By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County has many iconic old red barns, including this one at the corner of Route 31 and Eagle Harbor Road in Albion. This picture was taken a little after 6 p.m. today when it was about 50 degrees out.
The weather will turn colder tomorrow, with a high of 37 and a low of 13 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Then it’s back to the deep freeze on Sunday with a high of 19 and a low of 9 degrees. It stays cold on Monday with a high of 21 and a low of 13 degrees.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2014 at 6:50 am
A travel advisory from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, saying there should be no unnecessary travel, remains in effect as of about 6:30 this morning.
The advisory is expected to be lifted soon.
The National Weather Service warns about bitter wind chills this morning with temperatures in the single digits. Today is forecast for a high temperature of 18 degrees. The Weather Service says it will reach 46 degrees on Friday.
File photo by Tom Rivers – A bee visits a sunflower in Albion last summer.
Press release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bolster its efforts to revive New York’s bee population.
Beekeepers lost an average 30 percent of their hives to Colony Collapse Disorder, hurting New York farms’ ability to pollinate crops. Last month USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack directed $3 million to study bee losses in the Midwest. Gillibrand is urging the USDA to expand their investigation to New York and the Northeast.
“New York’s farms rely on a strong and healthy bee population to pollinate our fruit and vegetable crops,” Gillibrand said. “The alarming decline of the bee population comes at a steep price for our environment, our farms, and our economy. It is critical for the USDA make this investment here in New York to respond to Colony Collapse Disorder, and help revive New York’s farms.”
New York State has an estimated 52,000 beehives, each of which produce approximately 51 pounds of honey, ranking the state 10th in honey production. Bee pollination supports blueberries, cherries, squash and other fruit and vegetables. Apple trees require two to three hives per acre to pollinate.
Bee pollination adds an estimated $300 million value to a $4.4 billion agriculture industry in New York. Throughout the U.S., a staggering 45 percent of beehives were lost just last year.
The pollination initiative would be implemented by the Natural Resource Conservation Service, a branch of USDA, from their field offices in New York State. NRCS conservation experts would provide New York farmers with the technical and financial resources to provide honey bees with nutritious pollen and nectar while providing benefits to the environment.
For example, planting certain cover crops provides a benefit to producers by reducing erosion, increasing the health of their soil, inhibiting invasive species, providing quality forage and habitat for honey bees and other pollinators, as well as habitat for other wildlife.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2014 at 12:00 am
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department has lifted the travel advisory as of 9 a.m. this morning.
Though the snowfall has ended, bitter cold temperatures and winds persist as Orleans county residents return to work and school. The National Weather Service is forecasting today’s high will be near 18, with wind chill values as low as -5 degrees.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
The Albion Rotary Club had its annual St. Patrick’s ham dinner today at the American Legion. Here Rotarians Becky Karls, right, and Deb Boyer serve up a takeout dinner. Albion student Jasmine Ballines, left, volunteered as a “runner.”
Albion Rotary Club members Don Bishop, center, and Dick Remley, right, serve up a ham dinner for Eric Brown. Michael Bonnewell, Albion school superintendent and a Rotary Club member, serves in the food line.
Leeanne McKenna, center, won the iPad raffle. She is joined by her grandchildren Piper Chatfield, left, and Thomas Green.
The Irish dancers class at Spotlight Studio performed several dances. Three of the members include, from left, Zoey Chatifeld, McKenna Boyer and Faith Chaffee.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Some of the Self Advocate All Stars at the Arc of Orleans County met on Tuesday at the Hoag Library for their monthly meeting. The front three include, from left: Amber Smith, Vice President Leslie Swanson, and President Robert Greer.
ALBION – Four years ago the Self Advocate All Stars were successful in swaying the Orleans County Legislature to officially oppose the “R-word.”
Legislators in May 2010 took a stand, 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 issue was pushed then by the Self Advocate All Stars, who say they continue to be bullied by some in the community who use the R-word in name-calling.
“We don’t like being called the R-word,” said Gladys Hopper of Albion, one of the All Stars. “There is a community-wide problem with bullying,”
The All Stars are raising their profile this year with plans to be part of the parades at the Albion Strawberry Festival and Holley’s June Fest.
The group will have several fund-raisers, including car washes. They also want to reach out to others in the community with disabilities, welcoming them to become an All Star.
“We want more members,” said Jonathan Doherty, the group’s fund-raising chairman. He was one of the founding members in 2006.
The group has a pressing goal: restore funding for a recreation program in the Arc. That funding, for a few thousand dollars, was cut.
The program helped pay for outings for disabled residents to go to the bowling alley and the mall, and also to attend concerts and sporting events.
“It means a lot for me to get out and meet other people in the community,” Hopper said Tuesday during the All Stars’ monthly meeting at the Hoag Library.
All Stars include residents who live at home with their families, in apartments with supportive services or in Arc residential homes.
“We want to show the community we’re just like everybody else,” said Vickie Randall, the group’s advisor.
KENDALL – The information on the back of this picture notes: “Kendall School H.N. Stevens 2nd in right row, Early 1920s.”
The pupils posed with their hands all folded in the middle of the desk tops. Notice the cast iron sides of these desks.
The teacher stands in the back while one student is given the privilege to pose by the blackboard. George Washington’s picture was ever present in classrooms years ago as we see over the bulletin board.
These kids didn’t have computers but at least they could write in cursive in third or fourth grade.
Julie Miller of Barre took this photo at 10 a.m. of a farm on Eagle Harbor Road. The sky was dark and the onslaught of snow had just begun.
Nola Goodrich-Kresse took this picture at Shadigee, the beginning of Route 63 North in Lyndonville. It was windy before the snow started falling.
Jason Jones took this picture of the Walsh Hotel in Medina while blizzard-like conditions descended on the area.
Dave Ingerson took this picture of the intersection of South Main and Route 31A in Medina. The roads were so bad the county issued a travel advisory and Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Orleans and several other counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2014 at 4:30 pm
Snowfall will pick up and temps will drop
Photos by Tom Rivers
A man walks along East Bank Street in downtown Albion this afternoon. The downtown was largely deserted due the nasty winter storm. A travel advisory also has been issued by the Sheriff’s Department.
David Nichols shovels in front of his house on East State Street in Albion.
The National Weather Service says there will be moderate to heavy snow falling this afternoon throughout Western New York, which is under a blizzard warning due to the snowfall and winds. The area could receive a foot or more of snow and winds could gust up to 50 miles per hour.
Traffic slowly moves along Main Street in Albion this afternoon in front of the First Presbyterian Church and the Orleans County Courthouse.
A blizzard warning is in effect until 2 a.m. tonight. Temperatures are expected to drop into the teens after 5 p.m.
Bonnie Velez shovels her sidewalk on East Park Street in Albion.
Stan Farone of Albion has a snowblower rigged to a tractor. It came in handy today so he could clear his driveway and sidewalk on East Park Street.
The Albion Department of Public Works has been busy plowing streets. Here the plow truck heads east on Bank Street near Platt Street.
James Fisher of the Albion Fire Department responded to a fire call on Ridge Road in Gaines. The chimney fire was quickly put out and brought under control. Fisher watches firefighters on the roof of the house.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2014 at 3:15 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – Firefighters quickly put out a chimney fire this afternoon at a house owned by Bill and Anne Downey at 13506 Ridge Rd., in the town of Gaines. The call went out at about 1:45 p.m.
Firefighters are taking the cap off the top of the chimney and they will run a chain through the chimney to clear debris and fire hazards.
Dan Strong of the Carlton Fire Company walks down Ridge Road at about 2 p.m. when he joined other firefighters at a chimney fire.
Firefighters said they had a good turnout for an afternoon call when many firefighters typically are at work. Many were home today due to the blizzard and were available to respond to the call.
Al Cheverie and his son Andrew of the Albion Fire Department were among the firefighters who responded to the call in a blizzard this afternoon in Gaines.
MEDINA – The Orleans County YMCA will close at 2 p.m. due to the deteriorating weather conditions. All evening sports leagues are also cancelled at the Y on Pearl Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2014 at 12:00 am
Due to the inclement weather, Oak Orchard Health will close its health care sites at noon in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport and Warsaw in Wyoming County.
The county remains under a travel advisory and a blizzard warning is in effect until 2 a.m. The National Weather Service says 10 to 16 inches of snow could fall today and overnight.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2014 at 12:00 am
With a travel advisory in effect and the snow coming down fast and furious, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina is taking an unusual step in closing at 2 p.m. today.
“We try to stay open but there are times when prudence must reign,” said Catherine Cooper, library director.
Lee-Whedon is usually open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Other libraries in Orleans County didn’t open today, including Hoag Library in Albion and Community Free Library in Holley. The Yates Community Library in Lyndonville is closed on Wednesdays.
Cooper said most of the libraries in the three-county NIOGA system are closed today.
