No comments from the Board of Education or the District Office, following a bombshell resolution at Thursday night’s Wayne Central School Board meeting.

——————————————-A resolution was passed which read:——————————————

“Wayne Central School District

Board of Education

R E S O L U T I O N -  APPOINTMENT OF ACTING SUPERINTENDENT

WHEREAS, Superintendent Renee Garrett will be temporarily unavailable to carry out her duties as Superintendent; and

WHEREAS, the Board is desirous of appointing a qualified person to serve as Acting Superintendent during the period commencing on or about May 27, 2014, to oversee and direct District operations, and to additionally provide the Board of Education with assistance during the anticipated leave of the Superintendent, and

WHEREAS, the Board of Education after due consideration, has determined that current Principal of Ontario Primary School, Robert LaRuche possesses the qualifications and experience to serve as the Acting Superintendent of the Wayne Central School District, to continue the orderly administration of the District’s educational and operational affairs and to undertake such duties and responsibilities on behalf of the District, and

WHEREAS, Mr. LaRuche has agreed to accept the Board’s offer of appointment to additionally serve as the District’s Acting Superintendent.

NOW, THEREFORE, this Board, pursuant to applicable provisions of the New York State Education Law, hereby appoints Robert LaRuche as Acting Superintendent of Schools of the Wayne Central School District at a per diem rate of $200.00 per day, effective on or about May 27, 2014; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, as Acting Superintendent, Mr. LaRuche shall possess all authority and responsibility to serve as Superintendent of Schools of the Wayne Central School District; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Education Law, the District shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Mr. LaRuche from any claims which may arise in connection with his services as Acting Superintendent during such period.”

——————————————————————————————————————————————

The vote was unanimous, 8-1, with no further discussion.

The term “temporarily unavailable”  was not qualified with a time line.

No explanation was given for the change of status. It is unknown if Garrett will be back, or if a new Superintendent Search will begin. For now, Mr. LaRuche will be handling the duties of both positions, Acting Superintendent of Schools, and Principal of Ontario Primary.

Judy Gravino, the Town Clerk for the Town of Macedon for over 25 years, was recently honored by her peers,  earning the distinction of “Town Clerk of the Year 2014” from the New York State Town Clerk’s Association, for District 7. She also received kudos and several presentations and plaques from her local counterparts around Wayne County.

Judy has served as the Macedon Town Clerk for 26 years, and served as District Director for the NY State Town Clerk’s Association for all of that time. She has also served on various committees include: Mixer Committee, Clerk of the Year Committee, Scholarship committee and is a member of the Wayne County Clerk’s Association, having served as past treasurer. She holds the title of Registered Municipal Clerk, having completed requirements prescribed by the Association for that certification.

As Macedon Town Clerk, she also serves as Records Management Officer, Registrar of Vital Statistics, Notary Public, Water Billing Clerk and works closely with the Wayne County Water & Sewer Authority.

Judy was instrumental in salvaging and restoring documents and Vital Records following a devastating fire in 2001 at the old Town Hall building. For a time, she worked from her car, home and makeshift office, recreating her vault and each file, page by page, and helped to save a priceless book collection stored in the library.

Convicted Palmyra killer Chad Campbell told State Police Investigator David Gould that he started off killing animals. “Once I heard that, I knew he was capable of murder,” said Gould. A short time later Campbell admitted killing 15 year-old classmate Cindy Lewis and the 17 month old child she was babysitting, Curtis Rizzo. He eventually led police to where he threw the murder weapon, a long knife, tossed about 25 yards from where the bodies were found, in a field behind the Palmyra-Macedon Middle School.

Campbell had lured Cindy to the location with a phone call and said it was urgent she meet him.

It will soon be 24 years since that August, 1990 double murder, but this case was particularly brutal. “Why he stabbed the baby is mind boggling. Why not just leave after he killed the girl. There was so much devil meanness in him,” remembered former State Police Investigator David Gould.

Gould recalled their was no remorse for the crime Campbell admitted to. “He was not mentally ill, he knew what he was doing,” recalled Gould. “It was not a heat of the moment crime, he had planned the whole thing out,” he added.

It was one of the first cases to shake the foundation of any semblance of community solidarity. People in Palmyra, familiar with all three families  and relying on the rumor mill, were taking sides.

Soon, satanic overtones filtered into the discussions, and as a possible defense. Reasoning was beyond reason. No one understood how a schoolmate could murder a friend and a baby. It was long before the current malaise of student killings, appearing all too often in the news.

Rick Healy had become the County’s District Attorney on January 1st, 1991. Chad Campbell was 15 when his trail began in September of 1991, with Healy taking on the case.

The two week trial was fraught with emotion, accusations and possible other links to the crime. It eventually led to the death of another student by suicide, when the peer finger was pointed at him as being an accomplice.

In the end, the jury saw the true face of evil in Chad Campbell. He was sentenced as a juvenile to the maximum  of nine years to life for each of the murders. Once he was old enough at age 18,  he was transferred to a maximum adult prison.

Since that time, Campbell has acted as his own jail house attorney. He was eligible for parole the first time in 2008 and every two years since.

According to the latest parole hearing transcript on May 6th, Campbell was asked:

“Q. You raped and stabbed a 15 year old victim approximately 44 times, including slashing her throat. You also killed a 17 month old baby — A 17 month old victim that she was baby-sitting and that 17 month old was stabbed multiple times also ultimately having his throat slashed, is that generally accurate?

Campbell: Yes, sir….”

He went on to explain that he was having “a lot of problems emotionally”…” and that his mother had sent him for counseling. “What was going on in my life was a lot of problems at home with my parents and my family. I always took them I could never do anything right. Everything I did was wrong and that kind of built up. I had a little history of, I was scared of my parents, but I lashed out at other people because I saw them as weaker. That was my way of trying to make myself feel better. It was very irrational but I didn’t — I thought it would make me feel better to do, to hurt others and what not.

When asked why he called to have Cindy Lewis meet him in the field, Campbell responded:

“Chad: My mission was basically to rape and possibly kill, to be honest with you…”

The parole examiner asked Chad why, after he raped and killed Cindy, did he turn the violence towards the baby?

“Chad: “Curtis, which was the young boy, the baby’s name, he was crying and like I said I just, I wanted silence. I mean the noise, I was scared, adrenaline and I just, I just took a step or two over and I stabbed him. I mean he wasn’t doing anything, he was just an innocent like little boy and I had taken his life.”

Asked for any other comments before reaching a decision Campbell said:

“Chad: Yeah, I would just like to say that over my 23 years of being incarcerated, you know, I’ve had time to think about it, you know, what I’ve done. I don’t know how to express myself in words. I’m very nervous at this present time. I don’t come across like I should, but I just want to reiterate how sorry I am. I wish I could say I’m sorry to the victims and the families. I wish I could be forgiven but this was such a crime that I don’t think that’ll ever happen. You know, there’s been many nights where I’ve woken up like not knowing where I was and then I realized where I am and what I did to get here and that hurt me. The only thing I can do is change who I am.”

After due deliberation by the Parole Board Panel, the following decision was rendered:

“After a review of the record and interview, the panel has determined that if released at this time, there is a reasonable probability that you would not live and remain at liberty without again violating the law and your release would be incompatible with the welfare of society and would so deprecate the serious nature of the crime as to undermine respect for the law. The panel has considered your institutional adjustment including discipline and program participation Required statutory factors have been considered, including your risk to society, rehabilitation efforts, and your needs for successful re-entry into the community…”

Every time Curtis’ mother, Carol Hartnagel, grandmother, Elaine Hartnagel and Cindy Lewis’ mother, Nancy Lewis, have circulated petitions to present to the parole board, demanding Campbell never be released. Although they cannot appear at the actual parole procedure, the Hartnagel and Lewis families always meet with a parole board member to emphasize their resolve.

The first time, well over a thousand local residents signed the petition. The last parole hearing held May 6th, still had many of the same people signing, recalling that dark part of Palmyra Village history. “It is something I am going to do as long as I live,” stated Elaine Hartnagel. “No way do we want him out. He is a big threat to society and no one in town wants him out,” said Nancy Lewis.

When and if he is ever paroled, Chad said he would move back to Palmyra and live with his father and wife and “they are behind me 100%.” Chad had a prison wedding with a family friend and pen pal. He will be married for six years this August. He told the parole board he would like to go into some type of construction, possibly welding. He told the Board that he has attended “All  my mandatory programs with numerous volunteer programs.

David Gould retired from the State Police in 2004 and was elected Sheriff of Cayuga County in 2006. He will be seeking his third term this year.

Nancy Lewis works for Walmart in Macedon and said she gets a “lot of support from her co-workers”.

District Attorney Rick Healy has been the Wayne County District Attorney since 1991 and will seek reelection again next year. He hopes to end his law career as a judge.

Curtis’ mother, Carol, is now a manager for NOCO convenience stores. After Curtis’ death, she had two daughters, Lynsey, now age 18 and Layney, age 14. Both daughters are aware of their half-brother’s death and the full history of the case against Chad Campbell.

Elaine Hartnagel said that a day does not go by when she does not think about the case, the brutality of Chad Campell, and she will work to keep him in prison for the rest of his life.

When informed of the latest parole board decision to deny Chad Campbell parole, Sheriff David Gould’s comment was “It’s a great thing.”

New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico is saddened to announce the death of Trooper Christopher G. Skinner. Trooper Skinner was last assigned to the Traffic Incident Management Unit (TIM Detail), Troop C, Delaware County.
Around 12:00 p.m. on Thursday (5/29, Trooper Skinner was outside his marked State Police car conducting a vehicle and traffic stop on I-81 north of exit 6, between Chenango Bridge and Castle Creek, Broome County, when he was struck by a passing vehicle. Trooper Skinner was killed instantly.
The driver continued on a short distance before stopping and running into nearby woods. The operator was taken into custody shortly after 1:00 p.m. following a search. He was identified as Almond Upton, age 60, of Florida. He was charged and arraigned on Murder in the 1st Degree. It is alleged Upton was involved in side swiping two vehicles and injuring one driver prior to encountering Trooper Skinner. He allegedly left the passing lane and headed straight towards the trooper.

Trooper Skinner was a 13 year veteran of the New York State Police. He worked in Troops C, E and G. He was assigned to the TIM detail in June 2008.

Trooper Skinner is from Binghamton, NY and is survived by his mother, Sharyn, brother, Shawn, fiancé, Surrena, and two children, 15-year-old Kyle and 12-year-old Erin. Trooper Skinner was 42 years old.

Funeral arrangements will follow.
State Police would like to thank the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshal Service, Castle Creek Fire Department, and other federal and local first responders for their assistance.

The Gananda girls varsity softball team won the Section V Class C1 title on Thursday after defeating Warsaw 11-5.

Junior Peyton Wyjad and Jen Stearns each finished 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead Gananda (19-0) to its third-straight Class C1 championship.

Brianna Walker was 2-for-4 with two RBI and struck out four in the win to earn Tournament MVP honors. Brielle Hamel was also 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Blue Panthers, who scored six runs in the first inning and four in the fourth to take control. Sammi Robb had a home run for Warsaw (10-7).

State Police in Lyons responded to a report of a Palmyra woman who was found, by a relative, passed out at her home. Meghan E. Hinckley, age 25, of 423 East Main Street in the Village of Palmyra was found unconscious. At the time she was supposed to be watching her three children, a 5 month old baby, a 1-1/2 year old child and a 6 year old.

An ambulance transported Hinckley to Newark-Wayne Hospital where she was treated for a drug overdose. According to police, Hinckley became combative with hospital personnel.

Police confiscated a number of prescription pills and a straw with a white powder substance at the scene. The drugs are being tested for identification.

Hinckley was taken into custody at the hospital, transported to the Palmyra Court for arraignment.

She was charged with three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. More charges are pending.

A relative took charge of the children.

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, held a ground breaking event at the site of Tops’ future Walworth, NY location. This will be the company’s newest store and part of Tops’ major investment in the greater Rochester community.

It will be the second store for Tops in Wayne County. Tops President and CEO Frank Curci, developers from Walworth Plaza LLC, as well as Walworth Town and Wayne County officials were on hand to discuss what shoppers will see at the new Walworth location.

“The Wayne County community and the greater Rochester area are very important parts of our business,” Curci said.  “This store will be the latest addition to Tops’ commitment to growth and serving the grocery needs of our neighbors. Including current projects and those completed over the past three years, we are investing more than $25 million in the greater Rochester area to make for an exceptional shopping experience for our many customers.”

The new 42,674 square-foot store, located at 2140 Walworth Penfield Road in Walworth will open in 2015 and will create approximately 100 jobs. Curci described the new Walworth store’s layout as modern and efficient, as well as easy to navigate and having a true neighborhood feel.

Developer David Dworkin stated,    “Our goal, as a real estate developer is to see that the work progresses, and that we bring in a project that we can all be proud of.”

Included in the ground breaking ceremony, besides current County and Town officials, was retired Walworth Supervisor Bob Plant, whose vision, as far back as 7 years ago, has seen fruition with this new grocery store.

Peg Churchill, Wayne County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director, noted that working with Tops and the Walworth Plaza Corporation was a great process. She indicated that two very “stubborn” men helped make this launch possible. Former Supervisor Bob Plant and Walworth Plaza LLC partner Tony Evans.

Current Walworth Supervisor Patti Marini remarked that the town was proud and anxious to welcome the new business, one that will bring jobs and shoppers to Walworth.

Curci indicated that, while they are aiming for a Spring 2015 opening of the new store, a summer opening is more realistic. While a spokesman for Tops had indicated that gas pumps, usually built in conjunction with a new Tops store, would be built at a later date, the final decision about installing the pumps at the same time as the store opening, is being considered

“We are committed to investing in this area and as we look ahead, this region is a market we are looking to grow and expand in,” Curci added.

Outside the Bay Area, few wine enthusiasts realize that California’s wine scene is incredibly welcoming.

This is understandable; we see our favorite winemakers on the covers of magazines and struggle to contain our excitement when new wines hit the market. So expecting to meet any big name in the flesh seems as fantastical as expecting to meet Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie on a trip to Hollywood.

But it’s not. And sometimes, these encounters are so inspirational that lives are forever changed.

Consider my own experience.

Long before writing about wine, I started making regular pilgrimages to Napa Valley and Sonoma County to develop my palate and expand my knowledge.

On one early trip, I sent an email to Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the nation’s hottest winemakers. The vintner behind a host of highly regarded labels — including Schrader, Outpost, and Maybach — made his first big splash in 2008 when he became the youngest winemaker in history to receive a 100-point score from Robert Parker. In 2010, Brown was named Food & Wine’s “Winemaker of the Year.”

I had been purchasing wines from Brown’s personal label, Rivers-Marie, for a couple years so was hopeful he’d be available for a quick meet-and-great. As it turned out, his schedule was wide open. We hung out for three hours.

In part, experiences like this inspired me to begin writing about wine. Similar encounters motivated others to trade their desk jobs for vineyard work. Others have returned home and decided to launch their own wineries.

That’s what happened with Birk O’Halloran, a self-described “wine geek and a comic book nerd.”

O’Halloran fell in love with wine while studying hotel administration at Cornell. After graduation, he started working in the wine industry — first as an educator and retailer in Colorado and New Jersey and later as a sales manager for A.I. Selections, a popular importer in New York.

Through it all, O’Halloran regularly traveled to Napa Valley and developed friendships there.

In 2010, Birk O’Halloran casually told Steve Matthiasson, a celebrated viticulturist, that he dreamed of making wine. Without pausing, Matthiasson offered to secure some Chardonnay.

Upon hearing this news, Dan Petroski — the winemaker who makes some of Napa’s best reds at Larkmead and some of Napa’s best whites at Massican — offered to help O’Halloran figure it all out.

So O’Halloran partnered with a buddy from college, drained his savings account, and launched Iconic Wine. When it came time to figure out a wine label, O’Halloran decided to combine his two passions by hiring an artist to adorn his wine with a superhero fit for a comic book.

Brook Smith, a business owner in Kentucky, has a similar story.

A passionate gourmand who co-owns Louisville’s top restaurant, 610 Magnolia, Smith has always loved wine. That’s why, 14 years ago, he traveled to Napa Valley with his wife to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary.

While there, the two linked up with Suzie and Paul Frank, the founders of Gemstone Vineyard. The four formed a lifelong friendship, so the Smiths began visiting Napa Valley with increasing frequency. They quickly connected with a host of industry insiders and grew especially close to Frank and Kathy Dotzler, the proprietors of Outpost Wines.

The Dotzlers, in turn, introduced Smith to their winemaker, Thomas Rivers Brown. The two men hit it off. So in 2010, Brown agreed to take on another project and helped Smith launch Post Parade Wines. The name celebrates the moment when thoroughbred horses walk onto the racetrack. It’s fitting, considering that the project was hatched while traveling between Napa Valley and Kentucky.

These stories are romantic, to be sure. But they’re hardly unique.

David White is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com, which was named “Best Overall Wine Blog” at the 2013 Wine Blog Awards. His columns are housed at Grape Collective.

by Gary M. Spaid

WILLIAMSON, NY…Mother Nature finally allowed Spencer Speedway the opportunity to begin the 60^th anniversary year at the speedway with sunny skies. Mike Leaty moved into the 7^th all-time winningest Sunoco Modified drivers he picked up the season opener.

“I am so pleased we looked good out there tonight,” stated Leaty.”It’s just a privilege to drive this car.”

The N.Y.S. Super Stocks also began their second season as a series. Chris Vogler picked up the 25-lap victory. In support divisions, wins went to Van Grant in the Super Sixes and Shawn Frarey in the 4-Cylinder Scorpions.

Daryl Lewis Jr. led the field of Sunoco Modifieds down to take the starter’s green flag and quickly jumped out into the lead. Amy Catalano tried the outside line but settled into second.

On lap five, Catalano looped her mount in the fourth turn to bring out the yellow. This moved Tony Hanbury into the runner up position. The restart saw Hanbury drop back with a bad handling machine and Mike Leaty move into challenge Lewis Jr.

As the field went into the second turn on lap seven, Phil Wehrheim and Matt Lees tangled sending them both into the outside wall. The impact with the wall inflicted sever damage to both cars, but both drivers emerged unscathed. Officials dropped the red flag as they needed time to remove both cars from the speedway surface.

The restart saw Lewis Jr. fend off Leaty and remain the leader. Then on lap 14, Leaty ducked low going into the first turn and grabbed the lead. He was followed, through the hole he opened on the inside by Kevin Timmerman, dropping Lewis Jr. back to third.

The yellow flew again on lap 25, when Tommy Catalano and Eddie Hawkins came together in the fourth turn. Both returned to the back of the field.

A final yellow came with just five laps remaining, lap 30, when Tim Lewis Jr. looped out in the second turn.

Leaty held off Timmerman for the win, followed by Lewis Jr., Rusty Smith and Hanbury rounding out the top five.

“I began to feel a high frequency vibration near the end of the race,” commented Leaty. “I am just glad we were able to take this win. We want to win the divisional championship  this year.”

Dave Fetterly and Chris Vogler brought the field of N.Y.S. Super Stocks down to take the green. Fetterly quickly jumped into the lead. On lap seven the yellow flew when Fetterly lost the handle in turn four and spun out. This gave Vogler the lead, with Joey Miller running in second.

The restart saw just one more lap get into the record books before Brianna Ramsey slowed on the back stretch and was unable to clear the racing groove.

Vogler, Miller and last year’s super Stock track champion at Spencer, Mitchell Wright, made up the top three. Vogler was able to pull away from the rest of the field to nearly a 20 car advantage. Wright got by Miller for second on lap 16, following minor contact in the first turn.

Miller started to fall backwards in the field as heat winner Steve Malin moved into third and Jim Steffenhagen Jr, took fourth. With just one lap to go the yellow flew as Zach Willis coasted to a stop in the fourth turn. This set up a one lap dash to the checkers.

Vogler took the win followed by Wright, Steffenhagen Jr., Malin, and Willie Strusz to make up the top five finishers.

“I want to dedicate this win to my mom, who died from breast cancer,” stated Vogler in victory lane. “This was a difficult win as we had to change transmissions after our heat race.”

Shaun Frarey led the 4-Cylinder Scorpions the entire distance as their race ran green-to-checkers.  Both Frarey and Joe Clark pulled off a two car break away from the field to finish first and second. The Montgomery boys, Austin and Travis, finished third and fourth with Beth Dennie coming home in fifth.

The Super Sixes also saw just one car lead the distance. Pole sitter Van Grant took the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back. The yellow flew once in the 20-lap event, lap 17, when Denny Coyle made contact with the foam barrier in the fourth turn. This sent up a three lap dash to the checkers.

Van Grant took the win followed by Brandon Allen, who was able to take second in the closing laps. Tim Faro finished third and Adam VanHall came home in fourth. Barrett Schenk rounded out the top five finishers.

SPENCER SPATTER: Amy Catalano must have been the proud “queen of racing” as four of her sons were on the track at one time or another during the night. Tommy competed in the Sunoco modifieds, Tim raced in the 4-Cylinder Scorpions and her two youngest boys were part of a microd demonstration that took place during intermission….The fans had the opportunity to “meet and greet” the drivers during the intermission on the front stretch….former track announcer, Jim Fremouw, returned behind the microphone as he will be working with Joe Marotta this season.

This coming Friday, June 6^th marks one of the biggest weekend of racing at Spencer. The mighty RoC Modifieds return to Spencer for their 75-lap qualifiers.  Also on the race card is the makeup race for the Big 10 Super Stocks, originally scheduled for May 16^th. The Super Sixes, Scorpion 4-Cylinders and INEX legend cars round out this special program. Race time starts at 7 p.m. sharp, one half hour earlier than normal.

Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester, NY, along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson. Spencer Speedway is the local “NASCAR Place to Race” for Central New York in 2014. Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Points.

For more information go to: www.spencerspeedway.org.

WHELEN ENGINEERING NIGHT SUMMARY

SCROPION 4-CYLINDERS

HEAT 1:  J. Clark, A. Montgomery. T. Montgomery, A. Knoepfler, R. Brown.

HEAT 2:  S. Frarey, T. Alloco, B. Dennie, D. Knapp Jr., Ti. Catalano.

FEATURE (15-laps):   SHAUN FRAREY, Joe Clark, Austin Montgomery, Travis Montgomery, Beth Dennie, Alison Knoepfler, Tom Alloco, Ryan Brown, Donnie Knapp Jr., Timmy Catalano, Carrie Bolton-Brown, Ashley Schoonmaker, Tyler Pratt.

SUPER SIXES

HEAT 1:  A. VanHall, A. Cocilova, B. Allen, B, Mitchell, P. Moose.

HEAT 2:  V, Grant, R. Hilleger, T. Faro, B. Schenk, K. Butler Jr.

FEATURE (20-laps):  VAN GRANT, Brandon Allen, Tim Faro, Adam VanHall, Barrett Schenk, Josh Schoonmaker, Andy Cocilova, Keith Butler Jr., Bill Mitchell, Paul Moose, Denny Coyle, DNS: Ryan Hilleger, Brian Hallett.

N.Y.S. SUPER STOCKS

HEAT 1:  M. Wright, C. Vogler, J. Steffenhagen Jr., J. Miller, W. Strusz.

HEAT 2:  S. Malin, B. Gleason, D. Fetterly, Z. Willis, D. Lazzaro.

FEATURE (25-laps):  CHRIS VOGLER, Mitchell Wright, Jim Steffenhagen Jr., Steve Malin, Willie Strusz, Billy Gleason, Phil Alhart, Dale Lazzaro, Zach Willis, Joey Miller, Dave Fetterly, Mike Ide, Brianna Ramsey, Jason Dinzler.

SUNOCO MODIFIEDS

HEAT 1:   A. Catalano, T. Hanbury, K. Timmerman, M. Lees, E. Hawkins.

HEAT 2:   D. Lewis Jr., M. Leaty, P. Wehrheim, C. Risdale, R. Knapp.

HEAT 3:   T. Catalano, A. Lewis, R. Smith, T. Lewis Jr., B. Semmler.

FEATURE (35-laps):   MIKE LEATY, Kevin Timmerman, Daryl Lewis Jr., Rusty Smith, Tony Hanbury, Bobby Lippa Jr., Eddie Hawkins, Tommy Catalano, Chris Risdale, Tim Lewis Jr., Andy Lewis,  Billy Semmler, Amy Catalano,  Phil Wehrheim, Matt Lees, Tom Wiest, DNS: Ricky Knapp.

SPENCER DRAGWAY RESULTS 5/24/14

SUPER DIVISION:

1)      Mark Harvie, 2) Sam Capizzi Sr., 3) Neal Onderdonk, 4) Dean Olschewski

PRO DIVISION:

1)      Sam Capizzi Jr. , 2) Sam DeMareo II, 3) Paul Zardarlik Sr., 4) Terry Duerr.

STREET DIVISION:

1)      Jacob Lippa, 2) Bob Lynchesky, 3) Matt Galiotti

GAMBLER DIVISION:

1)      Dave Stock, 2) Paul Zardarlik Jr.

The Wayne County Office of the Sheriff reported that the death of a Town of Arcadia Man following an accident that occurred on Sunday (6/1) at 5:24 p.m. at the intersection of Tellier Road and Stebbins Road in the Town of Arcadia.

The operator of the motorcycle, Erik L. Loghry, age 53 of Whitbeck Road in Arcadia was operating his vehicle and struck a farm tractor. He succumbed to his injuries while at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is still ongoing.

CSX Railway, Town of Macedon and State DOT think dangerous

crossing should be closed, but…

It happened again at the very dangerous railway crossing on Quaker Road in the Town of Macedon. This time on Sunday (6/1) at approximately 4 a.m., Timothy Stahowiak, age 23, of Skaneateles NY, was driving with three friends in his vehicle back to Skaneateles from the Gananda area, using his aftermarket GPS system.

Stahowiak was traveling northwest on Quaker Road and approached the rail road crossing. He claimed that his GPS system told him to “bear right” at which time he turned his wheel to the right as directed.

His vehicle’s passenger-side tires left the paved roadway and drove onto the train tracks where the vehicle became stuck. Stahowiak put his hazard lights on the vehicle and attempted to seek help at nearby residences – to no avail. When hearing a train approach , he used the light from his cell phone in an attempt to waive at the train and notify the engineers of the vehicle on the tracks. The engineers, seeing the vehicle and cell phone light, immediately applied the emergency brakes in effort to slow the train. The train struck the unoccupied vehicle travelling at approximately 56 miles per hour, dragging it 153 feet east of the impact location.

The train was able to come to a complete stop approximately a half mile east of the impact location. No tickets were issued to Stahowiak.

The railroad crossing is no stranger to vehicle crunches. Town officials and police indicated that the crossing has been the scene of a number of similar accidents over the years, especially since the closing of the Canandaigua Road Bridge near the intersection of Quaker and Canandaigua Roads.

Due to the sheer number of accidents at that railroad crossing, Macedon Town Engineer Scott Allen stated that the Town of Macedon, CSX Railroad Freight Company and State DOT (Department of Transportation) would all prefer that the road be shut down to traffic at the crossing in both directions. Allen explained that the problem with the road is where it intersects with the railroad tracks from the east. The steep angle of the road coming from the east includes a bad skew up to the railroad tracks.

Many drivers, such as  Stahowiak, are unfamiliar with the crossing, and get their vehicle wheels stuck at the crossing. So far, there have been a few close calls, but no deaths. Even local drivers dread the approach, unable to see any approaching trains in either direction.

Quaker Road and the nearby Canandaigua Bridge over the Erie Canal were the main routes for travelers until the Bridge was shut down four years ago by the DOT, as unsafe for vehicle traffic due to corrosion and structural deficiencies. Since then, travelers have had to reroute using Wayneport Road and Route 350 as the main roads heading mostly north to the Route 31 east/west county and shopping access.

NYS DOT Public Relations Specialist Laurie Mahar, stated that the estimate to fix the bridge is 5 million dollars. She explained that the plan is to reconstruct the bridge from the current one-lane to a modern two-lane bridge. She also stated that the bid for the bridge will take place in the spring of 2015, and the construction will begin sometime that summer.

Until the bridge is reopened, not much can be done about Quaker Road shared Mahar. “We can’t pursue the process of closing Quaker Road until the final designs, approval of the bridge and construction is completed,” she stated. Mahar reported that once the final design phase is complete, the final milestone is to share the incentive to close Quaker Road with the railroad company to determine what to do, how to go about it, and when.

According to Macedon Town Supervisor Bill Hammond, there have been proposals to close Quaker Road, but the Town flatly refuses to consider cutting the east part of Quaker from the west until the Canandaigua Road Bridge is reopened. Mahar stated that if Quaker Road closes, it will become two dead-end roads..

Marr shared the reason for the bridge reopening being pushed back for four years. It’s simply due to lack of federal and state money.

As explained by Hammond, the road can’t be completely shut down because of the railroad tracks, and the need for a turn around for plows in the winter. He hasn’t personally received any complaints by residents, but he has heard that residents who travel on Quaker Road are concerned with the  possibility of its closing, with it being  currently one of the main routes for the community.

According to Allen, there isn’t much that can be done to fix the railroad intersection on Quaker Road.

“I would prefer if it wasn’t closed, but I understand the concern with why people want it closed,” said Allen.

by Jessica Colon

It has been 70 years since the fateful June 6, 1944, D-Day landings at Normandy, France and one World War II veteran recently returned to those beaches to join in the commemorative festivities marking the anniversary.

U.S. Army veteran Joseph H. Mack of Macedon, N.Y., visited the historic battlegrounds from May 30 through June 12 on a tour made possible through the Greatest Generations Foundation.

“It is important to be there and it is an honor and privilege to be chosen to do it,” said Mr. Mack.

While in France, Mr. Mack was also celebrated by the French Consulate for his military service.

“My grandfather has never been one to make a big deal out of the fact that he served his country and fought in some of the bloodiest battles in Europe,” said Mr. Mack’s grandson, Patrick Mack of Horseheads, N.Y.

“If asked, he will share. He’ll talk to other vets, but he has never tried to bring praise upon himself.”

However praise is just what Mr. Mack received June 4 in Carentan, France, where he was bestowed the Legion of Honor for participating in the liberation of France during World War II.

“It is an honor to accept the medal for all the vets who didn’t make it home. They really deserve it. They lost their lives for it,” said Mr. Mack.

The National Order of the Legion of Honor is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte on May 19, 1802. It is the highest decoration in France and Mr. Mack was awarded the Chevalier, or Knight class.

Mr. Mack was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 29, 1943, and was assigned to K (King) Company, Third Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Division.

The Division had been trained in amphibious operations and had fully expected to participate in the initial landings on D-Day, but was instead on reserve in England.

“He actually landed on the beach and fought in the hedgerows of Normandy a month after the invasion started,” said Patrick Mack.

Mr. Mack marched through Paris with his division and was wounded in the bloody battles of the Hurtgen forest and a month later was right in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge.

“He fought in Europe basically from a month after the initial landings until the war ended,” said Patrick Mack.

He said his grandfather led men in combat as an infantry squad leader with the rank of sergeant and also served as a platoon guide.

“He fought in the last five seminal battles that won the war,” said Mr. Mack’s daughter, Catherine Wilson of Easton, Md.

“His division lost 80 percent of their troops twice. I am proud of my dad,” she said.

Mr. Mack said simply listing the battles he has been through doesn’t give those who weren’t there the complete picture of war.

“It doesn’t really tell the stories of what we went through,” he said. “I have a lot of stories. The summary is war is hell.”

Mr. Mack said the number of shootouts he was involved in during the war is unbelievable.

“Too many really,” he said. “One of us wasn’t going to walk away and I’m still here.”

When going into Normandy, Mr. Mack and the rest of his Division was told they had a 90 percent survival rate – but in the first battle 50 percent of his Division was lost.

Two more subsequent battles resulted in 75 percent losses of the Division in each fight.

“A lot of situations I was in I think I had divine intervention,” Mr. Mack said, citing in particular an M88 that landed four feet from him during Normandy that luckily turned out to be a dud.

He said the Polish women who built the bombs would often slip duds into the mix, and he said a prayer of thanks that the M88 that landed next to him was one of those duds.

For his military service during the war, Mr. Mack was awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge and a Presidential Unit Citation, among other honors.

The Bronze Star medal was actually just recently presented to him, 70 years after it was earned. Mr. Mack’s daughter, Barbara Perkins of Macedon is also working on getting the Purple Heart awarded to him for his service.

“He is an amazing man,” said Patrick Mack.

“I am very proud of my father,” said Mrs. Perkins. “Thank you to all who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.”

Following the war, Mr. Mack worked at IBM in Binghamton, N.Y., where he lived with his wife, Helen, and raised six children.

“At the time I served my country, I promised God that if I survived the war I would serve him,” Mr. Mack said.

That is why after retiring from IBM, he moved to Charlotte, N.C., with his wife and served as a Deacon for the Catholic Church for 31 years.

He has also been a member of the Knights of the Columbus since 1945.

The 70th anniversary celebration of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy was commemorated by many allied heads of state and hundreds of thousands of visitors in addition to Mr. Mack.

According to Normandy Tourism, the commemorative event included firework displays, parades, parachute drops, military camp set ups, open-air concerts with big bands and more.

As part of the Greatest Generations Foundation tour, Mr. Mack attended commemorative events, visited schools and attended banquet dinners.

“The last time he was in Normandy he was just 19, preparing to land on the beach and then trek by foot through France, Belgium and Germany,” said Mrs. Wilson.

At the time, Mr. Mack said that he did not get any closure when his fellow soldiers lost their lives while under fire.

“We didn’t have time to say goodbye. When you are on the offensive, you have to keep going,” he said.

Returning to the former battlegrounds has brought some closure and more stories to tell, he said.

“The trip was worth it. It was an honor to represent the Division that went into Normandy and the people we lost. It was an honor for me to tell their story,” he said.

In addition to Normandy, the Greatest Generations Foundation sponsored Mr. Mack to visit England and Omaha Beach while on the anniversary tour.

The Greatest Generations Foundation is a non-profit international organization dedicated to promoting recognition and respect for war veterans of past and current conflicts, while enhancing historical education for today’s youth.

“We work to ensure that the honor and sacrifice of these veterans is never forgotten, nor that the value of their deeds be allowed to disappear into the annals of history,” the foundation’s website says.

Mr. Mack was able to participate in this program with the help of his daughter, Mrs. Perkins, who helped him fill out the application and compile all the requisite paperwork the foundation desired.

Timothy Davis of Denver, a spokesperson for the Greatest Generations Foundation, said the purpose of this particular program in Normandy was to go back and honor those who battled and make sure no one forgets.

For the veterans, it is an opportunity to return to the battle sites and honor their brothers and comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom today, Mr. Davis said.

“Freedom is not free,” he said.

By Katie Kazimir

WILLIAMSON, NY – A huge crowd was on hand last Friday to see the return of the Race of Champion Modifieds. Local favorite and defending champion, Mike Leaty took the 75-lap victory.

Also running was the Big 10 Super Stock series. Mike Ramos dominated the 25-lap feature. In support races Carl Vilardo IV won the 15-lap INEX Legends feature, Josh Schoonmaker won the Super Six 20-lapper and Beth Dennie won her very first 4-Cylinder scorpion feature. All of these support features were double track point races.

Daryl Lewis Jr. and Tyler Rypkema brought the field of 23 RoC Modifieds down to take starter John Nelson’s green flag.  A number of cars seems to be caught up in a multi-car melee on the front stretch forcing the RoC officials causing the Red flag to be displayed. Seven cars were involved. Unable to continue were Tyler Rypkema, Terry Cheetham and Andy Seuss.

The second try at starting the race turned out much better with Daren Scherer taking the lead over Nick Pecko and Mike Leaty. The yellow flew on lap nine when pre-race favorite, Chuck Hossfeld coasted to a stop in the third turn.

Scherer continued to lead with Brian DeFabo in second and Leaty third. On lap 23, Leaty was on the charge passing Scherer on the outside exiting the second turn to take the lead. Once in the lead he stretched out his advantage.

The yellow flew again on lap 36, when Andy Jankowiak looped around in the first turn. Officials tried in vain to reposition him for the restart, however Jankowiak would not, or could not, understand. This would set up a pending penalty at the end of the event.

Leaty continued his advantage over Scherer, DeFabo and Pecko. On lap 58 the yellow flew for the final time when Bryan Sherwood, running in fifth looped out exiting the second turn. Also involved was Jankowiak. Again officials tried to line up the cars but Jankowiak did not seem to understand. Finally officials black flagged him to the pits.

Leaty pulled away in the end taking his second RoC Spencer win in a row. Scherer held on strong to come home second followed by DeFabo, Pecko and Austin Kochenash to round out the top five.

“It was a struggle to get by Daren, but once by the race fell our way,” commented an elated Leaty in victory lane.

The Big 10 Super Stocks were also on hand for their 25-lap feature. Eleven cars answered the call to the start of the race. Jake Lyon jumped in the lead with Mike Ramos on his heels. It did not take long for Ramos to take the lead, passing Lyon on lap three.

Once in the lead Ramos pulled away from the field. Only yellow flags would bring him back to within challenging position.

The first of just two yellows flew on lap six. Kevin Ide made heavy contact with the front stretch wall. He was able to walk away from the accident.

The second yellow came on lap 13 when Scott Wylie came to a stop in turn three. All the while Ramos had the field covered.\

As the checkered flag waved, Ramos came home nearly a half straight away ahead of  Nathan Peckham. Peckham, a regular on the dirt track scene drove a magnificent race. Johnson, Mitchell Wright and Joe Mancuso rounded out the top five finishers.

“We were on rails tonight,” commented Ramos on his domineering victory.

The INEX Legends made their first appearance of the season. Their 15-lap feature saw three lead changes. Bryce Norton led the first lap, only to lose the lead on the next lap to Jeremy Haudricourt. Haudricourt led the next nine circuits before losing the lead to the eventual winner Carl Vilardo IV.

Two yellows slowed the race. A spin on lap one by Brad Salatino and a spin by Bryce Norton, while running second, on lap eight.

Vilardo came home with the win followed by Haudricourt, Salatino, Norton and Josh Marchese. For Vilardo it was his fifth feature win at the track.

The Super Six feature saw outside pole sitter Josh Schoonmaker jump into the lead at the drop of the green. The yellow flew on lap four when Bill Malin looped around in the first turn. The restart saw the red flag displayed when Bill Mitchell made heavy contact with the fourth turn wall. He emerged uninjured but his car suffered major damage and was cradled back to the pits.

On lap 11, fourth place runner Adam VanHall seemed to drift sideways exiting the fourth turn and looped around to bring out the final yellow of the race.

Schoonmaker held off the challenges of Brandon Allen to claim his first win in the Super Six division. Allen finished second followed by Tim Faro, Andy Cocilova and Brian Hallett.

The 4-Cylinder Scorpion feature saw Tom Alloco lead the race from the drop of the green until two laps remaining. He was challenged early on by Timmy Catalano. However on lap nine Catalano lost control exiting the second turn and slide through the infield and hit a light pole. The restart saw a two car spin in the third turn by Carrie Bolton-Brown and Ashley Schoonmaker.

With cars spinning and causing yellows the race director announced the next yellow would end the race. Cars continued to loop out, but continued on their way. On the final lap leaders Alloco and Joe Clark spun in the third turn allowing third place runner Beth Dennie to take the lead and the win. Donnie Knapp came home second followed by Alison Knoepfler, Clark and Alloco.

I didn’t expect this,” stated an excited Dennie. “It’s my first win in this division.”

This coming Friday, June 13^th will feature Twin 20 lappers for the Sunoco Modifieds. The Super Sixes and 4-Cylinders Scorpions round out the action. Race time starts at 7:30 p.m. sharp.

Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester, NY, along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson. Spencer Speedway is the local “NASCAR Place to Race” for Central New York in 2014. Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Points.

For more information go to: www.spencerspeedway.org.

RACE of CHAMPIONS NIGHT SUMMARY

INEX LEGENDS

HEAT: B. Norton, C. Vilardo IV, J. Haudricourt, B. Salatino, K. Bertolone.

FEATURE (15-Laps): CARL VILARDO IV, Jeremy Haudricourt, Brad Salatino, Bryce Norton, Josh Marchese, Kevin Bertolone.

SCROPION 4-CYLINDERS

HEAT 1:   S. Frarey, T. Alloco, B. Dennie, C. Bolton-Brown, D. Knapp.

HEAT 2:   J. Clark, Ti. Catalano, A. Knoepfler, A. Schoonmaker, D. Hanbury.

FEATURE (15-laps): BETH DENNIE, Donnie Knapp, Alison Knoepfler, Joe Clark, Tom Alloco, Tyler Pratt, Ashley Schoonmaker, Carrie Bolton-Brown, Doniel Hanbury, Timmy Catalano, DNS: Shaun Frarey.

SUPER SIXES

HEAT 1:  B. Hallett, B. Allen, A. Cocilova, A. VanHall, K. Butler Jr.

HEAT 2:  J. Schoonmaker, V. Grant, T. Faro, B. Schenk, B. Mitchell.

FEATURE (20-laps):   JOSH SCHOONMAKER, Brandon Allen, Tim Faro, Andy Cocilova, Brian Hallett, Barrett Schenk, Keith Butler Jr., Adam VanHall, Bill Inch, Bill Malin, Van Grant, Bill Mitchell, Ryan Hillegeer.

BIG 10 SUPER STOCKS

HEAT 1:  N. Peckham, J. Mancuso, P. Alhart, J. Lyon, B. Frisbee Jr.

HEAT 2:   M. Ramos, D. Johnson, M. Wright, Z. Willis, K. Ide.

FEATURE (25-laps):   MIKE RAMOS, Nathan Peckham, Dave Johnson, Mitchell Wright, Joe Mancuso, Jake Lyon, Phil Alhart, Brandon Larner, Zach Willis, Scott Wylie, Kevin Ide, DNS: Joe Fetzer, Bill Frisbee Jr.

RoC MODIFIEDS

HEAT 1:   T. Rypkema, D. Reaume, N. Pecko, T. Cheetham, S. Fullone.

HEAT 2:   M. Leaty, A. Kochenash, D. Scherer, A. Jankowiak, K. Hahr.

HEAT 3:   C. Hossfeld, D. Lewis Jr., B. Sherwood, B. DeFabo,  D. Rypkema.

FEATURE (75-laps):    MIKE LEATY, Daren Scherer, Brian DeFabo, Nick Pecko, Austin Kochenash, Kirk Totten, Karl Hehr, Bryan Sherwood, Sam Fullone, Kevin Timmerman, Eddie Hawkins, Andy Jankowiak, Tommy Cloce, Daryl Lewis Jr., Doug Reaume, Michael Labreche, Dean Rypkema, Ricky Knapp, Ed Weber, Chuck Hossfeld, Tyler Rypkema, Terry Cheetham, Andy Seuss.

by Gary M. Spaid

On Friday (6/6) at 11:45PM, the Macedon Police reported the arrest of Franklin D. Minnick, age 48, of East Avenue in East Rochester.
Minnick was stopped for having No Working Tail Lights, Stop Lights, or Plate Lights.
Upon stopping the vehicle, it was revealed that Minnick was intoxicated. He was arrested for DWI/BAC with a blood alcohol level of .11%.

Williamson, N.Y. – Check your tickets if you purchased a Take 5 ticket in Williamson. The New York Lottery Tuesday announced a winning ticket sold June 7 at the Express Mart at the intersection of Route 104 and Route 21 in Williamson. The ticket is worth $17,285. The winning numbers: 03-07-17-24-33. The Lottery suggests everyone who bought a draw game ticket should check their tickets again.

The winners may claim the ticket at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, 5857 Route 96 in Farmington, NY 14425, or at any one of the Lottery’s Customer Service Centers statewide.

From our news partners at 13WHAM.com

Lyons Village Police reported the warrant arrest on Saturday (6/7) of Antionette Stergis, age 23, of 41 Phelps Street, Apt. G in Lyons.
It is alleged that on May 17, Stergis harassed the clerk at the Sunoco convenience store and stole a case of Bud Light beer valued at $27.
Stergis was charged with Petit Larceny and Harassment in the 2nd Degree

Schools were once seen as easy places to inflict mass casualties with little resistance with an abundance of news coverage.

On December 29, 2013, the mass shooting at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School was the second deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Adam Lanza, age 20, killed his mother inside their home and then went to the school and killed 20 first graders and six staff members with a semi-automatic rifle. After killing people at the school, he committed suicide with a handgun as police arrived at the scene.

Yet another large school shooting was on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School, outside of Denver, Colorado. According to an updated article in the New York Times by Gina Lamb, two students, Eric Harris, 18 and Dylan Klebold, 17, walked into the high school and shot and killed 12 students, one teacher and themselves. The article explained that the actions occurred after a yearlong plot that included plans to blow up the school and kill up to 500 people. Based on the article, Columbine High School had the record for the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history until the shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007 when a student killed himself and 32 people.

Since the Sandy Hook shooting, the U.S. has averaged about one shooting per week in schools. Like many communities, people in Denver and at sandy Hook were shocked when it happened on their doorsteps.

With school shootings taking up headlines, Wayne County law enforcement was not going to wait and take any chances on not being prepared for a school shooting, or hostage situation. Lieutenant Robert Milby of The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office leads the Emergency Response Team trained and deal with the possibilities. His team has so far trained 145 law enforcement officers on the newest protocols on how to respond to an active threat/shooting.

According to Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts, the police department has been providing active threat training since 2001 to the 11 schools in the county. Virts stated that to this day they have completed 10 trainings, one included in each calendar year at all of the schools. Virts also mentioned that this year is the first year all law enforcement including officers, the fire department, emergency response team, and any other law officials who carry firearms are required to participate in the training sessions.

“It’s better to be trained than to have an event,” said Virts. The Sheriff explained that Milby created the idea to start active threat training at schools in 2001. “I expanded that idea to involve all law officials,” said Virts.

Milby stated that the issue of school shootings became more serious than it already was after the Sandy Hook shooting, because the President of the United States made it mandatory that all law enforcement officials participate in these practices.

Milby has traveled to New Mexico and along the east coast to take part in Homeland Security training programs which offer an updated approach. Common lock down procedures include closing the windows, locking the doors, covering any windows, turning off the lights, moving all students to the back of the classroom and remaining quiet until the drill is over. During that time, law officials check the hallways to make sure the school is clear of danger.

The drills are meant to be as real as possible so that everyone is prepared if a real event were to occur. Milby also stated that the criminal justice students who attend BOCES help with the drills by monitoring the hallways.

North Rose-Wolcott School Resource Official Scott Baker said the active threat trainings in his District take place twice a year. The first drill is announced and takes place in the Fall and the second one occurs in the Spring and is not announced. “We have full cooperation from law enforcement during our drills which help make them authentic,” said Baker.  He stated that the purpose of the drills is to prepare staff and students, but to also identify improvements to ensure all students and staff will be safe in an emergency situation. The drills also allow law enforcement to become familiar with the buildings, according to Baker.

“The next plan is determining how to get response teams in the schools from the back,” said Virts.

On July 28, Virts will be meeting with school superintendents to discuss that issue for drills taking place next school year.

Gananda School District Superintendent Shawn Van Scoy stated that the active threat drills are a good thing to practice however, the school doesn’t get enough practice with lock downs. According to Van Scoy, last summer, the principal, athletic director and health administrations attended a Homeland Security management screening at Monroe Community College. There, they were taught active training for emergencies by police officers.

Van Scoy shared his concern that there are requirements for fire drills each year, but there are no requirements for active threat practices.

“I think we should have fewer fire drills and more active threat drills because there have been more threats at schools than there have been fires in schools,” said Van Scoy.

by Jessica Colon

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  announced that 28 sites have been nominated to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Locally, the Ambrose Lapham House in Palmyra – Constructed 1869-1870 was nominated. The Italianate style home was constructed for Lapham, a Palmyra native who made his fortune in banking in the Detroit area and selected Palmyra as a place to retire, remembering the rural, pastoral landscape of the Finger Lakes.

Built ca. 1869, the Ambrose Lapham House is a large two story brick house, located on West Jackson Street, just west of the Wayne County Agricultural fairgrounds in the southwest section of the village of Palmyra. The house faces north and consists of a main block, with a smaller two story attached block on the south (rear) of the building. Built in the Italianate style, it features a low hipped overhanging roof with decorative wood brackets and panels in the eaves. A wooden cupola is centered on the roof of the main block. Fenestration is regular with narrow, four over four double hung windows set into arched openings. Segmented stone lintels and narrow stone sills highlight the windows, except for the rear block section where the sills and lintels are of plain rectangular stone. The main entrance in the north elevation is surrounded by a single height porch and enters into a small vestibule. Both doors in the exterior and vestibule are double wood frames with large glass insets. A secondary entrance is on the east side of the house through an enclosed porch. Another entrance was added to the rear of the building in the early twentieth century and a fire escape added in the mid twentieth century when the rear block was converted into two apartments. The interior of the house contains numerous period features, which include original marble and granite fireplaces, wooden floors, a main staircase, doors, and moldings. To the south of the house is a late nineteenth century wood framed barn with its historic cupola, doors and horse stalls. Other contributing features include a rustic late nineteenth century gazebo in the northwest portion of the property and four surviving brick piers along the property on West Jackson Street.

After a number of owners, in 1964, the house was sold again and divided into four apartments. The current owners of the property, located at 352 West Jackson Street, Joan DeCann and Richard Coyne, acquired the property in 1985 as a residence and have been restoring the house as time and finances allow.

Call it an “Oops” moment, a very expensive oops moment. The installation of air cards and radio repeaters in local Sheriff’s Ford Crown Victoria patrol vehicles could have ended badly if the puncture wounds in the gas tanks hadn’t eventually triggered the check engine lights.

After patrol officers began noticing the check engine lights, it was discovered that Finger Lakes Communication Company; an authorized Motorola two way radio dealer and service center had drilled through the gas tanks of 18 of the 22 patrol vehicles.

According to Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts, had the officers not noticed, there could have been a fire, an explosion or a deputy could have been overtaken by fumes. The Sheriff reported that no one was injured.

Three weeks after learning that the tanks were punctured, the Sheriff’s Office is now in the process of having the gas tanks replaced by the Wayne County Highway Department’s central garage head mechanic Dan McKinney and his staff.

Sheriff Virts stated that Finger Lakes Communication has taken responsibility for their error and will be paying for all expenses to replace the gas tanks. Virts said the cost to replace each gas tank is $352, labor is $126 per job, which takes three hours per tank and materials for a new undercoat on each vehicle is $6 per coat. The total cost will be $8712.    by Jessica Colon