LYNDONVILLE – The sun came out at about 4 p.m. after a rain and a giant double rainbow soon followed.
Several Orleans Hub readers sent us photos of the rainbow, including the top photo by Jason Smith, Lyndonville Central School superintendent. That picture shows the flag pole by the school district.
Smith also took this photo of the rainbow stretched high over the community, including the church steeples.
Ralph Smith was by the Lake Ontario shoreline in Yates when he took this picture of the double rainbow at about 4:10 p.m.
Dena Bradshaw-Scribner sent in this photo of the rainbow, arcing over the DPW garage in Lyndonville.
Village Clerk Teri Woodworth sent in this photo taken outside the Village Hall.
George Snell was out in the country in Waterport and took this photo of a rainbow over a fruit orchard.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Our Sandstone Heritage
Photos by Tom Rivers
The Richmond Memorial Library opened in April 1889 on Ross Street in Batavia. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
The building features outstanding stone carvings, including this face.
BATAVIA – The initial design for the Richmond Memorial Library wasn’t good enough for Mary Richmond, wife of the late Dean Richmond. In 1887, she announced a plan to pay for a new public library in Batavia as a memorial to her son, Dean Richmond Jr.
She offered to pay $9,000 for the project. After seeing the design, she wanted more for the community and upped the contribution to $24,000. The new library opened in April 1889. Richmond spared no expense in what many consider one of Batavia’s finest public buildings.
The site utilizes gray Medina sandstone and red sandstone from Albion. It was built in a Richardson Romanesque style, with rounded windows and arches.
Dean Richmond made a fortune in the railroad industry. When he died his estate was valued at $1.5 million. His wife, known for her charity and business acumen, expanded the value of the Richmond estate to $6 million.
Her husband was an advocate for the public education system. The new library was donated to the school district and utilized leading architects and the finest building materials around.
The stone workers created this elaborate and ornamental sign out of stone. The library name is entwined in a leafy vine.
Henry H. Richardson designed several libraries in the Boston area. The Batavia library emulates the style of many of the Richardson libraries. Richardson also was a big fan of Medina sandstone, using it in the State Capitol building in Albany and the Richardson Olmsted Complex, originally the Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
For more on the history of the Batavia library, click here.
The faces carved in stone have endured 125 years since the library opened in 1889.
Orleans Hub in June featured another public library made of Medina sandstone. The James Prendergast Library has been an iconic structure in the city of Jamestown since it opened in 1891, two years after the Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia.
Here is a picture of the Jamestown library, which also has many Romanesque features with arches and rounded windows.
Photos by Tom Rivers
Fierce winds are whipping across Orleans County and Western New York, including by the Orleans County Courthouse and County Clerks Building (pictured above). The National Weather Service said WNY can expect strong winds between 5 and 8 p.m.
“As winds increase the potential for damage will also increase with some trees and powerlines likely coming down,” the Weather Service said in a statement at 4:53 p.m. “Power outages may result in slow travel through this evening as traffic signals are knocked out.”
The Weather Service said motorists should treat traffic signals that are not functioning as a 4-way stop. That is the law, the Weather Service said.
This photo is looking from the courthouse lawn in Albion towards Christ Episcopal Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the First Baptist Church.
MEDINA – Julie Fenton, center, is again hosting her Between the Vines Home Show. She has organized the event for 17 years, including the past 10 years on Porter Road.
She is pictured with helpers, her son Lawson Fenton and Ally Uberty, in the new cash-out center added this year. There are more than 40 vendors at this year’s show and each one also arranges to work a day at the show.
Julie Fenton’s garage on Porter Road is transformed each year for the Between the Vines Home Show. The event continues today from noon to 4 p.m. Fenton also added Monday to the schedule from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Due to the snowstorm keeping some of her regular out-of-area customers away (some from as far away as Pennsylvania), Fenton said she is staying open the additional day.
Holiday decor items are for sale at Between the Vines.
Abigail Wilkinson, front, is pictured with her mom Jennifer Wilkinson (who is also a vendor) in back from Attica. They are joined by Laura Witkowski and baby Ryan of Batavia and Kimberly Fasano of Elba.
Lots of holiday decor is available at the show.
When these ladies came through the door of the cash-out area, they said, “It’s like coming off a ride at Disney” because there were many more items for sale to look through. “It just goes on and on,” they laughed. Pictured are Stacey Pollack, left, and Kim Miller from Newfane.
You can even purchase reindeer antlers (handmade , of course!).
After December 25, we hope!
Between the Vines is also supporting “Boxes for Troops.” Donations of personal items or cash towards shipping the boxes are being accepted at the home show. All donations are entered into a drawing for a light up wooden reindeer. Names and addresses of soldiers are requested. Please message Julie on her Facebook page (click here).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Holley site gets new life with extensive renovations
Photos by Tom Rivers – This building used to have a wooden exterior when it was Tagg’s Tavern. The wood was removed to reveal cast iron columns in front. Dan and Monica Seeler needed to rebuild walls, paint them and make numerous other improvements for one of the most prominent buildings in Holley. The site will have an awning when it is expected to open as a restaurant and bar in the spring.
The Holley Falls Bar and Grill is awaiting cosmetic work inside. Otherwise, the extensive remodeling is mostly complete. The restaurant will have room to seat 60 people with another 20 spots in the bar.
HOLLEY – Dan and Monica Seeler have been asked if they are crazy for taking on perhaps the most ambitious renovation and transformation project in Holley’s recent history.
The couple moved from Hamlin to Holley seven years ago. They see a lot of potential in Holley, a close-knit small town with a collection of historic commercial and public buildings around the Public Square.
The former Tagg’s Tavern had been vacant for several years when the Seelers bought it four years ago. They envisioned the Holley Falls Bar and Grill in the tavern, with high-end apartments upstairs and in a neighboring site, a former barbershop. (The Holley Falls are located down Frisbee Terrace, a short walk from the restaurant.)
The restaurant gives a view of the Public Square, including a former church that is now a residential site. “We have given it new life,” Dan Seeler said about the building.
It would take a major transformation to pull off the transformation. The Seelers have three of the apartments ready with two more to go. The bar and grill is down to the cosmetics. That business should open in the spring.
The Seelers have won the respect from many in the community for their commitment to excellence, and for what people see as a draw to the community, a business that could pull in customers for other merchants.
“It will be an asset to the village,” said Jonathan Ross, owner of Jonathan’s Pastry at 23 Public Square, two storefronts down from the Seelers. “It will build up the value of Holley.”
Dan Seeler stands in one of the apartments above the Holley Falls Bar and Grill. There are three apartments, ranging from 900 to 1,100 square feet, above the restaurant.
Ross said the village has benefitted from another recent major remodel: the Save-A-Lot in the former Jubilee. The Seelers’ project adds to that movement in the business district.
“It’s all about the traffic flow,” Ross said about the business district. “(The new restaurant) should bring other people from outside Holley.”
The Seelers have been working on the transformation at Tagg’s for three years. It hasn’t been easy. They were approved for $130,000 in matching grant through the NY Main Street program. They won’t get that money until the project is done.
They actually were approved for two grants with $80,000 towards the former Tagg’s and $50,000 for the extensive remodeling of the former barbershop building. They needed to wait for state approvals before doing most of the work.
The Seelers put up this new building, which includes their office, two apartments and the kitchen for the restaurant. The previous structure collapsed following the brutal winter.
Last winter’s punishing cold proved the final blow for the barbershop building. When the Seelers prepared to work on the site early this summer, the building collapsed.
They removed the debris and have built a new structure. However, instead of $50,000 in grant money for the project they will only get $17,000 because the historic building is gone. They had intended to just do interior renovations of the building, not construct a new site.
The Seelers were out $33,000 in grant funds and also had to spend more on the project with a new building. Mr. Seeler was sad to see the old structure go. He prides himself in bringing back sites that have been long neglected. But the building proved too far gone.
Dan Seeler heads into one of the new apartments above the future Holley Falls Bar and Grill. The entrance to the apartments is in an elevated courtyard.
Tagg’s was nearly at the point of no return, he said.
“This building was on its last legs,” he said.
He has repaired masonry walls, replaced floors and strengthened the structure. When he took off the wooden exterior, he discovered the orginal cast iron columns for the façade. They have been spiffed up and now are proudly part of the building’s look.
Seeler, 57, has worked in the commercial construction business for 40 years. A carpenter by trade, he has led the renovation effort at the Tagg’s site with help from his two sons, Jesse and Sean. Mrs. Seeler will run the steak and seafood restaurant.
The Seelers have worked on four other projects in the community in addition to the Tagg’s transformation.
“We like the small-town atmosphere here,” Seeler said. “We could have a mini Brockport here.”
The Seelers are grateful to be in the home stretch of the project. Three of the apartments should be available next month. Seeler created a courtyard for the three upper apartments. Tagg’s and the barbershop building used to have roofs that touched. But Seeler left some room between the roofs, allowing for the courtyard up high as well as the entrances to the apartments.
The interior of the Seeler apartments features lots of woodwork and existing light.
Seeler put in many windows to utilize natural light. The apartments give a birds eye view of the Public Square. Seeler has been spending his Saturday mornings giving tours of the apartments and restaurant space to interested community members. He loves their reaction to the apartments.
“Everybody I talk to has the hubbubs about it,” Seeler said. “People are excited.”
Most Holley residents remember the site as a notorious bar and rooming house. Now, Seeler believes the site has a urban apartment feel with a bar and grill that will be a major positive for Holley and Orleans County.
“I’ve tried to use my knowledge from the years and years of building with this project,” Seeler said. “We’ve given it new life.”
Seeler has two more apartments under construction, including this one which will be 1,300 square feet on the second floor. “It has a great view and a personality of its own.”
The New York State Thruway Authority has announced that the Thruway (I-90) from exit 46 (near Rochester) to exit 61 (Ripley – Pennsylvania state line) is open for all motorists.
All exits, entrances and service areas are open. Motorists should proceed with caution when leaving the roadway, and heed any local road closures or restrictions.
I-190 (Niagara Thruway) is open with access to all exits.
Motorists are reminded to proceed with caution as snow removal operations continue.
Passenger vehicles removed from the Thruway have been transported to several safe and secure locations. View a list of vehicle information (make, model, license plate, location) by clicking here.
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Firefighters cut a hole in the roof at 34 Orchard St. and were able to put out a fire in the attic.
It took about 20 minutes for firefighters to get the fire under control, said Kevin Dann, deputy chief for the Holley Fire Department. The initial call went out at 11:50 p.m. on Friday.
Shari Brooks lives at the house with her husband and daughter, and their dog. Everyone got out of the house.
Clarendon, Holley, Hamlin, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, and Morton all responded to the fire, which is under investigation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – A giant snowman stands along Route 31 next to the Presbyterian Church in Holley. The snowman creators made the best of the few inches of snow that fell in recent days and today’s slight warmup above freezing.
It could reach 51 on Sunday and 62 on Monday, meaning the snowman won’t be around too long.
Sherry Marciszewski of Kendall Road in Kendall sent us this photo of the sunrise this morning.
“After all of the terrible weather our neighbors have had to endure this past week, and all of the prayers that have gone out to them, when I looked out my front window and saw this sunrise I knew we were heard,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Charlie Nesbitt, a member of the church and event chairman, welcomes a big crowd to the event featuring Mike Randall.
ALBION – About 300 people attended a solo performance starring Mike Randall, the Buffalo weatherman, tonight at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.
Randall portrayed Charles Dickens in telling his classic story, “A Christmas Carol.” Randall was impressive in the performance, mixing many different voices to tell the story.
Randall has performed the Dickens’ show about 100 times since 2007. He also portrays Mark Twain and has done that show about 2,000 times. Before he started a career in television, Randall worked as an actor.
He became intrigued about Dickens, who was a Twain contemporary, in his research about Twain. Randall read about Dickens and his American Reading Tour from 1867-1868, which included a stop in Buffalo. Dickens drew big crowds to his events.
Dickens didn’t merely read the stories. He acted out the parts, Randall said.
“Charles Dickens was like a rock star,” Randall said after the performance in Albion tonight.
The performance served as a fund-raiser for the church, benefitting its youth programs and other outreach efforts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Self Advocates in Arc were featured in March
ALBION – They were pictured in a group, holding T-shirts that say, “SELF ADVOCATE All Stars.” The group planned to raise their profile this year, marching in parades and doing car washes.
Orleans Hub featured the Self Advocates on March 13, 2014. That photo was entered by The Arc of Orleans County in a state-wide contest and it won third place.
NYSARC, Inc., the state-wide association of member ARC organizations, recognizes news organizations each year for articles and photos about people with disabilities.
Jonathan Doherty, the Self Advocate’s fund-raising chairman, arranged for the Orleans Hub to come take the photo last March. He was one of the founding members of the Advocates in 2006, when the group launched a mission to eliminate the “R-word.”
Darlene Golson, community relations manager for The Arc, is pictured with Tom Rivers, editor of Orleans Hub.
The Self Advocates were able to convince county legislators to take a stand in May 2010. The Legislature passed an official county resolution, telling local, state and federal governments to no longer use the word “retarded” in describing people with developmental disabilities. The R-word is a “vicious slang” that is insulting and hurtful to people with developmental disabilities and their families, legislators said in their resolution four years ago.
The honor from NYSARC is the first journalism award won by Orleans Hub since we started on April 2, 2013. We won the Entrepreneurial Excellence award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The Albion Middle School performed its fall show tonight. “A Seussified Christmas Carol” will return to the stage at noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday.
In the top photo, Connor McQuillan is Thing 1 from “The Cat In The Hat” and Kate Krieger is Thing 2. Those characters served as narraters for the musical.
Abbyneezer Scrooge (Molly Wadhams) confronts her clerk Bob Cratchitt (Evan Allen), who takes a brief break from work to warm his hands.
The show highlights the story by Charles Dickens with a Dr. Seuss flavor. That results in a lot of rhyming. The Albion production is directed by Carrie Kozody.
A caroler (Hannah VanEpps) is rebuffed by Scrooge when the caroler stops by the shop to spread some Christmas cheer.
Sophia Zambito plays the Ghost of Christmas Past and leads Scrooge to see scenes from when she was a girl and a young woman.
April Henchen is the Ghost of Christmas Present. She shows Scrooge how her lack of generosity and fairness creates a hardship for many people in her life.
The pirates include, from left: Arella Ives, Kate Krieger and Sophia Zambito.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Zoning change approved for Jet Ski business in Shelby
ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board supported a bed and breakfast in Kendall and also a zoning change in Shelby to allow for a Jet Ski business.
Planners met on Thursday and recommended the Town of Kendall approve the site plan and variance for the bed and breakfast at 2038 Peter Smith Rd.
Ron Bierstine, owner of Orleans Outdoor in Carlton, wants to establish the bed and breakfast at the corner of Route 18 and Peter Smith Road. The site would utilize about 750 square feet in a ranch home. There is room for a maximum of eight occupants in three rooms for the B & B.
Planning Board members noted the site is in an isolated location near farmland and woodland. There shouldn’t be any adverse impacts to neighbors, planners said.
The town ordinance requires a 90-foot setback for off-street parking. Bierstine is proposing a 38-foot setback. Planners recommend he receive the 52-foot variance. Planners said the variance would not result in an undesirable change to neighborhood character.
Bierstine expects the bed and breakfast will be largely seasonal with peak business during the September to December tributary fishing season.
Planners also supported a zoning change in the Town of Shelby. Eric and Margaret Hill want to change four parcels at 10812 Maple Ridge Rd. (next to the Orleans-Niagara BOCES) from Agricultural/Residential to General Business. That change would allow them to operate a business selling and repairing Jet Skis at the southeast corner of Maple Ridge Road and Shelby Basin Road.
The zoning change fits in with the area, planners noted. The north side of Maple Ridge Road near the site includes about 2,100 feet of property that is zoned General Commercial.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – The Kendall Community Choir will do its fifth annual benefit concert for the local food pantry at 7 p.m. today at the David J. Doyle Junior-Senior High School.
KENDALL – The Kendall Community Choir will perform in one of its biggest events of the year tonight. The 41-member choir will perform Christmas music and Broadway tunes in a concert to benefit the local food pantry.
The audience is encouraged to bring in canned and other nonperishable food for the food pantry at the Kendall United Methodist Church. A goodwill offering for cash donations will also be taken for the food pantry.
“This will help them a great deal for both Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Mary Campbell, the choir director.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the David J. Doyle Junior-Senior High School.
The choir started seven years ago and for the past five years has performed the benefit concert for the food pantry. The choir has used past performances to raise money for the Kendall Park Gazebo Fund, the 2012 Kendall Bicentennial, and the Kendall Fire Department Ambulance Fund.
ALBION – Hospice of Orleans is pleased to announce that Nyla Gaylord has joined the team as Director of Development and Community Relations.
An Orleans County native, Gaylord has extensive experience in grant writing, fundraising, program development and not-for-profit leadership. She graduated from Holley High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Writing from Houghton College in Houghton. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Public Administration from SUNY Brockport.
After a number of years working for organizations that provide services to people with disabilities, she returned to school and completed a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Disability Studies at Syracuse University.
Gaylord has been an active member of the Orleans County community. She was a foster parent for many years and is currently a member of the Clarendon Historical Society, assisting with grant writing efforts.
After commuting to jobs in Rochester for more than 30 years, Gaylord is delighted to be working locally for such an important cause.
“I’m very committed to rallying community support to ensure that Hospice of Orleans continues to be an independent local organization, not part of a large health system,” she said. “Hospice services were there for my loved ones to help them reclaim control over their life and remain surrounded by family, friends and community as they faced an incurable illness. I look forward to helping ensure that Hospice services continue to be available locally for anyone who requests them.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Author will visit area in March to talk about book
LYNDONVILLE – The new book for the community reading project has been announced, and readers can expect to face many contemporary issues in the novel.
“The Tale for Three Counties” announced on Thursday the 13th book in the community reading effort will be “We Are Called To Rise,” by Laura McBride. The story focuses on an immigrant boy whose family struggles to assimilate. A woman wrestles with an imploding marriage and troubled son. A wounded soldier recovers from an injury.
These are some of the themes and characters in the book, which is available at local libraries and bookstores. The libraries will host discussion groups beginning in January in preparation for McBride’s visit from March 26-28.
She will visit locations in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties, including Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina on March 27.
“It’s very current and addresses contemporary topics,” said Catherine Cooper, Lee-Whedon director and a member of the Tail committee. “It’s very heartfelt and very warm.”
Yates Community Library hosted a book unveiling program on Thursday, when the latest Tale was announced.
