4 libraries seek $1 per resident or about $40K; county currently provides $10K

Photo by Tom Rivers: Emily Cebula, center, is director of the Yates Community Free Library in Lyndonville. She is joined by Amanda Anderson, left, the director of the Community Free Library in Holley, and Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library in Albion. They spoke at last week’s Orleans County Legislature meeting.

ALBION – The public library directors in Orleans County are asking the County Legislature to boost the funding for the libraries from the current level of about $10,000 to $1 per person or $40,343. (The county’s population was 40,343 in the 2020 Census.)

The county was giving $29,914 to be shared among the four libraries as recently as 2002, but that dropped to $7,480 in 2003. Since then, the amount was raised to $12,587 in 2007, $13,617 in 2010, and then was cut to $10,087 in 2011. It hasn’t changed since then.

“We love our jobs,” Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Library in Lyndonville. “We are trusted, anchor institutions in our communities.”

She was among the presenters during last week’s Legislature meeting. Amanda Anderson, the new director at the Community Free Library in Holley, said libraries offer services to people of all ages. And they also “offer a sense of place.”

Anderson, a military spouse, said her family moved 15 times in 20 years. Libraries are a stable presence in the local communities, she said.

Betty Sue Miller, director of the Hoag Library, said the local libraries run on tight budgets, while continuing to look for ways to boost services to people throughout the community, and without seeking fees for books and other materials.

Tom Bindeman, director of the three-county Nioga Library System, also spoke and said the inter-loan program among the member libraries makes the total collection in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties available to all library users, allowing the libraries to offer more without spending to maintain a vast collection on their own.

There are 319,000 residents in the three counties, and Bindeman said the circulation in the Nioga system totals about 1.75 million items a year.

The Orleans County legislators are working to finalize the 2025 budget. Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer, will file the tentative budget by Nov. 15. Then there will be a public hearing before the Legislature adopts the budget in late November or early December.

Provided photos

MEDINA – Employees at Ontario Shores federal Credit Union dressed for Halloween today, creating a jail scene.

Michelle Plummer, the branch manager, is portraying the correction officer.

The staff include Dilon Cowell, Joe Zeliff, Michelle Plummer, Bree Luckman, Traci Nugent, Sundina Johnston, Sue Schrader and Brandi Scharping.

Other businesses and organizations that dressed up today are welcome to send photos to the Orleans Hub at news@orleanshub.com.

Tops Markets in Albion staff dressed up as Darlene Bowman, Tops Customer Service Manager for 30 years. Darlene is known for her love for the Bills every Sunday dressed up head to toe in gear, her love for collecting sweatshirts from different places and dressing up. Darlene is pictured in the middle in green.

Provided photo: Chefs prepare and pour hot chocolate in preparation for a train ride on the Polar Express last Christmas season at the Medina Railroad Museum.

MEDINA – The Medina Railroad Museum is looking for male and female characters to portray chefs on the upcoming Polar Express train rides.

Duties include making and serving hot chocolate during the ride to the “North Pole” set up along the tracks between Middleport and Gasport. The positions can be paid or volunteer.

Anyone interested in participating should arrive at the Railroad Museum between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for auditions.

Polar Express rides are scheduled Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, Dec. 7 and 8, Dec. 14 and 15 and Dec. 21 and 22.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the Medina Railroad Museum website.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Receiving a Historic Preservation Award from Cobblestone director Doug Farley are Gar and Virginia Trusselle for their home on South Clinton Street in Albion. They also received proclamations from Jayleen Carney, a representative of Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, Skip Draper on behalf of Senator Rob Ortt and John Fitzak from Orleans County Legislature.

LYNDONVILLE – Efforts to save and preserve six historic buildings in Orleans County were celebrated Friday night at the third annual Historic Preservation Awards dinner at White Birch Golf Course.

Sponsored by the Cobblestone Society and Museum, awards were presented for restoration of the Gaines Basin District #2 Schoolhouse, the Butterfield cobblestone home of Erin Anheier and Russ Bosch, Gar and Virginia Trusselle’s William V.N. Barlow home in Albion, the Isaac Bennett home of Delbert Young, the Murray-Holley Historical Society/Railroad Depot and Holley Gardens, the former Holley High School.

Cobblestone Museum director Doug Farley welcomed guests and introduced emcee Brenda Tremblay and Bill Lattin, former Cobblestone director and Orleans County historian, who talked about the reprint of his book, Architecture Destroyed. The book was originally published in 1984 and republished this year through a grant from Go Art!, with the addition of a dozen destroyed structures.

Every guest at the banquet received a free copy of the book, which is also for sale at the Cobblestone Museum Gift Shop.

(Left) Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County historian and director of the Cobblestone Museum, addressed guests and showed a copy of his latest book, a reprint of Architecture Destroyed. Every guest at the Historic Preservation Awards dinner Friday night received a copy of the book. (Right) Wayne Goodman, executive director of the Landmark Society of Western New York, was the keynote speaker at the Cobblestone Society’s third annual Historic Preservation Awards ceremony Friday at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

Lattin also thanked Farley for his work in creating a power point of structures in the book, showing the original structure and what is at that site today.

Tremblay, an Albion native, is a classical morning host and producer on WXXI-FM in Rochester. She reminisced about being born in Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital and working at Fisher-Price in Medina, which have both closed in Orleans County.

The evening’s keynote speaker was Wayne Goodman, executive director of the Landmark Society of Western New York.

Goodman came to Rochester in 2011 from the Indiana Landmark Society in Indianapolis. He explained a landmark society advocates for buildings that need a voice. The Landmark Society of Western New York was established in 1937 and is one of the oldest in the country. With 1,800 members, it is also one of the largest, serving a nine-county area, he said.

Erin Anheier and Russ Bosch, at right, accepted a Historic Preservation Award from Doug Farley for their restoration of the Butterfield cobblestone home on Bennetts Corners Road, Holley. At left, proclamations were presented to winners from Jayleen Carney, a representative of Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Skip Draper on behalf of Senator Rob Ortt and John Fitzak on behalf of Lynne Johnson, representing the Orleans County Legislature. At right on the podium is emcee Brenda Tremblay.

Goodman led the effort to create the Landmark Society’s Five to Revive, which has draws attention to sites in need of investment. Several locations have been on the list in Orleans County, and that designation helped secure funding and attention.

The Landmark Society sponsors local and regional tours, as well as national and international tours. They recently completed a window restoration project and sponsored a house and garden tour. The restoration of the former Holley High School into Holley Gardens is one of their success stories, and one of their “Five to Revive,” Goodman said.

Goodman explained historic restoration is about progress, innovation and authenticity. He said you can tell where you are by the historic buildings, such as the Old Faithful Inn in Wyoming; or the balconied buildings which line the street in New Orleans.

“When you see a cobblestone house, you know you’re in Western New York,” Goodman said. “When we know where we are and where we come from, we can better understand who we are.”

Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, presents a Historic Preservation Award to Chris Capurso, trustee with the Orleans County Historical Association and Tina Inzana, Association treasurer, for the Gaines Basin District #2 Schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road. Capurso’s husband Al was instrumental in restoration of the schoolhouse.

Six structures were recognized during the Historic Preservation ceremony, in which Farley presented plaques to Chris Capurso, trustee, and Tina Inzana, treasurer, both with the Orleans County Historical Association, for restoration of the Gaines Basin District #2 Schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road; Erin Anheier and Russ Bosch for their Butterfield cobblestone home on Bennetts Corners Road, Holley; Gar and Virginia Trusselle for restoration of the William V.N Barlow house on South Clinton Street in Albion; Delbert Young, who owns the Isaac Bennet home on State Street, the oldest cobblestone house in Medina, built in the late 1820s; Danny Mawn, president of the Murray-Holley Historical Society/Railroad Depot; and to Krystal Goodwin on behalf of Home Leasing’s restoration of Holley High School into an upscale Holley Gardens.

Standing at right front is Krystal Goodwin, who accepted the Historic Preservation Award from Doug Farley on behalf of Home Leasing for their restoration of Holley Gardens, formerly the Holley High School. Representatives also presented her with proclamations on behalf of Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Senator Robb Ortt and Orleans County Legislative chairman Lynne Johnson.

Matt Holland, president of the Cobblestone Society, said they do so much to preserve old structures, but they also are committed to educating the community. They are doing more school tours, and reached more than 3,000 visitors.

“It’s not just about history, it’s also science and art,” Holland said. “It’s something special for the community to partake in. When you restore a building, you have to do it again. It is ongoing.”

He praised the Cobblestone Society’s volunteers and staff for the “wonderful job they do.” He also thanked the Rochester Area Community Foundation and Landmark Society of Western New York for their support.

The program concluded with an appeal for donations to enable the Cobblestone Society to continue their work preserving local history.

Murray-Holley Historical Society president Danny Mawn holds his Historic Preservation Award presented by Cobblestone Director Doug Farley. 

Delbert Young accepts his Historic Preservation Award from Doug Farley for restoration of the oldest Medina Sandstone home in the village of Medina. 

2,715 have cast ballots so far, more than 10 percent of registered voters

Photo by Tom Rivers: A sign notes early voting is open at the Orleans County office Building. The sign is next to the driveway leading to the County Office Building on Route 31. There is only one early voting polling location in the county. On Nov. 5, polling places will be open in all 10 towns.

ALBION – The early voting surge has continued through the first five days, with four more days to vote before the general election on Nov. 5.

So far, 2,715 ballots have been cast since Saturday, an average of 543 a day. That is more than 10 percent of the registered voters in the county, which totals about 25,000.

The daily average is up from the presidential election four years ago when an average of 417 voted each of the nine days of early voting – 3,753 then for the grand total.

The county is on pace to pass that mark, which was the record high for early voting. The daily totals so far include:

Oct. 26 (Saturday) – 647

Oct. 27 (Sunday ) – 410

Oct. 28 (Monday) – 563

Oct. 29 (Tuesday) – 608

Oct. 30 (Wednesday) – 487

The remaining early voting schedule includes:

• Thursday, October 31 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, November 1 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, November 2 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, November 3 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The early voting polling location is at the Board of Elections Office at 14016 State Route 31 in Albion. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, polling places will be open at all 10 towns in the county.

MEDINA – A new pedestrian bridge over Oak Orchard Creek on Maple Ridge Road is expected to be complete by October 2025, Medina village officials said.

The project also includes a sidewalk from Crosby’s to the Medina Business Park.

The village in 2021 was awarded a $1,094,196 grant to construct the bridge and sidewalks as part of a multi-use path for pedestrians and bicycles. The funding was awarded by the state through a federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant.

That is covering 80 percent of the project. The remaining 20 percent is to be paid locally from the village, Town of Shelby, Orleans County and Orleans Economic Development Agency.

The Village Board on Monday voted to pay $14,195 from village funds to the state Department of Transportation to go towards right-of-way acquisition. The sidewalks and shoulders near the bridge will cut into some residents’ property and they will be compensated for that land, board members said.

Mayor Marguerite Sherman said the project will make it much safer for residents and cyclists along that stretch of Maple Ridge. The spot by the creek, in particular, has a very narrow space for pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge will keep them back away from a busy road.

Construction is expected to start in the spring.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The school district is hosting a Tri-County College and Career Day Conference on Saturday at the Junior-Senior High School located at 1 Mustang Drive. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This annual celebration of educational opportunity is a major event for talented, first-generation college-bound students, parents and community members in Orleans, Niagara and Genesee counties.

“We expect students, parents, community members from neighboring counties, and other educational opportunity programs to be in attendance,” said Daniel Doctor, Medina’s director of community partnerships. “The purpose of the College and Career Day conference is to expose anyone planning their future to a variety of careers in order to jumpstart their thinking about career paths. By preparing early, students will more likely be college and career ready after high school graduation. Students in middle, high school and adulthood may participate in the conference.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from multiple organizations, discuss potential job opportunities and establish professional relationships.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Gregory Hallock, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, speaks on Tuesday evening about a plan for a new cultural facility at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The building is planned for the west end of the Fairgrounds near Taylor Hill Road.

‘GoBarn’ could be 30,000 square feet offering many art, community programs

KNOWLESVILLE – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) presented a plan for a new arts and cultural center – the GoBarn – at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Gregory Hallock, GO Art!’s executive director, said the facility, which could max out at 30,000 square feet, would tie in with the mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension and the fairgrounds, while expanding arts and cultural program in the county.

Hallock said the new three-story building with a greenhouse, animal barns and a tavern/beer garden would be in the millions of dollars.

Rendering from Red Green Design: The three-story building would have the look of a barn, with the silo having an elevator and stairs to access the three floors.

GO Art! has spent about $40,000 so far for preliminary designs for the project. He said another $150,000 is needed by Dec. 31 to hire an engineering and design firm for more detailed drawings that are required to seek grants and other funding. Those more precise drawings will also include a detailed breakdown of the costs of the project.

“Our goal is to facilitate tourism and cultural growth,” Hallock told about 50 people during an announcement at the Trolley Building of the Fairgrounds. “The goal is to bring in thousands of people a month.”

Hallock has been scouting sites in the county for the project and struck up a conversation with Robert Batt, the CCE executive director, during the fair in late July. The two see many synergies with GO Art! and CCE by having the new facility at the fairgrounds.

Linda Knipe, GO Art! board president, said the community has an opportunity to add a major asset to the community.

The fiber and wool from llamas, alpacas and sheep could be used by artisans during a fiber festival, for example.

A greenhouse could be used to grow herbs and flowers in programs run by the CCE, in another example.

The building would have flexible or adaptable space that could be used for many things. Hallock and Go Art! envision two art galleries, artist studios and a residence where artists could bunk instead of driving home in the wee hours of the night. Hallock would like to the building to be used for many art forms – culinary, folk, horticultural, literary, visual, muli-media and more.

Linda Knipe, GO Art! board president, acknowledged this a major initiative for the community. She noted how her son, Alex Feig, was able to work with a small group of volunteers and get a $500,000 skate park built in Medina.

“These are very big plans for a rural community,” Knipe said. “We can do this. This is about having vibrant communities where the kids want to stay. We are looking to make this a more vibrant community than it already is.”

A survey completed by about 150 people also shows interest in a pottery studio & kilns, educational studios, film recording studio, culinary kitchen, dining/farm-to-table, tavern/beer garden, offices/conferences and an outdoor music venue.

GO Art! has a liquor license at its facility in Batavia, and Hallock said being able to serve alcohol has boosted attendance and sales of art at the Batavia gallery. The alcohol has to be consumed on site and Hallock said there have been no issues with over-drinking.

Robert Batt, CCE director, sees a lot of possibilities with the GoBarn in boosting artists and agriculture. “The potential is ripe and awesome,” he said.

The new complex was planned to be close to the main education education, just east of it. But Hallock said the state isn’t allowing that due to the close presence of a wetland. GO Art! has shifted the facility to the west end of the fairgrounds, near the corner of Route 31 and Taylor Hill Road.

Hallock said the site would likely be built in stages. He said a July 2025 start is possible with the project’s target completion in July 2028.

He listed the following potential new programs:

Fiber arts and crafts; culinary arts; horticultural and agriculture programs; art and design classes; animals and fiber arts; health, wellness and social programs; technology and innovation programs; performing arts and music classes; film and digital media classes; woodworking classes and workshops; crafts and do-it-yourself classes; sustainability and eco-classes; business and entrepreneurship classes; collaborative and community projects; educational and community events; bar and beverage service; event space rentals.

The facility would be accessible and inclusive to all community members, Hallock said. The GoBarn would have hands-on programs in arts, agriculture and sustainability that would provide workforce readiness. Hallock said GO Art! wants to partner with local schools and organizations in “fostering a lifelong learning environment.”

The facility is expected to draw thousands of people monthly, which Hallock said would provide a boost to local businesses, such as lodging, restaurants and shops. He envisions a Fiber Arts Festival as a big event at the site.

The GoBarn would provide a platform for artisans and rural entrepreneurs to grow their businesses sustainably, expanding economic opportunities in the region, he said.

For more information contact Hallock, GO Art! director, at ghallock@goart.org or (585) 343-9313. He welcomes donations and volunteers to serve on a committee to move the project forward. Click here to see more renderings of the GoBarn.

About 50 people attended the announcement at the Trolley Building with the plans for a new cultural center for the community.

Photos courtesy of Roy-Hart FFA: The Farm & Agribusiness Management CDE Team includes, from left: FFA advisor Matthew Sweeney, Garrett Armenia, Sophia Santella, Vanessa Grant and Sean Labiak.

Press Release, Royalton-Hartland FFA

MIDDLEPORT – Eleven members of the Royalton-Hartland FFA, led by Agriculture educator and FFA Advisor Matthew Sweeney, traveled to the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana last week. As New York State’s winner in the Farm & Agribusiness Management and Milk Quality & Products Career Development Event (CDE) competitions, Roy-Hart FFA members moved on to participate in these national contests and achieved historic success.

The National FFA Farm and Agribusiness Management CDE is designed to test the ability of students to apply economic principles and concepts in analyzing farm and ranch business management decisions. Participants respond to questions using financial documents and complete an in-depth problem-solving analysis section.

In this competition, Roy-Hart’s team earned a gold-ranking, placing 5th top team in the nation. Upon reviewing past state and national records, this 5th place team ranking stands to be the best result of a New York State FFA Farm & Agribusiness Mgt. CDE team in recorded history.

The team consists of students Garrett Armenia, gold-ranking individual, Sophia Santella, gold-ranking individual, Vanessa Grant, gold-ranking individual, and Sean Labiak, silver-ranking individual. In addition to this top 5 gold ranking, the team achieved the best written team activity score in the entire contest.

Milk Quality & Products CDE Team – From left include advisor Matthew Sweeney, Mackenzie Diamond, Caleb Verratti, Phinn Cousins and Joshua Kennedy.

The National FFA Milk Quality and Products CDE is a competitive event that allows students to prove their knowledge about the recognition, selection and management necessary for quality milk and dairy products. Participants must complete a written exam on milk production and marketing, evaluate milk samples for flavor and quality, identify cheeses and characteristics and complete milk acceptability tests in the team activity.

In this competition, Roy-Hart’s team earned a gold ranking, placing 10th high team in the nation.

The team consists of Phinn Cousins, gold-ranking individual; Joshua Kennedy, gold-ranking individual; Caleb Verratti, gold-ranking individual; and Mackenzie Diamond, silver-ranking individual. These Roy-Hart FFA members earned 1st place team in the California Mastitis Test (CMT) section of the competition and Joshua Kennedy was awarded 2nd High Individual in that section.

Lorna Becker is the first Roy-Hart student to earn the American FFA degree.

Lorna Becker, 2022 Royalton-Hartland graduate and former NYS FFA District 9 and Royalton-Hartland FFA Chapter President, was awarded her American FFA Degree at this year’s National Convention. She is the first recipient of the American FFA Degree for the Royalton-Hartland FFA Chapter!

The American FFA Degree, the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization, shows an FFA member’s dedication to his or her chapter and state FFA association. It demonstrates the effort that FFA members apply toward their supervised agricultural experience and the outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited through their FFA career. American FFA Degree recipients show promise for the future and have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence. Less than 1% of the organization’s 1 million members earn this prestigious honor.

The Royalton-Hartland FFA Chapter would like to thank the continued support from the Roy-Hart CSD Board of Education and Administration, Royalton-Hartland Agriculture Foundation (RHAF), and the Roy-Hart school community. This support is integral to the local, region, state, and national successes of Niagara County’s sole school-based agriculture education program.

Royalton-Hartland FFA attended the 2024 National FFA Convention. From left in front include: Vanessa Grant, Sophia Santella, Lorna Becker and Mackenzie Diamond. In back: Kristopher Myers, Garrett Armenia, Caleb Verratti, Joshua Kennedy, Phinn Cousins, Sean Labiak and Anthony Adams.

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – A farmhouse at 5054 Culver Rd. was badly damaged by a fire that broke out around 3 a.m. today.

Doug Stephens has owned the house for 21 years. He had an electric heater on last night to help take the chill off. Fire investigators told him that the fire appears to have been caused by an electric heater plugged into an outlet.

Stephens lives at the home with two other people. They weren’t injured from the fire.

The main part of the house has been destroyed, but Stephens said firefighters were able to save about half of the structure. He appreciated the big response from firefighters during the middle of the night.

“They did a great job with what they had to deal with,” Stephens said. “They did a hell of a job. I want to thank them all.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Bent’s Opera House has the Village Board’s permission to keep its fence up past the Nov. 15 deadline. The fence can stay up until Jan. 5 and Bent’s will have two 12-foot-high nutcracker statues along the wall inside the fence.

MEDINA – Bent’s Opera House has the Village Board permission to keep an outdoor fence up on the village sidewalk until Jan. 5. That is past the Nov. 15 deadline for outdoor fencing on Main Street.

The village has that deadline so the sidewalks are clear to be plowed. Justin Bruce, the restaurant manager at Bent’s, attended Monday’s meeting and asked for more time with the fence. He requested until Feb. 1, but that was pushed back to Jan. 5.

Bruce also asked that the village allow two 12-foot-high nutcracker statues that weigh 265 pounds each to be allowed on the village sidewalk, up against the wall at Bent’s. They would be in the fenced-in area at Bent’s.

“This will enhance Medinas overall charm,” Bruce said. “It won’t be too extreme.”

The nutcrackers should be considered holiday decorations, and there is more latitude for decorations on the sidewalks, said Dan Gardner, the village code officer.

The board asked for Bent’s to provide an insurance certificate for the nutcrackers, and also to clear any snow from the fenced-in area and also in front of the fence.

Bruce said part of the rationale for wanting the fence out longer is so Bent’s customers can be in that area and watch the Parade of Lights on Nov. 30.

The board said the fenced-in area should be open to others, too, during the parade and not just Bent’s customers. Bruce agreed.

He also asked the board to consider designating some parking spots in front of Bent’s on Main Street for overnight parking during the summer. Bruce said Bent’s parking lot often is short some spots when there are weddings on Saturday nights.

He said allowing some spots for overnight parking would ease the parking crunch. There is currently a two-hour parking limit on Main Street. If the board allowed some overnight parking, it would need to have a public hearing and change the ordinance.

It isn’t a pressing issue because Bruce said Bent’s has until next summer when the wedding season starts again. The board asked him to inquire if some spots would be available at the lot on West Center Street across from the Post Office.

Photo and information curtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES is so proud of their Orleans Learning Center (OLC) students and staff!

They were invited to kick off Red Ribbon Week by wearing red or their favorite sports team jersey for “Team Up Against Drugs.”

Red Ribbon Week is October 23-31 and encourages parents, educators, business owners and other community organizations to promote drug-free lifestyles. It is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation, and an opportunity for families to start or continue conversations about living drug-free.

All the OLC students and staff made a pledge to lead a healthy lifestyle and remain drug-free.