Photos by Kristina Gabalski: Mike Snyder (standing second from left) and Gloria Brent (standing third from right), pose with Master Gardener volunteers who helped with an extreme makeover for their garden on Saturday.

RIDGEWAY – Master Gardener with the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County spent Saturday morning installing a garden at the Ridgeway home of Gloria Brent and Mike Snyder, the winners of the 2016 Master Gardener Garden Makeover drawing.

Gloria and Mike own the former Oak Orchard Girl Scout camp and are working to create a park-like landscape on a portion of the property near where they someday will build a new home. They chose to have the garden installed in that area of their yard, just outside a wooded area.

The couple won the makeover/installation last September in a drawing held during the annual Master Gardener Plant Sale on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

“She jumped up and down with the phone in her hands,”  Mike says of his wife’s reaction to winning. “She really wants to get into gardening.”

The garden area is shown before planting. Topsoil was brought in and Master Gardener volunteers added composted manure and peat moss to the site.

Brent and Snyder obtained their tickets at the Master Gardener booth during the 2016 Orleans County 4-H Fair.

“I walked up to the booth looking for knowledge about gardening, which I am going to start as a hobby,” Gloria said.

A Master Gardener explained about the Makeover drawing –  in which the winner receives design advice, plant material from Sara’s Garden Center in Brockport, and installation by Master Gardeners of a new garden (or garden renovation) on their property.  The entire makeover is valued at over $1,000.

Gloria asked if it was possible for her to simply pay for help, but was told Master Gardeners cannot do that.

So she obtained five tickets in order to, “have the best chance of winning,” she said.

Both Gloria and Mike say they are thrilled with the results and will use the new garden as inspiration for additional plantings.

Tickets for the 2017 Master Gardener Makeover are currently available from Master Gardeners for a donation of $10. Tickets will also be available at the Master Gardener booth at this year’s Orleans County 4-H Fair, July 24-29.  This year’s drawing will be held Saturday, September 9, during the annual Master Gardener Plant Sale on the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Landscape fabric is placed over the topsoil.

Mike Snyder uses heavy equipment to move a large cauldron to the garden site for placement.

Master Gardener volunteers Alex Greene and Don O’Keefe help place a large rock moved from the property to become part of the garden design.

Gloria and Mike decided to tilt the cauldron for a better view of the plants which would be placed inside. The antique is a family heirloom of Mike’s. It originated on his grandfather’s farm in Albion and was used by the family for watering cows in the pasture. Gloria and Mike wanted it to be a part of the garden in memory of Mike’s mom.

The cauldron is planted with annual flowers. Mike and Gloria will be able to change the contents each year, if they choose to do so.

Return to top

Photo by Tom Rivers: A boater passes through the channel at Oak Orchard Harbor at Point Breeze in this photo from May 28, 2015. Boaters are being asked to respect a 500-foot no-wake zone near the shore due to high Lake Ontario waters.

Press Release, Orleans County Undersheriff Chris Bourke

(Editor’s Note: The article was updated to say the state boat launch on Archibald Road is closed due to high water levels.)

Orleans County Sheriff’s Undersheriff Christopher Bourke would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the 2017 boating and fishing season is upon us and the Sheriff’s Office Marine Division is in service and ready to assist people enjoying the waterways of Orleans County this summer.

Despite Lake Ontario and the rivers being at an all-time high, small craft boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing is allowable and has not been restricted in any way. Sheriff Randy Bower is asking boaters to take into consideration the erosion occurring along shoreline properties and to respect a 500 feet no-wake zone when near shore. The lakes and rivers have debris in them so extra caution should be taken so as to not damage your vessel or equipment.

Many privately owned marinas are open but may be partially underwater so it is best to contact them for launching and docking arrangements. The Orleans County Launch at Point Breeze is open, as well as the boat launches at Lake Alice, Glenwood Lake and the Erie Canal. (The state boat launch on Archibald Road is closed due to high water levels.)

The Orleans County Marine Park on Point Breeze Road is also open and ready for the season with our newly constructed playground for children, pavilions, picnic tables and bathroom facilities.

Please call 585-589-3102 or check out the Orleans County Tourism website and Facebook page for updates on dock rental at the Marine Park as well as upcoming summer activities such as our fantastic “Tuesday Night in the Park” Summer Concert Series, Classic Car Cruise Nights and great family events.

Also please refer to the Tourism webpage and Facebook page for their weekly fishing report as Orleans County continues to be one of the premier fishing destinations in the country.

For any questions regarding upcoming boater’s safety classes, requests for vessels safety checks, or general questions for the Sheriff’s Marine Division, you may call the Marine Office at 585-682-4366.

The Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe summer.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The lights are on early in the morning at this large canal vessel in Albion. This photo was taken in October 2014.

The Erie Canal opened for its 193^rd boating season on Friday. The season continues until Oct. 11 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“In celebration of the bicentennial and tremendous heritage of the canal, I am pleased to announce that permit fees for recreational vessels will be waived this year and the New York State Canal Corporation will be hosting a series of events in towns along the canal from Albany to Buffalo,” State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said in a news release. “I encourage all of my constituents to attend one of these fun events this summer and learn more about the Erie Canal and its history by visiting www.canals.ny.gov  or eriecanalway.org.”

The canal opened in 1825, following eight years of construction. This year is the start of an bicentennial celebration because construction started in 1817.

“The Erie Canal is one example of how New York has been a leader in innovation, commerce and transportation for centuries,” Hawley said. “My Assembly District alone contains 56 percent of all lift bridges on the Erie Canal system and I have seen firsthand how thriving communities like Brockport, Medina, Albion, Holley, Murray, Ridgeway, Sweden, Gaines and Hulberton have benefited and will continue to benefit from the increased tourism and commerce.”

Return to top

Photo by Tom Rivers: A section of Thompson Drive at the western end of Kendall has been eaten up by Lake Ontario.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $10 million in state funding is available to assist eligible local municipalities that have been impacted by the recent flooding along the Lake Ontario coastline. The new investment program will support flood recovery efforts, including repairs to flood walls, roads, sidewalks, and culverts, as well as public water and sewer infrastructure.

The funding is available through New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The program will be open to applications for funding from municipal governments in counties that were identified in Governor Cuomo’s May 2, 2017 emergency declaration.

Earlier this month, the Governor declared a State of Emergency in Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wayne counties for the region in order to expedite repairs to impacted structures and construction of shoreline stabilization projects. Additionally, staff from the Lake Ontario Rapid Response Team continue to be deployed to assist residents and monitor response efforts along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

“As Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River continue to slowly rise, we must do everything in our power to ease the financial and personal toll on our families and communities, while fortifying our infrastructure to ensure its continued viability,” Governor Cuomo said. “With this available funding, we are ramping up our multi-agency response efforts to help these communities and provide the assistance that they need now.”

Since the end of April, more than 1.2 million sandbags have been deployed to help localities mitigate against damage to their homes and businesses, along with 11 sandbagging machines – at least one in each effected county. In addition, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed field teams to provide on-the-ground technical assistance and coordination with state and local emergency management personnel.

“Our communities on Lake Ontario are working hard to fight off flood damage to roads, floodwalls and the public water infrastructure in several locations along the lakefront spanning from Jefferson County to Niagara,” Lieutenant Governor Hochul said during the announcement in Fair Haven today. “Governor Cuomo has committed $10 million in state funding to help make needed infrastructure repairs in these communities, and we will continue our ongoing support in manpower, sandbagging and assistance at our Mobile Command Center.”

Report Suspected Price Gouging

The Governor is asking residents to report suspected price gouging to the Lake Ontario Flood Assistance Hotline at 866-244-3839. The hotline is available for residents and businesses concerned about potential price gouging or other exploitative practices by service providers in the area. If you believe you are being charged excessive prices for any essential consumer goods or services during the present disaster situation, you are urged to call the hotline and staff will connect you to the Department of State Division of Consumer Protection.

Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers

In addition, the state will continue to deploy Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers staffed by Department of Financial Services personnel who can help residents navigate the insurance claim process. Since the deployment of the Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers, over 700 individuals have asked for insurance assistance at the various locations in the eight affected counties.

Department of Environmental Conservation experts are also available at the Mobile Command Centers to help answer questions on the Storm Recovery General Permit, describe the specific types of repair and stabilization work authorized, and provide assistance in completing the application form. In certain instances, based on the available information provided by applicants, DEC will provide permits on-site or expedite further review and field visits necessary to issue permits. To obtain the required authorization under this General Permit, residents should come prepared by reading the General Permit and Application Instructions; determine whether or not the proposed work is within the scope of the General Permit; fill out the Application for General Permit GP-0-17-006 and provide drawings, plans, photos (if available) and a location map.

In addition, DEC has deployed a team of experienced coastal engineers to Lake Ontario to meet with property owners, conduct site visits and offer technical assistance. DEC’s engineers stand ready to work with property owners so that protective structures can be repaired and homeowners can take appropriate actions expeditiously. To date, DEC has issued 247 permits.

The NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers will be at the below locations over the next five days. In addition, those who are not able to visit the Emergency Response Mobile Command Center can call the Department of Financial Service’s Disaster Hotline at 1-800-339-1759, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 p.m. for help with insurance-related issues.

The NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center will be back in Orleans County in Carlton on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Orleans County Marine Park, Point Breeze Road (Route 98).

Regional Resource Deployment

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management continues to coordinate with county and local partners in monitoring the rising levels of Lake Ontario and additional resources from other state stockpiles have been shifted to locations in Monroe county in the event that conditions worsen. To date, more than 1.2 million sandbags have been deployed to affected communities to help mitigate flooding.

Currently, assets have been deployed to Orleans County, including 130,000 sandbags distributed, 1 sandbagger, 52 National Guard members, State sandbagging operation at 14410 Route 31 in Albion, 3 Department of Corrections and Community Supervision inmate crews with two in the Town of Kendall and one in the Town of Carlton.

Return to top

Many events planned statewide to commemorate bicentennial of canal construction

File photo by Tom Rivers: The Lois McClure, a wooden schooner built as a replica of a canal boat from the 1860s, is pictured in Albion during a visit on the canal in August 2013. The boat will be back in Orleans County this August.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled a series of celebrations and events being planned across New York State to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.

An engineering marvel that stimulated trade, exploration and invention, the canal project created the first superhighway across New York, connecting Albany and Buffalo and improving transportation to and from New York City by linking the Hudson River to Lake Erie.

“The Erie Canal was critical in establishing New York as a national hub for commerce and industry, and today offers boaters unparalleled views and access to our canalside communities,” Governor Cuomo said. “In commemorating this anniversary, we celebrate the canal’s rich heritage as well as its pivotal role in promoting economic development and tourism today. I urge visitors to come experience the many events planned for the bicentennial celebration.”

Today was also the start of the 2017 boating season on the 524-mile canal system for recreational vessels, which are now the primary users of the canals. The season runs through Oct. 11.

To celebrate the bicentennial, permit fees for recreational vessels, normally costing $25-$100, have been waived by the Canal Corporation this year.

A ceremony to mark the occasion was held in Waterford, the eastern terminus of the canal, where Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul gave the orders to open the gate at Lock 2, where more than 20 boats were waiting to begin their canal journey.

“For 200 years, the Erie Canal has been at the heart of our economy and one of the most important factors in the development of the Empire State,” said Hochul, who officiated the opening of the locks at Waterford. “As we begin the 2017 season and the bicentennial celebration of this technical marvel, we are challenged to match the inspiration of previous generations of New Yorkers and leave a legacy as great and lasting as theirs.”

It was on April 15, 1817, the New York State legislature approved construction of the Erie Canal, connecting Albany to Buffalo. Crews began work following the ceremonial first dig on July 4, 1817, in Rome, Oneida County. The canal was officially completed on October 26, 1825.

The towns established along the canal now offer annual festivals, living history re-enactments and hands-on museums that celebrate the region’s rich past and the communities that live along the canal today.

“This will be an exciting year to visit the canals,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “Come experience our unique destinations and celebrate the Erie Canal Bicentennial with the more than 200 communities within the corridor and be a part of a history that is still being written every day.”

The New York State Canal Corporation will co-host bicentennial events with communities along the canal.

The 1862 replica canal boat “Lois McClure” will travel across the state, including the length of the Erie Canal, visiting towns and villages along the way, as crews from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum show visitors what life was like aboard a canal boat. The Lois McClure will be in Holley on Aug. 8  and in Medina on Aug. 10.

Other events include:

• Amsterdam, June 9, with a festival and fireworks at Riverlink Park, home to the new Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Bridge;

• Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, June 10, all day canal-themed events and barbeque, where you can see the remnants of the original Erie Canal, the enlarged canal and current configuration of the Barge Canal;

• Lockport, July 8, home to the famed “Flight of Five,” a set of five locks dating to the 1860s. The Flight once effectively acted as “stairs for boats” heading up the Niagara Escarpment, the long cliff that runs east/west across New York that famously includes Niagara Falls;

• Rochester, July 14-15, featuring an Erie Canal forum and a day of family-friendly events and music, both held at the Strong National Museum of Play; and

• Rome, July 22, an all-day event at Bellamy Harbor Park, featuring a first-dig re-enactment, an arts and crafts fair, concerts and fireworks.

• A new Erie Canal exhibit, “New York’s Erie Canal: Gateway to a Nation,” will open this fall at the New York State Museum in Albany.

• In Lockport, the Kenan Center, celebrating its 50th anniversary, will have a special exhibition of Erie Canal photographs.

Return to top

Photos courtesy of Doug Boyer
LAKE ALICE – A mama swan helps her six babies take their maiden voyage in Lake Alice. Doug Boyer has sent similar milestone photos before of a mother swan helping her babies on the maiden voyage. The event usually happens around Mothers’ Day.

He took these photos on Saturday evening.

“This never gets old!” Boyer said in an email. “Six baby swans on mama’s back. We have only seen her one time in the last six weeks, when papa took a turn sitting on the eggs.”

Return to top

WATERPORT – The Oak Orchard River has been roaring at the Waterport Dam since the big rain storm on Monday, followed by continued steady rain. The waterfalls at the dam is pictured this morning.

This photo from October 2013 shows how the waterfalls looked without so much rain.

The inflows at the power plant are obscured from all of the water this morning.

Here is how the spot looked in October 2013. It is a popular fishing spot in the fall when the salmon make their annual run.

The Oak Orchard and other streams and creeks in the county all are carrying more water than normal after the deluge of rain this past week, following a rainy April.

The Oak Orchard was misty with foam floating this morning.

Return to top

Photos by Cheryl Wertman

BARKER – Golden Hill State Park, just west of the Orleans County line in Barker, took plenty of hits today from the big waves on Lake Ontario.

Cheryl Wertman was at the park and took these photos of waves slamming into the shoreline.

The water sprays at the boat launch at the state park.

The big waves send water over the path at the boat launch.

This pair of swans try to seek refuge at the boat launch.

This photo is looking west from the Drake Ruins site. There used to be a beach there that went out several feet.

The pier by the lighthouse is nearly submerged with water.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Orleans, Niagara and western Monroe counties from 6 a.m today until 11 p.m.

The lake is about 20 inches above normal before more rain hit today.

Orleans County and the towns of Carlton, Kendall and Yates remain under a state of emergency due to the high lake levels.

Return to top

File photo by Tom Rivers: Gary Hill and his son Dan are shown picking up trash along the Erie Canal on April 26, 2014. They were part of a group from the Sons of the American Legion in Medina. There will be another trash pickup this Saturday along the Towpath from the Glenwood Avenue Bridge to the Bates Road boat launch.

Volunteers are welcome to help with trash pickups along the Erie Canal this Saturday. There will be cleanup efforts in Holley, Albion and Medina for the 12^th annual Canal Clean Sweep.

Last year more than 100 Clean Sweep events were held on the canal system.

This Saturday there will be cleanup events at the following locations in Orleans County:

• Albion – The Albion Betterment Committee welcomes volunteers to meet at 9 a.m. at Dunkin Donuts, 157 South Main Street.

The group will then go to Erie Canal, heading east and west in the Town of Albion, picking up trash on both shores.

• Holley – The Masonic Lodge No. 713 in Kendall will start at 9 a.m. at the Holley Canal Park on East Avenue.

Masons will clean the towpath on both sides of the canal from the Canal Park eastward to Countyline Road.

• Medina –Sons of the American Legion will start at 9 a.m. at the Legion Post on North Main Street. They will pick up trash from the Post, heading east to the Bates Road canal launch ramp. The Sons will also work on landscaping at Glenwood Avenue bridge over the Erie Canal.

• Medina – The Medina Lions Club also will do its annual environmental cleanup day, starting at Lions Park on North Gravel Road (Route 63) at 9 a.m.

The Lions will work with Boy Scouts, students from the Iroquois Job Corps to clean up public areas along the canal in the village. They will also spread mulch and work on gardens. Community members are welcome to help with the cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon.

Return to top