Winner will challenge Tenney in general election

Photos by Tom Rivers: Alissa Ellman of Lockport, left, and Diana Kastenbaum of Batavia both are on the ballot in Tuesday’s Democratic Party Primary for the 24th Congressional District. They are shown speaking at a candidate forum at Hoag Library in Albion on June 4.

Registered Democrats in the sprawling 24^th Congressional District will go to the polls on Tuesday (June 23) to determine the party’s candidate in the general election against Republican incumbent Claudia Tenney. The district covers 14 counties including Orleans, and stretches from Niagara Falls to the Finger Lakes and North Country.

Diana Kastenbaum of Batavia and Alissa Ellman of Lockport are both seeking the Democratic Party line. Kastenbaum previously ran for Congress in 2016 against then Congressman Chris Collins in the former 27^thCongressional District for New York.

The two Democratic candidates shared their views during a candidate forum on June 4 at Hoag Library in Albion. About 75 people attended the forum.

Kastenbaum, 75, previously served as CEO and owner of Pinnacle manufacturing Company in Batavia. She was one of the few women running a tool and die company.

She is a trustee for Genesee Community College. She was married to the late Hiram Kasten, a noted stand-up comedian and actor.  Kastenbaum’s daughter Millie is an assistant district attorney in Manhattan.

Alissa Ellman, 42, is married with two grown daughters in Lockport. She grew up in rural Allegany County. She joined the Army National Guard at the age of 17, and deployed at age 19 to Afghanistan from January 2003 to June 2004 as a flight operation specialist.

She later returned to the Afghanistan with Halliburton from 2005-2008 managing flight line operations in Kandahar. In 2018, Ellman was diagnosed with a rare adrenal cancer, associated with toxic burn pit exposure during her service in Afghanistan. She was working at the Buffalo VA when her job was eliminated as part of DOGE cuts early last year.

“I’ve never aspired to be a politician, but I enjoy public service,” Ellman said during the candidate forum.

She showed off a small tattoo on her arm that says “NY-24.”

“That is to remind me of where my priorities are,” she said.

Diana Kastenbaum speaks during a candidate forum on June 4 in Albion. She said lowering the cost of healthcare and expanding coverage would be her top priority if elected to Congress. She is standing next to forum moderator Jim Renfrew with Alissa Ellman on the other side of Renfrew.

Kastenbaum said the country “is at a very dangerous point in time” with military conflicts, frayed alliances and growing inequality at home in the U.S. She said the rural 24^th Congressional District is suffering under Trump with cuts in healthcare, growing food desserts and rising costs on families.

“Healthcare is the number one issue,” she said.

She would make agriculture another top priority, calling it an economic force for the 24^th District. Trump policies and actions have threatened farming with higher fuel and fertilizer costs, vanished markets from his tariff wars, and a shortage of workers due to aggressive immigration enforcement.

She would support expanded guest-worker programs for foreign workers on farms, including allowing the seasonal workers to stay up to three years.

Kastenbaum said the Republican-controlled Congress has provided no oversight to Trump and abdicated its checks and balances.

“I want to see us get back to the rule of law and have people be held accountable,” she said. “We need to get Congress back in the game, stand up for our NATO allies, protect national security, and pitch in and help in the war in Ukraine.”

Alissa Ellman said she wants Trump impeached and to be held accountable for his “anti-American” actions, including going to war in Iran without Congressional approval.

Ellman said lowering healthcare costs “would be my utmost priority.”

She would also support impeaching Donald Trump. “He needs to be held accountable for his actions,” she said. “He needs to be held civilly and financially liable for his anti-American decisions.”

Ellman said better public transportation, especially in the rural communities also would be a top priority.

“Public transportation isn’t sexy but it’s critical,” she said. In many rural areas, senior citizens have a long drive for care.”

Both candidates say they oppose the war in Iran, and said Trump hastily took the country to war without exhausting diplomatic measures.

They are concerned about the rising costs of living and would make affordability a priority. They faulted Tenney for providing no pushback to President Trump, no matter how his actions or policies raise costs on Americans, threaten long-standing alliances or pull the country into military conflicts.

The 24^th Congressional District is gerrymandered in a way that is solidly Republican with Republicans at a 219,522 registered voter advantage over 120,959 Democrats. There are also 12,527 registered Conservatives.

Diana Kastenbaum chats with Albion resident Betty Garcia Mathewson after the forum in Albion.

Ellman and Kastenbaum both believe they can get Republican support and the majority of the unaffiliated voters or “blanks” that total 132,763 in the district, making it possible to pull off an upset against Tenney in the Republican-stacked district.

Kastenbaum said she would seek to emulate the example of the Barber Conable, the esteemed late local Republican Congressman from Alexander in Genesee County. Conable connected with Democrats and Republicans, and served as president of the World Bank.

Conable showed an effective congressman respects all members and can build bridges with the other political party, Kastenbaum said.

“Barber Conable, that is the type of representative you need,” Kastenbaum said during the candidate forum. “He could talk with Republicans and Democrats and everyone. We won’t get anywhere without compromise. I know that from my business.”

Kastenbaum said she would want to serve in Congress for a maximum of six years – three 2-year terms. She favors campaign finance reform to reduce the influence of big donors on both Republicans and Democrats.

Ellman said the “blanks” would be a focus if she wins the Democratic primary and moves on to the general election against Tenney.  Those unaffiliated voters are the key to the election, Ellman said, and she plans to seek out their support, even if it means knocking on the door of every “blank” in the district.

Ellman, the military veteran, said too many people profit when the country goes to war.

“We need to stop treating the military as an industrial complex,” she said.

She favors abolishing ICE due to its tactics that she said have created fear in communities around the country.

“I favor law enforcement that gets the criminals out,” she said. “With ICE, there is very little vetting or training.”

Kastenbaum doesn’t think it’s likely that ICE will be abolished. She said citizens need to continue being activists “to protect our neighbors’ rights,” she said.

Both candidates said they are concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce as well as the growing push for massive datacenters, including one proposed for the STAMP manufacturing site in Alabama, near the Orleans County line.

Kastenbaum wants a moratorium on new data centers, putting new ones off until more research can be done on the ramifications of the centers and AI’s impact on the workforce.

“You need active people who know what they’re doing and will work on it,” she said about challenging issues. “I’m one of those people.”

Alissa Ellman meets some of the people gathered for the candidate forum held at Hoag Library in Albion.

Ellman said AI could further disrupt the workforce, making it even more challenging for people to make a living and buy a home. She said she would support a universal basic income “so people are not working three jobs.”

With AI and its impact on workers: “We have to band together,” she said. “We have to work together.”

Ellman said she sees a struggling NY 24^th, including in Orleans County. She would like to see more job opportunities for people. She is encouraged by an active citizenry in the district.

“I see a lot of people out here who want to do the right thing,” she said.

Kastenbaum calls NY-24, “the Lake District” due to its proximity to Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes.

Medina in particular has a lot to offer, she said, with a bustling downtown with many independent businesses.

“I’ve seen the beauty of this district,” Kastenbaum said. “You have a lot to be proud of. You have a lovely community.”

The average gas price for regular unleaded has fallen below $4 nationally for the first time in about three months, down 14 cents in the past week to $3.93, AAA reported today. A year ago the price was $3.22.

In New York State, the average price is $4.23, which is down 13 cents in the past week. The average price in Orleans County is at $4.396 today. A week ago it was $4.503, according to AAA.

“Drivers are getting a break at the pump as summer arrives and the travel season heats up,” AAA said. “Last week, for the first time since March 30, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped below $4 and has continued to drop to $3.93 this morning.”

“Unfortunately, New York prices remain over $4 per gallon with the state ranking 9th for the highest prices in the country,” AAA said. “Crude oil prices are down as the U.S. and Iran reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This morning, oil prices are down to $75 to $79 per barrel.”

Diesel prices are down this week, with the national average at $5.01, down 19 cents from last week, but up from $3.68 a year ago.

Here are the average prices at counties around Western New York:

• Orleans, $4.396
• Genesee, $4.300
• Monroe, $4.302
• Niagara, $4.363
• Erie, $4.350
• Wyoming, $4.422
• Livingston, $4.423
• Chautauqua, $4.299
• Cattaraugus, $4.213
• Allegany, $4.360

Yates County has the highest price in state at $4.549, while the lowest price of $4.028 a gallon is in Nassau County.

Primary will be Tuesday with polling sites throughout county

ALBION – The nine days of early voting, from June 13 to June 21, resulted in 78 votes for primaries in Orleans County.

There is one early voting polling site in the county – at the Board of Elections in the County Administration Building.

There will be polling sites throughout the county on Tuesday and they will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The primaries include:

• NYS Comptroller: Thomas DiNapoli, Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle (Democrats countywide)
• U.S. Rep. NY 24: Alissa Ellman and Diana Kastenbaum (Democrats countywide)
• Clarendon Town Supervisor: Marc Major and Frederick Seeman (Republicans in Clarendon)
• Shelby Republican Committee District 1 – two positions: Dale Root, Steve Seitz and John Parada (Republicans in Shelby for District 1 only)

Here is a list of the polling sites for Tuesday:

• Albion – Districts 1 through 6 – Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
• Barre – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
• Carlton – Districts 1 through 3 – Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
• Clarendon – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 16385 Church St.
• Gaines – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.
• Kendall – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.
• Murray – Districts 1 through 6 – Town Hall/Highway Garage, 3840 Fancher Rd.
• Ridgeway – Districts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 – Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, 11392 Ridge Rd.
• Ridgeway – Districts 4, 5 – Town Hall, 410 West Ave.
• Shelby – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 4062 Salt Works Rd.
• Yates – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 8 South Main St.

Photo from Pixcams, Inc.: The eaglet featured on a nest cam at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge has been named Skanon. The eaglet took flight for the first time on Sunday.

By Dick Moss, president of Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

BASOM – The eaglet that has been the focus of attention at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge took flight for the first time Sunday morning.

The fledging occurred just a day after Amy Merritt of Corfu, a member of Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (FINWR) and one of the lead eagle camera moderators, announced the eaglet’s new name.

The name is Skanon (pronounced Skä•noñh), a name with deep Seneca roots meaning peace and wellness. It was suggested by FINWR board member Marvin Jacobs of Cheektowaga, an elder of the Seneca Wolf Clan, and was one of three names that interested observers chose among.

Skanon has many meanings and also expresses: Continuance — the idea that life, culture, and responsibility carry forward; as well as journey — walking a path guided by the Great Law of Peace.

Skanon spread her wings and took off from the nest at 7:31 a.m. Sunday, aged 79 days, and swooped down toward the marsh. She returned later in the morning after her adventure, and settled for a time on a branch near the bald eagle camera operated by FINWR before returning to the nest.

“Skanon had what we call an intentional fledge,” Merritt said. “She wanted to fly! You look for a poop shoot first, she will extend her neck out looking for a target, judging distance, wings extended. Then a spring from the legs, as if you were jumping off a diving board!”

The name was chosen from among three possibilities by FINWR members, participants in the eagle cam chat and followers of FINWR’s web pages who made a small donation to the nonprofit to participate in the voting. The other two options were Oneida and Casey.

FINWR’s eagle camera committee also named Skanon’s parents Cayuga and Seneca, in tribute to the Haudenosaunee legacy of the land the refuge sits on.

The mother bald eagle, previously designated IF1, will now be known as Cayuga — a name rooted in the People of the Great Swamp, reflecting strength, resilience, and deep connection to the waters and wetlands that cradle this nest.

The father, previously IM1, will now be known as Seneca — honoring the Keepers of the Western Door, a name that carries the spirit of guardianship, wisdom, and watchful protection.

Merritt said that in the post-fledge period, expect Cayuga and Seneca to continue to bring food to the nest, or wherever Skanon happens to be.

“She will explore, as she did today,” Merritt said.

“She seems to be a strong flyer,” said FINWR Vice President Emma DeLeon of Williamsville, who has shared the main moderator duties with Merritt and is one of the people most responsible for the eagle camera and its setup. “Over the next 4-6 weeks, the parents will continue feeding her as she learns to hunt and scavenge. Gradually she will spend more time independently and more time outside of the parents’ territory.  She will be fully independent and have left the territory by this fall.”

The eagle camera idea was born mostly from comments and feedback from visitors to the refuge Visitor Center asking if the original eagle cam was still working. It had stopped working over 20 years ago, said FINWR past president and current board member Garner Light of Gasport.

“The inquiries happened often enough that it seemed like a good idea to propose installing a new camera,” he said. “The camera was installed on a beautiful warm day in October of 2024. This was the culmination of a year’s worth of research, consultations, permissions, discussions and a lot of logistics.”

Many people were involved in making the camera a reality, among them the state Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Iroquois NWR management, Bill Powers of Pixcams Inc. of Export, PA, Treeman Tom LLC of Wilson, DeLeon and Light.

Dick Moss of Medina is president of Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, a 501(3)c nonprofit, all-volunteer corporation that helps support and maintain the refuge for future generations.

Seneca Chief will be open for tours on Wednesday in Holley, Thursday in Medina

Photos by Tom Rivers: This group gets a ride on the Seneca Chief replica boat last year as part of the commemorative bicentennial journey of the original Seneca Chief that took Gov. DeWitt Clinton across the entire newly constructed Erie canal in 1825. The photo shows the replica boat headed east as it passes though Eagle Harbor under the lift bridge on Sept. 26, 2025.

The Seneca Chief will be back in Orleans County this week with the public welcome to take free tours of the boat when it’s in Holley on Wednesday and then in Medina on Thursday.

The vessel is a replica of the boat that took Gov. DeWitt Clinton on the maiden voyage across the newly built Erie Canal in 1825, going from Buffalo to New York City.

Volunteers at the Buffalo Maritime Center worked for four years to recreate the Seneca Chief. The 73-foot-long replica received great fanfare last year as part of the 200^th anniversary celebration of the Erie Canal.

The Seneca Chief is on a three-week “Back to Buffalo” journey. The boat left Waterford on June 6 and will reach Buffalo on June 27. It will be in Rochester today and Tuesday before heading west. It is scheduled to reach Holley and be open for tours at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Holley will have food vendors – Red Osier Lands & Lobsters, Dottie’s Lemonade, and Red, White and Moo. People are encouraged to park at the former Save-A-Lot store’s parking lot and then head to Holley’s Canal Park. A band comprised of Holley students – PSA-Public Service Announcement – also will be performing.

Holley elementary students – Robbie Weit, Vivian Applegate and Timothy Hendrickson – have been selected to board the boat in Brockport and ride the canal to Holley, Mayor Mark Bower said. They will be joined by their parents, Murray-Holley Historical Society President Dan Mawn and Village Historian Raymond Santoro.

The schedule in Holley includes:

• 3 p.m. – Seneca Chief arrives at Holley Canal Park
• 3:30 p.m. – Welcome ceremony
• 4 p.m. – Visitor experience that is open to the public. Music starts and food vendors open.
• 7 p.m. – Visitor experience public hours end

The Seneca Chief will depart Holley at noon on Thursday and head to Medina.

The event schedule for Medina includes:

• 3:30 p.m. – Seneca Chief arrives at Medina Canal Basin
• 4 p.m. – Welcome ceremony
• 4:30 p.m. – Visitor experience that is open to the public
• 7 p.m. – Visitor experience public hours end

Visitors checked out the inside of the Seneca Chief on Aug. 12, 2024 when it made a test run of its bicentennial journey. In August in 2024, the boat went from Buffalo to Rochester and back.

The Buffalo Maritime Center said the boat’s keel, frames, and other structural timbers were made of white oak. The keelson was a single 60-foot-long piece of reclaimed Douglas Fir.

The center says this about the wood in the boat:

“The planking consisted of two layers of 1-inch-thick cypress with a waterproof dynel cloth set in epoxy between the layers. The outer layer of planking was caulked with cotton in the traditional manner. This combination of modern and traditional planking methods was designed to help the boat stay watertight even if it spent winters out of the water.

“All of the bolts used in the backbone structure were forged in the BMC’s own machine shop by a crew of volunteers. This crew also produced several specialized tools and hardware needed to build the boat.”

The Seneca Chief is shown passing under the Main Street lift bridge in Albion last year on Sept. 26.

Provided photos

HOLLEY – For the 15^th year, a group from Holley Elementary School participated in the Girls on the Run 5K at the University of Buffalo campus. The top photo shows some of the Holley runners and their running buddies.

The Holley students joined about 1,000 girls from grades 3 to 5 from Western New York in the event on June 8.

Natalie Young, a fifth-grader, runs the 5K with her running buddy, teacher Kristina Rich.

(Left) Lillian Bedard gets help pinning on her bib from her father Brenden Bedard, who was also her running buddy. (Right) Carlee Dale shows the medal she received for completing the Girls on the Run 5K.

The runners from Holley pose for a photo outside the Holley Elementary School. The 8-week program combines physical activities with social-emotional skills, team work and self esteem.

The coaches for the Girls on the Run at Holley include, from left: Lynn Vendetti, Shannon Brett, Hannah Bushen and Julie Boss.

Lillian Passarell, a fourth-grader, was speedy, running the course in 26 minutes, 29 seconds.

Color splash part of celebration at elementary school

Photos courtesy of Andy King, Kendall art teacher

KENDALL – Robbert Mundt, a Kendall sixth-grader, runs through a cloud of color powder thrown by sixth-grade teachers during last Thursday’s moving up ceremony outside the Kendall Elementary School.

Kendall since 2021 has celebrated sixth-graders moving up to the junior-senior high school with a ceremony that includes a color splash.

There are 51 sixth-graders moving up to the junior-senior high school.

Sidewalks were chalked by families during the day with messages for the sixth-graders. Some families need to rechalk their messages three times due to rain showers throughout the day. The moving up celebration was held in the bus loop.

Jaydon Stephens emerges from a cloud of chalk powder.

Kevin Watson, the school principal, usually handles the DJ duties for the celebration but this time handed off the role to sixth-graders Joliene Jurzysta, left, and Preston Swetz. They both have been the DJs for Kendall’s monthly SOAR assemblies. They were able to participate in the color splash when it was their turn.

Eleanor Heeks gets color sprayed by the sixth grade staff.

Landon Perry is moving to seventh grade. He is all smiles with his father, Lucas, following the ceremony.

The sixth-graders take a final group shot at the elementary school following the moving up ceremony.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville school, district recently honored retiring staff and teachers and an administrator awarded tenure. Pictured from left include Superintendent Dr. Heather Lyon; Aimee Chaffee, tenure for role as district’s director of special education, data and grants; Emily Aydelotte, tenure as second grade teacher; Caroline “Carrie” Samson, tenure as elementary teacher; Tammy Mallon, retiree as special education teacher; Kelly Follman, retiree as music teacher; Brenna LaSpada, tenure as third grade teacher; Patrick Whipple, Board of Education president. Missing from photo: Denise Keavney, retiree as cleaner. Jerod Thurber also was recognized for six years of service on the Board of Education. His term ends June 30.

The retirees said they were thankful for the family atmosphere at Lyndonville.

Denise Keavney was praised for bringing “kindness and warmth” to her job at the school. She started as a lunch lady, and became a cleaner.

Tammy Mallon worked 31 years at Lyndonville as a special education teacher.

“She has had a profound impact on the school district,” said Aimee Chafee, the district’s director of special education, data and grants. “For three decades she has been championing students with disabilities.”

Chaffee praised Mallon for being a mentor to other teachers in the special education department.

Kelly Follman was commended for bringing passion to her job as a music teacher, and inspiring many of her students to pursue careers in the arts. Follman said 82 students will be in the marching band for the Fourth of July parade.

“I’m so proud of our music department,” Follman said. “I’m ready to pass the torch to a young person who can take it to the next level.”

Aimee Chafee was awarded tenure for role as district’s director of special education, data and grants. Dr. Heather Lyon, the district’s superintendent, said Chaffee has demonstrated “an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right for students.”

She fosters a culture of shared responsibility and commitment, Lyon said.

“What stands out is Aimee’s integrity,” Lyon said.

Chaffee will be taking a leave of absence next school year before returning in 2027-28.

Emily Aydelotte was awarded tenure in the elementary school. She thanked elementary school principal, Dr. Elissa Smith, “for always believing in me.”

Caroline “Carrie” Samson was praised for being awarded tenure in the elementary school teacher and for setting a remarkable example for students and staff. Samson started working in the school cafeteria in 2013 and then became a teacher aide and a classroom teacher. She did that while taking college classes and earning her master’s degree in education.

“She is such a role model,” said Smith, the elementary principal. “She has chased her dreams as an adult.”

Brenna LaSpada also was awarded tenure as an elementary school teacher. Her students have excelled in third grade. Smith said Lyndonville’s third graders have some of the highest academic achievers in the region and LaSpada is a big part of the third grade team.

LaSpada joined Lyndonville after started her career in the tourism and hospitality industry.

“Every day I get to wake up and come to work with the best colleagues and the best students,” LaSpada said. “I’m happy to be a Tiger.”

1 resident rescued from apartment and carried out by firefighters

Photo courtesy of Brockport Fire District: Fire tore through an apartment complex at 3640 Lake Rd. in Brockport this morning.

Press Release, Brockport Fire District

BROCKPORT – Before the sun rose this morning, fire ravaged through the center building in the apartment complex on Lake Road just North of Ridge Road West.

Four different callers reported the fire to the Monroe County 911 center at 04:48 hours this morning reporting the fire burning out of control at 3640 Lake Rd. in the Town of Clarkson.

A heavy fire load was obvious as first arriving apparatus pulled in the driveway. Additional companies were immediately summoned to assist Brockport firefighters.

15 fire companies from Monroe, Orleans and Genesee counties responded to assist. They included Hamlin-Morton-Walker, Hilton, Spencerport, Bergen, Churchville, Murray, Gates, Ridge Road FD, North Greece, Albion, Kendall, Chili, Henrietta, Mumford and Scottsville.

Many of them were utilized at the scene while some of them stood by in our headquarters station covering our district for us. Monroe Ambulance provided EMS with several ambulances. The Brockport Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office provided drone support to examine the heavily damaged areas while searching for hot spots from above the structure.

No firefighters were injured while fighting the fire. There were four residents treated at the scene and released by EMS crews. One resident had to be rescued from their apartment and carried out by firefighters. Two cats and an Iguana were rescued by firefighters as part of the search and rescue operation.

The structure involved had 21 housing units affected by the fire with approximately 30 residents displaced. The American Red Cross is assisting with temporary housing, and the Brockport Fire District opened the doors of their Station #2 across the street to provide immediate shelter for residents while the Red Cross worked out the details.

The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by the Monroe County Fire Bureau’s Fire Investigation Unit.  The cause is undetermined at this time.

Bruce Burch (sporting dahlias on his lapel), Harry Hillman (center) and Norma Wheeler photographed in 1928 with the West Lyndonville Dahlia Gardens sign.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 18

LYNDONVILLE – It never ceases to amaze us how random photographs can survive and surface after many years to give us a tantalizing glimpse into a moment in time.  Naturally this happy photograph caught our attention. And, wonder of wonders, it was dated and the and the subjects were identified.

But Dahlia Gardens? West Lyndonville??

West Lyndonville was at one time recognized as a distinct area.

For some years, a local correspondent contributed news of area milestones and social activities to the Lyndonville Advertiser.

The 1920s has been referred to as the “golden age” of dahlia breeding as the variety and intensity of colors and forms appealed to the Art Deco Jazz Age aesthetic.

We traced the history of the West Lyndonville Dahlia Gardens through advertisements and news articles. Appropriately, the enterprise dates from that time. The first reference appeared in the Times-Union, Sept. 13, 1924:

“Perhaps the most beautiful colors of dahlias in this vicinity can be seen in Mrs. H. P. Wheeler’s garden in West Lyndonville. Every conceivable color is there, from the lighter shades to blossoms that are almost black. The flowers are large and the double-quilled ones, one variety of which is called the “Country Girl” is especially beautiful.”

Sue Starkweather Miller, Village of Albion Historian, is a dahlia enthusiast. Shown here are some of the dahlias she has grown. The varied forms include semi-cactus, ball, and water-lily.

An ad in The Buffalo News, September 26, 1931, mentioned 400 varieties of dahlia in full bloom at the gardens. What a sight that must have been! Dahlia blossoms are intensely vibrant in the fall.

Pinpointing the actual location of this idyllic garden was a puzzle. To those of us now accustomed to precise directions, the instructions given in the ads were delightfully vague: “One and one fourth miles south-east of Lyndonville” or “Take the first three left-hand turns after passing north through Lyndonville and crossing the railroad.”

Finally, we located the Wheeler property in the 1913 New Century Atlas of Orleans County at the intersection of Angling Road and Marshall Road.

The lady responsible for the dahlia gardens was Mrs. H.P. Wheeler (Lena Boughton). She was listed as a florist in the 1930 Census. Tubers, bulbs and fresh-cut flowers could be purchased at the gardens. Gladioli were added in later years. The business continued until 1943.

Lena died in 1963. She and her husband, Harry Wheeler, are buried in Hartland Central Cemetery, Gasport.

Scott Pachla, a former airline pilot, enjoys working with gun owners

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Scott Pachla is shown on Saturday at Building Your Dreams Gun Shop, which opened about three weeks ago at the former West Ridge Realty building at 16584 Ridge Rd.

Pachla for more than a decade ran the business out of his home on Kendall Road. It outgrew his garage and then expanded into his house, taking up even more room.

The new location is more visible for the public and in a better location for the public, Pachla said.

He started selling guns 16 years ago as a hobby. Pachla, 55, is connected with many distributors. He used those contacts to maintain access to hand guns, long guns, ammunition and other supplies during the Covid pandemic in 2020, when many gun sellers struggled to get supplies.

That’s when the business really started to take off for Pachla, who worked 20 years as an airline pilot. He stepped away from that career due to the constant time away from home.

“I slept in 80,000 hotel beds,” he said. “I was never home.”

After his career as a pilot, Pachla tried a business where he built custom log cabins. He called his contracting business, Building Your Dreams. He kept that name for the gun shop.

The gun business is more family-friendly for Pachla. His wife Joanna Fraser helps with the books, and is at the store on Saturdays. She also works full-time at Lowe’s.

Pachla’s twin sons, Hunter and Kohle, also help at Building Your Dreams. They both will graduate from Holley on Saturday. Hunter does scope mounts and can make gun repairs. Kohle helped design the store’s look and layout.

Scott Pachla and his wife Joanna Fraser are shown at Building Your Dreams Gun Shop at the former Westridge Realty on Ridge Road.

Pachla said he has been a gun enthusiast since he was hunting as a kid. Some of the animals he’s hunted are mounted high on the store walls, including a wild boar he shot with an arrow.

Pachla enjoys sharing his knowledge with the public. If he doesn’t have what they want in the store, he said he can order and quickly have it on site. He has products from about 30 gun manufacturers, including Traditions, Versacarry, Barnes, Hornady, Kimber, Ruger, Glock, Savage,  Springfield, Henry, Smith & Wesson and others.

“I enjoy the customers and I enjoy the industry,” he said.

Building Your Dreams also sells ammunition, accessories, cleaning supplies, scopes and does minor gun smithing.

The business is open Monday through Saturday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6:30 on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Click here for more information.

Pachla works with fire departments and other organizations on gun raffles, trying to help them retain as much of the proceeds as possible.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Local officials today celebrated a new playground in the Village of Holley along the canal park trail. The project was a joint venture through the village, Town of Murray and the county health department.

Unveiling the new sign at the park, from left, include: Village Trustee Rochelle Moroz, Murray Town Supervisor Gerry Rightmyer, County Legislator John Fitzak and Village Trustee Jessica MacClaren. The new sign was designed by Lake Country Media in Albion.

The playground was popular with kids this morning around 11 a.m.

The playground replaces one that was about 25 years old and was removed in 2022 due to disrepair.

The new playground was funded with a $150,000 state grant secured by health department, $52,000 from the Village of Holley and $25,000 from the Town of Murray.

It’s the only public playground in the Town of Murray and Village of Holley besides the one at the elementary school.

Rightmyer said Murray used ARPA federal funds for its share of the project.

Holley Mayor Mark Bower, left, thanked the town and county for supporting the project. The local governments worked with Parkitects and Landscape Structures on the design of the playground, which was installed by Align Outdoors.

Bower said they wanted a new playground that was different from the one at the school. He has been pleased to see many kids and families using the playground.

Legislator John Fitzak said the project was a “creative collaboration” among the three government – village, town and county.

“It’s another way everyone works together for a common benefit,” he said.

Brenden Bedard, assistant director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, spotted the grant possibility. He reached out to Bower to see if Holley was interested in pursuing it. The local entities worked with the county grantwriter, Diane Cihak of Upper Edge Consulting, to submit the successful grant application.

Bedard, a Holley resident who was elected a village trustee on Tuesday, said a playground brings many health benefits, encouraging kids and families to exercise and be outside.

Mayor Bower said the project is the latest in efforts to add recreational amenities in the village. A new kayak launch was recently added through a grant.

Holley also received a grant to add more lighting along the canal path at the park. A screen also will be put in the canal park pavilion to protect people from bugs and insects while they are enjoying the pavilion. A bench with a solar cover also will be added that will be a spot where people can recharge their phones, Bower said.

The village owns the fireman’s field across from the elementary school and two Gaga Ball pits and a bocce court were recently installed at that field, which is leased by the fire department.

Arthur Barnes, Marco Rodriguez and David Burke all have paintings on display

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – David F. Burke of Bergen is one of the featured artists in a new show at the Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion.

He is shown by his painting, “White Trees in September,” an acrylic on canvas.

Burke has 12 paints in the show at Marti’s. Kim Martillotta Muscarella has the gallery open for its 16^th season. There are receptions the third Friday each month from April to November for the new art shows at 20 South Main St.

Arthur Barnes is shown with some of his new ink and water color paintings that he did over the winter. Barnes has about a dozen new paintings in the art show. He likes to paint trees in the winter when there aren’t leaves on the branches. That way there is more to see of the landscapes.

Marco Rodriguez of Brockport is also featured at Marti’s. Rodriguez retired from General Motors after 40 years. He moved to Brockport from Detroit about five years ago to be near his grandchildren.

Rodriguez always liked art but didn’t make the time to paint until his retirement. He has 32 oil paintings at Marti’s including “Colorado Fly Fishing” which is left at top and “Rain Drops” at the bottom. “The King” is another painting he is standing near.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella welcomes people to the art gallery for Friday’s show. There are works from many artists on display throughout the building, which used to the Cornell Cooperative Extension until it moved to a new building in 2007 at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Mark Parker sang and played the guitar during the art show, which also included a spread of snacks.

This season there are sculptures on display that were created by Richard Bannister and George Graham. Bannister’s work is at left and Graham’s is at right. In back at right, Marco Rodriguez talks with Albion resident Samuel Robinson.

For more information on Marti’s, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Tiny “PowerHouse” visited Albion on Thursday. It was stationed in the parking lot of Hoag Library. The PowerHouse is on an 11-day tour of the Rochester region.

The 250-square-foot house was built in 2020 by the Cornell Cooperative extension in Tompkins County.

The house has many exhibits and demonstrations that show the best ways to conserve energy within a house.

Emily Hung, a residential energy advisor for Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, answered questions from the public about the PowerHouse and led demonstrations.

Hung said a properly insulated house is one of the best ways to conserve energy. Changing to LED bulbs is another easy way to reduce electric usage.

She said there are many programs to help residents implement energy-savings projects through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority).

“You can save money and be more comfortable in your home,” she said.

In this demonstration, people used a hand pedal to see how much energy it takes to turn on a light bulb and keep it lighted up. The LED took far less energy while the incandescent took the most electricity.

Another display showed the wattage to power a hair dryer at abut 240 watts. That compared to a string of lights that used 41 watts of electricity.

Grace Kent of Albion checks out the Tiny PowerHouse. Emily Hung is at left and in back is Brady Fergusson, director of public engagement for Climate Solutions Accelerator.

Green Orleans, a local group focused on preserving the environment and sustainable living, invited Climate Solutions Accelerator to bring the Tiny PowerHouse to Albion.

Climate Solutions Accelerator is bringing the home to communities in the region, offering a free, hands-on opportunity to learn how energy works inside the home and explore practical ways to save energy, improve comfort, reduce waste, and prepare for cleaner energy choices.

Exhibit topics include air leaks, insulation, renewable heating and cooling, solar energy, lighting, windows, appliances, Do-It-Yourself projects, and indoor air quality.

This display asks what takes the most electricity at a house.

Home heating makes up 51 percent of home energy use, with water heating at 19 percent, air conditioning at 5 percent, refrigeration at 3 percent, and other demands at 22 percent.

To see the schedule of the Tiny PowerHouse tour in Rochester, click here.