Photos by Sue Cook – This acrylic painting “A Vase of Flowers” by Rachel Gregoire, 14, of the Rabbit Raisers Club won both a blue ribbon and was selected for the state fair.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

KNOWLESVILLE – The Trolley Building at the 4-H Fairgrounds opened today to showcase the crafts that many 4-H’ers created.

Judging took place on Saturday and Sunday to allow the kids in animal groups to focus on their animals throughout the rest of the week. Ribbons have already been awarded.

This “Summer Celebration Brunch for Two” table setting won a blue ribbon and was selected for state fair. The display was made by Maggie Gabalski, 17, of the Rabbit Raisers club.

The brunch that is meant to be served on this setting includes several items such as blueberry muffins with blueberry ginger jam and almond poundcake with peach lavender glaze. The meal is meant to feature garden-fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables.

Instead of the more traditional crafts, the Gregoire family in Murray chose to set up a display of their own trapping-related crafts used for making pelts. The long wood pieces are stretcher boards used for stretching the hides of animals and were made by the kids in the club.

“Basically after you harvest the animal and you skin it out, you have to dry the thing before you can possibly tan it or sell it,” Rachel Gregoire said about the boards. “Depending on the animals, you have to put it on different ways.”

Her group doesn’t traditionally set up a display of this nature, but this year the Gregoire family set out the boards they made, along with examples of pelts, books and old tools used in the trade.

“My dad grew up trapping and my mom grew up on a dairy and fruit farm, so she did some hunting,” Rachel said. “Her brothers did a lot of hunting. I’ve been doing this my whole life.”

This stunning dress made by Lauren Becht, 14, of the Adventurers Club, was among the items chosen for the Court of Honor.

Claire Wachob, a 4-H Leader for the Lyndonville Mongrels, says a lot of the traditional handmade crafts associated with 4-H are not dying out or becoming unpopular. She even reuses old crafts for new groups of kids.

“We have quite a few artists in our club,” Wachob said. “They do a lot of wood crafts and ceramics, too. We choose mainly what they love doing. Not everyone likes to be a farmer and garden, but these kids like to paint.”

“We usually go back to the things that they really enjoy doing,” she continued. “I have accumulated all these records and I’ll pull one out and they’ll get excited. We can still do them; they don’t grow old. 4-H is based on the children and their needs, desires and interests.”

She added that 4-H is so popular and families find it so worthwhile that they make it a long-term family thing.

“It is a club where kids grow up to be parents, and the first thing they do is have their kids join a 4-H club,” Wachob said. “Like in mine, we have three generations.”

The Adventurers Club recycled beach towels and turned them in to fun aprons. This apron won a blue ribbon and was made by 6-year-old Matthew Mathes of the Adventurers Club.

Many of the items that won selection for state fair were grouped together on the back wall. The selection includes everything from skirts to snowman hats to plastic bag Muppet heads.

ALBION – Former State Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt didn’t actively pursue George Maziarz’s seat in the State Senate after Maziarz sudden announcement last Sunday night that he wouldn’t seek re-election.

Nesbitt served in the State Assembly for 13 years before stepping down in 2005 after being Republican leader of the minority conference. He was appointed president of the State Tax Appeals Tribunal and continues to work as one of its three commissioners.

Nesbitt’s name was tossed out to a Committee on Vacancies that met last week and backed North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt for the Republican endorsement for the 62nd Senate District.

“As long as we had a good candidate I wasn’t seeking it,” Nesbitt said.

And Ortt, a mayor for 4 ½ years, is a strong candidate, Nesbitt said.

“He has a good background and I’ve heard good things about him,” Nesbitt said. “He is a veteran and a CEO.”

Ortt, 35, served as the city’s treasurer and then clerk-treasurer before being elected mayor. Ortt enlisted in the National Guard on October 2001 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He served a tour in Afghanistan from March to December 2008. Prior to working in city hall, Ortt was a personal financial analyst with Primerica Financial Services.

Gia Arnold, 24, of Holley has forced a GOP primary for Sept. 9. She also is working to be on the November ballot under the Libertarian Party.

The Republicans have a narrow edge in the Senate, and Democrats, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, want to see the power shift to Democrats after the November election.

Maziarz’s seat represents most of Niagara, all of Orleans and the western portion of Monroe. The Democrats have endorsed Niagara Falls attorney Johnny Destino, who lost a Republican Primary to Maziarz in 2012 and has switched parties to run as a Democrat this time.

Destino could see his chances for election improved if both Arnold and Ortt are in the ballot in November, splitting some of the Republican and Conservative bases.

Maziarz in his announcement on Sunday said the job was taking a toll with all the back and forth to Albany and his Senate district. Federal investigators are also looking into his campaign fund and have identified tens of thousands of dollars in unitemized and unreported checks.

Nesbitt worked closely with Maziarz in the State Legislature and said Maziarz had a reputation as one of the hard-working legislators in Albany with his work in the state capitol and in his home district. Nesbitt said the constant commutes and demands of the positions make it hard on legislators and their families.

“He really did a fine job,” Nesbitt said. “He worked as hard as anyone in politics.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Former Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Marcia Tuohey was among the well-wishers today who congratulated Paul Wagner on his retirement as the county’s emergency management director. Wagner retires on Friday after 14 years in the job. He was appointed to the position by Tuohey.

HOLLEY – Paul Wagner was unflappable in a high-pressure job, a person who welcomed suggestions – and criticism – with a goal of keeping residents safe and getting firefighters the resources they need for their jobs.

“Paul has always been around and available,” said Doug Jones Sr., the past fire chief at Kendall. “He can handle stressful situations.”

Wagner, a former Clarendon fire chief, will retire on Friday after 14 years as Orleans County’s emergency management director. He stayed on the job until a new $7.1 million digital radio system was installed. The new system continues to work out some “bugs” but county officials say the system is a vast improvement over the previous one that was implemented in 1992.

Jones was one of many leaders from fire departments throughout the county that attended a retirement party for Wagner at Hickory Ridge Country Club in Holley.

“One of the things I appreciated about Paul is we could have a disagreement and he said it was OK to disagree,” Jones said. “He didn’t hold a grudge.”

Dale Banker, a past Albion fire chief, will succeed Wagner. Banker starts at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday. Banker has worked 36 years for the state Department of Transportation. He has been the DOT’s equipment coordinator and a supervisor out of the Albion office. He will go on leave from the DOT and officially retire from the state in November.

Banker said he will push to recruit more firefighters because fire departments need more active members.

“We’re at an all-time low for volunteers,” Banker said.

Banker would also like to see upgraded and expanded classroom facilities for firefighters at the Emergency Management Office on Countyhouse Road in Albion. He would also like to establish a shooting range for firearms training.

Wagner isn’t fully retiring. He will stay on as a part-time consultant until the end of the year.

Many other counties see a drop in dollars

ALBION – Orleans County’s sales tax revenues jumped 5.3 percent or by nearly $400,000 the first six months of 2014, compared to the same time a year ago.

That increase defies a downward trend for many other counties in the state. In fact, 16 of the 62 counties have a drop in sales tax revenue and state-wide the county sales tax revenue has only increased 0.14 percent, according to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Orleans County officials budgeted for a $25,000 increase in sales tax for the year. The county typically takes in about $15 million for the year.

It’s up by $386,597 for the first six months, $7,741,592 for the first half of 2014 compared to $7,354,995 during the same time frame in 2013.

Neighboring Genesee County saw a steep drop the first half of 2014, a decrease of 4.1 percent or $767,399 to $17,891,433. Wyoming County is down 0.8 percent and Livingston is behind the 2013 pace by 0.7 percent.

Orleans didn’t experience the growth in sales tax like the three other GLOW counties prior to this year. The county came in $363,831 below its budget for sales tax in 2013, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.

The county’s tracking shows a $183,099 increase for the first half of 2014, Nesbitt said.

“My hope at this time is that we will make the budgeted number,” he said.

With so many counties trailing last year’s numbers, the New York State Association of Counties is worried about “significant pockets of weakness across the state.” The sales tax revenue is a key indicator of economic health of a community, said Stephen J. Acquario, NYSAC executive director.

“Sales tax revenue is crucial to counties, as it is one of only a handful of revenue sources available,” he said. “The state must make an ongoing commitment to targeted Mandate Relief in health and human programs and relieve the burden on local taxpayers.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION –  After a big welcome reception in Medina on Sunday night, about 500 cyclists on the Erie Canal are being treated today to refreshments and greetings in Albion and Holley. The top photo shows a group of cyclists by two welcome tents in Albion.

The cyclists come from 34 states and four foreign countries. They are riding about 400 miles along the Erie Canal in the 16th annual “Cycling the Erie Canal” ride organized by the Parks and Trails Network.

Wendy Hinkley, the branch manager for Five Star Bank in Albion, gives directions to cyclists this morning in Albion. She volunteered in a welcome tent organized by the Albion Main Street Alliance. Carolyn Ricker, left, and the Albion Merchants Association also had local merchandise and brochures available.

Many of the cyclists stop for a snack and to stretch their legs in Albion.

The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church also opened for tours and the Cobblestone Society Museum offered a shuttle bus to the museum complex in Gaines.

Karie Deegan and Debbie Karas try to make the cyclists feel welcome this morning in Albion.

Some of the cyclists who approached the Main Street lift bridge in Albion pulled out their cameras to get a photo.

The cyclists are also being welcomed in Holley. Mayor John Kenney will be part of a welcoming committee at the village’s canal park. Kenney and members of the Murray-Holley Historical Society will be serving coffee, pastries and refreshments.

Photo by Tom Rivers – A powerful storm tore through the county on June 17, taking down trees, including this one on Route 279 in Gaines.

Orleans Hub set new records for traffic in June. Our 4,757 daily average for unique visitors topped the previous record of 4,300.

We also set a new record with 438,579 pageviews for the month, which was up 28 percent from May. In June we averaged 14,619 page views each day. We set a new daily record on June 18 with 22,440 page views. That was a day after a vicious thunderstorm took down trees and knocked out power in Orleans County.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The community lined Main Street in Medina on June 9 when a motorcade passed through with the body of Medina native, Sgt. Shaina Schmigel, a paratrooper who died in a training accident at Fort Bragg.

June was the first month in more than a century without The Journal-Register in Medina, which ceased publication on May 30.

The top five stories for the month, in terms of page views, include:

1. Paratrooper from Medina dies at Fort Bragg (June 1)

2. Body of Medina paratrooper comes home on Monday (June 6)

3. 2 face drug charges in Medina (June 23)

4. Albion boy, 9, accidently shot in arm (June 9)

5. Black bear wanders to Gaines (June 23)

Cody Weese took this picture of a black bear along Route 279 in the town of Gaines.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Niagara County Legislature Chairman William Ross addresses the Orleans County Legislature last week with Niagara County Legislature David Godfrey.

ALBION – Initially, leaders from the Orleans and Niagara counties formed an alliance about two years ago to try to get Broadband Internet into rural pockets of the two lakeshore counties.

But the Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance has become much more than that. The group has fought a binational plan for regulating levels of Lake Ontario, joined forces to pressure the federal government to dredge harbors in the two counties, and now is looking to share services with purchasing.

“It’s been a tremendous marriage and I only see it getting better in the future,” William Ross, Niagara County Legislature chairman, told the Orleans legislators during their meeting last week.

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.”

The two counties are close to releasing a request for proposals for companies to provide high-speed Internet to “unserved rural access points,” said David Godfrey, a legislator from Niagara County.

The two counties see Internet service as “absolutely essential” for their residents to run businesses, fill out job applications, do homework and have a 21st Century quality of life.

Godfrey and Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville represented NORA during a June 16 public hearing at the University of Buffalo about the proposed merger of Comcast and Time Warner.

“We are here today as a unified voice of our two counties who are desperately in need of high-speed internet service at every address point in our rural towns,” Godfrey and Johnson told the Public Service Commission. “Today’s agricultural enterprises leverage cutting edge bio-technology, renewable energy, and hi-tech heavy equipment which depend on the Internet.”

Godfrey and Johnson said a bigger “Comcast plus Time Warner” will be less responsive to rural areas. They said the merged company should include a board member representing customers and another seat representing “the voice of the government.”

They noted the companies are highly profitable and could spend some of those profits to expand their network in rural counties.

“Instead, you apply for federal and state grant funds and expand only into areas where there is ‘low hanging fruit’ of higher population densities leaving our rural residents, recreational areas and agri-businesses behind,” they said. “This further damages our rural economies.”

Godfrey and Johnson plan to go to Washington, D.C. next week to speak out against a lake level regulation plan that could cause significant erosion damage to the south shore. That plan was approved by the binational International Joint Commission and needs approval from the federal governments in the U.S. and Canada.

The two counties also will continue to speak out against unfunded mandates, programs approved by the state but paid for at the local level.

“Both of our counties have developed a new synergy that can only help us move forward,” said David Callard, Orleans County Legislature chairman.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The former Bernie’s Laundromat and a neighboring building were sold for $14,000 last week to Ken Daluisio, who plans to expand his print business to the property.

MEDINA – Orleans County sold more than 50 properties last week that had been in limbo due to years of unpaid taxes.

Two of the properties – 128 East Center St. and 132-134 East Center St. – were sold to Ken Daluisio in a negotiated transaction. Daluisio will pay $14,000 for the two commercial properties. They are next door to his business, The Print Shop.

The properties, which includes the former Bernie’s Laundromat, accumulated $50,406 in back taxes and interest, according to the County Treasurer’s Office.

Daluisio wants to expand his print business next door, and renovate the sites for additional retail and business space. Daluisio is planning to add four awnings to the store fronts.

The County Legislature approved the sale on Wednesday, when the body also approved the sale of 51 lots at the annual tax foreclosure sale. The 51 properties sold for a combined $343,050. That was $43,151 short of the $386,201 owed in back taxes and interest.

Some of the properties sold well above the amount due in taxes, and others sold for far less.

The tax auctions usually are money losers for the county. Last year, the county took in about $140,000 for 43 properties with about $375,000 in unpaid taxes.

“It’s in the negative, but it’s not as bad as in the past,” County Treasurer Susan Heard told legislators last week.

Some of the property owners paid the taxes just before the auction to take them out of the sale.

The county is happy to see the properties return to the tax rolls. Heard said the owners may improve the sites, boosting the tax base.

John Robinson will stop in Albion on Tuesday morning

File photos by Tom Rivers – John Robinson of Albion leads caravan of bike riders to a reception last June outside the former Albion Grammar School, which is now used for senior apartments and services for The Arc of Orleans County and senior citizens.

ALBION – A year ago John Robinson inspired communities along the Erie Canal by riding an adaptive bicycle more than 350 miles.

Robinson will begin the 12-day trip again on Monday in Tonawanda and will be stopping in Albion at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. He will visit consumers of the Arc of Orleans County at the former Albion Grammar School on East Academy Street. The Arc runs the Meals on Wheels and Nutri-Fair program from the former school, which also has apartments for senior citizens.

Robinson was born without full arms and legs. He founded an organization, Our Ability, with his friend Doug Hamlin, a 28-year veteran of the software industry who is a quadriplegic as a result of an accident. Our Ability tries to inspire people with disabilities through positive video stories. Robinson mentors, connects and inspires people with disabilities toward education and employment.

John Robinson addresses about 50 people at a reception organized by The Arc of Orleans County. Robinson last year was presented proclamations by Orleans County Legislator Bill Eick, a representative for State Sen. George Maziarz and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

The state Canal Corporation is partnering with Robinson and Our Ability for the journey along the canal.

“Last year, the message of inclusion and inner strength that is at the heart of this great trek was met with an outpouring of support at each stop along the historic Erie Canal,” said Brian U. Stratton, State Canal Corp. director. “Through our partnership with Our Ability, NYSARC and our other sponsors, we will ensure 2014’s Journey will be even larger and its message is spread even further.”

Other partners for the canal trip include the Disability Education Forum of New York, Inc., the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc. (NYSID), and NYSARC, Inc.

The Journey will conclude on July 11 at the Capitol steps in Albany coinciding with NYSARC’s 65th anniversary celebration.

For more information about Our Ability, click here.

Editorial:

Photos by Tom Rivers – Gary Kent climbs a ladder to check on a kestrel box on June 10 in the town of Albion. He volunteers with the Orleans County Bluebird Society and Albion Betterment Committee.

June has been a busy month so far in Orleans County. Both Holley and Albion had their big annual festivals, and many other community projects are in full swing.

Many of these betterment efforts are organized and pushed forward by dedicated volunteers. They deserve our thanks.

The sixth annual Murray-Holley June Fest filled Holley with music and fun on June 7. A core of volunteers ran a 5K race, organized a parade, drum corps show, family entertainment and fireworks display. The town of Murray and village of Holley also directed manpower and money to help make the event a success.

Sandy Heise, race organizer for the Jim Ferris Memorial 5K in Holley, presents Jack Richardson with an award on June 7.

A week later, Albion put on its 28th annual Strawberry Festival. The village of Albion and a big group of volunteers make that event a reality.

These are local people working to make their communities a better place. But there are lots of others finding ways to improve our county.

Here are just a few that have been highlighted recently in the Orleans Hub:

Oak Orchard Open: When a fishing tournament discontinued after last year, four Point Breeze stakeholders decided to organize a new tournament. They said the events are too much of a benefit to the Point Breeze economy to not have a tourney.

Three charter boat captains – Richard Hajecki, Bob Songin and Paul Czarnecki – and fisherman Mark Lewis were the driving force behind the new Oak Orchard Open. The tournament drew 36 teams to Point Breeze who reeled in more than $20,000 in prizes, as well as lots of good publicity for the local fishery and sales for businesses.

Birdhouses: Gary Kent of Albion has assembled a small army of volunteers who set up new bluebird houses and kestrel boxes in the county.

There are about 45 kestral boxes and 150 bluebird houses, with more in the pipeline. Kent, leader of the Orleans County Bluebird Society, said the birdhouses will promote wildlife in the county, which he sees as a principal asset.

He has been climbing 15-foot-high ladders to repair kestrel boxes and install new ones. He connects with many residents, finding ways for them to give back to the community through Habitat for Humanity, pumping gas for senior citizens and other projects.

Log cabin at fairgrounds: The walls were rotting and the site had the potential to become a dangerous eyesore at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Bob Fox chips away mortar in the log cabin. He is one of several volunteers working on the project. David Callard is behind him.

The Orleans County Sportsmen’s Federation 40 years ago worked to build the log cabin. It is used for many conservation programs, including hunter-safety classes.

But the three of the wooden walls were falling apart from rot. The Federation rallied to rebuild two of the walls about two years ago, with the third to be rebuilt in June and July this year, in time for the fair.

Volunteers have done the bulk of the work. The County Legislature deserves some kudos for contributing $5,000 to help buy some of the replacement wood. Without some county help, the project would have lingered.

Legislature Chairman David Callard was at the site last week, helping to chip out old mortar between the logs. He sees the cabin as “living history” that helps make the fairgrounds unique.

The Cost of Freedom Tribute: For many months, local veterans groups raised money and helped organize four days of events in Pembroke for The Cost of Freedom Tribute. The Tribute includes a replica of the Moving Wall in honor of Americans who died in the Vietnam War.

There are other displays for other wars, including the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Tribute was in the area from June 12-15. The American Legion in Oakfield-Alabama took the lead in bringing the Cost of Freedom Tribute to the area, but several Orleans County veterans groups provided donations and manpower for the event.

A member of the Special Forces Association Parachute Team descends with an American flag near the Pembroke Town Park on June 12.

Patriot Guard Riders: There is power in presence, and motorcyclists in the Patriot Guard Riders show tremendous strength by their numbers.

They provided an escort for Sgt. Shaina Schmigel when more than 100 motorcyclists led the hearse carrying her body into Medina on June 9. Schmigel, a paratrooper at Fort Bragg, was killed in a night-time training accident.

Motorcyclists lead a motorcade for Sgt. Shaina Schmigel into Medina on June 9.

The Patriot Guard and Hogs and Heroes Foundation send a message of respect, love and loss every time they honor a fallen soldier. They were at calling hours for Schmigel on June 10 and then at her funeral and burial on June 11.

Volunteers are making their presence felt locally, with some people giving of themselves in many ways. Be sure to join them, giving some of your time and expertise to make the community stronger.

Photo By Tom Rivers – Sue Cook has been taking photos and writing stories for the Orleans Hub since January. She lives in Albion and also works as a graphic designer for The Lake Country Pennysaver.

ALBION – Readers of the Orleans Hub started seeing Sue Cook’s byline in January. Her debut article was about a long-time library worker in Holley who retired. (Holley gives retiring library clerk a big sendoff)

Cook has been writing community stories on a regular basis for the past five months. She also works as a graphic designer for The Lake Country Pennysaver. The Orleans Hub is based out of the Pennysaver at 170 North Main St., Albion.

The Orleans Hub went “live” on April 2, 2013. We’ve been growing since then, adding staff with Mike Wertman covering sports and his wife Cheryl photographing sporting events.

Cook, 26, grew up in Albion. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Graphic Design and a concentration in Archaeology Material Cultures. While at RIT, she worked as a reporter on the college’s newspaper/magazine.

She has enjoyed getting out of the office and covering stories throughout the county, especially now with the warm weather. She has met many inspiring local residents in the past five months.

“I’m shocked at the number of people here who are doing really interesting things,” Cook said.

She is impressed how the small town communities stay close, and often celebrate each other. For example, Cook noted when Bruce Marshall retired in April as head custodian at Kendall Elementary School, he was given a big party by students and staff. (Kendall head custodian feted after 36 years)

Cook follows the Hub social media accounts and she sees teen-agers and recent graduates giving stories “likes” and commenting on the issues.

“The students see the community is listening to them and we care what they’re doing,” Cook said.

She has written about many of the new businesses in the community, and many of the cultural life events. She has met the artists and actors in many productions. She sees their commitment and the high quality of their work.

“It’s been cool to see behind the scenes what a lot of people don’t get to see,” she said.

The schedule of a reporter is often unpredictable, and the topics are varied.

“I learn something new with every assignment I go to,” Cook said.