Provided photos: Jim Mirand of the Medina Knights of Columbus presents a check to members of the Richard Knights and Susan Kaderli families following a recent chicken barbecue held by the Knights-Kaderli Foundation.
Press Release, Medina Knights of Columbus
MEDINA – The Medina Knights of Columbus recently made a $4,000 donation to the Richard Knights-Sue Kaderli Memorial Fund.The Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund is a local not-for-profit organization that assists Orleans County residents who are battling cancer.
The Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund was founded over 35 years ago in memory of Mr. Knights and Mrs. Kaderli. The Medina Knights of Columbus was founded in 1902 and operates out of their building at 418-422 Main Street in Medina.
The Medina Knights raised the funds this past Easter season by donating the proceeds of their Good Friday Fish Fry. Each year the Medina Knights chooses a worthy cause to donate to. Families in need and worthy local causes have been the benefactor over the past 15 years.
The 2024 donation to the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund represents the largest single donation ever made by the Medina organization.
The Medina Knights looks forward to their next event, their annual golf tournament in July, to benefit another local organization, Operation Honor, which assists Orleans County military veterans.
The Medina Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Crew, includes front row, from left: Jim Mirand, Martha Snyder, Joy Gardner, Pam Cook, Jeanne Crane, Robie & Denny Dubai, Cora Williams, Skip Draper, and Howie Gardner. Back row: Steve Winans, Kristian Snyder, Kate Hardner, Darlene Rich, David Cook, Laura Valley, Melissa & David Cotter, Mike Sidari and Mike Fischer. Not shown are Cathy Fox and Virginia Klotzbach.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2024 at 1:36 pm
Registered Republicans go to the polls on Tuesday in a primary featuring four candidates for three county coroner positions.
Two of the candidates are incumbents – Scott Schmidt and Rocco Sidari. The other two – Dr. Julie Woodworth and Kevin Dann – are seeking to become a new coroner.
Woodworth, Dann and Sidari all have the Republican Party endorsement. Schmidt, the county’s chief coroner, submitted petitions signed by registered Republicans and forced a primary.
Charlie Smith, a long-time coroner from Ridgeway, isn’t seeking re-election. He has endorsed Woodworth to succeed him. The two are co-workers as registered nurses at Medina Memorial Hospital.
Julie Woodworth works per diem as Medina Memorial, picking up more shifts during the summer when she isn’t teaching nursing full-time at SUNY Niagara (formerly called Niagara County Community College). She works in Medina Memorial’s surgery department as supervisor and in the emergency room.
Woodworth, 55, of Lyndonville has been recognized as a distinguished professor at SUNY Niagara. She is the only one in the college’s history to receive the SUNY system’s “Distinguished Teaching Professorship.”
She continues to work at Orleans Community Health in the surgery department, as supervisor and in the emergency room.
Woodworth, who has a doctorate degree in nursing, has taught at SUNY Niagara for 22 years. She has been a registered nurse for 34 years, including 24 years at Medina Memorial.
She said Charlie Smith suggested to her two years ago she consider becoming a coroner. She researched the psotiion, and even took the initial training class to be a coroner.
“I feel like it’s a calling,” she said about working part-time as a coroner. “It’s a public service and I can help those families.”
She said her extensive medical knowledge would be an asset in determining the cause and manner of death.
“As nurses we work with the highest integrity,” she said. “I can bring that and compassion. I think I can explain that well to family members and help them through the process of death of a loved one.”
Kevin Dann, 41, of Holley has 25 years of experience in the fire service, including as a past fire chief in Holley. He is currently the assistant fire chief for the Murray Fire District and works full-time as a firefighter/EMT in the Town of Greece.
He also works part-time as a public safety dispatcher for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, as a state fire instructor and an EMT.
“I know with my life and work experience, along with the close working relationship with the law enforcement and fire agencies in Orleans County, I would be an asset to the county as a part of the coroner team,” he said in a letter to the editor to the Orleans Hub.
He said his field experience as a firefighter and an EMT has prepared him to expect the unknown and overcome the challenges that come with the passing of a loved one.
“Over my years of service, I have found compassion and understanding for the challenges our community members face when they are looking for help during their darkest moments,” he said.
Rocco Sidari of Albion has been a coroner for nearly 10 years. He has been part of the volunteer fire service for almost 40 years, and served five years as fire chief in Albion.
Sidari, 52, works full-time as a general mechanic at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion. He also has been a youth football coach the past 10 years.
He said he feels like he provides comfort to families, as well as determining the cause of why a loved one has died.
“I’ve met a lot of people,” he said about the coroner’s job and many are friends he has met through his involvement in the community. “It’s always nice to have a friendly face in a difficult time.”
Scott Schmidt, 60, of Medina has been a county coroner for the past 30 years, and has been the chief coroner for over 20 years. He also is president of a state-wide association of coroners, the NYS Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. He has led that group the past 16 years.
Schmidt works as a funeral director at Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals. He said he has worked with thousands of families in his career during the most tragic time in their lives.
Schmidt also is a member of the US Department of Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical System Federal Mortuary Team, and spent 20 days at Ground Zero in New York City following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He helped recover and identify human remains. That experience caused him to author the Orleans County Mass Fatality Response Plan.
Schmidt also has been an Albion firefighters and past president of the Albion Fire Department. He also currently leads Orleans Recovery, a community organization dedicated to reducing the stigma of addiction and providing Narcan training and Narcan kits along with Fentanyl test strips to the community.
“My experience and training is extensive, my commitment to my community, the county, the state and our country is unquestioned,” he said in a letter to the editor to the Orleans Hub.
Polls are open in each town in the county from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
ALBION – Crosby’s is welcoming back customers to its convenience store located at 202 North Main St. State and local leaders, first responders, school officials and other community members will be in attendance at the grand reopening event on Friday at 10 a.m. when there will be a ribbon cutting.
“Crosby’s is proud to be a part of the Albion community,” said Lenny Smith, vice president and general manager of Crosby’s. “We are excited for our customers to experience our newly remodeled store. And we will continue to add a smile to your day with fresh pizza and subs, convenient shopping and service with a personal touch.”
During the ceremony, Crosby’s is presenting a $500 donation to the Albion Fire Department. In addition, a My Crosby’s Rewards card is being donated to the Albion Central School District loaded with enough points for 20 of Crosby’s signature pizzas. Crosby’s will also make a $500 donation to the Village of Albion Historical-Preservation Society.
The Albion store, equipped with mobile ordering, offers a full range of food options including Crosby’s signature fresh-baked pizzas, served whole or by-the-slice; fresh subs prepared in-house; calzones, and a wide variety of breakfast items, including breakfast pizzas.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2024 at 9:41 am
ALBION – The summer parks program at Bullard opens today for six weeks of fun. The Village of Albion will have park supervisors at Bullard from 10 am. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday until Aug. 3.
The park supervisors will lead children in games, arts and crafts and other activities.
Bullard Park averaged about 80 kids each day last summer, said John Grillo, the village’s recreation director. He has been running the summer rec program in Albion for nearly 50 years.
New this summer are basketball courts that opened last October, another pavilion and a disc golf course. The new pavilion will allow for more separation in activities with older and younger children, Grillo said.
There will also be Taco Tuesdays and pizza on Friday with the food provided by the Masonic Lodge, the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, and Foodlink.
A refrigerator also has been added in the storage room at one of the pavilions to keep beverages and food cold.
The first couple days of the park program include registration. Children should have a list of their immunization records.
Some highlights in the season include a July 3rd festival with activities and live music from 4:30 to 9 p.m., and the Children’s Carnival on July 17 starting at 10 a.m. There are also outings planned including a trip to Dubby’s Tailgate on July 10, Cone Zone for ice cream on July 11 and 12, and bowling at Oak Orchard Lanes on July 25.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2024 at 8:15 am
Jovannie Canales named associate pastor at Harvest
Photos by Tom Rivers: Pastor Jovannie Canales speaks to about 125 people on Sunday at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion. Canales was announced as the church’s new associate pastor with plans to become the church’s leader in the future. Tim Lindsay will remain as the senior pastor at Harvest.
ALBION – Two churches with pastors active in the community announced a merger on Sunday.
The Oasis Church in Medina will become part of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion. Jovannie Canales, the Oasis pastor the past seven years, is now the associate pastor at Harvest and Tim Lindsay, the Harvest pastor during all of its 37 years, will be senior pastor. Lindsay said the plan is to transition Harvest to Canales being the lead pastor in the future, perhaps next year.
The two pastors became friends through PACT (Pastors Aligned for Community Transformation). That group includes many pastors in Orleans County. Canales and Lindsay found they had the same core spiritual beliefs and also a passion to serve the greater Orleans County community.
“We have similar spiritual DNA,” Lindsay said. “He has a heart for Orleans County.”
Tim Lindsay and his wife Laurie, and Jovannie and Melisa Canales announce that Oasis Church in Medina will merge and become part of Harvest Christian Fellowship.
Canales and his wife Melisa moved from Rochester to Medina seven years ago to lead the Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ. The church in May 2023 officially changed its name to Oasis Church. The congregation has been meeting at 2 p.m. on Sundays at the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God at 11031 Maple Ridge Rd. Those churches are independent of each other.
Canales and Oasis led a popular Family Fun Day at Butts Park in Medina in August. That event will now be at Bullard Park in Albion on Aug. 10.
Oasis Church has about 35 to 40 regular attendees. Many are Spanish-speaking. Harvest has an interpretive service for people who speak Spanish.
Harvest has about 110 regular attendees. Together, the two churches have about 150 people.
The Rev. Tim Lindsay is the founding pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship and has been with the church for 37 years. He will remain in full-time ministry at Harvest.
The Rev. Lindsay helped start Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion 37 years ago, when the congregation initially met in the former Albion Firemen’s Rec Hall (now the Elk’s Lodge on East State Street).
Harvest has had its own building for about 34 years on Route 31, across from Bullard Park and completed a 5,000-square-foot expansion in December 2020. The church hosts a popular community kitchen and is an active contributor to many ministries in the community.
Lindsay has been thinking about the church’s leadership long-term in the future, when a new pastor would like the congregation and be a committed community member. He feels confident Canales is that leader.
“I’m a servant of the Lord,” Canales told the congregation on Sunday. “We’re here to fight a good fight together.”
Pastor Jovannie Canales and his family moved from Rochester to Medina to lead a church seven years ago. He said he is committed to ministering to Orleans County.
Coffee will be 31 cents at Applegreen service stores on Thruway, reflecting the price from 1954
Press Release, NYS Thruway Authority
The New York State Thruway Authority is celebrating a major milestone on June 24, 2024, marking 70 years since the first tolls were collected on the Thruway system.
On June 24, 1954, the first tolled section of the Thruway opened, a 115-mile stretch of I-90 between Lowell (West of exit 32 – Westmoreland) and Rochester (exit 46 – Henrietta).
“This year the Thruway marks 70 years of service in New York State, connecting communities, tourist destinations and bolstering the economy with a modern transportation system,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare, Esq said. “New Yorkers were proud of the enormous accomplishment at the time the Thruway opened in 1954, and we continue that tradition of safety, service and reliability today and for decades to come. We’d like to thank Applegreen, our service area operator, for offering the special pricing to commemorate our anniversary, and we thank all of our customers, employees and transportation partners for their support and dedication over the years. Happy 70th anniversary to the Thruway.”
As a special service to customers, Applegreen is offering 31-cent cups of coffee on June 24 at 17 Thruway service areas, reflecting the average price in 1954. The discounted price will be available all day on June 24 at the Applegreen C-Store in Pembroke, Clarence and 15 other services areas.
“Applegreen is proud to partner with the New York State Thruway Authority to bring quality services to motorists throughout the 570-mile system,” said Zack Kollias, President Applegreen Travel Plazas USA. “The Thruway has a strong history of safety and reliable service, and we are excited to support them and their customers on their 70th anniversary and for decades to come.”
During the ceremonies the morning of June 24, 1954, Gov. Thomas E. Dewey attended the ribbon cuttings and celebrations along the route just west of Utica to Rochester at exit 46. At 13 toll booths along the route, cars were lined up for hours to be the first on the Thruway. At 10 p.m. that night, in the Powers Hotel in Rochester, Gov. Dewey pushed a button and buzzers sounded at every toll booth between West Henrietta and Lowell. Every toll collector heard the Governor’s voice via Thruway communications, as he proclaimed the road open to traffic. Minutes later, the first Thruway tolls were collected.
The second major opening on the system was August 26, 1954, when the section of the Thruway from Rochester to Buffalo opened, followed by the stretch from Utica to Newburgh on October 26, and the 15-mile section from Newburgh to Harriman on December 22.
During its first year of operation, there were a total of 8,700,000 trips made by motorists with mileage totaling 522,000,000.
In the years following, additional sections of the Thruway opened to traffic. In December 1957, the final 29-mile link in the Erie Section was opened to traffic, extending from the Silver Creek interchange to join the Thruway’s mainline in Buffalo. This established an unbroken Thruway route of 496 miles from New York City to the Pennsylvania state line and made the Thruway the longest toll highway in the world. The Thruway eventually expanded to its current 570-miles of roadway in 1991.
About the Thruway
The Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway, built in the early 1950s, is one of the oldest components of the National Interstate Highway System and one of the longest toll roads in the nation.
It set the standard for modern highway geometric design with safe roadway characteristics including smooth curves, wide medians and unobstructed driver sight distance. To this day, the Thruway is consistently recognized as one of the safest highways in the country.
In 2023, the Thruway-wide fatality rate 0.24 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, compared to the 2023 nationwide projection of 1.24. nationwide. In addition, every capital project on the Thruway system is considered for safety upgrades which may include new guiderail, enhanced lane markings, new highway signs and delineators, wider travel lanes, and improved sight distance and clear right of ways.
The New York State Thruway is a user-fee supported system and supported almost entirely by toll revenue – not tax dollars. It is paid for by drivers who use the system, including almost one-third from out-of-state.
Thruway toll rates remain among the lowest in the country compared to similar toll roads. The Thruway base passenger vehicle toll rate is 4.9 cents per mile, compared to the Ohio Turnpike ($0.06 per mile), the New Jersey Turnpike ($0.11 and $0.31 cents per mile) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike ($0.14 per mile).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2024 at 6:10 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Lou Gramm, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, belts out one of seven songs today as part of a Black Sheep reunion concert. Michael Bonafede, in back, plays the drums.
The Pratt Theater, owned by Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler, hosted two concerts, with the start at 2 and 6 p.m. The first sold out with 300 tickets and the second was near capacity.
Gramm is best known as the lead singer for Foreigner. Before that, he performed with Black Sheep back when he was Lou Grammatico.
Black Sheep recorded two albums for Capital Records and shared the stage with Kiss, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, and Hall and Oates, performing in front of tens of thousands of people. Black Sheep broke up in 1976.
Today was their third reunion concert and first in 10 years. Gramm wanted to rejoin his bandmates, Bonafede on drums, Don Mancuso on guitar and Larry Crozier on keyboard. Alona Kuhns and Luke Crozier (Larry’s son) will both play bass during the June 23 concert. The Black Sheep bass player, Bruce Turgon, is in California.
Lou Gramm gave a high-octane performance at the pratt. He is shown singing one of seven Black Sheep songs. The lineup included “Halfway Home,” “Encouraging Words,” “Little Or A Lot,” “No Worry, No Pain,” “Chain On Me” and “Payin’ Yer Dues,” and closed with “Stick Around.”
Alona Kuhns plays bass and Michael Bonafede is on the drums.
McCabe Enterprises, an electrical contractor, and Milton CAT brought in the equipment and installed an air conditioning system in the theater for the two shows.
Gramm thanked the crowd for its enthusiasm after the seven-song set. ‘Thank you, Albion, thank you very much.”
He said the venue, an opera house from 1882, is “beautiful.”
Some of the performers take a bow after the performance. From left include Michael Bonafede, Alona Kuhns, Lou Gramm, Don Mancuso, Larry “Rose” Crozier and Luke Crozier.
The Pratt Pit Band and Choir performed for about an hour and half before Black Sheep. Shannon Vanderlaan was among the choir members who also sang a solo.
In back from left are Rich Simbari on Fender P bass guitar, John Borello on Stratocaster guitar, Don Mancuso on guitar and Leon “Corky” Zak on keyboards.
Karen Conn sings “Turn the Lights Back On.” She also sang “Rhiannon” with her daughter, Shannon Vanderlann.
Garrett Crumb, a lead singer with “Johnny Smoke,” performed “Hard to Handle” by the Black Crowes, “Layla” by Eric Clapton, and “Wishing Well.”
Erin Moody sings “Honky Tonk Women” by the Rolling Stones.
The crowd fills in the Pratt Theater. The first show was sold out after five days of tickets being available so a second concert was added.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2024 at 8:54 am
Congressional candidate challenges Tenney again in NY-24
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mario Fratto speaks at the American Legion Post in Medina to about 20 people in a speech that was also live on Facebook.
MEDINA – Mario Fratto, a staunchly conservative candidate for Congress, is ready to pull off an upset on Tuesday. He believes he has the support from voters in a sprawling Congressional District that includes all or parts of 14 counties, going from Niagara Falls to Watertown, a nearly 250-mile drive.
The district’s boundaries have been changed. Orleans County was split in half with Joe Morelle, a Democrat from Rochester, having the northern half of Orleans and Tenney the bottom half. But the new district lines, which take effect on Jan. 1, put all of Orleans in the 24th Congressional District.
Tenney has the backing of the Republican Party leaders in the district, and most of the Conservative Party chairmen. However, the Conservative Party in Orleans County broke from the ranks and endorsed Fratto. Paul Lauricella, the party’s chairman in Orleans, said Tenney is a “RINO,” a Republican In Name Only who often sides with Democrats on spending bills and other legislation.
Fratto spent two hours in Medina on Saturday and rallied against Tenney, claiming she isn’t conservative and cited her support for warrantless surveillance of Americans, Red Flag Gun Laws, taxpayer-funded sex changes in the military and Planned Parenthood funding.
Tenney has said she is among the most conservative members of Congress and Fratto is cherry-picking legislation among her thousands of votes.
Mario Fratto, right, chats with Paul Lauricella, center, and Steve Colon after Fratto spoke at the American Legion in medina on Saturday. Fratto spent two hours at the event, speaking for about hour and a half and then meeting with about 20 people who attended the campaign stop. He also held events in Attica and Avon on Saturday.
Fratto, 39, helps run Geneva Granite which produces and installs granite curbing. He has his law degree and serves as chief financial officer for the family business. His father was a boxer, and Fratto said he sees Tuesday’s primary against Tenney as Rocky II.
In their first battle two years, Fratto made the contest surprisingly close. He compared the contest to the first Rocky movie when a native son, Rocky Balboa, nearly defeats the champion, Apollo Creed.
But in the second movie, Rocky knocks out Apollo. That is what Fratto predicts in the primary against Tenney.
During his speech for about an hour and half on Saturday, Fratto said he strongly backs Donald Trump in a return as president, and Fratto said he supports an “America First” agenda. (Trump has endorsed Tenney in the race.)
Fratto wants a tight border and called for deporting all “illegal” immigrants, which he said is about 20 million unauthorized people in the country. He said to start with people with criminal records but eventually deport all who entered illegally and don’t have legal standing to be in the country.
He also said he support the idea of making undocumented immigrants “self deport,” by denying them the ability to get jobs, housing and benefits. If the conditions are difficult, they will go back to their home countries, Fratto said.
He also opposes aid to Ukraine, saying those funds should be spent in the United States. (Tenney on April 20 voted against $60.8 billion for Ukraine. She opposes Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but wants a long-term plan from Ukraine on how the money will be used, as well as an exit strategy from the war.)
Fratto said New York State is far from the Empire State. Progressive policies from the state government have driven out many residents and businesses, leaving a trail of empty warehouses, especially in upstate New York, Fratto said.
The Republican Party has failed the state, allowing Democrats to building supermajorities in the State Assembly and State Senate, with little chance to push back some of the extreme policies from the state government, Fratto said.
If he is victorious, Fratto believes it could usher in a new wave of conservative politicians to counteract legislation in Albany and Washington.
“If we change the policies in our country, it will get better everywhere,” he said. “Don’t sit back and watch the entire country go to Hell.”
The 24th Congressional District has been redrawn and now goes further west to Niagara Falls. All of Orleans County will be in one district rather than having the county cut in about half. Map from the NYS Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2024 at 3:38 pm
Sunday is last day for early voting before Primary on Tuesday
Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign directs people to the early voting spot at the Board of Elections at the County Office Building.
ALBION – The turnout has been light so far with early voting in the Republican primaries.
Today is the eighth day of early voting and 216 had cast ballots as of 2:30 p.m. Early voting continues until 5 p.m. today, and then there is a final day on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. before the primary on Tuesday.
The county has one early voting site and it’s in Albion at the County Office Building on Route 31.
The turnout each day so far includes: 26 on June 15, 12 on June 16, 29 on June 17, 33 on June 18, 43 on June 19, 43 on June 20, 30 in June 21, and 22 on June 22 (as of 2:30 p.m.).
There are countywide primary contests for district attorney and coroner.
For District Attorney, the election is between Susan Howard and John Sansone.
For County Coroner, voters can choose 3 candidates between Kevin Dann, Julie Woodworth, Rocco Sidari and Scott Schmidt.
There is a primary in the 24th Congressional District between Claudia Tenney and Mario Fratto.
There is also a primary for Carlton Town Board member for a one-year term to fill a vacancy between John Olles and Jeffrey Gifaldi.
The remaining elections are for members of the Republican County Committee.
In Shelby District 3, choose two between Bruce Schmidt, Alana Koneski and Stephen Seitz, Sr.
In Shelby District 4, choose for any two between John Pratt III, Benjamin Flansburg and Thomas Winans.
In Yates District 2, choose for two between Terry Chaffee, Jr., William Jurinich, Lynne Johnson and Steven Colon.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 June 2024 at 11:05 am
July 10 Mid-Summer Soiree will benefit Cobblestone Museum
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) From left, Connie Fisher and her daughter Christine chat with Shirley Bright-Neeper of Medina about the Mid-Summer Celebration scheduled July 10 in Fisher’s garden. Neeper is co-chair of the event with Joyce Chiczek of Lyndonville. Flowers are beginning to bloom, while in the back is Fisher’s She-Shack which her husband Jim built. (Right) Connie Fisher checks the Sweet William in bloom in their garden, where they will host a Mid-Summer Soiree on July 10 to benefit the Cobblestone Museum.
LYNDONVILLE – Most people would look at Jim and Connie Fisher’s acre of lawn with multiple flower beds, a pond with waterfall and various out-buildings and think, “What a lot of work.”
But to the Fishers, it is a labor of love.
Jim and Connie Fisher stand in the gazebo of their garden at 10193 Millers Rd., where they will host a Mid-Summer Soiree July 10 to benefit the Cobblestone Museum.
The Fishers will welcome guests to their garden at 10193 Millers Rd. on July 10 for a Mid-Summer Celebration “Back to the Garden” to benefit the Cobblestone Museum.
Shirley Bright-Neeper first visited the Fisher’s garden during a fundraiser last year for the Yates Community Library.
Neeper, who co-chairs the July 10 event with Joyce Chiczek of Lyndonville, was so impressed she asked the Fishers if they would be willing to host a garden tour for the Cobblestone Museum this summer.
“After a couple of years hosting our soiree at the Cobblestone campus, we are going ‘back to the garden’,” Neeper said. “There will be a lot of seating and a golf cart to get you to the garden from the parking area.”
The event, which runs from 4 p.m. until dark, rain or shine, will feature garden tours, music by McHenry and Baz, Mike Grammatico of Batavia on saxophone, wine and light refreshments.
The Fishers moved to Millers Road in 1983, but didn’t start their garden until 1996 when their kids were older. They first dug the pond, which today is beautifully landscaped, full of colorful fish and complete with water fountain.
“The garden is a full time job, since Jim retired,” Connie said. “We easily spend 40 hours a week working in it during the summer.”
She said the two of them are a team.
“Jim doesn’t know the flowers, but he helps with the mulching and the pond,” Connie said. “I couldn’t do it without him.”
They showed off their garden recently, dotted with flower beds of various varieties, a stone path edged with flowers and solar lights leading to a gazebo, water trickling in the pond and the She-Shed Jim built for Connie.
Connie said when planning the garden they were fortunate to know fellow gardeners who were wonderful about sharing ideas. She also read books and studied the gardens of neighbors and friends.
“Now we’re just grateful the Good Lord lets us enjoy his creation,” Connie said. “We spend every single day out here. The garden is never done.”
Photos courtesy of Connie Fisher: This section of Jim and Connie Fisher’s garden is in full bloom in this photo taken last year. They are preparing to host “Back to the Garden,” a Mid-Summer Celebration on July 10 to benefit the Cobblestone Museum.
While most of the flowers are not yet blooming, Connie said by July 10 the garden will be ablaze with color.
Blooms include day lilies, Shasta daisies, black-eyed Susans, tall flax, Lucifer peonies, sweet William, roses and many more.
Jim said next year they are not committing to anything.
But in the meantime, “Here we are getting ready for the biggest shindig ever,” Connie said.
A suggested donation for the Mid-Summer Celebration is $10. Reservations would be appreciated by logging on to CobblestoneMuseum.org or calling (585) 589-9013.
Flowers are in full bloom near the pond last summer in Jim and Connie Fisher’s garden. The couple anticipates the blossoms will be as beautiful when they welcome visitors July 10 for a Mid-Summer Celebration to benefit the Cobblestone Society.
This is the She Shed that Jim Fisher built for his wife Connie in their garden.
The New York State Thruway Authority is celebrating a major milestone on June 24, 2024, marking 70 years since the first tolls were collected on the Thruway system.
