Photos and information courtesy of Virginia Hughes
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Leos, a student organization to work with the Lyndonville Lions Club, recently joined the Lyndonville Department of Public Works to plant two trees in the village park.
In an effort to releaf the village streets and the park, the students planted 2 Profusion Crabapple trees. This variety was chosen because of its deep pink flowers in spring, the red fruit that stays on the trees for the birds to eat in the summer, and the yellow-orange fall color.
A village committee is working to add more trees to the streets of Lyndonville and park areas.
The students who were involved were: Aiden Allen, Madalynn Baker, Alexandria Carvalho, Safia Delpbbr, Zachary Freas, Amber Grabowski, Molly Ingersoll, Owen Mank, Hannah Marker, Kylie Reisman and Elizabeth Whipple.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 October 2021 at 11:38 am
Karma, a German Shepherd, is the family dog in horror film
Karma, a German Shepherd owned and trained by Dawn Spencer of Kent, will be in the upcoming movie, Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin. It will be released Oct. 29 by Paramount Plus.
KENT – Karma, a local German Shepherd owned and trained by Dawn Spencer, will be appearing in an upcoming horror movie, Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin.
The film will be released by Paramount Plus on Oct. 29. Karma and Spancer were in Allegany County for three days in late March for filming. Karma had a day on the set and the director often remarked the dog was “on point” for her scenes.
A role in a scary movie is fitting for Karma, a “Halloween baby” born on Oct. 31, Spencer said.
She has been training dogs for 30 years. She owns the Eye of Oden K9 Training on Sawyer Road. Karma has earned many training titles including Star Puppy, CGC, CGCA, CGCU, RN, TKN, TKI, TKA, THD, SD, NACSW ORT, CPE NW1, BH.
Spencer said Karma can adapt to many situations. Spencer worked with an agent hoping to land an opportunity for Karma to be in commercials. Instead, the agent connected her to Buffalo Film Works & Paramount Pictures for the role of the family dog in Paranormal Activity.
Spencer and Karma stayed at a hotel in Cuba NY for the filming in Allegany County.
In Paranormal Activity, a documentary filmmaker follows the main character Margot, who is played by Emily Bader. She goes to a secluded Amish community in the hopes of meeting and learning about her long-lost mother and extended family. Strange occurrences and discoveries follow, and Margot realizes this community might be hiding something sinister. Click here to see a trailer of the film.
Spencer said she and Karma enjoyed meeting the cast. The dog worked closely with Emily Bader, Tom Nowicki and Colin Keane.
Spencer expects Karma may have more acting opportunities in the future. Her primary role, however, is assisting Spencer.
“Karma is known through our community as my Service Dog and has made many friends through Orleans County,” Spencer said.
Photo by Tom Rivers: A corn plant stands tall last month in a field of soybeans by Albion Central School near Clarendon Road.
Press Release, National Agricultural Statistics Service
ALBANY – The USDA-NASS has released the crop production forecast for October. The latest survey, which was conducted during the last week of September and the first week of October, included the following commodities:
• Corn production is forecast at 83.5 million bushels, up 6% from 2020. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 167.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month but up 10 bushels from the 2020 average. If this forecasted yield is realized, it will be a record high yield for New York. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 500 thousand acres, unchanged from 2020.
• Soybean production is forecast at 17.0 million bushels, up 7% from last year. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 53.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month and up 2.0 bushels from last year. Area for harvest is forecast at 320 thousand acres, up 8 thousand acres from 2020.
• Alfalfa hay and alfalfa mixtures production is forecast at 672 thousand tons, up 102 thousand from 2020. Based on October 1 conditions, yield is expected to average 2.40 tons per acre, up 0.50 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 280 thousand acres, down 20 thousand acres from last year.
• Other hay production is forecast at 1.70 million tons, up 49% from 2020. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 2.00 tons per acre, up 0.50 ton per acre from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 850 thousand acres, up 12% from 2020.
Provided photo: The staff of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES Medina Literacy Zone looks forward to hosting a job fair on Oct. 20.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES Medina Literacy Zone will be holding an Orleans County job fair on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be 28 companies represented at the Literacy Zone located at 211 Eagle Street in Medina. There will also be representatives from childcare services, library services, colleges and many more.
A Literacy Zone is where adult learners can gain knowledge, skills and supports needed for economic self-sufficiency. Coordinators at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES work closely with community partners to create workshops to help individuals move into the workforce like earning a high school diploma, learning English and resume building.
The Literacy Zone has also been working on a coat drive to benefit anyone on the community who needs one. They have been collecting gently used and new coats of all seasons for those in need, along with gloves, scarves, hats and winter boots. The coat drive handout will be on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Literacy Zone as well.
“We are accepting donations for the drive as well and anyone who needs jackets/coats or winter items are more than welcome to pick one out at the job fair as well or leave their name, number and item needed if what we have does not fit them,” said Julie Johnson, case manager.
For more information if you are in need or wish to donate, contact Johnson at 585-798-1420.
Provided photo: Shane Collins of Royalton-Hartland is one of the students in the cosmetology program.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – The Orleans Career and Technical Education Center’s cosmetology classes led by Anne Carnahan and Sue Lindke will begin cosmetology clinic starting Thursday, October 14th.
The clinic will run every Thursday and Friday until May 27th when school is in session. The Orleans Career and Technical Education Center is located at 4232 Shelby Basin Road in Medina.
The hours for the clinic are 8:30 to 11 a.m. and an appointment is required. No walk-ins are allowed. The students will only being doing hair (cuts and color) and nails. No other services will be available. Masks must be worn in the school.
To make an appointment contact Anne Carnahan at acarnahan@onboces.org or 716-731-6800, ext: 2310 or Sue Lindke at slindke@onboces.org or 716-731-6800, ext: 2300.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 October 2021 at 8:42 am
Photos courtesy of Orleans County Youth Bureau
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County had its seventh annual Family Game Night last Thursday at the at the Trolley Building at Cornell Cooperative Extension.
About 100 people attended the event. There were also 14 departments in the county government that participated, educating the families about the services offered.
The event was sponsored by the Orleans County Youth Bureau and Legislative Office. The Game Night included dinner, games to play, displays to visit and a new board game for every family.
ORCHARD PARK – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) led 51 House colleagues in calling for the Social Security Administration and the American Federation of Government Employees to immediately develop a plan to reopen in-person Social Security services in the more than 1,500 locations around the country.
“While most businesses and government agencies have resumed in-person services for Americans, the Social Security Administration has failed to provide a timeline or even a plan to reopen their 1,500 field offices,” Jacobs said. “Millions of Americans struggle with access to reliable internet or phone services which imperils their access to their benefits and help they need. It is time for the Social Security Administration to restore the in-person customer service our constituents deserve.”
Most Social Security Administration field offices have been closed for in-person services due to the pandemic. Despite the return to in-person services at congressional offices, state and local government offices, passport agencies, and numerous other government agencies, Social Security offices have not made similar progress.
“Many in my district, especially seniors, routinely call my offices concerned about the lack of in-person services available to apply for benefits, process appeals, or request Social Security cards,” Jacobs said. “With the abundance of three effective vaccines and established safety protocols, there is no excuse for Social Security Administration to deny any American access to these critical in-person services. I am calling on the Social Security Administration and the American Federation of Government Employees to immediately develop a plan and timetable to reopen their field offices.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 October 2021 at 9:22 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roman Heinsler, who scored the game’s lone goal for Medina/Lyndonville, heads toward the goal against Akron defender Bryce Cayea during this evening’s game at Vets Park.
Celebrating Senior Night in style, Roy-Hart clinched at least a tie for a second straight Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer championship by posting a 3-0 victory over Newfane this evening.
Peter Martillotta scored two goals and Landen Guild one as Elijah Giroux chipped in with a pair of assists for the Rams.
Roy-Hart, which is now 7-1, will visit runner-up Wilson (7-2) in the N-O finale on Thursday. Wilson downed Albion 3-0 this evening.
In the other N-O contest, Medina/Lyndonville nipped Akron 1-0 at Vets Park to improve to 5-3 in the league.
Roman Heinsler scored the lone goal for the Mustangs off an assist from Jackson Moreland with 17:41 to go in the second half.
Zach Fike earned the shutout in goal for the Mustangs making eight saves including a stop of a direct kick in the final half minute.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2021 at 5:51 pm
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments today reported 271 new Covid cases the past five days in the two counties with 150 in Genesee and 121 in Orleans.
The number of active cases in the two counties is at 461, which is up from 423 on Oct. 7 and 358 on Oct. 4.
Orleans County, however, has a slight drop in active cases, down from 217 on Oct. 7 to 212 today. Genesee is up from 206 on Oct. 7 to 249 today, according to the local health departments.
Genesee currently has 10 residents hospitalized due to Covid, while Orleans has four in the hospital from Covid.
Genesee is reporting 99 more recoveries and Orleans has 122 more. These are people who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.
Photo courtesy of Governor’s Office: The Sandy Creek harbor in Hamlin is currently being dredged as part of a $15 million regional dredging initiative.
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced dredging has begun at the Sandy Creek Inlet in the town of Hamlin as part of the State’s $15 million REDI Regional Dredging Project.
The dredging of up to 20 navigation channels along Lake Ontario’s south shore and the St. Lawrence River is a significant aspect of New York State’s $300 million Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. The Oak Orchard Harbor has been dredged in Orleans County and Johnson Creek is on the list.
The dredging removes built-up sediment from the bottom of the waterway to allow for continued safe harbor and passage of watercraft. It is anticipated that up to 5,700 cubic yards of sediment will be removed from Sandy Creek. Dredging will be completed with mechanical means and the dredging fleet will include a barge, excavator, and a tugboat. Sediment dredged from the channel will be placed in a defined area approximately 1,200 feet north of the proposed dredge area.
“Communities along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River have been forced to battle with the impacts of extreme weather and flooding due to climate change for the past several years and New York is doing everything within its power to ensure that these communities are prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at them,” Governor Hochul said. “By undertaking these types of dredging and resiliency efforts, we are not only helping to ensure that these navigational channels remain open, but we are keeping those who traverse them safe, while helping to safeguard the local business community that relies on a thriving tourist industry.”
Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said, “Proactive projects like this save us a lot of money down the road and, most important, help prevent damage or injury that could occur if these sites were left unmaintained. Our waterfronts are an incredible economic resource for us to have in our community, so I am glad this project will keep the Sandy Creek site safe and operational so it can be enjoyed for decades to come.”
Town of Hamlin Supervisor Eric Peters said, “The dredging of the Sandy Creek channel is significant to the health and development of the small business community here in the town of Hamlin. We are grateful to see this project beginning. Through the REDI Regional Dredging Program, NYS is helping to ensure the safe and continued passage for recreational boaters and charter captains which will protect the tourist industry that is so critical to the Town of Hamlin and Lake Ontario Shoreline communities.”
The REDI Regional Dredging Project’s objective is to provide a comprehensive approach to the ongoing dredging needs for harbor navigation channels used primarily for recreational boating and refuge in the region. This project tackles the necessary dredging of up to 20 harbor navigation channels through Phases I and II. During Phase III, the State will provide counties with the information they need to update, expand, and implement long-term operational, maintenance, and funding plans to maintain recreational navigation channels in the future.
To date, the State has completed 13 REDI dredging projects, and removed approximately 56,000 cubic yards of sediment to provide recreational boaters with safe access to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. In addition to “The Cut” in Henderson, the completed dredging projects include Port Bay, Blind Sodus Bay, East Bay, Bear Creek and Pultneyville in Wayne County, Sandy Pond Inlet and Salmon River/Port Ontario in Oswego County, Irondequoit Bay and Braddock Bay in Monroe County, Little Sodus Bay in Cayuga County, Golden Hill State Park in Niagara County, Oak Orchard in Orleans County.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
ALBION – Sheriff Chris Bourke is pleased to announce that the Sheriff’s Office will again participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications and sharps for safe and proper disposal. Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion, abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue.
Due to the Current Covid-19 restrictions, the Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a drive-up event. All medications and sharps will be collected from participants at their vehicle. We are kindly requesting face coverings while participating in this event.
The only authorized collection site for this event will be located at the Orleans County Public Safety Building, 13925 State Route 31. We apologize for any inconvenience of not having multiple collection locations for this event and thank the community for your understanding.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2021 at 1:39 pm
Photos courtesy of Justin Drees
Jackson Drees, 13, of Hartland holds a large-mouth bass he caught on Sunday at the Red House Lake at Allegany State Park.
The state record for a large-mouth bass is 11 pounds, 4 ounces. It was caught 35 years ago by John Higbie from Otsego County’s Buckhorn Lake.
Jackson didn’t weigh the fish because his scale was in his tackle box on the other side of a bridge. He didn’t want the fish to die so he let it go back into the water.
Jackson was camping with his family over the weekend. He down to the lake with his brother Lucas, 16, while their parents packed up the camper. Jackson called his father on the ohone, and was out of breath.
“I feared something had happened I asked what is wrong,” Justin Drees said. “He was able to gasp out, ‘I just caught my personal best fish. Dad this is a monster, a dinosaur. It’s mouth is as big as my head.”
Jackson is an eighth-grader at Royalton-Hartland. He plays JV baseball and modified football for Roy-Hart but his passion is fishing, his father said.
“He fishes every day,” Mr. Drees said. “He takes a fishing pole to school with him every day and in the time after school before football practice, he walks over to the canal to get some casts in!”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 October 2021 at 11:00 am
Provided photo: This room is full of some of the donations received last year by Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern for their holiday give-away program. The agency is seeking donations again this year to help an anticipated 250-300 children.
ALBION – The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern is kicking off its holiday assistance program, helping eligible families in the area.
According to Gretta Smith, client advocate/program coordinator for GOMOC, families are now welcome to come in and fill out wish lists for their children. Then, just before Christmas they may return and choose three to five gifts, depending upon the number of items available.
Smith has also issued a plea to the community to consider making a donation to the Christmas program. Gifts of all kinds are requested, including gift cards, clothing (especially winter coats, boots, etc.), toys, sheets and blankets, crafts, books, wrapping paper and money.
She requests all items be new.
The Christmas give-away program was started by GOMOC in 2015. Last year they provided Christmas presents to 279 children, Smith said, many of whom were participants in their Just Friends program. Just Friends is a youth mentoring program which provides role models to children
All families who apply for Christmas gifts will be contacted and arrangements made for them to come in and choose their gifts for children up to 18 years of age.
Anyone wishing more information may call Smith at 589-9210.
By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director – Vol. 2 No. 38
GAINES – Just south of the hamlet of Childs lies the crossroad community of Five Corners, easily identifiable by its nexus of five roads that meet in a star pattern. Recently, in Part 1 of this article we looked at the Bacon family and their contributions to the hamlet which included providing a lot of land for a school and a lot for a cemetery. In today’s article we focus on the Union Cemetery at Five Corners.
A meeting of Town of Gaines residents took place on May 8, 1834 at the home of Lewis Gates, in order to discuss the creation of a burying ground. Elias Bacon was selected as Moderator and Hosea Bacon, Lewis Gates, Samuel Hill, James Leonard and Seth Leonard were chosen to serve as Trustees to secure a title for a piece of land for that purpose. On April 21, 1835 the Trustees accomplished their duties and took title to a plot of land purchased from Moses and Sarah Bacon.
The cemetery land, adjacent to the Fair Haven Road, ran 100 feet by 90 feet and was further subdivided into 40 burial plots approximately 10 feet square. The cemetery was only described as a “burying ground” on survey maps until 1853 when a group of citizens met again, this time for the purpose of forming a rural cemetery association. The meeting took place at the Cobblestone District #11 Schoolhouse. The group elected Trustees and voted that the association be called the Union Cemetery Association and decided that an annual meeting be held each year at the Schoolhouse on the first Tuesday in October at 6 p.m.
At a later meeting of the Association, it was decided that Elias Bacon was to furnish materials and build a fence around the cemetery. To reimburse Mr. Bacon for his duties he was to be reimbursed by a levy of $3.44 on each plot.
Although the name selected for the cemetery was officially “The Union Cemetery,” lacking a sign, local residents usually called it the Five Corners Cemetery or the Harding Farm Cemetery. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the lack of a sign on the cemetery was corrected, when Russell West, a local Boy Scout, placed a wooden sign at the west end of the property and a wooden bench in the interior. In more recent times, it appears the sign on the property is missing once more.
Many times, the history of a community is told through the gravestones of its local cemetery, and the Union Cemetery is no exception. Moses, Elias and Hosea Bacon, who provided for the creation of the cemetery, along with many early settlers of Five Corners, are all buried here.
Moses Bacon arrived here in 1809. As mentioned in the previous article, he was wounded and taken prisoner during the War of 1812. He built the brick home at the Corners in 1835.
A special War of 1812 marker was added to Moses Bacon’s grave a few years ago.
Hosea Bacon, also interred at the Union Cemetery, constructed the Cobblestone Home on Brown Road, known as Graystone Farm beginning in 1835.
Boy Scout Eagle Project built by Russell West
Rebecca Baker, originally from Rensselaer County, was a Methodist minister of some local note. She eventually settled on a farm in Carlton and is buried in Union Cemetery along with her husband and six children.
Mrs. Olive Bartlett and her husband came to this area on one of the first canal boats to travel to Buffalo in 1825.
Benjamin Dwinnell, a blacksmith from New Hampshire, was an uncle to famed newspaper man, Horace Greeley of New York City. Mr. Greeley agreed to co-sign a mortgage for his nephew on the Dwinnell’s Cobblestone House in Childs. Today, the home is known as the Ward House, and is part of the National Historic Landmark Cobblestone District. The Dwinnell’s, along with daughter Lucy, are buried in Union Cemetery.
Simeon Dutcher and his wife, Rachel, are buried here. Mr. Dutcher was born in Dutchess County in 1772 and settled in Gaines in 1817. He was ordained an elder of the Baptist Church and was one of the first preachers for local settlers, officiating at many early marriages and funerals. During the Anti-Masonic Movement of the 1820s, he was told to renounce Free Masonry, which he refused to do, and was subsequently ex-communicated from his church.
Four Civil War veterans also are found in the Union Cemetery. Victory Ball was wounded in the shoulder at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Joseph Cook was killed near Fairfax Station, Virginia at the age of 22. Also interred here are veterans Henry Watson and Valentine Beach.
The majority of those buried in Union Cemetery are related to one another, and nearly half were under the age of 18 when they died. On the original plot map for the cemetery, a plot known as #22 was reserved for “strangers.” The last burial recorded for the cemetery took place in 1910.
Frank Curvin at his store. Note the root beer mugs on the counter and the display of pipers on the wall behind.
MEDINA – An advertisement in the Medina Tribune of October 21, 1921 signaled the opening of a new business venture at the modest Trolley Stop on North Main Street in Medina, a busy spot for passengers traveling east and west on the Rochester, Lockport and Buffalo Railway.
At the age of 48, Francis Gilbert Curvin was making a new start. A previous business venture in Brockport had not been successful. He had a wife and three children to support. The odds were not in his favor, but his creative and often audacious sales ploys ensured that his confectionery business grew and even survived the Depression, an accomplishment at a time when disposable income was in short supply. Remarkably, “Curvin’s” is still remembered locally 100 years later and the name continued to have a Main Street presence until recently.
Frank soon outgrew the “little store” at the Trolley Stop. He purchased the Callaghan & Sutter lunch room where he remained for one year and then moved to the 420 Main Street location. In 1826, he purchased the home at 321 Catherine St.
He promoted his business energetically and employed every possible promotional sales ploy. He advertised weekly, boldly proclaiming his sales offers and proclaiming his growing inventory.
He added newspapers and magazines to his inventory. He sold bottled milk and a limited line of groceries for the convenience of his customers. Noting a surge of interest in jigsaw puzzles, he added puzzles to his inventory, sold them at half price and facilitated puzzle exchanges for 5 cents.
Again ahead of his time, he installed a record player in the store to provide background music and a microphone to announce specials. These were connected to a loudspeaker in the entryway which broadcast the sound. Soon the system was being used to page people on Main Street and urging them to meet – at Curvin’s of course.
Naturally, his store was a magnet for children. A tantalizing array of Penny Candy was strategically placed at the rear of the store. As the children lingered while making their selection, the accompanying adults looked through the merchandise and no doubt made a purchase. Frank also operated a concession stand at the annual Rural School Picnic which was held in Elm Park for several hundred children and their parents.
Medina Tribune, September 1, 1929
He needed to be bold. By the 1930s he had to contend with the effects of the Depression as well as a declining trolley passenger volume. An inspired sales plan in 1932 proved to be a huge success. He hosted a party on Main Street in Medina on Tuesday nights, hiring the popular local Coppa Family Band to play. There were prizes galore and giveaways – towels, stockings, tobacco, ice cream. But the main draw was the grand prize – a ton of coal.
He intuitively tuned in to public need at the time and provided what people craved – music for a release from tough times, free entertainment, some excitement, the anticipation of winning a free gift. His contribution of the gift of a ton of coal each week was simply brilliant in terms of the publicity and name recognition it generated but also because it was a genuine recognition and acknowledgement of people’s needs.
The inclusion of a personal photograph in an advertisement was unusual at this time. The energetic pose echoes the various pillow, mattress and car salesmen we are familiar with today. Medina Daily Journal, Jan. 19, 1933.
Tuesday night was soon referred to as Curvin Night. The music began at 9 p.m. People began to assemble at 7 p.m. Attendance soon grew from hundreds each week to well over a thousand, many traveling for twenty or thirty miles. Naturally, many would need to purchase sodas, cigarettes and ice cream in the course of the evening. The extra traffic was a boon to other establishments as well.
An article in the August 10, 1932 Medina Daily Journal wryly observed:
“And still they come, and still the wonder grows, how Curvin draws the crowds, only Curvin knows.”
His sales precepts, which he outlined to columnist Russell Waldo, were simple:
“Advertise, keep your stock in sight, the customer must buy more than one item, smile and be pleasant, you cannot afford to be grouchy to customers, salespeople be treated with consideration and must be pleasant to the customers.”
One can well imagine that a visit to Curvin’s would have been a memorable, multi-sensory experience – music, promotional announcements, variety, selection, the mingled scents of newsprint, root beer, sweets, coffee, cigars, cigarettes, roasting peanuts.
Frank Curvin suffered a fatal heart attack at his store on November 25, 1946. He was 72. He was survived by his wife, Marjorie, daughter Catherine and sons Winthrop and Jonathan. He was predeceased by his first wife, Mabel in 1944.
The store continued under the management of George Bunnell until 1962 when it was sold to Mr. & Mrs. Kirk Kimball of Ridge Road.
(Photographs and information courtesy of the Medina Historical Society.)
Jackson didn’t weigh the fish because his scale was in his tackle box on the other side of a bridge. He didn’t want the fish to die so he let it go back into the water.
