A Pennsylvania woman has caught the biggest fish so far in the Orleans County Fishing Derby. Debbie Murphy of New Albany is the new leader of the derby with a 27-pound, 7-ounce Chinook.
The derby continues until Sunday with $4,000 the grand prize. There are $8,800 in prizes for fish in the top five of four divisions. The Albion Rotary Club runs the derby.
Bill Magee of Northwood, Ohio leads the Salmon Division with a 26-pound, 13-ounce Chinook. Other leaders include Destiny Bickel of Burt with an 18-pound, 11-ounce brown trout; Mike Schaeffer of Sligo, Pa., with a 14-pound, 1-ounce rainbow trout; and David Johnson of Rochester with a 17-pound, 6-ounce lake trout.
Heather Saeva of Albion is in the lead for the bonus prize given to the Orleans County resident who catches the biggest fish. She caught a 23-pound, 15-ounce Chinook.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – The Moore family in Albion was in New York City this morning and appeared briefly on the Today Show. Meganne Moore, 8, is behind her sign about having an emergency appendectomy. Her mother Sara is directly behind her while Meganne’s brother Andrew (hat on backwards) holds the “Hello Orleans County” sign. Their father Mark is next to Andrew in back at right.
A week ago 8-year-old Meganne Moore had an appendectomy. This morning she was on the Today Show, standing with her parents Mark and Sara and her brothers Andrew, 14, and Zach, 13.
They all got camera time except for Zach, who gave up his spot for a smaller kid.
In between segments, one of the TV hosts Willie Giest chatted with Meganne, inquiring about her surgery. She held a big sign that said her emergency appendectomy wouldn’t keep her from the Today Show.
The Moores took their first family vacation in years and went to New York City. Mrs. Moore went to Fashion Institute of Technology at NYC and loved the city. She and her husband both work as nurses. They also have a small farm on Route 98 in Albion.
Mrs. Moore and her two sons are going to Lima, Peru, in February for a mission trip with the Albion Free Methodist Church. She wanted her sons to have some big-city experiences before they went to Peru.
The family was up at 4 this morning and was outside the Today studios at 5:15 a.m. They were on TV around 8 a.m.
Contributed Story Posted 12 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Contributed Photo
MEDINA – Kyle Barna, a 2014 Medina graduate, is the initial recipient of the Dave Boice/Bill Ossont Scholar/Athlete Scholarship. The scholarship was founded by Medina High graduate Dr. Dan Terryberry in honor of Boice, whom he calls his “best teacher” and Ossont whom he calls “his best coach.”
Barna will be attending Memphis University where he will be a walk-on candidate for the football team. Shown here from left are Dr. Terryberry, Ossont, Barna and Boice. The scholarship was awarded to Barna during the Medina High Alumni Weekend this past Saturday at Shelridge prior to the golf tournament.
ALBION – In this picture from the early 1960s we see the Atlantic gas station that was located at the southeast corner of routes 31 and 98 in Albion.
Rollie Kast operated this service station at the time. Note the three overhead doors.
In the righthand background, we see a new Marti’s Motel. This site was later acquired by the Eckerd Drug Co. and now serves as a location for the Rite Aid store.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin last February gave a lecture at GCC in Albion about Mount Albion Cemetery and the Civil War era’s obsession with death. Here he holds a memorial created for Major Gen. George Gordon Meade.
ALBION – The man who has been a caretaker of Orleans County’s history for more than 36 years will retire on Dec. 31. Bill Lattin said it’s time for someone else to step into the position.
Lattin has been highly visible in the role. He wrote a weekly column about local history for 35-plus years for The Journal-Register in Medina until the newspaper closed in May. He has been prolific for the Orleans Hub, writing Vintage Orleans features since we started in April 2013. He also has written several local history books.
He has given numerous lectures to service organizations, historical societies and school children. He has led numerous tours about local history, visiting cemeteries, churches and historic sites.
“It’s a smart person that knows when it’s time to step aside to let someone younger take over,” Lattin said today.
Lattin talks about Donna Rodden and the former Albion mayor’s efforts to preserve local history during a dedication for a historical marker on the courthouse lawn last summer. Rodden’s daughter, Chris Capurso, is second from back right.
He is willing to continue as a volunteer with tours and historical talks, but he said he doesn’t want to “tread on the new person’s toes.”
The part-time position pays $8,000. Lattin said his successor should be paid more, and should be outfitted with a computer and new technology to do the job. But he’ll leave that to the County Legislature.
Legislature Chairman David Callard said the position will be filled. The county will soon start the process of seeking a new historian. Callard said Lattin has been exemplary in the role for the county.
“He has been extraordinary,” Callard said. “He has gone above and beyond.”
Lattin stands in the First Presbyterian Church in Albion last December during a stained-glass window tour. This window was created by Henry Keck, an apprentice at the Tiffany studio until 1933, when he started his own company in Syracuse. This is an early work by Keck, created in 1934 as memorial to Ella Beckwith Kenney, a Sunday School teacher at the Presbyterian Church. Lattin said it’s one of his favorite windows in Orleans because of theme and striking colors. It shows a teacher and her two students.
Lattin had multiple roles when he was historian. He was curator and director at the Cobblestone Society Museum until retiring from that position three years ago. He also was a long-time Gaines Town Board member.
He is encouraged by the new co-directors at the museum. Both Sarah Karas and Matt Ballard have given the museum a new energy and direction.
“They’re doing great things,” Lattin said. “What they’re doing I didn’t know how to do or want to do.”
Lattin was recently honored by Friends of Hoag Library for his many lectures at the library. He also was named a “Heritage Hero” in April by Genesee Community College and Orleans Hub for a lifetime of working to preserve and promote the county’s history.
Press release, Department of Environmental Conservation
BASOM – As part of Gov. Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a waterfowl hunter informational meeting on Aug. 28 at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters.
The meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Refuge on Casey Road in the Town of Alabama. Topics will include:
Highlights of waterfowl management and research programs at two National Wildlife Refuges, Iroquois and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge; and four of the state’s Wildlife Management Areas – Tonawanda, Braddock Bay, Oak Orchard and Northern Montezuma
Regional and statewide waterfowl news and updates
Atlantic Flyway news
Waterfowl population status survey results
New York waterfowl hunting season-setting process; and
Tentative 2014-15 duck and goose hunting seasons.
Wildlife biologists from DEC and the two National Wildlife Refuges will discuss items of interest to waterfowl hunters in an informational and interactive forum. They will present results of local and international surveys of waterfowl breeding populations and discuss habitat conditions and habitat management efforts. Updates of waterfowl management issues in the Atlantic Flyway will be presented, and this year’s tentative waterfowl hunting seasons and bag limits will be discussed.
The NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.
In support of this initiative, this year’s budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have not reached their full potential. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas.
In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state’s fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.
This year’s budget also reduces short-term fishing licenses fees; increases the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; authorizes DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and authorizes free Adventure Plates for new lifetime license holders, discounted Adventure Plates for existing lifetime license holders and regular fee Adventure Plates for annual license holders.
KENDALL – Brittany Kennedy returned to West Kendall Road home yesterday to see a black bear by her house. The bear went up on her porch and sifted through a recycling bin and grabbed a coffee can. It was flipping it around when it noticed Kennedy in her vehicle. The bear then took off for the woods.
Orleans County dispatchers think there are two bears in the county. Whenever they get a call they notify the state Department of Environmental Conservation. If residents see a bear, they should leave it alone. The bears are unlikely to confront a person, a dispatcher said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Medina Business Association and Village of Medina dedicated a new bike rack on Saturday at the Canal Basin.
This is the third apple-themed bike rack added to the downtown business district. The other two are on Main Street and have a different design.
This bike rack on Main Street was added late last month.
The Medina Business Association paid for new bike racks that were manufactured by students in the Orleans-Niagara BOCES welding class. F & H Metal Finishing in Medina painted the bike racks. The Medina Department of Public Works installed the bike racks that are designed to celebrate local heritage and give cyclists a place to tie up their bikes.
BOCES students created a stem and leaf for the top of the new apple-themed bike rack.
HOLLEY – Rain can call off a game of golf, but not the spirit of generosity.
The 128 participants in Hospice of Orleans’ 18th Annual Golf Scramble got about halfway through their event on July 30 when lightning and heavy rain compelled organizers to call off the contest at Hickory Ridge Country Club.
Golfers made the most of the soggy situation by gathering at the party house, enjoying drinks, camaraderie, and bidding on baskets and other prizes. By the time dinner was served (a half-hour early) and awards were distributed (based on eight holes, not 18), the group had netted over $14,000 to help Hospice continue serving seriously and terminally ill residents of Orleans County.
Winning golfers were (pictured from left):
Men’s team and overall winners, score of 26: Matt Stawicki, Darryl Wenner, T.J. Sarratori and Alexx Christie.
Mixed team, score of 29: Gary and Mary Ann Liese, Kim and Stephen Gifaldi.
Women’s team, score of 30: Barb Budde, Sandy Renouf and Mary Guzik.
Major sponsors of the tournament were Christopher-Mitchell Funeral Homes, Dr. Thomas Madejski, Sanzo and Sons, and Don Davis Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Albion. Additional sponsors included Kast Farms, Wells Fargo Advisors-James Barrett, Western New York Energy, and 135 more.
“What impresses me most about this event and Hospice in general is the sheer number of people willing to say ‘yes’ to supporting what we do,” said Marsha Rivers, Development Director. “Our services are local, they are crucial, and they are deeply personal. Hospice of Orleans is truly about neighbors helping neighbors, and the golf tournament demonstrates that every year.”
Hospice has two upcoming events which are open for public and support and participation: The 2nd Annual Car Show hosted by Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Homes of Albion will take place on Sept. 13. And the Annual 5k Memory Run/Walk will be at Brown’s Berry Patch on Oct. 11.
BARRE – Four men escaped serious injury this morning after they became trapped in a hopper containing a mixture of sand and gravel at a commercial business in the Town of Barre.
The incident occurred at about 10:45 a.m. at Frontier Sand & Gravel in the 4700 block of Eagle Harbor Road. A large hopper was being loaded with material when it became over-loaded & blocked. Jacob E. Vick, 20, of Albion entered the hopper along with his brother Lawrence Vick, 22, of Albion; Devin Taylor, 19, of Medina; and Richard Miller, 61, of Albion. Their intent was to shovel the excess material and free-up the blockage.
At some point Miller sank to an opening in the bottom of the hopper that leads to a conveyor belt, and consequently he became totally covered in material. During the efforts of the other three men to rescue him, Jacob Vick sank to the lower level as well and became partially covered in material.
All four men were finally able to extricate themselves, assisted by Barre firefighters. All four sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene by fire department EMS and Central Orleans Vol. Ambulance personnel. None of the victims were transported.
The incident was investigated by Lieutenant Chris Bourke. There will be a follow-up investigation by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
