By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2015 at 12:00 am
For fourth year church treats community to event
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The skateboarding ramp provides a nice spot to watch the fireworks tonight at Bullard Park in Albion.
The High Point Community Church in Corfu paid for the fireworks show, and also served food, provided games and played Christian music at the park. This is the fourth straight July 5 that the church has put on the event for Albion.
Two girls are on the swings while the fireworks go off. They appear blurred because of the slow shutter speed on the camera.
Some young families watch the fireworks from another swingset at the park on Route 31.
People watched the fireworks from lawn chairs, picnic tables, blankets on the ground or many just stood to take in the sights and sounds.
The fireworks were launched from near the big sledding hill at the park.
Before the fireworks, the praise band at High Point played for the crowd. The church is looking to start a congregation in Albion.
Marci Jonathan is the bass guitarist in the praise band. Her brother Nate plays the drums and their father Dave also is in the band.
Melanie Dean, ceneter, is one of the singers in the priase band. Her father, Bobby Dean, is the church pastor. Her brother Matt is lead singer in the band and their brother Mike sings and plays guitar for the group.
Bobby Dean, pastor of the church, shares a message before the fireworks. Nate Jonathan is in back on the drums.
Matt Dean is a high-energy singer for the praise band.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Volunteers with the High Point Community Church in Corfu are serving up hot dogs, music and games to the Albion community at Bullard Park.
The top photo shows Robin Johnson, right, and Ralph Peterson (in Muckdogs hat) cooking hot dogs that will be available for free.
The church, which is looking to start a congregation in Albion, also has many games, face painting, a bounce house and other activities. The church’s praise band will also be playing as well as a Christian musical guest, the Needhams.
Later at about 9:30 p.m. there will also be fireworks at Bullard, with the church paying for the bulk of the expense.
Nathanael Sugar, 20, of Albion rides his skateboard at Bullard while waiting for the fireworks to start.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Saturday’s parade on the Fourth of July in Lyndonville including numerous political candidates and office holders at the town, county and federal levels.
Don Organisciak, a retired Medina police officer and investigator, is one of three candidates running for Orleans County sheriff. Organisciak has the Democrsatic Party endorsement for the November election.
Tom Drennan, the chief deputy for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, walks with supporters. He has the Republican Party endorsement for sheriff.
Randy Bower is out in front of his group of supporters. Bower works as a county dispatcher. He has the Conservative Party endorsement for sheriff and is working to force a Republican primary against Drennan. Incumbent Scott Hess is retiring as sheriff on Dec. 31.
Mike Fuller, the Shelby highway superintendent, is out with his supporters. He faces a challenge from Ed Houseknecht, the former Orleans County highway superintendent and DPW superintendent in Medina.
U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, represents the 27th Congressional District, which includes Orleans County.
State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, marched in the Lyndonville parade for the first time since succeeding Gerge Maziarz in the State Senate.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, tosses candy to the crowd. Hawley mixed in some behind the back tosses to some of the kids along the parade route.
Paul Lauricella, a Conservative Party candidate for County Legislature, joins members of SCOPE (Shooters Committee on Political Education). Lauricella is running for Legislature against Lynne Johnson.
Legislature Lynne Johnson, who is also president of the Lyndonville Lions Club, walked the parade route. She was joined by her Republican legislator colleagues David Callard, John DeFilipps and Ken DeRoller. They wore T-shirts supporting Johnson. She represents a district that includes the towns of Yates, Ridgeway and a portion of Shelby.
Political newcomer James White is endorsed by the Democrats for an at-large spot on the County Legislature. He is challenging Don Allport, the Republican incumbent.
Candidates and office holders weren’t the only ones with a political message. The group, Save Ontario Shores, was in the parade and had an information booth trying to rally support against a proposed project with 60 to 68 large wind turbines in Yates and Somerset.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Young Explosives put on about a 40-minute fireworks show in Lyndonville on Saturday, the biggest in the 41 years the community has hosted a July Fourth celebration.
Young Explosives does about 100 fireworks shows on the holiday weekend and Lyndonville’s is the second biggest after Rochester’s.
Lyndonville had this fire truck and a group of firefighters close by the high school sports fields while the fireworks lit up the sky.
Walt Snell, a Lyndonville firefghter, climbed on top of the truck to watch the fireworks.
A big crowd came out for the fireworks. The Lyndonville Lions Club is the main organizer for the annual festival with help from several other community groups and the Village of Lyndonville and Town of Yates.
Bennie Blount, 11, of Medina twirls a sparkler before the fireworks went off in Lyndonville.
Bennie’s twin sister Bridgette Blount holds a sparkler while waiting for the fireworks.
This photo was taken through the row of trees by the sports fields.
The fireworks were red, white, blue and other colors.
Trees and people are silhouettes with the big fireworks in back.
An array of colors burst into the sky.
The fireworks make Lyndonville the place to be on the night of the Fourth.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2015 at 12:28 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – Firefighters try to put out the smoky remains from a fire at West Ridge Mobile Estates in Murray on late Friday.
The fire appears to have started in the back end of the mobile home and spread.
The home is owned by Cathy and David Scheck. Their daughter and grandson also live at 16699 Ridge Rd.
The mobile home suffered extensive damage. Mrs. Scheck said everybody got out without being injured, including the family dog. They were still looking for their cat at about 11:30 p.m.
Firefighters were called to the scene at 10:52 p.m. Firefighters form Holley, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, Kendall and Morton responded to the scene.
Firefighters pull insulation and clothes from the laundry room as they work to put out the fire on Friday night.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The biggest party in Orleans County for the Fourth of July is at the smallest village in the county. Lyndonville once again welcomed residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day.
In the top photo, a line of fire trucks, including Middleport in front, makes their way down Main Street in the village.
The village had 838 residents in the 2010 Census and probably exceeded that by 10 times or more today.
The duck (Evan Pappalardo of Albion) slaps hands with the crowd and tries to drum up support for the duck race on Johnson Creek to benefit Hospice of Orleans County.
Members of the 4-H program were out promoting the upcoming fair from July 27 to Aug. 1 in Knowlesville.
Teresa Allen of Medina helps her daughter Peyton with the YMCA dance while waiting for the parade to start on Main Street.
Mattie Zarpentine, a leader with New York Revolution, leads a group that marched in the parade in favor of Second Amendment rights.
Members of the Lyndonville Marching Band are dressed for the holiday while playing patriotic music in the parade.
Members of the American Legion in Lyndonville ride on a trailer and wave to the crowd. Bob Bracey of Medina loans the trailer so veterans can be part of the lengthy parade route.
Scott Schmidt gives his dog Goliath, a 203-pound Neopolitan mastiff, a ride in the parade. Goliath was dressed as Uncle Sam for the event.
Jason Smith, superintendent of Lyndonville Central School, plays with the Mark Time Marchers in the parade. Smith is at the head of the line with his trombone.
Stan Thurber waves Old Glory while riding in the parade with a float for Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina, where his son Dan is the pastor.
Members of the Lyndonville United Methodist Church had a float in the parade for the first time in four years today. The group is promoting an upcoming Vacation Bible School for children and letting the community know it’s welcome at the church, said Beth Malone, the pastor.
Randall Bane had a starring role on the float along with his mother Mildred Bane, who portrayed Betsy Ross. She is credited with making the first American flag.
Jeanne Crane, chairwoman of the Orleans County Democratic Party, was dressed for the holiday.
A lineup of vehicles, carrying flags, heads down Main Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Young Explosives has a crew in Lyndonville today setting up for tonight’s fireworks show at 10 p.m.. The group of six will spend several hours getting the fireworks set up for the show.
The crew will vary the pace for releasing the fireworks, mixing low-lying colorful ones with high flyers and big booms.
Stan Powers holds a 12-inch shell. Young Explosives will send two of these 1,000 feet into the sky tonight for the first time in Lyndonville. The shells weigh about 40 pounds. They have a wing span of about 400 to 500 feet and will burst into four or five different colors.
Powers does about 40 shows with Young Explosives each year. Lyndonville ranks among his favorites, Powers said this afternoon.
There is a very enthusiastic crowd and an ideal location. Plus the community raises a lot of money for a big show.
“Lyndonville is the perfect location,” Powers said.
The crew gets fireworks ready for tonight’s show. This group will be used for the finale.
Powers likes the nicely mowed lawn to set up. The crowd also gathers on an open field up on a hill with no houses nearby in three directions. Powers does some shows where the crew is limited to straight up high fireworks because houses are close by. Sometimes, the fireworks crew can’t see the crowd.
At Lyndonville, the crowd is visible and they often cheer wildly during the 38-minute fireworks show.
Powers said only the City of Rochester spends more than Lyndonville for the show, and Young Explosives of Canandaigua does about 100 shows over the July 4th weekend.
Lyndonville is a special place for the crew because of the community appreciation and the chance for the crew to be creative, sending fireworks sideways and at varying heights.
Stan Powers lights a firework at 2 p.m. today. Young Explosives set one off at the top of each hour beginning at noon to build enthusiasm for tonight’s show.
Powers and the crew are wearing shirts about Lyndonville with an image of fireworks reflected in the water at the Lyndonville Dam. They made the shirts because they enjoy the community and they wanted to give some as gifts to Wes Bradley and other Lyndonville Lions Club members.
Bradley serves as the fireworks coordinator in Lyndonville, and tries hard to raise the money for the big show.
Powers said Bradley also brings the crew water and a chicken barbecue, and stays after the show to help them clean up.
“He is really an awesome guy,” Powers said.
The crew will lift and set up about 1,000 fireworks, a process that takes several hours.
“It’s a lot of work but you get your 30 minutes of glory,” Powers said. “When you’re done, you can hear everyone cheering.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A new exhibit at the Marti’s on Main art gallery features Albion artist Laurie Kemler, whose watercolor paintings highlight everyday life. She is holding a painting of a man with a horse entitled, “Gentleman’s Pride.”
She has pictures of gossiping girls, people fishing at Point Breeze, a girl sitting on a step and many other “overlooked moments of life.”
She likes to create scenes from generations ago, before smart phones, video games, cell phones and other technology that can get in the way of life.
Judy Wenrich looks at some of the work by Laurie Kemler.
“I’m a vintage girl,” Kemler said during the opening reception Friday night for her show at Marti’s, a gallery at 229 North Main St.
Kemler likes to paint from black and white photos that highlight scenes from the 1970s and earlier. She likes to fill in the colors.
“It is my way to add a creative spin to a structured photograph,” she said.
Kemler’s work has been featured several times at Marti’s, which is now in its seventh season as an art gallery. Kemler collaborated with gallery owner Kim Martillotta-Muscarella on a children’s book, “My Grandma’s Kitchen Window.” That book hasn’t been released yet. It features 72 illustrations by Kemler.
She works as an art teacher at the Bergen School of the Arts, which is run by her sister-in-law, Alysia Fink, on Route 19 in Bergen.
Kemler grew up in Elba and took art lessons as a kid from Bernice Yunker.
The gallery this month also includes paintings by Medina art teacher Jennifer Ohar Scott. Waterport resident Terry Vick also has an assortment of her creations – “Second Hand Critters.”
Terry Vick uses cast-off clothes to create these characters.
“Everyone is individual with its own personality,” Martillotta-Muscarella said about Vick’s creations. “No two are alike.”
To see the gallery, contact Martillotta-Muscarella at 585-589-6715.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2015 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – JP Morgan Chase announced in June 2013 it would close its Albion site the following September, cutting about 400 jobs.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article should have stated CRFS has 600 employees, but due to a typo said 60.
ALBION – The economic development agency for Orleans County needs clear policies for why some businesses are approved for tax benefits and assistance and others are not, according to an audit for the State Comptroller’s Office.
The comptroller also said some businesses, notably JP Morgan Chase, are approved for tax-saving benefits and leave town early, without a “recapture of benefits” clause from the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
In the case of Chase, the company received $605,000 in tax abatements in the first three years of the 10-year tax deal. The company paid $98,900 to local governments during that period.
However, the company announced in June 2013 it would close its Albion site the following September, and would eliminate 400 jobs in the village.
The comptroller said Chase was able to leave Albion without returning any of the tax breaks. The EDA needs a clause that requires companies to pay back the benefits if they don’t follow through with promised benefits to the community, according to the comptroller’s report. (Click here to see it.)
Jim Whipple, chief executive officer for the EDA, said the tax incentives gave the community more time with Chase as a major local employer.
“Those three to four years were very important,” Whipple said.
When Chase acquired the former Washington Mutual, Chase evaluated other sites in the country for the Albion operation. The tax incentives helped keep the company in Orleans County until “a further retrenchment in the banking industry,” EDA Board Chairman Paul Hendel said in a letter to the comptroller.
Claims Recovery Financial Services has since moved into the former Chase site and has about 600 employees in Albion.
The EDA in August 2013 also added a recapture-of-benefits clause to be used at the discretion of the agency, Hendel said.
In another case, the EDA under-billed a company for its payment of lieu of taxes by $246,000 over 12 years. The EDA billed the company for less than the PILOT plan approved by the seven-member board.
The comptroller said the payments should be corrected, or else the discrepancy will balloon to $635,000 over 20 years.
The EDA said the PILOT was amended, however the paperwork wasn’t available for that change. That paperwork issue is an isolated incident and has been resolved, Hendel said.
Comptroller staff reviewed Orleans EDA projects from Jan. 1, 2013 to Oct. 10, 2014, and analyzed documents from back to 1998. The EDA has 22 open projects with capital investment of about $134 million. (Western New York Energy in Medina accounts for $89 million of that total.)
The report cited some “deficiencies” in the EDA’s evaluation and approval of businesses seeking benefits, the EDA’s determination of agreement terms with businesses and the subsequent monitoring of the businesses for compliance.
Economic development agencies should follow a 1:10 minimum cost benefit ratio, or $1 granted for at least $10 in capital investment and other benefits to the community, the comptroller said.
The EDA has a document cost-benefit ratio for six of the 22 projects, but not for 16, the comptroller said.
“Lack of consistent computing of the CBA (cost-benefit analysis) for all projects can lead to selective inclusion and exclusion of these ratios by management, potentially creating an advantage or disadvantage for an applicant,” the report states.
The report further states the EDA board and management did not formally document and adopt procedures for calculating cost-benefit ratios and for determining the contractual time periods for businesses seeking financial assistance.
Because of that, evaluation criteria may not be consistently applied, and the basis for approving or rejecting businesses is not clear, according to the report.
Whipple said the EDA board will work to formalize its methodology for the cost-benefit analysis.
The EDA also approves some tax-saving plans for 10 years and others for as long as 30 years. The majority are for 10 years. The comptroller said the EDA needs to be clear in justifying the varying lengths for PILOT plans.
In a response to the comptroller, EDA officials said the standard PILOT is 10 years, but the agency can deviate from that schedule for some manufacturing facilities and vacant buildings.
The comptroller said the EDA should better monitor businesses to see if they are following through with capital investments and job creation (as well as employee salaries and benefits).
The comptroller reviewed employment numbers for the 22 EDA projects and found 14 companies met their employment targets, but eight did not. The 14 businesses exceeded their projections by 278 jobs. However, eight businesses did not meet their projections. Overall, the 22 businesses were projected to create or retain 2,118 jobs, but reported 1,348 jobs for a shortfall of 770.
Associated Brands in Medina had the biggest net increase in jobs with 282.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2015 at 12:00 am
The unemployment rate in Orleans County dropped from 7.2 percent in May 2014 to 6.0 percent this past May, according to the state Department of Labor.
There were 17,100 people working in the county in May, compared to 16,800 in May 2014. The number of unemployed fell from 1,300 in May 2014 to 1,100 in May 2015.
The 6.0 percent unemployment rate is higher than the 5.3 percent rate in both New York and for the country. Of the 62 counties in New York, Orleans is one of 14 with an unemployment rate at 6.0 percent or higher.
Here are the rates for other nearby counties: Genesee, 4.7; Wyoming, 5.2; Livingston, 5.3; Niagara, 5.7; Erie, 5.2; and Monroe, 5.1.
Columbia County has the lowest unemployment rate in state at 3.9 percent and the Bronx is the highest at 8.0 percent.
