By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2025 at 8:58 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Laura Bentley, second from left in back, gives the Albion Rotary Club a tour of the Fairhaven Inn last Thursday. Fairhaven offers eight rooms on Ridge Road next to the Tavern on the Ridge, the former Village Inn. Rotary members Dick Remley, Marlene Seielstad and Don Bishop were among those on the tour.
ALBION – Orleans County saw its bed tax revenues top $100,000 for the third straight year in 2024.
The total at $116,712 is just below the $119,003 in 2023, which is the county’s all-time high. Orleans first topped $100,000 in 2022 with $111,548.
There are about 200 rooms for rent in the county, including at hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and short-term rentals.
Dawn Borchert, the county’s tourism director, said the county could use more rooms, especially near Lake Ontario where many fishermen come to catch Chinook salmon, brown trout, steelhead and other big fish.
“We are losing hotel rooms to Batavia and Corfu,” Borchert said. “People want to be closer to the water and not have to get up so early. The vibe I have here is people are full, they’re booked.”
Many of the fishermen are up before the crack of dawn to go fishing at Lake Ontario and the tributaries. They don’t want to have to drive more than a half hour from Genesee County.
Orleans County imposes a 4 percent bed tax on top of the 8 percent sales tax.
Before reaching $100,000 in bed tax in 2022, the county’s revenue was $79,102 in 2021, $58,438 in 2020, $58,424 in 2019, $51,002 in 2018 and $45,374 in 2017, according to data from the county treasurer’s office.
The revenue has been up since the 58-room Comfort Inn & Suites in Medina opened on March 18, 2022. There also have been numerous new short-term rentals available as Airbnbs. Bent’s Opera House also opened 10 hotel rooms in 2021.
The county sets aside the bed tax to fund tourism department and initiatives to bring in visitors. The increase in funds allowed the county to hire a sportsfishing coordinator in December 2022, filling a position that had been vacant for nearly five years. Ron Bierstine promotes the county’s top tourism draw of sportsfishing attending more of fishing shows, including in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The county also has stepped up its digital advertising on Facebook to promote events in Orleans to attract more visitors to the area. The tourism department promotes local festivities, museums and other attractions.
Sportsfishing has a total economic impact of $28 million in Orleans County, according to the NY State DEC Anglers Survey for 2017. Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393. County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2025 at 8:10 am
Orleans County is off to a strong start with sales tax growth in the first quarter of 2025 at 9.2 percent, from $5.39 million to $5.88 million.
That is among the biggest percentage increases in the state, topped only by Chenango County at 11.8%, Delaware County at 10.4%, Yates (9.9%), Broome (9.8%) and Lewis (9.4%).
Among the rural GLOW counties, Orleans saw the biggest percentage increase at 9.2% with Genesee up 3.7%, from $12.47 million to $12.93 million.
Livingston and Wyoming both saw decreases with Wyoming down 1.1% (from $6.03 to $5.96 million) and Livingston down 0.8% (from $10.81 to $10.73 million).
The big jump in revenue for the quarter follows a modest increase for the county in 2024, when the local sales tax went up 1.4 percent from $23.10 million to $23.42 million, according to the state comptroller’s office.
The Orleans County Legislature allocates $1,366,671 of the local share to towns and villages. That collective amount – 5.8 percent of the total in 2024 – has not been increased since 2001. The towns and villages have requested more of the local sales tax to help pay for services at the town and village levels.
Local government sales tax collections totaled $5.8 billion in the first quarter, an increase of 3.2% ($180 million) compared to the same quarter last year, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli reported last week.
Each of the 10 regions in the state, including New York City, had a year-over-year increase in collections.
“Local sales tax collections grew in the first quarter compared to last year, but this growth could be threatened by economic disruptions and uncertainty,” DiNapoli said. “I encourage local officials to take advantage of the financial tools and guidance my office offers to help shore up their finances and build resilience against the challenging headwinds we face.”
AAA Western and Central New York is reminding travelers that new identification requirements are going into effect this week for travel within the U.S.
Beginning May 7, U.S. travelers must have a REAL ID (or other acceptable form of ID like a passport) to board domestic flights. The REAL ID is a federal requirement for state-issued driver licenses and non-driver identifications designed to help prevent fraudulent identification.
A REAL ID compliant card will have one of the following markings on the upper or lower part of the card: a black star or a United States flag. If your card does not have one of these markings on it, then it is not REAL ID compliant and will not be accepted as valid identification for boarding commercial aircraft for domestic flights beginning May 7.
Aside from a REAL ID, other acceptable forms of identification for domestic flights include a valid U.S. passport book or card, a federally approved ID such as a NEXUS card, or an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or non-driver ID, which is only available to U.S. citizens and is acceptable identification at U.S. land and sea borders for traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, and some countries in the Caribbean. A passport is still required for all international flights.
“Travel remains popular this year, and AAA is encouraging anyone who has domestic flights booked on or after May 7 to ensure they have proper identification and to secure REAL ID ahead of time,” said Elizabeth Carey, AAA Western and Central New York director of Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. “While travelers can apply for a REAL ID at any time, airport security will turn away travelers without proper identification beginning May 7, and those travelers will not be allowed to board flights, which is the last thing you want to encounter at the airport.”
In addition to flying domestically, you will need a REAL ID to enter certain federal facilities that require identification such as U.S. military bases.
Obtaining a REAL ID is optional and not needed for the following: being licensed to drive, to vote or registering to vote, applying for or receiving federal benefits, accessing health or life insurance, law enforcement, constitutionally protected activities, participating in law enforcement proceedings or investigations, and entering federal facilities that do not require a person to present identification.
A REAL ID or Enhanced Driver License must be obtained in-person at a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV) location. AAA offices in New York City do offer DMV services, but AAA offices in the Western and Central New York area do not. To find a location offering REAL ID services, travelers should visit www.dmv.ny.gov.
While there is no additional charge to obtain a REAL ID, there is a $30 charge on top of the normal transaction fees for the Enhanced Driver License, which can be used at some border crossings.
Children under the age of 18 will not need a REAL ID to fly domestically, however, the adult traveling with them will need an acceptable form of identification.
If you have more questions about obtaining a REAL ID and the upcoming deadline, visit www.dmv.ny.gov.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 May 2025 at 10:55 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Chuck Persons rides his motorcycle at the start of a 50-mile trek through Orleans County today in the annual motorcycle safety and awareness ride.
The Orleans County chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) organized the ride and also held a rally at the courthouse steps. Only a few motorcyclists went on the ride due to the rain.
These motorcyclists, including Don DuBois of Medina in front, get ready for their safety and awareness ride. The bikers urge the public to “ look twice, save a life.”
Don Sloper, president of the Orleans County chapter of ABATE, speaks during today’s rally at the courthouse steps. About 110 riders are in the Orleans County chapter.
Barry Flansburg, center, represented Assemblyman Steve Hawley and County Legislator Skip Draper represented State Sen. Rob Ortt. They presented proclamations in support of motorcycle safety and urged other motorists to use extra caution when making a left turn or pulling out onto the roadway.
Chris Genovese, legislative coordinator for ABATE of New York and a meber of the Buffalo and Erie County chapter, shared legislative priorities for ABATE.
Two bills seek to hold motorists accountable for reckless driving that endangers others. ABATE wants a vehicular violence awareness component into the pre-licensing course to stress the importance of a culture of responsibility and respect among drivers.
“Through education and awareness, ABATE of NY seeks to reduce the incidence of reckless driving and vehicular violence, ultimately creating safer roads for all users in New York State,” the group states.
Genovese also highlighted the Grieving Families Act which seeks justice for the families of those who are wrongfully killed by the acts of others, including riders killed by negligent drivers.
“This important legislation provides surviving families the ability to seek fair compensation for their pain and suffering, addressing the emotional and financial hardships that come with such a devastating loss,” ABATE states on its website. “By expanding the definition of ‘family’ to include not only traditional relatives but also those who have close, dependent relationships with the deceased, the Grieving Families Act recognizes the wide-ranging impact of such tragedies. This bill is crucial for holding negligent drivers accountable and providing much-needed support to those left behind.”
Provided photos: Fire badly damaged a home in Brockport at 4 Roman Circle.
By Christopher Martin, public information officer for Brockport Fire District
BROCKPORT – Multiple calls to the Monroe County 911 Center this morning at 7:30 prompted an immediate response to the report of a fire in the home at 4 Roman Circle in Clarkson.
Units from Brockport, Hamlin-Morton-Walker, Hilton, Bergen, Churchville, Spencerport and the Quint from Murray were dispatched when the first arriving personnel declared a working fire due to the volume of fire evident.
Heavy smoke and flames were coming from the front of the structure and neighbors described some sort of explosion alerted them to the situation unfolding before them. Fill-in crews from Hamlin, Murray and Hilton covered our district while the rest of the crews worked the scene.
The four residents living there escaped the fire unharmed, and the American Red Cross came to assist them with immediate housing as the home is uninhabitable. One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was treated by Monroe Ambulance and transported to the hospital for observation.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Brockport Fire Police provided traffic support and scene safety in the area and the fire is under investigation by the Monroe County Fire Investigation Team.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 May 2025 at 3:09 pm
MEDINA – Medina Area Partnership’s third annual murder mystery event went off without a hitch, (unless you count a murder) in spite of rain and a dreary day.
The event has grown in popularity every year, said Ann Fisher-Bale, event coordinator for MAP.
One couple who took part was Ed and Lori Grabowski of Medina.
Ed said they have done it before and it was a lot of fun. They enjoyed visiting all the shops, he said.
The first year’s mystery was set in the 1920s, last year’s in the early 1900s and this year’s in the 1940s. Mystery solvers were encouraged to dress in the era.
Participants in the event signed in at Medina Senior Center, where they received a goodie bag with a detective’s notebook filled with coupons, a map of 13 participating businesses and the character located there. They also got a pen, a piece of Bazooka gum and a tube of Smarties, both of which originated in the 1940s, a train cookie, small bottle of water, tea bag and a chocolate-covered Oreo cookie from Della’s Chocolates.
“We thought they needed some ‘smarties’ to solve the crime,” Fisher-Bale said.
Fisher-Bale explained they tried to incorporate some of Medina’s history in the events of the day, such as Heinz Pickle Factory, which was the scene of the murder. Ten characters were located among the businesses and participants had to visit all 13 stores to get all the clues they needed to solve the murder.
When they thought they had the answer, “detectives” had until 11:59 p.m. Saturday to e-mail their guess to MAP. The correct guesses were then put in a drawing, where one name was picked to win a giant basket of prizes.
When all was said and done, Bale announced almost one-third of the attendees correctly guessed the murderer was Wanda Land, the waitress, who intended to poison Mona Lott. Events took a new twist when Mona passed her wine glass off to Mary because she didn’t like red wine.
The winner whose name was drawn from the collection of correct answers was Joshua Lacombe of Silver Springs. He won a prize basket valued at more than $200, containing gift certificates from participating businesses, a canvas tote bag from Canal Village Farmers’ Market, the novel Murder on the Orient Express and a gift basket from Della’s Chocolates.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 May 2025 at 12:52 pm
Photo courtesy of Stacey Covell: This photo was taken on Saturday evening of the sunset over Lake Alice in Waterport.
The forecast for this week in Orleans County shows more rain and highs in the 50s or 60s.
Today there will likely be showers in the afternoon with a high near 55, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Monday shows likely showers with the thunderstorm possible after 2 p.m. The high will be near 67. Showers are also likely on Tuesday with a thunderstorm possible after 11 a.m. and a high near 64.
Wednesday is forecast to be partly sunny with a chance for showers after 2 p.m. and a high near 64.
The forecast then includes a partly sunny Thursday with a high near 56, followed by a sunny Friday with a high near 60, and sunny Saturday with a high near 66.
ROCHESTER – Olivia Braley of Lyndonville, a senior at the University of Rochester with a major in Anthropology, will be welcomed into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
Braley will join 118 seniors and 11 juniors as 2025 inductees into the Phi Beta Kappa. An initiation ceremony is scheduled for May 15 in Strong Auditorium.
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honor society. Membership is by invitation only, and students are chosen by faculty members who also are members of the society.
Lillian Wilson of Medina receives 2 prestigious awards at Clarkson University
POTSDAM – Lillian Wilson of Medina, a standout student at Clarkson University and member of the Clarkson Honors Program, has been recognized with two of the university’s most prestigious undergraduate awards.
Wilson, a double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was awarded the Sophomore Award for Biology, given annually to the biology major with the highest cumulative GPA after three semesters of study.
She was also selected for the Egon Matijevic Endowed Chemistry Scholarship, an honor bestowed upon an outstanding undergraduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
In addition to her academic achievements, Wilson has distinguished herself as a researcher, leader, and mentor. She has conducted microbial evolution research in Associate Biology Professor Susan Bailey’s Laboratory, worked on nanopore sequencing of lake sediment samples, and served as a Teaching Assistant in First-Year Chemistry.
She is also active in the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society and has held leadership roles in the Clarkson School and the Timber Bridge SPEED Team. Wilson is expected to graduate from Clarkson University in May 2027.
With this succinct slogan, Albionite Ward G. Foster launched the first travel agency in Florida in 1888.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 17
ALBION – “WARD G. FOSTER, 80, TRAVEL AGENT, DIES; His Slogan, ‘Ask Mr. Foster,’ Known to Tourists in All Parts of the World THE FIRM HAS 75 OFFICES A Woman in Charge of Each, After Long Training at Headquarters Here” – New York Times headline, March 18, 1940
This New York Times obituary headline from March 18, 1940, summarizes the career of Ward Grenelle Foster who died on March 17, 1940. Born in Albion on May 6, 1860, he was the son of Carlton T. Foster and Charlotte Corday Foster.
According to the 1879 Orleans County Directory, Ward’s father was a “hatter & furrier” with a store at the corner of North Main and West Bank streets. The family home was listed as 36 West State St.
Ward G. Foster established the first travel agency.
Ward attended the Albion Academy. He married Harriet Brainerd in 1884, and the couple moved to St. Augustine, Florida, which was then just beginning to realize its potential for tourism. Foster was employed as a timekeeper on the construction of Henry Flagler’s luxury resort in St. Augustine, the Ponce de Leon Hotel.
In 1888, the Fosters opened a gift, book and stationery shop across the street from the hotel. Foster had earned a reputation for being knowledgeable about the area’s activities and amenities as well as about transportation lines and timetables. Guests at the hotel were directed to his store with the instructions “Ask Mr. Foster” who graciously answered their queries.
Recognizing the potential of this market, Foster took over the advertising of a popular local publication “The Standard Guide to St. Augustine.” He added the statement: “Ask Mr. Foster for Further Advice” on every page and soon he was busy dispensing travel information and had unwittingly started the first travel agency.
Tourism in Florida expanded rapidly. Ward opened “Ask Mr. Foster” travel offices in Jacksonville and Palm Beach. In 1902, he opened an office in Washington D.C. By 1937 the “Ask Mr. Foster” travel service operated 70 Information Offices in 52 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada.
As the New York Times headline indicated, a unique feature of the Ask Mr. Foster offices was that they were managed by women. Foster recognized that gracious service, empathy and a sincere spirit of helpfulness in dealing with customers were key components for the success of his enterprise and he believed that women were more likely to possess those characteristics. The goodwill generated by such a service, he felt, would guarantee return visits and word-of-mouth promotion.
Naturally, this business model was successful. In 1936 over 400,000 customers received information, planned trips and tours, purchased tickets, and made hotel and transportation reservations, all free of charge.
The “Ask Mr. Foster” Travel Service Office is shown at the R.C.A. Building, Rockefeller Center, New York.
Foster sold the business in 1938 to a group which incorporated as the “Ask Mr. Foster Travel Service.” Though the business struggled during the war years, it rallied and in 1957, two of the stockholders bought the company for $157,000.
In 1972, Peter Ueberroth purchased the business for $1 million.
A complex series of corporate purchases ensued. Carlson Companies, Inc., acquired the business in 1979. In 1990, the name “Ask Mr. Foster” was retired and integrated into the Carlson Travel Network. This eventually became part of the Travel Leader’s Group corporation which evolved into the Internova Travel Group in 2020.
Internova, now one of the travel industry’s largest travel service companies, focuses exclusively on leisure, luxury and corporate clients. To this day, the company proudly traces its roots and ethos of service back to Ask Mr. Foster Travel.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 May 2025 at 9:55 pm
ELBA – Only once in its 26-year history has Plow Days had to be canceled because of rain.
Saturday morning founders Louis Esten of Elba, his brother Chuck Esten of Barre and Bob Newton of Stafford watched and waited for the rain to stop.
Plow Days has taken place every year for the past 25 years, except for two years during Covid, on the farm of John Torrey, an avid tractor collector and farmer on Route 98, just south of Elba.
Esten said 25 years ago, he, his brother Chuck, the late Ron Komar and Bob Newton (all of whom had an interest in antique tractors) got the idea for Plow Days and asked John Torrey if they could use his land. Louis said he and Newton had met at the Steam Show in Alexander, and during a conversation, the idea was born.
“We want people to understand what these old tractors are all about,” Louis said. “People actually used to plow with these.”
Alexandria Smith of Attica stands next to her antique John Deere 630 tractor and plow during Plow Days this weekend at John Torrey’s farm.
One of the antique tractor owners hoping to have an opportunity to demonstrate plowing was Alexandria Smith of Attica, who brought her John Deere 630 with a three-bottom plow. The 630 was built from 1958 to 1960, making it at least 65 years old.
Smith said her grandfather used to restore antique tractors, which peaked her interest, and she has been collecting them since she was 14.
She has a lot of respect for the old equipment and farming.
“Working on a farm is not like looking at a computer all day,” Smith said. “When you’re out on a farm, you put in a hard day’s work. You get tired, but it is a good tired.”
Terry Boyle of Medina is also an antique tractor buff. He repairs lawn mowers and brought one he restored – a 1972 John Deere rider – to Plow Days. He also spent several decades restoring his father’s 1938 McCormick 014, which he hoped to get running during Plow Days.
Plow Days is not just about plowing. There are dozens and dozens of tractors from the 1930s to 1972 on display. The giant barn is heated with tables and chairs, a food counter, hot coffee and vendors.
The public is invited to stop any time Sunday, rain or shine.
Terry Boyle of Medina sits on his restored 1972 John Deere mower in John Torrey’s barn on Route 98, one mile south of Elba. Boyle and a dozen other antique tractor owners waited for the rain to stop on Saturday to begin plowing demonstrations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2025 at 1:57 pm
Kevin Doherty
ALBION – Hoag Library will hold its annual meeting on Monday at 7 p.m., with an election for two trustee positions from noon to 7 p.m. that day.
Only one candidate, Kevin Doherty, submitted a petition to run for a trustee position.
Two trustee positions are available: one four-year term and one two-year term.
Write-in votes will determine at least one of the new trustees.
Doherty is the lone candidate whose name will be on the ballot. Doherty has been a part of Hoag Library for many years, and served as president of the board when the new library was built in 2012.
“Our facility is a great example of what can be accomplished when personal agenda are laid aside for the community benefit,” Doherty said in a candidate statement on the Hoag Library website. “As an institution, Hoag has evolved to meet the changing needs of our service area.”
Doherty also has served multiple terms on the Albion Board of Education and has been an elected leader or representative at the local, diocesan and national levels of the Episcopal Church. He also has been a volunteer with the Orleans County 4-H Fair and Albion Strawberry Festival.
Doherty runs Doherty Communications as a senior voice network analyst. He and his wife Linda are parents had six children who all graduated from Albion. Two of their nine grandchildren are currently in the Albion school district.
To be eligible to vote, individuals must reside within the Hoag Library service area, which aligns with the Albion Central School District boundaries – many the central Orleans County towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton.
Hoag Library leaders welcome community members to attend the annual meeting to hear updates about the library’s programs, services and future plans.
Photos and article courtesy of Howard Owens/The Batavian
BATAVIA – Protesters came with signs and bullhorns to the Buffalo Detention Facility in Batavia on Friday evening in a hastily organized demonstration to raise their voices against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The protest was called, said Gabrilla Szpunt, an organization coordinator for the United Farm Workers, after 14 migrant workers the union claims to represent were picked up en masse early Friday morning in Albion by agents of ICE.
All 14 were on a bus owned by Lynn-Ette & Sons Farms in Kent, where they worked, Szpunt said. They were stopped on Route 98 in the Village of Albion.
“They were on their way to work,” said Szpunt. “These are workers we’ve been organizing with for at least a year. An entire family was picked up in this raid, and other workers have been here for decades, some for several years. We’re here to support them and let them know they’re not alone in this process.”
She said the union doesn’t inquire about the legal status of migrants they organize with, but given the longevity of several of the workers, they likely had visas to work in the U.S., though she couldn’t say with certainty that they all were documented.
Szpunt said the UFW is in the process of securing legal counsel for the farm workers.
The protesters chanted a revolving set of messages, many of them demanding an end to deportation and for the protection of workers, but a few of them were laced with profanity, such as “eff ICE” and “eff Fasicist America.”
When asked about the tone of some of the chants, Szpunt said she understood the concern, but she wasn’t there to censor what the people who participated wanted to chant.
Asked what message the UFW wanted to send, she said, “Our message is that we believe these workers have been here for decades. They deserve to a process if they’re going to be facing these kinds of immigration proceedings. That hasn’t been the case under the Trump administration. People with green cards have been picked up, citizens have been picked up and detained, and disappeared.”
At one point during the protest, a stream of cars exited the detention facility. A passenger in one car held a mobile phone in one hand, apparently shooting video as the car drove past, while simultaneously extending the middle finger on his other hand.
According to the UFW website, the UFW has been involved in disputes with Lynn-Ette farms. The union filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the farm for allegedly requiring a UFW representative to leave the farm while meeting with workers.
The Public Employees Relations Board in October required Lynn-Ette Farms and two other farms to engage in binding arbitration with the union, according to the UFW website.