By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Dennis Kirby, manager of the Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District, addresses about 160 people on Saturday at the 18th annual Farmer to Neighbor Night at Tillman’s Village Inn.
Kirby urged farmers to sign up for soil health programs. Soil & Water sponsors the annual Farmer to Neighbor Night along with Farm Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Albion FFA Alumni.
Proceeds from the event are used to send FFA students to state convention, camps and help with other costs in the ag program.
Albion student Alexis Bentley recites the FFA Creed before the crowd at The Village Inn.
Jennifer Wagester, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, said it will be a busy 2016 for the agency as it celebrates its 70th year. The annual fair, scheduled for July 25 through July 30, will be the highlight of a busy year at the fairgrounds in Knowlesville.
Barry Flansburg served as emcee of Saturday’s event. Albion FFA students, from left, include Clara Stilwell, Katie Mann, Allyson Graham and Garrett Derisley.
The FFA students praise the support from the farm community, especially with donations in an annual food drive that topped 30,000 pound sof produce in December.
Orleans County Farm Bureau board member Anna Smith urges the group to go online (NYFB.org) to lobby state legislators to oppose raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. A report by Farm Credit East says the higher wage will increase costs to the farm community by $622 million a year.
The annual Farmer to Neighbor Night is light on speeches and focused more on sharing conversation and good meal together before the busy planting season starts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2016 at 8:00 am
CARLTON – Chyenne Tackley accepts the Chief’s Award from Andrew Niederhofer, fire chief of the Carlton Volunteer Volunteer Company, on Saturday during an annual banquet that also included recognition of the fire company’s 75th anniversary.
Tackley serves as the fire company’s chief mechanic. He fixes many of the fire trucks and keeps other equipment working. He also organizes the equipment and keeps it inspected.
“He is a real asset,” Niederhofer said.
Dwayne Tinkous, left, receives the President’s Award. He is pictured with Andrew Niederhofer, fire chief.
Tinkous was praised for helping the fire company secure about $100,000 in grants for a new hurst tool, and equipment to fight brush fires. He also helped organize the 75th annual banquet on Saturday.
The Carlton Fire Company officially formed on Oct. 21, 1940 in Waterport by founding members George Banker, Norman Barry and Lyman Clark.
“During the fire company’s 75-year career, it has saved countless lives, protected the general welfare of the community, and strengthened the bond between Orleans County residents through numerous fundraisers, local events and charitable endeavors,” according to a proclamation from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
James E. Keller, center, was recognized for 50 years of service to the fire company. He is pictured with his grandson Thomas Niehous, left, and son-in-law Dale Niehous.
Glenn Woolston also was recognized as a 50-year member. He is pictured with his grandson, Ryan Woolston, who is a second lieutenant with the fire company.
Howard Watts, right, from the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company presented a plaque in honor of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company’s 75 years. Kevin Dann, in back, is the Holley fire chief and he also presented a plaque in honor of Carlton’s milestone anniversary.
Jon DeYoung, the Clarendon fire chief, presents a plaque to Niederhofer in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company.
Richard Brackenbury, left, and Ben Diltz, right, were recognized with jackets for responding to the most calls in 2015. They both responded to 151 calls, or 57.9 percent of the 261 total. They are pictured with 1st Assistant Chief Dwayne Tinkous and Fire Chief Andrew Niederhofer.
The fire company also recognized Les Tabor for selling the most chicken barbecue tickets. Tabor sold about 250 tickets. He has led the fire company in chicken barbecue ticket sales for the past 35 years.
Kurt Van Wycke also was recognized for selling the most gun raffle tickets with 109. Dale Niehous was close in second place with 98 tickets sold.
Niederhofer said the gun raffle raises about $11,000 for the fire company, and other fundraisers bring the total to about $20,000. That’s money the fire company doesn’t have to seek in additional property taxes, Niederhofer said.
Niederhofer also recognized four firefighters for 25 years of service, including Gary Van Wycke, left, and David Bertsch. Don Cooper and Greg Juhrs also have 25 years of service.
The banquet included a memorial display of helmets worn by past firefighters.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 13 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
HOLLEY – The impressive and inviting entrance to the new “World of Discovery” at the library in Holley was created by Laurence Dabney, a local artist and retired Holley Central art teacher.
Young patrons of the Community Free Library in Holley now officially have their own “World of Discovery” children’s section that expands opportunities for play. Those opportunities assist with the development of reading and learning skills, Library Director Sandra Shaw said during a ribbon cutting held Saturday morning to celebrate the changes.
“They learn how to play and from that they learn how to read,” she noted of young children.
Former State Sen. George Maziarz and Assemblyman Steve Hawley get lots of help in cutting the ribbon for the new World of Discovery for young patrons at the Community Free Library in Holley. Before the ribbon cutting, the young lady in the turquoise leggings sitting on the floor remarked: “This place is perfect for a princess like me!”
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and former State Senator George Maziarz join Holley Community Free Library Director Sandra Shaw for this morning’s grand opening of the library’s new World of Discovery for children.
The World of Discovery includes a castle entrance to the children’s section and a special play room area that now includes a large puppet theater, family and community helper puppets, children’s kitchen, Doc McStuffin’s Veterinary Clinic, Black & Decker building center and a costume cabinet.
Maziarz secured state grant funding of $6,300 about 18 months ago, Shaw explained.
“After we scraped our jaws off the floor, we thought about using the funds to improve the children’s section,” Shaw said. She noted Maziarz is a “proponent of children’s education and welfare.”
Maziarz attended the ribbon cutting. Maziarz noted it is important to reach out to children, “while they are young,” and explained that he and his eight brothers spent much time while growing up at their local library in North Tonawanda. “I have a long-time affinity for libraries,” he said. “I recently became a grandfather for the first time, so I’m all for enhancing programs for children.”
State Senator Robert Ortt was unable to attend due to a previous commitment.
Assemblyman Hawley said he was happy to be re-united with Maziarz for the event, and explained that the former state senator is staying very active in retirement.
“I see home all the time, all over the State of New York,” Hawley said. He acknowledged the work done by Maziarz to obtain the grant funds. “We need to thank him for the money he got a number of years ago,” Hawley said.
The celebration included refreshments and activities throughout the library, including face-painting, balloons, and crown-making. Many of the young patrons came dressed in costumes as knights, princesses and dragons – befitting the castle theme of the World of Discovery.
Michelle Vroblefski brought her family from Brockport. “This is great,” she said. “We will visit more often.”
Families enjoy crafts and activities Saturday morning at the Community Free Library. The festivities were part of a ribbon cutting celebration for the new children’s World of Discovery.
Four-year old Helen Schofield works to complete a crown during activities Saturday morning at the Community Free Library.
MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Band hosted a Winterguard show on Saturday with 20 guard units from Western NY and Canada competing. Approximately 350-375 people were in attendance.
The top photo shows the Varsity Guard, which is comprised of 20 students in grades 7-12. Their show is “A-Maze-Zing”. In the Scholastic A class, the Medina Varsity guard came in 2nd with a score of 78.72. Victor took 1st place with a score of 83.01.
In the Cadet Class, Medina competed against six other units and came in 4th with a score of 61.08. The Cadet Guard is comprised of 12 students in grades 1-9 and their show is “Descendants”.
The next and last performance for these groups will be Saturday, March 26, at the NECGC Championships held at Brockport College, the SERC, 350 New Campus Drive.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Richard Flanagan plays basketball star Troy Bolton, shown here with his Wildcats teammates during a performance of Disney’s High School Musical Jr.
Albion Middle School performed the show on Friday, and twice today. The show has a message of unity among the student body, and supporting each other in trying other interests. Troy, one of the basketball stars, also enjoys singing and performing on stage, despite the initial ridicule of his teammates.
Olivia Morrison plays Ms. Darbus, the drama teacher at the school. She initially is skeptical of Troy’s interest in the drama program. This photo shows Mr. Darbus in her homeroom.
The opening scene includes the “Wildcat Cheer.” The musical shows some of the divisions among different cliques at the school, including cheerleaders, thespians, the basketball team, brainiacs, and skaters.
Jeffrey Brown portrays Jack Scott, who shares the school announcements.
Leah Kania plays Gabriella Montez and Richard Flanagan is Troy Bolton. The two first connect singing karaoke together and later earn the lead roles in the school musical. Sophia Zambito, in back, plays Kelsi Nielson.
Emma Tower plays Sharpay, an egotistical drama star, and Zachary Kilner plays her brother Ryan Evans. They are used to getting the lead roles in the school production and feel threatened by Gabriella and Troy.
There are several high-energy songs and dances in the musical. Katelyn Spierdowis plays the brainy Taylor, Chase Froman is Coach Bolton (center), and Omar Peterson plays Zeke Baylor, a basketball player who enjoys cooking.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – After months of reading and discussing the 14th annual “A Tale for Three Counties,” a community reading effort culminated this week with visits and book talks by author Sarah M. Hulse of Spokane, Wa.
She met with Lyndonville students on Friday morning and later on Friday evening led a book discussion with about 75 people at Hoag Library in Albion. She is pictured in top photo, reading an excerpt from the book.
Hulse, 31, shared some of her writing and research strategies. She wrote the book as her master’s thesis at the University of Oregon. The initial 125,000-word novel was pared down to about 81,000 words. She compared the process to sculpting, starting with a hunk of material and then shaping it. It was a four-year process to write the book and then edit it.
Hulse talks about the book with about 75 people in the main meeting room at the Hoag Library.
Hulse visited GCC and Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia before spending much of the day in Orleans County on Friday. She is giving a book talk today in Perry, Wyoming County.
The story of Black River centers on Wes Carver, a retired corrections officer who is coping with the loss of his wife to cancer. Carver also returns to the Black River community for the parole hearing of an inmate who tortured Carver during a prison riot two decades earlier. That inmate badly broke Carver’s fingers, preventing him from playing the fiddle, one of his passions.
Hulse signs a book for Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Free Library in Lyndonville. Past books in the “Tale” series are on a table and were for sale on Friday.
Hulse thanked the enthusiastic crowds at her stops in Genesee and Orleans the first two days of her local tour.
Hulse said she read books on prisons and riots, as well as folk music to research the book. She also tried to learn to play the fiddle herself. She also spent a day with a blacksmith so she could better describe that trade, which is the profession for one of the book’s main characters, Dennis.
The novel explores faith, forgiveness, fatherhood and revenge.
“Basically every character in the book is doing the best that they can,” Hulse told the crowd at Albion. But she said the novel looks at relationships “when good people can’t get along.”
Hulse signs copies of Black River for readers after a book talk on Friday.
“Tale” organizers estimate about 1,000 in the three counties read the book, which is set a small town in Montana.
Organizers try to find up-and-coming authors as part of the series.
Catherine Cooper, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, appreciates the community support and participation in the Tale events.
She said Black River was an immediate hit with the Tale committee that reads several books throughout the year to consider the best book for the Tale program.
All 14 of the Tale books have been memorable, capped by visits and talks by the authors, Cooper said.
“It’s the icing on the cake,” she said. “Other books we might forget, but not a Tale book.”
She praised Hulse for writing a novel “that enriches our understanding of the human experience.”
Provided photo
Hulse also met with two high school classes at Lyndonville on Friday morning. About 45 Lyndonville students read the book and wrote an essay about the novel.
The 14th annual Tale event for the first time included a local high school reading the book and discussing it in classes. Lyndonville used the book Grade 11 Pre-Advanced Placement English, Grade 12 AP English, and Grade 12 English.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 12 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Volume 2, Issue 11
WATERPORT – Constructed in 1876, the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg trestle over Oak Orchard Creek provided a crossing point for the rail system in its earliest years. This particular image shows the first trestle constructed on that site in Waterport using lightweight iron trusses and planks. As the railroad grew, a new bridge was constructed in 1892 to facilitate increased traffic.
The RW&O Railroad was first established in 1842 with the purpose of linking Watertown and Rome. As the years progressed, the rail system merged with various lines throughout New York to produce a somewhat successful system of transportation along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Although the line was popular amongst excursionists, the railroad developed a reputation as a poorly maintained rail system, earning the eloquent nickname “Rotten Wood & Old Rusty Rails.” The railroad later earned the nickname “Hojack.”
The source of the name “Hojack” is unknown, but the most common origin story describes a farmer riding in a buckboard drawn by a stubborn, bulky mule. While crossing the tracks of the RW&O, the mule decided he would rest much to the dismay of the farmer. As a train barreled full speed towards the wagon, the farmer flew into a frenzy shouting, “Ho-Jack, Ho-Jack!” The train operators found such humor in the incident that they began calling the line the “Ho-Jack”; perhaps more folklore than truth.
Another story associated with the RW&O involved the construction of the trestle at Waterport. It is said that the first train to cross the newly constructed bridge was operated by Eunice Ross. Mrs. Ross lived near the construction site with her husband John, who was a miller at the nearby flour mill. Eunice agreed to board the construction crew in exchange for a small favor; the opportunity to pilot the train across the trestle, once completed.
On a small side-note, John and Eunice Ross cared for William Lake who was abandoned by his mother as a young child. Lake was later convicted in the heinous murder of Emma Louise Hunt in 1894.
Sunday, March 13th at 7 p.m., the county historian will provide a program for the Orleans County Genealogical Society on Zachariah Spencer and the early history of the Cobblestone Inn on Ridge Road in Ridgeway. The program at the Hoag Library in Albion is free and open to the public.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Clocks are pictured at about 6 p.m. on Friday on the former St. Mary’s Catholic Church (now The Light of Victory Church) at 47 Brown St.
Daylight Savings begins at 2 a.m. tonight, meaning one less hour of sleep. AAA Western and Central New York issued this public advisory, saying some motorists may feel drowsy:
“With Daylight Saving Time beginning Sunday, March 13 at 2 a.m., Americans will ‘spring forward’ and set their clocks ahead one hour. Losing an hour of sleep and the change in daylight hours means motorists may potentially experience drowsy driving and added distractions on the road.
“In addition to the change of daylight, children, pedestrians, joggers, walkers, and bicyclists will likely become more active outdoors.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Thomas Follman, right, plays Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Leif Isaacson is Benny Southstreet, both gamblers, in Guys and Dolls.
A cast of 53 students from Medina and Lyndonville will perform the musical today at 7:30, Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 p.m. All of the performances are at Lyndonville’s Stroyan Auditorium.
Jennifer Trupo is director of the musical. She said the cast includes several strong male leads.
“There is a great crop of guys this year and this is a guy-heavy show,” she said.
Lyndonville-Medina also performed shows with fairy tale characters the previous two years with Shrek and Into the Woods. “This time they can play regular people,” Trupo said.
Salma Huzair plays Sarah Brown and Joseph Mangiola is Sky Masterson. Huzair’s character leads the Save-a-Soul Mission, trying to get sinners to repent. Sky initially wooed Sarah in a bet, but the two develop genuine affection for each other.
Some of the gamblers are pictured during a dress rehearsal on Thursday. The musical is set in the hustle and bustle of New York City.
Cora Payne plays the lead role of Miss Adelaide and Abel Zavitz is Nathan Detroit. The two have been engaged for 14 years. Nathan runs an illegal crap game. Brian Cunningham plays the gambler, Big Jule.
These gangsters include, from left: Brian Cunningham as Big Jule, Thomas Bummer as Harry the Horse, and Devon Allen as Lt. Brannigan.
William Bellan portrays Arvide Abernathy, Sarah Brown’s grandfather and a bass drum player. He is a member of the Save-a-Soul Mission.
Hot Box Dolls include, from left: Grace Masse, Shelby Green and Cora Payne.
