Big crowd fills courtroom for swearing-in

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Randy Bower is sworn in as the new sheriff of Orleans County this afternoon. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch, right, administers the oath and Bower’s wife, Robin, holds The Bible. The Bowers’ children, Jacob and Jessica, join their parents for the swearing-in.

Bower officially takes over as sheriff on midnight Jan. 1. He replaces Scott Hess, who is retiring after 12 years as sheriff.

Bower was joined for a group photo by many members of the Sheriff’s Department. Chris Bourke, right of Bower, will serve as undersheriff. Bourke started his 31-year career in law enforcement as a corrections officer in the county jail and has worked as a deputy on road patrol. He has been a lieutenant the past 18 years and is the department’s K-9 handler.

Bower also introduced Michael Mele as the new chief deputy. Mele has worked 18 years as a police officer with the first two years at the Holley Police Department and the past 16 years as a deputy with the Sheriff’s Department.

“He is challenge-driven and goal-oriented,” Bower said about Mele.

Clara Martin, standing behind Bower, will serve as his secretary. She has worked in the Board of Elections as a deputy elections commissioner.

Bower has worked the past 30 years as a public safety dispatcher. He was seriosuly injured in a car accident when he was 18 and has been paralyzed from the waist down.

Judge Punch told about 125 people at the swearing-in ceremony that Bower has been an inspiration to many in the community.

“He’s an unstoppable force,” Punch said.

Bower will take over a demanding job, that Punch said has become more difficult in recent years.

“It’s helping and protecting the people of the county and giving justice,” Punch said.

There was a big turnout for the swearing in at the main courtroom of the Orleans County Courthouse.

If a rainbow emerges in the sky or if there is a dazzling sunset, Orleans Hub readers will often send in photos of the spectacles.

Readers also will spot snowy owls, bald eagles and other wildlife and share those images.

The top photo shows two bald eagles pictured in early March at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Pamela Moore took the picture.

Here are some of my favorite images captured by readers during 2015.

Linda Dale of West Bacon Road has found a bright spot in the brutal cold weather on Feb. 18: a frequent visitor she calls “Allie.” She took this photo of Allie – a spotted deer. This Piebald deer was eating seeds from the bottom of a bird feeder.

“She’s such a delight!! Just look at that face!!” Dale said in an email.

Jason Smith was driving to work on Feb. 20 as superintendent of Lyndonville Central School and took this picture of a sundog on West Countyhouse Road in Albion.

The sundogs resemble rainbows. They appear sometimes in the winter when low-lying sun creates ice halos.

Matilda Erakare took this photo at about 6:50 a.m. on May 5 while she was walking along East Avenue on her way to school. She was a freshman at Albion last year when she took the photo.

Doug Boyer took this picture of an osprey with its catch on May 16 at Lake Alice in Carlton.

Joe Martillotta was out mowing his lawn on North Main Street in Albion on May 22 when he discovered a fawn nestled in the bushes. Martillotta said he was tempted to pet the baby deer but he didn’t want its mother to reject it. The fawn eventually got up and took off running.

These baby swans were out on Lake Alice for their first day on the water on May 29. Doug Boyer was there for the milestone moment.

Mike Beach of Albion snapped this photo of geese crossing Gaines Basin Road by Wal-Mart on June 14.

Peggy Barringer of Albion took this photo of people in in Amphicar on Sept. 6 at Point Breeze.

A blood moon was out on Sept. 27 and Heather Kuepper took this picture of the total supermoon lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon.

A double rainbow appeared on Oct. 16 and Chris Busch took this photo of the rainbow as seen from South Main Street and Crosby’s in Medina.

Michelle Restivo joined her grandfather Richard Heard of Albion on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. on Oct. 24 to see war memorials. Heard enlisted during World War II and was a radar mechanic. In February of 1943, he was called to active service from reserve status. He was stationed in six states. Here he is pictured by the Korean War Memorial, sitting near a wall inscribed with the words,” Freedom is not free.”

Curtis Beecher, an employee at the Lynn-Ette and Sons farm in Kent, took a picture on Nov. 25 of a snowy owl on some of Lynn-Ette’s farm equipment. The owls returned for another winter in Orleans County.

It was a dramatic sunset on Dec. 6 and Eric Conn captured this scene at Point Breeze.

It was shockingly warm for much of December, including a 72-degree day on Dec. 14. Jennifer Orr of Albion took her kids to the lake at Point Breeze. They made this snowman in the sand.

Photos by Tom Rivers

These are some of my favorite “people pictures” from 2015, showing Orleans County residents at work and play, and sometimes in mourning.

The top photo shows Medina Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich hustling down Eagle Harbor Road in Gaines to help at the scene of a fire on April 13. Zinkievich retired from the position, effective Sept. 28.

Greg Martillotta, the middle school band teacher at Albion, leads seventh- and eighth-grade band members during a March 4 All-District Concert.

The Albion music program has been honored the past seven years with national awards through the North American Music Merchants. NAMM has named Albion a “Best Communities for Music Education.”

Casey Costello, a tenor and recent graduate of Nazareth College in Rochester, sings “Danny Boy” during a Celtic celebration of music and dance on March 15 at First Baptist Church in Albion, part of the Eastman at Albion concert series. Costello was given a standing ovation from the crowd after the song.

Frank Sidari of Albion has his photo taken with Boy Scouts in Troop 164 on March 15, during a celebration of his 90th birthday at St. Mary’s Athletic Club. About 200 people attended the party for Sidari, a long-time volunteer with the troop. Mr. Sidari, a World War II veteran, would die about a month later on April 18.

Some teens shoot hoops at dusk on the basketball courts by the Lyndonville Central School on March 24.

Michael Stephenson, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Medina, leads a sunrise service on April 5 in Boxwood Cemetery next to Glenwood Lake. About 25 Christians from Medina churches attended the service on Easter morning. Stephenson spoke of the power of Christ’s resurrection and the hope that provides for the world.

An employee with Genesee Valley Transportation watches the demolition of the Clarendon Street bridge in Albion on April 7. GVT owns the railroad that passes through Albion. The bridge was built 40 years ago and came down in April after being ripped apart from the shears on heavy equipment from Wargo Enterprises, an Akron company specializing in demolition.

About 200 Santas were in Albion in mid-April for the Charles W. Howard Legendary Santa Claus Conference. Many of the conference participants gathered on the steps of the Orleans County Courthouse for a group photo on April 18. They also sang some Christmas carols from the Courthouse steps. Howard started the first Santa Claus School, which he ran in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966.

Teams of powerful draft horses, with participants from eight states, get ready to compete at 4-H Fairgrounds in the “Pull of Champions.” This team from Michigan waits its turn to pull on April 25. The teams compete in either the lightweight division (3,425 pounds or less for two horses), or the heavyweights for teams that exceed 3,425 pounds.

Union soldiers make a charge on the Confederates during a mock battle April 26 at the GCC’s Medina campus center on Maple Ridge Road. The campus hosted Civil War Encampments the past three years.

John Deere tractors are parked outside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Albion on May 12 during the funeral for John Panek, who helped start one of the area’s largest local farms.

Samuel Glushefski, 8, and his brother Jesse Glushefski, 19, finish the Jim Ferris Memorial Race together in a time of 24:57. Holley hosted the race for the 19th time on June 6. The brothers are from Clarence and attend the Old Paths Bible Baptist Church in Clarendon, where several members ran the race and volunteered at a water stop.

The Turtle (Nikolas Greean, 15, of Albion) and Michael Bonnewell, Albion Central School superintendent, watch the Turtle Race on June 13 from their vantage point on the Main Street lift bridge. Volunteers sold more than 900 turtles for the Turtle Race. Proceeds from the race are used to help pay for the two-day Strawberry Festival.

The bishop of the Western New York Diocese for the Episcopal Church spent several hours in Orleans County on June 17, visiting sites in Albion and Medina. The Right Rev. R. William Franklin is pictured with Robert Waters, a member of the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Medina. They are pictured at City Hall in Medina after Waters showed Franklin the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame. Several Episcopal churches in WNY were built with Medina Sandstone, some nearly 200 years ago. Mr. Waters, a long-time community booster, would die at age 90 on July 29.

Emily Shabazz is excited as she goes to get her diploma during Albion’s commencement on June 26.

Lucas Silvis holds his Holley diploma on June 27 with his mother Robin Silvis, who is a member of the Holley Board of Education.

Bennie Blount, 11, of Medina twirls a sparkler on July 4 before the fireworks went off in Lyndonville.

Ayman Huzair, 21, of Waterport captured first place during the karaoke competition on July 30 at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Huzair won a $500 prize for his performance, which was a medley of songs from Michael Montgomery, Bruno Mars and Cupid. Huzair welcomed the crowd to join him on stage for the “Cupid Shuffle.” His sisters Salma, 16, and Tamara, 13, both performed, and so did their brother Qasim, 11. The siblings took three of the top 5 spots.

Ed Hilfiker, a member of the Who Dats, performs with the band on July 31 at the main stage of the Orleans County 4-H Fair in Knowlesville.

Phoebe Kirby, left, and Kasey Neal of Albion are delighted with the ride on the Midway on Aug. 1, the last day of the Orleans County 4-H Fair for 2015. About 25,000 people attended the fair during the week.

Jackie Sponaugle of Holley serves as the base for a team called Lyntucky Hicks. Kevin Ginger of Albion is climbing on Sponaugle, trying to be the second person up during grease pole competition at the fair on Aug. 1.

Gary Withey, owner of Fischer’s Newsstand in Albion since 1995, takes care of customer Amanda Harmer on Aug. 17. Withey closed the business on Aug. 30. Fischer’s was part of the community for about a century.

Kirsten Struble, a member of the Albion Cross Country team, and her teammates are enthusiastic boosters on Aug. 22 at Mile 9 in the Metro 10 race in Albion, a 10-mile trek on foot where runners squared off from Rochester versus Buffalo. The cross country team also manned a water stop at the ninth mile on Butts Road. There were about 400 runners in Albion for the debut race, which was won by Rochester.

Susan Rudnicky of Waterport has 40 paintings in watercolors and acrylics in the last show at Marti’s on Main, an Albion art gallery. Rudnicky is pictured on Oct. 1. Kim Muscarella, owner of the gallery, gave artists a place to display their work for the past seven years. She has opted against another season in 2016.

Doug Bower lets out a big laugh on Oct. 24 when he was roasted by Jim Salmon during a benefit at Tillman’s Village Inn. Bower, a plumber in Albion, is co-host of the WHAM Home Repair Clinic with Salmon. Bower provided plenty of material for the sold-out roast, which was a benefit for The Salmon Children’s Foundation. That foundation has donated more than $7,000 to Albion High School graduates in scholarships in memory of Nicholas Kovaleski.

With the sun shining and temperatures at about 70 degrees, many folks were out enjoying the Great Outdoors on Nov. 3. John Paul Simon, 12, (left) and his brother Sharbel, 13, fish in Johnson Creek behind the Yates Community Free Library. They spent much of the day in Lyndonville, fishing and reading at the library while their father, Jim Simon, campaigned for Yates town supervisor.

Photos by Tom Rivers The ground was covered in frost on Saturday morning following a cold night. This leaf was on the lawn of the Orleans County Courthouse in Albion.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Orleans County from 6 p.m. Monday until 10 a.m. Tuesday, when the area could get hit with freezing rain and snow.

The Weather Service says up to 2 inches of snow could fall Monday night, with another inch on Tuesday morning. Untreated roads could be extremely slippery, the Weather Service said.

The advisory was issued for Orleans, Niagara, northern Erie, Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston counties.

The frost on Saturday morning left its mark on lawns in Albion.

Provided photo – Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard, left, spoke at a Niagara County Legislature meeting earlier this month when Bill Ross, right, was recognized for a long career in public service, including a record 12 years as chairman of the Niagara County Legislature.

LOCKPORT – Niagara County may be much bigger than its neighbor to the east, Orleans County, but Niagara leaders have proven to be great friends to Orleans, said David Callard, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature.

A two-county partnership, the Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance, has helped both counties advance projects, including a push for broadband Internet coverage in rural pockets of the counties, a joint effort to collect e-waste (household electronics) and also fight a plan for regulating the Lake Ontario water levels.

Callard said Bill Ross, the Niagara County Legislature chairman, was a strong supporter of the two-county effort. Ross, 82, is retiring on Dec. 31 after a 30-year career in elective office. He also worked nearly a half century as a teacher and coach.

“He was able to work with anybody and everybody,” Callard said about Ross. “He has such a dynamicism.”

Ross has been to Albion several times to address the Orleans County Legislature. In April, Callard and the Orleans legislators presented Ross with a “Special Recognition Award” for his efforts with NORA, the two-county alliance.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Niagara County Legislature Chairman Bill Ross accepts a “Special Recognition Award” in April from David Callard and the Orleans County Legislature.

Niagara County has 216,469 residents, compared to 42,883 in Orleans, according to the 2010 Census.

Ross during a June 2014 visit to the Orleans County Legislature meeting said he sees the two-county partnership paying dividends for Niagara and Orleans.

“It’s been a tremendous marriage and I only see it getting better in the future,” Ross said during that meeting.

Niagara had an alliance with Erie County, but Ross said that fell apart. Orleans officials have been far more receptive and the two counties seem to have more in common as southshore Lake Ontario counties with lots of rural landscape.

“This is just the beginning of NORA,” Ross said about the alliance. “It’s been successful and it will be successful because of the people involved in it.”

Callard attended a Niagara County Legislature session on Dec. 1 and spoke during the meeting about his appreciation for Ross and his inclusive leadership style.

“We can share the problems and solve the problems,” Ross said during an April meeting of the Orleans County Legislature. “I can’t see a better partnership than with Orleans County.”

The unemployment rate in Orleans County was 5.5 percent last month, which was down from 6.8 percent in November 2014.

The state Department of Labor released the data on Tuesday. The report shows that 17,000 people were working in the county last month, compared to 16,800 the previous November. There were also 1,000 people listed as unemployed, compared to 1,200 in November 2014.

State-wide the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in November, the lowest since November 2007, according to the Department of Labor.

Columbia County has the lowest rate at 3.5 percent and Hamilton County is the highest at 9.1 percent.

Other unemployment rates for nearby counties include Genesee, 4.6; Wyoming, 5.0; Erie, 4.8; Livingston, 4.5; Monroe, 4.6; and Niagara, 5.5.

ALBION – Orleans County has passed a local law requiring pawn shops and other secondhand dealers to hang on to merchandise for at least 5 days before a sale.

The county had considered the local law to require businesses to hold merchandise for at least 14 days but trimmed that wait to 5 days instead. Erie County last week voted to pass similar legislation and it requires a 14-day hold.

The law in Orleans applies to pawnbrokers, swap shop operators, stamp dealers, coin dealers, jewelers and auction houses that purchase and resell items from people other than dealers and suppliers. There are some exemptions, including garage sales, antique dealers and sales by governmental, civic and religious organizations.

Law enforcement officials requested the law, saying stolen merchandise is often taken to pawn shops and jewelry stores.

The new lawn requires secondhand dealers to not buy from anyone under age 18, and cannot purchase items where the original manufacturer’s serial number no longer legibly exists.

Sellers to the secondhand shops also need to present identification at the time of sale.

The owners of the secondhand businesses need to keep records of what was purchased and from which sellers, and those records need to be filled out on forms provided or approved by the district attorney. The person who made the acquisition, whether the owner of the business or an employee, also needs to be recorded for each item.

All entries of sales and transactions need to be kept for a year and open for inspection by police officers, according to the local law. (Erie County is requiring the records be kept for five years.)

Owners of the secondhand businesses also need to allow law enforcement officers to examine, during normal business hours, any goods, articles, pledges, pawns, books or other records relating to secondhand property.

Officers are also allowed to seize items they have “reasonable grounds to believe to have been stolen.” Property seized will be receipted and shall be returned within 10 days if determined not to have been stolen.

Secondhand dealers who break this law could be fined a minimum of $50 and maximum of $500 on the first offense.

Paul Lauricella of Lyndonville was critical of the law during last week’s Legislature session. Lauricella said police shouldn’t be allowed to search businesses without warrants.

“Our Founding Fathers went to war over this,” Lauricella said.

The law was unanimously passed by the seven county legislators. Legislature Chairman David Callard said the law went through “numerous revisions” before the vote last Wednesday.

Reducing expressway to 2 lanes may ensure better maintenance

File photos by Tom Rivers – The Lake Ontario State Parkway runs along the lakeshore from Carlton into Rochester.

ALBION – Orleans County officials, increasing worried about the deteriorating conditions on the Lake Ontario State Parkway, think a long-term answer to the route’s maintenance may be reducing some of the lanes.

The expressway currently has two westbound and eastbound lanes. The road is bumpy in spots with cracks and pockmarks, especially just across the Orleans County line in Hamlin. The off-ramps are in bad shape and the state also seems to be reducing roadside mowing, county officials said.

“They are not maintaining the roadway or mowing much,” Jim Bensley, director of the Orleans County Planning Department, told the County Planning Board last Thursday.

He advised the board the county has applied to the Genesee Transportation Council for a feasibility study to reduce lanes of the Parkway, which extends 12.7 miles into Orleans County, ending near the Lakeside Beach State Park. The Parkway includes bridges that go over the Oak Orchard River.

The bridges over Oak Orchard River were built for the Lake Ontario State Parkway, which ends abruptly 2 miles west of the river.

The county is seeking $55,000 from the Transportation Council for the study, with the county providing an additional $9,000 in in-kind services.

The county would only support repurposing or decommissioning the west- or east-bound lanes if that resulted in the state better maintaining the remaining lanes, according to the county application with the Transportation Council.

The state Department of Transportation and Genesee Transportation Council have been directed state and federal highway resources to higher-volume routes. That doesn’t well for the continued maintenance of the Parkway, Bensley told the Planning Board.

One Planning Board member, Andrew Kludt of Kendall, said the Parkway has become so jarring that ambulance drivers don’t want to take patients on it. They look for alternative routes which take longer to get to the hospital.

“The Parkway is a huge time-saver if it’s operational,” Kludt said.

If the west- or eastbound lanes were closed to traffic, the closed lanes could perhaps be opened as a recreational route for walkers or snowmobilers, according to the county application. The remaining west- or eastbound lanes would stay open to traffic with steady maintenance from the state.

If the Transportation Council approves the study there will be public meetings and opportunities for residents and businesses to provide input about the Parkway and its future.

The study will take an inventory of the transportation assets on the Parkway and project the remaining useful life of the bridges, pavement, etc., and an anticipated maintenance schedule.

The study will also look at the most feasible route for repurposing the Parkway.

The study should weigh the conversion costs of a repurposed Parkway with its ongoing maintenance. Bensley said it’s possible a study could show it will cost too much to close lanes on the Parkway when conversion costs are tallied.

The project would be unprecedented, certainly for Orleans County, because it seeks to downsize a limited access state roadway. The route isn’t available to commercial traffic.

The goal of the study is a continuous highway corridor on the parkway from the Orleans-Monroe County border to Lakeside Beach State Park, Bensley said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The first snowfall finally hit today, with harsh winds part of the onslaught. The weather turned nasty around 3:30 p.m. This cyclist is crossing Main Street in Albion at about 4 p.m.

At least three accidents were reported on Ridge Road in Ridgeway since 4 p.m. with a car into a tree between Marshall and North Gravel roads, a vehicle rollover between Knowlesville Road the Gaines-Ridgeway town line, and a rollover between Swett and Oregon roads.

The weather will get better after today with highs of 38 on Sunday, 48 on Monday, 50 on Tuesday, 55 on Wednesday, 59 on Thursday and 45 on Friday (Christmas), according to the National Weather Service.

Here is how Main Street leading to downtown Albion looked at about 4 p.m.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The price at the Kwik Fill in Albion is $2.27 for unleaded today. Gas is cheaper at many stations outside Orleans County.

ALBION – Orleans County legislators say gas prices can sometimes be 30 cents more per gallon in Orleans, compared to neighboring counties, hurting businesses and residents in the community.

County officials have railed against the high prices before, which are attributed to “zone pricing,” according to a report from the Attorney General’s Office. The AG said in 2011 that no laws are being broken due to higher prices in some counties.

The County Legislature is asking Gov. Cuomo and the State Legislature to pass a law making it illegal for zone pricing and other artificial changes in fuel prices.

The State Assembly has already passed a bill, A.00103, targeting zone pricing and the State Senate is considering the issue with bill, S00332.

“It’s imperative that we level the playing field for our businesses in Orleans County,” County Legislator Ken DeRoller, R-Kendall, said on Wednesday during the Legislature meeting.

The national average for gas prices today is $2.007, according to AAA. That is the lowest price since 2009.

In New York State, the average price is $2.272 per gallon, AAA reported today. In New York City, the average price per gallon is $2.37. in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region it’s $2.24. Gas gets cheaper moving east with an average price of $2.20 in Rochester and $2.13 in Syracuse.

Maurice D. Jacobs

MEDINA – A Rochester man face drug charges after being arrested Tuesday at the Rite Aid parking lot in Medina, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is reporting.

Maurice D. Jacobs, 37, of 24 Conkey Ave. was charged two counts of criminal sale and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, which are Class B felonies.

His arrest followed a three-month investigation into the sale and distribution of crack cocaine from Rochester to Orleans County, the Task Force reported.

Jacobs was arraigned in Albion Town Court by Justice Joseph Fuller and committed to the county jail on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.

The Task Force made the arrest along with the Medina Police Department. Joe Sacco, supervising investigator for the Task Force, says the investigation continues and more arrests are pending.

ALBION – Randy Bower will be about $11,000 less as sheriff in 2016 than his predecessor, retiring Scott Hess.Orleans County legislators on Wednesday voted to set Bower’s pay at $71,322, which is grade 11, step 3 in the pay scale. Hess is retiring after 12 years sheriff. He has been paid $82,621 in 2015 at grade 11, step 9.

County legislators met in executive session to discuss Bower’s pay on Wednesday. The group decided that Bower would make less than Hess based on Bower’s experience.

Bower was elected sheriff last month. He has worked nearly 30 years as a public safety dispatcher.

Hess became sheriff after working for the Albion Police Department for about 20 years, including several years as police chief.

“This is just a starting salary,” David Callard, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature, said about Bower’s pay level. “We have great expectations for the job he’ll do.”

Callard said the Legislature could have started Bower at either step 1 or step 2, but opted for step 3. Bower’s salary and pay steps should increase each year he’s on the job, Callard said.

Legislator Ken DeRoller also said Bower’s pay is just at the “starting level” and will go up in the future.

“We’re looking forward to working with the new sheriff,” DeRoller said.

Legislators had a public hearing setting the pay for some appointed and elected officials. Those positions will see 2 percent increases in 2016. That includes the seven legislator positions.

The chairman will be paid $17,087, the vice chairman $12,920 and the other five legislators, $11,390 each.

Some other positions and the pay for 2016 include: county clerk, $77,529; county treasurer, $77,529; director of personnel, $81,963; highway superintendent, $84,273; social services commissioner, $84,273; real property tax director, $71,322; director of computer services, $72,930; IT operations analyst I, $58,383; director of community health services, $68,372; secretary to highway superintendent, $49,410; director of emergency management, $30,588; and county historian, $8,160.

The 2 percent increases were opposed by Paul Lauricella, who ran for legislator this year with Conservative Party backing. He lost the election to Lynne Johnson. Lauricella, speaking during the public hearing, said the raises are too much for taxpayers.

“I have a hard time understanding that,” he said about the 2 percent increases.

File photos by Tom Rivers – John Dady, part of the Dady Brothers with his brother Joe, performed along the Erie Canal in Albion on July 12, kicking off the concert series on Thursdays. The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council approved funding for the concerts in 2016.

BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council has announced $52,283 in funding for several cultural programs in Orleans and Genesee counties for 2015.

The funding in state decentralization grants is up from the $41,600 approved in 2015.

GO ART! also approved $5,000 total for two Ripple Grants to support local artists who wish to involve the community in their creative process.

One of those $2,500 goes to Bill McDonald of Batavia for the Travelling Towpath Troubadors, a concert series along the Erie Canal. The Troubadors performed several canal concerts from a boat this past summer. The group will be back for more music in 2016.

Members of the “Old Hippies” play as the Travelling Towpath Troubadors in a concert on July 12 in Medina’s Canal Basin. The group includes Vinny Pastore, Jim Catino, Kay McMahon and Bill McDonald.

The decentralization grants approved for projects in Orleans County include:

Lake Plains Players for its fall musical (to be announced), $1,819.73;

Lake Plains Players summer musical (to be announced), $638;

Lake Plains Players, Summer Youth Theatre Camp, $1,324.73;

Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, “Finally Fridays!” – 15th annual series of free music programs during winter, $1,969.73;

Lyndonville Lions Club for Concert Fun in Lyndonville, $2,794.73;

Mental Health Association for pottery and print making, $835;

Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fair Flower Show, $585;

Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc. for an evening with Irish Tenor, Ronan Tynan, $3,619.73;

Julie Patel portrays Olive Ostrovsky, one of six contestants in the The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which was perfomed last summer at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery by the Lake Plains Players. Patel is singing, “My Friend, the Dictionary.”

Tale for Three Counties Council for three-county community reading effort “A Tale for Three Counties,” $2,094.73;

Village of Albion, Concerts on the Canal, $2,509.73;

World Life Institute in Waterport for “Voices from the Earth,” $4,875;

Yates Community Library for “More than Just Books,” $2,969.73

GO ART! welcomes artists and organizations to apply for funding again next year. Workshops for the 2017 grant cycle will be in the summer of 2016 at select local libraries and at the GO ART! building in Batavia.

Megan Brenner-Zwara plays Mary and Joseph Kusmierczak is George Bailey in the Lake Plains Players production of the It’s A Wonderful Life, which was performed last month. The Players were approved for funding in 2016 for three different theater projects.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Some of the members on the toy drive effort for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee include, from left: Kris Hartwig, administrative assistant at S.B. Whistler and Sons (Phinney Tool and Die); Annette Finch, community services director for Community Action; Marsha Rivers, executive director of the Orleans County United Way; Michelle Figueroa, case manager for emergency services at Community Action; and Megan Piccirilli, administrative assistant for Community Action. Some other committee members include Carolyn Wagner, human resource manager for BMP in Medina; and Wendy Hinkley. The toys in this picture were donated by Gary the Happy Pirate in Rochester.

ALBION – Businesses and residents accepted the challenge to play Santa Claus to nearly 400 children in the Albion area.

The community members bought toys for 377 children in a toy challenge. Donors were given gift tags for children, listing their first name, age and three desired gifts. The residents, business owners and employees then want out and shopped.

It was the first time Community Action of Orleans & Genesee tried the gift tags where donors knew the name of the child they were shopping for and their desired gifts.

“It became more personal,” said Kris Hartwig, an administrative assistant at S.B. Whistler and Sons in Medina, a regular participant in the Community Action toy drive. “You know you’re getting them something they like.”

There were 53 donors who gave gifts to 377 children and 54 adults. Donors also gave $2,500 to the effort and Community Action and volunteers will use the money for gifts and food for the families.

“I like the feeling of helping the family,” Hartwig said. “Everything that is given stays in our community.”

Each family will get a holiday basket with food, and much of that will come Saturday morning when the Albion FFA chapter delivers food collected from local farmers. Some of that bounty will be shared with food pantries around the county.

Michelle Figueroa works as case manager for emergency services for Community Action. She has helped organize all the toys and food. She is impressed by the community’s generosity.

“I think it’s awesome,” Figueroa said. “It’s showing the love. They have that holiday spirit.”

In addition to the effort in the Albion area, Community Action has organized a toy and holiday basket drive in Holley and Kendall for about 125 children and their families. The Lyndonville Lions are collecting toys for about 125 children. The Medina Area Association of Churches also runs a toy drive for children in the Medina area.

Altogether, the organizations will direct toys to 800 to 1,000 children in Orleans County, said Annette Finch, community services director for Community Action.