By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Paintings by Orleans County artists will be sold to the highest bidder during a reception this evening, a project that will try to raise $1,250 for art scholarships – $250 for each of the five school districts in the county.
The top photo shows a painting of fishermen by Suzanne Wells of Waterport. The painting was displayed at Tillman’s Village Inn.
This is the second year the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce has coordinated the Palettes of Orleans. Last year it debuted with 70 paintings on palettes. This year the numbers were reduced and the format was switched to an 11-by-14-inch canvas.
This photo features artwork created by Jen Scott. The Book Shoppe in Medina displayed Scott’s work.
There will be a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery at 10609 Ridge Rd., Medina. The public is welcome to attend and bid on the 27 pieces of art.
MURRAY – A vacant trailer at 24 Skyline Circle in the Town of Murray was destroyed in a fire early this morning. Firefighters responded at about 2 a.m. and encountered heavy smoke from the burning trailer.
Kevin Dann, deputy chief for the Holley Fire Department, said the fire was under control in about a half hour. Holley firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company and Brockport Fire Department. The Kendall Fire Department filled in at the Holley fire station.
The fire is under investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and Orleans County Emergency Management Office.
Provided photo – U.S. History teacher Pierson Bell is dressed as a Revolutionary War solider in this photo with Victoria Vought (left), Abby Maines and Adam Cotter.
Press release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – U.S. History teacher Pierson Bell has a very unusual way to bring history to life to his students at Medina High School. He comes dressed to class as a British soldier.
“I am a Revolutionary War re-enactor and belong to a British regiment headquartered out of Rochester,” he said. “I got into it as a hobby when I was in graduate school at William and Mary, which is located in Colonial Williamsburg, the 18th century living history museum.”
His students have been studying the American Revolution since the beginning of the school year and when they focused on the military conflict and warfare of the 18th century, it seemed like a perfect time to wear his military uniform.
“The linear tactics, standing shoulder to shoulder and shooting at each other, seems silly to us in the 21st century, but it makes perfect sense to those in the 18th century due to the inaccuracy of the weapons,” he said. “We discussed factors that led to the American victory and some of the myths Hollywood movies perpetuate like Mel Gibson’s ‘The Patriot.'”
Mr. Bell says he loved this lesson because of its hands-on approach and because students ask questions on what they observe.
“As teachers we work hard to convey our passion for our subject to our students and hopefully excite them about their learning,” he said. “Showing students that my passion for history goes beyond work hours goes a long way in building credibility with them and creating interest for the subject.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
HARTLAND – The sun is setting over farmland in this photo taken around 7 p.m. this evening in the town of Hartland, just west of Orleans County.
The balmy fall temperatures will continue on Friday with a high forecast at 79 degrees. It will drop over the weekend with a high of 60 on Saturday and a high of 54 on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
The overnight low on Saturday is forecast for 39 degrees and 43 degrees on Sunday night.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Palettes of Orleans concluded its second season with a reception and auction this evening at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina.
In the top photo Laura Gardner, left, and Sam Roskowski look over some of the 27 pieces of artwork on display, including the bottom row, from left, by Clara Lake, Jen Scott (dog) and Patricia Worrad.
The palette project was coordinated by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce with proceeds going towards art scholarships at each of the five school districts in the county.
This photo shows artwork by Connie Mosher (flowers) and Ed Rosko.
Press release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
BASOM – Beginning today, trapping permits will be issued for the Oak Orchard, Tonawanda and John White Wildlife Management Areas for the 2014-2015 license year.
Permit applications can be obtained weekdays from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, by appearing in person at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Office on Casey Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by writing to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Wildlife, 1101 Casey Road, Box B, Basom, New York 14013.
Trappers who obtain a permit will be required to report their harvest and trapping efforts on each area. The Western New York trapping season for fox, raccoon, coyote and other upland furbearing animals opens Oct. 25 and closes Feb. 15, with the exception of the John White WMA. On John White WMA the upland trapping season will run from Nov. 1 to Feb. 15.
This year beaver season in this area of NY (including on Tonawanda, Oak Orchard and John White WMAs) will run from Nov. 25 until Feb. 15.
The Western New York trapping season for mink and muskrat opens on Nov. 25 and closes on Feb. 15.
However, the 2014-2015 muskrat and mink seasons at the three WMAs start later than the Western NY trapping season and will run from Dec. 6 to Feb. 15. In addition, a 25-trap limit will be in place for muskrat and mink on the three WMAs (traps set for upland trapping and beaver will not require numbered tags and will not be considered in the trap limit). The trap limit provides a more equitable distribution of the harvest and prevents trappers from monopolizing the better trapping areas.
The maximum number of traps a trapper can set for muskrat and mink on the three areas is 25. To accomplish this, the DEC issues 25 numbered tags to each trapper who obtains a permit. A tag must be attached to each trap the trapper is using on the areas. Any trap that does not have one of these tags attached is considered an illegal trap. Also, an individual trapper can only operate traps that contain tags with their assigned numbers.
Management of the muskrat population promotes prime emergent marsh habitats used by waterfowl and uncommon marsh birds such as the black tern and least bittern. The trap limit allows Bureau of Wildlife personnel to better regulate the muskrat harvest according to water availability, habitat needs and population.
Hunters and trappers are reminded that no gas or electric motor boats are allowed on Oak Orchard or Tonawanda WMAs.
MEDINA – The school district is flying black and white mourning flags following the death of beloved middle school teacher Barbara Barnes. She was killed in a car accident on Monday morning in Newfane on her way to school.
Barnes taught special education at the Clifford Wise Middle School for 18 years. She lived in Newfane. Her husband Bruce is a town justice. They have two sons, Troy and Braidy. Barnes is also survived by her step-children, Livia Santschi, Evan and Thaler.
Barbara Barnes
The mourning flags at the school district will be at half mast on Saturday, the day of Barnes’s funeral. There will be calling hours at the Rutland & Corwin Funeral Home on Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. with the funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Newfane Methodist Church.
Donations can be made to the Barbara Barnes Memorial Scholarship, Medina School District C/O Christine Griffin, One Mustang Drive, Medina, NY 14103.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Rodemeyer family records segment for video
Photos by Tom Rivers – John Wragg (left), owner of Torquil Studios, is pictured with the Rodemeyer family: Tracy, Tim and Alyssa. They recorded a segment about anti-bullying today in Wragg’s studio in Middleport.
MIDDLEPORT – John Wragg pulls backs the shirt sleeve on his right arm. A scar runs from his palm and past his wrist.
For Wragg, bullying is personal. When he was 14 he slashed himself because of the jeering he faced at school.
Wragg, now 60, wants to send a powerful message to the community and beyond about bullying. For the past seven months he has worked with musicians in Orleans County and the sixth grade chorus at Medina to produce “We Are The World.” The lyrics will be the same as when leading musicians recorded the song in 1985 to fight hunger in Africa. Click here to see that video.
This time Wragg wants the song to send an anti-bullying message. Many local musicians recorded parts for the song. Wragg felt it was missing something. He reached out to the Rodemeyer family. Tracy and Tim Rodemeyer’s son Jamey committed suicide when he was 14, after facing harassment from his classmates at Williamsville North. Jamey was gay.
His parents and Jamey’s 19-year-old sister, Alyssa, were at Wragg’s studio today.
“Whether it’s two people or 10,000 people, we want to get the message out to prevent suicide and make schools a safe place,” Mrs. Rodemeyer said. “Our view is one kid at a time, one school at a time.”
John Wragg shows the Rodemeyers and Bobby Wise (back right) the nearly complete “We Are The World” video Wragg has produced about bullying. Wise is founder of Project Unity, an anti-bullying program.
The Rodemeyers were joined by Bobby Wise, founder of Project Unity, a bullying prevention program. Wise grew up in Fredonia and left that school in ninth grade due to bullying. He graduated from a performing arts high school in Utah.
He watched Wragg’s video and was impressed. He hopes it goes viral on the Internet.
“It features real people from our area,” Wise said after seeing the video. “They understand the problem that is going on.”
Wragg plans to include the Rodemeyers in the final edit. He wants to have the video go live in time for Oct. 6, which is “World Anti-Bullying Day.” He wants to challenge people who see the video to take a stand against bullying, whether at school, the workplace, in their homes or elsewhere in the community.
“This is just to raise awareness and to send a message,” Wragg said. “It’s we the people against you bullies.”
Orleans Hub will post the finished video when it’s ready in a few days.
ALBION – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) is holding a series of four town hall meetings for Orleans County constituents this Saturday.
Hawley invites his constituents to ask questions about any state or local issue that concerns them. Hawley frequently holds town halls across his district to make sure that the people his represents have as much access to him as possible and to give them the opportunity to provide their input of the direction of the area.
“One of my responsibilities as an elected official is to keep my constituents informed on state and local issues that affect them,” Hawley said. “These town halls are one way to do that. I invite every one of my constituents to come out and discuss whatever is on their minds. I am here to listen and work with them to make Western New York a great place to live and work.”
The schedule for the town hall events includes:
9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at Ridgeway Town Hall, 410 W. Ave., Medina;
10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at Carlton Town Hall, 14341 Waterport-Carlton Rd.;
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Albion Town Hall,3665 Clarendon Rd.;
1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Murray Town Hall, 3840 Fancher Rd., Holley.
ALBION – The Erie Canal is changing colors as the calendar turns to fall. Peggy Barringer of Albion captured the image of a heron along the canal bank on Tuesday while she was out for a walk along the towpath.
There is a lot of drizzle today, when it is forecast to reach a high of 71 degrees. The National Weather Service in Buffalo forecasts a high of 77 on Thursday and 79 on Friday with lots of sun. The temperature will drop on the weekend with a high of 60 on Saturday and 55 on Sunday.
Peggy Barringer also captured this canal scene in Albion near the Canal Corp. facilities.
