By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Civil War section, shown last fall, includes a cannon from the war.
ALBION – A historic cemetery on Route 31 will be featured for Sunday tours during August when County Historian Bill Lattin leads groups on the outings.
Lattin will cover different sections of the cemetery for each tour, which begin at 6:30 p.m. at the chapel.
There is no cost to attend, the tours will go on rain or shine for Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25.
The cemetery opened in the 1840s and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
The 70-acre cemetery was designed to create a park-like atmosphere. Rufus Bullock, a native son and former Georgia governor, is among the notable dead buried in the cemetery. Nine former congressmen also have been laid to rest in Mt. Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2013 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – After nearly a decade of leadership from John Heise as Holley Board of Education president, the district has a new leader.
Brenda Swanger was unanimously picked by her fellow board members to lead the district on Monday. Heise opted against seeking re-election in May. He continues as Holley’s representative on the Monroe II-Orleans BOCES board.
Swanger has served nine years on the board. She works as a real estate agent and for the town of Clarendon in accounts payable, water billing and with the budget.
“I have a passion for the school and I think we have a great community,” Swanger said this morning.
The Holley district is on an upswing, she said, citing the near-completion of a $27 million capitol project that is revamping the junior-senior high school, athletic fields, the bus garage and making other improvements.
Crews this summer are giving a makeover to the junior-senior high school foyer, library, some classrooms, and the chorus and band rooms. Swanger also said the district is committed to raising the educational performance of students.
The board is in its first year of shrinking from nine to seven members. That reduction was approved in a referendum about a year ago. Kellie Spychalski, the executive director of The Arc of Orleans County, was picked by the board as vice president.
“I like working with people and so does Kellie,” Swanger said. “We’re both proud of where we live and want to keep the district moving forward.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Company captured CO2 in ethanol production
MEDINA – A company that captures CO2 discharged in the production of ethanol has been sold.
EPCO Carbon Dioxide Products has had a presence in Medina for about five years. The company set up a plant to capture CO2 from Western New York Energy’s plant in Medina. The captured CO2 has been sold to food companies. EPCO owned 12 CO2 purification and liquefaction plants.
EPCO last month was bought by Air Products, a publicly traded company. EPCO is based in Monroe, La. The acquisition also includes Louisiana Leasing, Ltd. of Illinois, an affiliated company that owns liquid CO2 distribution assets that are solely leased to EPCO. Air Products said the acquisition vaults the company among the leaders in the North American liquid CO2 market.
“We are pleased to be acquiring a company that demonstrated continued growth through the economic challenges of the past several years,” said Nelson Squires, vice president and general manager – North America Merchant Gases at Air Products. “EPCO’s geographic footprint overlaps nicely with our existing infrastructure such that we expect both cost and revenue synergy benefits.”
Air Products currently serves with other merchant industrial gases including the food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, oil field services, and metals fabrication markets.
Air Products employs more than 20,000 people in 50 countries. In fiscal 2012, Air Products had sales approaching $10 billion. For more information about Air Products, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A 21-year-old Albion man was sentenced to five years in state prison for having sex with a 12-year-old girl.
Nathaniel D. Bentley, 21, of 315 Caroline St., Albion pleaded guilty to second-degree rape in May. County Court Judge James Punch today sentenced him to prison.
Bentley told the judge he thought the girl was 16. Bentley apologized to the girl’s family.
“I had no intention of hurting this girl,” Bentley told Punch.
The girl’s father said Bentley caused emotional, mental and physical harm to the victim.
“What he has done is completely wrong,” the father said.
Punch said he didn’t believe Bentley thought the girl was 16 during their relationship.
“You groomed her, you victimized her and you continued to victimize her,” Punch told Bentley, who also faces 10 years of post supervision and must pay $1,000 to register as a sex offender.
In other cases, Punch sentenced a 32-year-old Medina man to 2 to 4 years in state prison. Ronald Bonk of 142 North Gravel Rd. faced charges of second-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree.
Bonk’s car broke down along East Lee Road in Albion on Aug. 24, 2012. He entered a home for a drink of water but allegedly took a credit card, air compressor and power washer.
“You are a criminal,” Punch told Bonk. “You will hurt someone if you can. You will steal their property if you can.”
A Holley man with his second DWI will face no more than six months in jail and five years probation, according to a plea offer being considered by Judge Punch.
Daniel Weatherbee, 32, of 16562 Route 31, Holley, was charged with DWI on May 11 after he was stopped on North Main Street in Holley. He was also charged with DWI on Jan. 25, 2011 in Hamlin.
Weatherbee’s Blood Alcohol Content was 0.18 when he was charged by Holley police on May 11. Punch will sentence Weatherbee on Sept. 23.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Brian McCue, an Albion youth soccer coach, teaches a group of 9- and 10-year-olds some pointers about the sport on a hot evening at the Barre Town Park. McCue cut practice short due to the heat.
Press release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
ALBANY – As temperatures are forecasted to climb into the 90s over the next week, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today offered New Yorkers the following advice to safely battle the excessive heat.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity can have dangerous consequences, including heat-related illness and death,” Gov. Cuomo said. “It is important to pay close attention to weather advisories and warnings, and take action now to protect yourself and your loved ones from this prolonged, excessive heat wave. I urge all New Yorkers to check on their neighbors, stay inside when possible, stay hydrated, and take advantage of cooling stations if needed.”
To counter the harsh heat and humidity, Governor Cuomo offered the following safety tips:
Slow down on strenuous activity and exercise, especially during the sun’s peak hours – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Exercise in the early morning between 4-7 a.m.
Eat less protein and more fruits and vegetables – protein produces and increases metabolic heat, which can cause water loss. Eat small meals, but eat more often. Do not eat salty foods.
Drink at least 2 to 4 glasses of water per hour during extreme heat, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine.
If possible, stay out of the sun and stay in air conditioning. The sun heats the inner core of your body, resulting in dehydration. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine, or go to a public building with air conditioning.
If you must go outdoors, wear sunscreen with a high sun protector factor rating (at least SPF 15) and a hat to protect your face and head. When outdoors, wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Cover as much skin as possible to avoid sunburn and over-warming effects of sunlight on your body.
Do not leave children, pets or those who require special care in a parked car or vehicle during periods of intense summer heat – temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140 degrees Fahrenheit quickly. Exposure to high temperatures can kill within a matter of minutes.
Make an effort to check on your neighbors, especially if they are elderly, have young children or have special needs.
Make sure there is enough water and food for pets and limit their exercise.
PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE AWARE
Elderly persons and small children are mostly affected.
Persons with weight or alcohol problems are very susceptible to heat reactions.
Persons on certain medications or drugs.
HEAT HEALTH HAZARDS
Heat Stroke: Also known as sunstroke – can be life threatening. Body temperature can rise and cause brain damage; death may result if not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red, and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse, and shallow breathing. Relief for lowering body temperature can be with a cold bath or sponge.
Heat Exhaustion: Less dangerous than heat stroke, heat exhaustion usually occurs when people exercise too heavily or work in warm, humid places where body fluids are lost. Signals include cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness and exhaustion. If symptoms occur, get the victim out of sun, and apply cool, wet cloths.
Sunburn: Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself. Signals include redness and pain; in severe cases, swelling of skin, blisters, fever, and headaches can occur. Ointments can be a relief for pain in mild cases. A physician should see serious cases.
Heat Cramps: Muscular pains and spasms caused by heavy exertion. Loss of water and salt from sweating causes cramping. Signals are abdominal and leg muscle pain. Relief can be firm pressure on cramping muscles, or gentle massages to relieve cramping.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
Power outages are more likely to occur during warm weather, when utility usage is at its peak. To avoid putting a strain on the power grid, conserve energy to help prevent power disruptions.
Set your air conditioner thermostat no lower than 78 degrees. Only use the air conditioner when you are home.
Turn non-essential appliances off – only use appliances that have heavy electrical loads early in the morning or very late at night.
Provided photo – Baxter Healthcare employees, from left, Rich Johnson, Steve Crane, Rod Johnson and Vice President Nelson Patterson accept their prizes and thanks from Marsha Rivers, Hospice development director.
Press release
Hospice of Orleans
LYNDONVILLE/MEDINA Deep waters and a swift current resulted in a break-neck Ducks Ahoy Race to benefit Hospice of Orleans on July 4th.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the creek this high for the Duck Race,” said John Denniston of Albion, a Hospice volunteer who dons his wading trousers each year to retrieve the winners from the pool-noodle race track constructed and set by Lyndonville DPW employees, headed by Terry Woodworth.
More than 2,000 weighted plastic ducks of various colors floated to the finish line in Johnson’s Creek in what has become a favorite tradition of the Lyndonville Lions’ Independence Day celebration.
Hospice extends hearty appreciation to the Lions, the Village staff, and to all the Hospice volunteers who make the Duck Race such a success.Special recognition is due to Baxter Healthcare International of Medina for their very generous underwriting of the prizes.
In the end, it was Baxter employee Rich Johnson’s blue waterfowl winning the top prize of $500 by three duck-lengths. Thanks to everyone who bought tickets. See you next year for another riveting race!
Congratulations to the winners (including a pair of brothers and a double winner): Rich Johnson – $500, Jim Stelianou – $300, Mary Miesner – $200, Mary Miesner – $150, Don and JoAnn Melfi – $125, Rod Johnson – $100, Steve Crane – $75, and Rebekah Karls – $50.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Courtesy Gov. Cuomo’s office – The Mohawk Valley was flooded on June 28 after a severe downpour.
ALBION – In was mid-October 2006, when a heat wave followed a snowstorm in Orleans County.
Hundreds of trees, maybe more, snapped from the weight of heavy snow on their leaves and branches. The fallen limbs and trees knocked out power for days.
The melting 2 feet of snow unleashed flood waters. Homeowners, who were powerless, saw their basements fill with water because they couldn’t turn on their sump pumps. (I needed to have my basement in Albion pumped twice.)
That storm is the biggest “weather event” I can recall in my nearly two decades of living around here. We were in a state of emergency with utility trucks and firefighters descending on our county from all over the state. We even had electric workers from Quebec here, working to restore our electricity.
It was a fluke storm. Mostly, things aren’t too bad around here. We don’t have the big extremes that flood roads, creeks and homes.
It seems every year there is at least one community in New York that is devastated from a storm. The Mohawk Valley is the latest casualty of Mother Nature and aged infrastructure. A late June downpour with flash flooding left the region in soggy ruin.
The federal government on Friday declared 12 counties eligible for disaster aid due to the damage from the storm.
Eastern New York felt the wrath of Sandy last year. Binghamton was hit with massive flooding a few years ago. I grew up in Chautauqua County and about five years ago Silver Creek and Gowanda were inundated with water, destroying numerous homes.
“It is a tragedy that so many communities of hard-working, decent New Yorkers have seen their lives turned upside down by the unpredictable and damaging impact of these severe storms and floods,” Gov. Cuomo said Friday when President Obama approved the disaster declaration for the Mohawk Valley.
We don’t have the big extremes around here. The communities have done a nice job upgrading storm sewers and infrastructure, helping to funnel water off the streets when there is big storm.
Occasionally, we get hit with a fluke, but I think we’re safe from utter devastation. It’s definitely a plus during these days of turbulent weather.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Robert Batt, president of the Fair Board, and Kerri McKenna, a community educator for the Cornell Cooperative Extension, have been busy gearing up for next week’s 4-H Fair in Knowlesville.
KNOWLESVILLE – The animals are soon to arrive, a group of nearly 550 creatures that include cows and pigs, llamas and rabbits, goats and horses.
After seeing the numbers drop at recent fairs, next week’s event in Knowlesville shows a sizable uptick in animals. The number of cows and beef cattle are up from 20 last year to 65 next week.
And the number of 4-H animal exhibitors also is on an upswing with nearly 200 kids showing animals.
“Most fairs are seeing their numbers go down,” said Kerri McKenna, the community educator for the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. “Our leaders have been out recruiting new members.”
The fair officially starts on Monday, July 22, and runs until the 27th. The week-long event typically draws about 30,000 people. It’s considered one of the most successful youth fairs in the state, a small-county celebration that bans alcohol and limits exhibitors to children.
“We have a community that supports youth, agriculture and the community in general,” said McKenna, a former 4-H’er. “This is the biggest event of the year where everyone is involved.”
The fair includes a new Midway provider, Midway Rides of Utica, which is bringing a 90-foot-high Ferris wheel to Knowlesville, the biggest to ever come to the Orleans fair.
The Fair Board is spending $16,000 for entertainment, with bands, the Midway, a Motorcyle Thrill Ride and other entertainers. The board is not hiking the cost to enter the fair. That remains at $5 per carload, which Fair Board President Robert Batt said is the least expensive in the state.
“We’re definitely the cheapest,” he said. “We want to keep it low so families can come and have money to spend.”
He is pleased to have many new food vendors for the week. The Fair Board also is trying to make better use of the parking lot by the Education Center for the fair. On Wednesday the 24th the lot will be used for a craft show and community yard sale.
There will be a motorcycle cruise-in on Thursday with a Classic Car Show on Friday. On Saturday, the last day of the fair, first responders will bring fire trucks, ambulances and a helicopter. Children and community members are encouraged to come meet firefighters, medics and other first responders.
For more information, check the 4-H Fair Website by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – A warehouse on McKinstry Street in Albion, which has sat mostly vacant the past 11 years, will be upgraded and turned into a site for electronics recycling. The company expects to add 30 jobs in the next three years.
ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency has approved a $150,000 low-interest loan to a Canadian company that will turn a long-vacant warehouse into a base for recycling electronics.
The EDA board of directors on Friday approved the financing for BOMET Recycling, Inc. The company expects to close on the sale next month for a warehouse on McKinstry Street in Albion.
BOMET intends to hire 30 people for the site within three years. The company is led by Zhan “Bo” Zhang of Cambridge, Ontario. BOMET recovers metals from electronics and other recyclable materials and reported a $25 million revenue for its operation based in Canada, according to a report from the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
The Orleans EDA has owned the property at 152 McKinstry St. since 2002. The EDA has accepted a $176,000 offer from BOMET to buy the 52,000-square-foot property.
The company will spend about $700,000 in addition to the purchase price by replacing the roof, making other building upgrades and buying equipment for the Albion operation.
The EDA board also approved tax incentives that will save the company $94,347 over 10 years. The company will pay $61,034 in local taxes over the next decade as part of the tax agreement approved today.
The site currently isn’t generating any property tax for the village, town, school or county because the EDA has owned the property.
CARLTON – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will offer a Boating Safety & PWC Certification Course on Saturday, July 27 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The class will be held at the Carlton Fire Department Recreation Hall at 1853 Oak Orchard Road (Route 98). This training is mandatory for all persons operating Personal Water Craft (Jet Skiis/Waverunners).
The class size will be limited to 45 students. There is no fee for the course, however students must pre-register and obtain a course booklet. To pre-register you must appear in-person at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office – 400 Public Safety Bldg., 13925 State Route 31, Albion. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For additional information, contact Deputy Erin Fuller (Sheriff’s Marine Unit) at (585) 682-4366 or (585) 589-5527.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Four Dem candidates, plus an independent, are running for Orleans County Legislature
This article was updated after the original article listed Rak as a Dem candidate. She is a Conservative, seeking an independent line. The towns also haven’t had their caucuses yet, when they officially name their candidates.
ALBION – The Orleans County Democratic Party is backing four candidates, plus an independent, in their campaigns for county Legislature. The Dem-backed candidates have agreed to a don’t-sell-the-nursing-home platform.
Democrats also say they will be fiscally conservative, while bringing in another viewpoint to a seven-member body that is all Republican.
The county Legislature is working to sell The Villages of Orleans, a 120-bed nursing home in Albion, because of the potential for steep deficits that legislators say could require $2 to $4 million in annual county subsidies.
Linda Rak
Linda Rak of Lyndonville believes there must be ways to reduce costs and increase revenue at the facility, without turning it over to a private company. Rak is a retired reading teacher at Kendall. She is running as a Conservative against incumbent Lynne Johnson for a district that includes the towns of Yates, Ridgeway and a portion of Shelby. Rak also is working to secure an Indepedent line.
“I’m passionate about the nursing home,” Rak said during a Democratic Party picnic this afternoon at Bullard Park. “We need people to roll up their sleeves and find a solution. We owe it to the seniors to keep it.”
Rak works at Brockport State College with graduate students who want to be reading specialists. She also has been endorsed by the Conservative Party.
Fred Miller, the owner of Family Hardware in Albion since 1986, is making his first run for county office. He has served five years on the Village Board. Miller said the village has gone at least 30 years without a resident on the Legislature.
Fred Miller
“It’s time we had a village voice there,” he said. “I don’t believe the county is doing enough for the village.”
He also criticized the county for too many “hidden taxes” that drive away customers for small businesses. He noted heating oil taxes and an occupancy tax for motels and bed and breakfasts.
“I’m willing to dig into the facts and to stand alone,” Miller said. “They need diversity on that board.”
Miller has also been endorsed by the Conservative Party. He will run against Henry Smith Jr. for a district that includes the towns of Albion and Gaines.
Former Kendall Town Supervisor Jack Gillman has the Democratic endorsement to run against John DeFilipps of Clarendon for an at-large seat. George Bower of Holley isn’t seeking re-election to the county-wide position.
Gillman was town supervisor in 2008 and ’09, the first Democrat to hold the position in Kendall in 40 years. He worked 37 years as a telecommunications specialist for Rochester Telephone and Frontier before retiring in 2003.
Jack Gillman
If the majority of the public doesn’t want the nursing home to be sold, the Legislature should listen to the people, Gillman said. The Concerned Citizens of Orleans County, a citizens group opposed to the nursing home sale, has asked the Legislature to put the issue up for a vote.
Dave Schult of Waterport moved back to the community 2 ½ years ago after being away for 30 years. Schult, 50, joined the Coast Guard after graduating from Albion. He has worked in sales for an ambulance company based in Chicago, currently the vice president of the sales department.
Schult vowed to treat the county budget as if it was his own money, carefully spending every dollar. He has experience in negotiations, which he said would be an asset on the Legislature.
He also knows all about customer service. Before his career in sales, he grew up spending numerous hours at the Lakeland, a restaurant at Pont Breeze operated by his parents for 25 years.
Dave Schult
Schult also has been endorsed by the Conservative Party. He is running against Ken DeRoller of Kendall. The seat is currently filled by Ken Rush, who isn’t seeking re-election.
Gary Kent of Albion is again challenging Don Allport for a county-wide legislator position. Kent wasn’t at the Democratic picnic today. He was in North Carolina visiting his son. Kent, a retired Kendall social studies teacher, has been one of the leaders against selling the county nursing home. Allport, a Republican, has the Conservative endorsement.
Democrats introduced Cyndy Van Lieshout, a candidate for Barre town supervisor. The Democratic Party caucus is next month. She will be running against Mark Chamberlain. Van Lieshout and her husband Mike own a dairy farm in Barre. Cyndy manages the books for the farm and also serves on the board of directors for the Upstate Niagara and O-At-Ka cooperatives.
Democrats also introduced Paul Snook, a Republican running for Carlton highway superintendent. He has the Conservative endorsement against incumbent David Krull.
Four candidates for State Supreme Court in the eighth district also addressed Orleans Democrats. Those candidates include Mark Montour, a Lancaster town justice and acting judge for the city of Buffalo; Jeannette Ogden, a Buffalo city court justice; Jeff Marion, an attorney; and Dennis Glascott, an Angola town justice.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Walter Jakubowski of Albion is highlighted at MAG
Photos courtesy of Walter Jakubowski
Walter Jakubowski took these photos last year of the interior of the Pratt Opera House on the third floor of a building in downtown Albion.
ROCHESTER – It happens every two years, one of the region’s most prestigious art shows, featuring the 100 finest pieces of new art work in the Finger Lakes region.
The new show opens tomorrow and features three photographs of the Pratt Opera House taken by Albion photographer Walter Jakubowski.
One of the photos of the box seating area in the theater is being used to promote the
64th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition at the Memorial Art Gallery.
The MAG only accepts art created within the past two years for the show. Jakubowski, a former CAD specialist at Kodak in industrial design, took the Pratt photos last year for building owners Michael Bonafede and Judith Koehler.
“I thought of everything I’ve done in the past two years and the Pratt photographs stood out,” Jakubowski said. “They are important because they highlight Albion’s heritage. The Pratt is a wonderful old structure that a lot of people aren’t familiar with.”
Bonafede and Koehler are working to restore the site, and expect of have a certificate of occupancy for a “theater in the rough” this fall.
Jakubowski lives in a cobblestone home in Albion with his wife of three decades, Gretchen Murray Sepik.
Jakubowski has been featured in the MAG show before. He hopes his selection this time will help promote his photography career.
The MAG is located at 500 University Ave. The show features 100 works by 81 artists from a 27-county region of western and central New York. Jakubowski is the only artist from Orleans County picked for the show. There were 623 entries by 230 artists.
There will be an opening reception Saturday at the MAG beginning at 8 p.m. The exhibit runs until Sept. 8.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Ridge Road Improvement Association put up this monument to George Washington and local Revolutionary War soldiers in 1932.
Photo by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – I noticed the big stone with the bronze marker for the first time yesterday on the way to the Kendall Firemen’s Carnival.
I had no idea we had a monument in honor of George Washington in Orleans County. But there it stands along Ridge Road at the Route 237 intersection, in front of a building across from the Murray Superette.
The marker was put up by the Ridge Road Improvement Association in 1932: “To honor and commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington and the men who fought in the American Revolution and sleep in the town of Murray.”
The marker list the names of Murray revolutionaries:
Robinson Smith, “Life Guard of Washington”
Asa Clark, “The Courier who carried the news to Washington of the attack on Throgs Neck.”
Captain Timothy Ruggles
William Jennings
Amos Frink
Captain Aaron Warren, “who built the first grist mill in the town of Murray”
The marker also notes that New York Gov. DeWitt Clinton stayed in a primitive log cabin near the spot during “an eventful horseback trip through Western New York in1810.” Clinton was the force behind getting the Erie Canal built.
There are several markers along Ridge Road. I’ll try to find out more about them.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Elba put up new welcome signs today that claim the community is the “Onion Capitol of the World.”
ELBA – The village has put up a much-improved welcome sign that celebrates its muck roots as the “Onion Capitol of the World.”
For years Elba had signs that said, “Population: Just Right.” That was a cute slogan, but I also thought it sent a message that the community didn’t want any newcomers.
The new sign shows pride in Elba’s onion heritage and productivity. Another NY onion-growing region, the Black Dirt Region in Orange County, also claims to be the world’s onion capitol.
Elba became an onion powerhouse after a swamp was cleared almost a century ago. I used to be the agriculture reporter for The Daily News in Batavia, and I covered the muck. Most of the best 5,000 acres are in Orleans County, and few onions today are grown in Elba. That crop needs deep soil and the deeper muck is in the towns of Barre and Clarendon.
But most of the packing houses and farmers have Elba addresses. Panek Farms and Triple G Farms are both Albion operations and they grow onions on the muck.
I don’t fault Elba for making such a bold claim. It’s good to see them show pride in their roots.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – “Chubby” stands outside a former Rochester fire station on University Avenue.
ROCHESTER – “Chubby” is quite popular in Rochester. I met him yesterday for the first time.
He is one of several fiberglass horses painted in Rochester along University Avenue’s “ARTWalk.”
Chubby is located in front of a former Rochester fire house that is now home to Craft Company No. 6, a handmade arts and crafts store that’s been in business for three decades. There is also a sculpture of a firefighter next to Chubby. Before motorized fire trucks, horses were used to pull steam engines to fire scenes. Chubby was Rochester’s most famous equine firefighter.
Other communities have done public arts projects, including Batavia with horses and Olean with squirrels. I think we could pull this off in Orleans County.
Olean painted many fiberglass squirrels and sprinkled them around the city.
I think one possibility for Orleans would be having different painted “creatures” spread around the county, with one in front of each of the 10 town halls and the four village halls.
The lakefront communities – Kendall, Carlton and Yates – might consider having giant painted salmon. We could mix in other animals – deer, ducks, beavers, bluebirds and more. Each community could pick an animal to highlight. These would be painted and set up outside the municipal buildings.
It would be an attraction and would link the communities together and provide a sense of history and “place,” as community planners like to say. If each community contributed, it wouldn’t be a huge daunting task for one entity. I also like the idea of spreading them around the county, rather than concentrating them all in one spot.
