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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2014 at 10:04 pm
Photo by Annalise Steier
CARLTON – A day after a severe thunderstorm took down trees, knocked out power and strewn debris over Orleans County, a radiant rainbow appeared this evening at sunset.
Annalise Steier, 11, of Carlton took the top picture from her front porch on Route 98 after 8:30 p.m.
Her dad, John Steier, shared it on Facebook with this message: “Proof God is not going to destroy Carlton.”
Power has been nearly restored to the county, but National Grid reports that 79 people remain without power in Waterport/Kent with it expected to be back on by 11:30 p.m. tonight.
Another 289 people are without electricity from the storm north of Route 104 near the Carlton/Yates town line.
They are expected to be restored by 11:59 tonight.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2014 at 7:25 am
Provided photo
CARLTON – Much of Carlton remains without electricity this morning after a storm Tuesday night knocked down trees and power lines.
The top photo shows Park Avenue Extension in Carlton, where trees remain down and the road impassable this morning.
National Grid reports that more than 3,000 customers in Orleans County remain without power this morning. That includes 1,479 just north of the village of Albion, from between Sawyer Road and Eagle Harbor. The power company reports it is assessing the condition.
Those numbers don’t include 836 customers without power in Carlton. National Grid is estimating they will have power restored at 6 p.m.
There are also 720 customers wit no electricity from Knowlesville to East Shelby and West Barre. National Grid is assessing the condition in that area.
Provided photo – The storm snapped poles in Waterport near the dam and power plant.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photos – Several telephone poles fell down along Route 98 in Carlton after fierce winds hit around 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
CARLTON – It felt like a tornado hit on Tuesday evening for Matt and Sharon Sugar. They were driving back towards Albion after visiting Point Breeze with their two sons and one of their friends.
They were on Route 98 in Carlton when the wind picked up and the rain turned into a torrential downpour.
“We were driving and I couldn’t see because of wind and rain,” Mr. Sugar said. “I never experienced anything like that. We couldn’t see two feet in front of us. It was like a whiteout in June.”
He decided to pull over, about a quarter mile north of Ho-Jack’s. Then a row of telephone poles snapped. Six or seven fell with the Sugars between two of them. Some of the live wires landed on their van, a Chrysler Town and Country.
“It was very scary,” he said.
The Sugars, their two sons and a family friend were trapped in the vehicle for the next two hours. When National Grid was assured the power was cut, the wires were removed, including one on the passenger side mirror, not far from where Mrs. Sugar was sitting. Carlton firefighter Ed Cooper then helped Mr. Sugar navigate the van through the maze of debris.
Mr. Sugar said he is thankful he stopped where he did. If he was 20 feet ahead, a pole would have landed on the vehicle. Their van only had a scratch on it.
“The Lord was with us,” he said. “It could have been much more serious.”
The Sugars were joined in their van by sons Isaac, 5, and Eli, 12, and their friend Cody Wilson, 12.
“It’s a miracle,” Sugar said about their escape from the storm. “Thank God we’re here to tell about it.”
CARLTON – The town and its consultant as part of a reassessment process announced the data collection phase of the project is complete and residents will be getting letters, beginning on Friday.
Those letters will include a summary of information about each of the respective 2,400 properties in Carlton. Property owners will be asked to review the information. If the information is correct, no further action will be required. If the inventory does not appear to be correct, instructions will be included as to how to submit any requested changes.
A dedicated help line will be set up to assist property owners with questions.
Carlton hired GAR Associates Inc. to be contractor for compiling the data. GAR Associates Inc. was hired for $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 2014.
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Organizers see big potential in Oak Orchard Open
Photos by Tom Rivers – The winning team – Yankee Troller – poses with their trophies and $10,000 in prize money. The group includes, from left: Craig Hajecki, Justin Botting, Walter Piecuch, Joshua Ranaletta, Jeff Curcio (kneeling) and Rich Hajecki, the charter boater captain.
POINT BREEZE – The inaugural Oak Orchard Open completed a two-day fishing tournament this afternoon with more than $20,000 in prizes distributed to top teams.
The event whet the appetites of fishermen for competition, generating lots of talk on-line and in the fishing community.
“I think this will really take off,” said charter boat captain Paul Czarnecki, one of the organizers of the new tournament. “This will only grow. The Internet will be blowing up in the coming days about it.”
The new tournament attracted 36 teams that each paid a $400 entry fee. The tournament was put together after the Orleans County Pro Am ceased after last year.
The new tournament challenged the teams to catch 10 fish each day – five salmon and five trout. Teams would earn points for each fish they caught of the 10, with additional points for each pound of fish.
Only two of the 36 teams were able to meet the maximum of 10 fish each day.
“It was a skill tournament,” said Justin Botting of Lockport, who was a member of the first-place team, Yankee Troller.
Botting and his teammates focused on salmon from 5:30 to 9:30 in the morning before then going after trout. Fishing had to be done by 2 p.m. and the Yankee Trollers tried to catch bigger salmon after noon before the time was up.
Many other tournaments don’t require two species of fish. The Oak Orchard Open forced teams to strategize because salmon and trout generally don’t hang around together.
First-place trophies have a fishing theme.
The Yankee Trollers earned 432.27 points over the two days – 20 points for catching 20 fish and another 417.27 for the weight of the 20. That was 55.50 more than the second-place team.
Czarnecki said he only heard positive feedback from the participants. He expects to see even more people entered in the competition next year.
“We set a new gold standard for tournaments on Lake Ontario,” he said while fishermen gathered for the weigh-in outside the Black North Inn. “We brought back the fun. This will generate excitement in the tournament format.”
Eliot Zielinkski, 30, of Rochester liked the new format. His team finished in seventh place. He has been competing in fishing tournaments for seven years. He said they are intense, with the competitors focused for more than eights hours while on the water.
“You stand on the edge of the boat for the whole thing,” he said. “You’re adrenaline is just skyrocketing.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Oak Orchard Open includes 36 teams in debut
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Oak Orchard Harbor will be busy Saturday morning at 5 a.m. when boats line up in the channel before heading out to Lake Ontario.
POINT BREEZE – A new fishing tournament – The Oak Orchard Open – will cast off before sun up on Saturday when 36 teams leave the Oak Orchard Harbor at 5 a.m.
The new tournament fills a void left after the Orleans County Pro Am was discontinued after last season. The new tourney has a different format and guarantees $20,000 in prizes, including an $8,000 grand prize.
About 150 anglers will be out early Saturday and Sunday for the 2-day tournament. Each team has four members. They earn points based on 10 fish each day – their five heaviest salmon and trout. The teams get a point for each fish and additional points for each pound of their collective catch.
“We all love fishing and the competition,” said charter boat captain Richard Hajecki.
He was one of the main organizers of the tournament with charter captains Bob Songin and Paul Czarnecki, as well as fisherman Mark Lewis.
Charter boat captain Paul Czarnecki, one of the organizers of the new Oak Orchard Open fishing tournament, goes over the rules with fishermen gathered at the Black North Inn.
The teams each paid a $400 entry fee. Sponsors also helped to push up the overall prize winnings. Hajecki said the tournament is good for the area, drawing outsiders to the Oak Orchard.
“It brings a lot of people to the community and they spend money at the businesses,” he said after a captains’ meeting this evening at the Black North Inn. “It showcases the fishery out here.”
The Oak Orchard Open differs from the Pro Am. Instead of a maximum of 12 fish per day at the Pro Am, there are 10. There also aren’t class distinctions between professionals and amateurs in the Oak Orchard Open. They are all vying for the same prizes.
The fishing stops at 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and the fish must be weighed by 3:30 at the Black North to qualify.
“It’s a new format and a new idea,” said Mike Waterhouse, the county’s sportfishing coordinator. “It’s new and exciting.”
