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.

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Firefighters were dispatched this morning to a fire at a vacant trailer at 13455 Allis Rd. in Barre.

A man who used to live in the trailer passed away about two years ago, a neighbor said.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 6:41 a.m. Barre, Albion, Medina and Elba responded as well as the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

The fire seemed to be concentrated on one side of the trailer.

Fire investigators are on scene to try to determine the cause of the fire.

UPDATE at 6:17 p.m.: Fire investigators have ruled the cause of the fire as accidental but the investigation is continuing.

BARRE – A late night fire at 13200 Hemlock Ridge Rd. has resulted in a total loss of the residence, said James Neal, assistant fire chief for ethe Barre Volunteer Fire Company.

Firefighters were dispatched to scene at 1:24 a.m. It was 2 degrees out and the temperatures would drop to minus degrees while firefighters were at the scene until about 6 a.m.

The one resident in the house got out safely and the Red Cross has been requested to assist that person with temporary housing, Neal said.

He estimated 30 to 40 firefighters assisted with the response with firefighters from Barre, Albion, Carlton, East Shelby, Elba, Oakfield and Medina.

They used water from a hydrant and also filled 11 tankers with water to try to put out the fire, Neal said.

“My guys and everyone did a great job,” he said.

The cause has been undetermined and remains under investigation.

BARRE – The town may send out surveys to residents, gauging their opinions on many issues, from industrial wind turbines to tiny homes.

Town Council George McKenna presented a list of issues on he would like to hear from residents about, including whether they would support a dollar store, an electric charging station, term limits for Town Board members and other boards (Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals).

McKenna, speaking at Wednesday’s Town Board meeting, also wants to hear from residents on whether the town should pay for announcements in the local media, consolidation of justice courts in the county, marijuana dispensaries, the use of agriculture land for solar projects, and whether the town should adjust its zoning law to not allow industrial-sized turbines.

He would like the Planning Board to take the lead in crafting the survey, and that board could add more questions to the survey.

McKenna said it would make the Town Board’s job easier to know how residents feel about the many issues that could confront the board.

“We can start the ball rolling,” he said about getting a survey in motion.

Town Supervisor Sean Pogue said Planning Board could work on the survey with the Town Board getting a final look at the document before it’s sent out.

Pogue and the board members said residents may need more information on some of the issues, such as “tiny houses.” Pogue said those could be patio homes that are more affordable to senior citizens and younger families.

The Town Board voted to have the Planning Board begin work on the survey. McKenna also suggested an open-ended question for residents to offer ideas to improve the town and also to lower taxes.

In other action at Wednesday’s board meeting:

• Supervisor Pogue said Verizon is looking for a site in Barre for a tower to improve coverage in the community. Pogue said the tower would likely be somewhere near the town hall. The town property at the town hall doesn’t have enough room for a “fall zone” for a tower, Pogue said.

Town employees are well aware of the struggles to get a strong signal.

“It should improve our reception so the guys in the highway don’t have to step out of the garage into the parking lot to talk to somebody,” Pogue said.

• The board voted to advertise for a town attorney. Bridget O’Toole has worked the past year in the position, following Lance Mark who served the town for 37 years.

Board members said O’Toole has done a good job for Barre. However, the majority of the board wanted to give other attorneys a chance to apply for the position.

Councilman McKenna questioned spending the money to put out advertisements when the board is satisfied with O’Toole.

Councilwoman Kerri Richardson also said she didn’t think the advertisements were necessary, when the board is happy with O’Toole.

But Pogue said Richardson wasn’t being consistent with her thinking because she insisted the board advertise to fill vacancies on the Planning and Zoning boards. (There weren’t any new applications from the community for those positions and the board on Wednesday reappointed Tom Keeler to the Planning Board and Larry Gaylard to the Zoning Board of Appeals.)

Richardson said that was different because the Town Board was trying to reach out to community members to serve on those boards.

Councilwoman Margaret Swan said advertising for the attorney position may give someone in Orleans County a chance to apply for the post.

• The board approved a modified contract for ambulance services with Monroe Ambulance. Barre was the first of seven towns in eastern and central Orleans to approve a contract with Monroe on Nov. 9, calling for Barre to pay $8,000 towards ambulance services.

The original contract called for seven towns to pay $200,000 to Monroe to have ambulances based in Albion and Holley in 2023. But the Kendall Town Board didn’t vote to be in the agreement, saying Kendall was already covered through a contract between Monroe and two fire districts.

The revised contract without Kendall is among six towns for $181,200. Barre’s share remains at $8,000.

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Santa Claus waves to people along Route 98 during the Barre lighted tractor parade this evening. There were more than 20 tractors, construction vehicles and other farm equipment in the parade.

Mike Van Lieshout leads off the parade with a sign proclaiming “A Barre Merry Christmas To All.”

The parade started at Van Lieshout’s farm on East Barre Road and then headed north on Route 98 to the barre Town Park.

This was the fourth Barre lighted parade. Last year’s parade was cancelled due to high winds. The event is organized by the Barre Betterment Committee.

Keeler Construction carried this sign wishing people a “Merry Christmas.”

Basinait Farms had a holiday display with a Christmas tree, Buddy the Elf and a festive M & M.

Here are some other photos from the parade.

Provided photos

BARRE – Santa Claus was escorted around town today, joined by Barre firefighters in delivering presents to 140 kids in the community.

The annual “Santa Express” visited 35 families this morning. This is the ninth year the fire company has helped Santa make the deliveries.

Santa stops by the Keeler residence to meet youngsters.

People drop off gift-wrapped presents at the firehall and those gifts are then delivered by firefighters and Santa.

The firefighters and Santa split into different groups and were out from about 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. making deliveries.

Barre firefighter John Egloff joins Santa in this stop.

Firefighters say the Santa Express gives them a chance to see families for a good reason, rather than an emergency. It also helps children to meet the firefighters, who act as Santa’s elves while delivering the gifts.

Here are a few other highlights from this morning’s deliveries.

Photo by Tom Rivers: About 20 tractors and trucks were decorated in lights for the third annual Barre Lighted Tractor Parade in December 12, 2020. This group of tractors includes one driven by Kurt Dudley in center. Last year’s parade was cancelled due to high winds.

BARRE – The lighted tractor parade will be back on Dec. 10, heading down Route 98 at 5:30 p.m.

Last year’s 4^th annual tractor parade was cancelled when there were high winds.

This year organizers at the Barre Betterment Committee applied for a second date, Dec. 11, in the permit with the state Department of Transportation. That’s just in case there is bad weather on Dec. 10. Last year the BBC didn’t have a backup date with the permit.

Tractors should show up near the Van Lieshout farm on East Barre Road by 5:15 p.m. They will then head north on Route 98 to the Barre Town Park. No RSVPs are needed.

Photo by Tom Rivers

BARRE – The Town of Barre will soon have new welcome signs at the main entrances of the community with two on Route 98 and two on Route 31A.

Terry’s Signs in Elba finished the first 5-foot-long sign that includes a barn and a message that Barre is “A Right-to-Farm Community.”

The current signs are looking worn out, said Town Supervisor Sean Pogue. Barre paid about $500 for each of the four new signs.

That doesn’t include the cost for new frames that will be built by the Highway Department.

The new signs are on a thin aluminum. They will be reflective at night with the letters of “BARRE.”

Monroe will be paid $8K by Barre, with 7 towns together paying $200K in one-year contract

BARRE – The Barre Town Board this evening unanimously approved a one-year contract with Monroe Ambulance to provide ambulance services in the community.

Barre will pay Monroe $8,000 in 2023 as part of the contract that is being negotiated from seven towns in central and eastern Orleans – Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall and Murray.

The contract calls for the seven towns to collectively pay Monroe $200,000 for its service. Monroe will station an ambulance in Albion and Holley, said Sean Pogue, Barre town supervisor.

The share for each town is based on percentage of call volume. Towns with more calls will pay more in the contract with Monroe. The contract includes the following compensation from the towns: Albion, $84,400; Barre, $8,000; Carlton, $14,800; Clarendon, $18,800; Gaines, $24,600; Kendall, $18,000; and Murray, $30,600.

The new contract starts on Jan. 1 and Monroe is to receive its municipal payment by Feb. 15.

Monroe will still bill patients and insurance companies for services. The Rochester-based company currently is the main ambulance provider in Kendall, Clarendon and Murray, but Monroe doesn’t typically station an ambulance in Orleans County.

The seven towns have been meeting with Monroe regularly for at least two months, trying to secure an ambulance provider with COVA in Albion on the verge of going out of business.

COVA officials want Mercy Flight EMS to take over the service area. Mercy Flight said it would keep COVA medics and staff, and would work out of the COVA base.

Pogue said that situation with Mercy Flight is happening fast and Town Board isn’t sure of the details of a Mercy Flight takeover and the level of service to the community.

“There are too many changing factors,” Pogue said at this evening’s Town Board meeting. “There is too much unknown with Mercy Flight and COVA right now.”

The Town Board in a 5-0 vote approved a one-year agreement with Monroe Ambulance. The contract, which needs approval by all seven towns, will give the community a chance to see whether Monroe can provide satisfactory service to the seven towns. Mercy Flight could remain an option for mutual aid in 2023, and could be the main provider after that if the towns aren’t happy with Monroe, Pogue said.

“Let’s see how Monroe and Mercy Flight EMS do with their response times,” Pogue said. “Monroe is not going to have a monopoly.”

Town Councilman Dave Waters asked which ambulance provider will be called to a scene if both are operating in the town. Pogue said that will be up to a 911 dispatcher to see which ambulance can respond the fastest.

Barre is the first Town Board to approve the contract. Pogue said the other towns will meet this week and next week to vote on the agreement.

Press Release, Apex Clean Energy

ALBION – Apex Clean Energy and Heritage Wind are pleased to announce that four organizations have been awarded grants as part of the Heritage Wind Community Grant Program.

The 2022 grant program invited local organizations to apply for funds supporting four types of activities: building healthy communities, promoting education, encouraging economic development, and sustaining the environment.

The grant recipients for this cycle are the Town of Barre, the Cobblestone Society & Museum, Orleans Koinonia Kitchen, and the Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“I’m so proud of the work we’ve done over the years to make Heritage Wind a part of the Orleans County community,” said Carmen O’Keefe, senior development manager for Heritage Wind. “As we get closer to this project and its many benefits becoming a reality, it’s great to find even more ways to support organizations doing critical work for this community.”

The grant awards include:

• Town of Barre – $4,000
• Orleans Koinonia Kitchen – $2,500
• Cobblestone Society and Museum – $2,000
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association – $2,000

“The Town of Barre is grateful for the continued support and generosity of Apex Clean Energy,” said Jason Foote, Town of Barre Park director. “This grant money will be used to help us achieve our goal of updating the existing playground equipment and making the Town of Barre Park more family friendly.”

“The Cobblestone Society & Museum is proud of its 60-year heritage of historic preservation in Orleans County and beyond. However, we are not stopping very long to look back because we have an exciting new plan laid out for the future,” said the museum’s director, Doug Farley. “With the purchase of the historic circa 1830 brick home (formerly known as Fair Haven Treasures) directly across from the Cobblestone Museum, we look forward to expanding our community engagement through the addition of a Cobblestone Welcome Center to our campus of historic buildings. A Media Center within the Welcome Center will provide visitors with video introductions to the museum campus buildings and exhibits, as well as general historic overviews of the immediate area, Orleans County, and the region.”

“We do what we do because there are people in this world who need a little help, and that’s where we come in, but we could never do it without the help and support of the community and donators like Heritage Wind,” said Faith Smith, director of Orleans Koinonia Kitchen.

“We are so grateful for the generous grant from Heritage Wind toward the Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” said Lynn Westcott, senior director of development for the Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Heritage Wind’s support of the Walk will have a positive impact on the people in Orleans County who live with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia and those who care for them, as this event funds the many free support groups, education programs, and other services provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, such as our 24/7 helpline.” The helpline can be reached at (800) 272-3900.

These grant awardees join a list of other Orleans County organizations that have been approved for grants from Apex, including Orleans Community Health, the Albion Betterment Committee, the Town of Barre Historical Society, COVA, ARC of Genesee and Orleans, and many others.