Carlton

Fire in hay loft area damages Carlton barn

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2023 at 4:01 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Firefighters battle a fire at a barn in Carlton this afternoon.

Firefighters were dispatched to 1755 Park Ave. just after 2 p.m. for a reported barn fire with vehicle exposure.

The fire appears to have started in the hay loft area of the barn.

Neighbors and firefighters said the owner, Bob Vercruysse, recently put a metal roof on the barn and made other upgrades to the property.

Carlton, Albion, Medina and Ridgeway all responded to the scene. Fire investigators are on the scene to determine the cause.

DEC announces 10 percent increase in salmon stocking for 2023

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dave Agness of Honeoye Falls helps a team of volunteers and the state Department of Environmental Conservation release 10,000 steelhead into pens tin this photo from April 8, 2019. The DEC that day also brought along 90,200 Chinook salmon. Charter boat captains and other volunteers have been raising fish in pens in the Oak Orchard River since 1998. This was the first pen-rearing project on the south shore of the lake. Now there are many.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2023 at 8:28 am

There will be a 10 percent increase in Chinook salmon stocking in lake Ontario this year, the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced along with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The DEC said it will stock 985,180 Chinook salmon this year, up about 90,000 from the 2022 number.

The DEC said is adapts the stocking levels based on alewife biomass and Chinook salmon growth and condition. The alewife biomass increased in 2022 and the weight of age-3 salmon increased to 20.7 pounds in 2022, staying above the lower threshold of 18.4 pounds, the DEC said..

The stocking levels for the Chinook salmon in 2023 include:

Oak Orchard Creek – 126,330
Niagara River – 89,930
Eighteenmile Creek (Olcott) – 126,330
Genesee River – 126,330
Oswego River – 126,330
Salmon River – 300,000
Sackets Harbor (Black River) – 89,930

The DEC said it will continue to adaptively manage the salmon and trout stocking levels to ensure a predator-prey balance in Lake Ontario while continuing “to provide world-class fishing opportunities for years to come.”

Fishing is Orleans County’s top tourism industry with a $28 million annual impact, according to a DEC study and survey from 2017.

Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393. County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571, according to that report.

Lakeshore Road project in Carlton honored by Public Works Association

Provided photo: The Lakeshore Road slope stabilization project fortified about 1,500 feet of the shoreline with rocks after significant erosion from high waters in 2017 and 2019.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2023 at 9:18 am

$2 million effort to stabilize shoreline recognized for environmental project in Small Cities/Rural Communities category

CARLTON – A $2 million project that strengthened 1,500 feet of the shoreline on Lakeshore Road in Carlton has been honored by Genesee Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association.

Lakeshore Road is one of the main routes to Point Breeze and the surrounding shoreline area. It is owned and maintained by Orleans County.

The local chapter of the APWA recognized the work in Carlton as “Project of the Year” in the environmental category for Small Cities/Rural Communities category.

The project was 95 percent funded by the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). The county was responsible for the other 5 percent of the costs.

A project in Yates for upgrading the town park and fortifying the shoreline there also was recognized by the APWA. In addition, Adam Rush, the chief operator of the Village of Albion water plant, will be honored during the Jan. 26 awards banquet at RIT.

With the Lakeshore Road project, Keeler Construction in Barre served as the general contractor. Keeler hauled in big boulders along about 1,500 feet of the shoreline, going east from Route 98 in Point Breeze.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Keeler Construction in Barre is shown in August 2021 trucking in big rocks to Lakeshore Road in Carlton, part of a project to build a strong breakwall and harden the shoreline from erosion and future flooding from Lake Ontario. The shoreline also was regraded with a new vegetative cover to help stave off some erosion and damage from the waves.

The shoreline also was regraded and with a new vegetative cover to help stave off some erosion and damage from the waves.

The improvements re-establish a shoreline that was eroded from the high water levels in 2017 and 2019.

“The shoreline of Lake Ontario along Lakeshore Road in the Town of Carlton suffered significant erosion due to the floods that jeopardized the integrity of our road and the Town’s utility infrastructure,” said Lynne Johnson, Orleans County legislature chairwoman. “This project impacted 15 total properties, in which every owner was appreciative of the county’s efforts, not only to fix the erosion problem but to make it more resilient against future flood events.”

The project was part of the state’s $300 million REDI program to protect infrastructure and other critical sites along the south shore.

John Papponetti, the county’s commissioner of the Department of Public Works, teamed with engineers from Wendel Companies to develop and design a slope stabilization system for Lakeshore Road. The hardened barrier will protect the shoreline from the harsh wave action of the lake, along with a natural barrier of native plantings along the upper portion of the slope to prevent erosion.

Provided photo: The high waters from 2017 and 2019 took out chunks of the shoreline, getting the water close to Lakeshore Road and about 15 homes on that stretch of the road.

Carlton approves contract with Monroe Ambulance at $14,600 for 2023

Photo by Tom Rivers: John Caufield, chief operating officer for Monroe Ambulance, discusses a proposed ambulance services contract with the Carlton Town Board and residents during a meeting this evening at the Carlton Town Hall. The Town Board members include from left: Dana Woolston, Debbie Yockel, Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery, Brian McCue and Josh Narburgh.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2022 at 9:12 am

CARLTON – The Town Board approved a one-year ambulance contract with Monroe Ambulance for $14,800 for 2023.

This makes Carlton part of a six-town block that will pay Monroe $181,200 for 2023. The agreement is with the towns of Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines and Murray.

Monroe agrees to station an ambulance in Albion and also in Holley as part of the deal. Monroe has been providing ambulance services in eastern Orleans at no charge to the towns, but the ambulances came from the Brockport area outside Orleans.

John Caufield, chief operating officer for Monroe Ambulance, went over the contract on Tuesday evening with Carlton officials. Monroe’s contract says it will respond 90 percent of the time within 15 minutes for priority 1 calls, 20 minutes for priority 2, and 25 minutes for priority 3. Priority 1 are the most urgent calls.

Mercy Flight EMS also proposed to serve Carlton at a cost of $17,000 a year with a shared ambulance with Hamlin.

Carlton voted 4-1 in favor of Monroe with yes votes from Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery and board members Dana Woolston, Debbie Yockel and Brian McCue.

Town Councilman Josh Narburgh voted for Mercy Flight. He thinks residents would get better service from Mercy Flight with the shared ambulance with Hamlin.

Monroe is proposing to have two ambulances in the county, and can draw on other ambulances in western Monroe if needed.

David Bertsch of Carlton, a long-time employee of COVA, said the contract results in reduced service for residents in central Orleans than what COVA provided. COVA had three ambulances based in Albion.

“We’re going backwards with this,” he said about the new plan for ambulance services in central Orleans.

COVA ceased operations last month and was taken over by Mercy Flight, which has agreed to keep operating in Orleans until Monroe is ready to start.

John Caufield, chief operating officer for Monroe Ambulance, said it will take Monroe about 90 days to ramp up operations in Orleans County.

He welcomed the former COVA employees to pursue jobs with Monroe to serve Orleans County.

The central and eastern parts of the county have about 3,300 ambulance calls a year with about 250 in Carlton, Caufield said. The time from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. is the busiest for ambulance calls, he said.

Monroe was seeking $200,000 from seven towns, including Kendall. But Kendall didn’t sign a contract, saying the fire districts already had an agreement with Monroe for ambulance coverage at no cost to the town.

“I don’t find it right they get it for free and we all now have to pay,” said James Fisher, a Carlton resident who worked for COVA.

Tom Coyle, owner and president of Monroe Ambulance, said Kendall town officials “misconstrued” the agreement with the fire districts. Kendall isn’t included in the Orleans contract with the six towns, and any calls to Kendall will be served by ambulances coming from Monroe County instead of Orleans. Kendall won’t be getting the same level of service as the six towns in the agreement, Coyle said during the Carlton meeting.

Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak, a former Carlton town councilman, said an EMS task force has been meeting regularly since March. The EMS system has been “in dire straits” with a shortage of volunteers and low reimbursement rates, Fitzak said.

(The Kendall Fire Department is ending its volunteer ambulance by the end of the year. Kendall will still respond to EMS calls but won’t be doing transports.)

The changes in EMS is pushing out nearly all the volunteer-run ambulances, with many municipalities needing to pay to ensure for services.

Fitzak thanked Monroe Ambulance and Mercy Flight for both submitting proposals and wanting to serve central and eastern Orleans.

He worries that the decline in active volunteer firefighters could present a big challenge for the community in the near future.

He encouraged people to consider volunteering with their local fire department.

“If we had people to do this work we wouldn’t be in this situation,” he said.

Gaines, Carlton town supervisors state preference for Monroe Ambulance

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2022 at 9:30 am

Town boards at 2 towns meet next week to vote on ambulance contract

Photos by Tom Rivers: Members of the Carlton and Gaines town boards met briefly on Thursday evening at the Carlton Rec Hall to discuss proposals for ambulance services in the two towns. Pictured from left include Carlton Town Councilman Josh Narburgh, Gaines Town Supervisor Tyler Allport, Carlton Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery, Carlton Town Councilwoman Deborah Yockel, Carlton Town Councilman Dana Woolston, Gaines Town Councilman Jim Kirby and Gaines Town Councilman Ron Mannella.

CARLTON – The town supervisors in Gaines and Carlton both said they favor Monroe Ambulance in a contract for EMS services in the two towns.

However, they said their town boards both meet early next week and those five-member boards could reach a different decision in the contract for ambulance services.

Gaines and Carlton are the last of seven towns in central and eastern Orleans to make a decision on ambulance services for 2023.

“I would like to join with the other towns for the position of bargaining,” Gaines Town Supervisor Tyler Allport said about why he favors Monroe Ambulance.

Carlton Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery agreed, saying the two remaining towns would have more “leverage” in negotiations as part of block with more towns.

Tyler Allport of Gaines and Gayle Ashbery said they prefer joining four other towns in Orleans in a contract with Monroe Ambulance, saying there is “bargaining power” as a block of six towns.

Monroe Ambulance and Mercy Flight EMS are both seeking the contract. The towns of Albion, Barre, Clarendon and Murray have already chosen Monroe, while Kendall has opted against paying either of them because the two fire districts in Kendall already had an arrangement in place. The Kendall Fire District has a contract with Monroe Ambulance while the Hamlin Morton Walker Fire District includes has an agreement with Mercy Flight.

Allport, the Gaines town supervisor, and Ashbery, the Carlton town supervisor, said the community’s needs will be met for ambulance services with the new contract, whether it’s Mercy Flight or Monroe.

COVA in Albion and Hamlin ceased operations last month and Mercy Flight EMS took over for COVA, keeping more than 40 of those employees. Mercy Flight is operating out of COVA’s base in Albion and at Lake Road in Hamlin.

Mercy Flight proposed serving Gaines for $18,000 and Carlton for $17,000 in 2023 and would commit to at least one advanced life support ambulance 24-7. There would also be a basic life support ambulance to be shared with Hamlin 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mercy Flight would initially keep the ambulance at the COVA base in Albion, but would look for a site in Gaines or Carlton, according to a proposal from Scott Wooton, executive vice president and treasurer for Mercy Flight.

Monroe, in its contract proposal, proposes keeping two ambulances in the county, with a unit based in Albion and the Albion Fire Department and in Holley at the Holley Fire Department.

Monroe is seeking $24,600 from Gaines and $14,800 from Carlton. That is part of $181,200 to be shared from the six towns with the amount based on the percentage of calls with the six towns. The other towns will pay: $84,400 in Albion, $8,000 in Barre, $18,800 in Clarendon and $30,600 in Murray. (Kendall was asked to pay $18,000 when it was a seven-town contract.)

The meeting was less than a half hour on Thursday between Gaines and Carlton town boards. That disappointed some in the crowd who wanted to hear more details and also offer their opinions.

David Bertsch of Carlton said Monroe is covering many of its own calls in Monroe.

Jennifer Stilwell, the COVA president, said COVA’s Albion and Hamlin crews provided mutual aid for 162 calls so far in 2022 in eastern Orleans County.

Allport and Ashbery said the meeting Thursday was a workshop and no public comments would be taken. When Bertsch tried to ask a second question, Allport got up and left.

Allport and Ashbery both said the public can ask questions during each town’s respective board meetings. Gaines meets 7 p.m. on Monday at the Gaines Town Hall and Carlton meets 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Carlton Town Hall.

Yacht Club picks slate of officers, including Bob Bialkowski as commodore

Posted 20 October 2022 at 4:41 pm

Provided photo: Commodore Bob Bialkowski, right, and Vice Commodore Erik Roth speak during the Point Breeze Yacht Club’s annual meeting on Oct. 15.

The Point Breeze Yacht Club held its annual members’ meeting and dinner on Oct. 15 in the Clubhouse at Godfrey’s Pond.

The following officers were elected: Commodore Bob Bialkowski, Vice Commodore Bob Turk, Rear Commodore Emrys March, Port Captain William Elliott, Secretary Marietta Schuth and Treasurer Madeline Bialkowski. Vice Commodore Erik Roth was thanked for all his service and dedication to the club.

Members enjoyed a nice fall day at Godfrey’s with a dinner catered by D and R Depot from Le Roy.

The Point Breeze Yacht Club is based at the Orleans County Marine Park, located on the Oak Orchard River at Point Breeze. Interested individuals can check the club website for more information.

Fishermen come from near and far in search of salmon in Orleans County

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2022 at 10:50 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Corey Roger of Cheektowaga stands on the bank of the Oak Orchard River on Friday evening and casts his line, trying to catch a Chinook salmon. Roger already caught a coho.

There were hundreds of people fishing along the Oak on Friday evening, and the parking lot near the Waterport Dam included many out-of-state license plates.

Roger said he has been to the Oak in the fall for eight years. He expected to be down along the river at 4 a.m. today to get a good spot in the river.

He said this is the ideal time to be fishing in the Oak, before the crowds get bigger.

“Right now there are more fish than people,’ he said.

John Buck, 26, holds one of three Chinook salmon he caught on Friday. This one is about 18 pounds. Buck is spending a week fishing in Orleans County. He made a four-hour drive from Seilinsgrove, Pa. He said he will also try Sandy Creek and Johnson Creek. He said he’s been making the trek annually for the past eight years.

A line of anglers try to catch salmon at the Waterport Dam. The person in front is trying to reel in a big salmon.

A fisherman from Brooklyn tries to catch a Chinook salmon in the Oak Orchard River on Friday evening.

Fishing is big business in Orleans County, according to survey by the state Department of Environmental Conservation that put the total economic impact at $27,989,393 in 2017.

Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393, according to the survey that was released in 2020.

County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571.

Oswego which includes the Salmon River is the highest-ranked county with $192.7 million in total economic impact from fishing.

The Brooklyn fisherman said he hadn’t caught a fish yet on Friday but was thankful to be out in the great outdoors with the changing fall colors on the trees.

The Waterport Dam is a popular place in October with anglers trying to catch a big salmon or trout.

This fisherman has a heavy Chinook salmon on the line.

These two fishermen are ready to reel in a big fish at the Oak Orchard.

Canal water will be released through mid-December to boost stream fishing for 3rd year

This map from the State Canal Corp. shows where the state will be using canal water to supplement local tributaries and boost fishing opportunities for the fall salmon runs.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 September 2022 at 4:14 pm

For the third straight fall fishing season, the State Canal Corp. will be releasing water from the Erie Canal into local tributaries through mid-December to boost the fall fishing runs.

The program has been deemed a success, improving the chances for fish to swim upstream. The released canal water provides adequate water flow in streams for salmon, trout and steelhead to swim upstream.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The Oak Orchard River is one of several tributaries that will have its water levels boosted to improve the local fall fishery.

The schedule for releasing water includes:

Increased flows from Sept. 15 through Dec. 15 for Oak Orchard River in Orleans County, Sandy Creek in Orleans and Monroe counties, and Eighteen Mile Creek in Niagara.

The flows will be increased from Oct. 13 through Dec. 15 for Johnson Creek in Orleans and Niagara counties.

“The New York State Canal Corporation releases water from the Erie Canal into Lake Ontario Tributaries in Western New York for an extended period each fall to create a longer season and even better angling conditions,” the Canal Corp. said in announcing the schedule.

Fishing has a $28 million annual impact in Orleans County. The local officials say the extended season will be a boost for local restaurants, lodging establishments and other businesses.

The project is part of the “Reimagine the Canals” initiative to better utilize the canal and support many recreational opportunities along the canal system.

Church in Waterport gets fresh paint with help from other congregations

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 September 2022 at 4:41 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

WATERPORT – The Lord’s House at 2038 Eagle Harbor Rd. is getting a fresh coat of paint and new look with members of the church, and help from other congregations. They have been busy today with paint brushes and sprayers, changing the main color from white to gray.

This photo shows Jonathan Allis on the scaffolding and Leon Johnson on the grounds, both using sprayers with gray paint.

Johnson is a member of The Lord’s House and Allis attends the Agape United Methodist Church in West Seneca, where his wife Rebecca Allis is the pastor.

Raymond Pendergrass of the Shiloh Church is Albion joined the effort today to help paint the church. Pendergrass used to attend the church in Waterport. He volunteered today, wanting to “send blesses” to The Lord’s House.

Chuck Weed of the Agape UM Church traveled to Waterport today from Buffalo to help paint the windows.

The church’s pastor, Rebecca Allis, is from Medina and is friends with Eddie English, pastor of The Lord’s House.

They met through Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation or PACT, a group of pastors mostly in Orleans County.

English has preached at her church and she has been at the pulpit at The Lord’s House.

English said the church wanted to improve the outside of the building, and he is grateful for the help. Oak Orchard Assembly of God also is helping with the project, paying for scaffolding and some paint. The Lord’s House also had a chicken barbecue recently with the proceeds going to the painting project.

“The inside looks good but we know people judge the outside,” English said. “We want people who go by to say, ‘What an improvement.’”

English is hopeful the building’s new look will be done before the cold weather comes.

“We want to be one of the lights to help brighten up the neighborhood,” he said.

Anyone interested in helping to paint or in donating to the effort can contact Rose English at 585-331-7963.

Eddie and Rose English are pictured outside the church this afternoon. They have led The Lord’s House for 16 years.

The church moved from downtown Albion to the former United Methodist Church in Waterport after acquiring the building at the county tax auction in 2011. The building had been vacant for about 20 years.

The building was in disrepair, in need of major repairs. English was called a fool by some in the community. Some church members also were skeptical about moving to a building out on the country that needed so much work.

English, with help from church members and some local residents, worked diligently to make the building ready for worship services. They painted, upgraded electric and plumbing, and put in a new bathroom, an outside ramp, a new pulpit and other improvements.

English said he is focused on given the outside an improved look. He said he is thankful for the help from people at his church and others from other congregations.

“God has put the right people with the right hearts in our path,” he said.

Point Breeze restaurant opens with comfort food served 7 days a week

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 September 2022 at 9:16 am

Photos by Ginny Kropf: This little restaurant at the end of Route 98 in Point Breeze is seeing new life under the ownership of Gatlen and Danielle Ernst, who opened it as Gilligan’s Galley on Thursday.

Danielle and Gatlen Ernst of Albion stand behind the counter of Gilligan’s Galley, the new restaurant they opened Thursday in Point Breeze. Gilligan’s will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

POINT BREEZE – After several successful years of owning two marinas and a restaurant in Point Breeze, Gatlen and Danielle Ernst have gone out on a limb to open another restaurant.

Located at the end of Route 98 in Point Breeze, Gilligan’s Galley opened its doors Thursday.

Several restaurants were in business there in recent years, but since the pandemic it has remained closed. John Brown and Dave Tuft of Batavia were previous owners. A year ago Brown approached Gatlen and asked if he would be interested in buying the place.

“I thought, ‘Am I nuts,’” Gatlen said.

He and Danielle are the owners of Lake Breeze Marina, which they purchased in 2014, and the former Four C’s Marina, which they purchased later that same year.

Gatlen had worked at Lake Breeze for 10 years and Danielle was a stay-at-home mom when they became owners of the marinas. They immediately started making improvements, redoing the docks, updating the cottages and adding two more cottages. Four C’s had a small restaurant with outdoor seating overlooking the docks, which has been very popular during the summer.

They finalized the purchase of the new restaurant last October, but didn’t start renovations until March. They replaced table tops and the counter top, added beams made from trees in their yard, and created a tiki theme with thatching and bamboo in the ceiling.

The name for the new restaurant, Gilligan’s Galley, comes from Gatlen’s childhood, when his friends called him “Gilligan.” Galley, of course, is the nautical name for a kitchen on a boat, and what could be more appropriate for a restaurant within a few steps of Lake Ontario and the Oak Orchard River.

Gatlen Ernst shows off the new décor in Gilligan’s Galley, the new restaurant he and his wife Danielle opened Thursday at Point Breeze. The remodeled décor features a tiki-theme thatched ceiling, wood beams cut from trees in their yard and new natural wood counter top.

The Ernsts plan to be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. They may add breakfast later on. They will serve nightly specials, featuring home cooked comfort food. They hope Friday night fish fries will be a big hit, being offered Buffalo style, potato chip crusted, blackened grilled or plain.

Gatlen said they have applied for a liquor license and would like to have Bills parties, seeing they have several televisions in the restaurant.

Among the customers on opening day were Teresa Poler and her neighbor Paul Kenyon of Lyndonville.

“It’s lovely to have something like this close by,” Poler said. “Everything was very good.”

Gatlen said the area is getting a boost from increased traffic from Canada. That was curtailed during the Covid pandemic.

There are also picnic tables for outdoor dining, and Danielle said next year she would like to do something interesting with the back yard.

Garbage pickup delayed on fire lanes in Carlton, Yates

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 August 2022 at 10:51 am

ALBION – Today’s recycling collection will be delayed for the fire lanes in Carlton and Yates due to the Modern Disposal Services truck being down for repairs.

Full completion of recycling for these fire lanes will take place on Tuesday, sad Jack Welch, the Orleans County chief administrative officer.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this creates for our residents along the fire lanes,” Welch said. “If these residents leave out their uncollected recycling, Modern Disposal will have your recycling collected tomorrow.”

Oak Orchard Country Club hosted big golf tournament in 1965

Posted 8 August 2022 at 10:12 am

Golf course in Carlton has since closed and is now used for farming

The program, at right, advertised a gala event which took place 57 years ago. Both the venue and the sponsoring company have since closed.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 28

The program from 1965 includes photos, diagrams and information about each of the 18 holes as well as brief entries about several of the competitors.

CARLTON – The Oak Orchard Country Club was located on Route 98 north in the Town of Carlton. Charles Skutt was President of the Club. Dorothy Ross was President of the Club’s Ladies Association. The 136-acre facility which opened in 1963, was owned by Harold and Merle Myers. It offered an 18-hole par 70 golf course and a clubhouse restaurant.

The Landauers 100th anniversary $5,000 Open was sponsored by Skip and Don Landauer, fourth generation descendants of Simon Landauer who established the popular dry goods store in Albion in 1865. The event was organized to celebrate Landauer’s 100th year of one-family ownership and management.

Simon Landauer was born in Bavaria (now Germany) in 1833. He and his brother immigrated in 1852 and settled in Macon, Ga. where they opened a dry goods store under the name M. Landauer & Brother.

However, the business failed during the Civil War. Simon moved to Albion as several of his relatives and friends had settled there. He opened a dry goods store on the east side of Main Street. Seventeen years later (1882), the store was moved to larger quarters on the west side of Main Street, where it flourished.

Over one hundred IGA pros entered to compete for the generous prizes offered: $1,000 ($9,000 approx. in 2022) for first prize and twenty-seven cash prizes, plus $350 in merchandize prizes. Competitors hailed from Olean, Rochester, Leroy, Florida, and Concord, Canada. It was the largest tournament of its kind held at that time.

It was also billed as an “electronic tournament.” The Tri-County Radio Club set up a two-way radio contact between each of the eighteen holes and the master scoreboard.

Steve J. Piech, Shelridge Country Club, Medina and William “Jug” Meredith, Albion.

As it transpired, the weather disrupted the carefully planned event. Saturday, Aug. 7, 1965, was scorching hot and humid. Nevertheless, about 700 spectators attended. Sam Urzetta of the Rochester Country Club and Frank Boynton led the first round with 66’s.

Heavy rain on Sunday, August 8, rendered the course unplayable. The event resumed on Monday, August 9 and ended with a duel between Boynton and Urzetta. Boynton won on a sudden death playoff.

The Oak Orchard Country Club filed for bankruptcy in 1980. It rallied briefly and was renamed Harbour Pointe Country Club. Golfing events were held there through the early 2000’s. The most recent sale transaction was in 2014, the site of the former golf course has since reverted to farmland.

Citing the area’s “depressed economic situation” and the closing of the Thomas J. Lipton plant with the loss of 500 jobs, Landauer’s Department Store announced its decision to close in July 1981.

Some 57 years later, this 25-cent program, randomly saved, is now a unique local history record.

Rush’s adds food truck to farm market in Waterport

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 July 2022 at 2:06 pm

Photo by Ginny Kropf: The Ryan children enjoy ice cream treats at the new food truck Rush’s recently put at their farm market on Eagle Harbor Road, Waterport. From left are Demetrius, 11; Piper, 5; Devin, 8; and in back, Mary Jane, 12.

WATERPORT – There’s something new in the neighborhood and it’s drawing a lot of attention at Rush’s Farm Market on Eagle Harbor Road.

During the past few weeks, Kenneth Rush decided to do something he has thought about for a couple of years – get a food truck.

“I thought this would be a positive thing to do,” said Rush, who is the fifth generation on the Rush farm. “There’s nothing like it in the neighborhood.”

Nicci Nicholson works in the truck with Ken.

In addition to soft ice cream cones, floats and Sundaes, they sell burgers, hotdogs, French fries, blooming onions and friend pickles.

The Ryan children who live nearby, love to walk to the market for ice cream on a hot day. Mary Jane Ryan, 12, likes the floats, but she is going to try a fried pickle one of these days, she said.

Demetrius, 11, said they sometimes come several days in a row, and hopes there will be more ice cream flavors added.

Rush’s Farm Market is owned by Gregg and Elizabeth Rush. In addition to selling homegrown produce, Elizabeth runs a flower shop on the site.

“The food truck has brought people out of their houses after Covid to share an ice cream cone together,” Elizabeth said. “Grandpa Ken likes to come up and enjoy a hotdog. The truck is a complement to my flower shack.”

The food truck is open from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and noon to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Elizabeth said the market expected to have homegrown corn this week.

Brick Band had concert-goers dancing and smiling at Point Breeze

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 July 2022 at 9:10 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – The Brick Band performed on Tuesday at Oak Orchard Marine Park on Route 98 and some of the crowd left their lawn chairs and danced to some of the band’s well-known country songs.

There was a threat of rain earlier in the afternoon but the concert went on without a drop of rain.

Ryan Klatt is lead singer and guitarist for the band, which has been performing for years in the concerts organized by the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association.

The concert series started last Tuesday and continues weekly through Aug. 2. The concerts start at 6 p.m. and go until about 8:30.

The lineup for the rest of the summer includes:

July 12 – Old Hippies playing nostalgic rock and folk
July 19 – The Who Dats performing dance rock
July 26 – Feedback playing pop, motown and R & B
Aug. 2 – Mr. Mustard performing The Beatles, period

Farmworkers praised for ‘outstanding achievement in English’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 June 2022 at 9:13 am

6 celebrated for earning American citizenship in program through BOCES, World Life Institute

Photos by Tom Rivers

WATERPORT – Natalia Torres, right, is congratulated for earning her American citizenship. She was part of a recognition ceremony on Tuesday evening at the World Life Institute on Stillwater Road.

Torres is congratulated by WLI director Dr. Linda Redfield Shakoor, and ESL teachers Monica Beck, back left, and Malvy Rivera.

Six WLI students in the past year earned their American citizenship including Torres, Carina Diaz, Paula Hernandez, Damaris Olivaras, Silvia Rosario and Alejandro Marmelojo.

Carina Diaz walks up to be recognized as a new American citizen. WLI has now had 40 students earn their citizenship in the past two decades in a preparation program run through the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

The citizenship ceremonies used to be held in the federal courthouse in Buffalo but they have been cancelled at that location since Covid-19. WLI leaders wanted to recognize the new citizens during the recognition program on Tuesday.

All of WLI students who have taken the citizenship test have passed. No one has ever failed from the program, Redfield said.

“It’s your hard work,” she told the students. “We’re just guiding you.”

The new citizens – Carina Diaz and Natalia Torres – are recognized while Martin Rosario, an American citizen, serves as the flag bearer and holds the American flag.

The group recited the pledge of allegiance and sang, “America the Beautiful.”

World Life Institute and O/N BOCES also presented certificates for “outstanding achievement in English” to students. Most of the students work at local farms and other agricultural businesses. The students recognized on Tuesday are from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Italy and Mexico.

The students were praised for spending about 15 to 20 hours a week learning English while juggling full-time jobs and often young families.

“How they fit it all in is beyond me,” said Deborah Wilson, one of the teachers in the program. “The students are so awesome to keep progressing every year.”

Many of the students have been in the program for several years. Wilson said many couldn’t read or write in English and have advanced to a high school level after a few years.

This trio – Juan Gomez-Ojeda, Jorge Jimenez and Humberto Velasco – was recognized for their achievement in English. The WLI runs several classes at the school. The program draws students from Waterport, Albion, Barker, Oakfield, Batavia and Elba.

Dr. Clark Godshall, BOCES superintendent, commended the group for their commitment to learning. He said “it’s a continuing journey” to keep gaining skills.

“I am most proud of you,” he told the students.

Susan Diemert, a BOCES literacy specialist, has been with the program for more than 20 years. She praised Redfield and the WLI staff for their dedication to the students. Diemert encouraged the group to consider other programs at BOCES, including nursing and any of the building trades.

“It could help you move along in a different direction in life if you so choose,” she said.

The students and new citizens were recognized in an outdoor ceremony next to the school on Stillwater Road. The WLI built the school in 1997. Besides ESL classes, the school hosts art and pottery programs for its students.

Jose Iniguez addresses the students and new citizens. He started as an apple picker at age 15. He remembers back in 1994 when Redfield would come to a labor camp on Densmore Road in Albion, teaching English. Iniguez took her classes, and eventually became an American citizen. He now is co-owner of a large apple farm based on Stillwater Road.

Iniguez, 47, urged the students to keep pushing themselves in advancing their English skills. He encouraged them to follow their dream. For him, the dream has been to be a farmer growing apples.

“Please keep doing this,” he said about taking the English classes. “Don’t stop.”