MEDINA – The senior living community at Lakewood Village in Medina is very relieved to have the electricity back on. It went out around noon on Friday from powerful winds, with the temperature then plunging below freezing.

At the park a majority of residents use Spectrum for television, internet and phone. When the power went out, Spectrum also went down, leaving most of the residents without a way to communicate.

It wasn’t until Saturday afternoon when an ambulance call came in from Lakewood Village that officials learned the elderly residents of the park were getting desperate, without power or communication for more than 24 hours.

When the ambulance driver realized the seriousness of the situation, it was reported to Medina Fire Department, and firefighters started going door-to-door and evacuating the residents to Oak Orchard Elementary School, where a warming center had been set up.

Firefighter Steve Miller coordinated efforts and Tim Miller, Nick Lee, Lt. Steve Cooley, Dustin Pahura and Lt. Jacob Crooks knocked on nearly every door of the more than 100 residential units in the park. They were at the last house on Saturday when the power finally came on.

Miller has worked at the fire department since 2005, and this is the first time he has seen a situation like this, he said.

Shelby Fire Department also assisted in transporting people, after rescuing students and staff of the Job Corps.

One couple who lives in Lakewood Village chose to weather the storm at home. Hal and Carol Goodwin have a gas stove, which gives a minimal amount of heat with the oven door left open. Their water heater is gas, so they had hot water.

“We layered on the clothes, heated soup and other simple foods, and kept adding on the layers,” Hal said. “We had a small battery charger we use to charge the car and a small light we could charge, so we played games. Our house phone was out, but our cell phone was fully charged. We have a Dynamo radio, which we can crank up and it will run for a few minutes. We were not comfortable, but we were safe and content.”

On Saturday morning, their house was down to 42 degrees, and they began to consider going to the recreation hall in the park, which had heat and lights, Hal said. But first, he wanted to shovel out one of their cars they had left in the driveway, in case they had to leave.

When a firefighter stopped at his house Saturday afternoon, Hal told him they were considering going to the recreation hall, but he wanted to free his car first. The firefighter said if Hal called, they would come back and get them.

Hal shoveled his drive, then went next door to clear the drive of his neighbor, who lives alone.

“We decided to have a warm bowl of soup before we went to the hall,” Hal said. “As is customary before every meal, I always pray. Because I worked 30 years for the Postal Service, I always include a prayer for first responders and every worker who has to be out in the weather. I ended my prayer on Saturday with, ‘If at all possible, Lord, could we please get our power back.’ In less than a minute, there was a flicker and the lights came on. That was the quickest answer to a prayer I ever witnessed.”

The Goodwins have lived in Lakewood Village for 10 years and this is the first time they have endured a situation like this, Hal said.

“Another 12 hours and it might have been a different story,” he said.

Provided photo: Medina staff of Orleans Community Action and Head Start of Batavia pose with North Wing staff after donating snacks and personal care items for the residents. From left rear are Anna Lewis from the North Wing; Marguerite Davies from Head Start; Adrienne Belson, North Wing Activities Director; and Margaret Dix, daughter of resident Charlie Goetz. In front, Goetze gets a hug from his other daughter, Christine Schuster, an employee of Head Start, who is standing next to Nicole Struble, Site and Education Specialist for Medina Head Start.

MEDINA – In years past, Medina staff from Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, and Genesee Head Start have always pitched in to donate food to local food banks and/or churches.

This year, their giving took a new direction when they contacted the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital to see if there were items they might need for their residents.

As a result, the Community Action and Head Start employees collected multiple items, which they donated to the North Wing. These included snacks, candy bars, lotions, deodorants, toothbrushes, toothpaste and more. Many of the items will be used as prizes when they play Bingo, said Nicole Struble, Site and Education Specialist for Medina Head Start.

The donation hit a personal note with one Head Start employee, Christine Schuster, who is the daughter of North Wing resident Charlie Goetz.

Press Release, Niagara County Farm Bureau

Provided photo: Assemblyman Angelo Morinello (left), R-Niagara Falls, accepts his award from Niagara County Farm Bureau President Kevin Bittner

Niagara County Farm Bureau is recognizing three state legislators with its Circle of Friends award. Formally given by New York Farm Bureau, it recognizes state elected officials who support the legislation it promotes.

Niagara County Farm Bureau President Kevin Bittner explained it this way. “At our recent board meeting we looked at a number of factors. The voting record was important. However, we also took into consideration other efforts our elected officials made. Our concern with the various newly imposed labor regulations was part of the discussion. In addition, we wanted to acknowledge the willingness of our local representatives to meet with us and discuss these issues. They were always just a phone call away.”

Bittner then presented a certificate to Assemblyman Angelo Morinello. Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Mike Norris could not attend. They will receive their certificates at lobbying days in Albany.

“This has been a stressful year for the agricultural industry,” said Morinello when he accepted the award. “I appreciate your taking the time to teach me about it. There are so many challenges. People from other areas of the state who have no concept of what farming is. The Farm Labor Bill that was meant to appease some people, but then offer farmers a tax credit to lessen the impact. Farm preservation is important. I am concerned about the number of solar farms taking land away from agriculture. I don’t want to rely on foreign countries for food.  I have deep routed support for your industry. I know what it takes to get up before dawn and face the many issues whether planting, harvesting or caring for your farm. I will stand by you and continue to fight to overcome these challenges.”

Membership in Farm Bureau is open to all who are involved in agriculture. Whether you are active in production agriculture, support it through a business that provides resources or sells the products from the farms or consume the products, you are eligible to join.

Check www.NYFB.org for more information about Farm Bureau and its member benefits.

Photos courtesy of Albion Police Department

ALBION – The Albion Police Department’s armored vehicle was used to make several rescues during the blizzard from Friday night through Sunday.

The Albion PD acquired the vehicle for free in 2020. It is primarily utilized by the SWAT team, but can be deployed in other emergencies. This was the first time it was brought out in a massive snowstorm.

“It’s intent is for anything we need it for,” said Albion Police Chief David Mogle. “It went through snow that no other vehicle could have gone through.”

Mogle drove the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) all night Friday. It took 2 ½ hours to go down Route 98 through Elba, and then west on Route 262 in Elba. The MRAP was able to pick up 5 people on 262, and bring them to a warming station in Oakfield, and then joined a convoy rescuing about 15 to 20 more stranded people in the Oakfield.

Mogle said the heavy vehicle with thick tires wouldn’t be stopped from the deep snow, except when the visibility was so poor the drivers couldn’t see anything from the whiteout conditions.

The drivers kept the MRAP on the road, using mailboxes and telephone poles as guides.

Saturday morning the armored vehicles was deployed to the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby was brought back 8 people who had been without electricity for a day in sub-freezing temperatures. The Shelby and East Shelby volunteer fire departments also transported students and staff to the Comfort Inn and Suites in Medina, with the Town of Shelby helping to plow a path for the vehicles.

The MRAP is equipped with different modes and settings that allow it to navigate through large amounts of snow and different terrain, allowing officers to travel through the low visibility snow conditions and reach those in need of help, Mogle said.

“This is the first time it went through snow like this,” he said today. “We knew it could pretty much go through anything.”

The police chief was advised the officers in the vehicle might find people who perished in their vehicles from the cold. But Mogle said law enforcement isn’t aware of any deaths from the blizzard in Genesee or Orleans. There are 27 deaths in Erie and Niagara counties from the blizzard, including 20 in Buffalo.

“The Albion Police Department would like to commend all law enforcement agencies, fire departments, highway departments and the Orleans County Dispatch Center for their involvement and tireless efforts performed throughout the recent snow storm,” Mogle said.

Provided photos

ALBION – The Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship served 247 meals on Thursday in an early Christmas celebration that included a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The top photo shows Faith Smith, director of the OK Kitchen, speaking to the group in the fellowship hall of the church.

Eladio Beltran, left, prepared Mexican chicken tacos with a side of black beans and red rice.

In addition to the 247 meals, 57 children received gifts from Santa. There were also 25 families given 25 holiday boxes.

“We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for all the help, support, donations and time that this community took part in to make this night a success,” Smith said.

Harvest Christian Fellowship started hosting the kitchen on June 1. It is open Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and has served nearly 7,000 meals in seven months. There is one meal left for 2022. Volunteers from the West Barre United Methodist Church are preparing and serving that meal this Thursday.

Town Board in Kendall seeks $1,000 annual licensing fee for rentals

Photos by Tom Rivers: Bruce Newell (center) leads the discussion on Thursday about a proposed law in Kendall for regulating short-term rental such as Airbnbs. Newell is also a member of the Orleans County Planning Board, which met in the Orleans County Legislature’s chambers on Thursday. Also pictured include from left Kirk Myhill of Shelby, Paul Schwenk of Carlton, Dan Strong of Carlton (at-large central) and Gary Daum of Yates.

KENDALL – The Orleans County Planning Board last week recommended against a proposed law from Kendall that would regulate short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, in the waterfront district.

Kendall has about 8 or 10 of those sites in the waterfront district, just north of the Lake Ontario State Parkway.

Many neighbors have complained to town officials that the sites in residential neighborhoods are too loud at night, and people staying in the rentals often trespass and don’t take care of their garbage.

“Kendall recognizes these places can operate well,” said Bruce Newell, Kendall’s Planning Board chairman and a member of the County Planning Board. “We’re trying to put a mechanism in place for the problems.”

Kendall wants to ban any new short-term rentals in the Waterfront Residential and Waterfront Development districts. The current short-term rentals could continue but would have to pay an annual $1,000 annual licensing fee with the town, and carry a $3 million liability insurance, stipulations that David Bentley, owner of a short-term rental, said was excessive.

“We aren’t afraid of regulations,” Bentley said during last Thursday’s meeting. “But let’s be reasonable. These are way out of whack.”

There will be a public hearing in Kendall on Jan. 10 about the law. Kendall Town Board would need a super-majority vote of at least four out of five board members after the county voted it down.

Kendall’s proposed law would designate the code enforcement officer to do annual inspections of the sites. The code officer also would be asked to enforce the regulations, and could be called if a neighbor believed a party was out of hand, or if one of the short-term visitors was trespassing.

Some of the County Planning Board members thought that was too much to ask of a code officer. Newell said the town has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office about assistance in enforcing the law.

“We’re very sensitive about the demands it puts on code enforcement,” he said.

Mylynda Kuba, Murray code enforcement officer, said Kendall would need to provide decibel readers to the town code official and establish a standard on where to read them. Otherwise, a noise complaint could be considered subjective.

Newell said the licensing fee would give the town information on who is operating the short-term rentals. Town officials believe some of the sites are under the radar. They may not be reporting their “bed tax,” a 4 percent tax that goes to the county. The bed tax throughout the county last year generated about $80,000.

The $1,000 fee also would bring in some money directly to the town for the short-term rentals because the county currently keeps all of the bed tax.

Ken DeRoller, a former Orleans County legislator from Kendall, urged Kendall officials to work with Carlton and Yates for consistent regulations for short-term rentals among the three lakeshore towns. Carlton and Yates don’t have any regulations for the rentals right now.

Bruce Kirby, a County Planning Board member from Gaines, operates a short-term rental that he said generates about $6,000 in profit a year. He thought a $1,000 fee was too steep.

Kirby said he thought Kendall was trying to do too much with the proposed law.

Dan Strong, a member of the County Planning Board, said the law was “a good starting point” that gets all of the short-term rentals “playing by the same rules.”

Kendall isn’t cracking down on short-term rentals outside the waterfront districts because Newell said those locations are more spread out, and the town hasn’t received complaints from neighbors there.

In the waterfronts districts, the houses are much closer together, he said.

The town’s proposed law would be the first attempt in Orleans County to regulate Airbnbs or other short-term rentals, which became much more popular during the Covid pandemic, with many people from cities seeking a brief escape to a more open rural area.

Some of the highlights of the proposed law in Kendall include:

• Kendall will continue to allow the pre-existing short-term rentals, but will prohibit them at a location if they are discontinued for six months.
• Can operate as legal non-conforming uses.
• Transient occupancy considered when living or sleeping accommodation provided for compensation for less than 30 continuous calendar days
• No new transient or short-term rentals allowed in the waterfront districts, excluding bed and breakfasts which require a separate special use permit.
• All applications for a short-term rental license need to include site plans for the property with parking spaces, property lines, driveways and outdoor gathering areas, such as patios and decks.
• The town also wants to see floor plans containing the areas for transient space, a list of the owner(s) of the property as well as the manager with contact information, the number of permanent residents at the site (if any), the number of available parking spaces for transient use, a copy of the house rules provided to transients, and a list of neighbors within 150 feet of the property.
• The short-term rental owner needs to pay $1,000 to apply for the license and then $1,000 for each annual renewal.
• The town can enact penalties for violations that could include improper property maintenance – exposed garbage or litter on premises, failure to return trash containers to their storage location on the day of pickup, failure to maintain property or grounds in a neat and orderly fashion, parking vehicles in undesignated spots such as the lawn, parties that exceed the number of people authorized to be there in the license, failure to adhere to quiet hour restrictions between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., occurrence of excessive noise or nuisances at any other time, and occurrences of transients trespassing on other properties.
• If the STR commits two or more offenses, the code officer can recommend to the Town Board that the license be revoked and a hearing can be held to consider the revocation.

Standards

• A maximum of two people per sleeping or no more than 8 people total in the STR.
• no recreational vehicles, campers, trailers or motor vehicles larger than a one-ton pickup truck, other than trailers for boats or jet skis to be launched at nearby ramps.
• No rental shall be above the second floor unless there is a sprinkler system.
• The locations used as rentals shall not have exterior signage indicating they are a rental. The short-term rentals “shall from all exterior indications be indistinguishable from any conventional dwelling.”
• The rental shall be limited to registered guests, and no commercial activities, public or private parties, receptions, meetings or similar social gatherings will be permitted. The site shall maintain a register of all transients staying there, including their permanent addresses and dates of their stay. That register shall be made available to the code enforcement officer or Sheriff’s Office if there are complaints about the transients’ behavior.
• Owners of the rentals shall reside within 30 minutes of the sites so they can quickly respond if there is a complaint. If an owner can’t respond within 30 minutes of a complaint, the owner needs to appoint a manager who can be onsite to answer a complaint within 30 minutes.
• Owners of the rentals need to provide proof to the town of general liability insurance of at least $3 million with respect to personal injury or death, and at least $300,000 with respect to property damage.
• The owner needs to provide proof to the town that the septic system is in good working order and has been pumped in the last three years (for sites not on a central sewer system.)
• Any violations can result in maximum fines of $3,000, with each continued violation a separate and additional offense.

National Grid is reporting power has been restored to nearly all of its customers in Orleans County. As of 7:59 a.m. today, there are 43 of its customers without electricity.

There were more than 5,000 without electricity at times during the blizzard.

In Erie County, there are still 12,430 National Grid customers without electricity, 477 in Niagara County and 16 in Genesee County.

Provided photo: Towing companies were busy in the blizzard, pulling vehicles that slid off the roadways.

Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke issued totals for responses for assistance to law enforcement and fire departments during the blizzard from Friday to early Sunday.

There were 20 motor vehicle accidents, 44 disabled vehicles, 60 vehicles off the road, 39 trees down, 34 rescues by fire departments, 12 wires down or arcing, 11 burglar alarms, 9 calls to assist motorists, 9 calls to assist fire departments, and 7 other calls to assist people.

Shelby and Barre seemed to get the worst impact from snow with Route 31A from Barre/Clarendon townline to Millville with the most disabled vehicles, Bourke said.

Tops is planning to reopen its Albion and Medina stores at 6 a.m. on Monday after the stores were closed Friday afternoon during a blizzard.

Tops closed its stores in Orleans, Erie, Niagara, Genesee and Wyoming counties on Friday due to the “continued extreme weather conditions.”

The stores in four of those counties will reopen at 6 a.m. in Monday, while some of the stores in Erie County may open later.

“We recognize our obligation to serve the neighborhoods we operate in and want to ensure a safe environment for our associates and customers,” Tops said in a statement. “We appreciate your understanding.”

Before venturing a Tops location, the company suggests that customers check the Tops social media pages (Facebook/Instagram), the website (topsmarkets.com), or call the consumer affairs line at 1-800-522-2522.

The Albion Walmart won’t reopen until Tuesday.

LOCKPORT – The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that one people died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Lockport and another was transported for treatment at a hospital.

The Communications Center at the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 9:13 a.m. about two people unconscious in the residence of 308 Dogwood Drive in the Town of Lockport. Responding units found the residence overcome with carbon monoxide, the Sheriff’s Office said.

A 27-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The second person was transported to St. Mary’s hospital for treatment.

Preliminary investigation shows that heavy snow had covered the external furnace causing carbon monoxide to enter the residence.

Investigation to continue by the Niagara County Criminal Investigation Bureau. The names of the individuals are being withheld at this time pending notification of the family.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion firefighters hose down a car that burst into flames at about 1:30 p.m. today at 8 West Academy St. in Albion.

Aurora Andres said she started her car, a 2003 Dodge Neon, and it started smoking and then caught on fire.

She praised the first responders for a quick response that kept the fire from spreading.

Albion police officers Chris Glogowski and Nathanial Staines, and State Trooper Steven Papponetti were the first on the scene and used fire extinguishers to initially knock down the fire.

“It could have been much worse for sure,” Staines said.

Animals were safely removed from the house including four cats, two dogs and three ferrets.

Albion firefighters John Papponetti and Jeremy Babcock were on the scene.

Will Francis, a fire investigator, is on the scene to determine the cause.

Orleans County has lifted a travel ban that was in place since about noon on Friday.

Sheriff Chris Bourke said a travel advisory remains in place and urges drivers to use caution on the roadways.

“The roads are still snow-covered and slippery,” Bourke said. “Crews are still out plowing and salting. Also, the recovery of vehicles off the road is continuing with tow companies.”

‘We’re all warm, we’re all dry and we’re all alive.’

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Spencer Wright of Rochester holds a baby at about 11 a.m. today in the shelter set up at the Albion Elementary School.

Wright was holding the baby for a man he met yesterday. The father was going to check on his home in Barre.

Wright was one of 28 people who spent the night at the shelter set up at the school.

Wright was driving from Lockport to Rochester at about 3 a.m. Saturday when he went off the road on Route 31A in Barre. He said another car was coming in the opposite direction and driving in the middle of the road.

He was stranded in his car for 2 ½ hours until being picked up by Barre firefighters. He was one of about 20 to 25 people at the Barre firehall before they were moved to the school.

“Without them there would have been a lot of casualties,” Wright said about the firefighters. “They were out driving all night, bringing people in.”

Wright said he tried to stay calm in his car.

“I was just trying to figure out what to do,” he said.

He is grateful for the firefighters and a safe place to ride out the storm.

“We’re all warm, we’re all dry and we’re all alive,” he said.

There were about 75 people who stayed at the shelters last night at the Albion and Medina schools, said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s director of emergency management.

Most of the people in the shelters are from out of the area, with some from Poughkeepsie, Boston, New Jersey. Most of those people left this morning. The Medina shelter will soon be closed with the remaining two people there moved to Albion, where there are currently about 10 people.

A Red Cross trailer was used to bring cots and other supplies to the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion. The site was staffed by the Health Department. In Medina, a school employee and Mayor Mike Sidari ran that shelter.

Albert Purugganan, his wife and their 13-year-old son are trying to get from New Jersey to Toronto to see family for the holidays. The trip was going fine on the Thruway. They were then directed off the Thruway near Rochester and were on Route 31A in Barre and Albion about 6 p.m. on Saturday when the visibility and road conditions noticeably became very difficult.

They went off road and were soon assisted by a deputy from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

They spent the night on three cots at the Albion school.

“The people here are very helpful,” Purugganan said.

The family is still determined to get to Toronto. They checked their car today, retrieving medications and are hopeful they can get back on the road soon.

They are thankful for the pizza at the shelter last night, and the coffee and other supplies at the temporary shelter.

Niagara County has lifted the travel ban, but a travel advisory remains in place.

“Please use caution when traveling due to varying roadway conditions,” the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office said.

In Orleans County, a travel ban is still in place.