Carlton

County renews lease for fishing access at the Oak

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 August 2020 at 8:35 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: These fishermen try to catch salmon and trout in the Oak Orchard River on Oct. 19, 2018.

CARLTON – The Orleans County Legislature has secured public fishing access for the next five years along about 4,000 feet of the Oak Orchard River, including at some of the most desirable fishing spots.

The Legislature on Wednesday approved spending $69,000 over the next five years to Roy and Scott Salmon of Park Avenue in Waterport. That will give the public access to 15.8 acres of highly coveted property. The lease runs from Aug. 22, 2020 to Aug. 21, 2025.

The county first entered into an agreement with the Salmons in August 2007. That first agreement was $7,500 annually over three years. The most recent lease was for $60,000 for over five years, or $12,000 annually.

The county in 2007 pushed to reach a deal with the Salmons for public access after the family put about 50 posted signs along their property. Fishing is the county’s top tourism attraction, generating about $28 million in economic activity in Orleans, according to a recent report from the state DEC based on 2017 data.

The Oak Orchard is a popular draw, especially in the fall during the annual salmon and trout runs with many anglers coming from around the state and country to fish in the river.

In addition to public fishing access, the agreement allows the Salmon property to keep its vegetative cover to protect water quality and riparian habitat, and to also be available for fishery and habitat management, research and educational programs.

The county has signs on the Salmon property, urging anglers to respect the land, by taking out trash and fish carcasses.

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County using state REDI funds for rebuilt boat launch, shoreline work by Lakeshore Road

Provided photos: Orleans County will install about 1,500 feet of rocks along Lakeshore Road in Carlton to protect the road from further erosion.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2020 at 9:02 am

CARLTON – Orleans County is moving forward with two public works projects in Carlton that are part of the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI), a $300 million state-wide effort.

The county will be redoing the public boat launch at Point Breeze, the one near the Black North Inn, and also will be stabilizing the shoreline along about 1,500 feet of Lakeshore Road.

The high Lake Ontario water levels in 2017 and 2019 chewed away the shoreline by Lakeshore Road, east of Point Breeze.

The state will pay 95 percent of the costs through REDI, a state program announced last year to protect public infrastructure and assets from Lake Ontario flooding.

The county is working with engineers on design to prepare the projects for bid.

• The Lakeshore Road project will cost an estimated $2 million. The county will hire a contractor to re-establish the shoreline, which was eroded from the high water levels in 2017 and 2019.

Big rocks will be brought in for about 1,500 feet of the shoreline by the road, east of Route 98. The project also includes drainage improvements along the road, said John Papponetti, the county’s DPW superintendent.

Work on that project is expected to start in the fall. The county is responsible for 5 percent of the costs.

• Point Breeze Boat Launch: The county also will upgraded the public boat launch at Point Breeze, a project estimated to cost $750,000.

The county will be replacing the ramp, the two boat launches and the docks at the site.

When the lake levels are high, the boat launch is useless for boaters because their vehicles flood out trying to launch a boat.

The project includes floatable walkways which will tie into a concrete ramp. The current concrete ramp will be removed and a new one put in that will be pulled farther back on land.

The contractor will likely need to set up a coffer dam and pump out water during construction to work on the project. The launch will be regraded and concrete poured for the new ramps and docks.

The project also includes milling and paving the driveway and parking lot.

Construction is expected in the fall after the boating season with a goal to be done next spring before the start of a new boating season, Papponetti said.

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Hospice, American Legion honor vet in Carlton

Staff Reports Posted 4 August 2020 at 5:22 pm

Photos courtesy of Jeanne Crane

CARLTON – Roy John Follman of Carlton was presented with certificates last week in appreciation for his military service in 1953 and 1954.

The top photo shows George Way, a social worker for Hospice of Orleans, presenting Follman with a framed certificate.

“We pay special tribute to you for you military service to America and for advancing the universal hope of freedom and liberty for all,” the certificate states.

Follman, who is currently under hospice care at his home, attended Alfred State in 1952 and in 1953 entered Basic Training with the U.S. Army and was sent to Fort Drum. After his training he was sent to Iceland and then to guard the Russian border. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and then graduated from Cornell in 1958.

Nancy Traxler, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, presents a Certificate of Commendation to Follman from the American Legion. It acknowledges that Roy J. Follman served in the United States Armed Forces “in the name of Freedom and Democracy, and for courageously protecting our Liberty and Independence.”

John spent most of his life working for farmers and retired in the early 2000s to tend to his own garden, especially his rhubarb. Close to 800 pounds of rhubarb were harvested this year with help from his family.

John and Dorothy were married at Thanksgiving time in 1954 and raised four boys. Many of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren live close to home.

Roy John Follman is pictured in 2016 with some of his rhubarb.

Follman was presented with these certificates from the American Legion and Hospice of Orleans.

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Buffalo hit 98 today, hottest day since 1953

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 July 2020 at 10:09 pm

Photo by Cheryl Wertman

CARLTON – The storm clouds are forming over Lake Ontario this evening off the shore of Lakeside Beach State Park. There was wind, thunder and lightning, and Circle R’s hail guns were booming, but initially there wasn’t any no rain. That came later. Cheryl Wertman, who took the photo, said the lake water turns gray when a storm is approaching.

Today the high temperature was 98 in Buffalo at the airport. That exceeded the daily record of 92 for July 9, and tied the second warmest temperature ever recorded for Buffalo, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. It was also the hottest day in Buffalo since 1953. Buffalo has now hit 90 degrees seven straight days.

The high of 97 in Rochester today was the hottest day in Rochester since July 17, 2012, according to the National Weather Service.

Friday is forecast to reach a high of 92 in Orleans County. A heat advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. on Friday.

Daniel Hurley took this photo of the sunset on Route 98 in Carlton.

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Pilot not injured after ultralight flips in field

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 July 2020 at 8:50 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – An ultralight plane is upside down in a squash field on Gaines Road in Carlton this evening. Orleans County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Marsceill is on scene with Carlton firefighters.

The pilot, James Retzlaff of Burt, needed to do an emergency landing after the engine stopped. He was able to circle the field and land the ultralight at about 7:30 p.m. However, the dirt was loose and the plane dug in and flipped over on the landing, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.

Retzlaff, 74, wasn’t injured from the incident. He was able to walk away and was checked out by Carlton firefighters. He declined to be transported by COVA ambulance.

Retzlaff had been flying for about 1 ½ hours before having to an emergency landing just north of the Gaines Valley Aviation Airport.

Provided photos

Members of the Sheriff’s Office help move the damaged ultralight to a trailer. Chief Deputy Jeff Gifaldi, center, Undersheriff Mike Mele and Sheriff Chris Bourke, back right, helped to move the aircraft.

Sheriff Bourke said further examination of the ultralight showed the plane most likely ran out of gas, which caused the engine to conk out.

The plane is hauled out of the field.

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Westbound lanes of Parkway between 237 and 98 to close for lakeshore erosion repairs

Staff Reports Posted 21 May 2020 at 11:10 am

CARLTON/KENDALL – The New York State Department of Transportation today announced that following Memorial Day, the westbound lanes of the Lake Ontario State Parkway, between Route 237 and Route 98 will close for approximately one month.

The closure of the westbound lanes in Kendall and Carlton is necessary to accommodate repairs being made to the Lake Ontario shoreline, just north of the parkway, by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation.

Westbound traffic along the parkway will be detoured at the Route 237 exit and use Route 18 to continue west.

The road is expected to re-open to vehicular traffic by the end of June, though work is weather dependent and subject to change, the DOT said.

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Youth Fishing Derby planned for July 18 is cancelled

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2020 at 10:41 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: Iyla Lilleby, 12, of Medina tries to catch a fish in the Oak Orchard Harbor during last year’s inaugural DC Outdoors fishing derby.

CARLTON – A youth fishing derby that debuted last July 13 has been cancelled for this year due to health concerns with Covid-19.

The derby had 60 participants last year. It was open to kids 15 and younger, with prizes for three age divisions.

After fishing at the Oak Orchard River and at the Oak Orchard Harbor at Point Breeze, participants had a picnic at the Orleans County Marine Park.

Organizers decided not to put children and the adult volunteers at risk with the derby planned for July 18. Dan Conrad, one of the leaders of DC Outdoors, said the Health Department and community members shared their concerns about the derby.

“I wish more than anything to still have it,” Conrad said.

It will also be difficult to get sponsorships and donated items for the derby because so many local businesses are struggling due to being shut down and restricted due to precautions against with the virus, Conrad said.

DC Outdoors encourages children and families to experience the outdoors. Conrad said he hopes to coordinate other outdoor activities later this year once some of the restrictions are lifted.

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OONA cancels summer concert series at Point Breeze

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Dave Viterna Group performs on July 2, 2019 at the Orleans County Marine Park to kick off last summer’s concert series. There were about 500 people at the concert. The park is located on Route 98 in Point Breeze along the Oak Orchard River. It has hosted the summer concert series since 2010.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 May 2020 at 10:31 am

CARLTON – The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association has cancelled its summer concert series in Point Breeze due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

OONA has been organizing a summer concert series since 2010 at the Orleans County Marine Park. There are usually six bands that perform and those concerts draw about 400 people on average.

“After careful deliberation, the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association has determined that the 2020 Summer Concert Series at the Orleans County Marine Park at Point Breeze will not be conducted this summer,” OONA said in a statement. “OONA officers based this decision on the fact that coronavirus continues to pose a serious threat to the health and safety of the community and may continue to do so well into the summer.”

The concerts are a big fundraiser for OONA. The organization used some of those proceeds to donate $5,000 back to community organizations last year. OONA isn’t sure if it will be able to donate funds to any local agencies this year.

Not only are the concerts cancelled, but OONA expects it will have to scale back or eliminate other social events that raised some money, said Tracy Wilmot Panczyszyn, OONA communications officer.

The OONA board will discuss if it can donate to other groups this year, even at a much reduced level.

The Clarendon Lions Club also raised money at the concerts by cooking food and serving refreshments. The 50/50 raffles and admission price also raised funds that were given back to the community.

“We regret taking the year off,” OONA said in a statement. “However, we encourage your support of our local sponsors who have made our fundraising efforts possible.”

OONA will display signs of past sponsors of the concert series on a fence at the park along Route 98. OONA urges support of those businesses during these challenging economic times.

“And, last, we would be remiss not to extend our gratitude to the bands, vendors, attendees and volunteers who have made this event a success over the years, and wish nothing but the best to you all at this difficult time,” OONA said in a statement. “We hope that this pause will be temporary and we can practice social distancing at a concert in the Marine Park in the very near future.”

The playground at the park is currently off limits to the public due to Covid-19 concerns.

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New restaurant opens Friday at Point Breeze

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2020 at 6:20 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers: Tiffany Keiffer poses next to the sign for Hayden’s Diner, which is named for her 9-year-old son. Keiffer opens the restaurant on Friday, beginning at 8 a.m. She plans to open at 4:30 in the morning later in the season.

POINT BREEZE – It’s opening day on Friday for a new restaurant at Point Breeze. Tiffany Keiffer will be serving take-outs at 928 Point Breeze Rd.

Keiffer named the restaurant for her-9-year-old son, Hayden. The diner was most recently the Breeze Inn Again.

Tiffany Keiffer has repainted the interior of the diner and looks forward to customers being allowed to dine in. Right now, restaurants are limited to take-outs or deliveries.

Two items on the menu are also named for Hayden. There’s Hayden’s Skillet, which is like a garbage plate, and Hayden’s Stuffed Shakes, a milkshake that includes topping of candy, cookies or Nutella.

Keiffer said the diner is at a great location at the end of Route 98, one of the last buildings before Lake Ontario. While she has worked in recent months to get the building ready, repainting the interior, replacing floor tiles and doing an extensive cleaning, she saw lots of traffic with people coming to the lake.

“I’m looking forward to serving the community and getting more business to the area,” she said today.

The fishermen, in particular, are up early. Keiffer plans to open the diner at 4:30 in the morning later in the season to accommodate that crowd. She will have a hot breakfast ready to go, even before the sun comes up.

For now the hours will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Except on Fridays, when she will stay open until 8 p.m. Those days she will be serving fish fries, in addition to the regular menu for breakfast and lunch.

Hayden’s Diner also serves ice cream from a side of the building. Keiffer will have the ice cream window open from 4 to 8 p.m. each day.

Keiffer also works as a bar tender at the Elk’s Lodge in Albion and is the bar manager Lures Restaurant in Kendall.

For more information on Hayden’s, call (585) 682-6074.

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Late-night fire displaces 2 Waterport residents

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2020 at 9:24 am

Provided photo from Jamie Hollis

CARLTON – Firefighters work to contain a fire in Waterport last night at 1965 Main St. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 3 a.m.

The fire was mostly contained to back of the house but there is significant smoke and water damage in the home, said Justin Niederhofer, Carlton fire chief.

The fire displaced the two residents, who had been remodeling the house. They are being assisted by the Red Cross. One of the residents, Thad Nauden, works for the Red Cross.

Niederhofer thanked firefighters for responding to the call in the middle of the night and preventing more extensive damage. There were firefighters from Carlton, Albion, Lyndonville, Kendall, Medina, Shelby and Ridgeway, as well as the county fire investigators and director of Emergency Management Office. COVA also was on scene with an ambulance in case there were any injuries.

Firefighters stayed on the scene until 6:30, and then had to clean and disinfect the fire trucks and fire hall.

“I thank all the department for coming to help us and we’re sorry for the family’s loss of their house,” Niederhofer said this morning.

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