Albion beat out Gaines for County Seat in 19^th century controversy

Mansion House, circa 1840, Delineation by H. C. Ruggles

By Doug Farley, Director – Vol. 2 No. 34

GAINES – Orleans County is fortunate indeed to have a beautiful courthouse as a focal point to an impressive, historic, Courthouse Square. However, the location of the current courthouse didn’t get selected without considerable 19th century controversy. In fact, at one point in early history, Gaines was the primary contender for the County Seat.

The sketch at the top shows the first County Court, which was held in the home of Selah Brown, alternatively known as the Mansion House. The stately historic stagecoach stop was a building that former Historian, Cary Lattin, once described as “one of the most imposing buildings on the Ridge Road in the 19th century.”

The Mansion House was described as a large, three-story wooden structure with high Grecian columns as seen in the above sketch. From the record books we know that the first Court of Common Pleas in the county was held in the Mansion House on June 22, 1825.

Built in 1816 by William Perry, the Mansion House was located on the northwest corner of what we know today as Ridge Road and Route 279 in Gaines, shown above. Also called the Gaines Tavern, the Mansion House can be placed in your minds-eye in the vacant lot just south of the still extant former cobblestone schoolhouse on that corner, now occupied by a motorcycle club.

(Left) Portrait of Gen. Winfield Scott painted by Robert Walter Weir in 1855. (Right) Portrait of Senator Henry Clay painted by Henry Darby, 1858.

The history of the Mansion House was unfortunately short lived. It was completely destroyed by fire in 1844. During its short tenure, however, it laid claim to such distinguished guests as General Winfield Scott (above left) and Henry Clay (above right), who entertained local gentry during stops along the Ridge.

The only known memento of the tavern that still exists is a clock that stood on the bar in 1836 before the fire. Former Historian Cary Lattin purchased the clock at Knickerbocker’s Auction in the 1920s. It was said the clock was rescued from the fire at the Mansion House. It had a wooden clock works which Lattin later replaced with an electric works in the 1950s. The clock’s manufacturer was Marshall & Adams of Seneca Falls. A handwritten note insides the clock dates it to c.1833.

History records that at least one momentous decision was made at the court session that took place at the Mansion House that still affects life today. The decision was made at the Mansion House to locate the Orleans County Seat in Albion, thus ending the building’s short reign as the County Courthouse.

The political maneuverings that went into the decision in question is also an interesting story. In 1826, Commissioners were appointed to determine whether Gaines, the more thriving community, or Albion, the approximate geographical center of Orleans County, should be chosen as the County Seat.  The machinations of the local citizenry involved in the decision was described in detail in “Pioneer History of Orleans County,” 1871, as follows:

When the Commissioners appointed to select the site for the Court House came on to fix the spot, their choice lay between Gaines and Albion. Gaines had the advantage of being the largest village, being on Ridge Road, and being well supplied with mechanics and merchants, and of having many of the institutions of old and well organized communities established there. Albion was nearest the geographical center of the county, and was intersected by the Erie Canal and Oak Orchard Road. The west branch of Sandy Creek runs through the east part of the village. Rising in some swamps in the southern part of the town, it afforded sufficient water after the melting of the snow in spring, and after rains to turn machinery a part of the year, but in summer was nearly dry. On this stream two saw mills had been built, one in the village, the other south of it.

The Commissioners came to consider the claims of the rival villages about the middle of the dry season. Mr. Nehemiah Ingersoll, Philetus Bumpus, Henry Henderson, and a few other Albion men, determined to use a little strategy to help Albion. Knowing when the Commissioners would be here the creek would be too low to move the sawmills, and foreseeing the advantage a good mill stream would give them, they patched the two dams and flumes and closed the gates to hold all the water some days before the Commissioners would arrive; sent some teams to haul logs and lumber about the saw mill and mill yard, in the village to mark the ground and give the appearance of business there.

When the Commissioners came to see Albion, having been generously dined and wined by its hospitable people, they were taken in a carriage to see the place, and in the course of the ride driven along the creek and by the sawmill, then in full operation, with men and teams at work among the lumber, with a good supply of water from the ponds thus made for the occasion. The commissioners were impressed with the importance of this fine waterpower and gave the county buildings to Albion before the ponds ran out.

Incredibly, all the buildings illustrated in this 1840 wood cut engraving have been demolished. From left to right we see the original County Court House built in 1827 and removed in the late 1850s. Seen next is an early County Jail erected in 1838 and torn down in 1902.  In the center is shown the first County Clerk’s Office built in 1836 and razed in 1884. The large building to the far right was Phipps Union Seminary demolished in 1882. The steps in the lower right corner were those of the original First Baptist Meeting House, 1832-c1892.  The retaining wall pictured (still extant) was located at the Roswell Burrows residence which became the Swan Library building.

William Morgan (1774-c1826), Unknown artist

The first Court House erected in Albion was built in 1827 in front of the current Courthouse, on land donated by Nehemiah Ingersoll. The initial court session was held there on March 26, 1827.  The courthouse was built with bricks and originally faced west, towards the main street.

It also housed the County Clerk’s Office on the first floor. Cells for housing county prisoners were built in the basement and were used until a new jail was built in 1838. In 1828, somewhat belatedly, the Legislature officially transferred the court from Gaines to Albion.

The first court case conducted in the court in Albion was “People of the State of New York vs. Avery Downer.” The murder case had a great public interest at the time, and still remains an enigma, today. Elihu Mather and Avery Downer were accused of conspiracy to kidnap and abduct William Morgan (shown at right) who had allegedly been spirited into Canada and killed because he was writing an expose of the secrets of Free Masonry. Downer, a schoolmaster, never did stand trial, but Mather did, and was finally acquitted after a ten-day trial. Morgan’s body was never found and to this day the mystery of his disappearance remains unsolved.

With the passing of time, the first Courthouse became too small for the needs of a growing county. Accordingly, in 1856, the Board of Supervisors of Orleans County adopted a resolution to consider the question of building a new Court House. A public hearing was held and as a result, the Board of Supervisors appropriated $20,000 for the building of a new Courthouse. The architect for the project was W. V. N. Barlow.

The new Courthouse was completed in November 1858 and was built facing north on Courthouse Square. The Board of Supervisors noted this accomplishment with these remarks in 1858:

A Court house has been built…which for beauty of design, strength of structure, and completeness of finish, is not excelled if equaled by any similar building of equal cost, in the State. We feel impelled to render this testimony to the thorough and economical manner in which said Commissioners have prosecuted their labors in the erection of said Court House.

Courthouse dome undergoing maintenance, 2019

The dome on the top of the Courthouse comprises the last 36 feet of the building’s overall height of 100 feet.  A trapdoor is found at the top of the dome leading to a platform from which one can see Lake Ontario some 12 miles away.

A quartet of musicians was known to play from this height during the Christmas season. For many years, the Courthouse bell in the tower was rung to mark the opening of court sessions. It was also rung on November 11, 1918 to mark Armistice Day for World War I, and again on January 19, 1959 to celebrate the 100th birthday of the building.

The Courthouse today stands in a beautifully kept square, together with the County Clerk’s building and County Jail. At least one church still stands on each corner as a reminder of the importance of faith to the county’s citizens. In 1959, local attorney, Curtis L. Lyman offered some appropriate words we can use today to close this historical review:

The people of Orleans County are proud of their Courthouse.  They have put it to good use and have taken good care of it. They know that as a result of their continuing care and maintenance the Courthouse will provide many years of useful service. They also know that by preserving this handsome reminder of the county’s past, they are building a strong future for themselves, based on a sense of history, of respect for established institutions, and of faith in the stabilizing influence of even-handed justice in American life.

These words were first given during a ceremony marking the Centennial celebration of the Court House in 1959 when the importance of the building and the institution were acknowledged by the NYS Bar Association.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: From left, Nancy Traxler, head of the Joint Veterans’ Council, Jackie Lonnen, office worker, and legislator Fred Miller pose with a cake honoring volunteer van drivers at Shelby Volunteer Fire Company on Friday noon. Certificates of appreciation were also presented to a dozen and a half volunteer drivers.

MEDINA – A dozen and a half volunteer drivers in the Joint Veterans’ Council’s van service were recognized at a reception Wednesday at Shelby Fire Hall.

The Joint Veterans Council director Nancy Traxler and van service coordinator Phyllis Schrader presented certificates of appreciation to the volunteer drivers.

The drivers are usually recognized annually with a picnic at the Joint Veterans’ Council office, but because 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the program, it was decided to celebrate with a catered lunch.

The volunteer van service was started Dec. 13, 1996 by Jim Andre of Kendall, who saw a need for such a service in Orleans County, Schrader said. They started with a card table, a phone and one van.

Frank  Tower was head of the Joint Veterans’ Council when Andre went to the American Legion and VFW to help in getting his idea started.

One of the longest serving volunteer drivers is Ralph Clute, who started in 1998. He said he has been amazed at how the program has grown over the years. Clute, who served in the Navy, said all of the drivers are veterans themselves or wives of a veteran.

Clockwise from left, Phyllis Schrader, coordinator of the Joint Veterans’ Council volunteer van drivers, and volunteer drivers Judy Larkin, Irene Braley, Butch Patten, Jean Karos and Lee Plummer enjoy conversation at a reception Friday recognizing the volunteers.

After starting out with one van and two drivers (Ron Weaver and Andre), there are now five vans and 25 volunteer drivers. There is always a need for more volunteers, Schrader said.

“This new generation doesn’t volunteer any more,” she said.

Butch Patten of Albion had been a longtime volunteer until he was forced to quit when he developed diabetes. Then he volunteered to work in the office.

Lee Plummer of Lyndonville became a volunteer because Schrader, a former classmate of his, talked him into it.

Traxler stressed how important the van service is to local veterans. She cited the case just recently when a 90-year-old veteran’s caregiver contacted the Joint Veterans’ Council, saying the man had no relatives or friends who could drive. He needed to get to some medical appointments, and the volunteer van service was able to set them all up and get him there.

“The volunteer drivers provide a great service to our community,” said County Legislator Fred Miller. “Volunteering is not a very thankful job. Our veterans have done so much for us, and these volunteers have my admiration.”

‘Your tireless efforts embody public service’ – Lynne Johnson

Photos by Tom Rivers

BATAVIA – Paul Pettit, public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties, speaks during an appreciation luncheon on Wednesday at GCC in Batavia. He praised more than 400 people in the two counties who volunteered and worked at Covid-19 testing and vaccination clinics so far during the pandemic.

The volunteers and municipal workers teamed with the Genesee and Orleans County health Departments to administer about 30,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and also do about 10,000 Covid tests during drive-through rapid test clinics.

The volunteers and workers in Orleans County administered 10,736 Covid vaccine doses with most of those at the mass vaccination clinics at the Ridgeway Fire Hall from March through May.

The 117 volunteers and workers in Orleans also administered 3,465 rapid Covid tests at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

“It’s been monumental and we couldn’t have done it without you,” Pettit told the group.

Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, addresses more than 200 people at the luncheon at GCC. The photos on the screens show volunteers and staff at Covid testing and vaccination clinics.

In Genesee, there were 279 volunteers and workers who administered 18,675 vaccine doses and 6,659 rapid Covid tests. There were also 49 other volunteers and workers who assisted in both counties.

“You’re tireless efforts embody public service,” Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, told about 200 people during a luncheon at the GCC.

Paul Pettit said the group of volunteers and workers (typically county employees in other departments, as well as some staff from towns, villages and school districts) will likely be needed again to help administer booster vaccine shots. Pettit would also like to see more already eligible residents step forward and get their initial doses of the vaccine.

He also expects the vaccine, currently only approved for those 12 and older, will soon get clearance for those under age 12 and there could be a need for more mass vaccination clinics

“This is an evolving process,” Pettit said. “We’re still in the pandemic. We’re still taking steps to make sure our community is as safe as we can be.”

Johnson said the volunteers and workers have been critical in the community’s response to Covid so far.

Shelley Stein, Genesee County Legislature chairwoman, said many community members have been selfless in serving others during the pandemic.

Shelley Stein, chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature, also addressed the group and thanked them for their service and courage, with many stepping up over many months to help administer Covid tests and run the vaccine clinics.

“You came forward for others,” Stein said. “You gave so much more than we could have asked for. God bless you all and thank you.”

The Genesee and Orleans County health Departments put a call for volunteers in October to help run the rapid test clinics which started in November. The mass vaccination clinics started in March, although the vaccine supply was low for the counties then.

It took at least 40 people to run the testing and vaccine clinics, with 60 volunteers and staff at some of the clinics.

“So many people put in so much effort,” said Dr. David Bell, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The Health Departments continue to run smaller vaccination clinics and offer rapid tests. He thanked GCC and the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company for making their facilities available for the vaccinations.

“Having the support of GCC and Ridgeway was invaluable,” Bell said.

State Sen. Ed Rath addressed the group and said he received his vaccination shots at GCC.

“I was amazed at the hard work and professionalism by each and everyone,” he said. “Covid fighters I want to say thank you.”

The volunteers and staff carried on their duties “despite tremendous unknowns,” Rath said.

Paul Pettit speaks from the podium and offer heartfelt appreciation to the staff at the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. In addition to assisting at the rapid test and mass vaccination clinics, the staff were essential in planning those events and with contact tracing whenever someone tested positive for Covid, which includes 3,275 cases in Orleans and 5,572 in Genesee since March 2020.

“I truly want to thank the staff in Genesee County and Orleans County,” Pettit said. “You truly are the unsung heroes in this pandemic.”

The Emergency Management Office in both counties, the county manager/administrator and each County Legislature also were very supportive in making rapid tests and vaccinations available to the public, Pettit said.

This photo from late April shows Jessica Sutch, an employee with the Job Development Agency in Orleans County, holding a sticker given to people who get vaccinated at a mass clinic at the Ridgeway fire hall. She was among the volunteers for several months at the vaccine clinics and the Covid testing sites before that run by the Health Department.

Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer, assisted at a rapid test clinic in early January at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. He is shown in a driver’s side mirror of a car in line. The volunteers wore lots of personal protective equipment and running the rapid test clinics during the winter.

Dan Doctor, a co-principal at Wise Intermediate School in Medina and the district’s community liaison, served at the rapid test and mass vaccination clinics. He said on Wednesday he felt the testing was the most critical, helping to identify who had the virus and get them and their close contacts in quarantine.

Doctor tested positive before one of the clinics and then had to self-isolate. He was positive despite no symptoms. He said he felt sick after about 10 days but it didn’t last long.

He encourages people to get vaccinated to reduce their risk of getting seriously ill from the virus.

Connie Ferris of Barre has worked as a nurse for 58 years. She agreed to help give the vaccination doses at clinics in both counties.

She said residents, including people from outside the two counties, were very appreciative to get their vaccine doses.

“It’s been wonderful to see the enthusiasm from the people,” she said.

RIDGEWAY – A new bridge on Route 104 over the Oak Orchard Creek will open on Saturday, the state Department of Transportation announced today.

That section of Route 104 has been closed to traffic since late April. The previous bridge that was built in 1954 was removed and a new multi-girder bridge was put in its place.

This project features wider bridge openings, improved guide rails, upgraded shoulders and a sidewalk, the DOT said.

Union Concrete and Construction Corp. of West Seneca was the general contractor on the project. The $2.65 million bridge replacement is 80 percent funded by the federal government with the state paying the other 20 percent. The new bridge is expected to last 75 years.

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday voted in favor of a proposed 4.5 megawatt solar farm on Route 98 near Lime Kiln Road.

AES DE Devco NC is developer of the project on land owned by Joshua Baird, and Jacob and Melissa Monacelli.

The “Baird Solar Project” will be located at 4360 Oak Orchard Rd., where the developer can tap directly into a 13.2-kilovolt distribution line. The project doesn’t include battery storage.

The site currently is 43.7 acres of farmland and will take 27.11 of active farmland out of production. There will be 14,118 solar panels and they will be surrounded with a 7-foot-high perimeter chain link fence. There will be 40,543 linear feet of low-voltage and 1,258 feet of high-voltage underground wiring. The project also includes a decommissioning plan.

The plan calls for planting 191 deciduous and evergreen trees along with 92 shrubs and pollinators.

The Orleans County Planning Board recommended the Town of Barre approve the site plan and issue a permit for the project.

In other referrals on Thursday, the Planning Board:

• Recommended the Town of Murray approve variances for the Big Guys Camping project at the former Brockport Country Club on the Monroe-Orleans County Line Road in Murray.

In some locations on the property, Big Guys is seeking variances from the 20 feet required for rear and front setbacks, and also is seeking 50-foot lot frontage for RV sites and 30 feet for tent sites when 60 feet are required, per Murray’s code.

The Planning Board in June recommended Murray approve the site plan and issue a permit for the project, which includes three phases, with the first phase 125 full hook-ups and 90 tent sites. Phase two includes 97 more full hook-ups and the third phase is 72 more full hook-ups.

The camping sites will be developed along the existing fairways to preserve as many trees as possible and minimize earthwork, planners said.

• Supported the Town of Gaines request to extend a moratorium on applications for large-scale battery storage systems. The moratorium gives Gaines officials more time to study and develop a local law for the battery storage systems.

• Recommended the Town of Albion approve the site plan and issue a permit for a 4-site private campground at 3440 Transit Rd. Brian and Diane Speers own the property and want to have 4 RV sites for family members.

Joint Veterans Council has run the all-volunteer program for 25 years

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday presented certificates of appreciation to volunteers for the veterans’ van service, a program that has been providing rides to veterans to their medical appointments the past 25 years.

The top photo shows County Legislator Fred Miller, second from left, praising volunteers in the program, including Ralph Clute (second from right) and Frank Panczyszyn. Nancy Traxler, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, is at left. Klute is a driver for the program and also helps in the office. Panczyszyn is a driver.

Helen Bilicki, left, also was recognized for her years of service in the office, helping to schedule drivers for veterans’ medical appointments. The program is run by the Joint Veterans Council.

There are currently about 25 volunteers with the program, which operates five vans. The program typically takes veterans to about 1,500 appointments a year. The service was shut down by the VA from April through June 2020, and then it gradually ramped back up.

The volunteers took veterans to 542 appointments from Jan. 1 through July 31 this year.

There will be a reception for the volunteers today at the Shelby fire hall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Keeler Construction in Barre has been trucking big rocks to Lakeshore Road in Carlton, part of a project to build a strong breakwall and harden the shoreline from erosion and future flooding from Lake Ontario.

It is part of a $2 million resiliency project that is 95 percent funded by the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.

Construction started on the project last month. Keeler will be putting in big boulders along about 1,500 feet of the shoreline, going east from Route 98 in Point Breeze. The shoreline will also be regraded and will have a new vegetative cover to help stave off some erosion and damage from the waves.

Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller on Wednesday during the County Legislature meeting holds a ceremonial ground-breaking shovel for the Lakeshore Road project. The shovel was signed by Kathy Hochul, who attended the ground-breaking celebration on July 26 in her role as lieutenant governor. On Tuesday, she took office as governor following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo.

She signed the shovel, “We are REDI,” which stands for the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.

DeRoller on Wednesday afternoon presented the shovel to John Papponetti, the county DPW commissioner and engineer. He worked on some of the engineering for the project. He said he will keep the shovel in his office at the DPW on West Academy Street in Albion.

$25K grant also funds push for healthy living skills

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

ALBION – The ACT program has been awarded a one-time $25,000 grant from the NYS Education Department New York State Cares for Communities initiative to support selected communities (students and families) most adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. ACT is part of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Orleans County was eligible for one of these initiatives and the ACT program submitted a proposal to address two stated goals: social-emotional learning and/or mental health services for students and digital literacy for students and families.

Due to Community Action’s track record of success in the community and strong relationships with partner organizations and families, we will be able to reach many with this one-time grant. These funds will be used to implement presentations within Orleans County to improve digital literacy of students and families while providing social and emotional support for healthy life skills.

During the coming year both of these goals will be addressed through in-person group learning opportunities (offered in a 3-part series at various times and locations) and a virtual series of workshops with similar/related topics.

In addition, social media will be used to provide ongoing information related to these topics. The primary target audience is students in grades 6-12 and their families. However, workshops will be advertised and available for any community members choosing to attend.

The ACT program looks forward to implementing these new learning opportunities and helping residents overcome identified barriers discovered during the pandemic.

CDC puts Orleans back in red zone for high community transmission

There are 30 new Covid-19 cases in Orleans County since Monday, and 64 more in Genesee. The number of active cases in the two counties has increased from 102 on Monday to 149 today, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.

The active cases include 64 in Orleans (up from 49 on Monday) and 85 in Genesee (up from 53 on Monday).

In Orleans, the 30 new cases are in the age groups 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s,  and 60s.

There are currently two residents hospitalized due to Covid. The county is reporting 15 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

The CDC has changed Orleans from an orange zone with “substantial” community spread of Covid to the highest level of red. Genesee County also remains in the red zone.

Genesee County is reporting 64 new positive cases of Covid since Monday. Those new cases include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

There are currently 10 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid. The Health Departments also reported 21 more of the previous positive individuals completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

13 U.S. soldiers killed in bombings, with 18 more Americans wounded

Gov. Kathy Hochul has directed flags on all state buildings to be flown at half-staff on Friday in memory of the soldiers and civilians killed in a terrorist attack at the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The attack resulted in 13 deaths of U.S. soldiers with 18 more wounded. There also were more than 60 Afghans killed and at least 140 wounded.

“The cowardly attack on innocent civilians and selfless service members at Hamid Karzai International Airport struck at the heart of our democracy and freedom itself,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “New Yorkers have sacrificed their safety to serve in Afghanistan since 9/11, and our thoughts are with the families of everyone killed in today’s horrific act—both the civilians seeking freedom and the service members working to defend that freedom.

“I’ve ordered flags on all state buildings to be flown at half-staff tomorrow, August 27, in memory of the service members and innocent civilians killed today,” Hochul said. “This memorial act is concurrent with the half-staff order already in place in honor of New York State Police Trooper James J. Monda, who died in the line of duty on the Great Sacandaga Lake on Sunday. I’ve also directed my team to follow the attack in Kabul closely should we learn that any of the victims were New Yorkers.

“I’ve travelled to Afghanistan as a member of Congress, and I can say with certainty that the people of Kabul and all the American service members and our allies working to protect innocent lives there right now are in New Yorkers’ hearts and prayers. May God bless them.”

Congressman Chris Jacobs issued this statement about the deadly bombings outside the airport in Kabul:

“The attacks that occurred today outside of the airport in Kabul are horrific and tragically took the lives of 12 American service members. My heart is with each of their families, and I ask every American to join me in praying for them and every American service member still in harm’s way,” Jacobs said.

“This heartbreaking situation is the direct result of the President’s reckless withdrawal from Afghanistan. This administration must immediately present a coherent plan to secure the area around the airport, safely return every American from Afghanistan and extend the deadline past 8/31 until this is completed, and bring the terrorists who committed these atrocities to justice.”

Rob Ortt, State Senate Republican leader, issued this statement:

“As a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, it has been extremely difficult to watch the devastating loss of American lives in Kabul. My heart breaks for their families and loved ones.

“This terrorist attack is a painful reminder that extremists are intent on killing Americans. The President’s total lack of leadership has turned our evacuation efforts into an all-out retreat, empowered terrorists, and put America and her allies at risk.

“It is now up to this administration to find and bring to justice those who are responsible for this heinous attack on our fellow Americans.”

Sediment has built up since harbor last dredged in 2014

POINT BREEZE – Dean Marine & Excavating Inc. from Michigan is dredging the Oak Orchard Harbor today. The company started on the work Wednesday and the job is expected to take about three weeks.

The dredging barge is near the breakwall at the end of the Oak Orchard channel. The harbor last was dredged in August 2014, which it was done for the first time in 10 years.

Click here to see a video of the dredging this afternoon.

The state is funding the effort as part of the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.

The scope of the project includes:

• Approximately 250 by 90 feet of the entrance channel will be dredged to a depth of 8 feet below low water and approximately 700 x 150 feet of the lake approach channel will be dredged to a depth of 7 feet below low water.
• Anticipated volume of dredging is up to 8,100 cubic yards.
• Sediment dredged from the channel will be placed in a defined area approximately 1,300 feet to the east of the entrance channel

The dredging is being done with mechanical means and the dredging fleet includes a barge, excavator, and two dump scows. One tugboat and one workboat will be used to support the overall operation. A turbidity curtain is positioned to enclose the dredge area.

Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, said the dredging follows years of effort from the county and is part of regional dredging plan that includes many harbors on the south shore of Lake Ontario.

“As we look for ways to support and promote recreational activities along the shorelines of Lake Ontario, the dredging of Oak Orchard Harbor is vital to providing access to the over 400 boat slips and 6 launch lanes within the harbor,” Johnson said. “This project under taken by the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative demonstrates the commitment by the Governor to maintaining access to the navigable waterways that contribute to the success of the local fishing, boating and tourism activities within the Town of Carlton and Orleans County.”

Boating traffic can still use the harbor while the Oak Orchard is dredged the next three weeks.

The state has committed $15 million to have 20 harbors dredged on the southshore of Lake Ontario, including two sites in Orleans County. Besides the Oak Orchard Harbor at Point Breeze, sediment will be scooped out at Johnson Creek in Carlton near Lakeside Beach State Park.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Brian Benjamin is the state’s new lieutenant governor.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the selection of Brian Benjamin for Lieutenant Governor. Senator Benjamin and Governor Hochul have previously worked together on several key issues, including fighting the opioid epidemic and boosting addiction recovery programs, supporting MWBE business owners and making it easier for New Yorkers to vote.

Senator Benjamin previously served as the New York State Senator for District 30, a district that encompasses Harlem, East Harlem, and the Upper West Side. He served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Revenue and Budget and Senior Assistant Majority Leader, where he distinguished himself as a leader in criminal justice reform and affordable housing. Senator Benjamin remains heavily involved in his community in Harlem.

“I believe that governing is about working together. Teamwork is the essence of effective leadership, and it is more important than ever as we confront the urgent problems facing the state,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration is going to attract the best and the brightest – people who share my values of working hard for the people of this state and who will get the job done – and that includes the newest member Senator Brian Benjamin who has agreed to serve as my Lieutenant Governor. There is so much work to do, and I am grateful to have him by my side as we implement our vision for a safer, healthier and fairer New York.”

Senator Benjamin was born in Harlem to a Caribbean mother who came to this country seeking new opportunities. Though they didn’t have a college education, his parents were fortunate enough to find well-paying union jobs, which allowed them to provide Senator Benjamin and his siblings with a middle class upbringing. After graduating from high school in New York City, Senator Benjamin sought the quality education his parents had dreamed of providing him with, earning his undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Brown University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

After school, Senator Benjamin returned to Harlem to build affordable housing, creating over a thousand units of environmentally sustainable, affordable housing at an MWBE while helping young people develop work skills and secure good construction jobs through community youth programs

“I want to thank Governor Hochul for trusting me with the incredible honor of serving alongside her as Lieutenant Governor,” said Senator Benjamin. “Governor Hochul is a collaborator who makes sure everyone has a seat at the table, and, like me, is laser focused on listening to the needs of New Yorkers and empowering local leaders. We have a strong history of collaboration that will help us to hit the ground running immediately as we help guide New York through this challenging moment in history.”

Emergency rooms also treat more people with drug overdose

Provided photo: Melissa Vinyard, a peer advocate at GCASA, shares her story of recovery at Wednesday’s Overdose Awareness Day at Austin Park in Batavia. Vinyard said drugs and alcohol use nearly killed her, but she sought help and now has been sober since Dec. 30, 2017.

By Mike Pettinella, GCASA Publicist

BATAVIA – Over the 12 months prior to September of 2020, there were 90,237 opioid overdose deaths in the United States – a 30 percent increase from the previous year.

In 2020, there were 15 overdose deaths in Genesee County and seven in Orleans County.

Those staggering figures reveal the extent of the epidemic that continues to devastate society.

Healthcare and mental health professionals in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties on the front lines of this scourge came together on Wednesday afternoon at Austin Park for the annual International Overdose Awareness Day observance.

Representatives of a dozen agencies plus area residents whose lives have been affected by opioid use attended the event, which was to raise awareness and to remember those who have been lost due to an overdose.

Genesee/Orleans Public Health Director Paul Pettit shared that in 2020, 58 people from Genesee County went to the emergency room and 38 from Orleans went to the ER due to drug overdoses – both up from 2019.

“That can be attributed to Covid; people were isolated and feeling alone,” he said.

Pettit had encouraging words about the efforts of the GOW Opioid Task Force, an organization comprised of people from various sectors of the community.

“We’ve been working together for many years and are making great strides,” he said, mentioning an increase in the access to care and the amount of Narcan training being done. “We want to get more people trained. We have a medication that can save lives.”

He said that since 2018, about 3,500 people have been trained.

“We’re making gains but we still have a ways to go,” he said.

John Bennett, executive director of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, spoke about the impact of Overdose Awareness Day throughout the world, noting that events such as the one in Batavia are taking place throughout the state and in around 40 countries.

International Overdose Awareness Day was created in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia.

“As we come together today, not only think about those locally who have lost their lives, but this is a worldwide problem that’s killed over a million people,” he said.

Agencies taking part in the event included GO Health, Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Erie County Health Department, Spectrum Human Services, The Recovery Station, Wyoming County Mental Health, Fidelis Care, Rochester Regional Healthy, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Horizon Health.

GOW Opioid Task Force Coordinator Christen Ferraro said the Old County Courthouse in Batavia will be lit up on Aug. 31 and signs commemorating awareness day will be placed in the front of the building.