By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – The Community Free Library uses two buildings in the Public Square in the Village of Holley. The library wants to replace the roofs on both buildings.
HOLLEY – The Community Free Library is working to replace roofs on two historic buildings in the downtown, a project that is estimated to cost $40,000.
The library has $25,000 set aside for the project at 86 Public Square. It is trying to raise the funds for the remainder. Both roofs have been leaking, said Sandra Shaw, library director.
The library put out bids for the project and its board of directors will meet Monday to pick a contractor for the project, she said.
Holley Elementary School students are trying to help the library meet the $15,000 shortfall for the project. The Student Council created coin collectors to place in local businesses for the project.
Provided photo – Elementary Student Council members are pictured with coin collectors to be placed in local businesses. The group includes, from left: Rachael Howard, Allyson Skehan, Makayla Famoly, Skyla Milazzo, Elise Quincey and Storm Boyce.
Provided photo – The ‘Raise the Roof’ containers are in several Holley businesses.
Larry Dabney, a retired Holley teacher, also serves on the library board. He helped the students create the containers. His grandson, Thomas Dobri, is also on the Student Council.
Shaw said she appreciates the efforts from the students and the community support.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said this morning. “We have a great community here.”
The containers have been placed in the following locations: Community Free Library, Village of Holley offices, Dr. Schiavone’s practice, First Niagara, Sam’s Diner, Heath & Martin, Nationwide office, Dr. Thompson’s office, Kurtz’s Car Care, Wiley’s Ark Animal Care, Save-A-Lot, Holley Pharmacy, and the Holley Post Office. Donations can be made at the library and collection containers can also be found at Holley Elementary.
Shaw said she is pursuing grants and other funding for the project. She had hoped the county budget would include an increase for libraries, but the proposed budget again calls for $10,000 to be shared by the four public libraries in the county.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Author will visit area in March to talk about book
LYNDONVILLE – The new book for the community reading project has been announced, and readers can expect to face many contemporary issues in the novel.
“The Tale for Three Counties” announced on Thursday the 13th book in the community reading effort will be “We Are Called To Rise,” by Laura McBride. The story focuses on an immigrant boy whose family struggles to assimilate. A woman wrestles with an imploding marriage and troubled son. A wounded soldier recovers from an injury.
These are some of the themes and characters in the book, which is available at local libraries and bookstores. The libraries will host discussion groups beginning in January in preparation for McBride’s visit from March 26-28.
She will visit locations in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties, including Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina on March 27.
“It’s very current and addresses contemporary topics,” said Catherine Cooper, Lee-Whedon director and a member of the Tail committee. “It’s very heartfelt and very warm.”
Yates Community Library hosted a book unveiling program on Thursday, when the latest Tale was announced.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – These transmission lines cut across a frozen landscape in Barre in this photo taken at about 5:15 p.m. today on Oak Orchard Road in Barre.
After a several days in the cold with temperatures in the 20s, the area will get a warm up on Saturday with a high forecast at 41 degrees by the National Weather Service. The Weather Service is forecasting a high of 51 on Sunday and 62 on Monday.
The warm weather will likely result in flooding in parts of Western New York that were pummeled with several feet of snow this week.
This barn stands out along Oak Orchard Road in Barre.
This picture was taken on Thursday around 5 p.m. during squalls in Carlton along Route 279.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – A truck driver was attempting to turn around on Route 98 when the vehicle slipped into a ditch in the Town Gaines, just north of Watt Farms.
Albion firefighters, James Fisher (right) and David Nayman, were out directing traffic around the truck today at about 1:30 p.m. Firefighters were called to the scene at about 11:45 a.m. A tow truck was on scene to pull out the truck.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
GAINES – There is a noticeable increase in truck traffic on routes 31 and 104 in Orleans County today. With the NY Thruway closed from Rochester to the Pennsylvania line, many of the trucks are using the state roads in Orleans County to head east or west.
In the photo above, a caravan of truckers head down Route 104 at about 1:30 today. I was at The Village Inn for lunch today and it seemed for every car on 104 there was a tractor trailer.
Provided photos – Medina High School teachers are pictured with food collected at the school for a local food pantry. The group includes, from left: Julie Webber, Kim Zakes, Jon Sherman, Gianna Sargent and Tom Robinson.
Press Release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – The Medina Teachers’ Association at the High School, Clifford Wise Intermediate/Middle School and Oak Orchard Elementary pulled together to help out the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly’s Food Pantry for the upcoming holidays.
Medina High School French teacher Julie Webber says this is the fourth year the staff has rallied together for the church’s “Helpful Harvest.”
Oak Orchard Elementary teachers collected many bags of food for Calvary Tabernacle’s food pantry.
“We asked everyone over the course of two weeks to bring in nonperishable food items,” Webber said. “The church does so much for our community and everyone was happy to lend a hand. We even had teachers volunteer to go shopping for their colleagues who didn’t have time to go to the store.”
Mrs. Webber says they are very grateful to Tops for donating the brown bags for the staff where they attached their wish list: cereal, boxed potatoes, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, kid friendly snacks, can fruit and vegetables, stuffing, jelly and can pasta and ravioli.
Clifford Wise Intermediate/Middle School teachers are pictured with food to be donated.
“We ended up with about 30 to 40 bags at each of our schools and it was a great feeling to be able to pull up to their building and help them carry it inside,” Webber said. “They were very grateful.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A total of 33 volunteer firefighters from six fire departments in Orleans County left Albion at about 4 p.m. for assignments in the Buffalo area.
Orleans Hub reported earlier this afternoon that 24 to 30 firefighters were expected to go. Dale Banker, the emergency management coordinator for the county, confirmed 33 firefighters answered the call.
Banker reached out to the local fire departments after getting a request from the Erie County Fire Coordinator’s office and the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
The firefighters will be in Erie County until 8 p.m. on Friday. Banker said another wave of firefighters are expected Friday night and over the weekend.
Firefighters left today from Albion, Barre, Clarendon, Holley, Lyndonville, Shelby and Ridgeway.
Barre, Holley and Shelby also sent fire engines, and Albion, Clarendon and Lyndonville took off-road vehicles with tracks to maneuver in the high snow.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
GAINES – Orleans Hub shot its first deer today at about 4:45 p.m. The deer season kicked off at the break of dawn on Saturday and continues until Dec. 7.
I’ve had my Nikon camera next to me in the passenger seat in case I encountered any deer in my travels. These two were close to the road on the west side of Route 279 in Gaines, just south of Route 104. They held still for a few seconds before scampering away in the field and heading into the woods.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Group plans 3 races for 2015, including 10-mile “Metro” race pitting Rochester vs. Buffalo
Photo by Tom Rivers – Thom Jennings, left, and Brian Krieger, leaders of the Albion Running Club, are planning several races and programs to improve the fitness in the community. They are pictured at last month’s 5-kilometer race at Brown’s Berry Patch in Waterport.
ALBION – They have seen the statistics and cringed. Brian Krieger and Thom Jennings want to unleash a force to raise the county’s dismal health stats, among the worst of all 62 counties in the state.
The annual County Health Rankings ranks Orleans as the 52nd healthiest county out of 62. Orleans ranked 52nd in health outcomes, 57th in health factors, and 58th in health behaviors. In Orleans, 66 percent of adults are overweight, 41 percent in that group are obese, and 55 percent say they don’t engage in daily exercise.
Krieger and Jennings are both leaders of the Albion Running Club. They believe the non-profit organization can make an impact in the county by offering fitness programs and three races that provide goals to motivate walkers and runners.
“We want to use the sport of running to build a healthier community,” said Krieger, executive director for the Running Club.
Krieger has seen the community respond to a running program.
He teamed with Wayne Burlison and Jack Burris to spearhead a 5K “Run for God” program that took people from the couch to a 5K race in about three months. The Run for God drew nearly 100 participants in its first three years, with the runners and walkers completing the 5K Strawberry Festival course.
“There have been some unbelievable changes in people,” Krieger said.
File photo – Sheila Lemcke of Albion lost more than 100 pounds through exercise and better nutrition. She was the honorary “Strawberry” in last June’s Strawberry Festival race. She has participated in the Run for God programs.
The Albion Running Club is a 501c3 tax-exempt organization. It has organized the Strawberry Festival race recently, including the record crowd of nearly 300 runners last June.
It wants to add another race this March 28 as a memorial for Wayne Burlison, one of the founders of the Running Club. He was 36 when he died from colon cancer on March 26. Burlison was a music teacher at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School.
A 5K is 3.1 miles, but the “Run for Wayne” race will be different. That run/walk will be 3.17 miles. Burlison battled cancer for 3 months and 17 days. Proceeds from the race will be used for a scholarship in Burlison’s name.
The Running Club will continue to organize the Strawberry Festival 5K/8K on the second Saturday in June. With nearly 300 runners, it’s one of the most successful small town races around. About $2,000 in profits from the race are distributed to local charities and agencies.
Krieger and Jennings, the Orleans County YMCA executive director, believe the race could grow to 500 participants. That would mean more money to share with local causes and more people working on their fitness goals. Jennings has experience promoting concerts and events. He is the communications director for the Running Club.
Krieger and Jennings connected in May after Krieger read an article on the Orleans Hub about Jennings running a marathon with his son. Jennings took up running about three years ago and lost more than 100 pounds.
Krieger and Burlison were running partners. They trained for a marathon together. Burlison lost more than 150 pounds through exercise and nutrition. Krieger saw similarities between Burlison and Jennings.
Provided photo – Wayne Burlison started running in 2008 and completed a marathon and several half marathons. He was one of the founders of the Albion Running Club.
Krieger was also intrigued by a comment that Jennings made in the Orleans Hub article. Jennings saw Albion as an ideal host for a mega-race, a long distance run that would draw Buffalo and Rochester runners.
The two had coffee and together they brainstormed the “Metro 10,” a 10-mile race planned for Aug. 22. They expect at least 1,000 runners. Each runner will pick a side: either Rochester or Buffalo. Finishers will score points for either metro area and overall winner will be named with Buffalo or Rochester taking home a trophy.
The Running Club has a promotional video (click here) for the race and is working on more video vignettes to promote the event. (There will be one featuring chicken wings vs. Garbage Plates.)
Many races typically present medals to the top finisher or the top three in each age group. That leaves a lot of people unrecognized. With the Metro 10, every runner will have an impact on their community’s overall score.
“Even if you’re not an elite runner, you can feel part of the competition,” Jennings said. “Albion makes sense as the host for the race. We’re centrally located.”
The Metro 10 course is tentatively laid out to showcase the historic Courthouse Square, the downtown, some of the fruit orchards, the canal towpath and the rural landscapes. The race will end at Bullard Park in a festival-like atmosphere with bands.
Jennings believes the Metro 10 will show off Albion’s assets to the running community. Some of them may like what they see and move to the Albion area, Jennings said.
File photo – Runners take off at the start of the Strawberry Festival Race last June, when about 300 people completed the course.
“These marathons and events can turn a community around,” Jennings said. “They will see our great real estate that is low-priced. They will see people in a friendly environment. It’s an opportunity in my mind for Albion to be a host community. We can be ambassadors of the county.”
Krieger and Jennings know a 10-mile race can be a big draw, and be the foundation to build other fitness programs. Krieger has met the leader of the Crim Fitness Foundation, which organizes a festival of races every August in Flint, Mich. The races started in 1977 to promote fitness in the community. (Click here for more on the Crim Foundation.)
The event draws 50,000 people to Flint, and has led to several year-round programs. Krieger sees the Crim Fitness Foundation as the ultimate model for Albion and Orleans County.
The Running Club plans to offer a “Fit in 50” program throughout the year. The Running Club has applied for grants to help pay for some of the fitness initiatives. It already has secured some sponsors for the Metro 10.
Krieger works in regional sales for the hydraulic fluid industry. He wants to engage more community partners to promote health and wellness in the community.
“if you want to change the community, which is in desperate need, then people must step up and do something,” he said.
For more information about sponsoring, volunteering or teaming with the Albion Running Club, contact Krieger at585-590-0955 or email bkrieger@albionrunningclub.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Orleans County is assembling teams of firefighters to head to the Buffalo area to check on residents and respond to other fire and emergency calls.
Firefighters will gather at the Civil Defense Center at 3:30 p.m. today to get their instructions. Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management director, expects 24 to 30 firefighters to be sent to Erie County. They are expected to arrive around 5 p.m. and stay until 8 p.m. on Friday.
They will take three off-road vehicles and three fire engines. Firefighters are going from Albion, Barre, Clarendon, Holley, Shelby and Ridgeway.
Additional firefighters from the county may be sent Friday night and over the weekend, Banker said. The weekend duty could include pumping basements because temperatures are forecast to be well above freezing, leading to big snow melts.
Fourteen firefighters from the county have already been to Lackawanna. They checked on stranded motorists and transported them to a shelter. Three firefighters – Albion Fire Chief Rocky Sidari, Calrton Fire Chief Andrew Niederhofer and Albion firefighter Stan Farone – nearly delivered a baby in the Albion fire chief’s truck. They were able to get the mother to Mercy Hospital in South Buffalo just in time before the birth, Sidari said.
Some Erie County communities received 5 to 6 feet of snow on Tuesday, with another 2 feet falling today. Sidari said he was shocked to see the big walls of snow.
“The pictures don’t do it justice,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m just dumbfounded.”
