There will be four public meetings this month for community members to learn more about our options for future law enforcement services. These options have been developed though the Law Enforcement Shared Services Study Project for Orleans County.
During the meetings the findings of the recent study will be discussed and input is welcome from the residents of Orleans County. As the cost of providing public protection and policing services continues to rise, it is imperative to explore ways to share or consolidate services.
I encourage the community to attend one of these meetings to learn of the ideas and possibilities, as well as to share their thoughts, and to ask questions.
Public meeting dates
• Wednesday, November 8, 2017 – 5:30 p.m. at Hoag Library, Curtis Community Room, 134 S Main St, Albion, NY 14411
• Wednesday, November 8, 2017 – 7:30 p.m. at Holley High School Auditorium, 16848 Lynch Rd, Holley, NY 14470
• Wednesday, November 15, 2017 – 5:30 p.m. at Medina High School Auditorium, 2 Mustang Dr, Medina, NY 14103
• Tuesday, November 21, 2017 – 7 p.m. at Lyndonville High School Auditorium, 25 Housel Ave, Lyndonville, NY 14098
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 7 November 2017 at 7:21 pm
HOLLEY – This Veterans Day marks the fourth year Koryn and Kayla Neale have collected donations for care packs to distribute to veterans in the Holley community.
The girls are the daughters of Kerri Neale and Dr. Krista Wiley-Neale and are students at Holley Central School. Koryn is in 5th grade and Kayla is in 6th grade.
Koryn says they decided to start the care pack drive after hearing first-hand experiences of members of their extended family and the struggles and challenges they faced after returning home from service in the U.S. Armed Forces.
“We talked to our mom about doing something,” Koryn says. “We felt veterans weren’t getting the appreciation they needed after risking their lives so we can be free.”
The girls collect both monetary donations and items including Kleenex packs, chap sticks, cough drops, sugar free candy, pens, small notebooks, small lotions, toothpaste, mouth wash, soap, gum, mints, combs, Q-tips, razors, Suduko books, cross word puzzle books, calendars, coupon books, gift certificates, socks and hats.
“We try to think of things that would be useful,” the girls said.
These are some of the items included in the Veterans Day Care Packs.
Boxes for collection of donations are set up around the Holley community including the Village Hall, the Holley Library, the offices of Dr. Steven Thompson, DDS and Dr. Daniel Schiavone, DDS (both dentists also donate oral care products), the VFW, American Legion, KD Flooring & Supply and Wiley’s Ark Animal Care.
Items are then sorted and placed in patriotically decorated gift bags for distribution. Last year the girls personally handed out 25 care bags filled with over 20 items including a personal note of thanks. Koryn said one year she included a poem she had written in the thank you card.
They visit the Marines birthday party event at the Holley VFW, which this year is Thursday, Nov. 9, and the Veterans Day ceremonies at the American Legion Hall to distribute the care packs.
Local veterans have been both surprised and touched by the care packages, said the girls and their mom, Dr. Krista Wiley-Neale say.
Particularly with Vietnam Era and older Vets, “this has been their first experience with children thinking of them,” Wiley-Neale says.
The collection box is shown at the Holley Village Hall.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2017 at 3:55 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Wendy Jacobson (left), CEO of Orleans Community Health/Medina Memorial Hospital, accepts the “Friend of Education Award” on Monday from Margy Brown, president of the Albion Board of Education.
The healthcare organization was recognized for its participation the past three years in the district’s internship program. Albion High School students have been doing internships and observations with doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants and other staff at Medina Memorial Hospital and Orleans Community Health’s Albion healthcare site.
Those experiences convinced many students to pursue careers in healthcare, said Susan Starkweather Miller, the internship coordinator.
Jacobson has embraced the program, and given students access to professionals who work in surgeries, ultrasound, phlebotomy and other programs.
The staff finds the students invigorating, Jacobson said.
“It’s a way to pay back the educators who saw something in us all,” she said.
The district also presented monthly student recognition awards. In the elementary school, Joshua Zayac received the Leadership Award and Bryan Hillman was presented the Character Award.
Tyler Kast, a senior, was also presented with the Leadership Award at the high school. He was unable to attend last month’s board meeting and received the award last evening.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2017 at 12:54 pm
ALBION – Board of Education members agreed to have the school district contribute $2,500 this school year towards the cost of having a crossing guard in the mornings and afternoons on Route 31 in front of the middle school.
“Let’s be amicable to try to work together and have a crossing guard,” Margy Brown, president of the Board of Education, said during Monday’s BOE meeting.
Linda Weller, a board member, said she wasn’t happy how the village notified the school district in early September there wouldn’t be a crossing guard due to the expense, an estimated $5,000 a year.
“They made a bad decision,” Weller said. “Now they have egg on their face and we’re supposed to help them.”
Board members in September said the school district would help fund the position. Brown even attended a Village Board meeting to say the school district would share in the cost.
“We said in good faith at a meeting that we would help,” Brown said during the Monday evening meeting.
The village by law is the only municipal entity that can hire a school guard. A village by law doesn’t have to provide a crossing guard.
The Village Board during its budget negotiations last April decided against having a crossing guard. The village didn’t relay that to the school district until right before the start of the school year in early September. After an outcry from the community, the village has been having police officers and Department of Public Works employees fill in as crossing guard.
The village also redefined the position and sought applications for the part-time job. The board is expected to discuss the position during its meeting on Wednesday evening.
Charles Ricci stops traffic so two middle school students can cross Route 31 this morning.
Village Attorney John Gavenda sent a letter on Oct. 11 to Michael Bonewell, the district superintendent.
“The Village would appreciate any contribution the Albion Central School might deem appropriate,” Gavenda said in the letter.
Board of Education members were hoping the village would specify a dollar amount, rather than leave it open-ended.
Brown led the discussion and is suggesting the school district pay half the costs. The other board members, including Weller, agreed.
Bonnewell, the district superintendent, said both the school and village face tax cap constraints. However he said the district, with a nearly $35 million budget, can better absorb the cost than the village, which has a budget of about $6.6 million.
The school can accommodate the $2,500 for the crossing guard partly because the district is spending less than budgeted for gas and utilities so far this school year, Bonnewell said.
The district’s $2,500 contribution is good for this year only and will be revisited in the future.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2017 at 11:30 am
Ballot includes 3 state-wide propositions, including Constitutional Convention
There are three state-wide propositions on the ballot today, and there is also one specific to the Town of Albion, which is asking voters if a local law should be enacted to allow games of chance.
Albion is seeking voters’ approval for games of chance so the American Legion can provide games of chance, including Bell Jar games, where people draw a card from a jar, vending machine or other suitable device or container. The winning Bell Jar ticket is turned in for a monetary prize. Bell Jars are typically sold for 25¢, 50¢, $1 and $2 and have prizes as high as $500.
The Legion used to be located in the village on Main Street and needed a permit for games of chance from the village. Now that the Legion moved outside the village to the former Pap Pap’s Par 3 golf course on Gaines Basin Road, it needs to get a local permit from the town.
The state-wide propositions include:
• Proposal 1: would call for a constitutional convention to explore proposals for changes to the state constitution.
• Proposal 2: would allow judges to reduce or revoke the state pension of a public officer convicted of a felony related to his or her duties.
• Proposal 3: would create a 250-acre land bank, which would allow local governments to request forest preserve land for projects in exchange for the state acquiring 250 acres for the forest preserves. The amendment would allow bicycle trails and certain public utility lines to be located within the width of specified highways that cross a forest preserve while minimizing removal of trees and vegetation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2017 at 9:40 am
Ben Kirby
GATES – Benjamin Kirby, 21, of Albion died in a car accident Monday on Route 531 in the Town of Gates, the State Police is reporting this morning.
Kirby was driving a 2004 Chevrolet eastbound when he left the lanes, entered the median and struck the bridge that takes westbound traffic into the Rochester Tech Park Facility.
The accident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. Kirby was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers are asking anyone in the area at the time of the crash to call 279-8891. The investigation is continuing at this time.
Kirby was a student at Monroe Community College and Rochester Institute of Technology, according to his Facebook page.
He was an active student at Albion, playing tennis and was involved in the marching band and drama program.
Kirby also was an Eagle Scout after several years of service in the Boy Scouts. He picked Camp Rainbow for his Eagle Scout project. He led a team of Scouts in installing a new entrance gate, building new seesaws and removing the old ones, and replacing the doors on a tool shed. The camp in Ridgeway serves children with and without disabilities and is owned by the Arc of Genesee Orleans.
Ben’s parents are Dennis and Wendy Kirby. Mr. Kirby is manager of the Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Mrs. Kirby is a teacher who serves on the Albion Board of Education.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Ben Kirby is shown playing the trumpet with the Albion Marching Band in June 2014.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2017 at 7:39 am
Orleans County residents go to the polls today with voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Most of the polling sites are at town halls, although Albion votes at Hoag Library, Murray cast ballots at the Holley Jr./Sr. High School and part of Ridgeway uses the Volunteer Fire Company.
Here is a list of the polling sites:
• Albion – Districts 1 through 6 – Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
• Barre – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
• Carlton – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 14341 Waterport-Carlton Rd.
• Clarendon – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 16385 Church St.
• Gaines – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.
• Kendall – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.
• Murray – Districts 1 through 6 – Holley Jr./Sr. High School, 16848 Lynch Rd.
ALBION – A woman who was held against her will Thursday in Albion has improved but remains hospitalized.
The woman has been interviewed by law enforcement and is assisting in the investigation, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said.
The woman was found unresponsive at 51 Beechwood Blvd. in Albion on Thursday night. The woman lives outside Orleans County. Her name isn’t being released at this time, Nenni said.
Police responded to the scene after the Orleans County 911 Center received a report at about 8:45 p.m. on Thursday from an individual that a family member had been kidnapped and was being held against her will.
Text messages had been received from the victim giving a general location of the victim’s whereabouts. Using cell phone GPS Location Technology and other investigative tools, the victim was located at 51 Beechwood Blvd.
The female victim was found to be unresponsive and in need of advance medical care inside the residence. The victim was transported by COVA Ambulance to Medina Memorial and later transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital.
“Numerous evidentiary items have been obtained as a result of the investigation,” Nenni said in an update about the case today. “Many of the items are in the process of being examined forensically and by other means. Additional charges may be filed following the examination of these items. The results of laboratory and other examinations will take weeks to complete.”
The Orleans County District Attorney’s office is involved in the investigation and will be responsible for the prosecution against Demetrius Bennett and Mark H. Bennett.
Demetrius Bennett, 39, of 51 Beechwood Blvd, Albion, has been charged unlawful imprisonment, resisting arrest, second-degree harassment and other drug charges.
Mark H. Bennett, 31, of 222 Chamberlain St., Albion also faces drug charges, and unlawful imprisonment.
The two men arrested in the incident are not related. They were arraigned in the Town of Gaines Court and committed to the Orleans County Jail on $25,000 bail.
Provided photo: The name of Ella Crossett, Steve Hawley’s great aunt, is listed on a commemorative plaque in the State Capitol.
Press Release, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley
As part of his efforts to commemorate the centennial of women’s suffrage, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) took some time to reflect on his family’s personal connection to the events in Seneca Falls that led to women gaining the right to vote in New York State 100 years ago today.
Hawley’s paternal great aunt, Ella Hawley Crossett of Warsaw, was also active in the suffrage movement throughout her entire life. She worked alongside Susan B. Anthony, and is honored for her efforts in a commemorative plaque in the state Capitol in Albany.
On his mother’s side of the family, Hawley’s grandmother, Tusanelda Nusbickel Simpson, spoke at the Seneca Falls Convention held 100 years ago. On that historic trip, she brought along her daughter, the assemblyman’s aunt, Mary Simpson Smart. Now 101 years old from Lyons, Mary Simpson Smart was among the speakers in Seneca Falls this summer commemorating the centennial of women’s right to vote in the state.
“My aunt was not even 2 years old when she joined her mother, my grandmother, at Seneca Falls. Earlier this year, my aunt herself, now at 101 years old, spoke at the anniversary events held this summer in Seneca Falls,” said Hawley. “My family’s personal connection to the women’s suffrage movement highlights the fact that this part of our nation’s history is still living.”
Hawley said, “Whether I am working to pass legislation that protects women and children from domestic violence or human trafficking, or provides female entrepreneurs more opportunities in business, my family’s role to help establish women’s right to vote in our state is something that stays with me. It helps remind me that by working together in Albany, we can accomplish historic achievements. I am very proud of my family’s efforts to gain women the right to vote 100 years ago, and our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers since. I hope all citizens will join me in taking some time to think about and appreciate the role of the suffragettes and the historic significance our state played in changing the course of our nation’s history.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 November 2017 at 6:53 pm
ALBION – A Kendall man facing charges of driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of a weapon had his bail revoked today in Orleans County Court.
Chad Oehlbeck, 30, has been free on $15,000 bail since his arrest. He was allegedly driving drunk with a gun in his vehicle, District Attorney Joe Cardone said in court this afternoon.
Sara Sheldon, acting County Court judge, issued an order of protection for the woman when Oehlbeck was arraigned on Aug. 28. Oehlbeck was to have no communication with the woman.
However, he has allegedly sent more than 100 text messages, more than 30 Facebook messages and left 29 voicemails, Sheldon said in court today.
He has since been charged with criminal contempt for violating a court order.
Sheldon revoked Oehlbeck’s bail today and had him sent to jail.
“I’m sorry Chad,” the judge told Oehlbeck. “You don’t disobey court orders. That is not tolerated.”
In other cases in County Court today:
• A Medina man admitted to having cocaine with the intention of selling it on May 18.
Russell E. Sargent, 51, of West Avenue pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. That charge normally carries a sentence of 1 to 5 ½ years in state prison. As part of a plea deal today, Sargent will face up to 4 years in state prison, plus a maximum of 1 to 2 years of post-release supervision. He will be sentenced on Jan. 22.
• A 17-year-old boy who was living in Medina has now spent five months in the county jail for disseminating indecent material to minors. The boy allegedly sent “extremely graphic images to an underage female,” Cardone said.
The boy, who could be a youthful offender and shouldn’t have his name published, was 16 when he allegedly sent the images, his attorney Michael O’Keefe said.
O’Keefe said the boy should be released soon because he has already spent five months in jail. If he was released, he wouldn’t have a place to go because his mother abandoned him and his father is serving a 50-year prison sentence.
O’Keefe said he has been trying to find a place for the boy but there are very limited resources locally.
The boy doesn’t have a prior criminal history. His attorney said it’s unfair the boy has to stay in jail so long and miss out on school.
Cardone offered a plea deal for the boy to face 6 months in jail and five years probation, plus he would have youthful offender status, sealing his record and keeping him off the sex offender registry.
O’Keefe said the six months is already nearly up. He thinks insisting on 5 years of probation after 6 months of jail is too harsh and perhaps an illegal sentence for the charge.
Judge Sheldon said the 5 years of probation could provide needed guidance for the boy.
She isn’t willing to let the boy from jail until she knows he has a safe housing situation, even if that means he stays in jail for more than 6 months.
“I’m not going to just release him to the streets,” she said.
The boy will be back in court on Nov. 13 to make a decision whether to accept the plea deal. The judge also wants to see if there is progress in finding a place for the boy to stay once he is out of jail.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 November 2017 at 3:48 pm
ALBION – Three people were arraigned in Orleans County Court last week for felonies.
Adrian Taylor, 40, of Rochester was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny for stealing from Wal-Mart. He has since been charged again for third-degree grand larceny for stealing merchandise from Wal-Mart.
Taylor allegedly put electronic items in a tote and then took them from the store.
Taylor has three prior felony convictions. Sara Sheldon, the interim County Court judge, kept bail at $25,000 cash, which was set in town court.
Other arraignments include:
• Breanna Eaton, 24, of Davis Ave., Medina, who is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny. She allegedly stole jewelry on April 10 that is valued at more than $1,000.
She was released on her own recognizance and will be screened for a judicial diversion program, where the charge could be reduced to a misdemeanor with no jail time.
• Corey Goebel, 26, of Sparling Drive, Rochester, who is charged with third-degree burglary and petty larceny. He is a codefendant in a case where he allegedly entered a garage on Countyline Road in Clarendon without permission and stole tools.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 November 2017 at 1:34 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Sandy Creek is pictured today in Holley by the pedestrian bridge near the waterfalls.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has a flood warning in effect for Orleans County until 5:48 a.m. on Tuesday. The flood warning includes Genesee, Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Niagara counties.
Heavy rain in recent days, combined with area creeks and streams already running high, could cause flooding, the Weather Service said. About of inch of rain fell in Orleans County on Sunday, according to the Weather Service. That wasn’t as much as the 3.49 inches in Hamburg and Colden in Erie County, or the 3.49 inches in Mayville, Chautauqua County.
The Holley Waterfalls is pictured at about 11 a.m. today. There are still many leaves clinging to trees, so this would be a good time to get out for some fall photos.
ALBION – In recognition of how difficult it is for people to think about and discuss health care decisions, Hospice of Orleans is distributing free copies of the nation’s most popular advance care planning resource, Five Wishes.
Hospice volunteers will be promoting and distributing this resource at the following partnering libraries on November 10: Hoag Library in Albion from 2 to 6 p.m.; Lee-Whedon Memorial Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Yates Community Library from noon to 4 p.m.; and Community Free Library in Holley from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Five Wishes allows individuals and families to make important decisions in terms that are meaningful and understandable to them, and helps patients and families to more effectively communicate their decisions to health care providers. In addition to important medical issues, Five Wishes addresses matters of the heart and soul (comfort, family relationships, dignity, and spirituality) and encourages people to be specific about their wishes in their own words.
“We are very happy to provide this valuable free resource to our community,” said Kellie Spychalski, chief executive officer of Hospice of Orleans. “Making your advanced health care wishes known is very important. Everyone, even people who are in great health, should consider creating an advanced care plan. Doing so allows you to inform your family and your doctor about what you would like done or not done should you be unable to tell them. Making these decisions when you are healthy can bring peace of mind and relief to families during any future tough times. Our organization is very proud to have made a commitment to serve as our community’s resource for advanced care planning for people of all ages and in all stages of life.”
Hospice offers relief from the pain and symptoms experienced by people living with advanced, serious illness. In addition to providing high-quality medical care, hospice provides psychosocial support and spiritual care to patients and their families. Hospice is available to anyone with a life-limiting illness when curative treatment is stopped.
Hospice of Orleans is celebrating National Hospice Month throughout the month of November by promoting the importance of thinking and talking about health care decisions well in advance of a serious illness or accident that may lead to someone being cared for by hospice.
Additional information about hospice and advance care planning is available on our website www.hospiceoforleans.org or by calling (585) 589-0809. Anyone wishing a free copy of the Five Wishes resource can call (585) 589-0809.
Courtesy of John Dieter, Cub Master, Pack 35 in Medina
MEDINA – This past weekend Cub Scouts Packs 28 & 35 spent time canvasing the Village of Medina putting door hangers on every house door in the village. Scouts are asking for non-perishable food donations to benefit local food pantries for this upcoming Saturday, November 11.
This is an annual event that the BSA Scout Troops & Cub Scout Packs performs. These service projects are part of the Scouts’ rank advancement, and also teaches the Scouts to be active and involved in community service.
Village residents are asked to put the non-perishable foods in a grocery bag in a visible spot by 9 a.m. this Saturday, so the Scouts can easily pick up the food donations. Members from Boy Scout Troops 28 & 35 will be picking up the food donations and taking it to the local food pantry.
The attached picture is of Pack 35 assembling at the Company F-Troop Memorial by the YMCA where they held a flag ceremony and learned about the memorial in preparation for Veterans Day this Saturday. After the ceremony they went out to the neighborhood and handed out the door hangers.
