Photo from Lollypop Farm: Humane law enforcement officers removed four horses and a donkey on Monday from a property on Upper Holley Road in Clarendon.

CLARENDON – Four horses and a donkey that were underweight and in poor condition with overgrown hoofs were removed on Monday from a Clarendon property by Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester.

Lollypop Farm was joined by Animal Emergency Response Team members, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and State Police. The horses and donkey were seized after the owner of the animals failed to comply with the officer’s previous request to obtain care for the animals, Lollypop Farm said.

No arrest has been made in this case, but charges are pending, Lollypop Farm said in a news release.

Photo courtesy of Mike Zaidel: Russ Peters made it back to Rochester on Wednesday after spending about a month at a hospital in Guatemala. Peters is shown leaving Centro Medico Hospital in Guatemala City.

SHELBY – Russ Peters made it back to Rochester on Wednesday, a month after being stricken with serious health issues while on a humanitarian mission trip to Guatemala.

Peters, the pastor of Alabama Full Gospel Church on Route 63 in Shelby, is at a Rochester hospital and being treated for abdominal abscesses. His wife Jodi said he may need surgery for those abscesses. They are treating him for sepsis and C. diff while awaiting additional testing results to confirm if he has those conditions.

Peters flew out of Guatemala City at about midnight Wednesday with friends from Guatemala and Mike Zaidel, Alabama Full Gospel church coordinator and head elder.

When he arrived in Rochester around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, he was taken by ambulance to a Rochester hospital where a team of infectious disease doctors and surgeons who specialize in pancreatic diseases were waiting, Mrs. Peters wrote on a GoFundMe page for her husband.

“Russell is completely off the oxygen!” she wrote. “His stomach is 2-3X the size and he’s very uncomfortable. There are multiple abdominal abscesses noted and much edema with it.”

She thanked doctors in Guatemala for saving his life, and Zaidel for traveling to Guatemala and ensuring his safe return close to home.

Zaidel said Peters traveled well and is in good spirits, but has a long road ahead of him in his recovery.

Mrs. Peters thanked people for their prayers and those who contributed to the GoFundMe. Nearly $65,000 has been raised towards a $90,000 goal.

Peters went to Guatemala on Nov. 11 to visit churches Alabama Full Gospel has partnered with for about 40 years, starting when Russ’s dad Terry was the pastor of the local church in Shelby.

One of the long-time church leaders in Guatemala recently passed away and Russ went to see that church and others in a mountainous region. It was his first trip there since the Covid pandemic. He used to go every 3-4 years, Zaidel said.

Peters became gravely ill when he couldn’t hold down food or his diabetic medicines and his blood sugar rose to 500. He has gall stones which caused vomiting and severe pain, leading to pancreatitis, his wife said.

Her husband was so stricken he couldn’t walk or move on his own. He was in San Cristobal, about four hours from proper medical care. Once moved to a hospital in Guatemala City, he received IV fluids, antibiotics, pain medicines and insulin.

Press Release, Orleans County Tourism Office

ALBION – The Orleans County Tourism Office encourages everyone to explore the wide range of winter activities and events in our county. Whether seeking outdoor adventure or relaxing indoor experiences, there’s something for everyone this season.

Orleans County offers a wide range of winter activities for both residents and visitors to enjoy. Outdoor enthusiasts can experience sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, winter fishing, and cross-country skiing.

For those seeking warmth, indoor options include exploring local museums, enjoying bowling, or having fun with various games at Dubby’s Tailgate in Albion. Those looking to be crafty can paint pottery at Brushstrokes Studio or attend a quilting class at Town and Country Quilt Shop, both located in Albion, or attend an in person workshop at Ellen J Goods in Medina.

Orleans County offers winter events that are perfect for shaking off cabin fever. Attend the “Wine About Winter” in Medina on Feb. 1 or the “Sip n’ Stroll” in Albion on March 15, where attendees can explore local businesses and sample a variety of local wines.

For those seeking indoor entertainment, enjoy “Finally Fridays” at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, featuring live concerts every Friday starting in January. The Cobblestone Museum will also host Saturday painting classes beginning in March, led by retired art instructor Tom Zangerle.

The Orleans County Tourism Office encourages everyone to explore the wide range of winter activities and events in our county. Whether seeking outdoor adventure or relaxing indoor experiences, there’s something for everyone this season.

“The Ultimate Winter Guide for Orleans County, NY” Blog can be found on the Orleans County Tourism website which will give viewers a guide to all things winter in Orleans County.

For more information, visit www.orleanscountytourism.com, email info@orleanscountytourism.com, or call (585) 589-3282.

ALBION – John Grillo, Albion’s recreation director, wants to build on the July 3 activities at Bullard Park.

Last year there were bands, bounce houses, and food vendors.

Grillo would like to cap off the day’s events with fireworks.

The park used to have fireworks on July 5 until about a decade ago. That effort was funded by the Tonawanda Indian Baptist Church in Basom. That church paid for fireworks, food and activities at Bullard.

Grillo said it would cost about $10,000 for a fireworks show in Bullard on July 3. He shared with the Village Board about his goal during Wednesday’s board meeting. The board voted to create a fund for people to donate towards fireworks.

Grillo said he has $500 committed so far. He hasn’t started to actively seek sponsors yet, but he welcomes donations from businesses, community organizations and residents to make it a reality.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There are 10 Christmas trees on the Orleabs County Courthouse lawn for the second year.

It’s part of an effort by a group of volunteers in the “Bring Christmas Back to Albion” committee. That group also spearheaded having 40 lampposts decorated for the holidays the past two years.

Lori Laine, one of the group’s members, said businesses or organizations are welcome to help decorate the trees on the courthouse lawn.

The Care Net Center of Greater Orleans decorated one of the trees.

Laine said people interested in decorating the trees are welcome to call her at (585) 738-1836.

Company, acquired by Hendrickson last year, looking to fill 60 positions locally

Photos by Tom Rivers: Brian Peyatt, plant manager for Brunner in Medina, led tours of the factory on Bates Road on Saturday. It was the first tour open to the community in more than a decade. The company makes brakes for tractor-trailers, buses and dump trucks.

MEDINA – Brunner International opened the doors to its factory on Bates Road to the community on Saturday and attendance was brisk.

Employees were happy to show off the workplace to friends and family, and Medina community members welcomed the chance to see the manufacturer which has robots doing some of repetitive tasks, forges heating steel to 2,200 degrees, and about 220 other workers.

Brunner has about 60 positions open right now, from entry level to skilled trades as machine operators, fabricators, electricians and in maintenance. People can apply in person at Brunner or through the Brunner website.

Brunner has had a presence in medina since 1992, moving into the former Abex Corporation site that had been shut down and vacant for seven years before Brunner moved in.

Brunner had a manufacturing site in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It has kept that site in Canada while growing in Medina, making brakes and components for heavy-duty trucks and trailers.

Jermy Zingo of Holley, a 14-year employee at Brunner, shows his daughter Evelyn the finished product at Brunner. The truck brake weighs about 250 pounds.

The company last year was sold to Hendrickson, a long-time customer. Hendrickson is based in Illinois. It sees strong potential in Medina with a dedicated core of employees and access to lower-cost hydropower, said Brian Peyatt, the plant manager.

Peyatt has worked at Brunner for 12 years. He said Saturday’s community open house was a first in his tenure at Brunner.

“We want to introduce ourselves to the community and show them what we do,” he said.

Hendrickson has factories in several countries, and US sites in Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Indiana and New York (Medina).

In announcing the acquisition of Brunner on Oct. 1, 2023, Hendrickson said Brunner’s primary product lines of brake shoes and s-cams complement Hendrickson’s primary business of designing and manufacturing suspension systems for the medium- and heavy-duty truck and trailer markets.

The Brunner product brand will be kept and used going forward, Hendrickson officials said.

“We are excited about this acquisition, as it will provide a platform for Hendrickson to expand our core competency in braking and provide additional components that will enhance our existing product portfolio,” said Matt Joy, president and chief executive officer of Hendrickson. “We look forward to working with our new associates and strengthening our business serving the Commercial Truck and Trailer industry.”

Saamir Rahman, materials manager and director of continuous improvement for Brunner, shows some of the brake components made by Brunner. About 60 people were on the tour for the first three hours on Saturday.

Brunner has recently added a few of the laid off workers from the Sumitomo Rubber in the Town of Tonawanda. The factory abruptly closed last month, putting 1,550 people out of work.

Brunner went to a job fair for those displaced workers. Peyatt urges people to give Brunner a try. The company offers competitive wages, a 401K retirement plan, and health care, vision and dental benefits.

Peyatt said employees also can feel pride in making the brakes for trucks and buses.

“Ninety percent of the time you’re out on a drive you’re probably near something we built,” he said about the company’s brake products.

Provided photo: Aaron Grabowski, organist at St. Mary’s Church in Medina, is music director for the first Christmas concert Dec. 21 with Holy Family in Albion and St. Mary’s in Holley.

MEDINA – Three Catholic churches in the Orleans-Niagara East Catholic community known as ONE Catholic are combining their musical talents to present the first Christmas concert together.

Aaron Grabowski, organist at St. Mary’s Church in Medina, is music director for the concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at St. Mary’s in Medina, where they will be joined by the choirs, soloists and instrumentalists from St. Joseph’s in Albion and St. Mary’s in Holley.

“This is a first for all three churches,” Grabowski said. “We hope to make it an annual event, as the feedback we’ve received from all three communities has been very positive.”

The concept for a combined concert began in Medina with Grabowski and his cantor Abigail Campbell. Several solos will be performed by people who are learning voice, he said.

“But the standout will be when we bring all the voices together to sing,” Grabowski said.

Instruments featured will be the organ, flute and a harpsichord which he built.

There is no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken. A reception will follow the approximately one-hour long concert.

MURRAY – The Murray Joint Fire District elected three fire commissioners on Tuesday, with current chairman Mark Porter defeated by Dave Knapp who was a write-in candidate.

Knapp and Dave Nenni were both elected to 5-year terms, and Scott Harrington was elected to a 1-year term.

In Barre, William Basinait was re-elected as commissioner with 11 votes, and Barry Flansburg was re-elected treasurer with 11 votes. There were 11 voters in the annual election.

In Kendall, Patrick Seaman, an incumbent, was re-elected as fire commissioner.

ALBION – Kristina Ettinger started her new job as lead case manager at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee just in time to be greeted by the rush of applications for holiday assistance.

This year, 293 applications were received, representing 793 individuals, according to Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action.

Ettinger brings to the table previous experience as a prevention educator at GCASA, an employee of CRFS and M&T Bank.

She was contemplating a job change when she stopped at Community Action to turn in some paper work to Jeanette Worsley for her daughter. When Worsley mentioned that was her last day there, Ettinger got to thinking.

She already knew Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer at Community Action, so Ettinger sent her a message saying she was going to apply.

“Having been previously employed in human services, I knew the services Community Action offered, so I sent in my application and they hired me the next day,” Ettinger said.

She started Oct. 1.

Community Action has been providing holiday assistance to families in Orleans and Genesee counties for many decades, according to Hungerford.

This couldn’t be accomplished without the generous support of their communities.

Community Action receives very generous donations of toys from the Pirate Toy Fund in Spencerport, Ettinger said.

“Our local citizens are always very supportive, also, as are a lot of organizations,” she said. “Because of them, 149 kids will get toys for Christmas this year.”

Ettinger looked through the stack of requests on her desk, picking up one from a little boy who asked for a red rose to give to his mommy. Another child said his mom wanted a love seat, but she would be happy with anything she got.

A “Giving Tree” has been set up at the Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More Store by manager Cassie Healy. There is still time for families to bring in their children’s Christmas wishes and hang them on the tree to be adopted. Healy said they had five wishes, all of whom were adopted by one individual.

The store is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Individuals can still submit their children’s wishes as long as they are returned in time for families to pick up their holiday boxes on Dec. 19. Employees from Velocitii in Medina have volunteered to come and help hand out the boxes.

Healy has decided to leave the Giving Tree up through January. There are currently gift cards on the tree which anyone can choose to get a free winter coat, two pair of socks or $5 off any purchase in the Main Street Store.

“I want to help any people who need it through the winter,” Healy said.

Each family who requested assistance will receive gifts from children under the age of 18, in addition to plenty of food for Christmas dinner. This includes their choice of a ham, turkey or chicken; potatoes; stuffing; and a cookie mix. In addition, they each receive a produce box filled with items the Albion FFA collected. This includes a half gallon of milk, yogurt, apples, instant mashed potatoes, carrots, eggs and butter.

Donated produce which isn’t needed to fill the requests for food boxes has been given to other organizations which help those in need, such as food pantries, churches, day care centers, “Code Red,” Head Start and Care-A-Van Ministries in Batavia.

One lucky family who picks up their holiday box will receive a special treat for their children. The Medina Railroad Museum has donated two tickets to ride the Polar Express and Community Action will choose which family will receive them.

ALBION – Voters elected five commissioners and a treasurer for the Albion Joint Fire District on Tuesday, and also gave approval to establish reserve funds for equipment, fire trucks and building repairs.

The district was formed in a public referendum in August with approval from voters in both the towns of Albion and Gaines. The fire district will be its own taxing entity. The fire department budget will move out of the village budget. The towns of Albion and Gaines also paid the village for fire protection but now will pay in separate taxes for the fire district starting in January.

The elected commissioners include Albert Cheverie, 104 votes; David Buczek, 103 votes; Kevin Sheehan, 93 votes; Craig Lane, 89 votes; and Chris Kinter, 81 votes.

The commissioners’ terms will be for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, depending on the vote totals for each. Cheverie, the highest vote-getter, gets the 5-year term and then the term length goes in descending order of votes with Buczek at 4 years, Sheehan at 3 years, Lane at 2 years and Kinter at 1 year.

In the future, there should be just one position commissioner up for election each year.

Two people sought to be treasurer. Victoria Tabor, who is currently in the role, was elected with 91 votes to 46 for Kristen Marciszewski.

Cheverie has served as chairman of the commissioners since the group first met on Aug. 20. Buczek, Lane and Kinter also are commissioners, along with Joe Martillotta who didn’t seek election on Tuesday.

The commissioners have approved a $872,222 budget for the joint fire district, which  provides fire protection in Albion and Gaines. That more than doubles the previous budget for the fire department.

The department hasn’t had any reserves for new equipment and trucks. Residents approved establishing reserve accounts in a 112-24 vote.

The budget for 2025 puts $250,000 into a “Apparatus Repair & Replacement Reserve” and $50,000 into a “Building Repair & Replacement Reserve.”

Cheverie, the chairman of the commissioners, previously said the district needs to replace two fire trucks fairly soon. A new ladder truck to replace one that is 27 years old is expected to cost $2.2 million. A new fire engine to replace one 32 years old would likely have a purchase price of $1.1 million.

The commissioners expect to start working on securing a new ladder truck in 2025, a process that could take four to five years before the new truck is in Albion. Setting aside money ahead of time will reduce the bond payments needed in the future, Cheverie said.

The district also has $50,000 set aside for the fire hall for either repairs or a potential replacement. Cheverie said there are no plans to leave the building on Platt Street anytime soon.

MEDINA – The community, in a close vote, approved a bond resolution today allowing the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library to borrow up to $5.2 million for an expansion of the building at 620 West Ave.

The resolution passed, 223-214. The library should be able to break ground on the construction project in mid-2025, said director Kristine Mostyn.

Lee-Whedon will work to complete the engineering drawings and go through the bidding process.

A 4,785-square-foot expansion would go on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet.

The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, a teen room and 14 parking spots.

There would also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.

The library already has $795,320 in grants secured and $175,000 in reserves, leaving a $4,229,680 to be financed over 20 years. That would result in a $48 a year increase in taxes for homes valued at $100,000, said Christine Crowley, president and municipal advisor with Fiscal Advisors and Marketing.

That represents the “worst-case scenario,” she said during a meeting last week, because the library is likely to get additional grants and raise money in a capital campaign.

The library is seeking an additional $789,520 grant from the state for library construction. If that is secured, the amount to be financed would be $3,4410,160, lowering the tax impact to an average of $39 for houses at $100,000 in assessed value, Crowley said.

The library also expects it could raise $500,000 in a fundraising or capital campaign. If that is successful, the amount to finance would be $2,940,160 or a $34 impact for property assessed at $100,000.

Lee-Whedon has already acquired and razed two buildings behind the library for the addition. That property and building demolition has already been paid for.