By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2016 at 12:00 am
HULBERTON – The State Canal Corporation plans a bigger fix to a culvert in Hulberton after the canal boating season ends on Nov. 20, Canal Corporation officials said.
The Canal Corporation and contractor C.P. Ward of Scottsville made a temporary repair to a leaking culvert that allowed the canal to be reopened. A section was closed between Middleport and Brockport for about a week.
“For the temporary repairs that were completed this week, sheet piling was installed into the north and south embankments around the culvert to stabilize them and grout (cement) was pumped into the void areas, essentially plugging the leak,” Shane Mahar, Canal Corp. spokesman, said in an email, describing the work that was done.
The Canal Corp. had warned it could take several weeks to make the temporary fix during the height of the canal boating season.
“The full and complete repair is being designed by our engineers,” Mahar said. “We expect those repairs to be completed during the non-navigation season.”
Brian Stratton, the Canal Corp. director, said a “multi-agency response” allowed the canal to reopen ahead of the initial predictions.
HULBERTON – The New York State Canal Corporation has announced that temporary repairs to a section of the Erie Canal, approximately 500 yards west of the Hulberton Lift Bridge in the Town of Murray, have been completed allowing for the Canal to re-open effective Sunday between the villages of Brockport and Middleport.
“This temporary repair enables the Canal Corporation to re-open the Erie Canal with the least possible impact to the summer boating season, as well as to the local farmers who depend on Canal water for irrigation,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “The Erie Canal is an economic engine for tourism and this expedited repair, accomplished through a multi-agency response, gives mariners the opportunity to visit their favorite villages and towns on the Canal without further interruption.”
Engineers from the New York State Department of Transportation developed a temporary repair plan that was executed on an expedited schedule by C.P. Ward of Scottsville.
“I would like to thank the dedicated teams from the DOT and Canal Corporation for coming together to quickly address these emergency repairs,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll. “The expertise from multiple state agencies helped ensure safety and minimize the need for a long term closure for all users of the canal.”
This section of the Erie Canal provides vital irrigation to 25 farms and two commercial golf courses. The accelerated repairs have allowed for minimal disruption to the agricultural growing season.
“We thank the New York State Thruway Authority and Canal Corporation and the Department of Transportation for their quick response to the situation and for their partnership in identifying a solution that had a minimal impact on the area’s farmers,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “There are more than two dozen farms in the region that rely on the Canal for irrigation, so we are grateful repairs have been completed so quickly and efficiently.”
The detour on the Erie Canalway Trail from the Hulberton Lift Bridge to approximately 3,500 feet west of the lift bridge will remain in effective until Tuesday, July 5, 2016.
The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience and understanding while this necessary maintenance work was completed, spokesman Shane Mahar said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 July 2016 at 12:00 am
POINT BREEZE – A group of boaters, including many with sailboats, were out Thursday evening in Lake Ontario near the Oak Orchard Harbor. The sailboats have a friendly race most Thursday evenings.
Today there will be a high of 76 with showers likely between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Saturday will be sunny with a high of 75, followed by more sun and high of 79 on Sunday. Monday, July 4, will be sunny with a high near 82, according to the Weather Service.
A chair is pictured in a backyard at Oak Orchard on the Lake.
This boater heads back to the harbor on Thursday evening.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The State Canal Corporation lowered the guard gates in Brockport and Middleport at 6 p.m. on Sunday to begin draining a section of the canal. This photo was taken at about 10 a.m. this morning, showing the Main Street lift bridge in Albion. There was still a lot of water in the canal, but that will soon change.
The canal needs to be drained so emergency repairs can be made to a culvert in Hulberton. The Canal Corporation has hired contractor C.P. Ward of Scottsville. The construction has mobilized and is on site, said Shane Mahar, spokesman for the Canal Corporation.
“We’ll know the schedule of refilling between Middleport and Albion later this week,” Mahar said in an email. “Also, overall project timeline is still TBD – won’t know 100-percent until the contractor actually starts doing the repair.”
The problems with the culvert, about 500 yards west of the lift bridge, were discovered during a routine inspection. The Canal Corporation’s team of experts determined the repairs couldn’t be put off until after the canal boating season, Mahar said.
After the canal is drained between Brockport and Middleport and preliminary construction work is started, the canal between Middleport and Albion will be refilled with water.
However, a 15-mile section of the canal between the Albion Guard Gate (just west of the Village of Albion) and the Brockport Guard Gate (just west of the Village of Brockport) will remain de-watered until repairs are complete.
Photo by Tom Rivers – A fisherman is pictured at Point Breeze in this photo from May 3, 2015.
Press Release, Gov. Cuomo’s Office
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced free fishing days in New York State, inviting residents and visitors to explore more of New York State by participating in the sport as part of the NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative.
During these special days, including this weekend, New York residents and non-residents are permitted to fish for free without a fishing license in any of the state’s 7,500 lakes and ponds, or its 70,000 miles of rivers and streams during this time.
“New York has some of the best fishing in the nation, and with our Free Fishing Days program, we’re making it easier than ever for residents and visitors to come out and experience all that our waters have to offer,” Cuomo said. “This is an excellent time to introduce friends and family to the many excellent places to fish in virtually every corner of this state.”
Based on the popularity of the June free fishing period, Cuomo has also designated November 11, 2016 (Veterans Day) and February 18-19, 2017 as free fishing days. Saltwater anglers may also fish in marine waters or for migratory marine fish species without enrolling in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry during free fishing days.
“Fishing is a proud tradition in New York State, and we’re thrilled to offer more free opportunities for residents and visitors alike to get out on our waters and enjoy angling throughout the calendar year,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Fishing in New York State not only provides recreational enjoyment but is a vital economic generator, supporting local economies statewide.”
New York’s sport fishing industry generates an estimated $1.8 billion in economic activity annually, supporting nearly 17,000 jobs.
Under the 2016-17 budget, Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative provides $3 million for State land access projects and $4 million for hunting and fishing infrastructure. The 2015-16 budget also created a new capital account, which, along with federal Pittman-Robertson funds, will be used to manage, protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat and will improve and develop public access for fish and wildlife-related recreation.
This year’s commitment builds on the previous $6 million in funding for 50 new projects to provide access to approximately 380,000 acres of existing State lands for recreation, including boat launches, bird-watching areas, trails and hunting blinds, and $8 million for upgrades and improvements to fish hatcheries statewide.
In addition to the Free Fishing Days program, the Governor’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative will now allow organizations and groups to conduct individual free fishing events. These events must meet Department’s guidelines designed to ensure that the events are educational in focus. Participants in these events do not need a license to fish and are not required to enroll in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry.
Anglers are reminded that although a fishing license is not required during the free fishing day weekend, or free fishing events, all other fishing regulations remain in effect.
The free fishing events give people a chance to try the thrilling sport of fishing at no cost, and people are encouraged to support the sport by purchasing a New York State fishing license. To learn more, click here.
For a listing of all free fishing events, including those conducted during free fishing days, please visit the DEC website by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Closure expected to last several weeks
Photos by Tom Rivers – The State Canal Corp. has posted a detour on the towpath for a section just west of the lift bridge so emergency repairs can be made to a culvert.
HULBERTON – The Erie Canal will be drained between Brockport and Middleport beginning on June 27 so emergency repairs can be made to a culvert in Hulberton. The Canal Corporation estimates the canal closure will last several weeks.
The problems with the culvert, about 500 yards west of the lift bridge, were discovered during a routine inspection. The Canal Corp. has spent the past three days discussing how to address the situation with its engineering team and a consultant, Bergmann Associates.
The team of experts determined the repairs can’t be put off until after the canal boating season, said Shane Mahar, canal spokesman.
The Canal Corp. wants to fix the culvert so there isn’t a bigger problem, including the potential for a blowout.
A tender heads east on the canal towards the lift bridge in Hulberton. The canal will be drained in this section beginning on June 27.
“It’s not ideal,” Mahar said about draining a section of the canal at the start of the summer boating season. “But our team of experts believes it is necessary or it could lead to bigger problems.”
After the canal is drained between Brockport and Middleport and preliminary construction work is started, the canal between Middleport and Albion will be refilled with water.
However, a 15-mile section of the canal between the Albion Guard Gate (just west of the Village of Albion) and the Brockport Guard Gate (just west of the Village of Brockport) will remain de-watered until repairs are complete.
Mahar said the Canal Corp. is putting off dewatering the section for about 10 days so contractors can be mobilized and boaters given notice to plan their navigational trips.
An advisory from the Canal Corporation states:
“Residents who live along the Erie Canal in the immediate vicinity of the culvert repair work are safe. Local mariners are advised to remove their vessels from the Canal prior to Sunday, June 26, 2016.
“The Canal Corporation will assist in towing boats outside of the above referenced closure area if requested by the owners, but shall not be responsible for any damage to vessels, as a result of towing or that are not removed from the Canal prior to the closure.
“Effective immediately, a detour on the Erie Canalway Trail from the Hulberton Lift Bridge to approximately 3,500 feet west of the lift bridge is in effect utilizing Canal Road on the north side of the Canal. Users of the trail should follow the posted detour signs.
“Mariners seeking information on alternative routes should contact the Canal Corporation at 518-471-5014.”
Several farms have permits to siphon water from the canal in the 15-mile stretch. Mahar said the Canal Corp. will work with the state Department of Agriculture and Markets to make sure farms are notified.
The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience and understanding while this maintenance work is completed, Mahar said.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 11 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Orleans County Master Gardeners plant the island perennial bed while homeowners Dan and Jill Ryan look on. The Ryans are the 2015 winners of makeover contest by the Master Gardeners.
RIGA – Master Gardeners in Orleans County spent Saturday morning at the home of Jill and Dan Ryan, the winners of the 2015 Master Gardener Makeover Contest, installing a new perennial garden that will give their yard multi-season interest and color.
The Ryans live in a 100-plus-year-old home in the Town of Riga, Monroe County. They purchased their winning ticket last year at Sara’s Garden Center in Brockport.
“I’m blown out of the water,” Dan Ryan said of the new garden. “It looks gorgeous.”
The Master Gardener Makeover Contest was created several years ago and Master Gardener Don O’Keefe says this is the first time a Monroe County resident has won. The winner receives design services, labor, and $500 in plants from Sara’s Garden Center. The total value of the landscape makeover is $1,000.
Perennials were set in place before being planted. The Ryan’s home is seen in the background.
Square footage of the makeover area can be no more than 200 square feet and located either in Orleans County or in towns in surrounding counties. The winner is responsible for maintenance and a maintenance plan is supplied for the project by Master Gardeners and the Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator.
The Ryans’ garden on four acres of land with mature trees and a creek. They have developed a serene retreat in their yard which includes a gazebo, fire pit and koi pond. The couple said they have wanted to install a flower bed in their front yard for years and were very excited to have won the makeover.
They visited Sara’s with Master Gardeners a few weeks before the installation to select their plants. Jill Ryan said she was so pleased with their choices that “I almost cried,” when they left the garden center.
Orleans County Master Gardeners pose with Dan and Jill Ryan (far left) behind the completed perennial bed in front of the Ryan’s home in Riga, Monroe County.
Tickets for the 2016 Garden Makeover are $10 per entry and are available from the Orleans County Cooperative Extension office and Master Gardeners. There are no restrictions on the number of individual entries.
Entries are placed in a ballot box and the winner is selected at random during the annual Master Gardener’s Plant Sale on Sept. 10, 2016, at 11 a.m. in the Lartz Building on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Elizabeth Carpenter
LYNDONVILLE – This swan was out early on Memorial Day, enjoying the water by the dam on Johnson Creek. Elizabeth Carpenter was up just after sunrise to get these photos that include the patriotic display of flags on the grounds of Lyndonville Central School. “Small town with big heart!” Carpenter said in an email.
The forecast calls for sunshine and 70s the next few days. The National Weather Service in Buffalo is forecasting a high near 79 on Thursday with showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m.
Friday is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high near 77, followed by sunny and a high near 79 on Saturday. Sunday will be a high near 75 with showers likely, according to the NWS in Buffalo.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2016 at 12:00 am
Students join in tree planting at State Street Park
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Village of Medina celebrated Arbor Day today with help from students from Oak Orchard Elementary School. The village held a tree-planting celebration at State Street Park.
The village has planted about 1,500 trees in the past 15 years. This Arbor Day marks the ninth year in a row that the Village of Medina has been awarded the Tree City USA designation by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The award honors Medina’s commitment to community forestry.
Medina is planted 71 trees this spring, mostly along areas of West Center Street with additional plantings on West Avenue, Gwinn Street and State Street Park.
Aidyn Jackson, a Medina first-grader, puts the final shovel of dirt on a flowering pear tree at State Street Park. The village planted six flowering pear trees along the park’s perimeter.
This first grade class poses for a picture in front a newly planted tree.
Dan Doctor, the Oak Orchard principal, gets a picture of students by a new tree. Doctor told the kids to “Say Trees!” when he took the picture.
Medina Mayor Michael Sidari is pictured with Tree Board Chairman Chris Busch on a stage during the Arbor Day celebration. Sidari said saplings will go to be tall trees. He told students to return to the park often as adults and take pride in the new trees.
The mayor also read a proclamation about Arbor Day.
Sidari and Busch presented a “Friend of the Urban Forest Award” to Bob Sanderson, a Medina resident who donated $5,700 to plant many of the new trees. Sanderson owns Candlelight Cabinetry and Kitchen World in Lockport, employing 230 people. The company uses lots of wood, and Sanderson said the business is committed to planting new trees through several “Tree Hugger Initiatives.” Sanderson said Medina is becoming known as “the town that plants all of the trees.”
Medina third-graders Garrett Koch, center, and Elizabeth Thompson read a poem about Arbor Day. They are joined by teacher Nicole Goyette.
Mayor Sidari poses with elementary students after planting trees at State Street Park.
Today is earliest opening of historic waterway in more than 30 years
Photo by Tom Rivers – A tugboat is pictured in Albion on Tuesday morning, getting ready for the canal season which starts today.
Press Release, Gov. Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the opening of New York State’s Canal system for the 192nd consecutive season of navigation.
The April 27 opening date marks the earliest start to the navigation season since 1982 thanks to a mild winter which allowed staff to complete maintenance projects, and opening preparations, ahead of schedule. The Canal system includes the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals in upstate New York.
“New York’s Canal system is an engineering marvel of epic proportions and its construction demonstrated the sort of vision, determination and boldness that define us as New Yorkers,” Governor Cuomo said. “Nearly two centuries after its completion, the Canal system continues to be an important tourist destination, while also playing a vital role supporting industries throughout Upstate New York.”
The Erie Canal represents one of the most significant engineering achievements in New York’s history and along with its adjoining canals, it continues to play a pivotal role in supporting the state’s economy.
According to a 2014 report (click here), the system generates nearly $380 million in tourism spending annually across upstate New York, and more than $6.2 billion from non-tourism uses such as agricultural irrigation, commercial shipping, and renewable power generated at 27 hydroelectric facilities located along the Canal. The report also determined that the Canals support 26,472 jobs, $1.6 billion in personal income, and $702 million in tax revenue, both directly and indirectly.
New York State Thruway Authority and Canal Corporation Chair Joanie M. Mahoney said, “We are proud to join with Governor Cuomo in announcing the earliest annual opening of New York’s Canals in over three decades. I know that the communities and businesses which rely on the positive economic benefit of Canal tourism will be happy to see vessels plying the majestic waters of our Canals again, and we join them in welcoming boaters from around the world to the waterway which put the ‘Empire’ in ‘Empire State’ – the Erie Canal.”
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “Each year, our iconic Canal system draws scores of visitors from all over the world to travel along America’s most storied manmade waterway and to enjoy walking, biking, and fishing along its banks. It is a historical marvel that has consistently fueled New York’s economy through recreation and tourism, and I look forward to seeing what this year’s Canal navigation season adds to that already-rich history.”
The Canal system plays host to several special events each season, including races, festivals, and other recreational activities which can be found by visiting the Canal’s Calendar of Events. New Yorkers are strongly encouraged to take part in these events that last throughout the duration of the navigation season.
Twenty-four hour service is available to commercial vessels such as tour boats, tugboats, charter boats, cruise ships, and hire-boats operating on the Canal system. Registered commercial operators should call (518) 471-5016 during regular business hours and (518) 499-1700 after hours to make arrangements for lock and lift bridge service outside of the Canal’s regular operating schedule.
The Canal navigation season is scheduled to end on Nov. 20, weather permitting.
