There is a new leader in the Orleans County Fishing Derby after a Pennsylvania man reeled in a 23-pound, 4-ounce Chinook salmon on Tuesday.
Mark Cippel of Ford City hooked the fish that holds the top spot – the $4,000 grand prize in the fishing derby that continues until Aug. 16.
There were other additions to the leaderboard after Tuesday, including Jeff Newman of Lyndonville. He leads the salmon division with a 21-pound, 7-ounce Chinook. He also is in the lead for the $200 bonus prize, given to the Orleans County resident who catches the biggest fish in the derby.
The leaderboard also includes a 14-pound brown trout caught by April Johnson of Rochester to lead that division and 17-pound, 12-ounce lake trout by Mike Engle of Hamlin.
The derby is still waiting for its first fish in the rainbow trout division.
The derby, which is sponsored by the Albion Rotary Club, gives out $8,800 in total prize money. Besides $4,000 for the biggest fish, the four division leaders each get $500, followed by $300 for second, $200 for third, $100 for fourth and $50 for fifth.
Day 2 of the Orleans County Fishing Derby brought changes to the leaderboard.
A 17-pound, 12-ounce lake trout caught by Mike Engle of Hamlin is the new leader in the derby, which started on Saturday and runs until Aug. 16. The angler who catches the biggest fish in the derby wins $4,000.
The leaderboard also includes a 14-pound brown trout caught by April Johnson of Rochester to lead that division.
The top lake trout include a 15-pounder caught by Jared Wise of Rochester, and a 14-pound, 1-ounce lake trout reeled in by Garrett Rusin of Brockport.
The derby is still waiting for its first fish in the Chinook salmon and rainbow trout divisions.
The derby gives out $8,800 in total prize money. Besides $4,000 for the biggest fish, the four division leaders each get $500, followed by $300 for second, $200 for third, $100 for fourth and $50 for fifth.
There is also a $200 prize to the Orleans County resident who catches the biggest fish.
The derby is sponsored by the Albion Rotary Club. Last year, a 27-pound, 7-ounce Chinook salmon won the derby.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Breeze Inn Again co-owner Nicole Bellnier, right, and waitress Jennifer Viza are pictured inside the restaurant on Route 98.
POINT BREEZE Nicole and Ed Bellnier debated earlier this spring whether they should enjoy a summer of leisure with their boat on Lake Ontario or commit to reviving a former restaurant site and running that demanding business.
The couple loves the Point Breeze community, and they saw the restaurant as an important gathering spot for the community. They decided to sell their boat, and use that money to help get the restaurant off the ground.
They opened the Breeze Inn Again restaurant and café on May 22. The site is at 928 Point Breeze Rd., near the northern end of Route 98.
“We wanted to give something back to the community,” Mrs. Bellnier said. “Point Breeze is a little niche. It’s a tight-knit community.”
Bellnier worked as a waitress at the Crooked Door Tavern in Albion, starting the first day for the business. She was there 3 ½ years and then worked at the Medina Theatre Company as a manager.
“I love the restaurant business,” Bellnier said. “Every day is different.”
Nicole Bellnier prepares a Reuben sandwich at Breeze Inn Again. The Reuben is one of the restaurant’s more popular items. Bellnier slow cooks the corned beef for five hours. Employee Tyler Quill is also pictured. He cooks, does the dishes, prep cooks, and serves up ice cream.
Bellnier has been using many of her grandmother’s recipes in preparing the food. Breeze Inn Again serves breakfasts, lunch and dinner.
Her husband has worked in sales for 30 years at the Spurr dealership in Brockport.
They gave the restaurant new paint, a new menu, added ice cream and an outdoor seating area. The building is owned by John Brown and David Tufts, and they put in new kitchen equipment.
The Bellniers are active in the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association. The restaurant, back when it was known as Breeze Inn, was the birthplace for OONA about a decade ago. Community members used to meet at the site to play cards and games.
The picnic tables have all been painted with fun colors as part of an outdoor area for ice cream and desserts.
Mrs. Bellnier is among a staff of eight that are serving breakfasts and lunches on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The restaurant stays open later for dinner from Thursday through Saturday.
Mrs. Bellnier suffered a broken leg four days before Breeze Inn Again opened. She managed to cook, bus tables and prep food, using a scooter to get around. She had a cast on for 6 ½ weeks.
She strives for quality ingredients, including fresh produce from local farmers. She said the restaurant needs to make the extra effort for customers.
“People only have so much time and money,” she said. “When they come here we want them to feel welcome.”
Bellnier said Point Breeze can feel like a peaceful getaway, with the lake, a lighthouse, the Oak Orchard River and several fruit farms. She believes the new restaurant adds to charm of the area.
“We live right around the corner from here and we wanted to have something beautiful for the community with fresh food,” Bellnier said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2015 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Margy Brown (center), race director for a 5K at Brown’s Berry Patch, is pictured with the winners of the race last October: Dana Phillips of Lyndonville and Paul Glor of Rochester. The race will have a new identity in October as the Brown’s 5K Cross Country Run and Memory Walk.
WATERPORT – The Brown family will continue to host a 5-kilometer walk and run to benefit Hospice of Orleans.
The family in the spring announced it was closing its popular retail farm market with a gift shop and playground. That site was a big draw for more than 30 years. The family retired from that side of the business.
The Browns continue to operate their fruit farm, and sell berries, apples and other produce.
The family in 1996 started a 5K to benefit Hospice. The race typically attracted 75 to 100 participants.
The Browns will keep the race going, and it will be known as the Brown’s 5K Cross Country Run and Memory Walk. Margy Brown has been the race director since 1996 and has turned over nearly $35,000 in proceeds from the race to Hospice.
“We believe in Hospice,” she said. “You never know how important Hospice is until it touches you as a family.”
Brown said Hospice has stepped up its services for the community, particularly with a residence that opened almost three years ago on Route 31 in Albion. That building includes eight residential suites for Hospice patients.
Jack Richardson of Albion nears the finish line with his grandson, Chad Hardy, during last October’s 5K at Brown’s. Richardson, a retired pastor, runs many local 5-kilometer races.
She has made some changes in the race. Instead of a 10 a.m. start, it will begin at noon. Runners and walkers will meet at the main building and parking lot for the former retail site. There will also be a 1-mile walk option.
She has partnered with the Albion Running Club to help manage the race. The Running Club organizes three races: The Run for Wayne in March, The Strawberry Festival Race in June, and the upcoming Metro 10.
The Running Club also leads exercise programs, and will kick off another 12-week Run for God program this Saturday with the culmination to be the race at Brown’s.
The Run for God is designed to take people from the couch to a 5K, to help them gradually build up to completing the 3.1-mile distance by training over three months. The Run for God starts at 8:30 a.m. this Saturday at the Albion Free Methodist Church.
Brown would like to boost participation to well over 100 for the event in October. She welcomes participants to walk or run the course, and to do it memory of a loved one.
More information about the race should soon be available on the Running Club website.
CARLTON A Barre man who went missing on Sunday night was found safe on Monday afternoon, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess said.
The man’s family had called Orleans County 911 on Sunday night at about 11:20 after he failed to return to a campsite at Lakeside Beach State Park in Carlton, where they were staying.
The man, who was not identified by law enforcement, had left the park to take someone home, and was expected to come right back. The family further reported that the individual might be suffering from early onset dementia, Hess said.
A missing person’s report was filed and the vehicle description was disseminated to local law enforcement agencies.
The search intensified around 12:30 p.m. Monday when Lakeside Beach State Park Manager Thomas Rowland found the missing man’s truck on state park property off the west end of an unpaved park service road that is normally off-limits to park patrons.
The truck was stuck in some soft ground on the east bank of Johnson’s Creek, and appeared to have been abandoned there, Hess said. This prompted a massive search detail involving several law enforcement agencies, the Sheriff’s Marine Unit, K-9 dogs, a State Police helicopter, state park employees and the Carlton Fire Department.
Searchers located the man shortly before 4:30 p.m. and after he was checked out by EMS personnel, he was returned to his family. Hess didn’t detail where the man was located.
In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, agencies involved in the search included the New York State Park Police, state troopers from the Albion barracks, New York State Environmental Conservation Police, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Border Patrol.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 July 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Blind Leading the Blind, a contemporary rock band, is shown performing at the Orleans County Marine Park in July 2013. The band will be back for another concert on Aug. 18.
CARLTON – The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association will kick off its sixth summer concert series on Tuesday with the Dave Viterna Group playing classic rock, oldies and blues at the main pavilion at the Orleans County Marine Park.
The Tuesday evening concerts start at 6 p.m. and run until Aug. 18. They typically draw 200 to 400 people for music. Many concert-goers enjoy walking around the park on Route 98, a site that includes docking along the Oak Orchard River.
“We want people to have a good time and keep coming back,” said Paul Zeppetella, concert coordinator for OONA.
OONA partners with Orleans County Tourism in organizing the concerts. OONA and the county want to showcase the park at Point Breeze. The site will see an upgrade this year to its playground, stairway and electric hook-ups for boaters.
The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association and Orleans County officials are pictured today promoting the upcoming summer concert series at the Marine Park. The group includes, from left: Lynne Menz, county tourism coordinator; Tracy Panczyszyn, OONA communications coordinator; Paul Zeppetella, OONA concert coordinator; Frank Panczyszyn, OONA concert emcee; and county legislators Ken DeRoller and John DeFilipps.
The concerts on Tuesday evenings are intended to draw people to the Point on a weekday. The area tends to be busy anyway on weekends.
Concert organizers try to change up the band schedule each year, adding some bands that haven’t played at the site in the past.
This year’s lineup includes three bands that will be new to the Marine Park: The Brick Band, 78 RPM Big Band, and The Boomers.
Sponsors cover about half of the cost of bringing in the bands, with the county and a $2 admission charge covering the rest.
Tracy Panczyszyn, OONA communications coordinator, said there are many nearby talented musicians to draw from for the OONA concert series as well as other concerts in the community.
The Clarendon Lions Club will be at the park for each concert serving hamburgers and sausage. Club members working the grill in this photo from July 2013 include Kevin Johnson, left, and Don Knapp.
The concert lineup includes:
July 7 – The Dave Viterna Group (classic rock, oldies, blues)
July 14 – Brick Band (rock, jazz, country, oldies, R&B)
July 21 – The Who Dats (classic rock, pop)
July 28 – Jive Street Five (classic golden age, rat pack)
August 4 – 78 RPM Big Band (big band)
August 11 – The Boomers (ballads to boogie by)
August 18 – The Blind Leading the Blind (contemporary rock)
In addition, The Black North Inn and El Gallo, a Mexican restaurant in Albion, will be vendors for the concert series.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
POINT BREEZE – About 40 members of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association built a fire by the Lake Ontario shore and welcomed summer with a party on Saturday night.
The OONA members met at the home of Gene Haines, next to the Oak Orchard Lighthouse. They celebrated the summer solstice, which officially begins today at 12:38 p.m..
At 8:56 p.m. on Saturday, the OONA members gathered at the shoreline, with maracas and other noise-makers to say good-bye to spring and hello to summer.
This is the fourth year that OONA members have held a summer solstice celebration.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Bilal Huzair, deputy director for the World Sufi Foundation, sits on the front steps of the group’s mosque on Fuller Road in Carlton.
CARLTON – A State Supreme Court justice has ruled the World Sufi Foundation can keep its mosque on Fuller Road and another site used for medical services on Waterport Road.
The ex-wife of the Sufi Foundation’s minister, Dr. Asaf Durakovic, claimed in a lawsuit that the properties were fraudulently transferred to the World Sufi Foundation.
The World Sufi Foundation argued in court that the properties were bought by the group and have been maintained by members. The sites are not a personal asset of Dr. Durakovic, the group told Judge James Punch.
The properties were titled in the name of Durakovic because he was the senior minister when the World Sufi Foundation was incorporated. Title to the properties was transferred automatically once the World Sufi Foundation was incorporated in 2004, the group said in court filings.
Punch, in a decision dated on Thursday, said Durakovic held title to the properties in Waterport, but he had no “beneficial interest” in these assets. He merely held them “as the titular head of the Sufi World Foundation,” Punch wrote in his decision.
The site at 1815 Waterport Rd. has been used a medical clinic and the property at 1529 Fuller Rd. has been primarily used as a meeting place for prayers and ceremonies.
Punch’s decision follows a similar conclusion by a Canadian Court, which found the properties were not part of the Durakovic’s and his former wife’s marital estate.
This site on Fuller Road has been used for prayers and services by the local Muslim community.
The judge made his decision on Thursday and the Sufi Foundation was notified of it in mail on Monday.
That followed almost a week of public demonstrations, including an interfaith rally on Sunday outside the courthouse, seeking religious protections for all faiths.
Bilal Huzair, a member of the Sufi Foundation, said the group is relieved the case is over and it can continue to use the sites.
Huzair stopped by the mosque on Fuller Road today. He said the site has been used by the local Muslim community for 37 years for prayers, services and other special events. The site is in a rural area along a dirt road. Huzair said the community enjoys the peacefulness of the location.
“Someone is always here praying or just enjoying it,” he said.
The mosque has a symbol near the front door that means “He is.” The property also has many trees, and each member has planted at least one.
“It’s giving thanks to God,” he said about all the trees.
Huzair said the Muslim community appreciates the support from other people in the community, especially at the interfaith rally on Sunday, when people stood in a downpour.
The pastors of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion and Pullman Memorial Universalist Church were part of that rally, as well as the Social Justice Committee from the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Albion and other religious groups from outside Albion.
“There were members from different churches who joined us in the pouring rain,” Huzair said.
He is hopeful the religious people can continue to build a strong interfaith community in Orleans County and the region.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Demonstrators were out on Sunday for several hours on Main Street in Albion, holding signs and trying to raise awareness for a court case in State Supreme Court in Orleans County.
ALBION – The Waterport Sufi community is planning an interfaith rally at 2 p.m. on Sunday outside the Orleans County Courthouse to protest a lawsuit that threatens the group’s use of a mosque on Fuller Road in Waterport.
The rally is intended as an interfaith event to support Constitutional rights for religious freedom.
The Sufi community is at risk of losing its place of worship as a result of a private lawsuit now before the New York Supreme Court in Orleans County, said Bilal Huzair, deputy director for the local Sufi Foundation.
The congregation and its local supporters have been picketing the courthouse in Albion for the past week to oppose what it says is an abuse of the legal process.
The local Muslim community has used the mosque on a dirt road in Carlton for 37 years. Many people have been married at the site on Fuller Road over the years. The mosque continues to be used for services and prayers, Huzair said.
He said a former wife of one of the mosque’s ministers has filed a lawsuit, seeking possession of the building. The issue has been argued before James Punch, acting State Supreme Court justice, and his decision is expected soon, Huzair said.
“This is not an individual’s property,” Huzair said on Sunday about the mosque. “We’re being held back from practicing our faith.”
The Sufi community is asking its friends in Western New York, other faith congregations, and all concerned people to stand with them to defend the Constitutional rights and freedoms of all Americans.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Protestors are out at Courthouse Square today trying to raise awareness of an impending court action that could make a mosque in Waterport no longer available to the World Sufi Foundation.
The local Muslim community has used the mosque on a dirt road in Carlton for 37 years. Many people have been married at the site on Fuller Road over the years. The mosque continues to be used for services and prayers, said Bilal Huzair, deputy director for the World Sufi Foundation.
He said a former wife of one of the mosque’s ministers has filed a lawsuit, seeking possession of the building. The issue has been argued before James Punch, acting State Supreme Court justice, and his decision is expected soon, Huzair said.
“This is not an individual’s property,” he said about the mosque. “We’re being held back from practicing our faith.”
About 50 protestors began walking along Main Street by the courthouse at about 10 a.m. They plan to be there until 4 p.m. today.
“We want to make sure our freedom of the Constitution is upheld,” Huzair said. “Our focus is on preserving our rights.”
Huzair said some of the protestors weren’t part of the World Sufi Foundation, but were supportive of the group’s effort to raise awareness of the case.
“We want to make sure this doesn’t happen to another church,” Huzair said.
Huzair said the lawsuit should worry all of those concerned about faith and liberty. He said the lawsuit contends the site on Fuller Road and also a community-run medical office are not religious properties and should be seized to settle a private lawsuit that does not directly involve the community.
“This is an abuse of the legal process,” Huzair said. “The court should have dismissed this outrageous claim immediately. Instead they have left us hanging for months not knowing if our place of worship would be sold out from under us.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – Department of Environmental Conservation officials were at the Oak Orchard River today to deliver Steelhead and Chinook Salmon from the Altmar Hatchery. The fish will spend the next month in pens by Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina.
The fish are about 2 inches long and will double in size before they are released from the pens. The month in the Oak Orchard will allow the fish to imprint on the river, increasing the chances they will return to spawn when they are mature.
Andy Domachowske, a fish culturist for the DEC, empties the truck of the Chinook Salmon.
The DEC released 106,560 Chinook in five pens at the Oak Orchard River, plus another 4,960 Chinook by the two bridges at Captain’s Cove. Another 9,920 steelhead were delivered for two pens in the Oak.
Leigha Townsend, left, and James Boccacci guide the fish into the pens. Leah’s parents, Tracy and Chas Townsend, are charter boat captains. Boccacci is a volunteer.
Keeping the fish in the pens and releasing bigger fish in about a month increases their chances of survival. They are less likely to be eaten by bigger fish in the lake and river.
Bob Songin, a charter boat captain pictured in back left, led the pen-rearing project since its inception about 15 years ago. He has handed over the duties to a group of five volunteers – Mike Lavender, Bob Stevens, James Cond, Chris Efing and Ian Scroger.
The volunteers will feed the fish five times a day over the next month.
Leigha Townsend and another volunteer direct the fish into a pen in the Oak Orchard River today.
James Cond said the pen-rearing project has made a big difference in the fall fishery. Many of the 20-pound-plus Chinook are in the Oak Orchard to spawn. Their presence attracts anglers from all over the country for the fall fishery.
Without the pen-rearing, Cond doubts the county would have such a vibrant fall fishery. Those fish would likely head back to the Salmon River near Oswego where the fish were initially raised.
“Since we’ve stocked, we notice more of the fish come back to the river,” said Cond, a charter boat captain.
He praised Songin for leading the effort for so many years.
“He’s put a lot of time and energy into it,” Cond said.
Cond (pictured on dock) said the group of volunteers is ready to step up and tend to the fish for the next month.
“We got to give back to the lake,” he said. “A lot of guys will just take, take and take.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 March 2015 at 12:00 am
County board also supports small wind turbine in Ridgeway, food service at Carlton business
ALBION – Orleans County Planning Board members supported a plan for a bed and breakfast in the Town of Ridgeway at the southeast corner of the Telegraph and Bates roads intersection.
Rodelle Mammano and Sunshine Charters want to open the bed and breakfast at the location, a 70-acre site of mostly brush/woodland. The house is a single-family dwelling with an in-law apartment and garage.
Planners on Thursday recommended Ridgeway officials approve the site plan and a permit for the project. County planners said the exterior sign advertising the business should not exceed 2 by 2 feet.
In other actions, the Planning Board:
Supported a Ridgeway resident’s plan for a 153-foot-high “small wind energy conversion system” at 2693 Townline Rd.
William Sills wants to erect the wind energy project that would generate 10 kilowatts of power. He will need a variance for the height beyond 120 feet. The Planning Board supported the variance, saying an accessory building and stand of mature trees along the frontage of the property help conceal most of the turbine from motorists.
The tower would be freestanding lattice construction, and set back 252 feet from the front (west) lot line, 280 feet from the north lot line, 686 feet from the south lot line and 415 feet from the rear (east) lot line. Those setbacks are far enough to avert any significant impacts on neighbors, Planning Board members said.
Sills is working with Sustainable Energy Developments from Ontario, NY, for the project.
Backed the request for a permit to serve food at the Vintage Apple Garden at 1582 Oak Orchard Rd., Carlton.
Paula Nesbitt started the business at the site last year. The business had been Bertsch’s Good Earth Market.
Nesbitt wants to add a lunch menu and coffee bar to the greenhouse and seasonal farm market at the corner of Route 98 and Park Avenue.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – The bridge on Route 18 over Oak Orchard River has been limited to one lane since March 9, when the state Department of Transportation started repairing the truss. That work is expected to conclude this week, and crews will then mobilize to work on the Main Street lift bridge in Albion next week, DOT spokeswoman Lori Maher said.
By keeping the Carlton bridge at one lane, the DOT avoided having to detour traffic while the repairs were made, she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – Carlton firefighter Ben Diltz tries to break up some of the wreckage from a fire this morning at a garage owned by William Wells at 13324 Hanlon Rd.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 5:34 a.m., but the garage had already mostly collapsed.
Orleans County fire investigators are at the scene, looking for the cause of the fire.
Firefighters are trying to cut through metal and wood to put out hot spots.
The Town of Carlton Highway Department is expected on the scene with a backhoe to spread out the smoldering debris, to prevent fire flareups.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a two-car accident at the corner of Route 18 and Harris Road in the Town of Carlton a little after 5 p.m. today.
There were no injuries in the accident. The ice and slush on many of the roads in the county is making for difficult travel.
A winter weather advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. tonight due to the freezing rain.
Medina and Lyndonville both cancelled after-school activities today due to the hazardous weather.
