MURRAY – An Albion man was killed in a car accident in the early morning today after striking a tree.

Kolin J. McKain, 27, was headed eastbound on Route 104 when he left the southside of the road between Carton and Norway roads and struck a tree at about 2 a.m., the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release.

The property owner heard the accident, noticed that the vehicle was on fire and was able to extricate McKain, the sole occupant. The property owner was then able to extinguish the fire before first responders arrived, the Sheriff’s Office said.

McKain was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Monroe Ambulance, where he died from his injuries.

The accident is currently under investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit. Preliminary investigation shows speed may have been a contributing factor, the Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release.

The Murray Joint Fire District provided traffic control at the scene.

ALBION – The Albion Police Department will be at the carnival at Bullard Park on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., checking to make sure car seats are safely installed.

The Police Department has a limited number of car seats available for free. The public is welcome to stop and have a trained car seat technician make sure the seats are safely in place.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is also doing a car seat check on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Orleans County Public Safety Building at 13925 Route 31 in Albion.

Provided photos

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Shoe Trees were given a trim by the Orleans County Department of Public Works on July 7.

Some local residents saw the crew in action and feared the trees were coming down. The DPW took the crowns off, lowering the height and trimmed many of the branches. (One of the trees had a pair of boots screwed into the tree near the crown. Someone must have climbed high to accomplish that feat.)

That should extend the time the trees can safely be part of the landscape and continue to collect flung sneakers, boots and other footwear.

There were four ash trees at the corner of Foss and Lakeshore roads in the Town of Yates, but one of them toppled from a fierce wind storm.

The Orleans County DPW trimmed the Lyndonville Shoe Trees on July 7.

The three remaining trees are in rough shape from the emerald ash borer. The tree trimming on July 7 should give them more time, while given some recently planted shoe trees time to get a bigger for a new generation to enjoy the joy of tossing shoes onto lofty branches.

The Shoe Trees have been collecting footwear since at least 1986, when Earl Baun threw 8 to 10 pairs of shoes in the trees. He was cleaning out his girlfriend’s closet and grabbed a pile of her shoes.

But many people say the Shoe Tree was a phenomenon before that, with people heaving footwear high into the trees a decade or two before Baun did.

The Shoe Tree now has hundreds of shoes nailed to the trunks of the trees or dangling from branches high above. The Shoe Tree is featured on many web sites and was included in a 2008 book called “New York Curiosities.”

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Senator Mario Mattera, ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee and Senators Tom O’Mara and Mark Walczyk, members of the Senate Energy Committee, on Monday submitted public comments to the Public Service Commission urging them to include additional energy sources and new technologies in the definition of “zero emissions sources” when it comes to the state meeting mandates laid out in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

“As a Conference, we have advocated for a comprehensive reliability study to ensure the State’s electricity grid can handle the mandates under the CLCPA and recommendations made in the Climate Action Council’s Scoping Plan for transitioning to a zero emissions electricity grid by 2040. We have also advocated for an approach of using any energy source which will help the State reduce emissions,” the Senators wrote.

NYISO recently released their  Short-Term Assessment of Reliability Report for Quarter 2, which confirms what the Senate Republican Conference has been warning since the passage of the CLCPA in 2019: the mandates under the CLCPA are not realistic and threaten the reliability of the electricity grid and thus the health and safety of New Yorkers.

The NYISO report predicts a deficiency of up to 446 megawatts in New York City by 2025 during times of high demand (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Blackouts during the hottest days of the summer will put our most vulnerable population at risk. For these reasons, the Republican Conference is advocating the Public Service Commission include any source of energy that will reduce emissions in the definition of “zero emissions sources.”

Today’s public comments come in response to the PSC’s May 18, 2023 Order Initiating Process Regarding Zero Emissions Target. In it, the Senators urge the PSC to consider the following energy sources, among others, for inclusion in the definition of “zero emissions sources”: hydrogen, nuclear, renewable natural gas, carbon capture and sequestration, bio-energy, long duration storage and sewer heat recovery systems.

The Senators also expressed support for the PSC’s intent to convene a technical conference to determine what may qualify as zero-emissions under the CLCPA, and encouraged that all stakeholders be included in the discussion including power producers, utilities, ratepayers and agency heads.

“New York has made great strides over the past decades in reducing its carbon footprint but we have done so in a smart and responsible manner,” Ortt said. “We can achieve a clean energy future, but we must do so taking into account the reliability needs of the power grid and the health and safety of all New Yorkers.”

Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions recently completed their summer events with a Community Appreciation Concert at the Town of Yates Park on the beautiful shores of Lake Ontario.

The event was held at the newly constructed Russ Martino Pavilion. This concert has been carried out over the last 10 years to thank the community for its support during the year. The crowd was entertained by Crash Cadillac with a long playlist of crowd-pleasing songs.  The Lions served grilled hot dogs and soft drinks during the evening event.

The Lyndonville Lions will be idle for the month of August with no scheduled events. The planning committee is working on Lyndonville Lions Inaugural Golf Tournament planned for Sept. 10 at Hickory Ridge Country Club. Information will be available on the Lions Facebook page or by emailing Gwen Large at gwendolynlarge002@gmail.com.

Individuals and foursomes are encouraged to get a team together and attend this event.  The tournament will include pre tee off gifts for each golfer, on-course contests and a steak dinner to follow the tournament.

Larry Wolfe, right, presents donated picnic supplies to Camp Rainbow on behalf of the Lions Club.

The Lions Club recently donated picnic supplies to Camp Rainbow in Lyndonville. Ten dozen hot dogs and rolls along with five cases of soda pop were delivered to the staff at Camp Rainbow.  These supplies are expected to be used for a summer cook out for the families and campers at Camp Rainbow this summer.

This camp was started in the 1970s to help the ARC of Orleans County. Two of the original gentlemen who organized and literally help build the camp were Charles Shenberger and Dean Wolfe.

Larry Wolfe, the son of Dean, has been a long-standing member of the Lyndonville Lions.  According to Russ Martino, “Larry has been helpful in every event the Lions hold. His service during the most recent July Fourth Celebration was invaluable. It was a special honor for the club to allow Larry to make the donation to Camp Rainbow.”

The Lyndonville Lions would like to thank all those who contributed and attended the recent July Fourth Celebration. We hope to see you in the fall with upcoming events and wish everyone a safe and happy summer.

Bullard will also host Who Dats for concert in evening

Photo by Tom Rivers: About 350 children enjoyed the bounce houses, games and the splash pad at Bullard Park during the carnival on July 13, 2022. The event will be this Wednesday and is again open to kids from throughout the Orleans County.

By Ginny Kropf and Tom Rivers

ALBION – Bullard Park will host its annual summer carnival this Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Last year the event was opened to children from throughout Orleans County, not just Albion. About 350 kids attended last year.

Christina Nenni from Best of Tymes Party Rentals will be back with bounce houses. A $5 wrist band gets attendants in and includes free lunch for kids, provided by the Royal Body Shop Ministries and Albion’s Masonic Lodge.

Lunch for adults, which includes a hot dog or hamburger, French fries and a drink is $5. Lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event also includes kid’s activities, carnival games and music. Mike Seege will present “Say No to Bullying” Magic Show, which is free to all.

Best of Tymes will sell snow cones for $2 and popcorn, soda or water for $1 each. Lyncoln Bear and Buddies will be on site, as well.

The splash pad and playground will be open all day.

The Village of Albion concert series also will shift from the downtown to Bullard Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with The Who Dats performing.

The concert is free to the public and will include food and alcohol vendors.

Residents can hear about new broadband service being rolled out in county

Press Release, Orleans County United Way and Orleans County government

ALBION – For the first time the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds will offer wireless connectivity at the fair from July 24-29.

Wireless access has been provided in partnership with Ambient Broadband, Connect Orleans, and the Orleans County United Way. Fairgoers, vendors, and exhibitors will all be able to utilize this service by logging on to one of two free WiFi networks throughout the event, and after the fair at other events held on the grounds.

The service is donated by Ambient Broadband, Orleans County’s partner in creating a spider web of wireless connectivity throughout the county. The first phase of implementing the new wireless service is reaching residents living in the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina and the towns of Albion, Gaines and Shelby.  These areas have an opportunity to take advantage of significant broadband subsidies currently available.

Some of the funding for the creation of the wireless network comes from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) with the goal of increasing access to affordable internet services throughout the county. Orleans County government, the United Way, Ambient Broadband, and Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative have partnered to create Connect Orleans, a coordinated outreach effort to inform residents of these communities of cost savings benefits from the CDGB funded project.

 “We have until mid-November to prequalify households for a grant that pays for free installation of wireless broadband service and free equipment, a $650 benefit,” said Nyla Gaylord, acting executive director for the Orleans County United Way. “We are also screening people to see if they qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) which can save them $30 a month on the broadband service.”

Many households are saving more than $100 a month by switching to wireless internet and unbundling from expensive cable packages, Gaylord said.

“With a surge of interest in saving money on internet service, we wanted to provide fairgoers the opportunity to try the service and also to learn more about how they can embrace streaming media technology instead of continuing to pay inflated monthly bills for hundreds of TV channels they never actually watch,” said Kevin Reagan, the Managing Director of Ambient Broadband.  “Jack Welch, Orleans County’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), suggested the idea of making wireless service available at the fairgrounds. We thought that was a great way to let people try before they buy.”

Kevin Reagan will be at the Fair on Thursday through Saturday conducting workshops in the Education Center specifically on how to save money using the internet and streaming technology instead of a traditional cable service. In partnership with the Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative, and the United Way, a publication “How to Unbundle from Cable” will be available free at the workshops and at the Connect Orleans table.

Robert Batt, Fair Coordinator and Executive Director of Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension, encourages people to check out the new “Cyber Café” at the Fair.

“Fairgoers can sit down and charge their phones and talk with the Connect Orleans team,” Batt said. “Digital Literacy mentors from the Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative will be available to answer questions about using internet-based technology.”

There will also be a free drawing for a 10-inch Amazon Fire tablet, as well as opportunities to receive free Google and Roku streaming devices and household HDTV antennas.

The United Way team of two Connect Orleans outreach workers, Sharon Quill and Karen Sanders, will be at the Fair in the Lartz building from 3 p.m. to closing, Wednesday through Saturday, answering questions about how to save money by using the new wireless service and helping low-to-moderate income households in the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina and the towns of Albion, Gaines and Shelby prequalify for cost savings benefits.

“It’s been a long time coming but Orleans County, through our partnership with Ambient Broadband, continues to rollout new wireless internet service across much of the county with residents being connected to the service every day,” said Welch, the Orleans County CAO. “We are so pleased that Ambient Broadband has established free wireless internet service at the Fairgrounds in time for the County Fair.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Harbor looks different today after three dead sycamore trees were removed by the Orleans County Department of Public Works.

The DPW cut down two trees right by the channel. There were two benches in between those trees.

The trees’ roots caused the nearby asphalt to rise and crack in spots.

Another tree was taken down in the parking lot. The trees were considered a danger to people and vehicles close by.

Here is the Oak Orchard Harbor on Aug. 29, 2019 with the two trees next to the benches.

The state owns the land and is planning improvements for the site, including making it more handicapped accessible, the county DPW employees said.

The average price for a gallon of gas is holding steady across the country and in New York State, AAA reported today.

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.57, three cents higher than last Monday. A year ago the price was $4.53.

The New York State average is $3.67, down one cent from a week ago. A year ago, the NYS average was $4.71.

The prices among Western New York counties includes:

• Orleans, $3.692
• Genesee, $3.590
• Wyoming, $3.686
• Livingston, $3.674
• Niagara, $3.630
• Erie, $3.654
• Monroe, $3.720
• Chautauqua, $3.575
• Cattaraugus, $3.537
• Allegany, $3.631

AAA issued this statement about gas prices:

“Gas demand has fallen since the Independence Day holiday weekend as motorists have returned to their day-to-day driving routines. Typically, this would lower gas prices, however, such a move is being countered by the increasing cost for oil, the main ingredient in gasoline.

“The price for crude oil has moved from the upper $60s per barrel recently to the upper $70s. If crude oil prices continue to rise, pump prices will likely follow suit.

“This morning, the national average price for diesel is $3.84, down from $5.54 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.37, compared to $5.96 one year ago.”

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 3, No. 23

ALBION – The photo above shows ladies assembled at a Cooking School presentation held at the Lyceum of St. Joseph’s Church, Albion. The photograph is dated 1932. Since the ladies were wearing coats and hats, we can assume that it was held during the winter.

“COOK WITH GAS – The Modern Way – Completely Natural”

“GAS gives you SPEED”

“GAS gives you NEW FREEDOM”

“GAS gives you FLEXIBILITY”

As we can tell from these signs displayed across the top of the stage, this presentation promoted the use of gas appliances.

Cooking methods and techniques had changed rapidly during the first decades of the 1900s. Several generations of cooks had been accustomed to cooking on wood stoves. They tasted, tested, and adjusted ingredient amounts as necessary and adapted to cooking with inexact and fluctuating temperatures.

Gas stoves began to replace wood stoves in the 1920s and were popular until the 1940s. Cooks appreciated not having to tend to a fire, deal with ashes, warm up the kitchen on hot summer days or wait a long time for the oven to attain a cooking temperature.

While electric appliances, such as toasters, irons, and coffee percolators became popular in the 1920s, electric stoves experienced a slower roll-out. Early models were not reliable and did not heat as quickly as gas stoves.

“Cooking Schools” were popular from the 1930s to the 1950s. Appliance manufacturers and local dealers hosted them to demonstrate the ease of use of their products. Housewives attended, eager to learn new cooking techniques and recipes as well as enjoy a social outing. The promise of prizes and free promotional items added to the attraction of the occasion.

In 1930, the Medina Daily Journal hosted a week-long Cooking School at the Park Theater “for the pleasure and inspiration of the housewives of the vicinity and for the real and lasting benefit of the community.”

Mrs. Lautz, a noted home economist and educator, was engaged to present lectures on the new labor-saving equipment and utensils available, as well as on budgeting and menu-planning. New and interesting recipes were demonstrated each day, the keynote of the program being the desire to relieve the monotony experienced by housewives charged with the duty of preparing three meals a day, every day of the year.

Anticipating the resistance of some ladies to the notion of needing a “cooking school,” Mrs. Lautz noted that the hints and techniques shared at the cooking sessions would be beneficial to all, regardless of how proficient they were.

“Cooking school classes are not to be looked on as gatherings of novices, but as conferences of progressive women to exchange ideas, exactly as experienced businessmen get together to exchange business ideas.”

It is interesting to note the changing perceptions of the housewife during this time. The role had changed from that of being a self-contained provider – who prepared meals from home grown products to being a consumer, who required new equipment for standard tasks, and different ingredients for new recipes.

The new housewife was also an adapter, an economist and efficiency expert, more independent and assertive. The market potential represented by this emerging demographic was not lost on big business, who soon focused their advertising campaigns on this new customer.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has set a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Wednesday to take comments about creating a district court.

The hearing will be in the legislative chambers at the County Office Building, 14016 Route 31.

(The public may also attend the hearing virtually through Zoom video conferencing or by telephone at 1-646-558-8656 – Meeting ID: 85336464419, Passcode: 476872.)

The Legislature in April authorized a committee to look at the potential implementation of a district court in the county, with the issue possibly going to a public vote in November.

The Legislature cited increasing complexities and frequent changes in state laws with the criminal justice system. Forming a consolidated district court could result in a more effective local court system, legislators said in authorizing the formation of a committee.

The committee includes District Attorney Joe Cardone, Sheriff Chris Bourke, Public Defender Joanne Best, Albion Town Justice Joe Fuller (representing the Orleans County Magistrates Association), Assistant DA Susan Howard, County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch, former Gaines Town Justice and Assistant DA Bruce Schmidt and county legislators John Fitzak and Skip Draper.

Photos by Tom Rivers

EAST SHELBY – Cups of lemonade are served for a penny during Old Tyme Day at the East Shelby Community Bible Church.

The event typically draws about 2,000 people, and Sunday may have been the biggest crowd in the 34 years the church has put on the celebration. The church prepared 2,700 hot dogs and 315 pies (2,520 slices) – all available for a penny.

There were six different wagon rides, with the Collins Draft Horse OX & Pony Club bringing several teams of horses.

David Jaczynski has a tray of hot dogs ready for the crowd on Sunday afternoon. Jaczynski attends the church, coming in from North Pembroke.

Erik Olsen, the church pastor, said about 200 people put on the event. He said about 85 percent of the church’s members first came to East Shelby Community Bible Church through Old Tyme Day.

“We try to communicate that Christians are kind and generous and we don’t care about money,” Olsen said.

He said putting on the event has been a great way for the church members to get to know each other and work together.

Aaron Mayne of Medina does a blacksmith demonstration at West Jackson Corners, a village the church has created  for the historical displays. Besides the blacksmith shop there is a wood worker’s shop, a barn, a sewing shop and a mill with a water wheel fed by a sluiceway, as well as several other structures.

Jeremiah Hudson introduces a girl to a Nigerian dwarf goat. Hudson owns the Muggle Magic Nigerian Dwarf Goat Farm in the Town of Alabama.

These kids dance as part of the old-fashioned day celebration.

Rose Allen does laundry the old-fashioned way – in a wash basin. She said laundry was hard work back in the 1800s. It was typically done on Mondays with the dirtiest clothes done last. Water needed to be gathered and warmed up. When the task was done, the water was poured in flower beds. People used onions and lemons to help clean the clothes, she said.

Becca Nigro of Oakfield, left, and JoAnne Johnson of Medina make corn husk dolls that were given away for a penny. There were also homemade ice cream and butter making displays.

Becky Cruz prepares a bouquet of flowers. Church members bought in buckets full of flowers to create the bouquets, which were available for one cent and drew a long line of people.

The horse-drawn wagons were popular with rides offered throughout the afternoon.

Photo by Tom Rivers: These three people enjoy hydro-bikes on the Erie Canal in Medina on Thursday near the Horan Road bridge in an “On the Canals” program where hydro-bikes and kayaks can be rented for free through the Orleans County YMCA. (Click here for more information.) People are cautioned from strenuous outdoor exercise on Monday due to wildlfire smoke causing poor air quality.

An air quality alert has been issued on Monday for Orleans County and all of New York State due to the wildfire smoke from Canada.

The alert begins at midnight and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

The air-quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 151 for Fine Particulates. The Air Quality Index was created as an easy way to correlate

levels of different pollutants to one scale. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern, the National Weather Service said.

The AQI value is normally in the range of 0 to 50.

When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease, according to the Department of Health.

Provided photo: A historic marker has been installed in the canal basin to highlight the Medina Aqueduct, considered an engineering marvel. It is the only true aqueduct remaining on the Erie Canal.

MEDINA – A historic marker recognizing the significance of the Medina Aqueduct has been installed in the canal basin by the Medina DPW.

The Orleans Renaissance Group was the prime mover of the project and facilitated its design and fabrication with Catskill Castings in Bloomville.

The ORG believes recognition of this engineering marvel was way overdue, as the feature is unique on the canal and an often overlooked point of true historic significance, said Chris Busch, chairman of the ORG.

“Few people know that it’s there,” Busch said. “Now they not only know it’s there, but they’ll know how important it is to the history of the canal.”

The Barge Canal System begun in 1907 and completed in 1918, was a result of a report from the Committee on Canals, created by Governor Theodore Roosevelt in 1898. The Canal’s width was extended to 125 feet with a minimum depth of 12 feet.

During this enlargement of the canal, the problem of carrying the canal over the gorge at Oak Orchard River in Medina was the most studied engineering issue of the 1917 rebuild. At one point, engineers had considered removing the loop and moving the canal to a straighter path across the river, using a steel truss system.

The idea was abandoned and the result is what is seen today – a true engineering marvel. The concrete wall which holds back the canal is actually a dam and is longer than the Hoover Dam, with an aqueduct carrying the canal across the Oak Orchard River.

Following is an excerpt from History of the Barge Canal of New York State by NYS State engineer and surveyor Noble E. Whitford, 1922, and provides an assessment and description of the engineering required to create this section of the canal:

“Because of the difficulties involved in the problem of crossing the Oak Orchard in the village of Medina, a short stretch of canal in this vicinity became one of the most interesting portions of the whole line and received a greater amount of study than any other section.

Seven schemes (to cross the Oak Orchard) and their costs, which included simply the length of the canal across the gorge, were as follows:

(1) A steel cantilever structure with a steel trough for the canal, which was estimated to cost $500.

(2) A three-hinged steel arch of 300 feet span, center to center, carrying a steel trough for its length of 300 feet, the approaches of about a hundred feet on either side being concrete troughs supported on short concrete arches. The estimated cost was $405,000.

(3) The same steel arch and trough, but with approaches built all of steel, the cost being $407,000.

(4) A concrete arch in place of the steel arch, the remainder of the structure, both trough and approach supports, being of steel, at an estimated cost of $300,000.

(5) An all-concrete structure, consisting of a plain concrete trough on a concrete arch of 300 feet span, center to center, estimated at $272,000.

(6) The same concrete structure, but with architectural adornment, which would raise the cost to $285,000.

(7) An earth fill over a long culvert, the canal to be carried in a concrete trough, estimated to cost $433,000.

After careful consideration, the sixth scheme was adopted for making detailed plans on which to let a contract. The reasons for this choice were, briefly, this concrete structure was considered to be the safest, most permanent and cheapest to build, cheapest to maintain and the most pleasing in appearance.

This diagram shows the aqueduct-dam and Medina Falls north of Medina’s canal basin.

The canal as it was finally built in this vicinity, embodies several interesting engineering features, the most important being the long stretches of retaining wall, some of it unusually high, and the aqueduct over the creek.

Although the extent of canal under this contract was only 2 1/3 miles long, there was on the north side one continuous stretch of retaining wall nearly 7,000 feet long, while on the south side, two pieces together measured about 4,600 feet.

Between 1,500 and 1,600 feet of the north wall was high, extending in some places well below the canal bottom, to the natural surface as it sloped down toward the gorge.

Here, the bed of the canal is a rock fill and the wall beside the channel sustains hydrostatic pressure for its full height, which reaches a maximum of 45 feet. Thus, in effect, the canal runs behind a high dam for nearly a third of a mile.

As a preventative against leakage at this high wall, a vertical plate of steel was embedded six inches in each of two adjoining sections at the joints formed in construction.”

“This aqueduct feature may not be as glamorous as other sites along the canal, but as you can see it is of vital importance,” Busch said. “It was heavily studied and was a true feat of engineering for its day. ORG is happy to bring this important piece of history to light and its role in the history of the Erie Canal and hopes it is a source of pride for our community.”

Busch further added, “We are incredibly grateful for the generous financial support we received in bringing this important project to fruition. We would like to publicly recognize and thank those who contributed to this effort. It would not have been possible without them.”

In addition to ORG, generous financial support was provided by Medina Sandstone Society, Honorable James Punch and Gabrielle Barone.

“We also thank mayor Mike Sidari and the Medina Village Board for their cooperation in making this a reality,” Busch said. “Also, village historian Todd Bensley for his expert assistance and support, and DPW superintendent Jason Watts, along with the personnel of Medina DPW for executing an excellent installation of the marker.”

The marker is located in Medina’s Canal Basin and joins the numerous historic markers and interpretive signs throughout the village that tell the story of Medina along the village’s Heritage Trail.

GAINES – The Cobblestone Museum is announcing three new historic preservation awards. The honorees represent the very best of what Orleans County stands for and supports in historic preservation, explained Doug Farley, director of the museum.

Nominations are being sought at this time and forms are available on the Cobblestone Museum’s website.

“The Cobblestone Society Orleans County Historic Preservation awards allow us to show appreciation to the people who are using historic preservation to safeguard and enhance structures in Orleans County,” Farley said.

They exemplify best practices in the field and demonstrate how preservation is integral to building stronger neighborhoods, boosting local economies and saving the places that are special to all of us. The Historic Preservation Awards celebrate those who work so hard to protect that shared heritage.

Nominations are due by Sept. 1.

Awards will be presented in three categories.

• Cobblestone – To recognize outstanding preservation and rehabilitation of a historic cobblestone structure located in Orleans County.
• Resident – To honor an Orleans County homeowner who completes rehabilitation/restoration of a 75-year-old or older historic residential structure.
• Business – To honor the body of work demonstrated by a business or organization in the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of historic projects in Orleans County.

For more information about the awards, click here.

The winners will be invited to an awards dinner on Oct. 20 at Maison Albion.