Gaines has northernmost point of canal, a private bridge, turn basin and lift bridge

Gaines Basin, 1860 map

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director

GAINES – Today, a quick blink is all it would take to completely miss the Hamlet of Gaines Basin located just a few miles southwest of Childs.  Other than its 1832 Cobblestone School, the current Gaines Basin ghost town nestled on the towpath of the Erie Canal no longer gives a hint of the bustling canal commerce that took place there once the canal was completed.

Gaines Basin Road that bisects the hamlet, was actually the shortest distance between the Ridge Road and the Erie Canal, a fact that obviously added to the strategic commercial value of the small community that grew up on the banks of the canal. Even the name “Gaines Basin,” is attributed to the hamlet’s early ties to the Erie Canal.

At one time, after the construction of the canal, Gaines Basin could boast almost a dozen residences and at least two thriving businesses.  While most of the residences were associated with farm owners, the businesses included a blacksmith shop and grain warehouse.

The blacksmith shop, present in the 1830s, was gone by the 1870s.  In that time, it served the local farmers from Gaines Basin. One item produced in the blacksmith shop that remains today is an artifact called a “peel,” shown above. For those unaccustomed to the term, as I was, a peel is a shovel-like tool that is used to slide out embers from a brick bake oven. This particular peel, produced in the blacksmith shop in Gaines Basin in 1823, is part of the collection of retired Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin.

Another Gaines Basin business that came and left without a trace was a grain warehouse, also located on the north bank of the canal. It’s location on the canal made it an ideal spot to load and unload grain from a canal boat into the grain bins. While the buildings themselves may be gone, the stories of what went on there still persist.

Bill Lattin explains that his great-grandfather, Bartlett Lattin, sold grain to the owner of the warehouse around 1870. Unfortunately, he never received payment. When Lattin approached the grain warehouse owner, he said he couldn’t pay him, but offered Lattin a percussion muzzleloader flintlock rifle as a substitute for cash.

Bartlett took the gun as payment, and Bill Lattin, through inheritance, now has this artifact in his personal collection. The rifle reaches nearly 6-1/2 feet in length. Bill recalls a childhood story he was told that the early colonists often traded with the Native Americans, offering rifles in exchange for fur belts.  The colonists would set the rifle on the ground and the Native Americans would stack fur pelts next to it until the pile reached the top of the gun barrel.  As time went on, it was said the colonists tricked the Native Peoples by increasing the length of the barrel to garner more fur belts in exchange for a single rifle.

Barge Canal route, Gaines Basin & Eagle Harbor, 1913 map

The Erie Canal, even though it doesn’t occupy much real estate in the Town of Gaines, has been a big part of the community’s history. The canal stretches just a few miles from Gaines Basin to Eagle Harbor, which is another community that owes its name and existence to the construction of the Erie Canal.

It is said that an eagle’s nest was spotted in the area in 1815 at the time of the initial canal survey – hence the name Eagle Harbor. The portion of the Erie Canal situated in Gaines seems an anomaly today as we consider the canal route. Why would canal planners deviate from their southern route and move northward into Gaines? The canal, most likely, would not have passed through Gaines without a decision to put a bend in the proposed canal and move its course substantially northward into Gaines. This can be seen by looking at the map above map and noticing that the canal makes what looks like a northward detour from its course further south, to reach into a small sliver of the Town of Gaines along the town’s southern boundary.

Profile Map of the original Erie Canal, 1825, Long Level highlighted

Looking for an answer to this paradox we have to consider the lack of engineering skills in the 1800s when the canal was constructed. (There wasn’t even a single engineering school in NYS at that time.)  The course of the canal from Lockport east to Rochester is part of what was originally called the “long level.”

This roughly 60-mile stretch was the longest section of the canal that contained no locks to handle changes in elevation related to topography.  The reason for that was in the 1800s when the canal commissioners laid out the eventual path for the canal, they discovered that there was no suitable body of water between Lockport and Rochester from which additional water could be added to the canal.

That fact meant that the water in the canal had to flow completely by gravity through the 60-mile long level from its Lake Erie headwater at Lockport to the Genesee River at Rochester where more water could be added. We all know that water doesn’t flow uphill. The bend in the canal into the Town of Gaines was created by a need to bypass higher ground further south that would have prevented the free flow of water without moving an exorbitant amount of earth.

Northernmost point on the Erie Canal, Cobblestone District #2 Schoolhouse in background

This northern route gave Gaines the distinction of containing the northernmost point along the entire route of the 363-mile Erie Canal. A state marker on the canal marks the spot, now.

Another anomaly regarding the Erie Canal in the Town of Gaines is the presence of a turn basin, shown on the map above, about half way between Gaines Basin and Eagle Harbor on the south side of the canal.  The original Erie Canal was carved into the countryside with a depth of only 4 feet and a width of 40 feet.

To save construction cost, the canal was built with a single towpath servicing mules and horses pulling both eastbound and westbound boats.  This fact created a dilemma when oncoming boats would meet in any spot along the canal and pass each other without tangling lines. One boat would move to the far side of the canal as its mules halted on the outside of the towpath.

The towline which was 100 to 150 feet long would go slack and sink to the bottom of the canal so the overtaking or oncoming boat could pass over it freely. When this simple method didn’t work out, the mule tenders or “hoggees” would carry the lines over the other mule team. Crew members on deck would do the same with the towrope passing over the idled boat.

Canal Turn Basin, Town of Gaines, 2021, Canal partially drained

To facilitate this process, a small number of turn basins or “wide-waters” were cut into the side of the canal to provide a safe harbor for boats that needed to “pull over,” to make repairs or get out of the way of oncoming traffic. It also served to provide a location with sufficient width where boats could be turned in the opposite direction if needed.

If a boat moved into a turn basin, it could sit there for an extended period of time, out of the way of two-way traffic moving on the canal. Also, over time, boats became larger trying to squeeze as much precious cargo on deck as possible. This scenario would create plenty of bottlenecks without an occasional turn basin to assist.

Another part of our shared Erie Canal history concerns canal bridges. From our childhood, we probably recall singing “Low bridge, everybody down. Low bridge, for we’re comin’ to a town.”

Bridges were a real sore point for canal planners. They knew that a 363-mile ribbon of water would necessitate dividing a lot of farms and property. Farmers still needed a way to access their fields on the other side of the canal. In 1817, after canal construction began, literally hundreds of bridges were needed across the state in very short order.

A workforce of state officials quickly approached every property owner along the proposed route of the canal and worked to find a solution that would allow the state to acquire the necessary land from the property owners to construct the canal. Often times, it came down to an offer to build a bridge for a farmer who may need it to reach their barn or farm land on the opposite side of “Clinton’s Ditch.”

The cost of all of these bridges was another major concern.  NYS had allocated $5 million for the canal project and they needed to try to contain their costs, so the bridges needed to be as low-cost as possible. (Canal costs eventually spiked to $7 million at the time of its completion.) Saving money usually meant sticking with a very low bridge built right from ground level, instead of raising the bridge up by building abutments or other superstructures.

Lattin Bridge today

Town of Gaines property owners along the canal were “given” bridges in exchange for their signature on easements or deeds.  One case in point was the farm of Lansing Bailey. In the 1820s during canal construction, a bridge was created to accommodate his farm house in the Town of Albion and farm land in the Town of Gaines. In 1837 the farm and bridge passed into the possession of Joseph Lattin.  The “Lattin Bridge” as it became known, was built ostensibly to service one farm. In the late 1880s, the bridge began to service traffic going to and from the Albion Waterworks nearby.

A similar situation existed on the Starkweather farm, near Eagle Harbor.  At the time of the canal expansion in the late 1800s, both Starkweathers and Lattins were offered a choice of keeping the private bridge or accepting $1,000 from NYS to give up their bridge claim.  Starkweathers accepted the latter, Lattins did not. And, today, the Lattin Bridge is the only canal bridge in the state still serving private property.

Eagle Harbor lift bridge, 2007

Eventually, during the construction of the 1862 Enlarged Erie Canal, and again in the 1900s for the Barge Canal, low bridges were eliminated and replaced with tall stationary bridges or hydraulic lift bridges.

In all, 17 lift bridges were built across NYS to carry vehicular traffic over the canal. Orleans County can lay claim to seven of those lift bridges: Prospect Avenue (Route 63) in Medina, Knowlesville Road, Eagle Harbor Road, North Main Street Albion, Ingersoll Street in Albion, Hulberton Road in Murray and East Avenue in Holley. The small sliver of canal crossing through the Town of Gaines is serviced by a lift bridge in Eagle Harbor and a tall stationary bridge at Gaines Basin Road.

Eagle Harbor Lift Bridge, 2021

In Part 2 of this article, we will look at the historic canal breach that occurred in the Town of Gaines.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Anchoring the Medina lineup going into Saturday’s Class C title contest against Fredonia at Highmark Stadium will be the Mustangs offensive line. That group includes Chris Johnson, Josh Wilson, Colvin Stalker, Zach Oliver and Roosevelt Mitchell. Missing from the photo is Ollie Wilson.

It will be a matchup of two undefeated 10-0 teams as top seed defending champion Medina takes on No. 3 Fredonia in the Section VI Class C championship game at noon Saturday at Highmark Stadium with the victor advancing to the state playoffs.

“Fredonia is a big, physical team,” said Medina Coach Eric Valley. “The y have a big quarterback who can sling the ball all over the field and they are big up front so we will have to play really strong defense.”

Senior quarterback Nick Whitfield, who has thrown for 1,694 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 631 yards and 12 TDs, leads the Fredonia attack.

Senior Matthew Lotter, who has rushed for 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns, sparks the Hillbillies ground attack while the receiving corps is led by the trio of junior Ethan Fry (35 catches for 488 yards and 8 TD), senior Davon McCall (31 for 412 yards and 3 TD) and senior Simon Davis (19 for 386 yards and 3 TD).

Looking to stymie the Fredonia attack will be the Mustangs defensive unit whose leading tacklers include Noah Skinner (61), Hayden Woodroe (49)’ Joe Cecchini (44), Chris Johnson (43), Iverson Poole (39), Dominic Larabee (32) and Josh Wilson (28).

Cecchini leads the ‘D’ unit with 11 sacks while Skinner and Robert Arnold both have 6, Johnson 4 and Larabee 3.

“As a whole we’ve played pretty well defensively all year,” said Valley, “Now we just have to continue to play solid football. We know there will be a lot of distractions this week but we have to focus on what we have to do each and every play.”

Offensively, Medina is led by quarterback Xander Payne who has passed for 1,368 yards and a school record 21 touchdowns.

Payne has thrown to a balanced receiving corps including Jarin Rhim (31 receptions for 402 yards and 7 TDs), Greg Thompson (16 for 370 yards and 5 TD), Cecchini (19 for 297 yards and 4 TD) and Poole (10 for 177 yards and 4TD).

Poole with 568 yards and 10 touchdowns and Skinner with 565 yards and 7 TDs leads the Mustangs ground attack as Arnold has rushed for 300 yards and 4 TDs and Payne 185 and 4 TDs.

“We have had good balance on offense,” said Valley. “We’ve got a good receiving corps, a tight end who can block and catch and on the ground we’ve used three tailbacks and a fullback. It’s been a pretty good recipe for us.”

Keying the Mustangs offense has been the front line which includes tackles Johnson and Roosevelt Mitchell, guards Josh Wilson, Ollie Wilson and Zack Oliver and center Colvin Stalker.

“Our line changed a lot this season but once they jelled as a group they’ve  been really solid,” said Valley.

Medina advanced to the title contest by defeating Eden 30-4 in the quarterfinals and Lackawanna 32-0 in the semifinals while Fredonia bested Akron 45-6 and Southwestern 28-21.

This will be Medina’s first trip to the finals at the stadium since 1988 when the Mustangs edged rival Albion 14-7. The Mustangs are 3-0 at the stadium having also defeated Silver Creek 20-14 in 1980 and Cassadaga Valley 26-7 in 1982.

This past May Medina did end a 33 year title drought by edging Southwestern 21-13 in the Class C title contest at Vets Park capping a Covid-19 shortened post season.

Fredonia is seeking its first sectional title since 2010 when the Hillbillies nipped Southwestern 12-10.

‘General Powell was a stellar, upstanding patriot. He cared very much for the youth of today. He will be sorely missed.’ – Cora Goyette

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Cora Goyette, a former resident of Albion, holds the program booklet for Lakeside Foundation’s 10th annual gala Dec. 4, 1998, at which General Colin Powell was guest speaker. Goyette reflects on his life after his recent death. Goyette spent 15 years as development director for the Lakeside Foundation.

Cora Goyette has had the privilege of meeting and socializing with many prominent individuals during her years as development director for the Lakeside Foundation in Brockport, but one guest who made an unforgettable impression on her was the late General Colin Powell.

Powell was a United States Army officer, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first African-American Secretary of State. Powell died in October and his memorial service was televised a few weeks later – a service which brought back a lot of memories for Goyette.

She shared that Powell was born in Harlem in the Bronx. His family lived in a tenement, something which probably contributed to his founding America’s Promise Alliance, whose symbol is the little red wagon.

Powell explained the little red wagon was a symbol of America’s promise to our young people. He has been quoted as saying, “The most important part is the black handle that comes up. It is that black handle that allows an adult to reach down, pull the wagon along and make the way of life a little easier for a child who needs some help.”

At the Lakeside gala, Goyette said Powell talked about his life, the service and why he wouldn’t run for president.

“It was a very moving event,” she said.

Powell’s appearance drew the largest crowd in the history of the gala – 1,532 guests. It netted $120,000 for the hospital.

“General Powell was a stellar, upstanding patriot,” Goyette said. “He cared very much for the youth of today. He will be sorely missed.”

Goyette has also had the pleasure of meeting British Prime Minister John Major, Madeline Albright, Betty Ford, Barbara Bush, Walter Cronkite, President George H.W Bush, Jack Kemp, Muhammad Ali, Dan and Marilyn Quayle and General Norman Schwarzkopf.

In her position, Goyette had to make all the arrangements for the appearances of the high-profile guests, which included working with Scotland Yard and the Secret Service. There were always two fears, she said – that someone would try to shatter the event with a catastrophic act – and the weather.

Madeline Albright, who came from New York City, was so concerned about the weather, she took a train to Brockport. She also made a special request for Bovril and Heinz salad cream – two items which were not available in the United States. Goyette put out a request and three days later, a gentleman from Scotland Yard showed up with the items.

She explained that Bovril is a savory spread, which is popular in England.

“Heinz savory cream is quite unique, but I absolutely love it,” Goyette said. “You can now buy it in the International section of some Wegman’s, but it is $9 a bottle.”

Goyette said when General Schwarzkopf was the guest of honor, he wanted to split the head table, so he could walk through to talk to the audience.

She would spend 15 years at the Lakeside Foundation, during which time she organized 14 galas and 40 golf tournaments.

Goyette boasts of a very exciting childhood. She grew up in the South of England on the White Cliffs of Dover. Her home was between Heathrow and Gatwick airports, so she was very aware of airplanes. She said the Concord flew every Tuesday, leaving Heathrow at 11 a.m.

“I knew when it flew,” she said. “It had a very unique sound.”

When Goyette retired from the Lakeside Foundation, she returned to her native England for six months. Then she returned to Albion and went to work at Hospice.

“I was looking for a little job, answering phone or filing papers,” she said. “I didn’t want any stress.”

Then Hospice was embarking on a fund drive to raise money for a hospice residence.

“I became director of development and worked for six years to raise $2.3 million and we built the Martin-Linsin Hospice Residence.”

“Then I retired for the last time,” Goyette said. “I moved to Rochester because I have a daughter there, but I visit the Albion area often. I’ve met so many heroic people. I wonder what heroic stories will come out of this era?”

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – These flags are out on veterans’ graves at Hillside Cemetery in Holley. One of the flags is on the grave of Ronald Sisson, who is one of eight soldiers from Holley killed in the Vietnam War. Holley suffered one of the highest losses per capita in the United States from the Vietnam War.

Sisson, a member of the Marine Corps, when 23 when he was killed on Dec. 16, 1965. Other soldiers from Holley killed in the war include John P. Davis, David Duane Case, Howard L. Bowen, Gary E. Bullock, Gary Lee Stymus, George Warren Fischer Jr. and Paul Scott Mandracchia.

Together, the eight soldiers were awarded 40 medals for combat and valor, including seven Purple Hearts.

These photos of the flags at Hillside Cemetery were taken on a recent sunny day.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) led a letter with Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04), and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) calling for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to provide guidance on a test-to-stay option for unvaccinated students exposed to Covid-19.

“For the past two years, we have seen the impact of virtual and distance learning on our students’ educational progress, and social and emotional well-being,” Jacobs said. “Every day spent out of the classroom negatively impacts the development of our students and burdens parents with logistical concerns.”

Currently, the CDC maintains blanket guidance stating any unvaccinated individual exposed to Covid-19 must quarantine regardless of test results. Under a test-to-stay model, close contacts of a Covid-positive student are given daily rapid tests instead of quarantining. As long as they continue to test negative, they stay in school. Recent data from Erie and Niagara counties show that only about 1.5% of close contacts in schools end up testing positive for Covid-19. Additionally, Utah and Massachusetts have both successfully implemented test-to-stay models.

“Healthy students who have tested negative for Covid-19 should be allowed to stay in the classroom and continue in-person learning,” Jacobs said. “Recently, New York State has allowed school districts to decide to implement test-to-stay, but CDC guidance is critical to giving these districts more direction. It is time for the CDC to follow the science, drop overburdensome blanket quarantine rules, and implement common-sense guidance that allows healthy students to remain in the classroom.”

Press Release, Kendall Central School

Nicholas Picardo

KENDALL – The Board of Education has selected Nicholas Picardo as the next superintendent of the Kendall Central School District, pending formal appointment to the position at the Board of Education meeting tonight. He will begin his new position on January 1.

“The Board of Education is excited that Nicholas Picardo, who has 16 years of experience in our district, will be our new leader for KCSD,” said Board President Lisa Levett. “We are thrilled to begin this next chapter with Nick, who brings a passion for teamwork and growth. We welcome his commitment to a well-rounded 21st Century educational program and equity for all our students.”

Picardo is currently the Executive Director for Student Services and Athletic Director for KCSD and has served in those positions since July 2018. Prior to that, Picardo served as the Coordinator of Student Services and Committee on Special Education Chair in the district, a position he began in July 2014.

Picardo has spent his educational career in Kendall serving as an administrator, Social Studies teacher, department chair, coach and advisor. Picardo and his wife, Kelly, live in the district, where their daughter, Sophia, attends school.

“The Kendall community is truly a special place to live and work,” Picardo said. “I am both humbled and excited to have been chosen as the next superintendent of the Kendall Central School District. I look forward to working with the Board of Education, staff and community to ensure that we continue to provide our students with an exceptional educational experience.”

The Board was pleased with the breadth of experience and quality skillset each finalist had to offer, and they would like to thank Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES District Superintendent and Search Consultant Jo Anne L. Antonacci for her assistance throughout the search process.

Last year’s Fête de Nöel raised $5,000; this year’s goal $7,500

Provided photo: Maison Albion at 13800 West County House Rd. will be lavishly decorated for a gala on Dec. 11 to benefit Community Action. Ten Christmas trees will be decorated by local vendors which will display their products (i.e. fresh flowers, handmade goods/ornaments, garland etc.) on each tree and will be set up in each room at Maison Albion.

Press Release, Maison Albion and Community Action of Orleans and Genesee

ALBION – Maison Albion will host its annual Fête de Nöel gala on December 11th benefitting Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

The black-tie event will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. in the glamorous ballroom and all throughout the mansion at 13800 West County House Rd. Hilltop Catering will serve appetizers and desserts, along with live music, dancing, and entertainment for guests to enjoy. This event is designed to welcome the holiday season and raise money for a good cause.

“We are looking forward to Fête de Nöel as it continues to grow as a holiday gala event,” said Kerri Glover, co-owner of Maison Albion. “It’s the perfect way to welcome the holidays and give back to an organization that does so much for our community.”

Fête de Nöel, Dancing Under Diamonds: A Celestial Christmas, is a French-inspired gala for community members to celebrate the holiday season. Maison Albion will be transformed into a winter wonderland with ten over-the-top Christmas trees and celestial inspired gingerbread houses for guests to enjoy. Guests will dance the night away under the sparkling ballroom chandeliers while enjoying appetizers, refreshments, sweet treats and tours of the historic mansion.

All of the proceeds raised from the event go towards supporting Community Action of Orleans and Genesee. For over 40 years, Community Action has served low-income and disadvantaged individuals in Orleans and Genesee County. Each of the nine programs offered, as well as, family development and emergency food pantry services, are designed to empower individuals to become more self-sufficient.

Maison Albion’s raised $5,000 for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee last year. The goal is to raise $7,500 for Community Action this year. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at www.maisonalbion.com/fete.

Maison Albion is encouraging community members to get into the holiday spirit by creating their own interpretation of Maison Albion. Participants will design their version of Maison Albion and share their edible masterpiece at Fête de Nöel. Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite gingerbread house. The winner of the gingerbread house competition will receive a complimentary private party for up to ten guests and movie screening in the mansion’s movie theatre.

“Community Action is honored to be a part of Fête de Nöel for the second year in a row,” said Renne Hungerford, Executive Director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, “We are looking forward to a fun, fabulous event!”

Maison Albion is committed to the success of local nonprofit organizations and small businesses in the community. Maison Albion hosts ten complimentary nonprofit events each year to local nonprofit organizations in Western New York. To inquire about hosting a future nonprofit event at Maison Albion, please email bonjour@maisonalbion.com.

The absentee ballots were counted Tuesday for two close races in Orleans County. Those ballots increased the lead for Sean Pogue in Barre and Harold Suhr in Yates.

Pogue received 18 absentees and Gerald Solazzo had 13 for Barre town supervisor. Pogue, the incumbent Republican, led Solazzo 289 to 258 after the in-person ballots were counted from early voting and on Nov. 9. With the absentees, Pogue is now at 307 votes to 271 for Solazzo who ran under the independent “Voice of the Citizens.” The results are still unofficial.

There are also about 20 affidavit ballots to be counted throughout Orleans County. The deadline to certify the results is Nov. 26.

The town of Yates also had a very close race that was up in the air until the absentees were counted.

Harold Suhr had a 3-vote lead over Paul Lauricella, 256 to 253, after the early voting and Nov. 2 ballots were counted.

With the absentees, Suhr picked up 11 more votes and Lauricella gained 3 more, putting Suhr ahead 267 to 256.

Those results are unofficial and there will be a manual recount.

The write-in results from other races in the county also are still be tabulated with the results unavailable at this time.

Village welcomes decorated trees for annual holiday display at Veterans Park

Photo by Tom Rivers: People gather at Veterans Park on Dec. 7, 2019 for the annual tree-lighting celebration. Last year there were 79 trees decorated, the most since Lyndonville started the display in 2013.

LYNDONVILLE – The village will continue its popular Christmas display at Veterans Park and also has added a North Pole Post for people to send letters to Santa. The Post is located inside the Yates Community Library.

Last year there were 79 trees decorated by community members. That is the most since Lyndonville started the tradition in 2013, with 26 trees in that first year.

Residents have until Nov. 18 to apply to decorate a tree. A $30 fee covers the cost of the tree, materials for the sign, lead cords, replacement cords and adapters as needed. Participants need to provide lights and decorations.

The trees will be lighted up for the first time on Dec. 4 by Santa as part of a Christmas in Lyndonville celebration. The trees will be out until about Jan. 1.

For more information, check the village website (click here) or call the village office at 585-765-9385.

Photo courtesy of Teri Woodworth: The North Pole Post is at Yates Community Library, where kids can send letters to Santa.

Ron Felstead gives back to Medina Memorial, his birthplace

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Ron Felstead of Medina, a lifelong pilot, points to the windsock on the roof of Medina Memorial Hospital, which he began replacing after Medina installed a helipad. He makes sure there is a new one every couple of years.

MEDINA – Ron Felstead has had a lifelong love of flying and been a dedicated supporter of Medina Memorial Hospital for almost as long.

It’s not surprising the hospital should occupy a special place in his heart – he was born there.

A few years ago, his background in aviation led him to make a very fitting donation to Medina Memorial Hospital.

The hospital had installed a helipad just south of the facility, when it occurred to Felstead the windsock was neglected and in need of being replaced. He knew how beneficial a windsock would be to the helicopter pilots. He talked to hospital personnel and arranged for a new one to be placed on the roof. Since that time he has continued to replace it every two years.

He explained how a pilot can gauge the direction of the wind by looking at a windsock, and can also estimate the velocity of the wind by how far out the windsock is extended. Knowing conditions of the wind is vital to a helicopter or airplane pilot.

Ron would get better acquainted with the hospital when he had his heart attack a few years ago. He was there 10 days before being transferred to Buffalo General Hospital to undergo a bypass.

Ron Felstead, an avid pilot and dedicated supporter of Medina Memorial Hospital, stands in the entrance to the hospital, where he was born.

He actually began his involvement with the hospital when John Sylvester encouraged him to be on the board in 2005. He would continue in that position until 2017.

He said the most heartbreaking thing while on the board was when they had to close the birthing center.

Ron is a son of the late Herb and Irene Felstead. They were living in Knowlesville when he was born and moved onto Taylor Hill (Townline Road) when he was 5, so his father, an avid pilot, could develop an airstrip.

“One of dad’s dreams when he was young was to fly,” Ron said. “He trained at Medina Airport with Herb Halsey. A Piper Cub was his first airplane.”

Ron got the flying bug very early. He soloed at Genesee County Airport in August 1957, the year he graduated from high school. A year later he got his private pilot’s license. He attended the University of Buffalo for two years through the ROTC program, where a teaching major realized how serious Ron was about flying. He wanted to get into a military flight school, but discovered he had to have four years of college.

Those in the program without a four-year degree were offered jobs in other areas of aviation, such as mechanics or air traffic control. Ron elected to come home and worked in various jobs while continuing his training, obtaining his commercial and flight instructor’s licenses. His first student was the late Zeke Royal of Medina. On a cross country with Royal to Ithaca, Ron learned a company there had a contract with the Army, Navy and Air Force to teach flying at Cornell, and he applied. His first job was teaching ROTC students how to fly to become a pilot in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

He also taught his brother to fly. His brother went out west where he attended Washington State to become a veterinarian. He met a girl in Montana and married her. Then he decided to go to navigator’s school, but a problem with his eardrums prevented him from pursuing that. So he then went back to pilot’s school and became an F-16 pilot. He ended up as squadron commander at the National Guard in Great Falls, Mont. Sadly, his brother died of a heart attack at age 58.

After leaving Cornell, Ron took a job at Page Airways in Rochester for a year, then in 1965 started teaching flying at Genesee County Airport. He had been there four years when, in 1969, the Rochester City School District was looking for a flight instructor, and he applied. He would be there almost 30 years, until his retirement.

When his dad died in 1986, Ron was executor of the estate. Ron had had a heart attack at the age of 52, and was prevented from flying for a year, until he could get his medical back. (A pilot’s medical exam is his license to fly.)

Ron tried to sell the airport. He sold off the house and farmland, but ended up keeping the airport for 30 more years, until selling it several years ago to John Follman of Waterport, a retired airline and jet pilot.

Ron and his wife Lynda have a son, who Ron also taught to fly, and a daughter.

Ron had caught the attention of the FAA and was appointed an examiner by them at the age of 25. He continued in that role for 27 years. His prestigious flying record earned him the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, which was presented Aug 11, 2011 at Genesee County Airport. Ron’s record includes more than 50 years of flying with no incidents or violations.

“I take flying very seriously, a quality I learned from my father,” Ron said.

He still owns a Cessna 172, which he keeps at Genesee County Airport and flies frequently for his own pleasure.

Ron still is a big proponent of his local Medina Memorial Hospital.

“They have the latest in equipment, such as nuclear scanners, all state-of-the-art equipment, right here in Medina,” Ron said. “Being on the board made me realize how important it is to keep our hospital in the community. My life was probably saved here.”

Heather Smith, director of Orleans Community Health Foundation, thinks it’s pretty cool how Ron’s love of flying correlated with his dedication to Medina Memorial Hospital.

“Ron is a joyful donor who is such a pleasure to spend time with and get to know,” Smith said. “His passion for flying goes beyond the runway and he shares that by providing a helipad windsock to the hospital. It may not seem like much, but his donation goes beyond our building. Our windsock also provides a service to the homes in the community, as well as the pilots of Mercy Flight, by helping them gauge the wind and provide a visual for our location. It always amazes me how each and every donor has a different connection to the hospital and how unique their gifts can be. This is just one example of how community members can use their unique gifts to support us.”

Event in high school gym was first in-person performance indoors for live audience during pandemic

Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers

ALBION – High school students in Albion performed a veterans’ concert on Tuesday evening in the high school gym. Mike Thaine is shown leading the concert band.

This was the first time since early March 2020 the band has performed indoors for a live concert in person.

The concert is usually held in the middle school auditorium. The space in the gym allowed the school to spread out the students and crowd. The choir wore masks during the performance.

The program included the National Anthem led by Albion’s Mixed Choir and a recognition of veterans in attendance. The Mixed Choir then performed Shenandoah, Ain’a That Good News, O Love, and I Lift My Lamp. The Concert Band then performed Yankee Fanfare, A Celebration of Taps, and The Avengers. The concert concluded with America The Beautiful by the combined choir and band.

The band is led by Mike Thaine and the choir by Connor Doran.

Press Release provided by the GOW Pathway to Hope Steering Committee and Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition Member, Meredith Minier

“My name is Meredith Minier and I am a suicide survivor.  That was so hard – impossible – to say and write for a long time, but it is true.

Many people think it refers to a person who has survived a suicide attempt.  Not true.  It means we lost someone we loved dearly – and still love – to suicide. Some days it seems like it was a long time ago, and sometimes is seems like my husband, Lee, died just last week.  If you know me or anyone who has lost someone to suicide, you are a suicide survivor – in fact, I can almost say everyone who is reading this is a suicide survivor. Perhaps it was a cousin, a work associate, your best friend’s mother, the neighbor down the road, or your spouse or child.

We ‘suicide survivors’ are a unique group of grievers with unique challenges; one of the most challenging is fighting the stigma associated with suicide. Many of us feel frozen, in so much pain we don’t know how to move forward. It is not something our loved ones would want for us. I felt that way for a long time until I finally took action to turn my pain into something positive and help those in my community find the help and resources they need to heal and be productive and honor the one they loved and lost.”

To help the process of healing, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.AFSP.org) has sponsored the International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. AFSP sponsors this special day the Saturday before Thanksgiving of each November. The GOW Pathway to Hope Steering Committee and the Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition have planned a week of special online activities preceding the 20th for all the residents of Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming County communities to come together and reach out a hand to those grieving following the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Please go to the following Facebook pages Orleans County (www.facebook.com/OrleansCountySuicidePreventionCoalition), Wyoming County (www.facebook.com/wyomingcountySPC) or the GOW Pathway to Hope page (www.facebook.com/GOWPathwaytoHope/) for positive thoughts, ideas and activities for positive action during the Week of November 15th.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss day is observed worldwide as a way of showing support to survivors who are struggling.  Please light a candle on Nov. 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. to bring these survivors out of the darkness and into the light with your support.

If you are on Facebook, please take a picture and post it on your page and tag it #LightAPathway2Hope2021 so we can share it on our social media platforms. For those who are not on Facebook but would like to share a remembrance of a loved one or share words of encouragement for those who are grieving, you can send an anonymous message via survey monkey and we will share them as we are able: www.surveymonkey.com/r/GOWPathway2Hope2021.

“Suicide survivor’s put a face to suicide…by sharing their personal stories, they are able to turn their grief into action and communicate the urgent need to take concrete steps to prevent more deaths by suicide.  Their openness also sends a message of hope that there is always a tomorrow after suicide.” – Author unknown

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety and/or thoughts of suicide it is important to reach out for help.  The Care + Crisis Helpline is a free, confidential helpline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  You can call 585-283-5200 or text ‘Hope’ to 741741 and they will help connect you with appropriate assistance.

For the Genesee County Mental Health, call 585-344-1421.  The Orleans County Mental Health Department can be reached at 585-589-7066.  In Wyoming County you can reach out to Spectrum Health at 585-786-0220 or Clarity Wellness at 585-786-0790.  For veterans, please call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. If you are having a mental health emergency, please call 9-1-1 for assistance.

You are not alone, there are people who want to help.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) joined Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Congressmen Pete Stauber (MI-08) and Dusty Johnson (SD-AL) in urging the Canadian Minister of Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Public Safety to drop Canada’s Covid-19 testing requirement for fully vaccinated individuals entering from the United States.

“I am excited to finally welcome our Canadian friends and family back to the United States,” Jacobs said. “This day has been long-awaited by many in our community. As I have said from the start, our two nations need a reciprocal approach to opening our shared border. Canada must drop its COVID testing requirement so Canadians and Americans alike can travel freely between our two nations to see family, reunite with friends, and support our local businesses.”

After 19 months of closure, the Northern Border reopened to land travelers on Monday.

Read the full letter below:

Dear Ministers Blair and Mendicino,

We write to you regarding the testing requirement for fully vaccinated individuals crossing the border from the United States into Canada. Since such a requirement is not imposed for entry into the United States across the land border, we believe this supplemental requirement to produce a negative molecular Covid-19 test to enter Canada creates unnecessary confusion and risks hindering the full benefits of the recent U.S. border reopening.

We are aware of the hardships imposed on communities on both sides of the border due to the Biden Administration’s delay in reopening border crossings into the United States, and we are grateful for the leadership of our Canadian friends who secured a reopening of the border to American travelers on August 9th. However, now that both countries have restored non-essential travel at border crossings, it is only logical we achieve parity in the Covid-19 requirements for travelers. Our border communities have awaited a return to normal cross-border travel for more than 19 months; we should not risk the full benefits afforded to our citizens from this reopening due to the confusion and additional burden posed by the Covid-19 testing requirement.

Constituents on both sides of the U.S. – Canada border, from states and provinces across our respective countries, expect our governments to do everything we can to achieve a return to normalcy at the border. As such, we urge the Canadian Government to drops its requirement for a negative Covid-19 test for vaccinated travelers seeking to enter Canada across the land border.

We look forward to working with you on this effort to restore bilateral coordination following the long-overdue reopening of the U.S. northern border.