Provided: Top row left – Timothy S. Whitcomb; Top row right – Robert W. Hirsch; Bottom row left – Jim H. Tuttle; Bottom row right – David M. DiMatteo
BATAVIA – The Genesee Community College Foundation will proudly induct both the 2020 and 2021 honorees into its Alumni Hall of Fame in Batavia on Thursday, September 16, at 4 p.m. after missing last year’s ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Eager to honor the work done by these four individuals, GCC will induct Timothy S. Whitcomb, Jim H. Tuttle, David M. DiMatteo and Robert W. Hirsch into its Alumni Hall of Fame, forever marking their contributions to their communities and the pride they have brought to Genesee Community College.
Timothy Whitcomb, GCC class of 1989, is the Sheriff for Cattaraugus County in Western New York and has served in this role for 30 years. Sheriff Whitcomb is also a Board Member and PTP Director for Law Enforcement Operations at TTMPT (Talk to Me Post Tour); an independent not-for-profit group of committed and concerned retired police officers and police professionals, and actively speaks nationwide as on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sheriff Whitcomb earned a master’s degree in Counseling Education from St. Bonaventure University and is a certified police instructor in the areas of Interview and Interrogation, the Investigation of Sex Crimes, and the Law Enforcement Response to School Violence. Sheriff Whitcomb is a graduate of the 206th Session of the Federal Bureau Investigation’s National Academy. He has also recently been certified as a SWAT Team fitness specialist.
Sheriff Whitcomb has been an adjunct professor for both St. Bonaventure University and Jamestown Community College. He has served as President for the New York State Sheriffs’ Association and is a past President of the State of New York Police Juvenile Officer Association.
Jim Tuttle, GCC classes of 1971 and 1982 graduated from Genesee Community College with his AAS degree in Criminal Justice and enlisted in the United States Army. Mr. Tuttle re-enlisted in the Army Reserves several times continuing to serve the United States of America for a total of 21 years and eventually returned to earn an Associate degree in Business Administration in 1982 and later to serve on the Alumni Council.
Mr. Tuttle continued his education and earned a bachelor’s degree in Hazardous Studies from SUNY Empire State College. He served as a police officer for the City of Batavia for 30 years, retiring as a Lieutenant.
Mr. Tuttle met his wife while working as an EMT at St. Jerome Hospital in Batavia.
Mr. Tuttle has demonstrated his compassion for others and the community by serving four years as a Town of Pembroke Supervisor, GCC Alumni Council member, GCC Alumni Homecoming Committee, GCC’s Cougar Classic Golf Committee and on the Advisory Board for Genesee County Stop DWI.
David DiMatteo, GCC class of 1984, has been a practicing attorney in the region for over 32 years. A 1982 Notre Dame high school graduate, he began his college education pursuits at Genesee Community College, graduating GCC in 1984, he continued his education at Le Moyne College, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology then completing his legal studies at the University of Buffalo Law School in 1989. Upon graduating he took a position in Warsaw, where he found his own general law private practice in 1993.
He works with municipalities in Erie, Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties addressing siting or prohibiting siting of windmills and a variety of solar projects, writing and adapting local law, and creating and financing water districts. He has worked with the NY State Senate to facilitate legislation for local communities.
Mr. DiMatteo has a farm in Wyoming County where he raises Black Angus cows and horses. He also enjoys hunting locally as well as in Africa, Alaska and the Arctic Circle. Mr. DiMatteo and his wife enjoy their farm with their three children and their new granddaughter.
Robert Hirsch, GCC class of 1997, earned his leadership certification from the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester, a master’s degree in Education from Buffalo State, a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Education from SUNY Brockport, his coaching certification and an associate degree in History and Education from Genesee Community College.
Mr. Hirsch began his career at Warsaw Central School (WCSD) where he taught history and coached the wrestling team for over a decade. The wrestling program he built there included eight LCAA titles, seven Section V championships, over 50 sectional champions, eight individual state champions, and a team NYS title in 2007. Beyond the wrestling mat, Mr. Hirsch encouraged his wrestlers to be involved in community service; he himself served a total of 18 years as the Director of Recreation for the towns of Freedom and Arcade where he organizes the annual Summer Olympics for children.
Mr. Hirsch also coached the NYS Women’s Wrestling National Team which earned Mr. Hirsch the title of 2014 Wrestling Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. Mr. Hirsch went on to coach the Alfred State wrestling team to win the Northeast Championship and placed second two other times. Coaching four NCWA All-Americans, one National Champion and MVP of the tournament, including an eleventh-place team finish, Mr. Hirsch lead the Alfred State Wrestling team through their NCAA III transition in 2019. During this time Mr. Hirsch was the RTI Director at Alfred Almond Central School. Mr. Hirsch is currently the middle/high school principal at Franklinville Central School.
Mr. Hirsch resides in Arcade with his wife and their two beautiful daughters.
Each year, candidates are nominated by friends, family, colleagues or other associates for their impactful contributions to their profession and distinguished service to the community and/or Genesee Community College. The GCC Alumni Hall of Fame, which is located on the second floor of the Conable Technology Building, boasts honorees from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.
The complete list of Hall of Fame members is available by clicking here.
EOC grant to help unemployed workers, low-wage workers, and returning high school and college students
Press Release, Genesee Community College
BATAVIA – The U.S. Department of Education announced that Genesee Community College will receive a federal TRIO Educational Opportunities Center (EOC) grant totaling $2.2 million to help unemployed workers, low-wage workers, and returning high school and college students enter or continue a program of postsecondary education.
The grant comes in the form of a five-year cycle providing $430,441 each year to the TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center at Genesee Community College. This grant will help support programming and outreach efforts from the 2021-2022 through the 2025-2026 academic years.
“Genesee Community College is extremely grateful for the opportunities this grant funding provides for our students and our community members. Our team of expertly trained AEOC team members work hard to maximize the impact our programs and services have for as many individuals as we can reach,” said Dr. Shelitha Williams, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services. “It is exciting to see that this work can not only continue, but will now reach even more people in their time of need.”
The TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center (AEOC) provides information on college admissions as well as guidance and services to improve participants’ financial and economic literacy. Among comprehensive services are academic and personal counseling, career workshops, information on postsecondary education opportunities, student financial aid and literacy assistance, and help in completing applications for college admissions.
TRIO EOC programs offer services to a broad range of adult learners, including those who are limited English proficient, those who are from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, individuals with disabilities, homeless individuals, youth aging out of the foster care system, formerly incarcerated individuals, and other disconnected students.
The national Educational Opportunity Center program began in 1972 and is part of a set of federal educational opportunity outreach programs known as “TRIO,” which is authorized by the Higher Education Act to help low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities succeed in higher education. In FY20 there were 139 Educational Opportunity Centers in America serving more than 192,000 adult learners nationwide.
“As systemic inequality and financial hardship discourage students from succeeding in college, TRIO programs like EOC take on new importance because they continue to help guide un- and underemployed workers and returning high school and college students towards earning a degree,” said Maureen Hoyler, president of the non-profit Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) in Washington, D.C. COE is dedicated to furthering the expansion of college opportunities for low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities nationwide.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2021 at 9:12 am
ALBION – The school district is awaiting guidance from the Department of Health about a new state mandate requiring unvaccinated staff to be tested weekly for Covid-19.
Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, said 83.8 percent of Albion Central School staff are vaccinated and don’t need to be tested weekly.
The other 46 employees will need to be tested for Covid. Edwards said the district is waiting on guidance from the DOH on how the tests should be administered, whether at the district and if employees could get tested on their own and then submit the results.
“It is working out the logistics of it,” Edwards said this morning. “It is determining when and who is doing the testing.”
The unvaccinated staff will need to do the tests weekly “or they can’t come to work,” Edwards told the Board of Education on Monday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Aug. 31 announced the testing requirement for school employees statewide.
In other action during the Board of Education meeting,
• The board accepted a $5,000 donation from the Albion Alumni Foundation to be used as the “Superintendent’s Discretionary Fund,” which assists students in need during the school year.
The estate of Kathryn Mahany Kerrigan provides the funding. Kerrigan was a certified primary care nurse practitioner and nurse midwife.
• The board accepted 2,150 masks in adult and youth sizes at a value of $1,309.35 from BMP America in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2021 at 7:55 am
Synthetic turf at football field, host of security improvements, other projects at 3 school buildings and bus garage
File photo by Tom Rivers: The project would replace the 9-inch wide lockers in the high school with ones that are either 12 or 15 inches wide. The lockers are considered too small by many students to fit in a backpack full of books and often clothes for an after-school practice. The district’s declining enrollment means fewer lockers are now needed and could be replaced with ones that are wider.
ALBION — The school district is looking to put a $26,690,000 million capital project before voters on Dec. 14. The project would be 97 percent funded by state aid, and would include improvements at all three schools, the bus garage and synthetic turf at the football field, varsity soccer and softball fields.
The Board of Education on Oct. 4 expects to vote on the project, and finalize the scope of work and the financing. It expects to put the $26,690,000 project before district voters on Dec. 14.
King & King Architects of Syracuse went over the project with the Board of Education on Monday. Kirk Narburgh, King & King CEO, is an Albion graduate and led the presentation from King & King.
If the project is approved by district voters, King & King would work on the design and construction documents for about eight months, with a four-month approval process then expected by the State Education Department. Bidding would be in January-February 2023, according to a timeline present by Narburgh.
Construction would be April 2023 through December 2024, with two summers of construction phased in. The project’s final punch list and close out would be January through March 2025, according to a timeline presented by Narburgh.
The project includes many improvements, but does not include new air conditioning throughout the school buildings, which Narburgh said would be a $10 million expense per building or $30 million total. (Editor’s Note: The original article said air conditioning would be $10 million throughout the three school buildings, but district officials said this morning it would be $10 million per school or $30 million total.)
“It’s been on the list and it will continue to be on the list, but it fell below the priority list,” Narburgh said about district-wide AC.
The project addresses the most critical and prioritized infrastructure issues identified during the 2020 building condition survey and building tours. It addresses safety and security building systems (such as access controls) identified in the Armored One security assessment of all buildings.
It would provide year-round accessibility through the installation of synthetic turf surfaces for the soccer/softball complex and the football stadium.
Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, said the synthetic fields could be used by gym classes, and also the baseball team, allowing baseball to get outside earlier in the spring for drills when the grass field is often too wet. The synthetic fields also have much less maintenance costs for the district.
“We don’t have to water, fertilize or cut,” Edwards said.
The synthetic fields last about 15 years, Narburgh said.
The capital project also will modify the drop-off area at the middle school to allow more vehicles on the district’s driving lanes. Right now there is often a long line of vehicles in the morning and afternoon that stretches out on Route 31.
The project also meets a district goal of having no additional tax impact on the community, Narburgh said.
A breakdown of the project includes:
Middle School ($9,990,000)
Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
Refinish gym floor, replace gym HC lift, new wall pads, ceiling and lighting
Replace auditorium air conditioning
Provide parallel pool pump and replace hot water heaters and storage tank
Miscellaneous mechanical upgrades including original building wing unit ventilators
Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring, upgrade building system controls to digital (from pneumatic) and miscellaneous panel board and switchgear upgrades
Miscellaneous site work to include parent drop-off loop, renovate playground at east side, and multi-purpose surface at soccer/softball complex
High School ($9,975,000)
Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
Replace gym floor, resurface folding partitions, replace bleachers, ceiling/lighting, ventilation system and new wall-mounted scoreboards. The main center scoreboard would be removed.
Renovate locker rooms and replace recessed corridor locker with wider 12-inch (or possibly 15-inch). The current hallway lockers are 9 inches wide.
Replace hot water heaters, add redundant boiler, and replace heating line
Integrate CO monitoring, upgrade building system controls to digital (from pneumatic) and miscellaneous panel board and switchgear upgrades
Miscellaneous site work to include new accessible sidewalks, tennis court reconstruction, and multi-purpose surface at football stadium complex, etc.
Elementary School ($6,025,000)
Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
Refinish main gym floor and replace folding partitions and divider curtains
Reconfigure entry vestibule and finish renovations to district office
Replace some plumbing fixtures that have aged out and domestic cold water/hot water, sanitary and storm piping in 1955 building
Miscellaneous mechanical upgrades including original building wing unit ventilators
Integrate CO monitoring, upgrade building system controls to digital (from pneumatic) and miscellaneous panel board and switchgear upgrades
Miscellaneous site work to include sidewalk replacement, east side loop drop-off loop
Bus Garage ($700,000)
Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
Replace large overhead doors at 1997 maintenance bay addition
Replace roof on 1997 maintenance bay addition
Integrate CO monitoring and miscellaneous panel board upgrades
Miscellaneous site work to include extension of paving at bus parking and dumpster pad
The district also plans to use $1,995,000 from the State Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014 for a new public address and visual notification system, which includes $780,000 in elementary school, $645,000 in the middle school and $570,000 in the high school.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2021 at 6:34 pm
There are 63 new Covid-19 cases in Orleans County since Thursday and 56 more in Genesee County, the Genesee and Orleans County health Departments reported today.
The new cases in Orleans include the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
There are currently five Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid, which is up from three on Thursday, according to G-O Health.
Orleans also had 43 more of the previous positive individuals complete their 10-day isolation and they have been removed from mandatory isolation.
Genesee is reporting 56 new positive and the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
There are currently 14 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid, which is down from 16 on Thursday, G-O Health said this afternoon.
Genesee is also reporting 37 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.
The active Covid cases in the two counties are up from 112 six days ago on Sept. 7 to 183 today. That includes Orleans – from 59 to 97 – and Genesee – from 53 to 86.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2021 at 4:26 pm
Heritage Wind would pay county, 2 school districts about $400,000 annually; PILOT doesn’t include over $1.2 million to Town of Barre
BARRE – There will be a public hearing at 10 a.m. on Oct. 4 at Barre Town Hall about a proposed PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) plan from Heritage Wind, where the company will pay over $400,000 annually to Orleans County, Albion Central School and the Oakfield-Alabama school district.
The PILOT doesn’t include the Town of Barre, where 33 proposed turbines would be located. The town negotiated a separate host community agreement with Heritage Wind’s parent company, Apex Clean Energy.
That agreement gives Barre 75 percent of the local municipal revenue for the project or more than $1.2 million annually. Barre also will receive an upfront payment of $250,000 if the project is approved by the state, and the host community agreement would also provide about $75,000 annually to the Barre Fire District.
Apex proposed $9,000 per megawatt annually or $1,663,200 in total municipal revenue in year one of the project to be divvied up among the Town of Barre, Orleans County, Albion school district (where 32 turbines would be located) and Oakfield-Alabama (which would have one turbine).
Barre would receive $6,750 per megawatt or 75 percent of that total of the 184.8 megawatt project or $1,247,400.
The other taxing entities would share $2,250 per megawatt capacity through the PILOT or $415,800 in year one. That increases by 2 percent each year through year 14, and then 2.5 percent annually for years 15 to 25.
The details of the PILOT haven’t been made public yet. But the Albion Board of Education in December 2020 voted to accept the PILOT agreement with Apex.
In December the terms of the PILOT called for to receive $1,091.91 per megawatt annually or $201,600. One of the 33 turbines also is proposed to be in the Oakfield-Alabama school district, which would receive $34.09 per megawatt or $6,300 annually.
Orleans County would receive $1,125 per megawatt for $207,900 in the first year.
Heritage Wind, back in December, also agreed to $50,000 to the Albion school district for a one-time “Heritage Wind Renewables Ecology, Clean Energy, and Sustainability Scholarship and Education Support Fund.” The money is to be spent at the discretion of the district. It could be used for scholarships, science fairs, student research projects, financial support for faculty in renewable energy field, a STEM lab or “however the district deems fit.” The $50,000 is to be paid within 15 days after completion of the project.
The Orleans Economic Development Agency will be leading the Oct. 4 public hearing and administering the PILOT. The agency on Friday agreed to pay $5,750 to the Center for Governmental Research to review Apex’s Job and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) wind model and to provide an estimate of the employment, earnings and output estimate for the project.
CGR also will estimate the difference between tax revenue anticipated under the PILOT agreement and the tax revenue that would be received, were the development fully taxable. The report also is to include the value of lease payments to property owners that would host the Heritage turbines. CGR is to provide the report by Oct. 1.
Heritage is projecting 201 construction jobs paying $14.7 million for the project, another 218 job impacts through the turbine and the supply chain at $16.3 million, 90 other positions affected though “induced impacts” at $6.3 million, and five more jobs for construction-related services at $600,000. The company puts the entire construction impact for jobs at 514 workers earning $37.9 million.
Annual operation and maintenance is forecast by the company to include eight onsite jobs at $800,000, 14 other jobs impacted through “local revenue & supply chain impacts” at $1.1 million, and 10 other jobs through “induced impacts” at $800,000 for an annual reoccurring impact of 31 jobs total at $2.6 million.
The eight local jobs by Apex include two administrative/secretarial at $18.60 per hour, two technicians at $29.06 per hour, and two site management positions at $46.50 per hour, according to an Apex filing with the state.
BROCKPORT – SUNY Brockport has again been recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report. Brockport ranked No. 73 among regional universities in the north in the publication’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings, which were released Sept. 13.
Brockport jumped 10 spots from its ranking a year ago.
“I would like to thank our outstanding faculty and staff for all they do each day to make SUNY Brockport a great place for our students to learn,” said Brockport President Heidi Macpherson. “We will continue to provide our students with an exceptional experience both inside and outside of the classroom.”
SUNY Brockport was also recognized in the following categories:
Top Public Schools, Regional Universities North: No. 20
Best Colleges for Veterans, Regional Universities North: No. 29
Social Mobility (measures the extent schools enrolled and graduated students who received federal Pell Grants), Regional Universities North: No. 35
Best Undergraduate Nursing: No. 251
Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs: No. 274
National Grid customers and local law enforcement are reporting utility billing and payment scams across upstate New York. The company is asking its customers to beware and know the signs of a scam.
Imposters claiming to be from National Grid may tell customers that they have past due balances on their utility bills, even promising a savings on their next bill. Customers who reported the scams, say they were contacted by telephone and email, and in some cases automated recordings.
The scammers threaten that service will be shut off immediately unless the customer purchases a prepaid debit card in a specific amount, such as a Green Dot card, and provides the caller with the card’s account number, or in the case of business customers, by way of a Western Union money transfer. Imposters also may ask for a Social Security number and a National Grid account number. These calls are not officially from National Grid and instead are from scammers who are looking to obtain personal information and payments.
The scenario can change, but the goal of the scammer remains the same: scare customers into making hasty decisions that often include large payments.
National Grid does contact customers with past due balances by phone to offer payment options, but never demands direct payment through the use of a prepaid debit card and never accepts payment through these cards.
Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated in replicating National Grid’s recorded messaging and directions for phone prompts, even spoofing the phone number on caller ID, making it more difficult to differentiate an actual National Grid call from an imposter’s call. Similar scams have been reported across the U.S. by other utilities.
Customers who believe they have fallen victim to the scam should contact local law enforcement officials immediately. If you are provided a phone number that does not match numbers on the billing statements, it is likely that the call is a scam.
National Grid reminds customers to know the red flags and offers the following tips:
Be vigilant. If you believe you are current on your National Grid account, it is highly likely a call seeking payment is a scam.
Protect yourself. Verify you are speaking with a National Grid representative. Ask the caller to provide the last five digits of your National Grid account number. If the caller doesn’t know your account number and phishes for help, take charge and hang up immediately.
Do not take the bait. Scammers will not have access to your account information, social security number or other personal details and you should never offer that information if asked. National Grid representatives will know your account number.
Scammers also may contact you by email and attempt to lure customers into clicking on a link, visiting a malicious website, revealing account information, or calling a phone number.
While National Grid may ask for a payment to be made over the phone, the payment method will be left to the customer’s discretion.
Do not fall for scare tactics and threats. National Grid will not contact customers demanding immediate payment by wire transfer, Green Dot Money-Pak or any other prepaid card service.
Do not cave to pressure. Never — under any circumstances — offer personal or financial information to someone who you cannot identify.
Every National Grid employee carries a photo ID card, and contractors working for the company are also required to carry ID. If someone requesting entry into your home or business does not show an ID card, don’t let that person in, and call National Grid or local law enforcement.
Provided photos: Dr. Teresa Lawrence, an educational consultant, leads discussions this summer for the school district as it worked on a strategic plan for the 2021-22 school year.
Press Release, Lyndonville Central School
LYNDONVILLE – Over the summer, Lyndonville Central School faculty, staff, administration and Board of Education members worked together to develop the district’s 2021-22 strategic plan. Together, they identified literacy as the overall goal for the school year.
“Literacy skills are imperative for a child’s overall development,” said Superintendent Jason Smith. “It is the foundation for doing well in school. Literacy is more than just reading and writing. It is also the ability to make sense of and engage in advanced reading, writing, listening and speaking in all subject or content areas. By providing students with a strong foundation in literacy, we greatly improve their ability as a student, community member and life-long learner.”
Throughout the year, teachers will find unique and creative ways to engage all students and enhance their literacy skills. The outline below provides an overview of the plan and steps to be taken to achieve the overall goal.
Identified Goal: To have all students proficient in literacy as aligned with their age and ability. At LCSD, we will provide students with equal access to all learning.
Challenge 1: How do we identify and support struggling students?
We continuously collect and utilize data to create focused instruction and intervention strategies that benefit the whole child.
Challenge 2: How do we align literacy across content areas throughout our secondary grades?
We begin with daily explicit vocabulary instruction and collaborate with peers to incorporate effective strategies in and out of our classrooms.
Typically, Lyndonville develops a strategic plan yearly to set goals and serve as the driving force throughout the school year. Due to the pandemic and the focus on health and safety, the district was unable to develop a formal plan last year.
“It was nice to be able to work together as a team this summer and build upon the strategic plan we previously established,” said Smith. “It unites our focus as a district, sets our goal and provides direction to ensure a successful year.”
If you have questions regarding literacy building within your child’s classroom(s), please reach out to their teacher(s). We look forward to seeing the many engaging activities and projects that will happen this year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2021 at 9:45 am
Organization to acquire 1834 ‘Brick House’ with plans for an addition at key crossroads location
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Cobblestone Museum will be acquiring the “Brick House” and will turn it into a welcome center that would promote other tourism sites and businesses in Orleans County.
GAINES – The Cobblestone Museum has announced it has raised $400,000 out of a $750,000 goal for a visitor’s center in the historic Childs hamlet.
The museum is acquiring the “Brick House,” a 3,000-square-foot building from 1834 at the southeast corner of the routes 98 and 104 and wants to put an addition on the back of the brick building with new modern bathrooms and a meeting space that hold up to 100 people. The property includes 50 parking spaces.
The site would be an Orleans County welcome center and would promote businesses and other tourism sites in the county.
“It’s a win-win,” said County Legislator Fred Miller, who is serving on a fund-raising committee for the project. “It would help all of Orleans County. It’s perfect.”
Miller would like to see the county tourism office be based out of the site, with the county providing some steady revenue to the museum as a tenant in the building.
He sees tourism and the Cobblestone Museum working together to promote other attractions, including fishing, the Medina Railroad Museum, the Niagara Wine Trail (which runs along Route 104) and other historic districts and sites.
“It’s right at Route 98 and 104 which are major routes in the county,” Miller said about the site. “It would be ideal, and it would help everybody. It wouldn’t just be an Albion or Medina thing. Hopefully people will get on board.”
Gail Johnson, a member of the capitol committee for a welcome/visitor center, and Cobblestone Museum Director Doug Farley are pictured by the “Brick House,” a building the museum is acquiring with plans for an addition. The site also has about 50 parking spaces.
Many people already have given to the project. The museum has been doing a “silent” capital campaign and has $400,000 committed. It is making the campaign public this week and welcomes community support.
The Cobblestone Museum’s board of directors have considered a visitor’s center as part of the museum’s campus for several years. But there wasn’t enough room for a new building at the museum campus, which is a National Historic Landmark, the only site in Orleans County with that designation besides the Erie Canal.
The Cobblestone group only had to look across Ridge Road from the Cobblestone Church to see a stately red brick home with six fireplaces. That church was also built in 1834.
Ray and Linda Burke fixed up the brick house, added parking and a driveway on Route 98. They opened Fair Haven Treasures in May 2014. They have high-end artisans and crafters at the site. Doug Farley, the Cobblestone Museum’s director, praised the Burkes for their work and care for the property.
“It is ideal for a welcome center,” Farley said about the brick house. “It is high visibility.”
The $750,000 campaign total would fund the following: $260,000 purchase price with closing costs; $200,000 for meeting room addition; $130,000 for theater and interactive exhibits; $100,000 for ADA accessibility; $30,000 for architectural planning; $20,000 for stabilization (roof, septic, windows, masonry, etc.); and $10,000 for historic structures report.
The Cobblestone Welcome Center Fundraising Campaign Committee includes chairman Richard Remley, treasurer Kevin Hamilton, Brett Kast, Andrew Meier, County Legislator Fred Miller, retired county historian Bill Lattin (who was the museum director for 40 years), Gail Johnson, Cobblestone Museum President Erin Anheier and Doug Farley, the museum director.
Ray and Linda Burke, shown in May 2014, gave the site new life as Fair Haven Treasures.
The Burkes in their work on the building removed plywood and linoleum from the floors, and discovered hardwood floors underneath. They took out one wall to make a bigger room that they used for performances and public events.
The museum cited many benefits of the acquiring the Brick House, including:
a highly visible location to promote the museum and other local sites
plentiful additional parking for school and tour buses, and other museum events including weddings
year-round access to bathrooms
further expansion of the Childs historic district
expanding educational programming and visitation with year-round access
kitchenette for use by caterers or small receptions
large community meeting space for educational programming
multi-purpose room
space for Orleans County Tourism Department (currently based at Orleans County Office Building on Route 31)
new exhibit space to interpret Orleans County history
space for viewing an introductory video and new cobblestone interactive exhibits
distribute materials for local attractions including Medina Railroad Museum, Erie Canal, lighthouse at Point Breeze, campgrounds, marinas, bed and breakfast sites, sports fishing, agri-business, wineries and other locations.
The capital campaign includes several opportunities for naming rights, including the building name (for $250,000-plus), large meeting room ($75,000), Orleans County History Room ($30,000), Reception Desk ($25,000), Ground Floor Rooms (5 at $25,000 each), Second Floor Rooms (5 at $20,000 each), Entrance ($20,000), Stairway ($15,000), Meeting Room on lower level ($15,000) and Major Donor Plaque Entry (Heritage level at $10,000 or more).
The donations can be paid over five years. For more information on the capital campaign, click here to be directed to the museum website or contact Farley at (585) 589-9013, or by email at info@CobblestoneMuseum.org.
A group of Santas helped dedicate International Peace Garden at the Brick House property at the corner of 98 and 104 on April 17, 2015. The Santas were in town for a Santa convention.
Businesses and residents in Orleans, Genesee, Niagara and Erie can seek low-interest loans
Press Release, U.S. Small Business Administration
WASHINGTON – Niagara County businesses and residents affected by severe storms and flash flooding on July 20 may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced today.
Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul received on Sept. 8, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. Businesses and residents in the declared area can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. The declaration covers Niagara County and the adjacent counties of Erie, Genesee and Orleans in New York.
“We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild,” said Administrator Guzman.
To assist businesses and residents affected by the disaster, the SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Niagara County on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at noon as indicated below:
SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Niagara County Emergency Management, 5574 Niagara Street Ext., Lockport, NY 14094
Opening Hours – Tuesday, Sept. 14, from noon to 6 p.m.
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed on Sunday
Closes permanently on Friday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m.
Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the DLOC are encouraged to wear a face mask.
“Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets,” said SBA’s Buffalo District Director Franklin J. Sciortino.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain, or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 2.88 percent for businesses, 2 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 1.625 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration #17161, not the COVID- 19 incident.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications may be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 8, 2021. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 9, 2022.
Dr. Frank H. Lattin had extensive bird egg collection featured at World’s Fair, produced magazines on science – also served as assemblyman and local health officer
By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director – Vol. 2 No. 36
Frank Haak Lattin (1861-1937), age 26
GAINES – In Part 1 of this article, we explored a 19th century discovery in the Town of Gaines with roots back to the last Ice Age. In this article, we explore how this discovery had a dramatic influence on the life of one of the Town of Gaines leading citizens.
Frank H. Lattin was born in 1861, son of Joseph and Mary (Haak) Lattin of Gaines. Joseph died when Frank was only nine years old, but the setback was only temporary, as Frank went on to graduate from Albion High School, taught school for several years in Gaines, and then began an amazing career buying, selling and collecting natural history objects.
Even at the age of 36, Frank Lattin returned to school and worked his way through medical college and received his M.D. from the University of Buffalo in 1899, beginning a second career in medicine and surgery.
At an early age, Frank developed an interest in geology and natural history. He was especially fascinated by the discovery of “Gilbert’s Hearth” in Gaines in 1864, a prehistoric find that geologists and anthropologists dated to the Paleo-Indian era at the end of the last Ice Age.
His interest in the natural sciences started Frank on a lifelong obsession that led him to leave his mark not only on Gaines and Orleans County, but also all over the world.
“North American Birds Eggs,” 1905, by Frank H. Lattin, MD. Also shown is the birds egg collection of Cary Lattin which he created 1911-1914 at age 13, currently display at the Cobblestone Museum.
At first, Frank’s primary interest was in bird eggs and in 1884 he began the publication of a monthly magazine entitled the “Oologist,” which grew to a circulation of 3,000 copies. In 1894 he exhibited his collection of birds’ eggs at the Chicago World’s Fair and his display alone covered 2,000 square feet in the Anthropological Building.
Frank Lattin’s interests certainly included much more than just bird eggs. Following the World’s Fair, he purchased a world renowned collection of shells once owned by Col. Ezekiel Jewett, former curator of the NYS Museum at Albany. The collection embraced 50,000 separate specimens from over 10,000 species. The Catalog of the Collection made a book of 200 pages.
On February 15, 1895 Lattin began producing a weekly publication entitled, “Natural Science News.” Popularity spread quickly and the publisher needed to employ four workers to meet the demand. Eventually, Mr. Lattin’s many collections within the natural sciences grew to encompass two large warehouses of specimens.
Dr. Frank H. Lattin, 1917
Dr. Frank Lattin’s reputation was equally as strong locally as it was with scientists worldwide. One Gaines resident, Earl Harding, recalled his admiration and appreciation for this small town medical legend.
“Yes, in those days, doctors made house calls. The doctor that delivered me was Dr. Frank Lattin of Gaines. I almost used to try and get ill so my Mother would call him up, because Frank Lattin was very famous as a collector of birds’ eggs. I used to do some of that myself, so if I could get Dr. Frank Lattin up here and talk about birds’ eggs, I’d like it! At that time, there was quite a migration of our people to Wayne County to buy fruit farms, and Frank Lattin was interested in that project, too. He had a farm in Wayne County as I remember.”
Town of Gaines Centennial, 1909
Mr. Lattin wore many hats indeed during his lifetime. He promoted local history and was a moving force in the Town of Gaines Centennial celebration in 1909. On January 5, 1909 he addressed the Eleventh Annual Convention of New York State Fruit Growers Association held in Convention Hall in Rochester. His topic was “My Experience in Reclaiming Old Apple Orchards.”
From 1917 to 1930 he served in the NYS Legislature as Assemblyman from Orleans County. He contributed to the advancement of public health in the State by endorsing and defending new health measures as the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Public Health.
In the 1920s, Dr. Lattin was busy organizing the Old Schoolmates Reunion for the District #4 Cobblestone School in Gaines.
District #4 First Reunion, 1924
In addition to his historical research, Frank Lattin produced extensive genealogical information on the Lattin family. He served as health officer for the Town of Gaines until his death in 1937.
Photo courtesy Town of Gaines Historian
One of Dr. Frank Lattin’s favorite activities was judging fruit exhibits at state and county fairs, as seen in this photo from the 1930s.
The Lattin home in the Village of Gaines, shown above, was a great source of community pride over the years. Dr. Lattin himself reflected that it is probably the only home in the world that was secured through the consummation of a single sale of bird eggs.
Frank Lattin married May Bullard in 1885 when she was 19 years old. They had two daughters, Dorothy Root and Virginia Lattin Morrison who later resided in the family homestead on the southwest corner of NYS Routes 104 and 279.
Perhaps, an editorial in the “Orleans Republican” newspaper from 1937 provides the best summary of Dr. Lattin’s character:
“Everything pertaining to natural history attracted him and he gained a broad knowledge by keen observation of everything about him. Step by step he broadened and progressed, not by magic, but by his own unswerving integrity and steadfastness. Honorable, possessed of a keen sense of humor, he radiated cheer wherever he might be. His success meant no man’s downfall, hence all loved him and regarded him as a friend. His life touched many others at home and in foreign countries in a business way that culminated in friendship. He was like the sturdy mountain oak whose roots ever deepen into the rich soil until it stands firm and solid against each blast.”
Photo courtesy of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor: Kayakers enjoy the Erie Canal in Brockport.
Press Release, Village of Brockport Mayor Margay Blackman
BROCKPORT – The Village of Brockport is pleased to announce that it has joined the Erie Canal communities of Waterloo, Savannah, Amsterdam, Macedon and Medina to offer free kayak and bicycle excursions on the Erie Canal.
Brockport is offering 3 excursions each day on 4 Saturdays and 4 Sundays in September (18, 19, 25, 26) and October (2, 3, 9, 10). The excursion sites were selected and sponsored by the New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation.
Brockport’s Paddle/Pedal excursions begin at the Brockport Welcome Center (11 Water Street), and head west to Holley Canal Park in the Village of Holley. The 2 ½ hour tour comprises 3 miles of kayaking (between Brockport and Sans Souci Park in Clarkson) and 6.75 miles of cycling (Sans Souci Park to Holley Canal Park to Brockport).
Kayaks and bicycles are furnished for the tours. Refreshments courtesy of local farms are provided at Canal Park, and participants receive a coupon for a local Brockport restaurant at the conclusion of the tour.
For more details and to join a free tour visit Eventbrite by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2021 at 9:50 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – About 50 firefighters and law enforcement officers in Orleans County salute while Taps was played on Saturday evening during a 20th anniversary observance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Local firefighters get lined up on Main Street near a giant American flag that was held high from the ladder trucks of the Albion Fire Department and the Murray Joint Fire District (Holley Fire Department).
Two local fire departments have displayed the large flag for the Sept. 11 memorial service for many years. The section of the street is blocked off from State and Park streets.
Alec Sherman led a crowd of abut 200 people in singing “America the Beautiful” at the Courthouse Square near the Sept. 11 memorial.
Dale Banker., the county’s emergency management director, shared a timeline from the day. On Sept. 11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m., the North Tower was struck in New York City. At 9:03, a plane hit the South Tower. At 9:37, the Pentagon was struck. At 9:59 p.m., the South Tower fell. At 10:07 a.m., Flight 93 crashed in rural Shanksville, Pa. At 10:28 a.m., the North Tower collapsed.
Don Snyder, a chaplain with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, gave the opening and closing prayer. He thanked God for first responders who put their own lives in peril to help others. He urged community members to consider volunteering with their fire departments.
Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke greeted many of the firefighters, law enforcement officers and community members at the service.
Scott Schmidt served as keynote speaker for the event, as he has for many of the Sept. 11 observances. Schmidt spent three weeks with a federal team – U.S. Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team – and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones. He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero.
Schmidt said the country and local community united after the terrorist attacks and that same feeling and commitment is needed today. After the Sept. 11 attacks, there were services of prayer and candlelight vigils, and American flags were displayed in pride, Schmidt said.
“Our unity is a kinship of grief, and a steadfast resolve to prevail against our enemies,” he said. “And this unity against terror is now extending across the world. America is a nation full of good fortune, with so much to be grateful for. But we are not spared from suffering. In every generation, the world has produced enemies of human freedom. They have attacked America, because we are freedom’s home and defender. And the commitment of our fathers is now the calling of our time. On this National Day of prayer and Remembrance, we ask almighty God to watch over our nation, and grant us patience and resolve in all that is to come.”
Schmidt is shown with other DMORT members who have responded to mass casualty incidents. They include from left Art Lucas of Akron, Robert Zerby of Rochester, Schmidt, Vincent Iocovozzi from near Utica, and David Brugno of North Chili.
Schmidt said the local community is fortunate to have many selfless firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement officers and others who give in service to others.
“Never take for granted the men and women before you…that if there is a grass fire, an MVA or a structure fire … that they’ll be in route,” Schmidt said. “Never take for granted the men and women before you … assuming that if you have chest pains, have suffered a broken bone, or are in respiratory distress … that they will respond with urgency to assist you in your distress. Never take for granted the men and women before … that if someone broke into your house, or if you’ve been assaulted, or if someone is threatening your life … that they will respond, risking their safety to guarantee yours. And never take for granted the men and women before you, ones who have died, and those in uniform around the world … who put their lives on the line to maintain the freedom of each and every American and for this great land.”
Local veterans provided an the honor guard during Saturday’s memorial service.
Rob Connor, Albion fire chief, listens to Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, give her remarks during the service.
“My message to you as we leave here today is to be ever mindful of the realities that surround us,” Johnson said. “Pearl Harbor was a wake-up call 80 years ago. Sixty years later it was here on our mainland, only 20 years ago. We must be vigilant and maintain our resolve no matter how distant a threat might appear, and ask God to bless and protect our great nation from the forces of evil which surround us.”
