CARLTON – A Holley man had to be rescued this afternoon while swimming in Lake Ontario.
Sean M. Bemont, 38, was boating with his wife Elena, 35, about 1 mile north of Wilson Road in the Town of Carlton. Bemont decided to take a swim and at some point he and the boat began drifting apart.
He was attempting to swim back to the boat when he experienced a medical problem. Elena Bemont, who is not savvy to the operation of the vessel, called 9-1-1 as the boat was drifting farther away from her husband.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Marine Unit responded to the area. Deputies Erin Fuller and Jim Burke rescued Bemont from the water. He was not wearing a PFD.
Deputy Fuller transported Bemont to the State Boat Launch on Oak Orchard River, where he was treated by personnel from Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance and released. Deputy Burke drove Bemont’s boat back to its dock at Wiley’s Marina, also on Oak Orchard River.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – A boater approaches the break wall at Oak Orchard Harbor in this photo taken last month.
CARLTON – The wait will soon be over, and boaters can expect a smoother ride through the Oak Orchard Harbor.
The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to be at the harbor later this week to begin dredging the mouth of the Oak Orchard River. That last happened in 2004.
Since then the harbor has a buildup of silt and sediment. Some boats sometimes are grounded in shallow parts of the channel.
The Army Corps will work on the Oak Orchard once it’s done with Irondequoit Bay, said Mike Waterhouse, Orleans County’s sportsfishing coordinator. He received notification from the Army Corps that the work should start in the Oak Orchard later this week.
The harbor is critical to the county’s $12 million annual fishing industry, as well as for other recreational purposes.
The Oak Orchard Harbor was last dredged in 2004 when 10,700 cubic yards of material was removed. This harbor should be dredged every three to five years, according to county officials. In order to maintain adequate channel depth, 18,000 cubic yards of dredging will be required. The total sediment backlog is estimated at approximately 35,000 cubic yards, according to information from Congressman Chris Collins’ office.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – New signs were recently added to three Carlton Town Signs – one of Route 98 and two on Route 18 – that declare the community is an “Ultimate Fishing Town.” The photo above shows the sign on Route 98.
The Point Breeze community won the on-line contest in 2013 through the World Fishing Network. The prize included $25,000 to promote the fishery.
A committee has been looking for ways to spend the $25,000. The messages on the welcome signs is just one way. The committee used funds to take Vietnam veterans on a charter boat fishing trip and has other projects in the works, including restoring a giant fiberglass salmon that has been in the front lawn of the former Bait Barn and Tackle Shop on Route 279 in Gaines. That fish will be refurbished and displayed at many community events.
The sign at the corner of routes 18 and 98 that welcomes people to Point Breeze also now includes an “Ultimate Fishing Town” designation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Debbie Murphy keeps up an Orleans County Fishing Derby tradition by kissing the winning fish in the derby. Murphy won the $4,000 grand prize with the heaviest fish, a 27-pound, 7-ounce Chinook salmon.
Destiny Bickel, 13, of Burt holds the heaviest brown trout, an 18-pound, 11-ounce fish. She won $500 for winning the division.
CARLTON – The winner of the Orleans County Fishing Derby just started coming to Orleans County to fish about two years ago. Debbie Murphy of New Albany, Pa., made the trip to the county on Monday.
She landed a 27-pound, 7-ounce Chinook salmon that day. Murphy and her boyfriend were on his boat, about 2 miles from the Oak Orchard Harbor when she reeled in the heaviest fish for the Orleans County Fishing Derby. She received her $4,000 grand prize during an awarded ceremony this afternoon.
Murphy and her boyfriend Allen Hubler fished in Orleans after some of their friends talked up the area. The couple hasn’t been disappointed.
“It’s always a good time,” she said. “There’s always the chance when that line goes off that something big could be on it.”
Hubler landed the second biggest Chinook in the salmon division with a 26-pound, 3-ounce fish. Murphy caught hers on Monday morning. After they brought it in to a weigh station, they returned to lake and Hubler caught his big fish, which was good for a $300 prize for second in its division.
Debbie Murphy said she caught the derby winner with a silver-streaked spoon.
Murphy said she has been fishing all of her life. She said she still has a lot of learn about fishing in lake Ontario. She caught the grand prize fish with a silver-streaked spoon. She said she will be back to fish in Lake Ontario again.
“I love this area,” she said. “It’s a very beautiful area.”
The Albion Rotary Club organizes the annual derby. Typically about 700 register for the competition, which runs for about two weeks. This year the entries was down to 531, mainly due to a tough final week with cool weather and choppy waters.
This year’s derby winner was smaller than the one last year. Foster Miller of Holley won in 2013 with a 34-pound, 13-ounce Chinook.
The derby gives out $8,800 in total prizes. 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. The Orleans County resident that catches the biggest fish gets $200. Heather Saeva won that prize with a 23-pound, 15-ounce Chinook salmon.
Mike Schaeffer holds the division-winning rainbow trout, a 14-pound, 1-ounce fish.
The following were the division leaders:
Bill Magee of Northwood, Ohio with a 26-pound, 13-ounce Chinook; Destiny Bickel of Burt with an 18-pound, 11-ounce brown trout; Mike Schaeffer of Sligo, Pa., with a 14-pound, 1-ounce rainbow trout; and David Johnson of Rochester with a 17-pound, 6-ounce lake trout.
Ashley Ward has been chairman of the derby for the Rotary Club for many years. He said this will be the last time he will be the chairman. He is handing off the reins to Bill Downey and Brad Shelp.
“It’s kept my mind occupied and it’s kept me busy,” Ward told about 100 people gathered for the awards program at the Carlton Recreation Hall. “I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve enjoyed seeing you folks every year.”
Ashley Ward serves as emcee at the awards banquet. Ed Fancher, left, is treasurer for the derby.
Marlee Diehl of the Albion Rotary Club presents Ashley Ward with a celebratory cake for his years of leading the fishing derby.
Photos by Sue Cook – Chuck Lind, left, calls out to anyone listening and adjusts the equipment while Joe Gangi writes down the information. Behind them, member Doyle Wadhams watches.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
POINT BREEZE – The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club OCARC was out at the lake on Saturday connecting to lighthouses and ham radio operators around the world. They set up their base of operation next to the Oak Orchard Lighthouse in Point Breeze.
By noon the first day, the club had connected with over 100 other ham operators.
In the United States they had made contact all the way to the west coast. They were also able to reach countries like Russia, Germany, Canada and Denmark.
“When we’re talking to people, I don’t think about other countries as enemies or anything like that,” said Joe Gangi, this year’s club member in charge of the event.
“Ham radio operators are different. We’re cut from a different cloth. Everybody looks at each other as equals and we have a lot of fun with this.”
The operators are within feet of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.
The group is expecting to beat their count last year of 360 connections made.
Atmospheric conditions can affect the reach of the signal, but so far the club is doing very well and has another day ahead of them on Sunday.
Doyle Wadhams was recording for the radio operator in the afternoon. On paper, he was taking down the information of anyone they spoke with over the radio so they could verify online later.
“I try to get the call sign to verify the contact through Logbook of the World,” Wadhams said. “You also have to record the frequency you’re on and the time of the contact. All that matches up to what they input into the database and that’s how you get credit for the contact.”
The event encourages amateur radio clubs to connect with local lighthouses during the third weekend of August. Registered operators participating in the event are asked to be within 1,000 feet of a lighthouse, though they can make contact with anyone across the country in any other location.
“We do this for two reasons,” Gangi explained. “One is to promote lighthouses and their need to be kept and restored. Even though they’re not a necessity anymore, there’s still such a history behind them. This is also to promote the hobby of amateur radio.”
Gangi and the ham radio operators want to make it an annual event.
“This is a lot of fun,” he said. “This is to draw people here and let them see what we’re doing. We’ve had many people come up and just ask questions and want to know more about ham radio and its operation, and we also promote the lighthouse, too, while we’re here. It’s all a partnership of good will.”
This year’s custom QSL card for the weekend event.
To help promote the Oak Orchard Lighthouse further, OCARC has special postcards called QSL cards made with the lighthouse’s information on it alongside their own club information.
As operators across the country connected, the call signs can be used to obtain mailing information. OCARC then sends out cards to the addresses of other operators and receive QSL cards in return.
OCARC will also be at the lighthouse on Sunday from 8 a.m. until late afternoon or evening. The public is welcome to stop by.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Christophers ran site for three decades
Photo by Tom Rivers – Gatlen Ernst and his fiancée Danielle Daniels, right, are pictured with the Christophers, from left: Darrick, Gene and David. Ernst acquired Four C’s Marina on Thursday. In March he bought the neighboring Lake Breeze Marina. He will combine the two sites into one marina, Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina.
POINT BREEZE – For three decades Gene Christopher and his family have been mainstays on the Oak Orchard River, running Four C’s Marina. They expanded the business over the years adding a café, lodging and storage for boats.
On Thursday, the business was sold to Gatlen Ernst. In March he acquired the neighboring the Lake Breeze Marina. He will combine the two marinas into Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina.
“He’s a great guy,” Christopher said about Ernst.
Ernst started working at Lake Breeze Marina 10 years ago as a summer job when he was in college. He mowed the lawns and did other odd jobs at the marina. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nazareth College, he decided to stay on the Oak Orchard. He enjoys the boaters and the people on the river.
With Four C’s, he will gain some efficiencies with staff and equipment.
“It makes sense to have one marina,” he said.
One of his first moves as owner of the two sites was removing a row of telephone poles that were laid down as a barrier between the two properties. They are gone and Ernst and his employees can now freely move boats and equipment on the two properties.
Christopher started Four C’s with his wife Judy and their two sons, Darrick Christopher and David Cristofaro. The marina was the boys’ first job.
After working most of his adult life at Four C’s, David this spring took a full-time job as service manager for Shumway Marine in Irondequoit, the largest marina on the south shore of Lake Ontario. He spent weekends helping his father at Four C’s.
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.
Gene said he values the many relationships he and his family made through the marina.
“I will personally miss all of the friends,” he said. “It’s a bittersweet thing.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse will be part of International Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend, where ham radio operators communicate with each other at lighthouses throughout the world.
POINT BREEZE – Ham radio operators will be communicating with each other at lighthouses throughout the world this weekend, including at the Oak Orchard Lighthouse at Point Breeze.
The lighthouse and Orleans County Amateur Radio Club are partnering in the International Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Ham radio operators will be there from 8 a.m. to at least 5 p.m. on both days.
The event is open to the public and connects ham radio operators from around the globe. This will be the fourth time the local groups have joined for the event.
Last year, local amateur radio club made 350 international and domestic contacts during the lighthouse weekend.
The Oak Orchard Lighthouse was built in 2010 as a replica of a lighthouse from 1871. That structure was abandoned by the federal government in the early 1900s. The original lighthouse toppled in a 1916 winter storm.
The lighthouse has about 2,500 visitors sign its guest book each year when the building is open.
A Pennsylvania woman has caught the biggest fish so far in the Orleans County Fishing Derby. Debbie Murphy of New Albany is the new leader of the derby with a 27-pound, 7-ounce Chinook.
The derby continues until Sunday with $4,000 the grand prize. There are $8,800 in prizes for fish in the top five of four divisions. The Albion Rotary Club runs the derby.
Bill Magee of Northwood, Ohio leads the Salmon Division with a 26-pound, 13-ounce Chinook. Other leaders include Destiny Bickel of Burt with an 18-pound, 11-ounce brown trout; Mike Schaeffer of Sligo, Pa., with a 14-pound, 1-ounce rainbow trout; and David Johnson of Rochester with a 17-pound, 6-ounce lake trout.
Heather Saeva of Albion is in the lead for the bonus prize given to the Orleans County resident who catches the biggest fish. She caught a 23-pound, 15-ounce Chinook.
WATERPORT – Project Life is thrilled to welcome three orphans from war-torn regions of Afghanistan, arriving in Buffalo today to take part in Western New York’s War Orphan’s Rehabilitation Program.
Iqbal Satar, Mohammad Meer and Nasratullah Lal have all overcome great challenges – including recent massive technical problems with the U.S. visa system – to join orphans from around the world for the two-month program.
“We are pleased that we were able to get the Afghan orphans here, despite the enormous difficulties,” said Linda Redfield, Program Director for Project Life. “They live in a country that has been torn apart by war for decades now, so their physical and social needs are very high.”
Project Life is an all-volunteer, locally based program that brings small groups of orphans to the countryside of Western New York every summer from international war zones. The children are hosted by caring local families and benefit from daily English instruction, art therapy, physical recreation, and lots of field trips in the area.
They also receive free medical and dental care donated by local health professionals and medical facilities. At the end of the program the orphans return to their extended families in their home countries.
“Two months of rest and relaxation, with good nutrition and medical care, can literally save the lives of these children,” Redfield said. “They go home healthier, happier and much more hopeful, knowing they have friends here who care deeply about them.”
Project Life is funded by donations from private citizens and benefits from the generous support of local faith organizations, service clubs and small businesses.
Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Chris Collins – along with the great staff of the American embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan – have helped Project Life hugely in making it possible for Afghan war orphans to travel to the United States for this life-saving program.
Photos by Sue Cook – Acoustically Sound members Tom Zangerle (left), Tim McPherson (center) and Jack Cardone rock out.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association welcomed about 250 people to the Orleans County Marine Park on Route 98 on Tuesday night. This is the fifth year the organization has held concerts featuring local bands.
The crowd looks on during “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars.
The Marine Park overlooks the Oak Orchard River. Boat docks are filled for the season.
Acoustically Sound performed tonight. The band features the trio of Tom Zangerle, Tim McPherson and Jack Cardone.
The group plays acoustic rock along with a mix of other music. The members of the band are veteran musicians, but the band is only a little over a year old. This is their first time as an OONA concert performer.
“We play some Beatles, old Tom Petty and old Crosby, Stills, Nash &Young. Our twist is we play “Fly Me to the Moon” and some jazz tunes thrown in there with the classic ’60s rock,” said McPherson of their variety style.
Tim McPherson sings Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel.”
The series was off to a rocky start last week when inclement weather caused the first concert cancellation the organization has ever had to authorize. The Who Dats have been rescheduled for the final Tuesday of August, along with the vendors.
“We couldn’t do it without our sponsors,” said Lynne Menz, concert coordinator. “We want to extend a big thank you to all of them, as well as the Clarendon Lions Club, the Black North Inn and Barbara Ann Concessions for serving food during the concerts.”
Concerts take place every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Admission is $2 per person or $5 per family. Admission is free for OONA members and Marine Park seasonal dock renters.
Below is the updated schedule of concerts.
July 22: Julie Dunlap & High Maintenance
July 29: The Dave Viterna Group
Aug. 5: Blind Leading the Blind
Aug. 12: Jive Street Five
Aug. 19: The Sophisticats
Aug. 26: The Who Dats
CARLTON – A Rochester couple escaped serious injury early this morning after their car crashed into a tree in the Town of Carlton.
The incident occurred at approximately 5 a.m. in the 13200 block of Lakeshore Rd., at intersection with Lakeside Road.
Elizabeth A. Marcano, 46, was operating a 2014 Nissan Suburban travelling east on Lakeshore Road, when she failed to stop for the stop sign at the T-intersection with Lakeside Road.
The vehicle continued east across Lakeside Road, and left the roadway before striking a metal gate that controls access to New York State Park Lands. The vehicle continued on for several feet into a wooded area before striking and coming to rest against a tree.
Marcano’s husband Joseph Marcano, 48, was a front seat passenger in the vehicle. Both were transported by Medina Fire Department ambulance to Medina Memorial Hospital, where they were treated and released. Carlton firefighters also assisted at the scene.
Elizabeth Marcano was cited for Unsafe Speed, Moving from Traffic Lane Unsafely, and Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign. She will appear in Town of Carlton Court later this month.
The incident was investigated by Deputy M.C. Mele, assisted by Investigator D.E. Foeller Jr.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Carl Bish – Richard Helmich, a Vietnam veteran from Delevan, holds up a fish he caught this morning in Lake Ontario. He was out fishing with three other veterans from the Vietnam War era.
POINT BREEZE – Charter boat captains and other leaders of Orleans County’s fishing industry today wanted to say thank you to area veterans of the Vietnam War. More than 50 veterans were treated to chartered fishing trips, and many hauled in big salmon and trout.
“It was very much appreciated,” said Owen Toale, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era. He was stationed in Thailand.
“It feels like we’re the forgotten generation of military personnel.”
Provided photo – Owen Toale holds a fish he caught today while in Salmo Charters with three other veterans.
Joe Toomey, captain of the Irish Pride charter boat since 1984, suggested the fishing trip for veterans to a committee in charge of spending $25,000 to promote the fishery. The Point Breeze area received that award last year for winning the Ultimate Fishing Town contest through the World Fishing Network.
Some of those funds were used to put on today’s event, that included 52 veterans on 13 charter boats.
Toomey was grateful to see the committee acted on his idea to recognize the veterans and treat them to some fishing on Lake Ontario.
“I just felt it was time to give back,” he said.
Photos by Tom Rivers – Mike Waterhouse, Orleans County’s sportfishing coordinator, addresses about 100 people during a luncheon after today’s fishing trips for Vietnam War veterans.
The charter captains volunteered to take a day off from their paying customers. They did receive a stipend for gas and some of their expenses.
Kevin Johnson of Clarendon was in the same charter boat as Toale, and two other veterans: Larry DePalma and Richard Helmich. Johnson has a small fishing boat and likes to get out on the lake. He appreciated a chance to fish on a professional charter boat. Carl Bish is captain of Salmo Charters and he made the day fun for the veterans, Johnson said.
Paul Fulcomer, the county’s Veterans Service Agency director, had never been on a charter fishing boat before this morning. Fulcomer said it was the biggest boat he had been on since serving on a river boat in Vietnam.
“It was nice to be on a boat without someone shooting at you,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Carl Bish – Kevin Johnson of Clarendon holds up a fish he caught on today’s Ultimate Fishing Challenge trip for Vietnam War veterans.
Fulcomer praised the organizers for reaching out to the veterans who served in Vietnam.
“We all had a great time today,” Fulcomer said at the luncheon at the Black North Inn.
The group was treated to coffee and doughnuts in the morning by Tim Hortons and the Orleans County Deputy’s Association picked up the tab for beverages at the luncheon.
The veterans were joined on the water by Vietnam veteran and former State Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt, current county legislators Lynne Johnson and Ken DeRoller, and Eileen Banker, chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
The committee for the $25,000 in prize money has other projects in the works, including “Welcome To” signs. About half of the money still needs to be spent.
A celebratory cake awaits the veterans after they were treated to chartered fishing boats on the lake.
Photos by Sue Cook – Nicole McGurn and her fiance Ed Bellinger light the first lantern of the evening.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
POINT BREEZE – Saturday night, the members of OONA celebrated the summer solstice with a party saying goodbye to the spring sun.
During the final moments of sunset, Bob Chaplin played the drums as party-goers shook gourd maracas, hit sticks and cheered.
“I play drums all over the place and I had a night free, so I said I would do it. I was drumming down the sun,” said Bob Chaplain who had been invited by OONA members to help them celebrate.
Cora Goyette and other members light another Chinese lantern.
Jeanne Lauta explained the reason for celebration. “Today is the longest day of the year and summer starts today.”
McGurn releases a lantern into the air while Deanne Borrie watches.
“It’s a great time, great people, a beautiful location, and it was awesome watching the sun go down,” said Debbie Magliocco, who attended as a guest of a member.
The lanterns floated around in the breeze and eventually burned out further down the shore.
Sue Zeppetella said, “I just think it was awesome. This is the third year we’ve done this and it’s a great event. The weather was beautiful and we had fun.”
Fire photo by Tom Rivers – The band Blind Leading the Blind performs at the Orleans County Marine Park last July to kick off the “Summer Concert Series in the Park.” The series will be back beginning July 8.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association in Point Breeze is working hard to promote the Oak Orchard area through a concert series and other community projects.
OONA will once again present the Summer Concert Series in the Park on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. from July 8 through August 19. Those concerts will be at the Oak Orchard Marine Park on Rt. 98.
The lineup for the concert series is as follows:
July 8: The Who Dats (classic rock, pop)
July 15: Acoustically Sound (acoustic rock)
July 22: Julie Dunlap & High Maintenance (contemporary country)
July 29: The Dave Viterna Group (blues)
August 5: The Blind Leading the Blind (contemporary rock)
August 12: Jive Street Five (classic golden age, rat pack)
August 19: The Sophisticats (swing, jazz, blues)
On average, each band draws between 200 and 325 people depending on the band’s fan base and the weather. OONA has between 20 and 24 of its members serve as volunteers to help run the event.
OONA receives their funding through business sponsors, admission charges, their 50/50 raffle and membership fees. They also receive a subsidy from the county tourism board to help pay for advertising for the event. This year they have 30 business sponsors. Their membership includes about 100 families totaling to approximately 150 total members. They also have a coupon book that businesses can purchase a space in.
The bands are chosen through a committee of OONA members. About half of the bands this year are new to the series and the other half were so popular they are returning for another concert.
The admission is $2 per person or $5 per family. The Clarendon Lions Club will return this year as vendors to raise money for their organization by selling food and drinks.
“The Lions are a community support. It’s a big fundraiser for them,” said Frank Panczyszyn, the Environmental and Conservation Committee chairwoman.
“We’re happy to have them back,” said Jeanne Lauta, Communications Director.
Photo by Sue Cook – OONA takes interest in the community. They are working to make it a great place to live and visit.
Besides the concert events, OONA works toward improving the community and helping to bring a sense of pride about the Oak Orchard area to the county.
OONA is a member of the Adopt-A-Highway program along Route 98. They are also part of a Neighborhood Watch program. They have helped to recover lost dogs and protect property. During the recent storm, they checked on neighbors and made sure people were safe.
They are also working with Albion to make two walking trails through Volkssport, an international walking organization. One trail would go through Albion, the other would involve the lighthouse in Point Breeze and would focus on points of interest and exercise.
OONA also uses some of its funding toward charity. They have made donations to the Carlton Fire Department, the county nursing home and COVA.
“There’s some circumstances where we donated directly to people in need and their families,” said Panczyszyn.
OONA makes an effort to educate the community and work with officials about issues such as lake levels, dredging, and advocating for better conditions for bridges, roads and the Parkway. The group sends a representative from their organization to town meetings with the interest of property owners and businesses in mind.
“We wanted to make it a social organization as well as community support,” said Communications Director Tracy Panczyszyn. “We’re always looking for more volunteers and ideas of things we can do to get more people involved.”
“We want people to help this grow more. It’s their community,” said Lauta.
Members also have special benefits that are not available to the public. This weekend, OONA members are having an invite-only party at a private residence along the lakeshore. To welcome summer, they will be releasing Chinese lanterns tonight over the lake.
OONA wants for more people from the area who love the lakeshore and Point Breeze to become members and support the community. Even visitors who live outside the area may join. For more information about OONA, visit their website http://www.oakorchard.org/.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2014 at 2:49 pm
Some students will be dropped at Rec Hall this afternoon
CARLTON – National Grid has returned electricity to nearly everyone after a severe thunderstorm knocked out power to thousands of Orleans County residents on Tuesday night.
There are about 20 customers still waiting to have their power restored, and National Grid said it expects to have nearly everyone back on line by 4 p.m. today.
There are nine customers without electricity on Route 98 in Carlton near the intersection with Waterport-Carlton Road, and fewer than five without electricity in Kenyonville near Platten Road, according to National Grid’s latest update at 2:32 p.m.
There are also two outages on East Avenue and West Park Street in the village of Albion and fewer than five customers without power in East Shelby.
Albion Central School this morning used the Carlton Fire Company Recreation Hall as a bus pickup because some roads were closed. The Rec Hall will continue to be used this afternoon for bus drop offs for students who live on Route 98 from Waterport-Carlton Road to Route 18. The school expects normal bus schedules to return tomorrow.
Albion closed school on Wednesday due to the aftermath of the storm. Students were supposed to take finals for Grade 8 Latin and Spanish. Those tests have been rescheduled for Friday at 11:30 a.m.
