Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Three people were safely able to flee from a house filling with smoke at 257 East State St. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 11:57 a.m.
Albion police were first to arrive and tried to contain a fire with extinguishers. But the fire had moved upstairs and was crackling inside, said Police Chief David Mogle.
Albion, Barre and Medina firefighters are currently on the scene. No other information is available.
Provided photo: Timothy Winters (President and CEO of WNY Energy) is shown with students Carson Schwab (Barker) and Tyler Rothwell (Royalton-Hartland).
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – The Orleans Career and Technical Education Center’s (OCTEC) Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program wants to issue a huge thank you to Timothy Winters, President and CEO of Western New York Energy.
Mr. Winters reached out to teacher Bill Rakonczay to create some awesome custom fire pits for some of his company’s upcoming events.
The company is located in Medina and is locally owned. It was founded in 2004 to develop the full potential of Western New York’s energy resources while utilizing best practices and the highest ethanol standards to work with our community and business partners.
Two of the fire pits will be donated to two of their employees at the plant’s summer picnic. The other two fire pits will be donated to the Renewable Fuel Association for a raffle later this year.
Students Carson Schwab (Barker) and Tyler Rothwell (Royalton-Hartland) did a great job designing the fire pits on AutoCad and cutting them out on the program’s CNC plasma cutter.
“I would like to say a special thanks to teachers Shannon Rutty and Verenice Bragg in our Welding program for the help bending these on the brake,” said Mr. Rakonczay. “Also thank you Tim for being a great supporter of our class fundraiser!”
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Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Hans Rosentrater puts a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls in the case as his husband Dan looks on. The couple recently purchased the former Case-Nic Cookies at 439 Main St. in Medina and opened Hans’ Bakery. (Right) Hans Rosentrater holds a basket of French bread in the new bakery he recently opened in Medina.
MEDINA – Going to work every morning is like a dream come true for Hans Rosentrater, who recently realized his lifelong goal of owning a bakery.
Rosentrater grew up in Medina, where he said his mom loved to bake and he and his sister were always in the kitchen with her.
His dream of owning his own bakery took several detours during the years, beginning with his food service classes at BOCES.
“That was a phenomenal thing, and anyone who has an opportunity to go to BOCES should do so,” he said.
He next attended Alfred State College where he earned an associate’s degree in baking, production and management and a second associate’s degree in the culinary arts program.
“When I was at BOCES I quickly identified I liked to cook, but I really loved baking,” Rosentrater said. “Nobody in our class focused on baking, so when they had competitions I always won.”
Out of college, Rosentrater baked special cakes for family and friends, while working at different jobs to pay the bills. He worked at a bank, in the hospitality industry and for a florist for 10 years.
Hans and his husband Dan were married when the owner of a former coffee shop on East Center Street decided to close.
“Dan wanted to make sure Medina had a coffee shop, and in 2022, we opened the Coffee Pot Cafe,” Hans said. “With my background in baking, we knew we could furnish pastries and baked goods for a café. Dan handled the front and I had the kitchen.”
The business was an immediate success. People were placing orders, customers lined up out the door and walk-in business was thriving.
They soon realized the kitchen was not big enough and Dan set out to enlarge and remodel it.
“It had always been in the back of my mind to have my own bakery,” Hans said. “Then we learned Mary Lou Tuohey was retiring and her building would be available for purchase. We jumped on it.”
Leaving Dan to run the Coffee Pot Café, Hans’ Bakery opened on Valentine’s Day. Since then, on many Saturdays, customers have been lined up out the door.
One customer this week said the smell brought him in.
Hans has kept some of Tuohey’s cookie recipes, while adding his own for homemade breads, giant cinnamon rolls, puff pastry turnovers, tarts, Danishes, muffins, croissants and even bread pudding.
Corky’s Bakery used to sell a variety of things, but that closed in 2005.
“It has been 20 years since Medina had a full service bakery,” Hans said.
He is working to finalize a menu and hopes to have it ready in the near future.
The bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Orders may be placed ahead by calling (585) 798-1617.
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Photo by Darren McGee/ Office of Governor: Gov. Kathy Hochul today announced an agreement has been reached with legislative leaders on key priorities in a new state budget.
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an agreement has been reached with legislative leaders on key priorities in the Fiscal Year 2026 New York State Budget.
“I promised New Yorkers to fight like hell to put money back in their pockets and make our streets and subways safer. That’s exactly what this budget will do,” Hochul said. “Working with our partners in the Legislature we’ve reached an agreement to pass a balanced, fiscally responsible budget. Good things take time, and this budget is going to make a real difference for New York families.”
Highlights of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget include:
With a conceptual agreement in place, the legislative houses are expected to pass bills that will enact these priorities in the coming days. Based on a preliminary assessment of the negotiated changes to the Executive proposal, the total Budget for FY 2026 is currently estimated at $254 billion.
The FY 2026 Budget does not raise income or statewide business taxes, maintains record State reserves to safeguard state finances and grants the Governor the powers necessary to make future adjustments if actions by the federal government require.
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Article courtesy of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
KNOWLESVILLE – “Fashion Pioneers” was the theme of the annual 4-H Fashion Revue held on Saturday in the Trolley Building of the 4-H Fairgrounds.
“Orleans County is celebrating its bicentennial this year, and we wanted to acknowledge that with our Fashion Revue theme,” said 4-H Program Coordinator Kristina Gabalski. “‘Fashion Pioneers’ tips its hat to those who have come before us as well as those designers who are now on the cutting-edge of fashion and who inspire us, including the youth who participate in 4-H programs.”
The event’s theme honored the Bicentennial of Orleans County and included a number of vintage Fashion Revue projects – including the Civil War era style dress made by 4-H alum Merri Mathes when she was a teenager.
The annual Fashion Revue features sewn garments, textile, and fiber art projects completed by 4-Hers. It is an opportunity for them to receive feedback, learn about fiber arts, personal care, careers in the fashion/fiber science industry, and show off their skills and creativity during the evening Fashion Show, Gabalski explained.
This year featured 21 participants, some of whom entered more than one project. The total number of projects – which included a hand-woven shawl, sewn blanket, hand-painted t-shirt, upcycled t-shirt, evening gown and barbecue aprons – was 26, Gabalski said.
Orleans County 4-H requested families to bring in projects featured in past Fashion Revues as part of the historical theme.
About a dozen projects were displayed, several from the last ten years and others going back as far as the 1980s and ’90s.
More vintage 4-H Fashion Revue projects on display. The red plaid dress on the chair features a dropped waist – very popular in the 1980s.
Merri Mathes of Barre, a former 4-Her and now 4-H mom, brought in two Civil War era dresses she sewed while a teenager. The gowns are historically correct and continue to be in use for historical re-enactments and museum events.
“You can tell the ball gown is for a younger girl because it has bows,” Mathes explained.
The other dress, made from a plaid fabric, is an example of a day dress or tea dress, she said.
“Sewing machines were becoming more common in homes just before the Civil War,” Mathes noted, “but garments also included lots of hand sewing.”
Local quilter Brenda Radzinski did a demonstration of hand-quilting during the morning workshop, evaluation, and practice portion of the event. Radzinski says she loves hand-sewing because it helps relieve stress. “Machine sewing can be stress-inducing,” she said. “This is relaxing.”
4-H participants say they enjoy and value the experience of Fashion Revue.
“You can make something specifically for you,” said 13-year-old Robin Botsford of the Abundant Harvest 4-H Club. She utilized her love of art to customize a plain white T-shirt with ocean creatures she painted with a mix of acrylic and fabric paints.
“I like to see what other people made,” said her 11-year-old sister, Lily, who made several accessories including a hand-woven pillow, customized hat for softball, an infinity scarf, and a hand-woven bag.
Julia Graham, 14, of the Adventurers 4-H Club, sewed a royal blue sheath dress and thanked her 4-H Leader, Alice Mathes, for her limitless patience in helping with the project.
Julia said 4-H experiences like Fashion Revue help her to gain valuable life skills while also enjoying spending time with friends. “It helps me to be ready for the real world,” she said.
More vintage projects including a Civil War era style ball gown by Merri Mathes. Also in the photo is a denim quilt raffled-off at the 1996 4-H Fair, which was the 50th anniversary of the Orleans County 4-H Fair. The winner, Muriel F. Howlett recently donated it back to Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A group of first responders was at Tim Hortons in Albion this morning decorating “Smile” cookies with frosting.
Personnel from Mercy Flight EMS, the Albion Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police added the frosting on the chocolate chip cookies. Volunteers from Key Bank also helped this morning.
The are $2 and will be for sale today through May 4 with all of the proceeds going to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester.
Will Francis, a sergeant with the Albion Police Department, gets ready to frost a cookie. Francis worked at the Tim Hortons back in 2012 before he joined the Albion PD.
Albion police officer Chris Glogowski bought some of the Smile cookies and passed them out from the drive-through window.
Eileen Banker, chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley and the former Albion mayor, joined her grandson Landon Williams in decorating cookies this morning. Landon, 13, spent 11 days at Golisano Children’s Hospital about a year ago after having a tumor removed from his spine. He has recovered and is back to playing hockey, and even scored a goal in his first game back about two weeks ago.
Joey Filippelli, co-owner of the two Tim Hortons in Orleans County, set up three games where people could win Tim Hortons gift cards. Here, Sheriff Chris Bourke guesses the number of Timbits in the container.
Filippelli appreciates the first responders coming in to help boost the sales of the cookies to benefit Children’s Hospital.
Albion Village Trustee Tim McMurray tries to toss a Timbit in one of the cups to win a prize. The games were available in the morning today, and will be set up in medina tomorrow from 7 to 10 a.m.
These Mercy Flight staff members include, from left: Kara Bentley, Megan Amacher, John McCarthy, Matthew Reed, Ron Kingsbury, Kari Hagglund and Pam Cherry.
This group paused for a quick photo. First responders will be at the Tim Hortons in Medina on Tuesday from 7 to 10 a.m., helping to decorate the cookies. Will Francis of the Albion PD is at front left and Devon Pahuta, an investigator with the Sheriff’s Office, is at front right.
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ALBION – The Orleans County Youth Bureau announced it has extended the deadline for nominations for its 43rd Annual Youth Recognition awards.
The purpose of these awards is to recognize those youth who have performed outstanding service for our community and/or have assumed an extraordinary role within their families by helping to support themselves. The deadline is now Thursday, May 1.
“Many older adults often hold negative perceptions of today’s youth, when in fact, there are some young people doing some very extraordinary things in service of others,” said Jack Welch, chief administrative officer for Orleans County. “Our youth awards want to shine the spotlight on these young men and women and let the community know of their great work.”
Anyone is welcome to nominate a candidate, but nominations from family members must be accompanied by a supporting recommendation from a non-family member. Nominees must reside in an Orleans County school district and be a minimum of 14 years of age and under the age of 21 before June 30th.
In addition to the youth recognition awards, the Youth Bureau is also accepting nominations for the Helen Brinsmaid Award, given to an Orleans County youth-serving professional, in a paid position, whose work surpasses normal expectations, and the Eileen Heye Adult Volunteer Recognition Award, presented to an adult who serves the youth of Orleans County in a volunteer setting.
“We also want to honor the wonderful adults who are really making a difference in working with our young people,” said Welch. “Let’s not forget, they are mentoring those who will one day assume leadership roles in our community.”
All nomination forms can be found by clicking here.
For information about the awards, contact the Youth Bureau at 585-589-7053 or email OrleansCountyYouthBureau@OrleanscountyNY.gov.
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Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – Members of the Lyndonville Lions Club once again carried out their annual vision screening program at the Lyndonville Elementary School on April 22.
The Lions Club offered visual screening and visual acuity checks to over 100 elementary students in the Lyndonville school district. Sharon Smith, Lyndonville district superintendent and a Lions Club member, thanked the Lions for their continued efforts in this vision screening clinic.
She added that the detection of visual problems is critical in younger students to enhance future learning. Smith also stated that this program is free to the school, and for a large number of the students tested, this was their first formal vision exam. The club was assisted by members of the Medina Lions Club and the Lyndonville School “Leo’s Club” during this event.
The Lyndonville Lions carried out their 5th annual “Pop-Up Eye Clinic” on Saturday at the White Birch Golf Resort in Lyndonville. The free clinic found people waiting in line early Saturday morning as the clinic doors opened at 9 a.m.
The clinic supplies free eye examinations, Glaucoma screening and refraction eye exams to access one’s need for glasses to improve their vision. Those attendees who needed glasses were given an opportunity to select a free glass frame and the frames will be returned in a few weeks with new lenses in them.
The clinic served over 100 members of the Town of Yates and surrounding areas. The Lions Club of Lyndonville wants to thank the Olcott, Kenmore and Medina Lions Clubs for their volunteers who assisted during the eye clinic.
The Lyndonville Lions will be having their annual “Mother’s Day Rose Sale” May 9-10. One dozen, long stem red rose bouquets will be available for $20 for those who would like to honor their mothers on this special day. Flowers can be pre-ordered by calling Harold Suhr at 585-281-4646 or Lyndonville Central School at 585-765-3101.
Flowers can be picked up at the White Birch on May 9-10 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Walk up sales will be available while supplies last.
The Lions Club would like to thank all those who came to the vision clinic. They would like to wish all mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day.
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MEDINA – Three visiting authors brought a slew of customers to Author’s Note on Saturday for celebration of Independent Book Store Day.
Customers lined up for signed copies of the latest books by Doogie Horner of Alfred, Mylisa Larsen of Sennett and Will Bardenwerper of Pittsburgh.
Since moving home from California with her husband Phil to purchase the book store, New York Times Best-Selling author Julie Berry has touted the benefits of an “indie” (independently-owned) book store.
“If you can’t visit one, order online from one,” Berry urges. “Post a photo or a graphic to your social media about your love for indie bookstores and why you choose them over more corporate options. Help people to understand, as you do, the true value we bring and why independent options are vital to a healthy book world and to healthy communities everywhere.”
(Left) Donald Fernberg of North Chili receives his copy of a book on the Batavia Muckdogs by author Will Bardenwerper. (Right) Carson Bale, 5, left, and his brother Mason, 8, hold autographed books by author Doogie Horner during Independent Bookstore Day Saturday at Author’s Note in Medina.
One of the families who came to visit the authors was Andy and Ann-Fisher Bale of Medina with their sons, Mason, 8, and Carson, 5.
Both of her boys like to read, Ann said, and each went home with signed copies Horner’s Invisible Boy series.
Horner said this was his first visit to Medina and he was enjoying it. An artist, illustrator, graphic novelist and stand-up comedian from America’s Got Talent, Horner took part in an assembly on Friday at Wise Intermediate School, where he showed the students how to make comics.
Alina Patterson of Middleport, a fourth-grade teacher at Wise Intermediate School, was so impressed with Horner’s presentation Friday she brought her son Lee, 9, a third-grader at Roy-Hart Elementary School to meet the author.
Horner shared he is working on book number three in The Invisible Boy series about a young boy who has to move to a new school and is afraid.
Mylisa Larsen signs copies of her book, Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t be Better, for Sophia Prahm, 11, of Medina and her friend Avery, 12, during a celebration of Independent Bookstore Day at Author’s Note.
Mylisa Larsen is a nationally-acclaimed author of middle grade and children’s fiction who is an especial local favorite, Berry said.
“Her visits a few years ago presenting Playing Through the Turnaround to local schools left her with a large fan base in the area,” Berry said. “So we are thrilled to welcome her back to sing copies of the acclaimed sequel Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t be Better, along with her other titles.”
Sophia Prahn of Medina, 11, and her friend Avery T., 12, both said it was really exciting to read Larsen’s books.
“I feel audiences my age will really relate to her books,” Avery said.
Sophia added when she reads Larsen’s books she has a mix of feelings, but always something she can relate to.
Larsen, who has been writing since she was in fifth grade, said she loves Author’s Note Bookstore. She explained her contemporary fiction novels are for middle school grade readers. She said Playing Through the Turnaround is about six kids trying to save their jazz band, while Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t be Better is about a kid whose mom is dealing with mental illness, and the trip they take across the United States to visit an uncle they’ve never seen before.
Author Doogie Horner presents an autographed copy of his latest book, The Invisible Boy, to Lee Patterson, while his mother Alina holds the first book in the series.
Will Bardenwerper’s book Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America is a nationally published title based on the story of the Batavia Muckdogs.
The book stems from an article Bardenwerper wrote about the elimination of a Minor League Appalachian League for Harper’s Magazine.
“Local author Bill Kauffman contacted me and reminded me of the situation here with the Muckdogs and invited me to come and talk baseball,” Bardenwerper said. “I came and he introduced me to the new team they started to replace a major team.”
One of the first customers in line for Bardenwerper’s book was Don Feinberg of Lyndonville. Fernberg graduated from Medina High School in 1962 and said no matter where you grew up, whether it was Batavia or some other small town, most of the communities had a baseball team.
His first connection to the Batavia Muckdogs was a number of years ago when he was living in the city and came to Lyndonville for the Fourth of July parade. He met two ladies there, one whose daughter had been invited to sing the National Anthem at a Muckdog’s game.
“I thought in 30 minutes I can be in Batavia,” Fernberg said. “I can see the Muckdog’s game and hear her sing.”
Next to meet Bardenwerper were Todd Bensley and his wife Nicole of Medina.
“I’ve always been a baseball fan,” Bensley said. “Every kid I knew growing up would get out of school and walk to the local drug store to buy a 10-cent pack of baseball cards with gum in it. It was exciting to see a book about the Muckdogs. I have always been interested in baseball and small towns.”
In addition to the visit of the three authors, Author’s Note had special activities, giveaways, drawings, indie exclusives and goodies.
Books ordered online are always shipped free from Author’s Note.
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Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Kenny Star, part of the Starburst tag team, enters the Medina High School gym and high fives fans on Saturday evening during the “Spring Smash 3,” which was attended by about 300 people.
Pro wrestlers battled for about 2 ½ hours in the event run by Empire State Wrestling. This was the third straight year ESW brought wrestlers to Medina in an event that was also a fundraiser for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.
Tommy K “Buck Wild” gets ready to jump from the top rope and land on Cloudy during the opening match at Medina High School. Buck Wild won a grueling fight.
Empire State Wrestling first came to Orleans County in 2018 and used the Fairgrounds for the venue the first two years, before switching to Medina High School in 2023.
The group usually runs its events at RiverWorks in downtown Buffalo or the Frontier Fire Hall in Niagara Falls.
“We’re always looking to expand out,, said D.J. Jarka, one of the ESW promoters and also a referee.
Brennen the First, right, jumps up and gets a kick on Frank Feathers during a match won by Feathers, a long-time wrestler with ESW. Brennen the First is relatively new to the circuit.
There were many drop kicks, leaps from the top wire, and body slams during the wrestling event.
Eden Grey signals to some of the crowd members they are a “loser.” She played the villain in a title match against Christina Marie.
Christina Marie holds her belt after being victorious against Eden Grey.
Gavin Glass, a Medina grad, enters the gym for his match against the “Super Beast.” This match was called a “street fight” and the wrestlers whacked each other with chairs, keyboards and other props.
The Super Beast wore an Albion shirt and talked a lot of trash about Gavin Glass and Medina before their battle in the ring.
The crowd shows their disproval to the Super Beast, who at 365 pounds nearly doubled Glass’s weight.
Gavin Glass acknowledges the crowd after defeating the Super Beast in a hard-fought victory.
James Sayga catches “Red Hot” Vinnie Moon in a match where Sayga also took on Cal Keaton. Sayga, a powerful 265-pound wrestler, won to retain the Interstate championship.
Vince Valor, the ESW champion, fires up the crowd before his match against John McChesney. Valor won to keep the title.
Nick Ando flies off the top rope to slam into Matt McCoy in their match.
Matt McCoy acknowledges a fan after McCoy’s victory in the ring.
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Photos and information courtesy of Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
BASOM – In a cleanup sponsored by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, 35 volunteers braved the elements Saturday morning to pick up litter at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
The Spring Sweep was part of the annual Great Lakes CleanUP, in which thousands across the Great Lakes region removed litter and collected data to protect waterways and other environmentally sensitive areas.
In all the group at the Iroquois refuge collected 41 contractor bags of trash and a few bulky items, including a tire. Some odd items found included an intact arrow and a lightbulb.
“Why someone threw a perfectly good lightbulb into the brush out here is anyone’s guess,” said Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge President Dick Moss, who participated in the cleanup.
The volunteers were led by refuge Ranger Emily Kelly, who instructed the group on safety tips before they went out scavenging for trash.
“I want to thank everyone who participated,” said Moss. “This is the kind of volunteer stewardship that helps the refuge to survive and thrive.
“I’d also like to make a pitch to all to please not litter,” he said, “And teach your children not to litter. The evidence suggests that there are a lot of people who don’t have the sense to not litter in a national refuge.”
And if you are using the refuge and see trash, please help out, and pick it up and properly dispose of it if you can. If you can’t pick it up, for whatever reason, please reach out to Moss at heron@finwr.org and let him know where there’s an issue. Please be as specific as possible about what the issue and location is, so we don’t have to go hunting for it.
“We were only out there for a few hours, so we only made a dent,” Moss said. “I have no doubt there is a lot more out there. This is a national property. It belongs to all of us. And it behooves all of us to do whatever we can to keep it clean.”
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By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 16
SHELBY – April 24-27 has been designated as National Historic Sign weekend. The Historic Marker Database site lists 143 signs in Orleans County. This sign is located on Salt Works Road in West Shelby. It was erected in 2014 through the efforts of Nicholas Culver.
An innocent man was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to death by electrocution. He bade a tearful farewell to his family and was escorted to Death Row. He narrowly avoided execution several times and was exonerated after three long years.
The plot of a TV drama? Regrettably not, but an all too real nightmare endured by a Shelby family.
The reference, of course, is to the Charles F. Stielow case. He was convicted in Albion in 1915 of the murders of George Phelps and Margaret Woolcott in Shelby. An overwhelming combination of circumstances conspired against Stielow – prejudice against immigrants, unscrupulous investigators, a “confession” obtained by coercion and threats, a charlatan “expert” witness.
A thorough account of this dramatic case may be found in the book “Slaughter on a Snowy Morn” written by Colin Evans and published in 2010. It is a book that never fails to elicit a passionate response from readers: the nightmarish sequence of events described, the familiarity of the setting, and the blatant corruption all contribute to its power.
Concluding a year of exploring aspects of Orleans County history in honor of the county’s Bicentennial, members of the Medina Tuesday Club met recently to discuss this book. One overlooked aspect – the actual cost of the trial – was referenced and seemed worthy of exploration.
In New York State, criminal prosecutions are county expenses, a fact that we rarely consider or just take for granted. In 1915, Orleans County was governed by a Board of Supervisors. A record of the Board’s meetings and decisions was published annually under the title “Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors.” A primary source, these volumes form a core part of the Orleans County Dept. of History collection. The following material was sourced from the Proceedings for 1915, 1916 and 1917.
On Jan. 8, 1916, a committee appointed to tabulate the items of expense of the trial reported that the county had expended $12,649.97 at that point. The details of the expenses were listed:
(Most likely, the Barber and Death Watch expenses occurred at Sing Sing on July 28, 1916, when Stielow came within hours of death. His head and legs were shaved in preparation for the attachment of electrodes. A Death Watch was maintained during what was expected to be his last night.)
On May 8, 1917, the Board of Supervisors approved $5,465.87 in payments to lawyers who acted as Counsel to the DA in the Stielow case: Thomas A. Kirby: $1,450, Frederic M. Thompson: $1,450, Harold A. Blake: $2,425 plus expenses of $140.87.
Additional expenses for $2,395.62 were submitted on January 18, 1917. Among these expenses were:
These expenses alone total $20,511.46 ($560,600 approx. in today’s cost). Additionally, on Jan.31, 1917, Gov. Whitman allocated a special appropriation of $25,000 for a reinvestigation of the case. Meanwhile, Stielow’s family, deprived of their breadwinner, were impoverished.
Charles F. Stielow was released, a free man, on May 9,1918. He received no compensation for his ordeal, nor did he seek it, he was just happy that it was over. He died at the age of 63 on Aug. 9, 1942 at his home on Church Street, Medina, having had some years to enjoy his favorite pastime – sitting on his front porch and smoking his pipe. He and his wife, Laura, are buried at the Pioneer Cemetery in Akron, NY.
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Photos and information courtesy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office
POINT BREEZE – Orleans County Sheriff Christopher Bourke reports that today at approximately 8:49 a.m., the Orleans County 911 Center received a report of a vessel in distress off the shore of Point Breeze.
The caller stated that a boat was observed shooting flares and appeared to be in distress. Deputies and members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol were immediately dispatched to the area to assist.
Responding deputies located the vessel just west of Point Breeze. Sheriff’s personnel were able to make contact with the two male occupants and secure them safely. No injuries were reported.
The vessel was towed back to the Point Breeze boat launch by the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit. Patrols assisted the occupants with the removal of the vessel out of the water.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office reminds all boaters to prioritize safety while on the water. The Sheriff’s Office offers free safety inspections for all vessels to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. Boaters are encouraged to take advantage of this service and to always carry appropriate safety equipment, including flares, life jackets and communication devices.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy James DeFilipps, Lt. S. Fox, Sgt J. Ashbery and Deputy J. Barnum were assisted by NYS Encon Police on this incident.
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