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Ghost Walk celebrates Albion’s ancestors

Posted 4 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kim Pritt – Kyle Thaine portrays his great-uncle, Eugene Barnum, who was killed during World War II after shooting down two German planes.

Alyce Miller served as one of the speaking tour guides who lead each group through the walk offering historic references.

Zach Shaffer portrays John G. Rice, the Orleans County sheriff in 1894 who organized a posse to find murderer William Lake.

Riley Seielstad portrays Emma Ingersoll, who upon her death bequeathed the monument pictured here, as well as the beautiful Ingersoll Fountain and bench located near the entrance of Mount Albion Cemetery.

Nate Trembley portrays Charles Howard as Santa with Valerie Rush as Mrs. Claus.

By Kim Pritt, Contributor

ALBION – Gray skies and a strong wind in the trees helped set the ghostly atmosphere for the seventh annual Mount Albion Ghost Walk on Saturday night. Rain threatened earlier in the day, but moved on just in time for approximately 425 people to enjoy the popular annual event.

The Ghost Walk is a Service Learning project of the Albion High School Drama and Music Departments. A total of 55 students work to put the program together by researching a variety of residents of Mt. Albion Cemetery, writing their own scripts, and performing roles as ghosts, tour guides, singers, and tech crew. This year, 13 ghosts were featured, including war heroes, prominent citizens, two nationally publicized murders, and even Santa Claus.

“I am very interested in all the people and what they’ve done for the community – all the great inventions, suggestions, and impact they have made,” said Miller during rehearsal earlier in the day.

Several war heroes were highlighted along the tour, including Eugene Barnum, 1917-1944. Barnum was killed in action during World War II after shooting down two German planes. He died just months after his brother, William, was also killed in action.

Kyle Thaine proudly portrayed Barnum and was understandably knowledgeable about his subject – Barnum is Kyle’s great uncle.

“It was an honor playing my Great Uncle Gene,” Thaine said. “I didn’t know him, but I’ve heard many stories about him from the time I was a little kid from my grandmother. I love history and I love my family and it was so cool to put them both together in one place.”

Other notable ghosts were James Sheret, war hero that Albion’s American Legion Sheret Post is named for; Orleans County District Attorney and County Judge, Isaac S. Signor; and Emma Ingersoll, daughter-in-law of Nehemiah Ingersoll, one of Albion’s founding fathers, among others.

The tour ended at the grave site of Charles W. Howard, 1896-1966. Howard was world renowned as Santa Claus. Howard opened his Santa Claus School in 1937 on Phipps Road in Albion, where he trained people from all over the world how to be a proper Santa. Howard also ran his Christmas Park and toy shop.

He was also the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa and a consultant on the movie Miracle on 34th Street. Howard’s legacy lives on with his Santa Claus School now located in Michigan.

On Oct. 1, an interpretive panel was placed near his grave site commemorating his life. The panel was designed by last year’s Ghost Walk students and paid for with proceeds from that event.

Martis art gallery has final show in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Kim Muscarella is closing gallery after seven years

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – After seven years of featuring artists from Orleans County, as well as in Rochester and Buffalo, the Marti’s on Main gallery is having its final show.

Gallery owner Kim Martillotta Muscarella has included artists in 107 different shows over seven years at 229 North Main St. Muscarella is pictured on Friday evening with her husband Neal Muscarella. They live at 229 North Main and have made half of their home available for displaying artwork to the public.

“I was trying to do a good thing for the community,” Mrs. Martillotta said. “It’s sad to see it go. It’s been a lot of fun. Hopefully I enriched some lives.”

She estimates that about 70 different artists have had shows at Marti’s, with some featured more than once. For many artists, Marti’s was there first opportunity to have a show, highlighting their work. Several of those debut artists would feature their work at other galleries after Marti’s.

Muscarella and the artist community welcomed the public for “First Friday” receptions each month to meet the artists in the latest exhibits.

Susan Rudnicky is one of the featured artists in the last show at Marti’s. Rudnicky of Waterport has 40 paintings in watercolors and acrylics in the show at Marti’s. Rudnicky has been featured twice before at the gallery.

“Besides a place to show work in Albion, this to me has been a bright place to see art in Albion,” Rudnicky said. “It’s been a place where artists can get to know each other and spark off ideas.”

Muscarella said she was on the fence about doing an eighth season, but a $2,000 increase in insurance costs was the final factor in deciding to close the gallery after this month’s last show.

Rudnicky said Marti’s will be missed.

“It’s been a real cultural mecca,” she said. “It’s been a place to see interesting stuff and see who else is doing nifty things.”

Rudnicky has very colorful paintings on display. She is in the process of moving to Holland in Erie County. Some of her paintings are big at 3 feet by 4 feet.

Judy Wenrich of Kendall also is featured at Marti’s. She has 20 paintings on display, drawings and photos of horses, barns and other animals.

“I like animals,” said Wenrich, a retired social worker. “They seem to be able to talk to you. I don’t like buildings. You have to draw a straight line and I can’t draw a straight line.”

To visit the gallery, give Martillotta Muscarella a call at (585) 589-6715.

Scarecrow Fest puts creativity on display in Kendall

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 3 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski
KENDALL – Dark skies and cool temperatures didn’t prevent people from coming out today and enjoying festivities at the Kendall Community Scarecrow Festival Saturday.

Firefighting vehicles were moved outside the fire station to allow room for vendors to set up away from the cold and windy conditions outside. This year’s event included musical entertainment, wagon rides, a kid’s fun run, a K-9 Demo and St. Mark’s Farmer’s Market. The theme for this year’s annual contest was “Animals.”

The top photo shows a cute “doggie” scarecrow entered by the U.S. Post Office in Kendall.

A Noah’s Ark fit well with this year’s “Animals” theme.

The entry by the Kendall Lawn Chair Ladies was flamboyant and full of bling.

This entry was made by a class of sixth graders at Kendall Elementary School.

“Some Pig” was another entry outside Kendall Elementary.

Some of the entries, like this one on the lawn of Kendall Elementary School lost the battle with windy conditions.

A serpentine entry slithers its way out of a tree.

The Kendall Ladies Auxiliary’s entry featured a high-flying, cow-jumping-over-the-moon scarecrow.

The “Cameron the Chameleon” entry was very colorful.

A “life-size” Clifford the Big Red Dog is made of straw bales.

The Kendall Lions Club chose to create a lion scarecrow.

Maya Tatar, Grace Robinson (in blue) and Grant Johnson enjoy activities and vendors inside the Kendall fire station during the annual Community Scarecrow Festival.

Herbert Taylor, only Orleans County resident killed at Gettysburg, served in the 140th New York Infantry

By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 3 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Matt Ballard – The monument to Col. Patrick Henry O’Rorke features a bas-relief set in granite. Standing over eight feet tall, the marker rests atop the spot where O’Rorke was killed. His nose is polished as a result of visitors rubbing it for good luck, although he had little luck himself that day.

HOLLEY – A recent article in the Orleans Hub centered on Assemblyman Hawley’s 8th annual Patriot Trip to Washington D.C. and other important national landmarks, including the Gettysburg Battlefield.

I had the pleasure of visiting Gettysburg for the first time in nearly 10 years, a trip I last made as a senior in high school. Naturally, a new perspective and better understanding of the historical events of July 1st through the 3rd left me with a different impression of the site.

Upon Little Round Top rests a large monument dedicated to Col. Patrick O’Rorke, the site where New York’s 140th Volunteer Infantry made a valiant and daring charge down upon Hood’s Texans. Gen. Gouverneur Warren is often regarded as the “Hero of Little Round Top,” but one might argue that Col. O’Rorke and the 140th are the unsung heroes of Little Round Top.

At this point in time, we know of several soldiers from Orleans County who were with Col. O’Rorke on July 2nd at Gettysburg. Herbert Charles Taylor, one of those men, is believed to be the only county resident to die during that battle.

Looking down towards Devil’s Den from the summit of Little Round Top. Pvt. Herbert Taylor and the men of the 140th would have experienced this view as they reached the peak of Little Round Top. Without hesitation they advanced upon the Confederates with great fury and bravery.

As the regiment of New York men marched towards Sickle’s 3rd Corps, Gen. Warren intercepted the 140th in a desperate effort to defend Little Round Top. Knowing O’Rorke, Warren shouted, “Paddy, give me a regiment!”

With no time to dress the regimental line, O’Rorke led his men including Taylor and Graham Reed Scott of Orleans County to the top of the hill. Reaching the precipice O’Rorke dismounted his horse, threw his reins aside and shouted, “Down this way, boys.”

The 4th and 5th Texans released a volley of fire, sending bullets into the 140th, including a bullet that pierced O’Rorke’s neck killing him instantly. With every step, the men stumbled and tripped along the face of the rocky hill. Coming within close distance of the enemy line, many Confederates chose to surrender rather risk the possibility of death from Union gunfire and bayonet. The sudden fury of Union bayonets halted the Texans dead in their tracks.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Herbert Charles Taylor is buried at Hillside Cemetery. This photo shows his grave, which is in the historic section of the cemetery and includes a veteran’s marker with an American flag.

O’Rorke’s death and the subsequent attack made by the 140th New York upon the advancing Confederates was regarded as one of the most daring acts of bravery during the entire battle. Surely without the aid of the exhausted and winded men of New York, the outcome of July 2nd could have been far different. It was during this act of bravery that Pvt. Taylor of Holley was killed.

Upon his death, Joseph Gile of Holley wrote a piece for the local papers:

“Oh, that is ever a cruel blow,
However it falls in the strife,
Which stops the beat of a manly heart.
And the hopes of an honest life.”

He concluded with, “few who have fallen in the cause of the Union will be more sincerely regretted.” Dying on “the field of victory” at Gettysburg, Taylor’s body was returned to Holley and interred at Hillside Cemetery.

Editor’s Note
Taylor will be featured during a Ghost Walk today at Hillside Cemetery that begins at 7 p.m. with proceeds from the event used for restoration for the cemetery chapel.

Boil water advisory lifted in Murray

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2015 at 11:19 am

MURRAY – The Orleans County Health Department has lifted a boil water advisory for Murray residents on public water north of the canal.

About 500 residents were advised to boil tap water for a minute. That advisory was issued on Wednesday after water samples on Monday and Tuesday showed E. coli bacteria.

Two straight days with positive tests triggered the two-day advisory.

Town highway workers have flushed water hydrants to improve water flows in the water lines north of the canal. Tests since Tuesday have showed negative results for E coli.

“We want to thank everyone for their patience and concern,” Ed Morgan, the Murray highway superintendent, said this morning.

Medina eighth-graders learn about laws from new school resource officer

Posted 2 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photo – Medina Police Officer Jason Barnum talks to Joe Byrne’s eighth grade class. Students shown in back row are Cooper Fearby, Simon Fox, Jacob Washbon and Neal Martin.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Jason Barnum, the new school resource officer for Medina, was invited to speak with eighth grade students in Mr. Joe Byrne’s class.

Barnum has been with the Medina Police Department for seven years and he shared with the students numerous examples of things he has experienced while performing his duties.

“As a police officer you have to be very careful not to violate someone’s privacy and you have to articulate every move you make if you have reasonable suspicion,” he told the class. “I think with me sharing my experiences, it made them realize how the laws affect them and why they were created.”

Officer Barnum said he enjoyed talking to the class.

“Many of the students had great questions and we got into some interesting discussions and debates about the laws,” he said. “I think a great side benefit was that it allowed the students to get to know me and feel comfortable with me. I want the students to know I am here as a resource for them and I think it was a good ice breaker. ”

Mr. Byrne said he is grateful for Officer Barnum for coming in and talking to his students.

“He did six sessions and I think it was great for the students to hear his personal stories,” Byrne said. “It definitely made the laws more real to them.”

At the beginning of school every year, Byrne discusses Supreme Court cases that directly affect the eighth-graders in his class.

“For two days we go over six cases that affect everything from the students’ right to free speech, athlete drug testing and privacy rights in school,” Mr. Byrne said. “We usually talk about cases like Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District where students wore black armbands to protest the war in Vietnam. When school officials told them to remove them, the students refused and they were suspended. The court sided in the students’ favor, but only as long as it was not disruptive.

“Basically they said students have a right to express themselves as long as it allows the school to keep order. Another important case we discussed was New Jersey v. T.L.O. where the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school saying although students have an expectation of privacy, but that it has to be balanced with the school’s responsibility for maintaining an environment where learning can take place. Therefore, a student’s belongings can be searched, but not arbitrarily.”

Museum Crawl will showcase 13 museums in 3 counties

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Cobbblestone Universalist Church, one of the historic structures in the Cobblestone Museum grounds on Ridge Road in Gaines, will be part of this weekend’s Museum Crawl in three counties.

A multi-museum project that started last year, linking five museums along Route 98 from Batavia to Lake Ontario, is growing in a big way this weekend.

The Museum Crawl has expanded to 13 locations in three counties, and isn’t limited to spots along Route 98.

This weekend residents are invited to get a passport at one of the 13 participating museums and tour the locations on both Saturday and Sunday. A $5 admission gets history hunters into all of the locations. (It’s $10 for a family pass.)

The Ward House in the Cobblestone Museum includes household artifacts from the 1800s, including this bathtub for a small child.

If people get their passports stamped by at least 8 of the locations, they will be eligible for discounts and prize baskets.

“It’s a really good idea for museums to showcase themselves,” said Georgia Thomas, a member of the board of directors for both the Medina Historical Society and Cobblestone Museum. “People can crawl to all of these museums and get a sense of the local history and Western New York history.”

The 13 sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.

The Medina Historical Society includes a display of many of the toys made by Fisher-Price. The company started producing toys in Medina in 1970. This Pull-A-Tune Pony was among the first to be produced in the former Heinz factory on Park Avenue.

The groups participating in the crawl this year in Orleans County include the Oak Orchard Lighthouse, Cobblestone Museum, the Daughters of American Revolution House in Albion, Medina Historical Society Museum and Medina Railroad Museum.

In Genesee County, the participating sites include the Alabama Historical Society, Oakfield Historical Museum, Bergen-Harford Livery Museum, Stafford Historical Museum and Alexander Historical Museum. In Wyoming County, the Attica Historical Museum will be on the Crawl.

Thomas said the event has museum volunteers and staff networking, and sharing success stories and tips for best showcasing their collections.

She urges the community to check out some of the sites.

“Museums hold the past and there is room for the future,” Thomas said.

Fisher-Price made toys in Medina from 1970 to 1997, employing 950 people at its peak locally. Fisher-Price topped 100 million toys made in Medina on May 29, 1980 with this ferry boat.

Community Action marks 50 years of serving Orleans County

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2015 at 12:00 am

‘It’s a great organization with great people doing great things for our community.’ – Grace Denniston, chairwoman of Community Action board

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Ed Fancher, executive director for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee,welcomes about 100 people during a celebration of the agency’s 50th anniversary on Thursday at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Fancher noted the agency has grown to several sites in the two counties, and continues to grow and expand services for the community.

He started with Community Action in 1987 as the fiscal director. He was 22 at the time. Community Action had a $750,000 annual budget in 1987.

Now it has a budget of $5.5 million and 130 employees, who provide emergency services, a food pantry, Head Start early childhood education, weatherization, transportation, child care resource and referral, Alternative Choices for Teens (to promote positive choices and less risky behavior), disability program navigation, and a community center that serves lunches in Holley.

Community Action also runs the Main Street Store in Albion, providing job readiness skills. That store moved into the former American Legion Post in Albion last year, after renovating the site.

Grace Denniston, the retired Office for the Aging director in Orleans County, is now the Community Action board of directors chairwoman. She joins Fancher at the podium.

She had the Community Action employees stand and be recognized. They work on the “front lines” in providing important services to needy families in the community, Denniston said.

She also said Community Action works closely with many other agencies to provide services in the two counties.

“It’s a great organization with great people doing great things for our community,” Denniston said.

Community Action organizations were started with the “War on Poverty” initiative by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The former Orleans County Board of Supervisors did a needs assessment of the county in June 1965 to see if a Community Action would be helpful.

Three months later the organization was incorporated. Fancher marvels at how quickly the county leaders moved to establish Community Action 50 years ago.

This photo shows the former Guido’s Super Market on East State Street in Albion, which has been home to Community Action for many years. The photo was part of a historical display during Thursday’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson reads a proclamation from the County Legislature in honor of Community Action’s 50 years.

The Legislature praised the agency for a half century of service and “acknowledges their many achievements by providing priceless resources to our Orleans County community.”

Eileen Kirkpatrick, DSS commissioner in Genesee County, reads a proclamation from Genesee County in honor of Community Action.

Like Lynne Johnson, Kirkpatrick has also served on the Community Action board of directors.

The agency collaborates with Department of Social Services in both counties, the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Red Cross and other agencies.

A group of about 100 people attended the celebration at Hickory Ridge. They are listening to a proclamation from the State Legislature for Community Action. Eileen Banker, representing State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Robert Ortt, and Jay Grasso, representing State Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer, present the proclamation to Ed Fancher.

The Batavia Swing Band entertained after the official speeches and dinner. Dan Gross plays the drums for the group.

September was record-breaking month for Orleans Hub

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Randy Bower, a candidate for Orleans County sheriff, is pictured at a Sept. 11 memorial service in Albion. Bower forced a Primary and won the Republican line for sheriff. The race has been a hard-fought battle and also has generated lots of traffic on Orleans Hub.

September was a record-breaker for traffic on the Orleans Hub. We obliterated records for unique visitors and page views, and also set a new record for most traffic for sports in a month.

We had 765,677 page views in 30 days last month, a daily average of 25,523. We averaged 7,671 unique visitors each day of the month. This is the first time we’ve been over a 7,000 daily average in a month.

The race to be the next Orleans County sheriff generating a lot of interest to the site, especially in the letters to the editor, which included letters from the two Republican candidates, Tom Drennan and Randy Bower, and many of their supporters.

Two of the letters about the sheriff’s race were in the top 5 for most clicked on stories for September. Bower won the Republican line with a narrow victory in the Primary over Drennan, 1,671 votes to 1,650. (The two are both on the ballot for Nov. 3, which will also include Don Organisciak, the Democratic Party candidate and retired Medina police investigator.)

The death of Deputy Erin Fuller, by a self-inflicted gun shot, also reverberated in the community. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including many police officers in Orleans County and Western New York.

Law enforcement officers included a black band over their badges in honor of Fuller. This photo shows the badge worn by Deputy Josh Narburgh at Fuller’s funeral on Sept. 19.

Here are the top five stories in September (the ones with the most clicks).

1. Sheriff’s Office mourning loss of Deputy Erin Fuller

2. Deputy wounded in shootout says upper management has shown ‘blatant disregard’ for his well-being

3. ‘He was incredibly special. He was absolutely a hero.’

4. Drennan responds to allegations of micromanaging and ambulance interference

5. Crucifix burned into front lawn at Waterport mosque

Fall sports season has been in full swing and Mike Wertman has been providing a daily report on the games. His wife Cheryl also takes many photos showing action and drama from the games.

Sports had 38,107 pageviews last month or a 1,270 daily average, which is our highest ever. That just counts the people who click on the “Local Sports” tab. We also get a lot of sports traffic through Facebook and Twitter.

The most viewed sports story for the month was the season-opening victory for the Medina/Lyndonville football team, a 46-41 win over Lew-Port at Vets Park on Sept. 4.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Jake Cotter runs in for a two-point conversion for the Mustangs as Nick Christman tries for the tackle for the Lancers during the 46-41 season-opening win for Medina/Lyndonville.

4 sites will go into Sandstone Hall of Fame on Oct. 22

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2015 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medina was one of the inductees in the first class for the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame in 2013. A new class with four sites will be inducted on Oct. 22 and includes two buildings in Orleans County.

MEDINA – Four new magnificent structures will be inducted in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame on Oct. 22.

The Medina Sandstone Society welcomes the public to the induction ceremony from 1 to 3 p.m. in City Hall, 600 Main St.

The Sandstone Society created the Hall of Fame in 2013 and has inducted 10 sites in the first two years. Another four will be inducted on Oct. 22. The new class includes two sites in Orleans County and two buildings in Buffalo, said Don Colquhoun, a member of the Hall of Fame Committee.

“All four are terrific examples of Medina Sandstone and I think the public will be pleased,” Colquhoun said this morning.

The 68-foot-high tower in Mount Albion, a Civil War Memorial, was inducted in the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame in 2014.

The Sandstone Society wants to highlight the long-term stewardship with many of the buildings, and Herculean restoration efforts for many of the sites that likely would have been demolished.

The first class in 2013 included six structures: Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion, St. Mary Catholic Church in Medina, the Medina Armory (now Orleans County YMCA), the Richardson Olmsted Complex in Buffalo, St. Paul’s Cathedral in Buffalo, and Saint Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester.

The following were inducted in the Hall of Fame’s second class: Delaware-Asbury Church (Babeville) in Buffalo, St. Louis Church in Buffalo, Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Mount Albion Cemetery, and St. Peter Cathedral in Erie, Pa.

For more on the Sandstone Society and its Hall of Fame, click here.