Diane Harvey

MIDDLEPORT – The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s.

Diane Harvey is described as being white, 5’5”, 140 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen this morning at 9.

“She may be wearing a light red-colored coat as this is missing along with her purse,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

If located call 911 immediately or the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office at (716) 438-3393.

Benefits for veterans, Medicare also could be interrupted with default

Press Release, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer revealed today that the fringe House Republicans’ plan to stop paying the nation’s bills and default on the debt would spell an “economic nightmare” for Upstate NY families.

Charles Schumer

Schumer said that congressional Republicans across the country should think hard about the local communities and families they represent, and places like Upstate NY, before continuing to send America down a politically extreme and disastrous economic path risking a first-ever default by the United States government.

If the U.S. were to default, the senator said this would risk benefits for over 1.8 million Upstate New Yorkers on Social Security, who receive $3 billion in benefits each month, threaten the health of those on Medicare, hinder care for veterans, risk disruptions for those who rely on SNAP and even lead to surging mortgage rates and increasing housing costs.

It would also blow a hole in the deficit and cause a sharp rise in the unemployed. Schumer said it is time for Democrats and Republicans to come together, as they have always done before regarding the debt ceiling, to ensure America continues to pay its bills on time.

“We cannot let the extreme views of a few who want to play chicken with the debt ceiling and recklessly risk driving the American economy off the cliff put Upstate New York families wallets at risk,” Schumer said. “This is not an abstract issue, if these irresponsible extremists fail to allow America to pay its bills and default, Upstate New Yorkers could see real dollars from so much of what they own disappear from their monthly Social Security checks, their retirement savings, their home value.”

Schumer said Upstate NY families have very specific reasons to worry about the debt ceiling.

A debt default would be catastrophic for Upstate New York’s many retirees who could lose an estimated $20,000 in retirement savings. In Upstate New York, there are over 1.8 million Social Security beneficiaries that receive nearly $3 billion in benefits each month.

A default could throw these payments in jeopardy for beneficiaries who earned these benefits.

Medicare payments could be interrupted, threatening the ability of New Yorkers on Medicare to receive and/or pay for healthcare. In total, New York State could see 3,766,000 Medicare beneficiaries lose or have benefits interrupted.

Medicare reimbursements for Upstate NY hospitals and other providers could also be interrupted leading to severe financial distress and even closures for these critically needed community services.

Veterans across Upstate New York who rely on the government for their disability, health care and pension benefits could be left with no support.

Upstate NY Families who rely on federal benefits to keep food on the table could be impacted. If the Treasury is unable to meet its obligations due to default, families who rely on federal nutrition assistance such as SNAP, WIC, or TANF could risk benefit disruption.

• 2,830,000 New Yorkers across the state depend on SNAP to get the nutrition they need. SNAP is a lifeline for many people who struggle to make ends meet.
• 1,651,000 children in New York State receive free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program. For many children, school meals are the most reliable meals they get during the day. Free and low cost school meals ensure that all children, regardless of their family’s income level, get the food they need to grow and learn at school.

Mortgage rates, credit card rates, overall interest rates could go up

Moody’s predicts a default could surge new mortgage rates to over 8% – adding significantly to the cost of a new home loan. At a time when mortgage interest rates are already sky high, the GOP threatens to send home financing costs even higher. Even the mere threat of default could send interest rates souring just as inflation is beginning to cool.

Schumer says overall interest rates are likely to increase. Default will trigger a liquidity shortage, making new student, small business and car loans costly and scarce.

It would also cause college financing costs to rise. Upstate New York is home to dozens of public and private colleges, and 58% of New York college students graduate with debt and borrow more than the national average student debt loan of more than $30,000.

Auto loan interest rates for new cars are already at their highest since 2019, and at their highest rate for used cars since 2010. The average cost of a used car in Albany is $33,200, a default will cause a spike in borrowing costs as interest rates skyrocket, adding almost $3,000 to the financing cost of the car.

The average interest rate on bank-issued credit cards is already high, reaching 19.1% late in 2022, according to a Federal Reserve consumer credit report released January 9th, marking the highest rate since the government began tracking this data in the 1970s.

“Look how clear it is: local economies, everyday wallets and Upstate NY families will take the hit should we default and stop paying our bills,” Schumer warned. “The larger Republican Party wants to work with Democrats to prevent this needless economic crisis, but it will take the public putting pressure to inoculate the fringe of the party and for bipartisanship to prevail in making sure America is able to pay its debts on time.”

‘Infrastructure must be a top priority as it significantly impacts our daily lives and local economy.’

Press Release, Assemblyman Michael Norris

Michael Norris

Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) has been appointed by Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay to lead the Assembly Transportation Committee for their conference.

Norris has served as a member of the Assembly Transportation Committee for the past four years, on the Joint Budget Transportation Conference Committee, and participated in the Minority Conference’s Taskforce on Critical Infrastructure and Transportation. Norris’s district used to include Shelby in Orleans County until redistricting changed the boundaries starting Jan. 1.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve our state in this capacity and for the recognition and trust Leader Barclay has placed in me to continue championing these critical issues in this new role,” Norris said. “Infrastructure has been a priority for me since I was first elected, and I have fought hard to deliver for our district in terms of long overdue increases to local highway, bridge, and sewer funding as well as during times of emergency.”

Norris was a leading advocate for the historic infrastructure and community revitalization economic development investment project along Lake Ontario known as the REDI Program. Additionally, he was the proponent of extending the Discover Niagara Shuttle into Lockport, has worked together with the New York State Canal Corporation to shine a light on canal improvement needs here in Western New York, and advocated for increasing budget funding for the state’s Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Fund, bridge programs, and sewer and water improvement projects.

Norris is the chairman of the Assembly Minority Conference and will continue his service as the Ranking Member of the Assembly Election Law Committee and as a member of the Assembly committees on Rules, Ways and Means, and Judiciary.

“As the Ranking Member, I look forward to working with highway superintendents and municipal leaders from across our state to raise awareness for parity between upstate and downstate infrastructure needs and funding allocations,” Norris said. “For far too long, the needs of downstate have dominated the conversation when it comes to transportation and infrastructure, and I will continue to refocus Albany’s attention and spending in a more balanced way. Though I am generally very critical of bloated state spending, we must take this moment in history to invest significantly in our failing infrastructure.  We must get back to the basics in our approach to governing, and infrastructure must be a top priority as it significantly impacts our daily lives and local economy.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak, right, presents a proclamation for National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Accepting the proclamation on Tuesday are Sharon Nenni, left, a caseworker for the Safe Harbour Program and Theresa Elam-Zwifka, director of services for the for Orleans County Department of Social Services.

Legislators highlighted human trafficking which is a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion or when a person induced to perform such an act is not yet 18 years old.

Legislators also said trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

“Human trafficking can happen to anyone, but certain populations are disproportionately at risk, including people affected by prior abuse or sexual violence, poverty, and unstable living situations or homelessness, as well as those systemically marginalized and underserved,” legislators said in the resolution.

The county a year ago used a state grant to start the Safe Harbour program, which is designed to offer a safe place for teens (12-18 years of age). In addition to providing education and awareness, Safe Harbour provides lessons in life skills to promote a strong foundation to help children launch into their future.

The Legislature on Tuesday voted to accept $43,350 in Safe Harbour NY funding from the state Office of Children and Family Services. That will fund a countywide response to child trafficking and exploitation during 2023.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Orleans and Niagara counties until 10 p.m. today, with 7 to 10 inches of snow expected.

Light snow will continue through midday, and then will increase this afternoon into early evening with snowfall rates at 1 to 2 inches per hour.

The snow is forecast to mix with light rain this evening, with winds gusting as high as 35 mph this evening, the Weather Service said.

“Travel could be very difficult,” the Weather Service said. “The hazardous conditions will impact the evening commute.”

Genesee, Monroe and northern Erie counties also have a winter storm advisory until 10 p.m. with 4 to 8 inches of snow expected.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Thrive Foods is looking to make a $3 million upgrade at the Freeze-Dry facility on Route 31 in Albion.

Company looks to invest $3 million in Albion, add 45 jobs

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is supporting an application for a $675,000 grant to assist with a $3 million expansion at Freeze-Dry in Albion, a company that was recently acquired by Thrive Foods.

Thrive is looking to invest in new dryers, machinery and other equipment, as part of a plan to expand operations at 111 West Ave., and add 45 employees as part of the first phase of growing in Albion, said Gabrielle Barone, vice president of the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

“This is concerning a wonderful project that I think will make everybody very, very happy,” Barone said during a public hearing on Tuesday about the application.

The county will apply for the grant funding from the state Office of Community Renewal. The Orleans Land Restoration Corporation, which is under the EDA umbrella, will assist the county with the application.

Barone said she is hopeful for a quick turnaround from the state, perhaps in three to four months on whether the funding is approved.

Thrive Foods in early September announced it acquired Freeze-Dry, which operated for the past 20 years in Albion at the former Lipton’s plant. Freeze-Dry Foods specializes in freeze-dried products, including pet treats, proteins and ingredients. The products have a shelf life of up to 25 years because Freeze-Dry eliminates moisture and oxygen, while preserving nutrients, flavor, taste, color and aroma.

Thrive Foods recently expanded into a new facility in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Now the company wants to upgrade the Albion facility.

“Hopefully there will be a need for additional phases to follow,” Barone said at the public hearing.

ALBION – Many people were hoping to see history today with the lifting of the Main Street bridge by crane, and seeing it moved to land north of the canal.

Onlookers will have to wait a little longer because the lift has been pushed back due to the weather today with snow in the forecast.

The state Department of Transportation said the bridge lift will likely be later this week but doesn’t have a set date yet.

Crane-Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport is general contractor for the project and has brought in a very large crane to move the trusses of the bridge.

The company will be doing a major rehabilitation of the bridge from 1914. The span has been closed since Nov. 14 for a repair project expected to last 18 months.

Organization backs Nourish New York which brings produce to food pantries, community distributions

File photo by Tom Rivers: Volunteers get food ready for a large distribution in Albion on Sept. 11, 2020. Each of about 300 vehicles received boxes of food from the Nourish New York program which has been going for about three years now since soon after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. On this distribution, people received Most of the people received grapes, strawberries, peppers, Brussels sprouts, apples, blackberries, raspberries, radishes and oranges.

Press Release, New York Farm Bureau

ALBANY – New York Farm Bureau released its 2023 state legislative priorities on Tuesday that addressed the needs and challenges of the state’s diverse agricultural community. NYFB President David Fisher and Public Policy Director Jeff Williams highlighted the major issues based on member approved public policy positions.

Farm Labor Needs

The first priority is asking New York State lawmakers to replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. This has been a big issue for NYFB members who have been saddled with assessment charges on their quarterly contributions to the unemployment insurance fund.

New York State borrowed billions from the federal government during the pandemic to cover increased UI costs. New York has been the only state that has not begun to make payments on the debt or interest, instead its passing those costs on to employers.

“This is inexcusable. New York must pay its own debts. There seems to be great interest in the legislature to make this happen, and we will continue to make this a priority,” said President Fisher.

NYFB is also concerned about efforts to raise the minimum wage once again. It just climbed a dollar an hour at the end of the year in upstate New York and will likely hit $15 by the end of this year to match what it is in New York City and on Long Island.

The farm overtime threshold will begin to drop as well next year, further increasing skyrocketing labor costs. New York State cannot keep making it more expensive to do business in this state, especially when other states are far behind New York’s wage rates. Like all consumers, farms are facing high inflationary costs.  Inputs are up across the board for energy, transportation, labor, fertilizer, and supplies.

“Let’s press pause on these annual income hikes and let things settle for the business community. Now is not the time to make it worse,” said Fisher.

State Budget

Another NYFB state priority is securing proper funding in the New York State budget. The governor’s spending plan will be released soon, and NYFB is looking to maintain funding for important animal health, promotion, and research programs along with full funding for the Environmental Protection Fund. The EPF is responsible for helping farms implement best management practices that include soil health and nutrient management programs that protect our land and waterways. This also includes efforts to help our farms meet the state’s climate goals.

NYFB is also hopeful the governor’s proposal for a refundable investment tax credit is included in the final budget. This will incentivize investment, especially coming off of challenging years of low commodity prices and then the pandemic.

“The state budget is an investment into our state’s farms and local food production.  We all benefit when we have a strong farming community,” said Fisher.

Support for Increased Markets for New York Grown Products

NYFB would like to continue funding for the Nourish New York program. It has proven to benefit both farms and people in need. It redirects fresh, locally grown food into regional food banks and emergency food pantries while also helping farms offset the costs to produce, harvest, package, and transport the healthy food.

“Nourish NY served as a lifeline during the pandemic, and we must maintain the program that ensures all new Yorkers have access to New York produced food,” said Jeff Williams.

NYFB is also supportive of the governor’s effort to increase state procurement to 30% for New York farm products. It makes sense for New York to support its own farms when purchasing food for its state agencies and institutions. But we also want to make sure that the regulations are not exclusionary or enforce value-based purchasing requirements that are not currently required by state or federal laws.

Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation

NYFB is concerned about the Extended Producer Responsibility legislation. This bill looks to pass the cost and responsibility of recycling packaging away from the consumer and to the source of the product, in this case, farms and food processors who need things like milk containers, wine bottles and food packaging to sell what they produce. This puts an extraordinary financial burden on to the state’s farms and businesses. This would eventually increase the cost of doing business and further drive-up consumer prices.

Direct Sales for Farm Beverages

NYFB is prioritizing legislation allowing for direct-to-consumer shipping for all New York produced farm beverages, including beer, cider, and distillates. Providing direct-to-consumer sales for craft spirts, hard cider and beer would be a new market opportunity for the industry and put craft beverage makers on parity with the state’s wineries that already have the ability to ship to consumers.

“It is imperative that we all work together to expand opportunities and capitalize on what we do well in New York,” Williams said. “We have one of the most diverse agricultural sectors in the country. It is worth it to each of us to maintain that strong connection to food and farm production. This benefits our food system, local economies, and overall quality of life in the state.”

Other priorities include:

• Support the development of solar energy that balances private property rights and the current and future land needs of agriculture in the state. Whenever possible, prime soils and actively farmed lands should be avoided in favor of previously disturbed or fallow lands and rooftop development for distributed generation.
• Support critical funding for current agricultural animal health (such as the Avian Disease Program), promotion, research, and environmental programs in the final FY 22/23 state budget.
• Solar development and the aggregate value of solar lease payments should be utilized as potential development value when property is appraised for PDR values or similar farmland preservation programs.
• Oppose any alteration to Soil and Water Conservation District laws that would change the make-up, mission and function of the State and County Soil and Water Conservation Districts without the statutorily-required inclusion and input from County Boards of Supervisors, or county legislatures, New York Farm Bureau, the New York State Grange, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the four-way partnership (NRCS, NYACD, the State Committee, and the Employees Association) of the Soil and Water District system.
• Oppose legislation that prohibits the use of agricultural chemical protectants and support strong DEC’s regulatory authority over pesticide registration in accordance with sound science.
• Oppose Extended Producer Responsibility legislation that doesn’t require consumer responsibility for packaging they receive and doesn’t unduly burden New York’s food and wine manufacturing businesses.
• Target federal and state infrastructure funding for rural roads, bridges and broadband.

Provided photo

ALBION – Ron Albertson (center), president of the Albion Lions Club, this evening presented awards to two long-time members, Dennis Smith (left) and Lloyd Wright. Smith has been an active member for 35 years and Wright for 25 years.

The Lions Club also will recognize the Rev. Wilfred Moss for 30 years of service to the club.

Albertson said all three of the long-time members remain active with the Lions, all three “are great community people.”

Wright is the treasurer. He also hauls the trailer carrying the club’s signs, grills and tables.

Smith organizes and oversees the annual geranium sale.

Moss leads the group in prayer at most of their meetings, which are held at the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street.

“He is a wonderful human being,” Albertson said about Moss. “He is very revered among the Lions.”

A winter weather advisory has been issued on Wednesday for Orleans County and Western New York from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The advisory includes Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

Snow and mixed precipitation are expected, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

“Precipitation may remain all snow longer across Niagara and Orleans counties,” the Weather Service said. “Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, locally higher in Niagara and Orleans counties.”

Ice accumulations of a few hundredths of an inch are expected across the Southern Tier, with winds gusting over 30 mph.

Additional snow is expected later Wednesday night through Thursday across Western New York, the Weather Service said.

The unemployment rate in Orleans County was 3.4 percent in December, one of the lowest rates on record in the county but up slightly from the 3.2 percent in December 2021.

In Orleans there were 16,400 people working in December 2022, compared to 16,300 in December 2021, according to the state Department of Labor. The number of people on unemployment was up from 500 to 600 during those 12 months, according to DOL data.

Other nearby unemployment rates from December 2022 include Genesee at 2.9%, Erie at 3.2%, Livingston at 2.9%, Monroe at 2.9%, Niagara at 3.5% and Wyoming at 3.3%.

Statewide the rate was 3.8 percent (down from 4.5 percent in December 2021) and nationally it was at 3.3 percent (down from 3.7 percent in December 2021).

The unemployment rate in Orleans is edging up after reaching a record low of 2.5 percent in October 2022. It was then 3.0 percent in November 2022.

Before 2022, the county’s unemployment rate has only dipped below 4 percent a few times in the past three decades:

• During 1990s, Orleans was below 4 percent twice – 3.8 percent in September 1999 and 3.9 percent in October 1999.
• From 2000 to 2009, the rate dipped below 4 percent twice – 3.8 percent in September 2000 and 3.6 percent in October 2000.
• From 2010 to 2019, the unemployment rate was below 4 percent five times – 3.5 percent in September and October 2018, 3.7 percent in November 2018, 3.7 percent in September 2019, and 3.8 percent in October 2019.

Then in 2021, the rate only dropped below 4 percent with 3.8 percent in November and then 3.2 percent in December.

During the pandemic, the unemployment rate hit a high of 16.8 percent in April 2020.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – The school district’s Pre-K and kindergarten registration will be on Wednesday, March 15, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Registration will be held in the Elementary Library Classroom. Please bring the following original documents to register your child: completed registration packet, birth certificate, immunization record and proof of residency (for example, utility bill). Copies will be made during your visit.  You will not be able to register without these documents.

To be eligible to register for Pre-K, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2023. To be eligible to register for kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2023.

Pre-K and kindergarten health physicals are required to be completed by Sept. 1, 2023.

If you need assistance completing the registration packet, we can help you on March 15, when you bring in your packet and other required documents.

To request a registration packet, click here and it can be mailed to you.

If you have any questions, please call Alexa Downey at 585-638-6318, extension 2580.

MEDINA – Village officials have their fingers crossed and are very hopeful the Village of Medina will soon be announced as a winner of either a $4.5 million Forward New York grant or a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has been announcing the awards in other regions of the state. Medina applied for the funding through the nine-county Finger Lakes Region. Medina has been a finalist before but hasn’t been awarded any of the millions.

This time the state expanded the program. It continues to offer the $10 million DRI to ten regions in the state. Those grants are more focused to cities. The Forward NY grants are a new program targeted to villages. Hochul said the big grants from the state are “catalysts” for private investment in the communities. The grants can jump-start projects and help finish off other efforts.

Mayor Mike Sidari of Medina said the village has applied and been interviewed by officials in the region and state for both the $10 million DRI and $4.5 million Forward NY. The funding will accelerate economic development, small business development, tourism and housing projects.

The village has identified potential projects. If awarded one of the grants, those projects would need to go through a final approval process with the state with more precise construction estimates.

Hochul, during a stop in Dunkirk on Monday, said the DRI program has proven to be successful and she believes the Forward NY will make a big difference for villages as well, creating more housing and business opportunities, while capitalizing on resources such as the Lake Erie waterfront in Dunkirk.

For too long the state has seen an exodus of young adults to other states, Hochul said.

“We exported – our greatest export was our human capital,” she said in Dunkirk. “We sent our smart young people to other states and other communities and let them build up. But I am so proud to have lived long enough to see a complete reversal where people want to live here. They understand the quality of life we have in especially our smaller cities, our little hamlets, our villages, and you can’t put a price tag on the quality of life of raising a family in these areas.”

The DRI and Forward NY are intended to build off existing strengths, to build on momentum in villages and cities already experiencing success.

Mayor Sidari said Medina officials presented an application showing a community on the upswing with a dynamic downtown, an engaged citizenry, and several businesses that have made big investments and expansions.

“We brought a great application to the committee and our interview went very well,” Sidari said this morning. “Hopefully the fifth time is the charm.”

On Monday, Hochul announced the Western New York region winners: $10 million DRI for the City of Dunkrik, and $4.5 million Forward NY for both Lancaster and Wellsville.

In the North Country, Hochul on Monday announced the $10 million DRI for the Town of Ticonderoga, and Forward NY grants of $4.5 million for the Village of Cape Vincent, and $2.25 million for both the villages of Lyons Falls and Waddington.

Albion man was tasked with bringing Howard’s ideas to reality

Photo by Tom Rivers: Mickey Tower, 87, looks over a newspaper section that detailed Christmas Park and the Santa School in Albion. Tower was in his early 20s when Howard hired him as an electrician and carpenter, tasking him with bringing Howard’s ideas into reality.

ALBION – Mickey Tower remains thankful for Charles Howard, the founder and visionary behind a Santa School in Albion and later a Christmas Park.

Tower was 20 when Howard hired him as a carpenter and electrician to be part of a team in building rides and other attractions at Christmas Park at the corner of Phipps Road and Gaines Basin Road in Albion.

Tower, now 87, said Howard was amazingly creative. He cast a vision for how a ride should look, and he told Tower, his brother Arnold Tower and Norman Starkweather to make it happen with no blueprints to go by.

“He had a very big imagination,” Tower recalled. “He wanted to build the world’s biggest apple pie and he did.”

The trio worked there about two months a year for about a decade. Working for Howard helped the three young men gain a reputation locally for challenging construction projects.

Photos courtesy of Orleans County Department of History: Charles Howard in the mid-1950s converted part of his farm into Christmas Park with amusement park rides, a petting zoo and other attractions.

They helped build the track for a train at Christmas Park, a tunnel, wooden snowflakes, wooden icicles hanging down from the roof, the fire place, and many other projects. There was never a slow moment. Howard had short- and long-term projects. Tower recalled the effort in turning a pond on the property into Snowflake Lake.

The fire place is one of the few remaining pieces of Christmas Park. Tower remembers filling Charlie Howard’s car and trailer with stones from Howard’s fields for the fire place.

Tower and his two colleagues would make the pieces for the attractions and exhibits, and set up gears and wires to make many of the parts move and light up.

This photo shows Charles W. Howard with a Santa at Christmas Park in Albion. Howard operated the Park and a school for Santa Claus in Albion until his death on May 1, 1966. He wanted wooden icicles on the school and barn.

He remembered “Santa’s Castle” where Howard told the trio to put a cloth on the ceiling to resemble clouds, and then he wanted flickering lights to look like stars. Howard told them what he wanted, and left them to work out the details.

Tower also remembered Howard buying a “Christmas tree ride” and telling his construction crew he wanted a large metal Christmas tree in the center. The carpenters and electricians were tasked with getting elements of the rides have a magical element – to go up and down with lights. Howard created the park in Albion before Darien Lake and when Disneyland was in its infancy.

Howard opened the Christmas Park at his farm on Sept. 2, 1956. The Santa-themed amusement park welcomed about 80,000 visitors annually.

“People came from all over the world, but the Albion people didn’t patronize like they should have,” Tower said. “It was very entertaining. It was something for your imagination.”

Howard ran the park as executive director until 1964. He died of a heart attack on May 1, 1966.

Tower said the crew was kept busy by Howard. Now, at 87, he regrets he never took photos of the crew in action. This was long before social media when now so much of life, even the mundane, is photographed and shared with others.

“At that time it wasn’t important,” Tower said about taking photos.

Tower recalled when Howard wanted reindeer antlers to be mounted and moving slightly as part of a sleigh for a float in a parade. He left it to Tower and his two buddies to figure out how to make that happen.

“He didn’t like anything fake,” Tower said. “He wanted it to be nice and to look like Santa.”

He remembers going with Howard to Watertown and filling two tractor trailers with amusement rides. Tower and his co-workers needed to get them into shape, and add some of the Christmas features envisioned by Howard.

“He was pleased with what we did,” Tower said. “He told us what he wanted, but didn’t tell us how to do it.”

The crew would transport rides and displays to the State Fair for Howard, and set them up. They did the same for Howard in building exhibits for fruit and muck farms. Howard was respected for telling a story, even about growing onions and apples, in a captivating way.

When Tower, Starkweather and Tower weren’t working for Howard, they built and remodeled houses.

Tower in the mid-1960s got out of the construction business and went to work for 10 years at Wolcott Dairy, and then worked 8 years in maintenance for Bayex in Albion,. He ended his career with Tower Electric.

He said Howard was a one-of-kind visionary whose mind was always racing.

“He had so many ideas,” Tower said.

3 to 7 inches of snow possible on Wednesday

Photos by Tom Rivers: The tree branches are covered in snow on the Courthouse lawn on Sunday evening in Albion. The courthouse down has been red on one side and blue on the other in a show of support for the Buffalo Bills and injured safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest in a game on Jan. 2.

The high temperatures will stay in the 30s throughout the week in Orleans County, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

Those high temps include 35 on Tuesday with less than a half inch of snow possible, 33 on Wednesday with 3 to 7 inches of snow possible, 31 on Thursday with less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation, 30 on Friday with a chance of snow showers, and 35 on Saturday with a chance of snow showers.

The courthouse was built in 1858 and is the focal point of the Courthouse Square, which is named to the National Register of Historic Places.