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Irish left their mark on Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2014 at 12:00 am

When the Erie Canal was carved through Orleans County, Irish immigrants supplied much of the brawn to get the job done.

The Irish also worked in many of the local sandstone quarries, and one Irishman, John Ryan, opened the first commercial Medina sandstone quarry in 1837. There is a historical marker just north of Route 63 in Medina near the lift bridge that notes Ryan’s achievement. Later I will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by lifting a pint in memory of Mr. Ryan.

The Irish also founded the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medina in the 1830s and in 1904 they built one of the great buildings in Orleans County – St. Mary’s Church. That church in December was named one of the six inaugural inductees to the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.

Medina students once attended a school made of local sandstone

Posted 17 March 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian

MEDINA – In this post card shot of Medina High School from around 1910 we see students leaving for the day.

The school was built in 1897 at a cost of $10,000 using Medina sandstone. In 1921, while classes were in session, the school was moved just a short distance farther west on South Academy Street.

That’s when a new high school facing east as the end of Pearl Street was built, using brick. The old sandstone school was used as an elementary building from 1923 to 1955 and later as the district offices.

In February 1967, a fire destroyed the interior and in the fall of 1967 the building was torn down to expand the parking lot.

Bright moon mesmerizes shutterbugs

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Rich Miller

The bright full moon has the photographers out in force the past two nights. Last evening Rich Miller of Kendall took this photo of the moon rising over Lake Ontario at Cleng Peerson’s Point at the north end of Kendall Road where it meets Lake Ontario. Norwegian immigrants settled in this area of Kendall.

Photo by Tom Rivers

I didn’t want to miss out in the fun. I took a picture of the moon over the lift bridge tower on Main Street in Albion. The bridge and the tower are iconic local landmarks.

Photo by Tom Rivers

I also took a picture of the moon over the frozen Erie Canal in Albion. The state Canal Corporation keeps a dredger, tugboats and other equipment in Albion over the winter with the vessels between the Main Street and Ingersoll Street lift bridges.

Photo by Rich Miller

This photo doesn’t include the moon, but it was a nice sunset at the lake on Sunday.

Glorious sunset on the ride home

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – I drove home from Holley to Albion around 7:30 p.m. and it made for a breathtaking journey along Route 31.

The top photo shows a motorist on the bridge over the railroad tracks leading into the west side of the village.

The bottom photo shows the power lines at the Holley Business Park.

12 years in prison for admitted child molester in Shelby

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A Shelby man was sentenced to 12 years in state prison today for sex crimes against four young boys.

Gerald L. Wolter, 37, of Freeman Road was given the maximum sentence as part of a plea deal on Dec. 23.

“If you can repent and reform that is up to you,” Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said when he sentenced Wolter. “My job is to protect the public from you.”

Wolter did not have intercourse with the boys, but made contact with them, according to statements in court on Dec. 23. Wolter confessed to the crimes, which occurred between January and May 2013. He pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted criminal sexual act, and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Wolter wants to apologize to the victims and society, said his attorney, Nathan Pace.

“He truly has shown remorse,” Pace said during the sentencing.

Punch said Wolter hasn’t shown remorse and has a “natural arrogance.” The judge commended the courage of the victims to press charges against Wolter.

“My concern is you will keep doing this,” Punch said. “You left a trail of young kids who were brave enough to come forward.”

Wolter’s sentence also includes 15 years of post-release supervision when he is out of prison.

Wolter also faces child molestation charges for sexually assaulting two boys in Niagara County. The Niagara County Court is handling that case.

Community celebrates agriculture, FFA

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Nearly 200 turn out for Farmer to Neighbor Night

Photos by Tom Rivers

The Orleans-Niagara Dairy Princess Liz Meyer of Medina, right, serves up some milk punch with assistance from Jayne Bannister of Waterport, a dairy ambassador. They were part of the 16^th annual Farmer to Neighbor Night on Saturday at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

The event was sponsored by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, OC Soil and Water Conservation District, OC Farm Bureau and OC Chamber of Commerce.

Sara Millspaugh, president of the Albion FFA, delivers a prepared speech in front of about 200 people at Saturday’s Farmer to Neighbor Night. Millspaugh spoke about the need to battle hunger and highlighted the FFA’s effort to bring 19,000 pounds of produce to Community Action last December. FFA was formerly known as Future Farmers of America. It has expanded to become a leadership program.

Jack Hill, a junior FFA member in Medina, recites the FFA creed.

Haley Maier, 11, of Gasport was recognized during the banquet as one of two winners state-wide with a “Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.”

Tom Healy, a certified financial planner for Prudential, tells the crowd how Haley makes necklaces that she sells to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Haley was nominated for the award by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Association. She is a member of the Lyndonville Mogrels 4-H Club.

Haley makes the necklaces in honor of her grandmother. Haley said she wants to expand her line of merchandise for the Alzheimer’s Association. She will be honored during a conference in Washington, D.C., where two winners from each state will be recognized. During the trip in May, 10 of 102 youth volunteers from around the country will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2014.

Todd Eick, FFA advisor in Medina, thanked the community for supporting the FFA program. Medina will be hosting the state convention in May. Eick said he welcomes volunteers and judges, as well as donations for the event.

About 1,500 FFA students will be in Medina for the three-day convention, which was in Albion in May 2013.

“It’s a huge honor for Orleans County to host the convention two years in a row,” said Adam Krenning, Albion’s FFA advisor.

One nearby school – Roy-Hart – announced in January it was starting an FFA program.

State Sen. George Maziarz addressed the group and touted state legislation to encourage young farmers to pursue agriculture. That legislation would vastly reduce the estate tax, making it easier for farms to be transferred to a younger generation.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley also addressed the group. He said the “Farm Death Bill,” which would force farmers to pay overtime and give workers collective bargaining rights, could again be brought up in Albany. Hawley opposes the bill, as does New York Farm Bureau. They say it would put NY farms at a competitive disadvantage with other states that don’t have overtime requirements.

Medina Village Board cries foul over mailer from 2 towns

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Ridgeway supervisor says town is gauging public sentiment

MEDINA – Town officials from Shelby and Ridgeway on Friday sent a mailer to residents in the village of Medina and the two towns, offering to set the record straight about the village’s dissolution.

The letter matched one from December, which was published on the Orleans Hub and in other local media. (Click here to see it.)

Village Board members question why the two towns would send the letter a few days before the village election, especially when the letter was first published nearly three months ago.

“The timing is overtly political, which is troubling for a taxpayer-funded mailer,” said Andrew Meier, the village mayor.

Brian Napoli, the Ridgeway town supervisor, said Ridgeway and Shelby officials “wanted to get some facts out” about the dissolution, which he said is a concern of many residents in the community.

The timing of the letter wasn’t intended to influence the village election, which is on Tuesday, Napoli said.

“It’s when we were able to put it together,” he said getting the mailer to residents.

The two towns also took out an ad on Orleans Hub, advertising a hotline for people to share their concerns and questions about the dissolution. Napoli faulted the Village Board for not putting out more information about the dissolution.

“We’re gauging public sentiment,” he said.

Three incumbents – Meier for mayor, and trustees Patricia Crowley and David Barhite – appeared to be unopposed for two-year terms until Mike Sidari and Marguerite Sherman announced a write-in campaign for trustees last week.

The two write-in candidates sent out a flyer on Friday with instructions about filling out a write-in ballot.

The five-member Village Board – Meier, Barhite, Crowley, Mark Kruzynski and Mark Irwin – put out a press release on Saturday in response to the mailer from the towns.

“The letter contains many inaccuracies and omissions, and we wish to clarify,” the board said.

Here is the full news release from the Village Board:

First, some background: “Dissolution” is a legal process by which village government is wound up and its functions transferred to the towns or other entities. Dissolution does not impact our Post Office addresses, which would remain “Medina, New York, 14103,” nor the school, which would remain the Medina Central School District. “Medina” would remain a community with a place on the map due to its population concentration.

The Village began investigating the possibility of Dissolution after the Towns declined the Village’s numerous requests to pursue a 3-way municipal consolidation. Last summer, the Village Board appointed an independent committee to prepare a Dissolution Plan. Members are Don Colquhoun, Charlie Slack, Andrew Meier, Cindy Robinson, Mark Irwin and Thurston Dale.

The committee is working with the Center for Governmental Research (CGR), project consultant, to gather the data and propose a plan so the Village Board and residents can make an informed decision on how to proceed. Meetings have been open to the public and well attended.

Although the committee has already made many decisions, this process is not yet complete, nor is the tax impact known. The draft plan should be ready for public dissemination next month. Once the draft is complete, several public hearings will be held on the plan before it is presented to the Village Board. Then, the Village Board would determine whether or not to put the plan to a public referendum.

In preparing the plan, the committee decided that the final plan should:

1. Keep as many services in place as possible – such as fire, ambulance service, and police;

2. Minimize the impact of a dissolution on village employees;

3. Be implemented to the maximum extent possible by the Village Board, not the Town Boards; and

4. Require as few approvals of the State Legislature as possible.

As has been reported widely in local media, the committee has already recommend the retention of a paid police department, retention of a paid professional fire department and ambulance service, retention of local control over water and sewer infrastructure, and pay-down of village debt. Most other functions transfer to the Towns by law. While the cost and tax impacts of these recommendations will be fully known next month, CGR has projected that the plan would benefit our municipal budgets by about $1 million annually.

The Town’s letter contains several inaccurate and/or incomplete statements, as follows:

1. Police Department – An option not contemplated by the letter, and endorsed by the committee, is the creation of a town-wide police force, which would maintain local control over policing. Village police personnel would transfer to the new department, and the Towns would be responsible to create it. A special district for police was not recommended.

2. Fire and Ambulance Service – The committee recommends the creation of a Fire District to continue this service. Formation of the District and appointment of initial fire commissioners would be undertaken prior to dissolution by the Village Board, not the Town Boards. The Fire District would then carry on the paid fire and ambulance service, much as it works today.

3. Water/Sewer Service – The option selected by the committee was not mentioned in the Town’s letter: continuation of the service through a Local Development Corporation. The Village Board would form the corporation and transfer its water and sewer assets into the corporation prior to dissolution, which would continue to operate the water and sewer system after dissolution seamlessly. No action from the Town Boards or the State Legislature would be required.

4. Timing – the letter states that there would be only 18 months after a dissolution vote, if approved, before the village dissolves. This is not set in stone. The dissolution committee and Village Board can select any time frame for dissolution, which could be several years. Our Board would opt for a longer window that provides the Towns sufficient lead time to complete an orderly transition.

As the plan is finally released, we urge all residents to consider the entire plan, not just unrelated pieces. We also invite all Town and Village residents to attend the upcoming public hearings to learn about all options considered, which options were recommended, and what the impact would be on taxpayers and employees. Only then can any of us make an informed decision about our community’s future.

Light in the darkness

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

A very bright full moon was out last night in a cloudy sky, hovering high over the Yates Baptist Church on East Yates Center Road in Lyndonville.

Albion Middle School performs ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’

Posted 15 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Sue Cook – The marketplace of Dictionopolis, the land of words, is populated by word vendors, the Spelling Bee (Jules Hoepting), and King Azaz’s advisors.

Front row from left: The Terrible Trivium (Samantha Hollenbeck), the Princess of Reason (Hailey Bader), Milo (Riley Seielstad), the Princess of Rhyme (Analys Torres), and a Dictionopolis Vendor pose with other cast members.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

ALBION – A cast and crew of nearly 80 Albion Middle School students are performing the musical “The Phantom Tollbooth,” which is based on the book of the same name by author Norton Juster.

Director Carrie Kozody explained that the school provides the Drama Club with a budget to purchase the rights to the play or musical of their choice. After that, ticket sales from each show help to fund the costumes and other items needed for the performance.

When asked how a play or musical is chosen, she responded, “I look at it and decide is it entertaining, what is the music, and would the team enjoy producing it?”

The Humbug (Emma Tower) attempts to dissuade Milo from rescuing the princesses, assuring him that the journey is just too difficult and a waste of time. The Spelling Bee (Jules Hoepting) stands by and watches as the Humbug explains the hardships of the trip.

“The Phantom Tollbooth” is the story of a very bored and uninterested boy named Milo (Riley Seielstad). One day a mysterious tollbooth appears in his bedroom with a little car. He drives the car past the tollbooth and instantly finds himself in a magical, imaginative world where he learns many valuable lessons.

On his adventures he meets many fascinating characters including Tock the Watchdog (Matilda Erakare) who accompanies him throughout the Kingdom of Wisdom. He brings peace to the lands of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis after returning the princesses of Rhyme (Analys Torres) and Reason (Hailey Bader) to the kingdom. Returning home, Milo finds that if he just uses a little thought and imagination, suddenly the real world around him is an incredible, interesting place.

Kozody said that the production is made of 44 cast members and 32 crew members. All of them are students from the middle school ranging from grades 6 to 8. Her Assistant Director is Kevin Feder. Both are teachers at the middle school.

The Whether Man (Molly Wadhams) greets Milo as he enters the Kingdom of Wisdom and performs a number explaining that the state of the weather is not her purpose.

Auditions for the show began in December. The students began practicing for the show in January immediately after returning from their winter break. The students were supposed to have a full dress rehearsal on Wednesday for an empty auditorium, but the blizzard canceled school forcing the first live-audience performance to be done in front of fellow students.

During the December audtions, Riley Seielstad was cast as Milo. When asked why she auditioned, Seielstad said, “I did a past show. It was a lot of fun to be with all my friends and a good experience.”

Seielstad was excited to be Milo. In the schools previous show of “Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass,” the story of Alice in Wonderland, Seielstad played Tweedle Dee. She will have family attending all three of the performances to cheer her on, as will most of the students.

Milo, Tock (Matilda Erakare), King Mathemagician (Dalton Wilkins), and several miners perform “Hail Digitopolis” in the number mines of the land of numbers.

For the audition process, all of the students sang “Jingle Bells” for Kozody and also chose a segment from the play to read lines of various characters. Seielstad explained that because it is the first time they are performing the lines, they may either memorize them or read them off the paper verbatim.

“I chose Riley for Milo,” explained Kozody, “because she has a clear and distinct singing voice.” Kozody explained that Seielstad had a very good audition and just also happened to be a passable boy in the clothing chosen for Milo.

Alongside Milo is the faithful companion Tock the Watchdog, the other main lead role. Matilda Erakare was very excited to become the character.

When asked why she chose to audition, Erakare explained, “I come from a musical family. It just kind of runs through my family.” She also admitted that she is somewhat shy, especially about singing in front of people. “But once I get going…” she said with a huge smile.

Director Kozody applies makeup for Erakare before the show ensuring that any skin showing from her dog hood is covered.

“Matilda has grown in acting skills,” Kozody said. “She was the Red Queen in Alice. She has strong singing skills and acting skills.”

Because the audition process does not allow students to pursue specific roles, Kozody allows the students to suggest what role they would like to play, and then takes the nature of their audition into consideration when selecting the cast. Kozody estimates that approximately 75 students auditioned and roughly 30 to 40 more signed up to try and get a role on the crew.

The students all performed beautifully and showed very strong talent. It would be no surprise if many of them were to continue performing into high school, college or even beyond that. The cast includes many strong singers and dancers, as well as a great aptitude for acting.

The students take a last bow on stage at the end of the show.

The students will perform again on Saturday at noon and at 7 p.m. in the middle school auditorium. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. The school is located at 324 East Ave. in Albion. The doors open a half-hour before each show.

Fancher welcomes new business in old train depot

Posted 15 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Sue Cook – June Chippendale stands in front of an Americana display inside her store Antiques & Rusty Relics.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

FANCHER – A lover of antiques has turned a former train depot in Fancher into the home for a new business, Antiques & Rusty Relics.

June Chippendale loves the location, just north of the curve on Route 31, between Holley and Albion. She likes to hear the rumble and whistle of trains as they pass by at Route 387.

“We had two trains go by today! It was so exciting!” Chippendale exclaimed on Friday.

Chippendale and her husband Ken had originally wanted to set up shop in Caledonia. Ken’s job transferred him to the area, but without a space available for rent, they began to search elsewhere. After looking through Craigslist, they found the old train depot space, which had formerly been the Big Ash showroom.

“I told my husband, ‘I can do this. We can have a store,’” she said.

The train depot is a familiar site to anyone passing through Fancher. The store plans to use the porch in the summer for seating during events.

Chippendale said her love of antiques was brought on by her children. When they each moved out of their college apartments, they would return home with furniture and store it in the family’s barn. Chippendale found that the space was filling quickly and didn’t want to hold a garage sale for all the items. Instead she approached a co-op that allowed her to set up and sell her unneeded items. After working with other co-ops, she eventually decided to make the move to her own store.

Chippendale obtained the space on Feb. 1, and began updating the building to fit her needs. She is proud to say she used many reused items – repurposed counters from a closed flower shop and other repurposed equipment – in the store.

“I love this place,” Chippendale stated. “It has great karma. It’s a warm, happy place. We love antiques. We love this train depot atmosphere.”

The store opened on March 1 and will celebrate a grand opening on Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The event will include mulled apple cider, other refreshments, and some giveaways during the day.

Chippendale suggests making plenty of time to go through the store’s multiple rooms to get a good look at all of the merchandise.

Chippendale’s store holds her own items as well as those of four other antiques vendors. Items include antiques, retired Longaberger basket designs, quality furniture and more.

“I’ve known June for 30 years,” said vendor Diane Wight. “When I moved up here I collected anything old. Baked enamel was priority one, but I ran out of room.” Wight is selling some of her collection to make room for more space in her home. “Now I’m more into primitive-style items.”

Wight said she has gone with Chippendale to garage sales and auctions in search of collectibles on many occasions. She plans to be a permanent vendor at the store.

“Where can you go to have fun in the past?” she asked. “This is fun.”

Chippendale says that her husband, an avid fan of old hot rods, is planning to have a car-related event in the summer at the store, such as a cruise-in car show. They also plan to have LuGia’s Ice Cream during the hot months.

The store address is 3570 Fancher Rd., Holley. They are open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and other days by appointment. For more information, click here.

Orleans joins other counties in opposing ‘college for criminals’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature today joined a growing number of county governments around the state that are formally opposing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to expand college programs for inmates.

The governor said the programs will reduce recidivism rates and at $5,000 per inmate are far cheaper than $60,000 taxpayer burden to keep an inmate in prison each year.

The governor announced the plan to boost college programs for inmates last month. Local state legislators – Sen. George Maziarz and Assemblyman Steve Hawley – have denounced the idea. Congressman Chris Collins is pushing legislation that would prohibit the use of federal taxpayer dollars to provide a college education to convicted criminals.

The Orleans Legislature said any state dollars that go to college programs for inmates should instead go to school districts.

“The purpose of prison is to punish those who have engaged in behavior that is morally and legally wrong, dangerous, threatening, or severely antisocial, including murder, rape, theft and distribution of narcotics, among other serious crimes,” according to the resolution approved the County Legislature today.

The Erie County Legislature on Thursday also formally rejected the governor’s proposal. Several other county government bodies have gone on the record against the proposal, which Collins has lampooned as “college for criminals.”

OTS will add 3 bus shelters, new garage

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Courtesy of Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority – This is a rendering of the proposed new bus facility on West Academy Street, next to the Orleans County Highway Department. Construction is expected in 2015.

ALBION – Orleans Transit Service is planning big things in 2013, including a new bus shelter by Rite Aid in Albion, one by the County Administration Building on Route 31 and another in Medina.

The agency, part of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, also is working towards a new bus facility that would house the OTS operations, including space for 10 busses and a two-bay maintenance wing. That facility would cost about $2 million.

RGRTA has secured federal transportation money for the design phases of the project and is applying for the construction money, Bill Carpenter, RGRTA chief executive officer, told county legislators on March 13.

The new bus garage would be built next to the Orleans County Highway Department’s garage on West Academy Street, where OTS currently rents space. Moving OTS out of the highway facility will free up room for county personnel and equipment. The buildings and grounds department about three years ago merged with the highway crew.

OTS, meanwhile, is working to boost ridership 6 percent from the 35,500 during its 2012-13 fiscal year, said Mike Patterson, OTS manager.

The agency has nine employees and operates on a $570,684 budget. Fares and contracts cover $86,825 of the budget. A local mortgage tax generates $118,894 for OTS, while government aid makes up the difference.

County Legislator George Bower said he doesn’t think the mortgage tax should be used to support OTS. But Carpenter said the state has allowed that tax to help support public transportation. He said RGRTA has secured $371,997 in other funding – three times the mortgage tax – to provide the service.

OTS runs a fixed route schedule in Albion and Medina. It goes off those routes with a Dial-A-Ride service, as long as reservations are made 24 hours in advance. Patterson said OTS is looking at changing the fixed route in Albion to run by the new health care center on Butts Road. Several riders each day go to the center owned by Orleans Community Health.

Sales tax off to sluggish start in 2014

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Revenue falls 7% in first two months

ALBION – Orleans County’s sales tax revenues are down 6.9 percent for the first two months of the year, resulting in $141,356 in less tax revenue compared to January and February numbers in 2013.

The county uses the sales tax to help fund local services and to reduce pressure on property taxes.

While Orleans is down, state-wide the numbers are up slightly from $3.958 billion to $3.981 billion for the two months, according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance.

Orleans County took in $14.82 million in sales tax in 2013. The county was one of 14 in the state that saw a decrease in sales tax revenue in 2013. In Orleans, the sales tax dipped by 0.56 percent or $82,873, falling from $14,902,778 in 2012 to $14,819,904 last year.

County officials this year budgeted for a tiny increase, $25,000. But so far the county is off that pace, receiving $2,051,872 in January and February, compared to $2,193,228 during those months in 2013.

Farm Bureau’s first board of directors met in 1918

Posted 14 March 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian

This photo shows the first Orleans County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, which was created in 1918.

Bottom row, from left: Francis Hanlon, Chas. Porter, president; and Thomas Mack.

Top row: Ora Lee, Journal Salisbury, Frank Broadwell, G.E. Snyder, and L.J. Steel, first Orleans County Farm Bureau agent.

Offices were located in the Waterman Building on Main Street in Albion, then in a house on Platt Street and later in a house next to the Albion Post Office. Both the Waterman Building and the Platt Street house have been destroyed.

County supports upgrade at airport in Barre

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2014 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – An airplane comes in for a landing at Pine Hill Airport on Sept. 8 in Barre. The airport is the only one in Orleans County with a hard-surface runway.

BARRE – The Orleans County Legislature is giving its support to a grant application to pave a ramp area and connector west of a hangar at the Pine Hill Airport in Barre.

The Vintage Aircraft Group, owner of the airport, is seeking a state grant through the Department of Transportation for the funding. It would require a 10 percent local match and VAG would pay that share, about $6,000, said Gene Haines, VAG president.

He wrote a letter to the Legislature on Wednesday, seeking the county’s show of support for the project as part of the 2013 Aviation Capital Grant Program through the DOT.

Pine Hill Airport is the only one in Orleans County with a hard-surface runway. About 20 volunteers keep the airport functioning.

Haines was scheduled to address the Legislature on Wednesday, but that meeting was canceled due to the blizzard. He is expected to be on the agenda March 26. The Legislature today voted to support the application.

“We’d like to assist him in moving forward,” said David Callard, Legislature chairman.