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Singing Vikings, penny pie, and lots of old-time fun in East Shelby

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

Erik Olsen, right, and his son Levi entertain as the “Singing Vikings” during today’s “Old Tyme Day” celebration at the East Shelby Community Bible Church. Olsen is the church’s pastor.

There were several teams of horses giving wagon rides today as part of the “Old Tyme Day” celebration at the church on East Shelby Road.

Andrew McKee, 13, of Medina gets ready to sling a gumball at a big painting of David, as part of a “Slay the Giant” activity at Old Tyme Day.

Pie, lemonade, ice cream and other treats were all a penny.

The East Shelby Community Bible Church started “Old Tyme Day” about two decades ago. The church has built the West Jackson Corners village across from the church, and continues to add more old-fashioned activities to the annual festival.

Praise in the Park

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Church has service and picnic at Orleans County Marine Park

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Rev. Dan Thurber, pastor of the Oak Orchard Assembly of God, delivers the sermon underneath a pavilion a the Orleans County Marine Park.

POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina didn’t have church inside its building on Route 104 today.

The congregation instead had its service at the Orleans County Marine Park. The church has been coming to the Marine Park once a year for a church service since 2011.

The Rev. Dan Thurber, the church’s pastor, said he wants the congregation to get outside and see God’s glory in nature. The Marine Park, which is nestled along the Oak Orchard River, is a beautiful spot in the county, Thurber said.

After the service today about 100 people joined together for a picnic at the park.

Thurber said he would like to partner with more churches in the future for a joint service at the Marine Park.

Big crowds for opening day at Fair

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County 4-H Fair officials usually expect to ease into the Fair week with a relatively quiet Monday.

But good-size crowds were out this evening, enjoying nice sunshine without really hot summer weather. Fair leaders were happy to see the seats filled for the talent show and some lines at the concession stands.

In the top photo, two children get ready to head down the Fun Slide as the sun sets in the background.

The opening ceremony included a presentation of Colors by veterans, including from left: Jim Freas of Medina, Kevin Truesdell of Medina and Ron Ayrault of Holley.

U.S. Rep. Chris Collins addressed the opening ceremony crowd. He said county fairs “are certainly a part of our great Western New York tradition.”

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Jim Bays, first deputy commissioner for the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, also spoke during opening ceremonies. They commended the Cornell Cooperative Extension staff and volunteers for their work in planning the fair, which runs until Saturday night.

CCE program director Jennifer Wagester is at left followed by volunteers Gary Blackburn, Pete Toenniessen, John DeFilipps, Ed Neal (CCE president) and Michele Bokman.

The opening day included the Swine Show. Here, Blake Houseman, 2 1/2, of Gasport climbs up on the fence to get a better look at the action.

The talent show was also on the center stage. Allie Amoroso of Brockport performed a jazz solo to “Looking Good – Feeling Gorgeous.” She finished fifth and qualified for the State Fair.

Boat parade on the Oak Orchard

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Lineup is part of Yacht Club’s 75th anniversary celebration

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – About 20 boats floated down the Oak Orchard River this morning in a parade of boats.

The Oak Orchard Yacht Club has been doing the parade for years. Today’s parade is part of the 75th anniversary celebration for the Yacht Club. Festivities began on Friday and end today.

The club will be serving hot dogs, chips and soda today for friends and neighbors until 3 p.m. The clubhouse is on 1103 Archbald Rd. There will also be a slide show presentation about the club’s history today at 3 p.m.

Old-Fashioned Day returns to West Jackson Corners at East Shelby church

Posted 21 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Press release, East Shelby Community Bible Church

SHELBY – The East Shelby Community Bible Church will turn back the clock by about a century today serving baked goods for a penny and hosting horse-drawn rides and other old-fashioned activities.

The annual “Old Tyme Day” begins with a church service today at 10 a.m.

Immediately following church, all old-fashioned activities will begin. There will be an opportunity to ride in a Model A car.

New attractions this year include a “Flea Circus” and more children’s games. Church volunteers will demonstrate cooking over an open hearth in the log cabin, making homemade bread, butter and jam, and ice cream.

Participants will also have a chance to learn to make goat milk cheese, soap and goat milk fudge. There will also be popcorn, ice cream suckers, and penny candy at the local store.

Heritage activities will include horse and wagon rides, corn husk dolls, basket weaving, spinning, quilting, cheese making, candle making and woodworking.

There will also be a washer woman in the square singing as she washes clothes.  Visitors will also be entertained by the West Jackson Corners “Band of Renown” and the church choir. There will be a special Gospel concert in the church.

The tractor-drawn wagon will be taking folks on a guided tour of the East Shelby Cemetery to hear some of the history of the local people buried there. This cemetery dates back to the 1800s and includes the tomb of Civil War veteran Ziba Roberts.

The barn will house sheep and goats, while the henhouse will contain a flock of laying hens.

There are gardens to visit – a kitchen herb garden, a vegetable garden and the famous gardens in the village square.  While visiting be sure to check out the heirloom gardens at the parsonage as well.

When the Old Tyme Day first began it was a small affair next to the church with just a couple of buildings.  As the event grew it was necessary to purchase land across the road from the church and establish the village on that site.

Today West Jackson Corners has a log cabin, barn, hen house, teepee, carriage barn, woodworking shop, store, grange hall, children’s playhouse, dress shop along with other buildings and beautiful flower gardens in the village square.

West Jackson Corners is located on the East Shelby Road across from the East Shelby Community Bible Church.  It is 1 mile south of the hamlet East Shelby and 7 miles south east of Medina.

The sun sets on a Medina farm

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – I was on Route 63 around 8:30 tonight in Medina. I took these pictures of a farm across from Boxwood Cemetery on North Gravel Road. I couldn’t pick which one was best so I’m putting them both on the site.

‘Patsy Cline’ performs in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Josie Waverly portrayed Patsy Cline during a concert tonight at Medina High School. About 150 people attended the event, which was a fundraiser for the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

The fire company has been fortunate to have a wave of new recruits who could all use new turn-out gear and air packs. It can cost $8,500 to outfit each firefighter with the proper gear, said Gary Williams, a member of the fire company who took the lead in organizing the Waverly concert.

Our Sandstone Heritage

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Silver Creek parish built church, school with sandstone

Photos by Tom Rivers

In the tiny village of Silver Creek, the Chautauqua County community built a striking Catholic school made of brick and Medina sandstone in the 1950s. It appears to have been done in two stages, with the project wrapping up in 1960.

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish also built a Catholic church of sandstone about a half century earlier in 1908. The school and church make for a powerful one-two sandstone combo in this village by Lake Erie.

I’ve driven by the school a few times on the way to see my mother and father. Last night, I stopped with my camera.

The property at 165 Central Ave. was inundated with water during a flood in August 2009. The water caused $1 million in damage to the church, rectory and school.

The parish worked for 16 months to restore the site, replacing warped flooring, walls and boilers, and making numerous other repairs.

Father Daniel Fiebelkorn has only been pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for about year when the great flood hit Silver Creek.

“I was helping out that weekend,” he told Western New York Catholic, a Diocesan newspaper on Nov. 8, 2010. “Before the flood, I was complimenting the people on how beautiful the church was, and afterwards as we experienced the devastation, it was overwhelming. But the people themselves just set about getting to work. From day one, they were here cleaning and doing what they could to save it. There was a strong desire to do as much as they could to rebuild.”

I tip my hat to this parish for building wonderful structures, choosing a hearty stone that can withstand the elements. And I salute the parish for working to restore the sites when disaster struck with the flood.

Sailing canal boat due in Medina on Aug. 8

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Lois McClure schooner has been delayed by closed canal

Courtesy of Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

MEDINA – The Medina Tourism Coomittee has been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Lois McClure this summer, but closed sections of the canal have delayed the sailboat.

The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, owners of the boat, announced an updated schedule for Lois McClure today and Medina is listed as a stop on Aug. 8. The boat will pass east through Orleans before staying in Brockport on Aug. 9.

Lois McClure is like a floating museum. The schooner is a full-scale replica of an 1862-class sailing canal boat, constructed by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vermont and launched in 2004.

The boat has done many tours along the interconnected waterways of New York, Vermont and Quebec. Lois McClure is modeled after two 1862-class canal schooners sunk in Lake Champlain, the General Butler and the OJ Walker.

Launched in 2004, Lois McClure serves as a regional ambassador promoting the shared heritage of Quebecois, Vermonters and New Yorkers. The schooner is named in honor of Lois McClure, who, along with her husband Mac, has been a major contributor to the sailboat and other worthy community projects in the greater Burlington, Vermont area.

For more on the boat and its schedule, click here.

Chamber seeks award-nominees

Posted 19 July 2013 at 12:00 am

Press release, Orleans County Chamber of Commerce

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is proud to present its Annual Awards Dinner each year to recognize the contributions made by distinguished businesses, individuals, agencies and organizations that have positively impacted the quality of life in Orleans County.

Winners are selected from nominations submitted by Chamber members, which are reviewed by a committee comprised of community and business leaders. The deadline for submission for nominations is July 25.

Business of the Year: This category is for a business that is deemed to have the most significant overall achievements during the year.

Lifetime Achievement: This award is presented to an individual(s) with a long-term record of outstanding business achievements.

Entrepreneurial Excellence: A company demonstrating a unique approach to business that has resulted in a strategic advantage in the marketplace; perhaps through the use of cutting edge technology or other innovative methods.

Phoenix Award: An organization or business that has successfully adapted or re-used an existing facility.

New Business of the Year: A business or organization that has opened its door for the first time in the past year.

Community Service: A business, organization or individual with a history of meaningful contributions to the community, including both professional and non-professional, and specifically one which generates the majority of revenue from sources other than sales of physical products.

For more information, call the Chamber at 585-589-7727 or check the Chamber website by clicking here.