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Albion students will fix Civil War markers at Mount Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Seventh-graders will also research Civil War vets in county

Photos by Tom Rivers – Many of the markers for Civil War soldiers at Mount Albion Cemetery are rusted. Albion seventh-graders and teacher Tim Archer will restore the markers as part of a service-learning project.

ALBION The cast-iron markers are sprinkled around Mount Albion Cemetery, and many of them, put in years ago to honor Civil War soldiers, have turned to rust.

Albion teacher Tim Archer and seventh-graders want to restore the shine to the markers, put at graves by the Grand Army of the Republic. Students in Archer’s service-learning class will create a map and database of the marker locations.

They will use wiry brushes to remove rust and Archer will coat the markers with Rust-Oleum.

File photo – These bronze markers by the Civil War cannon at the cemetery haven’t rusted, but they have oxidized. Archer said students won’t be working on these ones. Nearby cast-iron markers, however, will be given a new shine.

Students have other Civil War initiatives planned for the school year. They are going to research the names of every Orleans County resident who died in the Civil War and compare that with the 463 names carved in marble slabs inside the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery.

Archer thinks not all soldiers who died in the war were included in the memorial. He and his students would like to create a database of all of the soldiers from the county who died in the war. Right now, he said there isn’t an accurate list with all the names.

The Civil War memorial at Mount Albion Cemetery includes the names of 463 residents who were killed during the Civil War. However, the memorial may not have included every local resident who perished in the war.

Archer and his students know one resident who served in the Civil War was buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Brown Road in an unmarked grave.

The service-learning class, which is a requirement for all seventh-graders, has reached out to the Veterans Administration for a headstone for John Frost, who died in 1915.

Archer and the students have also contacted the offices for Congressman Chris Collins and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley about helping with the headstone.

The class has also learned about Herbert Charles Taylor, who is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Holley/Clarendon. Taylor is believed to be the only Orleans County resident who was killed at Gettysburg.

Archer and the class would like to have a historical marker at the cemetery about Taylor, noting his service to his country and death at Gettysburg.

Runners shed pounds, gain friends through ‘Fit in 50’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – John Given of Elba runs at Mount Albion Cemetery with the Fit in 50 group on Thursday evening. Given has been a regular each week with the program. He has lost 100 pounds in the past three years, including about 15 since January.

ALBION – A community exercise program that started on a blustery Saturday morning back in January has continued each week with participants getting together for a run or a walk.

The “Fit in 50” program through the Albion Running Club has had 117 people join for a walk or jog at least once during 2015. A core group of about 15 show up each week. (The weekly runs shifted to 6 p.m. Thursdays at Mount Albion Cemetery, and will likely move back to Saturdays on Oct. 17.)

“It’s the consistency that gives you the best reward,” said Joe McPhatter of Albion.

He has brought his infant son, Jai Li, on many of the runs, pushing him in a jogger stroller.

McPhatter said his blood pressure is down and he has lost 5 pounds since January.

Some of the Fit in 50 have opted to be in Run for God programs at the Albion Free Methodist Church or to exercise on their own.

Joe McPhatter pushes his son Jai Li in a jogger stroller while out for a run at Mount Albion this evening.

Through nearly nine months of the program, 17 of the participants have lost 121 pounds this year, with most seeing drops in blood pressure and body mass index. That’s an average loss of 7 pounds per person.

The collective weight loss numbers should grow as the Albion Running Club, organizer of the effort, collects more data from the runners and walkers.

Brian Krieger, one of the leaders of the program for the Albion Running Club, said Fit in 50 has made a difference for the participants, improving their health and connecting them with other runners.

John Given of Elba ran the Strawberry Festival 8-kilometer race in June 2014. The Running Club organizes that race. It sent out a mass email to Strawberry Festival runners, informing them about the “Fit in 50.”

Given received the email and decided to try the Saturday run in January, even when the weather was cold and snowy.

“I thought, ‘This is just what I need to get me going in the winter,'” he said about the group runs.

Given, 57, has lost about 100 pounds the past three years, from a high of 284 pounds. He has been a regular for the Albion runs each week. He had never ran farther than an 8-kilometer race before this year. He set a personal best finishing the 10-mile Metro 10 race in Albion on Aug. 22 and then ran a half marathon for 13.1 miles on Labor Day in Geneseo.

Given comes to Albion for the group run once a week, and tries to get in one or two more runs on his own each week. He enjoys the camraderie in Albion.

“It’s been wonderful with the fitness, meeting new people and making friends,” he said.

New Medina business promotes health with herbs, teas

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Bonnie Heck, owner of the Herbalty Cottage, stands by the tea bar in her new business at 415 Main St. Heck and her family renovated a former insurance office to create the new space for Herbalty Cottage.

MEDINA – Bonnie Heck and her daughter Lindsay know the power of organic food and all-natural ingredients for better health.

Heck, the owner of the new Herbalty Cottage in downtown Medina, was injured in a car accident about seven years ago. She struggled to get out of bed for weeks.

Visits to chiropractor helped her regain movement and ease pain. Heck said she discovered newfound energy once she ate all-natural foods that were organic with no preservatives and additives.

Her daughter Lindsay, 19, has Fibromyalgia, a syndrome that causes fatigue, sleep problems and chronic muscle pain. Lindsay has managed the condition with a healthy diet and yoga exercises every day.

The mother and daughter are sharing some of their insights and some of the food, teas, and other products they’ve discovered at the new business at 415 Main St. Herbalty Cottage opened on Tuesday following major renovations of a former insurance office.

“Why not be proactive before anything happens?” Mrs. Heck said in urging healthier lifestyles.

Lindsay Heck is pictured with some of oils and vinegars that include the Herbalty Cottage label. Lindsay, 19, is becoming certified in reflexology.

Bonnie Heck describes the business as “a specialty shop with a unique taste.” Herbalty has a tea bar for drinking the many organic teas, and a tasting station where customers can dip freshly made bread into oils and vinegars.

Heck has 38 flavors of oil and vinegar that have the Herbalty logo. She also sells organic pasta, and a variety of syrups, salves and tinctures.

“We don’t have anything like this around here,” she said about the business. “We’re unique. Everything is organic. It’s a different type of product line for downtown.”

Herbalty also sells Himalayan salt lamps to reduce air pollution and stress. Heck also carries a line of all-natural lotions made by Terri Jordan of Carlton, who runs a business called “The Soap Cottage.”

Lindsay Heck, left, and her mother Bonnie opened a new business on Tuesday in downtown Medina.

Lindsay is working on becoming certified in reflexology, where she massages hands, feet, the ears and face. She will have an office at Herbalty to work with her clients.

Her mother also is becoming certified as a herbologist.

The family business also includes Tom Heck, Bonnie’s husband and Lindsay’s father. He is recently retired from the state Department of Transportation. He did many of the renovations, including tearing out the carpet and installing a new vinyl floor. Tom also handles labeling and shipping for the business.

Herbalty is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Holley students make gains on state assessment tests

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 24 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Holley Central School Jr./Sr. High School Principal Susan Cory, left, and Elementary Principal Karri Schiavone discuss School Improvement Reports with the Board of Education on Monday.

HOLLEY – Students at the Holley Central School District in Grades 3-8 are making gains in math, but continue to struggle on ELA (English/Language Arts) State Assessment tests, Elementary and Jr./Sr. High School principals reported to Board of Education this week.

Elementary Principal Karri Schiavone and Jr./Sr. High School Principal Susan Cory presented School Improvement Reports to the Board, which included results from 2015 assessment testing.

The highlight of the report was the Third Grade Math scores with 64.3 percent of students who took the test passing.

On the down-side of the math assessment, only 14.3 percent of seventh-graders who took the test at Holley passed. On the ELA test, fourth-graders did the best with 35.4 percent of those taking the test passing. Only 15.2 percent of fifth-graders and 14.9 percent of seventh-graders passed the ELA assessment.

“It’s not where we want to be,” Schiavone said of the Fifth Grade ELA results.

Both principals were optimistic, however, and emphasized that overall, Holley is improving on the Math/ELA Common Core Assessment tests.

“The percentage of students passing the math is growing so much faster that the ELA,” Schiavone said. “We have to look at what we are doing and math and apply to the ELA.”

Cory noted that the overall improvement is showing that instruction is working and students are “coming to us (at the Jr./Sr. High School) very well prepared.”

Cory and Schiavone also reported on Teacher/Principal ratings which are drawn from several components including student performance and State testing scores.

In the Holley Central School District, 100 percent of the principals were rated as “effective.” Of teachers, 67 percent were rated as “highly effective” and 33 percent were rated as effective. The rankings for support staff – which includes teacher assistants, library media specialists and counselors – were 100 percent rated at highly effective.

“Our teachers are working hard,” Schiavone said. “They are very effective, concerned teachers. We are not spinning our wheels anymore. We’ve got to keep the momentum going, stay the path and keep plugging along.”

Cory said the district has a reason to celebrate the improvement, however gradual, and explained that it “will take us some time” to bring scores up higher.

“We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Board member John Heise said.

This year the Holley Central School District is working to implement a school improvement plan that centers on continuous improvement of student test scores on all tests, not just assessments. School Improvement Teams are being formed in both buildings which will review improvement plans. The teams include teachers, parents, school administrators, support staff and a member of the Board of Education.

Also at Monday’s meeting, siblings Donovan Ross and Marli Woods were presented with the “Soaring to New Heights” Award. On Sept. 6, Donovan called 911 when their 38-year old mother began to show symptoms of a stroke.

Ambulance crew members and hospital officials said Donovan and Marli’s quick response and their help in providing important information was crucial in getting their mother help as quickly as possible. She remains hospitalized and Donovan and Marli are staying with their grandparents.

“You two are very strong … you are just astounding,” Board of Education member Robin Silvis said. “You have a community that loves you.”

Widespread phone outage in Orleans, neighboring counties

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2015 at 12:00 am

A widespread phone outage has many people without phone service this morning in Orleans County, and neighboring communities.

In Orleans County the 9-1-1 emergency phone system is working, but some agencies and organizations don’t have service.

Medina Memorial Hospital is unable to accept phone calls through its usual phone number so the hospital has a dedicated cell phone at the switchboard. People can call in at (585) 261-0829. The hospital can still call out with its phone system, said Wendy Jacobson, CEO and president of the hospital.

Culvert projects close section of Knowlesville Road to November

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – The signs by Route 31 in Knowlesville say the bridge is closed. (This photo is actually on Knowlesville Road, just north of the canal.)

Motorists on Route 31 might assume the culprit for the closed bridge is the century-old lift bridge.

That historic span remains open. But just north of the lift bridge, Keeler Construction of Barre is replacing two culverts.

County Highway Superintendent said the project should be complete in early November, “depending on weather.”

The county approved Keeler as the low bidder for the project for $430,199.

A neighbor near the construction work told me he was grateful to have less traffic on the road.

United Way settles into office as first tenant in former Swan Library

Posted 23 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Marsha Rivers, executive director of the United Way of Orleans County, has an office in the southeast corner of the former Swan Library, a spot that used to have several tall shelves of books.

Press Release, United Way
ALBION – United Way of Orleans County has taken its place as the first office occupant of the former Swan Library, 4 North Main St., just in time to begin its fall campaign.

The annual kick-off will be Oct. 22 at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, but fundraising is already under way. Albion and Medina Tops Markets began their United Way campaign this week, and dozens more companies and organizations are signing on to offer employees the giving opportunity that gives back to the community in dozens of ways.

Executive Director Marsha Rivers, who this week marks her first year at the helm of the county-wide charitable organization, said: “When I’m out and about, people ask me things like, ‘Why should I give to the United Way?’ Or, ‘What difference can my little bit make?’ And my answer is the old saying: ‘Every little bit helps!’ Because it’s true.”

United Way hosts campaigns at about 40 local workplaces and receives additional donations from several dozen companies and hundreds of individual donors. The organization then distributes funds to about 20 local programs, among them Arc of Orleans’ Meals on Wheels, Orleans County Adult Learning Services’ literacy programs, and Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern’s Last Resort for emergency assistance. Funding applications for 2016 are now available to non-profit agencies and due Nov. 2.

The former Swan Library was purchased by Chad Fabry of Holley who wants to use the three-story site for offices.

“A gift to United Way goes a long way,” Rivers said. “Last year we showed donors how just two dollars per week could pay for a child’s registration to Camp Rainbow, or sponsor their attendance at 4-H Conservation Days.

“This campaign season, I’m sharing true stories about how seemingly small gestures or changes have made a huge difference in people’s lives, right here in Orleans County, through United Way donor dollars.”

The office relocation brings United Way closer to many of its partner agencies’ headquarters, based in the county seat. It is also a smaller space than the previous office, reducing rental costs and allowing United Way to help the community even more, Rivers said.

“Again, every little bit helps – I personally contribute to the campaign, so I understand how much it matters that this money is invested carefully, wisely. A big part of my job is trying to maximize the impact of our donors’ generosity.”

In addition to the ongoing workplace campaigns and the direct mail appeal this fall, United Way is hosting its annual volunteerism event, Day of Caring, on Oct. 23. A second day, Oct. 24, is being offered as an option for local high school students looking for opportunities to fulfill their schools’ community service requirements.

Day of Caring participants should call the United Way at their new number, 585-283-4773. During campaign season, public office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Rivers may also be reached via email mrivers@orleansunitedway.org.

Beautiful day for a cruise on the canal

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A canal boat named Canandaigua was out cruising on the Erie Canal today. I was driving along Presbyterian Road at the widewaters section when I spotted the boat at about 11:30 a.m.

I then hustled to the Presbyterian Road bridge to get the boat approaching.

Here the boat passes by the bridge and heads east towards Eagle Harbor.

A woman on the boat told me it was an “absolutely gorgeous day” to be out on the canal.

Today will be sunny with a high of 74 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. More sunny days are in the forecast.

Thursday will be mostly sunny with a high of 72 degrees, followed by a mostly sunny Friday with a high of 74 degrees. The weekend will also be sunny with a high of 72 on Saturday and 74 on Sunday.

Circle R puts emphasis on quality produce

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Chamber Agricultural Business of the Year: Circle R Fruit Farms

Photos by Tom Rivers – Bernie Heberle, general manager and co-owner of Circle R Fruit Farms, checks on some SnapDragon apples in an orchard along Route 18 in Carlton. Heberle joined Circle R in 1998 and has helped boost production and quality.

CARLTON – In 1991, after about 30 years of growing vegetables, Lynn Roberts decided to make a big push into fruit.

There were about 250 acres of fruit up for auction, and Roberts bought the land, establishing Circle R Fruit Farms.

Circle R has grown to 554 acres. It is one of the biggest local fruit operations, producing 450,000 bushels of apples a year. (State-wide, there are about 25 to 30 million bushels of apples to be harvested each year.)

The Chamber of Commerce has recognized Circle R as the “Agricultural Business of the Year.”

Circle R added this farm market with ice cream five years ago along Route 18. Nearly all of the produce is from Circle R or the Roberts vegetable farm, Lynn-Ette and Sons.

Circle R has planted new popular varieties, such as Honeycrisp and SnapDragon, in high density orchards. Bernie Heberle joined Circle R in 1998. As general manager and co-owner, he has pushed for high-quality produce.

He also oversees the Circle R farm market on Route 18, just west of Lakeside Beach State Park. That started as two wagons by the road 14 years ago. Heberle put out 75 quarts of strawberries with people paying on the honor system, leaving cash in a locked box.

Five years ago, Circle R put up a farm market to better display fruits and vegetables from the farm. The site also sells lots of ice cream. Heberle says the market continues to see big growth in business each year. It has helped fill some of the void with closing of Brown’s Berry Patch’s retail site this year.

“This year there has been an incredible amount of business,” Heberle said.

The farm market is a popular spot in Carlton for people looking for ice cream, fruits and vegetables.

Heberle arrives at the market early, often by 6 a.m. and likes to get displays of fruit and vegetables ready. He enjoys the quiet before the workday gets busy around 8 a.m.

Circle R has 80 workers harvesting apples and fruit. Heberle directs them. He admires their work ethic and commitment to excellence. The workers are from Mexico and Jamaica.

Looking into the future, Heberle said the country’s unresolved immigration policies threaten agriculture, especially operations that are labor intensive. Circle R has 80 workers through the H2A program, which allows temporary legal workers for seasonal farm labor.

Heberle said the program is expensive, with lots of paperwork and often the workers are delayed in their arrival due to the government bureaucracy.

“I love working with my help,” Heberle said. “But I worry about the future. Americans don’t want to do these jobs.”

Heberle is pictured in a high-density orchard, where trees are planted close together.

When Heberle joined Circle R, the orchards were planted with about 90 to 120 trees per acre. The trees were tall and a bit ungangly with long branches projecting in wild directions.

Most of those trees are gone, replaced with shorter trees, planted close together in high-density orchards. The trees are easier to pick from (workers don’t have to spend much time high on ladders). The trees bear fruit quicker after being planted. And the total output per acre, with up to 1,400 trees, is far more than a generation ago.

The high-density orchards should allow Circle R to reach 500,000 bushels of apples annually, Heberle said.

Photo courtesy of Roberts family – Lynn Roberts is pictured about two years ago at Circle R Fruit Farm with his son Darren Roberts, center, Bernie Heberle, manager of Circle R.

The Chamber, in recognizing Circle R, praised the farm “for producing exceptional local produce to Orleans County and beyond.”

Heberle credits Lynn Roberts, patriarch of the farm, for diversifying into fruit, and for pushing for superior produce.

“I owe a lot of Lynn Roberts,” Heberle said. “He took me in as a son.”

Mr. Roberts was 80 when he died on June 13. Heberle accepted the Chamber award on behalf on Lynn, and has placed the award in Lynn’s office at the farm.

Drennan ‘working harder than ever’ in campaign for sheriff

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Tom Drennan

After a very close loss in the Republican Primary for Orleans County sheriff, Tom Drennan announced he is staying in the race and “working harder than ever.”

Although he lost the primary, 1,671 to 1,650 to Randy Bower, Drennan remains on the Nov. 3 ballot. He has the Independence Party line, which is the third one down on the ballot. He also has the Reform Line, which Rob Astorino started in his bid for governor last year against Andrew Cuomo.

“After coming up a few votes short in the Republican Primary it is important for all the voters in Orleans County to know that we are still here working harder than ever,” Drennan said in a statement this evening. “Every voice should be heard and every vote counts on Election Day, November 3rd.”

Drennan, 50, is currently the chief deputy for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. He started as a road patrol deputy in September 1992 and has been promoted to lieutenant, criminal investigator, major and chief deputy.

The Nov. 3 election will include Bower under the Republican and Conservative Party lines and former Medina police investigator Don Organisciak, who is running with the Democratic Party line.

Drennan has been running his campaign with the message “Experience Matters.” Besides his 23-year career in the Sheriff’s Office, Drennan has completed numerous training courses.

“The Drennan for Sheriff committee has a strong group of supporters from all walks of life and all political party affiliations,” Drennan said in his statement. “There is a great deal of law enforcement experience that knows what it takes to be the Sheriff and who is the most qualified candidate in this race. They are standing behind Drennan and spreading the word.”

Drennan, a Kendall resident, said he will be out the next six weeks, connecting with as many voters as possible.

“Tom Drennan cares about all of you,” he said in his statement. “We work for everyone. Party affiliation does not matter when Public Safety is Priority #1.”

Local man spreads good news through dance, creativity in worship

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Randall Bane teaches churches to be more expressive

Photos by Tom Rivers – Randall Bane is founder of David’s House, a religious education organization that aims for “fully expressive worship.” Bane teaches Christians to use banners, garments, flags, drama and dance in church services. He is pictured at his house in Medina, where he has created an altar and chapel. He wants to show how Christians can express their faith in bold and charismatic ways.

MEDINA – Randall Bane said church services don’t need to feel boring. For the past four decades, Bane has taught Christians use color and symbols in banners and flags, and to include dance and drama for “fully expressive worship.”

Bane is the founder of David’s House, a religious education institute. He advocates using creative talents in church services.

“The visual expression of the faith is endless,” Bane said. “But a lot of churches have a retrenched style of worship that can be very boring.”

Bane and some guests will give a performace at the Beegarten in Medina on Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and on Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. The shows at 113 West Center St. are free and open to the public. They will also be teaching some Israeli folk dances that Bane said are easy to learn.

Bane, 74, left small-town Lyndonville a half century ago and headed to New York City to work as an actor, singer and dancer. (He also was a taxi driver for two years.)

Photo courtesy of Randall Bane – Randall Bane performs during the Creation Festival in 1983.

After about a decade as a professional actor, Bane became a Christian at age 33 and turned his focus on using his theatrical and performing arts skills as a ministry for God. When he became a Christian, he was living in Columbia, Missouri, on a professional theater contract in St. Louis.

He would travel the country and the world the next 40 years performing and teaching churches to bring movement and visual arts into worship. He is considered a pioneer of Christian dance.

He developed characters such as “Obie the Love Clown” and performed at Christian festivals, on Christian television and numerous venues around the country while he was living in Kansas City.

A year ago he bought a house in Medina, a 10-room building he is using as the base for David’s House, a religious education institute. His home at 801 West Ave. includes a fabric workshop where he teaches people to make banners, flags and garments.

Bane is pictured as Obie the Love Clown in this program from more than three decades ago.

He leads classes on drama and dance, and helps worship leaders at churches to bring all the performing arts disciplines together for a service.

Christians have long used art in churches. Bane notes stained-glass windows, sculptures, language and architecture have all brought out the best in peoples’ creative talents.

“Dance, drama, and architecture are all ways to express our love to God,” Bane said.

Churches were more charimastic in worship, Bane said, until he observed a significant drop off in the 1990s. Many African-American churches remain expressive, and some congregations even have dance teams, he said.

But Bane said more churches should incorporate dance, drama and bold colors in their services.

He has travelled to Singapore and China, where churches utilize performing arts.

“The underground churches in China are very lively,” Bane said. “In Southeast Asia there has been a tremendous flowering of faith.”

Bane has returned to his roots to be near his mother Mildred, who he said is 98 and going strong. He also thinks God may have a plan for him, using his house in Medina as a base for helping Christians to enliven their worship services.

Bane is pictured near the altar he made that is displayed in his Medina home. “The visual expression of the faith is endless,” he said.

5K at Brown’s on Oct. 10 will honor the late Joyce Harris

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2015 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – Runners are pictured at the start of last year’s Brown’s Berry Patch 5-kilometer Cross Country Run and Memory Walk. This year’s race will be Oct. 10 and will feature a new course and a new starting time at noon.

CARLTON – The race and memory walk will go on at Brown family farm this year. It will be the 20th 5-kilometer cross country walk and run at Brown’s.

The Brown family has raised $35,000 for Hospice of Orleans through the event. This year’s walk and run will start at noon on Oct. 10. Participants should gather at the former retail site for Brown’s Berry Patch on Route 18.

The Brown family retired from the retail side of the business – the gift shop, ice cream, bakery and playground – this year after more than 30 years.

Margy Brown, the race director, decided to keep the 5K event going to raise funds for Hospice and provide some motivation to exercise in the fall.

This year’s event will be in memory of Joyce Harris, an active member of the Carlton community who died from cancer at age 65 on April 24.

Brown wanted to honor the memory of Harris, who was her neighbor.

Harris was a member of the Carlton Town Board for 11 years. She enjoyed promoting the community and getting things done on the Town Board, said her husband of 47 years, Will.

“She liked to get involved and see if she could get something accomplished,” her husband said.

Joyce Harris

He will be at the Brown’s 5K with the couple’s two grown daughters, and other family, friends and colleagues.

Mrs. Harris worked as a secretary/bookkeeper for her family’s farming operation and then for Torrey Farms before retiring with Shelby Stone.

Mr. Harris grew up in the Village of Albion and started dating his wife in high school. They moved out to rural Carlton.

“We liked the country atmosphere,” he said. “It was a great place to raise kids.”

For more information on the Brown’s 5K, including registration information, click here.

Replica sign added to historic Stone Store in Clarendon

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 22 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – This sign, a replica of one from more than a century ago, was added to the Old Stone Store last week.

CLARENDON – The historic Old Stone Store at the corners of Routes 237 and 31A in Clarendon continues to take on the look of its former glory.

A reproduction “Buffalo Paints” sign painted and donated by Albion artist Carol Culhane was installed last week on the upper facade above the front door.

Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan said a photograph of the store taken in the 1880’s, which shows the original sign, inspired her to put another in the same place. Ierlan researched the sign and Buffalo Paints in order to make the reproduction as authentic as possible.

“I tried to find an ad or a crate on Ebay,” she says, but the photograph ended up serving as the main guide. “Carol painted it last year. We’ve been waiting since that time to get it put up.”

The sign includes the name of the store’s owner at the time: George H. Copeland. He operated the store from 1843 until 1892.

Here is how the Old Stone Store looked this morning in Clarendon.

The Old Stone Store, built in 1836, served as a general store on its main floor and Ierlan says the second story was used for many purposes including a meeting room and a doctor’s office.

During the 1970’s it was turned into apartments and was vacant since 2007. The Town of Clarendon was on the verge of demolishing the building when a group of residents formed a preservation group and the Landmark Society of Western New York stepped in to help the town market the property.

In late 2013, Sue and Joe Fertitta of Hilton took ownership and have worked since that time to completely refurbish the interior into second-story apartments and retail space on the main floor. (Transatlantic Treasures opened on Jan. 3 on the first floor and sells collectibles.)

Exterior work has included a rebuilding of the front porch, reconfiguration of the front windows and door to restore the look of a storefront and repair and repainting of the trim.

The building was built with Medina sandstone, and was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

2 pole barns will keep county highway trucks, equipment inside

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Contractors have built two 60- by 150-foot pole barns on West Academy Street for the Orleans County Highway Department.

The new facilities will allow the county to put vehicles, equipment and some materials inside year-round. It will better secure the county equipment, and also speed up time in deploying the vehicles during the winter after snow. County employees won’t have to brush off snow, for example.

This pole barn is currently empty but will be used to store equipment, vehicles and other materials.

Secor Building Solutions in Savannah NY submitted the lowest bid, $382,698, to build the two pole barns. The company is located near Syracuse.

Orleans, Genesee merge mental heath associations

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Sue Gagne, director of the newly merged Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans, addresses the Albion Rotary Club last Thursday. She said the merged agency will offer more services to the two counties.

ALBION Two agencies that promote mental wellness through education, advocacy and support have merged.

The mental health associations in Orleans and Genesee counties officially joined on Sept. 1. Each county will continue to have its own drop-in center. The Orleans County location is at 20 North Main St., the former Cornell Cooperative Extension building next to the Post Office in Albion.

“I believe coming together with this transition will be absolutely wonderful for Orleans County,” said Shirley Pudney-Eilers, wellness director for the MHA in Orleans County.

Sue Gagne is the director of the new combined agency. The board of directors is expected to soon approve the name for the association.

Pudney-Eilers and Gagne both addressed the Albion Rotary Club last Thursday. They said the community will see a more active MHA. In November, for example, the MHA will offer First Aid training with a focus on how to respond to people in a mental health crisis.

The MHA also has a grant to promote workplace wellness, and will offer an upcoming workshop on relaxation on Oct. 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Albion location. It also is working with the Suicide Prevention Coalition for a workshop on Nov. 21.

“We still have a long way to go with stigma for people with mental health disorders,” Pudney-Eilers said. “The more we work together, the more we can get things done.”

She said Orleans County has a big geographic area and there are a lot of people with unmet mental health needs. The MHA wants to bolster services for residents with more community-based services “as time goes on,” she said.

The MHA differs from the county mental health departments that provide therapy through counselors and services with caseworkers. The MHA is community-based with a focus to help people live more independently, Gagne said.

“With the drop-in centers people can come in and get peer support,” she said. “We complement their therapy.”

The MHA also provides a 24-7 “warm line” 813-0072 for people to reach out for support in non-emergency situations.

For more information on the MHA, contact the Albion office at (585) 589-1158 or in Batavia at (585) 344-2611.