Photos by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin last February gave a lecture at GCC in Albion about Mount Albion Cemetery and the Civil War era’s obsession with death. Here he holds a memorial created for Major Gen. George Gordon Meade.

ALBION – The man who has been a caretaker of Orleans County’s history for more than 36 years will retire on Dec. 31. Bill Lattin said it’s time for someone else to step into the position.

Lattin has been highly visible in the role. He wrote a weekly column about local history for 35-plus years for The Journal-Register in Medina until the newspaper closed in May. He has been prolific for the Orleans Hub, writing Vintage Orleans features since we started in April 2013. He also has written several local history books.

He has given numerous lectures to service organizations, historical societies and school children. He has led numerous tours about local history, visiting cemeteries, churches and historic sites.

“It’s a smart person that knows when it’s time to step aside to let someone younger take over,” Lattin said today.

Lattin talks about Donna Rodden and the former Albion mayor’s efforts to preserve local history during a dedication for a historical marker on the courthouse lawn last summer. Rodden’s daughter, Chris Capurso, is second from back right.

He is willing to continue as a volunteer with tours and historical talks, but he said he doesn’t want to “tread on the new person’s toes.”

The part-time position pays $8,000. Lattin said his successor should be paid more, and should be outfitted with a computer and new technology to do the job. But he’ll leave that to the County Legislature.

Legislature Chairman David Callard said the position will be filled. The county will soon start the process of seeking a new historian. Callard said Lattin has been exemplary in the role for the county.

“He has been extraordinary,” Callard said. “He has gone above and beyond.”

Lattin stands in the First Presbyterian Church in Albion last December during a stained-glass window tour. This window was created by Henry Keck, an apprentice at the Tiffany studio until 1933, when he started his own company in Syracuse. This is an early work by Keck, created in 1934 as memorial to Ella Beckwith Kenney, a Sunday School teacher at the Presbyterian Church. Lattin said it’s one of his favorite windows in Orleans because of theme and striking colors. It shows a teacher and her two students.

Lattin had multiple roles when he was historian. He was curator and director at the Cobblestone Society Museum until retiring from that position three years ago. He also was a long-time Gaines Town Board member.

He is encouraged by the new co-directors at the museum. Both Sarah Karas and Matt Ballard have given the museum a new energy and direction.

“They’re doing great things,” Lattin said. “What they’re doing I didn’t know how to do or want to do.”

Lattin was recently honored by Friends of Hoag Library for his many lectures at the library. He also was named a “Heritage Hero” in April by Genesee Community College and Orleans Hub for a lifetime of working to preserve and promote the county’s history.

Orleans County will have its flags at half mast today in honor of Marcia Tuohey, a former county legislator who served 10 years as chairwoman of the Legislature. Tuohey died on Thursday.

She was committed to public service following her retirement from the Legislature on Dec. 31, 2005. She was a member of Medina’s Planning Board and was the county’s representative on the board of directors for Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.

She was the first woman elected as Medina mayor and also the first woman to serve on the County Legislature.

ALBION – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce invites its members to nominate businesses, organizations and individuals who have helped the local business community.

The Chamber has set a Friday deadline for nominations for awards in the following categories:

Business of the Year: This award is presented to a business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year. (Must be a Chamber member)

Lifetime Achievement: This award is presented to an individual with a long-term record of outstanding business achievements. (Must be a Chamber member)

Entrepreneurial Excellence: This award is presented to a company demonstrating a unique approach to business that has resulted in a strategic advantage in the marketplace through the use of cutting edge technology or other innovative methods. (Must be a Chamber member)

Phoenix Award: This award is presented to an organization or business that has successfully adapted or re-used an existing facility. (Must be a Chamber member)

New Business of the Year: This award is presented to a business or organization that has opened in the past year. (Does not need to be a Chamber member)

Community Service: This award is presented to a business, organization or individual that has provided meaningful contributions to the community in either professional or non-professional spheres. (Does not need to be a Chamber member)

The honorees will be recognized during an awards program in September. For more on the Chamber, click here.

Last year’s winners include:

Baxter Healthcare Corp. in Medina as Business of the Year, Hojack’s Bar & Grille in Carlton as New Business of the Year, OrleansHub.com for Entrepreneurial Excellence, Roger Andrews of Evans Ace Hardware with the Phoenix Award, GLOW YMCA in Medina for Community Service, Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse for Community Service, Jodi Gaines of Claims Recovery Financial Services for Lifetime Achievement, the late Judy Christopher of Albion for Lifetime Achievement, and Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension for Agricultural Business of the Year.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Albion firefighter Carmen Quatro is pictured on top of a fire truck while watching the fireworks on July 5 at Bullard Park.

Orleans Hub set a new record for overall pageviews in July with 444,389. That topped the previous record of set in June when there was 438,579.

The on-line news site started on April 2, 2013 and keeps growing. When we launched, my personal goal was to reach an average of 3,000 unique visitors each day. That was about the combined Orleans County circulation of the Medina Journal-Register and The Daily News.

But we’re well past 3,000. In July we averaged 4,641 unique visitors each day. That was down slightly from the June record 4,757, but a little drop-off was expected with less school news and high school sports. (Mike Wertman still finds a lot of local sports to write about even in the summer.)

Here are our Top 5 stories for July in terms of “clicks,” people who clicked on the headline or followed the story through Facebook or Twitter.

1. Man arrested after manhunt in Holley (July 14)

Photo by Tom Rivers – Emmeritt Massey sits in a chair in front of her garden on South Main Street on July 18 after a bullet just missed her earlier that day while she was tending to her flowers and vegetables.

2. Handgun recovered after shot fired in Medina (July 18)

3. Holley mourns Carmelo Rivera, who starred on the football team (July 8)

4. Medina police looking for assailant (July 19)

5. Police make arrest in July 18 gunshot in Medina (July 28)

She was first woman to serve as Medina mayor, County Legislature chairwoman

File photo – In this photo from May 2013, Marcia Tuohey is pictured in Albany with State Sen. George Maziarz when she was recognized as a “Woman of Distinction” by the State Senate.

MEDINA – Marcia Tuohey, the first woman to serve as Medina’s mayor and also as chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, died earlier today when she was found home by family.

Tuohey has been a prominent local leader for about four decades. She retired from the Legislature on Dec. 31, 2005, but didn’t stay idle. She represented the county on the board of directors for Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. and was picked by her fellow board members to serve as their vice chairman.

She also has served on Medina’s Planning Board, and was vocal during the board’s meeting on Tuesday, which lasted nearly three hours.

“She was genuinely concerned about Orleans County,” said David Callard, the current Legislature chairman. “She was a true leader.”

Mrs. Tuohey served with style. She was known for her fashionable hats and outfits, and also for taking charge of a meeting.

“Even when she retired, she worked hard, often behind the scenes,” Callard said. “She had a very active life.”

While Legislature chairwoman, she pushed through a new fire training tower, a public safety building, renovations to the courthouse and Clerk’s Building, and upgrades to the Orleans County Marine Park. Mrs. Tuohey also was a cancer survivor, beating colorectal cancer about a decade ago.

In May 2013, she was invited to the state capitol to be recognized as a “Women of Distinction.”

“Marcia has been a mainstay in business and government in Orleans County for many years,” State Sen. George Maziarz said when Tuohey was recognized. “More that than though, she’s been a trailblazer for women who want to take an active role in improving their communities. She has worn many hats – literally and figuratively – but today our hats are off to her.”

Tuohey was first elected to the Medina Village Board in 1979. Prior to that she enjoyed an active business career in Medina for 30 years as the co-owner and operator of a nursing home, motel and restaurant, mobile home park, and rental properties. Her success can be attributed to a great aptitude for recognizing and meeting the needs of the community, and possessing a strong work ethic, Maziarz said.

In 1982, she was elected Medina mayor. She served in the high-profile post for eight years until being elected to the County Legislature in 1990, the first woman elected to the county board. After six years, she was picked by her peers on the seven-member body to serve as chairman of the Legislature from 1996. She stayed in the position for 10 years, the longest tenure of any Legislature chairman in county history.

Tuohey attended several of the recent Village Board meetings, giving her opinion about the possible dissolution of the village government. Tuohey suggested the Village Board make more cuts in the village budget to cut taxes.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Former Medina Mayor Marcia Tuohey attended a Village Board meeting in June and said village taxes could be reduced with more cuts in the village budget.

When Tuohey retired in December 2005 from the County Legislature, she was interviewed by The Daily News of Batavia.

She said she became involved in village government in 1979 when she was concerned about a proposed $10 million new sewer plant in Medina. She believed that was too much money. She helped the Village Board instead pursue a rehabilitation plan that upgraded the existing plant for $3 million.

She said she has tried to keep the taxpayers her focus in her 26 years of elected office, including as chairwoman of the Legislature.

She was asked in the interview what has been most rewarding about being an elected official.

“From my perspective, seeing things get done and accomplished, whether its programs or a new building or being involved with the development of an industrial park,” she told the newspaper. “My first loyalty has always been to the taxpayers. I believed in keeping taxes down. Take for instance last year (in 2005) they were lowered, even though the easiest thing would be to raise them. When no one shows up (at a hearing) you shouldn’t assume they are happy. We have a budget and programs should be funded, but not overfunded.”

Orleans Hub will have more on Marcia Tuohey in the coming days.

File photo by Tom Rivers – The Orleans County Courthouse will be open for court on Wednesday after the building was treated by an exterminator.

ALBION – The Orleans County Courthouse will reopen on Wednesday after an exterminator sprayed the building following a flea infestation.

The building was closed on Monday and today, with court functions shifting to the Albion Village Hall today.

The 8th Judicial District, which oversees courts in Western New York, reports the courthouse will be open tomorrow.

ALBION – The Orleans County Courthouse is closed until Wednesday so the historic site can be rid of fleas.

The State Supreme, County and Surrogate Courts will remain closed Tuesday, with Family Court shifting to the Albion Village Hall, 35-37 East Bank St., The Daily News is reporting.

Remediation work started today after an infestation was discovered throughout the courthouse, The Daily News reported.

Photo by Tom Rivers – This sign promoting the Niagara Wine Trail is in Lockport. More of the signs are headed to Orleans and Monroe counties after the trail was expanded.

Orleans County wineries and business owners cheered a long-sought move last September when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation expanding the Niagara Wine rail through Orleans, all the way to Route 390 near Rochester.

Orleans officials and businesses expected the expanded wine trail would lead to more tourists and customers for Orleans wineries, farm markets, restaurants and other businesses.

It’s been nearly a year since the state expanded the trail, but a road-side sign is yet to go up in Orleans County, promoting the Niagara Wine Trail.

That should soon change, local winery owners said.

Paul Schwenk of Schwenk Wine Cellars of Kent is picking up Wine Trail signs next week that will go on Route 18, directing people to his winery on Bills Road. He will hand the signs off to the state Department of Transportation, which will install them.

“Let’s hope they are up by Labor Day, at the latest,” Schwenk said on Thursday.

Wendy Wilson of Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina is also hopeful the signs will be along Route 104, promoting the Wine Trail. She worked on expanding the wine trail for several years.

Each of the signs needed a DOT permit. Wilson said about 100 new signs will be going up to promote the expanded trail.

The Niagara Wine Trail used run along Route 104 mostly in Niagara County. It reached into Orleans to include the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery near the western end of Ridgeway. But it couldn’t keep moving east, without a change in the state law.
Several groups, including the wine industry, tried for years to extend the wine trail.

The State Senate was the first to go for it, but the Assembly didn’t agree until last year. The state about three years ago approved funding for the signs.

This trail is expected to be a tourism boost for Western New York. It will stretch from Niagara Falls through Orleans and into Monroe County. It also will run south from the Falls area into Erie County.

The trail will run on Route 104 between the Ferry Avenue/Route 62 intersection in Niagara Falls and Route 390 in Monroe County. That will be known as “Niagara Wine Trail Ridge.”

The complement to the Ridge route is the “Niagara Wine Trail Lake,” which follows Route 269 north from its intersection with Route 104 at the Niagara-Orleans County Line to Route 18. It then runs west to Route 425, then south to Route 62 and along that route until its intersection with I-290 in Amherst.

Lisa Ireland is first director for merged Orleans agency

File photo by Tom Rivers – Lisa Ireland, executive director for the United Way of Orleans County, joins campaign chairman Charlie Nesbitt last Sept. 11 in unveiling the $325,000 fund-raising goal. Ireland served as the United Way executive director the past three years.

MEDINA She led two Orleans County United Way charters through a merger, helped the combined organization raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local agencies and spearheaded a “Day of Caring” on Sept. 11.

Lisa Ireland said it has been an honor to serve as executive director of the United Way of Orleans County the past three years. But she is leaving the position next month to take a job at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She will be working in the development office, raising money for scholarships.

The United Way in Orleans used to have Eastern Orleans and Western Orleans chapters. Now they are unified with an office in Medina. The United Way set a campaign goal last September to raise $325,000 for 20 different agencies.

“It’s an amazing, amazing job,” Ireland said. “With 20 agencies you see a whole variety of different work. You’re able to touch a lot of lives.”

The United Way is seeking a new director. Candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Bill Hungerford, board chairman at wgh@takeform.net. For more information on the position, click here to go to the United Way website.

Ireland said she will be available through the end of August to help with the transition to a new director. It’s a busy time for the agency as it plans for a new fund-raising campaign and also the Day of Caring on Sept. 11. On that day volunteers go out and work with many community service projects.

“We purposely chose Sept. 11 wanting to turn a day of tragedy into something positive,” Ireland said.

Ireland grew up in Albion and lives in Brockport. She was just elected president of the Board of Education in Brockport. Prior to the United Way, she was director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and the development director of Hospice of Orleans.

“I’ve worked 12 years in human services in Orleans County,” she said. “It’s been such an honor to work with everyone in Orleans County.”

Provided photo – This undated photo, provided by Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin, shows the Courthouse Square in its pre-automobile days with hitching posts to tie up horses.

Photo by Tom Rivers – A hitching post will be installed sometime soon near the historical marker at the southwest corner of the courthouse lawn.

This hitching post is next to the home where Grace Bedell grew up on West State Street in Albion. Bedell is the girl who wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln, encouraging him to grow a beard.

ALBION – The historic Courthouse Square will soon add an artifact from a bygone era.

The County Legislature has agreed to accept a hitching post from the Albion Main Street Alliance. The post will be added to the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn, likely in August, said Legislature Chairman David Callard.

The post will be located near a historical marker that was installed last July. That marker, with a log cabin logo, honors the pioneering spirit of Albion’s first residents. The marker recognizes William McAllister.

In December 1810, McAllister bought 368 acres in Albion, the east side of the village, from the Holland Land Company. The following year he built a log cabin where the current County Clerks’ Building stands next the county courthouse.

McAllister and his wife, known only in historical information as “Mrs. McAllister,” were Albion’s first settlers. The hitching post adds to that spirit of honoring the pioneers and early residents in the community. That was part of my message last week when I addressed the Legislature.

I showed them pictures of the many hitching posts and carriage steps in the community. I think Albion and Gaines have more of these survivors from the horse-and-buggy era than anywhere else. (I don’t think an inventory has ever been done to see which community has the most of these historical relics.)

Most of Albion’s hitching posts and carriage are on side streets. We don’t have too many along the state roads. AMSA is working with the village and now the county to have four hitching posts put back on Main Street. They will be set back off the state right of way. By having four in more prominent places on Main Street, we’ll be better able to promote the other sites that have hitching posts and carriage steps.

Many of them are in front of grand old houses from the 1800s or other historical sites, including the Cobblestone Society Museum and Mount Albion Cemetery.

I encouraged the Legislature to consider putting six to eight hitching posts along Main Street in front of the courthouse lawn, replicating the setup from the 1800s. I think we could find that many hitching posts or have them made.

I think the county could negotiate the placement with the state Department of Transportation, as long as the county assumes liability. I just wanted to put that idea out there for the county officials to mull over. For now I’m happy the Legislature will allow the one to go by the historical marker.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Coming In Greasy works their way to the top of the pole. The team climbed the pole in 51.28 seconds.

The A Team works its way up the grease pole on Friday. The A Team was the second fastest of five teams with a time of 40.33 seconds. The Troll Diggers had the fastest time with 22.33 seconds to advance to tonight’s championship at 10:30 p.m.

The team 5 Guys And 2 Chicks are all smiles after climbing the grease pole in 44.95 seconds. Some of the team members include Brandi Newman of Medina, center, and Sean Poprawski, right, of Albion.

Mikayla Jackson of Barker made it to the top of the grease pole with 5 Guys And 2 Chicks. She smiles while sliding down the pole.

Iva McKenna of Barre acknowledges a cheering crowd after she was introduced by Barry Flansburg, emcee of the grease pole competition, as “the greatest female grease pole climber ever.”

Iva competed with the Iron Fists, which included two of her daughters, Jenny McKenna and Kerri Richardson. The team came about a foot short of getting to the top of the pole.

The Iron Fists gave a valiant effort in climbing the pole. The group includes, from left: Emily Bannister, Jessica Derefinko, Julie Cecchini (in back), Kerri Richardson, Zach Welker (in back), Andy Beach, Jenny McKenna, Iva McKenna and Amber Demmin.

Photos by Sue Cook – Morgan Parnitzke belts out “Listen” by Beyonce.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

KNOWLESVILLE – Thursday night marked the finals of the karaoke contest at the 4-H Fair and a big crowd turned out for one of the fair’s most popular events.

Seventeen contestants were chosen from prior qualifying rounds throughout the week to compete for the $1,000 prize donated by M&T Bank.

Another prize of 16 hours of studio time was donated by John Wragg, owner of TORQUIL Studios. Wragg was personally judging the contest seeking someone who was very passionate about their and was not simply there trying to win the cash prize. The prize also includes time to make a music video with the studio.

Joyce Stamp entertains the crowd of more than 400 onlookers.

Wragg commented that he was not judging based on age, looks or gender. The important part was that the singer was full of energy and having a great time, while making it clear they lived to be a performer.

“Wide Open Spaces” by the Dixie Chicks receives a sweet rendition by Laura Mullen.

Brandon Johnson, the entertainment coordinator for the fair, was one of the judges for the karaoke contest.

“This is one of the biggest competitions in the entertainment portion of the fair that happens throughout the week,” he said. “Lots of people come out for this and come back night after night to try to qualify for finals. We’re looking for stage presence, vocal ability and crowd recognition.”

Olivia Redick gets energized during her performance.

He added that pure talent was the key to winning high marks from the judges.

“I like all types of music, said Johnson. “It just depends on who is singing it and their vocal ability and whether the song fits them or not.”

Contestant Rich Nolan performed “Eight-Second Ride” by Jake Owen.

“I’ve been singing my whole life, so it’s just natural,” said Nolan. “I’ve been practicing that way and doing other contests. There’s a lot of good competition. It’s going to be hard.”

Taylor Whittier rocks the crowd to AC/DC.

Taylor Whittier performed an AC/DC for the finals, but also used the band for his qualifier song on Monday. One way he says he gets positive feedback is to get the crowd involved.

“I play music in a local band called Terrible Ideas,” Whittier said. “I’ve been singing since I was 12 or 13 in local places. I just do it for fun.”

Jessica Reigle donned a candy-sweet pin-up look for her number.

Lydia Piazza, a resident of New Jersey, moves to the area in the summer and enters the 4-H karaoke contest each year.

“I love it,” she said about being on stage. “I’ve been dancing since I was 5, so it’s just calming to me. I’ve always been singing just for fun.”

John Gursslin got the ladies in the audience screaming as he sang “Bed of Roses” by Bon Jovi.

Morgan Parnitzke, 17, was not intimidated by some of the older singers because she was competing for the enjoyment of it.

“I just took a lot of time rehearsing the song over and over again. I just felt it,” she said. “I’m glad I got the chance to sing today.”

Parnitzke (left) went on to win the contest with a score of 88 out of 90. The other competitors to make it to the top five included (from left): Rich Nolan, Olivia Redick, Jessica Reigle and Emily Kordovich.

Jessica Reigle also won over Wragg with her fun performance of “Candy Man” by Christina Aguilera. Reigle will be given the opportunity to use the studio space for 16 hours.