Photos by Tom Rivers: Visit at least 3 sites during the Heritage Festival and receive this commemorative button designed by Albion artist Kim Martillotta Muscarella. She included the four themes highlighted in the festival: historic gems, historical cemeteries, agriculture and transportation.

ALBION – A festival this weekend will give people a chance to discover and learn more about local cemeteries, “historic gems,” agriculture and transportation.

The county-wide celebration includes 29 locations of historical and cultural significance to deepen the appreciation of Orleans County today and in the past.

“This event truly illustrates how much this area has to offer,” said Derek Maxfield, GCC associate professor of history and a festival organizer. “Each location ties into one of the four themes giving community residents of all ages a chance to appreciate our history while enjoying a fun, family-friendly, end of summer outing.”

The Genesee Community College campus centers in Albion and Medina will be a showcase for local history.

Today there will be a timeline festival at the Medina center on Route 31A. There will be re-enactors, impressionists and artisans at Medina from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. President James Madison and his wife Dolley, President Abraham Lincoln, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other historic personalities are expected. There will also be artisan demonstrations, antique autos, Civil War firing demos, and exhibits from the Military History Society of Rochester.

The Albion campus center will be recreated into a Victorian wake, with a beautiful glass casket. Volunteers from the Orleans County Genealogical Society will be available to help research ancestors. The campus center will also host an 11 a.m. lecture by District Attorney Joe Cardone on famous crimes and murders in Orleans County. Retired Orleans County historian Bill Lattin will give a noon lecture on “Victorian Memorials Using Human Hair.”

Derek Maxfield says Orleans County is unusual with so many historic sites and people committed to preserving them.

The Heritage Festival highlights 29 sites around the county with historic interest. There will be volunteers on hand at many of the sites for tours and to answer questions. (Click here to see brochure detailing when volunteers will be at the sites.)

• Historic Gems – These sites include the Albion Historic District, Clarendon Historical Society, Cobblestone Society & Museum (the only National Historic Landmark in Orleans County), Company F Memorial at the Medina Armory (currently Orleans County YMCA), Medina Historic District, Medina Historical Society and Robin Hill Nature Preserve in Lyndonville.

• Historical Cemeteries – Orleans County has several cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places, and other sites that are burial grounds for pioneer residents. The festival includes Beechwood Cemetery in Kendall, Boxwood Cemetery in Medina, Greenwood Cemetery in Kendall, Hillside Cemetery in Holley, Mt. Albion Cemetery and Union Cemetery at Watt Farms in Gaines.

• Transportation – The Erie Canal cuts through Orleans County, so the festival will feature canal-related infrastructure, including the East Avenue Lift Bridge in Holley, and Canal Culvert in Ridgeway (only spot on canal where motorists can drive under the canal). There also will be railroad infrastructure included with the Medina Railroad Museum, and Murray-Holley Historical Society Depot Museum. Other stops include the Pine Hill Airport in Barre for the Vintage Aircraft Group’s breakfast on Sunday, Tillman’s Village Inn (a historic stage coach stop on Ridge Road), and the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum at Point Breeze.

• Agriculture – Some local farms will be open for tours, including Hurd Orchard on Ridge Road in Holley, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery & LynOaken Farms on Ridge Road in medina, Orleans Poverty Hill Farms on West County House Road in Albion, Partyka Farms on County Line Road in Kendall, Roberts Farm Market on Maple Ridge Road in Medina, and Watt Farms Country Market on Route 98 in Albion.

Matt Ballard, the Orleans County Historian, gives the keynote address to kick off the Heritage Festival on Friday evening at Hoag Library. Ballard discussed some pioneer residents and others from the 1800s and early 1900s whose contributions are overlooked, including a wave of Norwegian immigrants who settled in Kendall in 1825, and many residents who excelled in politics, industry and the medical profession. Ballard will be leading tours of Albion’s Courthouse Square historic district today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with tours leaving every half hour from the courthouse steps.

It’s a quiet primary season in terms of elected paid positions. Republican candidates at the town, county and state level won’t face an in-party fight on Tuesday.

However, two towns have primaries for spots to serve on the Republican Committees.

Joe Sidonio forced a primary for District 4 in Murray. He faces Kimberly CL DeFrank and Edwin Bower. That primary is from noon to 9 p.m. with voting at the Holley Junior-Senior High School, 3800 North Main St. Voters can pick two candidates.

In Gaines, there are primaries for three of the district committees.

In District 1, Republicans will elect two committee members among Ray Burke, Susan Heard, James R. Hood and Lorienda Smith. In District 2, Joseph C. Grube, Guy D. Smith and Bruce Blanchard are running for two spots. In District 3, Lisa Mannella, Donald J. Allport and David T. Alchin are vying for two positions. Voting is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Town Hall, 14087 W. Ridge Rd.

There is also a primary for the Independence Party for delegates from the 144th Assembly District. Independence Party members will pick elect one delegate – David J. Haylett Jr. or Ryan B. Rooney – for the 8th Judicial District Convention. They will also elect an alternate: either William W. Rooney or Clara K. Haylett. That election is at Shelby Town Hall, 4062 Salt Works Rd.

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower wants to add a second full-time animal control officer. Kathy Smith, the lone full-timer, handles the job with some part-time help.

“I don’t know how one person can do it,” Bower told town and county officials during a recent meeting of the Association of Municipalities.

The county currently spends about $77,000 for animal control, with the 10 towns contributing $30,000. Animal control is technically a town responsibility, according to the State Department of Agriculture & Markets.

County officials don’t want an increase in county tax dollars going to a service that, by state law, should be run by the towns.

Bower is proposing the towns triple their current contributions towards the service to $90,000 combined to allow for additional animal control officer. Ridgeway and Albion currently pay the most among the 10 towns, about $5,000 each.

Bower said a second full-time officer would ensure weekend coverage and improved service. The county handles the bulk of the animal control calls. The Village of Medina had an animal control officer, but bowed out of the service earlier this year when Police Chief Jose Avila retired. He tended to many of the animal control calls.

The Village of Albion also keeps a part-time animal control officer with Harry Papponetti to bolster the service in Albion.

The county is limited in the tax cap and doesn’t want to use that small cushion for a service that is a town responsibility, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.

Without an increase in money from the towns, Nesbitt said the county may have to scale back animal control if it’s a tight budget year.

The towns and county are all working on their budgets for 2017. Those spending plans are typically approved in November or early December.

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ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature issued a proclamation declaring September as “Hunger Action Month.” Legislator Don Allport, left, reads the proclamation with, from left: Annette Finch, community service director for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee; Phil Shippers, director of member programs & services for Foodlink; Morgan McKenzie, member services manager for Foodlink; and Legislator Ken DeRoller.

Shippers said Foodlink has provided 737,000 pounds of food to residents in Orleans County. Community Action has a year-round food pantry and other emergency services for residents.

County legislators also issued a proclamation for “Sheriff’s Week” from Sept. 18-24. Legislator John DeFillipps reads the proclamation while joined by Sheriff Randy Bower and Legislator Lynne Johnson. Bower said his office has several activities planned for the week.

Provided photos: State Sen. Robert Ortt, center, is pictured with Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower, left, and District Attorney Joe Cardone.

ALBION – State Sen. Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) stopped in Orleans County today to deliver three checks for $40,000 in state funding to support public safety efforts and educational programs in Orleans County. He also presented a check for $15,000 for a museum in Spencerport.

During a check presentation ceremony in Orleans County, Ortt presented the Sheriff’s Office with a $10,000 check, and the District Attorney’s Office with $15,000. The funds will be used to purchase new equipment for public protection efforts, Ortt’s office said.

Additionally, Senator Ortt presented the Medina Railroad Museum with a $15,000 check to paint two railroad passenger dining cars.

The railcars will be used to educate the public about the historic 20th Century Limited express passenger train that operated on the former New York Central Railroad. The dining cars are expected to be open to the public this winter.

Ortt also announced $15,000 in Monroe County for the Spencerport Deport and Canal Museum, a site that helps tell the story of the Erie Canal.

The money can be used to assist with educational services and programming, purchasing materials, renovations, operations, or events that serve the community.

Ortt, right, is pictured at the Medina Railroad Museum with, from left: Spencerport Deport and Canal Museum President Ted Rauber; Spencerport Deport and Canal Museum Director Nora Venezky; Medina Railroad Museum Board President Rick Henn; and Medina Railroad Museum Director/Founder Martin Phelps.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Panek Coatings of Albion was up early today painting the Orleans County Clerks’ Building and the County Courthouse. The historic buildings are getting a fresh coat of paint.

Panek is painting the two buildings, both named to the National Register of Historic Places, for $106,450.

Panek has several employees working on the project which started in late July.

Panek’s painters use lifts to get the high spots on the buildings.

Provided photo – Chris Bourke is shown with K9 Cim.

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is pushing to re-establish its K-9 unit following the retirement and death of Cim, a drug-detecting dog.

Cim was diagnosed with cancer last year and cancerous tumors were removed in the summer of 2015. Cim was retired from service in December after long-time handler Chris Bourke became undersheriff on Jan. 1. Bourke was a lieutenant in the Sheriff’s Office.

Cim had an additional surgery this past spring, and succumbed to cancer in June.

“Cim was an excellent working dog with a great personality,” Bourke said.

The dog was trained in patrol, drug detection, obedience, tracking and article search.

“Cim was a great liaison for the Sheriff’s Office and performed many demonstrations for groups and schools,” Bourke said.

The Sheriff’s Office is re-establishing the K-9 Unit and recently named Deputy Jeffrey Cole to be the new handler. Bourke said the Sheriff’s Office has located a canine and is in the process of evaluating the dog. The Sheriff’s Office also will be looking to upgrade the 9-year-old K-9 patrol vehicle.

Many community members and local businesses have expressed interest in contributing to this cause, Bourke said. The Orleans County Sheriff’s has established an account to facilitate the donations which will be used for purchasing and training the canine and deputy, outfitting the vehicle, training aides, and other equipment needed for the K-9 Unit.

“Any contribution for the canine unit is greatly appreciated and accepted as they minimize the impact of this great resource on the Orleans County taxpayer,” Bourke said.

Checks should be made payable to the “Orleans County Treasurer” with a notation in the memo portion “For Sheriff K-9 Fund.” Checks should be mailed to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, 13925 State Route 31,Suite 400, Albion, NY 14411.