task she is given,” the nominator wrote about Surdi.
At the OFA she assists with the newsletter and a volunteer driver. As a driver, she took an elderly man to visit his wife in a nursing home for five years.
She also helps the American Red Cross during blood drives. When the Ministry of Concern needs to assemble a mailing, Surdi can be counted on.
At Holy Family Parish, she is active with two charitable organizations, the Ladies of Charity and Catholic Daughters.
“Mrs. Surdi always serves the community with a giving and open heart,” the nominator wrote. “She brings her compassion for others and a fabulous sense of humor to her volunteer work.”
Surdi encouraged more seniors to volunteer, saying she has made many friends in the community through serving the different organizations.
“You will find while volunteering it doesn’t seem like working at all,” she said. “It’s very interesting, you learn a lot, and besides that, it’s fun.”
Don Snyder of Albion was recognized Thursday for his community service as a senior citizen.
Don Snyder has been very busy in retirement, helping church leaders respond to the opioid crisis in Orleans County. Snyder, who is retired as a chaplain in the state correction system, was nominated for the senior citizen award by Sheriff Randy Bower.
Snyder was instrumental in setting up the Sheriffs CARE (Community Addiction Rehabilitation Education) as well as an on-call chaplains’ team. He has been active in helping the community establish an addiction recovery program and is a trained recovery coach.
For the past two years he has been a member of the Genesee Orleans Wyoming Opioid Task Force meetings. He also serves on the Orleans County Mental Health Service Board, which oversees delivery of mental health services in the community.
He also is a board member for the Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina, the Grace House in Buffalo/Saving Grace Ministries, and From the Inside Out Ministries.
Snyder also volunteers with the American Red Cross’s Disaster Action Team, responding when people are made homeless, and he participates in Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation.
“With our ever growing opiate epidemic, many times hand in hand with mental illness, Don has volunteered his time as well as getting others involved to assist our community to educate and rehabilitate those struggling,” Bower said.
Snyder said people need to be involved in community issues, especially when they are a resource or can connect people to resources for help.
Patricia Cammarata of Albion receives certificates of commendation for her volunteer service.
Snyder and Surdi will both be recognized in Albany for their volunteer work. Patricia Cammarata also was recognized during the Senior Jubilee on Thursday.
Cammarata worked as a licensed master social worker in children’s mental health. She volunteers with the Catholic Charities Friendly Phones Program, and has been a trustee on the Swan Library Board of Trustees and a member of the Albion Historic Preservation Commission.
She was nominated for the award by Catholic Charities.
“She has happily and consistently made calls or visits to socially isolated elders in our community,” the nominator said. “She has provided friendship and empathy in each relationship, improving the lives of our members significantly.”
The Albion High School Women’s and Men’s Select Chorus performed several songs for the seniors. The group has about 40 members and is led by director Gary Simboli.
Sophia Zambito has a solo in “Draw the Circle Wide.”
Arella Ives also was a featured soloist in the “Draw the Circle Wide.”
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 12 May 2018 at 7:17 am
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 19
John Chamberlain Collins is believed to be the young boy standing, observing bodies of conspirators in Abraham Lincoln’s assassination; image dated July 7, 1865.
Last week’s article featured the story of William Collins of Albion who claimed that he was present with the detachment of cavalrymen from the 16th New York Cavalry responsible for the capture of John Wilkes Booth. Occasionally I receive feedback from readers that pushes me in a particular direction and this week just happens to be one of those occasions. Steven Miller of Illinois, an expert on Boston Corbett, contacted me about John Chamberlain Collins and encouraged me to explore his story. So I thought it would be of interest to share more about the life of John C. Collins.
John Collins was born September 19, 1850 at Albion to Michael and Susan Collins; one of nine children born to the couple. He was raised Roman Catholic, presumably attending St. Joseph’s Church after its establishment, and attended the local schools in the village. At the outbreak of the Civil War, his brother William enlisted with the 28th New York Infantry raised under the command of David Hardie. John was eleven years old and simply too young to even lie about his age to enter the service.
Based on the recollections of John Collins, his brother was home on furlough likely around the time of his father’s death in 1864. It was at this time that John, with some gentle coaxing, traveled to Washington, D.C. to stay with William for a short period of time. A series of unfortunate events involving William, including a battle wound, three-month recovery, and eventual capture by Confederate soldiers, extended John’s stay with the 16th New York Cavalry.
The men of the unit adopted the fourteen-year-old Collins as a sort of “regimental boy” or mascot for the group, cutting a small uniform for him and providing him with a pony that was too small for regular service. Mr. Miller sent me an article that appeared in The Sunday Star, a Washington, D.C. newspaper, on April 12, 1914. In the article, John Collins recalls his presence with the unit, noting that they were stationed just outside of Washington when Lincoln was assassinated. After news reached the regiment, detachments were sent out in search of Booth and Herold, although he is careful to make no mention of his brother William in this particular piece.
The focus of the particular article is his brief relationship with Boston Corbett, the man credited with killing Booth. Collins recalled that Corbett was an eccentric man whose tent was positioned across the street from his in the company town. As a devout Christian, Corbett wore his hair parted in the center because “Jesus did so,” and frequently claimed that he was divinely selected to avenge the death of the “great-hearted President.”
Perhaps the most interesting anecdote pertaining to John Collins relates to the trial and execution of those accused of conspiring to kill Abraham Lincoln with John Wilkes Booth. When Mary Surratt, David Herold, Lewis Powell, and George Atzerodt were set to be executed on July 7, 1865 for their connection to the assassination plot, Collins recalled this particular story about the events:
“Shortly before 2 o’clock the doors leading into the courtyard from the old penitentiary were opened and the procession slowly made its way to the scaffold and up the thirteen steps to seats on the platform. Mrs. Surratt came first, assisted by a guard. Others following were Payne (sic), Herold, and Atzerodt, in the order named, each attended by a guard. Mrs. Surratt moved very slowly and with great difficulty. She seemed to be on the point of collapse…Then all at once they were all standing upon the trap door and the nooses at the ends of the dangling ropes were placed carefully around their necks. Gov. J. F. Hartranft, governor of military prisons, clapped his hands twice and instantly four human beings dropped through the opening…”
Collins could recall this story in such detail because he was present to witness the executions. As he described, he pressed his way through the lines of soldiers until reaching the front. His presence was likely permitted due to his uniform and was believed to be the youngest witness to the execution. This photograph shows the aftermath of the event, two soldiers stand on the front left corner of the gallows with rifles over their shoulders. One man appears to be looking to his left towards the young boy standing with a forage cap atop his head and sack strung over his shoulder. He appears to gaze with interest at the bodies hanging from the ropes, those individuals accused of conspiring to assassinate the President of the United States.
Steven Miller believes that this young man was, in fact, John C. Collins. As noted by Barry Cauchon, at least one researcher believes this to be a boy around the age of 8-10, meaning it is not Collins. Cauchon notes that Alfred Gibson, Gov. Hartranft’s 16-year-old assistant, was also present for the execution. One might ask how a 16-year-old might look more like an 8-10 year old than a 14-year old. The point is that the list of known boys present at the execution contains two names; Collins and Gibson.
After the war, John Collins attended Brockport Normal School (now SUNY Brockport) and eventually graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1875. After the conclusion of his studies, he enrolled in Yale’s School of Religion and graduated in 1878 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. More remarkable than his presence at the execution of Surratt, Herold, Powell, and Atzerodt was his life after the war. He took an interest in Christian social work and assumed leadership of the New Haven, Connecticut Boys’ Club in 1884, growing the membership of the organization considerably over a three-year period. By 1891, his work was responsible for growing the organization’s oversight to more than 13,000 boys. Although he was not responsible for establishing the organization, the Rev. John C. Collins expanded the reach of what we now know as the Boys & Girls Club of America.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2018 at 7:29 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – About 200 Medina students spent half of the school day working on service projects at the school and in the community as part of Mustangs Make an Impact Day.
Medina 10th-grader Haley Hurt, left, and substitute teacher Madelin Pheltz painted at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market on West Center Street.
The community service projects originated two years ago from the IMPACT (Influencing Many People As Concerned Teens) students with staff rallying behind the effort.
Medina had a half day of school and students volunteered to help with many projects around the community and at the school district.
Neveah Conley, back, and Valencia Bloom paint the door on the Canal Village Farmers’ Market across from the Post Office.
“It’s nice to do things for the community,” Bloom said. “It’s the least we can do and it’s fun.”
Xander Payne, back center, and Brendan Luthart, right, help Dan Doctor, the school district’s director of community outreach, make more room in the basement of the YMCA, where the district runs an after-school tutoring program that also includes games. The YMCA was among the many sites where students worked on a service project.
Lily Joe Carpenter, left, and Arella Biesinger are shown in the basement of the Medina Historical Society with an wooden water line, part of the village’s early infrastructure. They moved several items to basement to make room upstairs for an exhibit at the Historical Society.
Students set up a new Little Library at Pine Street Park, one of two as part of a pilot program to promote literacy in the community. The library was built by the FFA. It needs a door and some trim. It should be ready on Saturday. (Another Little Library will go at Rotary Park.)
These students include, from left: Kali Schrader, Ian Joseph and Mason Lewis.
Students put paver blocks in the grass, and planted flowers in a half a barrel made of oak. A wooden stand was added to hold the library.
An Impact team also worked on a Little Library at Rotary Park. These students include Mark Reigle, Marguerite Brackenbury and Ashton Laird. The little libraries will be stocked with books, and users are encouraged to take a book to read, and bring one for someone else.
Aubrey Adkins, left, and Melanie Green paint Medina Mustang logos that will get a final coat of red paint and be secured to the tennis courts to promote Mustang pride. Students in Eric Valley’s art classes made the wooden signs. Valley, the school’s athletic director, first made them about three years ago for Vets Park where three are mounted on the dugouts. Four others are displayed inside the high school gym.
Photo courtesy of Tim Petry: Shelby Volunteer Fire Company President Tim Petry sent in this photo and offered his appreciation for Medina students and staff who helped wash and wrap potatoes for the fire company’s Mother’s Day chicken barbecue. The students include Dakota Alexander, Ava Page, Anastasia Smith and Jelia Howard, with staff members John Sherman and Pam Nowak.
Students also worked on projects at Medina Fire Department, the East Shelby fire station and the Medina police station.
ALBION – Paul Pettit, Public Health director for the Health Departments in Genesee and Orleans counties, will serve as president of the New York State Association of County Health Officials, beginning June 1.
Chuck Nesbitt, Chief Administrative Officer for Orleans County, and Jay Gsell, Genesee County Manager, both congratulated Pettit on this achievement after being elected by his peers to lead the state association over the next year.
“Having Paul serve as President brings our Western New York rural counties to the forefront of influence and decision-making in regards to public health activities across the state,” Nesbitt said. “This is an excellent platform for our counties to be heard and recognized.”
Nesbitt and Gsell offered congratulations on behalf of their respective County Legislatures.
“Paul is an engaged and empowering leader of our two counties public health initiatives and has helped make our progressive and proactive commonly appointed Board of Health a prime example of what team work and collaboration can achieve,” Gsell said.
NYSACHO was organized in 1979 and is a membership association representing the 58 local health departments in New York State. The NYSACHO general membership meets monthly, providing a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas and experiences among local public health officials as well as with other federal, state and local partners. NYSACHO strengthens the provision of local public health programs and services.
“The incoming officers and directors possess extensive knowledge and diverse experience in the field of public health,” said Pettit, an Albion resident. “I am honored to be able to serve on the board with them and represent this organization over the next year as President. I am confident that this board along with our active membership will continue to provide strong leadership and further NYSACHO’s mission of supporting, advocating for, and empowering local health departments in their work to promote health and wellness and prevent disease, disability and injury throughout New York State.”
MEDINA – Four Medina firefighters are among 57 graduates of the state academy in Montour Falls today.
Firefighters Bradley Mahnke, Cody Doran, Steven Long and Timothy Miller graduate from the 11-week Recruit Firefighter Training program at the NYS Fire Academy.
In addition, Captain Matt Jackson of the MFD graduated from the month-long First Line Supervisors Training Program conducted by the Fire Department of The City of New York.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today congratulated the 57 graduates of the Recruit Firefighter Training Program at the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls.
Today’s graduates hail from 24 fire departments and represent the Academy’s 75th Recruit Firefighter Training class. This is the largest class to ever graduate at the Academy since the program’s inception in 1984.
“These graduates join the more than 100,000 brave men and women serving in the fire departments across this great state who, with dedication and courage, respond to emergencies day and night to protect us all,” Governor Cuomo said. “I congratulate these New Yorkers on this significant accomplishment, and thank them for their commitment to public service.”
The Recruit Firefighter Training Program class is 11 weeks long and includes more than 500 hours of intense training that exceeds the state’s minimum standards for firefighter personnel. Graduates of the program also receive national certification in Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Hazardous Materials Operations. All of today’s graduates will become full-time firefighters in their respective fire department when they return home.
During the 11-week program, firefighters received training in areas such as emergency vehicle and pump operations, flammable gas firefighting, basic rescue technician skills and foundational firefighting training and operations. They also participated in daily physical fitness training in preparation for the Candidate Physical Ability Test.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2018 at 11:01 am
Both named outstanding musicals, among many awards
ROCHESTER – Two high school musical productions in Orleans County were big winners Thursday night at the Stars of Tomorrow competition in Rochester, which recognizes the top school musicals in the Rochester area.
Albion and Lyndonville-Medina both won the top award for outstanding musical. Albion, which competes with many large suburban schools in Division B, performed Godspell on March 23-24 and Lyndonville-Medina, in Division D, performed The Addams Family from March 23-25.
Enoch Martin (Judas), Victor Benjovsky (Jesus) and Laiken Ricker (disciple) perform a high-energy song in Godspell, Albion’s musical in March.
Both programs won many other awards and five students from the two programs also advanced in an individual competition where the winner goes to the Jimmy Awards program in New York City in June.
Lyndonville-Medina won the following awards for The Addams Family:
• Outstanding musical
• Outstanding Dance Ensemble
• Outstanding Acting Ensemble
• Outstanding Orchestra
• Outstanding supporting actor for Brian Cunningham, Qasim Huzair and Jacob Corser
Christian Hahn, center, portrays Gomez Addams, the patriarch of the family. He is shown with Brian Cunningham, left, who portrayed Pugsley Addams and Cora Payne, who portrayed Gomez’s wife Morticia. The three all received awards for their performances.
• Outstanding leading actor for Christian Hahn
• Outstanding leading actress for Cora Payne and Layna Viloria.
• Future Stars – Meagan Hardner
• Special Recognition – Grace Masse and Miranda Lembcke
• Tip of the Hat – Ethan Bowie, Sarah Cochrane, Zayda Moyle and the Dancesters.
(Hahn, Huzair, Payne and Viloria advance to round 2 of the Stars on May 24.)
Albion won the following awards for Godspell:
• Outstanding Musical
• Outstanding Dance Ensemble
• Outstanding Singing Ensemble
• Outstanding Acting Ensemble
• Outstanding Orchestra
• Outstanding supporting actor for Enoch Martin
• “Tip of the Hat” recognitions from the adjudicators for Nate Grammatico, Riley Seielstad, Emma Tower, Sophia Zambito, Matt Kovaleski, Richard Flanagan, Miranda Smith and the Albion HS Special Olympics Club
(Enoch Martin advances to round 2 of the Stars on May 24.)
Sophia Zambito, left, and Riley Seielstad, center, both were recognized by judges.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2018 at 9:43 am
‘I truly believe this will be a transformative project with great impact for our village and other communities around us.’ – Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty
HOLLEY – A grant for $5.1 million announced on Thursday for the Holley Gardens project will allow a develop to move forward with the transformation of the old Holley High School into affordable senior housing and also the village offices for Holley.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the $5.1 million on Thursday, part of $200 million for housing projects state-wide.
The adaptive reuse of the former Holley High School into a mixed-use facility will create 41 homes for seniors age 55 and up. The existing school auditorium will be renovated for use by the Village of Holley as meeting space and administrative offices.
Holley Gardens is in the heart of the Village of Holley and residents will have easy access to local small businesses and amenities, Cuomo said.
Home Leasing LLC, a Rochester company, has proposed a $17 million renovation of the former school, to create residential apartments and offices that would be used for the village government. Home Leasing is working along with Edgemere Development, Glasow Simmons Architecture L.L.P. and Marathon Engineering – all Rochester-based firms – on the project.
“We at Home Leasing are truly honored to be part of bringing this historic landmark back to life,” said Nelson Leenhouts, chairman and CEO of Home Leasing LLC. “Holley Gardens will provide housing opportunity to area seniors and updated and accessible Village offices to the community. We are thankful for the unwavering commitment of the Village of Holley, the County of Orleans, Governor Cuomo, New York’s Homes and Community Renewal and Senator Schumer to the revitalization of this quaint canal side Village.”
Cuomo in March announced a $1 million “Restore New York” grant to go towards the renovation of the old Holley High School.
The latest funding will allow Home Leasing to move forward with the project. Brian Sorochty, mayor of Holley, said the revitalization of the old school will have a big impact on the village and Orleans County.
“The governor’s announcement that The Holley Gardens project was awarded $5.1 million is fantastic news and we thank Governor Cuomo for this award and his commitment to these types of adaptive reuse projects,” Sorochty said. “For Holley residents, this means that when combined with the $1 million already granted from Restore NY, this project is a reality!”
Nelson Leenhouts, chairman and CEO of Home Leasing, and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer discussed the importance of keeping federal tax incentives for redeveloping historic sites during this event on Nov. 11, 2016. Leenhouts, during that event, said in his 50 years of real estate development he has never had a community work so hard as Holley to make a project a reality as the redevelopment of the old school.
Holley village officials have been pushing for an answer to the former school for more than a decade. The building sits in the heart of the village at the intersection of two state roads, routes 31 and 237.
“Residents will soon see this landmark building restored to its fullest potential,” the mayor said. “Having an historic building of this magnitude, which is located at the main intersection in our Village revitalized will breathe new life into our community. This project will not only benefit Holley, but also our entire County. I truly believe this will be a transformative project with great impact for our village and other communities around us.”
The village worked to have the site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it eligible for tax incentives. The Landmark Society of Western New York named the old school to its list of “Five to Revive,” and that designation helped get the attention of Home Leasing.
Sorochty said many people have stepped forward to have the school primed for revitalization. The school closed in the early 1970s and was last used by Liftec Manufacturing in the mid-1990s.
“There have been many residents in our village that have been hoping and pushing for this type of project for over 10 years,” he said. “Our Village Board has been working at this with the developers for approximately three years and it is very gratifying to see it come together into this exciting project. We hit this one on all cylinders, including support from all local, county and state officials, our residents, and a wonderful and dedicated development team lead by Home Leasing and Edgemere Development. A project of this magnitude simply can’t happen without everyone pulling in the same direction. My sincere thanks to all who made this a reality.”
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer was in Holley on Nov. 11, 2016 for a news conference at the old school to show his support for keeping federal tax credits for developers who rehab historic sites.
“At long last the decades of watching the beloved former Holley High School building sit vacant and decaying are finally over because we are breathing new life into this local historic treasure,” he said in a statement. “Now with federal historic rehab credits and state and federal housing tax credits we can break ground on the plan to revamp the old Holley High School into Holley Gardens with new senior housing, new larger space to house Village offices and a restored auditorium for community public meetings. Holley Gardens will truly be a win-win-win: for local residents, for local businesses and the entire regional economy.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27), member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, applauded Wedneday’s advancement of 25 bills out of the Committee to help combat the opioid crisis. Collins championed three of these pieces of legislation that will head to the House floor.
“The opioid epidemic is impacting every community across America and we have to take action in order to save lives,” said Collins. “We have seen far too many innocent lives lost and families torn apart because of addiction. I’m hopeful that this package of bills will help individuals get the treatment they need and give communities the resources required to stop this epidemic in its tracks.”
Collins joined fellow New Yorker, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, in introducing the Synthetic Drug Awareness Act of 2017 that would require the Surgeon General to report to Congress the public health effects of the rise of synthetic drug use by 12- to 18-year-olds. Currently, Congress does not have sufficient information to craft the unique types of public health and law enforcement approaches that could save our nation’s children from these dangerous substances.
Collins also introduced the Eliminating Opioid Related Infectious Diseases Act of 2018 with Congressman Leonard Lance, Congressman Joseph Kennedy, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congressman Joe Barton, and Congresswoman Doris Matsui that focuses specifically on how the opioid epidemic has contributed to an increase in infectious diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Increased monitoring and education will lead to a better understanding of the impacts that this crisis is having on public health.
Finally, Collins introduced legislation with Congressman Eric Paulson, Congressman Ron Kind, and Congressman Connor Lamb that would require Medicare to send an annual notice to Part D patients about the adverse effects associated with prolonged opioid use. By improving awareness and education, the Medicare Clear Health Options in Care for Enrollees (CHOICE) Act will help patients be more inclined to watch for the warning signs of addiction and be more informed to talk with their doctors on their options for pain management.
The additional bills focus on helping patients receive treatment and making sure these drugs do not get into the wrong hands. The Committee has identified issues with enforcement, prevention, and coverage within Medicare, and the additional legislation provides solutions that will address these areas.
A background memo, electronic copies of the legislation, and live stream of the markup can be found by clicking here. The Committee plans to hold a second markup on opioid legislation on May 17.
Provided photo: Jeff Cole, a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, is pictured with Otto, the K9. Cole is the dog’s handler and they work closely together. Otto is trained in narcotics detection and tracking.
Orleans County Sheriff’s Office K9 Otto will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
K9 Otto’s vest is sponsored by Staten Island Companion Dog Training Club and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by SICDTC, Staten Island, NY”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,900 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $5.7 million.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950. Each vest has a value between $1,744 to $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
Orleans County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit Otto and Deputy Cole have a strong dedication to serving and protecting the local communities within Orleans County, as well as surrounding counties. The K9 unit works well together as a team, is energetic, and loves to train together. The K9 unit also enjoys performing demonstrations at local schools and events within our community.
K9 Otto is a 3-year-old German shepherd that was imported from Holland and joined the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office on October 13, 2016. K9 Otto is certified in Narcotics through NAPWADA and NYS DCJS and Tracking through NAPWADA.
“Many thanks to Vested Interest in K9’s, Inc. for their gift,” said Sheriff Randy Bower. “We are thrilled at the opportunity to receive a Body Armor Vest for K9 Otto’s protection during service.”
Many Orleans County residents received an Amber alert this afternoon after a 15-day-old baby from Montour Falls was allegedly abducted by her mother, Katrina Harter, 31.
Gionna Harter is identified as black, 18 inches tall and having brown eyes. Police say she was taken from an address on Rock Cabin Road in Moutour Falls around 5 a.m. today.
Katrina is a homeless black woman with curly black hair and brown eyes. She stands at 5’3″ and weighs 332 lbs. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt and traveling south on North Exchange Street in Geneva.
The Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. Anyone with information can call 911 or 1-866-697-2623.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 May 2018 at 3:52 pm
BATAVIA – A deputy for Genesee County Sheriff’s Department won’t face criminal charges after fatally shooting an Albion man on the night of April 11 at the Indian Falls Log Cabin Restaurant, Genesee County District Attorney Lawrence Friedman told reporters during a news conference this afternoon.
The shooting by Deputy Ryan W. Young resulted in the death of Keith Kent, 61. Young was found justified with his actions following an investigation by the State Police, Friedman said.
Melissa Cianfrini said Log Cabin patrons hid in the basement and feared for their lives after Kent fired shots in the parking lot.
The District Attorney’s Office shared the results of the investigation with the Genesee County grand jury on Wednesday and that group voted to return a “no bill,” meaning no criminal actions by the deputy, Friedman said.
“The case is closed,” he told reporters at the Genesee County Courts facility. “That brings the matter to a conclusion.”
Melissa Cianfrini, the first assistant DA for Genesee County, said State Police interviewed customers who were at the Log Cabin that night. Law enforcement was dispatched to the location at about 11 p.m. after Kent fired two shots in the parking lot.
A customer called 911 after the situation was escalating, Cianfrini said. Kent had to be asked to leave the bar after a complaint from one customer.
When Kent stepped out of the restaurant and fired two shots, customers went to the restaurant’s basement, trying to arm themselves with any kind of weapon, Cianfrini said. One customer told police he feared he would die.
Kent would fire a third shot, and police aren’t sure what that was directed at.
When law enforcement arrived, Kent was in the parking lot and was asked to set down his gun.
“He was given multiple directives to drop his weapon,” Cianfrini said. “He did not comply with the directives.”
When he lowered his gun towards Deputy Young, the deputy fired about 15 rounds with an AR-15 rifle. Kent was hit in the neck and grazed in the back, Cianfrini said.
Young has since returned to work on “light duty.” He has worked for the Sheriff’s Department for two years. Prior to that, he was a Le Roy police officer for four years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 May 2018 at 11:18 am
U.S. News and World Report on Wednesday published its list of top high schools in the state and nation and Kendall and Medina again are on the list as Silver Medal winners.
The news publication weighs data on student achievement from 22,000 high schools in the country. Kendall has been at the top of the list in Orleans County in recent years, but the latest report shows Medina edging ahead of Kendall.
Medina ranked as the 197th top high school in New York and 2,297th in the country. Kendall was ranked 205th in New York and 2,455th nationally, which puts them near the top 10 percent.
The other high schools in Orleans weren’t on the list of top performers.
The U.S. News’ Best High Schools List is compiled by first analyzing how well students performed on qualifying high school state assessments such as Regents Exams in Algebra 1 and ELA.
The high schools identified as over performing were then ranked nationally in terms of college readiness, using participation and success in the Advanced Placement program. U.S. News then awarded more than 6,040 gold, silver, and bronze medals to the top-performing schools.
Some highlights from each high school in Orleans include:
• Albion (unranked)
597 students and 40 teachers
75 proficient in mathematics, 92 percent proficient in reading
88 percent graduation rate
College Readiness Index – 20.1
AP tested, 29 percent
AP passed 61 percent
48 percent economically disadvantaged (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 May 2018 at 9:54 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County’s fruit trees are in bloom, adding lots of color to the countryside. These photos were taken on Wednesday evening at Watt Farms, near the pond behind their country market on Route 98.
The apple trees have white blossoms.
Peaches and cherries have pink blossoms. I can’t say for sure whether these are cherries, peaches or some other fruit.
New York is the country’s second-leading apple producer behind only Washington state, and Orleans County is among the top counties in NY for producing apples, trailing only Wayne and Ulster counties.
While some fruit-growing areas have festivals during blossom season, the spring bloom doesn’t get much attention in Orleans County, despite the visual and olfactory sensation.
The blossom season can be an anxious time for fruit growers who need bees to be busy pollinating so the fruit can grow.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina Fire Department on Wednesday at 6:24 p.m. was dispatched to a possible electric fire in the bathroom with a resident unable to exit the house at 611 Ann St.
Second platoon firefighters arrived on location and simultaneously removed the resident and encountered a fire in the ceiling of the bathroom. A working fire was then declared bringing the Ridgeway and Lyndonville fire departments to the scene.
Crews exposed the bathroom ceiling as well as the flooring above the bathroom on the second story and stopped any further fire spread. Damage is estimated at $25,000 to the structure and $15,000 to the contents.
The resident was uninjured and is being assisted by the Red Cross at this time. The area of origin was the bathroom ceiling fan/light and the cause is being listed as accidental at this time.
There were no firefighters injured. Also assisting on scene were fire investigators from the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.
During this incident, two 911 ambulance calls were handled by crews as well.
We thank all of the departments on scene as well as the public safety dispatchers at the Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 May 2018 at 6:49 am
No explanation why the letter went undelivered for more than 2 decades
MEDINA – In May 1994, Clark Godshall was working as assistant superintendent of the Orleans-Niagara BOCES. He also was the purchasing agent, signing about 3,000 to 4,000 purchase orders each year.
One of those purchase orders and was mailed on Sept. 30, 1994. It was sent to Austin, Texas to The Bat Conservation International. The Orleans-Niagara BOCES wanted to buy a VHS tape, “The Secret World of Bats.” The price was $40. The postage cost 29 cents.
The VHS tape was never delivered. On Monday, staff at the O-N BOCES received the returned letter from the Postal Service, with it marked as returned to sender on May 3, 2018. It had never been opened and the envelope has turned yellow on the edges. There was no explanation where the letter had been the past 24 years.
“Maybe it fell into a crack someplace,” Godshall wondered on Wednesday.
He has been the BOCES superintendent for the past 18 years, and has signed thousands upon thousands of purchase orders.
The local BOCES continues to maintain a collection of VHS tapes that are loaned out to member school districts. Beta tapes, however, are no longer kept at the BOCES.
Godshall found the returned letter – nearly 24 years after it was first mailed – to be an interesting conversation piece.
“Have faith in the Post Office,” he said. “Eventually it will get there.”
Many Orleans County residents received an Amber alert this afternoon after a 15-day-old baby from Montour Falls was allegedly abducted by her mother, Katrina Harter, 31.
