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Author comes home to lead writing workshop, sign books

Posted 3 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – “Satan’s Garden” was written by Kit Lyman and has received a positive response from her hometown of Albion.

Kit Lyman’s debut novel gets good reviews

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

ALBION – Kit Lyman is coming home to Albion this week to lead a writing workshop and also sign copies of her debut novel, a self-published psychological thriller “Satan’s Garden.”

Lyman will be returning to Albion from Texas to visit the community that has helped make her a success. She has sold about 1,100 copies of her book and earned some strong reviews.

“It’s been the Top Rated Kidnapping Thriller on Amazon for the past three months now, and I’ve also received top ratings from renowned reviewers, such as Amazon Top 500 Reviewers, IndieReader, and Readers’ Favorite,” Lyman said. “I’m currently a finalist for two categories in Readers’ Favorite’s 2014 Book Awards Contest, and the winners will be announced in September.”

The Huffington Post also took an interest in Lyman’s novel. Nina Sankovitch, Huffington Post reviewer and author of two best-selling books, was approached by Lyman’s sister Laura Sidari. Laura convinced Nina to review the book on her Huffington Post blog.

In July, Lyman traveled to Chicago for a book talk at City Lit Books, an independent bookstore. Albion grad Tara Garcia Mathewson approached City Lit’s events coordinator about hosting Lyman. Two months after that, Lyman was welcomed as the featured event.

“It was a very surreal experience,” said Lyman. “I owe so much to the readers and friends who speak up about the book and vouch for it. Pursuing a full-blown book tour is challenging as a self-published author, so events tend to evolve on their own and come about when there is public interest.”

Kit Lyman

On Monday, Lyman will be at the Hoag Library for a writers’ workshop event, beginning at 9 a.m. Della Morales, the Albion High School Media Specialist, had originally asked Lyman to speak to high school students. As the community began to hear about the event on the Authors at Albion Facebook page, interest grew to the point that the event was opened to the public.

“I’m thrilled about the event,” Lyman said about the program at the library. “I think high school is such a defining time, and I feel privileged to have this opportunity. A good portion of my book focused on high school pressures and the coming-of-age struggles that we all go through. I would love to talk at other high schools in the future, and I think Albion is the perfect place to start.”

Lyman plans to begin the event as a book discussion and Q&A focusing on what she has learned in the last five years. The workshop portion will revolve around the style, substance and structure of story.

“I have found that there are basic foundations and building blocks to all types of storytelling,” she said. “Inspiration is largely about unveiling those secrets and finding ways to use that knowledge to your advantage.”

Lyman will also be at Bindings Bookstore for a book-signing at 3 p.m. on Saturday. That event will be at 28 West Bank St. and is timed to coincide with the Sip and Stroll wine-tasting in Albion. She plans to have a more informal meet-and-greet during that time. She is excited to talk individually to readers and answer more specific questions about her book.

“Having that kind of opportunity is so important because it allows me to learn more about what is working and what isn’t,” she said. “It also gives me a chance to address any unanswered questions people may have about the book.”

Bindings Bookstore will have copies available during the Hoag workshop or the book can be requested for the Sip and Stroll event by calling the bookstore at (585) 283-4498.

24-pound Chinook leads fishing derby

Staff Reports Posted 3 August 2014 at 12:00 am

POINT BREEZE – A 24-pound Chinook is leading the Albion Rotary Club’s annual fishing derby, which started on Saturday and continues until Aug. 17.Clifford Stout of Northeast, Md., leads the derby with 24-pound, 1-ounce Chinook. The grand prize is $4,000 for the heaviest fish. Foster Miller of Holley won last year’s derby with a 34-pound, 13-ounce Chinook.

In other categories, Matt Bedient of Lockport leads the Chinook Division with a 20-pound, 3-ounce Chinook. Mike Schaeffer of Sligo, Pa., has the biggest rainbow trout with a 14-pound, 1-ounce fish.

Karen Cinelli of Newfane leads with a 12-pound, 9-ounce brown trout, and April Johnson of Rochester is in first place with a 16-pound, 4-ounce lake trout.

The Rotary Club will give away about $8,800 in prizes with the derby. For more information, click here.

Albion adds another painted bench, interpretive panel to downtown

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kim Martillotta Muscarella of Albion painted this bench to look like a piano. The bench was added to the downtown this afternoon. It’s in front of the Uptown Browsery and Knight’s Pride. Muscarella’s son, Jeremiah Knight, owns Knight’s Pride, a custom woodworking business.

The Albion Department of Public Works also installed a new 5-foot-wide interpretive panel about historic downtown Albion. The panel is in Waterman’s Park next to Conrad Cropsey’s law office.

The downtown now has 10 benches that have been painted in heritage or historical themes. The piano bench is in front of the Pratt Opera House. Michael Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler are working to restore that third-floor site. The benches were paid for a Main Street grant through the state. The Albion Rotary Club paid the artist fee for the piano-themed bench.

The interpretive panel provides information about the history of downtown Albion and highlights some of the architectural features in the buildings. The panel also notes the Albion area is home to four other nationally recognized districts: Mount Albion Cemetery, Courthouse Square, the Cobblestone Society Museum and the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor.

The panel was paid for by the Main Street grant. The staff at the Lake Country Pennysaver designed the panel, which has been placed next to a mural celebrating the quarrymen.

Bands showcased at OC Summer Jam

Posted 2 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Sue Cook – Greg Shaw plays drums for Harrison and the Radiators.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

KNOWLESVILLE – The OC Summer Jam debuted today by the Chamber of Commerce, featuring local bands in a festival-like atmosphere.

The bands alternated between the OrleansHub.com stage and the Curtis Pavilion at the 4-H fairgrounds to prevent a break in the music while each group set up.

Jerrod Thurber, right, of Leonard Oakes Estates Winery was at the event selling wine samples and beer.

People in the Curtis Pavilion watch The Moon Hunters.

Bands on the OrleansHub.com stage were Experimental Sandwich, Harrison and the Radiators, Triple Play and Terrible Ideas. At the Curtis Pavilion, the audience was treated to The Moon Hunters, The Capitals, The Lisa Zelazny Band and Happy Ending. The Capitals were performing one of the last times before member Pete moves away.

George Lama took pictures at the event to promote his business, RG Lama Studios. Cassidy and Matthew Oliver took advantage of the photo booth to get a little silly.

Harrison and the Radiators played many original songs. Greg Shaw is on drums, Brandon Smith is playing bass and Adam Foster sings to the crowd while playing guitar.

The Moon Hunters jam with a funk rock sound. Band members include Cortland McKernan, Evan Anstey, Zach Busch, Dave Blumrick and Zach Bickle.

Alex Feig of OrleansRadio.com called The Moon Hunters up and invited them to participate in the OC Summer Jam. They enjoyed the event so much they would love to be invited back for next year. Busch commented that there were faces in the crowd that were new for the band.

“Our families are always supportive which is nice,” Busch said. “It’s always nice to have a new crowd, too, and I think this summer jam was a great idea. I think it’s a really cool idea.”

Zach Bickle (left) plays saxophone while Zach Busch plays guitar.

Dirt road cuts through Clarendon

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

CLARENDON – Orleans Hub likes to capture some of the local rural ambiance, including the stretches of dirt roads out in the country.

There is an unpaved road in Clarendon that runs from Upper Holley Road to Route 237. Brown Schoolhouse Road is a seasonal road like many of the dirt roads in Orleans. This one is also hilly.

Exhibit gives a look into local medical profession in 1800s

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Cobblestone Museum has straight edges, house call bag, and numerous other items from era

Photo by Tom Rivers – Matt Ballard, co-director of the Cobblestone Society Museum, stands in the Danolds Room in the Cobblestone Universalist Church where artifacts, portraits and other information about the medical profession from more than a century ago are on display. The portrait in back shows Orson Nicholson, M.D. Nicholson, who lived from 1795 to 1870, was a pioneer physician in Orleans County. The portrait was donated by his grandson, Francis E. Stewart, M.D.

The display includes a collection of medicines and medical equipment, including a 1913 fully intact syringe with the Diptheria Antitoxin.

GAINES – If you think going to the doctor’s office gets a little frustrating now, sometimes having to wait an hour, imagine what it was like in the 1800s.

It could take days for doctors’ to make a house call. They had to be fetched and would then travel by horse through the wilderness of Orleans County.

“When the county started there were one or two doctors to cycle around and miles and miles of open space,” said Matt Ballard, co-director of the Cobblestone Society Museum.

He put together an exhibit – “Medicine at the Museum” – about medical care in the 1800s. The museum had an extensive collection of artifacts, and many were also donated from community members for the exhibit, which runs until Oct. 12.

“Medicine at the Museum” features photos and write-ups on many of the pioneer physicians and pharmacists in the county.

The display includes the sign for Dr. Eugene Everett Barnum, a doctor who grew up in Kendall. He earned medical degree from UB Medical School in 1881. He was born 1854 and died in 1904 at age 50. He worked out of Waterport and also was a farmer. The crutches are from the Civil War era.

This house call bag belonged to Dr. Dorothy Ollswang Cooper.

Some of the doctors and pharmacists had influences that stretched beyond Orleans County. Henry C. Lawrence of Knowlesville was a mentor to Col. Eli Lilly. Silas Mainville Burroughs of Medina was a founding partner of Burroughs, Welcomme and Co., which helped to develop compression power in medicine that was used in tablets and pills. Francis E. Stewart, M.D., worked in the research department at Parke, Davis & Co.

For medicine, pharmacists would mix concoctions. There were a lot of herbal and natural treatments, tinctures, tonics and syrups.

The museum received this collection of pharmacology items from a former Rexall store in Albion. They were donated to the museum about 40 years ago.

One of the bottles included aqua ammonia.

Doctors used straight edges for surgeries, with a barber sometimes doing a lot of the work.

Ballard consulted with local historians, reviewed local history books and used Internet research to compile the biographies of many physicians who worked in the county in the 1800s.

Doctors often teamed with barbers for surgeries, using straight edges.

“Our physician history is not very well known,” Ballard. “Those doctors had to do a little bit of everything.”

Ballard also has arranged for four lectures to be given about Orleans and WNY medical history. Those lectures will be 4 p.m. on Sundays on Aug. 17, Aug. 31, Sept. 14 and Sept. 28.

Ballard said the medical exhibit and lectures should be a draw for the museum, which is a National Historic Landmark with many structures located near the intersection of routes 98 and 104.

“Every time you go here you see something new and learn something new,” he said. “It’s not a one and done museum.”

For more on the museum and its upcoming events, click here.

Windmill used to pump water to feed faucets in cemetery

Posted 1 August 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian

ALBION – In this color post card, which was mailed in May 1909, we see the Tower or Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Mount Albion Cemetery.

At that time there was a fountain over the cistern west of the tower, which shows here in the foreground.

When the water works was first put in, a windmill pumped water from a well up to the cistern for then gravity fed water to the various faucets throughout the cemetery.

In 1906 the windmill was replaced with a pumphouse over the well where a gasoline engine then pumped up the cistern.

Historian to lead tours of cemetery on Sundays in August

Editor’s Note: Tours of Mount Albion will take place every Sunday evening in August at 6 p.m. The tours begin at the main gate and will be led by Bill Lattin, the county historian.

Wine Trail signs headed to Orleans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – This sign promoting the Niagara Wine Trail is in Lockport. More of the signs are headed to Orleans and Monroe counties after the trail was expanded.

Orleans County wineries and business owners cheered a long-sought move last September when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation expanding the Niagara Wine rail through Orleans, all the way to Route 390 near Rochester.

Orleans officials and businesses expected the expanded wine trail would lead to more tourists and customers for Orleans wineries, farm markets, restaurants and other businesses.

It’s been nearly a year since the state expanded the trail, but a road-side sign is yet to go up in Orleans County, promoting the Niagara Wine Trail.

That should soon change, local winery owners said.

Paul Schwenk of Schwenk Wine Cellars of Kent is picking up Wine Trail signs next week that will go on Route 18, directing people to his winery on Bills Road. He will hand the signs off to the state Department of Transportation, which will install them.

“Let’s hope they are up by Labor Day, at the latest,” Schwenk said on Thursday.

Wendy Wilson of Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina is also hopeful the signs will be along Route 104, promoting the Wine Trail. She worked on expanding the wine trail for several years.

Each of the signs needed a DOT permit. Wilson said about 100 new signs will be going up to promote the expanded trail.

The Niagara Wine Trail used run along Route 104 mostly in Niagara County. It reached into Orleans to include the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery near the western end of Ridgeway. But it couldn’t keep moving east, without a change in the state law.
Several groups, including the wine industry, tried for years to extend the wine trail.

The State Senate was the first to go for it, but the Assembly didn’t agree until last year. The state about three years ago approved funding for the signs.

This trail is expected to be a tourism boost for Western New York. It will stretch from Niagara Falls through Orleans and into Monroe County. It also will run south from the Falls area into Erie County.

The trail will run on Route 104 between the Ferry Avenue/Route 62 intersection in Niagara Falls and Route 390 in Monroe County. That will be known as “Niagara Wine Trail Ridge.”

The complement to the Ridge route is the “Niagara Wine Trail Lake,” which follows Route 269 north from its intersection with Route 104 at the Niagara-Orleans County Line to Route 18. It then runs west to Route 425, then south to Route 62 and along that route until its intersection with I-290 in Amherst.

Hawley: $3B windfall to NY should go to schools

Staff Reports Posted 1 August 2014 at 12:00 am

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, wants to see a $3 billion windfall headed to New York be directed to school districts.

The Republican Majority in the State Senate also wants to see New York’s $3 billion share from French Bank BNP Paribas go to schools. The bank agreed to an overall $9 billion settlement after repeated violations of U.S. sanctions.

Hawley said the $3 billion should go towards education funding that was lost due to the Gap Elimination Adjustment. This would require using $1 billion to restore the GEA and then committing the remaining $2 billion to scheduled school aid increases, Hawley said.

The issue issue is a high priority due to the fiscal challenges faced by small, rural school districts that do not receive an equitable distribution of state school aid compared to New York City schools, he said.

“Delivering a high quality education to our kids is the key to giving them to best possible future,” Hawley said. “The money we have gained through the Paribas settlement should go to ensuring that our local school districts have the resources they need to provide our kids the best possible education. As a father, this is a very important issue to me and I’ll be working to make sure that our schools get this money and our kids receive the education they deserve.”

The State Senate plan also would direct some of the money coming to the state for tax relief and infrastructure projects.

DOT will give 31 a fresh top in Murray

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – The state Department of Transportation had crews out today working on Route 31 for several miles in Murray. The pavement has been removed and a new layer will be put down.

Medina wants Shelby, Ridgeway to pay towards Niagara County water costs

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2014 at 12:00 am

The Village of Medina, for the first time, has sent bills – totaling more than $30,000 – to the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby to help pay costs from the Niagara County Water District, the water provider for the community.

Medina has paid the full shot of the “ad valorum” costs since the two towns started hooking into the village water system more than two decades ago. That bill is currently $134,437 and is due Aug. 31.

An auditor, Bonadio & Co., went through Medina’s books and told village officials it shouldn’t bear that full NCWD charge. The firm tried to determine a fair share of the charge and calculated $24,171 for Shelby water users and $6,748 for Ridgeway water users.

The village would still pay about $100,000 of the charge. The village sent letters to the two towns in April, notifying them they would now be expected to pay towards the NCWD charge.

Shelby has refused to pay, and Ridgeway hasn’t responded.

The issue comes when Shelby is trying to renew contracts with the village to provide the water for town water districts. The village buys the water from the Niagara County Water District and then sells it to the towns. Before Medina signs off on a new contract, it wants Shelby to agree to help pay the charge to the NCWD.

Two village trustees, Marguerite Sherman and Mike Sidari, questioned the hardball stance, especially as Shelby pursues a new water district and needs Medina to formally approve an agreement, supplying the water.

“Are we going to hold people’s lives and health in the balance over this?” Sidari asked at Monday’s Village Board meeting.

He urged the board to sign off on the water supply agreement so the water districts could move forward. Trustee Marguerite Sherman also wants the village to sign off on the agreements so Shelby doesn’t miss out on a grant or have its water project delayed.

Mayor Andrew Meier said the village is obligated to pursue the funds from the two towns, especially after being put on notice from the auditors. The village shouldn’t have to subsidize the town water users, Meier said.

The water districts can move ahead if Shelby signs the agreement and agrees to help pay the NCWD charge, Meier said.

Town of Shelby Attorney David Schubel, in a June 20 letter to village attorney Matthew Brooks, said town officials don’t believe the NCWD fee applies to the town because the village is NCWD’s water customer. The “ad valorum charge” is applied to the village to ensure Medina receives the same water rates enjoyed by communities in Niagara County, Schubel said, citing a meeting with NCWD officials.

The village adds 1.6 times the village water rate or about another $1.50 per 1,000 gallons to the town rate. Schubel said that added cost should be enough to pay the NCWD charge and other village costs.

“It would seem that a premium rate of 1.6 should be adequate to cover the actual cost of water and the related costs incurred by the Village in supplying water to the Town and the ad valorum charge,” Schubel said in his letter.

He noted the town is working on two water districts that will need water supply agreements with the village. Schubel sent another letter on July 23 requesting the village approve the water supply agreements.

Shelby officials don’t see the “ad valorum charge” as a mandated or imposed charge from the NCWD, but a membership fee, Schubel said in his letter.

But Medina Attorney Matthew Brooks sees it differently. An August 1993 water supply agreement with the Town of Shelby obligates the village to seek a share of the ad valorum charge, Brooks said.

That agreement says, “Shelby further agrees to pay Medina the actual costs and charges which shall be, from time-to-time, mandated or imposed by the Niagara County Water District, concerning sales of water outside of Niagara County, in lieu of charges assessed from Niagara County Water District in Niagara County taxes, deficits and charges.”

Brooks said the issue could very well go to litigation.

“Right now the town only pays for the water it uses,” Brooks told the Village Board. “To say, ‘We don’t have to pay any additional water,’ doesn’t hold water, so to speak.”

Fairgrounds will jam on Saturday with lineup of bands

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2014 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – The Moon Hunters will be one of eight bands performing Saturday in the OC Summer Jam at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. In this photo from February during Medina’s Wine About Winter event, Evan Anstey of Middleport, left, leads the Moon Hunters. He is joined by Dave Blumrick of Medina, center, and Zach Busch of Medina, right. Cort McKernan plays the drums.

KNOWLESVILLE – A week after Orleans County 4-H’ers celebrated their annual fair in Knowlesville, the fairgrounds will be busy again on Saturday, this time as a musical showcase.

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce will have its first OC Summer Jam from 4 to 10 p.m. tomorrow. Eights bands will play, with the groups taking turns playing from two alternating stages.

“There’s nothing quite like it in this area,” said Sam Roskowski, the administrative assistant at the Chamber and event coordinator for the Summer Jam. “It’s a great way to get the bands together and give the people something to do.”

A $20 ticket gives access to each concert, plus a $5 voucher to one of the food trucks. Tickets drop to $12 after 7 p.m. but that doesn’t include a food voucher. Kids 12 and under are free to attend the concerts.

“The bands are super excited,” Roskowski said.

Each band will play for about 45 minutes. The following are scheduled to perform: Experimental Sandwich, The Moon Hunters, The Scarlet Carsons, The Capitals, Triple Play, The Lisa Zelazny Band, Terrible Ideas and Happy Ending.

Zach Busch, right, plays the guitar for The Moon Hunters.

The bands each have a strong following, Roskowski said. She is hopeful there will be a big crowd for the event. Concert-goers are asked to park on the west side of the fairgrounds.

In addition to the music and food, there will be the game, Can Jam, and a photo booth. The event will go on regardless if it rains.

The Chamber is doing is first music fest, and is in the second year of its Palettes of Orleans art project. Both projects differ from the traditional image of the Chamber, although Roskowski said the Chamber is committed to its “Main Street programs” as well.

“It doesn’t hurt to shake up the image,” she said about the Chamber. “We’re trying to keep things fresh.”

Tickets are available at the event or online at the Chamber’s website.

Accident with injuries on Maple Ridge

Staff Reports Posted 1 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman

MEDINA – A two-vehicle accident resulted in people being transported to the hospital this morning.

The accident occurred at 7:43 a.m. near the intersection of Maple Ridge Road and West Avenue, just west of the routes 31A and 63 intersection.

There isn’t much information available this morning, but a dispatcher said the road was mostly cleaned up by 8:20 and ambulances were dispatched to transport people with injuries.

Cobblestone Museum will host lectures on WNY, Orleans medical history

Staff Reports Posted 31 July 2014 at 12:00 am

GAINES – The Cobblestone Society Museum will kick off a new four-part lecture series next month about medical care and its history in Western New York.

The lectures all begin at 4 p.m. on Sundays at the Cobblestone Church, 14389 Ridge Rd. There is a $5 suggested donation. That price includes admission to an exhibit about early physicians and medicine in Orleans County.

That exhibit is in the first floor of the historic church and highlights more than 20 doctors from the county. The exhibit includes some of their tools and equipment, including a bag used for house calls. (Orleans Hub will feature that exhibit in a separate article to be posted soon.)

The lecture series is designed to bring more visitors to the museum and highlight pioneering medical care in the region.

The following lectures are planned at the museum:

The Development of Buffalo’s Medical School

Dr. Ronald Batt

Dr. Ronald Batt from the University at Buffalo will be the first speaker in the series on Aug. 17.

Founded on May 11, 1846, The University of Buffalo was established to train local physicians in the Buffalo area. Opening in 1847, the University welcomed Millard Fillmore as the first chancellor. He filled the position in a part-time capacity while serving as President of the United States. The establishment of Buffalo’s Medical School represents an important part in the growth of Western New York.

Batt is a professor of clinical gynecology at SUNY University at Buffalo. His master’s thesis was focused around the development and formation of Buffalo’s Medical School and the history of the Buffalo area.

The museum will have a special artifact on loan for this event: a death mask of Dr. Roswell Park. Several masks were cast following Dr. Park’s death in 1914, including those in the collections of the Buffalo Historical Society and the University at Buffalo’s Medical Sciences Library. This is believed to be the third of three that were cast.

The Search for Health: Sanitariums and Health Resorts of WNY

Erica Wanecski of the Medina Historical Society will discuss health resorts during a lecture at 4 p.m. on Aug. 31.

Wanecski has worked in the medical field for more than 20 years. She currently works in the education field with deaf children.

Provided photo – Pictured is the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Mich. It first opened in 1866 as the Western Health Reform Institute and was operated by John Harvey Kellogg (inventor of corn flakes) in the mid-1870s.

With an interest in history, she became curious about the history of the Castle on the Hill, a health resort and sanitarium in Dansville. She researched health spas, patent medicines and other medical-related topics. This presentation will focus on the history of Sanitariums and Health Resorts in Western New York.

Sanitariums existed during a time when medicinal treatments for ailments such as Tuberculosis were non-existent. The concept of health resorts and sanitariums developed into an idea similar to luxury resorts where members of the middle and upper class would travel away from home to experience state-of-the-art medical treatments guaranteed to improve their quality of life.

Trivial Tales of Orleans County Physicians

Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin will give this lecture at 4 p.m. on Sept. 14. Lattin will share human-interest stories from his up-and-coming book.

The program will include stories about several of the physicians featured in the Cobblestone Museum exhibit and others who have practiced throughout the area in the last 100 years.

Come join us as we hear the history of Orleans County’s finest physicians, told from an amusing and entertaining perspective.

Dying on Script: A Look at Victorian Attitudes Towards Illness and Death in the 19th Century

Derek Maxfield, GCC professor

Derek Maxfield, a history professor at Genesee Community College, will give a lecture, “Dying on Script: A Look at Victorian Attitudes Towards Illness and Death in the 19th Century.”

Maxfield’s presentation at 4 p.m. on Sept. 28 will explore the effects of medicine on the lives of families during the Victorian era. Looking back, many would consider the attitudes relating to death to be a morbid fascination or obsession.

Social norms developed around extended periods of mourning, a dictation of mourning dress, and exorbitant and extravagant funerals. A “Cult of Death” seemed to develop as families invested in mourning art, jewelry made from the hair of deceased loved ones, post-mortem photographs, and expensive cemetery monuments adorned with symbolism.

Maxfield will highlight a unique aspect of Victorian culture, representing the “final stage” in the 19th century treatment of severe medical ailments.

The lecture series is made possible through Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Band plays Classic Country for Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Joe Szalay sings for the band, Creekside Classic Country, during tonight’s concert in downtown Albion on East Bank Street.

The band members include, from right to left: Dave Nolan on guitar, Rebecca DeBoard on vocals, and Joe and Cindy Szalay.

There are two more concerts in the series: the Fauxtones with Zero opening at 6 p.m. on Aug. 7, and the Triple Play Band with Painted Silence opening at 6 p.m. on Aug. 14.