BARRE – The Town of Barre has the highest voter turnout in Orleans County for the election with 45.3 percent or 599 out of the 1,323 registered voters.

That compares to a countywide percentage of 20.8 percent with 5,282 casting ballots out of 25,455 registered.

Barre has led the voter participation in at least the last four local elections. The town continues to have contested races for the town supervisor and Town Board seats. (Sean Pogue, the incumbent, currently has a 1-vote lead over Scott Burnside for town supervisor, 293-292.)

In 2021, the turnout was 45.6 percent in Barre, and it was 51.2 percent in 2019 and 48.4 percent in 2017.

Back in 2015, Yates topped in turnout among local elections at 50.2 percent. That was the year when candidates, including Jim Simon for town supervisor, ran a vigorous campaign on an anti-wind turbine agenda. Simon won on write-in ballots. Barre had the second highest turnout in November 2015 at 46.4 percent.

In the current election, the turnout countywide was down significantly from four years ago when it was 34.8 percent, with 8,048 voters going to the polls out of 23,183 registered voters. That year there was a hotly contested race for sheriff. This year none of the countywide positions had opposition.

Here are the percentages of turnout among the 10 towns in Orleans County:

• Albion – 11.8% (436 out of 3,684)
• Barre – 45.3% (599 out of 1,323)
• Carlton – 17.7% (370 out of 2,087)
• Clarendon – 12.7% (318 out of 2,509)
• Gaines – 14.5% (296 out of 2,038)
• Kendall – 30.7% (575 out of 1,871)
• Murray – 23.0% (702 out of 3,054)
• Ridgeway – 10.0% (410 out of 4,102)
• Shelby – 34.4% (1,081 out of 3,138)
• Yates – 26.0% (428 out of 1,649)
• Orleans County – 20.8% (5,282 out of 25,455)

Five of the 10 towns – Albion, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines and Ridgeway – did not have any contested races and their turnout was well under 20 percent.

Shelby had the second-highest turnout with voters drawn to the polls with races for town clerk, highway superintendent and the Town Board.

The turnout tends to be significantly higher during presidential election years (next in 2024) or during a gubernatorial year (next in 2026).

Regarding politics and hot-button issues, ‘We don’t talk about it’

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Dora Leader, left, and Shania Mathes put turkey dinners in plastic bags as part of the assembly line of volunteers at West Barre United Methodist Church.

The church served 479 dinners on Tuesday in an election day tradition going back at least 40 years.

The church used to have a dine-in option, but since the Covid pandemic in 2020 he meals have been served drive-through only.

Scott Bennett, a technician with the Orleans County Board of Elections, picked up eight dinners to take back to the BOE staff in Albion. Bennett, a Barre resident, said he has been coming for the meals on election day for the past 25 years.

The church used to serve lunches and dinners on election day, but has scaled back with fewer volunteers.

Tuesday’s dinner was still a big effort for the church, with members cooking 30 turkeys, five 50-pound bags of potatoes, 80 boxes of stuffing, 60 pies, and many bushels of squash and seven cans of No. 10 cranberry sauce.

The vehicles are lined up for the meals, which were hot items in Barre.

Naomi Caldwell cuts a pumpkin pie into eight slices. She looks forward to helping prepare and serve the dinner every year.

“It’s a lot of effort for a small church but we love it,” Caldwell said. “We are a community. We are one body.”

The church also serves 900 chicken barbecue dinners during July.

Eileen Collins whips up water and butter for the stuffing.

Melissa Dibley is ready to put turkey in the to-go containers.

The event brings the church members together in a town where there are strong opinions about a wind energy project, and who should serve on the Town Board.

“We agree to disagree,” said Joy Markle, one of the coordinators of the dinner. “There are some who are for and some who are against. We don’t talk about it.”

7 potential votes out there with unreturned absentees

Barre Town Supervisor Sean Pogue holds a very slim lead over challenger Scott Burnside.

BARRE – Just after 9 p.m. it didn’t look good for Sean Pogue in his bid for another term as Barre town supervisor.

He was losing by 19 votes to Scott Burnside in the tally today at Barre Town Hall.

But a 259-240 gap changed when early voting results and some absentees were added. Pogue, at the end of the night, has a 1-vote lead, 293-292.

There are seven unreturned absentee ballots. They need to be postmarked by today. The Board of Elections plans to count them on Monday, but will accept them up until a week from today, Nov. 14.

In a three-way race for two Town Board seats, Republicans Kirk Mathes, 359, and Margaret Swan, 315 votes, are the winners. Mathes, a member of the Planning Board, ousts Kerri Richardson, a Conservative Party member, from the board. Richardson received 299 votes. Mathes, Swan and Pogue all ran under the independent “Future for Barre” line in addition to the Republican line.

Burnside ran as a Conservative. He lost a Republican primary in June to Pogue, 165-115.

Other candidates elected today in Barre include: Dale Brooks, (Republican and Working for a Better Barre), 422 for highway superintendent; Maureen Beach, (Democrat), 338 for town clerk; and Earl Jenks Jr., (Republican), 372 for town justice.

Mathes, Richardson have most votes for Town Board with early voting, absentees to be counted

BARRE – Scott Burnside is holding a 19-vote lead over Sean Pogue for town supervisor, after votes were counted today at the voting machine at the Town Hall.

That doesn’t include absentees and may not include early voting for nine days.

Burnside, who lost a Republican primary to Pogue on June 27 by a 165-115 vote, holds the lead after today’s vote, 259 to 240.

Burnside only had the Conservative Party line while Pogue has the Republican and ‘Future for barre” lines.

Pogue has been the town supervisor for nearly six years, during a time when the town has wrestled with a large-scale wind energy project and also a 2,000-acre solar facility that extends into the Town of Shelby.

Pogue was at the Town Hall when the results were announced not long after 9 p.m. He said he expected the vote to be close, but felt like he had the support of the voters.

“I knocked on a lot of doors and there was a lot of positive feedback,” Pogue said.

There is a close race for two other Town Board seats. Kirk Mathes leads with 282, followed by Kerri Richardson with 266 and Margaret Swan, 262.

Richardson, a Conservative, has frequently butted heads with Pogue and the pro-wind faction of the board. Mathes and Swan both are Republicans with the “Future for Barre” line.

Other totals for Barre candidates at the Town Hall today include 361 for Dale Brooks as highway superintendent, 315 for Earl Jenks, Jr. for town justice, and 275 for Maureen Beach as town clerk.

Playground, restrooms, pickleball/tennis courts suggested before adding more fields

Photo by Tom Rivers: The pavilion and playground at the Barre Town Park are shown on Nov. 3, 2022.

BARRE – The Town Board was urged to take a gradual approach in moving to upgrade the town park with a new playground, and possibly a restroom and pickleball/tennis courts.

The town has a lot of space at the park and could add more fields, walking trails and other amenities in the back end of the property.

But Jason Foote, director of Parks and Recreation for the town, said the fields are currently underutilized. Barre used to host a summer soccer program but that shifted to the town-owned fields in Carlton.

Barre has youth baseball teams in the Albion Midget League. This year they practiced in Barre but didn’t have home games because of new drainage tile being installed. Foote said the drainage work has made a big difference and will help the fields dry out sooner after a rain.

He would like to see the Little League field be used for youth baseball and softball tournaments next year.

The town also has a full-size field for the teen-agers and adults who play baseball.

Foote advised the Town Board at last week’s board meeting to not look at developing more fields, but instead focus on keeping their existing fields in top condition.

“Let’s take care of the two fields we have and make them the two best fields in the county so people want to come here,” said Foote, who has coached the Barre Cubs youth baseball team for many years.

The town park on Route 98 opened about two decades ago. It currently has porta-potties, but Foote told the Town Board a better option to make the site more attractive to local residents and visiting teams would be to have permanent restrooms.

If there were restrooms, Foote said the park could be marketed for flea markets and other events.

He also said courts for pickleball, tennis and basketball would likely be frequently used.

He would like to keep the existing playground and add a Ninja Warrior-style playground that has been paid for with fundraisers by the Barre Betterment Committee.

The Town Board said they liked the concept plan suggested by Foote, but want to have a joint session with the Barre Betterment Committee, Barre Park Committee and the Town Board to discuss the next steps with the park.

Town Supervisor Sean Pogue said the park is 60 acres, but only about 15 are utilized right now. He said a simple hiking trail could make better use of the entire park.

Foote also said a disc golf course and cornhole boards are also new amenities that wouldn’t require much maintenance from the town.

He discouraged the town from adding more fields, which would be more upkeep for the town and may not have much use in the immediate future.

“I don’t think the right direction is putting in more fields,” he said.

BARRE – The Town of Barre’s Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals will have a joint public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Town Hall to take comments on a proposed cell tower.

Bell Atlantic/Verizon has proposed a 170-foot-high tower with a 4-foot-high lightning rod at 14295 West Barre Rd., on land owned by the Frederick A. Daniels and Adrienne C. Daniels Irrevocable Trust.

Verizon, in its application to the town, acknowledges the company “has service inadequacies in the Town of Barre.”

The hearing on Nov. 13 will be for site plan approval and a special use permit from the Planning Board, and a height variance from ZBA.

Besides the tower, the project includes a 7-foot-tall chain link fence, an equipment shelter and gravel access road.

Verizon also will be able to lease out space on the tower to other companies.

More people could be added to group looking at land use in town

BARRE – The Town of Barre has named members to a committee to update a comprehensive plan from 2017.

The group will be headed by Town Councilman George McKenna. Other members approved by the Town Board on Wednesday include John Depatie from the Planning Board, Cyndy Van Lieshout, Scott Burnside, town assessor Stephanie Underhill, Larry Gaylard from the Zoning Board of Appeals, Wes Miller of the Planning Board, Kelly Dudley of the ZBA, Kathy Klein and Gary Palmer.

The Town Board said more members could be added. McKenna said he would like to see a more diverse representation with more people from small businesses outside of agriculture and some younger adults. He said the current members include many from the ag community.

McKenna said the current members cover different communities of the town, from barre Center, East barre, West barre and South Barre.

He expects the comp plan will include a survey for residents to weigh in on many issues, including large-scale solar and wind energy projects.

Barre will be working with Barbara Johnston from LaBella Associates on updating the plan, which sets policies and goals for land use. Barre has about 2,000 residents and just under 800 households. There are 34,563 acres in the town and agricultural is just over half of the total.

Town Supervisor Sean Pogue said there will be many opportunities for public to weigh in on the plan in the coming months.

If there are any amendments to the plan, there will be at least one public hearing for the residents to comment on the changes.

Press Release, Heritage Wind

BARRE – The Heritage Wind Community Grant Program is now accepting applications for its fall 2023 grant cycle.

Counting the last grant cycle’s recipients, the grant program has awarded nearly $90,000 to community causes and non-profit organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education, since its inception in 2020.

The previous Spring Grant Cycle included the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, United Way of Orleans County, and Supportive Care of Orleans.

Local organizations working in the Town of Barre, and the broader Orleans County community are encouraged to apply. Grants are typically awarded in $250 to $4,000 increments, with priority given to proposals that demonstrate meaningful impacts to the greatest number of area residents. We will be accepting applications until Nov. 3.

Please apply at www.heritagewindpower.com/grant.

The four focus areas for the community grant program are:

• Building Healthy Communities – Programs that support public health or enhance the quality of life in the community.
• Economic Development – Programs that support the economic wellbeing of the community.
• Environmental Sustainability – Programs that support environmental revitalization, sustainability, or empower residents to be stewards of the environment.
• Promoting Education – Programs that support educational institutions, especially the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This may include curriculum development, vocational training, or literacy support.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Anna Mathes at anna.mathes@apexcleanenergy.com or (585) 563-5137.

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – A barn from the early 1900s burned this afternoon in Barre. The barn is owned by Frank and Cynthia Stumer at 4715 Oak Orchard Rd.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 3:38 p.m. The property is next to the Barre fire hall on Route 98.

The fire also damaged a garage next to the barn. No one was injured in the blaze.

“I just loved that barn,” said Mrs. Stumer, who is deputy commissioner of the Department of Social Services for Orleans County. “I’m just devastated. We had plans of renovating it.”

Several local fire departments responded to the scene. The cause is under investigation.

Firefighters use a saw to cut open the garage door.

The fire spread from the barn to a garage, causing extensive damage.

Albion firefighter John Papponetti, left, and Steve Miller of the Medina Fire Department get water on the back of the barn.

Provided photos: Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) met with the Keeler family and leaders of Barre Stone Products.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

BARRE – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) visited Barre Stone Products, Inc. on Thursday in Orleans County.

Barre Stone Products is located in the Town of Barre and is a fourth-generation, family-owned business. Their parent company, Keeler Construction Company, was incorporated in 1942 and has been working in highway construction for more than 60 years. They specialize in crushed stone products, hot mixed asphalt and agricultural lime. Hawley is happy to see local businesses thriving and making an impact in the community.

“I was thrilled and honored to spend almost two hours talking, listening and touring Barre Stone Products and Keeler Construction operations yesterday,” Hawley said. “Their expertise, financial investment in equipment and technology and good stewardship of their many contiguous acres in Orleans County is commendable. I thank Barre Stone Products for allowing me to tour their facilities and for their impact on Western New York’s economy.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Julius Dillard, 3, of Barre sprays a fire hose this afternoon during an open house at the Barre Volunteer Fire Company. His grandfather Josh Jurs is a lieutenant with the fire company, and great-grandfather John Jurs is a long-time member.

Barre held an open house with demonstrations as part of a state-wide Recruit NY outreach effort to try to attract more members and volunteers. Fire company leaders said about 60 people attended the open house and two people took applications to join the fire company.

This group of members welcomed people to learn more about the fire company which responded to 268 calls last year. From left include Barry Flansburg, Jerry Bentley, Terry Bentley, Kara Smith, Bert Mathes, Judy Kurtz, Doug Bentley, jay Kurtz and Mark Farone.

The fire company invited people to check out the fire trucks and try on turnout gear. The fire trucks include a 2010 pumper, 2022 pumper-tanker and 2019 pumper.

Barry Flansburg said the all departments would welcome more members, who can assist a fire company in many ways, whether responding to fire and emergency calls, and helping to run the organization, which could be with some of the office work.

Julius Dillard, left, gets some guidance in spraying the house from his great-grandfather John Jurs while Landon Flansburg, 4, of Barre gets a little help from his father, Ben, who is the Barre fire chief.c

BARRE – The Barre Volunteer Fire Company is hosting an open house Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The community is welcome to get hands-on training, said Fire Chief Ben Flansburg.

The event is part of Recruit NY outreach efforts this weekend by many fire departments in New York State.

Barre will offer refreshments during the open house. People also can try on turn-out gear, learn how to spray water and check out the fire trucks and see how they are operated. Barre firefighters responded to 268 calls in 2022.

For more on Recruit NY, click here.

Provided photos

BARRE – Students in Mr. Tim Archer’s seventh grade Service Learning class at Albion Middle School recently helped Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan repaint a New York State historic marker commemorating the burial place of the Rev. Marvin Frey, composer of Kum Ba Yah and other popular spiritual songs.

The students included Sophia Bouchey, Maliyah Carithers, Sadie Money, Cameron Manacle and Tyler Sullivan.

The students are shown outside the chapel at Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon, working on the sign.

The sign is located on West Barre Road in the Town of Barre. Ierlan has repainted many of the historical markers in Orleans County in recent years.