By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 October 2013 at 12:00 am
Bill and Marlee Diehl have been out 75 times so far this year
LAKE ONTARIO – Bill and Marlee Diehl were out on Lake Ontario for the 75th time on Sunday afternoon. This time they brought along my 7-year-old daughter and me.
I know the Diehls through the Albion Rotary Club. They are hard-working members of the club, taking on all kinds of thankless tasks.
It was nice to have a little getaway yesterday, and see the Point Breeze sites, including people fishing from the piers, from the vantage point of a boat.
Last year the Diehls got out 110 times. The weather was better for sailing in 2012. There were fewer choppy days. Yesterday was a choppy day. I was feeling a little seasick while my daughter calmly sat and munched on some snacks.
The Diehls are looking forward to having the harbor dredged. That is scheduled for next year. The Oak Orchard hasn’t been dredged in a decade, and some spots in the channel and near the break wall have filled with sand, causing some boats to get stuck. That happened to the Diehls before.
The couple lives on Archbald Road. They like the close-knit Point Breeze community. They greeted many of the other boaters while they passed each other on the river.
The Diehls only have about a week of sailing left before they put the boat away for the winter.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 October 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
GAINES – It’s a foggy evening in Orleans County. This hay bale by Route 279 is visible close to the road, but the bales in the back start to fade from all the fog.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 October 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Riyan Westbrook, 23, of Medina holds a Chinook salmon he hooked and reeled in tonight near the Waterport Dam. His friend, Adrian Jackson of Medina, netted the fish. The two landed three good-size fish. See above.
Chris Vogt of Albion wades into the Oak Orchard River and fishes not too far from the Archer’s Club. Vogt had a spot by himself. He said a morning rain may have scared off some of the crowd. Vogt also is a charter boat captain, running a boat he calls U Betcha. He caught a Chinook earlier in the day.
They’re hard to see through the fog, but there are about a dozen fishermen standing in the Oak Orchard River across from the Archer’s Club.
Greg Crawford of the town of Alabama and his 11-year-old son Trevor bait their lines while fishing in the Oak Orchard River late this afternoon. They caught a couple Chinooks today.
Tom Harper of Point Breeze fishes near the Waterport Dam this evening. Harper had just arrived. His son Anthony caught a big brown trout earlier in the day. You can see the waterfall in back by the dam.
The Waterport Dam is a fishing hotspot this time of the year, when salmon and trout make their annual fall runs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2013 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Tom Roster, manager of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, stands outside the new visitor center and administration building on Casey Road in Basom in this file photo from April. The refuge closed today because of the government shutdown.
BASOM – Want to go see the birds or go for a nature walk at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge? Too bad. The refuge is closed as part of the impasse in Congress over a new budget.
Farmers and landowners also can’t access the staff at the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which both have offices in Albion.
A new federal fiscal year started at midnight without a budget in place. Many federal employees have been furloughed.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is very much aware that any lapse in appropriations imposes hardships on those we serve,” the government agency stated. “Due to this event, the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge will be closed to the public.”
Refuge staff will respond to emergencies regarding human life or property, but public access to the 10,808-acre refuge is prohibited and fish and wildlife management activities and public programs will be cancelled during the government shutdown. This includes all recreational activities like hunting, fishing, bird watching and hiking. The refuge is in the towns of Shelby and Alabama.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Samuel Williams, a Cub Scout, and Daniel Grabowski, a Boy Scout, bait their hooks this evening while venturing out on a dock, trying to get closer to the fish.
ALBION – Scouts in Albion kicked off a new year this evening by going fishing in an old quarry on Keitel Road. The Albion Sportsmen’s Association owns the old sandstone site.
Sawyer Braley, 9, caught this fish near a quarry wall. His father Jeff, a Scout leader, helped get the hook out. Jeff was an Eagle Scout when he went through the Scouting program.
Jeff Baron, the father of a Tiger Cub, took a turn fishing. About 50 Scouters and their family members baited hooks with worms, corn and lures. It was a serene fall day with the leaves starting to change.
Jonathan Judd, 9, gets his hook ready. Jonathan was popular among the Scouts this evening. He brought along some extra worms.
Zack Baron, 6, attended his first Scouting meeting tonight and was happy to try his luck fishing. Zack is a Tiger Cub for first-year Scouts.
Press release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
BASOM – Beginning October 1, trapping permits will be issued for the Oak Orchard, Tonawanda, and John White Wildlife Management Areas for the 2013-2014 license year.
Permit applications can be obtained weekdays from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, by appearing in person at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Office on Casey Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by writing to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Bureau of Wildlife, 1101 Casey Road, Box B, Basom, NY 14013.
Trappers who obtain a permit will be required to report their harvest and trapping efforts on each area. The Western New York trapping season for fox, raccoon, coyote and other upland furbearing animals opens Oct. 25, 2013, and closes Feb. 15, 2014, with the exception of the John White WMA, which will run from Nov. 1, 2013 to Feb. 15, 2014.
This year, the beaver season in this area of New York (including on Tonawanda, Oak Orchard and John White WMAs) will run from Nov. 25, 2013 until Feb. 15, 2014.
The Western New York trapping season for mink and muskrat opens on Nov. 25, 2013 and closes on Feb. 15, 2014. However, the 2013-2014 muskrat and mink seasons at the three WMAs start later than the Western New York trapping season and will run from Dec. 7, 2013 to Feb. 15, 2014.
In addition, a 25-trap limit will be in place for muskrat and mink on the three WMAs (traps set for upland trapping and beaver will not require numbered tags and will not be considered in the trap limit). The trap limit provides a more equitable distribution of the harvest and prevents trappers from monopolizing the better trapping areas.
The maximum number of traps a single trapper can set for muskrat and mink on the three areas is 25. To accomplish this, the DEC issues 25 numbered tags to each trapper who obtains a permit. A tag must be attached to each trap used on the areas. Any trap that does not have one of these tags attached is considered an illegal trap. Also, an individual trapper can only operate traps that contain tags with their assigned numbers.
Management of the muskrat population promotes prime emergent marsh habitats used by waterfowl and uncommon marsh birds such as the black tern and least bittern. The trap limit allows Bureau of Wildlife personnel to better regulate the muskrat harvest according to water availability, habitat needs and population.
Hunters and trappers are reminded that no gas or electric motor boats are allowed on Oak Orchard or Tonawanda WMAs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – Congressman Chris Collins met with Orleans and Nigara County officials Wednesday in Wilson to discuss the need to have several local harbors dredged. Collins is joined by, from left: Jim Ward, representative for State Sen. George Maziarz; Assemblywoman Jane Corwin; Niagara County Legislator David Godfrey, Niagara County Legislature Chairman Bill Ross; Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson; and Niagara County Legislator Clyde Burmaster.
Press release
Congressman Chris Collins
WILSON – Following a tour of Olcott and Wilson harbors, Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) joined with state and local leaders to highlight the urgent need to maintain and protect local harbors along Lake Ontario’s south shoreline.
Collins highlighted the important role these harbors play in the region’s economy and the need for continued and consistent harbor maintenance.
“These harbors play a critical role in the economy of Western New York through both the direct and spin-off benefits of seasonal recreational activities and the charter fishing industry,” Collins said on Wednesday. “Today I join my colleagues in both state and local government to call for both the continued maintenance and protection that is necessary to keep these harbors viable.”
Collins has pushed the Army Corps of Engineers to begin the long delayed dredging of the harbors. Dredging would remove the sediment build up that narrows a harbor’s channel dimension and creates unsafe navigation conditions for both commercial and recreational boating.
Orleans County officials have been pressing federal officials and the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Oak Orchard Harbor, which was last done a decade ago.
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Oak Orchard Harbor needs to have sediment removed to make the channel more navigable for boaters.
“The dredging of these harbors is long overdue, and is needed in order to maintain and maximize the harbors’ economic and recreational importance,” Collins said.
The Army Corps of Engineers is supposed to dredge in Oak Orchard, Olcott and Wilson harbors in 2014.
While in Wilson on Wednesday, Collins also voiced his opposition to the International Joint Commission plan, which calls for altering water levels for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The IJC is a joint body between the U.S. and Canada that controls water levels between the two countries.
Orleans County officials have protested the IJC plan, saying it would increase erosion along shorelines, lowering property values and having a negative impact on the region’s economy by affecting recreational and commercial boating.
“We need a unified front when it comes to advocating for the needs of our lakefront communities and harbors,” said State Sen. George Maziarz (R-Newfane). “Cleaning out these waterways so more boaters can use themand advocating to the IJC on behalf of lakefront property ownersare high priorities for us as representatives.”
Olcott won the “Ultimate Fishing Town” contest last year with Point Breeze winning the title this year. That raises the profile for other communities as fishing destinations. However, the potential is limited when the harbors are not regularly dredged.
Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson attended the news conference Wednesday in Wilson with Collins. Johnson is the county’s representative on the newly created Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance.
“We need to stand united with our neighbors to the west on these two very important issues as we work for funding to dredge Oak Orchard Harbor for boating and tourism and save our property owners along the lake from further erosion from altering the lake levels,” she said.
Press release, Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District
Volunteers are needed for a thankless job on Sept. 21, pulling garbage from several streams and bodies of water in Orleans County.
Each year the Orleans County Water Quality Coordinating Committee facilitates a shoreline cleanup event, which is sponsored by the American Littoral Society.
This event is open to all volunteers and provides an excellent opportunity for students, scouts, 4-H’ers and adults to fulfill community service requirements, interact with county agencies (Soil & Water Conservation District and Health Department), and make a significant contribution to our community and environment.
Volunteers will meet Sept. 21 at Bullard Park on East Avenue in Albion at 9 a.m. After a brief introduction, they will disperse to several predetermined locations throughout the county to begin the collection.
A team captain and at least one other responsible adult is required to supervise each cleanup crew. A friendly competition is held between crews to determine who can collect the greatest amount of trash, by weight. Upon completion, they will reconvene at Bullard Park for a lunch provided by the Orleans County Department of Public Health. Participants will also receive a certificate from the American Littoral Society in recognition of their service.
This is the 13th year Orleans County will be participating in this event. In 2012 more than 1,900 pounds of trash was collected from shorelines and beaches in the county. If you wish to join the Water Quality Committee for the Shoreline Cleanup or have any questions concerning the event, contact Dennis Kirby at Soil and Water at (585) 589-5959.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 August 2013 at 12:00 am
POINT BREEZE – The sun cast an array of colors while setting last night at Lake Ontario. Jerome Pawlak of Albion was at Point Breeze and took this photo of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.
I’ve seen a lot of photos of the lighthouse since it was erected in 2010, and I think this is the best one. Thank you to Jerome for sharing it.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Foster Miller holds the grand prize winning Chinook salmon – a 34-pound, 13-ounce fish – that netted the $4,000 top prize in the Orleans County Fishing Derby. Miller’s son Tyler, 11, finished third in the lake trout division with a 14-pound, 6-ounce fish.
CARLTON – Foster Miller looks forward to fishing season every summer. The 40-year-old Holley resident is often out in a boat with his son Tyler or Foster’s father Ron.
The family watches for fishing derbies and will join, hopeful of hooking a big prize. The Millers struck twice in the Orleans County Fishing Derby. Foster won the grand prize, $4,000, for catching the biggest fish among the 690 anglers who joined in the derby.
Foster caught a 34-pound, 13-ounce Chinook salmon in Lake Ontario near Hamlin Beach State Park. His father, Ron, of Ontario, Wayne County was in the boat with Foster. Ron started taking Foster fishing when he was a little kid. Foster landed his first salmon when he was 5.
He has passed down a love of fishing to his son Tyler, 11. Tyler caught the third biggest lake trout in the fishing derby, a 14-pound, 6-ounce fish that was also hooked just off Hamlin Beach. Tyler’s third place finish won him $200.
His father also won another $200, given to the Orleans County resident who catches the biggest fish during the derby.
Mr. Miller works as a principal in Mount Morris for the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership.
The derby runs for about two weeks, and is sponsored by the Albion Rotary Club. Besides the $4,000 grand prize, the Rotary Club gives out $500 for first place, $300 for second, $200 for third, $100 for fourth and $50 for fifth place in four divisions: Chinook, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout. That adds up to $8,800 in total prize money.
Hunter Westcott, 10, of Hamlin won the lake trout division and $500 for catching this 18-pound, 4-ounce fish. He was all smiles holding the fish during an awards ceremony today at the Carlton Fire Company Recreation Hall.
The club expects to make about $4,500 in profit from the derby, which is used for various community projects.
The following won first prize in the different divisions: Jim Mazur, with a Chinook at 32 pounds, 13 ounces; Charles Davis with a brown trout at 15 pounds, 9 ounces; Gary Dubach with a rainbow trout/steelhead at 13 pounds, 13 ounces; and Hunter Westcott with a lake trout at 18 pounds, 4 ounces.
Derby officials and the 100 people who attended a awards ceremony at the Carlton Fire Company Recreation Hall observed a moment of silence for Judy Christopher, who was active in helping to run the derby for many years.
Christopher died on Aug. 3 after battling cancer for more than two decades. She was co-owner of Four C’s Marina and an active member of the Albion Rotary Club, which has been running the annual derby for about 30 years.
“She was an elegant woman who did a lot for the fishing industry and for this community,” said Ashley Ward, the derby chairman.
Ashley Ward, back left, gets ready to read the winning number during a raffle at today’s awards ceremony for the Orleans County Fishing Derby. Brad Shelp, lower right, helped pass out the prizes. About 100 fishermen attended the awards celebration in Carlton.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
POINT BREEZE – I stopped by Point Breeze today for a story about the ham radio operators participating in an international lighthouse event. I wrote a story about their event earlier. (Click here to see the story.)
While at the lighthouse, I was surprised to see so many boats coming and going at the Oak Orchard Harbor. The radio operators agreed it was a busy day at the Point.
The sunshine helped, and I bet some of the boaters were trying to catch a big fish for the annual Orleans County Fishing Derby, which ends on Sunday. Foster Miller of Holley is the current leader with a Chinook salmon that weighs 34 pounds, 13 ounces.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Robin Hill Nature Preserve features sandstone home, 250 varieties of trees
Photo by Tom Rivers
Photo by Tom Rivers – Doug Pratt has returned to the nature preserve and sandstone home built by his grandparents from 1948 to 1952 on Platten Road in Lyndonville. Pratt has created a foundation for the nature preserve.
Photo by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – When he was a kid, Jerome Pawlak remembers William Smith leading Boy Scouts through a 45-acre nature preserve in Lyndonville.
Smith would stop and take photographs along the way. He was particularly enamored with mushrooms. But he also loved birds, swans, trees and Medina sandstone.
Smith, owner of a canning factory in Lyndonville, built a nature preserve with 450 varieties of trees at his property on Platten Road. In 1948, he and his wife Mary began work on a Medina sandstone home, doing much of the work themselves with some help from family and employees at the canning factory. It took several years to build the house. It remains a cherished site in the community.
But until recently, few people set foot on the grounds. That is changing now that the Smiths’ grandson, Doug Pratt, has returned to the community. He continues to spend time in Virginia, but Pratt wants to live full-time in the house where he spent his childhood.
“I love it,” Pratt said. “I feel we have something special here and we need to share it.”
Photo courtesy of Doug Pratt – William Smith, right, was beloved in Lyndonville for his enthusiasm in showing off a 45-acre nature preserve. This photo shows him giving one of the tours. William and his wife Mary kept swans. Many Lyndonville youths from two generations ago grew up feeding the swans.
On Thursday, Pratt opened the property to the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce for a “Mix and Mingle.” Pawlak, owner of the Save-A-Lot stores in Albion and Holley, was eager to have a chance to see the property.
He remembers the Smiths as very gracious hosts, eager to show the property to people who often showed up unannounced at the door.
“They were wonderful people,” Pawlak recalled. “They were very hospitable people.”
Pawlak hadn’t been inside the house in about 40 years until Thursday. It is largely unchanged, he said.
Pawlak was a Boy Scout growing up in Lyndonville and the Smiths welcomed Scouts to use their pond for fishing derbies. Scouts helped clear walking trails. Many Lyndonville residents have fond memories of feeding the swans at Smith’s Pond.
Pratt, a 1974 graduate of Lyndonville, lived in the Midwest for six years and then the past 20 years in northern Virginia. He is planning to move back full-time to Lyndonville. In his travels he said he has never encountered a place like his grandparents’ home. William and Mary Smith created the site after their daughter Lucille died from Scarlet Fever at age 19. They named it Robin Hill.
Photo by Tom Rivers – William and Mary Smith created a nature preserve on their property with 250 varieties of trees that still survive at the site. William Smith planted a variety of trees to attract birds to the property.
Pratt worked with family to establish the Robin Hill Foundation with an educational mission. He is reaching out to colleges, offering the site for research and observation. Many of the trees and plants are rare and exotic, and they attract numerous varieties of birds.
“I’m looking for ideas,” Pratt said about uses for the property. “I want to develop more educational things here. Granddad created something unique here.”
The site has already been used for weddings. Pratt said the property may need a visitor center to help explain all the natural resources.
While Pratt spoke from his office on Thursday evening, two humming birds were a couple feet away, outside at a bird feeder. Pratt marveled at the natural wonders that are so accessible at the site.
He has worked in the hobbying industry, writing books and creating kits about model rockets and other hobbies. He was an editor for the Model Retailer magazine. Lately, he has been in demand as a narrator for audio books. He will soon narrate a lengthy book on the War of 1812 – “The Forgotten Conflict.”
Robin Hill is a perfect work area for Pratt. The building with thick stone walls and the nature preserve provide a quiet work space for audio recording. And Pratt said if he needs to feel inspired, he only has to look out the window or take a short walk through the woods.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans Hub editor has a giant sunflower by his front porch and took notice of some bees at work this afternoon. Hub editor snapped a quick photo up close despite being allergic to bee stings, and then quickly fled the scene.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – It was another colorful sunset in Orleans County tonight. I happened to be driving through Carlton and snapped a picture of a barn with the sunset and then took two from the bridge on Route 279. The two boaters were friendly and waved just before they passed under the bridge.
