By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 July 2024 at 9:36 am
ALBION – When Nadine Hanlon took office as Orleans County clerk in 2021, she knew one thing she wanted to do – update the Department of Motor Vehicles.
It had been years since the area had had any attention. Mauve paint was fading, a border of license plates rimmed the room, cabinets were falling apart, furniture was outdated and there were unneeded storage areas which could be put to better use.
As county clerk, the office of DMV falls under Hanlon’s jurisdiction, with deputy clerk Pam Boyer overseeing the office. Phase one of the renovation began in June with staff training and updating the break room and deputy clerk’s office. Two weeks ago, Hanlon gave the OK for the rest of the work to begin, necessitating the office close completely this past week.
Photos from Nadine Hanlon: (Left) This is how the customer service windows looked before a complete remodeling of the Department of Motor Vehicles this month. (Right) The entire customer service area of Orleans County’s Department of Motor Vehicles was redone while the office was closed this week. This is the customer service area, looking toward the east end of the room. It shows the new flooring in that side of the room.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: This is the DMV area after the renovation, with the new customer service windows in earth tones.
Work done by Buildings and Grounds of the county Department of Public Works included installing new flooring in all but the front of the office, installing new cabinets, removing the wallpaper border of license plates, painting the room in a neutral tone, new counters and chairs, and most importantly, putting up a partition to create a private room for testing.
Previously, those taking tests were exposed to noise from the rest of the room and had little privacy. Hanlon hopes now more people will consider coming to Albion for their motor vehicle transactions.
The renovation also required contacting the State Information Technology Service to move cables.
“What we’ve done is free up space, remove old cabinets, purge stuff we didn’t need any longer and create more storage for plates which have to be locked up and more security for paperwork,” Hanlon said.
County Clerk Nadine Hanlon, who oversees the Department of Motor Vehicles, shows off the room now partitioned off for testing.
The new space is brighter and creates a happier atmosphere for employees and customers, she said.
“Our number one thing is to give 100 percent to our customers,” she said. “Customer service is of utmost importance.”
While the office was closed to the public this past week, employees continued to do dealer work, check mail and take care of the drop box.
The Orleans County DMV office completes more than 3,000 transactions a month, Hanlon said.
Six motor vehicle application examiners serve customers. They are deputy clerk Pam Bower, Jillian Belgiorno, senior MV application examiner Danielle Derisley, Amber Skrip, Maritzka Knight and new hire Kasey Sprester.
The employees like their new office space. Skrip said it is “very open and bright.”
Derisley called it “very user friendly.”
“I couldn’t wait to see it finished,” she said.
The office will reopen at its regular hours on Monday. They are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with customers asked to be in line by 3 p.m. for new permits or 3:15 p.m. for others.
Motor vehicle application examiners Kasey Sprester and Amber Skrip are seated in the area where customer pictures will be taken.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 July 2024 at 9:13 am
Troy Callard has recently moved back to the area after building sports program for school in Reno
Provided photos: Troy Callard, a 2001 graduate of Medina High School, waves the trophies his boys’ and girls’ track teams at Coral Academy of Science in Reno won as State Champions.
LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville resident and graduate of Medina High School is sharing a story of success on how he helped build a state champion athletics program at a charter school.
Troy Callard is a son of David and Nelda Callard of Medina and 2001 graduate of Medina High School. After earning a bachelor’s degree in education at SUNY Cortland and his master’s in adapted physical education at Brockport, he learned from a friend in Reno in 2013 about an opening at the Coral Academy of Science a charter school with an enrollment of about 300.
Callard sent in his resume on Thursday, got a call on Friday setting up an interview on Monday and was hired the next day. He left New York on a Thursday, got to Reno on Sunday and started work on Monday.
He soon learned the charter school didn’t have any sports programs. Having played soccer in the fall, swimming in the winter and track and field in the spring while in Medina High School, he knew the excitement of playing sports, and contacted the National Interscholastic Athletic Association.
“I got approval in 2017 and started with track,” Callard said. “The kids were excited to have sports. Before the pandemic hit, our sports program was growing and we were having some success.”
Medina native Troy Callard and members of his girls’ and boys’ track teams at Coral Academy of Science in Reno celebrate after being named State Champions for 2023-24. Callard and his wife have recently moved back home to be near their families
Callard would start boys’ and girls’ track and boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. They competed in three sports seasons – cross country in the fall, basketball in winter and track in the spring. As everything got back to normal after the pandemic, they climbed in the rankings, winning Regional titles in 2022, 23 and 24. Then the boys and girls track teams this spring both won the State Championships in their sport.
At home, Callard and his wife Tanya, also a Medina native, had been talking about moving back to Western New York.
“Tanya had just finished her bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada at Reno and wanted to do her master’s at the University of Buffalo,” Callard said. “Being closer to family became very important after the pandemic, and just made sense.”
They returned home this summer and settled in Lyndonville. While Tanya goes to college, Troy is working with a friend who installs security equipment.
“It’s definitely a slower pace of life than the city,” he said.
1-5 p.m. – Main Event Amusements $30 Unlimited Ride Wristband (Tickets purchased this block good 1-5 only), Midway
3 p.m. – AI or not AI roving game show by Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative, Strolling through the grounds
3:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Circus Incredible, Knight’s Green Space
Ray McMillion of the Murray Joint Fire District and Fred Piano of the Albion Fire Department work the grill at the Senior Council Stand on Friday. Firefighters from Murray, Albion and East Shelby volunteered at the stand on a busy night.
4 p.m. – 4-H Leaders’ Pie Stand Opens, Davis Building
4 p.m. to 8 p.m. – WBSU 89.1 the Point SUNY Brockport Radio – Music, and giveaways North Lawn of Leader’s Pie Stand
4 p.m. – Awards Ceremony and Crowning of the Fair Royalty, Livestock Show Arena
4 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Bubble Couple, Strolling through grounds
6 p.m. – Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull, Fair Office
6 to 10 p.m. – Main Event Amusements $30 Unlimited Ride Wristband (Tickets purchased this block good 6-10 only), Midway
6 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Circus Incredible, Knight’s Green Space
6 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Bubble Couple, Strolling through grounds
6:30 p.m. – Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull, JCH of Buffalo Tent
Hector Loza from Ecuadar performs music outside at the fair.
6:30 p.m. – Market Auction Preview and Reception, Livestock Show Arena
6:30 p.m. – Bossy Bingo, Livestock Show Arena
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Live Music, Orleans Hub Stage
7 p.m. – Orleans County 4-H Market Auction, Livestock Show Arena
8 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Bubble Couple, Strolling through grounds
8:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Circus Incredible, Knight’s Green Space
10 p.m. – Hay Bale Rolling Contest – Teams of 1-2 ages 16 and up. Register at the fair office by 9:20 p.m., Hay Bale Rolling Course. (Immediately following qualifier, Hay Bale Rolling Contest – Winners only championship round., Hay Bale Rolling Course)
10 p.m. – Buildings Close – Goodnight Fair
Grace Potter, 11, of Honeoye Falls competes in a cake-decorating contest on Thursday. About 30 4-H youth entered the event. The Orleans County 4-H program welcomed 4-Hers from Monroe County for the competition.
Ruth Kuipers, 14, of Byron decorated her cake in a creative way. Contestsants had 30 minutes to decorate a cake. They needed to bring their own cake already frosted, and then add the decorations.
Press Release, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, Western District of New York
BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James White, 32, of Lockport, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and butryl fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who handled the case, stated that between March 2017 and March 2019, White conspired with Bruno Haney, II, and others, to sell heroin and butyryl fentanyl.
On March 24, 2017, White sold heroin that he received from Bruno to an individual identified as W.S. of Medina. Later that same day, W.S. was found dead after ingesting the heroin purchased from White. Text messages between White and W.S. on the evening of March 24, 2017, were recovered from W.S.’s cell phone. In the text messages, W.S. requested a “half bun” (5 doses) of heroin from White.
White was arrested on Jan. 22, 2019, by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force and charged with felony manslaughter in the second degree. While incarcerated at the Orleans County Jail, White made a phone call to an unknown individual, during which he stated, “they are trying to say that back in 2017 I caught a body.” White further stated that he got “him” (W.S.) half a bundle from Bruno.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Drug Task Force and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourke, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, and the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Steven Abbott. Additional assistance was provided by the Niagara County and Orleans County District Attorneys’ Offices.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Morelle of Rochester delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday to draw attention to the pervasive issue of deepfake pornography and his legislation—the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act—to create civil and criminal penalties for those who engage in this abhorrent conduct. His remarks will appear in the Congressional Record, and the transcript is below.
“I rise today to draw attention to the dangerous issue of deepfake pornography, which is incredibly destructive and can have life-altering impacts on its victims.
“Almost 96 percent of all deepfakes online are pornographic in nature, and nearly every single one targets women.
“It takes no special knowledge or technical expertise to create these images, and more women are being targeted each and every day. High school students, young girls who should be worried about their homework, not whether a classmate is using their image to make an explicit video that has the potential to do serious and irreparable harm.
“Deepfakes are abhorrent, and I’ve introduced legislation to bring strong criminal and civil penalties against those who create them.
“I urge my colleagues to join me in demonstrating our shared commitment to fighting the dangerous misuse of artificial intelligence.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 26 July 2024 at 3:43 pm
KNOWLESVILLE – As the Orleans County 4-H Fair heads into its final days this week, tribute is paid to the importance of vendors, who provide entertainment, food and education to fairgoers.
“This is the most vendors we’ve ever had,” said Robert Batt, director of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension. “Vendors give fairgoers more options of things to do. Some people come every day just to eat the food.”
One of the longest attending food vendors is Scott Jolasso with his taffy and lemonade booth. Batt has been coming to fair since he was a youngster in 4-H and he remembers Jolasso being there most of those years.
Photographer Bruce Landis, right, chats with Matt Lehr of Brighton in his booth at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Lehr’s goal is to attend every county fair in New York state. Landis set up his first booth in the early 1970s.
Bruce Landis with Photos by Bruce has to be one of the longest attending, if not the longest vendor at the fair. When asked if he knew how many years he had been exhibiting, his reply was “About 106 years.”
“It was some time in the 1970s when I first came,” Landis said. “The big thing is I do it to support the kids. But I get benefits, too.”
He said the first year was a challenge, because he had nothing to set up a booth with. He had to buy plywood, lumber and frames.
For several months after the fair, Landis said he heard no feedback. Then, in November a call came in from a lady who said, “I saw you at the fair and I’d like you to do a family photo for Christmas.”
“Then I realized I’m not selling anything that can be used today,” he said.
But he also realized many people would eventually need the service he provided.
“One big reason I keep coming back is the pie booth,” Landis joked. “I average two pieces a day.”
Mary Ellen Hamill of Holley purchases a rice bag from Darrell Wright of Bergen on Wednesday afternoon at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Looking on is her companion Ron Swan. Write annually exhibits at four or five fairs in the area, but this is his first time at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Master Gardeners are also long-time exhibitors at the fair. On Wednesday night, Erica Wanecski and Nancy Walker were enjoying talking to fairgoers in the Master Gardeners’ booth.
“We’ve always had a booth at the fair for as long as I can remember,” Walker said. “We want to make people aware of the educational information on gardening that is available.”
Wanecski said it is their hope to get more people interested in gardening.
“We’re here to help if we’re needed,” she said.
The ladies explained the Flower Show, which was new last year, in which the public submits their arrangements to compete for a prize. This year, instead of judges, the winning entry will be the “people’s choice,” selected by votes from fairgoers.
Fairgoers can also count on seeing Judy Szulis of Medina at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. She has been a vendor with her Tupperware products for at least 15 years, she said.
“I love meeting the people,” Szulis said. “This place is the only time I see some of them all year. I meet new customers and many of them come back every year.”
The vendor barn has something for everyone. Most of the vendors had some kind of gift to give away, whether it be a sucker or small toy for children, or water bottles, key chains, letter openers, pens, lip balm, candy and lanyards.
Lake Ontario Fruit set up a booth as an opportunity to recruit new employees.
Although she will run uncontested for county district attorney in November, Susan Howard had a booth to say thank you to voters and provide information on the office.
The Orleans County 4-H Robotics Club is represented in the vendor barn at the fair this week. Here, Jonathan Dix of Knowlesville demonstrates a robot made by the club.
Youth were represented by the Orleans County 4-H Robotics Club, where Jonathan Dix of Knowlesville was demonstrating a number of robots made by club members.
Vendors provide information on a variety of subjects. Orleans Recovery Hope is giving away Narcan kits and showing how to use them. On Wednesday evening, Lori Reed and Nelson Gauthier handed out kits.
“Opioid use is on the rise and we want to get the word out so people can help someone who has overdosed,” Reed said.
She said many of the people who stopped at the booth had lost a loved one to a drug overdose and wanted to be able to help someone else.
Darrell Wright of Bergen was making his first appearance at the fair with his booth of rice bags, goat milk products and skin care creams. He normally has a booth at four or five local fairs every summer.
“I decided to come here this year because I live nearby and I like supporting local fairs,” Wright said.
One of his customers was Mary Ellen Hamill and her companion Ron Swan of Holley.
“We’ve been coming to his fair for 30 years,” Hamill said. “I glad to see the rice bags. You heat them in the microwave and they really help if you’ve got a sore neck or back.
Another first-time vendor was the Orleans County Chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation, an organization which promotes healthy food choices. Two of its members are Terry Rogelstad of Mockingbird Bell Farm in Holley and the Beam farm on Oak Orchard Road, Albion.
Rogelstadt and Valerie Beam of Waterport handed out pamphlets on healthy traditional diets, cancer protection with food, the dangers of vegetarian and vegan diets and cholesterol myths and truths.
“We decided to have a booth at the fair this year because we needed more exposure to education people on growing and eating healthy food,” Rogelstadt said.
Other first-time vendors are Dream Tea Bubble Tea; New Orleans Style Snoballs; For Clucks’ Sake Village Chickens (the group trying to have chickens allowed in villages); Storm Song Hollow Minerals; and Caricatures by Alex.
“This is the first time we’ve had a caricature artist in a long time, and she’s drawing a lot of attention,” Batt said.
Batt also explained they had established a new vendor area on the lawn south of the Trolley Building. Here, a first-time exhibitor, Pretty Bird Paradise, is offering free entertainment to fairgoers who can enter the enclosure and see the birds up close. While there is no charge to enter, feed can be purchased to feed the birds.
Terry Rogelstad and Valerie Beam promote healthy food choices at their booth at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Rogelstad is vice president of the Weston A. Price Foundation, which promotes healthy, traditional diets. The Beam farm on Oak Orchard Road in Albion is also a member of the Foundation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2024 at 9:44 am
Qasim Huzair is third in his family to win the singing title
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Qasim Huzair, 20, of Lyndonville sings “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. Huzair won the karaoke competition at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on Thursday, earning $500 for first place.
Huzair has been performing at karaoke at the fair for about a decade. He usually sings songs from musicals. He qualified for the finals with “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin.
“I just wanted to have fun and have fun with the audience,” he said about changing to a hard rocker for the finals.
Huzair said it was humbling to win because all of the 15 singers in the finals put on a good show.
Huzair is the third person in his family to win the karoke title. His sister Tamara and brother Ayman also won the crown.
Qasim’s sister Leylah and brother Amir also performed in the finals on Thursday. About 500 people watched the event.
Qasim is a music education student at Roberts Wesleyan College.
The top five at the karaoke finals are shown on Thursday after the top performers were announced by six judges. From left include Qasim Huzair of Lyndonville, first ($500 prize); Gideon Pask of Barre, second ($250 prize); Greg Stanton of Medina, third ($125); Olivia Manfredi of Kendall, fourth ($75); and Samual Robinson of Albion, fifth ($50).
(Left) Brilyn Rebisz, 19, of Bergen sings “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert, while Brilyn’s mother, Joceyln Rebisz of Bergen, performs “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”
Evan Steier of Albion, an elementary teacher at Albion, sings “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood.
Carrie Clay of Albion sings “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Andy Remillard sings “Bed Of Roses” by Bon Jovi.
Greg Stanton sings “Call Me The Breeze” by Lynyrd Skynyrd during the karaoke finals. Stanton, 69, is a retired signmaker. He is part of a band, Stanton, that is making its debut this year at many local concert series. The band will be performing Monday evening at the Yates Community Library.
Stanton came in third in the karaoke competition. He is shown interacting with the crowd, trying to get people up and dancing.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Stanton said about performing. “I should have done this 40 years ago.”
Gideon Pask, 16, of Barre proved a crowd favorite with his deep bass voice singing “The Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash.
Samuel Robinson of Albion performers “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone, and Phoebe Allen of Albion sings “Goodbye Earl” by the Dixie Chicks.
Lyric Wallenda of Circus Incredible performs an aerial act on Thursday at the fair. Her husband Simon Arestov performs acrobatics and balancing acts, and their 7-year-old son Alexander also is art of the performance.
3 to 10 p.m. – Main Event Amusements $30 Unlimited Ride Wristband, Midway
3 p.m. – AI or not AI roving game show by Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative, Strolling through the grounds
3:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Circus Incredible, Knight’s Green Space
4 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Bubble Couple, Strolling through grounds
4 p.m. – Royalty Questionnaires Due, Fair Office
4 p.m. – 4-H Leaders’ Pie Stand Opens
Elena Arestov has fun as part of “The Bubble Couple.” She and her husband Alex appear around the grounds with bubbles.
4 p.m. to 8 p.m. – WBSU 89.1 the Point SUNY Brockport Radio – Music, and giveaways, North Lawn of Leader’s Pie Stand
5:30 p.m. – Classic Car Cruise-In , Education Center Lot
6 p.m. – Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull, Fair Office
6 p.m. – Large Animal Grand Master Showman, Livestock Areas
6 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Circus Incredible, Knight’s Green Space
6 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Bubble Couple, Strolling through grounds
Meredith Albone, 5, of Medina competes in the small fry tractor pull on Thursday.
6:30 p.m. – Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull, JCH of Buffalo Tent
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Live Music with Craig Wilkins Band made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of New State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and NYS Legislature and administered by GO ART!, Orleans Hub Stage
8 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Bubble Couple, Strolling through grounds
8:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Circus Incredible, Knight’s Green Space
10 p.m. – Fireworks Show (Rain Date Saturday @ 10pm)
10 p.m. – Building Close
10:15 p.m. – Hay Bale Rolling Contest – Teams of 1-2 ages 16 and up. Register at the fair office by 9:50 p.m., Hay Bale Rolling Course
There was a competition for best braids on Thursday. There were five contestants. They were part of the entrainment at the Curtis Pavilion while many people were eating their chicken barbecues served by the Cornell Cooperative extension. From lef include Jesse Rebisz, emcee Kayla Denkler, Adele Mathes and Danielle Schmidt.
McKenna Richardson, 9, of Barre won the best braids competition.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is hosting two town hall events in Orleans County on Saturday, August 3.
Hawley will meet with constituents and discuss the issues that matter to them most. These events will give the community the opportunity to let their voices be heard and share their thoughts and concerns about where the state is headed.
“Speaking directly with my constituents is one of the most important parts of my job,” Hawley said. “I hope people show up to share their thoughts and opinions on how we can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
The meetings will be:
Medina Village Hall from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at 119 Park Ave.
Lyndonville Village Hall from 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 2 S. Main St.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 July 2024 at 11:49 am
Event also includes photography exhibit of Oak Orchard Lighthouse, presentation from geologist on Great Lakes shorelines
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Founding president of the lighthouse at Point Breeze, Peg Wiley, points to the area where a compass wheel was supposed to go. People from every state and dozens of countries have visited the lighthouse.
POINT BREEZE – As soon as Peg Wiley learned back around 2000 there used to be a lighthouse at Point Breeze, she was obsessed with the idea of seeing it rebuilt.
Twenty-four years later, the founding president of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum Board has continued to support efforts to “Keep the Light On” and will be honored at a special function from 7 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the Carlton United Methodist Church.
The Keep the Light On fundraiser and dessert buffet will also feature guest speaker Roy Widrig, a New York State Sea Grant geologist and author of “Working with Nature, A Guide to Native Plants for New York’s Great Lakes Shorelines.”
Peg Wiley stands in front of the lighthouse at Point Breeze, a project which she initiated and saw to fruition in the early 2000s. On Aug. 10 a fundraiser for the lighthouse at Carlton United Methodist Church will also honor Wiley as the founding board president.
Widrig will share how Lake Ontario’s shoreline can change in an instant, but has taken more than 30,000 years to form. In his presentation, he will talk about New York’s geologic history and how it affects the lives of shoreline residents to this day.
An additional feature of the evening will be an exhibit of the winning entries in the “Capture the Light” photography contest.
Wiley’s obsession with a lighthouse at Point Breeze actually began before she and her husband Richard (known affectionally to many as “Wiley”) moved to Point Breeze from Cranberry Pond in Greece, where Wiley had a marine mechanics business.
“I already knew when we moved here in 2002 there used to be a lighthouse at Point Breeze,” Peg said. “I was interviewed before we even closed on the property that was Oak Orchard Riverside Marina.”
The Wileys had originally planned to build a house and business on Sandy Creek, when the realtor they dealt with told them he had just listed a marina with house and five acres on the Oak Orchard River.
The rest is history.
Peg joined the board of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce, where she met Wayne Hale and Jerry Senecal, who became big supporters of the lighthouse and both worked to promote tourism in the county. Later in 2002, Peg met Dick Anderson at the Wooden Boat Festival, who had a replica set up of the original lighthouse.
The first serious steps to rebuilding the lighthouse occurred in 2003 when the Wileys, Marge Sage, Dan and Marietta Schuth and Gabriele Barone met under the bridge at the county marine park.
The Orleans County Chamber allowed the new Oak Orchard Lighthouse committee to operate under its umbrella until they could form their own not-for-profit organization, which was accomplished by Wiley and Cheryl Staines in 2004.
“Then we were on a roll,” Peg said. “Our first fundraiser was a formal dinner in the evening at the park. It was magical. Lynne Menz was standing next to me, and I looked at her and said, ‘We are going to do this.’”
Major fundraisers were chicken barbecues until Gene and Joey Haines purchased the Barbary Coast and opened their doors for more elegant fundraisers.
The Oak Orchard Lighthouse committee raised $275,000 and with an $84,000 Environmental Protection Fund grant they were able to break ground in March 2010. Other early supporters were Dick Anderson, Larry Albanese, Diane Blanchard, Jamie Kowalski, Diana Jeffords, Cheryl Staines, Mike Masters, Bill and Nancy Karcher, Bob Waters, Neil Johnson, Paula Mills, Joan Higley, Jamie Bragg, Kim Remley, Ann Mattice, Ben Jones, Lonnie Davidson and Virginia Kropf.
Construction continued throughout the summer and fall, during which time many days would find Peg wrapped in a blanket to keep warm while watching the lighthouse take shape.
A memorial walkway was completed in 2012, and bricks are still available for sale, to honor or remember a friend or loved one. Marble benches around the walkway were carved by George Graham of Oakfield. Space was allowed to build a compass rose, but that has yet to be accomplished.
Peg had stepped down as president and became vice president of the board in 2008 so she could write the Federal Environmental Protection Fund matching grant. She retired totally from the board and her job with the County Health Department in 2014 when her husband had health issues. Since then, she has fought through two bouts of cancer, but never wavered in her support of lighthouse fundraisers.
The Lighthouse board has continued to sponsor a fundraiser every year, from dinners at the Carlton Recreation Hall to basket raffles and last year’s presentation at Carlton United Methodist Church by Lake Ontario sailor Susan Peterson Gately.
Wiley said the Lighthouse board is looking for a large, affordable venue where they could have bigger fundraising events.
“These fundraisers are so important, as we have to pay for everything connected with the lighthouse, such as the insurance, upkeep and electric bills,” she said.
Wiley is excited and flattered about being honored at the Keep the Light On fundraiser.
“I am thrilled to have played a part in rebuilding this piece of history, and so happy to see the tourists it brings to our area,” she said.
Tickets for the Aug. 10 fundraiser are $20 per person (of which $10 is tax deductible) and can be purchased at Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association Concerts in the Park on Tuesday evenings, from Friday to Sunday at the lighthouse or by calling board president Chris Manseri at (585) 315-9799 or board member Larry Albanese at (585) 230-7829.
Donations to the lighthouse can also be mailed to Oak Orchard Lighthouse, P.O. Box 23, Kent, 14477.
The Carlton United Methodist Church is located at 1196 Archbald Rd., Waterport.
ALBION – Catholic Charities is gearing up for the new school year with its annual socks and undergarment drive to benefit school-age kids and teenagers in grades Pre-K through 12th in need throughout Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
“Just like notebooks and pencils, growing children also need new socks and underwear for the upcoming school year,” said Kate DiSalvo, tri-county district director, Catholic Charities. “We understand that back to school supplies and clothing can be an added financial burden for many families in our community, which is why this annual drive is so important.”
Donations of new, unopened packages of socks and underwear are being accepted from Aug. 1 – 31 at the following Catholic Charities offices, 25 Liberty St., Suite 7, Batavia; 243 South Main St., Business Office Suite, Albion; and 6470 Route 20A, Perry.
All colors and sizes from children to adult are needed. The donated items will be distributed to community members later this summer.
Additional information about Catholic Charities’ services can be found at ccwny.org/services.
MEDINA – A team of 23 students from the Dance Theater in Medina recently attended “The Power of Dance” East Coast Nationals Dance Competition in Seaside Heights, N.J. and returned home as National Grand Champions!
Their full team production entitled “Hot Like Fire” took home the highest overall score of the 12 and Under “You’ve Got The Power” Dance Battle. The team brought home the National Grand Championship trophy!
Dance Theater not only had their full team production dance selected for the battle, but also their Pre-Competition Team Jazz number “Hip to be Square” and their Mini Competition Team Jazz number entitled “In His Kiss.”
The Dance Theater competition teams competed against 325 other dance entries from 13 other studios from across the east coast.
The Dance Theater competition teams have dancers from across Orleans, Niagara and Genesee counties including Gracie Brower, Elaina Bruce, Sydney Bruce, Jailyn Cramer, Rayne Davis, Aubrey Fletcher, Sierra Frasier, Alexis Hare, Elissa Lainberger, Olivia Maynard, Charlotte McGrath, Emma McGrath, Makenzie McGrath, Hailey Moore, Izabella Murphy, Kirsten Page, Natalie Rath, Mila Rodriguez, Gracie Tardibone, Abby Vick, Carly Voelker, Baylie Watson and Arabella White.
