By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2018 at 1:42 pm
Photo courtesy of Brad London: A tractor trailer is on its side at about 1:30 p.m. today after being knocked over from a powerful wind gust this afternoon on Route 98, north of the Village of Elba.
The powerful winds have caused power outages across Orleans County, with about 1,000 National Grid customers without electricity.
The biggest outage is in Albion, just north of the Erie Canal. National Grid reports there are 709 Albion customers without electricity. Power is expected to be restored by 10 p.m.
There are also outages in other spots around the county, including about 200 customers in Yates-Carlton near Lake Ontario. This area without power is west of Lakeside Beach State Park.
There are also 93 Barre customers without electricity, 123 in East Shelby, and 52 in Murray, west of the Village of Holley. There are also 33 in Clarendon near Munger Road without power.
To see the power outage map from National Grid, click here.
The winds have taken down numerous wires and several trees in Orleans County.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The strong winds are blowing the American and POW/MIA flags by the Holley Post Office and American Legion at about noon today.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2018 at 1:14 pm
President Donald Trump and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have issued statements of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. King was shot and killed on April 4, 1968 at a hotel in Memphis, Tenn., just a day after delivering his famous “Mountaintop” speech.
President Trump issued this statement:
“Fifty years ago today, on April 4, 1968, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was tragically assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Though he was taken from this earth unjustly, he left us with his legacy of justice and peace. In remembrance of his profound and inspirational virtues, we look to do as Dr. King did while this world was privileged enough to still have him. We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters lest we perish together as fools. We must embrace the sanctity of life and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. As a united people, we must see Dr. King’s life mission through and denounce racism, inhumanity, and all those things that seek to divide us.
“It is not government that will achieve Dr. King’s ideals, but rather the people of this great country who will see to it that our Nation represents all that is good and true, and embodies unity, peace, and justice. We must actively aspire to secure the dream of living together as one people with a common purpose. President Abraham Lincoln sought to eradicate the senseless divisions of racial hierarchies when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Just over 100 years later, Dr. King continued this effort and called upon Americans to reject ugly impulses and prejudices, and to recognize the beauty and the humanity of all people, regardless of the color of their skin. Today, we remain steadfast in advancing their efforts, in hopes of hastening the day when all of God’s children will join hands in freedom forever.
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 4, 2018, to be a day to honor Dr. King’s legacy. I urge all Americans to do their part to make Dr. King’s dreams of peace, unity, and justice a reality.
“IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.”
Gov. Cuomo issued this statement:
“Martin Luther King Jr. changed the world through his courage, his dedication to nonviolence, and his belief that the course of history bends toward justice. The movement he led forced all Americans to look at the hard truths and make it our moral imperative to deliver on the sacred promises of liberty and equality established by our Founding Founders.
“Fifty years after his assassination we honor Dr. King’s legacy by fighting for a fairer, more just America. As he stated, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’
“We continue his fight against discrimination, inequality and hate in New York and across the country, from our education system to our public housing, to our criminal justice system. The obligation to continue Dr. King’s work now, more than ever, rests in our hands.”
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer posted this message on Twitter:
“Today, 50 years after his assassination, we honor Dr. King’s life and legacy with our words and our actions. Speak up & stand up; the march isn’t over. #MLK50Forward #MLK50”
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted this message:
“Fifty years ago today, we lost a champion for equal rights. The day before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called on us to stand against apathy and hate. I look back on #IveBeenToTheMountaintop to sustain me in our ongoing fights for equality.
“His words delivered on that day 50 years ago ring as true as ever: “Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be.”
“We again find ourselves in powerful days and challenging days. But your voices can lift us above the evils of racism and hate. So keep speaking up. Keep fighting for change. Together, we can honor Dr. King’s legacy in the light and love he left us. #MLK”
MEDINA – Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition held a free roller-skating event on Tuesday afternoon at the Orleans County YMCA in Medina. There were 170 youths and 84 adults – “an all-time high,” said Pat Crowley, project director for Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition.
Prize winners include from left: Kaity Howe, Logan Scribner, Abby Allen and Brayden Benedict.
There was even a T-Rex who showed up and skated among the group.
“This event is becoming quite the tradition for many families during school breaks in Orleans County,” Crowley said. “It has been going on for well over 10 years now.”
A photo booth with props was added to give youths an opportunity to get a free picture for some added fun.
Tony Hipes, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Medina, sits by a table of donated food items and some of the prizes. There were 197 cans of food collected and delivered to the two food pantries in Medina.
This free event would not take place without the support from Medina Area Association of Churches, Orleans YMCA and Drug Free Communities Coalition, Crowley said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2018 at 9:10 am
High winds have taken down some wires in Orleans County this morning. There aren’t any power outages currently reported by National Grid in Orleans, but thousands have lost electricity in Monroe and Wayne counties.
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for Orleans and much of Western New York until 11 p.m. today, with westerly winds from 35 to 45 miles per hour with gusts to 65 to 70 mph.
So far today, there are reports of wires down on Gaines Basin Road in Albion and Ridge Road in Ridgeway.
The New York State Police will have a statewide crackdown on distracted driving, as part of April’s designation as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. From April 12 to April 16, Troopers in marked and unmarked vehicles will aggressively ticket drivers using handheld devices—like smartphones—during Operation Hang Up.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,450 people were killed in distraction-related crashes in the U.S. in 2016. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released fatal traffic crash data for calendar year 2016. According to NHTSA data, which was collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 37,461 lives were lost on U.S. roads in 2016, an increase of 5.6 percent from calendar year 2015.
Current New York State law includes the following penalties for distracted drivers:
• For a first offense, the minimum fine is $50 and the maximum is $200
• A second offense in 18 months increases the maximum fine to $250
• A third offense in 18 months results in a maximum fine of $450
• Probationary and junior drivers face a 120-day suspension of their license for a first offense, and one-year revocation of their permit or license if a second offense is committed within six months.
Operation Hang Up is a special enforcement effort to step up patrols and checkpoints. Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (unmarked) vehicles as part of the operation in order to identify motorists who are using handheld electronic devices while driving. CITE vehicles allow the Trooper to better observe distracted driving violations. These vehicles blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.
During the last campaign from April 8 to April 13, 2017, State Police issued more than 2,000 tickets for distracted driving. These tickets were a combination of talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving, texting, or using an electronic device while driving.
The campaign is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. For more information, visit www.safeny.ny.gov. For more information on New York State’s cell-phone and texting laws, go to www.dmv.ny.gov/cellphone.htm. For more information on distracted driving, visit www.distraction.gov.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2018 at 7:53 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jack Ludwick heads for home plate for the Barre Cubs in last July’s championship game. The Barre Cubs won, 9-8, vs. Sandstone Park. The Barre Cubs have been fixtures in the Albion Midget League since 1956, when the league started.
BARRE – The Barre Bicentennial Committee wants your best photos of the town and its residents for the upcoming 200th anniversary celebration of the town.
Barre is having a photo contest for youth (up to 18 years old) and adults. There are four categories: landscape, architecture, people and farm life.
Photos entered in the competition should be 8-by-10 prints. They need to be at the Town Hall by June 15-16. Judging will be on June 22, just ahead of the big bicentennial bash on June 29-July 1.
The best in show winner will receive $100. Other prizes include: first place, $40; second, $20; and third, $10.
The photos must be taken in Barre during 2017 or 2018, but aren’t limited to entries by Barre residents.
Rifles allowed for first time in 2017 for big game hunting in Orleans
File photo by Tom Rivers: These deer are pictured on Nov. 20, 2014 when they were close to the road on the west side of Route 279 in Gaines, just south of Route 104.
Hunters in Orleans County harvested 3,949 deer in 2017, which was up from 3,586 in 2016, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
This past big game hunting season between November 15 and December 7 was the first time hunters could legally use rifles for deer and bear hunting, after votes of support from the County Legislature and State Legislature.
In Orleans the harvested deer breakdown by town for 2017 includes:
Albion – 311
Barre – 695
Carlton – 324
Clarendon – 425
Gaines – 271
Kendall – 203
Murray – 366
Ridgeway – 506
Shelby – 503
Yates – 345
The DEC released a report today on deer harvested in 2017. There were 203,427 deer harvested in the state last year, which is down from the 213,061 in 2016. The 203,427 includes 107,804 adult males and 15,805 male fawns, as well as 67,702 adult females and 12,116 female fawns.
The 2017 estimated deer take includes 95,623 antlerless deer and 107,804 antlered bucks, an estimated five percent fewer deer than the previous year. Statewide, this represents a 10-percent decline in antlerless harvest and a buck harvest nearly identical to 2016.
The decline in antlerless harvest occurred despite DEC issuing more antlerless permits last season. DEC wildlife biologists have noted two important and encouraging items that emerged from the 2017 deer harvest. First, with 53.3 percent of the adult buck harvest averaging 2.5 years or older, hunters took an estimated 57,494 older bucks, setting a record in total number and greatest percentage of older bucks in the harvest.
“This is great news for New York hunters,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Many hunters are choosing to voluntarily Let Young Bucks Go and Watch Them Grow, and all hunters are now having greater opportunity to see and take older, larger bucks.”
State-wide the most deer ever harvested in a year happened in 2002 with 308,216. There were 230,100 deer harvested n 2010, 295,859 in 2000, 190,810 in 1990, 136,255 in 1980, 65,013 in 1970 and 45,755 in 1960.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2018 at 3:18 pm
Will stop at sites that are in Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame
Photo by Tom Rivers: The blossoms were in bloom by the front entrance of Mount Albion Cemetery in this photo from May 10, 2015. The front arch is made of Medina sandstone, one of many sandstone features in the historic cemetery.
The Medina Sandstone Society has sponsored many historic walking tours in Medina in recent years. The organization is planning another tour on April 29, but for the first time the Sandstone Society will take a bus to visit numerous sites.
The bus tour will highlights buildings and sites that are all in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame. Bill Lattin, the retired Orleans County historian, will serve as tour guide.
The group will go inside some of the buildings on the tour. Some spots will just be a quick visit without going inside.
“This is something new we’re trying,” said Jim Hancock, president of the Sandstone Society. “We have hosted walking tours around historic downtown Medina in the past, but this time we’re renting a tour bus and having a guided tour around Orleans County of beautiful sandstone structures which, incidentally, are inducted into our famous Hall of Fame.”
Lattin will point on the different architectural styles with the buildings, and show some of the different colors and sizes in the sandstone.
The tour starts at 1 p.m. on April 29 at Holy Trinity Parish (St. Mary’s Catholic Church) and West Avenue and then goes to the former Armory (now the Orleans County YMCA) on Pearl Street and then St. John’s Episcopal Church on East Center Street.
The bus then heads to Albion to see the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, First Presbyterian Church and Mount Albion Cemetery. The group then heads to Holley and St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Hillside Cemetery, where the chapel has the only flying buttress in the county.
The group is scheduled to be back in Medina at 5:30 p.m.
The Sandstone Society is charging $15 for members (stonecutters) and $20 for the general public to go on the tour.
Seating is limited and registration is required. A reservation and check payable to Medina Sandstone Society, can be sent to PO Box 25, Medina, NY 14103. For additional information, send an email to Sue Holland (shollan2@rochester.rr.com).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2018 at 1:12 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Cobblestone Church on Route 104, just east of Route 98, is part of the Cobblestone Museum, a National Historic Landmark.
CHILDS – An online voting competition has ended with the Cobblestone Museum coming in second out of seven heritage sites in Western New York.
The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University had the most votes and will have a panel of experts visit the site and offer suggestions for reimagining how the site’s collections could be presented to the public.
The vote totals for the seven sites include: 3,644 for Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University; 1,259 for the Cobblestone Museum; 1,061 for Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester; 464 for Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site in Buffalo; 393 for Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda; 319 for Geneva Historical Society; and 279 for Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown.
“Thanks again to everyone who voted during the Creativity Incubator contest, the Cobblestone Museum posted today on its Facebook page. “The Cobblestone Museum came in second place behind St. Bonaventure University. Thank you for your show of support. The results are pretty amazing!”
The New York State Council on the Arts/Greater Hudson Heritage Network sponsored the “Heritage Network Creativity Incubator” program. The Incubator series was launched to assist museums and historical sites that are pressured from changing demographics, shrinking attendance, tightened budgets, increased competition, and exponential growth of technology and social media.
The Creativity Incubator includes workshop series led by the Museum Mavericks, who are some of the most creative thinkers in the field today. The winning museum or heritage site will have its collections or permanent installations re-imagined by the Museum Mavericks and session participants. The group will also explore the chosen site’s collections, discovering the amazing stories they hold and creating new ones.
“The end goal of the program is to open our eyes to the possibilities and encourage museums to think more imaginatively about the interpretation of their collections and the visitor experience,” according to the Incubator.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the law requiring law enforcement agencies to video record custodial interrogations with individuals accused of serious crimes, including homicides and violent felony sex offenses, is now in effect.
The law, originally passed as part of the Governor’s landmark criminal justice reforms in 2017, will help ensure the reliability of evidence that is later presented at trial and guard against false confessions.
“Recording interrogations can be critical in helping convict the guilty, free the wrongly accused and uphold faith and confidence in our criminal justice system,” Governor Cuomo said. “I’m proud that this hard-fought reform is now in effect, bringing us one step closer to a more fair and more just New York for all.”
As of April 1, law enforcement investigators are required to video record interrogations of individuals accused of most serious non-drug felonies. The requirement applies only to custodial interrogations at police stations, correctional facilities, prosecutor’s offices, and similar holding areas.
Failure to record interrogations in applicable cases could result in a court determining that a confession is inadmissible as evidence, according to the new law. The change to the Criminal Procedure Law was adopted by the state Legislature along with other critical reforms proposed by the Governor as part of the FY 2017-18 state budget.
In advance of the new law taking effect, the New York State Municipal Police Training Council amended a 2013 model policy outlining how law enforcement agencies should properly record custodial interrogations. The Council, with its members appointed by Governor Cuomo, designs and approves model policies to help guide law enforcement agencies. The Office of Public Safety at the state Division of Criminal Justice Services staffs the Council and assists with developing model policies.
The model policy includes the steps law enforcement must take in advance of and during an interrogation, including recording Miranda warnings; finding an age-appropriate setting if juvenile is being interviewed; camera positioning; date and time stamping of the footage; identifying all parties present for the recording; and documenting any equipment challenges that arise. The model policy also discusses how to properly handle footage resulting from an interrogation.
The model policy is intended as guidance for law enforcement agencies as they adopt ones tailored to their specific needs. The policy was developed with input from a wide variety of stakeholders, included the District Attorney’s Association of the State of New York, the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, the New York State Police, the New York City Police Department and the New York State Sheriff’s Association.
Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State has also helped to ensure all 62 counties have at least one agency capable of video recording interrogations. Since 2011, New York has provided more than $4.15 million to approximately 365 police agencies and prosecutors’ offices across the state for the purchase and installation of video-recording equipment.
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Health Educator and Public Information Officer for Orleans County Health Department
The first week of April is National Public Health Week (NPHW), a week set aside encouraging us to choose healthier living.
National Public Health Week started in April of 1995 by the American Public Health Association (APHA) with a focus on Public Health prevention topics. This year’s theme is, “Healthiest Nation 2030 Changing Our Future Together.” This year the focus is on working together to make changes in our health and the health of our communities.
“As we look at overall health we know there are many components that can affect our wellness and participation in activities such as work, school and recreation,” said Paul Pettit, Director of both Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Taking positive steps in our personal lives by choosing to make healthier food choices, become more active, limit or stop the use of nicotine/tobacco products and alcohol and seeking help when we are experiencing depression and anxiety will have an impact on our lives and our communities. Taking small steps can make a difference in the long run.”
Review the following daily themes and see what you can do to work toward becoming the Healthiest You 2018!
The focus areas chosen this year are:
• Monday – Behavioral Health: Advocate for and promote well-being
• Tuesday – Communicable Diseases: Learn about ways to prevent disease transmission
• Wednesday – Environmental Health: Help to protect and maintain a healthy planet
• Thursday – Injury and Violence Prevention: Learn about the effects of injury and violence on health
• Friday – Ensuring the Right to Health: Advocate for everyone’s right to a healthy life
This article only touches on a couple of the focus areas listed above. To learn more about National Public Health Week and the movement for change, visit their website at www.nphw.org.
Behavioral Health: Advocate for and promote well-being. Being aware that mental health and wellness plays a major part in our overall health. This is an opportunity to de-stigmatize mental health diagnoses and encourage people who are experiencing mental unwellness to seek treatment. There are several trainings to teach about the services available in our respective communities. Mental Health First Aid, SafeTALK are two trainings that help increase awareness of mental unwellness and where to seek help.
Communicable Diseases: Learn about ways to prevent disease transmission. “Washing your hands often is the single most effective way to limit the spread of many diseases,” said Brenden Bedard, Director of Community Health Services for both Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “As we have seen in this year’s flu season it is important so make sure you and your family are up to date on immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases.”
One of the easiest ways to strive toward a healthier nation is to take care of you. Make sure you eat well, engage in physical activity often, spend less time in front of a screen, and get plenty of rest. Treat yourself and others with care and respect. And finally, remember to have fun and laugh … after all, laughter is the best medicine.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2018 at 9:27 am
MEDINA – A GoFundMe has been established to raise money for the new dog park planned in Medina, next to the former compost plant on North Gravel Road.
The GoFundMe went live on Monday night. The Friends of the Dog Park Committee has a $20,000 fund-raising goal for the new dog park, which will include three fenced-in areas, one for small dogs, one for large dogs and an agility area.
The Medina Village Board last week voted to set aside about 1 acre of the land at the former compost plant for the dog park.
“This park will allow a large public place for dogs to not only exercise, but work on training and social skills,” Alaina Wilson, the park organizer, stated on GoFundMe. “This will be the first public dog park in Orleans County and we hope that it will also bring in visitors or even future residents, which will help boost the local economy.”
Besides donating through GoFundMe, supporters of the park can also send a check made out to “Village of Medina Dog Park” and it can be dropped off or mailed to the Village Clerk’s Office at 119 Park Ave., Medina, NY 14103.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Richard Barnard, right, and Amanda Dixon work to put out a brush fire on May 3, 2015 on Route 98 in Barre.
Press Release, DEC
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos reminds residents that with spring here and conditions for wildfires heightened, residential brush burning is prohibited through May 14 across New York State.
“While many people associate wildfires with the western United States, the start of spring weather and the potential for dry conditions increases the risk for wildfires in New York,” DEC Commissioner Seggos said. “New York prohibits residential burning during the high-risk fire season to reduce wildfires and protect people, property, and natural resources. The ban has been extremely effective in reducing the number of wildfires, and we’re encouraging New Yorkers to put safety first.”
Warming temperatures in the spring can quickly cause wildfire conditions to arise. Open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures are warmer and the past fall’s debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily and be further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation.
New York first enacted strict restrictions on open burning in 2009 to help prevent wildfires and reduce air pollution. The regulations allow residential brush fires in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents during most of the year, but prohibit such burning in spring when most wildfires occur.
In the eight-year period since the ban was established, the average number of spring fires per year decreased by 36.7 percent, from 2,649 in 2009, to 1,677 in 2016.
Campfires using charcoal or untreated wood are allowed, but people should never leave such fires unattended and must extinguish them. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round.
Some towns, primarily in and around the Adirondack and Catskill parks, are designated “fire towns.”
Violators of the state’s open burning regulation are subject to both criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense. To report environmental law violations call 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332), or report online by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2018 at 8:21 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – Polish culture was celebrated on Monday with Dyngus Day parties throughout Western New York, including one at the Sacred Heart Club in Medina, where JT Thomas was crowned king and Irene Dunn was named queen. Both are active members of Sacred Heart.
The Sacred Heart Club served up Polish food, including sweet and sour cabbage, smoked kielbasa, lazy pierogis, pierogis, Golumbki (stuffed cabbage) and fresh Polish sausage.
St. Mary’s Athletic Club in Albion also served many Polish dinners on Monday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2018 at 10:01 pm
The YWCA of Genesee County announced it was closing today. The Batavia-based agency provided many services, including a crisis hotline that served Orleans County residents.
The Orleans County Mental Health Department contracted with the YWCA to provide that service. With the agency closing, the Mental Health Department is urging people in crisis to call the dispatch through the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office at 911 or (585) 589-5527, or people can call the Mental Health Department at (585) 589-7066.
Mark O’Brien, Mental Health director, said he is working to contract with another crisis helpline in the next few days. Calling dispatch or Mental Health will be an interim option until the new crisis helpline is in place, O’Brien said.
“We will have another crisis line up shortly, in a matter of days,” O’Brien said.
People can call dispatch, and the dispatchers can activate the Mental Health staff in a person is in need, O’Brien said.
