Photos by Tom Rivers – The Tug Syracuse carries inspectors and officials from the State Canal Corporation after checking the lift bridge in Holley this morning. The hydraulic, mechanical and electrical systems all passed inspection. The seven lift bridges in Orleans County all passed the Canal Corporation’s review on Wednesday and Thursday, part of a canal-wide inspection of the locks, guard gates and lift bridges.

HOLLEY – They may be 100 years old, but the lift bridges in Orleans County were all given strong passing grades during inspections on Wednesday and Thursday.

Canal inspectors checked the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems, and also rated the lift bridges for appearance.

“Everything is in good working order,” John Callaghan, deputy director of the Canal Corp., said about the lift bridges. “They have held up wonderfully after a century of service.”

The Canal Corporation began its annual inspection of the canal system began on Tuesday in Buffalo when the Tug Syracuse departed from Canalside to assess the historic waterway.

The legally mandated inspection takes place over the next two months in two- and three-day segments. The Canal Corp. will assess the overall condition and capital needs of the nearly 200-year-old Canal system, which supports $380 million in tourism-based and $6.4 billion in non-tourism-based economic activity, Canal Corp. officials said. The canal also provides a vital resource for drinking water, agriculture, industry and hydroelectric power generation, officials said.

Don Brace works in the control tower at lift bridge in Holley. State Assemblyman Steve Hawley stopped by to see the inspection of the Holley lift bridge. He said he is working on inviting several state legislators from New York City for a boat ride on the canal where they could then see farms, historic downtowns and other local attractions.

“New York’s Canal system is one of our greatest treasures, as a historical resource and an engine that supports economic activity throughout the Empire State,” Thruway and Canal Executive Director Tom Madison said in a statement earlier this week.

Callaghan, the deputy canal director, while in Holley today praised the canal employees.

“They take their job seriously,” he said. “They’re out greasing, prepping and painting. It’s a constant when you have 100-year-old infrastructure.”

While the bridges mechanical, electrical and hydraulic components are working well, at least one of the lift bridges – Knowlesville – has a weight reduction due to structural issues and is limited to one-lane traffic. Callaghan said the Department of Transportation inspects the spans for structural integrity. The canal inspectors are focused on other issues with the bridges.

The Tug Syracuse heads east from Holley to check the two lift bridges in Brockport.

Darren McGuirk, assistant canal equipment specialist, headed the inspections today, which started in Albion and headed east. He marveled at how well the lift bridges are holding up.

“The employees are dedicated,” he said. “They know these bridges are the center of these communities. They keep them going.”

The inspection tour is a tradition dating from Oct. 26, 1825, when Gov. DeWitt Clinton departed from Buffalo aboard the Seneca Chief to mark the opening of the Erie Canal after eight years of construction.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – There is a big field full of tall sunflowers on Route 237, across from Hendel Farms. An Orleans Hub reader sent us an email, encouraging us to go and take some photos.

“The absolute beauty of this field of sunflowers has caused many folks to stop and take pictures,” according to the reader.

The field is north of Telegraph Road and south of Skillington Road.

Press release, Department of Environmental Conservation

BASOM – As part of Gov. Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a waterfowl hunter informational meeting on Aug. 28 at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters.

The meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Refuge on Casey Road in the Town of Alabama. Topics will include:

Highlights of waterfowl management and research programs at two National Wildlife Refuges, Iroquois and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge; and four of the state’s Wildlife Management Areas – Tonawanda, Braddock Bay, Oak Orchard and Northern Montezuma

Regional and statewide waterfowl news and updates

Atlantic Flyway news

Waterfowl population status survey results

New York waterfowl hunting season-setting process; and

Tentative 2014-15 duck and goose hunting seasons.

Wildlife biologists from DEC and the two National Wildlife Refuges will discuss items of interest to waterfowl hunters in an informational and interactive forum. They will present results of local and international surveys of waterfowl breeding populations and discuss habitat conditions and habitat management efforts. Updates of waterfowl management issues in the Atlantic Flyway will be presented, and this year’s tentative waterfowl hunting seasons and bag limits will be discussed.

The NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.

In support of this initiative, this year’s budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have not reached their full potential. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas.

In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state’s fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.

This year’s budget also reduces short-term fishing licenses fees; increases the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; authorizes DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and authorizes free Adventure Plates for new lifetime license holders, discounted Adventure Plates for existing lifetime license holders and regular fee Adventure Plates for annual license holders.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A full moon is out in its glory tonight. In the top photo, the moon appears over the Orleans County Clerk’s Building.

In this picture, the moon appears between two of the columns in the front of the Orleans County Courthouse.

This picture also shows the moon peaking through the columns at the courthouse.

This one has the moon looming over the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.

The lights cast a nice glow on the front door of Christ Church.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The sun is close to setting last evening over Lake Ontario in Barker.

There is a new leader of the Orleans County Fishing Derby after a 26-pound, 13-ounce Chinook was caught on Thursday.

Bill Magee of Northwood, Ohio, is the new leader of the derby and its $4,000 prize for the biggest fish.

Edward Kowalski of Scottsville leads the Salmon Division with a 26-pound, 1-ounce Chinook.

Other leaders include Destiny Bickel of Burt with an 18-pound, 11-ounce brown trout; Mike Schaeffer of Sligo, Pa., with a 14-pound, 1-ounce rainbow trout; and April Johnson of Rochester with a 16-pound, 4-ounce lake trout.

Heather Saeva of Albion is in the lead for the bonus prize given to the Orleans County resident who catches the biggest fish. She caught a 23-pound, 15-ounce Chinook.

The Albion Rotary Club will give away $8,800 in prizes with the derby, which continues until Aug. 17.

Photos by Tom Rivers
BARKER – Kayakers spent Wednesday evening out on Lake Ontario in Barker by Lighthouse Christian Camp. Lighthouse is next to Golden Hill State Park near the Orleans County line.

After lots of rain earlier this week, today is forecast to be sunny with a high of 74, followed by more sunny days with highs at about 80 degrees through Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Edward Kowalski of Scottsville is the new leader of the Orleans County Fishing Derby after catching a 26-pound, 1-ounce Chinook. If that fish stays in the lead until the derby is over on Aug. 17, Kowalski will win the $4,000 grand prize.

Ryan Deal of New castle, Pa., leads the salmon division with a 24-pound, 14-ounce fish. Other leaders include Destiny Bickel of Burt with an 18-pound, 11-ounce brown trout; Mike Schaeffer of Sligo, Pa., with a 14-pound, 1-ounce rainbow trout; and April Johnson of Rochester with a 16-pound, 4-ounce lake trout.

The Albion Rotary Club will give away about $8,800 in prizes with the derby, which continues until Aug. 17.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife wanted to move birds to Massachusetts

Two bald eagles that were rehabilitated in Shelby by Wendi Pencille will be staying in the Buffalo Zoo, rather than being moved to Massachusetts, Congressman Chris Collins announced.

The Buffalo Zoo will be the new permanent home to two bald eagles, Carson and Stripe. Late last year while the eagles recovered from serious injuries that left them unable to return to the wild, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service fought to move the birds to a facility in Massachusetts despite the Buffalo Zoo having already pledged to welcome the eagles as part of its anticipated Arctic Edge exhibit.

“In my nearly 30 years as a wildlife rehabilitator, this was the most difficult thing I have ever faced,” said Pencille, who cared for the eagles after their injuries at her Orleans County facility. “Caring for the thousands of animals over the years was easy compared to convincing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to change a decision on the birds’ permanent placement.”

After the Buffalo Zoo and Pencille were unable to convince Fish & Wildlife to back down from its plan to move the eagles out of state, Collins’ office stepped in and helped facilitate the permanent placement of Carson and Stripe at the zoo.

While its state-of-the art Arctic Edge exhibit nears completion, the Buffalo Zoo officially welcomed the bald eagles earlier than expected this past February.

“The Buffalo Zoo is grateful to Congressman Collins for advocating on our behalf, and helping to secure these majestic birds to be enjoyed by Western New York families for years to come,” said Donna Fernandes, President/CEO of the Buffalo Zoo.

Buffalo Zoo staff say Carson and Stripe are adapting well to their new lives and adjusting exactly as they expected given the eagles’ particular injuries. Carson and Stripe can now help the zoo share the conservation success story of bald eagles in North America and the importance of protecting these majestic birds.

The eagles are expected to move into their permanent home in Arctic Edge next year. Construction of the new exhibit continues in full force. Underground utility work is nearly complete, foundations are being poured, and support walls are starting to appear above ground.

“There was no good reason to move these bald eagles to Massachusetts when they were already in Western New York being nursed back to health and the Buffalo Zoo was willing to give them a new, first-class home,” Collins said. “I am glad my office could step in and convince the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to abandon its plan in place of common sense. I want to thank Donna Fernandes and her staff at the Buffalo Zoo for continuing to do such a great job, and Wendi Pencille for caring for these injured eagles and bringing this matter to our attention in the first place.”

POINT BREEZE – A 24-pound Chinook still leads the Orleans County Fishing Derby, but there are new leaders in the brown trout and salmon divisions.Clifford Stout of Northeast, Md., leads the derby with 24-pound, 1-ounce Chinook. In other categories, Heather Saeva of Albion now leads the Salmon Division with a 23-pound, 15-ounce Chinook. Destiny Bickel of Burt leads with an 18-pound, 11-ounce brown trout.

In other divisions, Mike Schaeffer of Sligo, Pa., has the biggest rainbow trout with a 14-pound, 1-ounce fish and April Johnson of Rochester is in first place with a 16-pound, 4-ounce lake trout.

The grand prize is $4,000 for the heaviest fish. The Albion Rotary Club will give away about $8,800 in prizes with the derby, which continues until Aug. 17.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Two fishermen from Depew were in Medina today for the first time in 20 years, determined to catch bass at Glenwood Lake.

Don Chadwick and Jeff Becker remember fishing at the lake when they were in their teens. They arrived this morning to find the lake’s water level had dropped 2 feet. The boat launch is closed while the lake level has been reduced so emergency repairs can be made to a manhole at the Medina’s sewer plant.

The two fishermen said they were given permission by police to venture into the water because their bass boat has a small engine.

The lake levels are expected to return to normal beginning on Thursday after the repairs are made to the manhole.

A crew works on the sewer plant system for the village of Medina.

MEDINA – Glenwood Lake will drop about 2 feet this week so emergency repairs can be made to the Medina Sewer Treatment Plant.

The village is repairing a manhole and needs the lake to drop down or else the lake water will run into the sewer plant, said Peter Houseknecht, Medina’s Department of Public Works superintendent.

Brookfield Power started lowering the water level at Glenwood Lake on Monday. The water level should begin returning to normal after Thursday when the work is set to be complete at the plant, Brookfield officials said.

During the low level period the boat ramp near Boxwood Cemetery at Route 63 will be closed.

Photo courtesy of Steven Wilson

POINT BREEZE – When the Weather Service predicted a big storm was coming on Sunday night, Steven Wilson of Albion knew where he wanted to be. He headed to the Bridges in Point Breeze.

Wilson, an aspiring professional photographer, positioned himself near a closed down bridge by Narby’s. He aimed his camera to the big bridge on Route 18 that stretches across the Oak Orchard River. He wanted to capture the lightning over a local landmark.

Photo courtesy of Steven Wilson

He also likes this photo of lightning in the clouds over the bridge.