Oak Orchard Yacht Club hosts Thursday night races off Point Breeze, a summer tradition for nearly 30 years

POINT BREEZE ABOARD THE GALLIVANT – Bob Hodgins is at the helm of the Gallivant, a 36-foot-long Catalina sailboat. Hodgins, 67, of Alexander has been sailing since he was a kid. He is the commodore or the leader of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club this year. He is enjoys competing in the Thursday evening sailboat races.

The Gallivant had a five-person crew, which included the helmsman or helmswoman. Bob Hodgins and his wife Mary Lu each spent time at the helm, steering the sailboat. The Gallivant also took along the Orleans Hub editor, who welcomed the chance to get some sailboat photos at sunset and experience a sailboat race for the first time. (The Hub editor also was relieved he didn’t experience any motion sickness.)

The sailboats get in position before the start of the race on Thursday, testing their tacking, when the crew resets sails to change directions.

Dana Stringham and Darlene Mieney raise the mainsail, the big triangular sail on the mast, and then take in the scene along the Oak Orchard Harbor.

Stringham, 73, is retired after running his own excavation business in Genesee County. He had already played pickleball for three hours on Thursday and then was in for a busy two hours on the sailboat, springing into action to raise and lower sails, and shift them to the other side of the boat to change directions.

Mieney, 59, of Hilton has been a pastor in the Free Methodist Church for 20 years, first in Batavia and the past 15 years in Parma. She used to love riding motorcycles with her late husband Skip. He died unexpectedly at age 51 about 9 years ago.

Mieney was invited to try sailing by a friend and relishes the action on the lake, especially when the boat is straining on its side on a windy night or when it sharply changes direction.

“I needed something to replace the adrenaline from my Harley rides,” she said with a smile. “You’re never too old to try learn anything. I knew nothing, absolutely nothing about sailing.”

She has been sailing about six years now.

“It’s an art,” Mieney said about sailing. “There’s engineering to it.”

The crew on the Revenant sailboat adjusts the sail during Thursday’s race.

On Thursday the sailors had to contend with westerly winds. The Gallivant was going about 4 knots with the wind and then about 2.8 knots upwind.

Dana Stringham and Bob Hodgins are near the bow or front of the sailboat as the Gallivant gets ready to turn and go around one of the markers on the course. The sailors need to be careful not to hit the marker or that is a penalty where they have to do a 360-degree circle which can be a several-minute delay.

This sailboat gets ready to round the marker after completing one of the 1-mile lengths in the race. The boaters had to go back and forth twice.

At least one of the sailboats in the race bumped into the buoy and then had to do a 360. The sailors need to time when they will tack or turn to round the marker.

Ralph and Patricia Moorhouse of Albion were among the sailboat races on Thursday. Their boat is named Purr Diem.

Ray Leonard (in red shirt) steers this sailboat during the race. Leonard is a long-time sailor and considered a legend at Point Breeze.

The boats are in the distance from this marker in Lake Ontario. The sailboats would all need to round the marker during the race.

Mary Lu Hodgins stands on the bow and advises her husband Bob, the helmsman, if he needs to make slight adjustments in steering the boat to stay on course. Being off a few degrees can add time and result in a drop in the order of finish.

Karen Brown of East Bethany joined the Hodgins crew on Thursday evening. She is working with Dana Stringham to move one of the sails as the boat changes direction. Karen and her husband John usually have their own boat for the sailboat races. But their boat, which is 41 feet, is too big for the shallow harbor this year. The water levels are down significantly for 2021 and so of the bigger boats haven’t been put in the water.

Stringham and Mieney in recent years have been on the crew for the Brown’s boat. This year then joined Hodgins when the Brown’s boat grounded for the year.

Hodgins said his adult children have been in the crew in years’ past. The Oak Orchard Yacht Club also runs a youth sailing program and some of those youth will make themselves available to be on the crew for the sailors during the races.

Bob and Mary Lu Hodgins and their team got off to an early lead in the race. There is a rating for the sailboats or a handicapping system for the race and some of the boats have time added or subtracted based on their length, sails and other factors.

The Gallivant, which is raced by the Hodgins’s team, has about 2 minutes added to their finish.

The Gallivant would cross the finish line first and then had to wait to see if others might pass them through the rating system.

Bob Hodgins, in back, adjusts the sail while Dana Stringham and Darlene Mieney tighten ropes to hold the sails in the desired place. The crew finished first in Thursday’s race, even with the adjusted times with the rating system.

Several of the sailboats are out on Lake Ontario near Point Breeze for the race on Thursday. The last race of the season is this Thursday. The races start about 6:30 p.m. and usually take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The racing includes two 5-week series.

Mary Lu Hodgins, a retired school nurse at Alexander, takes the helm. Her husband is retired as the owner of Hodgins Engraving in Batavia. The couple has sailed all over the globe, all the way to Australia, through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Mrs. Hodgins said those areas can’t pass the sunsets off Point Breeze.

“We have the best sunsets right here,” she said.

Event is chance to raise awareness and remember the lives lost due to overdose

Press Release, GCASA

BATAVIA – Backed by that clear but hard-hitting mission statement, members of the GOW Opioid Task Force will be coming together on August 25 to host their version of the International Overdose Awareness Day observation.

The event is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. at Austin Park in Batavia.

“We’re thankful to be able to welcome everyone to join us in recognizing the significance of the opioid epidemic upon the residents of our community,” said Christen Ferraro, project coordinator for the GOW Opioid Task Force, which is funded by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation. “Those in attendance will be able to hear first-hand from those who have experienced loss due to overdoses.”

Representatives of local human services agencies will be on hand to share information, and free Narcan training and kits will be offered, Ferraro said. Free food and refreshments will be served.

Attendees also will be offered the opportunity to leave a heart on the task force’s memory board for a deceased loved one.

International Overdose Awareness Day was created in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, and now is held on an annual basis. Locally, it took place virtually last year due to Covid-19. In 2020, there were 602 Overdose Awareness Day events held in 37 countries.

To register for this year’s event, click here. Those interested in having a vendor table are asked to contact Ferraro at cferraro@gcasa.org.

By Matthew Passarell, Commander Albion VFW Post 4635

(Editor’s Note: Passarell researched the 10 men honored with the memorial in Fancher and delivered these remarks Saturday during the rededication of the monument.)

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. We would be remiss in our responsibilities today if we left this Memorial without having some idea of what these men endured. Men who, at an average age of 24, gave their lives so that we might be free.

These are the boys from Fancher.

John A. Christopher – Army Air Forces (1919-1943)

Enlisted November 1942 and later served with the 853rd Aviation Engineer Battalion. Private First Class Christopher died on November 26, 1943 when the transport ship carrying his unit was struck by a German radio controlled glider bomb and sunk off the coast of Algeria. This attack remains the largest loss of military personnel at sea in a single incident in United States history. John A. Christopher was laid to rest at the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunis, Tunisia.

Joseph F. Christopher – Army Air Forces (1917-1943)

Entered service January 4, 1942 and later assigned as a B-24 radio operator with the 512th Bomb Squadron, 376th Bomb Group. Technical Sergeant Christopher served in the North African campaign. He was reported as missing in action on April 28, 1943 after his plane crashed in the harbor at Naples, Italy. Joseph F. Christopher is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at North Africa American Cemetery in Tunis, Tunisia.

Cosmo P. Coccitti – Army (1922-1944)

Enlisted September 26, 1942 and was assigned to the 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. During fighting in Holland on November 10, 1944 he was declared missing in action and to date his remains have not been recovered. Technician Fifth Grade Coccitti is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten.

John Kettle, Jr. – Army (1920-1944)

After working at the Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Corporation in Buffalo and Columbus, Ohio, John Kettle Jr. entered the Army on March 4, 1944. By October that year he was serving as an infantryman with C Company, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division attached to General George Patton’s Third Army Private Kettle was killed in action near Farebersville, France on November 29, 1944 and is buried at Mount Albion Cemetery.

Matt Passarell (center at podium), VFW commander, researched the 10 soldiers and shared about them on Saturday. After he read about each soldier, Dan Mawn, left, rang the bell in recognition of the life.

Leonard L. Licursi – Army Air Forces (1922-1944)

A ball turret gunner with the 652nd Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group. Staff Sergeant Licursi was one of five airmen killed when his B-17 Flying Fortress crashed after taking off from Watton, Norfolk, England on September 6, 1944. His aircraft was flying that day on a weather reconnaissance mission. Leonard Licursi is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Holley.

Martin J. Licursi – Army Air Forces (1919-1945)

First Lieutenant Licursi served as a navigator based in Chelveston, England with the 8th Air Force’s 364th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group. In September 1943 Lieutenant Licursi survived an emergency landing of a B-17 Flying Fortress in the English Channel. However, on February 15, 1945 he was killed when the B-29 Superfortress he was aboard crashed on a training flight in Flushing Bay, Queens, New York. He was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery, Holley.

Richard L. Merritt – Army (-1944)

Served with the 3483rd Ordnance Maintenance Company in the Philippines. On November 12, 1944, the ship carrying his unit anchored off Leyte was bombed by Japanese aircraft resulting in casualties to three-quarters of his unit. Technician Fourth Grade Richard L. Merritt died the following day, November 13, 1944 and was buried at the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, The Philippines.

Camille H. Nenni – Army (1919-1945)

Entered service in October 1940 as a member of Company F, 108th Infantry Regiment, New York Army National Guard. He was transferred to the 40th Infantry Division and served in the South Pacific Area. Private First Class Nenni was killed in action on February 15, 1945 during the Luzon Campaign in the Philippines. He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for conspicuous gallantry in action and laid to rest at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Albion.

Floyd M. Valentine – Army Air Forces (1921-1945)

Enlisted September 7, 1942 and served as a gunner on an A-20 Havoc with the 675th Bomb Squadron, 417th Bomb Group. Staff Sergeant Valentine was awarded the Air Medal for flight missions over Japanese targets in New Guinea and Indonesia. On January 2, 1945 his aircraft was damaged while attacking enemy shipping near San Fernando Point, The Philippines and he was reported as missing in action. To date, his remains have not been recovered and he is memorialized at the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, The Philippines.

Richard N. Vendetta – Army Air Forces (1921-1944)

Earned his flight wings upon completing the Navigation School at San Marcos, TX on January 15, 1944. Assigned to duty on a bomber in the Troop Carrying Command, Second Lieutenant Vendetta was killed when another plane collided with his over Stanford, England on July 8, 1944. He was buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Albion.

These are the boys from Fancher.

• Two sets of brothers.
• Two buried in overseas cemeteries.
• Three who remain missing in action.
• Five men who made the final trip home.

These men, as the poet John Gillespie Magee Jr. once wrote, “have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter silvered wings.”

Thank you.

Jonathan Allentoff directs the Brockport Symphony Orchestra during Saturday’s ceremony. About 200 people attended the event.

200 attend event at restored monument on Route 31

Photos by Tom Rivers

FANCHER – The memorial at the “Fancher Curve” on Route 31 was rededicated on Saturday, 72 years after it was originally dedicated on Aug. 14, 1949 as a monument to 10 young men from the Fancher community who were killed in World War II.

Those men include John Christopher, Joseph Christopher, Cosmo Coccitti, John Kettle, Jr., Leonard Licursi, Martin Licursi, Richard Merritt, Camille Nenni, Floyd Valentine and Richard Vendetta.

The top photo shows Richard Christopher of Albion placing a commemorative wreath by the monument. Richard is the son John Christopher, who was killed on November 26, 1943 when the transport ship carrying his unit was struck by a German glider bomb and sunk off the coast of Algeria. He was laid to rest at the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunis, Tunisia.

John’s brother Joseph also was killed during the war. Another pair of brothers from the Fancher community – Leonard and Martin Licursi – also died in the war.

The monument was in disrepair with mortar crumbling, the clock often not working and the landscaping unattractive. Fred Fiorito, a Fancher native now living near New York City, gave the largest donation to cover the expense of the improvement project.

The donations paid to have new mortar put in, new movements and electric wiring for the clocks (which will now automatically fall back an hour and spring an hour ahead during the time changes), a new replica bronze plaque on the north side of the property, and a repainted flag pole which now also includes a World War II flag below the American flag. There also are sandstone steps on the north side with the stone donated by Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio and set in place by the Town Highway Department.

Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio speaks at the rededication. He said the Fancher community created the memorial 72 years ago to honor the young men, and the community again rallied to preserve the monument made of locally quarried Medina sandstone.

Sidonio noted that Fiorito was just a boy when he saw the monument originally dedicated and memory of seeing the grieving Gold Star mothers has forever impacted him.

Sidonio also announced on Monday will ask the Town Board to approve a resolution to recognize Aug. 14 as “Fancher Monument Memorial Day” and order that the flags at the monument and at the town municipal buildings be lowered to half-mast for 10 days “to remind us that we owe these 10 boys the dignity of being better citizens and Americans so that they shall not have died in vain.”

These four M1 Garand or M1 Rifle are stacked on top of the monument in the same way they were for the original dedication in 1949. Scott Galliford used a 10-foot ladder to climb up and stack the four rifles on Saturday.

Louis Horschel of Dunkirk flies “Mad Max,” a 1945 P-51 Mustang during a flyover at the start of the rededication program. The original dedication service in 1949 also had a flyover.

These veterans in the Honor Guard watch Horschel in the airplane fly upside down and do other aerial stunts.

Father Richard Csizmar, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Albion, offered the blessing during the service. He shared that his uncle John Csizmar was killed during World War II and Father Csizmar still has a strong memory of going to the train station in North Tonawanda when his uncle’s body was brought home. His photo was displayed over the family piano for the next 45 years, along with a Gold Star plaque.

Csizmar said the 10 young men from Fancher lived out John 15:13: “Greater love than this no one has, than one lay down one’s life for one’s friend.”

“Today we come to this Fancher memorial to remember those 10 men from Fancher, who gave their lives for freedom during World War II,” Csizmar said in his prayer. “Their valiant efforts and heroic service for all of us, and our nation, are remembered to this day. They said yes to God, their country, and to freedom, by serving our nation far away.”

Congressman Chris Jacobs meets veterans in the Honor Guard at the rededication service. Jacobs presented a Congressional Commendation for the community for its efforts to restore the monument.

Mary Wojciechowski sings “America the Beautiful” while accompanied by the Brockport Symphony Orchestra which is directed by Jonathan Allentoff, left. Wojciechowski, a Canadaigua resident, also sang the national anthem. The BSO also performed “To Reap The Blessings of Freedom” and “Brother James’ Air.”

“We are so honored to be have been asked to do this,” Allentoff said about performing during the rededication. “We love this community and being a part of events that bring people together, and we wanted to help pay tribute to the boys.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley thanked those that worked to restore and upgrade the memorial site.

“Monuments are testaments to our greatest sacrifices and our greatest triumphs,” he said.

Christian Coccitti is the great-nephew of Cosmo Coccitti who was declared missing in action during the fighting in Holland on November 10, 1944. To date his remains have not been recovered. His great-nephew is the U.S. Navy and travelled from Annapolis, Md. To attend Saturday’s rededication. He is sitting between Congressman Chris Jacobs and Aubrey Christopher.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley comforts Richard Vendetta, who was named after his uncle who was killed during World War II, one of 10 from the Fancher community who died in the war. The younger Vendetta was among many family members in attendance of the 10 men honored with the monument.

The late Richard Vendetta, a second lieutenant, earned his flight wings and was flying a bomber and was killed when another plane collided with his over Stanford, England on July 8, 1944.

Matthew Passarell, commander of the VFW Post in Albion, shared biographies of each of the 10 men memorialized at the monument. Daniel Mawn, next to Passarell, rang the bell after each description was shared by Passarell.

The Honor Guard, including Scott Galliford at left (commander of the Jewell Buckman Post in Holley), fired three volleys during the rededication ceremony of the World War 11memorial at the Fancher Curve. Jim Freas, lower right, leads the Honor Guard.

Ron Ayrault, the chaplain at the American Legion post in Holley, offers the benediction. Ayrault, 89, attended the first dedication 72 years earlier when he was 17. He remembered there was a parade, the Legion band and a procession that included Gold Star mothers who lost their sons to war.

Police investigating incident and don’t see threat to Albion community

Press Release, Albion Police Chief David Mogle

ALBION – The Albion Police Department with assistance from the New York State Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and Medina Police Department responded to the report of a man with a gunshot wound to the leg in the area of South Main Street and Beaver Street last night at about midnight.

Upon arrival, Albion Police Officers observed a 23-year-old male lying on the sidewalk with an apparent gunshot wound to the right leg. Albion Police Officers immediately provided medical assistance to the victim by placing a tourniquet on the victim’s injured leg. COVA ambulance responded to the scene and transported the man to Strong Memorial Hospital. The victim was treated with non-life threatening injuries and released.

The Albion Police Department believes that this was an isolated incident and that there is no immediate threat to the Albion community.

This incident is being actively investigated by the Albion Police Department and New York State Police.

The Albion Police Department would like to thank the New York State Police, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, Medina Police Department, COVA Ambulance and Albion Fire Department for the prompt response to assist with this incident.

A Closeted Bauble Collector

It has been a while since we have talked about baubles. Can you believe that someone actually asked me what a bauble was?!

A bauble is a tiny trinket and usually when referring to jewelry it means cheap. In the DBL (Deborah Burgoon London) Dictionary, bauble refers to all jewelry – big, small, shiny, cheap, sparkly, new, used, etcetera. This closeted obsession, literally in my closet, started for me in my prime. Well my early prime, now is “my prime.” Perchance I was in my late 20s. It began with anything that could wrap around my boney little fingers. Tiny band, wide band, plain band, band with big outrageous décor on them, Excellent!

The first real ring purchase I recall was in Lake Placid at an antique store. I am embarrassed to say, but in my Bauble Box there are cheap rings galore. Then it moved onto the other kind of band. The one that wraps around your wrists; bracelets. So maybe I have a few less than rings, not bad, right? The real disgrace is the necklaces because I do not even wear many necklaces. But when you see a cheap one hanging in a store and it looks so pretty, you just never know when it might be just the perfect accessory. I might have more of these than bracelets.

The one that really snuck up on me was earrings. No wonder, it does have ring in the name. It began with a respectable metal hoop and little diamond-ish studs and next thing you know, there are more cheap earrings than rings. This situation does not take into account the pins and other shiny whatnots.

In my defense, some of these items were gifted to me and none have any monetary value. During our 2016 house fire, my husband’s fishing and hunting gadgets were rescued first, out the upstairs window and down the ladder. Um, “what about my Baubles?” It seemed so unjust at the time, but finally rays of hope came through the night sky and my big beautiful Bauble Box appeared out the window and down the ladder.

My Mom was in charge of packaging the baubles and truth be told it took her considerable time. She may have mentioned that she saw a problem with my fondness for collecting cheap baubles. However, the problem almost happened when just before we got rid of the damaged box, I noticed she had missed an entire drawer. Goodness gracious, that would have been quite tragic. Losing all my cosmetics was one thing, but not the baubles, that was unthinkable.

A couple months back in Batavia, the nice sales lady who greeted me, told me to look around and feel free to try on anything – even if it was just for fun. Oh no no no, it was too much temptation. At least my purchase consisted of the tiniest pair of sparkly cross earrings so I know I am square with the Man Above. If it helps to redeem myself, I have tried to donate some of it and have willed a few fun pieces to my nieces. So I can sleep well knowing that. 

What is your guilty obsession? To see a Positivity Ring, visit my blog live online here and catch up on Weekly Photo Perks and past Sunday Posts. Like and share your comments. 

Debbie Burgoon London 

Albion native was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009

ALBION – The American Legion Sheret Post in Albion this afternoon unveiled a memorial bench at the post on Gaines Basin Road in honor of Jason Johnston. He was 24 when he was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009.

He is the only Orleans County resident killed in combat during the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Jason’s father Brad Johnston, left, is a member of the Legion post in Albion. Debbie Hennekey, right, is the assistant bar manager at the post.
“We’re just waiting to remember what he did for his unit and his country,” she said during the ceremony.

Mr. Johnston said the new bench in honor of his son is “beautiful.” He thanked the Post for honoring his son’s memory and sacrifice.

Jason Johnston was killed by a roadside bomb in Arghandab, Afghanistan. Johnston was a specialist and paratrooper in the Army. He was on his second tour in Afghanistan. He completed a 13-month-deployment in 2008 and left again for the war-torn country in October 2009.

Johnston joined the local Legion post soon before his second deployment.

The Honor Guard and a crowd stands at attention while Taps was played during the ceremony. The Legion post is at the former clubhouse of a par 3 golf course on Gaines Basin Road.

The Albion Elks Riders next Saturday will do a memorial motorcycle ride covering about 100 miles with the proceeds from the annual dice run going towards a memorial scholarship given each year for an Albion graduate who is pursuing a helping profession. The Legion also gives out scholarships in Johnston’s name for graduates pursuing a career in the military.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There was big turnout today with the return of the household hazardous waste collection. Last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year the county quickly had all 320 slots filled with at least another 100 calling for an appointment.

The top photo shows employees with Environmental Enterprises in Cincinnati collecting the household hazardous waste, where many of the fluids will be emptied into large drums to be hauled away. The is free to Orleans County residents.

This photo shows Matt Herman of the Orleans County DPW dumping tires into the pile by the DPW garage on West Academy Street in Albion. The big pile is expected to be removed next week by Modern Disposal.

The county accepted at least 1,200 tires. Residents were limited to 10 tires for the drop-off today. The county added tires to the annual household hazardous collection event in 2019 and received about 1,000 two years ago.

Tyler Jurs and other DPW workers unload a truck full of tires. The tires needed to be rimless. Only non-commercial and non-farm tires were accepted today. Jurs was joined by Paul Gray, Greg Lane and Matt Herman in unloading the tires today.

Paul Gray, a long-time DPW employee, said he is seeing far fewer tires along roadsides and other household hazardous waste since the county started the collections.

Gray said that also includes fewer computer monitors and TVs since collection points were set up by the county. Local DPW and highway crews frequently were hauling those items out of ditches and fields.

“There is much less discarded by the roads now,” Gray said.

Jim Bensley, the county’s director of planning and development, carries one of the tanks dropped off today. He said the big turnout today has county officials looking at a bigger event next year, with either more slots for residents in one or two different days.

Environmental Enterprises, the company doing the collection, is booked up for the rest of the year and isn’t available for another event in Orleans County in 2021.

Bensley said there was pent-up demand for today’s collection with many people cleaning out garages and houses during the pandemic. He also thinks the home sale transactions prompted many people to clear out basements and buildings.

Corey Winters, a planner with the county, carries propane tanks. There were 349 empty propane tanks collected in August 2019 at the last household hazard waste collection event in Orleans County.

Anitrice Bennett from the County Planning and Development Department checks in a resident for today’s household hazardous waste collection on West Academy Street.

The event allows residents to dispose of tires, propane tanks, auto/marine batteries and other hazardous household waste in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Some of the items include oil-based paints, solvents, adhesives & resins, aerosols, motor oil & filters, pesticides, acids, fluorescent bulbs, corrosives, household batteries and antifreeze.

The county typically pays Environmental Enterprises about $18,000 to collect and remove the household hazardous waste, with the state then reimbursing the county about half of the costs.

District holding off on decision about masking for students until late August

MEDINA — When students head back to school beginning Sept. 8, there won’t be an option for remote education in the 2021-22 school year, district superintendent Mark Kruzynski said in a letter to the community today.

School will be in-person only and will be full-time, five days a week. In addition, instrumental music, chorus and elementary specials will be full classes, just as before the pandemic, Kruzynski said.

The district, however, is holding off on a decision about students wearing masks. Kruzynski acknowledged it’s a controversial issue for many people.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the federal Center for Disease Control and state Education Department are all recommending students, teachers and staff wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC updated its guidance on Aug. 5 and cited the highly contagious Delta variant. The CDC also recommended maintaining at least 3 feet of distance between students.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over as governor following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation on Aug. 24. She said on Thursday she anticipates the state will issue a masking mandate for students.

“Whether those masking mandates are universal or based on community transmission levels remains unclear at this point,” Kruzynski said in his letter.

The district will wait until the end of August to make a decision about masks when it’s clear what will be required from the new Hochul administration.

“Quite simply, there is no reason to put out masking regulations today if things might have to change before school starts on Sept., 8, 2021,” Kruzynski wrote.

The district superintendent said it remains the district’s “number one priority” to have students back in school safely, in person, every day.

Carl Heastie, speaker of the State Assembly, announced today that the Assembly will be suspending its impeachment investigation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“There are two reasons for this decision,” Heastie said. “First, the purpose of the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation was to determine whether Governor Cuomo should remain in office. The governor’s resignation answers that directive. Second, we have been advised by Chair Lavine – with the assistance of counsel – of the belief that the constitution does not authorize the legislature to impeach and remove an elected official who is no longer in office.”

Local state legislators responded with anger that the impeachment investigation was dropped by Heastie. Cuomo announced on Tuesday he will be resigned on Aug. 24 after an attorney general’s investigation revealed he sexually harassed 11 women, including employees in his office.

Heastie said an Assembly committee uncovered evidence of Cuomo’s sexually harassment and misconduct, as well as “the misuse of state resources in relation to the publication of the governor’s memoir as well as improper and misleading disclosure of nursing home data during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Heastie said the evidence “could likely have resulted in articles of impeachment had he not resigned.”

He said the attorney general is investigating issues concerning the governor’s memoir. The Eastern District of the United States attorney has been investigating the administration’s actions concerning nursing home data. And, Heastie said, there are active investigations over Cuomo’s alleged sexual harassment by local law enforcement authorities in five jurisdictions – Manhattan, Albany, Westchester, Nassau and Oswego.

“This has been a tragic chapter in our state’s history,” Heastie said. “The people of this great state expect and deserve a government they can count on to always have their best interests in mind. Our government should always operate in a transparent, safe and honest manner. These principles have and always will be the Assembly Majority’s commitment to all New Yorkers.”

Haestie’s statement drew strong rebuttals from the local state legislators.

“I am outraged by the Speaker’s decision to shut down the impeachment investigation of the Governor!” Assemblyman Mike Norris, R-Lockport, said in a statement. “The public should also be outraged! The public deserves accountability and transparency and has a right to know the facts uncovered during the Judiciary Committee’s investigation. I call upon the Committee to continue its work and release its findings to the public.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued this statement: “Impartial justice is a founding principle of our constitutional republic, and nobody should be above the law. Our public officials should be held to the highest standards possible, and by ending this impeachment investigation the speaker has denied justice to the people of this state and allowed potentially illegal acts to be swept under the rug.”

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt of North Tonawanda issued this statement: “The decision from Assembly Democrats to suspend the impeachment investigation reeks of a shady deal to protect Andrew Cuomo.

“At any point in the last six months, Democrats could have impeached our now disgraced Governor – but that would’ve required courage. Instead, they stalled and bought Andrew Cuomo all the time in the world, while they wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on their sham investigation.

“Resignation is not accountability. The Democrats not only failed in their constitutional responsibilities – they failed the Governor’s countless victims in nursing homes, brave women who came forward to tell their stories, and those who believe in honest and transparent government.”

Ortt issued another statement this afternoon urging the Assembly Judiciary Committee to publish the Judiciary Committee’s findings of the investigation into Cuomo.

Press Release, Orleans County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch

HOLLEY – We are fortunate to have a countywide solid waste program for all of our residents. We attempt to provide this service to all residents who reside on our town roads, county roads, state roads and even fire lanes.

We work with Modern Disposal Services to ensure that their commercial equipment may safely and efficiently service our community. However, today’s collection may be delayed until Saturday.

The routes affected include the Village of Holley, Route 31, Fancher Road, Hulberton Road and North Main Street from Holley to Route 104.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this creates for our residents along the affected routes,” said Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer. “If these residents leave out their solid waste, Modern Disposal should have your items collected first thing tomorrow.”

Woman allegedly refused to leave vehicle in incident that shut down traffic on section of 98 last night

Provided photos from Orleans County Sheriff’s Office: A SWAT vehicle was brought to the scene when a woman refused to exit a stolen vehicle in Carlton last night.

CARLTON – A Rochester woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly taking a stolen car and refusing to exit the vehicle when she was stopped by deputies on Route 98 in Carlton.

Law enforcement brought in a SWAT vehicle and SWAT team when the woman refused to leave the vehicle after an hour and half.

Qyashitee M. Davis, 45, of Frost Avenue in Rochester eventually did leave the car after a soft foam-tipped projectile was used to break out a rear side window in anticipation of using pepper gas. Davis then began following commands from law enforcement and was taken into custody without any gas being used. There weren’t any injuries to any officer or to Davis, said Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke.

The incident had Route 98 between Park Avenue and Waterport-Carlton Road closed for nearly three hours until almost 11 p.m.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s 911 Center received a call from B&D Creekside Grocery on Roosevelt Highway in the Town of Carlton of a suspicious female at 8:05 p.m. The woman reportedly purchased $5 dollars in gas and left the premises, then came back in the store and used a credit card to purchase $192 in merchandise, Bourke said.

The woman then left again and returned to the store and purchased an additional $494 in merchandise and cigarettes. She produced a driver’s license that was obviously from another woman, the sheriff said in a news release.

Sheriff Chris Bourke checks a vehicle where a window was broken with a foam-tipped projectile. Law enforcement was prepared to use pepper spray but the driver opened the door and got out.

Davis then left east bound on Roosevelt Highway in a 2014 BMW. Deputies and Sheriff’s dispatchers were able to determine that the BMW had been stolen earlier in the day from the City of Rochester, Bourke said.

Deputy Brian Marsceill and Deputy James White intercepted the vehicle traveling south on State Route 98 in the Town of Carlton and conducted a felony stop of the vehicle. Multiple other law enforcement units arrived at the scene.

Davis, however, refused to exit the vehicle until after about two hours.

She has been charged with criminal possession of stolen property (vehicle) felony, criminal impersonation, obstructing governmental administration in the 2^nd degree, criminal possession of stolen property in 4th degree (credit card), petit larceny, and resisting arrest.

Deputies also determined that there was a warrant for Davis’s arrest from the City of Rochester. Davis had allegedly stolen this vehicle from a nursing home in Rochester. Police had been called on her for allegedly attempting to stab someone at the nursing home, Bourke said.

Due to the state’s new bail laws, Davis was released from sheriff’s custody on appearance tickets. Davis was turned over to Rochester Police on the warrant. She is scheduled to return to Carlton Town Court at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 30.

“It was a standoff with an uncooperative person,” Bourke said. “We made a plan, and executed the plan perfectly which resulted in the suspect being taken into custody without injury and no injury to law enforcement. We took our time and brought this incident to a peaceful resolution.”

Town of Albion has biggest drop at 9.8% among 10 towns

The new data from the U.S. Census Bureau on the 2020 count shows that every town and village in Orleans County experienced population loss from 2010, except for the Town of Yates.

Countywide the population is down 5.9 percent, or by 2,540 people from 42,883 in 2010 to 40,343 in 2020. That percent decline is the steepest of all counties in Western New York.

The data from the Census Bureau shows a population drop in nearly every Orleans County municipality with Albion experiencing the biggest loss at 9.8 percent. Yates avoided a loss in residents, but just barely. The town grew by 8 people or by 0.3 percent.

TOWNS – The population changes for 10 towns includes:

• Albion – 7,639 in 2020, down 829 or 9.8% from the 8,468 in 2010
• Barre – 1,843 in 2020, down 182 or 9.0% from 2,025 in 2010
• Carlton – 2,835 in 2020, down 159 or 5.3% from 2,994 in 2010
• Clarendon – 3,315 in 2020, down 333 or 9.1% from 3,648 in 2010
• Gaines – 3,226 in 2020, down from 152 or 4.5% 3,378 in 2010
• Kendall – 2,617 in 2020, down 107 or 3.9% from 2,724 in 2010
• Murray – 4,796 in 2020, down 192 or 3.8% from 4,988 in 2010
• Ridgeway – 6,598 in 2020, down 182 or 2.7% from 6,780 in 2010
• Shelby – 4,907 in 2020, down 412 or 7.7% from 5,319 in 2010
• Yates – 2,567 in 2020, up by 8 or 0.3% from 2,559 in 2010
• Orleans County – 40,343, down 2,540 or 5.9% from the 42,883 in 2010

VILLAGES – The four villages all are down in population but the percent decline was the lowest in Medina. In 2010, Albion with 6,056 people and Medina with 6,065 were nearly identical in population. Now Medina has nearly 400 more residents – 6,047 compared to 5,637.

Here are the changes in population from in the four Orleans County villages:

• Albion – 5,637 in 2020, down 419 or 6.9% from 6,056 in 2010
• Holley – 1,754 in 2020, down 57 or 3.2% from 1,811 in 2010
• Lyndonville – 771 in 2020, down 67 or 8.0% from 838 in 2010
• Medina – 6,047 in 2020, down 18 or 0.3% from 6,065 in 2010

The percentage of population loss was nearly double in central Orleans County (7.8 percent) compared to the western end with 4.0 percent decline, with eastern Orleans down by 5.6 percent.

• Central Orleans (Albion, Barre, Carlton and Gaines) – down 7.8 percent from 16,865 to 15,543 or by 1,322
• Eastern Orleans (Clarendon, Kendall and Murray) – down 5.6 percent from 11,360 to 10,728 or by 632
• Western Orleans (Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates) – down 4.0 percent from 14,658 to 14,072 or by 586

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Ethan Poler, right, and his dad Jim Poler stand in front of the former O’Brien’s at 610 Main St. in Medina.

MEDINA – A historic building on Medina’s Main Street, which has been a favorite gathering place for locals for more than a century, will reopen Monday with a new look and a new name.

The former O’Brien’s has been purchased and remodeled by Ethan Poler and his dad Jim. It will open at 11 a.m. Monday as Poler’s Pub.

Built in 1902 for Edward Kelly, the building at 610 Main St. has had several names, but it has always been a bar, according to information in a book, Medina Through Time, by Frederick Fierch of Middleport.

By the 1930s it was known as O’Brien and Kelly, run by Francis O’Brien and John Kelly, and later as the Marble Grill. It appears there was a period when there were two businesses there, as there are pictures of the Horseshoe Grill painted on the north window of the building.

Ethan, who was working for All Metal Works in Gasport designing steel structures, has wanted to open his own business for quite a while.

“Back when I was in the Army I told my buddies I was going to open a bar,” Ethan said. “I really wasn’t serious, but now it’s actually going to happen.”

He and his father had been looking at several different places last fall when Ethan drove by 610 Main St. and saw the “For sale” sign on the building.

After contacting the owner, they struck a deal and began to plan their renovations.

The bar was all green inside, even with green carpet around the bar, said Ethan’s uncle John Poler. There was a “box” on the ceiling above the bar, and when they tore it out a bone-handled barber’s straight razor fell out.

Ethan Poler stands under a new sign in Poler’s Pub.

Behind the draft cooler, they found a yellowed envelope addressed to O’Brien and Kelly with war posters of Allied adversaries – Hitler, Mussolini and Yamamoto. When the Polers took down a beam, a horseshoe fell out, no doubt from the days when the Horseshoe Bar was on the north end of the building. In the basement they found the rusted cash register which is in a picture of O’Brien when he opened his business there in the early 1900s.

For months now, the Polers, with help from family and friends, have been remodeling the interior. They tore out partitions to make a larger kitchen, painted the original wainscoting, took the carpet off the bar, painted the exterior and hired a contractor to wrap all the dormers in aluminum. A fenced-in area will provide seating at umbrella tables.

“We saved a lot of money by doing the work ourselves,” John said.

He and his uncle John have been there almost every day, and Jim, who still works as used car manager for Hartway Motors, is there as much as he can.

They have installed three 70-inch TVs, an electronic dart machine, jukebox and ATM.

At first, they will offer a limited menu of pub food, in addition to beer and mixed drinks, but may expand the menu as time goes on. They are also thinking about the possibility of starting a dart league.

Poler’s Pub is scheduled to open on Monday. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week, but that could change, Ethan said.