By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Tyana Burroughs, 8, of Kendall soars into the sky at one of the fair rides.
The fair included a staple of forbidden foods, such as candy apples …
… and taffy.
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair completed its six-day run of fun on Saturday. Fair officials were pleased with the crowds, the great weather, and the quality of the rides, food vendors and 4-H exhibits.
Nevada, 5, of Barker enjoys a ride on the Merry Go Round.
Three generations of the Steier family in Albion enjoy I Got It at the fair. The group includes Karen, her mother Gail and Karen’s daughter Clarissa.
Fair officials praised Midway Rides of Utica for the quality of the rides and their cleanliness.
Press release, NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association
ALBION – State investigators are looking into the possible poisoning of a correction officer at Orleans Correctional Facility on Wednesday. The apparent assault left the officer hospitalized for two days. It is not yet clear when he will be able to return to work.
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon. The correction officer took a sip from a store-bought drink that he had been consuming throughout the day, and immediately noticed burning in his throat and became violently ill.
The officer was initially taken to Medina Memorial Hospital and later transported to Buffalo General, where he stayed for two days with pain in his mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach. Testing on the drink found PH-levels three-to-five times higher when compared to an untainted sample.
The dorm at the Orleans Correctional Facility where the incident took place was locked-down and searched immediately after the officer became ill. The New York State Police and Inspector General’s Office are now assisting with the investigation as well.
On Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state will close four more correctional facilities across the state, bringing the total of closures since the governor took office to 15.
“This incident at Orleans is just the latest proof that Gov. Cuomo and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision have an irresponsible approach to managing the budget of this public safety agency,” said Donn Rowe, President of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.
“The state wants to create the illusion that the system is rife with empty beds, but this is only made possible by double-bunking inmates. Instead of taking the opportunity to right-size the system – and make it safer for correction officers and inmates – the state continues to warehouse inmates by double-bunking and maintaining crowded and understaffed facilities,” Rowe said.
The incident follows a number of violent assaults at Orleans, reflecting a general rise in violence perpetrated against NYSCOPBA members statewide in recent years. Since 2011, while the overall number of inmate-on-officer assaults has gone down, the rate of assaults has actually increased.
The same statistical trend can also be seen in the number of inmate-on-inmate assaults and incidents of contraband being found in the possession of inmates. The trend points to the fact that while the inmate population has decreased, the state is housing a more violent inmate in medium security settings, like Orleans, the corrections officer union said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Alex Graff, a Medina native who now lives in Rochester, may be covered in grease, but he is having a great time during the grease pole championships on Saturday to cap off the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Steven Papponetti is trying to climb of Graff’s shoulders. Graff and Papponetti are members of the Rough N Ready team. They weren’t able to reach the top of the pole on Saturday. They won on Wednesday to advance to the finals.
The Grease Grapplers once again won the grease pole championship, ascending the slippery telephone pole in 23.3 seconds. Andy Follman is on the bottom in this picture with Jesse Follman on his shoulders. Tyler Palmer, in black shirt, makes a move to climb to the top. Those three are all from Lyndonville. Five Guys and a Pole, a team new to the competition, came in second by climbing the pole in 30 seconds.
The Grease Partiers are close to climbing the slathered pole. Matthew Parker is on the bottom with Patrick Sewar on top. Tyler Thomas, middle, gets ready to climb on Sewar’s back. The three are all from Medina.
Tyler Thomas of Medina is thrilled to reach the top of the grease pole for the Grease Partiers.
The team called Merica works together to climb the grease pole. Nick Schroeder is in the yellow shirt and Dustin Wells is wearing the white shirt with red pants. They’re both from Medina.
Barry Flansburg has served as emcee of the grease pole climb each night for many fairs. A big crowd watched the finals on Saturday. State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, and State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, both attended the event and addressed the crowd.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Fearless Flores perform south of Knights Building. They are on the schedule at 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30.
Daily Feature: Midway Rides of Utica $18 unlimited ride wristband from 1 pm to 5 pm or 6 pm to10 pm. (Each wristband good for one session only)
Daily Feature: Orleans County 4-H Fair Dunk Tank, located across from the Senior Council stand
Daily Feature: Kids Love Trucks: Orleans Emergency, Fire Dept., Law Enforcement, and Ambulance Services from across the county
8 am: Senior Council Stand opens
9:30 am: Horse Games Day (Gymkhana) – Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: All Buildings open
10 am: Little Britches Swine Show (open to the public) at Swine Pavilion
10:30 am: Goat Costume Contest – Knights Building
11 am: Vegetable Art Contest (open for all) at Education Center Lawn
11 am to 3 pm: 89.1 The Point Live broadcast
11 am to 2 pm: Kids Love Trucks: ORLEANS EMERGENCY, Fire Dept., Law Enforcement, and Ambulance Services from across the county – Education Center Parking Lot
11:10 am: Iron Chef 4-H Youth Activity Starts – Trolley Building
11:30 am: Sheep Costume Contest – Knights Building
12 pm: Small Animal Grand Master Showman Competition at Wachob Pavilion
12 pm: Leaders’ Pie Stand opens
12 pm to 8:30 pm: Master Gardener – Lawn of Education Center
12:10 pm: Iron Chef 4-H Youth Activity Judging – Trolley Building
1 pm: WNY Garden Tractor Pullers Association Tractor Pull at South West Lawn
1 pm: Registration ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull - Fair Office
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Fair hosts fire trucks, emergency responders
Photos by Tom Rivers
The Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds is hosting fire departments, police agencies and other emergency first responders today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. next to the Buzz Hill Education Center.
I was invited for a trip high in the Albion ladder truck. Bill Francis managed the controls and sent me 103 feet up in the air to capture some images of the fairgrounds.
I was joined by Lynn Miller, an EMT with the Carlton Fire Company. Miller had never been in the ladder truck before.
Fair-goers are welcome to meet firefighters and tour the trucks. Mercy Flight also is expected to visit with one of the agency’s helicopters.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Waterport 4-H’er claims one of fair’s most prestigious titles
Photos by Tom Rivers – Janie Schutz poses with a steer after she won the grand master showman crown on Friday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Jenny McKenna leads the showmen in the ring Friday with goats. Jenny took the grand master reserve title.
KNOWLESVILLE – The new grand master showman of the Orleans County 4-H Fair is a veteran in the show ring.
Janie Schutz, 17, of Waterport has showing animals at the fair since she was 8. She has experience with horses, beef cattle, pigs, meat goats and lambs.
On Friday she used her knowledge of all those animals, plus a steady composure, to win one of the fair’s most prestigious titles.
Janie is busy at the fair and for weeks and months leading up to annual event, tending to the animals and practicing with them. She has enjoyed working with different livestock mainly because it expanded her connections with so many 4-H’ers.
“You get more friends that way,” she said. “You meet more people.”
The grand master showman contest took the top showman from each of the larger animals, and pitted them all together, requiring the nine master showman to show all nine animals. (There were eight master showman in the competition because Jayne Bannister won two titles: swine and beef.)
Judge Steve Ledoux told the crowd he was impressed by the master showmen – all girls.
“They stepped out of their comfort zones,” he said. “They deserve a lot of credit for guts and determination.”
Schutz qualified by winning the sheep showman title. Other master showman include Bailey Flint, llama; Elise Slayton, Horses – English; Mandy Armer, dairy goat; Megan Blackburn, meat goat; Jayne Bannister, beef and swine; Jenny McKenna, dairy; and Haley Watkins, Horse – Western.
The master showmen ham it up for the cameras Friday after the competition to determine the grand master showman. Each person qualified for Friday’s event by winning the master showman for an animal. The group includes, from left: Bailey Flint, llama; Elise Slayton, Horses – English; Mandy Armer, dairy goat; Megan Blackburn, meat goat; Janie Schutz, sheep; Jayne Bannister, beef and swine; Jenny McKenna, dairy; and Haley Watkins, Horse – Western.
McKenna was the grand master showman reserve champion.
Schutz has one more year to show animals at the fair. She is planning to major in sociology in college with the goal to become a school guidance counselor.
“I still want to own my own farm at home,” she said.
The small animal grand master showman competition begins at noon today at the Wachob Pavilion.
Elise Slayton competes in the grand master showman competition on Friday, an event that took the top showman from nine animals. Elise qualified after winning the English horse showmanship title.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Tonight is the pie-eating contest at the Orleans County 4-H Fair, and it has proven to be a glorious messy affair. Nick Wright, 11, of Holley is all smiles after plunging face first into a raspberry pie.
Tamara Stratton, 11, of Kendall devours an apple pie. She is seated between John Gabalski, 12, of Byron at left and Nick Wright, 11, of Holley.
The pie-eating contest draws a big crowd to the Curtis Pavilion. Brown’s Berry Patch of Waterport donates the pies for the event.
James Trembley, 6, of Barre has some peach pie chunks on his face after his joyful turn in the pie-eating contest.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Midway lights up the fairgrounds on Thursday night.
Daily Feature: Midway Rides of Utica $18 unlimited ride wristband 3 pm to 10 pmDaily Feature: Orleans County 4-H Fair Dunk Tank, located across from the Senior Council stand
Daily Feature: Produced in Orleans County Display, Lartz Commercial Exhibit Building
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
9:30 am: Youth Ag Olympics Fun Activities – South Lawn
9:30 am: Miniature Horse Show & Driving Competition - Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: $5 Admission per car starts
10 am: All Buildings Open
10 am: Grand Master Showman Workshop starting in Show Arena
10:30 am: Tractor Driving Contest – South Parking Lot
12 pm: Leaders’ Pie Stand Opens
12 pm: Goat Knowledge Bowl: Dairy and Meat – Knights Building
12:30 pm: Dog Show, Agility Competition (Classes 23-30) – Show Arena
1 pm: Little Shepherds Sheep Show – Knights Building
1 pm: Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building
1:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
3 pm to 10 pm: Midway Rides of Utica $18 Unlimited Ride wristband
The Chainsaw Chix will be in action several times today.
3 pm: Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building3 pm: Horse Judging Contest – Education Center
3:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
4 pm: Royalty questionnaires due – Fair Office
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4 pm to 8:30 pm: Master Gardener - Lawn of Education Center
4:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
5 pm: Friday Night Fish Fry sponsored by Renovation Lodge #97 Cost: $9 Adult (Half portion $7) – Curtis Pavilion
5:30 pm: Classic Car Cruise-In - Education Center Parking Lot
5:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
6 pm: Set Up for Band – OrleansHub.com Stage
6 pm: Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull at Fair Office
6 pm: Grand Master Showman – Livestock Areas
Chelsea Bowen, 5, of Holley rides the mechanical bull on Thursday.
6 pm to 8 pm: Pie Eating Contest sponsored by Brown’s Berry Patch (Register at Fair Office during the week) – Curtis Pavilion
6 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
6:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
6:30 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Pedal Tractor Course near Fair Office
7 pm: Julie Dunlap & High Maintenance Country Band at OrleansHub.com Stage
7 pm: Quadrille Horse Demonstration – Carlos Marcello Arena
7 pm: Spanish/English Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building
8 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
8:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
KNOWLESVILLE – If you missed Gretta Smith’s winning performance at the Orleans County 4-H Fair Karaoke Challenge Finals on Thursday, you can watch it here.
Gretta’s performance earned her the $500 first-place award for her rendition of “You’re Going To Miss Me When I’m Gone (Cup Song)” by Anna Kendrick.
Gretta’s mother, Shelly Smith, provided the video.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church will use $3,000 grant for a roof repair study at the church at the corner of East Park and South Main streets.
ALBION – Three historic churches in the Albionarea all have received “Sacred Sites” grants that will help advance projects ranging from roof and tower repair studies to repointing of the masonry.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy approved 23 grants state-wide for $275,000. That includes $3,000 to the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, $1,500 to the First Presbyterian Church of Albion and $1,000 to the Cobblestone Universalist Church.
Peg Breen, president of the Landmarks Conservancy, noted that the grant recipients serve important roles in the community as religious and community institutions.
“It’s vital to repair and renew religious buildings,” she said. “Not only do these sites convey their communities’ history, they serve their neighborhoods today with food pantries, nursery schools, concerts and a variety of worthy programs.”
The Cobblestone Society Museum has been awarded a matching grant to survey the roof and tower of the Cobblestone Universalist Church, a building from 1834 that is part of the museum near the intersection of routes 98 and 104.
The Cobblestone Universalist Church is most prominent building in the Cobblestone Society Museum. The church from 1834 needs roof and tower repairs. The $1,000 grant will go towards a survey to determine the repairs needed for the roof and tower. The church is used for a variety of historical programs, services and weddings every year.
The Presbyterian Church was built in 1874, and its 175-foot-high spire makes it the tallest building in the county. The church is working to repoint some of the masonry on the sandstone structure at the corner of Main and State streets.
The First Presbyterian Church in Albion was awarded a $1,500 grant to help with some repointing work on the building that was constructed in 1874.
“Any support helps and makes a difference,” said the Rev. Doug Holmes, the church pastor. “We want the church to be around and vital for a long time to come.”
The church is used by many community organizations, including Scouts, a garden club and various 12-step groups. It also is used to host the Eastman at Albion concert series and a baccalaureate program for graduating high school seniors.
The Pullman building was built in 1894 at the corner of East Park and Main streets. The building includes 41 Tiffany stained-glass windows. The congregation is working to replace the roof.
The Orleans County Genealogical Society has monthly meetings at the church, which has also hosted at Eastman concert. The Concerned Citizens of Orleans County also meet at the site to discuss their efforts to keep the county nursing home publicly owned.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The grain storage facility in Knowlesville along Route 31 is shown during a sunset earlier this week. The county is seeing an increased demand in farmland.
ALBION – Farmers in Orleans County have formally requested that nearly 1,500 acres of land be put in certified agricultural districts, which provide legal protections for farmers to do normal farm practices.
The County Legislature had a public hearing on the land inclusions on Wednesday. The Legislature endorsed the additions, which will now go to the state for its approval.
The county and state provide an opportunity every year for land to be added to an ag district. This year is the biggest increase on an annual basis in many years, county officials said.
They credit an increased demand and value for farmland, driven partly by a big rise in corn and grain prices. The county has the added benefit of an ethanol plant in Medina, which has proven to have an insatiable appetite for corn, using about 20 million bushels a year.
Farmers want to add 1,452 acres to ag districts in Barre, Clarendon, Carlton, Gaines, Murray and Ridgeway.
The size of acreage varies from 0.57 acre owned by Susan Machamer on North State Street Road in Murray to 298.8 acres owned by Gary and Sue Ellen Davy on Ridge Road in Gaines.
The Orleans County Farmland Protection Board endorsed the additions on July 10.
Just because the land is in an ag district that doesn’t mean farmers can do whatever they want with the property.
“You still have to do it correctly and by the rules,” said Barry Flansburg, the Farmland Protection Board chairman.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Albion girl takes crown with the ‘Cup Song’
Photos by Tom Rivers – Rich Nolan of Medina, the defending champion of the Orleans County karaoke contest, sings “How I Got To Be This Way” during the karaoke finals on Thursday. Nolan finished second overall.
Jessica Reigle of Albion, another past champion, sings “Forget You,” which earned her a fourth place finish overall in this year’s competition.
KNOWLESVILLE – She almost didn’t enter the competition, but Gretta Smith agreed to give karaoke a try on Monday after some coaxing from her friends and family.
The 17-year-old did well enough Monday to advance to the finals on Thursday. She left with first prize, a trophy and $500.
Smith sang “You’re Going To Miss Me When I’m Gone (Cup Song)” by Anna Kendrick. Smith sang it a capella, and performed the cup and table tapping routine made famous by Kendrick. Smith impressed her friends and teachers with the song when she did it at an Albion talent show.
On Monday at the fair, she almost didn’t sign up for karaoke.
“We begged her to do it,” said her mother Shelly Smith.
Her daughter has tended to shun solo performances. But she isn’t a stranger to the stage, performing with groups in dance, chorus and musicals.
She just graduated from Albion and will be attending Monroe Community College in the fall as an undecided major.
She won an entertaining karaoke competition, edging last year’s winner, 22-year-old Rich Nolan of Medina. Nolan works as an assistant manager at Tops in Medina on the night shift. Smith also works at the Tops in Albion as a cashier.
Nolan gave a high-energy performance of “How I Got To Be This Way” by Justin Moore. Nolan was back and forth on the stage and his voice filled the fairgrounds. He would like to join a band and perform more in public.
“I just enjoy singing and seeing people’s reactions,” he said.
M & T Bank put up $1,000 in prize money that was shared by the top five performers. Other award winners include Taylor Whittier in third place with “Highway To Hell,” Jessica Reigle in fourth with “Forget You,” and Lydia Piazza in fifth with “Red High Heels.”
Bob Lash sings “Boys Round Here” during the karaoke finals.
Olivia Redick of Kendall performs “Bless This Broken Road” during karaoke on Thursday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Legislator doesn’t want county to pay for failing students
Photo by Tom Rivers – Orleans County’s costs towards community colleges have skyrocketed in recent years with most of the money going to Genesee Community College, pictured here at the main campus in Batavia.
ALBION – Orleans County has watched its budget for community colleges nearly triple in the past decade, jumping from $680,419 in 2004 to a budgeted $1.74 million in 2013.
“It’s growing at an alarming rate,” said Legislature Chairman David Callard. “It’s a serious situation. The costs are getting out of control.”
The county pays about a third of the tuition costs for county residents who attend community college. The state pays about a third and the students cover the other third.
More students have been enrolling at community colleges in the past decade. Genesee Community College is the most popular destination for Orleans residents who can choose between nearby GCC sites in Albion, Medina and Batavia.
GCC has worked to make classes and campuses more accessible to students, and the college has pushed “free” classes to high-achieving high school students in the summer. That marketing campaign bothers county leaders, who say the classes really aren’t free. Students don’t have to pay their share of tuition, but the county and state are still paying towards those classes.
Legislator George Bower, R-Holley, doesn’t want to see county dollars pay for courses that students fail or drop. He said he has asked GCC to provide a list of how many courses fall into that category, but hasn’t received the information. If students drop a class or fail it, Bower said the student should then foot the full cost of that course.
“I really don’t think our hard-working taxpayers should pay for students who fail,” Bower said during Wednesday’s Legislature meeting. “We still are paying and it has to stop.”
Legislators would like to see the community college funding formula changed so counties bear less of the costs. The state Legislature and governor would need to be involved to restructure the funding for community colleges.
“They should work to straighten out this damn mess,” Bower said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Jim DiMatteo of Middleport shines his 1976 Trans Am just before the Classic Car Cruise In tonight at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. There were more than 50 classic cars parked at the beginning of the cruise-in.
Saturday evening the lot next to the Buzz Hill Education Center will be filled with fire trucks and emergency response vehicles from throughout the county.
The Albion Masonic Lodge is serving a fish fry dinner at the Curtis Pavilion tonight. Some of the volunteers include, from left: Paul Henry, Dave Andrews and Allen Lackey. The lodge served 340 dinners last year at the fair.
