By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2019 at 7:49 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some baby ducks peck for food on Saturday at the Oak Orchard River in Point Breeze.
The heat index could top 100 in Orleans County on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and be as high as 105 to 108, the National Weather Service said.
The Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for Orleans, Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Livingston and Ontario counties.
The watch is in effect from noon Friday through early evening Saturday.
“An Excessive Heat Watch means that a prolonged period of hot temperatures is expected,” the Weather Service said. “The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat-related illnesses are possible. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.”
Provided photo: Ken Gold, tournament director for Orleans Correctional Facility Charity Golf Tournament, presents a ceremonial check for more than $15,000 to the Variety Club of Buffalo.
Press Release, NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association
ALBION – The seventh annual Orleans Correctional Facility Charity Golf Tournament was held on Monday at Chestnut Hill Country Club and raised over $15,000 for the Variety Club of Buffalo.
Over 200 golfers, volunteers and sponsors attended the tournament and reception afterwards in support of the Variety Club. Variety – the Children’s Charity of Buffalo & Western New York –has been serving the needs of WNY’s sick, disabled, and disadvantaged children for over 80 years.
The golf tournament has raised and donated over $70,000 to local charities of Western New York in the seven years the tournament has been held. The correction officers that organize and participate in the event have always been committed to supporting the local communities where they live and work.
“I would like to thank all the participants, volunteers, and sponsors that helped make this tournament a success,” said ken Gold, tournament organizer. “I would also like to thank our members from Attica, Albion, Gowanda and Green Haven Correctional Facilities who participated and helped raise funds. Our members, despite their demanding jobs, believe it is important to give back to the community and support great causes like the Variety Club. They recognize the important role organizations like the Variety Club play in helping those less fortunate.”
For months, hundreds of farmers and farmworkers spent countless hours seeking to find a balance with elected officials on measures that will change working conditions on farms across New York State. However, the measure that ultimately passed the Legislature and was signed by the Governor today did not address the challenges and needs of farmers and farmworkers.
This measure does not create a path that will assure an economically viable New York agriculture industry, and the four fixable flaws within this bill will likely drive more family-owned farms out of the state or out of business. Worst of all, farmworkers will feel the impacts the most because their work hours will be restricted and their income reduced.
Grow NY Farms has been seeking to correct four fundamental flaws contained in the new legislation (Assembly Bill No. 8419 and Senate Bill No. 6578). Modifications include:
• Applying a standard wage rate for farmworkers who decide to work on the prescribed day of rest.
• Expanding the family farm definition to include close relatives such as aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
• Modifying the composition and timeline of the wage board.
• Preserving secret balloting for both farmworkers and farmers.
“New York’s farmers have been at the table from the beginning asking for a workable solution, a bill that would provide the balance agriculture would need to sustain itself as an important job creator and food provider in this state,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau president and dairy farmer in Madrid, NY.
“Common ground should have considered what farms can afford and the opportunities our employees will lose as a result of this law,” Fisher said. “In the end, our reasonable requests were cast aside, even though there was support for a moderated bill from legislators on both sides of the aisle. What was also dismissed by many of New York’s leaders is the dignity and respect our farm families have long provided to the men and women we need and work alongside every day. While the final legislation signed by the Governor is certainly better than the original version of the bill, it will still lead to significant financial challenges for farmers and the continued erosion of our rural communities.”
“It is upsetting that state lawmakers have placed rural New York at a serious disadvantage in our ability to compete in the market place and provide economic opportunities for our employees. This new law failed to take common sense into account, and in turn, will place upstate further behind in its ability to grow our farms and economy. Our farms and farmworkers deserved better for all that they provide this state,” said Brian Reeves, of Reeves Farms in Baldwinsville, NY and President of the New York State Vegetable Growers Association.
• Karl Novak, President of the Long Island Farm Bureau: “Long Island has a proud tradition of being a source that New Yorkers turn to for fresh food, wine, flowers, landscape plants and more. Our farms have also provided good, quality opportunities for our employees to get job experience and support their families at home and abroad and have the potential to advance their careers. Sadly, those days are numbered as the farm labor bill will force dramatic changes on agriculture as we know it. It won’t just be our farm families and employees who will suffer, but our customers who value what it means to buy “Grown on Long Island.” Unfortunately, by the time that the legislators who voted for this misguided bill realize the damage they have done to the agricultural industry on Long Island and the rest of the State of New York, it will be too late. This is a sad day for all of us.”
• Jon Greenwood, president of Northeast Dairy Producers Association and dairy farmer in Canton: “Dairy represents New York’s largest agricultural industry. Our farms must operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in order to care for our cows and produce fresh, nutritious milk. We certainly appreciate that legislators who listened to the many voices expressed by stakeholders in trying to negotiate a bill fair to everyone, but we were disappointed in language added in the final hours that has the potential to both negatively impact the long-term viability of our farms and the earning potential and livelihood of our workers,” said
• Sarah Dressel of Dressel Farms in New Paltz and chairperson of the New York Apple Association’s Board of Directors: “My family has a long history of supplying fresh fruit to our Hudson Valley community every year, and we have seen our business diversify into building a cidery, but we are worried that the tradition we have built is now in jeopardy with the signing of this legislation. We are proud of our workforce and the benefits we provide them, but the massive increase in labor costs coming down the pike because of this new law will make it difficult to sustain the business that has lasted for generations and one that I hoped to continue. I’m afraid this could be the breaking point for our orchard and many like ours across the state.”
• Jose Iniguez, vice president of Lamont Fruit Farms in Waterport and former farmworker: “Today’s job market is competitive, and many farmers provide their workers with optional days of rest, sick and holiday pay, and other benefits. I appreciate New York’s effort to ensure all farms are doing this, however, by limiting worker hours, we are taking away opportunity that many are seeking. Employees do not want to work simply to live – they enjoy farming and want to save for their families and their future. This bill does not include fixes that are needed to help our farms and farmworkers thrive. The reality is clear, our workers will pack their bags and seek opportunity in another state.”
• David Zittel, president of Amos, Zittel and Sons in Eden: “This spring, New York’s family farms faced some of the toughest planting conditions we’ve seen in years, and continue struggling to compete against regional and national competitors. Our challenges have been compounded due to recent actions by state officials who have endorsed policies that are fundamentally changing our businesses and threatening the viability of New York’s farm community. We are urging the Governor to fix several flaws in the Farm Labor bill in order to support the future of New York’s growers, harvesters and dairy producers.”
• Dale-Illa Riggs of The Berry Patch in Stephentown and president of the NYS Berries Association: “The Farm Labor will bring about unintended, yet devastating changes to our state’s agriculture sector. The farmworkers who work side-by-side with farm owners and their families want to see this industry continue to grow and diversify, and they understand they are big part of each of our farms’ success. However, this legislation will force many growers and dairy producers to lay off workers or cut hours in order to remain competitive. Far worse is that some will make the difficult decision to cease farming – and New York’s consumers will see prices increase and their source of fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products diminish. We want to grow our farms, employ more staff, and continue providing the best workplace possible for our workers. The Governor must fix several flaws in this legislation in order to support the more than 30,000 farms across upstate and on Long Island – and without action, he will be sacrificing those who were counting on him the most.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2019 at 3:33 pm
HOLLEY – The school district will make free breakfasts and lunches available to all students who want them in 2019-20.
Holley has been offering free breakfasts and lunches during part of the summer, from July 8 to Aug. 16 this year, as has in previous summers.
Holley applied for the free breakfast and lunch program throughout the school year, and was approved through the Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program.
The CEP program provides the opportunity for schools in high poverty areas to provide two nutritious meals every school day, while eliminating the stigma for those students previously identified as “low income.”
Medina participated in the program this past school year for the first time and will continue next year.
“It’s wonderful,” said Robin Silvis, president of the Holley Board of Education. “We’re thrilled.”
For more information about the program, contact Sharon Zacher, Assistant Superintendent for Business, at (585) 638-6316 Ext. 2001 or szacher@holleycsd.org.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed the Farm Workers Bill, which establishes the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act to protect farm worker rights and ensure equitable housing and working conditions. The bill grants farm workers overtime pay, a day of rest each week, disability and Paid Family Leave coverage, unemployment benefits and other labor protections. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2020.
“This new law is not just a great achievement in terms of the effect on the human condition, it’s also a milestone in the crusade for social justice,” Governor Cuomo said. “By signing this bill into law, 100,000 farmers and their families will have better lives and will finally have the same protections that other workers have enjoyed for over 80 years. This powerful and practical achievement is even more significant in the era of President Trump who continually diminishes workers’ rights, attacks labor unions, disrespects the disenfranchised and has made divide and conquer, rather than unify and grow, the credo of America.”
The Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, which recognizes agriculture is a unique industry, includes:
• Grants collective bargaining rights to farm laborers;
• Requires employers of farm laborers to allow at least 24 consecutive hours of rest each week;
• Provides for 60-hour work week for farm workers;
• Requires overtime rate at one and one-half times normal rate;
• Makes provisions of unemployment insurance law applicable to farm laborers and reduces costs to farmers for ineligible workers (H-2A);
• Ensures sanitary codes apply to all farm worker housing, regardless of the number of occupants;
• Removes a payroll threshold for requiring farm labor employers to obtain workers’ compensation coverage;
• Allows farm laborers to receive disability and Paid Family Leave benefits; and
• Requires reporting of injuries to employers of farm laborers.
Senator Jessica Ramos said, “Today we are recognizing farmworkers as the backbone of New York’s multi-billion dollar agricultural industry and acknowledging the dignity in their work. With the Governor’s signature on this bill, we are finally granting farmworkers a day of rest, overtime pay, the right to collectively bargain, and recognizing them as workers under the Labor Law.”
Assembly Member Catherine Nolan said, “Our Assembly Majority has a proud history of passing workers’ rights legislation, a tradition which has continued with the passage of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act. I am very proud to have carried this legislation for many years, and I am thankful for all the work done by so many in the effort to see this bill be signed into law. My thanks to Speaker Heastie and my colleagues, Senator Ramos and all our Senate sponsors through the years, Governor Andrew Cuomo, the RFK Center for Human Rights, the Hispanic Federation, the ACLU, the Rural & Migrant Ministries Coalition, NYSUT, RWDSU, the entire AFL-CIO, and so many individuals and community groups for their advocacy, support, and tireless work. I also want to recognize our late Governor Mario Cuomo and State Senator Olga Mendez, who, along with Denis Hughes, Ed Donnelly, Alan Lubin, Rich Winston, Rev Richard Witt and Geri Reilly introduced me to this issue. This law represents a huge victory for the farmworkers of our great state, for their families, and for everyone who fought to end the injustices that our farmworkers faced; their efforts are realized today.”
Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO said, “Today, Labor’s family is whole. After a decades-long fight, the lives of tens of thousands of hardworking men and women who perform demanding and dangerous work on farms all across this state will improve with the Governor’s signature. Farmworkers are finally getting basic labor rights including the right to organize a union, a mandatory day of rest, and the right to overtime pay. I thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership on this critical issue and for signing this historic bill into law, as well as the sponsors Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan and Senator Jessica Ramos for their tireless efforts. It is fitting that this bill is signed at the Daily News whose relentless editorial support has shone a light on the deplorable working conditions on New York farms. Most of all, I commend the countless farmworkers who have fought over the years for justice with incomparable perseverance and courage.”
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “The Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act will help build a stronger and fairer agricultural industry throughout New York State. The legislation signed today will stand up for farm laborers and ensure they have the rights and protections that other New York workers have access to. I applaud Senator Jessica Ramos for championing this bill, and holding hearings and visiting farms throughout the state to better address the priorities and concerns of farm laborers and the agricultural industry.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “For more than two decades, the Assembly Majority has fought to protect farmworkers from unfair labor practices for the physically taxing, oftentimes dangerous work they do to fuel our agricultural sector and put food on our tables. These hardworking men and women are vital to the success of New York’s farms, and they deserve the same employment rights afforded to workers in other industries across the state. With this legislation, this essential workforce will finally be granted the protections they need and deserve. I would like to thank longtime sponsor of this legislation Assembly member Cathy Nolan, Labor Chair Marcos Crespo and the many members of the Assembly Majority for their tireless commitment to seeing this legislation through to the finish line.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2019 at 12:55 pm
New commissioners will be from communities affected by flooding
The International Joint Commission has announced plans to add two new members to the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board.
The board currently has six members, with three from the United States and three from Canada.
Jane Corwin, a former state assemblywoman from Clarence, is co-chair of the board along with Pierre Béland of Canada.
The IJC is tasked with regulating the water levels from Lake Ontario and has been under fire with flooding this year and also in 2017.
The IJC will add a new commissioner from both the U.S. and Canada. The new members will come from municipalities on the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River/
They will complement the existing work of the LOSLR board and assist “with efforts to document the human and social impacts of recent flooding at the local and municipal level in order to enrich the board’s discussions and decisions,” the IJC said in a news release today.
Additionally, should funding be secured from the Canadian and US governments, the IJC will be seeking to appoint two public members to a proposed advisory group under the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Adaptive Management Committee, the IJC said.
“These public members would be able to provide knowledge on the upstream and downstream impacts of high water levels on local citizens and local governments,” according to the statement.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2019 at 10:17 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Jeanne Crane, chairwoman of the Orleans County Democratic Party, is pictured with Kara Buscaglia, an Amherst town justice, during Sunday’s Orleans County Democratic Party summer picnic. Buscaglia is running for one of the State Supreme Court justice positions for the 8thJudicial District.
ALBION – The Orleans County Democratic Party is looking forward to November’s elections, with candidates stepping forward to run for town and county offices.
Jeanne Crane, chairwoman of the Democrats in Orleans, praised the candidates for running despite being outnumbered by Republicans, who have a 2-to-1 enrollment advantage over Democrats.
The Democrats have many quality candidates for local offices, she said.
Fred Miller of Albion is unopposed for an Orleans County Legislature position, representing the towns of Albion and Gaines.
At the town level, Mike Maak is running for Ridgeway town supervisor. Maak has run for county legislator before.
Democrats also have endorsed Darlene Benton and Terry Wilbert for Albion Town Board seats, and Michael Neidert for town highway superintendent. In Barre, Democrats backed Maureen Beach for town clerk, Rick Root for town justice, and Luann Tierney for Town Board.
In Kendall, Democrats have endorsed Margaret Lynn Szozda for re-election to the Town Board. In Shelby, Democrats backed Darlene Rich for town clerk, and Mike Fuller for highway superintendent. Fuller, the incumbent, lost a close Republican primary on June 25 to Dale Root.
The Orleans County Democratic Party Committee doesn’t cross-endorse Republican candidates at the county level, but the committee is willing to consider an endorsement of Republican candidates at the town level. That is the case with both Neidert and Fuller, who are Republicans.
Provided photo: Nate McMurray, a Congressional candidate in 2018 against Chris Collins, attended Sunday’s picnic. He is shown with Theresa Schmackpfeffer, who volunteered in the kitchen for the chicken barbecue dinners.
McMurray lost a very close election to Collins. McMurray hasn’t committed to whether he is running for Congress again next year. He urged Democrats to be more involved in local government in Orleans County, where Republicans dominate the elected positions.
Thom Jennings served as the auctioneer for items that were donated as a fundraiser for the Democratic Party.
Mike Schmackpfeffer help serve the chicken dinners, Sandra Walter is at left. The Democrats sold 150 chicken barbecue dinners on Sunday. About 75 people attended the event at the QWL Building on Washington Street.
Caleb Beltran, 4, attended the picnic with his family.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 July 2019 at 7:58 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Dr. Colleen Gagliardi, who grew up in Middleport, has returned home to start a practice at the Missing Peace Holistic Wellness Center in Medina.
MEDINA – Returning home to practice acupuncture is a dream come true for Dr. Colleen Gagliardi, a Middleport native.
For Anna Cichocki, owner of the Missing Peace Holistic Wellness Center, it is the answer to her prayers.
Cichocki opened her wellness center at 510 Orient St. in November 2016 with a therapy room. In February 2017 she expanded the upstairs by adding a classroom to offer yoga, massage therapy, fitness and holistic wellness workshops.
“I knew from the day I opened I wanted to offer acupuncture,” Cichocki said. “But I didn’t have much hope of finding one. Then she appeared on my doorstep.”
Gagliardi will continue to take appointments from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Clients may call (585) 866-9025 to schedule a free 15-minute consult to see if acupuncture may be helpful.
Gagliardi attended Niagara County Community College and Niagara University. She ventured west to pursue a career which included business management. But she knew that wasn’t where her heart was.
She considered medical school, but that wasn’t quite her, either, she said.
Then she heard about naturopathic services and realized she had found her niche.
She entered Bastyr University in Seattle and graduated with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. She later received her master’s in traditional Chinese medicine in 2011.
After college, Gagliardi did a two-year residency in Billings, Mont., then moved to Denver, where she studied Chinese medicine. In addition to a doctorate in naturopathic medicine, she has a master’s in Chinese medicine. She practiced in Chinese medical services for several years and had the opportunity to join a team clinic at Kalispell, Mont., part of the Kalispell Hospital System.
She worked with pain doctors and did naturopathic medicine and acupuncture for two years. She had moved back to Seattle for a while, when she decided it was time to come home.
She said her new practice gives people options.
“So many people want options to take over their health,” Gagliardi said. “Our body is designed to heal itself. People have much more control over their wellness than they realize. They are surprised at how the foods they eat really can impact their health and that nutrient deficiencies may be a root cause contributing to their issues.”
If a client tells the doctor what he or she is eating or drinking, Gagliardi said she might do naturopathy or acupuncture or Chinese herbs. She can also do hypnosis.
When Gagliardi first came home, she was considering doing home visits. Then she learned Cichocki had space available in her wellness center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2019 at 7:37 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Stella Edward, 3, of Albion gives a generous coat of paint to a trinket box at Hoag Library during the summer reading program.
She was one of 70 kids who painted a box on Tuesday at the library.
Jim Babcock of Babcock Construction and his employees made the boxes out of wood. In previous years, Babcock made birdhouses and birdfeeders for kids in the summer reading program.
He cut and assembled the wooden pieces for the trinket boxes, and the kids then painted them.
Justin “Scoop” of Medina gives his trinket box a multi-colored look. He is part of the Little Leapers Childcare Center in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2019 at 5:22 pm
Provided photos
HOLLEY – More than 200 people attended a 5K run and 1 mile walk on Saturday in Holley in memory of Andie Carpenter.
Andie, 20, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 31. She was in her last semester at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake. She died after an artery ruptured.
Andie wasn’t diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome until she was 15. That diagnosis followed years of doctor visits when Andie and her family knew something was wrong. She bruised easily. Her skin stretched far more than a typical person’s.
Andie, despite the effects of Ehlers-Danlos, ran cross country for Holley. Saturday’s race went by the Holley waterfalls, which was one of her favorite spots.
Her family and friends have formed the Adventuresinlove4Andie Memorial Fund as an official 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.
Some of the participants make heart shapes with their hands in memory of Andie Carpenter.
Andie enjoyed photography and taking hikes in nature. She wanted to be a 46er, climbing all of the mountain peaks in the Adirondacks. She was partway on that goal.
Andie researched her college major, and picked the rigorous radiological technology program. She did her training at the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, Canton-Potsdam Hospital and the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.
Brian Bartalo, Holley Central School superintendent, participated in the event, and sprinted to the finish line.
McKenzie Hill was the first recipient of the Andie Mae Carpenter Memorial Award during Holley’s graduation on June 29. McKenzie submitted photos in the scholarship application which showed what “adventures in love” mean to her.
There will be an “Andie Cup” on Aug. 25 at Genesee Community College in Batavia, featuring GCC against North Country Community College. Andie’s father Josh Carpenter was an assistant soccer coach at GCC. Andie attended North Country Community College. There will be jerseys and bracelets for sale at the event to benefit the Adventuresinlove4Andie Memorial Fund.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 July 2019 at 3:50 pm
ALBION – A new Ford van was put into service this week by the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council, bringing their fleet to five vehicles which transport veterans to medical appointments.
Earl Schmidt, director of the Orleans County Veterans Services Agency, said the Joint Veterans Council received enough donations from the community to purchase the new van. This will replace an aging van, he said.
“These vans and their volunteer drivers allow safe travel for veterans to their medical appointments,” Schmidt said.
He commended Greg Stanton for doing the lettering on the van at a fraction of what it actually cost.
The five-passenger van was delivered Monday morning by Rich Beyer, a salesman at Orleans Ford in Medina.
Last year, the veterans’ medical transportation program made 1,000 trips, taking 1,950 veterans to medical appointments. This also represents 6,000 volunteer hours, Schmidt said.
The program has 22 dedicated volunteer drivers, in addition to 11 office volunteers who coordinate trips and take care of paperwork.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can call 589-2856.
Local veterans gather around the new medical transportation van on Monday morning. From left are Gary Befus with the Sheret American Legion Post in Albion; Ron Ayrault of Holley American Legion; John Pera, County Commander and Post Commander of Holley American Legion; Dave Kusmierczak from Butts-Clark American Legion in Medina; Jack Miles of Albion, a volunteer driver; Earl Schmidt, director of the Orleans County Veterans Services Agency and a volunteer driver; Rick Beyer, a salesman with Orleans Ford, who delivered the van; and Fred Heschke, a member of the Butts-Clark American Legion.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation (S.2833/A.558) to raise the minimum sales age for tobacco and electronic cigarette products from 18 to 21. This legislation builds on the governor’s comprehensive efforts to combat health threats from tobacco and e-cigarette products. The bill will take effect 120 days after becoming law.
“New York is taking aggressive action to stamp out smoking among teens and children, but tobacco and e-cigarette use still persists thanks to irresponsible corporate marketing campaigns targeting young people,” Governor Cuomo said. “By raising the smoking age from 18 to 21, we can stop cigarettes and e-cigarettes from getting into the hands of young people in the first place and prevent an entire generation of New Yorkers from forming costly and potentially deadly addictions.”
Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State has moved from the 18th healthiest state in the nation in 2012 to the 10th healthiest state in the nation in 2017. In 2017, Governor Cuomo expanded the Clean Indoor Air Act to prohibit e-cigarette use in nearly every workplace to protect workers and the public from harmful secondhand tobacco smoke and vaping aerosols.
Despite this progress, tobacco use continues to be the number one cause of preventable death in New York State. About 28,000 adult New Yorkers die every year as a result of smoking. Additionally, an increasing number of underage youth are using both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes. From 2014 to 2018 youth use of e-cigarettes increased by 160 percent from 10.5 percent to 27.4 percent and more than half of teens falsely believe that e-cigarette use is harmless.
Because tobacco use persists among youth and adults, New York State continues to prevent young adults from starting smoking. According to the Surgeon General, 88 percent of adult smokers started using tobacco before age 18 and 90 percent of the people who purchase cigarettes for minors are between the ages of 18 and 20. By raising the legal purchase age to 21, this legislation will help prevent underage children from obtaining tobacco products from their friends, reducing the likelihood young adults ever start smoking and become addicted, and ultimately save thousands of lives.
CARLTON – The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office was able to confirm the identity of the man found Sunday morning in Lake Ontario, about 3 miles north of Point Breeze.
Serhiy F. Smyk, 32, of Rochester reportedly went fishing with friends in Niagara River Gorge on June 21. They reportedly stayed in the gorge overnight. Friends reported him missing to the New York State Park Police-Niagara Region on the morning of June 22, said Undersheriff Chris Bourke.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office stated “cause of death” is pending the toxicology results. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Park Police-Niagara will continue the investigation into this incident.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2019 at 10:20 am
LOCKPORT – The Sate Canal Corp. wants to hear from residents in canal communities on how the state can better promote the canal to visitors and made the canal a better asset to local residents.
The Canal Corp. has scheduled a series of community engagement sessions to hear from residents. There was a meeting on Monday in Lockport, and there is another today in Brockport. (Click here to see the schedule of sessions.)
“This comes at a very exciting time,” Brian Stratton, director of the State Canal Corp.
The Erie Canal is celebrating an 8-year bicentennial of the construction from 1817 to 1825. Stratton says the Canal Corp. is developing a vision for the next century of the canal.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo last year announced the “Reimagine the Canals” initiative and two winners were picked from 145 entries in a $2.5 million competition.
One of the winners includes the Erie Armada, a group of boats passing along the canal carrying people tasting craft beers. That armada will be Sept. 20-22 at the Macedon Canal Park.
Brian Stratton, director of the State Canal Corp., said the state welcomes feedback to increase the impact of the canal in communities along the historic waterway.
The Canal Corp. also picked a plan to develop a pocket neighborhood in Canastota, turning open spaces and former industrial areas along the canal turned into space for housing and community space.
But the Canal Corp. wants more ideas and going to the canal communities for inspiration.
At the Lockport meeting, there were the following focus groups – Tourism, Parks and Public Spaces, Arts and Culture, Nature and Environment, Water Recreation, Local Business and Events and others.
About 60 people attended the session at the Challenger Learning Center.
State Assemblyman Mike Norris, R-Lockport, was among the officials at the meeting. He is pleased to see the state putting resources into the canal, and seeking feedback from the canal communities.
One of the ideas submitted includes using horse and buggy rides in canal towns.
The ideas at the sessions will be compiled by the Rockefeller Institute of Government and put into a report for the Reimagine the Canals Task Force. Former Lt. Gov. Bob Duffy, the current CEO of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is one of three co-leaders of the Task Force, with Duffy focusing on the western end of the canal.
The canal has changed from a commercial shipping hub in the 1800s to a recreational use today.
Some of the people at Monday’s meeting would like to see the canal develop heritage sites in each canal town, to help people understand and appreciate the history of the canal communities and the canal’s role in shaping them. That could include using bronze states, interpretive panels, murals and public arts projects to tell those stories.
Other ideas mentioned include:
• There is shortage of quality housing in many canal communities. Creating affordable and attractive living spaces should be a priority.
• There should be shuttle options on the canal. For example, if people take a kayak on the canal, they could then ride a bicycle back to the original destination.
• The canal is cleaner than in the past, but illegal dumping should remain a priority. Some people would like to see “fish ladders” to help fish travel in creeks and streams. Sometimes the canal is a barrier for fish in nearby creeks.
• More dining and lodging options needed along the canal.
• More festivals and events needed in canal towns.
• Making the canal more accessible to people with mobility challenges, and adding more handicapped accessible ramps for boats, canoes and kayaks.
• Some of the groups cited a lack of funding in making the projects a reality, and a difficulty in building consensus among local and state officials in what projects to pursue and then manage.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 July 2019 at 8:14 am
‘Our Cobblestone Heritage’ highlights the cobblestone masonry from the 1800s
Photos by Tom Rivers: Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Society Museum, presents a new video on Sunday during a premiere in the lower level of the Cobblestone Universalist Church.
CHILDS – Supporters of the Cobblestone Museum got to attend a premiere showing of a new video, “Our Cobblestone Heritage,” on Sunday afternoon at the historic Cobblestone Church.
The video was produced by Oh!Davidson Creative of Rochester at the request of Diane Palmer, a former board member and vice president of development for the Cobblestone Museum. Click here to see the video.
Megan O’Hearn-Davidson, left, joins Diane Palmer, a former Cobblestone Museum board member, and Drew Davidson in cutting the cake on Sunday during a premiere of a 10-minute video the Davidsons produced for the museum.
“Around the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, Diane was instrumental in our efforts to begin rebranding the museum,” said director Doug Farley. “This included our new logo and the creation of a video, which we could use to not only promote our museum, but would allow us to extend our season into the winter. That way, if a visitor stopped in the winter and we didn’t have a special event going on, we could show them a video.”
Palmer was familiar with the work of Megan O’Hearn-Davidson and her husband Drew. They photograph and film weddings and other special events in the Rochester area. Megan is an Albion native. Palmer contacted them with her idea.
“The video is about more than promoting our museum,” Palmer said. “It is also promoting the heritage of our cobblestone history. It’s an honor to be part of something like this.”
Farley said the museum is very proud of the video and he credited Palmer with being the driving force behind it. Palmer, who has moved to Washington, D.C. with her husband Keith, returned to Albion for Sunday’s special showing.
“Our rebranding is a process which is still underway,” Farley said. “Our video can be used in a number of ways. Our goal is to become a 12-month facility and now we have a product we can use all year. It is also an outreach tool which tells our mission and our goals for the future.”
While the original idea was to have a video to show visitors to the museum, the project has evolved differently than they first thought, Palmer said.
“Now with a full video of the history of the museum, we can use it to train docents, as well as give visitors a full overview of the museum,” she said.
While the full video is 45 minutes long, those at Sunday’s presentation saw only a 10-minute version. The full-length video includes Bill Lattin, the retired director of the museum, giving a tour of the museum, which is a National Historic Landmark.
Palmer explained she worked closely with the Davidsons in creating the video.
“I gave them an outline with the information, and they created the script,” Palmer said.
She also said Megan has a special interest in history.
After moving to Washington and visiting museums there, Palmer said she realized their video needed closed captioning, and that was added to the Cobblestone video.
Drew said it was definitely a fun project to work on. Former Cobblestone director Bill Lattin was interviewed for much of the video.
Lattin served as director for 40 years – from January 1971 to December 2010. He called cobblestones a “glacial legacy of the Great Lakes.”
The museum also has new signs featuring its new logo.
Lattin also said there were 900 cobblestone structures built in New York state between 1825 and 1860. Today, 90 percent of all the cobblestone buildings in the country are in Western New York.
While Lattin was responsible for major acquisitions by the Cobblestone Society during his years as director, and for its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1993, he also said he realized it was time to retire.
He is very pleased with the direction Farley is taking the museum.
“I had always hoped somebody would come along like Doug and move the museum into the 21st century,” Lattin said. “I am so happy the museum has become so much more technically adroit.”
