By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Lisa Bierdeman works to dig a hole for a plant while helping her mother Brenda Bierdeman create a sensory garden on Platt Street in Albion. The two spent part of Memorial Day on the project.
Bierdeman is a licensed clinical psychologist who works out of 27 South Platt St. She acquired the vacant lot next door and has been cleaning it up, and adding flowers, plants and small trees. She will include a balance beam at ground level, a slide and a bridge over a rock garden.
The garden is designed for children with autism and other sensory disorders.
“It will be a place that is really calming,” Bierdeman said.
Her daughter is a University at Buffalo doctoral student in physical therapy.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 May 2013 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – A one-day-old baby was handed over to Medina firefighters on Saturday as part of the state’s Safe Haven Law, which allows a parent to leave a baby, up to 30 days old, “with any responsible person at a suitable location in New York.”
The Medina Fire Department then took the baby to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.
“It’s very, very rare,” Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich said about having a baby dropped off at the fire hall.
He praised firefighters on duty for accepting the baby, and following the parameters of the law.
“The guys absolutely did the right thing,” Zinkievich told the Village Board during tonight’s board meeting. “We’re not allowed to ask any questions.”
Mayor Andrew Meier said the baby’s mother also deserves praise for bringing the child to the fire hall.
“There were a lot of other choices the mother had,” he said.
Click here for a link about the state’s Safe Haven Law.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland both led the nation
Photos by Tom Rivers – This 9-foot-high bronze statue next to Buffalo City Hall depicts Millard Fillmore, a Western New York native who served as U.S. president from 1850 to 1853.
Grover Cleveland is the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms and the only president to have his wedding in the White House. He married Medina native Frances Folsom, who was 21 at the time.
BUFFALO – The former presidents from Buffalo watch over the city, standing confidently by a busy traffic circle.
I’ve driven by the presidents before. Yesterday I took time to stop and see them.
The 9-foot-high statues of Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland are at opposite ends of the city hall in Buffalo in front of Niagara Square. The statues are black bronze, mounted on 6-foot-high blocks of granite.
Buffalo and upstate New York were influential in national politics more than a century ago. Besides the two presidents, William Seward of Auburn was a front-runner for president in 1860, losing to Abraham Lincoln. Seward served as Lincoln’s powerful secretary of state.
Millard Fillmore
Fillmore (Jan. 7, 1800 to March 8, 1874) served as Zachary Taylor’s vice president from 1849 to 1850. When Taylor died suddenly, Fillmore became the country’s 13th president, the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office.
The statue of Fillmore was dedicated in 1932, when city hall opened in Buffalo.
He was president during a turbulent time with the country debating slavery, particularly whether it should be allowed in new territories annexed during the Mexican-American War. Fillmore backed the Compromise of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act, requiring northerners to return runaway slaves to their southern owners. Fillmore is often rated in the bottom tier of country’s presidents.
Fillmore, a lawyer, was influential in Western New York. He was co-founder of the University at Buffalo and helped start the Buffalo Historical Society and Buffalo General Hospital. He also served in the State Assembly and U.S. Congress.
Grover Cleveland
Cleveland (March 18, 1837 to June 24, 1908) served as Buffalo’s mayor, Erie County sheriff, and New York governor before being elected as president. He served in the role from 1885-1889 and again from 1893-1897. He was the 22nd and 24th presidents, the only person to serve two nonconsecutive terms.
While president in 1886, he married 21-year-old Frances Folsom of Medina, the only time the ceremony was held in the White House for a president. Cleveland was a friend of Folsom’s father, Oscar. The Clevelands had five children.
The statue of Cleveland stands on a 6-foot-high granite base.
Cleveland was the only Democrat elected president during an era of Republican domination, from 1861 to 1913. He fought for political reform and fiscal conservatism. His second term was plagued by the Panic of 1893 that resulted in a national depression.
Cleveland is regarded for his high principles and bold actions. He intervened in the Pullman Strike of 1894, working to keep the railroads moving. That intervention angered the labor unions. Another bit of trivia about Cleveland: He was on the $1,000 bill from 1928 to 1934.
Cleveland’s statue in Buffalo stands on a block by city hall with the inscription: “I have tried so hard to do right.”
William McKinley
An article on Buffalo presidents wouldn’t be complete without talking about William McKinley. He came to Buffalo on Sept. 6, 1901 to speak at the Pan-American Exposition, a World Fair that showcased inventions and innovations. In Buffalo, electricity was the buzz of the event more than a century ago.
McKinley was shaking hands with the public when he was shot by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist who lost his job during the Panic of 1893. McKinley would die eight days later from the wound. Six years later a monument was erected in his memory at Niagara Square.
The 96-foot-high marble monument was dedicated in memory of William McKinley in 1907, six years after he was assassinated in Buffalo. McKinley Monument was erected in Niagara Square. Buffalo City Hall is in the background.
McKinley was visiting Buffalo for the Pan-American Exposition on Sept. 6, 1901. McKinley was shaking hands with the public when he was shot by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist.
That 96-foot-high marble monument is in front of city hall and the two presidents from Buffalo.
There is an organization, The Association for a Buffalo Presidential Center, that wants to tell the story of Buffalo’s connection to presidential history and the region’s contribution to national affairs. For more information about that group, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos courtesy of Chris Busch – Medina resident Chris Busch visited veterans’ graves at Boxwood Cemetery on Sunday. He sent Orleans Hub a few photos of some of the graves that are marked with American flags.
The cemetery is located along North Gravel Road.
The community will honor veterans with parades and services throughout Orleans County today.
In Albion, a parade begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Main and State streets. The parade will go south on Main Street before turning east on Route 31 and ending at the front lawn of the Albion Middle School, where a service will follow the parade.
In Holley, a ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at the American Legion with a parade then starting at 10 a.m. It will go from the Legion and continue to the VFW on Veterans Drive. After the VFW, veterans will lay wreaths at Holley cemeteries.
In Lyndonville, a parade begins at 9 a.m. on Lake Avenue at the parking lot of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and continues to Main Street where it ends by the library.
In Medina, a parade begins at 11 a.m. on Park Avenue by the Olde Pickle Factory. It continues to State Street Park where a ceremony will follow.
Busch also stopped by St. Mary’s Cemetery on North Gravel Road…
… and captured these images of graves on a sunny day.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Joe Gehl, second from right, and other veterans march along Main Street in Albion for today’s Memorial Day parade.
Eli Pask, a Scout in Pack 175 in West Barre, carries the flag down Main Street with other scouts in today’s parade.
The Knights of Columbus were new to the Memorial Day parade in Albion, part of the group’s effort to increase its visibility in the community. The K of C members who marched include, from left: Grand Knight Steve Karas, Alan Worgo, Pino Aldaco and Deputy Grand Knight Bob Ballard.
Allen Sanford and the drum line in the Albion Marching Band work their way down Main Street in today’s parade.
ALBION – Veterans, Scouts, firefighters and the Albion Marching Band all marched down Main Street and East Avenue to mark Memorial Day.
The parade ended in front of the middle school. Rocco Sidari, a 69-year member of the American Legion, was recognized at the service. Village Trustee Eileen Banker and County Legislator Don Allport also addressed the crowd.
Holley, Lyndonville and Medina also had parades and ceremonies today.
The flag is raised to start a Memorial Day service in Albion outside the middle school. The group includes, form left, Phil Warne of the American Legion, VFW commander Mark Roberts and Legion commander Doreen Capstick.
Joyce LaLonde, an Albion senior who won the county’s American Legion oratorical contest, reads the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. Phil Warne, a member of the Legion, served as master of ceremonies for a service outside the middle school.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2013 at 12:00 am
I was driving through Medina at about 4:45 this morning and stopped to take a picture of a very bright full moon.
St. John’s Episcopal Church, at 200 East Center St., is in the foreground. The church was built from Medina sandstone in 1832, making it one of the oldest churches in the county.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2013 at 12:00 am
‘Dry Bones’ expected to be released this fall
Photos by Tom Rivers – The cast for ‘Dry Bones’ includes Debbie Rochon, center, who has appeared in about 200 films. The crew is shooting a scene inside the Medina Theatre this afternoon.
MEDINA – She seems nice enough. Debbie Rochon smiles, nods her head affirmatively, and listens.
But it’s all a mirage. Rochon will transform into a demon, her true identity in a horror film that includes footage inside the Medina Theatre.
The cast and crew of about 20 filmed for several hours today inside the theater at 607 Main St. The theater has a spacious room and balcony that will allow for great camera angles, said director Greg Lamberson.
He expects to complete shooting for the film, “Dry Bones,” next week. The
Cheektowaga director will work to have the film ready by late summer, in time for horror film festivals.
He shot most of the film from his house. The Medina Theatre was added after he screened one of his films, “Slim City Massacre,” at the location in December. Lamberson immediately liked the Medina Theatre for its historical features and big open room.
Orleans County residents Richard Ferris, left, and Michael O’Keefe, center, are extras in an upcoming horror film that includes the Medina Theatre as one of three locations for the film. Filmmakers like the theater for its spacious room and balcony.
“I’m always looking for places with potential,” said Lamberson, who has directed five films and produced six others.
Today was the second day of shooting at the theater, which will include three scenes in the upcoming film.
The theater’s bar and dining area will be used to set the stage when Rochon’s character reconnects with a childhood friend played by Michael O’Hear of Niagara Falls.
O’Hear’s character was traumatized as a boy when he watched his father be eaten by a monster hiding in his home. No one believed O’Hear. That demon is a succubus that can appear human. O’Hear’s character will discover that Rochon’s character actually is the demon.
“I like movies with a little scare in them,” O’Hear said.
Rochon starred in Slime City Massacre. She lives in Novia Scotia. She has worked as an actress for nearly three decades.
“With the horror film genre, you can play very extreme characters,” she said. “You can do a lot more emotionally. With horror movies, they’re a lot more fun.”
Director Greg Lamberson is ready to announce, “Action!” About 20 actors were inside Medina Theatre today while Lamberson captured footage of bar scenes for his upcoming film, ‘Dry Bones.’
Rochon on Saturday needed six hours to be turned into the demon character. That’s how long it took to apply her makeup and prosthetics.
Rochon said horror films are gaining in popularity and going mainstream, with horror series now even on network television.
Medina attorney Michael O’Keefe is an extra in the movie. He has been in 14 films since August. O’Keefe helped line up many of the extras for the Medina footage.
O’Keefe would like to get into directing or producing. He also is interested in entertainment law.
He wants to bring more of the film business to Orleans County. Besides using local locations for films, O’Keefe would like to see more films screened at the Medina Theatre. He worked to start the Canal Town Film Festival in December at Medina Theatre. Besides screening Slim City Massacre, “Snow Shark” was also shown. Sam Qualiana, director of photography for the film, is heading that effort for Dry Bones.
Lamberson said he would like to return to Medina Theatre to screen the new film later this year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2013 at 12:00 am
‘We all worked together to bring up the awareness of the good fishing down here.’ – Todd Fannin, owner of Lighthouse Restaurant
Photo by Tom Rivers – Point Breeze won the northeast region as the “Ultimate Fishing Town,” and then finished second overall behind Cape Hatteras, NC. This picture from Wednesday shows the Oak Orchard Harbor and the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.
POINT BREEZE – The Point Breeze community nearly pulled it off – the title as the “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
After winning the northeast region in an online voting contest by the World Fishing Network, Point Breeze can in second for the top crown among the top 10 in five regions. (Click here to see the Point Breeze page on the WFN.)
Cape Hatteras in North Carolina received 47,147 votes in a three-week contest that ended yesterday. Point Breeze and the Oak Orchard Harbor were next with 32,053 votes. The World Fishing Network is reviewing the votes and expects to declare Cape Hatteras the winner on June 4. The winner receives $25,000 to promote its fishing industry, as well as free publicity on WFN.
Point Breeze, as a regional winner, is due $3,500 to promote its fishery.
For the past three weeks, and during the regional competition before that, the local community has been voting for Point Breeze, and encouraging their friends to log on and show their support.
“It’s brought the community together for a reason and a purpose,” said Todd Fannin, owner of Lighthouse Restaurant at the Point. “We had a good run.”
He was among the cheerleaders, trying to round up votes for Point Breeze. He said many of his customers followed the daily leaderboard online.
The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association, Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum, Orleans County Tourism, Chamber of Commerce and other local groups all tried to rally votes for Point Breeze.
“We all worked together to bring up the awareness of the good fishing down here,” Fannin said. “It’s been a very good thing for the community.”
He expects local stakeholders will discuss how to spend the $3,500 prize to promote a fishery already well known for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and cohoes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – “Mr. Conrad” of Buffalo performed a jazz concert tonight in Medina at the Shirt Factory Café. Jim Beishline joined him on the keyboards.
Next Saturday, June 1, the site’s Boiler 54, an outdoor performance venue, kicks off the season at 115 West Center St.
There will be concerts at the Boiler 54 most Fridays and Saturdays through the end of the summer. For more information, visit www.boiler54.com for Boiler 54’s list of upcoming concerts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Legislator Henry Smith Jr. started pushing for prayers to begin each County Legislature meeting about five years ago when he was the group’s chairman. Many local pastors have attended Legislature meetings since then, leading the group in prayer.
ALBION – When Henry Smith Jr. started as chairman of the Orleans County Legislature in January 2008, one of his first initiatives was to start each meeting with prayer.
Smith, in the five years since, has contacted many clergy leaders in the county, welcoming them to the Legislature to offer a prayer to start each meeting.
“It’s good to have everybody involved in the county, including the pastors,” Smith said. “I’ve tried to reach out to all of them.”
Catholic priests, evangelical pastors, the Unitarian-Universalist leader, jail chaplain and nondenominational church leaders have all attended at least one Legislature meeting to lead the group in an opening prayer.
County Attorney David Schubel believes the practice falls within the Constitutional parameters because the Legislature isn’t restricting churches and religions.
“It’s an open process,” Schubel said. “It’s more spiritual than religious.”
Schubel, Smith and other county officials say they will be watching a Supreme Court case with interest in the coming months. The nation’s highest court will rule whether the town of Greece’s practice of having local clergy deliver prayers at its government meetings violates the U.S. Constitution.
Opening prayers have been part of Congress and many state governing bodies for more than 200 years.
The Greece case says the town violated the Constitution by repeatedly having Christian clergy conduct prayers at the start of meetings. The Supreme Court case focuses on whether the repeated use of Christian prayers violates the first 10 words of the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
The Orleans Legislature has almost exclusively welcomed Christian pastors. Sometimes legislators, including Smith, will share the opening prayer and those prayers often include references to “Jesus.”
Court of Appeals judges have said public prayer is fine, but all faiths should be invited to participate. The Supreme Court will hear the case in its next term, which begins in October.
Smith said he wants to see prayer continued at the beginning of each Legislature meeting, the second and fourth Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.
“We’re getting too sensitive in this country,” he said. “You can’t say anything. What’s wrong with a prayer?”
