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.

Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers

EAGLE HARBOR – It was a brilliant sunset this evening in Orleans County. These photos were taken from the lift bridge in Eagle Harbor looking west.

Sunday is forecast to be sunny with a high of 68, followed by a partly sunny Monday (Columbus Day) with a high of 63.

The forecast then calls for a mostly sunny Tuesday with a high of 67, and mostly sunny Wednesday with a high near 56.

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.

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.

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.

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)”
• Natural Heritage Trust – $18,000 “Restoring Freedom Park’s Gardens”
• Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service – $16,371 for “Urban Outreach Initiative”
• Open Buffalo – $20,000 for “Emerging Leaders Program”
• Peace of the City – $20,000 for “All of the Arts”
• Roycroft Campus Corporation – $20,000 for “Illuminating the Roycroft Campus for Accessibility and Tourism”
• Seneca Street Community Development Corporation – $20,000 for “Youth Programs”
• Service Collaborative of WNY – $15,000 for “General Operations”
• Springville Center for the Arts Theater – $19,362 for “Stained Glass Curtains”
• WNY Land Conservancy – $17,000 for “Re-treeing for Rural Community Water Quality”
• WNY Women’s Foundation – $36,000 for “MOMs: From Education to Employment Program”
• Youth Mentoring Services – $18,500 for “LINKS”

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.

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.

More information on any events is available on the Cobblestone Museum’s website or by calling (585) 589-9013.

This quilt, held by Marty Taber and Mollie Radzinski, sold for $520. The quilt was handmade by Radzinski’s mother Brenda.

Photos courtesy of Katie Stiegler

GAINES – Laura Bentley, owner of Fairhaven Inn & Events, welcomed local officials in celebrating the grand opening of Fairhaven on Tuesday.

Bentley has turned the former Tillman’s Village Inn into an events center. The restaurant and bar continue at the site as the Tavern on the Ridge, run by Chad Pike and Julia Hopkins.

Bentley was joined at a ribbon cutting by Darlene Hartway, Chamber of Commerce executive director, and local officials from Orleans County Legislature and local towns. After the ribbon cutting, the officials held their meeting at Fairhaven for the Orleans County Association of Municipalities.

The Orleans County Legislature and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s both resented certificates to Bentley for opening Fairhaven Inn & Events. Bentley is hugged by Lynne Johnson, the Orleans County Legislature chairman. Legislator John Fitzak is in back.

For more information on Fairhaven, contact Faye Conley, event coordinator, at Faye@fairhavenvenue.com, or check the Fairhaven website.

Provided photo: Heritage mason Brian Daddis repairs a stone wall on a cobblestone building. He will conduct a hands-on historic masonry workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 17 at the Thompson-Kast Visitors Center, across from the Cobblestone Universalist Church.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Museum has announced a hands-on historic masonry workshop on May 17, featuring heritage mason Brian Daddis.

The workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Thompson-Kast Visitors Center at the corner of Ridge Road and Route 98. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The full day workshop will focus on maintaining a historic masonry structure. Topics will 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.

“Maintaining historic mortar with quicklime products requires a careful approach to preserve your building’s authenticity and integrity,” said Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum. “Proper preparation and application are key and avoiding modern additives that could damage the masonry over time. Regular inspections and gentle repairs will help keep the building’s historic charm intact. Brian is a local expert on historic mortar and this class is a must for anyone who wants to maintain their older home.”

Cost for the full day workshop, including lunch, is $90 for Cobblestone Society members and $100 for all others.

Reservations may be made by sending a check payable to Cobblestone Museum, 14389 Ridge Rd. W, P.O. Box 363, Albion, 14411; or calling (585) 589-9013 to charge on a credit card.

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 located 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 Specialty 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.