By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Chet Wheelock flew over his farm and rural Carlton last night
Photo by Tom Rivers – Chet Wheelock takes off over his farm on Kent Road. He was joined by his daughter Peggy Bropst, grandson Jeremy Mikels and great-grandson Mason Mikels. Greg Livadas of Penfield piloted the balloon.
Photos courtesy of Peggy Bropst – The shadow of the balloon appears in a cornfield.
KENT – He waited a long time to finally go up in the air, and Chet Wheelock says his debut hot-air balloon ride surpassed his expectations.
“It was wonderful,” Wheelock said today after his journey in the sky last night aboard the “Yeowza” balloon piloted by Greg Livadas of Penfield.
Wheelock, an 82-year-old farmer, was given the trip as a Father’s Day present. It had to be postponed until the weather cooperated.
Wheelock flew over the trees with his daughter Peggy Bropst, grandson Jeremy Mikels and great-grandson Mason Mikels.
“You don’t feel any wind up there,” Wheelock said. “You’re traveling with the wind. It’s as still as can be.”
The balloon took off over his farm on Kent Road and passed over cornfields, the Oak Orchard River, Brown’s Berry Patch, and the Harbor Pointe Country Club before settling at the Riverview Camp Site on Park Avenue in Waterport. They were up in the air about an hour.
Afterwards, they celebrated the voyage with cheese, crackers and some champagne.
“It was great, Wheelock said. “I’d love to do it again.”
Photos by Peggy Bropst – The balloon travelled near the Oak Orchard River, where you can see two of the bridges and Brown’s Berry Patch to the left.
Chet Wheelock sits on the packed-up balloon. His grandson Jeremy Mikels is at left.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Chet Wheelock, 82, fulfills a life-long dream with balloon ride
Photos by Tom Rivers – Jeremy Mikels waves to his friends and family as the balloon takes off over his grandfather’s farm on Kent Road.
The balloon heads out over the countryside after a take off from Chet Wheelock’s farm on Kent Road.
The family smiles for a photo before takeoff. The group includes Mason Mikels, 5; his father Jeremy Mikels, Peggy Bropst, and Chet Wheelock, right. Balloon pilot Greg Livadas readies the balloon for take off.
KENT – Chet Wheelock got his wish tonight when he was lifted high over his farm and the rural countryside in a hot air balloon.
Wheelock, 82, was part of a four-generation ride that included his daughter Peggy Bropst of Kendall, grandson Jeremy Mikels of Webster and great-grandson Mason Mikels of Webster.
The balloon ride was intended to be a Father’s Day gift but bad weather grounded that flight. Tonight it was gorgeous with bright sunshine and little wind.
Greg Livadas, pilot of the “Yeowza” balloon, has been flying balloons for 35 years. He said a four-generation flight is highly unusual. But Wheelock is far from the oldest passenger. Livadas said he took up a 98-year-old recently.
Wheelock has watched balloons take off at the Pine Hill Airport in Barre, a balloon festival in Dansville and other spots in the Southern Tier.
“I always wanted to do it,” he said. “It seems like fun.”
Greg Livadas, center, and High Hopes Balloon Co. fill up the balloon with hot air.
The crew and passengers are almost ready to soar.
Mark Driesel, one of Chet Wheelock’s neighbors, records the events for what Driesel said was a historic day for the neighborhood.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse was built in 2010 at Point Breeze next to the Oak Orchard Harbor. It will be included in the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend on Aug. 17-18.
POINT BREEZE – I climbed to top of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse yesterday for the first after the party in honor of Point Breeze winning the “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
The lighthouse was constructed in 2010, following a dedicated fund-raising effort for nearly a decade. It’s not a massive stone lighthouse like the one in Barker, but I think the new wooden lighthouse is a great symbol of hope. The lighthouse project was the second in this generation in Orleans County that rallied community dollars to build something new. It followed the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s campaign for a new education enter.
I think the Extension and Lighthouse projects encouraged Swan Library and Hospice of Orleans County to go public with their new projects – the new library in Albion and the hospice residence, which both opened last year.
Visitors are welcome to climb the stairs to reach the top of the 35-foot structure.
The new lighthouse topped $200,000. That project, and the community support to make it happen, has me optimistic we can rally support for a bronze statue in Albion in honor of the quarrymen who built these canal towns.
The 35-foot lighthouse is a replica to one that toppled in 1916 after a storm. The Oak Orchard Lighthouse has become an iconic symbol for the county and the Point. It is featured on the cover of the county’s new tourism guide.
The site includes a small museum and gift shop. Visitors are welcome to climb the stairs to reach the top of the lighthouse. An LED light is on at night from April 1 to Nov. 1.
Volunteers staff the site on Friday evenings, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The site is available for other events. To schedule a tour or for other information, contact volunteer Larry Albanese at (585) 230-7829.
The lighthouse includes a modern LED light that is lit at night from April 1 to Nov. 1.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard gives Narby’s Superette and Tackle owner Sharon Narburgh a hug today following a ceremony when the Point Breeze community received a trophy and check for $25,000 after winning the “Ultimate Fishing Town” competition.
POINT BREEZE – When Orleans County tourism promoters go to trade shows, trying to hook anglers into coming to the county, Orleans can now boast something few have achieved: The title of “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
Point Breeze won the fourth annual title after nearly two months of voting on-line through the World Fishing Network. Point Breeze topped 700 other fishing communities in the U.S. and Canada for the crown.
Representatives from the WFN are in the county today. They presented a trophy and a $25,000 check to Carlton town officials to promote the fishery.
“This can help us to stand out,” said Sharon Narburgh, owner of Narby’s Superette and Tackle.
A boater travels up the mouth of the Oak Orchard Harbor earlier today.
She has been in business for 48 years at the Point, and traveled to numerous fishing and trade shows. The lake and tributary fishing in Orleans is already popular, and a key economic stimulator for the community, Narburgh said.
But she believes the area and the fishery can be better utilized, to boost the economy for the community.
She is on a committee that will decide how to spend the $25,000 in prize money. The money will be in a Carlton town account and won’t be touched for any other purpose besides the fishery, town officials said. The victory also includes promotional videos and other free publicity about the area from the World Fishing Network.
WFN airs throughout North America. The Ultimate Fishing Town host Mariko Izumi said Point Breeze will be heavily promoted to fishing enthusiasts. She presented the trophy and check to local officials after going a charter boat with Buc-A-Roo Charters this morning. She and a film crew are also visiting Brown’s Berry Patch, The Bridges, the Waterport Dam, the Archer’s Club and Albion’s historic downtown and Courthouse Square.
The World Fishing Network presented a $25,000 grand prize to promote the fishery at Point Breeze. Pictured, from left: Carlton Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery, Narby’s Superette and Tackle owner Sharon Narburgh, and Carlton Town Board member Joyce Harris.
“I am just beaming with pride,” State Sen. George Maziarz said during a celebration at Gene and Joette Haines’ lakeside home next to the lighthouse. “It takes a combined effort. You did a great job, Point Breeze.”
The local victory followed last year’s winning effort by Olcott, giving two southshore Lake Ontario communities the honor. Maziarz believes the two victories will draw more attention to the Lake Ontario fishery.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said the “Ultimate Fishing Town” is good news for the community that has been stung by a struggling economy. Last week Worthington Cylinders said it would close next year in medina, eliminating 174 jobs in Medina. JP Morgan Chase also is closing its Albion mortgage servicing unit, cutting 400 positions in September.
A look at the Oak Orchard Harbor from the top of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.
Hawley presented a citation to Carlton town officials for the win in the fishing contest. County Legislature Chairman David Callard and Legislator Ken Rush also presented a proclamation to Carlton and Point Breeze leaders, praising their “pride, passion and enthusiasm.” Callard said the county will keep working to promote the fishery.
The Point Breeze win was aided by fishing enthusiasts from Olcott. Three of them attended today’s celebration.
Margaret Murray of Olcott said Point Breeze’s win will shine more light on the south shore fishery.
“The neighbors on the southern shore are working together to grow economically as a tourist area,” she said. “We have wonderful fishing opportunities here.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am
POINT BREEZE – The fishing community at Point Breeze spent two months reeling in a prized catch: The title of “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
Today the community will celebrate the award at 11 a.m. by the lighthouse. Representatives from the World Fishing Network will join locals during a presentation at the Point.
The Orleans County fishing community topped 700 others in on-line votes to win the title that comes with $25,000 to spend on promoting the fishery.
Point Breeze is already well known for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and cohoes. A committee will discuss how to spend the prize money, to entice more anglers to fish at the Oak Orchard River, Lake Ontario and other tributaries.
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department
CARLTON – A Carlton man injured in an explosion at his home last month died on Monday, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department reported.
Wesley R. Baes, 75, died at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where he had been hospitalized since the May 17 incident.
Baes was operating an acetylene torch in an attempt to patch a hole in a 200-gallon above ground gasoline tank. The tank had been drained, but there were residual vapors that ignited and caused the explosion at his home, 12905 South Hillcrest Drive.
Baes sustained severe burns and was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by Mercy Flight helicopter.
The original incident was investigated by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and that investigation now shifts to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Linda Redfield, an English as a Second Language teacher, is pictured with a former student Jose Iniguez, who became an American citizen last October.
WATERPORT Thirty years ago Linda Redfield started going to local migrant labor camps, meeting with farmworkers to teach them English. They would sit at picnic tables after the workers often had long days in the field.
Redfield in three decades has developed a family literacy program for the workers, welcoming women and children to the World Life Institute school on Stillwater Road.
Students learn English while using computers, making pottery and learning the guitar. They study citizenship as well. Some of her students have gone on to college.
One former student, Jose Iniguez, became a citizen last October. He is an orchard manager and part-owner of the 500-acre Lamont Fruit Farm. He first started meeting with Redfield in 1995, when he knew very little English.
“She’s very passionate about it,” Iniguez said about Redfield and her role as teacher. “Working with her was an important first step for me. She does a lot for the community that people don’t know about.”
She is well known by members of the New York State Association of Adult Continuing Education Programs, which named her “Teacher of the Year” during a ceremony in Albany last month.
Redfield was nominated for the award by Sue Diemert, the literacy coordinator for the Orleans-Niagara BOCES. She praised Redfield for developing the program that includes families, and teaches many skills.
“She is the glue that makes this all happen,” Diemert said before a graduation program this evening. “She holds it all together.”
Some of the pottery created by ESL students at the World Life Institute in Waterport.
There were 35 students who received certificates for learning English and other skills during the graduation program. They learned the skills after working at local farms and Intergrow’s hydroponic tomato site in Gaines. The workers were from Mexico, Puerto Rico, China, the Ukraine, Indonesia and Brazil.
They meet for class at the WLI site on Stillwater Road or at Hoag Library in Albion.
Redfield pushed for a broadened family literacy program so more women and children could learn with their husbands and fathers. In 2004, she partnered with BOCES and the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council to offer pottery for women. They would learn English while creating art.
“The whole families come and are served,” Redfield said. “It’s wonderful getting to know the people.”
The program is unusual, especially in a farming community, Redfield said.
“The workers are very happy they can get these services in a rural area,” Redfield said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2013 at 12:00 am
POINT BREEZE – The community is welcome to attend an 11 a.m. celebration on June 26 by the lighthouse at Point Breeze.
Representatives from the World Fishing Network will meet with Point Breeze business owners and area elected officials to present the community with the title, “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
Point Breeze won an on-line contest, grabbing more legitimate votes than any other fishing community in the country. Besides bragging rights as the “Ultimate Fishing Town,” Point Breeze will receive a $25,000 award to boost the local fishery.
A committee of five will discuss how to spend that money.
“We’ll take suggestions,” said Sharon Narburgh, the long-time owner of Narby’s Superette and Tackle. “It has to be used in specific ways regarding the fishery.”
Narburgh praised the community for rallying over several weeks to vote for Point Breeze.
“It’s going to make a big difference,” she said about the victory and the prize money. “It will be a start to get people excited about what we have down here.”
Last year, Olcott won the title, giving the south shore of Lake Ontario two “Ultimate Fishing Town” honorees.
Narburgh said the area is well-known for a fishery that boasts brown trout, salmon, steelhead and cohoes. She would like to see the good will and cooperation extend to solving some of the challenges at Point Breeze – keeping the harbor dredged, the bridges all open and the Lake Ontario State Parkway well-maintained.
“There’s a lot of issues that we’re facing,” she said. “Hopefully this will get people excited to work these issues.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2013 at 12:00 am
CARLTON – The town is looking for a new assessor, opting against reappointing Karen Adams to another six-year term in the position.
The Town Board made the decision on Tuesday. The board wants to fill the position by Oct. 1, when Adams will be out of the job. The board decided to make the decision this week to give Adams time to transition to another job and also give the town time to find a replacement, said Gayle Ashbery, the town supervisor.
There has been an uproar among residents in 2010 and 2013, both years when Adams led town-wide reassessments. Residents have filed numerous formal grievances that their assessments were set too high.
The board on April 15, in another packed town meeting, voted to freeze the property assessments at 2012 levels. The board said it would seek outside help to have 2,400 properties appraised.
Carlton is seeking proposals from firms for that task, which could be done in phases, Ashbery said.
Carlton officials will meet with Hamlin town leaders on Wednesday to hear how that municipality worked with an outside appraisal firm to set values for properties in the town.
The fees for data collection and appraising the town properties could top $100,000, said Councilman Jim Shoemaker.
An oversight committee will discuss the appraisal project on Thursday, and may make a recommendation to the full Town Board. Ashbery and Councilman Robin Lake are on that committee. It also includes Dawn Allen, the Orleans County director of Real Property Tax Services, and a representative from the state Office of Real Property Services.
Regarding Adams, Shoemaker noted the controversies in town for the past two reassessments.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Charles Nesmith of Rochester is one of 30 vendors at a flea market in Carton today behind the Rec Hall on Route 98. Nesmith is selling inflatables, poppers and Silly Spray.
CARLTON – There are 30 vendors selling crafts, jewelry, inflatable super heroes and many other items behind the Carlton Rec Hall today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event is a fund-raiser for the Carlton Republican Committee. Sylvia Shoemaker, a member of the committee, is coordinating today’s flea market and crafts show. She also is a vendor.
Sylvia Shoemaker is pictured holding up a horse figurine.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Orleans community declared winner over Cape Hatteras, NC
Photo by Tom Rivers – An angler tries his luck at Point Breeze last month. Point Breeze was declared “Ultimate Fishing Town” by the World Fishing Network today.
POINT BREEZE – It appeared to be a big fish that got away, the title as “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
Point Breeze seemed to be the runner-up to Cape Hatteras, NC. When a three-week on-line voting contest ended May 24, Cape Hatteras led fishing communities with 47,147 votes. Point Breeze was next with 32,053 votes.
But the World Fishing Network declared Point Breeze the winner today, after the WFN reviewed the votes for Cape Hatteras and tried to authenticate them. Apparently those votes didn’t hold up.
Point Breeze can proudly proclaim itself as the overall winner of the contest. The community won an earlier regional competition. That netted the community $3,500 to promote its fishery. The prize money has now swelled to $25,000, plus lots of free publicity.
“That’s $25,000 that can be used for anything fishing related,” said Mike Waterhouse, the county’s sportsfishing promotion coordinator.
He praised Point Breeze fans for voting in the contest. The votes kept coming for Point Breeze even when it appeared Cape Hatteras had an insurmountable lead.
Point Breeze businesses say the competition unified the community to promote a fishery well known for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and cohoes.
The community built a new lighthouse at Point Breeze about three years ago.
“We are a small fishing town elated to win the title of Ultimate Fishing Town,” Point Breeze resident and town nominator Sharon Narburgh told the WFN. “We have a unique small town with many needs for our fishery and are thankful to our residents and anglers for their diligence in voting.”
WFN representatives, including Ultimate Fishing Town host Mariko Izumi, are expected to be in Point Breeze on June 26 to celebrate with the community and produce a video about the great fishing at Point Breeze.
WFN says it is the leading entertainment destination and digital resource for anglers throughout North America. Today it also declared Port Colborne in Ontario as the “Ultimate Fishing Town” in Canada. Last year, Olcott won the U.S. title.
There were 700 towns in the U.S. and Canada that received nominations and were eligible to advance in the contest. Participants were asked to nominate where he or she believes is the best place to fish. Town walls were then populated with videos, photos and written comments to promote the community’s candidacy and reinforce why the town is deserving of Ultimate Fishing Town honors.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Port Colborne and Point Breeze, winners of WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town for 2013, and commend the regional and affiliate winners, too,” said Pam Stinson, senior director of marketing for World Fishing Network. “The accomplishment of being named Ultimate Fishing Town demonstrates pride, passion and enthusiasm from start to finish, and it wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and dedication of all those who participated.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2013 at 12:00 am
‘We all worked together to bring up the awareness of the good fishing down here.’ – Todd Fannin, owner of Lighthouse Restaurant
Photo by Tom Rivers – Point Breeze won the northeast region as the “Ultimate Fishing Town,” and then finished second overall behind Cape Hatteras, NC. This picture from Wednesday shows the Oak Orchard Harbor and the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.
POINT BREEZE – The Point Breeze community nearly pulled it off – the title as the “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
After winning the northeast region in an online voting contest by the World Fishing Network, Point Breeze can in second for the top crown among the top 10 in five regions. (Click here to see the Point Breeze page on the WFN.)
Cape Hatteras in North Carolina received 47,147 votes in a three-week contest that ended yesterday. Point Breeze and the Oak Orchard Harbor were next with 32,053 votes. The World Fishing Network is reviewing the votes and expects to declare Cape Hatteras the winner on June 4. The winner receives $25,000 to promote its fishing industry, as well as free publicity on WFN.
Point Breeze, as a regional winner, is due $3,500 to promote its fishery.
For the past three weeks, and during the regional competition before that, the local community has been voting for Point Breeze, and encouraging their friends to log on and show their support.
“It’s brought the community together for a reason and a purpose,” said Todd Fannin, owner of Lighthouse Restaurant at the Point. “We had a good run.”
He was among the cheerleaders, trying to round up votes for Point Breeze. He said many of his customers followed the daily leaderboard online.
The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association, Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum, Orleans County Tourism, Chamber of Commerce and other local groups all tried to rally votes for Point Breeze.
“We all worked together to bring up the awareness of the good fishing down here,” Fannin said. “It’s been a very good thing for the community.”
He expects local stakeholders will discuss how to spend the $3,500 prize to promote a fishery already well known for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and cohoes.
CARLTON – Lakeside Beach State Park and other state parks have expanded their outdoor smoke-free zones.
Tom Rowland, Lakeside Beach park manager, is gearing up for the Memorial Day holiday with signage for the designated areas.
The policy includes:
Tobacco-free bathhouses, concessions and campground recreation buildings and no smoking within 50 feet of them
Tobacco-free swimming beaches
Tobacco-free enclosed picnic shelters
Open-sided picnic shelters may have smoking prohibited during scheduled events as delegated through the authority of the Regional Director
Tobacco-free playgrounds
“This healthy initiative will help to reduce litter, second-hand smoke and eventually reduce youth smoking rates,” said Kevin Keenan, program director of Smoke Free NOW, a program of the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
The less smoking youths see, the less likely they are to start, Kennan said.
“Many municipalities in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties have adopted similar resolutions and we are hoping the counties will do the same,” he said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the smoking restriction at state parks on May 10.
“Our state parks embody the rich, natural beauty that New York has to offer and our residents should be able to enjoy them free of pollution from second-hand smoke,” the governor said. “This expansion is an important step forward in ensuring New York’s families can enjoy our great outdoors smoke-free, in a healthy environment.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 May 2013 at 12:00 am
POINT BREEZE – I don’t get out on the lake very often, maybe once a year. Today was one of those occasions.
I took a 2.1-mile ride on a barge carrying a truck full of 16,000 lake trout. I wrote about that earlier today. (Click here to see that article.)
I wanted to share a few more pictures from the trip, including a shot of the breakwall at the Oak Orchard Harbor and one of a guy fishing from the east pier. The other picture is a view from the back of the vessel while we head out to the lake.
CARLTON – An Orleans County man is hospitalized following an explosion this morning at his Carlton residence.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. at 12905 South Hillcrest Drive. Wesley R. Baes, 75, was operating an acetylene torch in an attempt to patch a hole in a 200-gallon above ground gasoline tank. The tank had been drained, but there were residual vapors that ignited and caused the explosion.
Baes sustained what were described as severe burns and was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by Mercy Flight helicopter.
The incident was investigated by Deputy J.W. Halstead. Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance personnel and Carlton firefighters also responded to the scene.
