Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Fred Miller, right, presents a proclamation during the July 27 County Legislature meeting to Janet Cheverie, left, the county’s child support coordinator and Holli Nenni, the Department of Social Services commissioner, declaring August as “Child Support Awareness Month.”

“Parents have an obligation to support their children, financially and emotionally,” county legislators stated. “Studies have shown that when both parents provide financial and emotional support, children are less likely to engage in unhealthy ad unproductive behaviors and are more likely to do well in school and succeed later in life.”

Legislators said the county Department of Social Services has a child support enforcement program and other child support professionals who work with parents to provide economic security for their children.

County Legislator Skip Draper also presented a proclamation to Probation Supervisor Sarah Osbourne which recognized July 17-23 as “National Pre-Trial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week.” Legislators urged residents to recognize the work of those in community corrections who “uphold the law with dignity, while recognizing the right of the public to be safe-guarded from criminal activity.”

Community corrections professionals are responsible for supervising adult and juvenile offenders in the community, often working in partnership with community agencies and groups. They promote prevention, intervention and advocacy, legislators stated in the proclamation.

“Community corrections professionals provide services, support and protection for victims,” legislators said. “Community corrections professionals advocate community and restorative justice.”

Legislators also agreed to allow the courthouse to be illuminated in purple from Aug. 21 to Sept. 3 to recognize opioid overdose awareness.

MEDINA – A village trustee is suggesting Medina look to put an elevator in City Hall so the building can be better utilized for meetings and village offices.

Marguerite Sherman wants to see how much it would cost to put in an elevator of the building made of local Medina Sandstone. She commented during Monday’s Village Board meeting, when Deputy Mayor Owen Toale led a discussion about shifting some village committee meeting from City Hall to the Ridgeway Town Hall.

Toale said the City Hall lacks handicapped accessibility for public meetings.

He is trying to get a list of all the village committees and their meeting dates to see if Ridgeway has its building available at those times. Ridgeway officials have offered use of the building for meetings at no charge, Toale said.

The village has moved its clerk’s office to a former bank next door on Park Avenue and may do an expansion of that site for a meeting room and additional office space.

Sherman sees village functions gradually be pushed out of City Hall.

“We have this beautiful building just sitting there,” she said.

Medina has several boards and committees that hold public meetings. The Village Board sometimes meets in the village clerk’s office on Park Avenue but typically meets in the Senior Center, a former railroad depot. It also has used the Shelby Town Hall in the recent past.

Medina also has the Boxwood Cemetery Commission, Tourism Committee, Waterfront Development Committee, Parks Committee, Police Advisory Committee, Visioning Committee, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Some of those boards and committees have too many people for the conference room at the village clerk’s office, Toale said.

For now he wants to work with Ridgeway to see if those meetings can be at the Town Hall on West Avenue to better accommodate the committees and boards, and other members of the public.

In other action during Monday’s board meeting:

• The board approved closing Maple Street this Saturday from noon until 10 p.m. after a request from resident Brandon Harper, who asked that the short street between Gwinn Street and West Avenue be closed for his wedding celebration. Village officials checked with a business owner on the street and he was OK with closing the street for the 10 hours.

• Heather Hungerford from Bent’s Opera House presented a proposal to have a fenced-in outdoor area on the sidewalk by Bent’s along Main Street. The fenced-in area would go 4 feet from the building and still leave about 10 feet of sidewalk open to pedestrians.

Bent’s would have tables and chairs in the fenced-in area for people to enjoy drinks and appetizers, but not meals, Hungerford said.

Toale and board said they want to discuss working on regulations for the fenced-in areas on the sidewalks. Hungerford said the portable fencing is currently difficult to find. The board said the design of the fencing would likely need to go before the Planning Board for a certificate of appropriateness.

Hungerford also said Bent’s is working on plans for an exotic car show in September and would like to have part of Main Street closed for the show which would be on a Sunday. The board asked Hungerford to present more details about the show at the next board meeting on Aug. 22.

• Fire Chief Matt Jackson said he will be pursuing new healthcare worker bonuses being made available by the state. Jackson said the full-time firefighters are eligible for the bonuses from the state for up to $3,000.

Jackson also shared that firefighter Matthew Reddy has submitted a letter a resignation. The board accepted his resignation.

Press Release, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

LOCKPORT – Niagara County Sheriff’s Office K9 Reggie will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

K9 Reggie’s vest is sponsored by Christine Rath of Youngstown NY and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love – Trained to Serve – Loyal Always”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.

This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified.  Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s has provided over 4,714 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

Vested Interest in K9s accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $960 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1,744-$2,283, weighs an average of 4-5 lb., and comes with a five-year warranty.

For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 508-824-6978.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or a contribution may be mailed to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

MEDINA – Hans and Dan Rosentreter have opened The Coffee Shop Café in downtown Medina at the former site of HeBrews at 114 East Center St.

The couple is well established in Medina. Hans grew up in Shelby and has worked the past eight years as a florist at Creekside Floral on Main Street.

Hans and Dan Rosentreter are happy to bring a coffee shop back to downtown Medina.

Dan worked as a customer service representative for a local insurance company. He also established the Medina Memorial Bluebird Trail and is a wildlife photographer.

He was checking on his photos that were on display at Hebrews when he realized the coffee shop was closing back in May. He and Hans then worked on a plan to open their own shop in the space.

The Coffee Pot Café had its first day on Aug. 1. It is open from Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We just wanted a nice, cozy place for people to come and relax and have a cup of coffee and a pastry,” Hans said.

Besides Hans and Dan, the café has four employees. Dan is at the site full time. Hans is there early in the mornings and then after 5 p.m. when he is done working at Creekside.

Dan, 30, said the café has been busy so far. He said the site is needed in the community.

“Growing up in Albion, there wasn’t a place like this to sit and do homework,” Dan said. “We have people coming here for meetings and to do homework. It’s a needed space.”

Hans, 36, has degrees from Alfred State in culinary, and baking production and management. He makes the pastries and other baked goods.

“The whole premise here is fresh, fresh, fresh,” Hans said this afternoon at the Coffee Pot. (Tuesday is the one day he is there all day.) “We have freshly brewed coffee and in-house baked goods.”

The Coffee Pot gets its coffee from Joe Bean Coffee Roasters in Rochester, and freshly roasts and grinds the coffee. It also sells bubble tea, espressos, lattes, and ice and hot tea.

Dan and Hans said they will be adding cold cut sandwiches in the fall.

“Stay tuned for the details,” Hans said. “We’ll be adding to the menu.”

Hans said he is grateful to be part of his hometown, with a downtown on the rise.

“It is great to see what Medina has become,” Hans said. “Main Street is just wow. Medina is going places.”

The site has three separate areas to sit and relax, including the front room with a fireplace.

MEDINA – The Village Board appointed nine people to serve on a committee to help Medina pursue a $4.5 million grant from the state in a program called NY Forward.

Medina has been a finalist for a Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant before but has missed out to other villages and metros in the Finger Lakes Region. The state is making changes to the DRI program this year. Instead of only approving $10 million award winners, the state is making $10 million available for metros in cities through the DRI, and then $4.5 million for downtown areas in villages and hamlets through NY Forward.

Medina already is tweaking its approach to the downtown application. It has expanded the committee from five to nine people.

Those members includes Village Trustees Marguerite Sherman and Timothy Elliott, and residents Kathy Blackburn, Chris Busch, David Flynn, Chris Goyette, Reinhard Rogowski, Randy Reese and Lauren Backlas.

The application is due by 4 p.m. on Sept. 23.

“We have to get going on this,” Trustee Sherman said during Monday’s Village Board meeting.

The board also approved sending a notice to the state of Medina’s intent to submit an application.

Medina is considered to be in the Finger Lakes Region by the state for its program that includes 10 regional economic development council. Last year Medina missed out on the $10 million to the Village of Newark in Wayne County and the City of Rochester. Other previous $10 million grant winners in the Finger Lakes region include the City of Geneva in 2016, the City of Batavia in 2017, the Village of Penn Yan in 2018 and Seneca Falls in 2019.

Medina was one of five finalists for the grant in 2019 and in 2021.

Medina’s application in 2021 sought funding for streetscape Improvements, multi-use trail along the Medina Railroad from the museum to Main Street, upgrades to Canal Village Farmer’s Market, improved waterfront access and amenities at the Canal Basin Park, enhanced programming at State Street Park (ice skating rink, enhanced lighting, boat tie-ups, benches and bicycle racks, and a construction of a nature trail), boat tie-ups and docking facilities at the Lions Park, viewing platform and at Medina waterfalls, wayfinding signage, small grant fund for local businesses, adaptive reuse of the old Medina High School to turn into apartments, and redeveloping the Snappy facility on Commercial Street by the Erie Canal into a mixed-use commercial and residential space.

The committee will likely have to modify the application, with the village’s maximum amount cut from $10 million to $4.5 million.

LYNDONVILLE – A concert that was cancelled last night due to the threat of rain will be this evening on the lawn behind the Yates Community Library, 15 North Main St.

The trio called Mystic Sisters will be performing from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in a concert that is free to the public. People are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Emily Cebula, the library director, said the group from Rochester is popular with the local crowd. The Mystic Sisters have been members of the popular group Blue Sky.

MEDINA – A village resident who has had chickens in her backyard for more than a decade – sharing the eggs with her neighbors – was told by village officials that the chickens have to be removed from the village.

Debbie Varley of Highland Avenue has about 20 chickens that are used by her grandchildren for 4-H. The chickens are popular in the neighborhood, and Varley shares their eggs with nearby residents.

However, one resident made a complaint to the village about the chickens, and village officials say they are obligated to insist the birds be removed.

Chickens are only allowed in the village if they are in an agricultural-residential district. The only AR zoned parcel in Medina includes the Gallagher barn property on North Gravel Road.

Varley is in a residential district, where the chickens aren’t allowed. She said she didn’t know chickens were banned from residential neighborhoods. She thought she was OK as long as she didn’t have roosters, which make a loud ruckus, especially in the morning.

“You’re an outstanding member of the community,” Village Trustee Tim Elliott said at Monday’s Village Board meeting. “I’m sorry we have to voice an opinion on it. But there is no gray area.”

Elliott said Varley likely was able to keep the chickens for many years because no one ever complained until recently. But once there is a formal complaint, the village has to look at the issue to see if the resident is in compliance with the village code.

Varley said many other people in the village also have chickens. But there haven’t been complaints about those chickens.

She is hopeful she can find someone to take the chickens who lives nearby so her grandchildren can continue to show them for 4-H.

“We’ve had them a long time,” she said. “We have a lot of time and money in them. They’re nice show birds. They are all named. I honestly didn’t know they weren’t allowed.”

(Editor’s Note: The person who called code enforcement and voiced concerns about the chickens called the Orleans Hub this afternoon and said he didn’t have a problem with the chickens in the person’s backyard. He was instead upset that the chickens’ fecal material was set out by the curb days in advance of the garbage pickup, smelling up the neighborhood. The person also said the issue bothered many of the neighbors, and he wasn’t the only one to complain to the village.)

ALBION – In early spring it was just an idea: building new basketball courts at Bullard Park.

The old court had cracks and heaves. The hoops didn’t even have nets.

Just a few months later, a $40,000 grant has been secured from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation towards two new full-size courts at Bullard. There have already been several fundraisers, 3-on-3 tournaments and the backing of the Village Board to push for the new courts.

The $40,000 grant was announced on Saturday afternoon during Rock the Park – Albion Summer Music Festival.

Ron Albertson, one of the Rock the Park leaders, said grants have been critical to making improvements at the park a reality. That includes the new splash pad, amphitheater, playground equipment, and a utility building with bathrooms and a pavilion. The village Department of Public Works has also provided in-kind work with utilities and site work.

The basketball courts could be ready next year, said Village Trustee Tim McMurray, who is part of the Bounce for Bullard Committee. Village officials need to see how in-kind services from the village DPW could be used as a local share to help secure more grants. McMurray said he wants to hear from DPW Superintendent Jay Pahura on how the DPW could assist with the project and how it would fit into the DPW schedule.

The Wendel engineering firm did this rendering of the new proposed basketball courts at Bullard Park. They are eyed to be built along Route 31 at the former skate park area.

Albion also is working with the United Way of Orleans County to pursue a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation towards the courts, which could total $150,000 to $200,000.

The $40,000 would likely cover the costs for the courts, but the Bounce for Bullard  would like to have fencing, bleachers, lighting and other amenities with the project.

The village needs to get solid cost estimates on the project, and determine how much in-kind work is needed. But McMurray said he is happy with the progress so far.

The United Way not only assisted Albion in writing the grant to the Boeheim Foundation, it helped Albion set up a non-profit organization, the Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events Corporation, Inc. The organization is better able to apply for grants and has a better chance of receiving funding than a municipality.

These kids get warmed up on Saturday for a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Bullard. About 40 kids played in the tournament using three portable basketball hoops.

Roosevelt Bouie, a Kendall graduate and Syracuse University Hall of Famer, also was a key in advocating for the funding from the Boeheim Foundation. Bouie was Boehim’s first star recruit and helped the team to a 100-18 record from 1977-1980. His number 50 has been retired by Syracuse.

Bouie said he learned to play basketball at Bullard as a kid, often with intense pickup games. Bouie was eager to help support the effort for better basketball courts at the park.

His friend Steve Mowers at CRFS connected Bouie to Nyla Gaylord at the United Way, and the organization helped pursue the grant applications and form the non-profit.

“We applied to the Boeheim Foundation and now have the start of a significant project that can really give the community something to be proud of,” Gaylord said. “So, now we are applying to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. So, we are on the move.”

Many of the county’s 15 child care providers are at full capacity or have a waiting list

KNOWLESVILLE – Representatives from child care agencies and the United Way of Orleans County met at Cornell Cooperative Extension last week to discuss the need for child care in the county.

The meeting was facilitated by Rachel Bonsignore, director of Lift Off Western New York, an agency which works to ensure children across the region are meeting critical milestones – ready to learn, succeed and reach their full potential by the time they begin school.

Those who attended the meeting were Dean Bellack, Nyla Gaylord and Matt Holland with United Way of Orleans County; Taryn Moyle from Community Action’s Childcare Resource and Referral; Bonnie Malakie, Head Start; Kathie Valley and Pat Payne from P’Raising Kids; Teresa Zwifka and Claire Renko from the Orleans County Department of Social Services; Skip Helfrich from Leadership Orleans; and Lana Youngs from Agri-Business Day Child Development.

Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County, talks with Rachel Bonsignore, director of Lift Off WNY, prior to last week’s meeting to address child care need in the county.

Bonsignore explained the state and some foundations have previously identified Orleans County as a child care desert.

“If that’s true, what can we do about it,” asked Nyla Gaylord, fundraiser with United Way of Orleans County. “We want to find out what that means. Ultimately, what we learn today can help United Way support grant writing with the help of our grant writer, Matt Holland.”

Bonsignore said Lift Off WNY focuses on giving children the best start for kindergarten readiness.

“There have been decades of research on how to improve early childhood development,” she said. “Ninety percent of the brain’s growth occurs before a child gets to school. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all these organizations got together and we had a united vision for early childhood.”

In 2017, Liftoff sought to understand how the region could better serve its youngest children. Thirty funders in the region, which included a dozen and a half foundations, United Ways throughout the area and local county representatives, supported the study in which more than 300 people participated, including parents, early childhood providers, early childhood experts, members of the philanthropic community and government officials.

As a result, three priorities emerged.

Early childcare should be available, affordable and accessible, Bonsignore said.

“My job is to come and listen, drive a consensus, then advocate – whether it’s for funding, policy change, how resource flows or even practice changes,” she said.

Gaylord said the information shared sparked fruitful discussions about current resources and the many challenges faced by daycare providers and parents of children living in Orleans County.

“Community conversations like this help focus our attention on how we can all work together more effectively and help pave a path for future collaborative efforts to improve and expand resources for Orleans County residents,” Gaylord said.

One thing the meeting identified is that licensed child care providers in Orleans County are top notch, Bonsignore said. Staff are passionate, well-credentialed and dedicated to ensuring the best experience for the children in their care.

Problems lie in transportation, which is a large barrier for parents, particularly if they live and work in an area with limited child care choices.

Additionally, there is not a supply of child care programs available to parents who work non-traditional hours, such as those in shift work, the restaurant industry or health care during evenings or weekends. Many of the county’s 15 child care providers are at full capacity or have a waiting list.

“We would like to further engage schools and employers throughout the county to learn of their unique challenges and incorporate their ideas into our community action plan,” Bonsignore said.

One thing for sure is the search for a solution to better and more available child care in Orleans County has not stopped with this meeting. Bonsignore is in the process of distilling everyone’s comments and putting together a high-level community action plan for the group’s consideration, she said. She hopes to have that finished and back to United Way of Orleans County for feedback by the end of the week.

ALBION – The state Department of Transportation will have a public meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 to provide details about an upcoming $15 million rehabilitation of the Main Street lift bridge.

That bridge on Route 98 is expected to be closed for about 18 months.

The DOT will have displays and other information about the project, with staff present to take questions from the community. The meeting will be at the Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.

The bridge was originally built in 1914. It typically closes a few days each year for short-term repairs. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.

The DOT previously said the work includes installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace the steel floor system and select truss members. Updates will also be made to the mechanical and electrical components of the lifting mechanisms. The lift tower will also be rehabilitated.

In addition, the bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches will be improved and bridge will be repainted.

Photo by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – A fire at about 11 this morning destroyed a porch and the sunroom of a home at 1128 Point Breeze Rd. The back of the house, which was damaged, faces the Oak Orchard River.

Carlton firefighters Ryan Woolston and Andrew Niederhofer were on the scene soon after a 911 call. They emptied the 1,000 gallons of water from a pumper-tanker fire truck and that stopped the fire from spreading further into the house, which is owned by Natalie and Brian McCue. Their 15-year-old son was home and called 911 and was able to get the family’s two dogs outside. No one was injured in the fire.

“We got water on it quick and the majority of the house was a good save,” said Andrew Niederhofer.

He said there is water and smoke damage in the house.

Justin Niederhofer, a Carlton firefighter and Orleans County fire investigator, said an ember from a camp fire last night was likely blown by a breeze to the porch, causing the fire.

Carlton was assisted at the scene by firefighters from Kendall, Albion, Barre and Medina.

Clear Skies Above Barre, Town of Somerset also join in challenge

Press Release, Town of Yates, Save Ontario Shores and Town of Copake

Eleven petitioners filed an appeal on Aug. 2 against the NY State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) regarding the drafting and implementation of regulations, standards and conditions for siting industrial-scale wind and solar facilities under the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act.

The litigants include a cross section of towns representing thousands of New Yorkers as well as several citizen groups and bird conservation organizations: the Towns of Copake, Malone, Somerset and Yates; Save Ontario Shores, Inc., Cambria Opposition to Industrial Solar, Inc., Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc., the American Bird Conservancy, Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, Inc., Genesee Valley Audubon Society, Inc., and the Rochester Birding Association, Inc.

The legal challenge focuses on ORES’ failure to take into account the pertinent social, economic and environmental factors in siting wind and solar industrial energy facilities.  The petitioners are also questioning the constitutionality of ORES’ adoption of regulations designed to override local, duly-enacted, municipal laws.

Jeanne Mettler, Town of Copake Supervisor, insists that, “Everyone recognizes the importance of preserving our planet and creating the conditions for a more sustainable future.”

Supervisor Mettler added, however, that, “We are deeply disappointed by the ORES regulations – written entirely by an industry consultant – because they demonstrably disregard the Legislature’s mandate to protect the environment and to waive local laws only upon a factual showing that doing so will avoid significant harms to the environment.”

In fact, the law suit contends that the ORES Regulations were written by a consulting firm, Tetra Tech, which has significant conflicts of interest in New York. According to its own filing with the state, Tetra Tech provided and/or is currently providing project design and siting services in NY to at least 25 renewable energy developers and projects.

Pamela Atwater, president of Save Ontario Shores, Inc., was not surprised that the resulting regulations are developer friendly. However, she was taken aback that ORES, in its response to the 5,000 comments from energy, environmental and local experts, decided to make no substantive changes to the regulations.

“ORES was unable to find even a single potentially significant adverse environmental impact that may result from its extensive regulations,” Atwater said. “The state agency could only come to that conclusion by repeatedly rejecting scientific evidence and legitimate concerns from commenters without sufficient reasoning or justification.”

The litigants are calling for the court to annul ORES’ regulations and require ORES to engage in a new rulemaking process that takes all pertinent social, economic and environmental factors into account, and to require ORES to promulgate new regulations that comply with the standard for waiver set forth by the Legislature that protects towns and municipalities under the NY State Constitution’s Home Rule provisions.

Golf course in Carlton has since closed and is now used for farming

The program, at right, advertised a gala event which took place 57 years ago. Both the venue and the sponsoring company have since closed.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 28

The program from 1965 includes photos, diagrams and information about each of the 18 holes as well as brief entries about several of the competitors.

CARLTON – The Oak Orchard Country Club was located on Route 98 north in the Town of Carlton. Charles Skutt was President of the Club. Dorothy Ross was President of the Club’s Ladies Association. The 136-acre facility which opened in 1963, was owned by Harold and Merle Myers. It offered an 18-hole par 70 golf course and a clubhouse restaurant.

The Landauers 100th anniversary $5,000 Open was sponsored by Skip and Don Landauer, fourth generation descendants of Simon Landauer who established the popular dry goods store in Albion in 1865. The event was organized to celebrate Landauer’s 100th year of one-family ownership and management.

Simon Landauer was born in Bavaria (now Germany) in 1833. He and his brother immigrated in 1852 and settled in Macon, Ga. where they opened a dry goods store under the name M. Landauer & Brother.

However, the business failed during the Civil War. Simon moved to Albion as several of his relatives and friends had settled there. He opened a dry goods store on the east side of Main Street. Seventeen years later (1882), the store was moved to larger quarters on the west side of Main Street, where it flourished.

Over one hundred IGA pros entered to compete for the generous prizes offered: $1,000 ($9,000 approx. in 2022) for first prize and twenty-seven cash prizes, plus $350 in merchandize prizes. Competitors hailed from Olean, Rochester, Leroy, Florida, and Concord, Canada. It was the largest tournament of its kind held at that time.

It was also billed as an “electronic tournament.” The Tri-County Radio Club set up a two-way radio contact between each of the eighteen holes and the master scoreboard.

Steve J. Piech, Shelridge Country Club, Medina and William “Jug” Meredith, Albion.

As it transpired, the weather disrupted the carefully planned event. Saturday, Aug. 7, 1965, was scorching hot and humid. Nevertheless, about 700 spectators attended. Sam Urzetta of the Rochester Country Club and Frank Boynton led the first round with 66’s.

Heavy rain on Sunday, August 8, rendered the course unplayable. The event resumed on Monday, August 9 and ended with a duel between Boynton and Urzetta. Boynton won on a sudden death playoff.

The Oak Orchard Country Club filed for bankruptcy in 1980. It rallied briefly and was renamed Harbour Pointe Country Club. Golfing events were held there through the early 2000’s. The most recent sale transaction was in 2014, the site of the former golf course has since reverted to farmland.

Citing the area’s “depressed economic situation” and the closing of the Thomas J. Lipton plant with the loss of 500 jobs, Landauer’s Department Store announced its decision to close in July 1981.

Some 57 years later, this 25-cent program, randomly saved, is now a unique local history record.

Provided photos: Mallory Albanese, right, hands a cold beverage to a golfer in the golf tournament July 20 to benefit Supportive Care of Orleans/Hospice.

Friends of Supportive Care of Orleans (Hospice) came out to support the organization by participating and volunteering at the 25th annual golf tournament July 20 at Salmon Creek Country Club.

The committee began making plans for the event in February, and choosing a location outside the county was one of the hardest decisions they had to make, said development coordinator Maggie Stewart.

“Supportive Care of Orleans – Hospice has always served our neighbors throughout Orleans County, and it is important to us to give back and recognize community members and organizations we serve,” Stewart said. “However, after last year’s tournament we decided to branch out to other courses who have donated to our tournaments in the past, which is how we landed at Salmon Creek Country Club.”

The day turned out to be a scorcher, but beautiful, Stewart said, and golfers took off for their first holes at 10 a.m.

“We are incredibly fortunate to live and work among so many generous neighbors,” said Julie Kumiega, CEO of Supportive Care of Orleans. “We couldn’t have pulled this off without the help of event sponsor Mitchell Family Funeral Homes, corporate sponsor Layton Construction, and major sponsors, Rochester Regional Health, Cooper Funeral Home, Kast Farms and Germeo Farms, as well as all of the local businesses and individuals who continually invest their products and time to bettering Orleans County.”

There were 23 volunteers to make sure the day ran smoothly, Stewart said. From helping with the baskets to spotting holes, Supportive Care volunteers were the reason golfers had the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 hole-in-one prize sponsored by Toshiba, a putting contest sponsored by Albion Ace Hardware, a closest-to-the-line competition and closest-to-the-pin competition.

“Our sincere thanks go to our outstanding golf committee and dedicated volunteers for making the tournament a success,” said Chris Fancher, volunteer coordinator/social worker at Supportive Care.

The day was documented with photos by Vibrant Brands Marketing and concluded with dinner, raffle winners and announcement of contest winners and tournament champions.

Winners in the Men’s Division were Gary Germeo, Bob Wood, Andy Lewis and Kevin Nichols, with a score of 60. Women’s division winners were Christine Odom, Donna Odom, Penny Bloom and Christine Blonski with a score of 72. Mixed division winner was Kevin Woodward’s team with a score of 62.

A team of male golfers takes a break on the green during Supportive Care of Orleans/Hospice golf tournament at Salmon Creek Country Club.