LYNDONVILLE – Town of Yates officials expect the town’s law on short-term rentals will be updated, but officials aren’t sure the best way to regulate the sites, which have become increasingly popular through Airbnb and Vrbo.

The Town Board held a two-hour public meeting on Monday evening that was attended by about 40 people. Town Supervisor Jim Simon said it was the beginning of a conversation on how to best balance the desires of people who rent out the sites with the concerns of some of the neighbors who worry about noise, late-night parties and a general uneasiness about changing faces next door.

“We’re trying to inform ourselves to make the nest decision possible,” Simon said.

Two towns in Orleans County recently passed laws regulating short-term rentals. Clarendon is largely keeping a hands-off approach, welcoming the sites and the visitors, Simon said.

The Town of Kendall passed a law in February bans any new short-term rentals in the waterfront districts, excluding bed and breakfasts which require a separate special use permit. Existing STRs are grandfathered in and allowed to continue.

Kendall officials said the waterfront districts have houses closer together on private one-lane roads. The STRs are presenting “parking and traffic impacts,” town officials wrote in the new law.

Kendall also is charging $500 every two years for short-term rentals to register in the town.

Simon said Yates has about a dozen STRs available in the summer through Airbnb and Vrbo, but he said the number of short-term rentals is likely higher.

Yates officials have heard few complaints from residents over the years about the sites. But Simon and board members said they foresee more out-of-town investors buying property in Yates, especially by the lake, to rent out.

Town Board members John Riggi and Harold Suhr said other lakefront communities have seen house prices skyrocket due to investors buying the sites for short-term rental income.

“People are buying up lakefront property,” Riggi said. “My nightmare is having a lakeshore full of property managers.”

In some communities investors are pricing local people out of the market who want to buy lakefront homes as primary residences. Riggi said the STRs as investments have transformed many communities around the state, making it too expensive for locals to buy homes.

But how to keep that from happening in Yates? Board members said they don’t want to see the character of the community changed, and the lakefront becoming exorbitant.

Three STR owners spoke at the meeting and said they keep close tabs on who they rent the sites to, and the revenue is needed to pay the taxes and also improve the properties.

Tom Arlington of Akron owns a cottage on the lake and has been renting it out since 2007. He provides information to the guests about many local businesses and urges them to patronize the community.

Arlington said he would support “a reasonable STR law” but doesn’t want the town going overboard, making too many regulations and imposing higher costs on the sites.

Another STR owner said the owners screen their guests and are responsive to any concerns from neighbors. She said the town could impose fines on STR operators who violate regulations for noise, or too many people and vehicles at the sites. She doesn’t want to see more fees and rules for operators who are already running good operations, and bringing visitors and tourism money into the community.

Paul Lauricella, chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party and a candidate for the Town Board, urged the town officials to just leave the current law alone, and not impose more regulations on short-term rentals.

“This has been going on for 30 years,” Lauricella said about cottages and homes being rented out. “You (should) do nothing. You’re just going to stir up a hornet’s nest.”

Simon said the town needs to update its law for short-term rentals. That should begin with a definition of what a short-term rental is, he said.

The current town law defines a transient resident as someone staying for up to 30 days.

“The old law doesn’t suffice in today’s day and age,” Simon responded to Lauricella.

The town isn’t aware of all the sites that are rented out in Yates. Simon noted the town requires special use permits for other businesses that operate from homes, but hasn’t been doing that for short-term rentals even though they are functioning as revenue-generating enterprises.

Ken DeRoller, a former county legislator from Kendall, said the issue is a difficult one to regulate to meet the needs of the property owners looking to make some money and also balance the needs of neighbors and the community.

DeRoller would like to see the three lakeshore towns in the county – Carlton, Kendall and Yates – work together and establish consistent regulations for STRs.

One resident urged the town to try to rein in the sites, which can pop up without a neighbor or the town being aware of it.

“We didn’t buy our home to have a motel next to us,” she said.

Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle

ROCHESTER – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced final provisions to lower the cost of insulin to $35 per month for Medicare recipients have taken effect this month. Congressman Morelle helped pass the landmark legislation in 2022 after years of fighting to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

“I’ve heard from too many people in my community that have had to ration doses or stop taking insulin altogether due to its outrageously high cost. Thankfully, for many families and individuals, those days are over,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “Last year, I voted to pass legislation to reign in the inflated cost of insulin, and I’m proud to see prices finally coming down. Now, I’m working to extend these cost-saving benefits to everyone—because no one should be forced to choose between refilling their prescriptions and putting food on their table.”

Provisions to lower the cost of insulin, a prescription medication millions of diabetes patients across the country rely on to survive, were passed into law as part of the Inflation Reduction Act last year.

On January 1, 2023, the $35/month cap on insulin took effect under Medicare Part D, and just this month it was extended to those who receive insulin through a traditional insulin pump under Medicare Part B and Medicare Advantage. Roughly 4 million New Yorkers are currently enrolled in some form of Medicare insurance program and will benefit from this price cut.

In 2019, Rep. Morelle commissioned a report by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform showing the price of insulin for diabetic patients in Monroe County is roughly 21 times more expensive than the identical medicine is in Australia, 14 times more than in the United Kingdom, and 12 times more than it is just across the border in Canada.

Even worse, studies show that manufacturers could charge as little as $7-$11 per month for Insulin and still make a profit—yet prices for these drugs continue to rise to over $450 per month. The legislation passed last year took steps to address this injustice for Medicare beneficiaries, and now Rep. Morelle is working to extend this benefit to everyone, regardless of their age.

Provided photo: James Williams has joined United Apple Sales and HH Dobbins as business development manager.

Press Release, United Apple Sales in Lyndonville

LYNDONVILLE – A new face will be joining the United Apple team for the 2023/24 season. James Williams has joined the Lyndonville-based grower, packer and shipper as business development manager.

Williams is bringing a diverse background in the produce industry. Previously a business development manager at Intergrow Greenhouses and a produce merchant at Sam’s Club in Bentonville, AR, James has experience from tropicals, to grapes and potatoes to tomatoes.

“Growing up on the family farm here in upstate NY where we primarily did potatoes and onions, I was always drawn towards the small orchard part of our farm,” he said. “Choosing your production system and the varieties you are betting on for the next 25 years, and then year in and year out catering towards the needs of those trees to make it harvest you’ve been working towards. The commitment has to be there day in and day out. I’m excited to officially enter the tree fruit industry, and to work with and learn from our 50-plus grower partners here in New York and abroad!”

His primary tasks will be in the sales and marketing arena, but Williams also will be working with Justin Whipple, the grower operations manager, on grower relations. They will be communicating customer wants and needs, stressing importance of quality and planning out future varietal programs.

“The great thing is James is a new grower himself,” said Brett Baker, United Apple President. “He and his wife Jamie planted about 25 acres to start out their own orchard, so James has a horse in the race as well. This will give him the ability to experience and feel the challenges on the grower end while working with our retail and wholesale customers.”

The 2023 growing year has certainly presented some challenges here in New York. A mid-May frost hit much of the 3 growing regions here in New York State.

“Most areas were past bloom at the point the frost rolled in, but some were fruitlets froze off and some finishing issues becoming apparent later on,” Baker said. “On years like this it certainly goes to show the importance of our partnerships in other production regions in North America. Our Pacific Northwest Office manned by Josh Turnstall keeps United abreast to the outlook of the Washington crop, what varieties are going in and sets up strategic details with west coast shippers. Our production alliances in Michigan will also play a key part is this upcoming crop year. Although our bread and butter is here in New York, our main objective is to offer consistent quality and availability, year in and year out for our growing customer base.”

United Apple Sales is a leading northeast grower, packer, shipper and marketer of domestic apples, pears and cherries. The company has deep roots in the agricultural market starting with its initial farm in 1905.  Over the past 11 decades, it has evolved into an integrated produce company that also has import and export capabilities to offer full-year supply assurance and merchandising services to retail, wholesale, and canning and juicing companies. United Apples is a member of a select group of orchardists growing new apple varieties: EverCrisp, RubyFrost and SnapDragon.

HH Dobbins produces over 1 million finished 40-pound cases of apples annually. The business employs 60 local associates and works with over 50 NY growers.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: The banner across Quaker Road in Barker advertises the town of Somerset’s bicentennial celebration July 21, 22 and 23.

BARKER – The town of Somerset is making plans to celebrate a milestone in its history this month.

On July 21, 22 and 23 the town will celebrate its bicentennial.

For months, a committee consisting of Jeff and Amy Dewart, Tracy Carmer, Gail Damon, Fred Leuer, Priscilla Whitford, Grace Bodine, Jim Hoffman, Dave Hotaling, Wayne Rider and Aaron Davis has been planning the three days full of events.

An opening ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. July 21, followed by a cruise-in on Main Street from 4 to 8 p.m.; music in Barker Village Park from 5 to 8 p.m.; vendors in the park from 4 to 8 p.m.; and a corn hole tournament at 5 p.m. at Barker fire hall.

Saturday’s festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a 5K race on Main Street. At 10 a.m., Somerset Youth Baseball/Softball will begin, with All-Star games at Somerset Town Park. A corn hole tournament again takes place at Barker fire hall at 10 a.m. From noon to 6 p.m., vendors will be set up in the Village Park and historical displays will be set up in Barker fire hall.

The bicentennial parade will begin at 2 p.m. on Quaker Road.

The fire hall is also the setting for food trucks from noon to 6 p.m. and for beer and Big Band Night from 7 to 11 p.m. Fireworks cap off the day’s events at 10 p.m. between the school and the fire hall.

On Sunday, events begin with a community church service from 9:30 to 10-:30 a.m. at Faith Community Church, where Barker Lions Club will service a chicken barbecue from 11 a.m. until sold out. There will also be a petting zoo at the church from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Barker Community Band will play there from 1 to 3 p.m. An ice cream social is also scheduled at the church from 1 to 3 p.m.

A tractor display will be set up from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town Highway Department.

A closing ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church.

The town of Somerset was established on Feb. 8, 1823 when several citizens met at the home of Silas Mead. Originally part of the Holland Purchase, 23,314 acres fronting on eight miles of Lake Ontario, was separated from the northern section of Hartland on the first Tuesday of April, and the township was born. Historical accounts note that the founding fathers were men of sturdy stock who acquired their small empires for two or three dollars an acre.

Decisions made at this meeting included electing officials, one being James Wisner, supervisor, and raising $150 for roads and bridges.

Two theories have evolved regarding naming of the township. One proposes that the name is of English origin relating to Somersetshire, a maritime county in southwest England. It could also be presumed the name originated with John Adam Pease, who came here in 1817 with his wife Hannah from Somerset County, N.J.

A small village developed around the four corners of Somerset, where the original settlers were Isaac Starbuck, William Harrington, Isaac Haight and David Lockwood.

The town of Somerset covers 23,000 acres of level farm land, adapted to the growing of fruit, vegetable crops and grain.

There were no modern tools in the early days and roads were scraped with a section of a log seven or eight feet long. An old saw blade was inserted in the log a little off center to make it draw at an angle. Sometimes four or six horses were required to draw each scraper. Roads needed attention after every hard rain.

A small group of Presbyterians formed the first church on Jan. 26, 1824.

Most of the land in the town had been purchased by 1835 and population had increased to 1730. There were 12 school districts and a militia of 155 men. By 1850 it boasted three churches, several shops, two stores and a post office. A fine hotel welcomed visitors and the schools were highly praised.

On Jan. 7, 1870, tracks of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad were laid on land offered by David Barker. Originally, the survey called for the tracks to run through the Sharpsteen property, now owned by Barker Central School, but Barker’s shrewd donation ensured the railroad’s passage through his farm. People of Somerset raised $2,000 for a depot and Somerset Station served the area for several years. When Somerset Village began to decline with interest centered around the depot, the name was changed to Barker.

Settlement grew around the railroad and a school and post office were added in 1878. The center of Barker village was established in 1878 as the corner of Main Street and Quaker Road. William Atwater surveyed the site and marked Main Street with a line from the corner to the east line of David Barker’s property. The village of Barker grew rapidly, with the addition of East Avenue, surveyed in 1881 and bordering the Coleman farm; Church Street, laid out in 1886; and a subdivision along Pallister Avenue by Perry Pallister.

A fire leveled all of Main Street west of the depot in 1895, but business places were soon rebuilt, and Barker was again thriving after the turn of the century.

The village of Barker was incorporated in 1908.

Although most of the residents of the town of Somerset are now employed in the industries of the town and those nearby, Somerset remains a fairly rural community owing to its rich soil conducive to growing fruit.

Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

If you are 45 years old or older or have a family history of colorectal cancer, now is the time to talk with your primary care provider about what screening option is right for you.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and women. It is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

The CDC also notes that in New York State among all races and ethnicities, the age-adjusted rate of colon and rectum cancer was 32.8 per 100,000 people in 2020.

Colorectal (or colon) cancer is a disease where the cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. The colon is the large intestine. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus. When screening for colorectal cancer, providers are looking for abnormal growths called polyps, which may turn into cancer over time. Removing any polyps early on may decrease the risk of cancer.

For some people, there are no symptoms of colorectal cancer at first. Most colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum.

“The only way to determine if a person has polyps or colorectal cancer is through regular screening,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “There are several types of screening (stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and CT colonography) and you should talk with your healthcare provider to determine which is best for you. Early detection is key in preventing colorectal cancer and also helps to reduce a person’s risk.”

Choosing to eat healthier has shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer as well as other chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. People are also encouraged to increase physical activity, keep a healthy weight, limit alcohol consumption and avoid the use of tobacco/nicotine. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can reduce your risk and when you should start screening for colorectal cancer.

For more information on Health Department programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:

• Orleans County: 585-589-3278
• Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555

Press Release, Genesee County Economic Development Center

TOWN OF ALABAMA – The Genesee County Economic Development Center and National Grid today announced that a 1.9-mile portion of a 115-kilovolt electric transmission line in Genesee County has been relocated to open more than 300 acres of land for future development at the Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park site.

The transmission line, which had previously cut across a portion of the 1,250-acre site, now runs adjacent to it. Future tenants will join Plug Power and Edwards at STAMP and have clean hydropower delivered to them from the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston.

Delivering hydropower to STAMP aligns with New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to obtain 70 percent of electricity statewide from renewable sources by 2030 on the path to a zero-emission grid.

More than $1 billion will be invested at STAMP by Plug Power and Edwards for projects that will create up to 680 new, family-sustaining jobs in the emerging green hydrogen and semiconductor sectors.

Plug Power is constructing North America’s largest green hydrogen manufacturing facility with a $677 million investment that will produce 74 tons of green hydrogen a day. Edwards is investing approximately $319 million to build a semiconductor dry pump manufacturing facility that the company has dubbed as its factory of the future.

“Between Edwards and Plug Power, and recent infrastructure upgrades thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State, STAMP has generated $1 billion of capital investment and National Grid has played a vital role in helping us attract projects that will benefit Genesee County and surrounding communities, including the Buffalo and Rochester regions, for generations to come,” said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde.  “The hydropower provided by the New York Power Authority and the infrastructure built by National Grid are energizing companies of the future right here at STAMP, giving us a competitive advantage as we compete globally for companies in these emerging business sectors.”

In addition to working with GCEDC on the transmission line relocation, National Grid’s commitment to STAMP has included funding from its robust suite of economic development programs, which have been used to support the site’s marketing efforts.

Since 2003, National Grid’s 18 economic development programs have provided more than $145 million in assistance, helping to create or retain more than 65,000 jobs and supporting almost $10.5 billion in private and public investment across upstate New York.

“The electric infrastructure and equipment needed to serve STAMP customers are state-of-the-art and will provide the necessary capacity to deliver renewable hydropower to Plug Power and Edwards, as well as future STAMP tenants,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. He added that the transmission circuit at STAMP is paired with an additional 115 KV transmission line that will be connected to a 600-megawatt substation that is currently under construction. “We have a responsibility to provide affordable, reliable power to our customers and the GCEDC and Genesee County community are building something special at STAMP.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Vernette Hill sings and Glenn Beard plays bass for the band Feedback based in Hamlin on Monday evening during the Yates Community Library’s “Concerts on the Lawn” series.

The library’s concert series started with the Old Hippies on July 3.

The schedule for the remainder of the series includes Dave Stockton at 11 a.m. on July 17, Ghost Riders at 7 p.m. on July 24, Celtic Spirit at 6:30 p.m. on July 31, the Barker Community Band at 7 p.m. on Aug. 7,  The 3 Dats at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 14 and then Blue Sky at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 21.

The concerts are behind the library at 15 North Main St. The concerts receive funding administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Feedback plays music from classic rock, blues, and motown, to country and modern hits.

The band includes Vernette Hill on lead vocals, Bill Tindal on keyboards and percussion, Russ Coriddi on guitar, Glenn Beard on bass, and Nick Russo on drums.

The library on Sunday at 3 p.m. will be hosting Shake on the Lake for a performance of  “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged),” a comedy presented by a theater company based in Perry.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and members of the Senate Republican Conference today sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging her to prioritize unserved and underserved communities throughout New York State when allocating the federal high-speed internet grants that were announced recently.

The federal government announced a $42.5 billion multi-state allocation to bring affordable and reliable high-speed internet service to every community in the nation. New York State is expected to receive nearly $665 million in funding to help expand affordable and reliable internet access.

Many communities, particularly rural upstate communities, still have no access or very limited access to high-speed internet despite investments that were intended to ensure broadband access in every corner of the state.

Many communities were left out when the previous programs were rolled out and still remain without access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet today. In order to not repeat the shortcomings of previous broadband programs, the Senate Republican Conference is advocating that the Executive ensure these communities are prioritized when dispersing these newly announced federal funds.

“Today, more than ever, access to high-speed internet is a necessity for work, school, and more. We cannot rely upon the creativity of local communities to ensure people have access. We have a responsibility to find a permanent solution. This recent announcement of funding provides an opportunity to solve this problem and ensure all unserved and underserved New Yorkers have access to high-speed internet,” the Senators wrote.

Provided photo: Loren Strickland is shown with his wife Pam before his illness.

RIDGEWAY – Friends and family are organizing a benefit on Saturday at the Ridgeway Fire Hall for Loren Strickland, 48, who is currently in hospice care for stage 4 laryngeal cancer.

Strickland lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife Pam, a native of Lockport, and her two teen-age sons. They moved to Kansas about five years ago for a job opportunity.

Loren also has two daughters and a son in Lewiston. Loren’s cancer was in remission following seven weeks of radiation but returned after he was injured in a motorcycle accident. Chemotherapy has failed to slow down the cancer in its return, said Mrs. Strickland, who has been her husband’s full-time caregiver since March.

The couple recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary.

Pam’s close friends, Bridget Damon and Wendy Strong, are the lead organizers for the benefit on Saturday with help from many other family and friends.

Tickets for beef on weck dinners are $10 and there will be many baskets up for raffle, as well as bigger ticket items and 50/50 raffles. There will also be Strickland Strong T-shirts, car decals, bracelets, koozies and keychains available for purchase.

The benefit goes from 1 to 5 p.m. at the fire hall at 11392 Ridge Rd., Medina.

LYNDONVILLE – The Diocese of Buffalo announced today that St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyndonville will not be rebuilt following a fire on Feb. 28 that caused extensive damage to the site at 36 Lake Ave.

The decision announced today follows “a period of consultation with diocesan officials, the pastor and parish leaders from Our Lady of the Lake worship site and its Family of Parishes,” the Diocese said in a news release.

The church and the attached structure will be demolished, said Diocesan spokesman Joe Martone.

“We don’t have a timeframe on when that will happen,” Martone said.

Firefighters were dispatched to the church at 3:41 away with a passerby seeing flames shooting out from the back of the building. The fire started in a classroom structure attached to the church. There was smoke and water damage throughout much of the building.

The pews were covered in soot and soggy insulation from the fire. The walls peeled and the former white interior turned gray and black after the fire.

No Masses have been observed at the site since the fire with St. Joseph’s parishioners welcomed at Catholic churches in Medina and Barker.

“The event of this fire was both shocking and saddening for all of us,” said Pastor Mark Noonan, who leads the family of Catholic churches in Orleans County and eastern Niagara. “We love our churches. Over the course of the past few months, it became apparent that St. Joseph’s worship site could not be sustained long-term, and thus we could not responsibly take the step of rebuilding it following the fire. I know that our entire Catholic community in Eastern Niagara and Orleans counties, Family of Parishes #11, is here to come together and to build one another up in the grace and life of the Holy Spirit.”

St, Mary’s in Medina and St. Patrick’s in Barker will begin to create appropriate memorials honoring St. Joseph’s, the Diocese said.

St, Mary’s is about a 10-minute drive from Lyndonville while St. Patrick’s is about 15 minutes away.

As a result of the pastoral planning process, St. Patrick’s in Barker was linked and then merged with St. Joseph’s in Lyndonville on March 30, 2009. The merged parish was then named Our Lady of the Lake.

MEDINA – The school district announced today that it will be providing school supplies – folders, paper, pens, pencils, rulers, erasers and binders – to all students in the district. That’s about 1,400 students in grades prekindergarten through 12.

“We feel it’s a great thing for our families in the district,” said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, Medina Central School superintendent.

Kruzynski said some families struggle with the expense of the all the supplies, or sometimes they are sold out and difficult to locate in time for the school year in early September.

“It’s something we can do to make it a little easier for our families,” Kruzynski said today.

The district has a master list of school supplies and will order them for all students.

“The list has been getting longer and longer each year, and more specific,” he said. “This way we can get exactly what the teachers want and get everyone started off right.”

The district can also get a better price by ordering in a larger quantity, he said.

Medina has a high poverty rate, Kruzynski said. This is the latest effort to try to ease some of the financial pressures on families, he said.

Medina in 2018-19 started offering free breakfast and lunch to all students through implementation of the Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program.

That program provides the opportunity for schools in high poverty areas to provide two nutritious meals every school day, while eliminating the stigma for those students previously identified as “low income.”

ALBION – It’s the 25^th annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour with 750 people on bikes passing through Orleans County today.

The annual 8-day event started on Sunday in Buffalo, with the cyclists ending the day in Medina where the camped in tents on the school campus.

They were up early today headed east and were greeted with fruit, water and other snacks by the Albion Merchants Association.

These cyclists ride by The Lockstone and Tinsel, an events and ice cream business along the canal and Main Street in Albion. Justin Suarez, an artist from Rochester, painted the flower mural about a year ago at 160 North Main St.

Albion Merchants Association members Natasha Wasuck and Anita Finley offer fruit snacks and refreshments to the cyclists.

Holley is an official rest stop for the event with more food and beverages available for the cyclists.

Stan Farone of Albion is riding in the event for the sixth year. Farone said he trains for the event in the months leading up to the long ride across the state. He enjoys it so much he has a tattoo on his arm noting the journeys.

Farone, 73, said he loves seeing friends from previous rides and meeting many new people.

There are participants from 40 states in the ride.

These riders are on the towpath heading east out of the Village of Albion with the steeple for the First Presbyterian Church in back.

Parks & Trails New York organizes the event. The organization encouraged cyclists to pay special attention for these sites in Orleans County today:

Medina Aqueduct – “Shortly after rejoining the trail in Medina, you’ll ride across the aqueduct over Medina Falls. Use caution and consider walking your bike, as the trail runs right along the edge of the canal in this stretch. The Medina Aqueduct is the only aqueduct still in use by today’s Erie Canal.”

Culvert Road – “About two miles east of Medina, the Erie Canal runs over Culvert Road — the only place where a road passes under the canal. Listed in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, it’s a strange feeling to stand under the Erie Canal and have canal water drip down your neck.”

Village of Albion – “At one time, the village of Albion was the unlikely location of a unique venture, a Santa Claus School! Keep an eye out for the jolly old fellow himself as you roll through.”

Tinsel – “A certified Bike Friendly New York business, stop in  Tinsel  for smoothies, shakes, and sundaes at this shop along the trail, located right next to Albion’s Main Street lift bridge.”

Village of Holley – “Less than a mile away from the trail, a 35-foot cascade waterfall flows in Holley’s Canal Park. The waterfall flows over red Medina Sandstone — used on the exterior of a lot of historic buildings in Western NY canal towns — and is surrounded on each side by lush wooded landscape.”

Bob and Kathy Schumacher of Medina dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus and greeted the cyclists this morning in Albion. They told the group about Albion’s role as the home of a school for Santa. A new bronze statue of Santa was unveiled last week on Main Street in honor of Charles W. Howard, the founder of the Santa School.

The cyclists in previous years could easily check out the downtown by crossing the Main Street lift bridge, but that was more challenging today with the bridge out while getting an extensive overhaul. The Ingersoll Street bridge, however, is close by and cyclists could still explore Albion.

This map shows today’s route, the longest of the eight days at 62.2 miles. The cyclists start in Medina and go to Fairport.

A cyclist approaches The Lockstone building in Albion with has been transformed in recent years into an events center hosting many weddings.

These riders head east on the towpath rounding a bend between the Brown Street and Butts Road canal bridges.

MEDINA – There are 750 cyclists from 40 states and Canada spending tonight in Medina during the first let of the 400-mile, eight-day Cycle the Erie Canal ride along the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany.

This is the 25th anniversary of the ride, which is a fundraiser for Parks and Trails New York, said Erica Schneider with Parks and Trails New York.

Schneider is riding with the cyclists to talk to them and the public about the mission of Parks and Trails New York.

“The ride is a fundraiser for Parks and Trails New York to aid our mission to promote and expands public parks,” Schneider said. “It’s really a party on wheels for eight days. All the communities give us such a big welcome.”

Those welcoming activities along the ride include live music, food trucks, artisan vendors, a massage therapist in Medina and Clyde, wine and cheese tasting in Seneca Falls and post cards in Brockport for riders to write notes back home.

April Amodei, director of Parks and Trails New York, said she loved coming to Medina.

“You are always so good to us,” she said. “I love the sweet cherries every year.”

(Left) Erica Schneider, on staff with Parks and Trails New York, is riding with the cyclists on Cycle the Erie Canal this year to talk to folks along the way and let the cyclists and public know about the work her organization does. The ride is a fundraiser for Parks and Trails New York. (Right) Sev Gonnella of Marcellus, left, and Debbie Curtis of Clarence oversee a truck filled with supplies for the cyclists. They drive the truck one day and ride their cycles the next.

Guin Panek from Ledge Rock Farms provides sweet cherries for the cyclists every year, said Jim Hancock, chair of the Medina Tourism Committee which chairs the event in Medina.

Hancock also shared a story about a rider who flew here from California and purchased a bicycle in Buffalo. When she gets to Albany, she plans to sell it and then fly back home.

Two new participants in the event this year are Sev Gonnella of Marcellus and Debbie Curtis of Clarence. They are volunteering to drive a supply truck one day, then they ride their cycles the alternating day.

Gonnella said he decided to volunteer for the ride because some of his friends told him it is a wonderful time with wonderful people and a great organization.

“I wasn’t with them 30 minutes when that all proved to be true,” he said.

Curtis is taking part partly to prepare for a bicycle trip she is taking alone cross country next year to raise funds for mental illness.

(Left) Dave Waldburger of Connecticut looks at a map on which cyclists are writing their names on the states they come from. Cyclists participating this year come from 40 states and Canada. (Right) Len and Patty Policelli of Nazareth, Pa. relax by their tent after arriving in Tent City on Sunday afternoon. Len made the ride in 2012, but this is Patty’s first time.

The cyclists began their journey Sunday morning in Buffalo, riding the Shoreline Trail north along the shores of the Niagara River to Tonawanda, where they encountered the western entrance of the Erie Canal. From there, the followed the trail through Amherst into Pendleton, arriving in Lockport around lunchtime.

The locks were pretty impressive to Patty Policelli, who is riding with her husband Len from Nazareth, Pa.

“This is a real adventure,” Patty said. “Most of the work is done for you. All you have to do is ride. The neatest thing was riding along the canal and seeing the locks and bridges.”

Continuing east, cyclists passed through Gasport and Middleport, arriving in Medina early afternoon and throughout the rest of the day. After setting up camp, where volunteers unloaded gear, the cyclists had the option to relax, have an on-site massage or take a shuttle downtown to view different sites, such as the Sandstone Hall of Fame, Visitors Center, Medina Historical Society Museum, Erie Canal Basin and a concert in State Street Park.

North Star Cruises was also available to give a one-hour canal cruise.

The Author’s Note book store had canal history books available in the school auditorium, where Jonathan Duda gave a presentation on “Who we Are and What we Do” from 6 to 6:30 p.m. , followed by Craig Williams talked about “Mapping the Erie Canal” in time and space from 7 to 8 p.m.

A buffet dinner was served by Zambistro from 5 to 7 p.m.

Also on site were vendors, including Della’s Chocolates and Case-Nic Cookies, and live music from 7 to 9 p.m. by Pocket Change.

“We are so thankful to share such a meaningful experience with all our riders, not to mention the amazing towns along the way who really go above and beyond, year after year,  to roll out the red carpet for our riders,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of Parks and Trails New York, in a press release. “With more of the Erie Canalway Trail completed year after year, and an even greater sense of celebration and joy from the towns and cyclists, Cycle the Erie Canal truly just keeps getting better and better.”

Cyclists will depart Monday morning enroute to their Monday night campsite in Fairport. They will be greeted in Albion in the morning and Holley is an official rest stop.

The cyclists will spend subsequent nights camping in Seneca Falls, Syracuse, Rome, Canajoharie and Schenectady.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Matt Tabor dressed as Deadpool for the second straight year in Lyndonville’s Fourth of July parade. Tabor appears as the character and other versions of Deadpool to help spread some fun.

LYNDONVILLE – By day Matt Tabor works for National Fuel as a serviceman. He has been doing that job for 10 years.

On weekends Tabor often is in costume in one of his Deadpool characters. He was in the Lyndonville Fourth of July parade on Tuesday as Deadpool, a Marvel Comics character that Tabor likes for his very sarcastic sense of humor.

“I talk the same way and I identify with the character,” said Tabor, a Lyndonville native who now lives in Grand Island.

He creates his own costumes and has different variations of Deadpool. There is Darthpool, Pandapool, Venompool, Santapool and Deadpool Kid.

He also appears as X-Men Trainee, Hannibal Lecter, Ghostface, The Grumpy Pterodactyl, Aquaman and King Shark.

Photos courtesy of Matt Tabor: Matt Tabor has created other Deadpool characters including SantaPool and Wade Wilson, the Deadpool character portrayed by Ryan Reynolds in the X-Men and Marvel movies. The photo at right shows Tabor without a mask.

Tabor, 50, has been a big enthusiast for making characters since he was a kid and part of local haunted houses as fundraisers during Halloween.

He went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for special effects and makeup. For many years he appeared at events (comic cons) as a costumed vampire character before shifting to Deadpool about four years ago.

“It brings smiles to peoples’ faces and during Covid that’s what people needed,” Tabor said.

Matt Tabor’s Deadpool characters also include Darthpool and Pandapool.

He used to go to the grocery store wearing his Deadpool costume to try to lift peoples’ spirits during the peak of the Covid restrictions.

Tabor is part of the Western New York Cosplayers, a group with about 35 members who dress up as superheroes and villains. They often visit sick children in hospitals and appear at charity events.

Tabor said his schedule is getting busier and he is becoming more well known as Deadpool and some of the variations he has come up with. He recently attended comic conventions in Watertown and in Vermont.

Tabor makes his appearances, “work permitting.” He will try to keep Lyndonville in his schedule on the Fourth of July so he can visit friends and family, while bringing some added joy along the parade route. He is the son of Mike and Faye Tabor.

For more information, check Tabor’s website at www.716pool.com.