By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2017 at 7:13 pm
ALBION – A Holley resident was sentenced to five years in state prison for first-degree sexual abuse.
David L. Durbano, 32, of Ridge Road admitted to sexual contact with a girl under age 11 in April.
The charge normally carries a maximum sentence of 2 to 7 years in state prison. As part of a plea deal, Durbano faced up to 5 years in prison when he was sentenced today.
Sara Sheldon, the acting Orleans County Court judge, gave him the maximum of five years in the plea agreement, as well as a maximum of 10 years of post-release supervision.
Durbano’s attorney Dominic Saraceno said Durbano has accepted responsibility for the crime and accepted the plea deal to avoid a painful trial for the victim.
“He is extremely ashamed and embarrassed by what he did,” Saraceno said during sentencing today.
Durbano apologized for the crime and told the judge he didn’t have any explanation for why he committed the sexual crimes.
“I’m very sorry for what I did,” he told Judge Sheldon.
“How does a man do this?” the judge asked him.
“I don’t know,” Durbano replied.
He also needs to pay a $1,000 crime victim fee and $425 court surcharge.
Durbano will be a registered sex offender when he is released from prison.
Two people pleaded guilty in other cases in court today:
• Joshua Biaselli, 33, of Albion pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated and faces a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 26.
Biaselli allegedly stole a car and drove while under the influence of alcohol and drugs on Feb. 10. Biaselli also allegedly crashed the vehicle into a garage on Gulf Road in Murray. He was allegedly driving drunk and high from using cocaine and marijuana.
Biaselli was released from state prison in Elmira in January after serving more than five years in prison for felony DWI, bail jumping and drug convictions. About a month later, he was arrested again.
Judge Sheldon urged him to take advantage of education and drug counseling programs while he is in jail until his sentencing.
If he shows progress, Sheldon told Biaselli today she would consider giving him less than the maximum when he is sentenced.
“Some people would say you are difficult,” the judge told Biaselli. “I wouldn’t say that. I think you’ve had a hard life. You’re 33. It’s time to be a man and pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”
• Shanya Beasley, 39, of Kingston Street in Rochester admitted she had cocaine with the intent to sell it in Orleans County on April 18.
She pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and faces a maximum of 1 to 5 ½ years in state prison, plus 1 to 2 years of post-release supervision when she is sentenced on March 12.
ALBION – Hospice of Orleans is pleased to announce that it has received a generous grant for furniture upgrades to the Martin-Linsin Residence which opened in 2012. A check in the amount of $10,000 was received through the Orleans County Foundation, Inc.
“The Martin-Linsin Residence has served nearly 200 patients and their families since opening its doors in 2012,” said Brittany Dix, Development Manager. “Our staff has discovered some typical wear and tear on some of the well-used furniture.”
The grant will allow Hospice to purchase furniture in each of the patient rooms as well as in the communal area, and also will allow for the purchase of larger televisions for each of the patient rooms.
“This is especially significant as some patients spend a good deal of their time in their rooms, and watching television is something they can initiate independently,” Dix said. “This furniture upgrade and purchase of larger televisions will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the quality of life for our patients and the family members that visit.”
Hospice of Orleans extends sincere gratitude to the Elizabeth Dye Curtis Trust and the Orleans County Foundation for this very generous grant and helping Hospice of Orleans to provide care that is about living.
For more information on Hospice of Orleans, Inc. services and supports, call the office at 585-589-0809 or visit the website at www.hospiceoforleans.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2017 at 1:29 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDNA – The Medina Fire Hall at the corner of Park Avenue and Main Street was recently given a new old-time fire hall look. Firefighters painted the doors and trim red. They were green and white.
John Lang, the father of firefighter Ashton Lang, created the door numbers. Ashton was a full-time Medina firefighter. He recently joined the Gates Fire District.
His father designs and fabricates metal art and sculptures. The Number 40 represents Medina’s ladder truck.
The Number 11 represents the primary engine for the fire department.
“It was a pleasure working with the Village of Medina Fire Department on this project. This type of functional art is very rewarding,” Lang said. “It was a great way for me to say, ‘Thank you for your service’.”
The red doors debuted in September. Firefighters also refurbished the bench by the red doors.
In addition, a historic hose cart was fixed last week with firefighter Chris Seefeldt taken the lead in having it sanded and rebuilt.
Changes will make Orleans County’s radio interoperable with Genesee’s
Press Release, Orleans County and Doherty Communications
ALBION – Contractors and programmers have been upgrading Orleans County’s multi-million dollar public safety/public service radio system for approximately six weeks.
One of the most noticeable results for county residents is the loss of some of the police channels to scanner listeners.
“While it was not the principal reason for the upgrades, one result is that four additional talk groups have been encrypted, which means that any radio receiving the signal will hear nothing if it doesn’t have the de-cryption key,” said Kevin Doherty, whose local company manages the Radio and the 911 systems under contract to the county. “That includes actual radio system users. If a public safety radio isn’t programmed with the key, the affected talk group is silent for that user.”
Doherty added that the main reason for the hardware, software and programming changes is to integrate the Orleans County system with Genesee County’s, which is also manufactured and installed by Harris Communications.
“The key word is inter-operability, that is, making it as easy as practical for radio users from different agencies and now different counties to talk to each other,” he said.
Federal grant guidelines are moving users like Orleans County to a common platform, one which encrypts police communications.
“After the updates, we had encryption on the system and took a few of the existing talk groups out of the scannable mode,” Doherty said. “Scanner listeners can still hear police dispatches, as well as fire and ambulance transmissions, highway and OTS.”
Grant guidelines also call for reducing the number of 911 and dispatch centers, which Orleans County did in the early 1990’s, consolidating Medina’s 911 answering point into the county’s. Orleans County was also an early adopter of inter-operability within the county when the first, EF Johnson trunking radio system was installed at about the same time.
Every radio user had the opportunity to connect with every other user through template programming. Now, the county will permanently be in a network with Genesee County to provide the same interoperable functions. Work is being performed through a grant received by Genesee County from New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and is anticipated to be completed by year’s end. Sharing those resources will result in better coverage of fringe zones in each county, Doherty said.
Further plans are in process for a similar result through different technologies with Monroe County. Those changes, when adopted, are projected to improve radio system connectivity in the Village of Holley and Orleans County’s east side.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2017 at 10:49 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Parade of Lights in Medina on Saturday also included a contest for residents on Park Avenue to decorate their property for the popular parade.
Linda Moore of 405 Park Avenue won the $100 first prize for the “Light Up Park Avenue” competition. Her property is pictured in the top photo. Tom and Mary Robinson of 507 Park Avenue won the $50 for the runner-up award.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2017 at 8:23 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Parade of Lights on Saturday included nearly 40 organizations or businesses that created floats for Medina’s popular event. The top photo shows the Medina Marching Band, including current students and alumni. They are performing in front of the judges’ stand on Main Street.
Orleans Hub has already posted many photos from the parade. Here are some more.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2017 at 5:18 pm
Takeform takes the grand prize for its scene of Medina
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The winners of the 9th annual Parade of Lights have been announced with Takeform taking the grand prize. The Medina company designs signs and creates architectural graphics for many hospitals and other businesses.
Takeform put its skills on display with its float, which included a scene of Medina on a flatbed trailer. The company receives $500 for first place and a plaque.
Here is the other side of the Takeform float.
“There were so many good ones, it was particularly difficult this year,” said Jim Hancock, the parade chairman. He thanked judges from Pride Pak, the Bank of Castile and Western NY Energy for their work in determining the winning entries.
The other winners will receive $200 and a plaque. They include:
Star Award – Matt CM Contracting for a candy cane themed float
Littlest Elf Award – Cobblestone Girl Scouts
Phoebe Kirby, right, and the Girl Scouts looked like big presents on their float.
Community Spirit Award – Little Bits 4-H Club, which had a Whoville theme. The Albion FFA, pictured in back, also had a Whoville-themed float.
This member of Little Bits waves to the crowd on the parade route.
Santa’s Pick Award – Bentley Brothers, which also had two other units – giant presents on wheels.
BEST IN CLASS AWARDS
Religious – Calvary Tabernacle Church pulled a float with a lighted up cross and a manger scene behind. In back in photo is the Little Bits 4-H Club with their Whoville float.
Not-For-Profit – Knights/Kaderli Memorial Fund
The Knights/Kaderli’s float included a large present. The fund provides assistance to families in Orleans County where a loved one is fighting cancer.
Business/Commercial – Weedman Lawn Care
Service Clubs – Medina FFA, which a theme, “Green Acres is the place for me!”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2017 at 9:51 am
MEDINA – The Book Shoppe in Medina hosted two local authors for book-signings on Saturday.
Daniel Mault, left, is the author of The Cost of Gold, A True Fairytale. Jessie Miller, right, illustrated that book and also wrote her own book, Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans.
Mault lives in Cheektowaga and is a third grade teacher at Roy-Hart. His book tells the story of two children, Maggie and Henry, who meet a golden frog, which grants their wish to live in a castle and be royalty. However, they miss their family that they were forced to leave behind.
“This fairytale will leave you thinking about what really matters in life, and open a dialogue with children about what they cherish most in their lives,” according to a review on Amazon. Click here for more information.
Miller, 28, is a 2007 graduate of Medina High School who works as a freelance illustrator. She earned an animation degree at Edinboro University.
Her book is about a rooster that wears skinny jeans, despite some ridicule from its friends.
“It’s about not being afraid to be yourself,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2017 at 9:24 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A one-day toy drive resulted in 500 toys being donated plus about $700. The toys were dropped off on Saturday at Canalside Tattoo on Main Street in Medina. Shawn Ramsey, left, is owner of Canalside. He is pictured with Andrew Szatkowski, organizer of the toy drive.
The toys will be given to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and the Medina Area Association of Churches, which will distribute them to families in Orleans County.
Szatkowski put together 20 packages to entice donations of toys or $5 that will be used to buy presents. With every donation, people were given a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of the 20 “Medina Experience” packages.
Szatkowski thanked the community for their generous donations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2017 at 10:37 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – There were nearly 40 floats in today’s Parade of Lights in Medina. Some of the entries are shown in the parking lot of the Olde Pickle Factory, which served as a staging area for the floats.
This was the ninth annual Parade of Lights and the event continues to draw big crowds to downtown Medina and caps off Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration.
Matt C.M. Contracting made this giant candy cane. The generator stopped when the candy cane made it to Main Street so most of the crowd was unable to see it lighted up.
Matt Mundion of Matt C.M. Contracting tries to get another strand of lights working on his candy cane. Mundion is the three-time grand champion of the event.
Katelyn Schlager of the Little Bits 4-H Club gets her Grinch make-up on for her role in the club’s Whoville float. Brook Lux’s hand is showing. She was the makeup artist.
Bo Gobeli, a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 35 in Medina, adjusts the flag pole in the float. John Dieter, the cub master, also makes some last-minute adjustments before the parade.
Dustin Shaffer of Bentley Brothers works on stringing lights for the business’s float.
Baxter Healthcare in Medina participated in the Parade of Lights for the first time. Employees created a toy shop theme on the float.
Takeform Architectural Graphics also made its debut in the parade and featured several cutouts depicting Medina landmarks.
Teaghan Freeman of Le Roy is dressed as an angel for the Mark Time Marchers. She is joined by her parents, Yvonne Freeman, left, and Jeff Freeman.
Ian Becker of the Roy-Hart FFA puts a finishing touch on the sign, “Support Our Troops.” FFA students did all of the work on the float.
Several veterans joined the Roy-Hart students on the FFA float including a Marine, Bradley Mandaville of Barker, standing.
Weedman in Albion makes its way down Main Street during the popular parade.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2017 at 3:05 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Jim Hancock, chairman of the Parade of Lights, is pictured with Frosty the Snowman today at the Medina Historical Society.
The Parade of Lights starts at 6 p.m. at the Olde Pickle Factory and includes 38 participants, Hancock said. The parade heads down Park Avenue before reaching Main Street.
There will also be a tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at Rotary Park. Frank Berger, the grand marshal of the parade, will light the tree.
There will also be a fireworks display in the downtown at 5:45 p.m.
The Albion FFA won the grand prize in last year’s parade. The float had a Candy Land theme with about 10,000 lights.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2017 at 2:03 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Santa Claus greets a child in Medina after a parade through the downtown. Santa will be at the Medina Theatre for three hours meeting children. Cindy Robinson, right, is president of the Medina Business Association, which is one of the organizers of today’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration in Medina. (Click here to see the schedule of events.)
Emma Underhill, 6, of Elba won the “most spirited elf” award in the Cutest Little Elf Costume Contest.
Debbie and Paul Goodwin of Medina have their dogs dressed for the holidays in the pet parade. Mrs. Goodwin is walking Luna and her husband has Sadie.
Luna, Debbie and Paul Goodwin’s dog, waits for the parade to get started. The dogs assembled at the Medina Historical Society on West Avenue before taking the trek down Main Street.
Shelby Green, drum major for the Mustang band, and her bandmates practice Christmas songs before the parade at noon.
Shelby Green directs the band during a practice. It was drizzling out but the band played on.
Medina students, Hunter DeHollander and Abby Wilson, dressed as elves to help raise money for the Decorate Medina Committee.
Daisy Duke, owned by Kathy and Kevin Bogan, is ready for the parade to get started.
These two wave to the crowd while getting a ride in a Medina fire truck.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2017 at 11:11 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Heide Cornell of Sanborn is all smiles when she crosses the finish line this morning during the 5th annual Home for the Holidays 5K in Medina. Cornell is dressed as “The Baker” from a Christmas story.
Her friend, Jay Weber, dressed as the Gingerbread Man.
The 130 runners take off at the start of the race in the Canal Basin. Many wore Santa hats and holiday costumes. The 130 participants is the most since the race started in 2013.
Proceeds from today’s race are going to Medina’s LOYAL youth baseball program and a reading program at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.
Brennan Root, 22, of Medina is in the home stretch of the race, which he won in a time of 16:45, nearly 3 minutes ahead of the second place finisher.
“It was awesome,” Root said about the race. “Everyone was so supportive. The Christmas vibe is awesome.”
Martha Gardner, 18, of Medina was the top female to finish in a time of 20:34.
Kathleen Donhauser gets off to a good pace at the start of the race.
Medina natives Megan Sidari and Lauren Ickowski ran together in the race. The two friends now live in Arlington, Va. Megan is the daughter of Medina Mayor Mike Sidari and Brenda Sidari. Lauren is the daughter of Sam and Diana Barber.
Jose Quiros, 40, and his daughter Sabrina, 15, run together near the finish. The two Medina residents both won age group awards with a time of 23:07.
Ed Russell, 75, of East Amherst crosses the finish line with his dog, Samantha. Russell was the fastest in the 70-and-over group with a time of 31:24.
Steve Karas, 68, of Barre is in the Santa spirit during the race.
These participants wave to the crowd at the start of the race.
To see the schedule of events in Medina today for the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration, click here.
