By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2014 at 12:00 am
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley welcomes the U.S. Attorney’s Office to do a full investigation in Albany “to root out the corruption embedded in the Capitol.”
The assemblyman from Batavia made a statement today following Wednesday’s report in the New York Times that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office interfered with the Moreland Commission and prematurely ended the high-powered investigative team. Click here to see the NYT story, “Cuomo’s Office Hobbled Ethics Inquiries by Moreland Commission.”
“Today’s New York Times bombshell about the corruption of the Moreland Commission makes it clear that good government reforms are still desperately needed in Albany,” Hawley said. “These allegations are alarming, and I encourage the U.S. Attorney’s Office to perform a full investigation to root out the corruption embedded in the Capitol. I have sponsored several bills that will help clean up Albany, including the Public Officers Accountability Act, which would strengthen penalties for corruption, bribery, and misuse of campaign funds, and strip the pensions of officials who are convicted on corruption charges. Passing this legislation is a great first step toward making Albany work for the people again.”
Rob Astorino is running with the Republican Party endorsement against Cuomo. Astorino said a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate Cuomo’s involvement in the Moreland Commission.
“This is beyond outrageous,” Astorino told Fred Dicker on his Talk-1300 radio show. “Obviously, it’s criminal.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2014 at 12:00 am
BB Queens advance to Saturday’s championship
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Taylor Soule of the BB Queens is ready to descend the grease pole after Sam Remley reaches the top of the telephone pole slathered in grease.
The BB Queens were the fastest team on Wedneaday night, climbing the pole 43.72 seconds.
The BB Queens include, from left, in front: Gretta Smith, Taylor Soule and Halle Jurs. Back row: Jessica Grimes, Hannah Hapeman, Sam Remley, Brie Dixon, Brooke Bensley, Cady Messmer and Eboni Taylor.
Most of the members graduated from Albion in 2013. Brooke Bensley pushed to form the team. She has been watching the grease pole at the fair since she was a kid. During many sleepovers with her friends, she said they practiced cheerleading units and pyramids. She knew they could climb the pole.
Most of the men’s teams have taller participants and need to stack four people to get to the top. An all-ladies team would need to stack five people, Soule said. The team reached out to their Sam Remley, who is wiry with the upper body strength to get to the top.
The BB Queens drew loud cheers from the crowd of several hundred people after Remley made it to the top. Soule was covered in grease after the event.
A team from Hamlin, the Troll Diggers, works its way up the pole with Andrew Jones on top. The group watched friends compete last year and decided to try on Wednesday night. They did it in 46.23 seconds, just behind the BB Queens.
Andrew Jones of the Troll Diggers tries to find a grip to keep going up the grease pole.
A team from Medina, Mucked up, battled and climbed the pole in 2:05.99. Here Mucked Up members Andrew Cotter in white with Nick Schroeder in red at right try to get up the pole. Schroeder lost his grip but regrouped and made it to the top.
Lucas Evans of Mucked Up tries to steady himself so the next team member can climb up and stand on his shoulders. The grease pole continues each night at 10 p.m. with championships on Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Russ Martino, a member of the Lyndonville Lions Club, leads the crowd in doing the motions to the song “YMCA” during a concert by Crash Cadillac. The band from Buffalo performed at the Yates Town Park along Lake Ontario at the end of Morrison Road. Martino was the town supervisor when Yates created the park about seven years ago. Current Town Supervisor John Belson, center, and Jeff Johnson join in the dance.
Don Vaccaro, guitarist and singer for Crash Cadillac, leads the band in singing “Sweet Caroline” during a concert this evening at Yates Town Park.
Wes Bradley, left, and other Lyndonville Lions were called up by the band and asked to lead the crowd in the song, “YMCA.”
About 200 people attended the concert at the park by the lake. The Lions Club and Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council both sponsored the event.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Jeff Ebel from the Troll Diggers is the third man up on the grease pole last night. The Grease Pole returns tonight at 10 p.m.
Special Event: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Craft Sale located in the Buzz Hill Education Center Lot. Including professional appraisals from 4-7 pm at a special price of $5 per item (bring photos for your larger items).
Strolling Entertainment: Amazing Magic Joe, throughout the grounds, 5 to 9 p.m.
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
8 am to 3 pm: Youth Camp Day- Sponsored by the Orleans County 4-H – Fair Committee
9:30 am: Western Horse Show – Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: $5 admission per car starts
10 am: All Buildings Open
10 am: Poultry Show – Wachob Pavilion
10 am: Wildlife I.D. Contest – Log Cabin
10:30 am: Little Britches Cattle Show (open to public) – Show Arena
12 pm: Leader’s Pie Stand Opens
12 pm to 1 pm: Dog Agility Demonstration with Della’s Agility Dream Dogs – and Guests – Show Arena
Photo by Sue Cook – During a motorcycle cruise-in on Wednesday, Dick Christopher rode in on a 2013 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide trike, which is a three-wheeled motorcycle.
1 pm: Story Time sponsored by Yates Community Library – Trolley Building
1 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
1:45 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
2 pm to 4 pm: Family and Consumer Science Knowledge Bowl – Center Stage
3 pm: Little Britches Llama/Alpaca – Open to Public – Show Arena
3 to 10 pm: Midway of Utica $20 unlimited ride wristband – Midway
3 pm: Story Time sponsored by Yates Community Library – Trolley Building
4 – 8:30 pm: Master Gardener – Lawn of Education Center
4 pm to close: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Craft Sale – Education Center Parking Lot
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
4:30 pm : Chicken BBQ Sponsored by Orleans County Cornell – Cooperative Extension – No Presale – Curtis Pavilion
6 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
6 pm: Sheep Show (Costume class at end) – Knight’s Building
6 pm: Small Animal Grand Master Information Session – Wachob Pavilion
6 pm: Registration for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Ends – Fair Office
6 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
Photo by Sue Cook – Emily Fearby, left, observes judge Peter Snyder as he talks to Melissa Robinson about her goat. Emma Mathes, right, readjusts her goat’s pose.
6:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
YATES – The Lyndonville Shoe Tree has been a craze since 1986 when the late Earl Baun helped a girlfriend get rid of about eight to 10 pairs of shoes. He threw them into the trees at the corner of Foss and Lakeshore roads.
Baun started a popular tradition in the Lyndonville community that shows no signs of slowing down. I stopped by the row of four ash trees this evening on a way to a concert at the Yates Town Park.
The Shoe Tree is a whimsical attraction, with hundreds of shoes nailed to the trunks of the trees or dangling from branches high above.
The Shoe Tree is featured on Web sites and was included in a 2008 book called “New York Curiosities.”
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Public Health Educator for Orleans County Health Department
With fair season and this week’s Orleans County 4-H Fair underway it is important to remember to stay hydrateddrink water whether you are thirsty or not. Increased heat and activity outdoors brings certain risks with it, particularly dehydration and heat related illnesses.
Some people are more susceptible than others are to dehydration and heat related illnesses. They include infants, children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.
Dehydration is ‘the excessive loss of water from the body.’ The more physical activity that you engage in, the more water you are likely to lose.
Possible signs of dehydration:
Dry mouth and fatigue.
If you are mildly dehydrated, you might experience muscular pain or pain in the lower back region or even a headache.
Dark yellowish urine is also a good indicator that dehydration is setting in.
Severe dehydration can cause dizziness, confusion, accelerated heartbeat and eventually, kidney failure.
There are ways you can prevent dehydration from occurring. The most obvious way to prevent dehydration is by drinking a sufficient amount of water to replace the fluids you lose throughout the day.
The best way to figure your ideal daily water needs is to take your body weight and divide it in half. This is the number of ounces of fluid you should be consuming on a daily basis through beverages and foods. For example, a person who weighs 160 pounds should be drinking no less than eight 10-ounce glasses (80 ounces) of water each day. You should drink more than this during extreme heat and/or if you are engaging in physical activity. Talk with your healthcare provider if you tend to retain water and have puffy or swollen ankles, legs and hands.
Consider these suggestions for keeping yourself well hydrated:
Foods with high water content can help you meet your fluid needs. Some examples include soups, stews, citrus fruits, grapes and melons.
Low-fat and fat-free milk, 100 percent fruit juice and decaffeinated tea and coffee can also count toward your minimum eight glasses of fluid a day.
Develop a habit of staying hydrated. Drink a glass of water when you wake up, one between and at each meal, and one at bedtime to make eight. Remember you need more during hot days or when engaging in physical activity.
Keep bottled water in your car, backpack or desk.
When visiting the Orleans County 4-H fair this week, drink plenty of water and take breaks in the shade by visiting the great exhibits the county’s youth have worked so hard on this past year. Enjoy the fair!
CHILDS – In this picture from the summer of 1977 we see the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ward House at the Cobblestone Museum in Childs.
Cobblestone Society board members, along with Congressman John LaFalce, appear behind the ribbon. In front, from left, include: Bernard Lynch, Evelyn Lyman, Congressman LaFalce (who is about to cut the ribbon), Cary H. Lattin, and Cary W. Lattin, the museum director.
In back, from left, include: Ward Wilson, Donna Rodden, Bea Davis, Donald Ross, George Wolfe, Josephine Howard and Alma Starkweather. A couple other people are in the picture but their faces do not show.
The cobblestone Ward House was first used as a church parsonage and later owned briefly in the 1860s by Horace Greeley, an influential newspaper editor who opposed slavery and ran for president in 1872.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – This interpretive panel highlights the historic downtown district in Medina. It is one of 11 panels that were installed recently in the downtown in a project spearheaded by the Orleans Renaissance Group.
MEDINA – The annual historical tours by the Medina Sandstone Society typically draw a good-size crowd interested in Medina history, whether its downtown buildings, Boxwood Cemetery or other locations.
This year’s tour will be on Aug. 9, coinciding with the inaugural Sweets in Summer event planned by the Medina Business Association and also two canal concerts.
The Sweets event will feature businesses serving up chocolate, ice cream and cookies from 1 to 5 p.m. A farmers’ market will also have honey and maple syrup.
The Sandstone Society will lead a tour beginning at 2 p.m. in front of City Hall. Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin and Medina Historian Todd Bensley will lead the tour, stopping at 11 panels that highlight Medina history. The tour should last until about 3:30 p.m.
A panel in front of City Hall tells about the history of Medina Fire Department.
Cindy Robinson, president of the Medina Business Association, has a panel in front of her business, The English Rose Tea Shoppe at 527 Main St., that panels discusses immigration and its role in Medina.
“People stop and read it all the time,” Robinson said.
She sees people looking the other 10 panels as well.
“When people come into town they’re very interested about the history,” Robinson said. “We don’t have people who can take you on a historical tour. This way they can wander around town and do their own tour.”
The Medina Business Association wants to develop map with the sign locations.
Following the historical tour, there will be two bands performing in the Canal Basin from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Jacques Gregoire shows off his four-eyed vampire Frankenstein to the others at his table. This was also the first year of the watermelon-carving contest. Barb Kurzowski created the contest hoping to attract artists.
Kate Hardner was the judge of the event. She was looking for originality, the level of difficulty and artistic creative presentation in her evaluation of the completed pieces.
“These are all very well done. I’m very impressed. I especially love the way some of them are carved partially into the rind creating other colors and good depth in the pieces,” said Hardner as she waited for the last contestants to finish.
The watermelon-carving contest had seven participants and a helper. Masterpieces in this picture include a penguin, a porcupine, a minion from “Despicable Me,” and a punch bowl.
Megan Bruning of Medina performed pottery demonstrations on Wednesday. She used the wheel to spin the clay and formed bowls with her hands. Here, she uses a metal rib to smooth the side of her creation. She has been making pottery for 14 years.
The Amazing Magic Joe wows the crowd by producing a signed ten-dollar bill from inside a fresh lemon. Joe’s illusions will continue taking place throughout the rest of the week at various parts of the fairgrounds.
Jim Barrett stands beside his 2008 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom during a motorcycle cruise-in.
Most of the motorcycles that came to the show were Harley-Davidsons. Throughout the cruise-in about a dozen bikes came in.
The senior showmanship class offered Natalie Mrzywka (left) and Janie Schutz the opportunity to show off their goats at the start of the event.
The Chainsaw Chix demonstration has returned for another year after demand for professional chainsaw artist Sara Winter brought her back for the fourth time. Winter has been carving for seven years. In this photo Winter carves an owl for over 50 onlookers.
“I don’t have an art background,” said Winter. “I saw someone do it at a fair and I’ve been trying ever since.”
At demonstrations, she carves does what she calls a quick carve, which is creating a piece for speed. She completes pieces in 45 minutes to an hour.
Sara Winter sells her completed pieces from next to the log cabin where she holds her demos on the fairgrounds. From near the front of her workspace, a fox watches the crowd.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The board of trustees at Hoag Library in Albion will interview three finalists this evening for the library director position.
Any of the three could step in immediately and be an effective leader for the library, said Kevin Doherty, president of the board.
Doherty and the other board members will interview each of the finalists. A search committee narrowed an initial pool of 19 applicants to the three finalists.
“We want someone who is good at personnel and budget management, but who isn’t a bean counter,” Doherty said. “The director will need to also be an excellent media specialist and librarian.”
HOLLEY – The Holley Rotary Club was recently recognized by Rotary International and Rotary District 7090 for having the highest retention rate in D7090, which includes Rotary clubs in Western New York and Southern Ontario.
The Holley club lost no members during the 2013-2014 Rotary year. The club has held this distinction for two straight years. Pictured above (left to right) with the citations are Past President Robert Miller and current club President John Pedley.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Bo Parton, 2, sits on the shoulders of his uncle Ethan Bannister during last night’s Orleans County 4-H Fair. Bo’s aunt Jayne Bannister is participating in several livestock showing events.
Special Event: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Motorcycle Cruise-In. Free admission for bikes parking in the Buzz Hill Education Center Lot.
Special Event: Senior Citizen Coffee, free Coffee for Senior Citizens from 1pm to 4pm, compliments of the Orleans County 4-H Senior Council
Strolling Entertainment: Amazing Magic Joe, throughout the grounds, 5-9 p.m.
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
8 am: Goat Show (Dairy, Companion, and Pack) – Knights Building
9:30 am: Dressage Horse Show – Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: $5 Admission per car Starts
John Gabalski, left, of Byron and Ian Smith of Lyndonville watch while the judge, Jim Goodrich, looks over their rabbits. They had three entered in the meat pen competition, which judges rabbits in groups of three. The rabbits will be part of Saturday’s market animal auction at 4 p.m.
10 am: All Buildings Open
10 am: Bread and homemade butter demonstration – Trolley Building
11 am to 1 pm: Nutrifare Senior Luncheon with Al Howe (Food will be served at 12:00pm) – Curtis Pavilion
12 pm: Leader’s Pie Stand Opens
12 pm to 2 pm: Pottery by Megan Demos with pottery wheel – Trolley Bldg.
1 pm: Story Time: Sponsored by the Holley Community Library – Trolley Building
2 pm: Orleans County 4-H Fair Photography Contest (open to public with advance entry. Call 585-798-4265) – Trolley Bldg.
2 pm: Poultry Knowledge Bowl – Orleanshub.com Center Stage
3 pm: Story Time: Sponsored by the Holley Community Library – Trolley Building
3 pm to 8 pm: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Motorcycle Cruise-in – Education Center parking lot
Lydia Piazza sings “Giddy On Up” by Laura Bell Bundy during’s Tuesday’s karaoke competition. Singers will compete Thursday in the karaoke finals at 8 p.m., when $1,000 in prizes will be awarded.
3 pm to 10 pm: Midway Rides of Utica $20 unlimited rides wristband – Midway
3 pm: Dog Knowledge Bowl – Orleanshub.com Center Stage
4 pm: Dairy Cattle Showmanship – Show Arena
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4 pm to 7pm: Pottery by Megan Demonstrations with pottery wheel – Trolley Building
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2014 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – This photo was taken last October from a sailboat on Lake Ontario.
County officials in Niagara and Orleans counties know an easy solution to blocking a controversial new plan for regulating Lake Ontario levels, a plan that could lead to greater fluctuations in the lake with more erosion in high waters and shallow marinas and ports in the other extreme.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo should step in and use his power to veto the plan, the Orleans County Legislature said today in an official resolution. The Niagara County Legislature is expected to pass a similar resolution.
Officials at both counties worry a new bi-national plan for regulating water levels will erode valuable lakeshore property and jeopardize the fishing and tourism industries along the lake.
“It’s not just a lakeshore issue, it’s an entire county issue,” Niagara County Legislator David Godfrey said today during a County Legislature meeting. A destructive lake could reduce sales tax revenues and property assessments, driving up taxes for inland property owners, he said.
Godfrey joined Lynne Johnson, an Orleans County legislator, about two weeks ago in Washington, D.C. They met with U.S. Department of State officials, Congressman Chris Collins and representatives from Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer. Collins has also called on Cuomo to kill the IJC plan because of the economic hardship it could have on the southshore.
Orleans and Niagara counties have formed the Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance, which today called on Cuomo to “enact an all-inclusive and thorough analysis on the potential economic damages” of the lake plan on tourism, recreation, homeowners and businesses on the southshore, particularly in Orleans and Niagara which are projected to see the most damage from high and low waters.
“It’s a very radical plan,” Johnson said at today’s meeting. “It’s good for the ecosystem, for cattails and muskrats and such, but it’s very detrimental to lakeshore property owners and the fishing industry.”
The Legislature’s resolution also asks Cuomo to assess civil work and financial assistance needed to mitigate the lake level plan, and to identify funding sources to help offset those impacts.
Legislature Chairman David Callard said the lake proposal warrants a stern response from the county, as well as efforts to send a message in person, even if it means travelling to the nation’s capital.
“We will go to Albany, we will go to Washington, D.C. and we will go to New York City,” Callard said. “We will go anywhere we need to represent our rights.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Canal communities urged to cater to cyclists
Photos by Tom Rivers – These four cyclists pass through Hulberton on Sunday, headed west to Albion where they said they would be staying at Dollinger’s Motel.
A new report that measures the economic impact of the Erie Canalway Trail counts $253 million in annual economic activity from the trail, with cyclists providing the bulk of that impact.
A study commissioned by Parks & Trails New York, a not-for-profit park and trail advocacy organization, found that the 360-mile-long trail also supports 3,440 jobs in canal communities through visits by 1.58 million people.
Communities can better capitalize on the trail with improved signage, amenities and lodging, according to the report. If visitors stay overnight, they spend far more in the community. Overnight guests represent 18 percent of the trail visitors, yet they generate 84 percent of overall spending.
Chris Van Dusen isn’t surprised to see the big numbers associated with the report. He opened Trailside Bicycles in Hulberton in June 2013. He sees one or two boaters pass by on the canal most days. However, he sees far more cyclists, typically 20 to 40 a day.
“Cyclists will be the lifeblood of the canal,” he said.
The village of Albion recently added four new bike racks to make the downtown more accommodating to visitors on bike. This bike rack is near the First Presbyterian Church.
Some cyclists travel in organized rides. Others travel on their own. Van Dusen believes Orleans County and other canal communities could be more welcoming and entice the cyclists into their downtowns to spend money. Each canal town should have signs pointing to lodging, restaurants, showers and other points of interests, said Van Dusen, who worked as a professional cycling guide.
“The general community doesn’t have any idea of the volume of traffic on the trail,” Van Dusen said. “The Baby Boomers are giving up their golf clubs and getting on their bikes.”
Day-trippers spend an average of $26.37 per visit on the canal, according to the report, while overnight visitors spend $531.47 per person. For the overnight visitors, 47 percent of their spending goes to lodging or camping fees, with 26 percent spent at bars and restaurants.
Cyclists stop in Albion on the Main Street lift bridge during the July 14 “Cycling the Erie Canal” ride.
The canal trail has tremendous name recognition, yet other trails are more popular because of the amenities for cyclists. That includes coordination with bus and train companies at the beginning and end of trails some cyclists can easily bring their bikes back to a car near where they started their ride.
Van Dusen said the Great Allegheny Passage between Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh, Pa., should be viewed as a model for being bike-friendly. The Katy Trail in Missouri has also been successful in drawing more cyclists than the canal trail, according to the report.
The Erie Canal trail could use more mile markers to let cyclists know how close they are to villages and canal towns, Van Dusen said.
Even with some shortcomings, the canal trail is popular and sought out by cyclists for its tranquil ride.
“People just love it,” Van Dusen said. “They can go on autopilot and not worry about cars and traffic.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Whether showing pigs or performing dance, the Orleans County 4-H Fair provided a venue for displaying talent on Monday evening.
In the top photo, Justine Laverty performs to “Monster High” with other members from the Dance Theater in Medina. The group finished second in the 12 and under category at the Talent Show and advanced the State Fair.
The Swine Show drew a crowd on Monday evening. Rylie Lear, 14, of Waterport won the junior showman and then was reserve champ in the master showman event.
This trio from Lisa’s Dance Boutique in Holley dances to “Rollover Beethoven.” The dancers include, from left: Olivia Amoroso, Kamryn Berner and Emilie Weinbeck.
This group from the Dance Theater in Medina finished second in the 13 and over category during Monday’s Talent Show at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Dominique Hughes, left, is joined by Abby Jones and Danielle Metz in performing “Ultimate Grand Supreme.” They qualified for the State Fair.
Jayne Bannister of Point Breeze won the master showman title after taking the award a year ago at the fair.
Jayden Neal of Albion competes in the junior showman event.
