Dr. Charles E. Fairman will be featured at tours of Lynhaven Cemetery on Aug. 19, Aug. 21
Illustration from the Historical Album of Orleans County, 1879.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 2, No. 29
LYNDONVILLE – Several fine Italianate houses grace Main Street in Lyndonville. Our illustration, which is contained in the Historical Album of Orleans County, 1879, depicts one, the home at 55 South Main Street. The house was owned by Dr. J.D. Warren in the 1870s and subsequently by his daughter Louise and her husband, Dr. Charles E. Fairman, until his death in 1934.
Charles E. Fairman gained renown as a young man as the youngest graduate of the Yates Academy, where both of his parents were teachers. Subsequently, he was the youngest person to receive a degree from the University of Rochester. Having earned his medical degree at Shurtleff College, Illinois, in 1887, he returned to Lyndonville where he practiced medicine for many years, using as his office the distinctive small building to the north of the main house.
Active in village affairs, he was elected first President of the Village in 1903. The first meeting of the newly incorporated Village of Lyndonville was held in his office in 1903.
His true passion was mycology, the study of fungi. He specialized in the study of Pyrenomycetes and was recognized as an expert on the topic. He amassed a collection of over 23,000 fungi and published articles in many journals. He collected specimens for the New York Botanical Garden and for the Herbarium at Cornell University.
Dr. Fairman is buried at Lynhaven Cemetery. He is one of the many cemetery “residents” who will be mentioned on the upcoming tour of Lynhaven Cemetery, which will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 19 and Sunday, August 21.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 August 2022 at 9:06 am
HOLLEY – A grant from the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System has enabled Community Action to offer health care from the Community Center in Holley.
On Thursday morning the program was presented to a full house of local citizens who regularly take advantage of programs offered at the center, including daily lunch.
Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action, shows a video outlining her “Axis of Care” program to a lunch crowd Wednesday at the Holley Community Center.
Community Action’s director Renee Hungerford described her “Axis of Care” program which received an $84,000 grant to provide a free health clinic, including visits from Oak Orchard Health’s mobile health unit.
The first visit by the mobile health unit is scheduled for Aug. 24. It will provide lab services and have a nurse practitioner.
Tele-health will be available in both the Albion office and Holley center.
The health coach in Holley will be able to do referrals, coach clients on proper diets and provide guidance on insurance.
“It will be a one-stop shop,” Hungerford said.
The need for a health clinic in Holley was identified when Hungerford asked the Holley Community Center manager Debbie Rothman what other services Community Action could offer.
The primary answer was “healthcare,” Hungerford said. She added that it has been proven the social determinates of good health are food, healthcare and a roof over your head.
“We have the ability to help provide that,” Hungerford said.
Case manager and health coach Jeanette Worsley, left, chats with Beverly Selden of Holley, a frequent participant in the daily meal program at the Holley Community Center.
She said Orleans County has the third lowest health outcomes out of 62 counties in New York State. There are 13,450 patients for each primary care provider, she said.
Working in cooperation with Community Action to provide healthcare will be Oak Orchard Community Health, Orleans Community Health and GCASA. A peer counselor from GCASA will be on site once a week. They will partner with Orleans Community Health to provide tele-health visits.
There will be a fee for health visits, based on income. For those who have no health care insurance, someone will be on site to help clients sign up for Medicaid or health insurance.
Case manager and health coach Jeanette Worsley will post a schedule when the Holley clinic will be staffed.
One regular visitor to the Holley Community Center who is happy to see this new health program started is Beverly Selden. She comes for dinner every day, she said.
“It gets me out to be with people, and I help where they need me,” Selden said. “It provides a nourishing meal to a lot of people who might not otherwise get one. It has gotten me through the last five years of my life. I had fallen into bankruptcy and had medical problems. They supported me during it all. The medical clinic will benefit a lot of people. I will take advantage of it any way I can.”
Rothman, with help from her assistant Rachel Escobar, said they serve an average of 40 people daily, and recently had a record 71 attend.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2022 at 8:41 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: One of the Crosby’s stores in Holley was selling regular unleaded gas for $4.45 a gallon on Sunday.
The price for an average gallon of unleaded gas is down 18 cents in Orleans County in the past week, according to AAA.
The price today is at $4.492 a gallon, down from $4.674 a week ago. The price in Orleans has decreased 50 cents from $4.99 on July 5.
Nationally, the price dropped 10 cents in the past week to $3.96, while the average price in the state is at $4.34 a gallon, down 9 cents in the past week. A year ago average price in the United States was $3.18 while it was $3.23 in New York.
Here are the average prices per gallon among Western New York counties:
Orleans, $4.492
Genesee, $4.396
Niagara, $4.314
Erie, $4.405
Monroe, $4.427
Livingston, $4.462
Wyoming, $4.470
Chautauqua, $4.384
Cattaraugus, $4.383
Allegany, $4.453
The average price nationally dropped below $4 on Thursday for the first time since March 5.
“In the spring, oil prices spiked in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading the national average to a new all-time high,” AAA stated in a news release this morning.
Gas demand has increased in the past week and supply has tightened. However, AAA said lower oil prices have helped lower pump prices.
“If oil prices continue to decline, drivers will likely continue to see pump prices decrease,” AAA said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2022 at 9:02 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The third annual “Ride for the Blue” passed throughout Orleans County today, a 52-mile journey that included riding under a large American flag held up by ladder trucks from the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company and Murray Joint Fire District.
The ride included 200 to 300 vehicles – motorcycles, patrol cars, fire trucks, vintage cars, dump trucks, construction vehicles and tractor trailers. This is near the start of the group, shown here on Route 31 getting close to the Public Square in Holley.
Many of the vehicles displayed signs for Donald Trump to run for president again in 2024, and some participants also mocked President Joe Biden with “Let’s Go Brandon” displays.
After the ride, the group gathered at property owned by David Paul at 3823 County Line Rd. in Murray. There speakers stated their support for law enforcement.
Mario Fratto of Geneva is a Republican candidate for the 24th Congressional District. He is in a primary on Aug. 23 against Claudia Tenney.
Fratto said law enforcement agencies are understaffed. He said the country has lost its way.
“We are losing our values and culture,” Fratto said. “We are being taught to hate our country rather than to love it.”
He asked for support on primary day. Fratto is a lawyer who now is part of his family’s granite business.
“We’ve had enough of career politicians,” he said.
This truck carries an American flag and a flag of the “Thin Blue Line” to show support for law enforcement.
Donna Smith of Holley rode in a 1964 Ford Fairlane with her friends, Ken and June Chippendale of Kendall.
“It was wonderful,” Smith said about the ride that passed through Holley, Albion and Medina on Route 31, before going north on Route 63 to Ridgeway, and then going down Ridge Road through Gaines and Murray. “There were so many people out supporting our police and first responders.”
Smith said she also opposes what she sees as a movement towards socialism and the “cancel culture.”
“People need to have more respect for law and order,” she said after the ride. “There is right and wrong.”
June Chippendale said many in the community acknowledged the caravan of vehicles.
“It was awesome to see all the people out in the little towns waving their American flags,” she said.
La’Ron Singletary, a retired Rochester police chief, is running for the 25th Congressional District as a Republican against Joe Morelle, a Democrat from Rochester. Singletary said Congress needs members with experience in law enforcement.
He said the country is short about 100,000 police officers, and that is putting communities at risk.
“The three most dangerous words you’ve ever heard – ‘Defund the police,’” Singletary said. “We need to refund the police.”
Singletary said people don’t feel safe. He noted the City of Rochester had 81 homicides in 2021 in a city of about 200,000 people, which was the highest murder rate among cities in the state.
Singletary said he continues to have deep appreciation for police officers, and thanked people for being part of the “Ride for the Blue” today.
“It’s a thankless job these men and women do,” he said. “They do it because it is a calling. They are called to do it. They put their lives on the line.”
He paid tribute to Tony Mazurkiewicz, a Rochester police officer who was killed in the line of duty on July 21. He served with the Rochester Police Department for 29 years.
The procession heads down Route 31 in Holley with motorcyclists leading the group.
Former Gates Police Chief Jim VanBrederode (left) and State Assemblyman Josh Jensen addressed the crowd.
Assemblyman Jensen represents a district that includes the towns of Greece, Ogden, and Parma and the villages of Hilton and Spencerport.
“We’re in a public safety crisis,” he said. “We need to support law enforcement. People need to feel safe.”
VanBrederode has a 37-year career in law enforcement. He is running for State Senate in the 56th district in part of Monroe County.
He said state legislation, including bail reform, have made communities less safe. Judges aren’t able to set bail for most non-felony charges.
VanBrederode said the state government is too dominated by Democrats in the state Legislature and in the Governor’s office.
“We are totally screwed if they maintain their super-majority,” he said.
Lewis County Sheriff Michael Carpinelli, who campaigned for governor earlier this year, addresses the group after the ride.
He said the community mourns the loss of Tony Mazurkiewicz, the Rochester police officer shot on July 21.
Carpinelli blamed the media and many politicians for “slandering” poli e officers, making their jobs even more difficult. He said officers turn back the negativity and continue to serve their communities.
“We will stand up honorably,” he said.
He urged the group to stay vocal and not accept the status quo.
“We are in a fight to keep out Constitution,” he said. “We are in a fight to keep that American flag.”
These motorcyclists pass under the American flag in Holley.
Firefighters put the flag away after the ride. This group includes Jeff Lavender, Ron Meiers, Fran Gaylord, Mike Szymanski and Shannon McMillion.
Szymanski said he hoped the ride today made people think about the people serving in law enforcement and others as first responders.
“If we’re out of sight, we’re out of mind,” he said.
Szymanski, 64, has been a Holley firefighter for 47 years.
He said local fire departments, nearly all run by volunteers, need more members.
“We’re volunteers who donate our time,” he said. “We need a new generation of volunteers.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2022 at 10:25 am
MURRAY – The World War II memorial in Fancher is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The memorial was dedicated 73 years ago today. A year there was a rededication after the memorial was upgraded.
The memorial is made from local Medina sandstone. There is a four-sided clock as part of the monument.
Provided photo: The VFW in Holley notes today is the 73rd anniversary of the dedication of the Fancher war memorial.
The site is a memorial for the 10 men from the Fancher community who were killed in World War II. The site includes a plaque that states the monument is a memorial for John Christopher, Joseph Christopher, Cosmo Coccitti, John Kettle, Jr., Leonard Licursi, Martin Licursi, Richard Merritt, Camille Nenni, Floyd Valentine and Richard Vendetta.
The Fancher WWII Memorial was approved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Aug. 3, Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio was advised in a letter dated Aug. 9 from D. Daniel Mackay, deputy commissioner of historic preservation and deputy state historic preservation officer.
“As you may know, the National Register is the nation’s official list of properties worthy of preservation,” Mackay wrote in his letter. “Listing on the National Register recognizes the importance of these properties to the history of our country and provides them with a measure of protection.”
Owners of properties son the National Register also may qualify for state and federal income tax benefits if privately owned, while municipalities and not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply for state historic preservation matching grants, Mackay said.
Sidonio said he is thrilled the site has been deemed worthy of the National Register. He continues to appreciate the efforts from the community, including a generous donation from former resident Fred Fioritio, that led to the site being restored last year.
The monument was in disrepair with mortar crumbling, the clock often not working and the landscaping unattractive.
Sidonio said the site is again a fitting tribute for the 10 young men from the community who died in World War II.
The site in June was approved for New York State Register of the Historic Places. The Fancher Memorial’s nomination for the National Register of Historic Places then was by reviewed by the federal agency and approved on Aug. 3.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2022 at 8:39 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Matt Herman, center, tosses a tire in a big pile on Saturday. He was one of five employees from the Orleans County Department of Public Works collecting tires as part of the annual household hazardous waste collection event.
The pile was up to about 1,000 tires after about two hours. Other DPW employees assisting with the tires included Andy Beach, Paul Gray, Nick Deuil and Mike Pritchard.
Andy Beach, left, and Mike Pritchard pull tires from the back of a pickup on Saturday. The county extended the tire drop off by an hour to help accommodate the demand for disposing the tires.
The county had 300 slots for the household hazardous waste collection event outside the DPW facility on West Academy Street. The 300 slots were all taken and county officials estimated 80 others called to try to get an appointment.
Employees with Environmental Enterprises in Cincinnati collect household hazardous waste from Orleans County. Many of the fluids were emptied into large drums to be hauled away.
The household hazardous collection event is a chance for residents to dispose tires, propane tanks, auto/marine batteries and other hazardous household waste in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Some of the items include oil-based paints, solvents, adhesives & resins, aerosols, motor oil & filters, pesticides, acids, fluorescent bulbs, corrosives, household batteries and antifreeze.
The event typically costs about $18,000 to collect and haul away the waste, with state paying half of the cost.
This group takes a short break during the collection by a box full of 1-pound propane tanks. There were 600 of those smaller propane tanks collected in the first two hours. Pictured from left include Mike Dunn of Environmental Enterprises; Jim Bensley, director of the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development, which manages the event; Paul Gray with the Orleans County DPW; and Corey Winters of Planning and Development.
Dunn worked 36 years with Environmental Enterprises before coming out of retirement to help with a staff shortage. Gray is retiring on Friday after 25 years with the DPW and Highway Department.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2022 at 5:57 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The 26th Daniel Spierdowis Memorial Fishing Derby was held today from 9 a.m. to noon at Albion Sportsmen’s Association on Keitel Road.
The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. The Sportsmen’s Association brought it back this year and 63 kids tried to catch fish.
Weston Burgio of Albion holds a sunfish. He was in the 5 to 8 year old division. He won that group with a cumulative total of 7 pounds, 13 ounces. That not only was the most weight in that age group, but led all age groups.
The derby was open to kids 16 and younger.
Provided photo: Brayden Snook caught the biggest fish overall, a 20-inch largemouth bass.
Albert Allen, a member of the Sportsmen’s Association, measures a 14-inch largemouth bass caught by Adam Yanicki, 14, of Hartland.
These sisters – Chloe, Kennedy and Addison – try to catch fish in one of the former quarries at the Sportsmen’s Association.
Logan Cole, 8, of Kendall is focused on feeling a tug in his line from a fish.
Xavier Penafiel puts a worm on the hook during today’s fishing derby.
Jenna DeSmit casts out a line during today’s derby.
The derby is named in honor of Danny Spierdowis, who loved the outdoors, especially fishing in the former Peck quarries at the Sportsmen’s Association.
Spierdowis was killed in a car accident at age 19 on Jan. 20, 1990. His mother Linda remains active at the Sportsmen’s Association, tending to the flowers at the clubhouse.
Linda was at today’s derby. So was Danny’s sister, Karen Spierdowis.
Karen said she was thrilled to see so many kids fishing.
“It’s nice to be back doing it,” she said.
Tony Giaforte, a Sportsmen’s Association member, weighs fish caught during the derby.
The association provided lunch and many prizes for the participants.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2022 at 3:20 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will join law enforcement agencies throughout the state with an increased focus on drivers who are speeding from Aug. 14 to Aug. 21 as part of “Speed Awareness Week.”
The statewide enforcement campaign is organized by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to intensify enforcement effort against speeding drivers and emphasize the severity of the problem, both locally and across the nation, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said.
In 2021, 35 percent of all traffic fatalities in New York were caused by speeding, with 389 people killed and 2,256 people suffering serious injuries in these preventable collisions, Bourke said.
“Speeding endangers not only the life of the speeder, but all people on the road around them,” he said.
Drivers who speed also tend to engage in other risky behaviors, such as not wearing a seat belt and alcohol impaired driving, he said.
Governor Kathy Hochul said law enforcement agencies throughout state will be increasing patrols to target speeding from Aug. 14 to Aug. 21. “
There are countless risks and tragic consequences to speeding, and I want all New Yorkers to be mindful of the speed limits in your area,” Hochul said. “This enforcement campaign will be crucial not only to catch speeders but also to encourage all drivers to maintain safe speeds on our roadways, and I encourage all New Yorkers to take your time and get to your destination safely.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) released the following statement after voting against the reconciliation package that he said was falsely named the “Inflation Reduction Act” that was forced through the Senate and House without bipartisan consensus.
“Despite record inflation and an economic recession, Democrats have once again used the partisan reconciliation process to force through a wildly irresponsible bill filled with billions in new taxes and spending,” Jacobs said. “The bill will ratchet up taxes on companies that will drive our economic comeback and hire 87,000 IRS agents to audit Americans of all income levels.
“This legislation is not an inflation reduction bill. It will not ease your pain at the pump or when buying groceries, and it will not improve our economy or pull us out of Biden’s recession. This bill is a massive expansion of the federal government and its administrative power over our economy and your wallet. It is irresponsible and the last thing Americans need as we endure a recession caused by Democrats’ reckless spending.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2022 at 11:04 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Pastor Eddie English and his wife Rose, leaders of The Lord’s House in Waterport, are joined by evangelist Ashley Casanova. They will be at the courthouse lawn in Albion today giving away purses with personal care kits.
ALBION – A ministry in memory of Angela English has collected more than 100 purses and filled them with personal care kits and jewelry.
Those purses will be available today for free at the courthouse lawn on Main Street in Albion. Angela’s friends and family will be there from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of Angela’s Purses with Purpose.
Angela was a very active member of The Lord’s House, a church in Waterport where her father Eddie is pastor and her mother Rose is also an active leader.
Angela was 37 when she passed away on Oct. 19, 2020. She was diagnosed with cancer on Dec. 27, 2019.
Angela started the “Purses with a Purpose” ministry in 2018. She would give purses with toiletries to women in the Albion community.
“Angela would walk the streets and give them away,” said her mother Rose. “She liked the chance to meet people and talk with them and pray with them.”
Angela served in the role of missionary at The Lord’s House, as well as a praise leader, pastor’s aide, sound system technician, lyrical dancer and the Toys for Tots coordinator.
The jewelry in the purses was donated by Sarah Ferguson, who sells jewelry from Paparazzi. There is also information from The Lord’s House.
Rose English said she has been collecting the purses and personal care items for about five months.
Her daughter enjoyed the purse ministry, as a way to let people know that Jesus loves them.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2022 at 7:35 am
Funding will help economic development agency work through cash-flow challenges
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans Economic Development Agency board of directors and staff for the agency met for their monthly board meeting on Friday morning in Albion at the Albion Visitor’s Center at 121 North Main St. At right are board vice chairman Skip Draper and (second from right) Michael Dobell, the EDA executive director.
ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency will use a $500,000 loan from the county government to get through a cash-flow challenge.
The EDA will need to pay back the loan at a 2 percent interest rate over the next 3.5 years.
The economic development agency has seen some of its funding slowed during the pandemic because businesses have put projects on hold. Businesses pay the EDA a small percentage of an overall project that receives EDA assistance.
“Covid has killed economic development for the past two years,” said Skip Draper, vice chairman of the EDA board and a county legislator.
One example, BOMET Recovery planned a new 37,000-square foot facility at the Medina Business Park. Plans for the new building were announced nearly two years ago at 100 Marcia Tuohey Way, the northside of the road facing Bates Road.
But construction hasn’t started. Construction costs have skyrocketed, and there are supply chain delays.
BOMET also is based in Canada. The U.S. closed its border to Canadians in March 2020 due to Covid restrictions, and didn’t reopen it until November 2021.
The EDA has many projects in the economic development pipeline, but businesses remain cautious about forging ahead with expansions or setting up new operations.
“People are taking their time and making sure they are set up for success,” said Michael Dobell, the EDA executive director.
The EDA will use some of the loan from the county to advance on infrastructure projects at the Medina Business Park. The EDA wants to expand the roadway at both sides of the business park to make it more attractive for new business investments.
The EDA also is stepping up its marketing efforts in Canada with regional economic development councils. The agency on Friday renewed a $5,000 commitment with Invest Buffalo Niagara (click here) to market Orleans County sites to Canadian companies.
The county allocates $190,000 annually to support the Orleans EDA’s efforts in the county. The agency has three full-time staff. Draper said the board on the EDA is discussing asking the county for an increase in that allocation for 2023. Draper said the EDA runs a lean operation at a much lower cost than most similar-size counties.
Photos courtesy of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library: Repco Wildlife brought in reptiles for the kids to learn about on Aug. 5 as part of the “Oceans of Possibilities” summer reading program.
Press Release, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library
MEDINA – The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library concluded its six-week summer reading program this week. Attendance is estimated at 1,550 for the six weeks, which is up about 200 from last year’s summer program.
The library’s children and teen programs included wildlife visits, a visit from Santa, weekly STEM activities, magic, crafts, story times and a giant water slide.
Programs focused on connecting children and teens with nature. Miss Sharon offered interactive outdoor movie nights with a water theme.
Miss Kelsie and Miss Sam enriched the lives of our community’s kids. Both received grants to offset the cost of this year’s summer programs.
Miss Kelsie offered two reading challenges for children in addition to her weekly programming. Miss Sam offered a teen and an adult reading challenge for the summer. They gave away lots of great swag including books, games, and toys to participants who reached their reading goals. Summer Reading challenges run through August 26 so there is still plenty of time to spend reading a good book!
The library hosted weekly STEM programs that drew a crowd of children.
The Medina Parks program brought groups over for Miss Kelsie’s bubble mania.
An inflatable slide was available for the kickoff of the summer reading program.
LYNDONVILLE – Several fine Italianate houses grace Main Street in Lyndonville. Our illustration, which is contained in the Historical Album of Orleans County, 1879, depicts one, the home at 55 South Main Street. The house was owned by Dr. J.D. Warren in the 1870s and subsequently by his daughter Louise and her husband, Dr. Charles E. Fairman, until his death in 1934.
