By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2018 at 2:09 pm
Photos courtesy of Amy Lewis
LYNDONVILLE – There were 400 National Grid customers without power in the Lyndonville area after a tree fell on South Main Street near the village line this morning around 11.
National Grid is estimating power will be restored for the affected area by 3:15 p.m. By 2 p.m., the number without power was down to 142.
National Grid has more than 2,000 line, tree and service workers on alert due to the ice storm in upstate. The company reports there are 1,525 customers without power in upstate out of 1.6 million customers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2018 at 9:57 am
No widespread power outages so far
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Keith Merchant, left, and Tony Navarra, both part of the Buildings and Grounds crew for Holy Family Parish, shovel ice off the sidewalk in front of the Albion church this morning. Most of the churches are closed today.
“This is crazy,” Navarra said about the blast of winter weather.
He is retiring in June after leading the parish’s Building and Grounds Department.
An ice storm warning remain in effect for the county until 2 p.m. Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower also has issued a travel advisory urging extra caution from drivers until this afternoon.
Many of the trees at Courthouse Square in Albion are coated in ice.
There doesn’t seem to be too much damage from the storm. There aren’t widespread power outages. There are 83 National Grid customers without electricity in Orleans County and they are estimated to be restored by 11 a.m., according to the power company.
Even these birds by the Post Office in Albion are wondering what happened to spring.
The Presbyterian Church in Albion is pictured in the background of this photo.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 15 April 2018 at 8:29 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion pitcher Thomas Furmanski (shown here in action last spring) and his Purple Eagles teammates are playing the season on the road because of delays in field renovation work as is the Roy-Hart softball team.
Because of unexpected delays in completing field renovation work both the Albion baseball and Roy-Hart softball teams are playing all of their games on the road this season.
However, the travel doesn’t seem to be causing any problems to date as the defending tri-champion Lady Rams are off to a 3-0 start and the Purple Eagles are 2-0 after the opening week of Niagara-Orleans League competition.
Weather permitting, and that is certainly the key phrase these days, both Albion and Roy-Hart both face key diamond tests this coming week. The Purple Eagles are slated to visit defending champion Roy-Hart on Monday and then face Wilson on Wednesday and rival Medina on Friday. The Lady Rams will face Albion on Monday and Medina on Wednesday.
On the tennis courts, defending N-O champion Medina has three key home matches upcoming against Roy-Hart on Monday, Wilson on Wednesday and Newfane on Friday.
The Medina lacrosse team, which because of a combination of the Easter break and several weather related postponements has not played a game in three weeks, is slated to host Wilson on Tuesday, visit defending champion Akron Thursday and then entertain Brockport on Saturday.
Weekly Schedule Monday Baseball: Lyndonville at Lima Christian, 4:30 p.m.; Medina at Newfane, Albion at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Akron, 4:45 p.m. Softball: Alexander at Holley, Kendall at Elba, Lyndonville at Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.; Newfane at Medina, Roy-Hart at Allbion, Akron at Wilson, 4:45 p.m. Tennis: Roy-Hart at Medina, Barker at Wilson, Albion at Akron, Holley at Byron-Bergen, Elba at Kendall, 4 p.m.
Tuesday Baseball: Oakfield-Alabama at Holley, Notre Dame at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Barker at Holland, Newfane at Wilson, Albion at Akron, 4:45 p.m. Softball: Barker at Pembroke, Holley at Oakfield-Alabama, Roy-Hart at Grand Island ,4:30 p.m. Tennis: Akron at Barker, Wilson at Roy-Hart, 4 p.m. Lacrosse: Wilson at Medina, 5 p.m.
Wednesday Baseball: Oakfield-Alabama at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Medina, Barker at Akron, Albion at Wilson, 4:45 p.m. Softball: Lima Christian at Holley, Oakfield-Alabama at Kendall, Pembroke at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m.; Wilson at Albion, 4:45 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Medina, 7 p.m. Tennis: Wilson at Medina, Barker at Newfane, Albion at Roy-Hart, Notre Dame at Kendall, 4 p.m. Track: Kendall at Holley, Lyndonville at Oakfield-Alabama, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday Baseball: Kendall at Northstar, 4:30 p.m. Track: Medina at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Albion, Akron at Newfane, 4:15 p.m. Lacrosse: Medina at Akron, 5 p.m.
Friday Baseball: Holley at Attica, Kendall at Byron-Bergen, 4:30 p.m.; Albion at Medina, Wilson at Barker, Akron at Newfane, 4:45 p.m. Softball: Kendall at Alexander, Lyndonville at Attica, Holley at Wheatland-Chili, 4:30 p.m.; Albion at Medina, Newfane at Akron, 4:45 p.m. Tennis: Newfane at Medina, Barker at Albion, Roy-Hart at Akron, Oakfield-Alabama at Holley, Kendall at Alexander, 4 p.m.
Saturday Baseball: Roy-Hart at Alexander Tournament Softball: Barker at Alexander Tournament Lacrosse: Brockport at Medina, 7 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2018 at 8:14 am
KNOWLESVILLE – The second day of the Home, Garden & Outdoor Show at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds has been cancelled today due to the ice and wintry weather.
Saturday there was a record crowd of nearly 500 people for the show in the first two hours before the weather took a turn and it got cold and windy, said Becky Charland, the Chamber director.
The winner of a raffle will be announced mid-week.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2018 at 7:29 am
Several churches won’t be having Sunday morning services today due to the bad weather.
The closings include Calvary Tabernacle in Medina, Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Middleport, North Point Chapel in Albion, St. Peter Lutheran Church in Medina, One Church in Medina, Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina, Holley Presbyterian Church, Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, Community Fellowship Church at Johnson Creek in Middleport and the United Methodist Church of the Abundant Harvest, Millville and Knowlesville.
The Albion Free Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, Christ Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church and Pullman Memorial Universalist Church – all in Albion – announced on Saturday evening they won’t be holding services today.
In addition, New Life Alliance Church in Medina, Carlton United Methodist, West Barre United Methodist, Gaines Carlton Community Church, Gaines Congregational UCC, Elba Presbyterian, Barre Center Presbyterian and Eagle Harbor United Methodist have cancelled services today.
Sheriff Randy Bower has issued a travel advisory until Sunday afternoon due to an ice storm that weather forecasters say will make for difficult travel until Sunday afternoon.
“After watching the forecast, receiving a travel warning from our Sheriff, and consulting with Town & Village Highway Officials we have decided that we would prefer everyone stay home, stay warm, and stay safe,” the Albion Free Methodist Church posted on its Facebook page .
Pullman Memorial posted on Facebook its service has been cancelled “due to predicted bad roads. Stay Safe!”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2018 at 11:03 pm
(UPDATE 7:51 a.m. on April 15: The Home, Garden & Outdoor Show has been cancelled for today due to the weather conditions.)
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Liz and Roger Midkiff are among the vendors at the Home, Garden & Outdoor Show at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds this weekend. Liz Midkiff is the owner of Stolen Angels, Inc., a clothing line that creates awareness about human trafficking.
The business has an office at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex at 243 South Main St., Albion. Midkiff opened her office there in January. She visits churches and other community groups to raise awareness about sex trafficking.
The Midkiffs are at the Home, Garden & Outdoor Show to try to build awareness about the trafficking issue. The Home Show opened at 10 a.m. today and there was a big crowd in the beginning of the day before the weather turned cold in the early afternoon.
“There was a burst of people in the morning,” Mr. Midkiff said.
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce organized the show, which was maxed out with 50 spots for vendors. The show is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, with a treasure hunt for children from noon to 4 p.m. That hunt will be a chance for participants to get clues from many of the vendors, clues that are needed to solve a puzzle and win a prize.
The photo shows a painting of the Erie Canal by artist Stacey Kirby. Because the Chamber doesn’t have a storefront office anymore, it wanted to display the painting as part of a welcome booth at the Home Show.
Sheryl Watts of Shelby holds a lady bug she made out of balloons. Watts is the owner of Air Raising Events. She has been balloon twisting and face painting for 20 years.
Watts created a big entrance out of balloons at her booth.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2018 at 7:38 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Travis Downs follows through on a 3-pount shot that went in for the Albion faculty in a basketball game today vs. State Troopers. Downs is a substitute teacher who also coaches football and basketball at Albion. He was the leading scorer for the faculty in a 72-60 loss to the Troopers. The Troopers had a big lead at halftime, and then the faculty were able to get within 5 points before the Troopers pulled away at the end.
The game was a benefit for the Middle School FFA.
Scott Mills, an investigator with the State Police, gives Matthew Bloom a boost while he shoots a basket during a break in the game.
At halftime State Trooper Dave Ziemba and K-9 “Arnie” did a demonstration, showing the dog’s tracking skills.
Ziemba and Arnie are one of the 98 K-9 units for the State Police. Arnie is a narcotics detection dog that also tracks suspects. State Troopers also had a demonstration at halftime on defensive tactics.
Sawyer Green, a member of the Albion faculty, holds her son Hollis, who is almost 2. Green’s husband Josh also played on the faculty team.
Albion teacher Mike Jones, center, joins the faculty in congratulating the Troopers on their victory.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2018 at 5:07 pm
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a travel advisory for all of Orleans County through Sunday afternoon, Sheriff Randy Bower said this afternoon.
“Winds and the potential for freezing rain could make roadways dangerous,” Bower said. “Drivers are urged to use caution if you must travel.”
The National Weather Service is reporting the potential for .5 inches to .75 inches of freezing rain during this period. This amount of freezing rain has a high potential to damage power lines and bring down tree branches, impairing travel. Winds are expected to increase to 20-30 mph with gusts exceeding 40 mph.
Orleans County has multiple weather warnings. The county faces an ice storm, and flooding at the lakeshore and in streams and creeks.
The ice storm warning is in effect from 2 p.m. today until 2 p.m. Sunday.
A flood watch has also been issued for Orleans County from late Sunday night through Tuesday afternoon. Moderate to heavy rain of 2 to 2.5 inches will result in considerable runoff into area creeks and rivers.
The Weather Service has also issued a lakeshore flood warning until 2 p.m. Sunday for Orleans, Niagara and Monroe counties.
File photo by Cheryl Wertman: Ice encases these berries on the bush in Medina in December 2013, when an ice storm hit the area.
Orleans County has multiple weather warnings. The county faces an ice storm, lakeshore flooding and flooding in streams and creeks.
The ice storm warning is in effect from 2 p.m. today until 2 p.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service said significant icing is expected, from about a half-inch to an inch in Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties.
Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the combination of ice and strong northeast winds. Travel will be difficult at times, especially tonight and early Sunday morning when pavement temperatures are coldest, the Weather Service said.
A flood watch has also been issued for Orleans County from late Sunday night through Tuesday afternoon. Moderate to heavy rain of 2 to 2.5 inches will result in considerable runoff into area creeks and rivers.
Small streams and creeks, low-lying and poor drainage areas may experience flooding Sunday night through Monday. Larger streams and rivers will take longer to respond with flooding possible later Monday into Tuesday, the Weather Service said.
The Flood Watch includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Erie, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The Weather Service has also issued a lakeshore flood warning until 2 p.m. Sunday for Orleans, Niagara and Monroe counties.
Strong northeasterly winds will result in significant wave action which will result in lakeshore flooding and erosion along the southwestern shores of Lake Ontario, the Weather Service said.
“The greatest risk is where the shoreline is still unstable from flooding and erosion last year, and also in bays and inlets,” the Weather Service said.
Press Release, Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the Niagara County Office of Emergency Management have issued a travel advisory for all of Niagara County, effective immediately until late Sunday afternoon.
The National Weather Service is reporting the potential for .5 inches to .75 inches of freezing rain during this period. This amount of freezing rain has a high potential to damage power lines and bring down tree branches, impairing travel.
Winds are expected to increase to 20-30 mph with gusts exceeding 40 mph. The significance of these winds is critical, as they will come from the Northeast as opposed to the normal Southwest. This directional change will have significant damaging effects on trees, which are not suited to withstand winds from the opposite direction.
There is potential for roadways to freeze over, particularly after sunset on Saturday. There is also a risk of local flooding as the total precipitation over this period of time could exceed 3 inches. Areas along the Lake Ontario shore could see waves up to 12 -15 feet, causing shore damage.
Niagara County officials are asking residents to use caution if they must travel over the next two days. Residents should be ready to withstand power outages due to the potential for ice and wind damage.
The Sheriff’s Office has prepared the county 911 center for significant increases in calls for service and the Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the events and remains in constant contact with State officials in full preparation for the storm.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2018 at 1:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Village of Albion trustees Gary Katsanis, left, and Stan Farone hold the ribbon while Mayor Eileen Banker (in black coat) cuts the ribbon this morning for the expanded Uptown Browsery in downtown Albion. Maureen Bennett, a vendor and member of the Browsery’s board of directors, is up front with Banker. Other vendors in the photo include, from left, in back: Elizabeth Penafiel, Dakota Morasco, Scott Sackett, Linda Carson, Lisa Mannella and Lucy Sackett.
There are 34 vendors in the three Browsery locations. The original Downtown Browsery opened at 14 East Bank St. in 2004 with 13 vendors. Four years ago the Uptown Browsery opened at 118 North Main St. In January, the Uptown Browsery expanded north on Main Street. The two Uptown storefronts are connected with an archway that was used back when the site was a Landauer’s Department Store.
A Ronald McDonald helium balloon tank topper and shroud from 1977 is one of the items for sale in the Uptown Browsery.
The vendors sell vintage collectibles, antiques, upcycled furniture and other items. They share expenses and all spend a minimum of 10 hours in store. The shared workload and expenses have proven a good formula for the vendors, said Maureen Bennett, who sells farmhouse décor and antiques.
The expanded space for the Browsery was quickly embraced by vendors. Bennett said there are still a couple spots if a vendor is interested.
Stan Farone, a village trustee, said the Broswery locations offer a variety of items that appeal to many in the community.
“I encourage people to visit the stores,” Farone said. “People don’t realize what we have here in the downtown.”
A new feature at the Browsery: highlighting a prominent Albionite each month. If people share the same birthday month as the person being highlighted, they get 10 percent off. Lisa Mannella proposed the birthday feature. This month spotlights Sanford Elias Church, who was born April 18, 1815 and went on to be the chief judge on the NY Court of Appeals.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 14 April 2018 at 8:14 am
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 15
April 14th marks the 106th anniversary of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic and although I share a common surname, I can assure you that Dr. Robert Ballard is no direct relative of mine (that I am aware of). On that fateful day in 1912, the exquisitely decorated vessel struck an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. and was fully submerged within a matter of three hours. Of the 2,224 passengers, over 1,500 perished in the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean nearly 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, making it one of the most devastating maritime disasters in modern history.
Over the years, newspapers have recounted the stories of survivors while paying tribute to the victims as each landmark anniversary passes. Of the most notable local residents connected to the catastrophe, the story of Lillian Bentham of Holley is most frequently recalled. Of course, the story of May Howard (buried in Boxwood Cemetery) is also shared. So, I thought it best to thoroughly recount some of these recollections over the course of several articles starting with the story of Lillian Bentham.
On July 23, 1892 a baby girl was born to Henry and Mary Jane Bentham of Holley, New York. The Benthams were natives of Guernsey in the Channel Islands where Henry learned the trade of stone cutting and stone dressing before immigrating to the United States. Given the number of other immigrants from the same region of the British Isles, it is likely that Mr. Bentham was aware of job opportunities in the booming sandstone quarries scattered throughout Orleans County. When Lillian was born, Henry asked fellow quarryman William Douton to be his daughter’s godfather. Both men were active in Holley’s I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 42 and presumably good friends.
Henry and Mary Jane Bentham suffered the loss of their daughter Daisy in early March of 1903 as the result of a year-long illness. Her obituary read, “As a young girl, Daisy was an exceptionally beautiful and charming child, with winning and attractive ways that made her a general favorite with all who knew her.” This eloquent eulogy is reflected through the broken daisy that appears on the young girl’s headstone in Hillside Cemetery. Eight years after the passing of Daisy, the family mourned the loss of Henry on October 24, 1911 following a two-year long battle with tuberculosis. He was remembered as a “…man of very social, genial nature, generous, kindly, and sympathetic.”
It is possible that this tragic event was a reason for 19-year-old Lillian to travel to Guernsey to visit family, likely her older sister Annie who was living overseas at the time. Bentham and two others, including William Douton and fellow quarryman Peter McKane, returned to Guernsey where many of the men had started their careers as stone dressers. During their time away, Mary Jane Bentham and her son Walter relocated to Rochester. On the return trip, Lillian and the party she was travelling with were set to return aboard the R.M.S. Titanic. She had purchased a second class ticket, number 28404, for 13 pounds while Douton and McKane shared a joint ticket, number 38403, which cost 26 pounds.
It was well known by passengers that the Titanic’s crew was pushing the ship’s limits in order to break record timing on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic. On the evening of April 14, 1912, Lillian retired to her quarters and prepared for bed when she was suddenly jarred by the ship’s collision with the iceberg. The elderly woman sharing her berth was sleeping peacefully when the accident occurred and the impact caused the woman to fall out of bed. A crew member passed the cabin and calmly told the two women that the ship had struck a fishing boat, encouraging both to return to sleep. Lillian fell asleep for a period of 20 or 30 minutes before the sounds of screaming men and women woke her.
She quickly threw on her clothes and made her way up on deck. Lillian reported the following scene to the Holley Standard which was printed on April 25, 1912, “The women and children were crowded together on both sides of the ship and were being put over the sides into the lifeboats. There were some men among them, mostly helping the women along, bidding them a good-bye and cheering them up. The rest of the men were crowded together, some kneeling down and praying, others standing like statues.” As more people crowded onto the deck a number of men, many being immigrants, attempted to jump into the lifeboats; they were shot and killed by crewmen.
Photo by Tom Rivers: This gravestone for Lillian Bentham was installed on Oct. 1, 2015 at Hillside Cemetery in Holley/Clarendon. Brigden Memorials of Albion donated the stone. Bentham lived to be 85, and remained in the Holley and Rochester region until her death on Dec. 15, 1977. Bentham was buried in Hillside Cemetery next to her sister, Daisy Bentham, who died at age 16 in 1904. Lillian never had a headstone until Brigden donated one about four decades after her death.
Lillian was placed in Lifeboat 12, the third boat lowered on the port side and was allegedly within an earshot of the Captain Edward Smith as he shouted, “Now, every man for himself, she’s going down.” The band played sacred music for the duration of the ensuing commotion, playing “Nearer My God to Thee” as their final piece. Bentham recalled everyone praying on their knees as the ship’s deck dipped below water. As the vessel submerged the boilers exploded, scalding and killing many on deck and those locked below deck. She watched as the ship broke in two before disappearing below the waterline.
As the lifeboats bobbed atop the water, men and women were occasionally plucked from the water while others were struck over the head with oars to prevent panicked survivors from capsizing the tiny boats. Lillian recalled a tragic scene that remained with her for the rest of her life; an infant with its hands either crushed or cut off was thrown overboard to “put it out of its misery. It was very weak and would have died soon anyway.” The dead were thrown overboard to make way for those survivors floating in the freezing waters. Many died from shock, the result of exposure to extreme cold. Those in the lifeboats huddled together, most in their nightgowns, unprepared for the frigid temperatures of the cold Atlantic night.
When the R.M.S. Carpathia arrived at New York City, Mrs. Emily Douton was present and ready to welcome Lillian and her husband. Word was sent early of the survivors of the disaster, but Emily’s first question to Lillian was “Where’s William?” In the months following the disaster, the Holley Lodge I.O.O.F. purchased a cemetery monument for fellow members Douton and McKane, whose bodies were never recovered. The stone was dedicated in June of 1912 and reads “Erected in Memory of Wm. Doughton & Peter MacKain lost at sea with S.S. Titanic April 14, 1912 by Holley Lodge 42 IOOF.” Emily Douton remarried twice before her death on June 30, 1923 from stomach cancer.
Photo by Tom Rivers – This photo from an ice storm in December 2013 shows the Orleans County Courthouse in the background.
Press Release, National Grid
With the weekend weather forecast calling for strong winds, freezing rain and ice accumulation across much of National Grid’s upstate New York service area, the company has mobilized more than 1,300 line, service and tree workers and is prepared for the upcoming storm.
The company also is urging customers to be prepared and remain safe. If power outages result from the weather, the company offers the following safety tips for customers and the general public:
Electricity & Generator Safety
• If a power outage occurs, customers should call National Grid’s at 1-800-867-5222 to expedite restoration.
• Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.
• Never touch downed power lines; always assume they are carrying live electricity. Downed lines should be immediately reported to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or by calling 911.
• Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642- 4272. (In a medical emergency, always dial 911.)
• Keep a number of working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home.
• Please drive carefully and use caution when driving near any repair crews working to restore power.
• Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage.
• National Grid also advises staying tuned to local media for important announcements from emergency officials about possible evacuations or other emergency procedures. In most areas, information on storm shelter locations is available by calling 211.
Stay Connected
National Grid offers several ways to stay informed and safe – before, during and after a storm:
• For real-time power outage information, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm safety information, visit the Outage Central section of www.nationalgridus.com. Customers who create an online profile on our website can also sign up for email alerts.
• To receive text message alerts and updates from National Grid, text the word STORM to NGRID (64743).
• Online and text alert services can be started and stopped at the customer’s request.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today signed a letter that will be sent next week to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urging him to put an end to Canada’s Class 7 pricing program and dairy tariff walls during ongoing NAFTA negotiations. Canada’s pricing program has created an unfair playing field and has essentially eliminated U.S. exports of certain dairy products, Collins said.
Collins also voiced support for provisions in the draft of the 2018 Farm Bill released on Thursday, which makes the voluntarily Margin Protection Program (MPP) more effective and more affordable. This program was passed into law in the 2014 Farm Bill and has provided milk producers and processers with critical protections as milk and feed prices fluctuate.
“It is an unfortunate reality that our dairy industry has taken a hard hit in recent years due to unfair trade practices with Canada,” said Collins. “Dairy has always been a vital industry in Western New York and I’ve been a staunch supporter of programs that will help our nation’s farmers get by during tough times. We must continue to make reforms that benefit the agriculture industry, in turn strengthening and growing our nation’s economy.”
In the letter to Lighthizer, Collins stresses the urgency of tackling issues with Canada’s unfair trade practices. While the Trump Administration has condemned Canada’s actions on dairy trade over the past year, Collins emphasized the millions of workers with jobs tied to agriculture and the importance of the dairy industry in Western New York.
The proposed changes to the MPP include higher coverage levels, lower premiums, and providing more flexibility to farmers when it comes to the length of their coverage. Additionally, the draft proposes changing the name of the program to Dairy Risk Management Program (DRMP) for Dairy Producers and authorizes it through 2023.
“Holding Canada accountable and demanding fair treatment needs to be top of mind as NAFTA negotiations continue,” Collins said. “And as we work in Congress to pass a Farm Bill, we will make sure dairy farmers have the protections they need as we continue to survive in this unfair market.”
The House Agriculture Committee expects to begin holding hearings on the Farm Bill as soon as next week. For more information on the draft legislation, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2018 at 7:17 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Becky Charland, executive director of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce, is pictured this afternoon setting up for this weekend’s Home, Garden & Outdoor Show at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. There will be a pirate theme at the event, including a treasure hunt on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
There will be clues for children to complete a pirate themed challenge. If they can solve it, they will win prizes. Nine of the vendors will have clues in the contest.
All 50 spots for the show have been taken for the Home, Garden & Outdoor Show, a first for the event. After taking a break from the show in 2016, the Chamber brought in back in 2017 and this year is the biggest one yet. There are vendors for home projects, landscaping improvements and other household upgrades and services.
“It promotes the businesses in Orleans County,” Charland said about the show. “That is really what the Chamber is here for.”
The show will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is free with a $3 admission for adults. Kids can enter for free. (Click here to see a list of vendors and to download a coupon for free admission.)
The Albion Elk’s Club will be serving chicken barbecue on Saturday from 1 to 4 pm. There will be a wine-tasting both days.
Judy Szulis of Medina gets her Tupperware products ready for the weekend’s show. Szulis has been selling Tupperware for 11 years, including eight years as a director. Szulis is looking forward to the Home & Garden Show.
“”It’s hometown,” she said. “It’s nice to touch base with a lot of people.”
This is the 70th anniversary of Tupperware and Szulis said the company keeps innovating, offering new products in new colors, including Tupperware that can be used in the microwave and dishwashers. There are new Tupperware water bottles, and other items, she said.
“It’s not your grandmother’s Tupperware anymore,” Szulis said.
