Virtual programs have brought in many speakers for museum

Photo courtesy of the Erie Canal Museum: A woman steers a canal boat, likely with family members around her, in this photo from the Erie Canal Museum. The Cobblestone Museum will continue its series of virtual programs with “Waterway of Change: Women and the Erie Canal” at 6:30 p.m. March 20.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum’s recent series of virtual programs will continue with “Waterway of Change: Women and the Erie Canal,” scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 20.

Elizabeth Farrell, assistant director of education and public programming at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, will be the featured speaker.

The program was chosen because the Erie Canal revolutionized Upstate New York, bringing new ideas, people and industries to the region and sparking a firestorm of change, said Sue Bonafini, assistant director of the Cobblestone Museum.

“This presentation will cover how the fight for women’s rights grew out of the changes brought about by the Erie Canal and the movement’s dependence on networks that the canal facilitated,” Bonafini said.

The idea for virtual programs grew out of the pandemic, when Bonafini learned that many museums started offering them as a way to generate revenue or serve as a source of community engagement.

“One art museum was able to connect with a contact in Paris to develop a program without the speaker actually flying to New York, which would have been a major expense for travel alone,” Bonafini said. “We offered our first virtual program Oct. 21 to test the waters.”

It was a program by a textile historian in Massachusetts who spoke about Civil War quilts. Thirty-four registered to view the program, and in 2022 and 2023 the Cobblestone offered two more virtual programs during their off-season months to generate some income ahead of the public season of May through October. Monthly offerings have been the norm in January through March since 2024, Bonafini said.

“We are delighted how popular these programs have become,” she said. “Quilt programs trend as the most attended, with 75 registrants this past January tuning in to learn about the c. 1843 Graveyard Quilt.”

Registrants are allowed to choose their donation based on a sliding scale from $5 to $20, Bonafini added. Many choose higher levels of giving than the basic fee. Fees support the Cobblestone Society and Museum, she said, and this season they added an option for college students and faculty to register at a $3 educational rate, with the hope of attracting a wider audience.

Bonafini said sliding scale donations are greatly appreciated using PayPal or a credit card on the Museum’s registration page. Virtual attendees will receive a link during the week of the program.

“We have been fortunate to find community members or businesses to sponsor the speaker’s fees for these virtual events,” Bonafini said.

Bonafini and the Cobblestone Museum gratefully acknowledge Pat’s Auto Repair at 13395 West Lee Rd., Albion, as the generous sponsor.

For assistance with registering or any more information, e-mail Bonafini at volunteers@cobblestonemuseum.org or call (585) 589-9013.

Photo by Tom Rivers: David Beach and his wife Debbie were celebrated last Sunday at the Gaines Carlton Community Church on Route 104. Beach led the church the past 16 years as the pastor.

GAINES – David Beach can relate to his congregation when delivering messages from the pulpit.

Becoming a pastor has been a second career for Beach. He worked at the former Lipton’s in Albion for nearly 10 years until it closed in 1980. He then worked at Ames in Medina for 2 ½ years before spending a long tenure at Ontario Food and later Associated Brands in Medina.

Through it all, Beach was active at his church as a youth leader, a church moderator and very involved member. Church leaders – Bob Mowatt at the First Baptist Church in Albion and Karen Allamon at the Barre Center Presbyterian Church – would encourage him to consider becoming a pastor. Beach said he felt that call and pursued a certificate in ministry at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester at Roberts Wesleyan.

At age 61 he retired from Associated Brands and began a life dedicated to ministry. At that time 16 years ago, there was an opening at the Gaines Carlton Community Church. It was an ideal situation with the church close to home and affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA.

File photos: (Left) David Beach speaks during a service on Nov. 17, 2019 for the 50th anniversary of the church. The congregation at 14585 Ridge Rd. was formed as part of a merger of three churches in East Gaines, the Bridges and Kent. (Right) During a baccalaureate service on June 5 for Albion’s Class of 2022, Beach prayed for some of the soon-to-be grads, including his grandson, James Beach.

Beach has retired as pastor at age 77. His wife Debbie has been a key part of the ministry, going back to when they were volunteer youth leaders. Gaines Carlton honored the couple last Sunday with a reception.

“They made a good team,” said long-time member Peggy Bropst. “They live their faith. They are kind, gentle people.”

Pastor Dave said many people, including some of the local clergy, had seen him as a church leader long before he made it official as a pastor.

“What took you so long?” he recalled some of the pastors telling him.

Beach said he has enjoyed giving the Sunday sermons to the congregation, welcoming children in the services, doing visitations and offering some guidance to church and community members.

“I didn’t do counseling,” he said. “I did listening.”

Beach has some advice for people considering a role in ministry: find a mentor and pursue that desire.

But, ultimately, he said God needs to direct their path.

“I felt this calling,” he said.

He is grateful to have been able to serve at Gaines Carlton Community Church for 16 years, where he said many are long-time members with roots going back several generations.

“I have enjoyed getting to know the people better,” he said. “I enjoyed relating to the children, and trying to inspire and teach the congregation.”

David and Debbie raised three sons – Mike, Darryll and Matt. They are all married. The Beaches have five grandchildren and a great-grandson. They all attended the reception last Sunday.

The church is looking for a pastor. Right now, two local church pastors are alternating in delivering the sermons on Sunday: Susan Boring from the Eagle Harbor Methodist Church and Marsha Rivers from the First Baptist Church in Albion.

Laura Bentley transforms event space at former Village Inn

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Fairhaven Inn & Events team includes, from left: Faye Conley, day of coordinator; Laura Bentley, owner; and Katie Stiegler, marketing manager.

GAINES – Laura Bentley has given an inn going back more than 200 years a new look.

Part of the former Tillman’s Village Inn has been repurposed into Fairhaven Inn & Events. The restaurant and bar continue at the site as the Tavern on the Ridge, run by Chad Pike and Julia Hopkins.

Bentley owns the former Village Inn, acquiring it from Mark Tillman.

“I firmly believe in investing in our community, trying to do better in our county,” Bentley said. “I’m very fortunate my family had a business allowing me so many connections in the community.”

She is also owner and president of Bentley Brothers, a Kubota dealership in Albion and Brockport. That business is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year, including a big bash on May 31 at Fairhaven Inn & Events.

This past weekend Bentley gave the public its first look at the transformed former Village Inn. Fairhaven Inn hosted a bridal show with 14 vendors.

They saw a space where the carpet was torn out and replaced with new flooring, and a much brighter interior painted in white with black trim. Bentley also put in new bathrooms.

In the spring, a separate staircase will be added leading to the events space.

She sees Fairhaven hosting wedding receptions, annual meetings for local organizations, and many other special events. Fairhaven is conveniently loated right in the center of Orleans County, Bentley noted.

The vendors at the bridal show were impressed with the changes at the site.

“It’s beautiful in here,” said Brenda Radzinski, representing the Cobblestone Museum which rents its church out for weddings. “What she’s done with the space is amazing. It’s bright and open.”

The Cobblestone Museum over the years has hosted many weddings with the reception then at the Village Inn. Bentley would like to continue that arrangement. Fairhaven could host the receptions. Pike of the Tavern on the Ridge is the preferred caterer for events, but Bentley said people can hire someone else.

Sara Flansburg, owner of Blissetts Speciality Shop, brought many wedding gowns to the bridal show. She also rents out suits and tuxedos for men. She said Orleans County is fortunate to have several wedding venues.

Flansburg said Bentley was able to incorporate modern and rustic in the look at Fairhaven.

“This is a very good destination venue,” Flansburg said. “It’s always nice to have another place to recommend. It gives people another option. You want people to have multiple things available that are close to home.”

Fairhaven includes a telephone booth with an audio guest book where people can leave recorded messages for the newly married couple.

Bentley also owns the Fairhaven Inn which includes a bridal suite and seven other rooms. Bentley bought the inn in January 2022 and renovated all eight rooms with new flooring, paint and bathrooms. She also renovated two houses at the Bridges in Carlton. The Cottages at Oak Orchard are guest rentals.

The bridal suite is among the eight rooms available at Fairhaven Inn.

All 7 towns have now voted for Mercy in $250,000 agreement

Photo by Tom Rivers: A Mercy Flight EMS ambulance and crew was in service on Sept. 20 at an Albion varsity football game. Mercy Flight is using the former COVA base in Albion.

GAINES – The Town of Gaines on Monday voted in favor of Mercy Flight EMS to provide ambulance services in the town for the next three years.

Gaines is part of a seven-town consortium that has contracted for ambulance services since 2023. Monroe Ambulance was the provider in 2023 and 2024 in one-year contracts.

“It basically came down to a cost difference between the two,” said Tyler Allport, the Gaines town supervisor. “It’s the same service but Mercy is more affordable.”

The seven towns put out an RFP (request for proposals) and Mercy Flight was the low bidder at $250,000 in 2025, $275,000 in 2026 and $300,000 in 2027.

Monroe Ambulance’s bid was $570,000 in 2025. The two organizations offered similar services in the bid – two basic life support ambulances, and one advanced life support fly car in the seven towns for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A fly car doesn’t transport patients, but will have personnel that can provide higher levels of care than the BLS ambulances.

Mercy Flight plans to stage ambulances and the fly car at the former COVA base on South Main Street in Albion and the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray fire hall on Hulberton Road in Murray.

The contract increases ambulance services from the agreements in 2023 and 2024 when Monroe agreed to one ALS ambulance based in Albion and a BLS ambulance based in Holley for 12 hours at the firehall and then 12 hours from Brockport at Strong West.

Monroe was paid $300,000 by the seven towns in 2024, and was paid $181,200 in 2023. (It would have been $200,000, but Kendall didn’t pay in the first year.)

“I want to thank Monroe for the level of service,” Allport said during Monday’s Town Board meeting. “They’ve had a stellar record for the Town of Gaines.”

With the Gaines vote, all seven towns have now ratified the contract, which starts Jan. 1 and goes until Dec. 31, 2027.

The seven towns are divvying up the costs based on a percentage of current call volume.

Here is the financial breakdown for the seven towns in the contract for 2025:

• Albion, $93,000 ($155,820 in 2024)
• Barre, $11,000 ($13,740 in 2024)
• Carlton, $18,500 ($22,350 in 2024)
• Clarendon, $28,000 ($25,350 in 2024)
• Gaines, $38,500 ($12,030 in 2024)
• Kendall, $12,750 ($17,850 in 2024)
• Murray, $48,250 ($52,860 in 2024)

Medina Fire Department is the primary ambulance provider in western Orleans for the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates. Each of the towns pays Medina $35,000 a year and those funds go towards the cost of a new ambulance.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – Nancy Sanger of SanGer-La Alpacas in Brockport uses spinning wheels to turn alpaca wool into yarn on Oct. 5 during an open house at the Cobblestone Museum that featured many artisans.

Sanger uses the wool to make hats and shawls.

Harold Clark of Rochester was outside the Cobblestone Universalist Church doing a chair-caning demonstration. Clark said it can take 24 hours to cane a chair using the bark of a vine from southeast Asia. The cane is very sturdy and lightweight, he said.

Larry Albanese backs up a 1922 Model T Touring that was on display in between the blacksmith shop and Vagg House.

Matt Holland, president of the Cobblestone Museum, also served as the blacksmith during the open house.

David Avery, left, of Greece and David Damico of Le Roy operated a 1929 letter press in the Print Shop.

The open house included butter making, old-fashioned games, and other live demonstrations including a saddle maker. The museum also served beef-on-weck meals.

GAINES – Susan Pescara waited eight years to have her camera ready when a bunny appeared in front of a rabbit crossing sign by her driveway on Route 279 in Gaines.

The magic moment finally happened on Wednesday evening.

Pescara said her property is frequently visited by rabbits. She put up a bunny crossing sign because there are so many.

She wanted a photo of a rabbit in front of the sign and Wednesday she was able to sneak a photo of one before it hopped away. She happily shared the photo with the Orleans Hub.

EAGLE HARBOR – Motorists in Orleans County received good news on Wednesday. The lift bridge in Eagle Harbor reopened to traffic about a week early.

The bridge closed on July 15 for a repair and was expected to reopen on Aug. 2.

But on Wednesday it was back in action, carrying vehicles across the Erie Canal.

The bridge was built in 1910. The bridge was previously closed for about six weeks in 2022 for repairs.

Provided photos: The 2023 preservation award winners include, from top to bottom, left to right: Harriette Greaser in Albion, Diana Dragan of Albion, the Walsh Hotel in Medina, Pine Hill School in Barre, Bent’s Opera House in Medina, and Marti’s on Main in Albion.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum is accepting nominations for the 2024 Historic Preservation Awards to be presented by the museum.

The honorees represent the very best of what Orleans County stands for and supports in historic preservation, said Doug Farley, museum director.

The awards allow the museum to show appreciation to the people who are using preservation to safeguard and enhance structures in Orleans County.

According to Farley, they exemplify best practices in the field and demonstrate how preservation is integral to building stronger neighborhoods, boosting local economies and saving the places that are special to all of us. The Historic Preservation Awards celebrate those who work so hard to protect that shared heritage.

Nomination forms are available on the Cobblestone Museum’s website (click here). They are due by Sept. 1.

Awards will be presented in three categories:

• Cobblestone – To recognize outstanding preservation and rehabilitation of a historic cobblestone structure located in Orleans County.

• Resident – To honor an Orleans County homeowner who completes rehabilitation/restoration of a 75-year-old or older historic residential structure.

• Business – To honor the body of work demonstrated by a business or organization in the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of historic projects in Orleans County.

The winners will be recognized at an awards dinner on Oct. 25 at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

Last year’s awards were presented to Harriette Greaser and Donna Kay Dragan Reed for restoring historic homes in Albion; Pine Hill School on Pine Hill Road, Albion, Marti’s on Main in Albion, the Walsh Hotel and Bent’s Opera House, both in Medina.

Anyone with questions or wishing more information may call the Cobblestone Museum at (585) 589-9013.

GAINES – The lift bridge over the Erie Canal in Eagle Harbor will be closed to traffic from July 15 to Aug. 2 for a repair, the Orleans County Emergency Management Office advised.

The bridge was built in 1910. The bridge was last closed for about six weeks in 2022 for repairs.

Motorists are urged to use alternative routes while the bridge is closed.