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Protestors again target ‘Squirrel Slam’ in Holley

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2014 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – A “Squirrel Slam” fund-raiser that drew national attention, and a record number of participants last year, will continue this year with the event scheduled for Feb. 22.

This is the eighth year the Holley Fire Department has planned the fund-raiser. The first six years there was no controversy. Last year, the Friends of Animals organization made stopping the event a mission, sending letters to the editor and press releases to the media.

The group showed up in Holley to protest the event, and worked with state legislators to draft legislation to ban animal-killing contests, bills that haven’t passed the Legislature.

“This is the second year FoAis challenging the Holley Fire Department to cancel the violent, regressive ‘Squirrel Slam,’” said Edita Birnkrant, FoA’s NY Director. “Our experiences protesting the event last year showed a sickening, gun-worshipping culture of adults, teenagers and children who celebrated the violence of mass animal killingcheering on the hunters as they waved fistfuls of dead squirrels in our faces and in the air, even plastered them on their cars, before they entered the fire house to weigh the corpses and win cash and gun prizes.”

Orleans Hub has reached out to Fire Department officials for about two weeks for comments about the Squirrel Slam, but hasn’t received a return call or text message. The department doesn’t highlight the fund-raiser on its web site.

The Daily News of Batavia reports today that the department doesn’t want to comment on the event this year. For more information, visit thedailynewsonline.com.

Friends of Animals will press state legislators to support bills introduced in the Assembly and Senate that would ban wildlife-killing contests.

“Coyotes, squirrels and crows are frequently targeted in New York State in killing contests,” Birnkrant said. “The need to pass pending legislation to ban wildlife-killing contests in New York couldn’t be more urgent.”

In the Holley competition contestants pay an entry fee and then go hunting for squirrels. Hunters as young as 12 can win prizes for biggest squirrels shot.

Animal rights activists protested last year and urged Holley to cancel the event. The Village Board and Fire Department let it continue and participation surged from the usual 250 to about 700. Outside police were brought in to help manage the protest.

2nd Troutburg hearing scheduled for Monday in Kendall

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2014 at 12:00 am

EDA is proposing $227,777 tax break plan for project

KENDALL – Residents on Monday can chime in on a proposed $227,777 tax abatement plan over 10 years for the Cottages at Troutburg.

A hearing on Jan. 15 on the proposal drew about 75 people to a packed Town Hall. The hearing on Monday has been moved to the more spacious auditorium at the Kendall Junior/Senior High School, 16687 Roosevelt Highway. The hearing begins at 7 p.m.

The tax plan would save The Wegman Group $227,777 in taxes with the bulk of the savings in the beginning of the arrangement. That will help the developers with their cash flow during the capital-intensive early stages of the project, said Jim Whipple, chief executive officer of the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

The tax abatement deal only applies to the land and the existing structures. The new seasonal homes will boost the Kendall tax base and are not subject to the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes).

Whipple said during the Jan. 15 hearing the projected 400 cottages could boost the community’s tax base by $30 million when the project is done.

“This is a property tax creating opportunity for the county and town that you don’t normally have,” Whipple said at that meeting.

The agreement calls on The Wegman Group to pay $186,363 in taxes over 10 years on the land, a 126-acre former Salvation Army camp along Lake Ontario.

The property did not generate any taxes for about a half century. The Wegman Group bought the site for $1.5 million and has been paying taxes on about a $1.7 million assessment the past two years.

The plan would give the developers 100 percent off of the taxes on a $1.3 million assessment the first year. Each following year another 10 percent of the tax bill will be added until the full amount is billed after 10 years.

Workers at the vinegar plant pause for a photo about a century ago

Posted 30 January 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian

ALBION – All of these men worked at the Albion Vinegar Works when this picture was taken around 1920.

This plant was located off Fruit Street next to the railroad. Note the bins of apples behind the men.

Pictured, front row, from left: J. Crane, unidentified, L. Daniels, L. Noreck, G. Luczak and J. Rice.

Second row: first three are unidentified, then Cuddy, unidentified, J. Rice, Gomanski, and unidentified.

Third row: S. Telga, J. Ciesielski, F. Bloom, P. Bruski and unidentified.

Top row: Marks, Rice, J. Sadowski, unidentified, “Brave” Holliday, unidentified, and man with dog.

Albion native will return for spring concert

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2014 at 12:00 am

Susan Fancher

ALBION The Eastman at Albion Concert Series announces two spring performances, and one will include Albion native Susan Fancher, who has her doctorate in musical arts and has performed internationally with her saxophone.

Fancher will fill the First Presbyterian Church (29 East State St.) with “Sax Appeal” at 3 p.m. on April 6. Joining Fancher for the concert will be fellow saxophonist Chien-Kwan Lin and his wife, Pi-Lin Ni, playing piano.

Fancher earned her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics degrees, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Northwestern University.

A much sought after performer of new music, she has inspired and premiered dozens of new works for saxophone. She has performed in hundreds of international concerts as a solist and as a member of chamber music ensembles.

Mitzie Collins

The spring Eastman series will kick off with a 3 p.m. concert on March 9 by Mitzie Collins. A “Return to Ireland” will be an Irish/Celtic themed concert at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 106 South Main St.

Collins, a perennial favorite for the Albion audience, will be accompanied by the Harmonious Harps Ensemble, as well as “Irish tenor” Casey Costello.

The series is presented by the Albion Community in partnership with Eastman Community School of Music, all concert proceeds benefit Albion High School Alumni Foundation Scholarships.

For more information about tickets, click here.

Holley basketball will raise money for Children’s Hospital at Strong

Posted 30 January 2014 at 12:00 am

Press release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Please join the Holley Girls Basketball teams on Friday 5:30 to 9 p.m. (JV game starts at 5:30 p.m. and varsity will begin around 7:15 p.m.) at the Holley High School Gymnasium for the Second Annual Fight Against Cancer Fundraiser and Basketball Game.

All of the money raised will go directly to the More Than a Game Foundation at the Golisano’s Children’s Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. The More Than a Game Foundation helps support children and their families who are battling cancer.

Last year, Holley raised $2,700 with from 30 gift baskets, a grand prize raffle, a 50/50 drawing and the half-court shooting contest.

This year, Holley will be holding a Chinese auction for gift baskets. We will also be having a 50/50 raffle, raffling off two grand prizes and having another half court shooting contest.

The grand prizes include apair of Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins tickets, a restaurant gift card and an authentic Ryan Miller Jersey. The Holley Teachers Association and teacher Julie Wantuck donated the Grand Prize of thetwo Sabres tickets and the Ryan Miller jersey for the fundraiser. The second grand prize is an Ultimate Rochester Sports Fan Basket (which includes four tickets to each of the Rochester Rhinos, RazorSharks, Lancers, Knighthawks and WNY Flash games).

The event Friday is being coordinated by Assistant Principal Dan Courtney; Justin Tese, varsity girls basketball coach; Kristina Mack, JV girls basketball coach; and Mark Thomas, girls modified basketball coach.

Antique store draws shoppers to Gaines

Posted 30 January 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Sue Cook – The Old Goat’s sign by the edge of the road features a well-dressed goat smoking a pipe and wearing a monocle.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

GAINES – Walking into The Old Goat is like stepping into a cozy country home. Tarama Vacanti, the owner of the store, greets you at the door with a smile and happily lets you explore. The store is made of three rooms full of antiques and vintage items, as well as some country crafts.

The Old Goat has a diverse selection. You can find everything from antique signs to sewing machines, lanterns to luggage, doorknobs to decorations, and many other items.

Vacanti started her business from her house by selling out of her garage and through eBay for 15 years. She finally decided to open a store in Gaines four months ago and has found a huge outpouring of interest in her business.

“The people here are awesome,” she said. “Everyone is very supportive. This is a lot of fun.”

Her husband Eddie helps create some of the store’s most popular items: recycled and repurposed furniture. The items, such as benches and cabinets, are usually made from wood that was sourced from barns and 1800s homes.

The front room of the shop offers a mixture of antique and recycled-wood furniture.

Many of The Old Goat’s customers are repeats and they come from Canada to Canandaigua. Some of them come in seeking specific items. Vacanti commented that some people come in to see what she has stocked for silver items, while another woman comes in looking for old-fashioned baby clothing.

The store has new items about twice a week, and Vacanti said her family brings her their finds all the time. She tries to make sure every time a customer comes in that they see something different.

Vacanti also said that if someone is looking for a specific item and she doesn’t have it, she will put it on a list of what to look for during buying trips.

The back room is a showcase for many smaller items such as antique toys and housewares.

The Old Goat, located at 14069 Ridge Rd. West, is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, call (585) 298-6167 or visit the business’s Facebook page by clicking here.

Medina woman, 27, could get 7 years in prison for selling stolen guns

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A Medina woman pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on Monday to third-degree criminal sale of a firearm.

Rebecca Bischoff, 27, could get sentenced to a maximum of 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison when she is sentenced by Judge James Punch on March 31. She could also receive a lesser sentence.

She told Judge Punch she sold a stolen revolver from her boyfriend Christopher Hollenbeck, 27. She told the judge she knew it was stolen and sold it to someone in Medina. The revolver has since been recovered.

Bischoff and Hollenbeck were arrested after an investigation into a June 13 burglary of a Mill Road home in Ridgeway. Bischoff waited in the car while Hollenbeck entered the house and stole nine guns.

Hollenbeck pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 and also will be sentenced on March 31. He faces a maximum 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison. He said he broke into the house using a credit card, took nine guns and defaced them. Bischoff drove him to the site and allegedly helped him sell the defaced guns.

In other cases in county court:

A Medina man pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Milton Hinkley III, 41, of Glenwood Avenue was charged with DWI and AUO after he was stopped on May 18, 2013 on Glenwood Avenue.

Hinkley, has a prior DWI in 1999, District Attorney Joe Cardone said. Hinkley could receive a maximum of four years in state prison or he could receive a lesser sentence. Judge Punch will sentence Hinkley on March 31.

Two Medina men were offered plea deals that would put them in state prison for a maximum of five years.

Lorenzo Poole, 30, of Dresser Road and Jason Wills, 28, of Church Street both have been charged with second-degree assault, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.

The two were charged after an Oct. 27, 2013 incident at the parking lot of the Walsh Hotel in Medina when they each allegedly hit a man in the head with a beer bottle, causing a gash to the forehead and a broken nose.

Poole has four prior drug convictions, Cardone said, and Wills has a prior conviction.

An inmate at Orleans Correctional facility pleaded guilty to promoting prison contraband when he received a controlled substance, the drug buprenorphine, in the mail from his mother.

Jason Seifert, 28, has been at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion since April 23, 2010. He was sent to prison after being convicted of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

On Dec. 20, 2012, he received buprenorphine in the mail under the postage stamp. He didn’t have a prescription for the drug and he knew it was against the prison rules to have it, he told Judge Punch.

Seifert could face another year in jail, plus three years probation when he is sentenced on April 7.

His mother, Tracey Stratton, 51, of Vermont, has been charged with promoting prison contraband in the first degree and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree. Her case is pending.

A state Canal Corporation worker accused of stealing $5,700 worth of metal from the Canal Corp.’s Albion maintenance facility was offered a reduced charge if he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny and paid restitution.

Bruce Rotoli, 55, of Albion has been charged with third-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was arrested in May following a four-month investigation by state police, Village of Albion police and the Thruway Authority, which runs the canal system.

Police say that Rotoli in the fall of 2012 removed bronze bushing material from the Albion maintenance facility. Rotoli is currently on disability.

The DA’s office has video from various scrap yards of Rotoli selling the stolen property, Assistant DA Susan Howard said in court on Monday. Rotoli’s case was adjourned.

An Oakfield woman pleaded guilty to two counts of drug possession. Serena L. Weber, 28, avoided jail and will enter Drug Court. She pleaded guilty to fifth-and-seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Relief in sight from punishing cold

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

It’s another single-digit day of cold in Orleans County. A wind chill advisory is in effect until 3 p.m. as wind chills will feel as low as 20 below zero.

I think today feels the coldest of the recent string of frigid days. I tried to take a few photos this morning, and my bare fingers didn’t last long.

The top photo shows the big grain facility in Knowlesville at the corner of Route 31 and Knowlesville Road. The sun is shining despite the lack of warmth.

The high temperatures are forecast to reach 30 on Thursday, 32 on Friday and 35 on Saturday.

This barn is on west side of Knowlesville Road, a little north of Route 31.

An apple orchard withstands the cold in this photo by the Erie Canal. The image was taken from the Presbyterian Road canal bridge.

This barn appears to be gasping for life on Albion-Eagle Harbor Road. It’s just east of the Eagle Harbor lift bridge by the canal.

Collins and House back overdue Farm Bill

Posted 29 January 2014 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – A dairy cow is pictured last July during the Orleans County 4-H Fair in Knowlesville.

Press release
Congressman Chris Collins

Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) voted in support of the bipartisan Farm Bill this morning.The five-year comprehensive legislation easily passed the House of Representatives, 251 votes to 166, with large support from both Republicans and Democrats.

A member of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Collins admits the bill is not perfect, but says it includes real reforms and spending reductions, while removing regulatory barriers for farmers and strengthening America’s safety net. In total, the bill saves $23 billion in mandatory federal spending.

“The bipartisan Farm Bill provides our farmers and producers the certainty they deserve,” said Congressman Collins.

“The bill saves taxpayers billions of dollars, includes historic reform for our dairy policy by repealing outdated programs, and strengthens crop insurance and other protection programs our farmers need.

“And despite the rhetoric, the Farm Bill does not take away Food Stamps from those who are truly eligible,” he said. “Instead, it protects Food Stamp funding by closing loopholes to stop ongoing fraud and abuse.This is not a perfect bill, but it is a bipartisan compromise that addresses many of the critical issues facing our farmers in NY-27 and around the country.”

Specialty Crop Research

Congressman Collins fought for and achieved a significant increase for specialty crop research (boost of more than $200 million between 2012 proposal and today’s bill). The funding finances partnerships between our land-grant universities and farmers to help growers meet new marketplace demands and cultivate new products.This funding is especially essential for the continued growth of New York’s fruit farmers.

Dairy

The Farm Bill includes historic reforms to dairy policy, something the industry has long championed. The controversial Supply Management program has been eliminated and replaced with a new and voluntarily Margin Protection program which provides our dairy farmers with the safeguards they need without imposing government mandated controls.Both milk producers and processors have endorsed this new program and its flexibility will help NY-27’s booming dairy industry continue to grow.

Crop Insurance

The Farm Bill repeals direct payments to farmers and strengthens crop insurance and other risk management tools to protect both taxpayers and farmers when they suffer significant losses.

Beginning Farmer Support

To ensure young people choose agriculture as a career, the Farm Bill supports Beginning Farm Development programs. The bill will provide new farmers with discounted insurance and credit opportunities to help establish their business. With a large segment of America’s farmers and ranchers at or nearing retirement age, the Farm Bill helps encourage young people to enter this challenging and vitally important line of work which is essential to feeding our country and economy.

SNAP (Food Stamp) Reform

The Farm Bill makes the first reforms to SNAP since the bipartisan Welfare reforms of 1996. The bill closes a loophole that automatically enrolled people for Food Stamps when they receive heating assistance from their state government, regardless of their income level. The bill also cracks down on fraud and abuse (illegal immigrants and lotto winners receiving food stamps) and demands outcomes from existing employment training programs.

The New York Farm Bureau and other agricultural advocacy organizations firmly support the bill.The Senate is expected to vote on the measure later this week.

The last Farm Bill was passed in 2008. It expired in September after being extended for one year.

Readers share photos from the deep freeze

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2014 at 12:00 am

It’s the coldest winter in about four decades. It feels like day after day of brutal, bitter cold.

But Orleans County somehow shines amidst the snow and ice. Rick Baase of Carlton took the top photograph of the sunrise on Tuesday when it was 2-below zero.

It looks like steam is coming off Lake Ontario in the photo about 2 miles east of Point Breeze.

Peggy Barringer took this picture of the frosted window on her front door at Albion. The iced windows have revealed some wondrous artistic patterns.

Julie Miller of Barre last week took this picture of a sundog, which resembles a rainbow on a blistering cold day. She took it of a scene on Route 31A, west of Route 98 near Barre Stone Products.