The Medina Mustang Marching Band traveled to Boston, MA from April 25-28 to perform in competition in the Music in the Parks Festival. The festival was started in 1981 and is a day-long event for students of choral, orchestral and band ensembles held annually across the US. Music groups perform before adjudicators who rate the ensemble and then awards are issued at the end of the day.
The Medina jazz band won 1st place with a superior rating. Concert band won 1st place with an excellent rating.
Parade took 1st place with a superior rating and an overall concert band award. The band was awarded the Esprit de Corps Award which is presented to just one group at the competition. The Esprit Award recognizes the participating organization that displays an exemplary attitude of positive support and outstanding personal behavior throughout the festival weekend. Personal integrity, quality of character values, a desire for excellence and a spirit of cooperation serve as the cornerstone qualities of this award.
The band will next perform in Seneca Falls on May 17-18 and then the Sherburne Earlville Pageant May 31 and June 1. Locally they will be in the Memorial Day parade on May 27.
Photo courtesy of State Sen. Rob Ortt: Guy Smith, co-owner of Triple G Farms in Barre, is presented an Empire Award by State Sen. Rob Ortt.
BARRE – Triple G Farms, which is based in Barre, was presented with an Empire Award last week by State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda. Ortt also serves on the State Senate’s Agriclutre Committee.
“Triple G Farms is a shining example of the monumental impact a family-owned farm can have on a local community,” said Sen. Ortt. “Their work with local conservation groups and farm service agencies has helped transform community farming practices, while work with environmental quality programs has helped establish new agrichemical handling plans. I’m proud to honor such a wonderful community partner and look forward to the incredible work they will continue to do for the agriculture community in the future.”
Triple G in February was honored as Orleans County’s “Conservation Farm of the Year.” Triple G started as a muck farm in 1925. Triple G Farms is run by brothers Guy and Greg Smith, and their nephew Pete Smith.
They grow potatoes and onions on 645 acres of muckland in Barre, Clarendon and Elba.
Provided photo: Jeff and Audrey Goodale of Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA (left); James McCauley, Camp Good Days PAVE Director; Rachel and Rob Kaiser of Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA.
Press Release, Campground Owners of New York
MEDINA – Over the past seven years, Campground Owners of New York (CONY) and their campgrounds and campers have donated a total of $572,032 to Camp Good Days. This includes the $3,600 contributed in 2018 by Rob and Rachel Kaiser and their campers at Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA in Medina.
Camp Good Days, marking its 40th anniversary in 2019, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer, sickle cell anemia and other life challenges. These programs include camping retreats at their facility on Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes. All programs are offered free of charge for the participants.
Since its inception, Camp Good Days has served more than 48,300 campers from all around the world.
Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA has been an enthusiastic contributor for all seven years of CONY’s fundraising campaigns. This past year, the park held a duck race, a tricky-tray auction, a campground poker run and put out a change collection box to raise $3,600. The park’s 2019 season runs from May 3rd through Columbus Day, and they’ll be offering more opportunities for campers to help support Camp Good Days.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 April 2019 at 3:37 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: United Way director Dean Bellack talks with Orleans County Chamber of Commerce director Rebecca Charland at the start of the Orleans County Home Show. This was United Way’s first year having a booth at the Home Show and was part of the agency’s efforts to be more visible in the community.
KNOWLESVILLE – Although the weather did nothing to cooperate, the Orleans County Home, Garden and Outdoor Show still boasts a success from the weekend event at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
An estimated 1,000 people came through the doors, said Orleans County Chamber of Commerce president Kathy Blackburn.
The annual home show provides vendors and businesses with the opportunity to showcase their products and services, while providing the public with valuable information.
Linda Kludt, a member of Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s board, sells a ticket on a pair of gliders to Kat Tsoukatos of Clarendon during the Orleans County Home, Garden and Outdoor Show.
Vendor space was sold out and spilled over from the Lartz Exhibit Building to the Trolley Building. Vendors represented a wide variety of interests, including tourism, gardening, banking, home improvement, building trades, jewelry, pools and spas, heating and more. The 810 Meadworks on Saturday and Leonard Oakes Estate Winery on Sunday were popular with their wine tastings.
The Sourced Market and Eatery added a nice touch with their first participation in the Home Show, serving breakfast and lunch in the Trolley Building.
Kelly Moore of Brockport brought children Payton Preston, 10, and Callen Preston, 4, to the Orleans County Chamber’s Home, Garden and Outdoor Show on Sunday to take part in the Scavenger Hunt. Payton and Callen have their eye patches and pirate’s flags, as they set out to find hidden treasure throughout the home show booths.
Visitors received a ticket with their paid admission which made them eligible to win a prize at any booth if their ticket matched one posted by each vendor.
Saturday the Albion Elks Lodge served a chicken barbecue. Sunday’s highlight was a Pirate Treasure Hunt for children, who donned their eye patch and searched for clues at vendor’s booths.
From left, Kathy Blackburn, president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce; Rebecca Charland, director; and Paula Knapp, board member, watch as vendor Denise Best pulls the winning ticket for a pair of Comfort Back Glider chairs, which the Chamber raffled off. The lucky winner was Elizabeth Jubenville of Kent.
A tradition for many years has been to close the Home Show by drawing the winning ticket for a major prize. In past years the Chamber has awarded lawn mowers, scooters and an outdoor shed. This year’s prize was a set of comfort back gliders valued at $1,125. Denise Best, who had the Scentsy booth, pulled the winning ticket, which belonged to Elizabeth Jubenville of Kent.
“I never win anything,” Jubenville said when she received the news.
“What a way to end a successful show,” Blackburn said.
Charlene Pratt of Medina, left, talks with volunteer Pam Schuner in the OCALS booth at the Orleans County Chamber’s Home, Garden and Outdoor Show. Looking on at right is Pam’s husband Jeffrey.
Gail Miller, manager of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market in Medina, and Shauna Gardner greeted people at the Farmers’ Market booth at the Orleans County Home, Garden and Outdoor Show. Miller holds the schedule for summer hours of the market, which begin in June.
MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Orleans Learning Center recently spread some cheer to the residents of the North Wing Residential Care Facility at the Medina Memorial Hospital.
Under the direction of music teacher, Mary Kuhn, the bell choir loved putting a smile on the residents’ faces as they showed off their brand-new matching polo shirts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2019 at 10:10 am
Sweet Iron Works made the manhole cover by fountain in Public Square
HOLLEY – You don’t have to go to a museum to see cool, historic things in Orleans County. Last week I spotted a manhole cover made in Medina. The manhole cover is still in use. It’s next to the Salisbury Fountain in Holley’s Public Square.
The Medina Historic Society has a Swett Iron Works manhole cover. It was the only one I’d seen before last Thursday, when I was in Holley.
This vintage image shows how massive A.L. Swett Iron Works was in its heyday in Medina.
Swett Iron Works was a significant foundry in Medina, north of the Erie Canal, at 145 Glenwood Ave. In addition to manhole covers, Swett made a lot of heavy-duty items, from barn door hangers to iron ladles. Some buildings still remain from its glory, but it’s a shell of its former self.
Albert L. Swett founded the iron works in 1889. The company ceased operating in 1961, laying off 40 employees.
Albert L. Swett was one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Orleans County’s history. In 1898, he formed the A.L. Swett Electric Light and Power Company, which brought electricity to Medina. He built another reservoir in Carlton to provide more power to Orleans County about a century ago.
He used Lake Alice as part of the hydroelectric project. He named the lake for his daughter, Alice, who was only 11 when she died in 1884.
I mentioned the Swett manhole cover to a few people who I thought might find it interesting. They said some people will occasionally post pictures on Swett manhole covers they see in cities, including Buffalo and New York City. The one in Holley is the only one I know in active service in Orleans County.
I went to Holley last Thursday for an announcement about the village’s efforts to redevelop the former Odd Fellows building in the downtown. The Landmark Society of Western New York is helping with an engineering survey of the building, and the village is seeking proposals to redevelop the building from 1889.
It was an exciting day for Holley officials, who have been worried about the building’s disrepair in recent years. They are optimistic the building will again be a thriving part of the Public Square.
The announcement was made at the Salisbury Fountain in Holley. The fountain was refurbished about five years ago.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 April 2019 at 7:45 am
Photo courtesy of Gabriele Simon: Aaron Grabowski plays the organ at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medina, one of three he will play during a progressive organ concert May 11 to benefit the Cobblestone Museum.
MEDINA – This year’s progressive organ concert to benefit the Cobblestone Museum returns May 11 and organizers are pushing for a repeat of a sellout.
“So Much More Than a Concert” will feature Medina organist Aaron Grabowski.
“Last year’s concert and dinner exceeded all expectations,” said Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum. “This year’s event is bigger and better in many ways.”
Playing the organ has been a passion of Aaron Grabowski since he was in eighth grade, and he is looking forward to showcasing his talent at three Medina churches.
He will be featured on three magnificent organs in Medina churches during the progressive organ concert, which will include appetizers and wine tasting at Trinity Lutheran Church on West Avenue, followed by Grabowski playing their historic pipe organ; dinner by Zambistro at St. Mary’s Church (Trinity) school hall after a concert by Grabowski on their pipe organ; and lastly, Grabowski’s rendering on the pipe organ at St. John’s Episcopal Church, followed by dessert and beverage.
Grabowski grew up in the Kenmore/Tonawanda area and began his musical career with violin lessons when he was in fourth grade. His fascination with the organ was fostered when a year later he heard a record of Bach music by E. Power Biggs.
“To hear a really authentic pipe organ played by a renowned artist is really awe-inspiring,” Grabowski said.
Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: The organ gallery at St. Mary’s Church is shown in this photo. Organist Aaron Grabowski, who is in the process of restoring the church’s organ, will play a selection of songs there during the progressive organ concert May 11.
He began formal organ lessons at the age of 16. After graduating from high school, he entered the University of Buffalo, where he got his music bachelor’s in organ performance.
An organ is what brought him to Medina for the first time.
Grabowski had been music director at St. Paul’s in Kenmore where the Rev. Paul Whitney served before coming to Medina. Chris Busch, a member of St. Mary’s Church, wanted to see St. Mary’s organ restored to working order and Father Whitney knew Grabowski was the person who could do it. He contacted Grabowski to come and look at it the organ and Busch took him on a tour of Medina.
“Aaron went home and told his wife they might have to move to Medina,” Busch said.
“Gayle and I came to Medina and drove around the village and fell in love with it,” Grabowski said. “Gayle and I had always wanted to restore a Victorian home and Medina was full of them. That was the catalyst for our moving to Medina in 2005.”
They purchased a home on Park Avenue and have been in the process of restoring it since 2010.
Grabowski is excited about the prospect of playing the three pipe organs at the Medina churches.
His full-time job is working for Parsons Pipe Organ Builders in Canandaigua. As two of their contracts out of more than 300 they maintain are the pipe organs at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion and the Albion First Baptist Church, he attended the first progressive organ concert there last year.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some of the pipes in a Holtkamp pipe organ at Trinity Lutheran Church are pictured in March 2015 while the organ was put together inside the Medina church. The organ was moved from Cincinnati.
“I know Bill Lattin and I asked if he thought anyone would be interested if I gave a little background on each organ,” Grabowski said. “That led to meeting Doug Farley from the Cobblestone Museum, and I offered my services.”
The entire program for the May 11 event is all music Grabowski picked for its appropriateness to each organ he will play, he said.
Trinity Lutheran’s organ came from the Episcopal Cathedral in Cincinnati and was featured in a concert last year by the wife of Gerre Hancock, who had been organist and choir director at the Cathedral. The organ was installed at Trinity Lutheran about four years ago.
St. Mary’s organ was first installed in 1913, but has undergone many changes during the years. It lends itself to mid-18th century French and German style music.
The 19th century Hook and Hastings organ at St. John’s Episcopal Church was rebuilt in the 1950s or 1960s by Schlicker Organ Company in Buffalo.
Grabowski will play a total of 30 pieces at the three churches, for a total of 2 1/2 hours of music.
Reservations for the concert and dinner must be made by calling the Cobblestone Museum at 589-9013.
Photo courtesy of John Dieter, Cub Master of Pack 35
MEDINA – Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from Pack & Troop 35 braved the weather on Saturday morning to pick up trash at the Canal Culvert on Culvert Road in Ridgeway. They also picked up garbage on the towpath above as part of the Canal Clean Sweep Program.
The New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York sponsored the spring cleanup this past weekend to help maintain sections of the Canalway Trail. They supplied garbage bags, provided pickup for garbage collected, and gave T-shirts for the volunteers for the 14th Annual Canal Clean Sweep Event.
Medina Lions reschedule cleanup day for May 11
Cleanup along the canal near the Prospect Street lift bridge, Lion’s Park and village parks was canceled Saturday due to the weather.
The Lions have sponsored the event for decades, in cooperation with local Boy Scouts, Medina Masons and the Iroquois Job Corps. There are usually 40 Lions, Scouts and others who participate.
According to Lions’ member Don Colquhoun, the even has been rescheduled for May 11 at 9 a.m. As has been the tradition, the Lions will cook hot dogs and provide drinks for all volunteers.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 April 2019 at 4:34 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Nate Sherman and his Mustang teammates resume N-O League action at home Monday against Barker while Albion visits Roy-Hart.
With the holiday break now over Niagara-Orleans League competition is set to resume this week with several key diamond contests on tap.
On the baseball diamond, Albion (2-2) will visit defending champion Roy-Hart (2-1) and Wilson (2-1) will visit Akron (2-2) on Monday. Front-running Medina (4-1) will then visit Wilson on Wednesday and Akron will visit Roy-Hart on Friday.
On the softball fields, Akron (1-1) will visit Wilson (2-1) on Monday, Medina (2-1) will host Wilson on Wednesday and defending champion Roy-Hart (2-0) will visit Akron on Friday.
Weekly Schedule Monday Baseball: Holley at Lyndonville, Attica at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Barker at Medina, Albion at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Akron, 4:45 p.m. Softball: Lyndonville at Oakfield-Alabama, Elba at Holley, Byron-Bergen at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Medina at Barker, Roy-Hart at Albion, Akron at Wilson, 4:45 p.m. Tennis: Holley at Kendall, Albion at Medina, Barker at Akron, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 4 p.m. Lacrosse: Wilson at Medina, 7 p.m. Track: Holley at Byron-Bergen, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday Baseball: Attica at Holley, 4:30 p.m. Softball: Holley at Mt. Mercy, Barker at CCA, 4:30 p.m. Track: Medina at Albion, Barker at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday Baseball: Medina at Wilson, Newfane at Albion, Roy-Hart at Barker, 4:45 p.m. Softball: Alexander at Lyndonville, Kendall at Holley, 4:30 p.m.; Wilson at Medina, Albion at Newfane, Barker at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m. Tennis: Holley at Pembroke, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, Medina at Newfane, Akron at Albion, Wilson at Barker, 4 p.m. Track: Lyndonville at Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday Baseball: Elba at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m. Softball: Monroe at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Akron at Albion, 4:45 p.m. Tennis: Roy-Hart at Medina, 4 p.m. Track: Kendall at Byron-Bergen, Newfane at Albion, Wilson at Barker, Roy-Hart at Akron, 4:30 p.m.
Friday Baseball: Lyndonville at Notre Dame, Holley at Byron-Bergen, 4:30 p.m.; Barker at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Newfane, 4:45 p.m. Softball: Lyndonville at Byron-Bergen, Holley at Notre Dame, Pembroke at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Albion at Barker, Roy-Hart at Akron, Newfane at Wilson, 4:45 p.m. Tennis: Elba at Holley, Byron-Bergen at Kendall, Albion at Wilson, Newfane at Akron, 4 p.m. Lacrosse: Akron at Medina, 5 p.m. Track: Lyndonville and Medina at Pembroke Invit, Holley at Victor Invit. , Kendall at Hilton
Saturday Baseball: Kendall at Northstar, 4 p.m. Softball: Roy-Hart at Medina, 2 p.m.; Lyndonville and Barker at Alexander Tournament
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 April 2019 at 3:05 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Donna Wodrich dances during a benefit today in her honor at the Elk’s Club in Albion, 428 East State St. Wodrich is battling an aggressive form of breast cancer.
There will be food, bands and raffles until 10 p.m. today.
Donna Wodrich is pictured with her friends and family that are running today’s benefit and jamboree in her honor.
“Donna is very loving and caring,” said her friend, Debbie Hughson. “She loves everyone. She is awesome.”
Bonnie Esford, left, cooks spaghetti and her sister Cindy Schuler prepares salads for the crowd at the Elks Club.
Bonnie Draper sings with The Bandera Band. Other musical guests today include The Distant View Band, These Guys, and Chris Moore. Draper’s husband, Ken Draper, also is the DJ and will be doing karaoke.
Bonnie Draper’s son Ryan Williams is a lead singer with Bandera.
There are many baskets up for raffle at the benefit for Wodrich.
216,000 sandbags and multiple sandbaggers sent to southshore communities
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
File photos by Tom Rivers: Members of the National Guard battle crashing waves while placing sandbags along the Kendall shoreline on May 7, 2017.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he has directed state agencies to begin deploying resources to protect communities along the shores of Lake Ontario from potential flooding that could result from the lake’s rising water levels.
Following severe flooding in Canada, the International Joint Commission continues to reduce outflows of water from the Moses-Saunders Dam on the St. Lawrence River in an effort to minimize impacts, as the lake’s water level currently sits at more than one foot above average. With precipitation forecasted for the northeast in the coming days and no word on when outflows will be increased, Governor Cuomo is ensuring localities have access to the resources they need by taking these proactive measures.
“After waters on the Lake Ontario coastline rose to the highest levels in 20 years in 2017 resulting in devastating impacts to the shoreline, we know the importance of taking proactive steps to prevent potential flooding in the region,” Governor Cuomo said. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are deploying these resources to protect Lake Ontario’s shoreline communities and mitigate rising water levels.”
Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo wrote to the International Joint Commission requesting that it maximize outflows from the Lake Ontario system to prevent the flooding that thousands of New Yorkers grappled with in 2017. Since then, water levels have remained higher than average and are expected to increase in the coming weeks, necessitating the proactive deployment of state resources to the region to protect homeowners and businesses from potential flooding.
The State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has begun coordinating regular preparedness calls with local partners, and is staging critical response and recovery assets along the lake’s shores to mitigate potential impacts of flooding before it occurs.
Already, a total of 216,000 sandbags have begun to be deployed to strategic sites in Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne Counties. The Division is also prepared to deploy 6,771 feet of aquadam to protect shoreline properties if needed.
Experts from the Department of Environmental Conservation continue to monitor data and reports from the IJC on water level projections to identify potential areas that could be impacted by rising levels. In addition, DEC Permit staff are prepared to assist municipalities or property owners with any necessary permits to ensure authorizations are provided to make necessary repairs or to stabilize their properties from high water levels and wind-driven high wave events. Since the high water event in 2017, DEC issued over 3,000 permits for emergency actions and shoreline protection measures to address impacts of high water levels along the Lake Ontario, Lower Niagara River and St. Lawrence River shorelines.
The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision is currently providing two 12-man work crews made up of eligible incarcerated individuals to fill sand bags. A crew from Willard Drug Treatment Center is working at the State DOT facility in Sodus. The other crew is filling sandbags at the State DOT facility in Hilton. DOCCS has the capacity to activate six additional work crews in the coming days as needed.
Members of the National Guard are pictured in Kendall at the highway garage, filling sandbags on May 12, 2017. About 90,000 sandbags were distributed in Orleans County at that point.
Additionally, the state Department of Transportation, in coordination with work crews provided by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, is overseeing sandbagging operations at its facilities in each of the eight counties that border Lake Ontario. These efforts have already begun in Wayne and Monroe counties, where more than 10,000 sandbags were filled this weekend and are ready for deployment.
“Unfortunately, the threat of severe flooding has become a new reality over the past several years for the communities lining the shores of Lake Ontario,” said Patrick A. Murphy, acting commissioner of NYS Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “Our emergency management experts have been in constant communication with our local partners and stand ready to assist them in any way we can.”
Following 2017’s flooding of both Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway, which damaged homes, businesses, and local infrastructure, Governor Cuomo and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services coordinated with county and local partners to monitor water levels and deliver resources, including millions of sandbags and the construction of thousands of feet of temporary dams. Additionally, the Governor successfully secured a federal disaster declaration for the counties affected by the flooding, including Monroe and Cayuga Counties, which were initially omitted from the declaration, until the Governor filed an appeal.
The State also made a $95 million commitment to the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River Shorelines. The recovery program started with an initial $45 million commitment for aid to residents, small businesses, and municipalities affected by the flood. It was supplemented with two $5 million grants from the State and Municipal Facilities Program to bolster previous relief and provide necessary financial assistance to recovery efforts. The 2018-19 State Budget included an additional $40 million for the recovery program, which continued to support shoreline reconstruction and stabilization, reimbursement for emergency repairs during the flooding and seawall reconstruction.
KENDALL – About 35 volunteers, including Eileen Dellacosta, were out Saturday picking up litter and trash in the Town of Kendall.
The Kendall Lion’s Club sponsors the annual Kendall Community Town Clean Up. The annual event is held in conjunction with Earth Day.
Kendall volunteers who braved the elements of wind and snow included the Boy Scouts, Leo’s Club, Fire Department, Lion’s Club, Highway Department and other community members.
Bob Furness, a member of the Lion’s Club, cooks hotdogs in the cold on Saturday.
The volunteers met at the Highway Department garage on Crandall Avenue before heading out to pick up trash along the roadsides. Volunteers filled several garbage bags and also retrieved 15 tires.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 April 2019 at 8:12 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Nicole Porter, center, and Katie Zimmerman, both of Oakfield, serve chicken barbecue dinners today during a benefit for Erica Jennings and her family. Erica’s mother-in-law, Tracy, is in back. They were part of a volunteer crew that served 440 dinners before they were all sold out.
Today’s benefit was at the Sacred Heart Club in Medina.
Erica Jennings holds her daughter, Elle. Her husband Thom is next to them. Erica was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December. She has had two extensive brain surgeries, and is undergoing radiation and chemo treatments at Roswell Park in Buffalo.
She and her husband are high school sweethearts from Albion. They have been together for 13 years. They walked across the stage together when they graduated from Brockport State College. Erica is a Spanish and English teacher at City Honors in Buffalo.
Thom said he and his wife appreciate the strong support from the family. They saw classmates and teachers today who they hadn’t seen in more than a decade.
“They’re all people we’ve known our entire lives,” he said. “They’re all our friends.”
Elle chases after a balloon held by her grandmother Angie Graham of Albion.
Dave Dewing, left, and Mike Zeliff flip some chicken halves outside Sacred Heart.
The benefit included 119 baskets to be raffled off.
In addition to the basket raffles, there were 19 big-ticket items and a silent auction, which included signed Buffalo Bills jerseys by Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas and All-Pro LeSean McCoy.
Thom’s father Thom Jennings is a music writer and musician with lots of connections with professional musicians and their promoters. Today’s benefit included signed music items from national artists such as Foreigner, Black Sabbath (with Ozzy Osbourne), Toto, Mountain, Todd Rundgren, The Black Keys and others.
John Dady and his daughter Mara sang several Irish tunes. Several musicians performed during the benefit, including Bruce Wojick & Jamie Holka, Josh Cogovan, The Triple Play Band, and Alona, Joey G, and Trellis Trio.
Elle is held by Trellis Pore, one of the musicians during today’s benefit. Elle charmed the crowd throughout the afternoon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 April 2019 at 1:51 pm
MEDINA – Five Orleans County residents were honored for their efforts to preserve and promote local history during the sixth annual Heritage Heroes awards on Friday evening at the GCC campus center in Medina.
The annual awards are sponsored by GCC and Orleans Hub. The program included a keynote speech by Dr. Rozenn Bailleul-LeSuer, who is the historian of the Western Monroe Historical Society, which has its headquarters at the Morgan-Manning House in Brockport.
The Morgan-Manning House, built in 1854, was badly damaged by fire in 1964. Brockport area residents rallied to save and restore the house, which remains an important landmark for the community, Bailleul-LeSuer said.
Derek Maxfield, a GCC professor, welcomes a crowd of about 35 people to the Heritage Heroes awards celebration on Friday evening. Jim Simon, left, is dean of the GCC campus centers in Albion and Medina. Maxfield and Simon are part of the Heritage Heroes Committee, along with Tom Rivers, editor of the Orleans Hub. Dr. Rozenn Bailleul-LeSuer (center), who is the historian of the Western Monroe Historical Society, was keynote speaker for the event.
The 2019 Orleans County Heritage Heroes include:
• Tom Taber of Albion, who has devoted many years to chronicling local connections to the Civil War. In 2003 he completed his first book, “Hard Breathing Days-The Civil War Letters of Cora Beach Benton.” Taber transcribed, edited and researched 160 Civil War period letters of historical and genealogical interest from the Orleans County wife of a soldier. He tracked down her letters, including 40 that were at Notre Dame University.
He followed Hard Breathing Days in 2012 with a 320-page book, “Orleans Battery – A History of the 17th New York Light Artillery in the War of Rebellion.” The book details the service of 240 men from Orleans County who served in the war. Taber worked dutifully for 15 years to track down stories about Orleans County men who fought in the war.
• Harriette Greaser and her late husband Philip restored two grand homes in Orleans County, including a prominent house in Albion’s historic Courthouse Square, earning them the Landmark Society of Western New York Historic Home award in 2002. That house was built in 1893 at the corner of East State and Platt streets as the manse for the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.
When the Greasers bought the house in 1987, it was in rough shape. The Greasers restored it, scraping away old paint, bringing back original woodwork, planting trees, hedges and a big garden of flowers and vegetables. The house had been the home for the church pastor since the house was built in 1893. The house was designed by acclaimed Rochester architect Andrew Jackson Warner, and was constructed in the Queen Anne style.
The Greasers also restored a 7,000-square-foot house in Eagle Harbor before “downsizing” to the 4,000-square-foot home in Albion. In addition to her restoration efforts, Mrs. Greaser has been the organist for Holy Family Parish/St. Joseph’s Catholic Church since 1987. She praised her late husband for pushing to create a “home” that was a welcome place for their family. That was always the main motivation for the work in the houses.
Lynne Menz accepts a Heritage Hero award on Friday. Her late father, Bill Menz, also was a Heritage Hero in 2015. The two worked together on a monument for the soldiers who trained at the former Medina Armory and went to war.
• Lynne Menz is a strong supporter of making historical artifacts and local heritage preservation an attractive destination for young and old in Orleans County. Her direct assistance with GCC’s Civil War Initiative (2013 – 2015) and her leadership on the event committee for the Orleans County Heritage Festival (2017-2018) were instrumental in highlighting the noteworthy history of Orleans County people, places and things. Her recent efforts are culminating a labor of love started by her father, Bill Menz, to honor Orleans veterans who mustered to go to war through the Medina Armory (now the YMCA) with the installation of a 7-foot bronze World War I soldier on the grounds of the YMCA. The statue was erected last week and will be dedicated this fall. Menz has also been active with the Orleans Renaissance Group, Medina Sandstone Society, and the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association. She said the community is fortunate to have been people with passion that work on projects, benefitting everyone.
Todd Bensley, Medina village historian, accepts his award on Friday. He said the community has people of all ages interested in promoting history.
• Todd Bensley received the Bill Lattin Municipal Historian Award, named in honor of the retired county historian. Lattin presented the award to Bensley and praised his many efforts to promote Medina history. Lattin said Bensley has shown tenacity and dedication in his role as Medina historian.
Bensley, a Medina High School history teacher, has worked as the village historian since 2004. Prior to that he was president of the Medina Historical Society.
He has led numerous historical tours of Medina, engaging students in local history. Last year he published a 314-page book on the community’s historic cemetery, Boxwood. He teamed up with the Medina Sandstone Society to establish the John Ryan School of Historical Excellence in 2015 at the high school. In 2014, he worked with the State Historic Preservation Office to designate Boxwood Cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places. That effort led to more research on the cemetery, which culminated last year with his book, “Boxwood Cemetery: Where the Past is Present.” Proceeds from the book are donated to Friends of Boxwood Cemetery.
Dr. Neil Johnson was recognized for about 40 years of dedicated service as a local historian.
• Dr. Neil Johnson of Albion received the Bob Waters Lifetime Achievement Award. Johnson has been the Albion village historian since 1980. He wrote a weekly column, “Albion, Oh Albion,” in the Albion Advertiser for 26 years, compiling 1,313 columns about village history, often highlighting regular folks in the community. He has written books about the history of Swan Library and the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
He teamed with historian Bill Lattin to do an inventory of all the historical markers in the county. They are included in a book in 2001. Johnson was critical to the effort in 2000 for the establishment of a monument at Mount Albion Cemetery for at least 50 pioneer black residents in the county. Neil also has been honored by the Cornell Cooperative Extension with the Legacy Award for serving as a 4-H leader for a rabbit club for more than 40 years. Johnson worked as an archeologist and taught anthropology at The SUNY College at Brockport. He continues to do monthly lectures – “Take a Bite Out Of History” – about local history at Hoag Library.
Matt Ballard, the current county historian, presented the award to Johnson and called him a role and inspiration. Ballard said the two served together on Albion’s Historic Preservation Commission.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 April 2019 at 11:57 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A section of Butts Road, from Route 31 to East State Street, was closed on Thursday so the railroad bridge can get worked on.
Genesee Valley Transportation Company, based in Batavia, is making masonry and steel repairs to the bridge. GVT owns the Falls Road Railroad, which goes from Lockport through Orleans County to Brockport.
GVT reopened Keitel Road on Thursday after working on the bridge there for about a month.
Butts Road is expected to reopen to traffic in mid-May.
Albert L. Swett founded the iron works in 1889. The company ceased operating in 1961, laying off 40 employees.
