Photo by Tom Rivers: The Oak Orchard Lighthouse is shown on Aug. 14, 2025 during a light show. The 32-foot-high lighthouse was built in 2010.

POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum’s annual fundraising event will feature an evening of music, along with the usual extraordinary dessert buffet.

From 7 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the Carlton United Methodist Church, the Lighthouse Museum will sponsor “Lyrics and the Lighthouse,” featuring performances by local musicians, Lily Brigham, Hannah Brewer, Shannon Vanderlaan and Andy & Mindy.

There will also be raffles, in addition to desserts and live music.

While raising money to build the lighthouse was an enormous community effort, it is also necessary to raise funds to maintain it, according to board president Chris Manaseri. He added the Lighthouse has an annual budget of $5,500, of which more than half goes to insurance and tax reporting. He said their revenue comes from fundraisers, donations and gift shop sales.

In the past the museum has sponsored dinners, raffles and talks centered around Lake Ontario, including several presentations by shipwreck hunter Jim Kennard.

For the past three years, the fundraiser has taken place at the Carlton United Methodist Church, on the corner of Archibald Road and Route 18, where Larry Grimes is not only a member, but an incredible pastry chef. His array of delectable desserts has become a popular addition to Lighthouse fundraisers.

Tickets for the evening are $25 at the door or $20 presale and can be purchased at OONA summer concerts at the Marine Park, or by calling (585) 230-7829

The history of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse goes back to 1871 when there were two piers in the harbor at Point Breeze and a lighthouse was built on west pier. It was in service from 1871 to 1916, when a violent storm took it into the lake.

Fast forward to 2002 when Peg and Richard Wiley moved to a marina on Route 98, just south of the Orleans County Marine Park. Peg was interested in the area which had become her new home and started researching its history.

When she discovered there used to be a lighthouse at Point Breeze, she realized the potential for tourism, and thought why hasn’t anyone ever attempted to rebuild one?

She contacted Dick Anderson, who lived in the former lighthouse keeper’s home at the end of Archibald Road. In the summer of 2003, they and several other interested citizens met under the bridge in the Marine Park to discuss a new lighthouse.

The Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum was chartered in 2004 to raise funds to rebuild the lighthouse. The first public meeting took place at the Carlton Recreation Hall, where a model of a lighthouse built by Anderson was on display.

Original members of the board, besides Wiley, Anderson and Diane Blanchard (who are still board), Cheryl Staines, Dan and Marietta Schuth, Diana Jeffords and Jamie Kowalski. Other supporters who soon joined in were Joan Higley, Kim Remley and Ginny Kropf.

The lighthouse was completed with donations by individuals, families and businesses, fundraising events, grants and a member item from former State Sen. George Maziarz and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

A memorial walkway composed of hundreds of bricks sponsored by donors, was installed and sponsors were sought for the compass rose and benches crafted from Medina Sandstone. The benches were created by internationally known stone craftsman, George Graham of Oakfield. A Children’s Peace Garden was installed with plantings beneficial to migratory bird populations that pass through the area. Volunteers maintain it.

Most importantly, according to their website, a building will be acquired or constructed near Point Breeze to serve as the physical Museum, housing documents, photos, exhibits and memorabilia related to the general and maritime history of Point Breeze, Oak Orchard Harbor, and the surrounding region.

POINT BREEZE – The previous owner of the Black North Inn said she will honor gift certificates from the eight years she owned the restaurant.

Kristin Rowell closed the business in Jan. 11, 2026. She will cover the remaining balance on the Black North VIP, Gold with a Bow, and Beach Scene gift certificates. (The Black North has recently reopened under a new owner.)

If you have one of the gift cards listed above, please mail the original gift card to:

P.O. Box 4, Hamlin, NY 14464

Please include your name, mailing address, phone number, and, if possible, a brief note indicating the remaining balance on the gift card.

“Please allow approximately 8 to 12 weeks for processing after we receive your gift card,” Rowell said. “Payment will be issued in the form of a certified check and mailed to the address you provide. We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and cooperation during this difficult situation.”

File photo by Ginny Kropf: Danielle and Gatlen Ernst four years ago opened Gilligan’s Galley at the end of Route 98 in Point Breeze.

POINT BREEZE – Gilligan’s Galley, a Point Breeze restaurant that opened nearly four years ago, will be closing on Aug. 29.

The establishment is owned by Danielle and Gatlen Ernst. The business announced the closing today on its Facebook page.

“It wasn’t an easy decision by any means, but one we feel is the right one for us,” the post states. “While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to our customers who have become like family, our hearts our full of gratitude for every person who has walked through our doors, every family who stopped in for a meal, and every person who supported us along the way.”

The Ernst family also owns and operates Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina.

They thanked their “incredible staff” at making Gilligan’s Galley a very special place. The restaurant has a tiki theme with thatching and bamboo in the ceiling.

“While this chapter is coming to an end, we don’t necessarily see it as goodbye,” states the post from Gilligan’s. “We hope that someday, when the time is right, we’ll have the opportunity to bring something new to our community. Until then, we’ll cherish the memories we’ve made together.”

POINT BREEZE – For the second this summer, a concert at the Orleans County Marine Park has been rescheduled due to hot weather.

The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association and Friends of the Orleans County Marine Park announced that the concert planned for this evening featuring Feedback has been rescheduled to Aug. 18.

The June 30 concert with Something Else also was rescheduled to Aug. 11 due to a heat advisory.

Today’s high temperature is forecast to reach 93 degrees with heat index values as high as 105 expected.

A heat advisory for Orleans County is in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) A volunteer and author of a book benefiting the Oak Orchard Lighthouse, Anne Martin displays copies of the book, “Maren: The Oak Orchard Lighthouse Mouse.” The book is on sale at the lighthouse at Point Breeze. (Right) Anne Martin, a volunteer and member of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse board, stands with artist Chris Manaseri, president of the lighthouse board, who is holding a picture of the lighthouse he painted for the child’s book she wrote. Manaseri illustrated the book, which is for sale at the lighthouse.

POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse continues to be an attraction in the area, and now there is a new reason to visit.

The Oak Orchard Lighthouse board president Chris Manseri has announced the sale of a new children’s book, written by fellow board member and volunteer Anne Martin.

The book, entitled “Maren: The Oak Orchard Lighthouse Mouse,” was born out of an idea started by Peg Wiley, owner with her husband Richard of Wiley’s Marina on Route 98 at the Point.

Wiley had started some years ago to write a book, which she called “Whitefoot Willy,” but never finished. She helped start the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum after moving here from Rochester began to research the area of her new home. She discovered there used to be a lighthouse on the west pier at the end of Oak Orchard River, and she wondered why no one had ever tried to rebuild it. The lighthouse was built in 1871 and guided sailors until it was decommissioned in 1909, destroyed by a storm and collapsed into the river in 1916.

Wiley had met the late Dick Anderson, a resident of Point Breeze and avid supporter of the area. He had built a replica of the lighthouse, which he displayed at local events. In 2003, they formed the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Committee, and soon started talking about raising funds to build a lighthouse at the Point. With donations and grants, an exact replica of the lighthouse was built and dedicated in 2010.

Chris Manaseri of Pittsford bought a cottage on Lake Ontario in 2016. Dick Anderson, who was then president of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Committee, put the word out that they needed board members, and Manaseri joined. He currently serves as president of the board.

After Anderson died in 2022, Manaseri recruited Martin and her husband Ken, who had lived in Indiana and were looking for a place on the water to be near her parents and daughter in Toronto. Ken is currently president of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association.

“We live three doors down from the lighthouse,” Martin said. “How cool is that.”

Martin said she has visited other lighthouses, and they have a mascot, and she thought Maren the Lighthouse Mouse would be great idea for the gift shop.

“Anne stepped up and wrote one,” Manaseri said. “It is relatively short and relatively simple.”

As Manaseri has a background in art – he and his wife own an art gallery cooperative in Pittsford, which currently has 20 exhibiting artists.

Manaseri volunteered his talent to illustrate Anne’s book, and the pictures are all in black and white, so children can color them in, if they wish, he said.

The book also features Larry the Lighthouse Keeper, who Manaseri said is fashioned after one of their members, Larry Grimes. Grimes is the chef extraordinaire who provides the exquisite desserts for the Lighthouse Museum’s annual fundraising event at the Carlton United Methodist Church. He is also a regular volunteer at the museum.

The Oak Orchard Lighthouse attracts about 2,000 visitors a year.

“We had 85 last Saturday,” Martin said.

Provided photo

KENT – Lynne-Ette and Sons is helping celebrate the Fourth of July with a display in front of the farm based at Route 18 and Kent Road.

Lynn-Ette has parked a red, white and blue lifted mud bog truck with a F350 body. It’s next to an American flag at the farm.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – The Dave Viterna Group performed Tuesday evening at the Orleans County Marine Park to kick off the summer concert series.

There were several hundred people at the concert. The band members include from left: Marty Hobbs, “Scooter” Scott Felice on drums and Dave Viterna.

Dave Viterna and his band have been sought after performers in Western New York for many years.

“Scooter” Scott Felice pounded the skins for about two hours during the concert on Tuesday.

The park is located on Route 98 in Point Breeze along the Oak Orchard River.

The schedule for the rest of the season includes:

• June 30 – Something Else, playing pop covers
• July 7 – SkyCats, playing classic rock, southern rock, country, blues, soul
• July 14 – Feedback, playing Motown to country
• July 21 – The Who Dats, playing dance rock
• July 28 – No Concert due to Orleans County 4-H Fair
• Aug. 4 – Stone Age Romeos playing Classic 70’s Vinyl and more
• Aug. 11 – rain date
• Aug. 18 – rain date

The concerts go from 6 to 8:30 p.m. There is a $2 admission charge.

The Clarendon Lions Club are back serving grilled items, including burgers, hot dogs and sausage. Clarendon Lions members Don Knapp, left, and Roger Boynton were assisted by Philip Molino, age 12.

There are other food vendors at the park for the concerts.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Curt Follman of Waterport welcomes the 15 participants in the Run for the Fallen who spent the night at his home on Saturday. Runners left Syracuse on Friday morning and arrived in Buffalo on Sunday. Along the way, they stop, display a flag and say a prayer for a fallen soldier.

Jeanne Crane and her daughter Kelly Follman take time for a picture during supper at Follman’s home, where they hosted participants in the Run for Fallen on Saturday night.

WATERPORT – A local family, Curt and Kelly Follman of Waterport, first heard about the Run for the Fallen when Kelly met Lori Jablonski in Annapolis, where the Follmans’ daughter Annabelle attends. Jablonski was organizer of the run for several years.

Last year, the Follmans offered to host a contingent of runners at their home overnight, and repeated the invitation again this year. Saturday night, 15 participants, some runners and others a support crew, arrived for supper and spent the night. A neighbor on vacation also offered use of their home for the runners.

The Follmans have a lot of reasons to support those who served in the military. Curt is a veteran; son Thomas is a captain in the Marines; daughter Elisabeth is a staff sergeant, employed in cyber security; son Roy John is a first-class petty officer in the Coast Guard; daughter Annabelle attends Annapolis; son Aaron is a police officer in Washington, D.C.; and son Sam is a firefighter and paramedic in Illinois. Only their oldest daughter Kayleen chose a different career – a singer, and she is a soprano living in Texas.

Curt said when Kelly, who is a teacher in Lyndonville, retires in July, they will be doing some traveling to visit their children.

The Run for the Fallen starts in Syracuse and ends in Buffalo on Sunday at Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. Runners cover 50 miles a day, accompanied by support vehicles and take turns running and riding.

Stops are designated along the way to salute a flag dedicated to a New York hero and his or her family. This run there were 142 heroes honored.

On Saturday evening, Jablonski presented a flag to Curt and Kelly, in return for their hospitality.

The run is a way of keeping spirits of fallen service members alive, aiding in the healing process of their comrades, and thanking the New York families who have been affected by the war for their sacrifices.

Linda Jackson of Starkville, who was accompanied by her daughter Amy Geweye, said for 10 years she made 10 dozen peanut butter cookies with chocolate frosting for the participants. She has driven a support vehicle for 11 years.

This was the fifth year for Nancy Weber of Syracuse. Her father was a Navy veteran and served in Vietnam.

“I do it for him,” she said.

Information on the New York Run for the Fallen and how to donate can be found on their website at newyork.usarunforthefallen.org or www.honorandremember.org.

Curt and Kelly Follman of Wilson Road Extension welcomed runners in the Run for Life Saturday night for the second time. At their home here are Kelly’s mother, Jeanne Crane, Shari Rotoli of Holley, Curt Follman and David Rotoli. Curt and David are both veterans.

Linda Jackson and Amy Geweye, both of Starkville, are silhouetted against Lake Ontario at the home of Curt and Kelly Follman, where they spent the night as two of the participants in the Run for the Fallen.

Carlton resident invites people to join him in runs at local high school tracks

Provided photo: Brett Sobieraski, a Carlton resident, is shown on June 4, 2023 entering New York State, the eighth and final state of a 1,300-mile journey on foot. That year he ran 50 marathons in 50 days to honor the memory of Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz. He was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022. Sobieraski raised $110,000 for Mazurkiewicz’s family.

CARLTON – Brett Sobieraski has announced he is tackling another very ambitious, and nearly human-defying endurance challenge: He will run 400 miles over eight days in a  benefit for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Sobieraski, a Carlton resident, plans to run 55 miles each day the first seven days and then 15 miles the final day. He welcomes people to join him on the track, even if it’s just for a lap.

He expects to be out there for about 12 hours each of the 55-mile days, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The schedule includes:

• Saturday, July 18 – Albion High School for 55 miles
• Sunday, July 19 – Lyndonville HS for 55 miles
• Monday, July 20 – Batavia HS for 55 miles (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 21 – East Rochester HS for 55 miles (Special Remembrance Day for Fallen Officers)
• Wednesday, July 22 – Kendall HS for 55 miles
• Thursday, July 23 – Medina HS for 55 miles
• Friday, July 24 – Holley HS for 55 miles
• Saturday, July 25 – Albion HS (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.) for the grand finale of 15 miles

For more on the 400-mile challenge, including sponsorship, click here or contact Jackie Dunham at Community Action, (585) 589-5605, ext. 110.

Sobrieski, a retired Rochester Police sergeant, currently works as an investigator for the Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force. He also is a member of this year’s Leadership Orleans class.

He has completed endurance challenges before. In 2015, he swam 32 miles across Lake Ontario for a charity that helps support the surviving spouses and children of fallen soldiers. In 2018, he ran over 175 miles for 50 hours nonstop to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics.

In 2023, Sobieraski announced he would be running a marathon every day for 48 days, traveling on foot from Florida and Rochester, going 26.2 miles a day. He would run the marathons to honor the memory of Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022. Sobieraski also sought to raise $100,000 for Mazurkiewicz’s family.

That goal was expanded to 50 marathons in 50 days, and Sobieraski would raise $110,000 for the family. In the last 5K of the final marathon, 850 people joined him in Rochester.

Sobieraski, despite nearing 60, wanted to tackle a new challenge this year for Community Action. He wants to raise at least $20,000 for the agency which has faced federal and state funding cuts.

“It’s a fantastic organization that is all about giving hands-up, not handouts,” he said. ‘Let’s help them so they can continue to change lives for the better.”

Some of the programs offered by Community Action include:

• transportation for the elderly and disabled
• food and clothing
• home cooling and weatherization projects
• thrift store services
• work place job training and counseling
• prom dresses along with credit counseling for high school students
• Head Start programs to assist with learning, child care and family services
• Through their Project Salus, help adolescents with the support from education to financial

Photo by Tom Rivers: Bert Gallmon, left, is the race director for the Albion Strawberry Festival. He helps Brett Sobieraski put on the Strawberry costume for the race five years ago. Someone will often dress as a strawberry during the race. The race will be Saturday in Albion at 8 a.m. Sobieraski plans to be at the race on Saturday.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Members of Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association get a close look at the ox Carol Culhane painted for them in her basement. From left are John Richmond, OONA president Ken Martin, Culhane, Martin’s wife Anne, Sally Leonard and Cheryl Giacherio. The ox is expected to go to the Orleans County marine park on Route 98.

POINT BREEZE – In her illustrious career as an artist, Carol Culhane has painted wildlife, landscapes, airplanes, horses, murals, portraits and vehicles. Now she has turned her talent into painting oxen, chosen last year as the mascot for Orleans County’s bicentennial celebration.

A request from the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association to paint an ox sent her on a historical journey to trace the area’s landmarks from its early years to now.

Photos by Tom Rivers: The ox was on display on Saturday at Carlton’s Hometown Days festival outside the Carlton Rec Hall.

Her hand-painted work of art chronicles the story of the Oak Orchard River from Lake Alice to Lake Ontario back centuries to the current time.

On the left side of the animal, the river is depicted as it may have appeared long ago, before the construction of Waterport Dam and creation of Lake Alice, then known as the “Waterport Pond.”

There is also the Waterport Trestle, Point Breeze Hotel (originally known as the Orleans House) on the east side of the river, the Oak Orchard Inn on the west side and the original lighthouse at the end of the pier on the west side of the harbor.

On the right side of the ox are the “today” features – boating, fishing and kayaking; the hydroelectric site; charter boats and marine activity; breakwalls; the modern lighthouse; and wildlife.

Culhane incorporated wildlife into the design on both sides, to create interest by children. A great blue heron, turtles, lily pads, wetland vegetation and more represent the wildlife which has long depended on the Oak Orchard River ecosystem.

To be sure she was historically correct, Culhane visited Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper and read several publications, including  Arad Thomas’s Pioneer History of Orleans County and Dee Robinson’s Historical Amnesia.

Members of OONA recently visited Culhane’s basement to see their finished ox. This included OONA president Ken Martin and his wife Anne; Cheryl Giacheriz; Penny Miller, president of Orleans County Marine Park, through whom the Go Art! grant was received to fund oxen for OONA and Orleans County Legislature; John Richmond; and Sally Leonard, both Point Breeze residents.

“The ox has a lot of interesting historic details,” Martin said of the OONA ox. “It came out well.”

In addition to dedication of the OONA ox, several visitors came to view the work, including the builder of the fiberglass oxen, Patrick Keough and his wife Gaye from Nebraska. They deliver the oxen throughout the country, in addition to other animals they build. He was going to deliver an ox to Kendall that day, also.

Culhane said the oxen took many hours of work, but she is honored she was asked to do them.

Patrick Keough of Nebraska, with his wife Gaye, is the builder of the fiberglass oxen painted by Culhane. They stand next to one for OONA. This is the side of the animal depicts the Point Breeze area as it appears now, with fishermen, boaters and kayakers.  She has also painted one for the county historian’s office and is working on one for the County Legislature.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Carol Culhane shows an ox with portraits of pioneers to Isabella Zasa, digital content creator and tourism assistant for the Orleans County Tourism Department, and Catherine Cooper, the county historian. This ox is expected to go in the historian’s office in Albion.

Orleans County historian Catherine Cooper, left, and artist Carol Culhane hold historical reference books Culhane referred to when painting bicentennial oxen for the county and Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association.

Provided photo

ALBION – VFW Post 4635 Commander Mike Donahue plays Taps at the Carlton Cemetery with the Honor Guard before the Memorial Day parade on Monday.

An Albion Joint VFW-American Legion Honor Guard offered a gun salute at the following locations:

• The Orleans Vets Club
• Veterans Park at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street
• Old Saint Joseph’s Cemetery
• New Saint Joseph’s Cemetery
• Mount Albion Cemetery
• Fancher World War II Monument
• Otter Creek Cemetery
• Waterport Cemetery
• Carlton Cemetery
• American Legion Post 35

Community Heart & Soul initiative to prioritize action plan

Provided photos: Carlton Heart & Soul volunteers convene at a recent meeting.

Press Release, Rochester Area Community Foundation

The Town of Carlton and Village of Corfu were selected as the first communities in Western New York to launch Community Heart & Soul, a program that helps build stronger, more connected communities centered around what people love about where they live. Batavia will follow shortly after, launching later in 2026.

“My hope is that the Community Heart & Soul process encourages greater community involvement in village decision-making and helps restore the pride, character, and sense of identity that make our little village special,” says Ken Lauer, Corfu resident, Village Trustee, and owner of Buttercrumbs Bakery.

When people talk about small rural towns, the story often focuses on what’s been lost: like anchor employers, bustling main streets, and vital services. But that’s only part of the story.

Every small town also has strengths — including its people, traditions, quirks, and local legends — that residents don’t want to lose as they plan for the future.

Through a guided, two-year process, Community Heart & Soul will help residents identify the priorities, places and traditions that matter most, and work together to turn those shared values into action. The goal: to engage the entire community in shaping the future of their town.

“Most of our members are lifelong residents of Carlton,” says Peter Bartula, one of the volunteers with Carlton Heart & Soul. “We want to help our town to achieve the success that other Heart & Soul Communities have achieved.”

Developed and field-tested in more than 130 small cities and towns across the country, the Community Heart & Soul model empowers residents to dream together and access resources to make things happen. At the end of two years, communities will have identified common ground, prioritized ideas, and developed a plan for short- and long-term action.

Corfu Heart & Soul volunteers are shown in this picture.

In 2025, Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo invited towns and villages with a population of 25,000 or less in Genesee or Orleans counties — areas served by both organizations — to apply. Six communities raised their hand to explore whether Community Heart & Soul was the right fit for their town. A $1,000 mini-grant for community engagement work was offered to communities who were not selected for the initial cohort, to honor residents’ efforts.

Community Heart & Soul and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation have committed expertise and funding towards the engagement process. These resources will help pay for marketing, materials, food, event supplies, coaching, and project coordination.

Staff members from Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo will serve as “coaches,” guiding residents through Community Heart & Soul’s four phases: imagine, connect, plan, and act.

“Heart & Soul gives residents the support to turn their ideas into action,” says Sara Bukowiec, Director of Rural Community Impact at Rochester Area Community Foundation. “And it gives funders the opportunity to listen deeply and learn what’s most important to these communities.”

A major goal of the initiative is to build relationships between communities and their local funders, opening the door to funding opportunities during Community Heart & Soul, and in the future.

“We are honored to help bring this innovative, resident-driven process to Genesee and Orleans counties. This opportunity reflects our enduring commitment to strengthen communities across Western New York as we connect people, ideas and resources to improve lives,” says Cara Matelliano, Vice President, Community Impact, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

Residents can learn more from Heart & Soul volunteers at these upcoming events:

• Village of Corfu Memorial Day Parade – Monday, May 25 at 12 p.m.

• Town of Carlton Hometown Days – Saturday, June 6 at 12 p.m.

People interested in participating in Corfu, Carlton or Batavia Heart & Soul should contact Paige O’Connor (poconnor@racf.org or 585.341.4332).

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Firefighters work to stop a fire and vent smoke from a house at 1544 Oak Orchard Rd. in Carlton. Jerry Bentley, the deputy fire coordinator, is on the aldder breaking a window to let out smoke.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 2:45 p.m. The house is located on Route 98 near the intersection with Park Avenue.

There was heavy smoke coming from the house and flames on the back side of the structure when firefighters arrived on scene, said Chris Standish, the Carlton fire chief.

“Firefighters could hear the crackle and popping coming from inside,” he said.

Standish said the fire is under investigation.

Carlton was assisted at the scene by firefighters from Albion, Kendall, Murray, Clarendon and Medina as well as the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

Tonia James lives at the house with four cats and three dogs. Six of those pets perished in the fire. She is thankful her dog Sadie survived.

Sadie gets oxygen from the Mercy Flight medics who responded. Sadie suffered smoke inhalation and rebounded. She was up and walking with James.

Jayden Allport, an EMT with Mercy Flight, checks on Sadie. The dog was carried out of the house by firefighters and Mercy Flight gave her oxygen at the scene.

Initiative will gather resident feedback, implement action plan

Press Release, Town of Carlton

CARLTON – The Town of Carlton is pleased to announce it has been selected by the Rochester Area Community Foundation and Community Foundation for Buffalo to be the first community to implement the Community Heart & Soul model in Orleans County, an initiative fully funded with grant support from Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

The program is designed to help build communities through a resident-driven process and take action on what matters most to residents.

The Community Heart & Soul model was developed over 10 years ago and has been recognized nationally by the American Planning Association as a successful approach to community planning and development. Community Heart & Soul doesn’t replace other community development and planning processes but complements existing initiatives to increase engagement and support for community-led programs and activities.

At the suggestion of Carlton Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbury and resident Penny Miller, a team of local residents met in December and January to assess what they love about living in the town of Carlton and what improvements they would like to see.

Representatives in attendance were from Carlton’s business and agriculture communities, town recreation leaders and members of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association. The attendees’ suggestions included recreational enhancements to the town park such as basketball and pickleball courts as well as trails linking the east and west sides of the Oak Orchard River.

Infrastructure enhancements that were identified included a public sewer system and sidewalks, among other projects. Based on public input, town councilman Brian McCue drafted the application to be considered for the Community Heart & Soul designation for rural communities (population less than 25,000) which will receive seed funding, technical assistance and professional coaching over a period of approximately 18 months.

The core team leaders that were selected to begin implementing the program are Brian McCue, Heather Tabor, Lynne Menz, Penny Miller and Laura Bentley. Their core responsibility will be to carry out the 4 phases of the program:

• Phase I – Imagine: build awareness, interest and commitment in all segments of the community;
• Phase II – Connect: gather stories from residents to identity what matters most and what they love about their town;
• Phase III – Plan: develop action plans to guide future town planning;
• Phase IV – Act: get these plans adopted by town council and incorporate them into the comprehensive plan to be used for future policies and decisions.

For more information about Community Heart & Soul, visit www.communityheartandsoul.org. To be involved in the program, contact Penny Miller at 585-331-9292 or email penny@focmp.org.