Photo by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – About 140 baskets are ready in the Cartlon Rec Hall for a benefit today for BJ Aina and his family. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the raffle ends at 6 p.m.

Provided photo: BJ Aina and his wife Amy are shown with their sons, Hank and Hoyt.

The 500 tickets for a pulled pork dinner have already sold out but people are still welcome to try to win a basket or stay for the four bands that will be performing from 6 to 11 p.m. No one under 21 will be allowed inside after 6 p.m.

Aina, 42, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on Feb. 9 from a medical condition called AVM (arteriovenous malformation). Aina was unaware he had the condition.

He is currently in a rehab facility run by Strong Memorial Hospital that gives speech, occupational and physical therapy.

He and his wife Amy have two sons, Hank and Hoyt. Mrs. Aina showed her husband a video of all the baskets in the raffle, and other items and food. He was stunned.

“All of this for me?” he told her.

Aina is part of a big family and he well connected locally as an enthusiastic hunter and outdoorsman. He works at Flower City Glass.

“He knows so many people,” said his brother, Tyler. “It’s amazing to see how everyone came together.”

BJ looks forward to coming home. He has been hospitalized or in the rehab unit for care for nearly 60 days.

“He is doing a lot better,” his brother said.

BJ’s wife said he is making progress. She said she appreciates the response from the community.

84-year-old firefighter again leads Carlton in responding to most calls

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Richard Brakenbury, left, is congratulated by past Carlton Fire Chief Andrew Niederhofer after Brakenbury won the Chief’s Award for 2021.

Brakenbury, 84, is one of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company’s primary drivers. He has led the fire company for responding to the most calls for at least the past two years, and has been among the most active firefighters for decades.

He responded to 168 calls in 2020 and more than 50 percent of the department’s 300-plus calls in 2021. He lives next door to Station 1 in Waterport on Waterport-Carlton Road and is often the first at the fire hall for a call.

“I just like doing it,” Brakenbury said. “It gives me something to do.”

He still gets up in the middle of the night for some of the calls. He drives the fire company’s pickup truck for emergency and fire calls.

Brakenbury is a Kodak retiree and a Carlton firefighter for 65 years. He takes annual driver training.

He said Carlton has many long-time dedicated firefighters. He also is encouraged by a new group of younger members.

Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak, left, presents a commendation to Martin VanWyke in honor of his 60 years as a member of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company. VanWyke remains an active member as one of the primary drivers.

His sons are also long-time members with Kurt at 35 years and Gary at 30 years. VanWyke also received certificates from the offices of State Sen. Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and the Firefighters Association of New York State.

David Starkweather, right, receives the President’s Award from Ed Cooper, the fire company president. Starkweather was praised for his efforts leading recent renovations to the Carlton Rec Hall. He manages the kitchen and bar for the site that hosts about a dozen events a year.

Starkweather said new windows will be going on the west side of the building as part of an exterior remodel.

He volunteers about 40 hours a week at the rec hall. He is recently retired as a tugboat captain for the Canal Corp.

“He always has great enthusiasm,” Cooper said about Starkweather. “He is willing to tackle any job.”

Carlton line officers and other officials are sworn in for 2022.

Fire Company Officers for 2022: Ed Cooper, president; Richard Brakenbury, vice president; Valerie Niederhofer, secretary; Tom Yockel, treasurer; and the following as directors – Martin VanWycke III, Jocelyn Yockel, David Starkweather, Jacob Marks, Robin Hughson and Robert Brown III.

Line Officers for 2022: Dale Niehaus, chief; Andrew Niederhofer, first assistant chief; Seth Dumrese, second assistant chief; James Fisher, captain; Matt Hughson, first lieutenant; Noah O’Kussick, second lieutenant; George Snell, Jr., chief mechanic; Ed Cooper, chaplain; David Bertsch, EMS coordinator; Robin Hughson, EMS captain and Terry Williams, Fire Police captain.

Ladies Auxiliary: Debbie Yockel, president; Liz Janus, vice president; Cindy Micalizio, secretary; Gayle Ashbery, treasurer; and trustees – Pam Boyer, Cheryl Denson and Jenna VanWyke.

This was the first Carlton Volunteer Fire Company banquet since 2019 after the events were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions and concerns.

Debbie Yockel, president of the Ladies Auxiliary, presents a check for $1,000 to Fire Chief Dale Niehaus to be used for the fire company.

Matt Hughson receives a gas card in appreciation for responding to calls in 2021. Andrew Niederhofer presents the card. Other firefighters also received gas cards for their service.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday accepted a $1,397,885 bid submitted by Union Concrete and Construction Corp. of West Seneca for a new bridge on Yates-Carlton Townline Road over Johnson Creek, just south of Route 18.

This is the low bid on a project that will be 80 percent funded by the federal government. The county cost will be $279,577.

Union Concrete and Construction did the work last year on the new bridge on Route 104 in Ridgeway, a project which just won an award as “project of the year” from Genesee chapter of the American Public Works Association. That honor is for “Structures less than $5 million.”

Photos by Tom Rivers: Pastor Eddie English of the Lord’s House hands a present to a member of the congregation during a celebration on Saturday evening.

WATERPORT – The Lord’s House held a celebration on Saturday evening after a busy day of distributing toys to more than 100 children.

The Lord’s House since 2008 has partnered with Toys for Tots to have gifts for local children.

The church also shared 41 boxes of food this Christmas season with local families.

The church on Saturday had dinner with about 50 people to thank them for supporting the ministry the past year.

Some of the presents are under the Christmas tree inside the church.

The celebration included music and a dance from youth in the church.

Eveyln Brady, right, and her granddaughter Jayla Brady present gifts to people who attended the celebration service on Saturday. Pastor Eddie English and his wife Rose, the church’s first lady, are at left.

A member of the youth group presents a card to Rose English.

Photo courtesy of Bill Vosteen

CARLTON – The mouth of Johnson Creek in Carlton is getting dredged and the work is nearly done at the site near Lakeside Beach State Park.

It is part of a $15 million regional dredging project at eight counties through the state’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

In Orleans County, the Oak Orchard Harbor was dredged in August for the first time since 2014.

The dredging projects remove built-up sediment from the bottom of the waterways to allow for continued safe passage of watercrafts to support the tourism economy and preserve wildlife in the region.

Provided photos

CARLTON – Multiple fire departments responded to a house fire late last night at 1375 Waterport Rd. in Carlton.

The Carlton Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to the scene at 11:52 p.m. with other nearby departments soon called for mutual aid.

No one was injured from the fire but the house is a total loss. The Orleans County Department of Public Works is assisting with heavy machinery to safely take down the structure.

UPDATE at 10:28 a.m.: The home was owned by Scott Foley. Brad Chasey and Hailey Falls were living in the house but were not home at the time the fire started. They are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Carlton, Lyndonville, Medina Albion, COVA, Ridgeway Shelby, Kendall, Orleans County Emergency Management, Orleans County DPW, the Orleans County Fire Investigation Unit, and Orleans County Sherriff’s Office all responded to the scene. East Shelby, Murray and Barre were all placed on standby to cover calls across the county.

The fire is still under investigation by the OC Fire Investigation Unit.

Photos by Bob Murphy

KENT –  Bob Murphy was visiting family in Kent over the weekend and took these photos in Kent at Peter Smith Road. He sent the photos to his sister-in-law, Peggy Bropst.

The owl was hanging out in her front yard but seems to most enjoy sitting on a F12 tractor. The owl was seen there on Saturday and then for about six hours on Monday.

The owls typically nest in the Arctic tundra and winter in Canada. But in recent winters they have migrated into the U.S. in search of food.

Lakeshore Road and Lakeside Park Road fortified for future high water from Lake Ontario

Provided photos: Pictured above, erosion of original Lakeside Park Road West access road, in the town of Carlton. The road was degraded due to repeated flooding events.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

CARLTON – Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a $1.7 million resiliency project on Lakeshore Road in the Town of Carlton, Orleans County, as part of the State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

Past ice pressure and severe storm damage has eroded the bluff adjacent to Lakeshore Road, which not only created hazardous situations on the road, but also posed risks to public utilities and nearby private property. To remedy this, the project addressed erosion issue and strengthened shoreline protection, through the installation of an onshore riprap revetment system with regraded slope.

In addition, the area between the revetment and the slope was vegetated to minimize potential erosion loss and protect the toe of the bluff. Improved stormwater collection and landscaping along the roadway will also help to reduce flooding during extreme precipitation events.

Pictured above, the completed Lakeside Road West flood resiliency project, which included the construction of a new access road and the installation of rip rap stone to stabilize the shoreline and protect the public water line, is seen.

“Many shoreline communities along Lake Ontario bore the brunt of climate change’s effects through more severe storms and historic flooding events, and through New York’s REDI program, we are making strategic investments in these communities to make the region safer for its residents and visitors,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “As we look to the future, protecting the people who live in these communities is my top priority, and shoreline resiliency projects like this one will help mitigate flooding, enhance safety, and create sustainable infrastructure.”

Additionally, Governor Hochul announced the completion of a $261,000 resiliency project awarded to the town of Carlton, also through the REDI program. Flood resiliency measures undertaken in this project include the construction of a new access road and installation of riprap stone along the shoreline to protect the public water line during future high-water events.

Pictured above, the bluff along Lakeshore Road, in the town of Carlton, eroded due to wave, ice, and severe storm events.

The shoreline along Lakeside Park Road, which runs along a peninsula between Lake Ontario and Johnson Creek, has experienced degradation due to repeated flooding events. The shoreline erosion caused the access road to become unusable, resulting in the loss of land protecting homes, and approximately 300 linear feet of public water line at risk of being exposed and compromised.

The completed project mitigates future flooding risk and reduces the erosion of the Lakeside Park Road, while ensuring safe access for residents and emergency responders, and protecting critical infrastructure.

Pictured above, the completed Lakeshore Road flood resiliency project, which included the installation of an onshore riprap revetment system with regraded slope. In addition, the area between the revetment and the slope was vegetated to minimize potential erosion loss and protect the toe of the bluff.

Orleans County Legislative Chair Lynne Johnson said, “As we get set to bring the Lakeshore Road REDI project to substantial completion, we send our thanks to the Governor and the REDI Commission for making this project a reality. With their assistance, Orleans County was able to transform a critical piece of our infrastructure into a more resilient asset. We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this process. The entire team did an amazing job. We would also like to thank the residents along Lakeshore Road for their patience, as we disrupted their normal routines. This project would not have been feasible without their cooperation.”

Town of Carlton Supervisor Gayle Ashbery said, “The town of Carlton is pleased that through our partnership with New York State and with Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to the shoreline communities, the Lakeshore Park Road flood resiliency project has completed. When the Lake Ontario waters rise, and we are faced with flooding in the future, we can be confident that our shoreline is secure, and critical waterline infrastructure is safe.”

Senator Robert Ortt said, “Rapidly eroding shoreline and threats to critical infrastructure along Lakeshore Road has required quick and decisive action by New York State and the REDI Commission to protect public safety. By intervening in this situation, addressing the ongoing erosion, and making the proper corrective improvements to existing shoreline protection, our state will be resolving both current safety concerns and protecting against issues that may have arisen in the future.”

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said, “The preservation of our shoreline and protection of our roads is always of the utmost importance, so seeing this project approach its conclusion is very welcome news for all who travel through the area. As I saw firsthand when on a tour with the Army Corps of Engineers in July, the erosion taking place along the road would have become a real threat to the safety of travelers if left unaddressed. Additionally, the loss of the road would increase commute times for workers and travel time for emergency vehicles and could have cost our region thousands of dollars in lost economic activity.”

In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, New York State established REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million, to benefit communities and improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Since the creation of the State’s REDI program in the Spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway, including 82 projects in the design phase, 19 projects in the construction phase, and 33 projects completed.

George Lacey planning several upgrades at site along Oak Orchard River

File photo by Tom Rivers: George Lacey is shown in May 2017 in the former store at Captain’s Cove. The building was emptied and torn down after being flooded from the high waters.

CARLTON – The owner of Captain’s Cove wants to demolish a building that is currently used for a store and replace it with a 60-by-40-foot pole barn that would be set farther away from Route 18.

George Lacey, owner of Captain’s Cove since 2015, said the project would make it safer for customers who wouldn’t be so close to the road and would also provide more parking.

Captain’s Cove used to have the store down by the Oak Orchard River but that building was flooded and badly damaged in 2017 when the water levels were at all-time highs. Lacey took down that building and raised the parking area by the river. He relocated the store to a house that is more than a century old on the upper bank.

The former house isn’t well suited to be the store, Lacey told the Orleans County Planning Board last week.

“It makes no sense to put more money into it,” he said.

Lacey has applied for funding through the Lake Ontario Business Resiliency Program. In addition to the new pole barn for the store, Lacey wants to replace fixed docks with floating docks, elevate the utilities by relocating, and fix destroyed blacktop and ramp and add a fuel station in the parking lot for boats.

He has applied to the Town of Carlton for a use variance, site plan review and special use permit for the pole barn and to relocate the store to that new structure.

Planning Board members said Lacey needed more details in his application to show the project meets the threshold for getting a variance, that the hardship wasn’t self created and the project would be an improvement to the neighborhood. Lacey needs to show an “unnecessary hardship exists” to warrant the variance.

County Legislator Ken DeRoller said the need for a variance is clear. Lacey’s property was inundated from the high waters in 2017, through no fault of the business owner.

That flooding forced him to tear down the original store and relocate it on the upper bank, in a building not intended to be used as a store.

“There have been unusual conditions with the high water and an old building,” DeRoller said. “It would be a hardship to renovate it and bring up to specs.”

Lacey said he would update the application to state the impact from the high waters in 2017 and 2019, and would explain the benefits of the project for the community.

The Planning Board said it expects it will give its support to the project during next month’s meeting when Lacey submits an application with more information.

Lacey said he is very optimistic about the Point Breeze area. He said his lodging at his motel has seen increased demand the past two years.

His planned upgrades at Captain’s Cove would bring more people to the community, he said.

“It would improve the area,” he said. “It will improve the county and the town.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – Workers from CP Ward in Scottsville are building a new boat launch at Point Breeze, a project that is 95 percent funded by the state through the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

The new launch will be raised about 2 ½ feet and will be more resilient in case of flooding and higher lake levels, said John Papponetti, the county’s DPW commissioner.

CP has put a new foundation in for the boat launch. On Wednesday, the company used a crane to set metal frames in the water to form a perimeter around the boat launch. Tarps will be added to keep out water, which will be pumped out in a cofferdam. That will allow CP Ward to build the new boat launch. The launch will be regraded and concrete poured for the new ramps and docks.

The ramps will be reconfigured and extended by 20 feet to 104 feet. The longer ramps will allow the launch to be used during times of lower water levels because the ramp will extend out to deeper water.

A crane is used to lower metal frames into the Oak Orchard River.

The project includes floatable walkways which will tie into a concrete ramp. The project also includes milling and paving the driveway and parking lot. CP submitted the low construction bid of $439,850.

The boat launch was closed after Labor Day to lessen the impact on boaters during the busier summer season. Construction is expected to continue through November to possibly early December.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – A Columbus Day holiday with temperatures in the mid-70s had lots of people outside today in Orleans County. The top photo shows Michael Alexander, 12, of Carlton hunting for pumpkins in the pumpkin patch at Rush’s Farm Market on Eagle Harbor-Waterport Road.

Some fly fishermen also tried to catch salmon in the Oak Orchard River near the Archer’s Club.

The temperatures will stay unseasonably warm in Orleans County the rest of the week with highs reaching 80 on Tuesday, 72 on Wednesday, 73 on Thursday, 72 on Friday and 67 on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

These sisters, Rylee (left) and Lillianna Corke of Albion, pose through the pumpkin cutouts at Rush’s.

Abby Alexander, 10, (left) and her sister Maxine, 8, of Carlton work together to pick a pumpkin at Rush’s.

This person tries his luck fishing underneath the Route 279 bridge in Waterport.

The St. Mary’s Archer’s Club at the Oak Orchard River has this sign next to the river. The club started about 75 years ago and offers hospitality to many local and visiting fishermen.

The anglers were out today in brilliant sunlight.

Corey Black is up in a lift painting a building he owns at the corner of Main and East Bank streets in Albion. This building includes HeBrews 5:9 and Hair Fantasy.

This is looking up at Black while he gives the windows a fresh coat of white paint.

$627,000 project includes new boat ramp and abutment, sloping of roadway to the new boat ramp, and regrading remaining portion of roadway

Rendering courtesy of Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative: The rebuilt boat launch will have floating walkways that tie into the concrete ramp.

Press Release, New York Department of State

CARLTON – The New York Department of State announced the start of construction of a $627,000 resiliency project awarded to Orleans County, through the State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

The Point Breeze Boat Launch is located near the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, within Oak Orchard Harbor, in the Town of Carlton. During the historic flooding of 2019, the boat ramp became submerged, preventing access to the floating docks, and forcing the boat launch to be closed.

This project seeks to mitigate future flooding of the Point Breeze Boat Launch, ensuring recreational boaters have continued access to the dock system, the boat launch ramps, and to local businesses and popular tourist attractions. The boat launch, which was open to the public this season, is now closed in preparation for construction and will reopen in the Spring of 2022.

New York State Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, “Through the REDI initiative, we are helping Lake Ontario communities revitalize their waterfronts and strengthen resiliency against future flooding and low water events as well as climate change. The improvements underway at Carlton’s Point Breeze Boat Launch will help enhance accessibility to the docks and create safer and more flood resilient conditions for residents and visitors.  The Department of State is proud to work with Orleans County and its elected officials to help protect this important recreational asset and bolster the local economy.”

Resiliency measures to be implemented in this project include:

• Installation of new boat ramp and abutment above high water level;
• Sloping of roadway to the new boat ramp; and
• Regrading remaining portion of roadway.

State Senator Robert Ortt said, “I thank New York State and the Lake Ontario REDI Commission for addressing the need for this new boat launch at Breeze Point. By installing this improved launch, we are resolving a water access issue that exists for local boaters during flooding events. With this update, boaters will now spend less time on the road searching for different launch sites during times of high water, and more time on the water with family and friends enjoying our state’s valuable resources.”

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said, ​“When it comes to projects like the Point Breeze Boat Launch site, time is of the essence. We saw how urgent the need for this work was in 2019 when the boat ramp became submerged, so I am glad this project will be breaking ground shortly so that the launch can reopen as planned in the spring of 2022.”

Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynn Johnson said, “The Point Breeze Boat Launch provides a gateway to Oak Orchard Creek and Lake Ontario for economic, recreational and tourist activities. During the Lake Ontario high water events of 2017 and 2019 the Point Breeze Boat Launch became partially submerged resulting in limited access to safely launch boats. Thanks to the efforts of the REDI Commission, we can fortify a very important piece of County infrastructure and sustain long-term use. These improvements will make our infrastructure more resilient to future high-water events while improving our ability to support economic and recreational activities.”

Town of Carlton Supervisor Gayle Ashbery said, “When the Point Breeze Boat Launch is forced to be closed during high water events, the businesses that call Oak Orchard Harbor home pay the price. The work that is being undertaken will support our local businesses by ensuring that the launch remain open and accessible to both residents and visitors of Carlton. REDI continues to show the positive path that can be taken when state and local governments work in tandem.”

In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, REDI was created to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns.

The REDI Commission allocated $20 million for homeowner assistance, $30 million to improve the resiliency of businesses, and $15 million toward a regional dredging effort that will benefit each of the eight counties in the REDI regions. The remaining $235 million has been allocated towards local and regional projects that advance and exemplify the REDI mission.