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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.