Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development

CARLTON – As part of the ongoing effort to effectively plan for the waterfront, the Towns of Kendall, Carlton and Yates are undertaking the amendment of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. Additionally, the Village of Lyndonville has opted to participate in the program.

To introduce this project to the public, residents of the forenamed municipalities along with other interested parties are invited to attend a public information meeting. Those in attendance at this meeting are encouraged to 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 Public Information Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Carlton Fire Recreation Hall, 1813 Oak Orchard Road. Doors will open a half hour early to allow the public time to review maps of existing conditions for the area. Comments will be accepted electronically for those who cannot attend by clicking here.

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.

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. 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.

The Orleans County Department of Planning and Development was awarded a grant from New York State for the amendment of the LWRP. The County entered into a contract for the provision of professional services with Wendel and WWS Planning in April 2017 to assist with this project. Wendel and WWS Planning have been working with a community-based steering group – the Waterfront Advisory Committee – to collect and review information on existing waterfront conditions, including land use and community character, economic development, public access and recreation, flooding and erosion, historic preservation, scenic resources, environmental resources and water quality. To complement this information, the Waterfront Advisory Committee is asking local citizens to assist in identifying important issues, opportunities, desires and concerns to help establish a clear vision for the waterfront.

The information gathered at the Public Information Meeting will be useful for revising the State’s coastal management policies to better reflect issues and opportunities of local importance. This information will also help to determine where projects could be undertaken for improving the use and enjoyment of the waterfront.

As the LWRP project progresses, progress reports and draft materials will be made available to the public for review and additional input. Ultimately, the governing Board of each participating community must take action to adopt the amended LWRP; therefore, public involvement is critical to ensure that this project can result in a waterfront program that protects and improves the waterfront.

For additional information on these meetings or the LWRP project, contact Wendy Salvati, WWS Planning, (716) 870-2724 or the Director of Orleans County Department of Planning and Development, Jim Bensley, (585) 589-3189.

This rendering shows how the former Holley High School would look after $17 million in renovations.

HOLLEY – The state is coming through with a $1 million “Restore New York” grant to go towards the renovation of the old Holley High School in Holley, a building that has been vacant for more than two decades.

Home Leasing LLC, a Rochester company, has proposed a $17 million renovation of the former school, to create residential apartments and offices that would be used for the village government. Home Leasing is working along with Edgemere Development, Glasow Simmons Architecture L.L.P. and Marathon Engineering – all Rochester-based firms – on the project.

“We’re definitely optimistic,” said Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty. “It’s tremendously good solid news for this project.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the $1 million for the effort today, one of 71 projects approved for $81 million in funding.

“Downtown communities are vital to keeping our economies thriving and to attracting businesses and families to put down their roots in New York,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Restore New York Communities Initiative recognizes communities teeming with potential and invests in their transformation and their future, and turns them into neighborhoods New Yorkers are proud to call home.”

Home Leasing proposed prject in Holley would transform the old school into the “Holley Gardens.” That would be a mixed residential/commercial facility to provide seniors with new, safe housing featuring senior focused amenities and updated, accessible office/meeting space for the community, according to the announcement from the governor.

“Traveling across the State, I see the many buildings in communities that have great possibilities to be restored with the charm they once had,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “With this Restore New York funding, we’re committed to ensuring that our localities have the resources they need to pursue new development projects and transform abandoned properties. The Restore New York initiative continues to work with local leaders and stakeholders to unleash the full potential of economic development opportunities across the State.”

The Holley project is part of $11.2 million awarded to ten Finger Lakes municipalities through Round 5 of the Restore New York Communities Initiative. Round 5 of the Restore New York Communities Initiative was enacted in the FY 2017 State Budget, and Empire State Development was designated to implement the program.

“Public investment in our small towns is inspiring and necessary to turn dilapidated and neglected areas into robust centers of community and commerce,” State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said. “I am pleased to hear that the old Holley High School will become a welcoming living community for our seniors, and I look forward to watching this project transform and progress as we move forward.”

Cities, towns and villages were all eligible to apply for support for projects that include demolition, deconstruction, rehabilitation or reconstruction of vacant, abandoned, condemned and surplus properties. Projects located in economically distressed communities were emphasized and encouraged.

The other Finger Lakes projects include:

• City of Rochester – $5,000,000 – The rehabilitation of eight vacant privately-owned properties, located in Center City on State Street and East Main Street. The plan includes interior and exterior building restoration and, when completed, approximately 145 new housing units will be created and approximately 64,572 square feet of commercial space will be renovated.

• City of Canandaigua – $1,000,000 – Rehabilitation of the abandoned former Labelon manufacturing facility at 10 Chapin Street into a mixed-use development with 52 residential units.

• Town of Irondequoit – $1,000,000 – The redevelopment of a former mall, the largest vacant property in Monroe County with nearly one million square feet of former retail space, into SkyView on the Ridge, a mixed-use multi-tenant space that will include office space, a community center, fitness facility and shared common area for tenants and customers.

• Village of Warsaw – $1,000,000 – The demolition of a former nursing home on North Main Street. Once the building is demolished, it will be combined with a neighboring parcel to create a two-story hotel.

• Village of Geneseo – $700,000 – The conversion of the former Livingston County Home into a multi-tenant commercial building.

• Village of Penn Yan – $500,000 – The rehabilitation of two buildings: the first will renovate the vacant top two floors of a multi-use building into market rate housing. The second building will be renovated into a mixed-use facility.

• Village of Webster – $500,000 – The rehabilitation of 22-42 East Main Street to create commercial and residential properties along a contiguous stretch of six storefronts.

• Village of Avon – $400,000 – Renovation of the Park Theater into mixed-use facility, including a community theater.

• Village of Newark – $100,000 – The rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the former St. Michael’s Parish Elementary School into 28 affordable apartments for seniors age 62 and over.

A complete list of projects throughout the state can be found by clicking here.

CARLTON – A business that has been owned by the Ricci family for 40 years is in the process of being sold.

Dan and Sarah Ricci are selling Ricci Meadows to Andy Young, who used to run a roofing company in Albion. Young retired from the roof work in 2015. He has been eager to get involved in another business.

Dan and Sarah Ricci said they appreciate the many friends they have made through the years with the business. They are pictured today on the 18-hole golf course on Route 98.

He was considering farming. In fact, he was eyeing the golf course on Route 98 for farmland. But he said the Riccis worked very hard on the property since they became the owners in 1978.

“I see decades of hard work out there,” Young said the golf course today.

He was joined today in the clubhouse by Dan and Sarah Ricci. Dan’s father Peter bought the business in 1978 as a 9-hole course. Dan became the owner in 1992.

The Riccis expanded the course to 18 holes in 1986 and added a clubhouse, maintenance shop and numerous other improvements over the years.

They serve dinners and alcohol in the clubhouse, as well as selling Quick Draw lottery tickets.

Young will change the name of the golf course to Carlton Meadows.

“It has a nice ring to it,” Mr. Ricci said.

“And it lets people know where it is,” Young said.

Mrs. Ricci intends to stay on this year helping to run the clubhouse. Mr. Ricci also will be available to help Young with the transition.

Young has already purchased new mowers and tractors, and will have 20 new golf carts available for the upcoming season.

Mr. Ricci said he is pleased the site will remain a golf course. It opened as a 9-hole course in 1953.

Photos courtesy of Dan Ricci: Dan Ricci, center, is pictured with his father Peter and Dan’s son Pete in this photo from 1978, the first year the family owned the golf course.

“It’s a fun business,” Mr. Ricci said. “I hope Andy has as much fun as we did.”

Before joining his father at the golf course, Mr. Ricci sold tires and worked on cars at Ricci Tire. He did that for 10 years. Many of the customers in that business were grumpy because there were problems with their car. Some had been in accidents.

But at the golf course, people are in a good mood. Occasionally, he would find discarded golf clubs on the course when people reacted to a bad shot. But a bad shot is often followed up with a good shot, and those shots can improve a mood.

“People come here for a fun time,” he said.

Young has his first day today as operator of the site. He also had his first golfers of the year today with temperatures in the mid-40s and the sun shining.

The site has customers throughout the year. Snowmobilers stop by during the winter, and the clubhouse also is used for dinners, receptions and parties.

Mrs. Ricci planned much of the landscaping and gardening on the property over the years, picking different types of trees and also putting in many planted beds.

She said she met so many friendly people through the years at Ricci Meadows.

“This has been our life,” Dan said.

“We’ve made so many friends,” Sarah said.

This photo from 2016 also shows three generations of Riccis in the clubhouse: Charlie, Dan’s grandson; Pete, Dan’s son, and Dan.

Photos by Tom Rivers: PACT Founder and Pastor Tim Lindsay was among the panelists last Thursday during a leadership forum at Albion High School.  Clarendon Code Enforcement Officer Melissa Ierlan, left, and Michael Bonnewell, Albion school superintendent, also served on the panel, as well as two others. They addressed about 60 students from Albion and Holley.

ALBION – About 60 student leaders from Albion and Holley high schools heard from five community members last week on how they can make a positive impact on Orleans County and the country.

The students don’t need to wait until they are settled in careers to start making a mark on the community.

“The world is yours,” said Michael Bonnewell, the Albion school superintendent. “It is yours now, and it is yours to shape.”

Bonnewell was among the panel speakers during the Rotary Interact Leadership Seminar with a focus on “Service Above Self.” Bonnewell is the current president of the Albion Rotary Club.

Other speakers at the forum included Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower, Melissa Ierlan (Clarendon code enforcement officer, historian and Holley Board of Education member), Charlie Nesbitt (former State Assemblyman who remains active in several community projects), and the Rev. Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship and one of the leaders of PACT – Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation.

Lindsay has been a pastor in Albion since 1987. He urged students to be character driven in their lives, especially ages 16 to 26. Lindsay said the decisions made during this decade will affect the students’ trajectory in life.

“Live for something bigger than yourself,” Lindsay said. “You can leave a great legacy behind when you live for others and for something bigger than yourself.”

Sheriff Randy Bower urged students to have a strong moral compass.

Bower, the local sheriff, shared how he was paralyzed at age 18, four months after he graduated from Holley.  Bower was working a full-time job at the time as a line technician for a cable company.

On Oct. 10, 1983, he was driving home from a friend’s house at about midnight. He fell asleep at the wheel. Clarendon firefighters saved his life that night, Bower said.

He credited a neighbor named Jason for coming over to help him in those months after the accident. Bower would find a career as a public safety dispatcher. He married and has a family.

Bower urged the students to have a “strong moral compass” to guide their decisions and actions in life, and to help them overcome the challenges that await.

He shared other advice: look people in the eye and make eye contact.

Many teens and young adults today seem overly distracted by their phones, too quick to check them instead of engaging in conversation. Bower said.

“Eye contact and a firm handshake, you don’t see that as much,” Bower said.

Charlie Nesbitt urged all of the students to give back to their community, throughout their lives. “It’s within any individual to make a difference,” Nesbitt said.

Charlie Nesbitt, a retired state assemblyman, was a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On Nov. 14, 1968 he was tasked with extracting a Special Forces unit out of Laos. Under enemy fire after one chopper crashed in the jungle, Nesbitt picked up the crew of the downed aircraft and left. Then the crew discovered that one man, John Grimaldi, had been left behind. Though low on fuel, Nesbitt turned his helicopter around and successfully rescued Grimaldi under intense enemy fire. Nesbitt was 20 at the time.

When he returned home after the war, he joined the family’s car dealership. He would be elected state assemblyman in 1992 and served until 2005. He then served decade as president and commissioner of the state Tax Appeals Tribunal. He also has been active in the Albion Alumni Foundation, and in local service groups, the Rotary Club and Masonic Lodge.

Nesbitt said leaders can identify a problem and develop a strategy to solve it. It often takes tenacity to get job done.

“With leadership the key element is vision,” he told the students. “You have to understand the situation and imagine the outcome.

Students and the panelists discussed leadership and challenges in the community during a 90-minute program last Thursday.

Tim Archer, an Albion teacher and Interact advisor, referred an article from Time magazine that said today’s generation of teen-agers are “lazy, entitled narcissists” who are obsessed with their social media “likes.” The article calls them the “Me, Me, Me Generation,” Archer said.

Samantha Zelent, a school social worker at Holley and the Interact advisor, believes there are stereotypes depicting today’s young people as self-absorbed, but she doesn’t see it that way.

“These kids will change this world when they are asked and motivated,” Zelent said.

Melissa Ierlan said there are many ways students can help improve their communities.

Melissa Ierlan is the code enforcement officer for Clarendon. She also is town historian and a member of the Holley Board of Education. Ierlan urged the students to get a job and work hard, and not ask for handouts.

“Parents are part of the problem,” she said. “Do you pay for your own car, your car insurance or for phone? When your parents keep giving you something, I think that’s part of the problem.”

The panelists were asked how students can volunteer and help the community.

Ierlan said there are numerous ways to give back to the community. She urged them to call their village and town clerks for ideas, as well as through the historical societies.

She praised community members for stepping up recently with projects at Hillside Cemetery in Holley/Clarendon. Scouts have done Eagle projects at the cemetery. Community members have raised money to save the historic chapel.

“We have tons and tons of people who model it everyday,” Ierlan said about “Service Above Self.”

Bower said the local youth sports leagues need coaches. Student athletes, including recent graduates, would be welcomed to work with younger kids on the teams, Bower said.

There are also numerous service clubs, churches and fire departments that need new members.

The group was asked how many plan to leave Albion or Holley after they graduate, and most kids raised their hands.

Nesbitt said the perception of little opportunity in the county remains a big barrier to overcome. Bringing job opportunities to the county was a top priority during his 13 years in the Assembly. (There is a road named for him in the Holley Business Park, which welcomed several projects during his tenure.)

Lindsay sees poverty and drug addictions as the two biggest challenges for the community. PACT, which includes several local pastors, has been engaged in those issues.

Tim Archer takes a photo of the panelists with some of the students after the forum last Thursday.

“Do you want to be part of the solution?” Lindsay said. “Identifying the problem is easy.”

Ierlan sees advantages with smaller school districts, where students know and have access to their teachers. Holley, like many local districts, has a shrinking enrollment. The school only has 57 students in next year’s graduating class, when it recently had 90 to 99.

Nesbitt said he had 214 in his graduating class about a half century ago. Today’s Albion class in just over half that size.

“Things have not stayed the same and they won’t,” he said.

Archer, a character education for Albion seventh-graders, urges his students to not just talk about a problem.

“You have to do something about it,” he said. “Talk doesn’t cook rice.”

Provided photos: Medina’s Varsity Winterguard performs on Saturday at Corning-Painted Post.

PAINTED POST – The Corning-Painted Post school district hosted its first winterguard show on Saturday with 15 guard units performing in competition.

In the Novice class Medina took 1st place, the Cadet guard also won 1st place, and Medina’s Varsity guard won the Scholastic A class with a score of 76.49.

Medina’s Novice class performs and won first place.

In the Regional A class, Gates won 1st place with a score of 76.32; in A1 class, Corning-Painted Post came in first with 74.15; in Senior class Lakeside won with a score of 71.22; Orchard Park won the Scholastic Open Class with a score of 79; and in Independent A class, Gates was the winner at 80.08.

The next time Medina’s guards will perform is at the Winterguard Championships on Saturday, April 7. The Championships will be held at the Gates-Chili High School located at 3 Spartan Way, Rochester.

The gates open at 11 a.m. and the show starts at noon. Admission is $15 for adults and children under 5 are free. Medina’s Novice guard performs at 12:21; the Cadet guard at 12:30 and the Varsity guard at 4:10 p.m. A total of 35 guards will perform and the retreat is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Cadet guard from Medina also finished in first on Saturday.

Provided photo

CLARENDON – The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company held its annual banquet on Saturday evening and presented its awards.

Pictured, from left, include: Dan Campbell – Director, past chief, safety officer, and banquet MC.

Joe Morlino – Firefighter of the year, lieutenant, and vice president. Morlino was a past chief at Fancher-Hulberton-Murray before joining Clarendon. He is very dedicated and also helps with fundraising for the fire company.

Bob Margis – Recipient of the Chief’s Award. He is a director, past chief, and safety officer. Margis was diagnosed with thyroid cancer this year but never slowed down with the fire company, responding to many calls.

Chief Jon DeYoung – He is holding a picture of Bob Margis at a structure fire from Nov. 28.

The photo includes lots of smoke and an American flag in the foreground. (The photo of Margis was originally published on the Orleans Hub.)

New Hurst tools allow firefighters to make extrication in 7 minutes

Provided photos

ALBION – Albion firefighter Jim Peruzzini uses a Hurst tool to cut a door in a car that was T-boned at the intersection of Route 31 and Butts Road today just after 2 p.m.

The driver of the car was taken by COVA ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester to be treated for injuries. The driver of the other vehicle also was injured and taken by Strong West in Brockport.

Peruzzini and Steven Papponetti, both lieutenants with the Albion Fire Department, used extrication tools that were put in service about a year ago. Harry Papponetti, the fire chief, said the tools allowed firefighters to have the driver extricated in seven minutes, which was about a third as fast as it used to take.

“It has greatly reduced the times with an extrication,” Papponetti said.

The driver who was extricated was coming from Butts Road and entered Route 31 and was hit in the driver’s rear door. Papponetti said side air bags helped prevent more serious injuries to the driver.

“She was very lucky,” the fire chief said.

The driver who was extricated sent a message to Orleans Hub saying she stopped at the sign, and then pulled out into the intersection, but the other driver came on her very fast.

(Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 7:22 a.m. on March 26.)

Don and Bernadine Ross lead the way with 75 years

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Don Ross (center), a member of the Medina Masonic Lodge, was honored on Saturday for 75 years to the Masons. Ross and several other long-time members of the Albion and Medina lodges were recognized during an awards program at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

Ross received a framed certificate and pin during the presentation. Tim McGee of Albion, the current junior warden and a past district deputy grand master, gives Ross the pin. James Sullivan, left, of Lockport is a past grand master for the Masons in New York State.

Ross, a Barre resident, ran a plumbing business for 40 years in Albion. He joined the Masons when he was 22. He was a pin boy as a kid, setting up bowling pins on two lanes owned by the Masonic Lodge. The members were always good to him, and welcomed him to join the lodge as a young adult.

Ross was praised for serving the many in many roles over the past 75 years.

“Don has been dedicated, loyal and hard-working, doing almost all of the jobs in the lodge,” said Jonathan Incho, lodge master in Medina.

Ross’s wife, Bernadine, also was recognized for 75 years of service to the Order of the Eastern Star. She receives a certificate from Brenda Busch, the worthy matron of the Canalside Order of the Eastern Star, and from Steven Pawlak, the worthy patron of the organization.

Mrs. Ross worked with her husband in the plumbing business, running the office. She also has been active in the Order of the Eastern Star.

“She has worked very hard, doing whatever has been asked of her,” Incho said.

Several other long-time members were recognized for their service to the Masons. This certificate and pin goes to Roy Salmon, who has 65 years of service to Masons.

The Albion Renovation Lodge 97 presented the following awards in honor of service on Saturday:

• 55 years to Rex Horton

• 50 years to both Dennis Smith and David M. Bertsch

• 45 years to Allen B. Lackey

• 30 years to Warren Seager

• 20 years to Keith Bane III and Neal Martin

• 15 years to Scott Kranzmann, Charlie Nesbitt, Stephen E. Coville II and Juan Morales

• 5 years to Alex Allport

Rex Horton accepts an award for his 55 years of service as a Mason in Albion. James Sullivan, the past grand master for the Masons in New York State, presents the award.

Dennis Smith was honored for his 50 years as a Mason. He was presented a white apron noting the 50 years of service.

The event, in its fourth year, honors the memory of Wayne Burlison

Photos by Marsha Rivers

ALBION – Lisa Burlison welcomes the runners and walkers to fourth annual Run for Wayne, which honors the memory of her husband Wayne Burlison. This year the event became the Wayne A. Burlison-Colon Cancer Awareness 5K Run and Walk.

Burlison, an Albion elementary music teacher, was 36 when he died from colon cancer on March 26,2014. He was active in several musical groups in the community and also helped start the Albion Running Club. He lost more than 150 pounds through better nutrition and exercise.

The race started on Clarendon Road near the elementary school. The course headed to Mount Albion Cemetery and then back to the school.

There were 110 runners and walkers in today’s event.

Lisa Burlison and her son Adam greeted the runners, and released the balloons the start the race. Brian Krieger, left, and Mark Moore, right, of the Running Club helped organize the event. Randy LeBaron, pastor of the Albion Free Methodist Church, also shared a short message and prayer for the runners and walkers.

“As you run today, I encourage you to think about those seemingly small things in your life that are precious to you,” Mrs. Burlison told the group. “Notice the people around you, and extend a smile. Notice the scenery, and be thankful for what is there. While the things of this world may be temporary – they are gifts and blessings. It is my hope that you see them today and in the days to come.”

The race gets started as the balloons are released. Reuben Rivers, 13, of Albion was the overall winner in a time of 19:38. Sabrina Quiros, 14, of Medina was the fastest female at 23:47.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Lisa Franclemont, coordinator of Cancer Services of Genesee and Orleans, urged people to get screened for colorectal cancer. She also said working to reduce stress can help fight the disease.

The Running Club teamed with Oak Orchard Health in organizing the Wayne A. Burlison-Colon Cancer Awareness 5K Run and Walk. Both groups want to raise awareness about colon cancer as the third-leading cause of death by cancer for men and women. Colon cancer is preventable or treatable with the proper knowledge, resources, and early detection.

Some of the proceeds from today’s event also go towards developing a walking trail at Bullard Park.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jon DeYoung, front center, was joined by about a dozen friends and family this morning at the Wayne A. Burlison-Colon Cancer Awareness 5K Run and Walk in Albion. The event is in memory of an Albion elementary school teacher who died at age 36 on March 26, 2014. Burlison fought colon cancer.

DeYoung, 52, is the Clarendon fire chief. He is now fighting colon cancer for the third time. He was diagnosed around Christmas. He completed his chemo treatments.

He walked the entire 3.17-mile course this morning with his wife Brenda, son Jon and his wife Jessica, brother Jim and his wife Jackie, and several firefighters. Some of the firefighters wore their turnout gear while walking the course. The group also wore “DeYoung Strong” shirts.

DeYoung wanted to be at the event to raise awareness for colon cancer. He urged people to get checked for the disease.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Three residents from Orleans County decided to be part of a local “March for Our Lives” protest for gun control.

There are thousands of people, many of them high school students, at protests around the country, including a big rally in Washington, D.C., seeking tougher gun control laws and safer schools.

Diana Dudley, center, led a one-hour observance this afternoon in front of the Orleans County Courthouse on Main Street. She is joined by Gary Kent, left, of Albion and Dennis Seekins of Lyndonville.

Dudley said she wanted to support the students who are rallying for more gun control.

The issue has gained prominence since a mass shooting on Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people were killed, and many of the survivors have become outspoken in the need for safer schools.

Seekins acknowledged many in Orleans County oppose additional restrictions on gun owners.

“It’s more important in a place like this,” he said. “It’s easier when everyone agrees with you.”

Seekins said he was a member of the NRA but dropped out in the early 1990s when Bill Clinton was president. Seekins said the NRA called Clinton “the enemy.”

“People in our country shouldn’t talk about the president as the enemy,” he said. “We aren’t enemies even though we might disagree vehemently.”

“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 12

While cataloging the Department of History’s collection of rare books, I came across a small booklet entitled From Serfdom to Culture written by “a white-haired Rochester confectioner” named Alfred F. Little in 1939. Interestingly enough, my discovery of this item happened in the same way in which C. W. Lattin, the retired county historian, encountered this story back in 1996.

Jessie D. Gutzlaff once lived in Albion.

Presented with two volumes from a blind Chinese woman named Jessie Gutzlaff, Little felt encouraged to record a few brief memories regarding the life of a remarkable woman. As he wrote nearly 80 years ago, “few persons, if any, now living in Albion, ever heard of Miss Gutzlaff, or knew of her connection with the village…” Those two volumes, authored by Samuel Smiles, were donated to the Swan Library in 1910.

The story of Jessie Gutzlaff dates back to 1842 when, as a young girl, she arrived in New York City with two other Chinese girls named Fanny and Eliza, all three accompanied by Mary Gutzlaff. Mrs. Gutzlaff was the wife of Karl Gutzlaff, a famed missionary of the Netherlands Missionary Society. Upon their arrival to the U.S., the girls were sent to various institutions under the sponsorship of philanthropic individuals; Jessie was sent to the Institution for the Blind at Columbus, Ohio under the support of George Douglas of Long Island. On July 22, 1843, Jessie arrived at the Ohio Institute in good spirits, as the organization’s annual report notes that “these little girls…are intelligent, healthy, and very cheerful.”

After relocating to New York, the story becomes mired in confusion and uncertainty as on January 1, 1852, Jessie appears in the records of the Christ Episcopal Church in Albion as a member of the Middleton family. It is presumed that Jessie became acquainted with Jane Middleton while Middleton was working as a matron at the Institute for the Blind in Columbus. It is known that Ann and Jane Middleton operated an institution of learning at Albion where homeless or orphaned young girls were taken in and used as teachers.

Although much of Jessie’s time with the Middletons is shrouded in mystery, Miss Elizabeth Thompson of Philadelphia wrote in a short letter to William Chapin that “…it is known that Miss Middleton took the child in her home for remunerative object. She would have gathering for the benefit of Jessie, to buy a piano.” Thompson continued to write that although Middleton was “not an easy taskmaster,” no one lodged any complaint of ill treatment. Mr. Chapin, familiar with Gutzlaff during her time in Ohio, became aware of her situation thanks to an unnamed clergyman from her neighborhood.

In 1861, Jessie was “rescued” by Mr. Chapin and enrolled at the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind before she was admitted to the “Home” in 1869. Sarah Sterling, a librarian at the institution, wrote, “Miss Jessie began to read proof about January, 1893, soon after American Braille was introduced into this school. She read all proof except mathematics and the foreign languages. According to records she has read in American Braille (machine work) 52,679 pages, covering 426 titles…she was always a conscientious worker, and whether it was machine or handwork, she was distressed if anyone found a mistake she had overlooked.”

Fifty years after her enrollment in the Pennsylvania institution, Jessie was in Albion visiting Mary Middleton Smith, an orphan also taken in by Jane Middleton in the 1850s. The two decided to attend the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo and it was during this stay in Orleans County that Gutzlaff became acquainted with Alfred Little. He later recalled that he and Jessie regularly corresponded by letter, Miss Jennie writing longhand and only occasionally repeating a word when interrupted.

After her sudden death on October 2, 1920 due to heart failure, Jessie Gutzlaff was buried in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery in the lot reserved for the Chapin Home for the Aged Blind. Her will left $5,000 in Pennsylvania Railroad stock, the majority of which was purchased with the modest wages she earned as a proof-reader. The total amount of her estate was bequeathed to the Episcopal Board of Missions for the purpose of supporting education in China. Of the annual interest, $100 was set aside to support the instruction of a Chinese boy at St. John’s College in Shanghai and the remaining balance was put towards the maintenance of scholarships for educating Chinese women at St. Mary’s Hall in Shanghai.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature next week will ask the State Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to approve funds to hire a school resource officer for every elementary and secondary school in the state.

That resolution by the County Legislature is scheduled to be voted on at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Legislature’s chambers at the County Clerk’s Building.

It follows a push by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association to have a school resource officer in every school in the state. State Assemblyman Steve Hawley also supports the measure.

“Our children are deserving of the best protection possible when they are away from their homes and in the care and custody of our educational institutions,” according to the resolution to be voted on the County Legislature. “We are, unfortunately, in an era where children in schools have too often become a target for evil persons wishing to cause mayhem and terror.”

Hawley has urged Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for $50,000 in state funding for each school in the state to hire an armed school resource officer.

There are about 4,750 public schools and nearly 2,000 private schools educating students in grades K through 12 in the state, according to the Sheriffs’ Association.

If the state approves the measure, it would cost $237.5 million to pay for 4,750 school resource officers at $50,000 a year for the public schools. Including 2,000 officers for private schools would cost another $100 million.

“Due to budget constraints, tax caps and limited sources of revenue, it is beyond the fiscal capability of many school districts and other local government entities to fund the placing of an armed police officer in every school,” according to the county resolution.

County legislators, in their proposed resolution, said an armed police presence would increase the safety of children and school facilities.

“The current threat to the safety of our children in their schools is a public safety emergency requiring a statewide response by our state government, with its multiple revenue sources, to address this emergency,” the resolution states.

Provided photos from Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County

This week has been Agricultural Literacy Week across New York State and 2nd graders around Orleans County have been reading “Before We Eat, From Farm To Table” by Pat Brisson, illustrated by Mary Azarian, to learn more about agriculture and the food system in New York State.

Molly Kotarski, the Orleans County Ag in the Classroom Educator, visited second graders in Lyndonville today. She brought along items which allowed the students to “dress up” as different workers and parts of the local food system – including the cows which provide milk for the making of yogurt.

Other workers include farmers/growers, truck drivers (including a milk truck driver), processing plant worker, grocery store worker. Students discussed what careers are available within the local food system.

The book teaches students how fruit and vegetable crops as well as dairy products are grown, stored, processed and sold to consumers.

Kotarski is shown on Wednesday when she visited Kendall students. Kristina Gabalski, the 4-H program coordinator for the Cooperative Extension, read to Holley students on Tuesday. The Extension provided books and lesson plans to the Albion and Medina FFA for those chapters to reach out to second-graders in their schools.

According to New York Agriculture in the Classroom, understanding not only how food grows, but the systems in place to safely move that food to our plates is powerful. Through building student awareness and understanding of local food systems, we are empowering them to choose a career that will directly impact their local economies and health of their communities.

MEDINA – The school district has tweeted its disapproval of recent comments by former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump, where they challenge each other to a fight.

Biden started taunts on Tuesday when he was speaking an anti-sexual assault rally  at the University of Miami. He told students if he and Trump had attended high school together, Biden probably would have “beat the hell out” of Trump.

Trump on Thursday morning put out a tweet: “Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy. Actually, he is weak, both mentally and physically, and yet he threatens me, for the second time, with physical assault. He doesn’t know me, but he would go down fast and hard, crying all the way. Don’t threaten people Joe!”

The Medina School District today at about 10:30 this morning urged Trump and Biden to be better role models.

“President Trump tweeted that he would destroy Joe Biden in a fight, after the former VP said he would beat up Trump,” Medina Central School District tweeted. “If students did something similar to these two 70+ year olds, they’d be disciplined per code of conduct. Adults-remember you are role models and kids are watching!”