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LaMont Farm marks 200 years in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Roger LaMont, a sixth generation farmer, unveils a marker for Josias LaMont, who started the family farm in 1815.

The marker, unveiled during a 200th anniversary celebration on Saturday, will be placed on Lattin Road near West Transit Church Road, where the farm started.

The LaMont family is just the second to reach the 200-year milestone, following the Brown family in Waterport. The Browns were among about 200 people who attended the celebration on Saturday.

The party was held at Roger and Ingrid LaMont’s on Densmore Road.

The LaMont family has been progressive in the apple industry with planting new varieties, adopting new marketing and storage techniques, and working with other growers.

George Lamont (Editor’s note: George spells Lamont without a capital M) said keeping the farm in the family for 200 years “takes more guts than brains.”

George Lamont in 1997 was named the Apple Grower of the Year by the American Fruit Grower magazine. Lamont was an industry leader locally and nationally. He served as president of the Premier Apple Cooperative, which helped farmers with forecasting their crop, marketing the produce and “talking to each other.”

He also was president and executive director of the New York State Horticultural Society, and along with his brother Roger and other local apple growers helped start the Lake Ontario Fruit packing facility on Ridge Road.

This plaque shows a picture of Roger and Ingrid LaMont helping to sell new SnapDragon apples. LaMont served as president of the New York Apple Growers LLC, whch worked with Cornell University to manage two new varieities of apples: SnapDragon and RubyFrost.

“In the fruit world they are the most influential name in the state,” said Rod Farrow, who is now co-owner of Lamont Fruit Farm in Waterport. “They’ve been major players in the industry.”

This file photo from August 2013 shows Roger LaMont with some of the new apple varieties. LaMont worked to establish the program with Cornell for the new varieties, making them exclusive to New York growers, giving them an edge in the marketpace. A portion of the sale of the apples also goes to Cornell for its apple breeding program.

LaMont said the agreement is good for New York apple growers, giving them a pipeline to new varieties in the future, and also ensures funding for Cornell’s program. LaMont took on the leadership role in the industry as he neared retirement.

Roger LaMont, back left, shared the family farm’s history to a crowd of about 200 people on Saturday.

Former Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin, whose family dates back to the 1830s in the Gaines area, also spoke about the LaMont farm and the family’s tenacity for keeping the business going for 200 years.

This photo from the 1950s shows George and Roger’s grandfather George B. LaMont, left, and their father Tom LaMont.

This family photo from 1904 shows an apple-picking crew.

One of the bushel crates from the farm was on display at the party.

Historical photos and other information were presented outside Roger and Ingrid LaMont’s home. For several years, they operated the Orchard Vew Bed and Breakfast from the house, which was built in 1912.

29-pound Chinook takes $4K top prize in fishing derby

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Holley man catches second biggest fish in derby, wins $700

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Paul Czarnecki holds a 29-pound Chinook salmon that won the Orleans County Fishing Derby, which started Aug. 1 and continued until Aug. 16.

Czarnecki is a charter boat captain and owner of Tri-State Charters. He took Georgia Barkdoll of McConnellsburg, Pa., out fishing and she reeled in the 29-pound fish, which won the $4,000 grand prize in the fishing derby.

Barkdoll was unable to attend today’s awards ceremony at the Carlton Recreation Hall. Czarnecki said the fish was caught about 300 feet below the surface of Lake Ontario just off the shore from Point Breeze.

Bill Silpoch of Holley holds a 26-pound, 8-ounce Chinook, which won the $500 prize for first place in the salmon disvision and also another $200 for biggest fish caught by an Orleans County resident.

Silpoch, a senior building maintenance worker for Holley Central School, caught the fish on Friday at about 5 p.m. off Point Breeze. He was fishing on the Intimidator Sport Fishing charter owned by Mike Lavender.

Silpoch said he takes about three charters a year with family, including his sons, ages 11, 10, and 7. The winning fish was the biggest one he’s ever caught. It was about a 20-minute battle to land the salmon after it was hooked.

Mike Ayotte, former owner of Captain’s Cove in Carlton, caught the biggest rainbow trout at 12 pounds, 14 ounces. Ayotte now lives in Port Charlotte, Fla. Each of the division winners received a $500 check for first place.

Jared Wise, 17, of Rochester was fourth in the lake trout divsion with this fish that weighed 15 pounds, 0 ounces.

There were 644 participants in the derby, which is organized by the Albion Rotary Club. There were $8,800 in checks given to the top five anglers in four fish divisions, plus the grand prize winner.

Stan Allen, one of the derby volunteers, reads off the winning number for a prize held by Bill Downey, president of the derby. The Albion Rotary Club has been organizing the derby for more than 30 years.

For more information on the leaderboard and the derby, click here.

Ham radio operators get some glory on International Lighthouse Weekend

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – Ham radio operators from throughout the world, including at Point Breeze in Orleans County, are communicating with each other this weekend as part of International Lighthouse Weekend.

The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club has been sending and receiving signals by the Oak Orchard Lighthouse. They were there on Saturday when a “solar storm” made it difficult to get signals from out of the country.

Jim Salyer of Gasport, left, and Paul Mulford of Le Roy make a connection with a ham operator at a Long Island lighthouse on Saturday morning.

The ham operators are back today until 5 p.m. Last year they made 400 contacts around the world. This weekend, due to weak signals, they may only get about 100 contacts.

“We’re having fun,” Mulford said. “That’s what this hobby is all about.”

Jim Salyer said many of the ham operators are creative, building their own radios and antennas.

The ham operators, as part of the international weekend, want to promote lighthouses and also their hobby of amateur radio.

Albion wine walk draws about 200 to downtown

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION -Kathy Baker, co-owner of the Chateau Niagara in Newfane, serves wine to Edward Carney and Lisa Plonka of Buffalo today during the second annual “Sip and Stroll” in Albion.

They are pictured inside Krantz Furniture, one of 14 stops on the wine-tasting tour.

The two from Buffalo were at 810 Meadworks in Medina and saw the flyer about the Albion event. They said they enjoyed the tour, especially the stops at Arnold’s Auto Parts and the Pullman Memorial Unversalist Church.

“I never thought I’d do a wine-tasting at an auto parts store,” Carney said.

“And having a church, I was very impressed by that,” Plonka said.

Jim Knight, a member of the Pullman church, once again dressed as “Bacchus,” the Roman god of wine. Knight has dressed in a toga to help promote wine-tasting events at the church and in Albion.

Aimee Mesiti of Five Sons Winery in Brockport pours a glass of wine for June Rising of Cleveland, Ohio, who was in town visiting the Remley family, including Dick Remley, middle.

Jessica Whiting, manager and bartender at Shay’s, said the wine tour brought many people to the bar who aren’t regular customers. Shay’s was serving wine-flavored popsicles.

“We want people to see we’re a friendly, nice establishment,” she said.

Liz Groat, left, of the Uptown Browsery served wine from A Gust of Son and Vineyard in Spencerport. Gary Kludt of Kendall was among the tasters on the tour.

Suzanne and Chris Bourke, right, try wine from Nathan Vanderbeck and Emily Trinder of Schulze Vineyards and Winery in Burt.

Albion village eyes 5 acres of land owned by Elks

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2015 at 12:00 am

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this article said the Elks Club offered the 5 acres to the village for $20,000. The Elks had a deal with another buyer for $20,000, but that fell through. The village is now talking with the Elks about the land.)

ALBION – The village may acquire 5 acres of land owned by the Elks Club near the Village’s Department of Public Works garage.

The Elks Club is based at West State Street and has land it is willing to sell that is by the DPW garage at the corner of King Street and Washington Street.

Village officials say the Elks were going to sell the land for $20,000 to another buyer but that deal fell through.

The village could use the land because the DPW is cramped for space. The village also is looking to use 1.5 acres by the DPW garage to mount solar panels as part of the bigger project at village facilities. The sewer plant on Densmore Street and water plant on Wilson Road in Carlton would have more of the panels, as part of the project under consideration.

The DPW stores some materials at the sewer plant, and most of that space would be used up as part of the solar panel project, DPW Superintendent Dale Brooks advised the Village Board on Wednesday.

Mayor Dean London said the village would be pressed to come up with $20,000 for the land out of the current budget. He would like to negotiate a lower price and also consider paying the Elks over several years for the land to ease the impact on a single budget.

Village Board members said they would continue talks with the Elks Club.

In other action, the Village Board:

Approved contributing $200 towards a walking guide of historic downtown Albion. That guide is being developed by the Albion Main Street Alliance and includes photos and descriptions of the many of the historic buildings in the downtown, including two village-owned sites: Village Hall and the former Citizens National Bank.

Mary Anne Braunbach, one of the downtown building owners, is trying to raise funding for the printing costs of the guide, which is about $2,000. She is asking building owners in the guide to contribute $100 towards the printing.

The village is giving $200 because it has two buildings highlighted in the guide.

The board was asked to consider putting the banners out on Main Street that note “Historic Albion.” Maureen Bennett, one of the vendors in the Browsery stores, asked if those banners could be out next spring.

London said the village would take an inventory of the banners and assess their condition for next year.

Albion Rotarian recognized for 57 years of perfect attendance

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Brad Shelp, left, joined the Albion Rotary 57 years ago and hasn’t missed a weekly meeting – ever.

The long-time car salesman has maintained perfect attendance since he joined the club, making up meetings on vacation in Florida and at nearby clubs when he had a work commitment that interfered with the Albion club’s meetings for lunch on Thursdays.

Kevin Crosby is district governor of about 70 clubs in Western New York and Southern Ontario. He was at the Albion club on Thursday and presented Shelp with a pin and certificate.

“This is really a remarkable achievement,” Crosby told Shelp and the Albion Rotary Club.

Shelp said he enjoys the fellowship in the Albion club, and also the chance to visit Rotarians in Holley, Medina, Le Roy, Middleport and Batavia, and also when he is in Florida.

“It’s nice to see what the other clubs do,” said Shelp, who continues to work part-time in sales for the Don Davis Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership. “There’s not too many clubs that are the same.”

During his visit with the Albion Rotary Club, Crosby was presented with a check for $341 by Don Bishop, left. That money was collected during the Rotary Club’s golf tournament last month and is to be used to help eradicate polio.

Crosby said the world is nearly polio-free. Rotarians are trying to wipe it out of the two remaining countries that have the disease: Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Holley says it’s working on brick problem in Public Square

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 13 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Holley village officials say some of the sinking bricks in the Public Square are a tripping hazard.

HOLLEY – Members of the Village Board are concerned about the condition of some of the bricks which line the walkways and center of the Public Square.

Board members say they are working the Department of Public Works to begin a program of fixing the problem.

At the Tuesday board meeting, trustees discussed the fact that some of the bricks are sinking and creating a tripping hazard.

“Where the bricks come to the sidewalk, they sink,” Trustee Stanley “Skip” Carpenter said.

He noted that no one has been hurt yet, but trustees decided to inspect the business district and begin the work of leveling the bricks off one section at time around the square.

“It’s an easy thing to do,” Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty said. He explained that the bricks are set in sand.

Trustee Carpenter said the village encouraged the state Department of Transportation to use stamped cement when the Route 31 reconstruction project was completed about a decade ago. Carpenter said the village might consider eventually replacing the brick with stamped cement.

He explained that the sidewalk area outside Dan and Monica Seeler’s building on the east side of the square should be addressed before their new restaurant opens for business, which is expected to happen at the end of this year.

In other business, Mayor John Kenney, Jr. reported that he has signed the agreement between the village, the Village of Holley Development Corporation and the EPA which will allow the eight “Diaz homes” in the village to become the property of the VHDC. There is no word yet on exactly when the turnover of the properties will occur.

Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty said the process is now in the hands of officials in Washington, DC.

Camp puts Medina band members through their paces

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – It has been an intense week of learning music, marching steps and overall choreography for the Medina Marching Band.

The 128 students in the field band have put in long hours each weekday this week.

They will show what they’ve learned during at preview show at 7 p.m. today. This year the band’s 7-minute show is called “Illusions.” Jim Steele, the band director, said it is partly a magic show.

He credited the students for their hard work. Even before band camp this week, students were learning music and getting together as the drum line, front ensemble, and color guard. This week all the units “put the whole show together,” Steele said.

The band has its first competition in Jamestown on Sept. 19. Medina will host the Fall Festival of Bands on Sept. 26, featuring 13 field bands.

Drum Major Amanda London, right, leads the band including the front ensemble. Michael Busch, left, is one of the percussion players in the ensemble.

Band Director Jim Steele watches the band members during camp this afternoon.

The band has been rehearsing Monday through Thursday this week from 1 to 9 p.m., with a 1 to 5 p.m. session on Friday.

The field band has won numerous state titles through the years, and is practicing hard again for the upcoming season.

Students drink water during a short break in the action this afternoon.

29-pounder is new leader in fishing derby

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2015 at 12:00 am

POINT BREEZE – A 29-pound Chinook salmon caught by a Pennsylvania resident is the new leader of the Orleans County Fishing Derby with only three days left in the contest.

Georgia Barkdoll of McConnellsburg, Pa., reeled in the 29-pound, 0-ounce fish on Thursday. It is in the lead for the $4,000 grand prize. It knocked a 25-pound, 5-ounce salmon off the top of the leaderboard.

The derby started on Aug. 1 and continues until Aug. 16. The Albion Rotary Club puts on the annual event.
Other division leaders include:

Salmon: 25 pounds, 5 ounces – Joseph Miller of Harrisburg, Pa.;

Rainbow trout: 12 pounds, 14 ounces – Michael Ayotte, Port Charlotte, Fla.;

Brown trout: 14 pounds, 5 ounces – Chad Kennedy of Marlborough, Mass.;

Lake trout: 17 pounds, 12 ounces – Mike Engle of Hamlin, NY.

There is $8,800 in cash prizes up for grabs in the derby.

For more information on the contest, click here.

Albion’s wine-tasting expands with more wineries, entertainment

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – The commemorative wine glasses for the second annual “Sip & Stroll Through History” features the Citizens National Bank, which was upgraded about 15 years ago by the Chamber of Commerce and Village of Albion.

ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association will have its second annual “Sip and Stroll” wine-tasting event on Saturday, and will feature 13 wineries at 14 stops.

The band, The Sophisticats, will play on East Bank Street from 3 to 7 p.m. The street will be blocked off to traffic during the “Sip and Stroll” and will also have seven farm markets selling produce and will also include Bad Ash BBQ and baked goods from Breeze Inn Again.

Debbie Grimm is the main coordinator for the event. She wants to draw people to historic downtown Abion so they can see many of the businesses and step inside the buildings that are included on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We’re showcasing Albion and letting people know what’s in downtown Albion,” Grimm said. “Maybe they will discover a shop they didn’t know about.”

Hazy Jade Gift Shop is promoting the upcoming wine-tasting event.

The event runs from 3 to 7 p.m. There will be catered VIP reception at the Hoag Library from 3 to 4 p.m. with Zambistros serving appetizers. Hoag is also a wine-tasting stop.

Arnold’s Auto Parts will have a cruise-in car show from 3 to 7 p.m. and Bindings Bookstore will host author Miranda Pennock. The Lyndonville native will sign copies of her novel “To Have” from 4 to 7 p.m.

Advance tickets for the wine-tasting are available at the Hazy Jade Gift Shop and Bindings Bookstore or on Saturday at Hoag Library, which is the first stop on the “Sip and Stroll.”

The following shops/businesses are participating in Sip and Stroll: Hoag Library, Pullman Church, Hazy Jade Gift Shop, Dance Reflections, Bindings Bookstore, Arnold’s Auto Parts, Xpress Fitness & Tanning, Uptown Browsery, Knight’s Pride Woodworking/Mmim, Morrison Realty, Krantz Furniture, Fischer’s, Downtown Browsery, Empire Trading and El Gallo.