By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2016 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Albion firefighter Darryl Szklany checks the back of structures at the Par-Me Golf Course on Feb. 5. The site is on Brown Road in the Town of Gaines.
GAINES – The Gaines Town Board today agreed to pay much more for fire contract in a new three-year deal with the Village of Albion.
The Village Board notified Gaines in April that it was terminating the fire contract on Aug. 31, at 11:59 p.m. The contract between the town and village expired on Dec. 31, 2015.
Village officials wanted Gaines to pay $100,000 for fire protection outside the village, the same as the Town of Albion pays for property outside the village.
The new agreement, approved today, will have Gaines pay $75,000 in 2016, $90,000 in 2017 and $100,000 in 2018.
Gaines paid $33,860 in 2015. That was a fire protection rate of 32 cents per $1,000 of assessed property, by far the lowest in the county. The Town of Yates is next lowest at 49 cents with Carlton at 75 cents. Every other town pays at least $1 per $1,000 for fire protection.
Gaines Town Board members asked for a four-year deal with $60,000 for 2016, $80,000 in 2017, $90,000 in 2018, and $100,000 in 2019.
But Village Board members wanted Gaines at $100,000. Mayor Dean London said the board gave Gaines a $35,000 break from the $100,000 by agreeing to $75,000 for 2016 and $90,000 in 2017.
Gaines has had a discount on its fire protection rate since 1995 when the Town Board then and Village Board agreed to a 20-year discounted fire protection rate in exchange for Gaines making the sewer plant on Densmore Street tax exempt.
Gaines officials had proposed making the new contract based on call volume, but the village resisted that. London said the board was unified in demanding $100,000 for providing fire protection to the town.
Village Trustee Pete Sidari has been a long-time member of the Albion Fire Department. He said costs are climbing for volunteer fire departments, especially with equipment and fire trucks.
The Fire Department just received a new truck that costs $668,796. The vehicle from Churchville Fire Equipment is a new triple combination pumping engine. It will replace two vehicles for the Albion Fire Department: a pumper from 1974 and a smaller truck used to respond to motor vehicle accidents. That truck from 2004 has extrication equipment.
“The equipment is more expensive than it used to be,” Sidari said after the meeting today at the Gaines Town Hall.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Three brothers who faced grand larceny charges as part of a food stamp scheme were sentenced to four months of intermittent time in jail today, as well as an order to pay about $164,000 in restitution.
“You guys were running a crooked business,” Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said at sentencing today.
He said they failed to pay their honest share of taxes, and were cheating the government.
Myron, Olec and Alexander Salamaca were arrested on Oct. 27 following a 15-month investigation where the Salamacas and some employees allowed customers to illegally exchange food stamps in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) at 70 percent of their value, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force said then.
The Salamacas would swipe electronic DBT cards and give customers cash back or allow them to buy alcohol, untaxed cigarettes, gas and other items unauthorized by the program, District Attorney Joe Cardone said in court on April 4, when the brothers pleaded guilty to grand larceny.
Myron and Olec are the owners of the store. Charles Rogers, attorney for Alexander Salamaca, said his client was only an employee at the store, and was just following directives from his brothers.
“The two brothers gave him instructions on what to do and he did it,” Rogers said on behalf of Alexander Salamaca.
“I don’t think you’re absolved by just saying, ‘I was following orders,'” Judge Punch responded. “I think you’re equally culpable.”
The judge gave Alexander the same punishment of four months in jail, plus five years on probation. Punch said the restitution schedule will be determined after consulting with Probation.
Ben Bonarigo, attorney for Olec Salamanca, said the family has owned the Murray Superette for 37 ½ years.
“These are hard-working men,” Bonarigo said.
The Salamacas attempted to sell the business before, but couldn’t get a buyer. They started to cheat other people and the government, Bonarigo said.
“He knows what they did was wrong,” Bonarigo told the judge on behalf of Olec.
Punch said the brothers had other options and didn’t need to resort to their scheme.
“It doesn’t fly with me that you were in a difficult business and decided to cheat people,” Punch said.
The brothers will spend partial weeks in jail over the next four months with Myron in jail from 6 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday, Olec from 6 a.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Wednesday and Alexander from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. on Friday.
They will pay a joint restitution of $15,000 to the New York State Department of Taxation for sales tax on untaxed cigarettes. They will also pay $149,102 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for abuses in the food stamp program.
Thomas Burns, attorney for Myron Salamaca, said the brothers “have been cooperative throughout the entire process.”
Punch said as terms of their probation they are not to consume alcohol, but they will be permitted to sell it at the Murray Superette.
ALBION – Two men accused of trying to smuggle cocaine went before Orleans County Court Judge James Punch today to determine their bail.
Punch said one of the men arrested, Daniel Guzman, 29, of Texas, will be held without bail due to “repeated out-of-state convictions,” Punch said in court today. Guzman, a resident of Houston, also is wanted on a warrant from Texas.
Punch said there is question if Guzman provided the right identification to law enforcement.
He was arrested on Friday along with Luis Alberto Sanchez-Garza, 31, from Mexico. The judge set bail for Sanchez-Garza at $500,000.
Police seized 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine that was hidden in the engine compartment of a vehicle that was stopped on East Avenue in Albion. The arrests were made following an investigation into the sale and distribution of cocaine from Texas to Orleans County.
Both men face Class A-1 felony charges. The cocaine seizure was the largest in Orleans County history. The drug seized has a street value of about $150,000.
Provided Photos – Linda Glantz starts her ministry on July 1 as pastor of the Albion First United Methodist Church and the Disciples United Methodist Church in Holley.
ALBION/HOLLEY – The United Methodist churches in Albion and Holley welcome Pastor Linda Glantz, who comes to the congregations from her assignment with the United Methodist churches in Dalton and Gainesville.
Her appointment to the Albion First United Methodist Church and the Disciples United Methodist Church in Holley will begin on July 1.
Pastor Linda is not new to the area. She previously lived in Holley, and owned a quilt shop there. She still has family nearby, including her mother and two adult children, Patrick and Rachael. She will reside in the Albion church parsonage on Hazard Parkway.
Pastor Jack Laskowski and his wife, Debbie cooking the sauce at the church’s 2014 spaghetti supper.
At the same time, the Albion and Holley churches will say farewell to Pastor Jack Laskowski. Pastor Jack has been leading the churches in worship since July 2012. He has made a positive impact and was well liked among the congregations. He and his wife, Debbie, will be missed dearly. Thechurches wishes them luck at the United Methodist churches in Spencerport and Adams Basin.
The Albion First United Methodist Church holds worship services at the Christ Episcopal Church at 26 South Main St. Services begin at 9:30 am on Sundays with a coffee hour immediately following the service.
The Disciples United Methodist Church in Holley has church at 11 a.m. on Sundays at 4410 Holley Byron Rd.
ALBION – Two people have been arrested after cocaine with a street value of $150,000 was seized on Friday, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is reporting today.
Police seized 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine that was hidden in the engine compartment of a vehicle that was stopped on East Avenue in Albion. The arrests were made following an investigation into the sale and distribution of cocaine from Texas to Orleans County.
Daniel Guzman
Luis Alberto Sanchez-Garza
The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force along with the Albion Police Department, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department stopped the vehicle in Albion and detained the driver and passenger of the vehicle.
Upon further investigation by the Task Force and a K9 sniff conducted by the Albion Police, a search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and subsequently executed. Police seized 1 kilogram of cocaine hidden in the engine compartment of the vehicle.
The following were charged:
Daniel Guzman, 29, of 8305 Park Place Mt. Blvd., Houston, Texas. He was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, a Class A-1 felony.
Luis Alberto Sanchez-Garza, 31, from Mexico. He was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class A-1 felony.
Guzman and Sanchez-Garza were arraigned in Town of Albion Court, by Town Justice Gary Moore. They were committed to the Orleans County Jail without bail. Both are to return to Town of Albion Court on June 28 at 9 a.m.
This investigation is ongoing and further charges and arrests are pending, said Joseph Sacco, supervising investigator for the Task Force.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration also assisted in the investigation.
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Shoe Tree is pictured Saturday at dusk at the corner of Foss and Lakeshore roads in the town of Yates.
The Shoe Tree is one of Orleans County’s quirky attractions.
It’s going to be hot today with temperatures forecast to top 90 degrees in Western New York. The Weather Channel has issued an extreme heat alert for today, urging people to have liquids readily on hand in order to stay hydrated during periods of high heat.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also has issued an air quality alert for today for Western New York, including Orleans County.
The DEC warns that there will be high levels of ozone. The alert is in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,” The DEC said in an advisory.
“People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease.”
Monday will also be hot with temperatures again forecast to top 90 degrees.
The highs will then fall back into the 70s, with a high of 77 on Tuesday, 73 on Wednesday and 72 on Thursday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion firefighters, including Nathan Bloom (left) and Marty Stirk, have been out today at the routes 98 and 31 intersection, seeking donations for the Boot Drive.
Kolton Barry, 2, his and dad Chris Barry chat with Bloom after making a donation.
The Boot Drive is an annual fund-raiser for the Fire Department.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 18 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Holley Trustee Kevin Lynch, left, and Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty pose during a recent Village Board meeting. Trustee Connie Nenni was excused from the meeting and is not pictured. The three are running unopposed in Tuesday’s Village election.
HOLLEY – There are no races in this year’s Holley village election, but residents will elect a new mayor on June 21.
John Kenney, Jr., the current mayor, is retiring from public office and is not seeking re-election. Trustee Brian Sorochty is running unopposed for mayor, and says he has a passion for the community.
“I love living and raising my family here,” Sorochty says. “I see many potential opportunities to enhance our strengths as well as build new ones in the future.”
He has served as trustee for three years and is currently deputy mayor. Sorochty says important issues facing the community include addressing the village’s aging infrastructure, the number of vacant and under-utilized properties, and maintaining and improving village services to residents while minimizing taxes.
The potential development/renovation of the old Holley High School is still in the preliminary stages, but Sorochty says the village continues to work with local developer Home Leasing on a plan to renovate the school into senior housing units as well as to accommodate village office space.
“They are a very reputable developer with much experience with these project types,” Sorochty says. “They are currently nearing completion of the renovation of the former Eastman Dental Dispensary, which was also one of the Landmark Society’s ‘Five to Revive’ buildings.”
Moving the village offices to the school would provide accessible office and public meeting space which the village currently lacks, Sorochty explains, and adds that the developer is working towards applying for funding, which will be submitted later this year.
“We have a ways to go, but it is a very exciting opportunity that I believe will have benefits even beyond the village limits,” he says.
Regarding the eight “Diaz” homes in the village currently owned by the EPA, Sorochty says the Village Board is continuing to work with the Holley LDC and the EPA towards having ownership of the properties transferred to the LDC. The transfer will facilitate getting the properties on the market, occupied, and back on the tax rolls.
“The LDC and Chair Dan Schiavone have been working hard at this and I applaud their efforts,” Sorochty says.
Sorochty also discussed the efforts of the mayor and Village Board over the last few years to improve the efficiency of village government and the services it provides.
“To that end, we have contracted with the Village of Albion for police chief and management services for our sewage treatment plant,” Sorochty explains. “We have also created the Holley LDC in order to manage vacant properties, specifically the EPA-owned properties.”
As mayor, his future plans include pursuing grants to aid in repairing aging infrastructure; following up on goals set as part of the village’s Comprehensive Plan; making the renovation of the old high school a reality; and working to find new ways to encourage more positive interaction and involvement from village residents with local government.
“On a daily basis, I commit to continue to work with the Village Board and staff, much as I have over the past three years, to make good decisions that benefit the community, and to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars,” Sorochty says. “I am very excited to put my experience – which is a combination of my last few years on the Board and my 25 years of working in the consulting engineering and construction industry – to work for the Village of Holley.”
Sorochty also thanks Mayor John Kenney for his many years of service to village residents as both a trustee and as mayor.
“He is very dedicated to serving this village, and has been tremendous to work with as a colleague and a friend. I wish him well in his future endeavors,” Sorochty says.
Two trustee seats are also up for election and incumbents Connie Nenni and Kevin Lynch are both running unopposed. The trustee seats are two-year terms.
Connie Nenni serve three years previously as a Village Board member, was off the Board for three years, and then returned again after the election two years ago.
She says she is running for re-election because she truly cares about the community and believes the current Board has made many improvements and continues to make progress in several areas.
“We started with the LDC, which will eventually help to get the Diaz homes back on the market and the tax rolls and possibly other abandoned homes,” Nenni says. She adds that changes have also been made in the police department and the Board continues to work on issues there.
She says right now, staffing of the village police department is one of the most important issues facing the village.
“We currently run with part-time officers and our village has always been a stepping stone because of that and a lower pay scale,” Nenni explains. “We, like many communities around us, are finding it hard to keep officers. We have raised starting pay and will continues to look at this. In the past, our voters have confirmed that they do not want to lose our village police department and neither do I.”
Other important issues include the vacant Diaz homes, and some of the bank owned homes which have been empty for far too long, Nenni says.
Like Deputy Mayor Sorochty, Nenni is very hopeful about the possibility that the old Holley High School will be renovated and that the current developer will be able to move forward.
“The old school is something that not just village residents would like to see something happen with, but the entire Holley community,” she says.
Nenni encourages residents to come to Village Board meetings to gain an understanding of all that goes into decision making.
“I’d rather see them get their information from coming to a meeting or emailing or calling a Board member to get first-hand information or ask questions,” she says. “With social media and rumors spread by word of mouth, incorrect information spreads quickly.
“Many times it gets lots of people very upset when they didn’t need to be if they had the correct information the first time around. I am always hearing about someone second guessing something that they heard the Board had done or didn’t do. Usually, once they hear the reasoning behind it, they understand. There is almost always more to the story than what people hear.”
She notes that there are five people on the Board and many times multiple opinions are brought to the table on issues.
Nenni says that if residents find it hard to get to meetings, they can always contact Village Board members via email or phone.
Trustee Kevin Lynch was first elected to the Village Board two years ago and says his first term has been a learning experience.
“There was more involved than I anticipated,” he says about serving as a member of the Village Board.
As a member of the final graduating class from the old Holley High School, Lynch says his interest in and connection to the village’s most prominent landmark encouraged him to get involved in public office in the hopes of saving the building. He says he, too, is hopeful that Home Leasing will be successful in their efforts.
“It may be the last chance” for the building, he says.
Lynch also cites the need to improve the village’s aging infrastructure while keeping taxes in check, a job which is a challenge as there is little room in the village for expanding the tax base. He notes that makes getting the Diaz homes back on the tax rolls even more essential.
His two years as a trustee have given him a good understanding of the budget process, Lynch says.
“We work to do what we can for the village,” he says. “It’s hard to keep taxes down.”
He says members of the Village Board have an excellent working relationship and feels, “Brian (Sorochty) will be a good mayor.”
Voting will take place Tuesday, June 21. at the Holley Village Offices, 72 Public Square, from noon to 9 p.m.
When you pick up your mail in the next few days, you might want to remember that it was 200 years ago this July 1st that a pioneer settler on the Ridge Road in Gaines became the first postmaster in Orleans County. William Jenks Babbitt ran that post office out of his log cabin home starting in 1816.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island on September 15, 1786, he learned the trade of blacksmith in his father’s shop. In 1810, Babbitt came to the unbroken wilderness of “the Genesee Country” and began clearing land and building his log cabin near the corner of Crandall Road and Route 104.
After the dangers of the War of 1812 subsided, he moved his wife and children to what was to become Gaines and became the area’s first blacksmith. He also established the first brickyard in the town, supplying the bricks for many early buildings we still see standing today. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1815 and served in this capacity for 23 years. His “Marriage Day Book” with its first entry of June 2, 1815 is in the possession of the Town of Gaines Historian. It can be seen in the display case at the town hall next to his original daguerreotype portrait you see here.
In 1816, Wm. Babbitt was successful in getting the Ridge Road declared “The Post Road” by New York State, and his application as first postmaster of Gaines was granted; an office he held for five years. Babbitt was also working hard to get the town of Gaines organized. It was his suggestion that General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, hero of the War of 1812, be honored with its naming.
His 1816 Valentines Day gift to his wife Eunice was the announcement that Gaines was set off from Ridgeway and contained most of the present day Carlton and Barre. In 1831 he became Town of Gaines Supervisor and soon after represented this area in the New York State Assembly.
Perhaps the most enduring legacy of William Babbitt was the construction of Gaines District #5 Cobblestone Schoolhouse on the Ridge Road just east of Childs. It was built in 1849 and the work was superintended by Babbitt. It is most unusual in that it has a sloping floor and its facade of lake washed cobblestones are set on a hewn wooden framework, rather than a rubble stone wall.
Further, Mr. Babbitt gave the school district a gift of the bell pictured above, costing $20 in 1849. The building was used as a schoolhouse until 1952. Currently, plans are underway to restore the bell to working order, so once again visitors to the Cobblestone Museum in Childs, Town of Gaines, will be delighted by the chiming of Babbitt’s bell.
One last note about the photo of Mr. Babbitt with a stern look on his face: The story handed down is that his wife had arranged for this sitting, but Mr. Babbitt was upset since he was still in his work clothes. The photographer painted in the suit and collar we see here. Mr. Babbitt was a remarkable man and those of us in Gaines and Orleans County are indebted to his industry and vision.
KENDALL – Elementary school students at Kendall celebrated Flag Day on Tuesday with most students wearing red, white and blue. The students gather for a group picture every Flag Day. This year the school decided to pose in the shape of the peace sign.
Provided Photo – Pictured from left: Eric Maxon, Pat Bolton, Jeff Rodas and Helen Unterborn.
The Kendall Lions Club held its annual Officer Installation and Awards Dinner on Thursday at the Kendall Fire Hall. Members were recognized for their years of service, new members were welcomed and a slide show of our year in pictures was presented.
In addition four awards were presented to members of our club. The Ray Ernenwein Lion of the Year Award was presented to Lion Eric Maxon. The Robert J Uplinger Award for distinguished service to Lions and the Community was awarded to Patrick Bolton. Two Lions were named Melvin Jones Fellows, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Lion. Lion Jeff Rodas and club secretary Lion Helen Unterborn were recognized for their service to the club and community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kim Pritt
ALBION – The band Grand Canyon Rescue Episode kicked off a new season on the concerts on the Erie Canal in Albion on Thursday.
The bands will perform every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gazebo behind the Albion Fire Department, between the two lift bridges.
Music fans listen to the band play on a sunny Thursday evening.
The concerts are sponsored by the Village of Albion and CRFS, with additional funding from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council and the State Council on the Arts.
The schedule includes:
June 23, The Who Dats; June 30, Old Hippies; July 7, The Dady Brothers; July 14, The Lonely Ones; July 21, Triple Play Band; July 28, Don Newcomb Band; Aug. 4, The Legendary Jonesie & the Cruisers.
The band Grand Canyon Rescue Episode includes guitarists Tom Mahoney and Miles McHugh, Steve Day on dobro, Jim Howe on banjo, bassist Ron Permoda and drummer Jimmy McAvaney.
Albion firefighters were selling refreshments during the concert. Pictured, from left, includes Bill Francis, Fire Chief Harry Papponetti, Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti and firefighter Jeremy Graham.
The State Assembly has approved a legislative bill that would modernize ways for non-profits to collect money for raffles and other fund-raisers.
Current gaming regulations do not allow charitable groups and non-profits to collect raffle fees using check or credit cards and do not allow the sale of tickets outside of the county which the event will be taking place. The Stafford Fire Department previously sold tickets nation-wide for its annual car raffle and used the proceeds for charitable donations and to fund the department.
The new legislation would allow organizations to accept credit and legal tender for raffles, as well as advertising and selling tickets online.
“I am pleased to announce that the ‘Charitable Gaming Act of 2016’ has overwhelmingly passed the Assembly Thursday afternoon,” said State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, co-sponsor of the legislation.
He thanked Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) and Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D-Kenmore) for pushing the bill through the Assembly, as well as Sen. Patrick Gallivan (R-Elma), the bill’s author in the Senate, Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer (R-Amherst) and Sen. Robert Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) for leading the proposal in the Senate.
“I am proud to have helped lead this initiative to update our archaic and detrimental gaming laws that have hurt charitable organizations, churches, non-profit organizations and service clubs all across the state, including the Stafford Fire Department,” Hawley said. “This is a great example of how bipartisan politics can work in Albany’s sea of gridlock and can have lasting positive effects for the people and organizations of our state. The bill is now in the Senate, where I am told by Sen. Gallivan that he is very hopeful it will pass before we adjourn for the year today.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2016 at 10:00 am
GAINES – This roadside sign was installed on Wednesday on Gaines Basin Road, about a quarter mile south of Route 104. The marker is a memorial for Deputy David Whittier, who was fatally injured here in 1989.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office had a reception on Monday afternoon with Whittier’s family and former colleagues to unveil the sign for the only Orleans County deputy ever killed in the line of duty.
David Whittier worked 20 years at Kodak before following his dream of being a police officer. He was hired as a full-time deputy on June 22, 1987. Whittier made many arrests for people driving while intoxicated. Ironically on Jan. 19, 1989, Whittier was on routine road patrol when he came upon an unoccupied pickup truck on Gaines Basin Road. The driver of that truck was out hunting.
While Whittier was inspecting the truck a young man who was driving drunk struck the parked pickup truck. Whittier had dove between the pickup and his patrol car. He was crushed between the two vehicles after the pickup was hit. He was then dragged about 100 feet and left for dead under the truck.
He survived the accident and remained in the hospital until April 1989. After being home for a few months, his condition did not improve. He had contracted cancer, which doctors said was trauma induced. Doctors said his immune system was too compromised due to injuries sustained from the accident. He and his family were advised that treatment was not an option and would only cause further pain and suffering.
Whittier was 41 when he died on Sept. 8, 1989. About 700 people, including police officers around the state, attended his funeral in Clarendon at the Disciples United Methodist Church.
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.
