By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2025 at 9:56 pm
Charlie Monacelli
ALBION – A long-time volunteer firefighter has been elected fire commissioner in the Albion Joint Fire District.
Charlie Monacelli was elected to a five-year term today. He received 77 votes to the 58 for Derek Howes.
Monacelli will take the place of Chris Kinter on the board of commissioners. This was the second election for the Albion Joint Fire District. A year ago, the five commissioners were elected for the first time. Kinter didn’t seek re-election to the unpaid position. Monacelli’s term starts on Jan. 1.
The turnout was steady for the election which lasted three hours from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hoag Library.
Monacelli has been a volunteer firefighter for 36 years. He said he is running to bring more transparency in the joint fire district.
Howes is an Albion native who recently moved back to the community after being very involved with the Town of Niagara Active Hose fire company. He served on the Executive Board and as a lieutenant with that fire company. He works full-time as a project manager/estimator for a fire protection company.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2025 at 8:52 am
Charlie Monacelli, left, and Derek Howes are both seeking a five-year term as fire commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District.
ALBION – Two people are running for fire commissioner today in an election for the Albion Joint Fire District.
Charlie Monacelli and Derek Howes both are seeking the five-year term. One of them will take the spot of Chris Kinter, who isn’t seeking re-election.
The election is from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hoag Library, 134 South Main St. in Albion. Registered voters in the towns of Albion and Gaines (as well as the Village of Albion) can vote.
The Albion Joint Fire District is concluding its first year after the joint fire district was formed to serve the towns of Albion and Gaines. Before, fire protection was under the oversight of the Albion Village Board with the two towns in a fire protection contract with the village.
Monacelli has been a volunteer firefighter for 36 years. He said he is running to bring more transparency in the joint fire district.
“Every resident deserves clear, honest communication and open decision-making,” he said.
Howes is an Albion native who recently moved back to the community after being very involved with the Town of Niagara Active Hose fire company. He served on the Executive Board and as a lieutenant with that fire company. He works full-time as a project manager/estimator for a fire protection company.
He said those experiences will would make him an asset to the board of commissioners at the Albion Joint Fire District.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 November 2025 at 6:42 pm
Provided photos: This quilt, hand-made by Brenda Radzinski, will be on display as part of the Cobblestone Museum’s holiday program Dec. 6 to usher in the Christmas season. The program, “Simply Christmas: A Community Musical Quilt,” will feature talented individuals from the local area, accompanied by a display of quilts.
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum will welcome the Christmas season with special events on Dec. 6. These include the opening of the Museum’s Holiday Shoppe from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a special program arranged by Cobblestone board member and treasurer Maarit Vaga, titled “Simply Christmas: A Community Musical Quilt.”
The Cobblestone Museum’s Holiday Shoppe is filled with unique items for its Open House on Dec. 6.
Sue Bonafini, assistant director of the Cobblestone Museum, urges community members to consider checking out the Holiday Shoppe for their Christmas shopping needs.
“Whether you’re looking for a string of lights, wrapping paper, a tree ornament, Christmas books, mugs, wreaths, snowmen or assorted Santa and angel items, consider stopping by to check out our brand new or gently used holiday merchandise,” Bonafini said. “We’ve already got plenty to choose from, but because we anticipate many shoppers, why not donate your unwanted holiday decorations to us. We’ll take anything you’re ready to retire that would enhance our displays so we can get them into a new home for the holiday season.”
All sales benefit the Cobblestone Society and Museum.
In addition to the Holiday Shoppe items, Susan Walders will be selling handmade knitted and crocheted items to enhance the shopping experience, perfect for gift giving to or keep winter’s chill away, Bonafini said.
Anyone wishing to donate items to the Holiday Shoppe can call (585) 589-9013 or email volunteers@cobblestonemuseum.org to arrange a drop-off time.
The name “Simply Christmas: A Community Musical Quilt,” was chosen for this year’s holiday program to usher in the Christmas season, Bonafini said. Vaga is working on this patchwork of instrumental music, vocals and more to entertain the audience at 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Cobblestone Church. A 45-minute performance will include at least one sing-along and a quartet of Susan Walders, Aaron Grabowski and Bradeen and Sebastian Erakare singing Riu, Riu, Chiu, a Spanish Renaissance Christmas madrigal.
Jan-Mikael Erakare will present Christmas readings. In addition, three former interns will entertain: John Patt of Holley will play a violin solo, Casey Starkweather of Carlton will sing and Eliya Cooper of Rochester will join Walders for a clarinet and flute duet.
The entire program will be enhanced by a display of quilts by talented quilter Brenda Radzinski. A free-will offering will be accepted. Light refreshments will follow at the lower level of the church.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2025 at 12:04 pm
Many of the meetings only have 12-15 attendees among more than 70 elected officials at village, town and county levels
Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County legislator John Fitzak speaks during the Oct. 28 meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities. Debbie Yokel, Carlton town clerk, is at left and Margaret Swan, Barre town councilwoman, is at right.
GAINES – An association of local elected officials has experienced very light turnouts in recent years. That is frustrating to the association’s leaders, who want to see more participation.
Some of the meetings have been cancelled because too few people sent in an RSVP. Other meetings only have 12 to 15 people.
The Orleans County Association of Municipalities is currently co-led by County Legislator John Fitzak and Carlton Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery. They try to brainstorm relevant topics each month in meetings for leaders of the four villages, 10 towns and the county government.
The association has discussed topics this year on local land planning issues, using aerial imagery in the assessment process, and heard presentations from the County’s Special Response Team and also the county’s personnel director. The group in the past has discussed EMS services, sales tax sharing, infrastructure needs and changes in state and federal laws and their impact locally.
The next meeting on Nov. 18 at Tavern on the Ridge will feature Holli Nenni, the Orleans County commissioner of social services. She will discuss impacts of the federal government shutdown. The Orleans County Board of Elections representatives will also share information.
The association was started more than 40 years ago after the county government changed from being run by the 10-member Board of Supervisors to the seven-member County Legislature. The association is intended to give the county legislators, and the town and village officials a frequent and easy way to share information and discuss common concerns.
“The more information we gather, the better the product will be,” Fitzak said at the Oct. 28 meeting.
The towns and county used to be rotation where they would pick the speaker. Fitzak said he is open to having the towns do the schedule, or submit ideas to him and Ashbery.
The Special Response Team, which includes members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and Albion Police Department, did a demonstration on Oct. 28 for the local officials and showed some of their equipment, including drone technology.
Fitzak welcomed input from the group on what needs to be done to get more involvement from all the towns and villages.
“We want to keep the lines of communication open,” Fitzak said. “Let us know but do your part and get people to show up.”
The Albion Village Board discussed the issue on Wednesday. Trustee Tim McMurray attended the Oct. 28 meeting. He urged other Village Board members to attend. He said it’s a venue for airing concerns and hearing from other local leaders.
McMurray said he would like to have a fresh discussion on sales tax sharing. The amount to the 10 towns and four villages hasn’t changed since 2001 despite sizable increases in what the county collects.
“This is a time where we can show up and ask them questions,” McMurray said about the association of local elected officials.
John Belson, the Lyndonville mayor, is a regular at the meetings. He said Orleans County is unusual in having an association where the local officials can get together regularly to discuss issues.
Each of the 10 towns have five board members, and the four villages also have five elected officials on their boards. The County Legislature has seven members. That is 77 officials among the towns, villages and county, and that doesn’t include clerks and highway superintendents.
But only a few of them attend the association meetings.
Fitzak urged more officials to be there.
“They don’t know the information,” he said. “They’re missing out.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 November 2025 at 10:11 am
Construction to start in spring on new visitor center
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Cobblestone Society held its annual meeting on Nov. 1 and presented awards including, from left: Jeannette Riley representing the Riley family received the Donna Rodden Hospitality Award; Chris Capurso was named Volunteer of the Year; and Marie Bell, owner of Country Treasures Quilt Shop in Brockport, received the Business Partner of the Year award.
GAINES – The Cobblestone Society & Museum held its annual meeting on Nov. 1 and honored several key supporters of the Cobblestone Museum. The attendees also heard about an effort to save the last remaining cobblestone house in Rochester.
Museum President Matt Holland announced the organization expects to break ground on a new visitor center this spring. The museum has $1.6 million in place for the project. That includes a $716,000 state grant for the visitor’s center at the corner of routes 98 and 104 in Gaines. The new Thompson-Kast Visitors Center will go next to a brick house from 1830.
The Cobblestone Society formed in 1960 initially to save the Cobblestone Church from 1834 and the then the cobblestone schoolhouse down the road on Route 104. The school was built in 1849. The museum has grown to about 15 structures.
This rendering shows the new Thompson-Kast Visitors Center for the Cobblestone Museum, left, which would be next to a historic brick home from the 1830s.
The Cobblestone Museum & Society held the annual meeting at the Gaines Carlton Community Church and presented awards for people who have made significant contributions to the organziation.
Business Partner of the Year – Marie Bell, owner of Country Treasures Quilt Shop in Brockport, was named Business Partner of the Year. Since 2016 she has extended financial support toward programming connected to quilts, whether live or virtual events. In 2025 she was the exclusive sponsor of a virtual program featuring a remarkable textile held by the Kentucky Historical Society, the Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell Graveyard Quilt, c. 1843, said Sue Bonafini, the museum’s assistant director.
Provided photo: Pat’s Auto Repair of Albion owned by Patrick & Marissa Olles received the Community Partner Award for sponsoring several events at the Cobblestone Museum.
Donna Rodden Hospitality Award – The Riley family of Albion graciously allowed members and friends of the Society to visit their magnificent gardens on the north bank of the Erie Canal for our midsummer celebration in July.
“They received the Donna Rodden Hospitality Award, which recognizes the hosting of events on behalf of the museum,” Bonafini said. “This special event has become an ideal fundraiser for the Museum, and we greatly appreciate the family’s efforts to prepare and share their beautiful location with all of us.”
Community Partner Award – Patrick & Marissa Olles, owners of Pat’s Auto Repair of Albion, received the Community Partner Award. Museum members at the Bronze Membership level, the Olles have sponsored several events when funding was needed, including sponsorship of two virtual programs during the 2025 off-season, and they were the exclusive sponsor of last year’s Solar Eclipse celebration in April.
“They have provided more than one gift basket for our events,” Bonafini said. “They’ve donated some merchandise with their company logo for our use, and they went home with more than one item from our Membership Dinner auction this past May, which equates to additional financial support for our organization.”
Volunteer of the Year – Chris Capurso was named Volunteer of the Year. She is a trustee of the Cobblestone Society and a volunteer since 2021. Capurso has demonstrated a willingness to take on a variety of roles to assist staff with daily operations, special events or other projects. She also recently became a docent and is now sharing the history of the museum buildings with the public. This past season she tackled several special activities, including the sorting of 110 boxes of donated books for our Used Books building.
Tim Keller and his wife Debbi shared about a community effort to prevent the last cobblestone house in Rochester from being demolished to make way for a dollar store.
The Lockwood-Alhart Cobblestone House & Retail Plaza is at 1090 Culver Rd. After the community rallied to save the building from 1835, the owner opted to donate it to Rochester Land Bank Corporation. The Kellers and community members are now optimistic the site will be a satellite city office for people to meet with city staff.
Don Alhart, a legendary Rochester television broadcaster, shared about his family’s connection to the house. The Alhart family owned it until 1988.
“Losing a structure like the Lockwood-Alhart House for a dollar store, that’s quite a slap in the face to the residents of the City of Rochester,” Mrs. Keller said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 October 2025 at 9:14 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
EAGLE HARBOR – The Rev. Susan Boring greets people on Sunday after a special service at the Eagle Harbor Methodist Church celebrating Boring’s 25 years at the church.
Boring said serving the Eagle Harbor church has been an honor. She praised the congregation for their commitment to bringing’s Christ’s love to each other and the community.
“The greatest gift in my life has been serving this church as pastor,” she told about 75 people at the service on Sunday.
The Albion resident for many years served as pastor while also working as a music teacher in Brockport, including 29 years with the fifth grade band.
She is now retired from that career but continues to reach out to her many friends in music to perform at the Eagle Harbor church.
Boring sings and plays the guitar, piano and the trombone at church.
“I’ve really been able to embrace God’s call on my life, which I was really resistant to in the beginning,” she said. “I enjoy leading worship, I enjoy the people and I enjoy working together with the congregation to reach out to the community.”
Boring plays the guitar with Mike Vick, which a regular feature every Sunday at Eagle Harbor. They are singing, “This Little Light of Mine.”
Terry Vick, a lay leader in the church, leads an installation for Boring which is now an independent Wesleyan Methodist Church. The church was affiliated with the United Methodist denomination until last year.
Vick, after the service, said the congregation is thankful to have Boring as their pastor.
“She’s real,” Vick said. “She’s not above us. She learns with us. She is a good friend who is available day or night.”
The Rev. Susan Boring holds her robe and stole as a visible representation of her responsibilities as the church’s shepherd and pastor.
The Rev. Linda Haight grew up in Eagle Harbor as Linda DeBoard. She delivered the sermon on Sunday. Haight said she felt the call to be a minister when she was a child attending Eagle Harbor.
She now serves as a pastor at the North Ontario Methodist Church in Wayne County. Haight said the Eagle Harbor congregation has long been welcoming and a place to grow in the Christian faith.
The Eagle Harbor church’s brick building was constructed 150 years ago in 1875. It replaced an earlier wooden structure. The church is located along the Erie Canal in the town of Gaines.
The first church in Eagle Harbor was built in 1826. Before that, circuit riding preachers established a preaching station in Eagle Harbor in 1818. As more people moved to the community, Baptist and Presbyterian groups were founded and met in homes or the school house.
The Rev. Boring said the church has changed over time but it’s heart-warming Christian hospitality continues to be a vital part of the ministry. She a stuffed animal ministry where Teddy Bears and other stuffed animals are given to people from the church as a tangible reminder that the Eagle Harbor Methodist Church loves them and is praying for them.
After the service, the congregation went to the Elks Lodge in Albion for a brunch.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 September 2025 at 8:28 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: “Big E” in front and Bowie are two of the alpacas at Velvet Ridge Farm & Market on Ridge Road in Albion. The farm will be open to the public this weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for National Alpaca Farm Days.
ALBION – It’s a big weekend for local alpaca farms. Five of those farms will be open to the public for National Alpaca Farm Days.
The farms are open today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The farms on the tour include:
• Lake Alice Alpacas – 2125 Oak Orchard River Rd., Waterport
Toni and Tom Starks have opened a new alpaca farm, Velvet Ridge Farm & Market, LLC. They have seven alpacas and a store with alpaca products, hats and other fiber products.
Mrs. Starks is recently retired as a health educator and mentor teacher coordinator at Albion. Her husband is retired from a career in the defense industry.
The two wanted to stay busy in retirement, but not have intense pressure.
Alpacas are a low-maintenance animal, that are easy to take care of, Mrs. Starks said.
“After teaching I wanted to do something more peaceful but I also stay in teaching and sustainability,” she said.
Velvet Ridge has seven alpacas who are all named and adored by their owners: Snoop, Big E, Bowie, Tiny Tim, Bruce, Willie and Elvis.
The farm is named “Velvet” for the soft fleece from the alpacas.
A market at Velvet Ridge includes sock, hats and other products made from alpaca fiber.
There is also pottery from Magpie, Kathleen’s Crochet Creations, local honey and maple syrup, homemade fudge and baked goods, vintage goods, pumpkins and mums.
The market also sells Albanese’s Finest Gourmet Sauces, organically cultivated mushrooms and other local products.
Toni Stark has enjoyed creating the alpaca farm with her husband. They are at the former Poelma Farm on Ridge Road. The Velvet Ridge Farm & Market is new to National Alpaca Farm Days.
Visitors to all five local farms this weekend will be entered in a raffle with a chance to win a basket raffle over $300.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 September 2025 at 1:12 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – A garage was destroyed by a fast-moving fire late Tuesday night at 2806 Lattin Rd. in Gaines.
The fire melted some siding and the soffits on the house next to the garage, but the house was spared from serious damage.
There were no injuries to the three people and their two dogs at the house.
The fire badly damaged a pickup truck and also melted part of the front of a SUV.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 11:42 p.m. Firefighters from Albion, Carlton, Medina and Murray responded as well as Orleans County Emergency Management and fire investigators.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 September 2025 at 9:30 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – George Borrelli, a blacksmith, shapes steal during a blacksmith demonstration on Saturday at the Cobblestone Museum as part of the annual open house when all 10 buildings were open with docents and artisans.
Matt Holland also demonstrated the art of blacksmithing on Saturday. There were about 200 at the Cobblestone Museum campus for the event.
The blacksmith shop used to be operated by Joseph Vagg. The original shop burned down in 1921 but was rebuilt in 1922 with the help of many local farmers who were served by Vagg.
The museum offered free admission for the public to take a step back in time at the annual fall open house.
Sue Bonafini, the museum’s assistant director, wore a Victorian dress for the open house. She is shown with Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot, in front of the Cobblestone Universalist Church, which was built in 1834. The church hosted a concert on Saturday from Jaclyn Renee Warren and Lauralynne Davis, both flutists and pianists.
LeRoy Neeper of Medina shows people an International Harvester Model M 6-horsepower engine from 1922. The machine is in the Blacksmith Shop. An engine was used to power a pulley system for lathes, two table saws, a drill press, joiner and bandsaw.
Doug Farley, the museum director, has a fresh batch of hot dogs ready. The museum served lunch with hot dogs, corn on the cob, potatoes, a chicken barbecue plate and brownies.
Tom Zangerle was on site and did a plein air oil painting of a bench by the print shop and an outhouse in back.
Other skilled artisans who will be demonstrating their crafts included a basket weaver, lace makers and tatters, quilters, a rug braider, a silversmith and spinners.
David Damico of LeRoy led demonstrations inside the print shop, which was built in 1875. It used to be in Medina, but was moved to the museum grounds on Route 98 in Gaines in the late 1977.
The shop at the Cobblestone Museum has two printing presses from the late 1800s, and several cases of type.
Georgia Thomas of Medina also showed people how to turn cream into butter. People had to shake the cream for about 10 minutes before it made a lump of butter. There are butter churns at the Farmers Hall of the Museum, including one powered by a dog.
Judith Bromley of East Aurora also answered questions in the Harness Shop. She is a qualified master saddle fitter with the Registered Society of Master Saddlers UK. She is familiar with the shoemaking process and artifacts displayed in the Harness Shop.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 August 2025 at 9:27 am
Provided photos: (Left) These silver candlesticks are a sampling of the items silversmith Deborah Loke of Lyndonville will make for the Cobblestone Society’s annual Open House Sept. 6. (Right) Another of her items is this chatelaine, indicative of those worn by ladies in the 1800s.
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum has been busy planning its annual Open House, scheduled Sept. 6 at the Cobblestone Campus at Ridge Road and Route 98.
All 10 buildings in the Cobblestone Museum complex will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with free admission for all. Included will be two self-guiding exhibit locations.
Jaclyn Renee Warren and Lauralynne Davis, both flutists and pianists, play the piano as they prepare to entertain at the Cobblestone Society’s annual Open House on Sept. 6.
The Brick House Upper Gallery houses the Victorian Mourning Art and Sundries exhibit, displaying more than 200 related artifacts. The second location will be the Thompson-Kast Visitors Center, which will house 19th century coverlets, paintings and Rogers Groups statues.
Guides will be stationed in buildings to share the museum’s history. Visitors can watch printers and blacksmiths at work inside the trades buildings and meet saddle maker Judith Bromley of Trufit Saddle in East Aurora working in the Harness Shop. Or they may try butter making at Farmers Hall.
Ory, the Orleans County Bicentennial Ox, will visit at 1:30 p.m. and pose for pictures/selfies.
Skilled artisans who will be demonstrating their crafts include a basket weaver, lace makers and tatters from Genesee Country Lace Guild in Rochester. Plein air painter and local artist Tom Zangerle, quilters, a rug braider, a silversmith, spinners Theresa Jewell and friends from the Mill at Stoney Meadows in Holley and a weaver with a loom.
Deborah Loke of Lyndonville plans to create pieces inspired by the era, including chatelaines, historically worn by women of the 1800s, and earlier by seamstresses, nurses and caretakers. She will also craft retro-themed items, such as candlestick-style vases made from silver-plated flatware, vintage-inspired bracelets and other pieces which complement the theme.
“The gold chatelaine was one I re-imagined in 2018 when I began my journey into the world of restoration, repair, reimaging vintage costume jewelry,” Loke said.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Theresa Jewell of Clarendon is shown weaving with a loom during an event at the Cobblestone Museum in 2017.
At 3 p.m., after the buildings close, Duo Scambio of Rochester will entertain until 4 p.m. in the 1834 cobblestone church, sponsored by Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes. They perform a variety of music from the Civil War Era through World War II. The program will include popular music, a little movie music, patriotic songs and pieces written for flute and piano.
Duo Scambio is a Rochester-based chamber ensemble dedicated to the performance of new music with a twist. Members Jaclyn Renee Warren and Lauralynne Davis are both flutists and pianists, which allows them to do flute/piano music, flute duets and four-hand piano works.
Free-will offerings will gladly be accepted to benefit the Cobblestone Society, according to director Doug Farley.
The Orleans County Bicentennial Quilt will be on display inside the church for all to see.
A food tent will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving hot dog and barbequed chicken plates or items can be purchased a la carte. Corn-on-the-cob will be available to purchase, courtesy of Partyka Farms in Kendall.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2025 at 9:24 am
Money provides operational support for museum in Childs hamlet
Photos by Tom Rivers: Doug Farley, executive director for the Cobblestone Museum, speaks during a July 6 patriotic service at the Cobblestone Church. The church is in an 1834 building and hosts a church service every year near the July 4th holiday.
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum has received a grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and the $10,000 award will goes towards operating support.
The museum is one of 32 non-profit organizations in Western New York receiving a total of $630,000 in funding from the Community Foundation.
Doug Farley, the Cobblestone Museum executive director, said the museum is grateful for the funding.
“There are not a lot of grantors that provide operating support,” he said. “This type of grant covers a lot of overhead expenses.”
Farley said Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo recently expanded its reach to include Orleans County organizations.
The Community Foundation said the 32 grants were awarded after a competitive process. The organizations have to support at least one of the Community Foundation’s four community goals:
Achieve racial/ethnic equity
Promote economic mobility through educational achievement for residents living in low-income households
Steward significant environmental resources in the context of climate resilience
Promote regional vibrancy through architecture, arts and culture
Bill Lattin, retired director of the Cobblestone Museum, led a tour on May 17 of the outhouses on the museum’s campus, including the outhouse in this phot that is next to Farmers’ Hall. This outhouse is the fanciest of a collection at the museum. The outhouse is a five-seater in a Greek Revival architectural style.
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo 2025 Competitive Grants recipients include:
716 Squash – $15,000 for “Educational Achievement to Low-Income Students”
Advocacy Institute – $15,000 for “General Operations in WNY”
African American Cultural Center of Buffalo – $14,000 for “Long Layover, A New Theatrical Production”
Arts for Learning WNY – $20,000 for “Artworks: Hired to Create. Inspired to Succeed: Year 2 of 3”
Buffalo-Area Engineering Awareness for Minorities (BEAM) – $18,000 for “School Year and Summer Engineering Exploration Programs”
Buffalo Arts Studio – $15,000 for “General Operations”
Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology – $36,000 for “Expanded Arts and Career Readiness Programming”
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy – $20,000 for “General Operations: Year 1 of 3”
Buffalo Prep – $38,000 for “General Operations”
Buffalo Urban League – $20,000 for “YOLO-Your Life Changing Opportunity”
Cobblestone Society – $10,000 for “General Operations”
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County – $22,650 for “4H Youth Community Action Network”
Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative – $10,500 for “Champion of Change Training”
Grassroots Gardens of WNY – $15,000 for “General Operations: Year 3 of 3”
Green Options Buffalo aka GObike Buffalo – $19,508 for “City-Wide Equitable Advocacy Committee Development”
Infinity Visual and Performing Arts – $20,000 for “Rooted in Creativity: Equitable Arts Access”
Just Buffalo Literary Center – $15,000 for “General Operations”
King Urban Life Center – $30,000 for “Parent Child PLUS Program”
Martin House Restoration Corporation – $15,000 for “General Operations”
MCC-DC dba West Side Community Services – $15,000 for “General Operations”
Mental Health Advocates of WNY – $30,000 for “Basic Emotional Skills Training (BEST)”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 June 2025 at 8:38 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: Flags fly around the Cobblestone School House in this photo from a previous year’s patriotic service celebrating July 4. This year’s service is July 6.
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum will celebrate Independence Day with their annual patriotic service, scheduled this year at 11 a.m. July 6 in the historic Cobblestone Church.
This will be the 53rd annual patriotic service, said Sue Bonafini, assistant director of the Cobblestone Museum.
She invites guests to attend the event, which will feature several local musicians, a demonstration by former Cobblestone Museum director and Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin and dramatic readings by the museum’s three summer interns.
Musical offerings will include local pianist Raymond Santoro, who will provide piano and organ solos and accompany some patriotic hymns to be sung by the guests attending.
Musician Susan Walders has prepared some flute solos and will help lead guests in several inspirational songs.
Next, local singer Maarit Vaga will also share her musical talent.
Phoebe Kirby, daughter of Justin and Adrienne Kirby and Lattin’s granddaughter, has prepared a guitar solo.
Next, Lattin will demonstrate an interesting item from his personal collection – a historic roller organ. This is a type of mechanical musical instrument, often referred to as a barrel organ or crank organ. These instruments were manufactured primarily from the late 1860s through the mid-1920s, similar in style to organ grinder instruments, Bonafini said.
Offerings from the museum’s three summer interns – Tess Anderson, Collin Capurso and Tom Secrest – include dramatic readings of several short quotes from more than a dozen famous Americans, such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Paine, Clarence Darrow and others.
Topping this all off will be the Museum’s collection of Staffordshire Early Americana plates, showing more than three dozen scenes from early American history.
A potluck picnic on the museum grounds will follow the service at noon. The museum will provide hot dogs and lemonade. Guests should bring their own lawn chair and a dish to pass. A free will offering is always welcome. The Kendall Lions Club is providing a tent for the lawn.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 May 2025 at 2:55 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: From left, Gail Johnson, chair of the Cobblestone Museum’s annual membership dinner and Museum chair Doug Farley, draw winners of the Early Bird raffle. Jackson Hair, right, who is visiting from Arizona with his family, won a Tops gift certificate.
CARLTON – The Cobblestone Society’s annual fundraising dinner Wednesday night at the Carlton Firemen’s Recreation Hall will certainly be one for the record books.
In addition to a good attendance and successful auctions and raffles, Cobblestone Museum director Doug Farley welcomed guests and told them to expect a very good announcement soon from the Governor’s office. Farley has now confirmed the Cobblestone Society has been awarded a $716,000 Capital Improvement Grant for Arts and Culture through the New York State Council on the Arts’ Capital Projects Fund.
“This grant is really good news for the Museum,” Farley said. “It’s the final piece to the puzzle that will allow us to put a shovel in the ground and move forward this summer. We are incredibly thankful for all who contributed to this success.”
Former Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower was auctioneer for the evening, shown here bidding on an item himself. In the rear, waiting to tally bids, are Chris Capurso and Gail Johnson, with master of ceremonies Larry Albanese.
The Cobblestone Society recently completed a successful fundraising campaign to purchase a historic home across the street from the Cobblestone Museum with plans to turn it into a visitor’s center.
Wednesday night’s dinner was the seventh annual Membership Fundraising Dinner for the Cobblestone Society. The evening featured a live auction with Randy Bower as auctioneer, a silent auction, raffles and dinner catered by Zambistro. Larry Albanese served as master of ceremonies for the evening.
Marty Taber shows the crowd an electrified gas lamp which was donated to the live auction.
Main event was the live auction, in which Bower, who retired as sheriff of Orleans County, fired up the crowd to bring out the highest bids, sometimes bidding himself to raise the prices.
Twenty-one items were donated for the live auction, in which a Beehive Clock, circa 1870 and donated by Russ Bosch of Clarendon brought a record $600.
An American Barn Star quilt, made and donated by Brenda Radzinski, sold for $520.
A popular item, a specialty luncheon for 10 at the Cobblestone’s historic Vagg House, was bid up to $390, which Farley duplicated when two bidders expressed interest.
Five prizes were raffled off to ticket holders who made their purchase on or before March 31.
A popular raffle prize annually is a lottery tree donated by Shirley Bright-Neeper of Medina.
Numerous other donations from community members and local businesses covered the cost of the dinners, hall rental, appetizers, sheet cake and table coverings.
The public is reminded to support upcoming events to benefit the Cobblestone Museum. These include the Potty tour of outhouses on Saturday; Orleans County Bicentennial Museum Day on Sunday; Museum tours beginning Sunday through Oct. 31; a masonry workshop at 10 a.m. Sunday;
Progressive Organ Concert on June 1; Patriotic Service at the Cobblestone Church at 11 a.m. July 6; a Mid-Summer Celebration (formerly the Summer Solstice Soiree) at the gardens of Jeanette Riley of Albion; Fall Open House Sept. 6; Preservation Awards Banquet Oct. 10; Tour of Historic Homes Oct. 18; annual meeting Nov. 1; and “Simply Christmas” Dec. 6 at the Cobblestone Church.
Provided photos: (left) Docent Gerard Morrisey describes the outhouse at the Cobblestone Museum which belonged to former Georgia governor Rufus Bullock. (Right) This Federal style outhouse from 1830 is the oldest building in the Cobblestone Museum complex, and will be one of those featured in the first tour of the season – “Privies: From Primitive to Pretentious – An Outhouse and In-House Tour,” led by former Cobblestone Museum director Bill Lattin.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 April 2025 at 8:30 am
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum will open its 2025 with its first tour, entitled “Privies: From Primitive to Pretentious – An Outhouse and In-House Tour.”
Former Cobblestone Museum director for 40 years, C.W. “Bill” Lattin, will lead this unique tour on May 17.
The Museum has a number of outhouses associated with the buildings in its complex, each with a different interesting, and sometimes humorous, feature.
“This fun and entertaining trip around the Cobblestone National Historic Landmark District will include eight often overlooked buildings,” said director Doug Farley. “The ‘potty tour’ includes each of the Cobblestone Museum historic outhouses, indoor commodes and much more.”
Farley explained the oldest building on the Cobblestone Museum property is actually an outhouse, built in the Federal style in 1830. It was originally used at the first bank built in Orleans County, located at the corner of New York state routes 279 and 104.
Another historic outhouse was once situated on the property of Governor Rufus Bullock, governor of Georgia following the Civil War. The Bullock family had strong local ties, according to Farley, and Gov. Bullock lived in Albion after his retirement. When he died, he was buried in Mount Albion in 1907.
(Left) This water closet in the c.1834 Universalist Church lobby was for men only. (Center) This Eastlake style outhouse has decorative siding and a bench, perhaps to sit and wait one’s turn. (Right) The interior of the Eastlake outhouse, situated at the Museum’s Print Shop, has interior paneling.
The Cobblestone Museum’s Farmers’ Hall has a Greek Revival outhouse that seats five.
“It’s really remarkable, with plastered walls and wallpaper,” Farley said.
Also featured on the tour will be the outhouse at the Museum’s Print Shop, in an Eastlake style with interior paneling. A water closet in the 1834 Universalist Church lobby was for men only. The adjacent cobblestone parsonage has an assortment of chamber pots. At the Cobblestone School, separate outhouses were available for boys and girls.
The “Potty Tour” will also include a short slide show of Victorian novelties which depict the era’s “naughty” sense of “bathroom humor.”
The tour is scheduled for 2 p.m., rain or shine. Farley reminds participants to wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and “Be sure to bring your sense of humor,” he said.
Reservations for this unusual tour are strongly suggested. A sliding scale “pay what you wish” donation will be gladly received. Reservations may be made online at cobblestonemuseum.org or by calling (585) 589-9013.
