This familiar rustic sign by the 4-H Fairgrounds is a familiar sight on Route 31.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 25
KNOWLESVILLE – As these signs indicate, the Orleans County Fair has been held at a variety of dates over the years.
Whatever the date, “The Fair” is a defining event in the calendar year, equal in stature to “The Holidays.”
This older sign promises “Gigantic Night Entertainment, Many New Features Racing Daily, Big Midway Attractions.” This was when the fair was held in Albion.
Its carnival spirit heightens experiences, tastes, memories. The sights, smells, sounds, even the heat or rain, everything is intensified at the Fair.
This Fair advertising pin is from 1972.
Yes, we will see you at The Fair!
Be sure to visit us at the Orleans County Bicentennial booth this year. Carol Culhane will be on hand with her keepsake Orleans County Bicentennial posters. Of course, Orly, our charismatic mascot, will also be around to join us.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2025 at 12:12 pm
SHELBY – Three of the five Shelby Town Boards resigned last week leaving the board without a quorum to carry on town business.
Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz and board members Jeff Schiffer and Stephen Seitz Sr. all resigned. Seitz also is the town’s deputy town supervisor. With the resignations of the three board members, the Town Board only has Linda Limina and Eddie Zelazny left.
There will be a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Shelby fire hall where town attorney, Kathleen Bennett, will discuss the situation and possible next steps for the Town Board and government.
The board doesn’t have enough members to appoint anyone to fill the vacancies.
Wengewicz on June 24 was defeated by Jim Heminway in a Republican primary for town supervisor, 283 to 118.
Lawrence Waters Sr. and Ed Żelazny campaigned with Heminway and they defeated Michael Moriarty and Vassilios Bitsas in the Republican primary. The Republican Committee endorsed Wengewicz, Moriarty and Bitsas. Although they won the primary, the terms for office don’t start until Jan. 1, 2026.
Last year in the Town of Berne in Albany County three of the five board members resigned. The town wasn’t able to have another Town Board meeting for eight months until March 2025. Kathy Hochul needed to make an appointment to fill one of the vacancies so the Town Board could have a quorum.
In St. Lawrence County, four of the five members of the Hermon Town Board resigned in March 2024. The town was unable to carry out routine business, even paying its bills. Gov. Hochul would appoint two members on April 4, 2024 so the board could function but it needed unanimous votes among the three members for a resolution to pass.
Tuesday’s meeting in Shelby is expected to last until 6:30 p.m.
After that there will be a presentation from representatives of New Leaf Energy on their plans for two solar energy projects on Route 63. One solar project is called South Gravel Rd. Solar 1 LLC and the other is South Gravel Rd. Solar 3LLC. Both are for 5 megawatts of power.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2025 at 9:18 am
Penny for hot dogs, pie, lemonade and many other activities
Photos by Tom Rivers
EAST SHELBY – Horses pull a wagon on Sunday during the very popular Old-Fashioned Day celebration at the East Shelby Community Bible Church.
The event typically draws about 2,000 people for an event that goes back about 35 years.
Aaleyah Hoste of Medina pets a horse named Blaize. She is next to her parents, Amber and Brandon. Jacob Sherlock, right, of Springville brought a team of horses to give rides. There were six different groups of horses and wagons offering rides.
The church served pie, hot dogs and lemonade for a penny. From left cooking the hot dogs include Ken Baker, Jack Redick and Mike Conlon. The church had 2,500 hot dogs ready for the public.
Robert Eaton and Denise Jaczynski get pies ready for the people. Church members baked 325 pies. At 8 slices each that was 2,520 slices altogether.
JoJo Dudley, 7, did laundry in a wash basin – the old-fashioned way. Doing the laundry was much harder work back in the 1800s. It was typically done on Mondays with the dirtiest clothes done last. Water needed to be gathered and warmed up. When the task was done, the water was poured in flower beds. People used onions and lemons to help clean the clothes.
The church choir sang several hymns while pastor Erik Olsen played the piano. Olsen said about 200 people put on the event.
This horse pulls a wagon down Barber Road with freshly cut wheat fields nearby.
These signs lined Barber Road near the West Jackson Corners village.
Emma Kehlenbeck, 8, of Alexander hammers in a wooden peg in a coat rack under some guidance from Leo Dispenza at left. Church volunteers had 275 coat racks ready to be assembled.
A long line of cars parked along East Shelby Road to see the events at the village, West Jackson Corners, created by the church across the road.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2025 at 7:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Samantha Basinait and her father Craig attach a banner in the cattle barn. Samantha has aged out of 4-H. Her sisters – Kaitlynn, 16, and Isabella, 13 – will be showing beef cows and goats this week. Many of the 4-H’ers brought animals to the fair on Sunday.
Opening Day: Gates open at 4 p.m. Midway will not be open.
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – 4-H Senior Council Stand Breakfast Hours at 4-H Senior Council Stand
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Commercial Exhibits in Place throughout event
8 a.m. – Cloverbud Horse Show Followed by Walk/Trot Horse Show at Carlos Marcello Arena
9 a.m. – Rabbit and Poultry Meeting for all Exhibitors at Wachob Building
9:20 a.m. – Cattle Barn Department Meeting for all Exhibitors at Cattle Barn
9:40 a.m. – Goat/Sheep Department meeting for all Exhibitors at Goat/Sheep Barn
These kids are in the Wachob Building eager to see chickens and rabbits.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – 4-H Exhibits including Common Garden Vegetables, Market Packages, Cut Flowers, Indoor Gardening, Fruits and Nuts, Plant Collection (Preserved and Scrapbook), Landscape Pictures and Plants, Experiments, Horticulture Methods judged at Trolley Building
11 a.m. – Senior Council 4-H Food Booth Hamburgers, Hots, and Cold Drinks. Proceeds support teen award trips and programs. 4-H Senior Council Stand
11 a.m. – Field Crops judged at Trolley Building
1 to 3 p.m. – Group Exhibits, Food Preservation, Baked Goods and Visual Arts judged at Trolley Building
4 p.m. – Paid public admission begins. Taylor Hill Road Parking Lot
4 p.m. – Mini-Horse Show and Horse Driving Classes at Knights Building
4 p.m. – 4-H Leaders’ Homemade Pie Stand opens at Pie Stand
4 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Blacksmith Demo at Beadle Building
Kendyll Kidney,17, of Lyndonville and Caleb Fisher, 12, of Albion separate slices of cheese in the 4-H Senior Council Stand. The stand expects to sell 650 pounds of cheeseburgers this week and 100 pounds of hamburgers. Proceeds from the stand helped pay for the new bathrooms and showers opening at this week’s fair.
5 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Agrigolf. Miniature Golf with an agriculture twist. Trolley Building Lawn
6 p.m. – K9s In Flight: Free entertainment! Knight’s Building Lawn
6 p.m. – Orleans County 4-H Fair Opening Day Parade throughout grounds
6 p.m. – Disc Golf Competition at Lawn West of Horse Arena
6:30 p.m. – Miniature Horse Hands On at Knights Building
6:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, Presentation of Colors by Orleans County Veterans Flag Pole on Ed Center Lawn
6:45 p.m. – Corn Eating Contest – Sponsored by Rush’s Farm at Orleans Hub Stage
6:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Amazing Bubble Factory at Cattle Barn Lawn
7 p.m. – 4-H Dog Bowl
Beth Wood, left, and Kriss Sniffen set up a booth for the Orleans County Democratic Party. Many organizations and businesses will have displays set up during the fair at the Lartz Building. The Democratic Committee will be giving away “USA” key chains, copies of the U.S. Constitution, and offering a short political quiz so people can see where they fall on the political spectrum. “There is a lot of common ground,” said Wood, secretary for the local Democratic Party.
7 p.m. – 4-H Fashion Revue at Orleans Hub Stage
7:30 p.m. – Trolley Building Youth Exhibits Open at Trolley Building
7 p.m. – 4-H Swine Show at Livestock Show Arena
6 p.m. – K9s In Flight: Free entertainment! at Knight’s Building Lawn
8-10 p.m. – Orleans County 4-H Fair $1,000 Karaoke Contest at Orleans Hub Stage
8:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: The Amazing Bubble Factory at Cattle Barn Lawn
10 p.m. – Buildings Close – Goodnight Fair throughout event
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2025 at 8:21 pm
CARLTON – Route 279 will be closed to traffic beginning on Monday for the replacement of a bridge over Beardsley Creek.
Traffic will be closed in Carlton on Route 279 between Park Avenue Extension and Route 104.
The closure is expected to last through September, the Orleans County Emergency Management office said today.
There will be detours posted for alternate routes.
The Orleans County Legislature in February accepted the $1,188,874 bid from CATCO in Alden to replace the bridge on Route 279. The project is 95 percent reimbursable by the state through the Bridge NY program with the local share at 5 percent.
The Legislature also approved an agreement with Bergmann Architectural Associates in Buffalo to be paid $189,692 for construction inspection and support for the Beardsley Creek bridge project. That is also 95 percent funded by Bridge NY.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2025 at 11:41 am
Active community volunteer in fight against cancer
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – There is a big benefit today in Albion for Debbie Prest, who has been a very active community member and Albion booster for many years.
Prest is battling cancer. She has helped many people put on benefits over the years.
A big group of her friends have rallied for today’s fundraiser, which includes more than 150 baskets up for raffle. The cardboard cutoff of Josh Allen will be available to bid on in a silent auction.
The benefit is from noon to 4 p.m. at Dubby’s Tailgate, 165 South Platt St.
These volunteers are wearing shirts that say, “Debbie’s Dreamers – Believing in a cancer-free future.”
Prest runs the Red Check business in Albion. She helps organize and raise funds for Albion’s downtown flowers, the annual wine tasting event in the downtown, and many other events through the Albion Merchants Association.
“You meet Debbie once and she’s your friend,” said Teresa Gurney, one of the volunteers today. “She’s the best. I’ve never seen her in a bad mood even when bad things happen to her.”
Christine Ranallo puts some tickets in the baskets up for raffle today. Ranallo and the other volunteers put their tickets in before the doors opened at noon.
Becky Alexander, co-owner of Dubby’s, said Prest has become one her closest friends since Dubby’s Tailgate opened about four years ago. Prest loves to taste test items that the Alexander family are experimenting with.
Prest also has helped organize live music and events at Dubby’s, most recently with Bingo and painting classes.
Alexander met Prest through volunteering at Rock the Park, Albion’s summer music festival.
Alexander said Dubby’s will change its name for today to “Debbie’s” in honor of their friend.
Karen Spierdwowis, another volunteer, puts in her tickets in the basket raffle.
This group led by Tom O’Hearn and Dusty DeCarlo is cooking 550 chicken barbecues. In front from left include DeCarlo, O’Hearn and Ray Stefani. In back from left are Gary Moore, Kevin Sheehan, Mike Schuck, Phil Burgess, Gary Van Wycke and John Gurney.
The dinners are $20 each. O’Hearn and the team volunteer to cook the chickens at 5 to 6 benefits a year. He has been doing this since 1986 when he learned from Chester Preston.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2025 at 8:53 am
Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: These two yellow squash are ready to race in Saturday’s Zucchini 500 at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market. There were 18 competitors in the zucchini races on Saturday. The races continue July 26 and Aug. 2 and begin at 10 a.m. and last until 1:20 p.m.
MEDINA – Zucchini and yellow squash can be more than nutritious foods. They also can be turned into sleek racing machines.
The Canal Village Farmers’ Market on Saturday hosted the first of three Zucchini 500s. There were 18 racers they put wheels on zucchinis or yellow squash. They also decorated the produce for the trip down a wooden track built by Dave Miller. His wife Gail is the farmers’ market manager.
Dave Miller sends a yellow squash racing down the track on Saturday. This car was made by Roux Gilman of Medina. It covered the distance in a speedy 1.782 seconds.
The races started at 10 a.m. and continued through 1:20 p.m. They will be back on July 26 and Aug. 2.
The racing classes include:
Sprout – under 8
Tenderfoot – 8 to 16
Young-at-Heart – 16-plus
Outlaw Class – Open to all ages and any vegetable. Entrants can use their imagination to create a racing vegetable, keeping to the vehicle specs in the rules.
The farmers’ market provides the produce (donated by Human Farms) and the participants have access to stickers, flags and other decorations for their racing vehicles.
Roux Gilman, 4, holds his yellow squash that was turned into a speed machine for Saturday’s Zucchini 500.
Dave Miller served as starter for the races. He built the track which is equipped with al electronic timer to the nearest thousandth of a second.
All of the participants get a certificate for competing in the Zucchini 500.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2025 at 10:35 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – Don Telaak, representing Telaak Farms in Little Valley, drive his Go Rilla in the modified tractor division at today’s Murray Tractor Pull.
The event is part of the series for the Empire State Pullers, which has 18 pulling events this year in a season that started June 14 in Dansville and ends Sept. 13 in New Haven, Vermont.
About 1,500 people attended the tractor pull on Groth Road. The Christ family created the pulling track and facility about 30 years ago.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. The Murray Tractor Pull raised $8,500 for the Ronald McDonald House in 2023 and $10,000 last year.
Lee Bement of Pitcher, NY competes with “New Yorker” in the modified class. His tractor is turbine powered and hits 13,000 RPMs.
Sharon Everman of Dansville comes off the track with “Wild Hare.” She competes in the modified class and recorded a pull of 290 feet, 1 inch.
Scott Christ is shown in the concession stands today. He and his family and other volunteers worked on the track, stands and concessions the past month to et ready for today’s event.
Christ said the weather was perfect, not too hot or chilly which kept a big crowd watching the action for several hours.
Scott and his son Travis both compete in the Super Farm Class.
Lloyd Christ, Scott’s father and Travis’s grandfather, is at the starting line in the Heavy Super Stock category. Christ named his tractor, “It’s Only Money.”
The monster-size tractors and semi trucks need to pull a 40,000-pound sled down a track that is 320 feet long.
Christ was able to get the tractor to budge despite all the dark smoke that was emitted. He just got a new pump today. He expects to be back in action the next tractor pull.
Lloyd Christ has been a mainstay with the Empire State Pullers for many years. He and his family are heavily involved in the sport and are happy to host an event at the home track.
Thomas Foster of Clarendon went to the tractor pull with his grandmother Juanita Harling and his great-uncle Larry Kennedy. Foster said he has been going the tractor pulls for 30 years.
“It’s the power, the smoke and the thrill,” he said.
A pickup truck named “Snow White” bears down and gets ready to pull the sled. It won the unlimited truck event by going 307 feet down the track.
Kevin Zimmerman and his truck made it 273 feet down the track pulling the heavy sled.
Noah Austin of Alpine, NY competes in the truck-pulling competition.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2025 at 9:17 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Peggy Barringer is shown with some of her photographs of a great blue heron at sunset along the Erie Canal in Albion, not far from her backyard.
Barringer is one of 11 featured artists in a bicentennial show at the Marti’s on Main gallery in Albion, highlighting the 200th anniversary of both the Erie Canal and Orleans County.
Barringer also has black-and-white photo of the Erie Canal in the show, including this shed that she said no longer exists. She started walking the canal in her 50s and became more serious about photography then after being downsized by Chase Bank.
“I started to walk the canal regularly and I started to see things with a fresh set of eyes,” she said.
Two of her photos have been winners in the annual state-wide Erie Canal photo contest. Barringer is often on local expeditions trying to get photos of snowy owls, bald eagles and other scenes.
“There’s a lot of here with nature and wildlife,” she said about Orleans County. “The sunsets are gorgeous. I chase the eagles and snowy owls.”
Other artists in the show include Chris Manaseri, Kim Martillotta Muscarella, Elizabeth Cooper, Amber Smarpat, Bradeen Walders, Jeff Watkins, Tony Barry, Connie Mosher and Christy Valsente.
Christy Valsente of Holley creates art work in glass. This piece is entitled, “Corn.”
Kim Martillotta Muscarella did this acrylic painting of a sunset.
Muscarella said the county has a vibrant diversity in the landscape that appeals to artists, especially with the Erie Canal and agriculture scenes.
“People who come to visit here say it’s so beautiful with the apple trees and the great blue herons,” Muscarella said.
Tony Barry, a retired art teacher at Holley, stands near one of his Erie Canal paintings of a scene in Holley.
“I like the simplicity of it with the birds and the variety of trees,” he said about the painting.
Barry enjoys painting scenes of the canal and the Holley Waterfalls.
‘I like the environment around here and the people that live here,” he said. “I like the beauty of the canal, even in the winter. I appreciate the starkness of it.”
Jeffrey J. Watkins did these oil paintings of “Evening, Alabama Swamps” at left and “Evening on the Canal.”
Bradeen Erakare, 31, has three paintings in the show. The one on the left is her friend since childhood, Gregg Albertson, and the other is another lifelong friend, Jackie Madejski. Albertson was Erakare’s neighbor growing up in Albion. He now lives in Nashville and is a musician. Madejski is an actress currently with the lead role in Hamlet during a summer production in Cooperstown. The other painting is a landscape along Wood Road in Albion.
Erakare said part of celebrating the county’s bicentennial should include recognizing friends and people in the community.
‘The people make up the town,” she said. “As an artist the people inspire me.”
4-H Fair by Amber Smarpat
Chris Manaseri painting this pic of the tugboat Lockport tied up at canal side.
Elizabeth Cooper of Medina created these dolls of pioneers with an ox.
Rosie Patronski painted the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery.
BATAVIA – Several students from Orleans County are among the 217 to make Genesee Community College’s President’s List.
Students honored on the President’s List have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.
The students from Orleans County on the President’s List include:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2025 at 12:19 pm
LYNDONVILLE – Maddox Smith, a freshman at Lyndonville, has the Board of Education’s permission to build four new picnic tables for the school grounds by the playground.
Maddox is working on the tables for his Eagle Scout project. He is a Scout in Troop 35 in Lyndonville.
Maddox said he would work with scouts to build the picnic tables and assured the board they would be built well. During Tuesday’s board meeting, he asked the board to have the district cover the costs for the materials.
Jerod Thurber, the Board of Education president, thanked Maddox for spearheading the project. Thurber said the picnic tables have deteriorated and new ones would be welcome.
Thurber would like to see a quote for “forever woods.” He asked Maddox to price out the costs for the materials. Thurber said he would help Maddox secure donations so no district funds would be needed.
