Provided photo: Santa Claus is wheeled into Medina Memorial Hospital for his annual physical, before beginning is long journey Christmas Eve.

MEDINA – Staff at Medina Memorial Hospital have announced the successful yearly physical of Santa Claus on Thursday. The physical was completed by members of the Ambulatory Services team.

“Santa is ready to go,” said Kim Gray, chief nursing officer and director of Surgical Services at Orleans Community Health. “Our team ran several routine tests and there is no reason for concern. We’re excited for him and his big day.”

For those who are wondering why Santa Claus selects Medina Memorial Hospital as the location of his yearly physical, there are several reasons, said Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Medina Memorial. Most importantly is the little-known reason that Santa Claus used to help in Medina’s Imaging/Radiology Department during his off season.

“While we don’t typically release the information on patients, Santa Claus signs a waver with us every year because of the importance of this visit,” Robinson said. “It is again our honor to announce he is ready for the big day. The flight should be a little easier than the one he faced in 2022.”

NORAD (click here) will begin tracking Santa and his sleigh just after midnight on Christmas Eve. It is estimated that he needs 36 hours to complete his journey.

Provided photo: Santa meets Carrigan Martindale during a stop at the VFW in Medina on Dec. 9.

Press Release, VFW Lincoln Post 1483 in Medina

MEDINA – Santa paid a visit to the VFW Lincoln Post 1483 in Medina on Dec. 9 to share some presents and a Christmas story with approximately 50 children.

The children enjoyed baked goodies provided by Case-Nic Cookies. The party was sponsored by the VFW Lincoln Post 1483, the VFW Auxiliary to Post 1483, and WJ Gallagher Veterans Memorial Club.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A fire in the living room of a house at 450 East State St. caused smoke damage to the home.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 11:34 p.m. Collin Aquina, the owner of the house, had just returned from working the second shift. He came home to a house with lots of smoke.

Aquina, 22, just bought the house in October.

Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham said firefighters were able to knock the fire down quickly and keep it from spreading. Graham said there is a lot of smoke damage. The photo shows fans in the doorways and open windows to try to ventilate the building.

Albion code enforcement officer Chris Kinter was on the scene at about 12:30 a.m. to assess the condition of the house.

Association of Counties worries local races will take backseat to state, federal elections

Gov. Kathy Hochul today signed legislation that would move many of the local town and county elections from odd-numbered years to even ones when there tends to be a much bigger voter turnout for state and federal races.

But the New York State Association of Counties, which opposed the change, said the local races will now get less attention from many voters.

“At a time when we should be keeping the divisiveness at the federal and state levels out of our local communities, this bill does the opposite, burying the local issues that impact New Yorkers’ daily lives at the back of exceedingly long ballots,” said Stephen Acquario, NYSAC executive director.

Gov. Hochul said the change will result in a much bigger voter turnout for residents to be heard on local issues and candidates, while reducing some costs for holding elections.

“Every eligible New Yorker deserves the right to participate in the democratic process without unnecessary barriers,” Hochul said in a statement. “By signing this legislation, we are taking a significant step towards expanding access to the ballot box and promoting a more inclusive democracy. This is a meaningful first step and I would support a constitutional amendment to align all election years, to save taxpayer dollars and avoid voter fatigue.”

This legislation impacts all elections for which the dates can be changed through legislative action, Hochul said. Changing election dates for certain offices, including judgeships and offices in any city in the state, must be done through a constitutional amendment.

Hochul announced her support for a future amendment to the New York State Constitution that would align elections for all offices, which she said would be a fiscally responsible approach that would reduce the taxpayer cost of election administration by avoiding the need for elections to be held every single year.

By consolidating more elections in even-numbered years when most voters are already planning to participate in an election, this change will increase voter participation in important local races, Hochul said.

Voter participation in elections held in even-numbered years in New York State is substantially higher than participation during odd-numbered years. For example, millions more New Yorkers participated in elections in 2020, when approximately 64 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots, than in 2021, when just 25 percent of eligible voters turned out to take part in local elections around the state, she said.

“Moving local elections to even years will boost turnout, reduce voter fatigue, and minimize stressors on the local Boards of Elections,” said Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner in a press release from the governor’s office. “It’s a win for the voters, who will hear directly from local candidates about local issues. We are thrilled Governor Hochul signed this pro-voter reform in law.”

ALBION – After painting and donating 45 Christmas ornaments for Hospice of Orleans’ annual Light a Life fundraiser, local artist Carol Culhane wanted to do something for the staff at Hospice.

Early in her career, Culhane worked in the nursing field and continues to have a lot of compassion for those who are ailing and their caregivers, especially at Hospice.

This year Culhane decided to paint enough ornaments for the entire staff at Hospice, and she delivered them on Wednesday.

“I’m hopeful this will encourage people to consider a donation to Hospice, perhaps when a loved one dies, instead of sending flowers, send a donation to Hospice or purchase an ornament in their loved one’s name,” Culhane said. “This is a nice way to remember a loved one and help a worthy organization.”

Reigle said Hospice is very grateful for what Culhane does for them.

“She is so generous to our organization,” Reigle said. “When one gentleman in Florida got the ornament he ordered, it was broken, and Carol came here and painted another for him. But to do this for all our staff is amazing.”

Culhane explained painting the ornaments is a labor of love. She said she lines them up like a production line and it takes her about 30 minutes to paint each ornament.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Olivia and Omar Peterson hug after not seeing each other in nearly a year since he left to begin a four-year commitment with the Marine Corps. Their grandparents, Eddie and Rose English, are in back.

ALBION – Olivia Peterson was called down to the high school office at 2 p.m. today. It was the last day of school before Christmas break.

Olivia, a freshman at Charles D’Amico High School in Albion, made the trek through the hallways and down the stairs.

When she was near the office, she caught a glimpse of a familiar person outside. She took off running and bolted outside to hug her brother.

Omar Peterson, 21, has been gone since February. He was first at the Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina. Since boot camp he has been stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego in California. The private first class is a data administrator.

Olivia has missed her brother in the 10 months he has been gone. She sends him text messages throughout the day, and he stays in touch, and tries to pump her up with encouraging words.

“She is my only sister and she is my best friend,” Omar said. “I text her every day.”

Olivia and Omar Peterson are looking forward to the holidays. Omar is on leave until just after New Year’s Day.

The two have been through a lot together. They cared for their late mother Angela while she battled cancer. She passed away from cancer on Oct. 19, 2020.

Omar said he is proud of his sister for keeping good grades. When he was at Albion, he was the goalie for the soccer team and a swimmer.

“She is way smarter than I was in school,” Omar said.

“Except for science,” Olivia interjects.

Olivia said she had a feeling her brother might be coming home for the holidays. She saw some clues in his text messages.

She is glad he stopped by the school instead of waiting until she got home.

Omar said the Marine Corps has been a great fit for him.

“I’m loving it,” he said. “I’ve grown up a lot.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Elliott Michki, the high school chorus teacher at Albion, directs the Select Choir in singing “Jingle Bells” today at the Albion Walmart.

The choir and the brass ensemble stopped at several stores, the Hoag Library and downtown area on its annual caroling day, the last day of school before Christmas break.

The brass ensemble, led by high school band teacher Mike Thaine, performs “O Come All Ye Faithful” in one of the Albion entrance ways.

The students added some merry music to Walmart at about 10:20 this morning. They made several stops in the Albion community.

‘Go-to guy’ Helenbrook honored for 20 years

Provided photo: UConnectCare recognized 11 employees with longevity awards this week. Seated from left, Sheila Rolle Smith, Jeff Helenbrook and Barb Bowman. Standing from left, Allison Parry-Gurak, Lauren Swimline, Trisha Allen, Judy Pratt, Nicole Anderson. Others honored were MaryLou Szewczyk, Peter Whyman and Jocelynn Congdon.

Press Release, UConnectCare

BATAVIA – For two decades, Jeff Helenbrook has been the go-to guy when it comes to maintenance, repairs and related responsibilities at UConnectCare (formerly Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse).

Helenbrook was honored for his 20 years of employment at the nonprofit agency this week – receiving a standing ovation from his fellow employees at a reception at Terry Hills Restaurant.

He and 10 other employees were recognized with longevity awards by UConnectCare Chief Executive Officer John Bennett.

“Jeff started with the agency on a part-time, temporary basis after his antique store was hit by a semi and destroyed,” Bennett said. “He came to work at Atwater (Community Residence) and was only going to stay on until he got the insurance money.”

As it turned out, the settlement took about eight years so Helenbrook stayed on at the agency, keeping the buildings, according to Bennett, “in tip-top shape.” Helenbrook’s job title today is facilities director.

An antique car buff, Helenbrook received the original catalogs of the 1930 Franklin and 1936 Pierce Arrow, two of the several vintage autos that he owns.

Others recognized at the luncheon:

• 15 years – MaryLou Szewczyk, counselor; Peter Whyman, residential tech.
• 5 years – Allison Parry-Gurak, director of Residential Services; Barb Bowman, counselor; Jocelynn Congdon, grant/data coordinator; Judy Pratt, counselor; Lauren Swimline, intake coordinator; Nicole Anderson, counselor; Sheila Rolle Smith, case manager; Trisha Allen, Reentry Project director.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Robert Brown, president of Lake Ontario Fruit, speaks during Thursday’s meeting of the Orleans County Planning Board.

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board gave its blessing to an expansion at Lake Ontario Fruit, an apple-packing business on Route 104.

The company, which packs and distributes about 1 million bushels of apples each year for more than 30 local farms, is working on a 28,070-square-foot addition of controlled atmosphere storage, a $5.5 million project that would mirror a similar expansion in 2013.

The County Planning Board recommended the Town of Gaines approve the site plan for the project and also a height variance. The building is proposed to be 36.2 feet high, just above the town limit of 35 feet. The 36.2 feet is same as other buildings on site and Lake Ontario Fruit wants to maintain that continuity.

The warehouse will also be 140 feet wide and 200 ½ feet in length. The new space is needed because many of the new apple trees that were planted in recent years are coming into maturity, with a full crop expected next fall. The new addition would allow the company pack about 220,000 more bushels, said Robert Brown, president of Lake Ontario Fruit and co-owner of Orchard Dale Fruit Co. in Waterport.

The project will disturb about 2 acres, with construction taking about 10 months. Brown told the county planners that Lake Ontario Fruit is working to upgrade its stormwater management system, which includes storm sewers and a pond behind the buildings that is designed to slowly release water into Proctor Brook. The company is working with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of Gaines on the stormwater management plan.

Lake Ontario Fruit has 71 employees and will add 10 more jobs as part of the controlled atmosphere storage expansion at 14234 Ridge Rd. The project was backed by the Orleans Economic Development Agency with nearly $600,000 in incentives, including sale tax abatements of $240,000 on construction and $156,000 on fixtures and equipment.

The EDA also approved a 10-year PILOT that gradually phases in the taxes on the new addition. Lake Ontario Fruit would get a 100 percent exemption or $34,496 off in property taxes the first year, and then 10 percent will be added each year until it’s at 100 percent in year 11. That PILOT will save the company $189,729 in property taxes over the 10 years. Lake Ontario Fruit also will be paying $155,233 more in taxes during than 10 years than is currently paid on the existing buildings.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health, speaks during a celebration for a new warming center at Christ Church, an Episcopal congregation at 26 S. Main St., Albion.

The site has cots, coffee, tea, soup and hygiene kits when the temperature drops below 32 degrees at night.

Oak Orchard Health is taking the lead on the warming center, in a collaboration with other churches, organizations and the county Department of Social Services.

Kinter noted Oak Orchard provides medical, dental and behavioral health services, and pushed to have the warming center for people in a housing crisis because of the impact on their health.

Hoag Library in Albion is a designated warming center from Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The site at Christ Church will open when needed during the hours when Hoag is not open.

For information on the warming center, call (585) 895-4090.

Julie Carasone, warming center coordinator, is in a room at Christ Church with cots, meals ready to eat, hygiene kits and other supplies. She praised religious organizations and non-profits for donating the materials to get the warming center going.

A state grant also is helping to cover the cost of per diem staff. David Starkweather will be the supervisor and will have two other paid staff. At least one will stay overnight when the center is open. It had a person stay overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday nights so far this week.

“We saw a need in unhoused people who needed a place to stay,” Carasone said. “We are officially open and people are welcome here. We do it without judgement. We accept people with open arms.”

The staff doesn’t pry into why people are in a predicament without housing. Carasone said Oak Orchard and the collaboration of others just want to make sure people are not out in the cold.

The Rev. Joseph Kozlowski, the Episcopal priest in charge at Christ Church and also St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Holley, offered a blessing during the official opening. He prayed for those who will take shelter at the warming center and those providing hospitality.

Kozlowski said the church leadership embraced making space available for the warming center. It is in the fellowship hall which for many years was the community kitchen until about two years ago.

“We have the space,” said Kevin Doherty, one of Christ Church’s leaders. “It is God-given space so we should use it for something good.”

Oak Orchard is providing the staff for the warming center, as well as the insurance.

This group, led by Karen Kinter, cuts the ribbon on the new warming center. There are representatives from Oak Orchard Health, the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, United Way of Orleans County, Orleans County government leaders, the Medina Area Association of Churches, Christ Church, Hoag Library, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and a representative from State Sen. Rob Ortt.

Holli Nenni, commissioner of the Orleans County Department of Social Services, said more than 100 people are currently in emergency housing, often in hotel rooms locally or in nearby counties. The warming center is another option for people without a place to stay.

Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, presented certificates of achievement of Oak Orchard Health and Christ Church for their efforts in opening the warming center.

Johnson noted the county has been in a state of emergency for several months due to the rising number of people in emergency housing.

“We have never in the history of Orleans County had as many homeless as we do now,” she said. “The need is great and they (Oak Orchard Health and Christ Church) rose to the occasion.”

Nyla Gaylord, executive director of the United Way of Orleans County, helped bring the different organizations together to work on the warming center, which she said is part of a bigger overall housing crisis in the county.

A shortage of stable housing has negative health impacts for many in the community, she said.

The United Way convened the first housing meeting in February, and a warming center was among the issues. Gaylord said the United Way just secured a grant to hire a consultant to help develop a plan for more housing in general, as well as emergency and low-income options.

That consultant will gather input from developers, agencies, and local government officials.

Gaylord praised the faith community, government leaders, and non-profit agencies for making the warming center a reality.

“This is a triumph of the community collectively,” she said. “And we’re going to do so much more.”

ALBION – The 911 dispatch center for Orleans County will get a $325,000 overhaul with a new CAD/RMS system.

Sheriff Bourke

The County Legislature on Tuesday approved a contract with EM Systems Inc. of Buffalo for the computer-aided design technology and also a new record management system that will allow the village police departments and the Sheriff’s Office to have access to each other’s records while officers are in the field. The RMS allows law enforcement personnel to enter and retrieve data.

“This will create a master database of files in Orleans County,” said Sheriff Chris Bourke.

The dispatch center handles emergency calls for fire departments, police agencies, animal control and other issues.

County officials also received bids on the new CAD/RMS technology, and the other vendors bid much more than EM Systems. Bourke said one vendor sought $800,000 and the other was about $1 million.

He said it will take a year to 18 months to transfer records and get the new system fully integrated.

“We went through an exhaustive process,” Bourke said about the CAD/RMS upgrades. “We looked at demo after demo.”

A contingent from the county also spent a half day in Wyoming County to see the dispatch center with EM Systems.

The State Police used to pay for a record management system for the dispatch, but the State Police is going to a different RMS that won’t be in sync with law enforcement in smaller counties, Bourke said. The state also no longer will be providing money to the smaller counties for an RMS system.

Orleans is asking the Albion, Holley and Medina police departments to each contribute $3,000 annually towards the maintenance costs of the new system. The county is paying for the new system, but would like some assistance from the three police departments with the annual maintenance expense, Bourke said.

Photo and information from Roy-Hart Central School

BUFFALO – The Royalton-Hartland High School Orchestra participated in the “Music in the Atrium” series at Roswell Park Cancer Institute recently.

They entertained the cancer patients, their families and the staff of Roswell Park with holiday favorites. The students enjoy participating in this event and are able to understand the impact of community service.

Masks are still required in the hospital to keep the patients safe.

RIDGEWAY – A Kent man was killed in a late-night accident on Wednesday after his vehicle hit a utility pole, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is reporting today.

Damon C. Benfer, 23, was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was driving eastbound on Route 31 in Ridgeway at 12:50 a.m. when his vehicle left the south shoulder of the roadway and struck a telephone pole near Bates Road, Chief Deputy Jeff Gifaldi said in a press release this morning.

Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators, along with the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office are continuing the investigation into this crash, Gifaldi said.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Ridgeway and Medina fire departments.