WATERPORT – The bridge over Lake Alice and Oak Orchard Road is reopened today after about five months of work.

The bridge, originally reported as only open to emergency vehicles, is open to all motorists.

Keeler Construction in Barre is the contractor for the $1.5 million project on the longest county-owned bridge. It stretches 700 feet across Lake Alice and the Oak Orchard Creek.

WATERPORT – A bridge that has been closed the past five months for $1.5 million in repairs will reopen today to emergency vehicles.

Fire trucks and ambulances can get through, but other motorists will have to wait until a final inspection on the bridge on Route 279. This is the longest county-owned bridge. It stretches 700 feet across Lake Alice and the Oak Orchard Creek.

Keeler Construction in Barre was hired to make repairs to the bridge. Many of the concrete box beams that support the bridge were badly deteriorated and needed to be replaced. The bridge also has a new surface with concrete, rubber membrane and blacktop.

CARLTON – A consultant hired by the town to collect data on 2,400 properties is nearly done with the effort.

GAR Associates Inc. is being paid $68,000 to visit every property in the town and make note of swimming pools, additions, sheds, garages and exterior property improvements. GAR has been working on the project since March and should wrap up its work this month, Town Councilman Robin Lake said.

The firm has been working with Town Assessor Gene Massey. He will use the data from GAR for assessments on all the properties. Those assessments should be out in March.

“I think it will put everyone on an even keel,” Lake said.

The town has been working to update its assessment records so accurate and fair values can be designated for the properties. Carlton was engulfed in controversy in 2013 when new values for properties were assigned. Residents packed the Town Hall to complain about some of the big increases.

Residents also complained some properties were under-assessed. The town’s records didn’t show all the structures and improvements at some properties with low assessments, town officials said.

The Town Board chose not to re-appoint its assessor and worked out an arrangement with Kendall to share its assessor, Gene Massey.

“Gene will be very approachable,” Lake said. “If you have an issue, come on in and he’ll address it.”

The board has voted to freeze the assessments at 2012 levels, rather than allow the big increases to take effect. The board voted again to keep the 2014 data at the 2012 numbers, unless there was a building project at a property.

Carlton pays less for fire protection than most other towns in Orleans County

Photo by Tom Rivers – Jim Tabor, president of the Carlton Fire Company, is pictured on top of a Carlton pumper, using a master stream to direct more intense water at hay bales that caught on fire on Oct. 11.

CARLTON – The Carlton Fire Company can expect $20,000 more from town taxpayers in 2015, an increase that the fire company president says is sorely needed to help keep up with equipment, fuel, insurance, utilities and other expenses.

The Town Board said it would approve the increase when the town budget is approved next month. Carlton currently contributes $132,800 in town funds towards the fire company.

The $20,000 represents a 15 percent increase. Carlton can set aside that money, plus about $3,000 for contingency, and still remain under the 1.67 percent tax cap. The town isn’t giving raises to town employees.

David Krull, the town highway and water superintendent, told the board he supported the tight budget for other departments to better fund the fire department.

“The whole story here is they are underpaid compared to the other towns,” Krull told the Town Board during a meeting this evening.

Even with the $20,000 increase, Carlton is still on the low end of what towns give for fire protection.

Carlton taxpayers paid a 65 cent tax rate per $1,000 of assessed property for fire protection in 2014. That would increase by 10 cents with the additional $20,000, boosting the total town contribution to $152,800.

For comparison sake, here is how much other towns without contracts with village fire departments paid for fire protection in 2014: Barre, $164,000 at a $1.45 rate; Clarendon, $165,774 at $1.00 rate; Kendall, $160,900 at $1.38 rate to Kendall Fire Department and $66,386 at a $1.55 rate to the Morton Fire Department;

Murray, $190,000 at a $1.61 rate to the Holley Fire Department and $104,500 at a $1.59 rate to Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company; Ridgeway, $178,798 at a $1.26 rate to the Ridgeway Fire Company; and Shelby, $232,555 at a $1.44 rate to the Shelby and East Shelby fire companies.

“Our numbers were drastically low,” Jim Tabor, the Carlton Fire Company president, told the Town Board after presenting the data. “We’re still drastically low compared to other departments in the county.”

Carlton used to generate $40,000 a year in bingo profits. But that money is no longer there after an indoor smoking ban was enacted and legalized gambling, including video gaming centers, was expanded, Tabor said.

The fire company pressed for a $40,000 increase from the town last year and received about $20,000. It will get another $20,000 hike next year, and then Town Board members said they will only approve modest increases, likely about 2 percent a year, in the future.

Tabor said the bigger increases have been needed because the fire company used up some its reserves and put off needed equipment upgrades.

“We can’t keep digging because there’s nothing left to dig,” said Todd Ferris, a past chief.

Fire company leaders are projecting $173,200 in expenses in 2015. With the town’s contribution at $152,800, plus another $12,000 in fund-raising revenue, Tabor said the department is still short by more than $8,000.

He said 35 air pack bottles need to be replaced by 2017 at a maximum cost of $1,200 each. A new fire truck will soon be needed and that could top $350,000. The fire company has $190,000 saved in a fire truck reserve account.

The fire company is pursuing grants to help with the equipment upgrades, and volunteers continue to raise funds at the recreation hall. But Tabor said the town may need to bolster its support for the department to safely serve the community.

“It’s very difficult to get blood out of a stone,” Tabor told the Town Board. “I don’t know what our options are.”

Photos by Tom Rivers
WATERPORT – Paul Glor of Rochester is way ahead of a field of about 75 runners this morning at the Brown’s Berry Patch 5K. Glor finished the race in 15:50. He has won the race the last five years and six times overall.

Participants are pictured at the beginning of the race, an annual event at Brown’s since 1996. The race has raised $32,000 for Hospice of Orleans, not counting today’s total.

Jack Richardson, 81, of Albion nears the finish line with his grandson, Chad Hardy, a senior at Roberts Wesleyan College. Richardson, a retired pastor, runs many local 5-kilometer races. His daughter Martha Hardy, Chad’s mother, also ran the race this morning.

Paul Glor was the men’s overall winner. He is pictured with Dana Phillips of Lyndonville, the women’s overall winner.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – About two dozen hay bales caught on fire this morning on Park Avenue, along the Oak Orchard River, in the Town of Carlton.

The Carlton Volunteer Fire Company was the scene at about 9:30 a.m.

Jim Tabor is pictured on top of the Carlton pumper, using a master stream to direct more intense water at the hay bales, attempting to break them apart.

Barre and Albion firefighters, as well as the Carlton Highway Department also responded to the incident, and helped tear apart the hay bales so they wouldn’t keep smoldering throughout the day.

The fire was smoky, and could be seen from several miles away.

CARLTON – A boil water advisory issued Tuesday night in Carlton was lifted this afternoon by the Orleans County Health Department.

The advisory was issued at about 9 p.m. on Tuesday when the town’s water system was back on-line following a repair to a water main leak. The system was down for about 12 hours.

The Health Department issued the advisory as a precaution. It took samples of the water on Wednesday and Thursday and results from those tests showed the water was safe to drink, said David Krull, the town highway and water superintendent.

The Health Department at 2:04 p.m. today gave the clearance that the advisory could be lifted, Krull said.

The town was forced to shut off the public water system for about 700 residents on Tuesday after a hole burst in a 16-inch main between Brown’s Berry Patch and the Route 18 bridge. The water had to be shut off so Carlton and Village of Albion crews could weld a patch on the transmission line.

CARLTON – About 700 residents in Carlton were without public water today after a pipe burst this morning, forcing a shutdown in the water lines so an emergency repair could be made.

The water should be back on around 9:30 p.m. and Carlton residents are being advised to boil their water the next two days, said David Krull, the town highway and water superintendent.

A hole in the main 16-inch transmission line emerged around 9:30 this morning in a spot between Brown’s Berry Patch and the Route 18 bridge. The transmission line is owned by the Village of Albion, which provides water for the town customers.

Village of Albion and Town of Carlton crews worked about 12 hours to fix the problem. Krull said the transmission line is a concrete pipe with a steel liner. Some of the concrete had chipped away, and a hole burst in the steel liner.

The town and village had to shut off water so it could weld a patch on the transmission line. Krull said crews were back filling the spot around 9 tonight and he expected the water to be back on soon after that.

The boil water advisory was issued by the Orleans County Health Department and Krull said it will likely be in effect until about 9 p.m. on Thursday.

Four C’s was sold in August to Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina

Photo by Tom Rivers – Gene Christopher and his son David Cristofaro are pictured on Wednesday evening when they treated about 130 friends and customers to dinner at The Village Inn.

CHILDS – For 30 years the Christopher family made charter boat captains and other customers feel at home along the Oak Orchard River.

Gene and Judy Christopher and their sons David and Darrick operated Four C’s Marina. They did it with class, said Sharon Narburgh, owner of Narby’s Superette and Tackle for nearly 50 years.

“They did a service and the people don’t forget that,” Narburgh said.

She attended a dinner on Wednesday at the Village Inn, when the Christophers treated 130 friends and customers to an appreciation dinner. The Christophers sold their marina last month to Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina and Rod Farrow.

Bud and Peggy Fischer of Spencerport were long-time customers at Four C’s. The Christophers won the admiration of the Point Breeze community, the Fischers said.

“They were always concerned about our welfare,” Mr. Fischer said. “Gene and his wife are very special people. They’re very accommodating.”

Mrs. Fischer said the Christophers were always “above the table” in dealing with the public.

“He always told you like it was,” she said.

Besides the marina, the Christophers expanded the operation to lodging and a next-door café. The marina was the first job for the boys, Darrick and David.

Judy Christopher was a strong presence at the marina for its first 29 years. She died from cancer at age 70 last Aug. 3. Gene credited his wife for doing so much for Four C’s, especially when he was juggling his full-time job before he retired about 15 years ago.

Robin Boyle worked as a cook and waitress at the café, and also helped detail boats and work in the office. She said the Christophers treated people with respect and class.

“They were always honest and they were very good role models,” Boyle said. “Their customers kept coming back. They developed a very good rapport with everybody.”

Gene and David worked the room on Wednesday at the Village Inn, exchanging hand shakes and hugs with many of the attendees.

“This is just a thank you from us to them,” Gene said.

Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steve Smith

CARLTON – A Webster motorcyclist is dead following a collision late this afternoon between his motorcycle and a pick-up truck.

The incident occurred at about 5:50 p.m. on Roosevelt Highway (Route 18) at intersection with Harris Road in the Town of Carlton.

Daniel H. Thering, 26, was driving a 2014 Kawasaki west on Route 18 when he rounded a curve and struck the passenger side of a 2013 Toyota Tacoma truck that was turning left onto Harris Road from eastbound Route 18. The truck was well into the turn when the collision occurred.

Thering was pronounced dead at the scene by Orleans County Coroner Charles Smith, and transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester.

The operator (sole occupant) of the truck is identified as Debra K. Shaw, 58, of Lockport. Shaw was treated at the scene by personnel from Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance and released.

Preliminarily, it appears that the motorcycle was being operated at an excessive rate of speed. The on-scene investigation was conducted by Sergeant D.W. Covis, assisted by Deputy D.S. Klips, Deputy T.C. Marano, Lieutenant C.M. Bourke and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan. Carlton firefighters also assisted at the scene and Lyndonville FD assisted with traffic control.

Photos by Tom Rivers

WATERPORT – Alima, 10, is from Ingushetia, a Russian Republic. She is one of five war orphans spending the summer in Waterport through the Project Life program run by the World Life Institute. She is pictured with Grace Denniston from the Carlton United Methodist Church.

For several years the church has bought double-sided blankets for the children in Project Life. The church has also donated money and bikes to the program, and offered hay rides to the children.

“We’re very mission minded,” Denniston said. “We care about people.”

Mohammed, 12, from Afghanistan ties together a double-layered blanket on Wednesday with Penny Wilcox from the Carlton United Church Methodist. Several church members brought the blankets and helped students in Project Life tie the blankets together. The children will take the blankets home with them to Afghanistan or Ingushetia.

Mohammed has a rare blood disorder where his body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells. He needs transfusions every two weeks.

Liuba, a university student with a linguistics major in Russia, is volunteering for two months with Project Life. She is pictured with another university student Khava, left, and Dorothy Follman of the Carlton United Methodist Church.

Khava’s cousin was in the program in 2010. She volunteered this summer to give back to the program. Khava, 17, is an economics and finance major in Russia.

Liuba, 20, was in the crowd when representatives from Project Life visited her university, talking about the program about two years ago on its 15th anniversary.

“They showed pictures of the kids and it was really touching,” Liuba said.

She and Khava have helped Project Life volunteers by attending art and English classes, going on field trips together (including Washington, D.C. and Baltimore), and providing social support.

Liuba said the program gives the children an advantage when they return home by knowing English and seeing the world.

Liuba said the experience has opened her eyes about Americans.

“I had a stereotype that American people can be rude but I haven’t experienced that,” she said. Liuba also spent two days in New York City, “which was a dream of mine.”

Nasratullah, 12, of Afghanistan works on his blanket. He was in the program in 2013 and is the first returning child since it started in 1997. He came back mainly for ongoing eye treatments. He has retained much of his English and seems more confident this year, said Linda Redfield, Project Life coordinator.

Roza, 9, of Ingushetia works on a blanket with Jackie Fleckenstein. Roza and the other children in the program have all lost parents due to wars and conflicts in their countries.

Project Life students are pictured with their blankets after working on them with volunteers from the Carlton United Methodist Church.

Other churches and community groups also contribute to the Project Life program, which is designed to give the war orphans respite and peace in the countryside.

About two weeks ago Project Life children spent the day with the TGIF youth group at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion. The children tried on costumes, went canoeing and kayaking, and enjoyed a picnic along the Oak Orchard River.

“This is relationship building and nurturing care,” said Redfield, the program coordinator. “The children are exposed to many people coming to them with kindness and that’s never forgotten.”