CARLTON – Chyenne Tackley accepts the Chief’s Award from Andrew Niederhofer, fire chief of the Carlton Volunteer Volunteer Company, on Saturday during an annual banquet that also included recognition of the fire company’s 75th anniversary.

Tackley serves as the fire company’s chief mechanic. He fixes many of the fire trucks and keeps other equipment working. He also organizes the equipment and keeps it inspected.

“He is a real asset,” Niederhofer said.

Dwayne Tinkous, left, receives the President’s Award. He is pictured with Andrew Niederhofer, fire chief.

Tinkous was praised for helping the fire company secure about $100,000 in grants for a new hurst tool, and equipment to fight brush fires. He also helped organize the 75th annual banquet on Saturday.

The Carlton Fire Company officially formed on Oct. 21, 1940 in Waterport by founding members George Banker, Norman Barry and Lyman Clark.

“During the fire company’s 75-year career, it has saved countless lives, protected the general welfare of the community, and strengthened the bond between Orleans County residents through numerous fundraisers, local events and charitable endeavors,” according to a proclamation from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

James E. Keller, center, was recognized for 50 years of service to the fire company. He is pictured with his grandson Thomas Niehous, left, and son-in-law Dale Niehous.

Glenn Woolston also was recognized as a 50-year member. He is pictured with his grandson, Ryan Woolston, who is a second lieutenant with the fire company.

Howard Watts, right, from the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company presented a plaque in honor of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company’s 75 years. Kevin Dann, in back, is the Holley fire chief and he also presented a plaque in honor of Carlton’s milestone anniversary.

Jon DeYoung, the Clarendon fire chief, presents a plaque to Niederhofer in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company.

Richard Brackenbury, left, and Ben Diltz, right, were recognized with jackets for responding to the most calls in 2015. They both responded to 151 calls, or 57.9 percent of the 261 total. They are pictured with 1st Assistant Chief Dwayne Tinkous and Fire Chief Andrew Niederhofer.

The fire company also recognized Les Tabor for selling the most chicken barbecue tickets. Tabor sold about 250 tickets. He has led the fire company in chicken barbecue ticket sales for the past 35 years.

Kurt Van Wycke also was recognized for selling the most gun raffle tickets with 109. Dale Niehous was close in second place with 98 tickets sold.

Niederhofer said the gun raffle raises about $11,000 for the fire company, and other fundraisers bring the total to about $20,000. That’s money the fire company doesn’t have to seek in additional property taxes, Niederhofer said.

Niederhofer also recognized four firefighters for 25 years of service, including Gary Van Wycke, left, and David Bertsch. Don Cooper and Greg Juhrs also have 25 years of service.

The banquet included a memorial display of helmets worn by past firefighters.

Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – Firefighters were called to a chimney fire at about 1 p.m. today at 1988 Kent Rd. The home is owned by Mike Dugan.

Firefighters from Carlton and Kendall are on the roof of the house. They unclogged the chimney.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Fred Cardella of Gates wears a Santa hat while teeing off today during a round of golf at the Ricci Meadows Golf Course in Carlton at 1939 Oak Orchard Rd.

Cardella joined three of his friends in golfing on a 60-degree day. He said it was the first time he ever golfed in December.

“It’s so great,” he said about the chance to hit the golf ball on a warm day just before Christmas.

Ken Rhodes of Carlton (pictured at the first hole) is a regular at Ricci Meadows. He invited his friends to come out and golf.

Ricci Meadows will also be open tomorrow when the temperatures are forecast for a high of 63. On Christmas it will be a high of 47 degrees.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a wind advisory for Thursday from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. Winds could gust up to 50 miles per hour.

The golfing friends include from left: Ken Rhodes, Fred Cardella, Kevin Hart and Mark Hull.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Pam Rush is retiring on Dec. 31 after 31 years as Carlton town clerk. There will be a retirement party at the Town Hall on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

CARLTON – When Pam Rush started as Carlton town clerk 31 years ago, there weren’t any computers in the Town Hall. She entered records by hand.

The job was a lot simpler. She collected taxes, and gave dog, hunting and marriage licenses.

The job became more complex, mainly as the state imposed different systems for keeping track of licenses.

The town services would grow, with the town-wide water district increasing from 300 customers three decades ago to 1,500 now. Carlton would add a town park behind the Firemen’s Recreation Hall on Route 98.

The Town Hall was expanded in 1987, and last year it was remodeled.

“It’s not the kind of job where you just walk in off the street,” Rush said. “It’s a million-dollar business we run here.”

Rush will retire Dec. 31. She has agreed to stay on as a part-time deputy clerk to help with the transition to a new clerk. Karen Narburgh is the current deputy and is expected to be appointed as town clerk by the Town Board.

Rush said she will stay on for a few months in a part-time role, especially during the busy tax season, to assist the new town clerk.

That is another example of Rush’s dedication to the town, said Gayle Ashbery, the town supervisor the past 10 years.

“I could not have been town supervisor without her,” Ashbery said about Rush. “Not only has she been a good friend, but she is a rock. First and foremost, she’s always had the taxpayers and the town in her best interest.”

Rush grew up in Batavia and married Brian Rush of Carlton. She was working as a bank teller at the former Albion Federal Savings & Loan when she was encouraged to pursue the job as town clerk.

“I have enjoyed all of it,” Rush said about the position. “I’ve loved dealing with the people.”

She and her husband have three grown children and grandchildren. Mr. Rush retired last year after a career working in the Village of Albion’s water treatment plant. The couple wants more time to travel to see their family.

“Life is too short not to,” she said.

Photos by Tom Rivers – This lakeside cottage owned by Fred Nesbitt at Oak Orchard on the Lake could open in the spring as a bed and breakfast.

CARLTON – Dan Conlon has watched Oak Orchard on the Lake change in the past half century, with the original smaller cottages from about a century ago renovated to become, in many cases, year-round residences.

“This is a beautiful community, but it’s all getting new,” Conlon said about Oak Orchard on the Lake.

Conlon, 58, lives in one of the cottages off Archbald Road. His home happens to be next to one of the biggest of the original cottages at Oak Orchard on the Lake.

Dan Conlon and Fred Nesbitt say the cottage offers striking panoramic views of the lake. They have some renovations to do before the cottage will be opened to the public. They say they will upgrade the site without taking away from its historic charm.

The Hart family of Albion had a big cottage built by the lake in the 1880s. The same family owned a large mansion in Albion, the Hart Hotel in Medina and an island in the Thousand Islands with an 80-room summer “cottage.”

After Hart died in 1892, Hart Island was acquired by George C. Boldt, who dismantled Hart’s cottage and built a mammoth castle, which today attracts thousands of visitors annually.

The cottage at Oak Orchard isn’t a castle, but it is a special spot, perhaps the only one like it on the southshore of Lake Ontario, Conlon said.

Dan Conlon looks out from the top porch at the former Hart cottage that may be called “The Lodge” when it opens as a bed and breakfast.

The Hart cottage has retained many of its original characteristics with hardwood floors and stone fire places. Conlon and the cottage’s owner, Fred Nesbitt, want to make some modifications – upgraded plumbing and electric – so the site could be used as a bed and breakfast. There are six bedrooms in the cottage.

The site has a breath-taking view of Lake Ontario. There once were a row of poplar trees by the shore. Conlon said the trees were used as a marker for boaters to let them know they were near the Oak Orchard Harbor.

While the neighbors have lost their poplar trees, four of them remain on Nesbitt’s property. They offer shade, and provide some protection for the backyard from erosion.

“I get chills down my spine with the sunsets,” Conlon said about the spot. “I think everyone should enjoy this.”

Nesbitt and Conlon are pushing to have the site opened as a B & B in the spring. They want to cater to fishermen, and people visiting families in the area. They also said it would be a nice retreat center for church groups.

They also think the site should be included on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We’re losing so much in Orleans County and this deserves to be recognized,” Conlon said.

Conlon and Nesbitt gave a tour of the property last week to Erin Anheier of Clarendon. She has helped put together the National Register applications for several sites in Holley and Clarendon.

Fred Nesbitt, left, and Dan Conlon give Erin Anheier a tour of the former Hart cottage.

Anheier noted that many cottages and homes were modernized beginning in the 1950s.

Conlon and Nesbitt credited one of the cottage’s recent former owners, Gordie Gardner, for keeping the site’s rustic features while also protecting it from decay.

Nesbitt is a retired fruit farmer in Albion. Conlon was a service manager for a car dealership. Conlon will continue to live next door and he said he will prepare breakfast for the guests.

“We both like old things and we like people,” Nesbitt said.

Conlon is eager to open the cedar-shingled cottage to guests.

“This is the last one of the lakefront like this so let’s show it off,” he said.