By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 December 2022 at 8:20 am
There are 912 people without electricity in Orleans County on Christmas morning after two days of punishing weather.
The blizzard warning for Orleans County expired this morning at 7 after 48 hours.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for Orleans, Niagara and Monroe counties until 4 p.m. with blowing snow and winds gusting as high as 45 miles per hour.
“Plan on difficult travel conditions due to recent snows, and areas of blowing snow which could significantly reduce visibility,” the Weather Service said.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 December 2022 at 8:08 pm
Provided photo: Janelle Cordle, an X-ray technician at Medina Memorial Hospital, watches as Santa Claus gets a CT scan to make sure he’s fit for his upcoming venture on Christmas Eve.
MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital has announced that Santa Claus has passed his yearly physical at the hospital, in preparation for his grueling Christmas Eve travels.
Santa realizes how many children throughout the world are counting on him to come down their chimneys and he wanted to make sure he was fully ready for the trip, especially with the forecast for blizzard conditions locally and rough weather in much of the country.
“You never know what your day will be like working in a hospital,” said X-ray technician Janelle Cordle. “When you look up and Santa Claus is your next patient, you can’t help but smile. He’s long been a dear friend of the radiology department.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 6:04 pm
The blizzard that has dumped snow, pounded the area with punishing winds, and left icy road conditions has forced local churches to cancel their services for today and on Sunday.
Church leaders didn’t want to people the public in danger, especially with a driving ban still in pace. That ban started at about noon on Friday and is expected to continue through tonight until Sunday morning.
Many churches in Orleans County have sent notice to the Orleans Hub about their services being cancelled. (To report a cancellation, send an email to news@orleanshub.com.)
Oak Orchard Assembly of God service is cancelled on Christmas.
The Gaines Congregational United Church of Christ has cancelled its service for Christmas.
The Grove United Methodist Church in Medina cancelled both Christmas Eve and Christmas day services.
St. Mary’s in Holley has cancelled the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass and St. Mark’s in Kendall has cancelled the 6 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass.
Faith Alliance Church in Albion has cancelled the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
Cornerstone Church at 3426 Hulberton Rd. in Holley has cancelled the Christmas Eve service and Christmas Day service.
Shiloh Church in Albion has cancelled services for Christmas eve and Christmas.
The Lyndonville Presbyterian Church’s Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services are cancelled.
Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion is cancelling Christmas Eve and Christmas day services.
Eagle Harbor United Methodist’s Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services are canceled.
Albion Presbyterian Christmas Eve services are canceled and Christmas Day worship is online only. To view Christmas Day service, go to Albion First Presbyterian Facebook Page.
Holy Family Parish in Albion is cancelling Mass at 4 and 9 p.m. today for Christmas Eve, but is planning for 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday.
Christ Church (Episcopal) in Albion has cancelled the scheduled services for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.
Albion Free Methodist cancels Christmas eve and Sunday morning services.
First Baptist Church in Albion cancels Christmas eve and Sunday morning services.
Gaines Carlton Community Church has canceled Christmas Eve service due to weather conditions.
United Methodist Church of the Abundant Harvest in Millville is cancelling worship services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day due to weather and travel conditions.
The manger scene in front of the Holy Family rectory at the corner of West Park and Main Street in Albion tells the story of the birth of Jesus.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 2:50 pm
Photos courtesy of Sheriff’s Office
SHELBY – The driver of this truck was stranded for nearly 15 hours in the vehicle on Salt Works Road in Shelby before being transported to safety today.
Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies have been busy throughout the day trying to assist stranded drivers and passengers, Sheriff Chris Bourke said.
Deputy John Doyle took this photo on Mill Road in Ridgeway of a crew trying to remove a tree across the road.
A travel ban remains in effect. Bourke said several vehicles are currently off the road along Route 31A in Barre and Clarendon.
“It’s one stranded vehicle after the next,” Bourke said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 12:46 pm
‘There is far too much traffic on the roads, a never-ending stream of cars becoming disabled.’
UPDATE AT 5:54 P.M.: The Carlton warming center has been closed with two people staying there transported to the Albion elementary school.
The number of warming centers in Orleans County has grown since yesterday with 3,691 National Grid customers still without electricity as of 12:34 p.m.
The County’s Emergency Management Office estimates about 75 people have used the warming centers so far.
Two of the shelters at local schools offer a place to sleep if needed. Those schools include:
Oak Orchard Elementary School in the Village of Medina will be open through the night. Contact (585) 590-4199. The school is at 335 W. Oak Orchard St. Enter through the main entrance, or the side entrance off the parking lot through door #4. Medina residents also can contact the Medina Fire Department (585) 798-1661.
Albion Elementary School at 324 East Ave. Enter through the community entrance on the west end of the school. Barre residents can contact the Barre Fire Company at (585) 589-6107 and Barre will provide transport to the school if needed while the station is manned.
Here is a list of other warming centers that provide a place to warm up and charge devices. People should call ahead to ensure they are still open.
Barre Fire Company – (585) 589-6107. Located at 4709 Oak Orchard Rd.
Carlton Fire Company – (585) 682-4250. Located at 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Clarendon Fire Company – (585) 638-5118. Located at 16169 E. Lee Rd.
Murray Sta. 2 – (585) 638-8568. Located at 3353 Hulberton Rd., Holley.
Shelby Volunteer Fire Company – (585) 798-2015. Located at 4677 S. Gravel Rd., Medina.
Justin Niederhofer, the EMO director, said weather conditions have deteriorated since the morning with visibility very difficult.
“There is far too much traffic on the roads, a never-ending stream of cars becoming disabled,” he said.
He doesn’t expect the travel ban to be lifted until Sunday morning due to the current conditions are forecasted winds.
The Iroquois Job Corps has been evacuated with about 15 students moved to the new Comfort Inn & Suites in Medina.
Medina firefighters also are going door to door at Lakewood Village and other locations, to ensure that anyone who needs to get to a shelter has the ability to do so, Niederhofer said.
The Alabama Hotel in the Town of Alabama in Genesee County also is a warming center – and then some. The business has welcomed 100 people into the building for warmth and meals, with many staying overnight.
Joe Bradt of the Alabama Hotel posted on Facebook and thanked neighbors for bringing blankets, diapers and toys for the children, and also commended the Alexander family of Alabama Hotel Farms for making sure the Hotel has enough food for the crowd of people who are from several states.
Many of those stranded people have done the dishes, served the food, cleaned the tables and helped each other through a difficult situation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 10:32 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is reporting 39 trees were knocked down from the fierce winds on Friday. The icy roads and white-out conditions also resulted in 52 vehicles going off the road, Sheriff Chris Bourke said.
There were nine motor vehicle accidents, 11 wires down or arcing, and 24 people who needed to be rescued from the extreme cold.
Five of the patrol cars got stuck overnight and were pulled put by Lyon’s Collision.
The following warming shelters are open and available to those who may have lost power, are stranded, or experiencing extreme cold conditions.
While there is still a travel ban, you may travel to one of the locations only if you are able to safely do so. If you are unable to safely travel to one of these locations, please contact the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division at 716-438-3394 and arrangements will be made to get you to one of the warming shelters.
Cambria Fire Company, 4631 Cambria Wilson Road, Lockport
Frontier Fire Company, 2176 Liberty Drive, Niagara Falls
Hartland Fire Company, 8945 Ridge Road, Gasport
Lewiston #2 Fire Company, 1705 Saunders Settlement Road, Lewiston
Miller Hose Fire Company, 6161 McKee Street, Newfane
Olcott Fire Company, 1691 Lockport Street, Olcott
Pekin Fire Company, 3024 Upper Mountain Road, Sanborn
Ransomville Fire Company, 2521 Youngstown-Lockport Road, Ransomville
Rapids Fire Company- Main Hall, 7195 Plank Road, Lockport
St. Johnsburg Fire Company, 7165 Ward Road, Wheatfield
Sanborn Fire Company, 5811 Buffalo Street, Lewiston
Shawnee Fire Company, 3747 Lockport Road, Sanborn
South Wilson Fire Company, 4194 Chestnut Road, Wilson
Terry’s Corners Fire Company, 7801 Chestnut Ridge Road, Gasport
Upper Mountain Fire Company, 839 Moyer Road, Lewiston
Wendleville Fire Company Hall One, 7340 Campbell Blvd, Pendleton
Wendleville Fire Company Hall Two, 6440 Main Road, Pendleton
Wilson Fire Company, 250 Young Street, Wilson
Wolcottsville Fire Company, 6337 Wolcottsville Road, Royalton
Wrights Corners Fire Company- Main Hall, 4043 Lake Avenue, Lockport
Youngstown Fire Company, 625 Third Street, Youngstown
City of Lockport, Lockport City Hall, One Locks Plaza, Lockport
City of Niagara Falls, Community Missions, 1570 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 9:20 am
A travel ban remains in effect in Orleans County. No motorists should be on the roads except for plows, utility crews, fire department vehicles, EMS, law enforcement and hospital staff.
“It’s very treacherous conditions,” said Sheriff Chris Bourke. “Some roads are not passable.”
There is very low visibility, with blowing and drifting snow.
Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti also said the travel ban is still in effect in Niagara County.
“The southern end of Niagara County continues to experience significant weather
Conditions,” Filicetti said. “Motorists who have not heeded the travel ban have become stranded in their vehicles. Please stay off the roadways so first responders can work to assist those motorists.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2022 at 8:45 am
More than 5,000 National Grid customers are without electricity this morning after fierce winds took down trees and wires.
National Grid is reporting 5,136 of its customers in Orleans are without electricity. That is 26.1 percent of National Grid’s 19,624 total in the county, according to the National Grid power outage map at 8:25 a.m.
That is a much higher percentage than other nearby counties contending with a powerful winter storm.
Orleans has a higher percentage without power than in Niagara County – 5,894 out of 83,034 (7.1 percent); Genesee – 1,713 out of 27,176 (6.3 percent); Erie – 24,602 out of 285,223 (8.6 percent); and Monroe – 1,704 out of 21,428 (8.0 percent).
It is only in the single digits to start the day in Orleans. The high is forecast for 16 degrees.
A blizzard warning remains in effect until 7 a.m. on Sunday for Orleans, Niagara, Erie and Genesee counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2022 at 6:00 pm
Shelby, Ridgeway and Barre fire halls also open
MEDINA – The Oak Orchard Primary School at 335 W Oak Orchard St. is available as a warming site, village officials announced.
Parts of Medina community are without electricity. The school will be open all night as a warming center if needed, Mayor Mike Sidari said.
He encouraged people to bring food and water. There are 10 cots available at the school, about 70 blankets, charging capabilities and a microwave.
There are 4,926 National Grid customers without electricity in Orleans County as of 6:06 p.m.
Other warming centers include the Shelby Vol. Fire Company Rec Hall, Ridgeway Vol. Fire Company and Barre Fire Company.
“Road conditions are terrible in the county especially in the southern portion of the county,” said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director. “Due to the hazardous conditions and for the safety of the plow operators some of the town have pulled their drivers off the road until conditions improve. Conditions will get worse as the night goes on, and finally start to improve tomorrow morning. If you can, try to stay home and utilize blankets to stay warm.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2022 at 5:31 pm
ALBION – The Albion Police Department announced today that Rex, the department’s retired K9, has passed away.
Rex teamed with officer Robert Wagner from 2015 until Rex retired on Dec. 29, 2019. Wagner was recently promoted to sergeant with the Albion PD.
“Rex had many accomplishments in his career and was certified in tracking, patrol and advanced narcotics detection,” the Albion PD posted on its Facebook page. “Rex was the goodest of boys and will be greatly missed by all of us.”
MIDDLEPORT – Employees from FMC’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport, working with Local 1180 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and plant management, put together a special holiday gift package for a Niagara County veteran and family this Christmas season.
They worked with Jennifer O. D’Andrea, the president and founder of Support, Empower, Respect Veterans (S.E.R.V.) Niagara, in providing the package featuring toys, clothing, electronics and household items. P
reparing the items for delivery are (from left) Mikayla Jackson, Receiving Coordinator; Joe Burkett, Site Support Services; Katie McFadden, FMC plant manager; Jennifer O. D’Andrea-Terreri; Josh Walker, Maintenance and Site Services Manager; and Leah Clark, Run Plant Engineer.
FMC employees and management also recently collected and donated several boxes and bags filled with non-perishable food the Middleport Food Pantry for local residents in need to access.
Dennis McAvoy (center), Food Pantry co-chairman, accepts some of the donated items from FMC employees and Local 1180 members (from left to right) Mikayla Jackson, Receiving Coordinator; Katie McFadden, FMC Plant Manager; Austin Jones, Site Support Services; Dennis McAvoy; George Richards, Electrician; and Josh Jackson, Electrician.
The Middleport Food Pantry on S. Vernon St., Middleport, next to St. Stephen’s Church, is open to area residents every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2022 at 3:18 pm
National Grid is reporting 4,433 of its customers in Orleans County are without electricity. That is 22.6 percent of National Grid’s 19,624 customers in the county.
The power company at 3:12 p.m. also is reporting 6,101 customers in Monroe are without power, 2,095 in Chautauqua, 19,178 in Erie, 1,719 in Genesee, and 995 in Niagara.
In Orleans there are outages throughout the county but the most widespread stretches from Kendall to Carlton, affecting 2,100 customers.
