Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A group moves a transformer down Allen Road this morning in Albion. Personnel are escorting the vehicle, holding up wires.

The journey started at about 9 a.m. from near the railroad tracks in Albion and went south on Hamilton Street and then turned east onto Allen Road.

The transformer is headed to a solar project in Byron.

The load heads up Hamilton Street underneath utility wires.

The oversize load weighs 430,000 pounds and is shown on Allen Road. Motorists are expected to experience delays today and are urged to consider alternate routes.

Once on Route 98, the group with the oversize load will pass through Barre and part of Elba.

They will turn on Lockport Road in Elba and continue to North Byron Road, and then go on Searls Road to Tower Hill Road and then Byron Road in Byron. The entire trip is about 17 miles.

The height of this load will necessitate the lifting of most overhead wires and traffic control devices. The load will move into oncoming traffic to avoid overhead obstructions.

Route 98 will be closed for an undisclosed amount of time to all traffic from Old Orchard Road to Lockport Road.

The load heads south on Route 98 after making the turn off of Allen Road.

Another oversize load is expected a week from today.

ALBION – Albion Healthcare Center has announced that it has achieved Patient-Centered Medical Home certification, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to delivering high quality, patient-centered healthcare to the rural communities it serves, according to information from Scott Robinson, director of marketing at Medina Memorial Hospital.

These recognitions reflect Albion Healthcare Center’s dedication to providing accessible, coordinated and comprehensive care focused on improving the health and wellbeing of patients and families throughout the region.

PCMH certification is a nationally recognized distinction awarded to healthcare practices that meet rigorous standards for primary care delivery. The certification recognizes healthcare organizations that prioritize strong patient-provider relationships, coordinated care, quality improvement and enhanced access to services, Robinson explained.

In addition, the Albion Healthcare Center maintains the Rural Health Clinic accreditation, which highlights its role in expanding access to essential healthcare services in rural communities, the RHC designation supports the delivery of primary care services in underserved areas, while holping ensure patients have access to preventive care, chronic disease management and routine medical services close to home.

“These achievements demonstrate the commitment of our providers, nurses and staff to delivering exceptional care to our community,” said Alana Palone, clinic administrator at Orleans Community Health. “These accreditations reflect our continued focus on improving access, strengthening care coordination and providing compassionate, patient-centered healthcare.”

As a Patient-Centered Medical Home and accredited Rural Health Clinic, Albion Healthcare Clinic emphasizes:

• Comprehensive care through a multidisciplinary healthcare team
• Improved access to services, communication and coordinated treatment plans
• Ongoing quality improvement and patient safety initiatives
• Enhanced coordination between primary care providers, specialists and community resources
• Expanded healthcare access for rural and underserved populations

These recognitions further support Albion Healthcare Center’s mission to provide high-quality healthcare services while strengthening the health of the communities it serves.

The Albion Healthcare Center initially opened in late fall 2012 as an urgent care, although it was never officially an urgent care, and the name was quickly changed to a walk-in medical center. It has been the Albion Healthcare Center for years now, according to Robinson.

For more information about Albion Healthcare Center and its services, visit orleanscommunityhealth.org/albion-healthcare-center or call (585) 589-CARE.

MEDINA – Families across Orleans County are invited to celebrate the start of summer by attending the upcoming Children’s Wellness Fair, hosted by Orleans Community Health and Medina Memorial Hospital. The free community event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 30 at the park south of Medina Memorial Hospital.

Designed for children of all ages and their families, the Children’s Wellness Fair will feature a variety of fun, hands-on activities focused on health, safety and wellness in a welcoming outdoor setting, according to Scott Robinson, director of Community Partners at Orleans Community Health.

Attendees can enjoy bicycle helmet and safety education, doctor dress-up activities, face painting and crafts, stuffed animal check-ups, an obstacle course, snow cones, giveaways and more.

The event serves as a kickoff to summer, while encouraging families to stay active, healthy and connected to community resources, Robinson said. Hospital staff and community partners will be on hand throughout the day to engage with families and provide information in a fun and interactive environment.

“We’re excited to welcome families to Medina Memorial Hospital for a day focused on wellness, fun and community,” Robinson said. “This event is an opportunity to celebrate the start of summer while creating positive experiences for children and helping families learn more about healthy living and safety.”

The Children’s Wellness Fair is at no cost to attendees and no registration is required.

For additional information about the event, visit Orleans Community Health or contact Robinson at SRobinson@medinamemorial.org.

Press Release, New York State Police

ALBION – Today from 9 a.m. to approximately 2 p.m., the State Police will be assisting with an oversized load escort which may disrupt traffic patterns beginning in Albion and ending in Byron.

The width of this load will obstruct oncoming traffic. Route 98 will be closed for an undisclosed amount of time to all traffic from Old Orchard Road to Lockport Road.

The height of this load will necessitate the lifting of most overhead wires and traffic control devices. The load will move into oncoming traffic to avoid overhead obstructions.

The weight of the load will keep speeds to around 5-10 mph with many stoppages.

The permitted route of travel will begin on Hamilton St. in the town of Albion proceed east on Allen Rd. then South on Oak Orchard Rd. (SR-98) to east on Lockport Rd. T/Elba and continue N. Byron Rd. to South on Searls Rd. to East on Tower Hill Rd. then South on Byron Rd. T/Byron.

It is recommended that if you encounter this load, move to the shoulder of the roadway, into a driveway or parking lot or seek an alternate route of travel to your destination.  Lower your window and follow directions from State Police or escort vehicles.

Expect delays on those roads during business hours.

Thank you for your patience and drive safely.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

ALBANY – Albany’s majority on Tuesday blocked legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) that would have expanded property tax relief for disabled veterans.

The bill, A.10839, would have helped more veterans with service-related disabilities qualify for property tax exemptions, making it easier for them to afford to stay in their homes as costs continue to rise across New York.

Hawley noted that while lawmakers on the other side of the aisle often say they support veterans and military families, common-sense legislation continues to be blocked under the supermajority in Albany.

“Our veterans answered the call to serve this country, but too often the call to support them is put on hold,” said Hawley. “This is a straightforward, common-sense bill that would help disabled veterans keep more money in their pockets and remain in their homes, yet under the current majority process in Albany, legislation like this can be buried behind closed doors without transparency or honest debate.”

Although the legislation was blocked in committee, Hawley pledged to continue advocating for policies supporting veterans and military families.

“Supporting our veterans should never be a partisan issue,” Hawley concluded. “I will continue fighting to ensure the people who served this nation receive the respect and support they have earned.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley represents the 139th Assembly District, which includes parts of Erie, Genesee, Monroe and Orleans counties.

Medina, Lyndonville students urged to make responsible choices with upcoming proms, grad parties

Photos by Tom Rivers

RIDGEWAY – Medina teacher Rachel Trillizio comforts student Arabella White after seeing her friend Mady Elliott be put on a stretcher.

Medina school district coordinated a mock DWI crash simulation today at the Ridgeway fire hall parking lot. Medina invited Lyndonville students for the first time the two schools experienced the mock simulation together.

The simulation sends a message to students to be responsible with the prom and graduation parties coming up. There were 98 Medina seniors at the event today as well as 52 from Lyndonville who are juniors or seniors.

Grayson Romano of Lyndonville was a student involved in the crash. He portrayed a person who was unconscious. He was moved from the car onto a stretcher by EMTs. Grayson would be pronounced “dead” by county coroner Rocky Sidari.

Firefighters work to extricate Mady Elliott from a car. Mady, a junior at Medina, said she was hyper ventilating in the car as firefighters cut and removed pieces of the car to free her.

“It was scary,” she said afterwards. “People need to take this seriously.”

Elliott said drivers need to not be impaired when behind the wheel, and need to not be texting or looking at their phones.

Mady Elliott is led by stretcher to a Mercy Flight helicopter.

Mady Elliott is put into the helicopter which was flown by pilot Haji Shareef with nurse Gina Pennell on board. They flew from Buffalo in a  trip that took 8 minutes.

Pam Cherry, the outreach coordinator for Mercy Flight in Batavia, said the organization will do about 30 of the fly-ins in mock simulations around Western New York. Mercy Flight receives a state grant for those responses.

Medina police officer Bradon Brown and Sgt. Marty Stirk of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office lead Austin Fonda, a Lyndonville senior, to a patrol car after he failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DWI in the simulation.

Firefighters from East Shelby, Ridgeway, Medina and Shelby worked on the response today.

Kevin Bogan, right, the owner of Bogan & Tuttle Funeral Home and his assistant Norman Smolarek move Grayson Romano into the hearse. Grayson was pronounced “dead” by a county coroner as part of the simulation drill.

Members of the Probation Department shared with students some of restrictions and supervision they would likely be under if they were arrested for DWI. From left in back include probation supervisor Katie Vick, juvenile officer Adam Kuhn and Bobby Hodge, probation officer who supervises the DWI caseload.

Hodge said people convicted of DWI have to stay out of bars and parties with alcohol. Vick said the Probation Department will try to connect people to mental health and substance abuse services if needed.

Calvin Cook, a junior at Lyndonville, tries on turnout gear with some assistance from Morgan Austin, the EMS captain for the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company.

Firefighters urged the students form Lyndonville and medina to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter. Austin said she joined the Ridgeway Fire Company even though she didn’t have a family connection to the department. She said the other firefighters welcomed her.

To pass the Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO) class, firefighters need to put on all the turnout gear in 60 seconds or less.

Kelly Kiebala, director of the Orleans County Job Development Agency and the Youth Bureau, made STOP-DWI items available to the students and also shared how there are job training programs available through Job Development, The agency also runs a summer youth employment program.

Matt Hopkins with the NYS Department of Transportation health and safety program tells students they need to be extra careful if they are driving in a work zone. They should slow down and change lanes if possible, and watch out for flaggers.

These students tried to steer pedal cars while wearing goggles that showed what is what like to have your vision affected by alcohol intoxicated or marijuana.

Diana Fulcomer, a senior prevention educator for UConnectCare, urged students to watch over each other, especially if they see others engaging in toxic drinking where their lives could be at risk from toxic alcohol poisoning. Students were urged to call for help immediately if they see someone who is vomiting from alcohol, or if they don’t respond when shouted at, if they have very slow breathing, can’t stand up, have pale/bluish skin or an irregular/slow pulse.

Melinda Rhim, supervisor at the Orleans County Mental Health Department (left), and Amber Fortunato, a care manager, discussed how stress can affect people with some turning to alcohol and substances to help with anxiety and mental health issues. Rhim and Fortunato did a true or false exercise with the students. The two mental health professionals were pleased to see the awareness from the students and how they don’t see a stigma around mental health and a willingness to get help if needed.

The NYS Department of Transportation let students climb into a plow truck and blow the horn. Students were encouraged to seek out careers with the DOT.

Medina called today’s simulation and the many presentations at the fire hall part of a “Making Memories Safely” awareness event. The district said it would like to see a bigger county-wide event perhaps at the fairgrounds with all five school districts just before the prom season.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A 430,000-pound load is shown on May 6 in Albion. The journey was delayed by a week and is set for Wednesday, May 13.

ALBION – A big load will slowly move from Albion through Barre and Elba and then end in Byron on Wednesday.

The 430,000-pound load will begin around 7:30 a.m. in Albion. A transformer is currently next to the railroad tracks on Hamilton Street. The transformer will be moved by a truck and trailer.

The trip was planned for last Wednesday but was cancelled when National Grid wasn;t given enough notice.

The journey on Wednesday will start about 7:30 a.m. and end around 3:30 p.m., according to the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

“Please give yourself a little extra time as cargo will be slow moving and delays are expected,” the EMO posted on Facebook. “National Grid customers along the transport route may experience brief outages.”

Motorists are expected to experience delays on Wednesday and are urged to consider alternate routes.

The width of this load will obstruct oncoming traffic, the State Police advised last week.

The height of this load will necessitate the lifting of most overhead wires and traffic control devices. The load will move into oncoming traffic to avoid overhead obstructions.

Route 98 will be closed for an undisclosed amount of time to all traffic from Old Orchard Road to Lockport Rd.

The permitted route of travel will begin on Hamilton Street in the town of Albion and proceed east on Allen Road then south on Oak Orchard Road (Route 98). Then it goes east on Lockport Road in Elba and continues to North Byron Road, and then goes south on Searls Road to east on Tower Hill Road. The cargo then goes south on Byron Road in Byron.

Photos and information from Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

The eaglet at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge that many have been following through the bald eagle nest camera was 38 days old as of Monday and is growing by leaps and bounds.

Just like human babies, the eaglet is doing a lot of eating and sleeping. Sometimes both: Mother eagle brought in a juicy catfish the other day and the chick wasn’t hungry so used the catfish for a pillow – at least when the catfish stopped flopping about. Another time father eagle brought in a stick, disappointing the chick who was looking for some fish bits.

As an only chick, the eaglet is being fed very well so is growing fast and hitting all its important behavioral and physical milestones.

It is taking much larger bites of food, including being able to digest fur, feathers, scales and small bones.  It reaches toward the parents and pecks at them to ask for food. It partly helps itself by picking up and eating dropped pieces of food. Its body feathers are growing in and the primary flight feathers can be seen poking out of the sheathes at the wings and tail.

The eaglet is also entertaining camera viewers with more “wingersizing” – an eagle version of calisthenics. It is gaining more strength in its legs, and you will see the eaglet standing up more often. Once it gains more stability in those legs ─ “riding the rails” is a term used on eagle cameras ─ the chick will start to perch near or on the sticks surrounding the bole.

The camera was funded and installed by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, with assistance from Pixcams Inc., out of Pittsburgh, and Treeman Tom tree service out of Wilson. You can watch the feed on a monitor in the refuge Visitors Center on Casey Road in the town of Alabama, or through a link at the Friends group’s website, FINWR.org.

If you’re keeping track, the eaglet is about halfway through its nestling phase.

Next the eaglet will be doing more standing and walking in the fully upright adult posture instead of scooting around using its hocks and wings. It is already starting to do this, but it will happen more often. In the next few weeks, it will also start doing more practice flapping to build breast and wing muscles.

In about four weeks it will start hopping and flapping to practice hovering above the nest. At this point its feathers will be much more grown in and the bird will be fully dark brown. It will also be able to feed itself from prey items brought to the nest, although the parents will continue to feed it.

Toward the end of June, the juvenile will be able to balance and perch on branches, hover reliably above the nest and flap from branch to branch. The primary wing and tail feathers will be almost entirely grown. It should fledge (be ready for its first real flight) in late June or early July at around 72 days old.

The eaglet will typically hang around a few weeks after fledging but then head off to seek its own territory. It will retain its dark brown coloring for several years and won’t develop its adult plumage ─ the iconic white head and tail feathers of a bald eagle ─ until it’s almost five years old. Until then it is scoping out other territories, play learning with other juveniles and perfecting its hunting techniques.

A final note: Friends group President Dick Moss would like to thank everyone who came out to Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge for Saturday’s Spring Spectacular. Everyone had a great time and the eaglet and its parents were one of the main topics of conversation.

“A special thanks to the vendors who shared their environmental expertise, and especially to the refuge staff who made it all possible,” Moss said.

This eaglet update was a collaboration of Friends of Iroquois NWR group members Dick Moss, Emma DeLeon, Amy Merritt and Garner Light.

Carter Kuipers

An active 4-H member in Orleans County has been named the first-place winner of a New York Farm Bureau scholarship.

Carter Kuipers of Byron won a $3,000 NY Farm Bureau’s 2026 Agricultural Youth Scholarship.

To qualify for scholarships, applicants must have a student or family membership in Farm Bureau. A panel of judges selects the winners based on their essay submissions and applications, which include community and agricultural engagement. District winners then compete for state scholarships.

Kuipers also was awarded $250 as the District 2 winner. He is a member of Genesee County Farm Bureau and is a senior at Byron-Bergen Senior High School.

Kuipers plans to attend SUNY Cobleskill to study agricultural power machinery with a career goal related to diesel technology. His agricultural experience includes working on his family’s farms, where he cares for animals and maintains equipment.

He has been an active member of FFA, including serving as the 2022-2025 Chapter Secretary, and has received many FFA awards and recognitions. Kuipers has been an active participant in the 4-H Beef and Dairy Club for the past decade. Outside of agricultural activities, he is a sectional champion with the Byron-Bergen/Le Roy swim team and a member of the clay target team, while also finding time to volunteer with his local church.

Kuipers has shown animals at the Orleans County 4-H Fair and won the grand master showman title in 2024, which features the top showmen of nine different animals: horse Western, horse English, dairy goat, meat goat, sheep, swine, llama, dairy cattle and beef cattle.

Kuipers showed pigs and beef cattle at the fair in 2024. He qualified for the grand master showmen competition after winning the beef master showman title.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Carter Kuipers, then 16, of Byron shows a beef animal during the grand master showman competition on July 26, 2024. Kuipers won the competition, one of the most prestigious at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. It features the top livestock showmen from the fair.

KENDALL – The school district is proposing a $23,469,328 budget to the community for a vote on May 19. Kendall’s budget would raise taxes by 3.15 percent – from $5,162,224 to $5,324,835, an increase of $162,611.

Kendall school officials will go over the budget during a presentation today at 6:30 p.m. in the junior-senior high school library.

The vote will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kendall Town Hall on May 19.

Kendall school leaders say many factors are driving the $2,045,169 budget increase for 2026-27: inflation, special education enrollments, instructional operation enhancements, shared services with BOCES, debt service, benefits, salaries, and minimum wage increases.

The debt service increased by 47.7 percent or $1,124,632 because Kendall will be issuing debt during June 2026 to pay for current capital project costs. However, this will be offset by a corresponding increase in building and transportation aid.

Kendall is using $150,000 more from its fund balance to lessen the need on property taxes, school officials state in the district’s budget newsletter.

State aid at $16,004,160 covers 68 percent of the school budget. The tax rate is projected at $10.29 per $1,000 of assessed property, which Kendall officials say in one of the lowest school tax rates in the area.

In addition to the budget, voters will be presented a proposition to use up to $390,000 from the vehicle capital reserve fund to purchase vehicles in the transportation program for the district, including passenger buses.

There are also two candidates for one five-year term on the Board of Education.

• Christa Bowling currently represents Kendall on the board of Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES. She and her husband have two children, a fifth-grade daughter at Kendall and a 20-year-old medically complex son who is in the Transitions Program at BOCES.

Bowling is the sole proprietor for a direct sales and distribution business. She has been Girl Scout Leader for Kendall since 2023, leading a troop of 40 girls each year. She is part of the Kendall Strategic Plan Committee. Her family has been involved with coaching Kendall Rec Soccer for seven years.

“Since moving to Kendall, our family has fallen in love with this community and school district because of the compassion and pride that comes with being an Eagle,” she said. “My drive to be on the Kendall BOE is my love and passion for advocating for both students and staff, which I have proven to do with my BOCES 2 Board role. I plan to help ensure that Kendall continues to have devoted staff, small class sizes, opportunities for all students, and continues to be an affordable community we are all proud to call home.”

• David Warren is a current Board of Education member. He is retired as a manufacturing engineering manager. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren.

Warren has been a Little League baseball coach, youth soccer coach, and manager of the Kendall Community Band.

“I want to help ensure that our students have the best opportunity for success,” he stated in the school newsletter about why he is running for the Board of Education.

Site along Erie Canal has options for small businesses on East Bank Street

Photos by Tom Rivers: Local officials joined the owner of the Mayfair Marien for a ribbon-cutting celebration on Friday in Albion. From left include Jami Allport, Albion village trustee; Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman; Andrew Dugan, district director for State Sen. Rob Ortt; County Legislator Skip Draper; Matt Holland, small business development director for the Orleans Economic Development Agency; Mayfair Marine owner John Fitzak, who is also a county legislator; Dawn Borchert, Orleans County tourism director; Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Kevin Sheehan, Albion village trustee; Jackie Tarricone, executive assistant for Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Michael Dobell, chief executive officer of the Orleans EDA; and Tim McMurray, Albion mayor.

ALBION – There is now a place along the Erie Canal for boaters to get fuel in Orleans County. John Fitzak has opened Mayfair Marine along East Bank Street.

Fitzak for 23 years ran a bottle redemption business at 255 East Bank St. He closed the Albion Redemption Center on March 1 to focus the site on the fuel sales and also as a small business incubator.

He expects to rent out space at the site to several small businesses, and is working with the village to see if people would be allowed to stay overnight in RVs and also in tents.

“I’m just trying to be a catalyst for the village,” Fitzak said on Friday, when he held a ribbon-cutting for the Mayfair.

Fitzak is an Orleans County legislator. He is retired as a state corrections officer. Fitzak worked at Orleans, Attica, Sing Sing, Groveland and Willard correctional facilities.

John Fitzak built five sections of docks totaling 80 feet along the Erie Canal in Albion. The Ingersoll Street lift bridge is behind him. He sees a lot of opportunity in the Erie Canal for the community.

He built the 80 feet of docks at the Mayfair. There are five 16-foot-sections at different heights to accommodate different size boats. The two new 1,000-gallon fuel tanks were certified last November. He will have 100-foot-long hoses from the gas pumps that extend to the boats at the docks.

This will be the only spot offering marine-grade fuel on the Erie Canal between Macedon and Amherst. Fitzak said about 400 to 500 boats pass by the location each canal season. He expects at least 10 percent will stop for fuel at the Mayfair.

He named the business in honor of the Mayfair Restaurant, which was operated by his mother’s father in Rochester in the 1950s and ’60s. That restaurant was at the corner of Lexington and Mount Read Boulevard.

The new canal season opens on May 15. Fitzak is working with small businesses to open soon after the start of the canal season.

He said Big Dog BBQ from Kendall will be selling hot dogs and food from the site. Fitzak also will have vending machines with items at room temperature, in a cooler and a freezer.

Another business with offer marine services. There will be an ATM, a vendor selling Albion merchandise, and other possible merchants.

Several local officials toured the site on Friday. John Fitzak said there is plenty of room to offer other services, including RV parking.

Fitzak said he has reviewed a comprehensive plan for the canal, with leaders from the canal Corp. stating they would like to see fuel sales offered every 20 to 40 miles along the waterway. Fitzak said Mayfair Marine fills a big void for fuel.

He suspects many boaters haven’t ventured to Albion out of fear they could run out of gas. The Mayfair could result in more boaters making the trip to Albion and Orleans County.

He is hopeful they will tie up at his docks and check out the Albion community. He is short walk from the Albion downtown.

“this is another opportunity to see what Albion has to offer,” Fitzak said.

Dawn Borchert, the Orleans County tourism director, praised Fitzak for seeing a need and meeting it along the canal with the fuel sales.

The Mayfair owner has about 600 feet of frontage for the business. He would like to allow RV parking, and a boat launch for kayaks and canoes. He is working with the village officials to determine if those uses are allowed for the property, which is zoned general commercial and is currently mostly undeveloped.

Some other counties in WNY face freeze warning

Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo of the sunrise from Saturday at Swallow Hollow in the wildlife refuge.

The National Weather Service has issued as frost advisory for Orleans County from midnight to 9 a.m. Tuesday due to temperatures dropping around 30 degrees.

The advisory also includes Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga and Ontario counties.

“Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left unprotected,” the Weather Service said.

Farther away from the lake, the temperatures could be even colder. The Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.

“Sub-freezing temperatures in the upper 20s expected,” the Weather Service said about those counties. “Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee dedicated a new plaque on May 2 at Waterman Park in honor of the late Charles E. Bergeman. He was the grandson of Charles Howard, the famed founder of the first Santa School.

Bergeman passed away from cancer at age 64 on Oct. 31, 2023. He had recently moved to Lewiston and wanted to help promote his grandfather’s legacy.

When sculptor Brian Porter created a bronze statue of Charlie Howard as Santa Claus, Bergeman’s cheeks and face gave Porter a reference.

The plaque is near the statue that was dedicated during the Strawberry Festival on June 10, 2023.

A sleigh was donated to the Albion Betterment Committee. It was refurbished by Jim Babcock, a local contractor who is on the ABC’s board of directors. That sleigh has been dedicated in loving memory of Charles E. Bergeman.

The plaque states: “Grandson and namesake of Charles W. Howard. Like Santa, he spread joy to all he knew with his generosity and kindness. His warmth and selflessness touched everyone around him. Charles was dedicated to preserving his grandfather’s legacy, ensuring its magic would live on for generations to come.”

Bergeman’s wife Carol Bergeman and Howard’s granddaughter Jane Holland were in Albion on May 2 for the plaque dedication.

Three of Charles Howard’s grandchildren are pictured on June 10, 2023 with the three Albion Betterment Committee directors who have worked on the statue project over eight years. From left include Charles Howard’s grandchildren Susan Howard Brown, Charles Bergeman and Jane Holland and ABC directors Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent.

‘He subsisted for 15 days on a pint of flour and a dog’s liver’

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 12

MURRAY – This bronze marker set on a millstone is located at the northeast corner of the junction of Routes 104 and 237 in the Town of Murray.

It was dedicated on October 12, 1932, by members of the Orleans Chapter DAR and the Jewell Buckman American Legion Post in Holley. It commemorates “the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of George Washington and the Men Who Fought in the American Revolution and Sleep in the Town of Murray.”

Many of the early settlers of Orleans County were Revolutionary War veterans or the sons of veterans. In other instances, aging parents later came to live with their families. An estimated 65 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in Orleans County.

The Orleans Chapter of the DAR and the Rochester Chapter of the SAR have maintained records of these burials. In addition, Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders, two students from the Albion Middle School, have researched and presented a list of the Revolutionary War veterans buried in Orleans County with the guidance of their teacher, Tim Archer. They also obtained graveside markers for unmarked graves and replaced a damaged headstone.

They will present their findings on Saturday, May 16, at 10:30 am at the Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery at 3960 Hulberton Road in Holley. This event is open to the public.

During this current year-long recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, there has been a renewed interest in the wartime experiences of the Continental Army soldiers.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the National Park Service have created a Citizen Archivist Mission project to assist in the transcription of the 80,000 pension application records on file. Perhaps you may be interested? https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/missions

Adam Tabelski, a former mayor of Medina who now lives in Batavia, has contributed several transcriptions of the experiences of these veterans buried in Orleans County to the Orleans County Department of History records:

John Percival (1754-1837)

According to his pension deposition in 1833, Percival saw much action during the war. He enlisted on May 16, 1775, with a Massachusetts company under General Heath and was involved in the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. He volunteered for the ill-fated Continental Army expedition to Quebec under Col. Benedict Arnold later in 1775. He testified that:

“They were supplied with Boats to carry their Baggage and provisions (at Fort Winslow) and they went up the river through a dreary wilderness. The river was very rapid, and the soldiers were obliged to wade and push the boats upstream. In many cases, the boats were taken out of the River and carried upon their shoulders…..At this time they were in the greatest distress for the want of provisions. He himself subsisted 15 days on a pint of flour and a dog’s liver.”

He was part of the group that retreated following the unsuccessful attack on Quebec. In 1777, he was involved in the burning of two British schooners and the fortifications at Fort George as well as the destruction of bridges and felling of trees tin an effort to  deter the advance of General Burgoyne’s troops. Later he was “out on one or two short alarums after Tories and Indians”. He testified that he never received any of his monthly wages except for the Quebec Expedition. Apparently, the Continental paper money soldiers occasionally received as pay for service was often worthless.

Two of Percival’s sons resided in Orleans County: Montgomery in the Town of Carlton and Samuel in the Town of Gaines. In 1824, Samuel built the hotel/tavern which is still in operation currently as  the Tavern on the Ridge, formerly the Village Inn.

John Percival is buried in Gaines Cemetery.

Robinson Smith (1761-1828)

Smith enlisted in the Continental Army in 1782 and served in General Washington’s Life Guard, a unit of the Continental Army, about 180 strong, which protected Washinton as well as the money and papers of the Continental Army. Smith was discharged in 1784. He applied for a pension in 1818 and was awarded $8 per month. Eligible to reapply in 1820, he had to cite financial need. His testimony gives a vivid description of the difficulties of the times.

By 1820, he was a farmer with a wife and four children. He could do little labor as he was “badly ruptured.” His debt amounted to $30. His itemized possessions were indeed meagre  and included 3 old axes and 3 old hoes, 1 sickle, 1 barrel and 3 old common chairs.

Robinson Smith is buried in Pierce-Smith Cemetery, Hulburton. In July 1939, the Lemuel Cook Chapter Sons of the American Revolution unveiled an official marker at his grave in recognition of his services for the Life Guard.

Please note that Patrice Birner of the Orleans County DAR will speak about the DAR and the NY250 Centennial Celebration at the Gaines-Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse, 3286 Gaines-Basin Road, Albion, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28. This is an Orleans County Historical Association program.