These birds viewed as threat to recreational fishing industry

Photo of double-crested cormorants by Donna Stanley/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Press Release, New York Sea Grant

OSWEGO – New York Sea Grant, a collaborative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is inviting the public to document the presence, activities and impacts of double-crested cormorants.

Double-crested cormorants are a native, fish-eating, federally protected migratory bird species. New York Sea Grant partnered with Wayne County GIS to develop an online reporting tool at https://nyseagrant.org/cormorant for the public to upload photos and report observations of double-crested cormorant numbers, nesting, and feeding activities.

The survey includes options for logging the birds’ impact to natural habitat, water quality, infrastructure, and recreational usage. The survey developers strongly encourage users to submit photos to show the birds’ activity and impact.

Although originating in Wayne County, the nyseagrant.org/cormorant survey is designed for use by the public across New York’s Great Lakes region and statewide. The site includes a link to an observation viewer to see updates in real-time and as a resource for New York State, American, Canadian, and other environmental, wildlife and fisheries resource managers.

“This new reporting tool responds to local leaders’ interests in having a way for community members to report, track, and share with resource managers information about double-crested cormorant activity statewide,” said New York Sea Grant Associate Director Katherine Bunting-Howarth.

Double-crested cormorants utilize the Great Lakes region for breeding, with nesting colonies of a few dozen birds to more than a thousand pairs. Their droppings can destroy the trees and vegetation below their nests.

The birds’ wide-ranging diet of fish is a cause of concern for the recreational fishing industry. Double-crested cormorants were identified as a serious issue by New York’s charter fishing industry during industry meetings held by New York Sea Grant along New York’s Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River shoreline.

“In meetings in Oak Orchard, Irondequoit, Oswego, Henderson, and Alexandria Bay, charter captains expressed concerns about increasing populations of double-crested cormorants and interest in seeing more research on the birds and their predation of fish, particular after stocking,” said New York Sea Grant Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Health Specialist Stacy Furgal.

Double-crested cormorants, their nests, and eggs are all federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act updated by the U.S. Congress in 1972.

New York Sea Grant is one of 34 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. New York Sea Grant’s statewide network integrates research, education, and extension services focused on coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness and understanding about New York’s Great Lakes and marine resources.

John “Mercury” Morgan urges crowd to embrace Gospel message

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – John “Mercury” Morgan jumps with a bike over two Albion police patrol vehicles and a SWAT vehicle, and then goes through a wall of fire in a stunt at Bullard Park on Saturday.

It was part of Family Fun Day at Bullard, where several churches shared the Gospel message, and gave away back-to-school supplies, food and put on activities. There were more than 500 people watching the stunt.

Morgan, 61, of Rochester makes it through the wall of fire and lands on the ramp.

He has been a stuntman on bikes since he was 15. He was inspired by Evel Knievel, the famous daredevil.

Morgan shared about moving from Lake Placid to Rochester when he was 7. He struggle din Rochester, getting into trouble often and selling marijuana. He was in a “scared straight” program at the Attica prison when he was 14.

Morgan said he became a Christian at 15. He runs Leap of Faith Evangelism, doing stunts and sharing the Gospel message.

He urged people to have courage to follow Jesus, and take a leap of faith.

John “Mercury” Morgan leads a group in prayer after the bike stunt. At least 500 people watched the event at Bullard.

The team with Mercury pours gasoline on cardboard that will be raised in frame. Mercury would then plunge through the wall of fire.

Albion firefighters doused the flames.

Theresa Ottaviano shared this photo of Morgan breaking through the wall of fire and landing on the ramp.

Jovannie Canales, lead pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship, helped lead Family Fun Day which had about 100 volunteers from many local churches in the community. They gave away back-to-school backpacks with supplies, hot dogs and water. There was also live music, bounce houses and face painting. The churches also gave away four bicycles, a TV and a laptop.

More than 1,000 people attended the Family Fun Day.

Pastor Canales said there were 232 decisions for Christ and 14 were baptized. In addition, 18 agencies and ministries participated, along with 85 volunteers who helped make the day possible.

“This event would not have been possible without God and the incredible support of the 15 churches, local businesses, and community partners who contributed and supported the event in various ways,” Pastor Canales said. “We are very grateful for everyone who came together to make Family Fun Day such a meaningful day for our community.”

A baptismal tank was set up by the amphitheater. There were many agencies and churches at Family Fun Day. When this photo was taken, most of the crowd had moved from the tents to see a stuntman.

Jeff LaFountain of Newfane did caricatures, including this one of Hollea Mackie and her children, baby Jordyn and son Ashyr, 10.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Today was the annual Orleans County household hazardous waste collection event and about 525 to 550 residents signed up for the chance to get rid of old tires and leftover chemicals, batteries, oil and solvents.

The top photo shows Henry Haiens of Albion getting rid of a trailer load of old tires with help from Kevin Herring (center), an Orleans County Building and Grounds employee, and Devin Bruno, a motor equipment operator with the county Highway Department.

Andy Beach, a MEO in the Highway Department, uses a loader to move bigger farm tractor tires. Today’s collection for the first time allowed the larger tractor tires and also took tires that were on the rim.

The county contracts with Modern Disposal Services to take away the tires. The local towns dropped off tires earlier in the week. Corey Winters, director of the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development, said he expects the pile had about 7,000 tires. The Planning Department manages the annual household hazardous waste and tire collection.

The event also for the first time was held at the Orleans County Emergency Management Office on County House Road, which was spread out with more space compared to the Orleans County Highway Department in the village of Albion.

Employees from Environmental Enterprises, Inc. of Cincinnati work at the household hazardous waste collection event at the EMO site.

More than 500 Orleans County residents were able to get rid of leftover chemicals, batteries, tires, oil and solvents during the household hazardous waste collection day.

Residents were able to safely get rid of pesticides, motor oil & filters, adhesives, antifreeze, solvents,  batteries, fluorescent bulbs, aerosols, old-based paints, and empty propane tanks.

The county typically pays the company about $18,000 to collect and remove the household hazardous waste, with the state them reimbursing the county about half of the costs. The tire removal is separate contract with Modern Disposal Services.

Photos from Hart House: These screen shots from a  video show the new retractable roof in the courtyard for the Hart House at 115 West Center St. in Medina. Roll-A-Cover, International from Bethany, Connecticut manufactured and installed the retractable roof. Watson Construction Group in Albion did all the steel work and the roof around the skylight.

MEDINA – An outdoor courtyard in Medina has a feature that will be sure to wow the community. A new retractable roof has been installed in the courtyard by the Hart House at 115 West Center St.

This 1,500-square-foot space is being turned into an event center to accommodate 80 to 120 people. The new skylight is 22 by 45 feet. It can open up and retract on nice weather days and slide shut during the cold or rainy weather.

It will allow the space to be used year-round, said Andrew Meier, owner of the site with his partner Richard Sarrero.

The courtyard is a new venture for Meier and  Sarrero and will be called the Atria. They also own and run the Hart House hotel, Factory Espresso at Hart (serving espresso, breakfast and lunch) and the Shirt Factory, which serves coffee and cocktails. The businesses are part of the historic Newell building, which Meier acquired in 2005. His law practice with David Schubel is on the second floor of the building, which was built in 1876. Robert H. Newell operated a high-end shirt business at the site for many decades.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The team from Roll-A-Cover in Connecticut checks the new roof on Thursday after it was installed by crane earlier in the week.

The courtyard gives the site a new venture and energy, with year-round available for weddings, graduation and birthday parties, retirement celebrations, performances, concerts and other events.

The space was used for concerts when it was the “BeeGarten” about a decade ago in space that actually was the boiler room for the shirt factory.

The courtyard project also includes new cementitious siding with battens, new windows, doors and masonry to complement the existing brick.

Watson Construction Group of Albion served as general contractor and did all the steel work and the roof around the skylight. Watson will be assisting with the interior work as well. The total cost of the project is about $1 million.

The courtyard at Hart House is one of eight projects in Medina approved for funding as part of the $4.5 million NY Forward grant in Medina. The state approved the projects last year and the Hart House was awarded $500,000 from the $4.5 million total.

Meier said he expects the Atria will be ready by the end of the year and is accepting bookings for 2027.

The new retractable roof took four months to manufacture in Bethany, CT, and each bay weighs about 1,200 pounds.

The retractable skylight is one of 4,000 enclosures worldwide, Meier said.

“Medina has our first retractable roof event space similar to the several hundred located on rooftops in NYC, Chicago, London, Dallas, California and others worldwide,” he posted on social media. “Pinch us. Our glass retractable roof arrived this week and it’s all too surreal – every step has been exciting as this space unfolds, but this is just another level. We can’t wait to watch people dance under the stars.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Roland Martin, seated, sits with his daughter Margaret and son Bill during a recent reception at the First Presbyterian Church of Medina in honor of his 100th birthday Aug. 9. (Right) Roland Martin will celebrate his 100th birthday on Sunday with family, including granddaughter Sarah Hanssen and great-granddaughter Lainey, pictured here.

MEDINA – Roland Martin never thought much about getting old. He just took one day at a time he said at a reception last Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church to celebrate his 100th birthday.  Looking much younger than his years, he greeted well-wishers at the church, where he is a lifetime member.

A son of the late Charles and Ethel Martin, Roland was born in the family home on Martin Road, along with three brothers and a sister.

“In winter, we were born downstairs where it was warmer, but in summer births took place upstairs,” Roland said.

Roland married the former Alice Knights and together they raised two children, son Bill and daughter Margaret. Roland is the fourth generation of Martin family farmers, and today son Bill is the fifth generation, grandson Ben is the sixth generation and Ben’s son will be the seventh.

Roland attended Medina High School, but got permission to quit during the last semester of his senior year to join the Army.

“We were on our way from the Philippines to Japan, and if that bomb hadn’t been dropped, I would probably not be here today,” Roland said.

He remembers driving their Model T down the country roads before they were paved and working the fields behind a team of horses.

He never got tangled up with computers, he said.

He contributes his longevity to good healthy living, keeping busy and having family.

Roland lives alone and does his own cooking, which he learned by cooking for 30 in his platoon in the Army.

Until recently, he kept busy in his woodworking shop.

“He still mows his lawn and has a garden,” daughter Margaret Martin said.

Roland has three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He will celebrate his birthday at a gathering with family on Sunday.

(Left) Trudi Schwert of Medina, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, gets a hug from Roland Martin, during a reception at church in honor of his 100th birthday. 9right) Longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Medina, John Williams, greets Roland Martin of Medina.

Family Fun Day at Albion also includes free food and many activities

File photo by Tom Rivers: Jovannie Canales, lead pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship, holds a flat-screen television that was given away at the end of the Family Fun Day at Bullard Park last year on Aug. 9. There will be a big team of volunteers from multiple churches putting on the event today from 1 to 4 p.m.

ALBION – This year’s Family Fun Day at Bullard Park will include a stunt man riding a bike over cars and through a wall of fire.

The activities go from 1 to 4 p.m. today at Bullard, with John “Mercury” Morgan scheduled to make his jump over a long line of cars at 3:30 p.m.

Several churches team for the event that includes many giveaways, including back-to-school backpacks with supplies, hot dogs and water. There will also be live music, a bounce house and face painting. The churches also plan to give away four bicycles a TV and a laptop.

Many agencies are expected to be available to meet with the public during the event, which last year attracted 500 people.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 8:30 this morning for southwestern Orleans County, Genesee County, northwestern Wyoming County, northeastern Erie County and southern Niagara County.

Severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Grand Island to near Cheektowaga to Billington Heights, moving east at 35 mph, the Weather Service said.

The storm has 60 mph wind gusts that could damage roofs, siding and trees.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) will host three town hall meetings on Saturday in Orleans County, providing residents with an opportunity to receive updates on state and local issues, ask questions and share their concerns.

“One of the best parts of representing our communities is having the opportunity to meet with residents face to face,” said Hawley. “These town halls are a chance to discuss what’s happening in Albany, answer questions, hear concerns and have meaningful conversations about the issues impacting our families and communities. I encourage everyone to stop by and join us.”

Residents from throughout the community are welcome to attend any of the meetings. Hawley looks forward to hearing directly from constituents and providing updates on issues affecting Orleans County and New York state.

• Town of Barre & Town of Clarendon from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Barre Town Hall, 14317 W. Barre Rd. in Albion.
• Town of Murray & Village of Holley from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Holley Village Hall, 1 Wright St., Holley.
• Town of Kendall from 1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. at Kendall Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd., Kendall.

Press Release, Orleans County Health Department

LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Health Department is seeking information regarding a dog and its owner following a biting incident.

A person was bitten by a dog on Saturday, August 1, between 5 and 6 p.m. at a property on North Lyndonville Road, just west of White Birch.

The dog is described as a male, possibly a pit bull/boxer mix, with a gray face with black stripes, one light-colored eye and one dark-colored eye, and wearing a red collar with a tag at the time of the incident. Following the incident, the dog ran west from the property.

The Health Department is seeking the dog to ensure it is healthy. If the dog is confirmed healthy, it helps confirm that rabies was not transmitted during the bite, and the person may not need treatment.

If you have any information, please call the Orleans County Health Department at 585-813-9541.

ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to 5 years in state prison during a recent sentencing in Orleans County Court.

Nicholas Boryszewski, 43, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary in the second degree. He also faces five years of post-release supervision.

He was arrested on April 1 in the town of Gaines after a burglary in Gaines. Boryszewski has a previous conviction for second-degree attempted burglary in 2020 in Shelby.

In other cases last week in county court:

Three people accused of selling fentanyl and cocaine in Orleans County were arraigned by County Court Judge Sanford Church.

• Jerry Robinson Jr., 36, of Rochester allegedly was trying to sell 1.19 ounces of cocaine as well as fentanyl.

He was arraigned for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree, criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

• Richard Button, 35, and Alaina Reece, 25, of Albion were both arraigned for four counts each for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree.

They are to appear in court on Aug. 12 for an initial conference.

• Jose A. Rivera Gonzalez, 21, of Rochester pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for stealing an iPhone from the Albion Walmart valued at $1,249.

He faces 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 28. That sentence will run concurrently with the sentence from the Wyoming County Court where he pleaded guilty to larceny from a retail store in Warsaw.

• Allan Bieber, 22, of Albion was sentenced to 364 days in the county jail for violating terms of his probation. Bieber in December was sentenced to 10 years of probation for third-degree rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at St. Joseph’s Park on South Clinton Street on April 25. Bieber is a first-time offender.

He has missed many of his appointments for probation, a job training program, sex offender counseling and mental health counseling. Those appointments were terms of his probation.

Provided photo

KENDALL – Kendall’s Class of 1986 recently met at a classmate’s home for their 40^th reunion.

“Plenty of yearbooks, hundreds of photos and other memorabilia were shared!” said John Richards, who helped plan the event for his classmates.

Pictured in first row: Tammy Riviere and Leandra Tonweber. Second row: Lori Green, Dee Bliss and Tonya Colburn. Third row: Mark Moss, Dale Bloodworth, John Richards, Cory Brumfield, Jim Sennett, Cathy Barthel, Stacey Ingraham and Jeff Perrigo. Top row: Anne Elphick, Brian Lang, Mike Hill, Nadine Paduchak and Paula Streeter.

Summer theater program has shows today and Saturday in Barker

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARKER – The cast of Finding Nemo Jr. performs the opening number of “Big Blue World” during a rehearsal on Wednesday evening at the Barker Central School auditorium.

There will be shows at 7 p.m. today, and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The school is located at 1628 Quaker Rd, Barker, NY 14012. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online (click here) or at the door.

There are 36 students in the cast with most of them from Orleans and Niagara counties. The production is by the Lake Plains Players, which has been running a youth summer theater program since 2014.

Jennifer Trupo directed all of the shows until Finding Nemo Jr. This time, Heather Rutherford, Annalise Steier and Evan Steier are serving as the co-directors. Evan Steier said the show has lines for 34 roles, which is much more than a typical musical where he said there are speaking parts for 12 to 20 characters.

Madelyn Elliott of Medina plays the role of Marlin and holds the last remaining egg after a vicious Barracuda attacks their reef, taking the eggs and killing Coral, the mother. Marlin would name the lone survivor Nemo.

Marlin, a clownfish, is grief-stricken and very overprotective of Nemo, who has a weak fin. Elliott, who will be a senior at medina, has been involved in local theater programs since she was in second grade. She wants to major in theater and music education in college.

She said Finding Nemo touches on heavy subjects, such as grief and learning to trust others, especially for parents as their children get older and head out into the bigger world.

“It is a story about trust,” she said. “Parents need to trust their children to make decisions on their own.”

Nikola Fuller of Roy-Hart plays the role of Professor Ray, a cheerful, singing schoolteacher. Professor Ray is a spotted eagle ray that guides students on field trips across the reef.

The reef kids want to go on an adventure. Ariel Avery stars as Nemo, with Charlotte Smith as Pearl, Nathan Stirling as Sheldon the seahorse, and Loxley LeFrois as Tad.

Ariel Avery is going into seventh grade at Lyndonville. Ariel said Nemo sends a message to not give up. Nemo gets separated from his father, and Marlin goes to great lengths to be reunited with him.

Nemo also overcomes a weakened fin to swim and explore with the other creatures of the sea.

“Even if something is different about you that doesn’t mean you can’t do it,” Ariel said.

Ariel’s sister Aurora also is in the cast as Crush the turtle and a reef parent. Aurora, 15, said she enjoys the five-week summer theater program and meeting kids from several other school districts.

“It’s a good time,” Aurora said. “You are building a community.”

The summer theater program receives some funding from the Statewide Community Regrants program of the New York State Council on the Arts. It is supported by the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Arts Services Inc.

File photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A cemetery tour on on Aug. 27, 2023 at Boxwood Cemetery in Medina included a stop by the grave of May Howard, a survivor of the Titanic sinking on April 15, 1912.

Howard was 27 when she was on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. Howard, a native of England, was headed to visit her brother in Toronto and then her sister in Albion. She traveled as a third-class passenger and secured a spot on a life boat. May lived locally until she died at age 68 in 1958. About 1,500 passengers died after the Titanic hit an ice berg. Howard was one of about 700 survivors.

Village of Medina Historian Todd Bensley will lead another tour of Boxwood this Sunday beginning at 6 p.m.

Boxwood Cemetery opened in 1850. About 5,000 people have been buried at the site north of the village on North Gravel Road (Route 63).

Sunday is the second of the Orleans County Historical Association’s tour of cemeteries on Sunday evenings in August.

County Historian Catherine Cooper led the first tour this past Sunday at the Maple Ridge Cemetery in Shelby. Nearly 40 people attended that tour.

Other tours after Boxwood include:

• August 16 – Beechwood Cemetery, Kendall with Dave Gaudiso, Lydia Richardson and Former Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin (1523 W. Kendall Road & Woodchuck Alley, Kendall)
• August 23 – Otter Creek Cemetery with Town of Gaines Adrienne Kirby (13252 Ridge Road, Gaines)
• August 30 – Mt. Albion Cemetery with Former Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin and Village of Albion Historian Sue Starkweather Miller (Rt. 31, Telegraph Rd, Albion, NY 14411)

Jane Jin Kaisen will give a presentation at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Medina.

MEDINA – The Medina Triennial is in its final month at 10 locations throughout the village.

A highlighted event this weekend is a screening and conversation with artist Jane Jin Kaisen and Toronto-based curator Noa Bronstein at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Triennial Hub headquarters on North Main Street.

Jane Jin Kaisen is an internationally known artist who will discuss her work directly with local audiences. The event demonstrates how the Medina Triennial connects a village along the Erie Canal with artists and histories from around the world.

Kaisen’s attention to memory and changing landscapes may resonate in Medina, where historic buildings and infrastructure are being given new cultural uses. The film’s questions about abandoned architecture, historical memory and the future of communities have relevance beyond Jeju Island.

Jeju Island in Korea is famous for its volcanic landscape, beautiful beaches and distinct cultural heritage, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and Global Geopark.

The artist will share what drew her to the abandoned resort as a setting for her three films. She will explain how Burial of This Order, Dokkaebi and Sorrow Waters This Land speak to one another. Burial of This Order will be shown at the Hub, while the other two are running continuously at Mustang City, the former Medina High School.

Jane Jin Kaisen was born on Jeju Island in 1980 and is based in Copenhagen. She is interested in histories that have been excluded from official accounts. She represented Korea at the 8th Venice Biennale – the highest honor for an artist. It’s like winning an Olympic gold medal for your country, according to Triennial’s co-curator Karin Laansoo.

Bronstein is a writer and curator who has led two Canadian artist-tun organizations – Gallery 44 Centre for contemporary Photography and Gallery TPW. She has organized exhibitions and programs at institutions throughout Canada. Her work has appeared in numerous artists’ publications and she is currently assistant director of the Art Museum at the University of Toronto.

Federico Rosario, community engagement and programs coordinator at the Medina Triennial, is looking forward to a good crowd on Saturday. He said attendance at programs to date has been very well attended as word spreads. The Triennial was a front-page feature on last week’s Sunday edition of the Buffalo Evening News.

The Medina Triennial continues on Thursdays to Sundays through Sept. 7.