Richard C. Call Arena to host event for first time on May 20

Press Release, GCC

Dr. Kristina M. Johnson

BATAVIA – Officials at Genesee Community College are delighted to announce the College’s 50th graduating class will hear from the new State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor, Dr. Kristina M. Johnson, as the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony on May 20 at 1 p.m.

Dr. Johnson is the fourth SUNY Chancellor to grace GCC’s commencement stage with Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher appearing in 2010, John R. Ryan in 2007 and Robert King in 2003.

GCC’s first-ever graduating class received their diplomas in 1969 inside the auditorium of the New York State School for Blind. Through the years, GCC has held commencement ceremonies in several other locations to accommodate the growing number of graduates. Batavia High School, the William W. Stuart Forum in the Batavia Campus and finally the Anthony T. Zambito Gymnasium have all hosted GCC’s commencement programs. This year, the Class of 2018 is GCC’s 50th class of graduates. They will celebrate their success in the new and permanent venue, the Richard C. Call Arena.

“This year’s commencement ceremony is going to be a special day for so many reasons,” said Dr. James M. Sunser, president of GCC. “First and foremost, graduation is a sacred event celebrating the personal accomplishments of hundreds of students-each with his or her individual story and journey. It is, without question, the best day of the year for the whole College community. Secondly, we are honored to welcome Chancellor Johnson to our campus and look forward to hearing her distinguished remarks. Finally, this event brings our 50th anniversary celebration to a grand crescendo, and what better place than in our new Call Arena.”

Provided photo: GCC’s first graduating class received their diplomas in 1969 inside the auditorium of the New York State School for Blind.

SUNY Chancellor, Dr. Kristina M. Johnson, joined The State University of New York as its 13th Chancellor just six months ago in September 2017. With 64 college and university campuses located across New York State, SUNY is the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. It serves more than 1.3 million students annually, employs more than 90,000 faculty and staff, and connects more than three million alumni around the world.

Prior to joining SUNY, Dr. Johnson was co-founder and CEO of Cube Hydro Partners, LLC, and had served as undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Johnson served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Johns Hopkins University from 2007 to 2009 with direct oversight of the academic operations and budget of nine schools that included leading interdisciplinary programs, academic centers and institutes.

As Dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University from 1999 to 2007, Dr. Johnson created intensive student/faculty research partnerships and led a strategic planning process as part of Duke’s “Building on Excellence” university plan.

Dr. Johnson was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2015) and the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame (2003), and holds 118 U.S. and international patents. She has published 149 referenced papers and proceedings and has received honorary degrees from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Tufts University, McGill University, Trinity College, Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Additional commencement information can be found by clicking here. For families interested in using GCC’s Child Care Center for children 5 years old and younger, the reservation deadline is May 4.

Provided photo: Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA recently presented a check for $3,000 to Camp Good Days and Special Times. Pictured, from left, include: James McCauley from Camp Good Days & Special Times, and Rachel and Rob Kaiser, Medina/Wildwood KOA owners.

MEDINA – After tallying all the figures, Campground Owners of New York announced today that Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA in Medina, operated by Rob and Rachel Kaiser, raised $3,000 in donations for Camp Good Days and Special Times, as part of CONY’s sixth annual statewide fundraising event for charity held throughout the 2017 camping season.

According to Meghan Lawton, CONY’s Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations, the association raised a total of $108,699 in 2017, bringing CONY’s six-year fundraising total for Camp Good Days to $466,776.

“We are grateful to CONY parks like Medina KOA, as well as their campers and supporters, for helping us raise one of our largest annual totals for Camp Good Days and Special Times,” Lawton said. “Camp Good Days provides a service to children and families dealing with an awful disease – a service that is unmet, and we are proud to help them provide these services.”

Throughout the 2017 camping season, Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA raised funds through various activities in their park, and through the support of their campers. With fundraising by CONY campgrounds from across New York State, a combined total of $108,699 in checks were presented by CONY leaders to Camp Good Days and Special Times representative James McCauley at a special ceremony on Nov. 4, 2017, during CONY’s annual exposition held at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, NY.

Camp Good Days and Special Times is a New York State-based organization providing camping experiences free of charge to children with cancer. Since its inception, Camp Good Days has served more than 45,000 campers from 22 states and 29 foreign countries at its camp, located on the shores of Keuka Lake. For more information, www.campgooddays.org.

Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA will open for the 2018 camping season on April 28. For more on the site, click here.

CARLTON – There will be a meeting at 6:30 p.m. this evening at the Carlton Rec Hall on Route 98 to discuss a waterfront development plans for the towns of Kendall, Carlton and Yates.

The three towns are working together, with assistance from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development, to update the waterfront plan. Additionally, the Village of Lyndonville has opted to participate in the program.

The pubic s welcome to attend the meeting and offer their input on what they feel is important for the future of the waterfront area, and to help the Project Planning Team identify important issues and opportunities in this area.

The meeting is expected to last until 8 p.m. The Rec Hall’s address is 1813 Oak Orchard Rd. Doors will open at 6 p.m. to allow the public time to review maps of existing conditions for the area.

A Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) is an extension of the New York State Coastal Management Program. Having a local program enables waterfront communities to evaluate land use and waterfront resources and develop a comprehensive strategy to effectively manage and protect these resources, said Jim Bensley, director of the county’s Department of Planning and Development.

By applying a local focus on land use management and the maintenance, improvement and enhancement of important resources and features in the waterfront area, an LWRP strengthens the state’s program and provides the participating communities with a roadmap to guide growth and recognize opportunities, Bensley said.

It also provides more local control over decisions made along its waterfront. The goal is to develop a local program that properly manages land use and future development along the waterfront and effectively protects important coastal resources, he said.

Fashion show, proclamations and other festivities on June 16

Photo by Tom Rivers: Alice Zacher, the Shelby town historian, is pictured with vintage dresses that will be modelled during a fashion show at 2 p.m. on June 16 at Oak Orchard Elementary School in Medina.

SHELBY – Town Historian Alice Zacher and the staff at the Shelby Town Hall have been busy preparing for a bicentennial celebration for the town.

The 200^th anniversary party will begin at 9 a.m. on June 16 at the Shelby Town Hall with proclamations from elected officials about the town’s milestone anniversary. There will be lemonade, cookies and popcorn at that event, with a slideshow about the town’s history.

There also will be a self-guided car tour that takes people to Millville, East Shelby, West Shelby and Shelby Center, Zacher told the Town Board on Tuesday evening.

The town will have a large banner, declaring Shelby’s 200^th birthday, displayed in Rotary Park in downtown Medina. The Bicentennial Committee also is having magnets made for the town’s 200 years that will be given away at the Town Hall and during bicentennial events.

The big event on the bicentennial will be a fashion show at 2 p.m. on June 16. Zacher has organized a show with fashions from the pioneer days – “the pioneer settlers weren’t too fashionable” – up to the more recent era. She is trying to highlight the changing tastes in clothes for almost every decade since the founding of the town.

Some of the dresses will be in the style of Frances Folsom, the First Lady from Medina who was married to President Grover Cleveland from 1886 to 1889, and for his second term from 1893 to 1897. Folsom was a celebrity who appeared on numerous magazine covers. She wore dresses that exposed her bare shoulders, which created a media sensation, Zacher said.

Former Town Supervisor Skip Draper will serve as emcee for the fashion show, with Georgia Thomas the narrator, giving details about the dresses and the era the style was popular. Amy Miller will play the piano for the event, which will include local residents modelling the clothes. (Zacher welcomes volunteer models – men and woman. They can call the Town Hall: 585-798-3120.)

The town has also applied to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for a historical marker for the cemetery in Shelby Center, near the Shelby Fire Hall. The Pomeroy Foundation paid for the marker for the Millville Cemetery in 2015.

Attendance for month by far lowest for school this year

ALBION – The school district saw a big drop in attendance during the month of February when the flu and a stomach bug made many students sick in the elementary, middle and high schools, District Superintendent Michael Bonnewell told the Board of Education on Monday.

The district had a 90.46 attendance rate in February, compared to a 92.97 percent rate in February 2017.

Many of the students who missed school this past February were students who rarely miss school. Many of them were out for several days as the flu and a stomach bug took a toll, Bonnewell said.

The district’s attendance rate was at 94.13 percent at the end of January. After February, the rate for the school year fell to 93.52 percent.

The monthly attendance rates this school year started with 96.21 percent in September; followed by 95.53 percent in October; 94.95 percent in November; 94.51 percent in December; and 94.13 percent in January.

File photo: Arthur Barnes is pictured next to a 10-foot-long mural he painted and installed in January 2014 at the corner of Presbyterian and Knowlesville roads on a former fire station. The mural highlights the nearby Widewaters section of the canal. Barnes has four Erie Canal-themed murals in Orleans County.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

The Orleans County Heritage Heroes Awards recognize the work and dedication of those who give their time and resources to preserve and protect the history of Orleans County for future generations.

A new group of Heritage Hero honorees will be recognized at a special ceremony on April 27 at 7 p.m. at Genesee Community College’s Albion Campus Center. The awards are co-sponsored by SUNY GCC and the Orleans Hub. The entire community is invited to come and help honor these important individuals.

“The Heritage Heroes Awards serve not only to honor deserving community members and thank them for their invaluable efforts, but to remind us all that the responsibility of preserving our heritage is incumbent upon the living generations,” says Derek Maxfield, associate professor of history at GCC and member of the Heritage Heroes executive committee. “It is an important undertaking that we all should share in.”

The 2018 Orleans County Heritage Heroes include:

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! 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.

Diane Palmer

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 recently coordinated two very successful historic tours – one of Cobblestone homes and the other a holiday tour of prominent local homes and churches. The December 2017 Holiday Tour included eight historical sites in Orleans County: the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, the Orleans Chapter DAR House and six residences entailing architecture ranging from Greek and Gothic Revival to Cobblestone.

Arthur Barnes

Noted local artist for over 30 years and constant advocate for the community, Arthur Barnes 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.

Roy Bubb

Teacher and historian, Roy Bubb 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.

Receiving the Bill Lattin Municipal Historian Award – Lysbeth “Betsy” Hoffman

Since 1980, Lysbeth “Betsy” Hoffman has served her community researching information, collecting names and dates, archiving and cataloging, and writing as the Town of Carlton Historian. Former Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin knew Hoffman as an invaluable resource, one who would always have the answer. For many years Hoffman was a regular columnist for the Medina Journal-Register 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.

Receiving the Bob Waters Lifetime Achievement Award – Marsha DeFillips

One of the longest servicing municipal historians in Orleans County, Marsha DeFillips has been the Holley-Murray Town historian for over 40 years. Very active in the Holley-Murray Historical Society, DeFillips 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 DeFillips 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, DeFillips spent many months combing through and extracting every name mentioned in Isaac Signor’s 1894 publication, developing a permanent record of history.

The award ceremony on April 27 will be at GCC’s Albion Campus Center located at 456 West Ave. The event is free to attend and open to the public, but seating is limited. A reception will follow the ceremony featuring light refreshments.

For more information on the awards or the ceremony, contact Jim Simon at jsimon@genesee.edu or Prof. Derek Maxfield at ddmaxfield@genesee.edu or by calling the Albion Campus Center at 585-589-4936.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office 

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Brown Street bridge in Albion, which has been closed for about six years, is pictured on March 30.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that seven finalists have been chosen for the $2.5 million Reimagine the Canals Competition, which seeks innovative ideas to transform the State’s Canal System.

The competition, managed by the Canal Corporation and the New York Power Authority, seeks new approaches for how to both use the canals as an engine for economic development and also to become a hub for tourism and recreation.

“This competition to bring new life into the historic Canal System is occurring in the same year as the System’s centennial, and it’s clear from the creativity in these entries that the future for the next century is very bright,” Governor Cuomo said. “With the contributions from these finalists, our canals will continue to serve a transformative role in helping the Upstate economy thrive.”

The seven finalists were drawn from a field of 145 entries from nine countries and nine states and were announced today in Syracuse during a celebration at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Each of the teams will receive up to $50,000 to further develop their entries for the next stage.

Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO, which operates the state Canal System as a subsidiary, said, “The response to this competition is amazing and it is clear the judges had some tough choices to make. Picking the final winners will be just as difficult, but we are confident we’ll have some great ideas for the Canal System that can be put into action.”

Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation Director said, “These entries embrace the passion and pride in the Canal System that is prevalent in the 225 communities it passes through. They honor the heritage of the canals while at the same time offering bold ideas that can make the canals a vital force in the upstate economy and give people more reasons to visit.”

Final submissions will be due in early July. The winners, who will receive between $250,000 and $1.5 million to plan and implement their projects, are slated to be announced in the early fall.

The programs and initiatives are intended to promote the Canal System and its trails as a tourist destination and recreational asset for New York residents and visitors; sustainable economic development along the Canal System; the Canal System’s heritage; and the long-term financial sustainability of the Canal Corporation. Additionally, the competition sought entries on two separate tracks, one for infrastructure; the other for programs that have the potential to increase recreation use and tourism.

The finalists are:

• Go the Distance: this initiative will look to develop overnight accommodations for recreational users of the canal system. The team includes the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor from Waterford, NY; Gray Slate Partners from Troy, NY; 2K Design from Clifton Park, NY and Dorgan Architecture & Planning from Storrs, Conn.

• Canal Winterlocks: seeks to develop winter-time uses for the Erie Canal, potentially including skating, hockey, winter festivals and cross-country skiing. The team includes Clare Lyster Urbanism and Architecture and John Ronan Architects, both from Chicago and Urban Engineers from Philadelphia.

• Great Erie Canal Race: a multi-day race for many types of watercraft, with a component for bikers and hikers. The team, led by Parks and Trails New York, includes Joe Gustainis from Caledonia, NY and Karthik Namasivayam from Pittsford, NY, as advisors.

• Intra-Works: installations of art and sculpture to forge a cultural identity that links up the Canal System. The team includes the architecture and planning firms Collective Studio from New York City and WRT and Interface, both from Philadelphia.

• Pocket Neighborhoods: a model for canal-side neighborhoods that have the Erie Canal as the core of their identity. The team includes the Madison County Planning Department and Stream Collaborative, an architecture firm in Ithaca.

• Western New York Irrigation: this plan will build off the canal’s water infrastructure to expand its irrigation capabilities. The team includes SUNY ESF Professor Stephen Shaw, C&S Companies of Syracuse and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

• Upstate Archipelago: this team is developing designs for resilient water landscapes that also provide public recreation space and wildlife habitat. The team includes Cornell Design, Ithaca; Cornell Cooperative Extension and H+N+S, a landscape architecture firm based in the Netherlands.

The New York State Canal System, formerly known as the Barge Canal, opened on May 15, 1918. To mark the occasion, the Canal Corporation will waive tolls for the 2018 navigation season, which begins May 15 on the eastern Erie Canal and May 18 on the rest of the 524-mile system. The original Erie Canal was completed in 1825.

For more information about the competition, go to www.canals.ny.gov/reimaginethecanals.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Melissa Barnosky, center, was recognized at Monday’s Albion Board of Education for winning the state title in the American Legion’s oratorical contest. She is pictured with her mother Amy Barnosky, left, and Margy Brown, president of the Albion BOE.

ALBION – Melissa Barnosky will be in Indianapolis this weekend to compete in a national oratorical contest through the American Legion. Melissa, a senior at Albion, became the first Albion student to win the state title on March 3 in Albany.

She has also won the school, county, district and zone competitions. She earned a $6,000 scholarship when she won the state competition. Last year she was third in the state.

Barnosky has an 8-10 minute prepared speech on the U.S. Constitution and citizen duties and obligations to the government. If a contestant goes over or under the time frame, there are penalty points.

Barnosky also has four prepared speeches that are 3 to 5 minutes long on other assigned topics.

Barnosky plans to attend The College at Brockport this fall to major in journalism and broadcasting. She said she enjoys public speaking, researching history and preparing her speeches.

The national competition on April 14-15 includes the champions from the 50 states, plus additional territories and overseas departments of The American Legion.

The top prizes include scholarships of $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000 in the final round of the 81st  annual American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program.

The quarterfinals on Saturday from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. will narrow field from 53 to 9. The semifinals from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday will narrow field from 9 to 3.

The finals will be Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and will be webcast at www.legion.org.

The Board of Education also recognized two other high school students Monday.

• Victor Benjovsky was presented with a Leadership Award. He is the student council president and shared a reflection on the PA system at school on March 14, the one-month anniversary of a school shooting in Florida. Benjovsky invited students to observe a moment of silence in the hallways that day.

• Harrison Brown received the Character Award for his compassion to his classmates, including students with disabilities.

Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

ALBION – Since a mass shooting at a Florida school on Feb. 14, Albion police have an increased presence at the Albion school district, with multiple officers visiting the three school buildings.

Officers are building relationships with students, teachers and staff, said Roland Nenni, the Albion police chief.

He addressed the Board of Education on Monday. The Police Department and school administrators have a long history of communication and working together, Nenni said. Many other school districts and police departments around the country don’t have open lines of communication, he said.

“We have a great relationship here and it will continue to grow,” he told the BOE. “We talk and we communicate.”

Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent, reiterated Nenni’s comments that the district and Police Department work closely together.

“I’m thankful for the great working relationship with the chief,” Bonnewell said.

The five school superintendents in Orleans County have been meeting about once every two months with local law enforcement leaders for about three years. The group recently met with an official from the FBI to discuss mistakes made in the Feb. 14 shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. A gunman killed 17 people.

Nenni said law enforcement and school leaders learn from those incidents, and discuss how to better prevent a shooting and how to best respond if it ever happened locally.

Nenni is the commander of the SWAT team in Orleans County. That specialized group has been training for 12 years.

“We’re really ahead of the curve in our county,” Nenni said. “We do a lot behind the scenes and with critical scene management.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Elementary students heading to school this morning in Albion encountered another blast of snow. This photo shows a student heading for the school bus on East Park Street in Albion at about 8:50 a.m.

The National Weather Service says there will be a few light lake effect snow showers that will drift onshore from Lake Ontario this morning. Some localized areas will pick up a quick dusting of fresh snow while limiting visibilities between a half mile and a mile. Be prepared for these changeable conditions if out traveling this morning, the Weather Service said.

Today is forecast to reach a high of 41 in Orleans County with a chance of rain showers after 1 p.m. The highs the next few days include 48 on Wednesday, 59 on Thursday, 57 on Friday and 58 on Saturday.

Snowdrop flowers are covered in snow this morning in Albion.

Shawn Liddle

ALBION – The Board of Education approved a 35,225,625 budget for 2018-19 on Monday evening, a spending plan that reduces taxes by 0.3 percent.

The budget will go before voters on May 15 from noon to 8 p.m. at the elementary school conference room A.

The budget reduces the tax levy by 25,845, from $8,474,939 to $8,449,094. The projected tax rate would decrease from $15.52 to $15.47 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The budget represents the 10^th time in the past 12 years the district has either held the line in taxes or reduced them.

“The district has always been fiscally responsible,” said Margy Brown, president of the Board of Education.

The budget increases spending by 1.2 percent from $34,796,676 to $35,225,625. The district was able to cut taxes despite increases in salaries, benefits and an additional $100,000 for occupational and vocational programs through the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

Albion is getting a boost in state aid. The district also paid off a bond last year and that reduced the district’s bond payment by $346,950. That drop in a bond payment saved the district 1 percent of its budget.

Albion’s enrollment continues to shrink, from the current 1,815 to a projected 1,776 in 2018-19. The district is planning to eliminate one teaching position in the elementary school, and half a secretary in administration.

Several staff are also retiring and they will be replaced with new hires at smaller salaries.

“It’s no small feat to continue the programs we do with our salary and benefits increases,” said Shawn Liddle, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.

The district will have a public hearing on the budget on May 8 at the LGI in the high school.

The vote on May 15 includes other propositions:

• Authorization to spend $490,000 from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund to buy buses for the 2019-2020 school year. State aid covers about 90 percent of the costs for new buses, Liddle said.

• Authorization to create a Capital Reserve Fund with up to $7,195,000 with the funds going to school repairs and improvements.

“The proposition is permission to save, not permission to spend,” Liddle said.

The district could face another capital project in about five years, and setting aside funds in the next few years will allow Albion to have local funds saved for a future project.

• Authorization to collect $714,920 for Hoag Library, which is up 4.0 percent from the $687,211 in 2017-18.

• There are also two seats open on the nine-member Board of Education, with the positions currently filled by Margy Brown and Linda Weller up for election. The seats are for five-year terms. Petitions nominating candidates are due with the clerk of the district by 5 p.m. on April 16. Petitions must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters in the school district.

2 opera houses in Orleans have both been spared the wrecking ball

Walter Jakubowski took this photo about five years ago of the interior of the Pratt Opera House on the third floor of a building in downtown Albion.

ALBANY – The Preservation League of New York State has announced its annual list of “Seven to Save” and this year’s group includes historic opera houses around the state.

Orleans County is home to opera houses and both sites have been spared the wrecking ball. But other communities aren’t so fortunate.

In Albion, Michael Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler worked to save the Pratt Opera House at 118 North Main St. They have put on a new roof and made a series of other interior and exterior improvements to the building, which has several tenants on the first and second floors.

In Medina, the Orleans Renaissance Group acquired the Bent’s Opera House in 2008 from the Bank of America for free. The ORG has since sold the site to Talis Equity, with is led by CEO and founder Roger Hungerford.

Bent’s Opera House, which was built in 1864, will be brought back to its original luster with the third floor restored faithfully into one of the most unique wedding and event venues in New York State, Hungerford has said. The first and second floors will experience a dramatic redesign into a restaurant and modern boutique hotel space.

The Preservation League included historic opera houses to the Seven to Save and said this about the buildings:

“Opera houses are a ubiquitous building type across upstate New York, found in rural towns and villages, regional commercial centers and major cities,” according to the Preservation League. “The opera house was not only a venue for cultural activities, but also the heart of the community and a place to relax, socialize, and be entertained and enlightened. The buildings are characterized by lower floor public space with an upstairs auditorium and often anchor main streets.

File photo: Talis Equity, which is led by Roger Hungerford, is working on a restoration project at the former Bent’s Opera House in Medina. This photo from 2014 shows work to stabilize the front corner of the building when it was owned by the Orleans Renaissance Group.

“But times changed, and upstate opera houses went dark. While many were lost to demolition or insensitive alterations, the survivors require creative solutions to meet building code requirements and once again welcome the public. The Preservation League will work to promote best practices for reopening these charming performance spaces by publicizing successful efforts, and provide technical assistance for advocates who wish to follow suit.”

The Preservation League of NYS’s 2018-19 “Seven to Save” Endangered Properties List draws attention to the loss of historic fabric in National Register-listed Historic Districts; development pressures; and reuse challenges. These seven valued historic resources are in danger of disappearing because of vacancy, disinvestment, and lack of public awareness.

“Since 1999, Seven to Save has mobilized community leaders and decision-makers to take action when historic resources are threatened,” said Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League. “A Seven to Save designation from the League delivers invaluable technical assistance, fosters increased media coverage and public awareness, and opens the door to grant assistance for endangered properties.”

Other “Seven to Save” designees include:

• South End-Groesbeckville National Register Historic District – Albany, Albany County

In the mid-nineteenth century, this neighborhood was densely populated with German and Irish immigrants who worked in Albany’s nearby port and socialized and worshiped within walking distance of their homes. By the mid-twentieth century, many of these families had left the neighborhood, leaving behind widespread abandonment and soaring vacancy rates. In 2015, New York State adopted the International Fire Code which identifies vacant structures with potentially hazardous conditions with a large red “X” placard. This neighborhood exemplifies the challenges that municipalities face in addressing issues of vacancy and deterioration in historic districts while protecting the safety of first responders. The League will work with stakeholders to discuss strategies for stimulating investment in the South End.

• Watervliet Shaker National Register Historic District – Colonie, Albany County

Just north of Albany is the location of the first Shaker settlement in the United States, founded by Ann Lee in the late 18th century. The Shakers were highly regarded for their architecture, inventions, and domestic arts. The district includes three clusters or “families” of buildings: the Church Family, the South Family, and the West Family in a mix of classic Shaker-style architecture. Bordered by the Albany International Airport and two major highways, the site is threatened by encroaching development which could lead to loss of context or outright demolition. The League will work with advocates and local municipalities to highlight the significance of this site.

• Haglund Building/Jamestown Arcade – Jamestown, Chautauqua County

Jamestown, the largest city in Chautauqua County, boasts a National Register-listed downtown commercial historic district and many historic neighborhoods. The Richardsonian Romanesque Jamestown Arcade once housed retail, theaters, clubs, and studios and retains many intact interior features, including molding, metalwork, tin ceilings, decorative woodwork, and fixtures. Over the years, a series of owners made plans to stabilize and save the Arcade Building, but none have succeeded. The Preservation League will work with city officials, preservationists, developers, local advocates and the arts community to create a plan for stabilization and rehabilitation which takes advantage of Federal and NYS Historic Tax Credits.

• Wells Barns – Various Municipalities, Monroe/Livingston Counties

John Talcott Wells, Sr. developed an ingenious truss system that addressed the shortcomings of typical post-and-beam barn construction by strengthening interior framing while simultaneously creating open space in the upper sections of the structure. In 1889 he received a patent for his “Wells Truss System for Buildings or Bridges.” Only found in a small section of Western New York, Wells Barns are difficult to identify from the exterior, but they usually feature gambrel roofs and a double window with a decorative lintel underneath the gable, and are sometimes called “Country Cathedrals.” The League will work with the Wells Barn Legacy Project to preserve the heritage of this unique barn type in the face of a shifting agricultural landscape.

• Enlarged Erie Canal Schoharie Aqueduct – Fort Hunter, Montgomery County

A National Historic Landmark and part of the New York State Barge Canal Historic District, the Schoharie Aqueduct carried the Erie Canal over the Schoharie Creek. Construction of the aqueduct began in 1839 and it was placed into service in 1845, with additional alterations in 1855 and 1873. As the canal was rerouted, the Schoharie Aqueduct was no longer needed and fell into disrepair. Despite a stabilization and restoration plan completed by New York State, large portions of the aqueduct have collapsed and the remainder has not been stabilized. The League will work with Friends of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site to advocate for its preservation and maintenance as New York launches the adjacent Empire State Trail.

• Lehigh Valley Railroad Roundhouse and Related Structures – Manchester, Ontario County

This railroad roundhouse once served the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which primarily hauled coal from Pennsylvania west through the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes to Buffalo, and east through New Jersey to New York City. At the Manchester Roundhouse, workers fixed trains, refueled, exchanged freight and switched cars. In its heyday, it was one of the largest freight transfer centers in New York State. Now vacant for more than 30 years, the site’s brownfield status presents additional challenges to plans for rehabilitation. The League will help the town of Manchester and Ontario County follow environmental protocols, historic preservation and sensitive rehabilitation measures as they boost awareness of transportation history in Western New York.

Additional information about each of the designees is are available on the Leagues’ website at www.preservenys.org.

File photo: The sun shines through a row of trees near Route 31 at Mount Albion Cemetery in this photo from Nov. 5, 2016

ALBION – The Village of Albion is taking steps to become a Tree City USA Community. The village will be planting trees later this month and will hold an Arbor Day celebration on April 27 at Mount Albion Cemetery.

That 1 p.m. event will include speeches from County Historian Matt Ballard, and three students from Albion Central School. The students will help plant some of the new trees in the cemetery.

The village has received a $950 grant from the NYS Urban Forestry Council. The matching funds will help the village get started on becoming an official Tree City.

The village also is establishing a Tree Advisory Board to help plan tree plantings in the future.

File Photo: Nate McMurray speaks March 6 during a candidate forum in Albion.

Nate McMurray is now the lone Democratic Party candidate in a race against Chris Collins, the Republican incumbent in the 27^th Congressional District, an eight-county district that includes Orleans.

The Democratic Party field once had at least five candidates but now is down to one after Nick Stankevich suspended his campaign this morning. Stankevich works as vice president of marketing and operations at Genesee Country Inn Bed and Breakfast in Avon. He also works as an advisor for businesses.

Other candidates who have dropped out include: Joan Seamans, the owner of a photography studio in Williamsville; Sean Bunny, a former Erie County Assistant District Attorney who also is an Army veteran who served in Iraq; and Thomas P. Casey of Erie County, an environmental engineer.

Stankevich suspended his campaign today ahead of a petition filing deadline. McMurray issued a statement, acknowledging Stankevich’s campaign.

“Nick fought hard,” McMurray said. “He seemed to believe in many of the ideas that I believe in, that America should be more fair, and that everyone should have a shot at a better life for themselves and their loved ones. He also believed in rebuilding America’s infrastructure. I have respect for any person who stands up for these goals. And I know it’s a demanding and emotional test. Thank you Nick.”

Photos courtesy of Dean Bellack: Tom Rivers, the Orleans Hub editor, last week was the keynote speaker at the Medina Lions Club. He discussed his experiences working at local farms in 2008, news articles that are the basis of the book, Farm Hands: Hard Work and Hard Lessons from Western New York Fields.

MEDINA – Tom Rivers, the Orleans Hub editor, was the featured speaker last week at the Medina Lions Club’s meeting at the Junior Wilson Sportsmen’s Club. He discussed his experiences back in 2008 when he worked at about a dozen local farms as part of a series on farm labor for The Daily News in Batavia.

Rivers worked at The Daily News for 16 years before leaving in March 2013 to help start the Orleans Hub. He covered agriculture, Orleans County and other local issues for The Daily News.

Farmers have long struggled to have a stable workforce. The issue became more dire with immigration raids not long after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Many farmers have had workers removed by immigration authorities, often during the peak of harvest season.

Rivers wanted to find out why so few local people would do the field work and other farm jobs. He planted onions, milked cows, and harvested cucumbers, cabbage, pumpkins, apples and other crops to give a glimpse into what the work is like. He found it to physically exhausting, with pressure on the farmers and their workers to pick produce that is near perfection in order to be sold at Wegmans and other grocery stores.

Farmers have been pushing for about two decades for action at the federal level so more farm workers can be in the country legally.

The workers are vital to agriculture, rural New York’s leading industry, Rivers said. Orleans County and other rural counties also are facing steep population declines. If the federal government overhauled its immigration policies, allowing more long-term farmworkers to stay in the country legally, those workers could help reverse the population decline.

The workers also are skilled and have ambition. They might buy and rehab many of the vacant houses in the county, and could open businesses, Rivers told the Lions Club.

Rivers won several state and national awards for the series on farmworkers. The articles in The Daily News were compiled and expanded into a book, Farm Hands: Hard work and hard lessons from Western New York fields.

To see a review of the book, click here.