By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2020 at 2:46 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Upstate Tower Construction erected a 180-foot-high radio tower today next to the Orleans County Public Safety Building along Route 31 in Albion.
These workers are connecting the top section of the tower. They are more than 100 feet up high.
This is one of four new radio towers going up in the county. Upstate Tower will also be putting up two other 180-foot-high towers in Kendall near the school’s bus garage and in Yates on Millers Road near the water tank.
The other tower will be 150 feet high and will be near the Holley water tank on Route 237.
The towers are part of a $6 million project to upgrade the emergency communications system in the county. The state awarded Orleans a $5,897,141 grant for four new towers, accompanying communication shelters, technology to connect separate radio systems and new radio channels. The project will strengthen communications between multiple jurisdictions and agencies.
Upstate Tower Construction is doing the site work and concrete foundations for the towers, as well as the installation. The towers were constructed by Nudd Tower in Ontario, NY.
Once the towers are up, the radio tower shelters and emergency standby generators will be installed.
The emergency communications system serves firefighters, law enforcement, highway employees, probation and some other municipal workers in the county.
The system currently has poor coverage in the Holley area, along Lake Ontario and some other isolated locations in the county, especially in buildings with thick walls.
Martin Luther King III, Lucy Liu and Lin-Manuel Miranda will promote census count
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the creation of the Census Council, which will be co-chaired by Martin Luther King III, Lucy Liu and Lin-Manuel Miranda, to ensure every New Yorker is counted in the upcoming 2020 census.
The Council will act as the state’s coordinating arm to achieve a complete census count using the information learned from the state’s Complete Count Commission and support from state, local and foundation funding resources.
The Governor will also propose an additional $10 million in this year’s budget to ensure a fair and complete count of every New Yorker in the census. The additional funding will bring the state’s financial support to up to $70 million for the 2020 Census.
The Governor also announced the new council will hold conferences to raise awareness about the Census and engage as many advocates, community based organizations, community leaders and local officials as possible to ensure every New Yorker is counted.
The new council will work with these stakeholders, using the information gathered by the Complete Count Commission, to coordinate efforts, deploy available resources and oversee outreach efforts in hard-to-reach communities to ensure the count actually happens.
“As this federal administration continues to disenfranchise immigrant communities and use every means possible to stop them from filling out this year’s Census questionnaire, we are taking aggressive actions to ensure every single New Yorker is counted,” Governor Cuomo said. “This new council will lead the charge coordinating stakeholders so we can reach our most difficult to count communities and help ensure New York is accurately represented and gets the federal funding we need and deserve.”
The New York State Complete Count Commission was created to inform and help direct the State’s efforts in the 2020 Census. The Commission analyzed previous Census undercounts and recommended ways to ensure a full and complete count for the 2020 Census.
Governor Cuomo has already taken several actions to support a complete census count in New York State this year. The FY 2020 Budget authorized up to $20 million for outreach and education efforts to ensure all New Yorkers are counted as part of the census.
Of the $20 million made available through the FY 2020 Budget, $15 million is being distributed to all 62 counties as well as the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers. Each locality that responded to the Request for Expressions of Interest that was released on December 4, 2019 will then submit a plan outlining how they will use the funds, and funding awards will be approved in later January.
The remaining $5 million will be deployed over the coming year to target specific communities where further outreach will be necessary as 2020 Census questionnaire filing results become available.
“I am proud to work with Governor Cuomo, Lin Manuel Miranda and Martin Luther King III to be part of the Census Council, which will raise awareness in all communities and encourage every New Yorker to participate in the 2020 Census,” said the actress Lucy Liu. “The Census only happens every ten years, and it is essential we are doing all we can as a State to make sure every single New Yorker is counted and our State is fairly represented at the federal level.”
“Representation matters and is vital for the fair allocation of federal funds to all of our communities,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda, a Broadway musical star best known for Hamilton. “I want to thank Governor Cuomo for creating the Census Council and as co-chair, I encourage my neighbors to stand up and be counted and I hope that everyone across the nation will do the same. We’re at the start of a new decade and an accurate census makes a huge difference to all of us.”
The Working Families Party (WFP), a grassroots party representing the interests of hardworking, everyday Americans, has endorsed Nate McMurray in his bid for Congress in Western New York.
Nate McMurray
“We are endorsing Nate McMurray because he firmly stands with us on issues that matter to working class people in America today,” said WFP representative Louisa Pacheco. “Nate boldly supports protecting immigrants as a marginalized labor force, expanding healthcare for all, and building a country that is for everybody – not just the rich. We stand with him because he has an expansive and fresh vision for NY-27!”
The Working Families Party is a minor political party founded in 1998 that uses fusion voting to cross endorse candidates on other party lines. Recently, the WFP has garnered national attention with its interviews of the 2020 presidential candidates and endorsement of Elizabeth Warren in the Democratic Primary.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be endorsed for the second time by the Working Families Party,” said McMurray. “We will win the special election by engaging our strong grassroots partnerships across the region and beyond. The good people of WFP will be a critical part of this coalition, help us finish what we started in 2018, and once and for all restore the people’s voice in this office.”
McMurray is a native of North Tonawanda. He ran for Congress in NY-27 in 2018 and lost by less than 1% of the vote. McMurray, an Eagle Scout, is one of seven children raised by a single mother when his father died of cancer at the age of 39.
McMurray worked his way through community college, earned a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Buffalo, then earned a law degree from California’s prestigious Hastings College of Law. The US government awarded Nate a Fulbright Scholarship to study the development of constitutional democracy in South Korea.
He was formerly the Town Supervisor of Grand Island. He is currently Vice President of Business Development for Delaware North.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 January 2020 at 9:55 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Joe Cecchini, left, and his Mustang teammates will host rival Albion Friday in a key Niagara-Orleans League basketball game. Medina’s Noah Skinner, at right, and his Mustang teammates will host the annual Gary Gross Memorial Wrestling Tournament on Saturday.
Looking to avenge an early season loss, Medina will host front-running rival Albion in a key Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game on Friday.
Albion, which rallied to trim Medina 70-66 in the earlier meeting at Albion, sits atop the N-O standings at 7-0. The Purple Eagles hold a game and a half lead over Newfane (5-1). Currently at 3-4, defending champion Medina needs a win to regain the .500 mark in N-O action.
On Saturday, Medina will host the annual Gary Gross Memorial Wrestling Tournament.
The tournament, which is named in honor of Medina Coach Eric Gross’ father who was a long time supporter of the Mustangs wrestling program, will be the largest to date with some 17 teams expected to compete.
In girls basketball action, Lyndonville will host Holley on Wednesday and Medina will host Albion on Thursday.
Weekly Schedule Tuesday Boys Basketball: Kenmore East at Medina, Lyndonville at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Barker at Byron-Bergen, Holley at Notre Dame, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Medina at CSAT, Roy-Hart at Buffalo Arts, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Girls Basketball: Holley at Lyndonville, 7 p.m. Wrestling: Holley-Kendall at Roy-Hart/Barker, 6 p.m
Thursday Boys Basketball: Lyndonville at Oakfield-Alabama, Kendall at Attica, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Akron at Barker, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Newfane, Albion at Medina, 6:30 p.m. Swimming: Newfane at Albion, Akron at Barker, Medina at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m. Wrestling: Wilson at Lyndonville, 6 p.m.
Friday Boys Basketball: Albion at Medina, Barker at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Newfane at Roy-Hart, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Oakfield-Alabama at Lyndonville, Attica at Kendall, Barker at Holley, 7 p.m. Wrestling: Alexander at Holley-Kendall, Lyndonville at Akron, 6 p.m.
Saturday Wrestling: Medina’s Gary Gross Memorial Tournament, 9 a.m. Swimming: Albion at Akron, Medina at Barker, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 10 a.m.
ALBION – Hoag Library will have two book discussions during Black History Month in February, and will host Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble in March.
The first book discussion will be Monday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. for a “Bring-Your-Own-Book Discussion.” Patrons are encouraged to read a book of their choosing related to black history. Those needing book suggestions can visit the Black History Month book display at the main entrance of the library.
There will be another book discussion on Monday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. with the focus on Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston (audiobook version available free on the Hoopla app).
The Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble from The College at Brockport is also scheduled to perform at Hoag Library in late March.
For more information on the book discussion, please contact Adult Services Librarian Mike Magnuson at 589-4246.
For the month of December, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center processed 1,843 police incidents, including 676 events for Sheriff’s Road Patrol, 172 for the New York State Police and 995 calls for the village police agencies of Lyndonville, Medina, Albion and Holley. There were 560 Fire/EMS related calls dispatched countywide with 427 of those calls emergency medical in nature and 5 drug overdoses.
Road Patrol deputies handled 89 automobile accidents, including 15 with injury and 38 car-deer collisions. Road patrol also made 73 service attempts and successfully served 34 subpoenas, civil or court papers.
The Sheriff’s Animal Control Division handled 119 incidents including 25 stray or loose animals, 4 animal bite complaints, 13 neighbor dog problems, and several other miscellaneous animal calls. In addition, 7 animals were taken in to shelter on voluntary surrenders.
The Orleans County Jail processed in 73 inmates and handled 53 prisoner transports to court appearances, medical treatments, or other correctional facilities.
HOLLEY – Ashley Hawkins, an exterminator with Exodus Exterminating in Greece, visited Holley sixth graders on Friday for the school’s career day.
Hawkins came to the class partly to show the girls that pest control can be a career path for women.
She shared with the students what it takes to be an exterminator, and how various pests function, and the science behind our ecosystem.
Hawkins was able to share some of the things she encounters throughout the typical day in a pest control profession. She shared her knowledge on honeybees, and their importance to the agriculture around us. Exodus Exterminating will often rescue honey bee swarms that would otherwise face extermination.
Hawkins taught the children about integrated pest management, a way to deal with pests like weeds, insects and diseases with a reduced amount of pesticides.
Most importantly, she encouraged the kids to get outdoors and explore their surroundings so they can grow their interest in the sciences such as biology and entomology, with reduced screen time an added bonus.
Holley sixth-graders were very interested in this nest brought in by Ashley Hawkins of Exodus Exterminating.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 January 2020 at 11:57 am
A winter weather advisory is in effect until 4 a.m. Monday for Orleans, Monroe, Wayne and northern Cayuga counties.
Another 3 to 5 inches of snow could fall in those counties, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said this morning.
“Travel could be difficult at times with snow-covered roads,” the Weather Service said. “Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.”
Today is forecast for a high of 31, followed by a high of 22 on Monday, which is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The highs will go up later in the week with 27 on Tuesday, 36 on Wednesday, 40 on Thursday and 41 on Friday.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 January 2020 at 10:25 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Ruth Hedges arranges merchandise in the newly expanded room of Hope Resales, the thrift shop she helped start at the Lyndonville United Methodist Church last March. The shop has become so successful they had to expand into another room in the basement of the church. Hedges said recent national surveys have shown more people are shopping in thrift stores.
Shoppers are setting a new trend in America, with more people buying at thrift stores.
A report by ThredUp said the resale market continues to grow at a rate expected to reach $51 billion by 2023. In fact the trend is becoming so popular, traditional department stores like Macy’s and JCPenney have started to team up with ThredUp to sell thrift finds in select stores.
Not only are they finding fine quality merchandise at drastically reduced prices, but the money spent at thrift stores usually goes to helping worthy causes in their communities.
Such is the case with the MAAC Thrift Depot in Medina, Community Action’s Main Street Store in Albion and Hope Resales in Lyndonville.
Annually, MAAC donates about $35,000 to local organizations such as Community Action, Vacation Bible School, Long Point Camp, Boy Scouts in Medina, Medina Police Department, Aglow, Orleans County Christian School, Hands 4 Hope, scholarships for Medina High School seniors, Oak Orchard Bike Rodeo, missions of local churches, fire victims, Tricounty Clergy Fellowship Workshop, Praising Kids Preschool, Senior Citizens of Western Orleans, Hospice, war orphans, GCASA roller skating, Christian Bowhunters, postage for Christmas Shoebox project, Medina National Honor Society veterans’ dinner, Orleans Recovery Hope, Parade of Lights, Veterans’ Christmas project, PACT, Empire State Special Olympics, MOPS, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, Orleans County Summer Recreation Program, Camp Rainbow and National Night Out.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Community Action of Orleans & Genesee opened of the Main Street Thrift Store in October 2014 at the former American Legion at 131 South Main St.
The Main Street Store in Albion has targeted their profits for a job training program. Michelle George oversees the store at the former American Legion building. The store is a public resource for quality, gently pre-owned merchandise and apparel, and is a designated job skill training site for the community.
The profits from the store allow them to offer enrollment for “on the job” retail training, as well as partner with several local agencies for referrals. Store merchandise is donated and all proceeds from sales support employment services, including resumes, internet job searching, interview techniques, business and retail training and business communications. On completion of training, the store assists participants with job searches, work apparel (Dress for Success project) and references.
Hope Resales in Lyndonville has only been open about 10 months, yet sales have exceeded all expectations, said Ruth Hedges, one of the active volunteers who run the site.
Donations also have been so abundant the Lyndonville United Methodist Church has had to expand into another room in the basement.
During the past year, Hope Resales has given monetary donations not only to the church, but to Lyndonville Fire Department, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Camp Rainbow, Lyndonville Food Pantry, Care Net of Orleans, Lockport Cares Homeless Shelter, Hospice of Orleans and to a young missionary who traveled to India. They also are sponsoring on a monthly basis a United Methodist minister and her family in Cuba.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: he MAAC Clothing Depot moved from a spot in the former Medina High School to the former Mic-Jac store at the corner of Starr and Orient streets in July 2018. The new home has more space to display and sell merchandise.
In addition, Hope Resales has been able to provide free clothing to several families in need, who have been referred to the store, Hedges said.
Hedges quoted a study by The Wall Street Journal, in which they reported more than half of respondents said they would consider gifting second-hand presents, while 56 percent said they would welcome thrifted gifts.
Whether it’s called a thrift shop, second-hand store or consignment shop, Hedges shared several reasons for shopping at a thrift store.
They include supporting a charitable cause, saving money, reducing waste and helping to save the environment, obtaining gently or never used items at a bargain, acquiring hard-to-find items one might only use occasionally, discovering a hidden treasure and buying something you forgot on vacation without paying full price.
Hope Resales is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. A new feature is offering one-half off select merchandise in the store on the last Wednesday of every month. Other sales can be found on their Facebook page during the month.
The MAAC Thrift Depot moved into new quarters in the summer of 2018. They are located at the corner of Orient and Starr streets. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. The first Tuesday of each month is “one-half price day.”
Drop-off chutes for donations are located outside the building on Orient Street. MAAC accepts good, clean clothing; shoes and jewelry; clean household items in good condition, including small appliances and small furniture; books, toys and linens; DVDs and CDs; kitchen items and holiday decorations.
The Main Street Store is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
I really like to listen to music and attend concerts. It calms me or fuels me. Especially when it is country and George or Vince are involved. For those of you who don’t know me well enough yet or country music, I am a product of the 70’s/80’s and am referring to George Strait and Vince Gill.
I have and will at times dissect a song as a single post because I do believe that music can take your mind to the most heartfelt places. When I hear a song the first thing that usually strikes me is the melody, then come the words. A great song tells a story, evokes an emotion.
George sings about the Troubadour. If you have ever had the privilege to see George in concert you realize he does not need any flash because he IS a Troubadour himself, “He was a young Troubadour who rode in on a song and will be an old Troubadour when he is gone.” He just sings, tells his stories melodically and the crowd loves it.
We each have those artists in our lives who tell stories with their songs that speak to us. A Troubadour is a poet who when they sing, touch us. That brings me back to the image in this article. I found this a while back on Pinterest. The message is spot on.
Whether you play a song intentionally or you stumble upon it on the radio, music takes you on a trip across your past, into your present and onto your dreams for the future. The right song can take your mind off whatever is weighing you down – “It’s a Great Day to be Alive” by Travis Tritt, bring your spirits ups – “Eastbound Down” by Midland, or make you feel introspective – “God and Country Music” by George Strait.
Mostly I like those songs that bring you back to a time in life when everything was simple and the world seemed full of possibilities, like “Swayin’ To The Music” by Johnny Rivers. The Little Hippie in the above photo embodies all this, the joy that music brings to our souls. She is cute as a button, with the funnest jeans ever! The way she holds her guitar, stands in her flip flops and rocks that bandanna, you can feel by the smile in her eyes that music is taking her to a happy place. I wonder what song her sweet little voice is going to sing. I think it is “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog. Yep, I am sure of it!
No doubt I aspire to be a music groupie, good thing I am only 51.5 so I have plenty of time 🙂 At a Keith Urban concert he stated that most songs we don’t know all the words to, and neither does he. That is OK because the fact that a song inspires us to want to engage, sing and feel…that is the true magic of music.
To share what songs are your go-tos or have kicked you into the time machine and brought you back to an earlier time in your life, view my blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com were you can also join in, like and share your comments. Happy Perks to everyone!
Truly,
Debbie Burgoon London
Your Sassy Small Town Missus from Albion
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 January 2020 at 3:28 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: A new group of card players gets into a game of euchre on a recent Friday afternoon at the Medina Senior Center. Clockwise from left are Isabelle Cotter and Dorothy Casey of Medina, Fred Brimmer of Lockport, Bill and Cindy Koepsel of Middleport, Sylvia Williams of Barker and Bev Woodward of Medina. Euchre and pinochle are also played on Wednesdays and Thursdays and new members are welcome to join.
MEDINA – Seniors looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon are being encouraged to join the Senior Citizens of Western Orleans.
Located in the historic New York Central Railroad depot, the Center is gaining in popularity as a meeting place for card players. They have sponsored euchre and pinochle games on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons for many years, but recently some seniors were looking for something to do on Friday afternoons.
That’s when Lee Smith of Lyndonville stepped up and offered to lead a euchre game on Fridays. Games each day are from 1 to 4 p.m. and each cost $2 to play for an afternoon. Players can also get into a loaner pot for $1.
Kelly Shaw of Gasport, formerly of Eagle Harbor, is director of the Senior Citizens of Western Orleans, and at the January luncheon meeting, she announced how important a role the card players play in the Center. Each week, half of the money collected from card players is put into a special fund and the other half provides prize money for the players. Last year, their $2 fee to play cards and donations in a special jug resulted in $2,530, enough to pay the fuel bill for the entire year.
The second Monday of each month is the dinner meeting at 11:30 a.m., sometimes featuring potluck and other times a prepared meal. Anyone who brings a guest to a prepared meal gets their meal and the guest’s at half price of $4. Often there is a program or speaker at the lunches.
Lady Dispatchers meet the last Tuesday of each month, with the Jan. 28 meeting featuring pizza, chips and ice cream. New members are always welcome.
It costs just $10 a year to become a member of the Senior Center, and anyone 50 or older is eligible to join.
Members are then eligible to take part in exercise classes for $1 each Wednesday. Leader is Michele Sargent from the Orleans County Office for the Aging.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2020 at 10:58 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Crikwater, a band from South Buffalo, performed on Friday evening at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina for the Finally Fridays concert series during the winter. Finally Fridays is in its 19th season.
Crikwater made its debut in the series on Friday with about 200 people in the crowd. For its final song of the night, the band weaved through the crowd. Crikwater performs many Irish American traditional folk songs.
Band members include from left: Peter Zalocha, Liam Caulfield, Charles Coughlin and Matthew Sperber.
This year’s Finally Fridays series started on Jan. 3 with Creek Bend Bluegrass followed by “A” Blues Band on Jan. 10.
The schedule for the rest of the season includes:
Jan. 24: A Moment in Time
Jan. 31: Outofar Trio Jug Band
Feb. 7: Serendipity Swings
Feb. 14: Mr. Mustard
Feb. 21: Lyin’ Eyes Unplugged
Feb. 28: Hot Club of Buffalo
March 6: Dark Horse Run
The concerts all start at 7 p.m. and free to the public. The concerts are made possible through funding by Friends of the Library and state Council on the Arts funding through the Decentralization Program, which is administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
Liam Caulfield, left, and Charlie Coughlin perform with Crikwater on Friday.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 January 2020 at 9:47 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: John Leible, the manager when Tops opened its store in Medina on Jan. 17, 1995, holds a copy of The Journal-Register which ran a story on the event. The newspaper was one of the items in a time capsule which was opened in ceremonies Friday.
MEDINA – Friday was a day for celebration at Tops Friendly Market in Medina.
The day marked the 25th anniversary of the day the store opened on Jan. 17, 1995.
In honor of the date, current employees, former managers and local officials gathered to watch a time capsule unsealed and opened by John Leible, the original store manager.
“John was here during the ground breaking and he was here when the store opened,” said Darlene Bowman, customer service manager, one of a handful of employees who has been with the store all 25 years.
This time capsule was sealed in the wall of Tops Friendly Market when the store was built 25 years ago. It was opened Friday in an observance of the store’s quarter century in Medina.
Leible spent 15 years with Tops and retired from the store which he opened.
Others who have been with the Medina Tops since it opened are Cheryl Gavenda, deli manager; Patti Farewell, overnight bakery associate; Jeff Farewell, grocery clerk; Don Barnard, dairy/frozen manager; and Peter Huth, fuel associate.
“This store is like my home,” Bowman said.
John Leible, left, manager of Tops Friendly Market in Medina when it opened Jan. 17, 1995, removes a time capsule from the wall, after Don Barnard removed the cover block. Barnard, dairy/frozen manager, has worked at the store all 25 years.
The anniversary celebration began with the small crowd gathering outside the front entrance, where Leible and Barnard unsealed and removed the time capsule in a block near the corner of the building, as current store manager Scott Fumanti welcomed the group.
“Special events like this allow us to reflect on past accomplishments, good times, bad times and moments that brought Tops workers together as a family,” Fumanti said. “Every journey becomes a milestone, and those milestones are an occasion for our celebration. This time capsule is now a piece of our history and a reason to reflect today.”
From left, John Leible, the original store manager of Tops in Medina; Don Barnard, dairy/frozen manager who has been with the store since it opened; and current store manager Scott Fumanti pose with the time capsule which was removed and opened on Friday.
Fumanti told the crowd to remember that a milestone is less of a date and more of a definition.
“What defines Tops in Medina is that the community of Medina 25 years ago welcomed Tops, and we in turn became the true definition of community, loyalty and especially family,” Fumanti said. “Our accomplishments at Tops for more than 25 years was measured by the community of Medina. And for that, we thank you.”
Items which were placed in a time capsule when Tops in Medina opened 25 years ago are pictured during the store’s 25th anniversary celebration on Friday. The items include a copy of The Journal-Register announcing the grand opening, pictures from the ground breaking until the opening, a copy of the grand opening ad, a coffee mug with Tops logo and a video tape of events leading up to the opening.
The celebration then moved inside the store, where Leible began removing items from the time capsule. There was a copy of The Journal-Register featuring a front page story on Tops opening. Leible pointed out the closing of Fisher-Price in Medina was announced in a smaller article in the corner of the paper. Other items in the time capsule included a coffee mug with Tops’ name, pictures, a copy of the opening ad and a video tape of the grand opening.
Local officials who were invited to witness the historic event included Medina Mayor Mike Sidari; police chief Chad Kenward; Kathy Blackburn, representing Medina Area Partnership; Michael Robinson, president of MAP; and Marguerite Sherman of the Medina Village Board.
Employees who worked at Tops in Medina when it opened on Jan. 17, 1995 posed for a picture after a time capsule was opened Friday commemorating the 25th anniversary of the store. From left are Cheryl Gavenda, deli manager; Sue Green, cake decorator; Jeff Farewell, grocery clerk; Patti Farewell, overnight baker; Don Barnard, dairy/frozen food manager; Darlene Bowman, customer service manager; and John Leible, store manager when Tops opened. He retired from there after 15 years with the grocery chain.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 18 January 2020 at 8:45 am
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 6, No. 3
HOLLEY – In November of 1984, County Historian and Cobblestone Museum Director C. W. Lattin published a book entitled Architecture Destroyed in Orleans County, New York. The focus of this work was to call attention to the numerous homes, civic buildings, and houses of worship lost to “progress” throughout the history of our county.
Over the 35 years since that book was published, our community has lost countless other structures due to accidents, neglect, or other reasons beyond our control. After the recent unfortunate loss of a beautiful Italianate house on South Main Street in Holley, I thought it would be fitting to highlight the history of past owners of the home while calling attention to a very important role of local historians; the role of documenting current events.
The origins of the home date back to Moses N. Stoddard, whose personal biographical information is drawn from his obituary appearing in the Holley Standard on June 3, 1886. Born in Connecticut, Stoddard worked in a woolen mill as a young man ultimately earning the position of superintendent of the mill. He ventured westward to New York and purchased a parcel of land from the State of Connecticut as part of the 100,000 Acre Tract in the Town of Murray.
Although he expected to remain in the area, he was coaxed back to Connecticut to resume oversight of the same mill he had left earlier. After spending nearly two years in Connecticut he once again returned to Murray where he purchased a parcel of 100 acres.
An 1860 map of Orleans and Niagara counties shows the Village of Holley and a house situated on Main Street in vicinity of the present St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. The house, labeled as “M. N. Stoddard,” no longer exists and the parcel of land on the southwest corner of Main and Albion streets sat vacant. A later map, published in 1875, shows the large stately house situated on the corner, which indicates that the house was likely constructed in the mid to late 1860s.
The house remained in the Stoddard family until the death of Moses in 1886. Although Moses relocated to Walden, NY to live with his son after the death of his wife Sarah in 1881, the house was leased to several local families including Alfred Millard and Burton Keyes in 1882 and later to John Downs in March of 1885. In early September of 1886, John Downs purchased all the property owned by Moses Stoddard located within the boundaries of Holley. This included interest in the Stoddard & Hurd Block on the east side of Public Square, a small house on Albion Street, and the mansion on Main Street, all for the sum of $12,000.
John Downs was born in Clarendon on January 22, 1846 to Irish immigrants. His father, William Downs, was a livestock dealer in Clarendon. Educated in the district schools of Clarendon, John learned the necessary skills associated with the livestock and wool businesses, engaging with markets on the east coast, and expanding his local operations until he became one of the premier shippers of sheep in New York.
In 1875, Downs entered the partnership of Hallwell & Willis, dealers of wool in Rochester, where he remained for approximately eight years. According to his biography recorded within Landmarks of Orleans County by Isaac Signor, Downs relocated to Walden, NY where he organized a private banking business. It is likely no coincidence that Moses Stoddard’s son, George Wells Stoddard, engaged in the same business venture at the same location.
After severing ties with the Walden National Bank, John Downs returned to Holley and purchased an interest in the bank of George Bowman and Luther Hurd. Established in 1868, the bank was first operated by C. W. Gibson and Bowman until George W. Stoddard bought out Gibson’s interest.
At the time of Downs’ purchase in 1882, the bank was operated by Orange Eddy and George Bowman. When the bank was incorporated as the State Exchange Bank, Downs was elected as president until his death in 1901, at which point Michael Kennedy assumed control. After John’s untimely passing, his widow, Eva Glidden Downs, remarried to Edward Vincent. Her son, John, remained in the house for a number of years after as he continued to work as a bookkeeper and assistant cashier in the Exchange Bank.
The tragic and unfortunate loss of this stately home is a reminder of the important role historians play in documenting the physical landmarks in our area.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2020 at 9:12 pm
Chris Collins was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison today for participating in a scheme to commit insider trading and for making false statements to federal law enforcement agents when interviewed about his conduct. He also was fined $200,000.
Collins, who resigned from Congress on Sept. 30, insisted he was innocent during a re-election campaign. He won a very close race against Nate McMurray, a Democrat, in November 2018.
McMurray is seeking the position again. He issued this statement after Collins was sentenced:
“Years of lies by Collins and those who justified his crimes ends like this. Tears. An empty seat. It’s a sad moment. No sentence can heal the damage caused. The sting will linger.
“Remember this. Who brought us here. So when we look back, we will see how far we’ve come. I’m heading to my son’s basketball game, watching a movie with my family, going to sleep, and waking up tomorrow to continue the fight to restore integrity to NY-27 and Washington.”
State Sen. Rob Ortt also is running to fill the vacant seat in Congress. Ortt issued this statement:
“The constituents of NY-27 deserve better, and today provides us the opportunity to close this disappointing chapter and start fresh. This district deserves a faithful and hardworking conservative representing them in Congress, putting the needs of Western New York and America first. I believe I am the candidate best qualified to do so and it is my sincere hope that I’m afforded the opportunity to once again serve my country.”
