ALBION – Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, invites his constituents to attend his annual Patriot Trip to Washington D.C.
Hawley, a veteran and son of a veteran, is hosting this trip for the eighth year as an opportunity to honor veterans and their family members and give them an opportunity to share stories and experience our country’s most famous war memorials.
After this year’s trip, which will take place Sept. 17-20, more than 1,000 veterans and their family members will have participated in the trips.
“This is one of my favorite events each year,” Hawley said. “As a veteran and son of a veteran, I continually push for recognition and honoring of our country’s heroes and their family members. This is an opportunity for veterans of all backgrounds to reminisce and share experiences while visiting some of our country’s greatest monuments. I have also invited Congressman Chris Gibson to join us, as he earned the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army. His presence will make the experience even more special.”
Space is limited and sign up is first come, first served with priority given to the oldest veterans and first-time attendees. Immediate family members may accompany veterans.
The approximate cost of the trip is $350, which includes a three-night stay, meals and admittance to memorials and historical sites. For more information about this year’s Patriot Trip VIII, please call 585-589-5780, 585-813-1608 or email carneyj@assembly.state.ny.us. To see photos from previous trips, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 August 2015 at 12:00 am
United Way is first tenant in historic building since it was vacated by library
File photo by Tom Rivers – The sale of the former Swan Library at 4 North Main St. closed today.
ALBION – More than six months after the board of trustees at Hoag Library approved an offer for the former Swan Library, the sale finally closed today.
The Hoag Library of the Swan Library Association sold the former mansion to Chad Fabry of Structuresmart Home Inspection. Fabry bought the building for $53,000.
The library moved out of the building in June 2012 to move to a new site with about 2 ½ times the space and much more parking.
The Swan building was constructed in 1851. Fabry wants to make the 6,000-square-foot building available for professional offices.
He has secured the first tenant for the building: the United Way of Orleans County.
“That’s a terrific anchor tenant,” he said today. “We’re super excited about the building. We’re excited about populating it with quality tenants.”
The $53,000 price included another $64 for the monthly garbage fee over the past four months ($16 a month).
The library agreed to pay $2,203 in closing costs, with the more costly items a survey for $600, legal fees for $500, $450 to redate the abstract, $300 to Farm Credit East for a release fee, and $212 for deed stamps.
Library President Kevin Doherty said the net proceeds of the sale, $50,861, will be used to pay down the mortgage debt owed to Farm Credit.
Fabry lives in Holley. He said he sees lots of potential in Albion, especially with the historic downtown buildings and many fine stately homes.
“It’s a beautiful town with a lot of beautiful architecture,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Jenna and Martin Bruning see location as popular spot for weddings and parties
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA One of the area’s most iconic barns has been a landmark on North Gravel Road for about 150 years.
The barn, with large painted letters WM J. GALLAGHER FARMS, will find new life as a events center for weddings, parties and other special events.
Jenna and Martin Bruning have been working to clean up the property, including the landscape and the building in recent months. They have two weddings booked for next year. They have a lot more work to do, but they see the site as a destination for the area.
The couple grew up on dairy farms. Jenna’s parents, Mike and Cyndi Van LieShout, own a dairy farm in Barre. Martin grew up on a dairy in Waterport. The couple was married in a barn at the Van Lieshhout farm.
“We were married in a barn and it was beautiful,” Mrs. Bruning said on Thursday during an open house at the site.
The barn will be repainted to match the original colors of white with green trim.
The Orleans County Planning Board recommended the Village of Medina approve the site plan and a special use permit for the Brunings to operate the business.
Planning Board member Joe Sidonio said the project is a way to bring a new use into a historic agrcultural property, while drawing more people to the community.
The property is in the village on the north side. The Brunings said the project has the potential “to provide a grand entrance into the village.”
Medina community members take a tour inside the Gallagher barn on Thursday.
The barn has a rustic look with a lot of space that the Brunings believe will be popular for weddings and other events.
The barn dates back to the Civil War era.
The Brunings plan to call the site “The Gallagher” and hope to have it available for events in June.
The property includes this stately brick house that the Brunings said would also be available for dinner parties and other events.
“The house is a monument of Medina and a gorgeous complement to the setting,” Mrs. Bruning said.
The Gallagher is close to the canal, and the Brunings expect visitors to The Gallagher will enjoy other spots in Medina.
The couple both have full-time jobs with Mr. Bruning working as a milk truck driver and Mrs. Bruning serving as a district manager for Aldi.
They have had help from friends and family with clearing brush, redoing masonry work, installing new support poles and tackling many other projects.
The Medina Historical Society has this portrait of William J. Gallagher, who was known as a local eccentric, a businessman who liked to portray a clown.
Mrs. Bruning said she has heard stories about Mr. Gallagher from community members.
Gallagher, former owner of the Gallagher property, is pictured hamming it up for the camera as a clown in the 1930s.
Gallagher appears to be missing his front teeth in the photo and his hair is wild. He has a wide grin and expressive eyes.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 27 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Newly appointed Kendall Recreation Director Michelle Werth is ready to get to work in her office at the Town Hall.
KENDALL – Kendall’s new recreation director is well prepared for the job.
Kendall native Michelle Werth graduated from Kendall High School in 1994 after growing up playing rec. sports. She has coached teams, served as a recreation commissioner since 2010, and she has three young boys currently involved in the Kendall recreation program.
“I have now transitioned into this role,” she says of her new position.
Her children, ages 9, 6 and 4, “all play soccer, baseball and basketball.”
Werth took over the position Aug. 1 with the retirement of long-time director, Barb Flow.
“I’m nervous and excited about taking this on,” she says, and adds that she is happy Flow is nearby for guidance and advice.
“Barb has been great,” she says. “I can call her anytime.”
Flow is still a presence at the Town Hall. She was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Town Board, effective Aug. 1.
The Kendall recreation year just came to a close and Werth says this is a great time to start fresh. She says she has several ideas for the department including looking into programming for kids that goes beyond sports, “perhaps a Lego camp or a kids craft night,” she says.
She would also like to see youth who participate in the recreational sports program reach out and become involved in service projects to engage them further in their community.
The entire Rec. Department should have a greater presence in the community, Werth explains. She envisions the department serving as a place where people who work on events like Home Grown Days and the Scarecrow Festival can come and work together.
She would also like to see more girls become involved in sports programs.
Additionally, Werth says she would like to have recreation commissioners more involved in programming including both sports and community programs, with certain commissioners focusing on the area of their expertise.
A greater presence online is also a priority and Werth says she is looking at recreation departments in nearby communities to “see what other towns do.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Tom Drennan greets some of his supporters, including Michael Hanlon at left, during a chicken barbecue dinner this evening at the Elks’ Club in Albion. Drennan, the current chief deputy at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, is running for sheriff and faces a Republican Primary on Sept. 10 against Randy Bower.
ALBION – Tom Drennan’s supporters showed up in force today to buy chicken barbecue dinners and lend support for the chief deputy seeking to become the next county sheriff.
Drennan has worked 23 years for the Sheriff’s Office, starting as a road patrol deputy in September 1992. He has been promoted to lieutenant, criminal investigator, major and chief deputy.
He is running a campaign with a message that “Experience Matters.” He faces Randy Bower in a Republican Primary on Sept. 10. Drennan has the Republican Party endorsement. Former Medina police investigator Don Organisciak has the Democratic Party endorsement for the Nov. 3 election.
Drennan’s supporters include a who’s who of local law enforcement leaders, including District Attorney Joe Cardone. The DA says he can’t endorse a candidate, but he said Drennan would be an asset for the county as sheriff.
“I’ve worked with Tom for 23 years,” Cardone said. “There hasn’t been a major investigation he hasn’t been involved with. He brings years and years of experience and good judgment to the job.”
Tom Drennan was out directing traffic on Route 98 during the 10-mile race in Albion, the debut of the Metro 10 that included about 400 runners.
David Green, a retired sheriff, served in that role for 20 years as a Democrat. Green is now the vice chairman of the Democratic Party and has taken some heat from Democrats for backing Drennan.
Green said he has known Drennan since he was a young boy. Green was friends with Drennan’s parents, the late Jack and Helen Drennan.
“I have known him and his family for 50 years,” Green said at the Drennan benefit this evening.
Green was sheriff when Drennan was hired 23 years ago. Green said Drennan has received many promotions and completed numerous training classes, developing contacts in the law enforcement community.
“The other two (Bower and Organisciak) are both good guys,” Green said. “But I think Tom is the best prepared. He’s worked hard to get to this point.”
Four members of the civilian staff at the Sheriff’s Office, who all work with Tom Drennan, serve up chicken barbecue dinners. The group includes, from left: Sandy Wolfe, Nicole Spohr, Debbie Hughson and Allison Lavigne. Karen Narburgh also is pictured at the end of the line. The group served 700 dinners today.
Allison Lavigne works as civilian staff in the office with Drennan. She and her civilian co-workers helped serve the chicken dinners today. They support Drennan to lead the Sheriff’s Office.
“He’s one of the most honest and respectful people I’ve ever met,” Lavigne said. “I believe he has the county’s best interest at heart. It’s not personal for him. He’s thinking of the county.”
Rocky Sidari, a former Albion fire chief, has 25 years with the Fire Department. He also started as a county cornorer in January, and he said Drennan has been helpful since Sidari started the new job.
“Whenever we had a serious fire, he’s been there,” Sidari said. “He’s dedicated and professional. It doesn’t matter the call, he’ll jump in. Honestly, I think he’d be one of the best sheriffs we’ve ever had.”
Drennan greeted people at the Elks door during the benefit. He said he’s pleased with the campaign and the encouragement from the community.
“The support has been awesome,” he said. “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s been enjoyable.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 August 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – David Callard, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature, says he doesn’t like a siting board determining if the wind project will happen in Yates and Somerset. He wants to hear from Yates residents in “bona fide survey” before the Legislature takes a public stance on the project.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature, under pressure to publicly renounce a wind energy project in Yates and Somerset, will wait to see the results of a survey of residents, Legislature Chairman David Callard said Wednesday.
He addressed the issue after several residents and members of the Save Ontario Shores citizen group spoke against the project that could bring 60 to 70 turbines, peaking at 570 feet tall, to the two towns.
“They would be far more detrimental to the health and safety than any financial benefit,” said Yates resident Cynthia Hellert.
Deb Holt, a resident of Murray, said the big turbines are in a major migratory bird path. She worries about the impact on birds, wildlife, and also with nearby residents due to shadow flicker and low-frequency sound.
The Somerset Town Board and Niagara County Legislature have both gone on record opposing the project by Apex Clean Energy of Charlottesville, Va. Those boards voted following a survey of Somerset residents that showed strong opposition to the project.
Yates officials announced on Aug. 13 the town would survey residents about the project and would establish a committee including a representative from the Town Board, Apex and Save Ontario Shores.
“We’re waiting on a bona fide survey from Yates so we can see what the people say,” Callard said. “We want to find out what people say before we make a determination.”
Yates resident Cynthia Hellert speaks against a proposed wind energy project during Wednesday’s Orleans County Legislature meeting.
Callard said Yates has the more direct role in the project. He didn’t want to “tell the town what to do” just like he doesn’t like it when the state dictates how the county should respond to an issue.
Although the Legislature hasn’t formally weighed in on the project, Callard noted the Legislature has been consistent in supporting home rule, the right for a local community to welcome or oppose a project.
The state has taken home rule away with the wind turbine project by giving a state siting board the final vote on the project, Callard said. That seven-member board only includes two representatives from the local community, he said, giving the local towns a minority vote.
Besides the two local representatives on the siting committee, the seven-member group is chaired by the state Department of Public Service and includes the leaders of four other state departments: Department of Environmental Conservation, NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), Empire State Development and the Department of Health.
“It’s tilted to the state,” Callard said.
Apex officials are working on a scoping documents that identify potential issues in 41 categories, including health and safety issues, state and local law compliance, wildlife and numerous other issues. The company told town officials on Aug. 13 the document could be ready within two months.
Agnes LaPorte of Somerset urged Orleans officials to push back strong against the project.
“In Somerset we’re constantly bombarded with this windmill thing,” LaPorte said.
Some of the Somerset landowners are refusing to lease land for the turbines, which LaPorte said will push more turbines to Yates and Orleans County.
“They will come to your area,” she said. “It will destroy the area.”
Callard said Niagara County and Somerset officials welcomed Apex, assuming the community would want the project. Then the survey results came out.
“They did a 180 when they realized the people were against it,” Callard said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 August 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Orleans County residents will soon have three drop-off sites for televisions and other “e-waste.”
Garbage crews stopped picking up the televisions on Jan. 1, and residents instead have been discarding many of the TVs into ditches and along country roads.
Legislature Chairman David Callard said about 500 have been picked up by highway crews this year.
The Legislature on Wednesday approved a deal with Sunnking Incorporated of Brockport to pick up and dispose of cathode ray tube televisions, monitors, computers, peripheral devices and other household electronics.
The company will be paid $14,782 annually for the service, effective Aug. 26.
“This is a plan in the interim while the state gets its act together,” said Chuck Nesbitt, the county chief administrative officer.
Residents will be able to drop the household electronics at the Murray Town Hall, Orleans County Highway Department in Albion, and Shelby Town Hall.
The state on Jan. 1 began banning curbside disposal of older TVs with cathode-ray technology. Many residents have upgraded from those televisions, switching to popular flat screens. Many of the older TVs have been dumped in ditches along rural roads.
Manufacturers were supposed to take back older TVs, but the state capped the amount of discarded material companies have to accept each year. Manufacturers have been hitting that cap midway through the year.
“The issue is exacerbated by the fact that electronics currently sold today are much lighter than the obsolete CRT devices that make up about 70 percent of the weight of e-scrap generated, which are cost intensive to responsibly manage,” according to a resolution passed by the County Legislature and other local municipalities.
“As a result, many local governments across the state have grappled with the burden to fund or cease e-scrap collection, which has been particularly difficult in rural communities that do not benefit from retail collectors or economies of scale,” according to the resolution.
The County Legislature and other local municipalities are asking Gov. Cuomo, the State Legislature and State Department of Environmental Conservation to work towards a long-term solution for electronic waste recycling for both urban and rural areas.
“We’re excited to get this under control,” Callard said on Wednesday, when the county announced the plan. “It’s a commendable program.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2015 at 12:00 am
File photos by Tom Rivers – Five people were injured in a two-vehicle accident on Jan. 24 at the intersection of Gaines Basin Road and West Countyhouse Road. Albion Fire Chief Harry Papponetti said it is one of three intersections in the Albion community prone to frequent collisions.
ALBION – Reducing speeds, adding signage and perhaps flashing lights may be the answer to reducing some of the accidents at three notorious intersections in the Albion community, Fire Chief Harry Papponetti told the Village Board this evening.
The intersections are all outside the village. The Albion Fire Department is frequently called to extricate trapped drivers, clean up roadways, direct traffic and provide emergency care.
On Friday the Fire Department was back at the intersection at Gaines Basin and Albion-Eagle Harbor roads after an accident. One person needed to be extricated from a smashed vehicle.
Four people were taken to the hospital following a two-car accident on Friday at the Gaines Basin Road and Albion-Eagle Harbor Road intersection.
“We have three very serious intersections and the town and county aren’t doing anything about it,” Papponetti told the Village Board.
Gaines Basin Road has another dangerous spot at the intersection with Countyhouse Road, Papponetti said. Another bad intersection is on Route 31 at Eagle Harbor Road.
All three of the intersections have been the scene of fatal collisions and many serious accidents over the years, he said.
Village officials and Police Chief Roland Nenni agreed the three spots are dangerous. He said county dispatch could generate a report on all of the accidents in recent years.
Mayor Dean London said the Village Board could write a letter to the town and county, as well as the state Department of Transportation, asking them to look into making the spots safer for motorists.
Firefighters sweep up debris after three vehicles were involved in an accident on Route 31 at the Eagle Harbor Road intersection on March 2.
Papponetti said there was another bad intersection in Albion at Holley Road and Riches Corners Road. But there have been few accidents there since the speed was reduced near the intersection, he said.
Gaines Basin Road has become busier since Wal-Mart opened about a decade ago. Papponetti also thinks some motorists try to avoid Main Street and the traffic lights and use Gaines Basin as a short cut.
Albion-Eagle Harbor Road has dips on the west side of Gaines Basin and a curve on the east side. Papponetti said he would like to at least see the speed be reduced. Village Attorney John Gavenda said there should be a four-way stop there.
The DOT responded to pressure about one dangerous intersection in the county. The state last year agreed to reduce the speed on a stretch of Maple Ridge Road near the Salt Works Road intersection in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – An agency that serves people with disabilities in Orleans County voted to merge with a sister agency in Genesee County.
The Arc of Orleans County and Genesee ARC are already sharing a director, Donna Saskowski. The Arc of Orleans board of directors wants to join the two agencies, seeing an opportunity for reduced administration costs while preserving needed services for residents, said Don Allport, a member of the Arc board and a past president for the agency.
“The services will stay here,” Allport said during today’s Orleans County Legislature meeting. He is also a county legislator.
“It was a unanimous vote,” he continued. “We’re looking to a bright future.”
Allport said the smaller-county ARC chapters have struggled with Medicaid reductions and reimbursement changes through the Affordable Care Act.
“The smaller Arc’s are being forced to combine,” he said.
However, he thinks Orleans and Genesee are the first to do it.
The Genesee ARC board still needs to approve the merger and Allport said that board is expected to back the union this evening.
An exploratory committee has been looking at the issue with help from a consultant. The agency in Genesee County operates on about a $13 million annual budget with 340 staff members. In Orleans, the Arc has a $12 million budget and about 300 employees.
Saskowski, in an interview earlier this month, said some of the ARC chapters in the state are reducing programs and staff due to shrinking government reimbursements and other fiscal challenges.
“We might be able to provide services in a better manner and be more stable as an agency,” Saskowski said about a possible merged agency.
Two counties with a bigger land area, Livingston and Wyoming, have a single ARC chapter, the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2015 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Super Cruise planned for today on Main Street in Medina has been pushed back a week because Elvis’s wife had a baby, a little early, today.
Terry Buchwald, an Elvis impersonator, has been providing entertainment for the finale of the Cruise In series at Medina for several years. He arrives on a motorcycle and sings from a stage on Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m.
Buchwald and about 300 classic cars will be ready for the Super Cruise next Wednesday with cars arriving at 4 p.m. and Buchwald at 6, said David Green, coordinator of the series.
