By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2024 at 8:25 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Crew members help guide a 195-foot-long barge as it nears a bend on the Erie Canal in Gaines this morning, close to the historical marker that notes this spot is the northernmost point on the Erie Canal. This photo was taken at about 6:25 a.m.
Crew members from Carver Companies started the day early in Albion. A tugboat pushing the barge started at 6 a.m. and began moving a 195-foot-long barge from its overnight spot between the lift bridges in Albion.
There were a few people up from the community to see the tugboat and barge begin the trek headed west. Carver Companies estimates it will be in Medina around 8:30-9 this morning.
Donna Matteson drove from Kent to Albion to see the barge at 6 a.m. She is pleased to see the canal used to move some heavy cargo. In this case it is two sections of a pedestrian bridge in Buffalo.
Carver already has moved two other sections of the bridge to Buffalo, passing through Orleans on Monday and reaching Buffalo on Tuesday. Carver has been moving the two big barges for about 2 1/2 weeks on the canal, starting in Albany.
Crew members stand on the end of the barge to help direct the massive vessel carrying sections of a bridge. This was at about 6 a.m. when the crew departed from Albion.
The barge and tug head west while early morning mist is on the canal in Albion.
The barge gets under the guard gate in Albion. Carver Companies said the two sections on the barge are bigger and heavier than the first two that passed through Orleans County on Monday. The heavier cargo caused the barge to sit lower in the water, scraping bottom at times on the journey.
Carver Companies posted on its Facebook page the barge needs to draft 9 feet in order to clear under bridges that are 15 feet, 6 inches.
The two pedestrian bridge sections on the barge today are 2 feet higher than the sections are on the first barge, so Carver has the barge sitting deeper in the water to get under the bridges.
The barge passes under the Gaines Basin Road canal bridge.
The barge and tugboat heads west near the northernmost point of the canal, with Eagle Harbor the next hamlet on the journey.
Carver Companies said it is hoping to reach Buffalo Saturday morning with the two sections of the pedestrian bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2024 at 10:26 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A 195-foot-long barge made it to Albion, passing underneath the Ingersoll Street lift bridge at about 7:40 p.m.
The barge is carrying two sections of a pedestrian bridge headed to Buffalo. The tugboat CMT Otter pushed the barge from Rochester to Albion today. The barge and tug are staying in Albion overnight, and will head east at about 6 a.m. on Friday.
Carver Companies, a company based near Albany, expects the barge will reach its final destination in Buffalo on Saturday. The first barge carrying two other sections of the bridge passed through Orleans County on Monday. On Tuesday it reached Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy.
The barge heads west on the canal in this photo taken from the Brown Street canal bridge.
The two sections on the barge today are bigger and heavier than the first two. That caused the barge to sit lower in the water, scraping bottom at times on the journey.
Carver Companies posted on its Facebook page the barge needs to draft 9 feet in order to clear under bridges that are 15 feet, 6 inches.
The two pedestrian bridge sections on the barge today are 2 feet higher than the sections are on the first barge, so Carver has the barge sitting deeper in the water to get under the bridges.
The canal is listed as being 12 feet deep, but Carver Companies said it is lesser than that in some spots. “This resulted in slower speeds than expected today,” Carver posted on social media.
Here are more photos of the barge and tugboat coming into Albion this evening.
The barge emerges from underneath the Brown Street bridge.
The barge carries a long sing urging people to “Follow Me To Buffalo.” The trip started about two weeks ago in Albany and has attracted lots of media attention and many onlookers.
A 1,200-horsepower tugboat has kept the long and heavy barge moving.
Many people took photos and videos of the barge coming into Albion, and tying up for the night between the lift bridges.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2024 at 4:30 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Bullard Park welcomed a bigger crowd of kids today for the summer recreation program. Today was the program was open to children throughout Orleans County, as well as Elba’s summer rec program in Genesee County.
There were six bounce houses set up, as well as face painting, food, a magic show and other activities.
About 300 kids were at the park today, said John Grillo, Albion’s recreation program director.
Seven students form the Iroquois Job Corps helped run the event today with the village recreation department.
Kade Leverenz, 5, of Holley heads down the slide in one of the bounce houses.
These kids play with giant Legos brought to the park by the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. GOMOC used a grant from ESL to purchase the blocks and other games. The Ministry of Concern also used the grant to pay the $5 cost for each ticket for a child to use the bounce houses, attend a magic show and also get food served by the Masonic Lodge.
John Hollenbeck, 14, volunteered with the Masonic Lodge and served up popcorn.
Patrick Holman of Medina put on a magic show. Here he is assisted by Julianna with a rope trick. Holman tied a knot that moved up and down on the rope. The rope also was cut in half and then seemed to miraculously come back together as one rope.
These kids try to catch the knot from the rope. Holman performed his show for about 50 kids at the park’ amphitheater.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2024 at 2:58 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans County Joint Veterans Council today was given a van to be used to transport veterans to medical appointments.
Pictured from left include Jake Hebdon of Cooper Funeral Home in Medina, Josh Mitchell of Mitchell Family Cremation & Funerals, Joint Veterans’ Council president Dave Kusmierczak, and Joint Veterans’ Council secretary Nancy Traxler, who is also the county’s veterans service agency officer. (Mitchell is handing off the van’s keys to Kusmierczak.)
Cooper Funeral Home and Mitchell Family Cremation & Funerals merged on April 1. The funeral home co-owners said the new partnership brought efficiencies, and they didn’t need the van anymore.
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has about 73,000 miles. It has a value of about $15,000. Rather than sell it, Hebdon and Josh Mitchell wanted to give it to the local Joint Veterans Council.
The funeral directors said they work with the local veterans frequently, especially the Honor Guard that attends funerals for veterans.
Dave Kusmierczak is president of the Joint Veterans Council and one of the volunteer drivers. The council will be able to retire one of its five other vans that is high mileage with about 120,000 miles.
“This was a total surprise,” Kusmierczak said about the van. “It’s a blessing they looked us up to give us the van.”
The council typically saves money from donations and fundraisers and then buys a used van that is low mileage.
The council has about 20 volunteer drivers who take veterans to about 1,000 medical appointments each year. The council is always looking for more volunteer drivers and people in the office to schedule drivers for appointments.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can call (585) 589-2856.
The van donated by the funeral home will be inspected with decals added that says it is owned by the Joint Veterans Council and provides transportation to veterans for medical appointments.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2024 at 3:10 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY/ALBION – A long barge nears the Keitel Road canal bridge in Albion around 2 p.m. today. Carver Companies is pushing a 195-foot-long barge with a tugboat.
The company started in Rochester today and headed west. The final destination, which could be in a few days, is in Buffalo for a 266-foot-long pedestrian bridge.
Carver Companies has two barges for moving the bridge which is in four sections, with two sections on each barge. Carver is based in Coeymans, NY, near Albany.
The company planned to tie up the barge overnight in Albion, but now may go all the way through Orleans County and stop in Gasport. The second barge started the day in Pittsford.
The barge and tugboat passes under the Bennetts Corners Road canal bridge in Holley around noon.
Many people have lined the canal to get a glimpse of the big barge. This kid was excited when the tug captain sounded the horn on the boat.
The trek with the long barge has been in the news a lot since the trip started in Albany 11 days ago.
Dawn Borchet, the Orleans County tourism director, gets photos of the barge as it approaches the Butts Road bridge in Albion.
Borchet said the journey of the pedestrian bridge has put lots of limelight on the canal. She said crowds of people shows there is a lot of pride in the canal communities for the historic waterway.
Kevin Bedard of Holley gets a close photo of the barge and tug as it nears the Holley lift bridge.
“It’s so cool,” Bedard said. “It’s once-in-a lifetime.”
The massive barge sneaks under the lift bridge in Holley while it is fully extended.
The barge heads under the Route 237 bridge in Holley after rounding a bend in the canal. The frequent turns, as well as locks, lift bridges and guard gates has made for a painstaking and often slow journey.
The vessel took it slow going through the guard gate next to the 237 overpass.
The barge is past the Route 237 bridge out in the open country with the Telegraph Road canal bridge next.
These people pedal fast on their bikes to stay with the barge and it heads west of Holley.
The barge passes the Densmore Road bridge in Albion and heads to the Keitel Road bridge around 1:45 p.m.
These two watch from the Keitel Road bridge as the barge gets closer to the Village of Albion. Many onlookers watched from the canal towpath or from the bridges as the barge worked its way west through Orleans County.
Two sections of the bridge that were made in Italy are shown on the barge.
The tug “Otter” moves the long barge. Otter is a 1,200-horsepower tug.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 July 2024 at 5:26 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – These wrist bands are available to purchase today as part of a benefit to help Dan Ryan’s family with expenses.
Dan Ryan passed away on June 23 after getting pneumonia that then caused multiple organ failure. Ryan had been battling a liver problem.
The band Eclipse performs on the stage at Dubby’s Tailgate. Eclipse followed Clueless on the stage. Chris Moore and other musicians are expected to play until the benefit ends at 9 p.m.
Ryan was the drummer of Eclipse which includes Erin Moody on lead vocals, D.J. Button on guitar, Brett Zambito on bass, and Mike Parker on drums.
Zambito said the loss of Ryan is painful for the local music community and for Albion.
“His kids just adored him,” Zambito said about Ryan, the father of Nadalee, 12, and Tyler, 6. “He was a good dude. It’s sad all around.”
There are 73 baskets and gift certificates up for raffle. Dan Conrad and Ryan’s sister Pam Kennedy helped to collect many of the baskets.
Pam Kennedy and her son Ayden, 10, sell the raffle tickets for the benefit today.
Photo by Tom Rivers: These Scouts placed flags at Mount Albion Cemetery on May 18. From left include Mason Patten, Peter Stritzinger, Owen Monaghan and Colton Durow. Scouts and other volunteers placed more than 2,000 flags on vets’ graves at Mount Albion and St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 July 2024 at 5:11 pm
ALBION – The new flags that are placed on about 2,500 veterans’ graves in the Albion area every May don’t come for free.
The VFW and American Legion work together to get the flags, as well as replacing some of the metal markers at veterans’ graves. The cost is about $3,500 a year.
Matt Passarell, quarter master for the VFW, recently spoke to the Albion Village Board asked for the village to continue to set aside some funds annually to help pay for the flags and markers.
The village in recent years tended to contribute $150 towards the cause. It budgeted $300 in 2023-24, and increased it to $500 in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The flags cost about $1.15 each, with the metal markers about $42.
Greg Bennett, a village trustee, said the village might be able to team up with the veterans’ organizations in a fundraiser to help pay for the flags and markers.
Passarell said the community has donated before to the effort. Anyone interested in donating to buy flags and markers can mail a check to the VFW, 38 Platt St., Albion, NY 14411. The check should note the money is for “Flags and Markers.”
Passarell said the veterans’ groups have an aging membership. The groups are active serving veterans and the community, with the Honor Guard attending 30 to 40 funerals a year, he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 July 2024 at 11:39 am
Provided photo: Dan Ryan was a drummer in many local bands the past 20 years. He was a key force in the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park.
ALBION – A benefit at Dubby’s Tailgate on Sunday will be in honor of a man who gave countless hours to help other people, including the annual Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park.
Dan Ryan died at age 39 on June 23. He needed a liver transplant. He got pneumonia and then suffered multiple organ failure, his sister Pamela Kennedy said.
Ryan is survived by two children, Nadalee, 12, and Tyler, 6. The benefit on Sunday will help his family with Ryan’s expenses.
“He was always talking to people and helping people,” Kennedy said. “He was a good guy.”
Kennedy is helping to organize the benefit on Sunday that goes from noon to 9 p.m. Ryan’s friend Dan Conrad also is working to organize the event. They both welcome more basket raffle donations for the fundraiser. Kennedy can be reached at (585) 471-0944 and Conrad at (585) 590-1148.
Ryan played the drums for the band, Eclipse. That band will be performing on Sunday, along with Clueless, Chris Moore, and others.
Ryan played with other local bands in the past two decades. He was driving force in starting Rock the Park, which is now in its ninth year. The event from Aug. 2-3 will be dedicated in his memory.
Zack Burgess was in the band Zero with Ryan on the drums in the early days of Rock the Park.
“While he was never part of our actual committee, Dan would show up the days leading up to, and the day of the event, ready to help out with whatever was needed. Which, those that knew him will tell you, was not an uncommon trait for him,” Burgess posted in a tribute on Facebook.
“Over the years, Dan played drums in our original host band Zero, and even set up his drums for the rest of the bands to use. He played on our float in the Strawberry Festival parade, designed and refinished multiple Rock the Park guitars to raffle off, and even ran sound for us (for free) for the first two years of our event. And that’s all outside of the manual labor he would provide just to help us get the event set up.”
Kennedy said her brother loved to play the drums since he was a little kid. He taught his kids to play them, too.
Conrad spent many hours fishing with Ryan. He saw how Ryan would look to help others, never wanting anything in return.
“He was a fun, outgoing person,” Conrad. “He was there for everybody.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: The band Eclipse performs “Stinkfist” by Tool during Rock the Park 7 at Bullard Park in Albion on Aug. 6, 2022. Erin Moody is lead singer for the band that includes Brett Zambito, left, on guitar and D.J. Button, right, on guitar, as well as Dan Ryan on the drums. This year’s Albion Summer Festival/Rock the Park 9 on Aug. 2-3 is dedicated in honor of Ryan, who passed away at age 39 on June 23.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 July 2024 at 9:04 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was in Albion on Saturday to meet with the local Democratic Party and encourage them in what is often a daunting task of fielding candidates in a Republican-dominated county.
DiNapoli has been state comptroller since 2007. He has met with local Democrats at least twice before in Albion.
He noted Democrats in rural parts of the state have the work extra hard to get candidates elected. In Orleans County, Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 2-to-1 ratio.
“Every vote you get in Orleans County is a hard-fought vote,” DiNapoli told about 30 people during a gathering on Saturday at Hoag Library. “I don’t want you to think that we at the state level don’t appreciate and recognize it.”
He said Democrats can win by drawing support from independents and even some Republicans. He urged them to keep trying in the local elections and stay active as a committee in the county.
“Bad things happen when good people don’t vote,” he said.
Tom DiNapoli addresses local Democrats in Albion on Saturday. Jeff Lewis, Democratic Party chairman in Orleans County, is in back at right.
A priority this coming election is to defeat Donald Trump in the presidential race. DiNapoli said there “is a lot of soul-searching going on” among Democrats. Joe Biden faces increasing pressure to drop out of the race. He is trailing Trump in the polls, and Biden is coming off what many view as a “disastrous” debate against Trump last month.
“We have to stay united as Democrats and make sure Trump is not re-elected again,” DiNapoli said, calling Trump “a threat to democracy.”
The state comptroller said New York State is doing well economically as it works to recover from the Covid pandemic. He said New York City is back to 100 percent with jobs from the pre-Covid levels. Other parts of the state aren’t quite back to 100 percent and are in the 90s. But DiNapoli said unemployment is low at 4.9 percent and sales tax returns have been strong.
The comptroller oversees at $268 billion pension fund, that DiNapoli was up 11.5 percent last year. His office also puts out many reports highlighting challenges in rural areas, including shrinking population, an aging population, emergency services, affordable housing and child poverty. DiNapoli said three upstate cities – Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse – are among the top 10 in the country for highest child poverty levels.
He tries to highlight issues for state legislators and the governor to work on and address with legislation and the state budget.
“As Democrats we want everyone to be lifted up and not just the wealthy and the few,” he said.
David Wagenhauser, a Democrat from Waterloo in Seneca County, attended the Democratic Party gathering on Saturday with DiNapoli. Wagenhauser seeks to unseat Rep. Claudia Tenney in the 24th Congressional District that covers 14 counties including Orleans.
Wagenhauser is a retired lawyer. He has served as a Brockport village trustee.
DiNapoli said a victory by Wagenhauser would help put the House of Representatives back in a Democratic majority. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also is up for election in November, and her re-election is critical for Democrats to hang on to a razor-thin majority in the Senate, DiNapoli said.
