By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2023 at 8:27 pm
Photos courtesy of Tim Archer
ALBION – Albion Middle School art teacher Kamie Feder added “Welcome to Albion” above the canal mural on the Albion Fire Hall this weekend.
Middle school students this week will work on freshening up the 25-year-old mural of a canal boat pulled by mules.
The artwork originally was the Girl Scout Gold Award project for Corinne Toenniessen, who received some help in the design from Terri Wood.
Feder, the art teacher, used a lift to get above the mural to add the welcome message. Students won’t have to get so high up to work on the mural this week.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2023 at 5:56 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Everett Swetz, 6, of Kendall tries the steer roping station on Saturday during the Kendall Scarecrow Festival. Two bales had the jerseys of Buffalo Bills players for this activity.
The theme for the festival was the Buffalo Bills.
These scarecrows wore clothes with a Buffalo Bills theme.
The winners of the scarecrow contest include the Cub Scouts in first, Kendall Ladies Auxiliary in second, and Logan Cole and Benny D’Agostino in third place.
The festival started in 2010 and has a different theme each year.
The festival gives people a chance to make their own scarecrows, paint pumpkins, ride ponies, get their face painted, leap in a bounce house, and enjoy a hay ride. Mercy Flight also was on site with a helicopter.
This group is ready for the hay ride down Kendall Road (Route 237).
Daniel Jobin leads a horse in offering a pony ride to Nora Bowling, 7, of Kendall.
Jobin is director of Before the Last Call, an equine therapy program for first responders. It is based at Lone Oak Stables in Kendall.
Debbie Ryan and the Kendall Lions Club served hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers and drinks.
Even the mums had mini scarecrows as part of the festival.
Karen Liese and the Kendall United Methodist Church had a popular dish: taco soup.
BARRE – The Heritage Wind Community Grant Program is now accepting applications for its fall 2023 grant cycle.
Counting the last grant cycle’s recipients, the grant program has awarded nearly $90,000 to community causes and non-profit organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education, since its inception in 2020.
The previous Spring Grant Cycle included the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, United Way of Orleans County, and Supportive Care of Orleans.
Local organizations working in the Town of Barre, and the broader Orleans County community are encouraged to apply. Grants are typically awarded in $250 to $4,000 increments, with priority given to proposals that demonstrate meaningful impacts to the greatest number of area residents. We will be accepting applications until Nov. 3.
The four focus areas for the community grant program are:
Building Healthy Communities – Programs that support public health or enhance the quality of life in the community.
Economic Development – Programs that support the economic wellbeing of the community.
Environmental Sustainability – Programs that support environmental revitalization, sustainability, or empower residents to be stewards of the environment.
Promoting Education – Programs that support educational institutions, especially the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This may include curriculum development, vocational training, or literacy support.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Anna Mathes at anna.mathes@apexcleanenergy.com or (585) 563-5137.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2023 at 2:51 pm
Provided photo
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature last week presented a proclamation recognizing Sheriff’s Week, which was Sept. 17-23.
Pictured from left include Deputy Savannah Tackley, Deputy Dana Goetze, Deputy Cory Martindale, County Legislator Skip Draper, Deputy Adam Hazel and Undersheriff Don Draper.
Sheriff’s Week recognizes the work done by county sheriff offices across New York State.
“The Office of Sheriff has evolved into a modern, professional, full-service law enforcement agency, manned by fully trained police officers, using state-of-the-art technology and applying the latest and most advanced theories and practices in the criminal justice field,” the proclamation states.
The Medina Daily-Journal, August 12, 1929, reported on an earthquake.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 3, No. 32
Tremors were felt all over Western New York early on a Monday morning, August 12, 1929, and even registered on the official seismograph at Georgetown University. The greatest damage was reported from the Attica area where the quake measured 4.9. Walls and chimneys were damaged, the cost of repairs was estimated at $20,000.
This earthquake was attributed to the Clarendon-Linden Fault, a tectonic feature of Western New York, which runs north-south from Lake Ontario, west of Rochester, through Batavia and Attica to the Pennsylvania border. Geologists believe that it extends into Lake Ontario in a partially buried bedrock ridge known as the Scotch Bonnet Rise.
The fault is named for the Town of Clarendon in Orleans County and Linden, a hamlet of the Town of Bethany in Genesee County. Since 1929, numerous smaller earthquakes have been attributed to this system, including a 2.6 earthquake on March 29, 2020, which had an epicenter in Medina.
The first published reference to this fault was written by George H. Chadwick and was published in the 1920 Geological Society of America Bulletin #31. Previously, D.H. Williams, a geologist with the Dominion Natural Gas Company, was the first to recognize the existence of the fault in the East Bethany – East Alexander area of Genesee County.
In 1975, Arthur Van Tyne prepared a detailed report on the Clarendon-Linden Structure of Western New York. He noted that three main faults ran north-south and that two subsidiary faults parallel the central major fault, the Clarendon- Linden fault. This report was responsible for the 1975 decision to discontinue proposals to locate nuclear power plants along the Lake Ontario shoreline in Niagara and Orleans counties.
Articles about earthquakes invariably end with a paragraph speculating on the possibility or probability of future occurrences. Geologists generally “hedge their bets” with ominously portentous statements indicating that seismic risk in this area is “not negligible.” Geologist Walter Mitronovas explained it thus:
“Compared to the states of Alaska and California, New York State has a considerably lower earthquake hazard. This does not necessarily imply the absence of larger destructive earthquakes: it implies only that earthquakes of all sizes will be less frequent”
(From information compiled in 1982 by former Town of Clarendon Historian, Alan J. Isselhard.)
Some drivers could have license suspended if they didn’t submit results of vision exams
Press Release, Orleans and Niagara county clerks
Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski and Orleans County Clerk Nadine P. Hanlon today announced that the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has begun sending out driver’s license suspension notices to the 95,000 motorists who renewed their license between 3/1/2020 and 8/31/2021 by self-certifying their vision but have failed to submit the results.
“During the pandemic, New York allowed drivers with expiring licenses to renew them online without the eye exam as DMV offices were shut down,” said Jastrzemski. “However, there was still a requirement that these drivers would have to submit a vision test to DMV at a later date. We are now at the point that those who have failed to do so are facing imminent license suspension.”
The two county clerks said the fastest and easiest way to comply is to visit a local DMV office where a person can have their vision checked free of charge and DMV employees will handle submitting the results to the state.
Alternatively, a person may be tested by an approved provider and the provider will submit the results to the DMV. If you pass a test from a provider not approved by the DMV, the provider must complete a vision test report and you must submit it.
Submissions to DMV can be made electronically or by mail. All the information, instructions, list of approved providers and submission link/mailing address can be found by clicking here.
“The state DMV will begin suspending driver’s licenses on December 1, so time is quickly running out on those who have not yet complied,” said Hanlon. “Whether you visit a DMV office or choose a different path to get your vision checked, the important thing is not to delay and get it done.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2023 at 11:43 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A boater stopped in Albion last week at dusk. The Erie Canal’s navigation season continues until Oct. 11 with the locks and lift bridges operational from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This year’s season, the 199th consecutive for the canal, started on May 19. Next year will be the 200th navigational season. The original 363-mile-long canal was completed in 1825. The bicentennial of the canal’s completed construction will be 2025.
CARLTON – Due to the interest from our Carlton residents, the informational meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow evening has been moved to the Carlton Fire Company Recreation Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Orleans County with officials from the Town of Carlton and Modern Disposal Services will be holding an informational meeting on Tuesday.
We are fortunate to having a countywide solid waste program for all of our residents. We are challenged providing this service on private roads with commercial vehicles that weigh 33 tons and require a turning radius of 31 feet. For everyone’s safety, these vehicles should not be traveling more than fifty feet in reverse.
Together we will be exploring how we may provide a safe and efficient collection of our solid waste and recycling material. Over the past five years, these private lanes have narrowed in their right-of-way for a variety of reasons.
Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient and economical service for our approximately 15,000 customers. Many of us are aware of the challenges we have been having and it is time to come together and explore solutions to improve our service.
In the near future, we will also be having an informational meeting for the residents of the Town of Yates.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2023 at 8:28 pm
Provided photos from Mrs. Kasha Davis Crew
ALBION – A sold-out show brought 175 people to The Lockstone today for “Drag Me to Brunch.” The event prompted some controversy in Albion when a group of about two dozen pastors asked that it be cancelled in a Sept. 15 Letter to the Editor posted on the Orleans Hub. That letter drew more than 1,600 comments on the Orleans Hub Facebook page with most of the comments in support of the drag show and LGBTQ+ community.
The pastors said they didn’t want to normalize drag queen events and have them become a precursor to drag queen story hours with children.
The letter to the editor and the response resulted in news coverage from Rochester and Buffalo new stations, and fueled ticket sales to the event.
The show today featured music, dancing and comedy by the performers Mrs. Kasha Davis, Darienne Lake, Aggy Dune and Ambrosia Salad, said Dr. Rebekah Greene, an Albion native who attended the show and now lives in Irondequoit.
She said there were attendees from as far away as Hamilton, Ontario, and many in the audience wore apparel signaled their welcoming acceptance and support of members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Attendees enjoyed a cash bar, photo stations, a tasty buffet catered by Chap’s of Elba, and a prize drawing,” Greene said. “Multiple attendees noted that they were excited to visit Albion for the first time, observing that the event and the surrounding controversy had drawn their attention to the town and its potential as a future tourism destination.”
Photo and information courtesy of Medina Marching Band Boosters
OSWEGO – On Saturday, the Oswego school district hosted a marching band competition and Medina competed there for the band’s third competition this season.
A total of nine bands performed and the weather was beautiful and a full moon graced the sky.
In SS1 New Hartford earned 1st place with a score of 84.55 followed by Central Square in 2nd at 80.75 and Medina in 3rd with 77.25.
In other classifications Auburn was the only competitor in SS3 with 66.85.
In LS3 the Rome Free Academy took 1st place with 73.5 followed by Indian River in 2nd at 68.7.
SS2 had three competitors and Phoenix earned 1st place with 81.90 followed by East Syracuse Minoa in 2nd with 78.1 and Oswego in 3rd, 74.80.
Medina’s schedule of upcoming competitions is Oct. 7 in Webster, Oct. 14 in Victor, Oct. 21 at Central Square and Oct. 29 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 October 2023 at 12:08 pm
MEDINA – To say Medina’s annual Ale in Autumn was a resounding success would be putting it mildly.
Medina Area Partnership, who sponsor the event, had intended to cap the tickets sold at 600, but sales were brisk right from the start, according to MAP’s event coordinator Ann Fisher-Bale, so they upped the number to 700 and sold out.
The second annual Busker Festival accompanied Ale in Autumn, and that, too, was very successful, according to Rob Robinson, who came up with the idea. The number of buskers was up from last year’s 17 and included a variety of performers, including musicians, jugglers and magicians.
(Left) Kathleen Schumacher pours Shipyard’s Pumpkin Head ale for Lindsey Snyder of Medina at the Medina Railroad Museum. (Right) Lindsey Snyder and Olivia Hill of Medina enjoy friendship and ale at Medina Railroad Museum during Ale in Autumn on Saturday.
Participants at Ale in Autumn arrived at staggered start times at Medina Senior Center, where their ID was checked, they received a wrist band and bag of goodies and bought raffle tickets for baskets provided by each participating business. There were 23 sites offering a tase of beer.
Kristian Poehlmann and Pam Montague were among the first to line up at the Senior Center before 12:30 p.m.
“This event is fun, and it’s a day hanging out with my bestie,” Poehlmann said. “Pam and I have been best friends for more than 50 years. We like going in all the stores, and I like the beers.”
Poehlmann said she grew up just a block away and remembers hearing the train derailment on Christmas Eve, 1968.
Stacey Sage of Batavia has attended Wine About Winter, but this was her first Ale in Autumn, with Ian Mania of Medina.
“I like being able to sample all the ales and going in the stores looking at everything,” Sage said. “I will also do Wine About Winter again. It may be cold, but it’s always fun.”
(Left) Medina High School seniors Logan Gray, left, and Scott Schultz earned volunteer hours for helping at Medina Railroad Museum during Ale in Autumn Saturday. They pose here with Georgia Thomas in the military room, Gray with a World War I helmet and Schultz wearing a World War II hat. (Right) Georgia Thomas, left, pours a Buergerbrau lager at Medina Historical Society for Abbigail Davis and Mallory Albone of Medina.
Poehlmann and Montague were encountered later in the day at Medina Railroad Museum, where they shared their favorite drinks. Poehlmann said her favorite was the Liquid Sunshine poured at Canalside Tattoo. Snyder liked the North Ridge cider at Tapped on Main. Both drinks were one-ounce pours, because of a higher alcohol content.
The girls also commented on Schoeferhofer grapefruit poured at the English Rose Tea Shop.
No two stops had the same ale.
Larry and Gabriella Albanese of Albion were enjoying the day. Larry said they had been to all participating stores, some twice.
Kathleen Schumacher at Medina Railroad Museum explained they blocked off the entrance to the train layout, but let visitors get close enough to see what was there. Schumacher said people were picking up brochures in the museum and it was hoped they would go home and think about it and come back or order tickets to an upcoming event.
The Shewan family couldn’t resist when they saw the antique organ at Medina Historical Society. Scott, left, and Ruth sang along as Steve played an old favorite, before heading to the dining room for their taste of ale.
At Medina Historical Society, Georgia Thomas was pouring Buergerbrau lager, an ale she felt would be perfect with fish and chips. She had set a table with a variety of snacks and cake, which created a lot of interest.
In the main exhibit room Craig and Sarah Lacey welcomed visitors and explained interesting artifacts. Mid-afternoon Scott Shewan, Steve Shewan and his wife Ruth came in and spotted the antique organ. Steve and Ruth are both music teachers and he sat down and proceeded to play an old favorite, while Ruth sang along in her soprano voice.
In the military room, two high school seniors were fulfilling their required volunteer hours to graduate. Logan Gray and Scott Schultz both said they chose the Museum because they liked history and wanted to learn more.
In addition to the baskets provided at each stop, there will be one grand prize awarded of an overnight stay at the Hart House Hotel, a cocktail package at the Shirt Factory and a gift certificate to Ashlee’s Place.
Ann Fisher Bale, events coordinator for MAP said profit from these events goes back to the community in the form of beautification projects and promoting local business. They are also a sponsor of Leadership Orleans.
Photos by Tom Rivers: At the Knights of Columbus, Jennifer Szalay serves a Jamaican Lager beer “Red Stripe” to Victoria Taber of Albion and Marcus Watts of Medina.
Evan Anstey performs as one of the buskers providing entertainment during Ale in Autumn while a passerby drops in some money. Anstey of Middleport sang outside the Dance Theater on Main Street. He was joined by Peter Sarchia of Middleport. They performed many bluegrass and folk songs.
Dave Sevenski serves “Berry Sneaky” to Donna Ferry of Darien at the Downtown Browsery. Berry Sneaky is a sour beer. “It’s the hot thing in craft beer,” Sevenski said about the sour beers.
Wesley Rosentreter, right, serves Chai Pumpkin beer from the Ithaca Brewing company at The Coffee Pot, which is co-owned by his son, Hans Rosentreter. Ann Coon of Lyndonville, second from left, and Linda Mirand of Medina were among the 700 people sampling beer for Ale in Autumn.
Coon said her favorites were a blood orange beer, a forbidden apple and a pumpkin beer.
Mirand said she enjoyed the different beers and visiting with so many people.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 September 2023 at 10:35 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Julie Berry, center, owner of Author’s Note Bookstore, poses with staff Erica Caldwell, left, and Olivia Marchese with a display in honor of the store’s second anniversary on Saturday.
MEDINA – Author’s Note, a bookstore at 519 Main St., reached the two-year milestone on Saturday, and owner and New York Times Best-Selling author Julie Berry decided to throw a big party.
The store was a beehive of activity from the time the doors opened, with cake and cupcakes for customers, new tee shirts, music and therapy ponies out back for children to color and dress up with bows.
One of the early customers was Rachel Frasier of Medina with her daughter Leona, 3.
“My husband is golfing so we are having a girls’ day out,” Frasier said. “We’ve been to the farmers’ market and now we’re just walking on Main Street.”
Frasier didn’t know about the ponies, but took Leona out back as soon as Berry told her about them.
The ponies belong to Lisa Smith of Wilson and are very gentle and receptive to children being in the pen with them. Children were given colored chalk, which washes right off, and had fun coloring their backs, braiding their manes or pinning ribbons and bows on them. Children were also encouraged to read the ponies a story.
Author’s Note also welcomed a local author during the day, Renee Lama, a Medina native and classmate of Berry’s. Lama’s book Last Call: Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, is a history of the service industry in the Medina area, and copies are flying off the shelf.
(Left) Julie Berry invites Rachel Frasier and daughter Leona, 2, to have a cupcake before going behind the store to interact with miniature therapy ponies. (Right) Therapy ponies from Lisa Smith of Wilson were part of Author’s Note second birthday celebration Saturday. Here, Bailey Seimar, 6, rear, colors a pony blue, while Xander Crockett, 9, tries to pin a bow on another pony.
Berry is thrilled with the success of her bookstore and can’t thank the community enough for its support.
“There’s a reason so many businesses fail in their first or second year,” Berry said. “I understand them better now than I ever did before. A small-town indie bookstore is an audacious experiment in a world where behemoth corporations maintain fleets of trucks and billions in state-of-the-art technology. We’re in this together and we feel your care for us and our survival daily. Every friend you send to Author’s Note allows us to remain here. If that’s not worth a party, what is?”
It was in April 2020 when Berry, living in California with husband Phil, learned the book shop in her home town was on the market.
She had previously told the Orleans Hub she couldn’t bear to think of her home town not having a book store.
So she started thinking about returning home.
“By late October we had a deal,” Berry said.
She and her family returned to Medina and began months of renovation to store. They had it ready for a soft opening in the spring, then celebrated with a full opening in the fall.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Berry said. “The thing that moves me most is the incredible dedication of my team, which make Author’s Note a magical place.”
Salespeople and book buyers are Erica Caldwell and Olivia Marchese, who have been there since the store opened.
“I am also amazed at the response from the community and the love people feel for the book store,” Berry said. “They love our book clubs, they love our events and they love being here to celebrate these events with us.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2023 at 9:46 pm
Congress today approved a stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government going for another 45 days. It averts a government shutdown until mid-November.
Congressman Joe Morelle, D-Rochester, issued this statement:
“Today, common sense and bipartisanship prevailed. At the 11th hour House Republican leadership finally came to their senses and removed all the extreme right-wing policies and funding cuts from a short-term government funding bill. This is a reprieve for the economic stability of America’s families and the safety and security of our nation.
“It is important to keep in mind that this is only a 45-day government funding bill, and there remains extremist Republicans in the House who are still demanding billions in cuts to law enforcement, veterans’ services, healthcare, childcare, education, and housing programs.
“In the days ahead, I pledge to oppose extremist efforts to harm our nation, and I will continue to work alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common ground and achieve our shared goals.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer tweeted this statement:
“This CR (continuing resolution) is good news for the American people.
“Today, MAGA extremists have failed, bipartisanship has prevailed, and both parties have come together to avert a shutdown.
“As I’ve said from day one, this is a bridge CR, a temporary solution. We won’t stop fighting for more economic and security assistance for Ukraine.
Majorities in both parties support Ukraine aid, and doing more is vital for America’s security and for democracy around the world
“After trying to take our government hostage, MAGA Republicans won nothing.
We funded the government and avoided all of the extreme, nasty, harmful cuts MAGA Republicans wanted. No 30% cuts to things like health care. No cuts to Social Security Administration. No cuts to nutrition programs for kids. Scores of poison pill, MAGA-inspired riders were removed.
“Democrats said from the start the only solution to avoid a shutdown was bipartisanship.
“Speaker McCarthy finally heeded our message. He could have made this decision weeks ago. Our bipartisan work in the Senate made this possible.”
Let’s go on an adventure together….on a New England and Canada Cruise!
I LOVE AUTUMN!!! I get so excited when the leaves start to change and everything around me comes alive with brilliant color! We tend to take it for granted around here….but, we’re so lucky because there are places that don’t get to enjoy it the way we do! While I was born and raised here and am spending my retirement years here, I also lived in central North Carolina for a number of years in between. Yes, the leaves did change and it was nice, but it was no comparison to the vibrant colors we get here. In fact, we had to drive a few hours to the Blue Ridge Mountains to see the real beauty of autumn. But here? We get it! I remember suggesting to my mother that we might want to go “somewhere” to see the fall colors. She would always respond with “Why? I can see autumn at its best right from my own back yard or on a short drive through the country side.” She was right, but there is something about seeing it in the mountains or with different views.
St. John, New Brunswick, Canada had the best sightings of fall foliage on our cruise. It wasn’t full peak season, but still quite nice.
So, in October 2015, a friend and I went on a New England and Canada Cruise with the hopes of seeing the beautiful fall foliage that the New England and Canada coastal views had to offer. While it was a WONDERFUL cruise, it didn’t provide the colorful views we expected…..we missed hitting the peak foliage season by about a week! UGH!!!
The cruise began in Boston and our first port stop was Portland, Maine. We didn’t purchase an excursion package for this port. We just wanted to wander around and eat lobster. It was the perfect port to do that – the ship was docked just a block from the downtown area. We walked around the fishing docks, visited a fish market, rode a Pedicab (a bicycle pulling a two seat cart) along a few of the streets, ate lobster at The Portland Lobster Company, and took lots of photos! It was a gorgeous day for walking and we really enjoyed this port a lot!
Our second port was Bar Harbor, Maine. Unfortunately, heavy fog prevented us from going ashore – it is a tender port, meaning passengers get transferred from ship to shore by small tender boats. The fog was so thick that the boats couldn’t operate safely. So, the captain pulled up the anchor and we headed on to the next port.
Fishing boats in Portland, Maine back from a morning of work gathering lobsters and other fish for the markets.
The next port was St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. We took a double decker hop-on-hop-off bus tour. The bus was “Pepto-Bismol” pink and quite fun to tool around the city in. We enjoyed a beautiful park and a police museum and several other cool things to see and do. It was another gorgeous day, but very little fall colors!
Our final port was Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. We, again, took a “Pepto-Bismol” pink hop-on-hop off bus tour to see the sights. One of my favorite parts of Halifax was a dahlia exhibit in a public park we stopped at – lots and lots of different dahlias growing in beautiful displays to walk through. It was another stunning fall day and we enjoyed this port very much.
When we returned to Boston, we took a city bus tour before going to the airport to head home.
The Queen Elizabeth Bandstand in the public park in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The cruise we took was with Royal Caribbean. Most of the major cruise lines have similar cruises that stop at these and other ports along the New England and Canadian coast. They are awesome cruises and well worth the time and expense to do. Find one that fits your budget and go…..just don’t go solely for the purpose of seeing fall foliage! Peak season is usually only a couple of weeks and is a moving target – difficult to plan ahead to be there at the exact right time. But, go with the goal of seeing these amazing ports and “hope” for some fall colors and you won’t be disappointed at all. We weren’t….well, maybe a little, but it was such a great cruise that we didn’t mind the absence of fall colors all that much.
Visit my blog post at https://thoughtsbykim.com/2015/10/23/fall-cruise-adventure/ for more photos from this wonderful adventure.
Tremors were felt all over Western New York early on a Monday morning, August 12, 1929, and even registered on the official seismograph at Georgetown University. The greatest damage was reported from the Attica area where the quake measured 4.9. Walls and chimneys were damaged, the cost of repairs was estimated at $20,000.
