Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
Lead is a metal that is toxic to our bodies. Young children under 6 years old are most at risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are rapidly developing. A child with lead poisoning can experience learning difficulties, lower IQ, difficulty paying attention, organ damage and anemia. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.
“Lead poisoning is preventable,” stated Gabrielle Lanich, Lead Program Coordinator of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “It is important to stop children from coming in contact with lead hazards before poisoning occurs.”
The Genesee County Health Department has expanded their Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grant, funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to include Livingston and Wyoming Counties. The grant now includes Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.
The Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (HUD) Grant addresses lead-based paint hazards, as well as certain health concerns, in homes and apartments in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (GLOW) counties. In order to be eligible for these funds, homeowners and property owners must meet all of the following requirements:
Tenants or homeowners who are income eligible (limited funds for vacant units, call for more information)
Building was built prior to 1978
At least one child under the age of 6 living in the home, or visiting 8 or more hours a week, or a pregnant female
Lead-based paint hazards in the home
Current on tax and mortgage payments
Other requirements determined on a case by case basis
Rental property owners are also required to match 10% of the total project costs. For example, a rental property owner would be required to pay $2,000 for a $20,000 project. Rental properties must have 4 units or less. All recipients are required to maintain ownership of the residence for 5 years after the project is completed.
Applications can be obtained by contacting our lead program staff or found on the GO Health website (click here).
Possible contracted work may include:
Painting
Window replacement
Entry door replacement
Porch repair or replacement
Bare soil treatment/landscaping
Other general repairs
All work is completed by pre-approved local contractors trained and EPA-certified in lead-safe work practices. If you would like to be added to our list of contractors, please contact the Genesee County Health Department.
Our GLOW Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) team collaborates with HUD to offer education on preventing lead poisoning and how to renovate safely. If you have any lead related questions, contact the GLOW CLPPP team.
For more information, help determining eligibility, or to be added to our list of contractors, contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or Health.GOlead@co.genesee.ny.us. You can also visit GOHealthNY.org for an application.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 September 2023 at 9:05 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – “Peaches” greets the public on Sunday in Medina at the FFA Model Farm by the high school. The FFA was among five local alpaca farms featured for National Alpaca Days on Saturday and Sunday.
The other four farms included:
Stoney Meadows Alpacas at 16038 Glidden Rd., Holley
MayFields Equestrian and Alpaca Farm at 3263 Allens Bridge Rd., Albion
SanGer-La Alpacas at 2845 Colby St., Brockport
Ladue Alpacas at 1186 Ladue Rd., Brockport
Alex Drum, a Medina freshman, feeds two alpacas and a llama at the FFA Model Farm.
These animals include, from left: Simba, an alpaca; Peaches, an alpaca; and Echo, a llama.
Kaylin Mickey, a junior, weaves using a continuous strand of fabric. The Medina FFA had alpaca products for sale.
Alpacas are primarily raised for their fleece in North America. Alpaca fleece has a variety of natural colors: pure white, several shades of fawn and brown, several shades of gray and true black.
Camden Fike, a freshman, plays cornhole. The FFA had several activities to the public to try in addition to visiting the alpacas and llamas.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 September 2023 at 8:38 am
ALBION – Aniyah Hyde, 14, is home safe this morning.
Aniyah was reported missing by the Albion Police Department on Sunday evening after she had not been in contact with her family since Saturday evening.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 September 2023 at 8:31 am
Renee Lama worked 11 years on 390-page publication
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Medina native Renee Lama poses with her new book, which she will discuss and sign at 7 p.m. today at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library and from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Author’s Note.
MEDINA – Renee Lama has worked 11 years chronicling hotels, restaurants and bars in Medina. The 390-page book – “Last Call: Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. A History of the Service Industry in Medina” – includes 150 years of Medina history.
Lama will discuss the book and sign copies at 7 p.m. this evening in an event with the Medina Historical Society at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. She will also sign copies from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Author’s Note in Medina.
Lama, who currently lives in Hilton with her husband George, said she never intended to write a book.
A daughter of Kathy and the late Tony “Vic” Vicknair of Medina, Lama graduated from Medina High School in 1992 and then Niagara County Community College, where she studied art.
“I wanted to be a fashion designer,” she said.
Lama ended up in Orlando and attended the University of Central Florida and applied to get into the advertising course schedule. She was required to take (and pass) a typing test. I never took typing in high school so I could not type fast or properly and failed several times – it cost $35 each time to retake it.
“Not being able to pass the test to get into the advertising courses, I took a semester off to figure out what I wanted to do,” she said.
Lama got a job at Regal Cinemas and shortly after became Head of Promotions for that location.
“This was right when Disney’s Tarzan came out and I started drawing the characters for a promotion we had to do,” she said. “I quickly found that I loved that and applied to be in the animation department at the University of Central Florida and graduated with a degree in Animation.”
Before she graduated, she worked for Disney World by making candy, hoping to make her way into their animation department.
“But then 9/11 happened and so much shut down,” she recalled. “The animation department at Hollywood Studios closed. It took a very long time for Disney to recover. I remember it was so slow for months and months.”
Animation studios were not as plentiful then as they are now. “It was tough to find a job in animation unless I moved to California.”
By this time, she had met her future husband George and they moved to Medina. Renee started a job as a graphic designer at Lake Country Pennysaver in Albion. Renee and George married in 2004 and had their son in 2008.
Renee went out on her own in 2011 and what first started as George Lama Photography morphed into RG Lama Studios, which is mainly graphic design now.
Lama said she had always been fascinated with prohibition and wondered how it affected people, especially in her home town.
“I looked for speakeasy stories, but there were not a lot in Medina,” Lama said. “Most of them were in Holley and Albion.”
Lama has spent 11 years putting this book together. She found the first documented hotel in the area was the Ridgeway Hotel, built in 1811.
“For a long time, I had all these pieces of information, and I wondered how I was ever going to piece them all together,” she said. “I was becoming overwhelmed.”
Numerous times she thought the book was finished, and then she’d discover something new.
“Last Call” is packed with more than 150 years of stories, newspaper articles, scandals, fires, murders, mysteries and photos. The book focuses on Shelby, Ridgeway and Medina. Lama said she sought information from Alice Zacher, Shelby historian, among others. Marissa Olles did a wonderful job of editing, Lama said.
Not surprisingly, when asked if she might write another book, Lama replied, “I’ve already started it – about the history of the street names in Medina.”
Project became inactive due to added costs and concern from fault line near site
The pristine beauty of Lake Ontario is pictured from the Yates shoreline. (Courtesy of Michael Loftus)
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 3, No. 31
YATES – In the 1970s, a second rural Orleans County site was considered as the location of a nuclear facility.
Beginning in the 1960s, NYSEG began to acquire parcels of land in the Town of Yates and the neighboring Town of Somerset in Niagara County in anticipation of the construction of an atomic electric generating station.
The Journal-Register of May 11, 1972, announced that the New York State Atomic and Space Development Authority (ASDA) had selected a site in the Town of Yates for study as a possible location for the construction of an atomic power generating station.
The site, referred to as the Morrison Road Site, was an area bounded by the Lake Ontario shoreline, Foss Road and Morrison Road. Construction costs would range from $350-$400 million and completion would take eight to ten years. A site in the Town of Wilson was also under consideration, as was a site in Cayuga, Town of Sterling.
Speaking at an Albion Chamber of Commerce dinner held at Marti’s Restaurant in Albion, on May 24, 1972, ASDA chairman James G. Cline outlined the positive aspects of the plant. Members of the Orleans County Industrial Development Authority and the Orleans County Economic Development Authority were also in attendance.
Mr. Cline and other members of the ASDA staff claimed that the overall impact of the plant would be minimal and that it would provide considerable economic benefit. Analysts had determined that the site in question consisted of “low- viability farmland that was marginal at best.” The power transmission route would be underground and out of view. Discharged water would not interfere with lake ecology, surface algae or critical marine life. Similar plants showed no radioactive buildup, even after ten years of operation.
However, residents of the Town of Yates were not impressed.
The Journal-Register of 14 June 1972 reported on an “Open Letter” prepared by a group of Lyndonville signers who urged a letter-writing campaign to local, county, state and federal officials protesting the installation.
Among those who signed the letter were Bartlett Breed, Bernard Brinsmaid, Mr. & Mrs. James Whipple, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Whipple, Mr. & Mrs. John Eppolito and many others. The letter began:
“The signers of this letter are opposed to the building of an atomic power plant in the Town of Yates, or indeed, anywhere on the river and lake front between Buffalo on the west and Rochester on the east.”
The arguments against the proposed plant were cogently argued, the probability and disastrous consequences of an accident being the foremost cause of concern.
The letter pointed out the false claims and spurious logic used in the promotion of the proposal. It referred to the findings of the Brookhaven Report (1957) which questioned the safety of nuclear energy and clearly outlined the catastrophic consequences of an accident which the Atomic Energy Commission had acknowledged.
It also explained the conundrum caused by the Brookhaven Report: based on the findings of the report, utility companies refused to build atomic plants unless covered by insurance, but insurance companies refused to provide the necessary insurance to utility companies who planned to build atomic energy sites.
However, the Price-Anderson Act (1957) circumvented this roadblock. Under this act, the government and the private insurance industry would provide a limited amount of coverage for atomic power plants, thus freeing utility companies from liability in the case of a catastrophic occurrence.
The letter argued that the insistence that atomic power plants be situated in rural areas was a further indication of their inherent dangers. It cited the dangers of low-level radiation and of toxic radioactive wastes. It also pointed out that the Federated Sportsmen’s Clubs of New York State, representing some three hundred thousand members, had called for a moratorium on the construction of nuclear power plants in the state.
The topic generated a great deal of discussion, articles, and Letters to the Editor in 1973 and 1974. Then, on July 25, 1975, NYSEG announced that plans for the construction of nuclear power plants in Somerset and Yates were suspended, following the discovery of a geological fault reported by the US Geological Survey.
The existence of the Clarendon-Linden Fault which extends some 60 miles from Attica to Lake Ontario would necessitate investigation into the geological and seismic factors which could potentially disrupt stored nuclear material and would greatly increase construction costs. The Morrison Road site was deemed inactive, and Somerset was designated a prime site for a coal-fired power plant.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 September 2023 at 8:49 pm
MEDINA – Medina Mustang Sports Boosters will celebrate homecoming this week, beginning Monday and concluding on Friday when Medina’s hosts Barker/Roy-Hart’s football team.
“To us, homecoming is a community event, a time to celebrate not just Mustang athletics, but who we are as a community,” said Mustang Sports Boosters president Melissa Valley. “Mustang Sports Boosters are always incredibly appreciative of the support the Medina business community provides us, and now we want to celebrate you.”
Their goal for homecoming week is for the whole community to be involved and get into the Mustang spirit. Valley said they hope to get Medina businesses involved in two ways – first, for downtown to show its Mustang spirit with their second annual window decorating contest. Second, the Mustang Boosters want to promote businesses by adding their homecoming specials of the week to the school’s Mustang Menu.
“We will promote your Mustang Special for the week and expect nothing in return,” Valley said.
Businesses have been encouraged to decorate their store front to show Mustang spirit. The community will be invited to vote via the Boosters’ Twitter and Facebook pages to determine the best decorated window. The winner will be announced at halftime during the Homecoming game.
Last year’s winner was the Coffee Pot Café.
The Print Shop has made banners which will be displayed this week on Main Street and in Vets Park.
“This is something that unites the community in a positive way,” Valley added.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2023 at 8:28 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Lancaster performs in front of a big crowd at Vets Park in Medina to cap off the Fall Festival of Bands.
The bleachers were full for the show which included 12 schools for the Fall Festival of Bands, which was up from seven at the 2022 show.
This year’s bands included Pioneer, Hilton, Greece, Oswego, Northwestern, Orchard Park, West Seneca, Jamestown, Webster, Central Square, Medina and Lancaster.
About 2,000 people attended the show.
Lancaster’s show was entitled “Believe Again” with a message about “standing on the shoulders of giants.” The band said younger musicians are mentored by the older students.
“The acknowledgement that we need each other and the message that children require the thoughtful leadership and tutelage of adults should inspire us all to Believe Again,” the band states about its show this year.
Eleanor Keane, drum major for the West Seneca Marching Band, leads the band in performing “Out of the Woods.” She is shown during a brilliant sunset.
West Seneca’s message included it’s easy to get lost in the “woods” of life. “To find our way out, we have to follow the light.”
The Webster Marching Band performed a show entitled “Our Voices Carry – You are strong. You are worthy. You are enough. You are not alone.”
Medina’s band with 76 members enters the field and gets ready to perform its show, “Confined.”
Caiden Class, assistant drum major for Medina, plays the saxophone. He was often “confined” by other band members and constricted before eventually finding his way out. The message of the show: “You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.”
The Central Square band from north of Syracuse performed “Bent” with original music. “This year’s production is a show that will BEND the minds of audiences throughout,” the band states in the program.
The Jamestown High School Band traveled more than two hours to be in the event and performed “Quest,” a show about how an artifact was stolen from the good people of Jamestown and scouts help to relocate the “Horn of Prosperity.” It is a perilous journey in reclaiming the artifact.
Orchard Park performed “The Last Leaves of Fall,” which celebrates the fall season through the colors, sounds and feelings of autumn in New York.
The Northwestern Marching Band from Albion, Pa., presented a show: “The Resilient Heart.”
Oswego’s show “Destinations” took people on a train journey with scenes from New York City, New Orleans and California, highlighting vibrant cultures around the country.
The Greece Marching Band presented a show – “Seasons” – and moved through four quadrants on the field with lots of music and movement.
Hilton’s show was entitled “Bailamos – We Dance!” The Pioneer Marching Panthers, not pictured, presented a show, “Fire and Ice.”
Two weeks ago I shared a little background about myself and my colleague Julia Alt in order to help people understand the impact of Hospice not only on those who receive services but on those who give it as well. I hope to get the chance down the road to share the perspective of our extremely hard working nurses, aides, and other staff as well but today I want to tell you about two others who know firsthand what it’s like to go through the grief of losing a loved one.
The first is Marilyn Almeter-Milbrand who you may recognize from her past work as she has been a nurse for 28 years serving primarily in Medina and Batavia.
I however met Marilyn for the first time more recently when she came out of retirement to help out part-time at Hospice and then was subsequently moved into her current full-time roles of Administrator and Director of Patient Services.
One thing that quickly stood out to me about Marilyn was that she had a nurse’s heart. Even though her role is primarily administrative, she does still fill in as a nurse from time to time when necessary, it is very evident that she does not view either patients or their caregivers as just numbers but rather as real people who deserve quality and compassionate care. It wasn’t until recently though that I discovered at least part of the reason behind her compassion and attentiveness—she herself has had to walk the difficult road that many of those under hospice care are currently going through.
When Marilyn’s son was 18 years old he was diagnosed with bone cancer, which of course would be devastating news for any mother to have to hear, but thankfully he responded to treatments and is complete remission to this day. Unfortunately for Marilyn though that was not the only time she had to respond to difficult news. During the pandemic her husband came down with Covid and was then taken to the hospital where he would stay for 12 days on life support. For the first 11 days Marilyn could not see him due to the hospital’s restrictions and then finally, on Day 12, she was able to say goodbye before life support was removed and he quickly passed.
I asked Marilyn if her experience led her to want to work for Hospice and she answered honestly that she didn’t know a lot about Hospice prior to coming on board but that’s she has learned a ton since and is very thankful to be part of an organization where “everything we do takes the community into account” such as the recent changing of our name from Supportive Care back to Hospice of Orleans so that the community is aware that we are still here and we want to help. She also said that she loves the idea of the Martin-Linsin Residence, our Hospice Home located on Rt. 31 in Albion, because it offers all-inclusive care and considers not only the patient’s but also their loved one’s needs. I for one am very thankful to have Marilyn on board to head up our team.
My other colleague that I want to share about today is not only one of the newest to join the team but also probably the person who has had the most first-hand experience being on the receiving side of Hospice of Orlean’s services. Heather Rowley became a Social Worker as a result of her earlier experiences in life and initially served immigrants and refugees before joining our team a little over 4 months ago.
Heather learned about hospice services at the young age of 20 when her fathered was diagnosed with terminal esophageal cancer in 2010 and began to received services in their home until his passing. Heather, who was going to college at Ithaca at the time, returned to her studies only to have her mother be diagnosed in 2012 with terminal brain cancer.
Not only did she have a glioblastoma, which was the same deadly tumor my own mother died from earlier that same year, but she also found herself in the similar situation of wanting to move her mother into a hospice home but the Martin-Linsin Residence was still in the process of being built.
After waiting a while, hoping for construction to be completed, her mother ended up going to Strong Hospital where she would receive palliative care until her eventual passing. Not only did Heather suffer the trauma of losing both parents but she also took over the responsibility of helping to raise her 3 younger siblings who were still in elementary, middle, and high school respectively.
When I think about all that Heather has been through personally it comes as no surprise when I see how diligently she has cared for both the patients and their families during her time at Hospice.
In spite of her history with Hospice Heather did not seek out a position specifically for that reason but admits that having been on the other side certainly “gives her some street cred” which can go a long way when helping someone through a crisis. When I asked if there was anything she would want others to know she responded, “For the bereaved, death is both the most normal yet isolating thing. You are not alone.”
So there you have it folks. I hope that getting to see behind the curtain a bit helps you to understand that Hospice work is not so much a job as it is a calling. Again, I hope to share more from other’s perspectives down the road but this is it for now. I will be back with another article in 2 weeks and that will also be when we are having our Hospice Walk to Remember at Holley Falls on Oct. 7 (my mother’s birthday). Also check out our Grief Support Group if you have experienced a loss.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2023 at 1:21 pm
Hayes, 33, currently part of cast in The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre
Provided photos: Jake Hayes has starred in the Western New York theater for the past decade, doing a variety of characters, from silly to serious. In the top photos he is the Beast, left, in Beauty and the Beast, and Sebastian in Little Mermaid.
BUFFALO – Jake Hayes is one of the hardest working people in Buffalo show business.
The Albion native performs in four or five different productions a year. He is currently in the cast for The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre. The show started Sept. 14 and runs until Oct. 1. Click here for ticket information.
“Jake is a dynamic force both off and onstage,” said Kristin Bentley, executive director for The Color Purple for Second Generation Theatre. “He’s able to bring a smile to your face with his charm and charisma then seamlessly move you to the edge of your seat with his powerful commitment.”
Hayes, 33, works a full-time job during the day as activities director for a nursing home in Buffalo. In the evening, he is often rehearsing for a show or performing for a live audience.
Jake Hayes, back right, is currently in the cast of The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre in Buffalo. He is in the ensemble and also plays Buster and a prison guard in the production. The show runs until Oct. 1. (Photo by Stephen Gabris)
Hayes said he is a people-person and feels energized on stage in front of hundreds and sometimes thousands of people. He also is thrilled to be running programs for the senior citizens at the nursing home.
“I’ve been very fortunate to work a full schedule,” Hayes said in a recent interview in Albion. “I’m always in shows.”
He has performed at The Place Theatre in Lockport, Shakespeare at Delaware Park, Shea’s Smith Theatre in Buffalo, Shea’s 710 Theatre in Buffalo and other venues.
“This is a total artform for me,” Hayes said. “I love telling stories.”
Hayes was a star in the Albion High School musicals. He pursued theater after being encouraged to give it a try by his friends. Hayes wasn’t in a show until he was a sophomore. He played baseball and that schedule didn’t allow him to be in the spring musicals.
But after being injured and unable to play as a 10th grader, Hayes tried out for the musical. He had a small part as a servant in the ensemble of Into the Woods. He felt an immediate connection with the theater. He loved being on stage and among the cast and crew.
The Albion crowd in the middle school auditorium gave a thunderous applause for the students on stage. Hayes said it was overwhelming.
“To get that from peers and the community was just amazing,” he said.
Jake Hayes has performed in Little Shop of Horrors. He is shown at right with a nomination for best character performance for Little Shop of Horrors.
As a junior he played a lead role, the character Laurie in Little Woman and was recognized at The Stars of Tomorrow, honoring the top high school theater talent among high schools in the Rochester area. As a senior he played the lead role of Harold Hill in The Music Man. (Hayes twice has played Laurie as in adult in other productions of Little Women.)
Hayes felt his confidence grow on stage. He credited Gary Simboli, the musical director at the time, for helping him to read music and to refine a stage presence.
Simboli also was the high school choir director, and Hayes served as the group’s president. He said that experience helped him to grow as a leader.
“I owe a huge portion of my talent and abilities to him,” Hayes said about Simboli. “I got brave and audacity from being in the choir. Gary showed me that I’m valuable.”
Hayes made his debut singing in public before he was in the school musicals. He was 9 years old when he did his first solo at the Shiloh Baptist Church (where his cousin Trellis Pore is now pastor). Jake’s mother, Dolores Patterson, was the choir director. Hayes still has a strong recollection of singing the gospel song, “Have You Heard of The City Paved With Gold.” He was so nervous to sing in front of the crowd.
“I was absolutely terrified,” he said.
The church made the youth speak publicly, sharing a highlight of the week. They were urged to be part of the choir.
After graduated from Albion, Hayes earned a degree in communication/mass media at Pace University in New York City, with a minor in acting. He graduated in 2013. He didn’t stay in NYC. He came close to home to be near family. His grandmother passed away less than a month after he graduated.
Hayes still wanted to be in theater and tried the local community group, Lake Plains Players. The group in the fall 2013 was performing an ambitious show, Les Misérables. Hayes tried out and landed one of the big roles, Marius, the lover of Cosette and a revolutionary.
From there Hayes performed at the Palace Theatre, including as Donkey in Shrek, and now is a sought after performer in Buffalo, earning money for the roles. He saves the money he earns at theater to travel. He and his girlfriend recently went to Thailand. Hayes is planning to take his mom on his next trip to Puerto Rico.
Jake Hayes performs in about four or five different productions a year. He was recently on the cover of the Buffalo Spree magazine in an issue promoting the upcoming theater season in Buffalo.
Hayes said he is so grateful to be in a different show about every 10 weeks, while still doing a full-time job in the day and being close to family. For many of the shows it’s a demanding month of rehearsals, typically from 6 p.m. to 10-10:30. Then the productions often have a three-week run.
In one play, Once in a Lifetime, the Buffalo-focused show had the Bills winning the Super Bowl. Hayes is currently part of The Color Purple, a musical where hundreds auditioned to be in the cast of 17. It is a powerful African American story from the early 20th century to mid 20th century.
Hayes works with many actors and directors who have Broadway experience. He encouraged people from Orleans County to attend a show in Buffalo or Lockport and see the talent on stage, and be moved by the story being presented.
He said he is living his dream by working with so many talented people in the Buffalo theater community. New York City is viewed as a the ultimate destination for theater, but Hayes said Buffalo has given him so many opportunities. It’s similar in many smaller large cities.
“You can have a strong variety-filled career working in cities such as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Wichita, Kansas,” Hayes said. “For someone like me you want to be able to perform and express your artform. In Buffalo I get to splurge on life because I get to do my hobby almost full-time.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2023 at 9:25 am
Dustin Reisman has run pizza business in Public Square for 17 years
Photos by Tom Rivers: Dustin Reisman works in the kitchen at Dustin’s Pizzeria on Friday. He has owned the business the past 17 years with 10 to 12 employees.
HOLLEY – The Holley community is planning a “Day of Dustin” on Tuesday to show appreciation for Dustin Reisman, owner of Dustin’s Pizzeria the past 17 years.
The business suffered when a former employee posted on social media the business was plagued with unsanitary conditions including cockroaches in the kitchen. Reisman tried to refute those allegations, but the orders for pizza, wings, subs and other food drastically dropped after that post.
The Orleans County Health Department and village code enforcement also inspected Dustin’s on Sept. 15 and found no public health hazards or violations. They pulled out equipment and looked closely for any pests but didn’t find any.
Reisman posted the full report on the Dustin’s Pizzeria Facebook page, as well as previous inspections from the Health Department that showed no violations.
But he fears some damage has been done to the business’s reputation.
“I don’t hold any negative feeling towards the person,” Reisman said about the former employee who made the allegations on social media. “I just want to move on and survive.”
Dustin Reisman and his wife Jennifer and shown with their children, Dustin Jr. and Harper, in front of the pizzeria at 50 Public Square.
Reisman relies on the business to support his family, and he said the pizzeria’s success is also critical to the livelihoods for his 10 to 12 employees.
Reisman, 42, has worked in the pizza business for 25 years. He is a 2000 graduate of the Holley school district. Dustin’s has been a stable presence in Holley’s Public Square for nearly two decades.
Reisman is thankful for his career and the chance to see so many members of the Holley community on a regular basis. When he drives in the community, he spots the homes of his regular customers and can tell his wife and children what the residents at those houses typically order. Reisman can even recite the phone numbers of many of his long-time customers.
“I know the community,” he said. “Everywhere I go I pretty much know everyone in town.”
After the social media post alleging an unsanitary kitchen last week, Reisman said it was a very slow few days after that. Even last Sunday’s Bills game wasn’t too busy for pizza orders.
But after posting the Health Department inspection, the orders started coming back. And some of his customers decided to show their appreciation with the “Day of Dustin” on Tuesday, which is his birthday.
“This is about standing up for the members of our community who have repeatedly shown up for the members within their community,” according to one post promoting the day. “Dustin and his family have been generous and kind to my family on more than one occasion, and I know our town is full of people who would say the same about their lovely fam.”
Customers are encouraged to order from Dustin’s and post selfies with the hash tag #adayatdustins. They are urged to positive positive reviews on Google.
Reisman and his wife, Jennifer, said they are very appreciative of the support. The couple has two young children, Dustin Jr. and Harper.
“It’s been very humbling for us,” Reisman said about the community response.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 September 2023 at 8:36 am
Provided photos: Community Acton of Orleans and Genesee was presented with donations of cash and toys from ABATE as a result of their annual toy run. Holding some of the donations are, from left, CAOG’s facility manager Ricky Standish, Eastern Orleans Community Center coordinator Deborah Rothmund, director of community services Katrina Chaffee and Head Start’s janitor/maintenance man in Batavia, Marc Malaniak.
MEDINA – A toy run to benefit Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is an annual event for the Orleans County Chapter of ABATE.
This year’s run took place Sept. 17 and kicks off the holiday season for Community Action, according to Katrina Chaffee, director of community services.
Chuck Persons, president of the local chapter of ABATE, said they have been hosting this run for 40 years.
Lineup is always at Ridgeway Fire Hall and travels around Orleans County, and back to the VFW in Medina, where chapter members prepare lunch for the riders. Community Action always provides dessert as a “thank you.”
The toys and cash donations will be used by Community Action to help the hundreds of families who apply for assistance at holiday time. This includes toys and gifts for each child in a family and a box containing all the food necessary for Christmas dinner.
This year’s run resulted in a donation of $661 in cash and $100 worth of toys.
The toys and cash donations will be used by Community Action to help the hundreds of families who apply for assistance at holiday time. This includes toys and gifts for each child in a family and a box containing all the food necessary for Christmas dinner.
(Left) Chuck Persons, president of the Orleans Chapter of ABATE, poses with Katrina Chaffee, director of community service at Community Action, after the annual toy run. (Right) ABATE member Al Schumacher rode his bike as Santa Claus.
Press Release, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, Western District of New York
BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Anthony J. Alello, Jr., 32, of Albion, who was convicted of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison and 35 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that in January 2022, an undercover FBI agent began communicating with Alello online using the Kik application. During these communications, Alello sent the agent links to cloud storage folders that contained child pornography.
One folder contained approximately 2,484 videos of child pornography, and another folder contained approximately 45 videos of child pornography.
On March 24, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Alello’s residence and seized his cellular telephone. A subsequent forensic examination recovered approximately 1,744 images and six videos of child pornography, some of which depicted pre-pubescent children and violence against children.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Albion Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Mogle, and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2023 at 3:37 pm
Provided photo
MURRAY – The Christ family in Holley and a team of volunteers that put on the Murray Tractor Pull present a ceremonial check for $8,500 to the Ronald McDonald House.
Tractor Pull organizers and volunteers presented the check to Carolyn Birrittella, vice president of development and communications for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester.
The Tractor Pull returned after a four-year absence on July 22. There were nearly 1,600 in paid attendance for the event, that features high-powered tractors, semi trucks and other vehicles pulling a 40,000-pound sled.
The Christ family developed the tractor pull venue on Groth Road about 30 years ago.
Photo by Tom Rivers: “Survivor” by Greg Graham not only competes in the tractor pulling events, the big truck pays tribute to cancer survivors.
Scott Christ, the lead organizer for the event and also one of the competitors, said he is very thankful for the big turnout for the tractor pull and the many people who gave extra donations for the cause.
“Everything went over very well,” Christ said today. “Hats off to all of the volunteers.”
The Ronald McDonald House is a blessing to many families who have children with a very serious illness. It provides a place to stay and other support for families who need to travel for medical care.
Christ said the tractor pull will be back next year in July.
Lead is a metal that is toxic to our bodies. Young children under 6 years old are most at risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are rapidly developing. A child with lead poisoning can experience learning difficulties, lower IQ, difficulty paying attention, organ damage and anemia. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.
YATES – In the 1970s, a second rural Orleans County site was considered as the location of a nuclear facility.
When I think about all that Heather has been through personally it comes as no surprise when I see how diligently she has cared for both the patients and their families during her time at Hospice.
