Brett Sobieraski of Orleans County set $10,000 fundraising goal for Special Olympics

Brett Sobieraski finally stopped running at 11 a.m. today, completing a 50-hour quest that went 175 miles along the Erie Canal.

Sobieraski, sergeant with the Rochester Police Department, started his 50-hour run on Friday at 9 a.m. in Buffalo. He reached Orleans County that night and crossed the county during the dark of nightfall.

Late this morning he reached the State Police Trooper Barracks in Elbridge, a town in Onondaga County, west of Syracuse.

When he finished, Sobieraski had run more than 6 1/2 consecutive marathons in six different counties. He also turned 52 on Saturday.

Sobieraski wantsed to raise $10,000 for Special Olympics, which he called “a phenomenal organization that helps to transform the lives of those with intellectual disabilities.”

He posted this message on Facebook:

“Inclusiveness – that is what the Special Olympics means to me. That everyone who wants to compete in the Games should have the opportunity to do so. People experience their own personal greatness by competing, breaking through barriers and obtaining their goals. That is why I am doing this. Please consider donating so that willing athletes are not left on the sidelines. To those who have already donated, I sincerely thank you.”

To donate to the cause, click here.

ALBION – The Village of Albion won’t be removing the Medina sandstone pavers on Beaver Alley, Mayor Eileen Banker said.

Village officials have been discussing how to maintain the alleyway off Main Street. Removing the pavers was mentioned, but Banker said the board wants to keep them.

Plowing the street, with the bumps from the pavers, has damaged DPW plow equipment and weeds require pesticide application.

The board is considering closing the street for the winter, but is checking with Fire Chief Harry Papponetti if that poses a fire safety issue, Banker said.

The DPW might also plow the alley with the sidewalk blower.

The village had the pavers put in 15 years ago after they were dug up during the reconstruction of routes 98 and 31 in the village.

The board in 2003 decided to have the alley resemble a street from the late 1800s.

The sandstone pavers are pictured with a dusting of snow. The street has been hard on the village’s plowing equipment.

ALBION – The Village Board is discussing removing Medina sandstone pavers from Beaver Alley because the stone blocks have been hard on plowing equipment.

The village also has to contend with weeds that sprout up between the blocks. Pesticides are typically sprayed to battle the weeds.

The street was paved until 2003. When the Pike Company in Rochester, a contractor for the state Department of Transportation, tore up routes 31 and 98 in Albion about 15 years ago, there were sandstone pavers under the roads.

Ed Salvatore was the Albion mayor at the time and he negotiated having the Pike Company put 5,500 of the pavers in Beaver Alley.

Salvatore at the time said the pavers, made of Medina sandstone, provided a sharp contrast between the new style of road construction on Main Street with the style from a century earlier. He also wanted to preserve some local sandstone history and add another element to historic downtown.

Before asphalt and concrete, many of the streets were made of cut Medina sandstone blocks. Salvatore wanted Beaver Alley, a short one-lane street, to resemble a street from the late 1800s.

There have been complaints the street is bumpy and hard to drive on. The DPW says the pavers also damage snow plows.

If the sandstone blocks were removed, the village would repave the alley.

The Village Board discussed removing the pavers this past Wednesday and has tabled the issue until its next meeting at 6 p.m. on June 25.

The alley has been a popular spot for senior pictures and other portraits. Rhonda and Mark Parker, former Albion residents, used the street in a scene for their film, “Message in a Bottle.” They are shown shooting a scene in June 2015. Rhonda Parker, front left, and her husband Mark, kneeling with camera, have named their film business, Beaver Alley Studios.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Cyclists cross the Main Street lift bridge in Albion on Monday when 650 passed through the community on the Cycling the Erie Canal event, which started in Buffalo on Sunday and ends today in Albany.

There is an extreme heat alert for Orleans County on Monday with the heat index at 93 degrees. The high temperature will be 89 with a 64 percent chance of humidity.

Temperatures in the upper 80s to around 90 and high humidity levels may lead to apparent temperatures in the mid to upper 90s Monday

afternoon, the National Weather Service said.

A fairly strong cold front is then forecast to cross the region Monday night and early Tuesday along with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Some of the thunderstorms could produce locally heavy rainfall with possible flooding and gusty winds.

Today is forecast for a high of 87, followed by 89 on Monday, 81 on Tuesday and 78 on Wednesday.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kaiden Froman is congratulated by teammate Noah Harrison after Froman made a big catch in the outfield to preserve a win for Rotary-Lions over the Vets, 14-13, in today’s U10 championship. Leah Pawlak was pitching and earned the win on the mound. She was ecstatic to see Froman make the catch with the bases loaded. For more on the game, click here.

Capping off a strong athletic and academic year, three Orleans County Schools – Holley, Kendall and Medina – have earned New York State Public High School Athletic Association School of Distinction Awards for the 2017-18 school year.

A school district can earn School of Distinction status by having 100% of its varsity teams qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award during their respective sports seasons. A team must have a composite average of at least 90 in over to earn a Scholar-Athlete Award.

Medina, which was one of only five Section VI teams to receive the award, had all 21 of its varsity teams earn the Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Holley had all 16 of its varsity teams and Kendall all 13 of its teams. They are two of only three Section V schools to receive the honor.

The purpose of the School of Distinction and School of Excellence Awards are to unite varsity coaches in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide honor.

This year, 30 schools earned the School of Distinction Award and 111 schools earned the School of Excellence Award.  An additional 11 schools received the School of Distinction Award and 51 more received the School of Excellence Award compared to 2016-17 school year. This year’s figures represent the highest number of NYSPHSAA member schools being recognized for their academic achievements.

“The increase in the number of schools receiving both awards shows what fantastic student-athletes we have here in New York State,” said Robert Zayas NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “This is evidence that schools, administration, coaches and student-athletes focus on excellence in the classroom as well as the playing fields.”

Photo courtesy of Kyle Lonnen: Kyle Lonnen has water, Gatorade and ice available for Brett Sobieraski at about 1 in the morning near Canal Road in Murray, after Sobieraski had run about 70 miles since Friday morning.

An Orleans County resident on a 50-hour run along the Erie Canal Towpath has made it through about 25 miles in Orleans County and was near Route 390 in Rochester by 8 this morning.

Brett Sobieraski

Brett Sobieraski, a sergeant with the Rochester Police Department, is running 50 hours straight to raise money for the Special Olympics. He expects to make it near Syrcause on Sunday after the 50 hours on his feet.

Sobieraski started the run Friday morning in Buffalo by a memorial for Craig Lehner, a Buffalo police officer and K9 handler who died in a training exercise on Oct. 13.

Sobieraski reached Medina about 9 p.m. Friday and was joined for a mile by Medina firefighter Matt Jackson. Sobieraski, a Kent resident, was in Albion about midnight.

“Albion PD Shut down the intersections so I could cross and supplied water! Thanks Chief!!” he posted on his Facebook page, where he gives updates on his location and thanks people for joining him on the journey.

Shannon Brett, investigator with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, met Sobieraski at 2 a.m. at the bridge on Route 237 and ran 3 miles with him to the boat launch as he crossed into Monroe County.

“He was going strong and had already run over 70 miles!” Brett said.

In Brockport, Sobieraski ran with Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter and radio personality Bob Lonsberry.

Sobieraski wants to raise funds an awareness for Special Olympics, which he called “a phenomenal organization that helps to transform the lives of those with intellectual disabilities.”

He posted this message on Facebook:

“Inclusiveness – that is what the Special Olympics means to me. That everyone who wants to compete in the Games should have the opportunity to do so. People experience their own personal greatness by competing, breaking through barriers and obtaining their goals. That is why I am doing this. Please consider donating so that willing athletes are not left on the sidelines. To those who have already donated, I sincerely thank you.”

Sobieraski is no stranger to endurance tests. He has completed the 135-mile Badlands ultramarathon through Death Valley and has swum 32 miles across Lake Ontario.

For more information or to donate to the cause, click here.

Provided photo: Gravesite of  Levi Beardsley at Kent Cemetery.

By Al Capurso, President of the Orleans County Historical Association

“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 28

GAINES – Creeks, steams, brooks and springs were very important to our pioneer settlers. They provided a source of drinking water for humans and livestock alike, as well as a means to wash clothing and for cooking.

Traveling the historic Ridge Road in Gaines you will encounter a very unique circumstance, that to my knowledge, does not exist anywhere else in the area. There are three creeks or brooks running south to north adjacent to each other, all three named after the pioneer families that settled on their banks. Moving from West to East, just past the Eagle Harbor Road we come to Beardsley Creek; named after the Levi Beardsley family who settled in Carlton in 1827. Born in Connecticut in 1777, Mr. Beardsley died on his homestead in 1867, aged 90 years.

Next is Proctor Brook, winding its way through the Cobblestone Museum Complex at the intersection of Rts. 98 and 104 named after John Proctor who came from Massachusetts originally in 1810, finally settling near the brook in what is now Childs with his wife Polly Cummings in 1812. Perhaps there is no one more prominent in the development of Childs and the Ridge Road’s famed cobblestone buildings than Mr. Proctor. Born in 1787, he suffered the tragic loss of three wives and several children to sickness but he himself lived to the age of 81.

Last, but not least, is Gilbert Creek. This stream originates south of Rte. 104, intersects Brown Road as it meanders north and crosses The Ridge where the Gaines Carlton Community Church now stands. It was on this site that Elizabeth Gilbert and her husband (his name not known) settled around 1807, becoming the first settlers of record to occupy land on the Ridge Road between Monroe and Niagara County. Elizabeth suffered the loss of her husband around 1808 of an apparent epileptic seizure. She and her niece, Amy Scott and two children under the age of 10 continued on for another 3-4 years before moving to Canandaigua presumably due to the threatening War of 1812.

On Saturday, July 28th at 2 p.m. all are welcome to attend the unveiling of the Beardsley Creek Sign created by Jim Bonafini, Cobblestone Society Board President. Dignitaries will speak and refreshments will be served. The site is on Ridge Road, just west of Gaines Corners (Gaines Basin Road) at the cobblestone home of Robert Bruning (Anderson Cobblestone).

After some reprieve from sweltering heat, near 90-degree temperatures were back in Orleans County today. It was up to 89 degrees at 4:30 this afternoon.

Saturday is forecast for a high of 86 and includes a cance for thunderstorms and strong to severe damaging winds in the afternoon.

Hot and humid conditions will return to the region late this weekend and into Monday. Though heat indices may remain just below 95 degrees on Sunday, they have a better chance to exceed 95 on Monday away from the lakeshore, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Sunday is forecast for a high of 89 followed by a high of 91 on Monday.

Ahead of a cold front, showers and thunderstorms late Monday night and Tuesday have the potential to bring heavy downpours of rain and

gusty winds, the Weather Service said.

Tuesday is forecast for a high of 82 followed by a high of 78 on Wednesday.

Preston Flugel, one of the summer parks supervisors, plays dodgeball at Bullard. The dry conditions have turned the grass yellow.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Peyton’s Express gives kids a ride through Bullard Park today on a miniature train. The ride was available as part of the children’s carnival at Bullard.

Today was the popular day for the Albion summer recreation program with carnival, which included a bounce house, numerous games, events, and activities.

Oliver Beach, 11, of Albion plays the milk can toss.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved $42,000 for the Orleans Economic Development Agency to purchase a sign for the Medina Business Park on Maple Ridge Road and also to demolish and remove an abandoned house and garage on Sanderson Road.

The Legislature on June 27 unanimously approved the $42,000, which is in addition to the $180,000 the county is giving the EDA this year.

The EDA board this morning voted to accept the $42,000 in funding with up to $19,207 for an internally lighted sign by Pride Pak on Maple Ridge Road. The Medina Business Park sign will be two-sided and will lighted through solar power.

Takeform Architectural Graphics will make the sign for $,7,759. The sign will be 9 feet high by 6 feet wide. Other costs include installation, $3,550; concrete footer, $3,350; $2,548, solar electrical system; $1,500 for landscaping, and $500 for hydroseeding.

Those costs could be reduced if local municipal crews do some of the work, said Jim Whipple, the EDA chief executive officer.

The EDA also is having a house and garage removed from 11610 Sanderson Rd., which is part of a new 125-acre business park being developed by the EDA. The total costs are $26,895 for the demolition and removal.

The Environmental Construction Group of Albion will be paid $12,690 for asbestos abatement.

ARG Disposal in Albion will be paid up to $9,000 for dumpsters. Can Am Environmental Group will conduct asbestos monitoring for $635 a day or $1,905 for three days. Other costs identified include building removal at $1,000 (done by Orleans County Highway Department), fill for basement at $1,000 (done by county), and $1,300 for contingency.

The EDA is promoting the land available for development at Sanderson Road and the Medina Business Park, about 300 acres total, as the largest NYS-certified “Shovel-Ready” business park in Western New York and the Finger Lakes.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent

MEDINA – Perhaps being evicted from the former Medina High School was a blessing in disguise for the MAAC Clothing Depot.

On Monday, the former Clothing Depot opened its doors in a new location at the corner of Starr and Orient streets, and with a new name as the MAAC Thrift Depot, to better identify their store, which offers much more than clothing.

Melanie Halloway of Medina and her niece Mea Cattrianna shop at the MAAC Thrift Depot’s new location in the former Mic-Jac building at Starr and Orient streets, Medina.

The building, which once housed Bell’s Supermarket and then Mic-Jac Lumber, gives the Thrift Depot more space to collect, sort and sell their merchandise – all in a newly remodeled area.

Shoppers on Thursday were clearly thrilled with the bright, sunny store, with new carpeting and air-conditioning soon to be installed.

Melanie Halloway of Medina was shopping with her niece Mea Cattrianna.

“I just love it here,” Halloway said. “It’s roomier and all the ladies are so loving. I’ll be coming here every week.”

Shirley Tower of Albion agreed.

I like it real well,” she said. “There’s such a lot of room.”

Volunteer Julie Noreck was ringing up customers’ sales.

“It’s going very well,” Noreck said. “People are excited about the new store. We have much more room and it’s carpeted and brighter.”

The Thrift Depot started as a thrift store 40 years ago in a church basement. It moved several decades ago to the old high school, where they operated out of several small rooms. The old school is being renovated into apartments.

“We’ve come a long way, but only with the help of the generous and caring people of the community of Medina,” said Sue Metzo, who led the search for a new store.

The new location is not only remodeled, but is in a more central location and provides plenty of room all in one large space, said volunteer Alice Zacher.

New hours for the Thrift Depot are 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday; and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Also new is “1/2 price day” the first Tuesday of each month.

Drop-off chutes for donations are available outside the building. MAAC accepts good, clean clothing, shoes and jewelry; clean household items in good condition, including small appliances and small furniture; books, toys and linens; DVD’s and CD’s; kitchen items; and holiday decorations.

The MAAC Clothing Depot now has a bright new home in which to display and sell their merchandise. After being evicted from the old Medina High School, the Clothing Depot opened Monday in the former Mic-Jac store.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent, and Tom Rivers, editor

Erica Wanecski of Medina in October played a suffragette who pushed for women’s right to vote. Last year was the 100th anniversary of New York granting the right to vote for women. Wanecski will portray a farmer’s wife from the 1800s during an event today at the museum.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Society and Museum will offer visitors an opportunity to experience life as a “cobblestone family” during a first-time event today.

From 6 to 8:30 p.m., the Museum will recreate a typical day in the life of a 19th century cobblestone farmer and his family. Brenda Radzinski will portray a mother at the Ward House who will explain her daily chores, including preparing meals, doing the laundry, keeping house and more.

Erica Wanecski will discuss farming in the 1800s. She will portray a farmer’s wife and will be at the Farmers’ Hall where many antique farm implements and tools are displayed.

“We’ll also watch and learn what farm tools were available to the farmer, so he could plant the crops, raise the animals and bring in the harvest,” said Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Society and Museum.

The evening will include a visit to the one-room cobblestone school house, where children learned their lessons from the school teacher who taught grades one through eight in a single classroom.

Gerard Morrissey will portray teacher John Cunneen. After working as a teacher, Cunneen later became a lawyer and was elected the state’s attorney general in 1902, serving one two-year term.

There will be a look at a family’s day of rest and the activities which would have included attending two services at the simple cobblestone church.

Al Capurso will portray Vincent Tomlinson, a pioneer who settled in Gaines in 1814.

The living history re-enactors will be in period clothing, Farley said. The guided tour will include a walk between the buildings on the Cobblestone Museum ’s campus.

The museum will also host a camp for children where they will create cobblestone-inspired crafts, play old-fashioned games, sing songs and enjoy hands-on activities.

The camp days are July 18 and Aug. 15 for ages 7 to 9, and July 25 and Aug. 22 for ages 10 to 12.

Click here for more information.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of 39 Problems this afternoon. The restaurant and bar opened on March 1 at 43 North Main St., following extensive renovations. A larger site next door, at 39 North Main St., could be opened for expanded seating in the future.

Adam and Tina Johnson run the business, which gives Albion a draw in the downtown business district, Chamber officials said.

This group includes, from left: Becky Charland, Chamber of Commerce director; Cliff Thom, a Chamber board member; Madelyn Genovese, communications director for State Sen. Robert Ortt; Patrick O’Sullivan, 39 Problems chef and general manager; Jonathan Doherty, Albion resident; Adam Johnson, 39 Problems owner; County Legislator Ken DeRoller; Chamber board member David Gagne; and Kathy Blackburn, Chamber board member.

“I’ve been here to eat a couple times and it’s very, very good,” Charland said. “This is great for Albion. I love the look of it. It’s trendy.”

Johnson said the business has dedicated customers and new ones who are discovering the site. A Tuesday night trivia concert at 7 p.m. has been a surprising success.

“It’s growing and that’s what you want to see,” he said. “We have our footing under us. The building and the menu have come together.”

Last month, 39 Problems added a food cart that goes to local festivals and events.

Adam Johnson is congratulated by Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller.

The Johnsons purchased the downtown building, which includes three storefronts, in 2015. They have been working diligently to renovate the site, while preserving its historic charm. In June 2017, they opened 39 Problems, selling pizza, grilled foods and “chill desserts.” The site didn’t have a dine-in option.

Now 39 Problems has a dine-in restaurant. The Johnsons have two of three storefronts done, and they would eventually like to expand the dining area to the remaining storefront.

Johnson continues to be involved in downtown projects, including Thursday cruise-ins. Those events are timed to coincide with the canal concert series from 6 to 8 p.m.

There will be a bigger cruise-in on Aug. 11 when a section of Main Street is closed off. Proceeds go to the Warrior House in Shelby.

KENDALL – A new public waterline is going into the ground along Norway Road, from Route 18 to  Creek Road. The project has been years in the making.

“This is a monumental day for the Town of Kendall,” said Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata.

This is the first new water district under construction in about a decade. The Norway Road project include 23 housing units as part of Water District No. 7.

The total project cost is estimated at $860,000. A federal USDA grant through Rural Development will cover $525,000 of the cost with the district property owners paying off a $335,000 low-interest loan for the remainder.

Warren Kruger, Kendall highway superintendent (left), and Steve Baase, Hamlin highway superintendent, are pictured in front of some of the new 8-inch waterlines that are being installed in Water District No. 7.

The highway departments at Kendall and Hamlin are working together to install the 8-inch watermains, hydrants, and service laterals.

Hamlin is being paid $226,245 for its work on the project. The materials are just over $200,000. There are also engineering, legal and other expenses.

Construction is expected to be complete in early August with lawn restorations to follow.

Kendall and Hamlin have worked together installing water mains on about five or six other projects, said Steve Baase, the Hamlin water superintendent.

Cammarata said that is example of shared services with the town towns working together to reduce costs and get a project complete.

Kendall town officials are pictured this morning on Norway Road while Kendall and Hamlin town highway workers install a new public waterline. Pictured form left include Town Councilwoman Lynn Szozda, Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata, Town Highway Superintendent Warren Kruger and Town Councilwoman Barb Flow.

Kendall officials had to work with a myriad of government agencies for the project to proceed, including the USDA, Rural Development, Monroe County Water Authority, the Orleans County Health Department, the Town of Hamlin and other entities.

“It’s a long and tedious road, but it’s very worthwhile,” Cammarata said. “We have to look to the future and the future is water.”

Another small water project, District. No. 9, is expected to soon go out to bid and be constructed this year. That project will extend the waterline from District No.7 where it ends at Creek Road. From there it will run past six houses to Carton Road.

The town is also working on District No. 8 that will include 50 to 60 homes on Kendall Road. That project should be under construction in 2019.

After this water district is construction, Kendall has plans for Water District No. 9 later this year on Creek Road and Water District No. 8 on Kendall Road in 2019.

In addition, residents have petitioned for public water on Lakeshore Road and Center Road. The town expects to have a public meeting this fall to gauge if there’s more interest for public waterlines in the town.

Residents have been vocal with their concerns about inadequate water quantity and quality with some of the residential wells, town officials said.

The additional waterlines could lead to more development with new home construction in Kendall, Cammarata said.

“A lot of builders say they won’t build without water,” he said.