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Oak Orchard Lighthouse helped usher in new era of giving

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse was built in 2010 at Point Breeze next to the Oak Orchard Harbor. It will be included in the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend on Aug. 17-18.

POINT BREEZE – I climbed to top of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse yesterday for the first after the party in honor of Point Breeze winning the “Ultimate Fishing Town.”

The lighthouse was constructed in 2010, following a dedicated fund-raising effort for nearly a decade. It’s not a massive stone lighthouse like the one in Barker, but I think the new wooden lighthouse is a great symbol of hope. The lighthouse project was the second in this generation in Orleans County that rallied community dollars to build something new. It followed the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s campaign for a new education enter.

I think the Extension and Lighthouse projects encouraged Swan Library and Hospice of Orleans County to go public with their new projects – the new library in Albion and the hospice residence, which both opened last year.

Visitors are welcome to climb the stairs to reach the top of the 35-foot structure.

The new lighthouse topped $200,000. That project, and the community support to make it happen, has me optimistic we can rally support for a bronze statue in Albion in honor of the quarrymen who built these canal towns.

The 35-foot lighthouse is a replica to one that toppled in 1916 after a storm. The Oak Orchard Lighthouse has become an iconic symbol for the county and the Point. It is featured on the cover of the county’s new tourism guide.

The site includes a small museum and gift shop. Visitors are welcome to climb the stairs to reach the top of the lighthouse. An LED light is on at night from April 1 to Nov. 1.

Volunteers staff the site on Friday evenings, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The site is available for other events. To schedule a tour or for other information, contact volunteer Larry Albanese at (585) 230-7829.

The lighthouse includes a modern LED light that is lit at night from April 1 to Nov. 1.

‘This project connected to me’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Ninandré Bogue is painting quarrymen mural for Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers – Nin Bogue referenced century-old quarrymen photos and his own feel for local Medina sandstone to create a scene of workers in a quarry. The mural will be placed on the side of a building at Waterman Park on Main Street in downtown Albion.

LYNDONVILLE – Ninandré Bogue wanted to live in a community with a sense of history. The Amherst native and his wife, a Southtowns native, picked Lyndonville.

For 13 years he has worked full-time as a professional artist, often returning to Erie County suburbs to paint murals inside big houses.

His latest project involves a 20-foot-long mural that will be mounted on the side of a building on Main Street in Albion. It will depict immigrant quarrymen from a century ago working in a local quarry. The project is sponsored by the Albion Rotary Club and also includes support from the Orleans County Tourism Department and matching funds from the Rotary district.

“With the quarrymen, this project connected to me,” Bogue said in his studio today. “I saw people and the history to it.”

To get a feel for the quarries, an industry that peaked a century ago, Bogue looked a historic photos provided by Holley Historian Marsha DeFillipps. She has a stack of photos of Holley and Hulberton quarry workers.

The pictures were in black-and-white so Bogue studied the local reddish-brown Medina sandstone to know the color of the stone. He had to fill in other gaps.

“I’ve had to use my imagination,” he said.

Nin Bogue wants to honor the quarrymen from generations ago who worked in local quarries.

He expects to finish the mural possibly today, with it soon to be installed on the Albright building on the north side of Waterman Park, about a half block south of the canal. That park is also targeted as a site for a bronze statue of a quarryman.

Albion also is working to install $50,000 worth of street-scape improvements, which will include bike racks, potted trees and flowers, interpretive panels and a public art project where 12 new benches will be painted in Albion heritage themes.

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce also is working on public art project, where 75 palettes painted by artists are being showcased in local businesses.

Bogue, 46, believes artists can help draw tourists and spending to downtown business districts.

“Art gives hope and hope is a very powerful thing,” he said. “We should embrace sculptures, gorgeous gardens and picturesque scenes. It will open the door to tourism.”

For more information about Bogue, check his website at www.bogueartstudios.com.

Congratulations to local Alfred State grads

Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Press Release: Alfred State

ALFRED, NY – Nearly 900 two- and four-year degree candidates received diplomas from Alfred State this spring. Associate and baccalaureate degrees were awarded in fields of agriculture, health, business, vocational, and engineering technology, as well as the arts and sciences. The following students from Orleans County were among the students receiving degrees in the Class of 2013:

Everett Buck of Holley – Electrical Engineering Tech, AAS

Alexandria Frasier of Medina – Individual Studies, AS

Matthew Gross of Medina – Elec Cons & Maint Electrician, AOS

Derek Howes of Lyndonville – Elec Cons & Maint Electrician, AOS

Andrew Hydock of Lyndonville – Construction Engineering Tech AAS

Dj Javier of Albion – Bldg Trades-Building Construct, AOS

Michael Levandowski of Kent – Electrical Engineering Tech, BS

Noah O’Kussick of Kent – Bldg Trades-Building Construct, AOS

Kenneth Rush of Albion – Mechanical Engineering Tech, BS

Shelly Schepis of Medina – Veterinary Technology, AAS

Evan Sheffer of Albion – Air Conditioning & Heating Tech, AOS

Bradley Zacher of Medina – Bldg Trades-Building Construct, AOS

Albion Rotary welcomes new president

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Cindy Perry, left, was sworn in tonight as the new president for the Albion Rotary Club for the next year. She succeeds Kelly Kiebala, right.

GAINES – The Albion Rotary Club, now in its 91st year, marked the “changing of the guard” tonight with a new president and other leaders sworn in.

Cindy Perry is the new president, succeeding Kelly Kiebala. Perry works as the director of health education, wellness and outreach for Orleans Community Health. The Waterport resident has been a member of Rotary since 1999 and spearheads the club’s annual golf tournament, which is scheduled for July 18 this year.

Kiebala joined the club in 2007, back when she was president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. The Medina resident is the executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, based in Batavia.

She was praised for her continued commitment to the Albion Club. The Rotary Club uses money raised from the golf tournament, a fishing derby, St. Patrick’s ham dinner, hot dog booth and other fund-raisers to give scholarships and support other community causes.

Kelly Kiebala is presented with a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition for her year of service as Albion Rotary Club president. Ed Fancher, a past president, presents the award to Kiebala during a meeting tonight at The Village Inn.

Ridgeway will celebrate 200th birthday on Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Town will show off renovations to Town Hall, honor citizens

Photo by Tom Rivers – Brian Napoli, Ridgeway town supervisor, stands outside the town hall, which was recently upgraded. Ridgeway will have an open house Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the building, 410 West Ave.

MEDINA – The town is inviting the public to come see renovations to the town hall on Saturday, and also to help mark Ridgeway’s 200th birthday.

The celebration will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon at 410 West Ave. Ridgeway actually reached its bicentennial last year, when contractors were working on the town building. Now that the work is complete, the town wants to show off the town hall, and mark its 200th birthday.

State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, are expected on Saturday with formal proclamations in honor of the bicentennial. County Legislators Dave Callard and Lynne Johnson also are expected to help celebrate the milestone.

Town Supervisor Brian Napoli will present honorary citations to the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company for their work in the community and to historian Richard Nellist.

Mary Woodruff became the first woman ever to serve on the Town Board when she was appointed in March 2012. She was then elected to councilwoman last November. She will also be recognized on Saturday.

Childhood rite at Point Breeze

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – An Albion family visited Point Breeze today and couldn’t pass up the chance to skip rocks in Lake Ontario. Sophia Dash, 2, and her cousin Amelia Sanchez, 9, took turns tossing rocks in the water.

Amelia’s brother, Carlitos Sanchez, 12, was good at getting the rocks to jump in the water – to the delight of his sister and little cousin.

Orleans will step up welfare fraud investigations

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Orleans County has stepped up its welfare fraud investigations in recent years and is poised to double those efforts.

“We can’t ignore it,” Legislature Chairman David Callard said about welfare fraud. “We have to deal with it. People need to know in Orleans County that we’re serious about it.”

The county has been increasing the recovered dollars in welfare fraud and “avoidance,” welfare that is sought but isn’t approved because the applicants aren’t eligible for the benefits, said Tom Kuryla, the Department of Social Services commissioner.

In 2009, the county recovered $37,000 in welfare fraud, and prevented $352,000 in benefits from going to people who weren’t eligible for welfare, he said.

The numbers have steadily increased since then. In 2010, there was $40,000 recovered and $1,245,000 prevented. In 2011, $76,000 was recovered with DSS avoiding $1,358,000 in ineligible benefits, Kuryla told legislators today.

Last year, the lone welfare fraud investigator recovered $85,000 and DSS prevented another $1,598,000 in ineligible benefits.

Kuryla said the DSS’s lone fraud investigator has 50 caseloads and responds to another 40 to 50 inquiries a month. That is a heavy caseload, Kuryla told legislators.

The Legislature approved his request to not fill the position of a recently retired child support specialist, and instead hire a second fraud investigator. District Attorney Joe Cardone also endorsed a second fraud investigator.

“It would more than pay for itself,” he said about the position.

He noted the recent case of a woman who accessed $40,000 in childcare benefits when she didn’t send her child to daycare, instead keeping the money for herself. The alleged crime was detected and she was charged with fraud.

Kuryla said DSS will be better able to investigate people on welfare long-term, who may be claiming a disability is preventing them from working. DSS also wants to check people using emergency housing assistance in hotels. Those people may not be aggressively pursuing other less costly housing.

Kuryla doesn’t begrudge needy people from accepting welfare on a temporary basis, but he said fraud “is breaking the backs of taxpayers.”

Point Breeze basks in winning ‘Ultimate Fishing Town’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard gives Narby’s Superette and Tackle owner Sharon Narburgh a hug today following a ceremony when the Point Breeze community received a trophy and check for $25,000 after winning the “Ultimate Fishing Town” competition.

POINT BREEZE – When Orleans County tourism promoters go to trade shows, trying to hook anglers into coming to the county, Orleans can now boast something few have achieved: The title of “Ultimate Fishing Town.”

Point Breeze won the fourth annual title after nearly two months of voting on-line through the World Fishing Network. Point Breeze topped 700 other fishing communities in the U.S. and Canada for the crown.

Representatives from the WFN are in the county today. They presented a trophy and a $25,000 check to Carlton town officials to promote the fishery.

“This can help us to stand out,” said Sharon Narburgh, owner of Narby’s Superette and Tackle.

A boater travels up the mouth of the Oak Orchard Harbor earlier today.

She has been in business for 48 years at the Point, and traveled to numerous fishing and trade shows. The lake and tributary fishing in Orleans is already popular, and a key economic stimulator for the community, Narburgh said.

But she believes the area and the fishery can be better utilized, to boost the economy for the community.

She is on a committee that will decide how to spend the $25,000 in prize money. The money will be in a Carlton town account and won’t be touched for any other purpose besides the fishery, town officials said. The victory also includes promotional videos and other free publicity about the area from the World Fishing Network.

WFN airs throughout North America. The Ultimate Fishing Town host Mariko Izumi said Point Breeze will be heavily promoted to fishing enthusiasts. She presented the trophy and check to local officials after going a charter boat with Buc-A-Roo Charters this morning. She and a film crew are also visiting Brown’s Berry Patch, The Bridges, the Waterport Dam, the Archer’s Club and Albion’s historic downtown and Courthouse Square.

The World Fishing Network presented a $25,000 grand prize to promote the fishery at Point Breeze. Pictured, from left: Carlton Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery, Narby’s Superette and Tackle owner Sharon Narburgh, and Carlton Town Board member Joyce Harris.

“I am just beaming with pride,” State Sen. George Maziarz said during a celebration at Gene and Joette Haines’ lakeside home next to the lighthouse. “It takes a combined effort. You did a great job, Point Breeze.”

The local victory followed last year’s winning effort by Olcott, giving two southshore Lake Ontario communities the honor. Maziarz believes the two victories will draw more attention to the Lake Ontario fishery.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said the “Ultimate Fishing Town” is good news for the community that has been stung by a struggling economy. Last week Worthington Cylinders said it would close next year in medina, eliminating 174 jobs in Medina. JP Morgan Chase also is closing its Albion mortgage servicing unit, cutting 400 positions in September.

A look at the Oak Orchard Harbor from the top of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.

Hawley presented a citation to Carlton town officials for the win in the fishing contest. County Legislature Chairman David Callard and Legislator Ken Rush also presented a proclamation to Carlton and Point Breeze leaders, praising their “pride, passion and enthusiasm.” Callard said the county will keep working to promote the fishery.

The Point Breeze win was aided by fishing enthusiasts from Olcott. Three of them attended today’s celebration.

Margaret Murray of Olcott said Point Breeze’s win will shine more light on the south shore fishery.

“The neighbors on the southern shore are working together to grow economically as a tourist area,” she said. “We have wonderful fishing opportunities here.”

Dairy princess shares milk message

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Elizabeth Meyer, 17, of Medina served milk punch to Orleans County legislators and other attendees of today’s County Legislature meeting, including Legislature Chairman David Callard, right.

Elizabeth is the 2013-14 Niagara-Orleans dairy princess. She was assisted by her father, Larry, in serving the milk concoctions. Mr. Meyer is well acquainted with local farmers. He is the county director for the Farm Service Agency.

His daughter, who will be a senior at Medina High School this fall, has worked the past three years at Gasport View Dairy, feeding calves. She said she enjoys watching the animals get bigger.

She delivered a speech to county legislators about agriculture, praising farmers for their mechanical knowledge, their effort financial management and environmental stewardship.

Legislator Ken Rush, R-Carlton, then a read a proclamation from the Legislature, declaring June “Dairy Month.”

Point Breeze celebrates victory today

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am

POINT BREEZE – The fishing community at Point Breeze spent two months reeling in a prized catch: The title of “Ultimate Fishing Town.”

Today the community will celebrate the award at 11 a.m. by the lighthouse. Representatives from the World Fishing Network will join locals during a presentation at the Point.

The Orleans County fishing community topped 700 others in on-line votes to win the title that comes with $25,000 to spend on promoting the fishery.

Point Breeze is already well known for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and cohoes. A committee will discuss how to spend the prize money, to entice more anglers to fish at the Oak Orchard River, Lake Ontario and other tributaries.