KENDALL – The Town of Kendall is the first municipality in Orleans County to declare a state of emergency from the high Lake Ontario water levels.

Tony Cammarata, the town supervisor, made the declaration on Wednesday. He said on Saturday that the declaration will expedite state resources for the town, including AquaDams, large grain bags to hold multiple sandbags, and assistance from the National Guard and inmate crews from state prisons with the flood protection.

On Thursday, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo also issued a state of emergency due to high waters along Lake Ontario. The county implemented a 5 mph speed limit for all boat traffic within 500 feet of the Lake Ontario shoreline in Monroe County. That is intended to minimize flooding damage to the shoreline.

Wayne County also has declared a state of emergency for bays in Sodus, Huron and Wolcott.

More Orleans municipalities – the towns of Yates and Carlton, and Orleans County – are expected to soon declare a state of emergency. Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management director, said the Orleans officials are coordinating with Niagara County an a declaration.

“It could be any day based on the changing conditions,” he said.

The State Office of Fire Prevention and Control installed a 450-foot AquaDam on Friday at Oak Orchard on the Lake, just west of the Oak Orchard Harbor.

Cammarata said Kendall is better prepared to fight the flooding this time, compared to 2017. The town has many pallets of sandbags ready, and learned two years ago that putting sandbags in the larger grain bags makes them more effective. Residents who need sandbags should contact the Kendall Highway Department at (585) 659-2650.

The AquaDams also help protect property. The State Office of Fire Prevention and Control installed a 450-foot AquaDam on Friday at Oak Orchard on the Lake in Carlton.

Cammarata said Kendall has requested three AquaDams for vulnerable shoreline in the town.

Many property owners have new breakwalls that should also better protect property if the lake continues to rise and floods. State grants helped pay for those breakwalls, which Cammarata said are at a higher incline to better thwart erosion.

“We’re anticipating better in 2019 than in 2017,” he said.

This photo is of the same tulip with the focus on the petals of the colorful flower.

After a rainy week, there won’t be much relief from the wet weather in the coming days. Sunday is forecast for a high near 52 with rain likely, between a tenth and quarter of an inch, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

Sunday night another quart to a half inch of rain is possible.

Monday there will be occasional rain, between a quarter to a half inch is possible, with a high near 48. Monday night will see more rain, between a tenth and quarter of an inch is possible, the Weather Service said.

On Tuesday, showers are likely before noon with a high near 49.

Wednesday is forecast to be mostly sunny with a chance of showers after 1 p.m., and a high near 62.

KNOWLESVILLE – Two Orleans County seniors were recognized at the annual Senior Jubilee Friday sponsored by the Orleans County Office for the Aging at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Kathryn Crawford and Dottie DuSett have each devoted their lives to volunteering in their community, and were nominated by the Office for the Aging as “Seniors of the Year.”

There were 140 seniors at the Senior Jubilee, and they were entertained by guitarist David of Honeoye Falls, who played and sang old favorites.

OFA director Melissa Blanar introduced staff, members of the OFA Advisory Council and Kelly Anstey from the Arc’s Nutrition Program.

Melissa Blanar, left, director of the Orleans County Office for the Aging, watches as Assemblyman Steve Hawley presents a citation to Kathryn Crawford for her volunteer work at the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley presented citations to Crawford and DuSett.

Crawford was nominated by Deb Rothmond, director of the Eastern Orleans Community Center.

“Kathryn has made a great difference in our community,” Rothmond said. “She shows compassion and empathy for all who walk through the door at the Community Center and in public. She is a great role model for the other volunteers on work ethic and compassion for others. Kathy is very committed to her role as volunteer and has not taken a single day off since she started two years ago. She also volunteers for events that are outside of her normal position here and is always there to offer a helping hand.”

Crawford was born in Brockport and lived in Murray until she was 7. She grew up in Rochester and started working at age 15 in a perfume factory. She had her first son at age 19 and her second at 22. She and her husband moved to New Jersey in 1983, where she held many positions to support her family, including working for the police department and the local school. She has worked at a doctor’s office and as a waitress at night. Through her hard work, she became manager of the restaurant. After raising her children, she moved back to Orleans County in 1993, where she continued to work in retail for many years.

As for her volunteering, Crawford said, “Volunteering can become that thing that fills the void you may have in your life. It isn’t for everyone, but depending on where you are in life, it can be very rewarding. With an empty nest, I was looking for a purpose. Volunteering helped me find a new happiness.”

DuSett, who has been volunteering for 80 years, was nominated by her daughter Dana DuSett. Dana said her mother taught hundreds of area youth through 4-H, some for multiple generations. She taught sewing, baking, crafts, parliamentary procedure, public speaking and citizenship. The benefits of delivering meals and teaching adults to read can be seen immediately in their smiles and hugs. Dotty and her husband Guy took in dozens of Foreign Exchange students, which they both felt enriched their lives in so many ways.

Guitarist David Marshione of Honeoye Falls plays and sings for the Orleans County Office for the Aging’s Senior Jubilee Friday at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Dotty was a 4-H leader beginning in 1942, a member of the 4-H Leaders Council, the Civil Air Patrol since 1944 and Literacy Volunteers since its inception in 1974. She was secretary of the Murray Baptist Church from 1967 to 1984, wrote publicity for the 4-H Fair for many years, was a charter member of the International Exchange of Foreign Youth, delivered Meals on Wheels from 1978 to 2005 and taught genealogy courses for free. She previously worked in the accounting office at Eastman Kodak.

She collected locally for many causes and was taught to say, “Yes, I can” to every request for assistance, Dana said.

Born in Hilton, Dotty is a fourth-generation 4-H’er. She married Guy DuSett in 1948 and moved to the hamlet of Hindsburg. Her four children always asked, “Who are these for?” before digging into any pies or cookies after school. Dotty always took care of neighbors in crisis. She has lived in the same house for more than 70 years.

Dana said she believes her mother gave of herself because she felt it benefited and strengthened her own community.

“Volunteering is the best way to know the people in your area,” Dana said. “You meet so many interesting people and mom always wanted to pay it forward.”

Blanar said April was National Volunteer Month and the OFA chose Peggy Francisco, a member of their staff, as “Volunteer of the Month.”

Blanar also announced the OFA has started a volunteer transportation program to take seniors to medical appointments, shopping or just visiting. Thirteen volunteer drivers have already been trained, but more are needed.

The Senior Jubilee ended with lunch served by Nutrifair and awarding of door prizes donated by the community.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Anaiya Griffin, an Albion third-grader, tries to lift a bear trap in the Farmer’s Hall at the Cobblestone Museum. About 60 Albion third-graders toured the Cobblestone Museum on Friday, the first school tour of the season.

There were three Albion third grade classes at the museum on Friday. Three more classes from Albion are scheduled to visit on May 29.

Brenda Radzinski, left, served as one of the tour guides. She said the bear trap is about 200 years old. A bear got caught in the trap and managed to walk in it for 14 miles about 150 years ago, when the trap was found in Barre.

Farmer’s Hall functions as an exhibition hall for 19th and early 20th century farming implements. One of the more interesting items in the Farmer’s Hall is a dog-powered butter churn.

Brenda Radzinski shows third-graders a barrel which she said were made by skilled people known as coopers.

Gerard Morrisey, one of the guides, leads the group into the Cobblestone Universalist Church, which was built in 1834 and is the oldest cobblestone church in North America. Morrissey shared with students how the early residents of the communities collected stones from fields and near Lake Ontario and set them in rows of mortar on the outside of buildings. Children back then would help their families collect the stones to build the cobblestone houses and churches.

Georgia Thomas gives students a tour of the print shop, which was originally in Medina in the 1870s. Thomas said the printer did the work without spell check and had to set the type manually.

Photo courtesy of Marsha Rivers: Sandy Heise, a retired Albion teacher, discusses life in the one-room schoolhouse, which opened in 1849 and served the Gaines community until it was closed in 1952.

“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 5, No. 19

ALBION – This photograph, taken on August 20, 1904, shows the Central Drug Store, owned and operated by Dr. Charles Moore Burrows. The storefront, now occupied by Five Star Bank, was situated in the Swan Block on the northwest corner of North Main and Bank Streets in Albion. It appears as though Burrows arranged to have this photograph taken as the store’s employees stepped outside for a quick snapshot. Standing, left to right, are Dr. Burrows, Agnes McCabe (bookkeeper), George H. Noble (manager), George W. Annis (head clerk), and Robert Moore (junior clerk); William Barker stands off to the left in “reposeful interest.”

The Central Drug Store was originally known as Barrell’s Central Drug Store, owned and operated by George Barrell of Albion. Up until 1902, the business was still being advertised under Barrell’s name and it appears as though the store remained under Burrow’s ownership until 1906 when it was sold to Dr. Jackson of Gasport. The following year it was sold to Harris Freeman who operated it until 1946 when it was sold to Marvin G. Sayles.

The image provides an interesting view into the goods carried by local drug stores at the turn of the 20th century. The left window reveals a collection of brushes and several advertisements for cigars and cigarettes. The “Finest Quality” Little Minister advertisement called attention to the store’s stock of cigars distributed by the Vincent Brothers of Rochester, NY. The Cairo cigarette advertisement below, which calls attention to the booming tobacco industry in Egypt; an ad for LeRoy brand cigarettes and a barrel of baseball bats sit outside of the window.

Stacks of notebooks sit in the right window with a sign that reads “Spencerian.” The Spencerian script was the popular style of cursive writing that allowed writers to produce quick, legible notes, particularly for business related matters. Readers might recognize examples of this script in the Ford Motor Company and Coca-Cola logos. Larger business ledgers are visible in the glass case inside with an assortment of pamphlets on display. A small sign that reads “Paul E. Wirt Fountain Pens” advertises a popular writing instrument produced by Paul Wirt, which reached peak production around the time this photograph was taken.

A 1903 advertisement in the Orleans Republican displays the breadth of products carried by the store; “The aim of this store is high quality, moderate prices and courteous attention. The drugs and medicines are fresh, pure and reliable. The Wines and Liquors are old reliable stock bought in quantities direct from the distillers expressly for medicinal purposes. The Perfumes are the best that can be produced, both imported and American. The stock of imported and domestic Cigars is the largest and choicest ever displayed here. The stock of fine Toilet Articles, Stationary, Papterie, Books, Purses, Tooth, Hair, and Toilet Brushes is superior and attractive. Huyler’s and Lowney’s fine Candies always in stock.”

The storefront to the right was home to the James Bailey & Son grocery store (v.3, no. 13), operated by Herbert Bailey. A small stand of potatoes or yams sits in front of the store below a window advertising soap; it appears as though a potato may have rolled off the table and landed at the foot of Dr. Burrows. It was quite common for local business owners to display their wares along the street, relying upon awnings to protect those goods during poor weather. The retracted awning reads “Central Drug Store” but also features two advertisements for Hires Rootbeer, the “Best Drink on Earth.” Featuring birch, sassafras, licorice, vanilla, spikenard, sarsaparilla, hops, wintergreen, pipsissewa, and ginger flavors, the company frequently advertised the product as “The Temperance Drink.” Hires remains the second oldest soft drink under continuous marketing since its introduction in 1876, which is now sold by Keurig Dr. Pepper.

Another AquaDam headed to Ed Rose Shores in Kendall

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT Breeze – Mike Walsh walks by the AquaDam that was put in his yard today by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

Walsh has lived at Oak Orchard on the Lake in Carlton the past 22 years. Lake Ontario has been steadily rising this spring and the waves are already crashing over a new breakwall that was put in for him and his neighbors last year.

Walsh said the breakwalls have better secured the property for likely flooding this year, compared to the high lake levels in 2017. That year Walsh put in 4,000 sandbags to try to fend off the high waters.

“We were hoping this wouldn’t happen again,” he said.

J.P. Przybychen of the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control checks pumps for the AquaDam. Przybychen and three co-workers from OFPC started spreading out the AquaDam about 8:30 this morning. He estimated at 3:30 p.m. today it had about one more hour to go before it was full.

The AquaDam is 450 feet long and is in three sections, two at 100 feet and one at 250. Inside are two tubes or “bladders” that are like thick garbage bags, which are wrapped in the thick outer layer of rubber.

The AquaDam will likely stay all summer and into the fall, until the lake levels go down.

Another AquaDam will be placed in Kendall in the next few days by a section of Ed Rose Shores, pending delivery of the AquaDam, said Dale Banker, director of emergency management for Orleans County.

He reached out to the state about the availability of the AquaDams.

When the Aqua Dams are no longer needed, the water will be pumped back into the lake.

In addition to the AquaDams, the National Guard has been in Orleans County the past two days filling sandbags. They placed about 1,000 at th Green Harbor Campground and Marina.

Walsh, the Oak Orchard resident, thanked the local and state officials for putting the AquaDam in place.

“This will do the job,” he said.

The waves crash against the breakwalls at Oak Orchard on the Lake this afternoon. The AquaDam provides a big layer of protection from the invading water.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Andrew Owens drives to the basket during this afternoon’s home opener for the Mustangs Unified basketball team against Hutch-Tech before a student body filled gym.

A full house was on hand including a pep band and cheerleaders as the Medina Unified basketball team opened the home portion of its season this afternoon with an student body assembly program contest against Hutch-Tech.

And the student body was treated to a close, entertaining contest with Hutch-Tech emerging with a narrow 38-36 win.

Medina’s Steven Secore (10) drives the ball up court escorted by Tom Biaselli (23).

“Getting to play basketball is a great opportunity for these kids and this game is the highlight of the year for them,” said Medina Coach Cal Tuohey. “To play before their peers with a full gym is great.  I hope it helps spread the interest in Unified basketball.”

“Our unified basketball program is in its third year of existence, and it has been an amazing experience for many of our student athletes,” said Medina Athletic Director Eric Valley.

All eight of the Mustang players contributed to the point production as Lincoln Pace and David Wiley each  scored 8, Tom Biaselli 5, Andrew Owens and Jackson Tuohey 4, Steven Secore 3 and Josh Calus and Bobby Vidovich 2 each.

Trailing 10-9 after one period, 24-16 at the half an 30-24 after three quarters, Medina made the finish exciting as the Mustangs rallied back into a 36-36 tie late after a pair of baskets by Wiley.

However, the comeback bid fell just short as Hutch-Tech earned the win on two free throws by Anthony Carmichael with 19 seconds to go.

The Mustangs rebounded quickly though besting a faculty team 16-11 in a brief contest to close out the program.

Earlier in the week the Mustangs opened their season at Niagara Falls dropping a close 46-42 decision. Wiley scored 14, Tuohey and Owens 8, Vidovich  5, Calus 4 and Secore 3.

The Medina Unified team receives vocal support from their classmates including members of the Mustangs boys varsity team as Tyler Chinn and Izaiah Rhim here stand to root them on.

The music of the pep band, shown here playing the national anthem, kept the contest lively. 

The Medina team stands at attention for the national anthem.

David Wiley drives to the basket for the Mustangs.

Medina Coach Cal Tuohey and student manager Leah Sones (21) applauds a Mustangs basket.

Lincoln Pace puts up a shot for the Mustangs.

A portion of the large student body crowd.

Tom Biaselli on a drive to the basket for Medina.

Hutch-Tech’s Zaviah Williams, left, led the Engineers scoring. At right, Jackson Tuohey advances the ball up court for Medina.

State Sen. Robert Ortt said a plan by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to make the state’s power plants coal-free by the end of 2020 will hurt Western New York, including Somerset, where the power plant employs 60 people.

“The announcement by the Department of Environmental Conservation to close coal energy facilities in New York by 2020 is misguided,” Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, said on Thursday. “While New York continues to import more than 75 percent of the energy consumed in the state, a majority of it being natural gas, small communities that are home to fossil fuel facilities are left devastated by plant closures.

“In addition to the implementation of this questionable energy policy, Gov. Cuomo has yet to establish any plans of reemployment for the men and women who lose their jobs due to his administration’s energy strategy,” Ortt said. “In my district, 60 jobs at Somerset Operating Company will now be at risk because of Gov. Cuomo. Gov. Cuomo’s energy plan for New York State is simple: import energy, export jobs.”

Cuomo on Thursday announced the DEC adopted final regulations to require all power plants in New York to meet new emissions limits for carbon dioxide (CO2). The regulations, a first-in-the-nation approach to regulating carbon emissions, will achieve Cuomo’s goal to end the use of coal in New York State power plants by the end of 2020.

“As our federal government continues to support the dying fossil fuel industry, deny climate change, and roll back environmental protections, New York is leading the nation with bold climate action to protect our planet and our communities,” Cuomo said. “With the adoption of these final regulations, we are taking yet another step toward a cleaner, greener, long-term energy solution to safeguard the environment for generations to come.”

Press Release, GCC

Richard G. Ensman

BATAVIA – Richard G. Ensman Jr., of Rochester, passed away on May 9, having served Genesee Community College with great distinction since 1990. Through his nearly 30 years of dedicated service, Mr. Ensman was both the Director of the Department of External Affairs, as well as the Executive Director of the Genesee Community College Foundation and its 32-member Board of Directors.

In this dual capacity for almost three decades, Mr. Ensman was involved in all facets of GCC’s growth and development which included five capital projects at the Batavia Campus, the opening of six campus centers and also the purchase of College Meadows and its transformation into College Village, the student residence community adjacent to the main campus. Throughout all of the fundraising campaigns, including the most recent, “Creating Our Future Together” which resulted in the design and construction of GCC’s new Student Success Center and Richard C. Call Arena, Mr. Ensman’s unwavering motivation was fortifying student success and strengthening connections with the community.

He also helped found the College’s Alumni program, expand its Marketing Communications Office and establish a vast pool of scholarship opportunities that now numbers well over 200 separate funds. These draw together the unique interests and passions of donors in our community with the real needs and achievements of countless students, year after year.

Despite all Mr. Ensman’s accomplishments at GCC, he valued the work and dedication of those around him and he prioritized recognizing their efforts. He introduced the Foundation’s Alpha Medal of Service, a prestigious honor bestowed upon individuals at Commencement who demonstrate extraordinary commitment and service to the College. He helped found the Alumni Hall of Fame which currently recognizes 39 recipients. He encouraged the Marketing Communications Office to establish the “Recognition Matters” news series that highlights the accomplishments of GCC students, faculty and staff. And, Mr. Ensman long envisioned a unified office for the Department of External Affairs, which came to fruition this past fall.

“Rick was an integral member of our senior management team for many years. His dedication to the College’s mission of supporting students and helping them to achieve their goals was illustrated in countless ways,” said GCC President James M. Sunser. “Through literally hundreds if not thousands of scholarships, he touched the lives of many. What’s more, he inspired the same in others – from building our strong, dynamic donor and alumni communities, to encouraging staff as well as his colleagues to discover and embrace professional development opportunities – Rick had a huge heart. While he is already missed, his work and his vision will never leave us.”

He was a very active member of the Rotary Club of Batavia, and also strong supporter and proponent of the United Way. In 2014, Mr. Ensman was recognized by the Batavia Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow, named after the founding member of the Rotary, and is the highest distinction Rotarians receive for service to their club and/or their community.

Beyond his professional work at GCC and his community service to the Rotary and United Way, Rick was passionate about hiking, especially in the Adirondack Mountains with his camera always at hand. He shared many of his amazing photographs, including sunsets, sunrises, mountain top views, foggy trails and tranquil lakefronts with his friends and family. He was also an avid member of CrossFit Ambition.

Mr. Ensman was born on September 2, 1954 in Rochester, New York, and graduated from Bishop Kearney High School in 1971. He received two degrees from the University of Rochester, a Bachelor of Science Degree, awarded with distinction in Social Science in 1976, and Master of Science Degree in Community Services in 1982.

Funeral services for Mr. Ensman will be held on Friday, May 17, at 10 a.m. at St. Monica’s Church, 831 Genesee Street in Rochester, NY 14611. Calling hours will be on Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Leo Bean Funeral home located at 2771 Chili Avenue, Rochester, NY 14624.

Photo courtesy of Maiorana family: Nunzio T. Maiorana was a popular teacher and school administrator at Medina as well as the athletic director.

LOCKPORT – DeSales Catholic School has announced plans to renovate an area on their campus to create the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center, in honor of a beloved alumnus who graduated from DeSales in 1958.

Maiorana was a highly respected leader in both education and athletics throughout Niagara and Orleans counties.

He was also an accomplished self-taught artist who specialized in pen and ink drawings of historic lighthouses and buildings from across the world. Each of his drawings was hand-drawn using jeweler’s glasses and each art piece contained over 500,000 fine lines and dots. He won his first art show in 1957 sponsored by the Lockport Industrial Management Club.

After graduating from DeSales High School, Maiorana went on earn his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Detroit.  He began his teaching career at the Diocese of Detroit at St. John Berchmans School. In 1963 he came back home to WNY to teach at Medina Senior High School.

This was followed by multiple roles throughout his tenure in Medina starting as a teacher and retiring as superintendent of curriculum and finance. He started in Medina in the fall 1963. His career spanned over 36 years until his retirement in 1998.

At Medina, Maiorana taught pre-vocational studies, English, and history; served as an assistant high school football coach, assistant principal, director of athletics, director of maintenance, grounds, and transportation; principal of Wise Middle School; and superintendent of curriculum and finance. He also sat on state and national committees for athletics and academics to ensure safety, wellness, and rigorous academic instruction for all students.

He remained an influential educator up until the day he passed away on Jan. 22, 2018.

“My father was without a doubt a great individual, a gregarious man with an infectious smile and great sense of humor,” said his son, David Maiorana. “He was a dedicated professional who was on a mission to provide his students with the best possible education, and his determination, temerity, and self-discipline made Dad a mentor we profoundly looked up to. It didn’t matter who you were, everyone knew him and everyone loved him!”

Ann-Marie Towell, Nunzio’s daughter, commented; “The devotion and leadership of our father inspired many students, adults and school communities, and we will continue to work together to sustain and build upon his legacy. We are honored to recognize his inspirational example as we dedicate this new art center for the children of DeSales Catholic School in his name.”

This rendering shows the layout for the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center at DeSales Catholic School in Lockport, where Maiorana graduated in 1958.

This beautiful new facility will enhance educational opportunities and further develop a rich environment for learning art at DeSales.

Construction of the Nunzio T. Maiorana Art Center will break ground on June 27 and is expected to be completed prior to the start of school in September. The costs are estimated to be in the range of $125,000. His wife of 56 years, Charlotte Palisano Maiorana, has committed a significant amount to kick off fundraising for the project.

Donations toward the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center at DeSales are being sought. If you would like to make a donation you can do so by going online by clicking here, calling  (716) 433-644 ext. 407 or mailing a check to DeSales Catholic School, 6914 Chestnut Ridge Road, Lockport, NY 14094. In the memo section of the check, please write Nunzio Maiorana or include a quick note that the gift is made in Nunzio’s memory.

Photos courtesy of Melissa Ierlan

CLARENDON – The Town of Clarendon installed a new sign for its town park on Thursday. Danny Scroger, a Town Highway Department employee, is shown attaching the sign to the pavilion at the park on Route 237.

This park includes the Clarendon waterfalls. It is just south of Route 31A.

Photos by Ginny Kropf

Employees of Baxter Healthcare in Medina clean up the lawn at Head Start on Ensign Avenue in Medina. From left are Tammy Pogel, Tim Ingrassia, plant manager Kevin Foley and Melinda Pitcher. Foley said it was great to get out in the community and show support.

About 50 volunteers worked on service projects today for the United Way’s annual Day of Caring. Volunteers are doing projects at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Hospice of Orleans, Camp Rainbow, Community Action sites in Albion and Medina, and in Lyndonville at the village garden on Main Street and Patterson Park.

Dean Bellack, right, director of Orleans County United Way, watches as Jackie Gardner, a board member, signs in for Day of Caring at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Lacy Regling, left, and Allison Stanley, employees of Baxter Healthcare, clean out a shed at Camp Rainbow during Day of Caring. The ladies said they enjoyed helping and would do it again.

Creig Shockley, left, and Brian Hosmer, both Baxter employees, repair and put up swings at Camp Rainbow. Four more Baxter employees painted cabins, while another cleaned the bathrooms.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Nick Peterson, left, and Michael Schroder, both of Baxter, paint the arts and crafts cabin at Camp Rainbow.

Brett Sobieraski of Kent, a sergeant with the Rochester Police Department, sweeps out one of the bathrooms by the swimming pool.

Heidi Truschel, community relations manager for the Arc of Genesee Orleans, trims a bush at Camp Rainbow.

Photo courtesy of Teri Woodworth

There were 15 students from the Lyndonville Lions Club’s Leo Club who helped clean up the village garden on Main Street and village’s Patterson Park. The students were part of the Day of Caring because United Way funds support the Yates summer recreation program.

Photo courtesy of Jason Smith

Lyndonville students rake and pick up debris at Patterson Park.

CARLTON – Barb and Don Anderson, owners of Green Harbor Campground and Marina in Carlton, hoped 2017 was just a blip, a one-time event when Lake Ontario flooded the campground, chewing away precious land.

The Andersons spent the fall of 2017 and much of last year raising the land about 3 feet near the lake and Perch Creek. They put in rocks and lots of dirt, restoring washed out land.

Photo courtesy of Barb Anderson: Members of the National Guard stack sandbags along Perch Creek, which is starting to flood into the campground.

Photo courtesy of Steven Anderson: Eight members of the National Guard arrived this afternoon to begin stacking about 1,000 sandbags at the campground, a task that will continue on Friday.

Green Harbor opened for a new season on May 1, and the Andersons have been welcoming back their guests who stay at 86 seasonal sites.

They were all ready for months of relaxation in the quiet campground community off Lakeshore Road, near the Yates town line. But everyone is feeling anxious as Lake Ontario rises.

“We thought they wouldn’t let this happen again, but it’s happening again,” Mrs. Anderson said today, while waiting for the National Guard to arrive to help stack sandbags.

Barb Anderson is worried as Perch Creek starts to flood.

She estimates the family invested about $100,000 in putting in new fill, docks and restoring a jetty. That work with the jetty has already come mostly undone after being knocked away by the hard-charging waves.

The Andersons have owned Green Harbor for 14 years. They didn’t have a flooding problem until two years ago. Last year started to get high, but the lake backed off and it was a good season, she said.

However, the family didn’t charge many of the campers in 2018 after what they endured the previous year. The Andersons wanted to start recovering financially this year.

She appreciates the sand bags which were dropped off by the Carlton Highway Department. They will be stacked along the edge of Perch Creek, hopefully to stop the water from reaching some of the camp sites.

“It’s starting to flood,” she said. “We have to save the land.”

There are about 1,000 sandbags at Green Harbor.

The high waters nearly cover the big rocks at the mouth of Perch Creek at the campground and marina.

There isn’t much room left before the lake reaches this campsite along the shoreline.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Katie Heiligenthaler, left, and Rahema Quddus, both employees with Takeform in Medina, work on making a raised garden box for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County.

There are among about 35 volunteers working on service projects today for the United Way’s annual Day of Caring. Volunteers are doing projects at the Extension, Hospice of Orleans, Camp Rainbow, and Community Action sites in Albion and Medina.

Cortney Sevor and Shannon Dent of Takeform drill holes for one of the four raised garden boxes. The Extension is doing a new project this year with the garden boxes, where senior citizens and local 4-H members are planting gardens in the boxes that will be displayed during the Orleans County 4-H Fair in late July.

Dean Bellack, executive director of theUnited Way, welcomes the volunteers for the Day of Caring. They had breakfast at the Trolley Building at the Fairgrounds before heading out to do landscaping, paint, assemble a teeter-totter and do other service projects. This photo was taken in the kitchen, looking through the service counter.

The volunteers included employees from Takeform, Baxter Healthcare, CRFS, the Cooperative Extension, Arc of Genesee Orleans, Rochester Police Department and an Albion High School student.

There were also 15 students from the Lyndonville Lions Club’s Leo Club who helped clean up the village garden on Main Street with another group of students picking up winter debris in the village’s Patterson Park. The students were part of the Day of Caring because United Way funds support the Yates summer recreation program.

Kim Hazel, an employee with the Cooperative Extension, cooks sausages for the breakfast. She then headed out to do a project at Hospice.

$800K in improvements includes splash pad, amphitheater, new bathrooms and pavilion

ALBION – The bulldozers and other construction equipment arrived on Monday at Bullard Park doing site work for the long-awaited improvements at the village’s most popular park. In the coming months, a splash park, amphitheater, utility building with bathrooms and a pavilion will be constructed.

“I think it’s going to be absolutely great for our community,” said John Grillo, the village’s recreation director. “It will enhance our recreation program.”

Titan, a construction company from Gasport, was busy doing site work at Bullard Park on Wednesday. The village’s summer recreation program, which normally is at Bullard, will shift to Veterans Park on Brown Street this summer due to the construction.

The village has park supervisors during the summer and they will be at the splash park during the peak demand hours. The water also will have automatic shut-offs when the splash park isn’t being used.

Grillo expects it will be very popular during the summer.

“There have been days when it’s super hot and we’ve thought about closing the parks because of the heat index,” he said.

The splash park will be near a shaded area next to the playground at the park. Grillo said many local families don’t have swimming pools. The splash pad will provide much-needed relief.

“It’s going to be great for children,” he said.

A stone base is in place for where a utility building will be constructed, which will include new bathrooms for the park. This building will be centrally located at Bullard.

The village is doing about $800,000 worth of upgrades at the park. The village in December 2016 was awarded a $499,605 state grant for Bullard projects.

The village also received $97,500 from the county and $45,000 from the town of Albion, money that was through a revolving-loan fund that needed to be spent for handicapped accessibility at the park. Those funds will be used for sidewalks to the amphitheater and splash pad, to make them accessible to people in a wheelchair.

“It’s definitely an exciting feat for Albion,” said Mayor Eileen Banker during a ground-breaking celebration on Wednesday.

She thanked community volunteers including the Rebuild Bullard Committee for their work with grants and a vision for park.

“This is going to be something for the kids and for families to have family time and get away from the electronics,” she said.

Titan moves soil as part of the site work. The former bathrooms in back are now being used as a storage building. The Village Department of Public Works removed the toilets and sewer connection.

Zack Burgess has helped organize with the Rock the Park Festival, which is in its sixth year on Aug. 3. Burgess and his band performed in the event, which raised money for the park. He was motivated to improve Bullard for his niece and nephew.

Rock the Park has expanded this year into “Albion’s Summer Festival featuring Rock the Park.” It will include arts and crafts vendors and a kickball tournament. The event is moving to the east end of the park due to the construction.

The amphitheater won’t be ready in time for this year’s festival. The new stage can be used for Rock the Park in the future, as well as other concerts and community events.

Ron Albertson, president of the Lions Club, also helps organize Rock the Park. He sees the amphitheater and the spacious park as a venue for drawing “big name” bands and musicians to Albion.

The park improvements will help distinguish Albion as a community, he said.

“Quality of life means everything,” he said. “We’re competing to draw people to our community.”

Dusty DeCarlo of the Albion DPW delivers a load of stone.

The Albion DPW is providing $166,370 of in kind services as part of Albion’s local share for the state grant. The DPW took down a pavilion and storage building last fall to make way for the new utility building. The DPW also ran a new sewer line across Route 31 near the Bullard entrance. That sewer line will service the park.

The DPW also will be running 600 feet of waterline for the splash pad and utility building, several feet of sewer line, and will be doing the electric service for the amphitheater.

Village crews also are hauling stone from Barre Stone Products and moved the concrete sections of the retaining wall for the amphitheater.

These concrete pieces will intersect and serve as a retaining wall as part of the new amphitheater.