Photos by Tom Rivers

WATERPORT – Joan Page has spent the past three years working on the Bell Tower Lodge, turning a big open space into four bedrooms, a private three-story suite and a common area with a kitchen.

Bell Tower Lodge, the former Kenyonville United Methodist Church, opened in June. Page had an open house over the weekend at the location on Oak Orchard River Road.

She is pictured in the second floor of the private suite, which has a sliding door that can be closed for privacy or opened to show the common room.

The former church was originally built in 1833. It was closed as a church in 1983, when three United Methodist churches joined to build a new church in Carlton.

Page bought the property, including a neighboring house in 1989. She wanted the house and the church building was included in the deal.

Page put a new roof on the church soon after she bought it. She also made some foundation repairs. The building wasn’t changed too much while she used it for a gift shop and later as a wood-working business.

Three years ago she began the ambitious task of turning the structure into a lodge.

“I couldn’t let this building go,” said Page, a Kendall graduate who now works as postmaster in Barker. “I have this need to bring things back to life.”

Page envisioned the building as a lodge. The property overlooks Lake Alice at the Kenyonville Road bridge.

She thought it could be popular with fishermen, and families in town for reunions and other events.

She stopped by the Waterport Dam about three years ago and asked visiting fishermen if they would like an upscale lodge as an option to stay. Many told her they thought that type of lodge would be a success. Many wives of fishermen want to travel with their husbands to Orleans County but they don’t want to stay in motels, or more rustic sleeping arrangements.

The Salmon Room is one of four bedrooms with two full-size beds and a private bathroom and shower.

Page furnished the rooms with repurposed furniture. She fixed many discarded furniture pieces, and bought others at auctions and thrift shops.

She removed the plaster from the ceiling in the old church and discovered the original wooden beams.

This room, part of a three-story private suite, used to be part of a Sunday School classroom.

Page opened the lodge in June and she said people have been enthusiastic and surprised by what they see inside.

“Because we’re in this area they don’t think there will be a boutique lodge,” she said.

The private suite leads to the top of the cupola, which offers this view of Lake Alice and the bridge on Kenyonville Road.

Page had lots of help from family and friends in the renovation.

Page uses three hemlock logs as support for the stairway to the second floor and also for ambiance.

She has a church pew on the first floor. It wasn’t original to the church. Page said the building was stripped of all the pews before she bought it. She found a pew in the lodge at an auction.

She pulled up carpeting on the floor and discovered the original floors, which have been sanded and repainted.

Below her is the common area for socializing and preparing meals.

“I wanted it to be a lodge and to be comfortable,” she said.

Page has the program from the final service at the church in this frame near the entrance of the lodge.

A historical marker is next to the former church. It notes the church was built in 1833, with the first Methodist class organized in 1818 by Barber Kenyon.

For more on Bell Tower Lodge, click here.

WATERPORT – Three people who allegedly burnt a shape of two crosses into the lawn of a mosque in Waterport will be arraigned in Carlton Town Court today at 4:30 p.m., Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone said.

The individuals allegedly entered the mosque property on Fuller Road last Thursday at approximately 9:30 p.m. They used an ignitable fluid and set fire on the lawn in the form of two crosses, Cardone said.

They will face charges of criminal mischief in the fourth degree as a hate crime; aggravated harassment in the first degree; arson in the fifth degree; interference with religious worship in the second degree; and trespass.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has charged Jarod Biemans, 20, of Gaines with the crimes, as well as two others, ages 17 and 18. Because of their potential as youthful offenders, the district attorney and Sheriff’s Office aren’t releasing their names.

All three are to be arraigned in Carlton Town Court by Justice Kevin Hurley. All three are expected to be released to the custody of their parents. There will also be orders of protection issued for the three to stay away from the mosque and avoid contact with members of the World Sufi Foundation.

Provided photo

WATERPORT – A local family returning home tonight passed by the mosque on Fuller Road and saw a disturbing scene: a cross burning bright in the lawn of the Muslim site.

The crucifix-shape was deep into the grass and burned for about 45 minutes, said Bilal Huzair, deputy director of the World Sufi Foundation, which uses the mosque as a prayer site and for other religious celebrations.

His wife, Alana Ross, is pictured in the photo.

Huzair and his wife drove by the scene at about 9:15 p.m. Huzair said the lawn was probably set ablaze around 9 p.m.

“It’s insane,” he said. “Why would you want a temple of God to be terrorized?”

Orleans County deputies were at the scene tonight. Anyone with information about the incident can call dispatch at (585) 589-5527.

Although the site has occasionally been a target for hate crimes, Huzair said the Muslim community feels welcomed in Waterport and Orleans County.

“Most people here are affectionate,” he said.

Press Release, Sheriff Scott Hess
WATERORT – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation of an act of vandalism that took place at the World Sufi Foundation Mosque in the Town of Carlton.

At around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, deputies were called to 1529 Fuller Rd. Unknown suspect(s) had apparently poured an unknown type accelerant on the front lawn of the mosque, in the shape of a cross, and ignited it. A similar smaller cross was burned in the lawn near the southwest corner of the property.

Sheriff’s investigators were in the area this morning canvassing for any possible witnesses. This incident is being treated as a bias crime and if perpetrator(s) are identified they will be arrested and prosecuted.

Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator C.J. Laubacher at (585) 589-5527.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

WATERPORT – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has identified three people responsible for the vandalism that took place Thursday night at the World Sufi Foundation Mosque on Fuller Road in the Town of Carlton.

All three of the alleged perpetrators are under 21 and three live locally. They have been interviewed by investigators with the Sheriff’s Office and they will surrender themselves to the Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.

At around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, deputies were called to 1529 Fuller Rd. Unknown suspects had apparently poured an unknown type accelerant on the front lawn of the mosque, in the shape of a cross, and ignited it. A similar smaller cross was burned in the lawn near the southwest corner of the property.

While the investigation is continuing, the Sheriff’s Office does not believe at this time there are any other suspects to be identified.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Justin Niederhofer, first lieutenant for the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company, was one of the first at the scene of a big brush fire in Carlton tonight that spread to a hedgerow.

Firefighters were dispatched to the field at 9:27 p.m. The field is 1939 Oak Orchard Rd., near the Ricci Meadows Golf Course.

Carlton firefighters brought a fire truck down a lane to the spot in the field. These firefighters ran a hose near the fire and they’re waiting for the water to kick in.

Carlton firefighter Tom Niehaus directs water on the fire.

Tom Niehaus, left, and Cheyenne Tackley manned the hose while knocking down the fire.

The firefighters make sure the smoky scene is under control without danger of moving down the hedgerow.

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – Ham radio operators from throughout the world, including at Point Breeze in Orleans County, are communicating with each other this weekend as part of International Lighthouse Weekend.

The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club has been sending and receiving signals by the Oak Orchard Lighthouse. They were there on Saturday when a “solar storm” made it difficult to get signals from out of the country.

Jim Salyer of Gasport, left, and Paul Mulford of Le Roy make a connection with a ham operator at a Long Island lighthouse on Saturday morning.

The ham operators are back today until 5 p.m. Last year they made 400 contacts around the world. This weekend, due to weak signals, they may only get about 100 contacts.

“We’re having fun,” Mulford said. “That’s what this hobby is all about.”

Jim Salyer said many of the ham operators are creative, building their own radios and antennas.

The ham operators, as part of the international weekend, want to promote lighthouses and also their hobby of amateur radio.

A Pennsylvania man is the new leader in the Orleans County Fishing Derby, which has $8,800 in prize money, including $4,000 for the biggest fish.

Joseph Miller of Harrisburg is atop the leaderboard with a Chinook salmon that weighed 25 pounds, 5 ounces. The derby started on Aug. 1 and continues until Aug. 16. The Albion Rotary Club puts on the annual event.

Other division leaders include:

Salmon: 25 pounds, 4 ounces – Thomas Huth of Mogadore, Ohio;

Rainbow trout: 12 pounds, 5 ounces – John Jankowski of Sloan, NY;

Brown trout: 14 pounds, 5 ounces – Chad Kennedy of Marlborough, Mass.;

Lake trout: 17 pounds, 12 ounces – Mike Engle of Hamlin, NY.

For more information on the derby, click here.

CARLTON – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the name of last night’s apparent drowning victim in the Oak Orchard River.

William E. Rowe, 67, was a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. He came to the area with three friends earlier this week to participate in a 3-day fishing charter on Lake Ontario.

Mr. Rowe jumped from the Kenyonville Road bridge at about 7 p.m. on Thursday after talking with teenagers who had been jumping from the bridge. Firefighters and law enforcement officers searched for his body for about 90 minutes. He was found at 8:43 p.m.

Rowe’s death is believed to be accidental, Sheriff Scott Hess said today. No foul play is suspected. The investigation by the Sheriff’s Office is continuing and includes the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Fire departments and law enforcement personnel search the water in the Oak Orchard River near the Kenyonville Road bridge after a man jumped and drowned this evening.

Press Release
Sheriff Scott Hess

An adult male from Cincinnati, Ohio is dead tonight, the apparent victim of a drowning in the Town of Carlton.

The incident occurred at 7:15 p.m., in Oak Orchard River off the Kenyonville Road bridge, in the hamlet of Kenyonville. The victim, who had been in the area since Tuesday for a three-day Lake Ontario fishing charter, approached a group of teenage girls who were jumping off the bridge into the river.

He asked them if he could jump too and then did so without any objection. According to the witnesses, the man surfaced briefly and then submerged. He did not re-surface.

A crew from the Carlton Fire Department recovered the body at about 8:45 p.m. He was pronounced dead by Orleans County Coroner Scott Schmidt, and taken to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin in Ohio.

In addition to the Carlton FD, crews from the Albion and Lyndonville Fire Departments assisted in the search for the deceased. The Sheriff’s Marine Unit was also on-scene.

The incident was investigated by Deputy A.A. Breuilly. He was assisted by Sgt. G.T. Gunkler, Sgt. D.E. Foeller Jr., Lt. C.M. Bourke, and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan. State Troopers from the Albion barracks also assisted at the scene.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – A 67-year-old man drowned after jumping off the Kenyonville Road bridge this evening.

Several fire departments and law enforcement agencies responded to the recovery effort. The man was found at 8:43 p.m. near the two boats at the far right in the top photo, the west side of the bridge on Oak Orchard River.

The man is from Cincinnati and was in town with friends for a charter fishing trip, one of his friends said. The man had been drinking and went for a walk down the bridge. He was staying with four other friends at the Lake Alice Cottages by the bridge.

Several teen-agers were out on the bridge in late afternoon and early evening, jumping into the Oak Orchard River. The man’s friends thought he was just going for a walk on the bridge. But then he jumped from the bridge.

“I don’t know why,” one of his friends said.

The bridge is a popular spot for people, mostly teen-agers, to jump. The water is about 20 feet deep near the bridge.

A 9-1-1 call went out and firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 7:18 p.m.

The bridge is a popular spot for teen-agers during the summer, neighbors said. One woman drove by the bridge at 4 p.m. today and she said there were about 15 teens on the bridge, jumping off.

“We need more police patrols,” she said.

There is signage warning people to not swim or dive, but neighbors said the teens do anyway.

“This should put a scare into the kids,” a neighbor said. “If one of them slipped on the guard rail and hit their head, they’d be gone.”

The man from Cincinnati and his friends had a big day on a charter boat, catching several big Chinook salmon, one of the friends said. They had planned to go to a casino in Niagara Falls tonight, before boarding their plane for home tomorrow.

One of the visiting fishermen instead called the wife of the man who drowned, telling her about the tragic death of her husband.

Firefighters and law enforcement officers tried to keep onlookers from getting on the bridge.

Firefighters searched both sides of the bridge until the man was found about 90 minutes after he drowned.