By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 5 May 2018 at 8:14 am
William Collins, image from “A Brief History of the Twenty-Eight Regiment New York State Volunteers”
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 18
As I prepared last week’s article about Asa Hill of the 28th New York Infantry and his beautiful monument situated at Millville Cemetery on East Shelby Road, I stumbled upon an image of another soldier from the same unit. Several years ago I encountered the story of William Collins but was unable to locate an image of him. As the 153rd anniversary of the capture and death of John Wilkes Booth passed on April 26th, I thought perhaps it would be worthwhile to recall this particular story.
William Collins was born September 28, 1843 to Michael and Susan Collins of Albion. His father was an Irish immigrant who worked as a day laborer in the village, raising a rather large family in the vicinity. Little is known about William’s early life, but shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War in April of 1861, the 17 year old enlisted and as was mustered into service on May 22, 1861 with Company G of the 28th New York Infantry, one of the first units raised in Orleans County.
Collins quickly progressed through the ranks, receiving a promotion to corporal on February 22, 1862 before his capture at the Battle of Cedar Mountain on August 9, 1862 – the same engagement that resulted in the amputation of Asa Hill’s right leg. He was paroled, promoted to sergeant on December 7, 1862, and according to several accounts, was once again captured at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 3, 1863 before being mustered out on June 2, 1863.
Falling into enemy hands on two separate occasions within a period of nine months might suggest that Collins was far from a lucky man. Yet this did not prevent him from reenlisting on June 20, 1863, this time with Company K of the 16th New York Cavalry. While serving with his unit at Leesburg on April 20, 1864, he was one of two enlisted men wounded. To add to his misfortune, just two months later on June 24, 1864, he was captured at Centreville, Virginia and sent to Andersonville Prison where he spent approximately seven months before his parole.
His obituary notice, following his death on March 17, 1904, notes an interesting tidbit of information surrounding the end of his service in the Union army. After he was paroled from Andersonville, he returned home to Orleans County where he spent several months with a severe illness. The terrible conditions experienced by Union prisoners of war in Georgia would have proved detrimental to the healthiest of soldiers and it is presumed that these conditions were the cause of his extended sickness. Upon his recovery, he was sent to Washington, D.C. where he rejoined the 16th N.Y. Cavalry. In the weeks following his return, the assassination of President Lincoln on April 14th/15th created quite the commotion, initiating a manhunt for John Wilkes Booth and David Herold.
Although there appears to be little evidence to confirm his participation, William Collins was said to have been one of 25 men who volunteered as part of a detachment of the 16th N.Y. Cavalry to pursue Lincoln’s assassin. On April 26, 1865, the unit surrounded a barn on the Garrett farm south of Port Royal, Virginia where Booth and Herold were believed to be hiding. When Booth refused to surrender, the barn was set ablaze by lighting straw with a match in an effort to coax the killer out. Sgt. Boston Corbett claimed that Booth raised his carbine, prompting him to shoot Booth in the back of the head with his Colt revolver; the assassin was dead two hours later.
In the years following the war, local papers noted that Collins received $1,500 (nearly $25,000 today) for his participation with the detachment that captured Booth. Starting in the late 1880s, he assembled a lecture on his exploits with the 16th N.Y. Cavalry, highlighting his participation in the pursuit and capture of Lincoln’s killer. He spent the remainder of his life in Albion, building a house on McClelland Street in 1893 and working as a pension agent. In 1904 he suffered a stroke and was sent to the Orleans County Alms House to recover. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to the Soldiers’ Home at Bath, NY before spending the remainder of his life at the Willard Insane Asylum. His body was returned to Albion for internment at Mount Albion Cemetery.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 May 2018 at 7:07 pm
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Presbyterian Church and an association of Lyndonville area churches are planning a remembrance service on Sunday for Catherine Benjamin.
She served as pastor of the Presbyterian Church for 11 years until she passed away last month. She started her career as an elementary school teacher and then worked 15 years as a principal in the Buffalo City School District. After she retired she earned a master’s of divinity at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and then started leading the Lyndonville church in March 2007.
“She was our beloved pastor,” said Kay Van Nostrand, a member of church’s board of session. “It was a sudden death and we’re reeling from it. She was a wonderful friend.”
There was a memorial service for Benjamin in Buffalo on April 23. Her congregation and the association of Lyndonville pastors – the Lyndonville Yates Ministers Association – will lead the service on Sunday.
Beth Malone of the United Methodist Church, Lyle Drake of Yates Baptist Church and Craig Rhodenizer of St. John’s Lutheran Church will all be part of the service.
“This is an opportunity for the Lyndonville community to express our remembrances and good-byes,” Van Nostrand said.
The service on Sunday starts at 7 p.m. The Presbyterian Church is located at 107 North Main St.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Fireworks on July 4, 2015 are shown through the through the row of trees by the sports fields in Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – The Board of Directors of the Lyndonville Area Foundation is pleased to announce that distribution of funding is off to a brisk start for 2018.
In addition to sponsoring a Program Day for the newly inaugurated Leadership Orleans program through Orleans Community Action, the Lyndonville Area Foundation proudly continues its support of the Orleans County Adult Learning Service with an additional $4,500 donation made earlier this year.
The Lyndonville Area Foundation continues its annual support and cooperation alongside the Town Of Yates with a $7,500 contribution towards the Summer Recreation Program at Lyndonville Central School. The Foundation has generously contributed to the summer program since its inception a number of years ago.
With its long-standing close-knit ties to the Lyndonville Lion’s Club, the Foundation’s Directors unanimously agreed to assist the Lyndonville Lion’s efforts towards their creation of another memorable 4th of July event. The Lyndonville Area Foundation was pleased to honor the Lion’s request for $4,000 to assist in their 4th of July fireworks spectacular plus an additional $3,500 contribution to the Lion’s for their Main Street parade and afternoon music entertainment.
“The Lyndonville Lion’s Club creates a remarkable day-long 4th of July festival,” said Foundation President Darren Wilson. “Their efforts make the 4th of July truly the highlight of the year for Lyndonville and the behind-the-scenes work of the Lyndonville Lion’s Club is unquestionably deserving of our full support.”
Additional funding by the Foundation in the amount of $5,000 was recently provided in support of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Ag-In-The-Classroom program at Lyndonville Central School. And for the second year in a row, the Foundation’s Board of Directors agreed to funding for the “Shake On The Lake” event, a professional live performance of Shakespearean interpretations. This year’s contribution of $3,000 will support Shake-On-The-Lake performances at outdoor venues in Lyndonville and the Town of Yates later this year.
A 14-member cast from Shake on the Lake performed Romeo & Juliet behind the Yates Community Library last August. This signs directs people to the play.
The Lyndonville Area Foundation is also pleased to announce a $1,000 increase in three of the Foundation’s annual college scholarships available to graduating seniors at Lyndonville Central School. The Josie Gracey, Mabel Stroyan and Director’s scholarships will now be $5,000 each while the Foundation also voted to increase the number of Frank B. Housel Jr. scholarships from two to three. The Frank B. Housel Jr. scholarships are $4,000 each.
The Foundation also introduced the addition of two brand new scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each and which are designated as the Founders Memorial Scholarships. The Foundation also administers the Trevor Cook Memorial scholarships and the Skinner-Wilson scholarship through the Cook family of Lyndonville and the Donald O. Skinner family of Oneida, New York respectively.
The Lyndonville Area Foundation may be reached at P.O. Box 545, Lyndonville, NY 14098.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 May 2018 at 3:15 pm
Rain and mud push party inside; 68 new trees going in ground
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Karen Sanchez-Cabrera and other first-graders in Allison Woodburn’s class perform a skit this morning at Oak Orchard Elementary School in honor of Arbor Day.
This year’s celebration at Medina was pushed back a week to accommodate teachers and staff who attended last Friday’s calling hours for Andrea Lonnen, a kindergarten teacher who passed away unexpectedly on April 22 at 45. Lonnen was a big supporter of Arbor Day and had her classes help plant trees, said Chris Busch, Medina’s Tree Board chairman.
Nicole Goyette, a Medina teacher and Tree Board member, holds the microphone for first-grader Mckenna Adams, who was part of the Arbor Day skit. The event typically is an outdoor celebration and students help shovel dirt and plant the trees. But the threat of rain, and the wet and muddy grounds prompted organizers to shift the event inside.
Nicole Goyette is the Arbor Day coordinator. She welcomes students to the celebration. This year’s Arbor Day was dedicated to Wilson Southworth, who passed away at age 70 on Dec. 8. Southworth was a long-time member of the Tree Board, its vice chairman and a proponent of reforesting the Village of Medina.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari reads a proclamation about Arbor Day. “Trees are enjoyed by every citizen, young and old, wherever they are planted, and are a source of joy and beauty in our community,” Sidari said.
Medina is planting 68 trees this spring. The community is an official Tree City USA, a recognition of the village’s commitment to plant trees.
The auditorium at Oak Orchard was full of students this morning.
Stevie Parker reads her poem about Arbor Day that won a competition in the high school.
The Tree Board presented a “Friend of the Urban Forest Award” to the Medina Departent of Public Works and to Bob Sanderson, a Medina resident who donates to plant many of the new trees. Sanderson owns Candlelight Cabinetry and Kitchen World in Lockport. The company uses lots of wood, and Sanderson has said the business is committed to planting new trees through several initiatives.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 May 2018 at 12:54 pm
KENDALL – A Kendall resident used such poor judgement in operating a generator in a closed garage, leading to the death of two of his neighbors, that he is facing felony charges of reckless endangerment and criminally negligent homicide, District Attorney Joe Cardone said in a news conference today.
“His reckless conduct rose to such a gross level,” Cardone said about David A. Wiley Jr., 39, of 2245 Center Rd.
Undersheriff Chris Bourke takes questions from the media this morning at the Orleans County Public Safety Building.
Wiley was living in apartment A of the duplex when he set up the generator in the garage on April 16. It was directly below the living space of his neighbors in apartment B. Joan C. Gilman, 38, and her son Richard J. Gilman, 14, were found deceased in an upstairs bedroom on April 18.
An autopsy showed extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in their system and the cause of death was found to be “inhalation of products of combustion,” Undersheriff Chris Bourke said.
The generator ran for 17 hours and the fumes from it were 4-5 times the amount that could kill a person, Bourke said.
The power had been turned off at the site after the bill wasn’t paid. Wiley, as caretaker of the property, was responsible for paying the bill to National Grid, Bourke said.
When the electricity was turned off, Wiley set up a generator to power his side of the duplex, but not the apartment for the Gilmans, the undersheriff said.
“It’s an absolute tragedy that didn’t have to happen,” Bourke said.
Agencies could have helped negotiate keeping the power on, or the generator could have been set up outside the house, Bourke said.
David A. Wiley Jr.
The Kendall code enforcement officer has red-tagged the building, removing the certificate of occupancy due to code violations. Bourke said the town wasn’t aware the house had been subdivided into two apartments.
Wiley is very remorseful about what happened and didn’t intend to hurt anyone, said Jeff Gifaldi, investigator for the Sheriff’s Office.
Cardone said generators have warning labels to not operate inside.
“We grow up educated that you don’t run combustible engines in a living area,” Cardone said. The generators can cause a fire and the carbon monoxide is also a “silent killer,” Cardone said.
“It’s such an obvious thing and such an obvious use of poor judgement,” he said.
The maximum sentence for felony reckless endangerment is 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison, while the maximum for felony criminally negligent homicide is 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison.
Wiley was arraigned in Albion Town Court on Thursday. He was remanded to the county jail on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to the Town of Kendall Court on May 7 at 5:30 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 May 2018 at 8:51 am
Marc Molinaro, who is running for governor, says parks, public buildings, businesses need to better accommodate people
BATAVIA – Before he was running for governor, Marc Molinaro was pushing communities across the state to better embrace people with disabilities.
Molinaro is the Dutchess County executive, who also is challenging Andrew Cuomo for governor. Molinaro was in Batavia on Thursday to meet with community leaders about the “thinkDIFFERENTLY” campaign. His visit was planned before he announced his campaign for governor.
Molinaro said better accommodating and embracing people with disabilities is good for businesses, which will see more customers.
Molinaro, 42, said Dutchess has a wide-ranging effort, from making parks more accessible for children in wheelchairs and walkers (no wood chips to pass through), to training police officers to respond to people in crisis who have autism.
Movie theaters and the county fair have designated times where the sensory stimulations is dialed down, with less sound volume and lights. The Dutchess County Fair has one day without sound in the Midway. Otherwise, the Midway and fair has too much stimulation for some people. Those loud noises and pulsating lights can be debilitating to some people.
Government leaders have also tried to tame the bureaucratic maze so families can more easily receive services and Medicaid for children, and housing for adults.
“We are building communities that value everyone equally,” he said. “We’ve done some little things and we’ve done some big things.”
Molinaro has a 14-year-old daughter with special needs. He recalled helping his daughter tie her shoes. Molinaro’s wife told him to not overcompensate in trying to help their daughter.
Molinaro said it was a watershed moment, making him aware of the “quiet prejudice of low expectations” for people with disabilities.
His daughter ties her own shoes, rides a bicycle without training wheels and does much more.
About 100 municipalities and organizations have adopted “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” since it was first introduced three years ago in Dutchess County.
The “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” campaign has been officially adopted by about 100 municipalities and organizations across the state.
Making cross walks, parks, public spaces and businesses more accessible for people with disabilities is good for commerce, Molinaro said, resulting in more customers for businesses and more participation in the community.
“This is about making opportunities so kids can enjoy being kids,” he said.
Many people with disabilities need public transportation and their work schedules are often part-time. However, Molinaro said the bus schedules would pick up someone in the morning but not be available to bring them home until late afternoon. Dutchess has redesigned its bus schedules to serve people with part-time work schedules.
“ThinkDIFFERENTLY” should also include mental health services that meet community needs. “Jails have become the psychiatric facilities of last resort,” he said.
Molinaro was joined at the forum by State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. Molinaro used to be a colleague in the Assembly with Hawley.
Launched by Molinaro in 2015, the community-wide ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative aims to break down barriers and support those living with autism and other developmental or intellectual disabilities.
The campaign promotes community inclusiveness by encouraging elected leaders, neighborhoods, businesses, and organizations to think differently about how they interact with individuals with special needs.
State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, is among the elected officials who have embrace ThinkDIFFERENTLY. He issued this statement in August 2017.
“This campaign draws attention to mental health disorders and disabilities while encouraging open dialogue and eliminating stigma in communities,” said Ortt, who is chairman of the Senate’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Senate Committee. “It challenges elected officials and community members to think differently about those who are differently abled. I’m proud to work with County Executive Molinaro and my colleagues in the legislature to help promote awareness, education and social acceptance in Western New York through the ThinkDIFFERENTLY campaign.”
Press Release, Orleans County Undersheriff Chris Bourke
David A. Wiley Jr.
KENDALL – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Kendall man in connection with the deaths of Joan C. Gilman, 38, and her son Richard J. Gilman, 14, of 2245 Center Rd., apartment B.
Undersheriff Christopher Bourke reports that Investigator Jeff Gifaldi arrested and charged David A. Wiley Jr., 39, of 2245 Center Rd, apartment A with two counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide (class E felony) and two counts of Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree (class D felony).
The Sheriff’s Office investigation revealed that Wiley was the “care taker” for the owner of the duplex located at 2245 Center Road and resided in apartment “A”. The electrical power bills for each apartment were allegedly in Wiley’s name. National Grid shut off the power on or about April 16. Wiley allegedly ran the generator in a closed garage directly beneath the bedroom of the victims for over 17 hours between April 16 and April 18.
Provided photo: Richard “RJ” Gilman Jr. and his mother Joan are shown together in this photo.
The Monroe County Medical Examiners found, as a result of the autopsies, that both Mrs. Gilman and her son had extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in their system and the cause of death was found to be “inhalation of products of combustion.”
As a result of the Sheriff’s Office investigation, it was found that Wiley allegedly engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death to another person and he failed to perceive the substantial and unjustifiable risk that would result. This action was a gross deviation from what would be that of an ordinary prudent person in the same circumstance as to be incompatible with proper regard for human life, Bourke said.
Wiley was arraigned in the Town of Albion Court and remanded to the custody of the Sheriff in the county jail on $2,500 bail. Wiley is scheduled to return to the Town of Kendall Court on May 7at 5:30 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2018 at 11:05 am
Photo by Marsha Rivers: One of Albion’s grand residences is shown at sunrise on East State Street on Wednesday.
After a chilly April, May has started with highs in the 70s that continue today with the temperature expected to reach 73, followed by highs of 71 on Friday and 70 on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
There is a 80 percent chance of rain this afternoon and an 80 percent chance of more rain on Friday. Saturday should be sunny.
MEDINA — Destiny Satkowski, a senior at Medina High School, recently won first place in the New York State Skills USA competition.
Satkowski competed in the health occupation pro portfolio in the Allied Health II program.
Another Orleans County student at the Orleans-Niagara BOCES also placed in the competition. Justin Corser of Lyndonville was third in the technical computer application in computer technology.
SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.
Provided photo: Science teacher Peter Jablonski is shown with student Shyreef Payne, who tries on the SCUBA gear.
MEDINA – Science teacher Peter Jablonski says trying to teach science to all the different career and technical classes at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center can be a challenge as each teacher is an expert in their particular trade.
“I try to keep lessons interesting and capture the attention of students,” he said. “As an undergrad at Canisius College there are mandatory credit hours required for physical education so I picked SCUBA diving as it was worth two credit hours instead of one. It was physically demanding and I had to overcome my fear of water. I knew how to swim just fine, but I didn’t like to do it underwater.”
His love of his SCUBA translated into a great lesson for some of the classes. Mr. Jablonski said he had to learn a lot of science for SCUBA, such as how to use Navy dive charts to see how long a person could stay underwater at different depths, Boyle’s Gas Laws, physiological diseases such as embolisms, bends and nitrogen narcosis or rapture of the deep. Also the physics of how light and sound travels underwater had to be thoroughly comprehended.
“I made a science lesson out of this experience and teach about underwater welding to the Welding class or underwater recovery to Security and Law classes,” Jablonski said. “SCUBA diving in extreme depths, fast water, and poor visibility is dangerous work therefore workers are highly compensated. During my lesson the students certainly had a good laugh watching as one of their classmates donned a wet suit and tried to walk around with an air tank on their back and a weight belt around their waist.”
He added, “SCUBA is the hardest part of Navy SEAL training and many a candidate fails that part. Knowing that many of the Security and Law Enforcement students will never even try SCUBA, I try to include practical law enforcement skills like rescuing a drowning victim.”
He shared the slogan “REACH-THROW-ROW-GO” that was instilled in him as a Boy Scout and what he teaches as a guide to Boy Scouts on high adventure canoe trips in Algonquin Provincial Park in northern Ontario.
“I discussed with the students the incredible strength of moving water, how to perform ice rescues and how extreme cold water can cause death by Sudden Cold Water Immersion,” he said.
Orleans/Niagara BOCES District Superintendent, Dr. Clark Godshall, added to the lesson when he dropped by Dudley Gilbert’s Security and Law Enforcement class while the student was donning the wet suit.
“Does anyone know when you have to wear a dry suit?” he asked the students. “If the air temperature and water temperature adds up to less than 120 degrees.”
Mr. Jablonski said he was pleased on how his lesson went. “If I can help one of them to save someone else’s life that is a great accomplishment.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: Heritage Heroes were recognized during a ceremony on Friday at Genesee Community College in Albion. The group includes, from left: Aaron Grabowski of Medina, Diane Palmer of Albion, Beryl Barnes (accepting for her son Arthur Barnes) and Roy Bubb, who has written about growing up in Clarendon.
ALBION – When local residents write a book about growing up in Manning Corners in Clarendon, paint a watercolor of an aging barn, organize a fundraiser for the Cobblestone Museum or save a pipe organ for a church, they are doing work that few would undertake.
Big events of global interest, such as World War II or the sinking of Titanic, seem to have unending books, documentaries and historians devoted to telling those stories.
But the keynote speaker during last week’s Heritage Heroes celebration said only a few step forward to protect local historical sites or to preserve the cultural record in Orleans County.
Adam Tabelski, former mayor of Medina, gave the keynote address. Tabelski now lives in Batavia and works as an account manager for Wendel, an architectural and engineering firm. He has a master’s in public history from the University of Albany. GCC professor Derek Maxfield, back left, and GCC Dean Jim Simon are both on the Heritage Heroes Committee, along with Orleans Hub Editor Tom Rivers.
That’s why these “Heritage Heroes” deserve recognition and appreciation from the community, said Adam Tabelski, a former Medina mayor. Tabelski has a deep interest in history. He earned a master’s in public history from the University of Albany and was Shelby town historian and past president of the Medina Historical Society. He now lives in Batavia and works as an account manager for Wendel, an architectural and engineering firm.
“How are we ever going to remember these unique things to our region?” he said during Friday’s awards program at Genesee Community College in Albion. “These things are so important because they happened right here in our backyards and they have meant so much to us and to our families and our communities over the years.”
Tabelski noted recent reports that show a majority of millennials, the new adults, are fuzzy with the facts about the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were murdered. Two thirds of millennials don’t know about Auschwitz, a concentration camp where Nazis sent 1 million Jews to die.
Although there has been a shift to the latest 24-hour news cycle and the immediacy of social media, Tabelski said Orleans County is fortunate to have several people giving of their time and talent to preserve important local culture and history.
“You, heroes, are carrying a baton that few are carrying,” he said. “You are telling the stories that would otherwise fade into obscurity or oblivion, saving the buildings that would be lost, and inspiring others to learn and to appreciate.”
GCC hosted its fifth Heritage Heroes celebration on Friday. The following were recognized:
• Aaron Grabowski – Organist and director of Music at St. Mary’s Church in Medina, Aaron Grabowski has always had a passion for making music. However, Grabowski is more than a musician, he also builds organs. Prior to moving to Medina, he acquired a circa 1890s Barkhoff pipe organ, which was originally installed in Annunciation RC Church in Buffalo, built just a few years before St. Mary’s.
When he joined St. Mary’s Church, it was evident to him that the church’s ailing electronic organ needed to be replaced. Although the original pipe organ was removed from the balcony many years ago, the organ facade (consisting of exposed pipes and oak millwork) remained intact. Upon inspection of the organ loft, Grabowski knew a proper pipe organ, befitting of the church’s history and space could be installed.
Grabowski and several other interested parishioners worked together and decided he would install his Barkhoff organ in at St. Mary’s, and do the work himself with some help from volunteers in lifting pieces that weighed several hundred pounds. The Barkhoff was a perfect fit, given its age (built within a decade of St. Mary’s), classical voicing and having been designed by the same architect, Albert A. Post. Grabowski’s dedication and hard work will fill the nave of St. Mary’s for generations to come.
Grabowski was living in Kenmore when he visited Medina about 15 years ago, and was given a tour by village resident Chris Busch. Grabwoksi and his wife were looking for a village setting where they could have a historic home. Medina fit the bill, he said.
• Diane Palmer has always been a historian at heart and has long lent her talents and dedicated her time serving the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Cobblestone Society & Museum. Currently a member of the Board of Trustees at the Cobblestone Society & Museum, Palmer has led the museum’s rebranding efforts and has been instrumental in several key fundraisers.
She also is one of the coordinators of the Eastman at Albion concert series. The series has included about 20 concerts, raising more than $20,000 with the proceeds going to scholarships for Albion students who pursue music and the performing arts in college. In many of the concerts, Albion high schoolers have performed with the professional musicians in town for the concert. The series features Rochester-area musicians, often affiliated with the Eastman Community Music School, paired with Albion’s architectural treasures – the historic churches at the Courthouse Square.
Past winners of the Heritage Hero award were asked to stand. Some of the past winners in attendance include Delia Robinson, Al Capurso, Matt Ballard, Holly Canham and Erin Anheier.
• Arthur Barnes is a noted local artist for over 30 years and constant advocate for the community. He uses his artwork to celebrate Orleans County and its rich history. Barnes created a series of four large-scale murals depicting the Erie Canal which can be enjoyed in Medina, Knowlesville, Albion and Holley. Both a photographer and artist, Barnes highlights local tourism landmarks, such as the County Courthouse, the Culvert in Ridgeway and Mount Albion Tower. However, most of his work pays homage to the houses, barns and beautiful rural landscape of the area. These pieces serve to document Orleans County history as several of the houses and barns in his paintings are no longer standing. In 2000, Barnes bought a cobblestone building in Millville originally built as a Quaker meeting house in 1841. Barnes has repaired the roof and spent countless hours on additional improvements to spare what would have been an inevitable collapse of the building.
Barnes is active on social media as “The Artist Monk” posting photos and artwork about local sites. He was out of town on Friday. His mother and sisters accepted the award on his behalf. Barnes left a note with them where he praises the county’s rich history and vibrant landscapes, including the wildlife refuge, much, apple orchards, canal, historic downtowns and even the barns that often appear to be on their last legs.
“As a man who loves history and appreciates scenic views I feel very fortunate to live here,” Barnes said in his message. “In my travels I will continue to be a good ambassador and sing the praises of my beloved Orleans County.”
• Roy Bubb, a teacher and historian, added author to his resume when he penned Memories of Manning Corners: History of the Bubb Family and its Neighborhood 1931-1942, which is a retrospective on growing up in Orleans County. In 1986, Bubb retired from The SUNY College of Brockport after 25 years of service providing the best possible learning environment to future educators. In the late ’60s, Bubb co-created a simulation program that received recognition from the National College Association. Since then, Bubb has published nearly a half dozen books including his 2017 work, The Family Scrapbook, An Era in Clarendon and Holley-Murray’s History. Proceeds from Bubb’s many works benefit both the Madison Historical Society in Madison, NH, and the Clarendon Historical Society in Clarendon, NY.
Bubb said he grew up always asking questions to his family members and neighbors. He didn’t want to have those stories die, so he wrote the books.
The Heritage Heroes Committee also honored two local municipal historians with awards.
Betsy Hoffman, the Carlton town historian, received the C.W. “Bill” Lattin Award for Excellence in Municipal History.
• Lysbeth “Betsy” Hoffman received the C.W. “Bill” Latin Municipal Historian Award for her nearly 40 years of service as the Carlton town historian.
Since 1980, Hoffman has served her community researching information, collecting names and dates, archiving and cataloging, and writing as the Town of Carlton Historian. For many years Hoffman was a regular columnist for The Journal-Register in Medina reporting the “goings on” in Lakeside. She developed special displays in the Carlton Town Hall and was an avid collector of archival material that continues to aid and educate future generations.
Lattin, the retired county historian, said Hoffman pushed to have historical markers in each town and then have a local book that compiled all of the markers. She also was the driving force to have a stream named Proctor Brook. Lattin said Hoffman has an amazing ability to know the news in Carlton.
“For someone who doesn’t drive or do email, Betsy knows more about what’s going on in Carlton than anyone,” Lattin said.
• Marsha DeFilipps, the Holley-Murray historian for more than 40 years, received the Bob Waters Lifetime Achievement Award.
DeFilipps has been very active in the Holley-Murray Historical Society. She was influential in establishing the Murray-Holley Historical Society Museum in the old train depot and has led multiple talks and workshops and helped many residents trace their own familial roots.
Recently DeFilipps teamed with Melissa Ierlan to present “Digging up your ancestors online” which is a public workshop designed to encourage and guide individuals down their own genealogy path. One of the signature accomplishments during her term as town historian has been her creation of an Index of personal names in Landmarks of Orleans County. To do this, DeFilipps spent many months combing through and extracting every name mentioned in Isaac Signor’s 1894 publication, developing a permanent record of history.
Matt Ballard, the current county historian, said DeFilipps and the other municipal historians don’t get the credit them deserve for the countless hours spent doing research and cataloging records.
“Much of what we do lacks the glory and pizzazz,” Ballard said. “But the municipal historians are cataloging, collecting, making sure there is something for the future of what’s happening now.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2018 at 7:47 am
ALBION – The Village Board has approved a $6,695,655 budget for 2018-19 that reduces the tax rate from $17.76 to $17.73 per $1,000 of assessed property.
The rate came down partly due to a boost in the village’s tax base. The taxable value of the village increased 3.0 percent or by $4,374,492 – from $144.1 million to $148.5 million.
Mayor Eileen Banker also said the Village Board and department heads were diligent in trying to reduce the tax rate.
“The board worked together many hours and evenings to cut expenses where we felt would not cut or disrupt services,” Banker said. “Our department heads know their limitations with funding and they worked with us to plan projects that are needed for the village in a fiscally responsible way. We were able to stay within the tax cap and we were actually able to reduce our tax rate by .03. Our work is not done – we will continue to look for ways to reduce spending without the reduction of needed services.”
Although the tax rate is going down, the village will be collecting more in taxes. The tax levy is up 2.86 percent or by $73,236 – from $2,559,333 to $2,632,569.
The budget, which was adopted on Monday, includes $3,791,527 in the General Fund, $1,627,104 in the Water Fund, and $1,277,023 in the Sewer Fund.
The village is planning several projects, including a new amphitheater in Bullard Park and the installation of a sewer line at the park in preparation for a new spray park. The village is also putting a new water line on West Academy Street, south of Route 31, and is working to resolve a water pressure issue on Allen Road. A new array of solar panels will also be installed by the sewer plant at Densmore Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 May 2018 at 8:57 pm
Planning also under way for National Night Out on Aug. 7
KNOWLESVILLE – A trio of stunt motorcycle bike riders will return to Orleans County for four days of events in September, bringing with them a message of hope in overcoming addiction.
Scott Caraboolad is the leader of the Ride4Life stunt riders that perform for schools, community events and prisons around the country. Last October, they did events at the Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville schools, as well as community events in Albion and Medina. Their biggest event was “Hopefest” at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.
Scott Caraboolad urged students to reach out for help if they are feeling depressed or overwhelmed. Even when he was making millions of dollars as a stunt bike rider, Caraboolad said he turned to pills and then drugs to handle the pressure and stress in his life. By his late 20s, he was a drug addict with his life in shambles. “If something is boiling over in your life, don’t try to take it on by yourself,” Caraboolad told the students. “Reach out to people in the community.”
Caraboolad is a recovering drug addict. He shares a message about making healthy choices. His visit last year was supported by a group of churches and pastors in Orleans County, as well as the Sheriff’s Office, Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition, Suicide Prevention Coalition of Orleans County, the Genesee-Orleans Opioid Task Force and other agencies.
“It was amazing the number of different people who came,” said Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion and one of the leaders of PACT, Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation.
Lindsay shared the news today that Ride4Life will be back this year from Sept. 12-15. Lindsay addressed the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition.
Several local church leaders have formed PACT to unite churches in addressing some community issues. Lindsay said churches want to be part of helping people overcome drug addictions. Many of the churches are running recovery-based programs, Lindsay said.
“We pastors have done too many funerals of people who have died of overdoses,” he said. “We get it.”
Caraboolad and the stunt riders are a draw with their feats on the bikes. Lindsay said they share a message that is appropriate for their audience, whether its students or a community event. The Ride4Life group spoke to 1,500 students in Orleans County last October. The bigger community event at the Fairgrounds attracted about 1,500 people, Lindsay said.
Russ Peters, pastor of the Alabama Full Gospel, also addressed the coalition today. He said the churches have connected with many agency organizations, as well as the Sheriff’s Office, to be part of the community’s response to the drug epidemic.
The Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition also shared there are plans in the works for the National Night Out on Aug. 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event is a chance for residents to connect with law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders, as well as agency leaders. There will be demonstrations and fun competitions. The new fire house, which teaches fire safety and an escape plan, will also be available at the event.
Photo courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES
