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Yates had best turnout in election; Ridgeway the worst

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 November 2015 at 12:00 am

The controversy over the wind turbine project, as well as contested races at the town and county level, brought a higher percentage of voters to the polls in Yates than any other town in Orleans County last Tuesday.

Yates has 1,466 registered voters and 736 cast ballots on Tuesday, for 50.2 percent of the registered voters. Countywide, the turnout was 38.2 percent.

One of the Yates races still isn’t over. Absentee ballots will be counted Tuesday at 9 a.m. to determine the winner of the town supervisor race. Incumbent John Belson received 352 votes on election day. Jim Simon, an anti-turbine candidate, ran a write-in campaign and is 14 votes behind Belson.

Yates also had races for Town Board seats, a local county legislator position, and the contentious county-wide sheriff race.

While Yates had the best turnout, neighboring Ridgeway had the fewest at 29.8 percent or 1,066 voters out of 3,579.

Here is a breakdown of turnout at the 10 towns.

Community	Voters	Registered	Percent Voted
Albion	1,230	3,147	39.1
Barre	566	1,219	46.4
Carlton	706	1,771	39.9
Clarendon	771	2,149	35.9
Gaines	743	1,800	41.3
Kendall	692	1,593	43.4
Murray	923	2,516	36.7
Ridgeway	1,066	3,579	29.8
Shelby	998	2,829	35.3
Yates	736	1,466	50.2
County	8,431	22,069	38.2

Source: Orleans County Board of Elections; Orleans Hub calculations.
Turnout was higher than in a typical local election but was down from a year ago in the gubernatorial election, when 9,742 people voted on Election Day in a race highlighted by Andrew Cuomo and Rob Astorino for governor.That was about 1,300 more than voted last Tuesday.

Bower won the sheriff’s election, 3,951 to 3,507 for Tom Drennan and 847 for Don Organisciak.

Drennan is from Kendall and the town had a bigger turnout at 43.4 percent than many other towns, even though Kendall had unopposed candidates at the town level. That was the same issue for Murray, Bower’s hometown, which had a turnout of 36.7 percent.

Besides the Yates town supervisor race, another close election will be determined Tuesday morning when absentees are counted in the Town of Albion. Darlene Benton has a 6-vote lead over Paul Fulcomer for a Town Board position.

Village Hall getting new roof in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Workers from the Elmer Davis roofing company in Rochester are up high on Village Hall in Albion at 35-37 East Bank St. The company is working to do a complete tear off and roof replacement for Village Hall before winter.

It will also replace the roofs on the next-door fire hall and the Department of Public Works on King Street. The company will make some temporary fixes on those roofs before completing the projects next spring.

The Village Board in June decided to borrow $550,000 in a bond to pay for the three new roofs. The double-layered roofs have been leaking and they at the end of their useful lives, said Jason Foote, an engineer with Clark Patterson Lee, which inspected the roofs and helped prepare cost estimates.

The projects include the 3,500 square foot roof on the Village Hall, the 2,200 square foot roof on the Fire Hall, and two roofs at the DPW building – one that is 10,900 square feet over the truck bays and shop, and another that is 3,500 square feet over the offices.

Treasure Island provides lots of fun and funds for hospital

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Dawn Meland, a member of the board of directors for Orleans Community Health, spins the tickets for $1,000 worth of cash prizes as part of Saturday’s Treasure Island fundraiser for Medina Memorial Hospital.

The physicians at the hospital donated the $1,000, and winners were picked for $500, $200, $200 and $100.

The Orleans Community Health Foundation has been putting on the Treasure Island fundraiser since 1984. Holly Lederhouse, left, and her mother Wanda Lederhouse, right, both dressed up as pirates for the benefit. Craig Smith also was a pirate. His wife, Heather Smith, works as a donor development specialist for the Foundation.

Dave Lindsay looks over some of the merchandise up for auction at the Treasure Island fundraiser at Hickory Ridge Country Club. There were more than 200 items up for bid.

Treasure Island typically raises about $30,000 for the hospital. It is the Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Barb Jantzi, left, and Joanne Stefanik, center, served as voluntary co-chairs of the event. They are pictured with Angela DiRosa, director of the Foundation.

They are pictured by a sign showing progress towards purchasing a new high-tech ultrasound machine for the hospital.

Saturday’s event was expected to meet the $175,000 overall goal for the new ultrasound, which should be in place in early 2016.

Wes Pickreign, a board member for the Foundation, served as emcee for the Saturday event, which was attended by about 250 people.

Georgia Thomas of Medina looks over some of the items up for bid. Thomas said she has been coming to Treasure Island for about a dozen years.

“It’s fun and it supports the hospital,” Thomas said. “This is a happening place.”

Teressa Taylor, a clinical analyst for the hospital, checks in some of the bidders at Treasure Island on Saturday.

Holley man, 18, faces charges after break-in

Staff Reports Posted 8 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Eladio Wattles

HOLLEY – A Holley man has been jailed on $20,000 bail after allegedly breaking into a Holley apartment and threatening a resident on Saturday night, Holley Police Chief Roland Nenni said this afternoon.

Eladio A. Wattles, 18, of 74 West Albion St. has been charged with burglary in the second degree (C felony), menacing in the third degree (B misdemeanor) and criminal mischief in the fourth degree (A misdemeanor).

Holley Police were dispatched at about 10 p.m. Saturday to 32 East Avenue in Holley for an unknown type of disturbance.

Prior to officers arriving on scene the Orleans County 911 Dispatch Center received additional information from the person reporting the incident that a person had forced his way into an apartment at the location and that a firearm had been discharged at the suspect, Nenni said.

Holley Police arrived on scene along with deputies from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and a trooper from the New York State Police. Wattles was observed exiting the apartment and was taken into custody.

The investigation revealed that Wattles came to the location because of an ongoing dispute with the apartment tenant. Wattles allegedly broke two windows at the location and then gained entry into the apartment via one of the windows.

Wattles then threatened the apartment tenant, causing him to retreat to a room inside the apartment, Nenni said.

When Wattles continued to threaten the apartment occupant, the occupant fired a shotgun at Wattles. Wattles was not hit by the shotgun blast and then attempted to run from the location, at which point he was taken into custody by Holley Police, Nenni said.

Wattles was arraigned in the Town of Murray Court and committed to the Orleans County Jail on $20,000 bail. He is to return to the Town of Murray court on Nov. 12.

Woodchuck Alley in Kendall leads to historic cemetery

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Orleans County’s dirt roads

Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Orleans Hub likes to feature the dirt roads in Orleans County. There are actually quite a few of them.

Woodchuck Alley in Kendall is a winding path that links West Kendall and Center roads.

The road takes you through some colorful scenery in the fall.

It was a pleasant surprise to encounter Beechwood Cemetery on Woodchuck Alley. The cemetery was established in 1828 and has some of the grandest trees I’ve seen in our county.

You don’t see too many Medina sandstone structures in Kendall, but Beechwood has this chapel from 1898.

I was surprised to see the doors are missing from the building and there is lots of graffiti inside.

There probably isn’t much traffic on this road. This was the only vehicle I saw in about 20 minutes on Friday afternoon. Notice the monstrous tree to the right.

You’ll see recognizable last names in the cemetery, which is the final resting place for many Kendall pioneer residents. Many of them died young.

4-H’ers test cooking skills with food grown in NY

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 8 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Ariel Vinca chose to feature corn in her corn loaf recipe which was topped with fresh raspberries during a competition Saturday at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

KNOWLESVILLE – Participants in this year’s Grown in New York contest, sponsored by the Orleans County 4-H Leader’s Association, had the opportunity to demonstrate cooking, baking and menu planning skills during the annual event held Saturday at the Trolley Building on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The contest featured items grown or produced in New York State and demonstrators and those in attendance enjoyed samplings of the recipes prepared.

4-Hers from around Orleans County competed in Jr. Novice, Junior, Senior and Sr. Novice (based on age) divisions and were judged on their demonstration skills as well as the taste and nutritional value of the finished product.

Recipes featured fruits, meats, vegetables, grains and dairy products, and could be baked, cooked or prepared to eat raw, such as a salad. Evaluators observed demonstrators to look for techniques, organization and ability to prepare their recipe.

Additional evaluators tasted a finished product prepared at home to look for eye appeal, taste and to review the nutrition statement of the product.

Orleans County 4-Her Lauren Becht is evaluated as she prepares Mexican chicken and rice during the annual Grown in New York Competition Saturday at the Trolley Building. Demonstrators have about 30 minutes to prepare their entry during the silent food demonstration.

Participant Lauren Becht, 16, of Albion prepared Mexican chicken and rice featuring chicken she raised herself. She said she has been competing in Grown in New York for, “as long as I can remember. It’s a little nerve-wracking.”

She said she enjoys the competition. Lauren typically prepares a dessert item but wanted to try a savory main dish this year.

Orleans County 4-H member Saleya Williams prepares a Rustic Pear Tart featuring New York State pears.

Lilly Mathes, competing in the Junior Division, prepares her own homemade applesauce.

Apples were a featured ingredient in an apple salad prepared by Zac Albright.

Emma Mathes is evaluated as she begins to prepare carmel apple cheesecake.

Here are the yummy results of Emma’s efforts.

Local state legislators among NY Farm Bureau ‘friends’

Staff Reports Posted 7 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – An apple orchard on Route 98, just south of Route 104 in Albion, is pictured on Friday.

ALBANY – New York Farm Bureau has announced its annual list of state legislators who have been supportive of legislation that helps agriculture and who also worked against bills that would hurt the industry.

State Assembly Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, and State Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, R-Clarence, were both named to the annual Farm Bureau “Circle of Friends.” Hawley and Corwin both represent districts that include portions of Orleans County.

There are 150 members of the State Assembly, and 112 were named “friends” by Farm Bureau for 2015.

State Sen. Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, represents all of Orleans County in the Senate. He was named to the “Circle of Friends” in his first year as a state legislator.

The list of Farm Bureau friends in the State Senate includes 46 of the 63 state senators.

“The selected lawmakers from both the Assembly and Senate were chosen for their commitment to the hard-working farm families in New York,” said Dean Norton, NYFB president. “Each friend has demonstrated that they understand the importance of agriculture to the people of their legislative district, and how farming significantly impacts the economy of this great state.”

The “Circle of Friends” is not an endorsement from Farm Bureau, and this distinction only recognizes the 2015 legislative session.

Medina man had several innovations a century ago with farm gates

By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 7 November 2015 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – Clarendon can stake her claim to Joseph Glidden, a one-time resident of the town who is credited with perfecting barbed wire – made quite a bit of money from it, too! Medina can stake her claim to Orrin J. Wyman, a man who set out to build a better farm gate.

Pictured on the far right is Orrin Wyman standing alongside his patented “O.K. Farm Gate.” Filing the patent on July 17, 1911, the patent was provided nearly five months later on Dec. 12, 1911. This patent states that Wyman’s “novel” farm gate was newly designed and was “bracedto prevent sagging of the outer or free end of the gate.”

This was not Wyman’s first patent, nor his first attempt to redesign the all-important device essential for farms throughout Orleans County and the United States. Orrin received his first patent on Feb. 20, 1906, when he and several other men perfected a “Barrel-heading Press;” yet another important implement for our region.

This device was used to evenly press the head of a barrel down, holding it in place while the head was secured. A rather simple gadget but one designed to make shipping fruits easier and more convenient.

After this, Wyman spent the next five years perfecting his farm gate design, receiving patents in 1907 and 1908 before creating a system that prevented lateral farm gates from catching on “snow, garbage, or other obstructions” located along the ground. This patent was granted on April 6, 1909 and paved the way for the O.K. Farm Gate seen in this image.

Orrin Wyman died on October 14, 1913 in Shelby having little time to amass any potential wealth from his invention. I would suspect that such an invention would have proved useful to Orrin’s brother-in-law, Dr. Robert Flowers, who established himself as a veterinarian in Denison, Texas.

Speaker gives Lyndonville students message of triumph

Posted 7 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photos/Lyndonville Central School – Victor Woods, an author and speaker, addresses Lyndonville students.

Press Release
Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville community, students and teachers were able to feel the energy from a motivational speech from Victor Woods to kick off the school year.

Woods is a convicted felon who turned his life around to become an author and a speaker. He gave multiple presentations in the school district revolving around the themes of triumphing over adversity and having the ambition to achieve.

Woods touched on the fact that no one’s path in life is perfect or without problems.

“Something we all have in common is that each and every one of us will encounter a hardship,” said Woods. “It’s a matter of taking those challenges head on and becoming a better person.”

Woods shared principles from his book with the student body.

“I’m not standing here because I’m perfect, or because I have all the answers,” said Woods. “If I had all the answers, I wouldn’t have gone to jail twice.”

Woods told a story of him having conjunctivitis, or pink eye, while in prison and having to pry his eyes open to be able to see. The experience was both physically and metaphorically eye opening.

“People asked me when I began to change,” said Woods. “When you get sick and tired of being sick and tired, that’s when you change the condition of your life.”

“I was in prison and decided not to just have eyesight, but to have vision,” added Woods. “Eyesight is what you see in front of you. Vision is what you see down the road. I knew where I wanted to go.”

The vision to achieve your goals is important, said Woods. Harnessing your talents and strengths is part of that vision.

“Find out what you’re good at and don’t walk towards it, run towards it,” said Woods. “You have to see it in your mind, believe it in your heart and then have the guts to go out there and do it.”

Woods used examples of people who went from small towns to successful careers, such as Bill Clinton and Morgan Freeman, to motivate the students to achieve anything they set their sights on.

“People say ‘I’m from a small town, I can’t do it’,” said Woods. “We’re all the same. If you have an attitude of being a winner and say I’m going to make it any way, then you can. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what color you are, how much money you make, where your parents came from.”

Woods finished by saying, “Never give up on your children, never give up on your family, never give up on your friends and never ever, ever, ever give up on yourselves.”

Medina students inducted into National Technical Honor Society

Posted 7 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – Medina schools officials join students inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. Pictured from left include: Medina High School Principal Michael Cavanaugh, Damian Norrish, Alyssa Shortridge, Dylan Lewis, Medina Superintendent Jeffrey Evoy and High School Counselor Linda Knipe.

Press Release
Medina Central School

MEDINA – Congratulations to Medina High School seniors Dylan Lewis, Damian Norrish and Alyssa Shortridge for their recent induction into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS).

The students were honored at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center in front of their teachers, families and district representatives for maintaining 89.5 average in their career and technical education (CTE) programs and 84.5 average at the high school.

Dylan is in the Electricity/Electronics Program and plans on going on to Genesee Community College or to head straight into the electricity field. Damian takes the Cosmetology Program and would like to become a physician’s assistant. Alyssa is in the Computer Technology Program and plans on working in cybersecurity field.

The students were eligible for membership based on their ability to emulate the seven NTHS member attributes – skill, scholarship, honesty, responsibility, service, leadership and citizenship. NTHS honors the achievements of top CTE students, provides scholarships to encourage the pursuit of higher education, and cultivates excellence in today’s highly competitive, skilled workforce.