By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
ALBION – In this picture from about 1960 we see David Moon, left, and John Mignano, right, both of the Holley Fire Department. In the center is Ronald W. Fornes, manager of the Marine Midland Bank in Holley.
The photo was taken by William Monacelli at Marti’s Restaurant in Albion during an annual Holley Firemen’s Banquet. The three men appear to be looking at some financial information.
File photo by Tom Rivers – The community dedicated this monument in front of the YMCA in 2008. The Y used to be an Armory and was used by the 29th Separate Company of the New York Army National Guard, which formed in 1891. The 29th saw its first action in the Spanish-American War, before the Armory was built. Company F would be deployed in World War I. It also fought in World War II. In 1977, the state announced it was closing the Medina Armory. Company F was moved to other units.
Orleans County residents can attend Veterans Day ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. in Holley at the American Legion Post or at 11 a.m. in Albion at the Veterans Service Agency at 13996 Route 31 West.
In addition, veterans in Medina will visit cemeteries and memorials beginning at 8 a.m.
The service in Albion will include presentation of overdue medals to a Korean War veteran, said Paul Fulcomer, director of the Veterans Service Agency.
ALBION – A Brockport woman admitted in Orleans County Court today that she sold cocaine for $100 to an undercover officer on May 29, 2013.
Cynthia Winkelman, 46, of Skyline Circle pleaded guilty today to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. She has no prior criminal record. Winkelman could face up to a year in the county jail when she is sentenced on Feb. 2.
Also in county court today:
Judge James Punch set bail at $100,000 for Norman Bloom Sr. of Medina. He was charged with driving while intoxicated on Saturday. It was his fourth DWI, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.
Bloom, 48, of West Center Street has three prior felonies, two prior misdemeanors and a failure to appear at court. He is currently in the county jail.
He is scheduled to appear in Shelby Town Court on Dec. 4.
Judge Punch accepted Joseph Ahue, 25, into the Drug Court program. Ahue of McKinistry Street in Albion pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
If he completes Drug Court, the CPCS in the 4th degree charge will be dismissed. The CPCS in the 7th degree would remain, but Punch said Ahue would be spared jail if he completes Drug Court.
Ahue on Aug. 1 was arrested charged after a vehicle driven by his friend was pulled over. Ahue had 0.17 ounce of oxycodone in his pocket, Cardone said.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Businesses in Orleans County will team with Community Action to try to provide at least one toy for what is expected to be at least 350 families. Community Action met with business representatives this morning at Hoag Library. Pictured include, front row, from left: Carolyn Wagner, human resource manager for BMP in Medina; Anni Skowneski, case manager for Community Action; and Kris Hartwig, administrative assistant at S.B. Whistler and Sons (Phinney Tool and Die). Back row: Marsha Rivers, executive director for the Orleans County United Way; Annette Finch, community services director for Community Action; and Wendy Hinkley.
ALBION – It started in 2011 as a challenge for Medina businesses. Andrew Szatkowski was Worthington Cylinder’s quality control manager. He wanted to see which Medina manufacturer could give the most toys to needy families served by Community Action.
Szatkowski has since taken another job and Worthington Cylinders closed this summer, putting about 150 people out of work.
The toy challenge has been such a success that the effort will continue and it has spread around the county. It also isn’t being called a “Toy Challenge.” It’s part of Community Action’s “Holiday Giving Program” that welcomes toys, food donations, Christmas trees, ornaments and donations.
Last year 370 families were served through the effort coordinated by Community Action. The toy donations make it possible for each child to receive at least one toy at Christmas. The toy drive accounts for most of those gifts, said Anni Skowneski, case manager for Community Action.
“Without this we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” Skowneski said during a kickoff meeting today at the Hoag Library.
Companies that donate to the cause receive certificates of participation. The company that gives the most gifts, as a percentage of its employees, will get a plaque.
Carolyn Wagner, human resources manager for BMP in Medina, urged businesses to tout the toy giving effort. BMP wraps a box and urges employees to leave unwrapped toys in it. The company offers prizes for employees that donate.
Precision Packaging Products in Holley has offered to give participating companies boxes for the effort, which will run until Dec. 5. Community Action will pick up the gifts and they will be stored in the First Baptist Church basement in Albion. Parents of the children can come to the church, pick out a gift and wrap the present.
Skowneski said many of the families have working parents who struggle to pay their bills. Paying for Christmas presents is difficult for many of the working poor, who are already struggling with rising heat and energy costs, she said.
She said the community continues to come through with generosity during the holiday season.
“God smiles on us and finds a way for us to take care of our families,” Skowneski said.
Annette Finch, community services director for Community Action, has been filling holiday baskets for families for more than three decades.
“I was hoping we’d be out of job,” she said. “It’s horrible that we still have to do this. These families are not asking for iPods or big things. They’re asking for clothing or a football.”
For more information on the toy drive, call Skowneski at 585-589-5605 or Kris Hartwig at S.B. Whistler and Sons in Medina at 585-798-3000.
Photos by Tom Rivers – Edgar Rosario has his face painted for today’s Dia de Los Muertos/Todos Los Santos celebration at Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill, a restaurant where his father Francisco Rosario is co-owner. Edgar is pictured near murals inside the restaurant near the bar.
MEDINA – It was a huge smorgasbord of food – chocolate, candy, bread, fruit and much more. The display included flowers and gifts, and it gave off a rich and sweet smell.
The Rosario family believes some of their late relatives came to visit for the annual Day of the Dead/All Saints Day, a 30-day tradition in the Mexican culture where families honor their dead. Their souls are believed to come home and take in the aromas during the celebration.
For the first time, the Rosario family, owners of Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill in Medina, welcomed the community to be a part of an important cultural tradition in Mexico.
“Having this restaurant we’re able to share traditional foods,” said Leonel Rosario, co-owner of Mariachi de Oro. “We wanted to share more of our culture with the community.”
Leonel Rosario and his wife Dolores Alvarado perform The Hat Dance, a traditional Mexican folk dance tonight at The Day of the Dead festivities.
Three years ago Leonel Rosario and his family opened Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill on Maple Ridge Road in Medina. The Rosarios are thankful the community has supported the business.
The Rosarios created an altar of food and flowers at the restaurant today. Rosario told about 50 people at Mariachi de Oro about the popular tradition in Mexico. When he grew up in Oaxaca, he would visit a cemetery with his family, and spend much of the night with candles, flowers and tending to relatives’ graves.
The waitresses at Mariachi de Oro Mexican Grill have their faces painted and they are wearing traditional blouses and dresses from Oaxaca in Mexico, where the Rosario family is from. The waitresses include, from left: Ashley Vandegenachte, Amber Perez, Dolores Alvarado, Elysa Rodriguez and Yasmin Gutierrez.
In the morning, families would gather at their homes for a tradition that is bigger than Christmas for many Mexicans.
“We believe in old traditions, old cultures from the State of Oaxaca,” Rosario told a group tonight at the restaurant. “We want to keep the tradition going. Some day I will come visit my kids’ houses (after I die).”
The Rosarios served cooked grasshoppers, soup, chicken mole, tamales and dessert. They also shared traditional dances and music with the crowd.
Francisco Rosario, right, plays the accordion and Pablo Rosario plays the guitar during The Day of the Dead celebration at Mariachi de Oro.
“It’s good to see young people keeping their culture alive,” said Scott Galliford of Clarendon. He attended the celebration with his wife, Christine Hunt.
They have visited Mexico for The Day of Dead in Oaxaca. Galliford said it is a fun time to be in the country, partaking in the food and music. He said he is grateful the Rosarios opened up the celebration to the community.
An altar of flowers and food was prepared for the Day of the Dead/All Saints Day.
Provided Photo
HOLLEY – Boy Scouts collected and delivered 1,133 food items to the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley on Saturday.
Boy Scouts in Troop 59 in Clarendon and Cub Scouts in Holley’s Pack 62 worked together to canvas the community for the food. The Scouts also sorted it for Community Action. The food will be used to fill the Thanksgiving holiday food baskets for needy families in our area.
Cub Scouts pictured with some of the food include, front row, from left: Tyler Moore, Kaden Rheinwald, John Kuhls and Damien Frazer. Second row: Braden Read, Ethan Gonzalez and Dawson Arnold. Back row: John Patt.
File photo by Tom Rivers – In this photo from July 2013, Noah Preston of Barre hoses down livestock at the wash rack. The Cooperative Extension wants to upgrade the wash rack as part of a series of improvements at the fairgrounds.
Press Release
Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension has announced a new Legacy Capital Campaign. The campaign identifies several critical improvements needed at the Orleans County Fairgrounds to continue the Extension’s long-standing tradition of education and community service.
These projects include extensive renovation to the Trolley Building that will feature an updated kitchen, installing a new floor in the Wachob Building, replacing a wash rack by the Cattle Barn, purchasing a generator, and paying the debt on a new finish mower.
The legacies of past generations are featured by the campaign as a reminder that Orleans County residents are pretty amazing. For example, Harold “Mike” Trolley, for which the Trolley Building is named, led the purchase and development of the present day fairgrounds, creating a legacy for the 4-H Fair.
Later, in 1968, Paul Klatt began a walk-a-thon that spanned over three decades and raised thousands of dollars for fairgrounds improvements, building a legacy of tradition and service. Then Corkey Van Den Bosch served as baker for the 1977 world’s largest pie, leaving a legacy of ingenuity and community pride. To this day, residents visit the fairgrounds, often with children, to see the famous pie pan.
Orleans Extension seeks to honor those who have made a difference in Orleans County by continuing their efforts to build a legacy of improving people’s lives. The Board of Directors will meet with committee leaders this month as part of their strategic planning efforts to identify how to best serve more people, expand high quality educational opportunities, further youth development and leadership, and increase volunteer engagement to develop goals for Extension 2020.
Long-term plans for the 4-H food stands are also a topic for discussion as the initial community center proposal has transitioned to a Trolley Building expansion due to costs and maintenance constraints.
While many volunteers are optimistic about the future, they acknowledge improvement will take a great deal of hard work and collaboration. However, the outcomes far outweigh the costs. As Board President, Ed Neal, noted, “Even if the 4-H fair only makes a difference in the life of one kid, it is worth it.” Given 4-H’s enrollment is at about 350 youth and 70 volunteers, Orleans Extension is making a tremendous impact, and the Legacy Capital Campaign will allow this impact to continue long into the future.
The first campaign contribution received was $1,400 toward the Wachob Building project. The Board of Directors will provide an update on the campaign’s progress and the proposed projects at the OCCCE annual meeting on Dec. 2. The event will begin at 6:30 pm in the Trolley Building at the Fairgrounds.
All county residents are welcome to attend the annual meeting, enjoy dinner, and participate in voting for new board members, approving a constitutional amendment, and recognizing the exemplary service of OCCCE volunteers. Dinner tickets are $15 each and RSVPs can be made through the Extension office at 585-798-4265 or orleans@cornell.edu.
Photos by Peggy Barringer
KNOWLESVILLE – The Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church held a Holiday Craft Show on Saturday at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Santa was on hand at the event to greet children.
Amanda Edick and Dustin Gardner are pictured in front of Dirt Road Designs, which they run with another partner, Elyse Catlin. Edick and Gardner said that they were excited to be doing their very first craft show and sold several items.
One of the craft show organizers, Leslie Allen (left), takes a basket of baked goods around to the vendors who may not have chance to get away from their tables to browse. The craft show is a fund-raiser for the church, which is led by Pastor Susan Boring.
Another new vendor at the show included Come On Get Snappy Photobooth by Peggy Barringer. Dmitry Allport assists Peggy with her booth while she was taking photos for the Orleans Hub.
Darlene Nenni and Jody Lubba sell tickets to the food items offered at the craft show in the Trolley Building. They said the beef on weck and chili were about even for popularity.
Photo by Howard Balaban – Jeff Stahl and Rachael Goldstein, left, of Harrisburg, Pa., meet with Adam and Nikki Hefner, of Watertown, Saturday morning in Batavia to return Sam, the Hefners’ cat. Sam jumped out of a moving truck unbeknownst to the couple during their move from Georgia. Stahl and Goldstein were in New York to visit his family in Medina.
By Howard Balaban
Special to the Orleans Hub
BATAVIA – For Adam and Nikki Hefner, moving from Georgia to their new home in Watertown was going to be difficult enough. The 1,100-mile trek saw both of them driving, as Adam drove a moving truck and followed behind Nikki, who was riding with her dad.
Adam is a specialist in the Army and will be stationed at Fort Drum. He has already served a tour of duty in Iraq. Several days ago, during the move, Nikki got into a small accident on Interstate 81 near Harrisburg, Pa.
“I got out to make sure they were OK,” Adam recalled, mentioning that their small convoy pulled off on an exit to gather themselves.
The Hefners’ cat, Sam, was riding in the cab of the truck with Adam. About 20 miles back into their journey to Watertown, Adam realized that Sam must have left the truck during the commotion.
“I thought he had stayed under the seat,” he said. “I told Nikki, ‘I can’t find the cat.'”
Thankfully, the couple had put a collar with contact information on a tag on Sam. And Sam, an orange tabby, made his way to the front porch of a Harrisburg couple.
“He was on our front porch when I got home at night,” Rachael Goldstein said. “First I brought him over to the neighbor’s house because she has a lot of cats, but it wasn’t hers. Then I figured just to be safe, I’d call the number on the tag.”
The call came as a bit of shock to the Hefners.
“I was glad to hear he was okay and that we could arrange something,” said a relieved Nikki. “I thought he had been hit on 81.”
Indeed, Goldstein and her boyfriend, Jeff Stahl, had made prior plans to visit his family in Medina this weekend. She chuckled as she recalled how easily the situation unfolded, as it led to a meeting Saturday morning in Batavia, where Sam was reunited with his owners.
“It was closer for them, but it’s still a long drive,” Goldstein said. Adam said he probably would have driven to Pennsylvania for the family pet, but said he was thankful the drive was essentially cut in half.
Adam added that he was thankful to have tags on Sam, because it definitely worked. Nikki noted that Sam used to be allowed to roam wherever he wanted, but thanks to this recent adventure he will now remain an indoor cat.
As the couples parted ways, an attempt was made to compensate both Stahl and Goldstein, but neither one accepted anything.
“We just took care of him the past couple days,” Goldstein said. “He’s such a friendly cat, and we just wanted him to get back to his home. It was worth bringing him up and meeting up with his owners so we could do that.”
Photos by Peggy Barringer
ALBION – The Marti’s on Main Art Gallery in Albion is hosting an exhibit from a Lockport watercolor painter this month.
Jeff Watkins of Lockport paints primarily local landscapes. He is pictured at the gallery during an opening reception on Friday evening.
Watkins uses a “plein air” style for his paintings, which are done on site and quickly to capture the light and atmosphere. The exhibit at 229 North Main St. is his first show in Orleans County.
Watkins painted “Apple Tree in Winter.” He painted it as a tribute to American artist Andrew Wyeth on the day of his death (Jan. 16, 2009).
For more information on Watkins, visit his website at www.jeffreyjwatkins.com.
Marti’s is also featuring work by Carolyn Dilcher-Stutz, a Rochester area artist specializing in animal-themed pottery, sculpture and tile. Dilcher-Stutz was unable to attend Friday’s opening reception. Gallery owner Kim Muscarella said artwork in this photo is her favorite in the exhibit.
Dilcher-Stutz created these Wish Pots, which are a Chinese tradition. It was believed if you wrote a wish on a piece of paper, rolled it up and placed it into the vessel, it would come true.
A life-size sea otter sculpture is also on display. Dilcher-Stutz is self taught in sculpture. She has been working full-time as an artist since 2006. For more information about her, visit www.etsy.com/shop/carolynsjing.
Dilcher-Stutz also created these rabbit sculptures.
For more on Marti’s, click here.
