Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has released an Erie Canalway Bicentennial Marketing Toolkit to help municipalities, nonprofits, tourism agencies, and businesses along the canals prepare for the bicentennial of the Erie Canal in 2025.
Organizations are invited to sign up to receive free access to official graphics, banners, social media, and giveaways at www.eriecanalway.org/bicentennial.
The toolkit includes a new graphic mark that incorporates the canals’ blue and gold colors and lock numbers with an invitation for people to visit the many recreational, historic, and cultural treasures along the canals. New elements will be added to the toolkit in the coming months to keep content fresh.
“This is an exciting time as we prepare to commemorate the Erie Canal’s 200th birthday. Incorporating consistent graphics and messaging will bring heightened awareness, unity, and recognition for the many bicentennial activities taking place along the canals in 2025,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
The Bicentennial Marketing Toolkit is supported by a Market New York grant awarded to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund from Empire State Development and I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
Since its grand opening in 1825, the Erie Canal has been widely recognized as an engineering marvel that put New York on the map as the Empire State. It transformed New York City into the nation’s principal seaport and served as a major “Gateway to the West” for waves of immigrants coming to America. Groundbreaking inventions and social movements took place along the canals where a spirit of entrepreneurship and progressive thinking took hold.
Today, the New York State Canal System is a National Historic Landmark that offers an unparalleled place to recreate while discovering the incredible history and beauty of America’s most famous human-made waterway.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2024 at 9:02 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans Hub held an awards program on Thursday evening at the Hoag Library, presenting plaques to “Outstanding Citizens” from 2023. We also presented two from 2021.
Pictured from left in front includes Susan Walders, Jenn Thom, Joe Gehl, Scott Christ and Annette Finch. In Back: Gary Kent, Brooke Kemblowski (accepting for her father Gary Derwick), Melisa and Jovannie Canales, Brett Sobrieski, Diane and Neil Valentine (parents of Evan Valentine). Missing from photo: Susan Oschmann.
Orleans Hub used to have an annual awards program to recognize our Outstanding Citizens that we pick for each year. These are people who pulled off a major community project or inspired others to take action on pressing issues.
We stopped having the awards program in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. Last night we were thrilled to have the winners back for a gathering. We also presented the awards for Annette Finch and Evan Valentine from 2021. Back then there wasn’t a bigger gathering and we wanted to give out those awards in front of other people.
Annette Finch retired in 2021 after working 44 years on the front lines of helping local people in need work through a crisis. Finch worked as director of emergency services for Community Action, a high-stress job where she managed food drives, toy drives and other events to bring in resources for people served by the agency.
Finch did a lot behind the scenes in helping people to not have utilities shut off and find emergency housing. She was a steady presence, a voice of encouragement and master problem solver for people in very challenging predicaments.
Evan Valentine of Holley pushed to finish his Eagle Scout project, despite being hospitalized with leukemia. He fought the disease for 2 ½ years and inspired the Holley community with his optimism and perseverance through it all.
Evan would pass away from leukemia on Feb. 21, 2021. His Eagle Scout project was dedicated on June 5, 2021. A team of scouts and volunteers follow his instructions and built a veterans’ wall around the war memorial in Holley by the Post Office and the American Legion. The stone wall includes a sitting area in front with an inscription, “Forever Remembered – Forever Missed.”
2023 Outstanding Citizens
• Three of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee worked about a decade to raise money and work out the details for a new bronze statue in Albion in honor of Charles Howard, who started a school for Santas in 1937 that continued in Albion until his death in 1966. The school, which is now in Michigan, continues in Howard’s name.
Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent launched an ambitious project to honor Howard with a bronze statue, which was unveiled on June 10 last year during the Strawberry Festival with many of Howard’s family members present. The Albion Betterment Committee has spent years honor Howard’s legacy, putting up “Believe” signs, convincing the state to name a portion of Route 31 in memory of Howard, and backing other projects promoting Howard, including two Santa murals in Albion.
The bronze statue was the biggest effort. They raised about $80,000 for the project and hired Brian Porter to create the statue in a likeness of Howard in his Santa suit.
• Pastor Jovannie Canales of the Oasis Church in Medina wants students to be well-stocked with supplies when the school year starts. He also wants their families to be connected to agencies and churches that can make their families stronger. For six years Canales has organized a Family Fun Day at Butts Park in Medina. The event attracted 600 people on Aug. 5. It has grown from the first one in a parking lot. Now there are musicians, many non-profit organizations, lots of free food, BMX bikers and skateboarders, many from the faith community, and numerous school supplies.
• Susan Oschmann pushed for two years to get new basketball courts at Bullard Park in ALbion, lining up fundraising and support for the project. Oschmann rallied the community, including basketball legend Roosevelt Bouie of Kendall, in getting two new courts complete. They opened on Oct. 26.
• Jenn Thom of Medina leads an organization – Operation Honor – that raises money for veterans. She has put on a 5K on Veterans’ Day on Nov. 11 since 2018 as one of the group’s biggest fundraisers.
Thom hasn’t served in the military. She runs an accounting business. Operation Honor is her way of serving veterans who she said sacrificed so much for the country. Many of those vets often find themselves in financial stress. Operation Honor is able to lighten that load whether covering utility bills, car payments, or purchasing heating pellets for veterans in need.
• Susan Walders has been determined to help senior citizens, especially those in nursing home and other care facilities, get outdoors and connect with nature. She sees bike rides as a great way to meet that goal.
Last year she was able to raise $12,000 for a new tri-shaw, a 3-wheeled bike with cushions for two passengers. She has formed a non-profit organizations, Cycling Without Age in Orleans County, with a board of directors.
The bike arrived in late August and Walders took it to The Villages of Orleans on Sept. 27 for the first bike rides, taking residents on a path behind the nursing home. She and her group of volunteers expect to be busy this year going to nursing homes and other care facilities for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
• Scott “Spanky” Christ brought back the Murray Tractor Pull last year after a four-year absence. There was a record-setting crowd of about 1,600 that watched the pulls on July 22, and raised $8,500 for the Ronald McDonald House, which provides hospitality for families with children fighting a serious illness.
Christ is part of a three-generation family that competes in tractor pulling. Christ drives “Just For Fun” in the Super Farm Class and is regularly among the points leaders in that class for the Empire State Pullers. His father Lloyd drives his Heavy Super Stock tractor, “It’s Only Money,” and Scott son’s Travis also competes in the Super Farm Class with “No Expectations.”
• Brett Sobieraski ran a marathon every day for 50 straight days, honoring the memory of Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.
Sobieraski, a retired Rochester police sergeant, lives in Kent. He started his “8 States for Maz” jounrey in Florida and worked his way up to Rochester, going 26.2 miles a day.
Sobieraski sought to raise $100,000 for Mazurkiewicz’s family and topped that goal. Along the way he inspired people in the eight states.
Sobieraski said he wanted the officer’s family to feel love and respect from the community, and know Maz’s life of service is deeply appreciated. The response was far more than Sobieraski could have imagined. In the last 5K of the final marathon, 850 people joined him in Rochester.
Provided photo: Kelli Dingle of Albion holds her winning design.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
ALBION – Congratulations to Kelli Dingle, an Albion junior in the Graphic Communications program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.
She was recently informed that her submission for the 2024 Taste of Buffalo Tops Poster Art Contest not only was selected for the First Prize winner for the 13 to 17-year-old age category, but also the Overall Grand Prize winner.
She will receive $1,000 for her prize money and her artwork will be used in the creation of the official Taste of Buffalo poster!
“I am so proud of Kelli,” says her Graphic Communications teacher Karen Krull. “She is an amazing artist, extremely talented and has so much potential. This is very exciting.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 May 2024 at 4:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club welcomed Marlene Seielstad as a new member of the club today during its meeting at the Tavern of the Ridge. Club President Doug Farley, right, is pleased to have Seielstad in Rotary.
Seielstad is an associate broker with Snell Realtors. She is a former member of the Albion Board of Education and has been involved in many community organizations, including the Albion Music Boosters and local robotics team through the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
The Rotary Club also was visited today by former exchange student Aline Lyra and her son Joaquin Caparroz, who are from Brazil. Lyra was a student at Albion in 1999-2000 and stayed with host families, Chris and Pat Haines and Nancy and Ron Good.
Lyra now works as an orthodontist. Her son has been an exchange student at Southwestern High School, staying with host families in the Jamestown area.
Lyra said her sisters were also exchange students, one in Australia and the other in New Zealand.
Lyra’s family also has hosted several students, and she strongly supported her son spending this school year in Western New York.
“The Rotary exchange has been such a great part of our lives,” she said.
ALBION – GO Art! is offering a Ukrainian Egg Decorating, or pysanky, with master pysankar artist, Irene Grassman, as part of our Explore Art! program.
The classes will be held on Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hoag Library, 134 Main St, Albion. Open to participants age 12 and older. Ukrainian cost is $36 per person with all materials and tools will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Registration is requested by June 3.
Irene Czolacz Grassmann was born in Germany in a displaced persons camp and came to America with her parents in 1952. While quickly adapting and embracing the customs of their new homeland, Irene’s parents continued to observe and instill their beautiful Ukrainian culture and heritage in their children.
From an early age Irene was interested in various Ukrainian arts including embroidery and ceramics, but fell in love with the art of writing Pysanky (decorated eggs) continues to this day. She has taught history and the process of the Pysanka through BOCES-Continuing Education Programs; the Castellani Art Museum at Niagara University; various cultural festivals in Buffalo, Kerhonkson, and Rochester, as well as teaching the Art of Pysanky at a Ukrainian American Youth Association Arts and Crafts Camp in Ellenville, NY in the Catskills for 17 years.
Participants will learn about traditional motifs, symbols, designs and colors, many of which are used to wish good luck and prosperity to the receiver of the egg. The word Pysanka is derived from the Ukrainian word, “pysaty” which means to write—which is how artists describe the process of creating their beautiful and intricate designs.
For more information about registering, click here.
Photos and information courtesy of Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District: A team from Lyndonville won the Niagara-Orleans Envirothon on Wednesday. The team was from Mrs. Wronski’s class, and students included Maddie Baker, James Giarla, Molly Ingersoll and Jocelyn Mack.
LEWISTON – A team from Lyndonville Central School was first among 12 schools and won the Niagara-Orleans Envirothon on Wednesday at the Bond Lake Park Nature Center in Lewiston.
The team was from Mrs. Wronski’s class, and students included Maddie Baker, James Giarla, Molly Ingersoll and Jocelyn Mack.
The team from Lyndonville also won the Oral Presentation, Current Issue, and Soils portions of Envirothon.
Twelve teams of high school students competed from Albion, Brockport, Christian Academy, Lewiston-Porter, Lockport, Lyndonville, Medina, Newfane, Niagara Academy, Niagara Falls, Niagara Wheatfield, North Tonawanda, Royalton Hartland, Starpoint, Wilson, Niagara Career & Technical Education Center, and Orleans Career & Technical Education Center.
Teams of four to six students in grades 9-12 were tested on wildlife, aquatics, forestry, soils/land use, and a current environmental issue.
This year’s current issue is Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future. Students had to develop a theoretical plan for a school district to help reach renewable energy goals and present for a panel of judges to grade.
The overall winners for Niagara County are from Niagara Orleans County Career and Technical Center. They are from Mr. Kaplewicz’s class, and students include Alex Achtziger-Hughes, Samantha Maciejewski, Miles Manns and Alyssa Nagel.
Roy-Hart’s team from Mr. Sweeney’s class won the Aquatics portion, students included Cayla Burch, Mackenzie Diamond, Vanessa Grant, Joshua Kennedy, Clara Wojciechowski and Adam Yanicki.
A second team from Niagara Orleans Career and Technical Center won the Forestry and Wildlife portions. Students included Shane Beaton, Devin Carney, Cole Handrich, Dakota Ward and Ava Vanoni.
The overall county winners will move on to represent their county at the NYS Envirothon later this month at SUNY Cortland.
A special thank you to this year’s event sponsors M&T Bank, NewRoyal Orchards, and the NYS Forest Owners Association – Niagara Frontier Chapter for providing breakfast, lunch, and Envirothon shirts for the students.
Exams and proctoring were provided by the Aquarium of Niagara, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and both Soil and Water Conservation Districts from Orleans and Niagara counties.
Vic DiGiacomo of the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee came to discuss future conservation careers and opportunities with students.
The Niagara-Orleans Envirothon is a yearly event for county high school students presented by Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District and Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Envirothon is an environmental competition on different aspects of natural resources. It gives students hands-on experience and knowledge of the environment to understand how to protect and manage the natural resources around them.
To participate next year please reach out to the Niagara County Soil & Water Conservation District at (716) 434-4949 ext. 4 or email Katherine.pfeifer@ny.nacdnet.net.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 2 May 2024 at 8:50 am
MEDINA – Friends of Boxwood Cemetery have been engaged for more than a year in a project to raise funds to restore a stained-glass window in the historic Silas Mainville Burroughs chapel, built of Medina Sandstone.
“We are trying to bring it back to life,” said Rob Klino, president of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery. “We raised enough to restore the window, so we decided to go ahead and redo the interior of the chapel.”
Their project will be unveiled in a rededication ceremony from 6 to 8 p.m. May 18.
“It’s been a total labor of love,” Klino said.
The village of Medina helped with the interior, along with volunteers Tim Tierney, Jeff Wagner, Tom Snyder and Craig Royal.
The restoration includes new paneling on the walls, lighting and the addition of pews to make it look like it would have in the past.
The rededication on May 18 will feature wine and cheese, a history of the chapel by Medina historian Todd Bensley (who just released his second book on Boxwood Cemetery) and a presentation by Valerie O’Hara from Pike Stained Glass Studio in Rochester, who did the restoration and repair of the chapel window.
The chapel was built in 1903 at a cost of $25,000, Klino said. It is named in honor of a Medina native, Silas Mainville Burroughs, who became famous as co-founder of the pharmaceutical giant, Burroughs Wellcome & Co. This is one of the companies which today make up GlaxoSmithKline.
When Burroughs died in 1895, he left more than $22,000 to Boxwood Cemetery. Burroughs was buried in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where he had died from pneumonia, and commissioners desired to have his body removed and re-interred in Boxwood Cemetery. When it became evident this would not happen, the commissioners began looking for a suitable memorial to this generous patron and native son.
They settled on building a chapel, which could serve not only as a memorial to Burroughs, but a place where funeral services could take place and bodies stored for the winter, waiting for spring burial.
Stone for the chapel was quarried mostly from the McCormick quarry, and is described as “beautiful brown stone.”
Tickets for the rededication ceremony are $25 for members of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery and $30 for non-members. They are available at English Rose Tea Shoppe, 527 Main St., or Thistle Ridge (Klino’s shop), at 418 Main St.
Klino also acknowledged Leonard Oakes Estate Winery for sponsoring wine for the event.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 May 2024 at 8:11 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – The Medina Area Partnership on Wednesday unveiled a new cutout standup board with a historical theme. The new standup board was painted by artist Brandi Zavitz.
MAP has the display next to the Hemp House at 409 Main St. The new artwork allows two people to poke their faces in cutouts and appear like a Victorian couple on a walk with their cute little dog. The Erie Canal Basin is in the background.
Kathy Blackburn, one of the MAP leaders, said the effort gives people another activity while they are in Medina. The display is expected to be out until after Christmas.
The MAP events’ committee would like to have another cutout standup sign in the future.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2024 at 6:37 pm
SHELBY – Law enforcement went to search a bench warrant for a man who didn’t show up in Orleans County Court this morning, and a brief standoff ensued that led to two people being taken into custody.
Today at 11:24 a.m. Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies, county probation officers and State Police went to serve the bench warrant to Jacoun Harden, 38, at his residence at 10775 West Shelby Rd. Harden failed to appear in County Court for a probation violation and Judge Sanford Church issued the warrant after the request from District Attorney Joe Cardone.
The probation violation is on the charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree (loaded firearm), said Rob Riemer, chief deputy for the Sheriff’s Office.
Maranda L. Button, age 30, was also at Harden’s residence. She let the law enforcement personnel inside.
The law enforcement officers saw a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol on the floor and drug paraphernalia, Riemer said.
Harden ran to the upstairs of the residence to hide and refused to come out, Riemer said in a news release. The Orleans County Special Response Team (S.R.T.) was activated and responded to the location.
After a brief stand-off Harden gave himself up to the S.R.T. and he was taken into custody at 1:57 p.m.
Both Harden and Button were charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree, and criminal possession of stolen property – firearm. The gun was reported stolen in February 2024 to Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.
Additional charges may be forthcoming pending further investigation, Riemer said.
In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, patients are active participants in determining what’s best for their own health. Central to this is the fact that patients have the ability to seek out the care they want, wherever they want it. This message centers around the essence of empowering the patient with information, rather than making the determination for them. With an array of convenient options at their disposal, patients now wield unprecedented control over their healthcare decisions.
There was a time when primary care physicians and the local hospital may have been the only place to receive medical care. Today, there are endless options and informational hubs. Telemedicine, urgent cares, walk-in clinics, and even online searches can provide information that patients previously lacked access to.
However, among the plethora of choices, navigating the healthcare system can be overwhelming for many patients. The abundance of options, coupled with varying levels of quality and affordability, underscores the importance of informed decision-making. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in guiding patients through this decision-making process, offering valuable insights and recommendations tailored to individual needs and preferences. While challenges still exist in our rural communities, efforts are constantly underway to remove those standing barriers. On occasion, these barriers are a product of perceptions versus realities. These barriers can be overcome simply by patients asking additional questions about where treatment might be available closer to home.
Today, patients are empowered to make several decisions about their health with the guidance of others. Specifically, here are some examples of decisions you, the patient, may have to make:
1. Choice of Healthcare Provider: Patients have the freedom to select their healthcare providers based on factors such as reputation, expertise, location, and personal preferences. Whether choosing a primary care physician, specialist, or alternative healthcare practitioner, patients can explore their options and make informed decisions about who will oversee their care.
2. Treatment Options: Patients have the right to participate in decisions about their treatment plans. Healthcare providers should educate patients about available treatment options, empowering them to make choices that align with their health goals.
3. Informed Consent: Before undergoing any medical procedure or intervention, patients have the right to receive comprehensive information about the proposed treatment, including its purpose, potential risks, alternatives, and expected outcomes. Informed consent ensures that patients fully understand the implications of their healthcare decisions and can provide consent voluntarily, based on their understanding and preferences.
4. Healthcare Settings: Patients can choose where they want to receive medical care, whether it’s a traditional hospital, outpatient clinic, urgent care center, or telemedicine platform. The availability of diverse healthcare settings allows patients to access care that is convenient and cost-effective.
5. Lifestyle Choices: Patients play a significant role in promoting their own health and well-being through lifestyle choices. This includes decisions related to diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. By adopting healthy habits and adhering to recommended preventive measures, patients can proactively reduce their risk of developing chronic conditions and improve their overall quality of life.
At the heart of patient empowerment lies the principle of patient-centered care, which places the individual at the forefront of the healthcare experience. Patient-centered care prioritizes the unique needs, preferences, and values of each patient, recognizing that no two individuals are alike. By embracing diversity, equity, and inclusivity, healthcare providers can create a supportive and inclusive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take an active role in their health.
Recognizing that health is influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors, healthcare providers are increasingly adopting a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of illness and promotes overall wellness. This includes initiatives such as preventive care, health education, and community outreach programs aimed at empowering patients to make healthier lifestyle choices and take control of their health.
In the end, you should be able to receive the care you want in a setting that is both comfortable and convenient for you. With several health systems available in Western New York, you have a variety of options where you might want to receive care. Moreover, you don’t need to stick to that system for all of your care. Just because you receive primary care services from one place, doesn’t mean you can’t receive laboratory/blood draws, imaging, or specialty services from another. Where you receive care, is your choice. The results of all of these tests and/or procedures will be available to you and your original physical/provider. By fostering open communication, shared decision-making, and a holistic approach to care, healthcare providers can empower patients to make informed choices that promote their well-being and enhance the overall quality of care.
Photos from Master Gardeners: This and other “NO Mow Grow Zone” signs are posted at the 4-H Fairgrounds in areas where the grounds manager will be mowing less frequently. The signs can be purchased from the Master Gardeners for $30 apiece.
Press Release, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Sustainability Committee
KNOWLESVILLE – If you generally keep your lawn mowed, “No Mow May” however well intentioned, may not be the best for your lawn or for native pollinators.
The “No Mow May” movement began in the UK where their lawn composition and native pollinators are very different than here in WNY.
Different native pollinators forage at different times of the season and use a variety of flowers from trees, shrubs, garden and native plants, so your lawn of predominantly turf grasses may not be as helpful as we might think in May.
Mown grass thrives best when only 1/3 of its height is cut at a time, so letting it grow really tall and then cutting back to normal mowing height of 3-4 inches will send your lawn into shock!
Leaving your lawn to simply grow tall will not turn it magically into a meadow since turf grass does not automatically become wildflowers.
So instead of just not mowing during May when grass is growing at its fastest, consider mowing less throughout the year to reduce air pollution, increase biodiversity of plants and beneficial insects & pollinators, reducing noxious weeds, slowing rainwater run-off, and saving time & money!
One approach to less mowing is to create “Mow” & “NoMow” zones around your property. At the Orleans County CCE Fairgrounds we have established “area rugs” (versus “wall to wall carpet”) of Mow Zones around buildings and where activities are held regularly. These areas are mown at a height of 4 inches. Areas that are used for special events are only mowed prior to those events. The remaining “NoMow” areas are only cut once a year for hay production.
In your yard, you might be able to identify unused areas that can be planted to flowering native plants, a small meadow, or simply left unmowed and undisturbed (please check with your community’s codes).
The more native plantings areas we can provide, the more pollinators and beneficial insects like fireflies and ladybugs we will have. Less mowing by keeping your lawn at a 4 inch height will also allow any clover, self-heal, or other small lawn flowers to bloom for the very important pollinators!
Contact OCCCE for resources on creating a healthy, pollinator friendly yard & “No Mow Grow Zone” signs.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday issued the following statement about the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) moving to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance:
“I’m grateful that the DEA is heeding my call to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance,” said Senator Gillibrand. “As most Americans realize, marijuana is simply not comparable to other Schedule I substances like heroin and LSD. And while I continue to believe that marijuana should be descheduled entirely, this is an important first step to remedying decades of unjust federal marijuana policy. I applaud this move and will continue working in Congress to legalize marijuana and expunge the records of Americans with prior marijuana possession convictions.”
Gillibrand has repeatedly called on the DEA to reclassify marijuana. She has also cosponsored the Marijuana Justice Act, landmark legislation that would legalize marijuana and help reverse decades of failed drug policy that has disproportionately hurt communities of color and low-income communities, and the SAFE Banking Act, which would ensure that legal cannabis businesses have access to critical banking and financial services.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2024 at 11:33 am
ALBION – A former Albion resident pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary in Orleans County Court today and could face 2 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on July 31.
Michael R. Bauer, 38, admitted in court to entering the Plaza Liquor Store at 127A South Main St. on Aug. 20, 2023 without permission and with the intent to commit a crime.
Bauer, who now lives in Middleport, was charged after breaking into the Plaza Liquor Store, damaging the building and taking some of the merchandise.
Albion police said there was approximately $2,000 damage to the building, and $336 in damage to alcohol bottles. About $90 worth of alcohol and cash also were stolen.
Bauer is a second-felony offender with a previous conviction of attempted burglary in the second degree for breaking into a convenience store in medina in June 2014.
In another case in court today, Kevin McEwen, 41, of Kendall was scheduled to be sentenced but the sentencing was pushed back a week when McEwen said he is getting a new attorney.
He pleaded guilty on Feb. 28 to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. McEwen was charged after firing two rounds from a Glock near people on Sept. 18 in Kendall in a dispute over car repairs.
McEwen admitted in court on Feb. 28 to having a loaded firearm, and shooting it at a zucchini to scare people. He faces up to two years in state prison when he is sentenced.
Health Department investigated 137 animal bite and rabies incidents in Orleans last year
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
With the arrival of spring, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are encouraging residents not to touch wildlife – including baby animals.
Touching wildlife disrupts their natural behavior as well as poses risks to both human safety and animal welfare. During the spring months, many baby animals are born, and it can be common to encounter these animals. However, it is important to remember that wild animals should be left alone.
Baby animals, while cute and seemingly harmless, can carry diseases such as rabies. Rabies, a viral infection, is spread by direct contact with saliva through cuts on the skin or mucous membranes of the mouth, nose or eyes. Rabies is mostly seen in wildlife, including raccoons, bats, and skunks. It is essential to remember to keep a safe distance and admire wildlife and stray animals from afar.
In 2023, Genesee County investigated 191 animal bite and rabies incidents, and Orleans County investigated 137. Genesee County submitted 31 animal specimens, and 1 tested positive for rabies. Orleans County submitted 20 specimens, and 1 tested positive for rabies. Both positive tests were raccoons.
“If you come in contact with animals, including baby animals and strays, avoid touching them and call animal control. If you handle a wild or a stray animal, or are bitten by one, immediately call the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments,” stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for GO Health. “In the event that you are bitten by an animal, you should clean the wound with soap and water and get medical help right away.”
GO Health recommends the following guidance when encountering wildlife or stray animals:
Observe from a distance and avoid contact – Love your own, leave the rest alone. Observing wildlife from a distance decreases the risk of disease transmission. By avoiding physical contact, you are keeping yourself, your family, and your pets safe.
Report concerns – If you come in contact with a wild or stray animal, touch a wild or stray animal, or are bitten by a wild or stray animal, immediately seek medical attention and contact the Genesee or Orleans County Health Departments. If you encounter distressed wildlife, or wildlife is showing signs of rabies, immediately contact your local animal control agency. Signs of rabies in an animal may include aggression, excessive drool or saliva, confusion, hair loss, and loss of movement or function.
Residents are encouraged to take note of our upcoming drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties that are offered at no charge.
Orleans County Rabies Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY 14411)
Wednesday, June 5, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Genesee County Rabies Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020)
Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.
For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2024 at 9:26 am
Provided photo: Jim Ferris is shown giving maximum effort in a race. Ferris was one of the top runners in the Rochester region in his 40s and early 50s.
HOLLEY – A 5-kilometer walk and run honoring the memory of one of the area’s top runners will be returning to Holley on June 1.
The Holley Rotary Club is organizing the Jim Ferris Memorial 5K. The race is coming back after an absence of several years, going back before the Covid pandemic.
“We’re excited to do it,” said Shannon Brett, the Holley Rotary president. “We want to turn it into a community event.”
The Rotary Club wanted to bring back a 5K and have it be part of Holley’s June Fest. The Rotary Club choose to continue to honor Ferris with the race.
Ferris was one of the top runners in the Rochester region in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He died at age 53 from a sudden heart attack on May 7, 1994.
Ferris was a dominant runner in the master’s division, over age 40, beating fast runners half his age.
Ferris graduated from Holley in 1959. He was a star baseball and basketball player, and scored 38 points in one basketball game, then a school record. He played on the basketball team at Niagara University.
Ferris was in the ROTC program and served with the Army in the Vietnam War. He stayed in the Reserve, retiring as colonel in 1993.
Ferris and his wife Linda lived in Clarendon. They raised two daughters, Carson Ferris-Zeolla and Jane Ferris.
Ferris did not start running competitively until age 43. At age 47, he ran his fastest 5K in 15:44. He averaged between 16 to 17 minutes in most of his races, which are blazing fast times.
For a 10K, 6.2 miles, Ferris ran 32:45 for his fastest at that distance.
Brett said the race will bring people together for an endurance challenge, and also raise money for Rotary to give out to causes in the community.
The course will start and end near the elementary school, and go through part of the village, and Telegraph and Hurd roads.
“It should be a fun race,” Brett said. “We wanted to bring it back.”
The race starts at 9 a.m. For information about registering to participate, click here.
To sponsor the race for $100, which gets your name on the back of the race shirt, send a check to Holley Rotary Club at P.O. Box 224, Holley, NY 14470.
