By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Normally I’d expect to see snow on the ground with a trip to the Post Office on Dec. 10, but today it was roses.
An Orleans Hub reader told me I had to see the flowers in bloom on the south side of the Post Office on Main Street in Albion. I stopped by today and there they were, looking like it was spring.
I also saw bins full of apples in an orchard today and Mennonites working on a barn-raising in Knowlesville. (They asked that I not take their picture.)
The Erie Canal also is nearly empty of water. This picture shows a dock on the Albion-Eagle Harbor Road, just west of the Village of Albion.
The Orleans County Tourism Department reports that the drained canal has given the local fishery a boost, raising water levels and increasing flows in the local tributaries.
The temperatures will continue to be unseasonably warm with highs of 57 on Friday, 60 on Saturday, 63 on Sunday and 67 on Monday.
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Brown Street bridge in Albion has been closed since 2012. It is one of several canal bridges in Orleans County that is either closed or has significant weight reductions.
A new federal transportation bill will provide more than $16.3 billion in direct infrastructure spending to New York State over the next 5 years, $1.5 billion more than New York would receive in a flat-funded bill, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said today.
The bill directs about $300 million more annually to NY help municipalities in the state repair and replace aging infrastructure, Schumer said.
“The regional economy is the very heart of our nation’s economy and our transportation systems are the lifeblood that make it all possible,” Schumer said in a statement. “Investing to maintain and improve those transportation systems boosts our economy in the near- and long-term and that’s exactly what government should be doing to keep our improving economy humming.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo thanked Schumer and the Congressional delegation for advocating for the state.
“The expected passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act is tremendous news for New York State,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “From helping to rebuild outdated bridges in Upstate New York to preventing massive funding cuts that would have hurt millions of public transit riders, this bill provides important support to our State’s infrastructure.”
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, also praised the new funding. She cited statistics from the State Department of Transportation, which considered more than one-third of New York State’s 17,000 bridges in need of repair, with 2,016 graded as structurally deficient and 4,735 graded as functionally obsolete.
In Western New York, there are a total of 2,743 bridges, and of these, 229 are structurally deficient bridges and 465 are functionally obsolete bridges.
In Orleans County, there are 138 bridges and 26 are structurally deficient with 28 functionally obsolete.
“With more stable and long term funding than New York has seen in previous years, it is an important investment in the Empire State’s future,” Cuomo said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The rising sun created a blaze of colors this morning in this photo that shows the columns on the Orleans County Courthouse.
It is going to be a warm Thanksgiving with a high forecast for 59 degrees on a mostly cloudy day, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
It will also be warm on Friday with a high of 60. The temperature drops on Saturday when the Weather Service says the high will be 39 degrees.
It was a striking sunrise this morning with colors in the clouds.
I like this tree with its wild branches on Butts Road north of the canal. I’m going to try to get pictures of it in different seasons.
Here is the same tree on Nov. 5 when it was 70 degrees.
Contributed Story Posted 25 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Curtis Beecher
CARLTON – Curtis Beecher, an employee at the Lynn-Ette and Sons farm in Kent, took a picture this morning of a Snowy Owl on some of Lynn-Ette’s farm equipment. The owls have returned for another winter in Orleans County.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Vince Flow – Kendall resident Vince Flow sent in this photo last winter of two Snowy Owls in a corn field on Lakeshore Road in Kendall.
(Editor’s Note: Orleans Hub is taking a daily challenge this week to express thankfulness for a different aspect to living in Orleans County.)
One of the most popular stories in the past week on the Orleans Hub was an article about the return of Snowy Owls. Ben Jones of Kendall got two pictures of one with his camera phone on Saturday in Carlton.
He shared the pictures with Orleans Hub, and the article quickly racked up the “likes” and “shares” on social media.
This week we’re counting blessings about living in Orleans County, and presence of Snowy Owls and other glorious wildlife are among the perks of living here.
Snowy Owls usually don’t fly down past Canada into these parts of the United States. But they have been showing up the past three years. Last winter was a historic migration, perhaps the biggest in a half century. The owls would hang out in corn fields, and sit on fences, telephone poles, you-name-it.
Many people were delighted to see one. They have been extra popular because they were so prominent in the Harry Potter stories. Harry’s owl is named Hedwig.
Photos by Tom Rivers
Not every place has a world-famous fishing attraction, but Orleans County can boast of the Oak Orchard River. You can also catch a lot of fish in Johnson Creek and some of the other Lake Ontario tributaries.
Many people from out-of-state flock to Orleans in the fall to try to hook salmon and trout. Even if they don’t catch any fish, just being outside in the river, with the blazing colors of the fall foliage, does a body and soul a lot of good.
We have a lot of geese around here with the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in the southern part of Orleans and stretching into Genesee County.
There are also a lot of geese in Lyndonville. They like to hang out in Johnson Creek. This photo was taken during a sunset in Lyndonville on Nov. 3.
You can also find a lot of geese along the Erie Canal. Many blue herons also camp out along the canal.
Deer season is underway for hunters and the animals seem to be in abundance. I “shot” these deer last Nov. 20.
I was out trying to get a picture of deer in a snow-covered field. These two deer were close to the road on the west side of Route 279 in Gaines, just south of Route 104. They held still for a few seconds before scampering away in the field and heading into the woods.
This county offers many picturesque views along the winding country roads past barns, orchards, corn fields and even rural, historic cemeteries.
This photo on Oct. 18 shows Zig-Zag Road in Gaines by John Long’s former dairy barn.
The sun was coming down and really lit up the barn and trees.
We have several really nice waterfalls in Orleans County. The one in Medina is probably the most powerful and breathtaking.
These waterfalls are by the Erie Canal near the Horan Road bridge. This was one of the toughest construction points for the Erie Canal. The Oak Orchard Creek runs along here. The canal contractors would use an aqueduct to provide a path for the Oak Orchard to run under the Erie Canal in Medina. Not long after, the creek plunges in a waterfalls.
This is a shockingly awesome spot, but it is difficult to view up close due to the lack of public access.
There are at least two good-size waterfalls in Holley. This photo shows one near the Holley Rod and Gun Club. There is also an old Medina sandstone building next door at South Holley Road and Pumping Station Road. The east branch of Sandy Creek runs by here.
If you like to explore and see some natural wonder, Orleans County is a great place to be.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos courtesy of Ben Jones
CARLTON – Ben Jones of Kendall sighted a Snowy Owl standing on the edge of Sawyer Road in Carlton Saturday evening. Jones had his phone camera and used it to get these pictures at night.
“It was pitch dark and couldn’t get too close before he’d fly off again,” Jones said.
The Snowy Owls have been a popular phenomenon in this area the past two winters with sightings all over Western New York.
The owl has a wingspan of five feet. It nests in the Arctic tundra and usually winters south through Canada.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2015 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – This sign on the shore of the Golden Hill State Park in Barker warns of an eroding shoreline.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson was in Washington D.C. on Wednesday meeting with State Department officials about a proposed plan for regulating Lake Ontario water levels.
Johnson and many officials from the southshore counties have been pressing the federal government not to support the plan from the International Joint Commission, a bi-national group that regulates the water levels.
A 2014 plan could result in bigger swings in water levels, damaging property and hurting boating and fishing industries.
“We need to work hard and stop this nonsense from going forward,” Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard said Wednesday during the Legislature meeting.
He noted that Johnson was in Washington with David Godfrey, a Niagara County legislator. They were joined by Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) and Congressman John Katko (NY-24) in a meeting with the State Department.
“The IJC’s Plan 2014 hurts homeowners and businesses along Lake Ontario’s shoreline,” Collins said in a statement. “I am vehemently opposed to this plan which would quicken erosion along shrinking shorelines, lower property values for specific homeowners, and have a negative impact on the region’s economy by limiting recreational and commercial boating. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in federal, state, and local government against the plan’s implementation and am glad Congressman Katko and county legislators Dave Godfrey and Lynne Johnson could join me in this fight.”
Plan 2014’s intent is to re-establish Lake Ontario’s natural water level fluctuations to restore the region’s natural wetlands and environmental diversity. The proposal has met significant resistance due to the disproportionate damages that will fall onto Lake Ontario’s southern shore communities, Collins said.
“Today’s meeting was yet another opportunity to discuss the potentially devastating impact that Plan 2014 could have on Wayne County’s shoreline, economy, and vast agriculture community,” Katko said.
He hosted a similar meeting earlier this year with Wayne County lawmakers and representatives from the U.S. Department of State and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
“I’m appreciative of Representative Collins’ efforts in facilitating this meeting,” Katko said. “I recognize the value of preserving our natural resources and supporting conservation measures, but Plan 2014 could cause a great loss of shoreline, erosion damage to property, and flooding in Wayne County. It is critical that we make these points known to stakeholders on a federal level, and that we continue to have an open dialogue moving forward.”
Godfrey said the IJC plan would be “economically devastating four our entire area.”
Johnson said residents and officials spoke out about the plan during public meetings and hearings. But the IJC still pushed it through.
“The approval by the IJC of Plan 2014 is government at its worst,” Johnson said. “The IJC did not listen to the voice of people.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The tugboat “Lockport” is tied up in Albion between the Main Street and Ingersoll Street lift bridges on Tuesday.
The navigational season for the Erie Canal ended today, concluding the 191st season of the waterway that turned New York State into an economic powerhouse in the 1800s.
These days, the canal is more of a recreational waterway, and the towpath is popular for joggers, cyclists and walkers.
Many of the tenders, tugboats, and other vessels in the canal fleet will “winter” in Albion before the canal season starts again next May.
This year the canal opened on May 8. The draining of the Erie Canal between Lockport and the Genesee River in Rochester will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 1, Canal Corporation officials said today.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – An annual rite of passage for Orleans County residents should include a visit to Mount Albion Cemetery, especially the Civil War Memorial tower, every fall.
I went to see the tower on Nov. 7. It was a crisp autumn day. I hadn’t been up the 68-foot-high tower in a couple years.
I was happy to see the spiral staircase is freshly painted. Last time I climbed all of the steps, there was lots of graffiti. This was taken from the top of the tower, which was built in 1876, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country.
I’m a little uncomfortable up high, but here is a view looking down from the tower. There are nice sandstone steps leading to the tower.
The tower provides views of scenic Albion, including the Orleans County Courthouse.
These iron gates lead into the tower, which is a memorial to about 500 Orleans County residents who died in the Civil War. Their names are etched in marble slabs inside the tower.
The cemetery on Route 31 is included on the National Register of Historic Places. There are many historic features of Mount Albion, including this hitching post that was used to tie up horses.
The cemetery, with its winding paths, is a popular spot for joggers and walkers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – It was another 70-plus degree day today. This tree on Butts Road, near the Kirby farm just north of the canal, really jumped out to me this afternoon.
There were people out jogging in shorts and T-shirts on what felt like an early September day, not Nov. 5, with temperatures in the mid-70s.
This photo shows a little pedestrian bridge over Proctor Brook behind the Blacksmith Shop on Route 98, part of the Cobblestone Museum grounds.
The tower of the Ingersoll Street lift bridge in Albion is reflected in the Erie Canal.
Friday is forecast for a high of 66 before the temperature falls to a high of 50 on Saturday and 48 on Sunday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – With the sun shining and temperatures at about 70 degrees, many folks were out not only voting today, but enjoying the Great Outdoors.
The top photo shows a flock of geese in flight in Lyndonville during a sunset.
Pete Ricci of Waterport fishes near the dam in Lyndonville. He could see a lot of big fish close to the dam.
John Paul Simon, 12, (left) and his brother Sharbel, 13, fish in Johnson Creek behind the Yates Community Free Library. They spent much of the day in Lyndonville, fishing and reading at the library while their father, Jim Simon, campaigned for Yates town supervisor.
The Simon brothers, John Paul with net and Sharbel with fishing pole, caught this catfish. The brothers said they caught several catfish while enjoying the warm day.
There are hundreds of geese camped out in water in Lyndonville.
A fisherman in waders gets close to the dam, trying to catch some of the big fish in Johnson Creek.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – Sun rays break through the clouds this morning in this scene of a barn on Fletcher Chapel Road in Shelby.
Here is another look of the scene showing the site in Shelby, just off Route 63.
The weather will be nice to start off November. Monday is forecast for sunny with a high of 60 followed by sunny and a high of 68 on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday will hit 70 with lots of sun, followed by a high of 67 on Thursday, according to the Weather Service.
Here is a field of harvested corn on West County House Road at the west end of Albion.
This is looking east on West County House Road this afternoon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – This photo is looking south on Waterport Road from Stillwater Road on Wednesday, when it was raining for most of the day.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory today for Orleans County and much of Western New York. The advisory is in effect until 11 p.m.
Southwest winds from 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts up to 55 mph, are expected. The strong winds could make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles and could take down tree limbs, resulting in power outages.
Today is forecast for a high of 52 degrees with showers likely.
This photo shows Clarks Mills Road, a dirt road in Carlton along Oak Orchard River, during the rain on Wednesday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – The St. Mary’s Archer’s Club on the Oak Orchard River in Carlton has been busy with anglers this week despite a lot of rain.
This group is pictured on Wednesday afternoon after a big downpour that morning.
Andrew Lang of Pittsburgh, Pa. caught this brown trout. He arrived on Sunday and is spending the week fishing in Orleans County.
Some of the fishermen said the fish haven’t been as plentiful as in the past, but they said the rain will raise the water levels in the Oak Orchard and bring more fish up the river.
Many of the fishermen made long treks across the state or out-of-state to try to catch salmon and trout from the Oak Orchard.
This trio from Orange County crosses the river, with fast-moving water from the rain, together on Wednesday. The group has been coming to Orleans County to fish the past 10 years.
The grounds at the Archer’s Club include lots of muddy footprints from all of the rain.
This fisherman has a net close by in case he hooks a big fish.
While the fishermen are in town to catch fish, they said they enjoy being outdoors with the changing leaves. Catching a big salmon or trout is just a nice bonus.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Here is another look at those flags in the West Ridgeway Cemetery.
RIDGEWAY – Flags at graves in the West Ridgeway Cemetery are pictured on Tuesday with bright sunshine breaking through the foliage of the cemetery along Route 104.
Today, western and central New York could see hazardous weather, the National Weather Service said.
There is potential for a thunderstorm to develop along a cold front boundary that is expected to cross the area this evening, the Weather Service said.
“Should these thunderstorms develop, stronger and possibly damaging winds will be possible,” the Weather Service said.
Today is forecast for a high of 64 degrees with a 100 percent chance of rain.
Thursday will see a high of 52 degrees with showers likely, while Friday will have a high of 47 and slight chance of rain, according to the Weather Service.
