By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2024 at 8:21 am
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.
These photos show the former Universalist Church in Clarendon, which was knocked down in 2006, and the farm market that is there now.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 November 2024 at 12:20 pm
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Society is extending an invitation to the public to join them at 4 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Cobblestone Church for a program on Bill Lattin’s updated book, “Architecture Destroyed.”
Lattin, former Cobblestone Society director and Orleans County historian, and Cobblestone director Doug Farley will look back at dozens of architectural treasures in Orleans County which succumbed to the wrecking ball over the decades. Lattin recently republished his book on the subject, adding several additional structures which were destroyed during the last few decades.
A narrated slide show will be presented in “before and after” style, with photographs of the original structure along with what each of the sites looks like today. Lattin will also sign copies of his book, which will be available for purchase that day.
The program is free, but donations will be accepted.
Following the program, attendees may continue to discuss the topic with Lattin and Farley at the neighboring Tavern on the Ridge for dinner on their own. Responses for the program or dinner are appreciated by calling the museum at (585) 589-9013 or on the Cobblestone website.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Cobblestone Society and Museum presented their annual awards on Saturday. Pictured from left include Joyce Chizick and Shirley Bright Neeper, volunteers of the year; Jim Bonafini, alumnus of the board award; and Ruth Allis of the Medina Garden Gals, community partner of the year award. Brian Daddis, a mason from Brian Daddis Heritage Masonry, was unable to attend to receive the Business Partner of the Year Award.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 November 2024 at 9:59 am
CHILDS – The annual meeting of the Cobblestone Society took place Saturday at the Gaines Carlton Community Church on Ridge Road.
The afternoon began with a turkey dinner prepared by the ladies of the church, under the leadership of Diane Furness.
The Rev. Susan Boring, pastor of the Eagle Harbor Methodist Church, gave the invocation, followed with a toast by Bill Lattin in honor of the museum’s founders and other supporters over the years.
Cobblestone Society president Matt Holland presided at the membership meeting, at which minutes of the 2023 annual meeting were approved, treasurer’s report was read by vice president of finance Dick Remley and election of officers took place.
Remley reported 126 pledges have been received toward the capital campaign of $750,000 for the new Visitors Center. The campaign is at 111 percent of the goal, but Remley said more will be needed to complete the project.
Bill Lattin, a retired museum director, leads a toast in honor of the people who founded the museum and those who have contributed to the organization during its 60-plus years.
The slate of elected officers includes Matt Holland, president; Richard Remley, executive vice president; Christine Sartwell, vice president of development; Mary Zangerle, secretary; Maarit Vaga, treasurer; Chris Capurso, corresponding secretary; and Gail Johnson, membership secretary.
Trustees elected for terms ending Dec. 31, 2027 include Sylvia Goodstine, Camilla VanderLinden, Bill Lattin and Brenda Radzinski. Fred Miller was elected for a term ending Dec. 31, 2026.
Awards were presented to several individuals for their various contributions to the Cobblestone Museum.
First was a Community Partner Award presented by Christine Sartwell to Ruth Allis on behalf of the Medina Garden Gals. These women spent hours planting and weeding the garden outside the Ward House, which they also designed more than 20 years ago. The garden was age-appropriate for the time period of the Ward House, Sartwell said.
Mason Brian Daddis from Brian Daddis Heritage Masonry was unable to attend to receive the Business Partner of the Year Award from Russ Bosch for all the work he did on the cobblestone buildings. He did extensive work on all three of the Museum’s National Historic Landmark buildings.
Matt Holland, the board president, presides over the annual meeting which was held at the Gaines Carlton Community Church on Route 104.
An Alumni Board Award was presented by Grace Denniston to Jim Bonafini, who has made signs for the Cobblestone Society, and since retiring is training to be a blacksmith. He did a demonstration recently for 70 school children. He is also training to be a docent and helps at many events, from directing traffic to set up and tear down.
Assistant director Sue Bonafini presented the final award of the afternoon – the Volunteer of the Year award. This year’s award went to two very dedicated women, Shirley Bright-Neeper and Joyce Chizick. For several years these ladies have planned a garden party soiree, making all the arrangements for entertainment and refreshments. Chizick was commended for creating an elegant selection of finger foods.
Bonafini called them the “dynamic duo,” who planned and coordinated the very first solstice garden party at the Kirby home in Albion. These have since become important fundraisers for the Cobblestone Society.
The afternoon program concluded with a presentation by Ryan Duffy, executive director of the Holland land Office Museum in Batavia, who gave a video presentation of “Joseph Ellicott’s Ghost.”
Ryan Duffy, executive director of the Holland Land Office Museum, shared about Joseph Ellicott, director of the Holland Land Office and the Batavia site’s role in Western New York.
Duffy explained how Ellicott was responsible for Western New York developing from one county to eight counties between 1806 and 1841. He said the infrastructure we use today is credited back to the 1800’s and the Holland Land Company.
Because of Joseph Ellicott’s layout, Buffalo has Ellicott Square, and Batavia, founded in 1881, has Ellicott Street. Both cities have many names which reflect Ellicott’s influence.
Duffy also said Ellicott is responsible to deciding a “foot” should be 12 inches.
“Many things he did are connected to the Holland Land Office,” Duffy said.
He invited the audience to visit the Holland Land Office Museum on Main Street in Batavia and see some of the incredible exhibits they have, including a wedding exhibit focusing on the 1830s to 1970s and an exhibit of buildings by noted artist, the late Don Carmichael. Many of the buildings are no longer in existence, Duffy said.
His presentation concluded by taking questions from the audience, such as “Who owned the Holland Land Company” and “What was the size and cost of a lot purchased from the company.”
He answered, “Dutch bankers owned the Holland Land Company and an average lot was 120 acres and the average cost was $2.50 an acre.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2024 at 9:26 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2024 at 2:44 pm
ALBION – The town boards in Albion and Gaines on Monday both appointed two commissioners to the new Albion-Gaines Joint Fire District.
That follows the decision by the Albion Village Board to appoint a commissioner last month.
The Albion Town Board appointed Chris Kinter, the code enforcement officer, and Joe Martillotta, a retired school teacher and business owner.
Gaines appointed Al Cheverie, a former Albion Fire Department president, and Craig Lane, the deputy highway superintendent for Orleans County.
The Village Board appointed Dave Buczek, a former village trustee, to be the village representative.
The terms for the commissioners became effective on Monday. The five will serve until the end of this year.
Commissioners will be elected in December, in terms of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, depending on the vote totals for each. The highest vote-getter gets the 5-year term and then the term length goes in descending order of votes. After the December election, the commissioner election should be just one position up for election each year.
The first commissioners will focus on a budget for the joint fire district. The five will have an organizational meeting this month and will pick a chairman. That meeting date hasn’t been set yet.
The decision to appoint the commissioners follows a referendum last week where voters in both towns approved the joint fire district.
Both towns passed the fire district by about a 2-to-1 margin during the Aug. 6 referendum. Albion voted 125 yes, 61 no, while the results in Gaines were 70 yes, 43 no.
Albion and Gaines town boards also appointed Victoria Taber to serve as the treasurer for the joint fire district. The elected commissioners will decide who will serve as treasurer when the joint fire district officially starts on Jan. 1.
The district will replace the current structure where the Albion Fire Department is part of the village budget, with the two towns paying the village a contract for fire protection.
The joint fire district will be its own governing structure with five commissioners. The district will have its own tax rate that will be in the town and county tax bills.
Albion and Gaines follow Lyndonville and Yates, and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley which have moved their fire protection to fire districts.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County election commissioners Mike Mele and Janice Grabowski review results from today’s vote for a joint fire district in Albion and Gaines. Mele and Grabowski reviewed the tapes from the machines for both towns and signed off on the results.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 August 2024 at 8:49 pm
ALBION – Voters in both the towns of Albion and Gaines approved a joint fire district in a referendum today.
The turnout was low, and both towns passed the district by about a 2-to-1 margin. Albion voted 125 yes, 61 no, while the results in Gaines were 70 yes, 43 no.
In Albion, 186 voted out of 3,798 registered voters or 4.9 percent. In Gaines, 5.4 percent voted or 113 out of 2,083 eligible.
The new fire district should become official on Jan. 1, with the Albion Fire Department moving out of the village budget and into its own governing structure with five commissioners. The district will also have its own tax rate that will be in the town and county tax bills.
Five commissioners will be appointed to the district until there is an election in December. The Albion Village Board has one commissioner to appoint, while the Town Boards in Albion and Gianes each have two appointments.
The Village Board has appointed Dave Buczek, a former village trustee, to be the village representative. The Albion and Gaines tow boards are expected to discuss their appointments for commissioner during their board meetings on Monday.
Albion and Gaines follow Lyndonville and Yates, and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley which have moved their fire protection to fire districts.
Albion and Gaines officials say the district will allow commissioners to be focused on the needs for fire protection while also being directly responsible to taxpayers. Right now the Village Board sets the fire department budget as part of the village budget, with the two towns paying a fire protection contract to the village.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 August 2024 at 2:31 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Albion fire hall on North Platt Street is shown in April during an open house and recruitment effort for the Albion Fire Department.
ALBION – Voters in the towns of Albion and Gaines will decide on Tuesday whether a joint fire district will be created to oversee fire protection in the two towns, which also include the village of Albion.
The Village Board and the town Town Boards voted to create the fire district, but a referendum was forced after enough petitions were turned in to bring the issue to a public vote.
Both Albion and Gaines will vote from noon to 8 p.m. at Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
Voters will be asked whether a joint fire district encompassing the village and the two towns shall be approved.
The elected officials for the two towns and village support the joint fire district, which would take the fire department out of the village budget. The two towns currently pay the village a fire protection contract.
With the current $350,000 budget, the village pays $113,456 (32 percent), the Town of Gaines contributes $120,422 (35 percent) and the Town of Albion pays $116,122 (33 percent).
The fire district would have its own commissioners to oversee and manage fire protection, and set the budget.
Albion Fire Department officials say the fire department’s current budget of $350,000 is far too short. The department has advised the budget will need to be increased to about $750,000.
The culprit for a bigger budget is the need to soon replace two fire trucks: a ladder truck and an engine.
A new ladder truck (to replace one that is 27 years old) is expected to cost $2.2 million. It would likely be bonded over 20 years at a 7 percent interest rate with an annual payment of $208,000.
A new fire engine (to replace one 32 years old) would likely have a purchase price of $1.1 million. It would be bonded over 20 years with an annual payment of $104,000 a year.
Albion Fire Department officials said the budget needs to increase for the new trucks and equipment whether there is a fire district or if the department remains in the village budget with the towns paying the village in a fire protection contract.
The local officials favor having the board of commissioners to focus solely on the fire protection needs, and also spread out the budget fairly over the tax base in the municipalities.
Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray have formed a joint fire district, and Lyndonville also recently moved to a fire district, taking the fire department out of the village budget.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2024 at 9:10 pm
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.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 July 2024 at 8:23 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 July 2024 at 8:46 am
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.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Chad Pike and his partner Julia Hopkins stand in the dining room of the former Village Inn at Childs, which they have taken over and renamed Tavern on the Ridge.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 July 2024 at 9:19 pm
CHILDS – One of the most historic structures on the entire Ridge Road is again serving the public after being closed for more than two years.
The restaurant formerly known as Tillman’s Village Inn, has reopened under new ownership and a new name, the Tavern on the Ridge. The building is the last remaining stage coach stop on Ridge Road.
New restauranteurs are chef Chad Pike, a 1997 graduate of Albion High School, and his partner (in life and business) Julia Hopkins. She grew up in Rochester and the two met while working at a restaurant in Perinton.
Most recently, Pike was chef at Shelridge Country Club in Medina, where he leased the bar and restaurant for seven years and Julia tended bar.
“The contract with my partner and I was coming up and Julia was ready to step back, so we didn’t renew it,” Pike said. “We had heard Laura Bentley had purchased this place and was looking for someone to breathe new life into it. We began talking to her in the summer of 2022.”
“That Christmas we decided to go for it,” Hopkins said. “We redid the floors, cleaned and painted.”
“We want to honor what the Tillmans had here since 1952,” Pike said. “We hope to make our own history here.”
The historic former Village Inn at the intersection of Routes 104 and 98 in Childs has reopened under new management and a new name, the Tavern on the Ridge.
The couple spent months planning menus and developing their plan of business. In January they began doing takeout-only while waiting for their liquor license and. The food proved popular.
Pike wanted a menu that was smaller, reasonable and flexible, so he could change courses with the seasons. A Polish platter has emerged as a favorite and it will probably stay on the menu.
“People were so happy we are serving food here again,” Pike said.
Menu entrees are priced in the low $20, while sandwiches are in the $13 range.
Eat-in dining began the week before Mother’s Day.
“We were very busy,” Pike said.
Currently, the restaurant is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Beginning Sunday they plan to serve brunch every other Sunday.
Hopkins said they are working on their website, building up the bar menu and developing a full menu.
“We want to focus on consistency and quality,” Pike said. “It was hard to leave Shelridge, but we hope to develop here what we had there.”
Eventually, they hope to add a lunch menu and catering.
Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are appreciated by calling (585) 283-4332 or (585) 297-4416.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2024 at 8:24 am
Albion village sets June 10, June 17 informational meetings about fire district
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Albion Fire Department ladder truck is from 1997 and the fire department would like to replace it soon. A new truck could top $2 million.
ALBION – Petitions have been turned in to try to force a public vote on whether a new Albion Joint Fire District should be created serving the towns of Albion and Gaines.
On Thursday, petitions were turned in to the Gaines town clerk signed by 107 people, to the Albion town clerk signed by 95 people and to the Albion village clerk signed by 259 people. Thursday was the deadline to turn in the petitions.
The town boards for the two towns plus the Albion Village Board on April 30 voted to create a joint fire district. The new district would move the fire department out of the village budget and into its own taxing jurisdiction with elected commissioners.
The two towns currently pay a fire contract to the village for fire protection. With the current budget of about $350,000 the village pays $113,456 (32 percent), the Town of Gaines contributes $120,422 (35 percent) and the Town of Albion pays $116,122 (33 percent).
Some community members want more information about the fire district, including a budget breakdown. During a public hearing on April 24 at the Albion High School LGI, residents were told the fire district budget would likely be $750,000 to $850,000 a year, well above the current $350,000 for the fire department. That $350,000 has left the fire department without a reserve fund for a new ladder truck at an estimated $2.2 million and another fire engine at about $1.1 million. Those trucks will be needed in the near future to replace aging apparatus, deputy fire chief John Papponetti said.
Laura Bentley supports a referendum on the issue. Bentley, owner of Bentley Brothers, lives in Carlton but owns property in Albion and Gaines. She didn’t collect petitions but helped with the process.
“I support a fire district,” she said on Saturday. “It needs to happen. But they need to share more information. During the public hearing, they didn’t respond to questions.”
Bentley said a big jump in the fire department budget will be hard on local taxpayers who are seeing many cost increases in taxes and other expenses.
The two towns require signatures from at least 5 percent of the registered voters in the last gubernatorial election or about 100 people. But the village requires signatures from at least 20 percent of the registered voters or about 650 people.
Bentley said the group seeking a referendum believes it met the threshold to force a public vote in the two towns. It didn’t get enough at the village level. However it is a moot point because village residents are also in either one of the two towns and it doesn’t make sense to also have a referendum at the village level when they are voting at the towns.
Gaines and Albion town officials are expected to review the petitions and meet to set a date for the referendum, which is 60 to 90 days from when the petitions are turned in.
If a vote is set for Albion and Gaines, this would be the second referendum forced by the public on an issue in Orleans County this year. Yates is having a public vote on June 20 on whether the town can spend $700,000 in grant funds to acquire 153.3 acres from NYS Electric and Gas to expand the Yates Town Park on Lake Ontario.
Albion Village Board urges support for fire district
The Albion Village Board issued a press release announcing there will be informational meetings about the fire district at 6 p.m. on June 10 and June 17 at Hoag Library.
“The intent is not to point fingers, but to provide facts about what the next steps should be,” The Village Board states in the press release. “In an effort of continued transparency, our goal is to address any remaining questions.”
The Village Board states the fire department needs a bigger budget. The board stated the following problems with the current situation and the reasons for its support of the fire district:
• When most of us took office, there were no reserves to offset larger capital projects or equipment purchases. The Albion Fire Department was forced to operate “paycheck by paycheck” with no savings for future expenses, planned or unplanned.
• The current fire department budget was not funded at proper levels to meet operational needs, and the village was not able to increase funds without significantly increasing the village tax rate. This resulted in a situation where needed improvements to facilities and equipment had to be delayed, “the can was kicked down the road.”
• The fire contract money from the Town of Albion and Town of Gaines, along with supplemental funds from the village, is keeping the fire department afloat but is not meeting current or future needs.
• We are faced with having to replace two aging apparatus (vintage 1992 & 1997). While evaluating this situation, the chief officers of the fire department proposed to the village replacing three apparatus with only two to “right size the fleet.” The Board agreed because long term, this would be a cost-saving move for the taxpayers. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Standards recommend that apparatus that are more than 25 years old be retired from the vehicle fleet.
• The Village of Albion does not have the ability to take on the debt for the replacement of fire apparatus, or any other necessary improvements, without significant increases in the village tax rate.
• Providing fire protection is not an optional service. It must be provided by law. Providing inferior fire protection not only puts our volunteer firefighters at risk, but it is also a letdown to those that expect a high-quality life and property saving service.
• Providing inferior fire protection lowers the community’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating and would likely increase the insurance premium of every homeowner and may even cause an insurer to deny you coverage in some circumstances. ISO ratings reflect an area’s preparedness to prevent and extinguish fires, such as the number of firefighters, training, apparatus maintenance and reliability, water supply, emergency communication system, and fire safety education and prevention.
Benefits of forming a Joint Fire District for the Town Albion and Town of Gaines:
• The district offers a way to right the mismanagement of past fire protection service and spread the cost of this necessary service evenly across a larger tax base.
• Every registered voter in the Joint Fire District has a say and has the ability to run for commissioner.
• Every registered voter has the ability to vote for commissioners, bonding referendums, creation of reserve accounts, etc. that affect the operation of the fire district. You eliminate “taxation without representation.”
• Your tax bill will have a separate line item with the Fire District Tax. You will have peace of mind that your fire tax dollars are being spent on fire protection.
What happens if the Joint Fire District is not approved:
• If the Joint Fire District is not approved, the Village of Albion will be forced to raise village taxes about $5 per $1,000 of assessed value (a 25 percent increase in village taxes). In addition, once the fire protection contracts with the towns expire at the end of 2026, the village will be forced to negotiate higher-rate contracts with the towns to properly fund and operate the fire department. The towns will then need to increase taxes to pay the higher rates.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2024 at 11:58 am
ALBION – A petition is now available to force a referendum on a proposed joint fire district serving the Village of Albion, and towns of Albion and Gaines.
Representatives plan to be at Hoag Library this week from 4 to 7 p.m. from Monday to Thursday with a petition.
The town boards for the two towns plus the Albion Village Board on April 30 met and voted to create a joint fire district. The new district would move the fire department out of the village budget and into its own taxing jurisdiction with elected commissioners.
The two towns currently pay a fire contract to the village for fire protection.
The vote from the two towns and the village creates a new district to take effect on Jan. 1. The three municipalities are expected to soon appoint five commissioners who would likely start on July 1 and serve about six months until the five commissioners can be elected in December.
But some community members want the joint fire district to go to a public vote. Richard DeCarlo Jr., co-owner of the Heritage Estates mobile home park, and Laura Bentley, owner of Bentley Brothers and the Tavern on the Ridge, say more details are needed on the costs to taxpayers with the new joint fire district.
DeCarlo and Bentley do not live within the fire district, but they are both significant taxpayers in Albion and Gaines. They both said they support the joint fire district, but more information should be provided to the public.
“I understand there is a need for this,” DeCarlo said about the fire district. “It has to happen. But there’s been a lack of transparency.”
Bentley and DeCarlo believe a public referendum would force the local officials to present more details, and the plans for the fire department’s future in regards to new fire trucks, whether a new fire hall is in the pipeline, and other expenditures.
During an April 24 public hearing about the joint fire district, residents were told the fire district budget would likely be $750,000 to $850,000 a year, well above the current $350,000 for the fire department. That $350,000 has left the fire department without a reserve fund for a new ladder truck at an estimated $2.2 million and another fire engine at about $1.1 million. Those trucks will be needed in the near future to replace aging apparatus, deputy fire chief John Papponetti said.
The fire district intends to lease the current fire hall on Platt Street. But DeCarlo would like to know if that is the long-term plan for the district, to stay at the current fire hall or build a new one.
During the public hearing, residents could ask questions, but no answers were provided outside of the prepared presentation.
Because three different municipal boards voted in favor of forming the district, three different petitions are being passed to force a referendum. The petitions need to be turned in within 30 days from the April 30 votes from the three boards.
Bentley said the two towns require signatures from at least 5 percent of the registered voters in the last gubernatorial election. She said that is about 100 in both Gaines and Albion.
But the village requires signatures from at least 20 percent of the registered voters or about 650 people.
“Everyone is in a favor of a fire district,” Bentley said. “But we want to see more information, including a budget breakdown for the next three years.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 26 April 2024 at 12:20 pm
Membership Dinner, Historic Masonry Workshop also planned for May
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Society has announced the first of its special events for the 2024 season.
The first will be an educational program May 3 by coverlet enthusiast Marty Schlabach on the Cobblestone Museum’s Orleans County 19th century coverlet collection. A guided tour of the coverlet collection is including in the evening, which begins at 6 p.m.
Marty Schlabach
Cobblestone director Doug Farley explained that coverlets are woven bedcovers, which were popular in the 19th century when most American homes had spinning wheels and looms. A wide array of cloth was woven by the women of the family for household use, including geometric patterned coverlets.
There were also professional weavers who wove specialty textiles and earned some or all of their living practicing their trade. Figured and fancy coverlets were one of the specialty items and required special equipment usually only found in the professional weave shops.
Following an introduction to coverlets, the coverlet weavers of Orleans County will be highlighted in the evening’s presentation.
Marty Schlabach came to appreciate coverlets through his wife, Mary Jean Wesler, who has been interested in and collected textiles for many years, with a particular interest in quilts. Sometime more than 10 years ago, while pawing through a pile of textiles at a local estate sale, Mary Jean came across two whole late 18th century cloth quilts and one geometric patterned coverlet. It was this that started their interest in exploration and collection of coverlets.
As a retired Cornell University librarian, Marty particularly enjoys the historical research associated with learning about coverlets and their weavers.
A free-will donation will be accepted at this presentation, and reservations are strongly encouraged by calling (585) 589-9013.
File photo by Tom Rivers: On May 8, the Cobblestone Society will host its annual Membership Dinner at the Carlton Recreation Hall. Here, Randy Bower lends his talent as auctioneer at one of the events.
The second event in May is the annual membership fundraising dinner at Carlton Recreation Hall. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6:15 p.m. A buffet catered by Zambistro’s will include chicken piccata and Italian meatballs.
Farley said this is the Cobblestone Society and Museum’s 64th year of service to the community, but there is still much important work to continue.
“With your help and generosity, the Cobblestone Museum will be able to maintain our 10 historic buildings and provide educational programming for generations to come,” he said.
Tickets for this year’s membership dinner are $67 per person or $124 per couple. Each package includes a full year’s membership to the Cobblestone Society and Museum (good through April 30, 2025).
The Carlton Recreation Hall is located at 1853 Oak Orchard Rd., Albion (in Carlton).
The third event announced by the Cobblestone Society is a hands-on Historic Masonry Workshop on May 18 presented by Brian Daddis Heritage Masonry at the Thompson-Kast Visitors Center, listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places.
The full day workshop will focus on maintaining a historic masonry structure. Topics include the importance of using lime mortar when reconditioning historic masonry structures, with a hands-on demonstration involving repointing a stone foundation, repointing brick, extracting and replacing bricks and composite patching of bricks.
Cost for the full day working, which includes lunch, is $90 for Cobblestone Society members and $100 for all others.
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.
