By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat debuts tonight
Photo courtesy of Bruce Landis – The cast and crew is pictured for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which has three shows at 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday.
MEDINA – Cast members from seven local churches are joining for a musical at the Oak Orchard Assembly of God, with 7:30 p.m. shows tonight, Friday and Saturday.
Admission to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is free. The church is located at 12111 Ridge Rd. The show is directed by Trisha Stacey, a Medina teacher.
While the show has been performed on Broadway and many secular stages, it is based on a Biblical story of Joseph and his “coat of many colors.” Joseph is in the Book of Genesis.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 July 2013 at 12:00 am
MEDINA A committee that has been tasked to develop a plan for the village’s dissolution will meet for the first time at 1 p.m. Thursday. The session will be in the main meeting room at City Hall, 600 Main St.
Mayor Andrew Meier is a member of the committee. He is hopeful a plan can be developed and presented to the public by next spring. A dissolution of the village would need approval by village residents.
Medina received a $50,000 state grant to prepare the plan. The village on July 8 voted to hire a consultant and formed a committee to develop a plan for the orderly dissolution of the village. Don Colquhoun, former executive director of the Arc of Orleans, is leading the committee.
Other committee members include Cindy Robinson, a Main Street business owner and president of the Medina Business Association and the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce; Charlie Slack of Slack Insurance; Thurston Dale, a retired veterinarian; Meier; and Village Trustee Mark Irwin.
The group will work with the Center for Governmental Research to develop a plan to dissolve the village and fold those government services and assets into the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway.
CGR will be paid $55,555 for its work. The organization assisted Medina and towns of Ridgeway and Shelby with a consolidation study about two years ago. That project showed the costs of providing services could be reduced by $200,000 to $400,000 with consolidation of services, plus the state would likely give the communities $600,000 annually as incentive aid for reducing layers of government.
Meier would like to have a plan developed in the next six to nine months. The Village Board could then accept the plan and schedule a referendum for village residents. Town residents outside the village don’t have a say at the polls on the village’s fate.
Meier believes dissolving the village and its layer of government will significantly reduce Median’s tax rate, making the community more desirable for residents and businesses. Medina has the highest combined tax rate – village, town, school and county – in the Finger Lakes region. That rate is about $54 per $1,000 of assessed property, with the village accounting for about $16 of that tax rate.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Brandon Christiaansen, 8, of Albion uses some pedal mite in today’s small fry tractor competition at the fair. Jason Quatro, 15, of Albion volunteers as a helper for the event. He attends the Old Paths Bible Baptist Church in Clarendon, which has been assisting with the tractor pull.
Luc Wagner, 6, of Lyndonville won tonight’s small fry tractor pull heat in the 66- to 85-pound group. He pulled a wagon with a 40-pound weight for a full pull – 45 feet in front of the fair office. He qualifies for the finals at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The small fry tractor pull is a 23-year tradition at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. The competition is every weekday at 6:30 p.m., and 1:30 on Saturday with the winners competing in the finals on Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Meat auction topped $20,000 for 4-H’ers
Photo by Tom Rivers – Mandy Armer raised this sheep, named Coal, and donated the proceeds to Hospice of Orleans County. The sheep was sold three times on Saturday, raising money for Hospice and the 4-H program.
KNOWLESVILLE – Mandy Armer, 18, of Barre spent more than two months feeding, cleaning and caring for a sheep.
Her payoff could have come at the end of the Orleans County 4-H Fair at the meat auction. But Armer chose instead to donate proceeds from the sale, $531.30, to Hospice of Orleans.
Mandy has lost relatives to cancer. The long-time 4-H’er wanted to support an organization in Orleans County that assists cancer patients and other terminally ill residents.
“I wanted to do something that would help and support something that is local,” she said.
Panek Farms in Albion paid $454.30 for the sheep. The farm then decided to donate the animal back so it could be resold again. Former 4-H’er Robert Bannister of Point Breeze, who served as auctioneer of the meat auction, then paid $1 a pound – another $77 donation to Hospice, making $531.30 altogether for the agency.
Bannister, who now lives in Castlewood, SD, then donated the animal back so it could again be resold. This time Ed Rogger, a meat processor in Basom, paid $1 per pound or $77 and donated the money to the 4-H program.
The fourth annual 4-H animal meat auction netted $20,760 in sales. The sale included three steers, seven hogs, seven meat goats, five lambs, seven chickens, four turkeys and four rabbits.
The 4-H kids raised the animals and many of them connected with buyers for the auction. The 4-H’ers typically use the funds from the sale to invest in next year’s animals and to save for college, said Kerri McKenna, a 4-H community educator and auction coordinator.
“This program allows 4-H’ers to apply real world skills no matter what industry they’re going into,” McKenna said.
She praised the generous buyers, who paid well above the market price for the animals.
“The buyers want to support the youth,” she said.
Armer just finished her freshman year at Alfred. She had four other animals in the auction, two meat goats and two more sheep. She wanted to thank the other buyers: Bentley Brothers, A.L. Bennett and Sons, Tractor Supply and Domoy Farms.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Michael Karcz
KNOWLESVILLE – Michael Karcz shared this photo with Orleans Hub taken of the fireworks Friday night at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Karcz, 18, just graduated from Albion in June. He has been experimenting with photography. This photo actually represents several different images.
“The firework shots were taken individually, and the shot of the fair was taken after the fireworks,” Karcz said in an email. “I needed a higher vantage point, and the only place I could think of was on top of my van, so I climbed up and shot away. That’s the fun of photography.”
Karcz said he wants to continue to practice and hone his craft.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Alex Graff, a Medina native who now lives in Rochester, may be covered in grease, but he is having a great time during the grease pole championships on Saturday to cap off the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Steven Papponetti is trying to climb of Graff’s shoulders. Graff and Papponetti are members of the Rough N Ready team. They weren’t able to reach the top of the pole on Saturday. They won on Wednesday to advance to the finals.
The Grease Grapplers once again won the grease pole championship, ascending the slippery telephone pole in 23.3 seconds. Andy Follman is on the bottom in this picture with Jesse Follman on his shoulders. Tyler Palmer, in black shirt, makes a move to climb to the top. Those three are all from Lyndonville. Five Guys and a Pole, a team new to the competition, came in second by climbing the pole in 30 seconds.
The Grease Partiers are close to climbing the slathered pole. Matthew Parker is on the bottom with Patrick Sewar on top. Tyler Thomas, middle, gets ready to climb on Sewar’s back. The three are all from Medina.
Tyler Thomas of Medina is thrilled to reach the top of the grease pole for the Grease Partiers.
The team called Merica works together to climb the grease pole. Nick Schroeder is in the yellow shirt and Dustin Wells is wearing the white shirt with red pants. They’re both from Medina.
Barry Flansburg has served as emcee of the grease pole climb each night for many fairs. A big crowd watched the finals on Saturday. State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, and State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, both attended the event and addressed the crowd.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Tyana Burroughs, 8, of Kendall soars into the sky at one of the fair rides.
The fair included a staple of forbidden foods, such as candy apples …
… and taffy.
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair completed its six-day run of fun on Saturday. Fair officials were pleased with the crowds, the great weather, and the quality of the rides, food vendors and 4-H exhibits.
Nevada, 5, of Barker enjoys a ride on the Merry Go Round.
Three generations of the Steier family in Albion enjoy I Got It at the fair. The group includes Karen, her mother Gail and Karen’s daughter Clarissa.
Fair officials praised Midway Rides of Utica for the quality of the rides and their cleanliness.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Fearless Flores perform south of Knights Building. They are on the schedule at 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30.
Daily Feature: Midway Rides of Utica $18 unlimited ride wristband from 1 pm to 5 pm or 6 pm to10 pm. (Each wristband good for one session only)
Daily Feature: Orleans County 4-H Fair Dunk Tank, located across from the Senior Council stand
Daily Feature: Kids Love Trucks: Orleans Emergency, Fire Dept., Law Enforcement, and Ambulance Services from across the county
8 am: Senior Council Stand opens
9:30 am: Horse Games Day (Gymkhana) – Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: All Buildings open
10 am: Little Britches Swine Show (open to the public) at Swine Pavilion
10:30 am: Goat Costume Contest – Knights Building
11 am: Vegetable Art Contest (open for all) at Education Center Lawn
11 am to 3 pm: 89.1 The Point Live broadcast
11 am to 2 pm: Kids Love Trucks: ORLEANS EMERGENCY, Fire Dept., Law Enforcement, and Ambulance Services from across the county – Education Center Parking Lot
11:10 am: Iron Chef 4-H Youth Activity Starts – Trolley Building
11:30 am: Sheep Costume Contest – Knights Building
12 pm: Small Animal Grand Master Showman Competition at Wachob Pavilion
12 pm: Leaders’ Pie Stand opens
12 pm to 8:30 pm: Master Gardener – Lawn of Education Center
12:10 pm: Iron Chef 4-H Youth Activity Judging – Trolley Building
1 pm: WNY Garden Tractor Pullers Association Tractor Pull at South West Lawn
1 pm: Registration ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull - Fair Office
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Fair hosts fire trucks, emergency responders
Photos by Tom Rivers
The Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds is hosting fire departments, police agencies and other emergency first responders today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. next to the Buzz Hill Education Center.
I was invited for a trip high in the Albion ladder truck. Bill Francis managed the controls and sent me 103 feet up in the air to capture some images of the fairgrounds.
I was joined by Lynn Miller, an EMT with the Carlton Fire Company. Miller had never been in the ladder truck before.
Fair-goers are welcome to meet firefighters and tour the trucks. Mercy Flight also is expected to visit with one of the agency’s helicopters.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Waterport 4-H’er claims one of fair’s most prestigious titles
Photos by Tom Rivers – Janie Schutz poses with a steer after she won the grand master showman crown on Friday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Jenny McKenna leads the showmen in the ring Friday with goats. Jenny took the grand master reserve title.
KNOWLESVILLE – The new grand master showman of the Orleans County 4-H Fair is a veteran in the show ring.
Janie Schutz, 17, of Waterport has showing animals at the fair since she was 8. She has experience with horses, beef cattle, pigs, meat goats and lambs.
On Friday she used her knowledge of all those animals, plus a steady composure, to win one of the fair’s most prestigious titles.
Janie is busy at the fair and for weeks and months leading up to annual event, tending to the animals and practicing with them. She has enjoyed working with different livestock mainly because it expanded her connections with so many 4-H’ers.
“You get more friends that way,” she said. “You meet more people.”
The grand master showman contest took the top showman from each of the larger animals, and pitted them all together, requiring the nine master showman to show all nine animals. (There were eight master showman in the competition because Jayne Bannister won two titles: swine and beef.)
Judge Steve Ledoux told the crowd he was impressed by the master showmen – all girls.
“They stepped out of their comfort zones,” he said. “They deserve a lot of credit for guts and determination.”
Schutz qualified by winning the sheep showman title. Other master showman include Bailey Flint, llama; Elise Slayton, Horses – English; Mandy Armer, dairy goat; Megan Blackburn, meat goat; Jayne Bannister, beef and swine; Jenny McKenna, dairy; and Haley Watkins, Horse – Western.
The master showmen ham it up for the cameras Friday after the competition to determine the grand master showman. Each person qualified for Friday’s event by winning the master showman for an animal. The group includes, from left: Bailey Flint, llama; Elise Slayton, Horses – English; Mandy Armer, dairy goat; Megan Blackburn, meat goat; Janie Schutz, sheep; Jayne Bannister, beef and swine; Jenny McKenna, dairy; and Haley Watkins, Horse – Western.
McKenna was the grand master showman reserve champion.
Schutz has one more year to show animals at the fair. She is planning to major in sociology in college with the goal to become a school guidance counselor.
“I still want to own my own farm at home,” she said.
The small animal grand master showman competition begins at noon today at the Wachob Pavilion.
Elise Slayton competes in the grand master showman competition on Friday, an event that took the top showman from nine animals. Elise qualified after winning the English horse showmanship title.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Tonight is the pie-eating contest at the Orleans County 4-H Fair, and it has proven to be a glorious messy affair. Nick Wright, 11, of Holley is all smiles after plunging face first into a raspberry pie.
Tamara Stratton, 11, of Kendall devours an apple pie. She is seated between John Gabalski, 12, of Byron at left and Nick Wright, 11, of Holley.
The pie-eating contest draws a big crowd to the Curtis Pavilion. Brown’s Berry Patch of Waterport donates the pies for the event.
James Trembley, 6, of Barre has some peach pie chunks on his face after his joyful turn in the pie-eating contest.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Jim DiMatteo of Middleport shines his 1976 Trans Am just before the Classic Car Cruise In tonight at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. There were more than 50 classic cars parked at the beginning of the cruise-in.
Saturday evening the lot next to the Buzz Hill Education Center will be filled with fire trucks and emergency response vehicles from throughout the county.
The Albion Masonic Lodge is serving a fish fry dinner at the Curtis Pavilion tonight. Some of the volunteers include, from left: Paul Henry, Dave Andrews and Allen Lackey. The lodge served 340 dinners last year at the fair.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Midway lights up the fairgrounds on Thursday night.
Daily Feature: Midway Rides of Utica $18 unlimited ride wristband 3 pm to 10 pmDaily Feature: Orleans County 4-H Fair Dunk Tank, located across from the Senior Council stand
Daily Feature: Produced in Orleans County Display, Lartz Commercial Exhibit Building
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
9:30 am: Youth Ag Olympics Fun Activities – South Lawn
9:30 am: Miniature Horse Show & Driving Competition - Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: $5 Admission per car starts
10 am: All Buildings Open
10 am: Grand Master Showman Workshop starting in Show Arena
10:30 am: Tractor Driving Contest – South Parking Lot
12 pm: Leaders’ Pie Stand Opens
12 pm: Goat Knowledge Bowl: Dairy and Meat – Knights Building
12:30 pm: Dog Show, Agility Competition (Classes 23-30) – Show Arena
1 pm: Little Shepherds Sheep Show – Knights Building
1 pm: Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building
1:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
3 pm to 10 pm: Midway Rides of Utica $18 Unlimited Ride wristband
The Chainsaw Chix will be in action several times today.
3 pm: Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building3 pm: Horse Judging Contest – Education Center
3:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
4 pm: Royalty questionnaires due – Fair Office
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4 pm to 8:30 pm: Master Gardener - Lawn of Education Center
4:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
5 pm: Friday Night Fish Fry sponsored by Renovation Lodge #97 Cost: $9 Adult (Half portion $7) – Curtis Pavilion
5:30 pm: Classic Car Cruise-In - Education Center Parking Lot
5:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
6 pm: Set Up for Band – OrleansHub.com Stage
6 pm: Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull at Fair Office
6 pm: Grand Master Showman – Livestock Areas
Chelsea Bowen, 5, of Holley rides the mechanical bull on Thursday.
6 pm to 8 pm: Pie Eating Contest sponsored by Brown’s Berry Patch (Register at Fair Office during the week) – Curtis Pavilion
6 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
6:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
6:30 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Pedal Tractor Course near Fair Office
7 pm: Julie Dunlap & High Maintenance Country Band at OrleansHub.com Stage
7 pm: Quadrille Horse Demonstration – Carlos Marcello Arena
7 pm: Spanish/English Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building
8 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
8:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
KNOWLESVILLE – If you missed Gretta Smith’s winning performance at the Orleans County 4-H Fair Karaoke Challenge Finals on Thursday, you can watch it here.
Gretta’s performance earned her the $500 first-place award for her rendition of “You’re Going To Miss Me When I’m Gone (Cup Song)” by Anna Kendrick.
Gretta’s mother, Shelly Smith, provided the video.
