By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2020 at 3:53 pm
BARRE — The town has canceled a public hearing scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Barre town highway garage, 14317 West Barre Rd.
Town Supervisor Sean Pogue said the hearing will instead be in late October. That date will be set at the Oct. 14 Town Board meeting.
Pogue said the hearing needed to be pushed back so neighboring towns and counties could be notified that Barre was considering changes in the zoning.
Among the revisions proposed include increasing the maximum height of a wind turbine, from tip height, to 700 feet. The town currently sets the limit at 500 feet.
Apex Clean Energy is proposing wind turbines that would be a maximum 680 feet high as part of a 33-turbine Heritage Wind project in Barre.
The zoning amendments also would set the setbacks from property lines to be at least 1.5 times the tip height of a turbine, and that is for non-participating land owners or those without leases for a turbine.
The zoning changes also would revise standards for noise levels for wind turbines, shadow flicker and construction hours.
The town also is looking to add requirements for aircraft detection lighting and for decommissioning of the turbines.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2020 at 3:12 pm
School will go remote-only rest of this week
ELBA – There are 3 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among students at Elba Central School District, with one case in the elementary school and two in the high school, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
Elba won’t have in-person classes the rest of this week and will resume on Oct. 5, said Ned Dale, Superintendent of Elba Central School District.
“Due to the number of contacts out of abundance of caution the school will be going remote though Friday, October 2, 2020,” he said in a statement. “In-person learning is planned to resume on Monday, October 5, 2020.”
The three students who tested positive have been placed under mandatory isolation where they will remain until they are fully recovered, according to the Health Department.
One individual was last present in the school building on Sept. 15 and two individuals were last present in the building on Sept. 17. The local Health Department is conducting contact tracing that is in process. Students and/or staff will be notified and placed under quarantine if they were identified as a close contact, according to the notice from the Health Department.
“Individuals identified by the Health Department as being close contacts will be expected to follow the New York State Department of Health quarantine guidelines,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County.
Pettit asked parents and guardians to continue to monitor child for symptoms and keep children home if they are sick.
“If your child does develop symptoms, please contact your child’s healthcare provider immediately,” Pettit said.
Symptoms of Covid-19 include but are not limited to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
Provided photos: Olivia Kroening of Knowlesville takes part in the 2019 Orleans County 4-H Horse Camp at the fairgrounds.
Press Release, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
KNOWLESVILLE – Each year, National 4-H Week sees millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H.
The theme for this year’s National 4-H Week – “Opportunity 4 All” – is a campaign that was created by National 4-H Council to rally support for Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America.
“In 4-H, we believe all youth should have an equal opportunity to succeed,” says Kristina Gabalski, CCE Orleans 4-H Program Coordinator. “We believe all youth should have the skills they need to make a difference in the world.”
The new 4-H year begins on October 1.
“With Covid-19 safety protocols in place, local 4-H clubs are beginning to meet again in-person,” she said. “We will host our annual Produced in New York cooking competition this fall as well as our 4-H Holiday Workshops. Two special in-person workshops are part of the National 4-H Week celebration.”
A Halloween Ikebana Pumpkin workshop is planned for Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Ed Center on the 4-H Fairgrounds.
“We will learn about the Japanese art of floral arranging called Ikebana,” Gabalski said. “Participants will then create their own autumn-themed Ikebana arrangement in a pumpkin to take home. It can be a fun arrangement, or it can be scary.”
Adele Mathes of Barre (now 9 years old) participates in the 2019 Orleans County 4-H Produced in New York silent cooking competition.
On Saturday, Oct. 10, a Bake and Bark Live workshop is planned in the Trolley Building at 11 am. The event will be an in-person workshop in which participants will learn how to make treats for their dog. Participants will get to take the treats they make home, Gabalski said.
Both events will have limited participants and masks will be required. “We will also be practicing physical distancing to stay safe,” Gabalski added.
The 4-H program also is working to have poster displays in place at local libraries and Gabalski also hopes to have a 4-H animal science costume contest on the Orleans County 4-H Facebook page. “Orleans 4-Hers can submit photos of their animal projects wearing costumes,” Gabalski said. “There will be prizes.”
This is a great time to join 4-H, she added.
“4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident youth who tackle issues that matter most in their communities right now,” she said. “We have opportunities here in Orleans County as well as at the state and national levels.”
For more information, contact Gabalski at 585-798-4265.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2020 at 10:11 am
‘I can’t think of a worse scenario than we’ve been dealt with’ – County CAO Jack Welch
Jack Welch
ALBION – Orleans County taxpayers should expect an increase in 2021 in their county tax bills.
“It’s inevitable,” said Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer. “I can’t think of a worse scenario than we’ve been dealt with.”
Welch spoke at last week’s Orleans County Association of Municipalities and outlined multiple budget challenges for the county, including a significant jump in health insurance costs, rising pension contributions and reductions and delays in state reimbursements.
The county operates on a $71 million budget with 415 employees in 24 departments. The county in 2020 relied on property taxes for $18,009,699 of the budget. Property owners pay a $10.10 rate per $1,000 of assessed property in 2020.
Sales tax, at about $17 million, is another major source of revenue that is expected to be down this year.
Welch, county legislators and department heads are working to put together the 2021 budget. Welch has until Nov. 15 to submit a tentative budget that will then go through a public review before likely be adopted in early December. The new fiscal year starts Jan. 1.
Welch was hoping a federal stimulus package would provide significant funding for the county and state, to help get through the fiscal crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. But that money may not be coming. The U.S. Senate and President Trump have now shifted their attention to filling a Supreme Court vacancy.
“We have been waiting for federal action,” Welch said. “But the Supreme Court justice is sucking the air out of the room.”
Welch said the county is looking at possibly delaying some projects and will be evaluating every expense and position.
The towns can also expect bills from the county for election expenses which have been covered by a state grant. That grant expires in November.
Welch, speaking with town and village officials last week, said the state funding helped pay for early voting, electronic voting books and electronic voting machines. Some of those costs will be passed to the towns. Welch said each of the 10 towns can expect about $3,000 in added election costs in 2021 that were being paid by the state.
“We have some challenges,” Welch said. “It doesn’t look good.”
The County Legislature has set a public hearing for 4:25 p.m. on Oct. 28 for a local law to override the tax cap in 2021. The cap for next year allows up to a 1.56 percent increase. Municipalities have the option of overriding the cap.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 September 2020 at 3:09 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Emily Cebula, director of Yates Community Library in Lyndonville, said libraries have continued to provide important services to residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is speaking at Wednesday’s Orleans County Legislature meeting.
ALBION – The four public libraries in Orleans County are asking county legislators to keep them in the budget, during a time of fiscal stress for the county.
Orleans County official worry that sales tax revenues will be down, as well as state reimbursements, pressuring legislators to find ways to reduce costs. Legislators are working on the 2021 budget that will likely be adopted in late November or December.
The county currently provides $10,087 to the four libraries – Albion (Hoag Library), Holley (Community Free Library), Lyndonville (Yates Community Library) and Medina (Lee-Whedon Memorial Library).
The libraries for years have been asking for $1 per resident, which would be $42,883. The current allotment amounts to 23.5 cents per person.
“We are not asking for an awful lot of money but we are providing an awful lot of services to our community,” said David Schwert, a member of the board of directors for Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.
Schwert said the local libraries function on a “shoe-string budget” and utilize many volunteers to provide services and run programs for children and adults.
Ginny Hughes, a trustee for the Yates library, said the libraries provide more than books, online access, meeting rooms and many other programs and services.
Ginny Hughes, a trustee for the Yates Community Library, asked legislators to keep money in the budget for libraries. Lisa Erickson, assistant director for the Nioga Library System, is at left.
The libraries are “a measuring stick of a community” for people and businesses that are looking to move into Orleans County, Hughes said.
“In this very difficult time please continue to support our libraries,” Hughes said.
Tom Bindeman is director of the Nioga Library System that serves Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties. He said the state has cut aid to Nioga by 27 percent. Nioga will be looking at layoffs and reduced services.
The county allocations are especially critical in light of the state reductions, Bindeman said.
He praised the libraries for retooling during the pandemic, and offering more online services. The libraries are seeing an increase in downloadable books and magazines, Bindeman said.
Many of the sites have also boosted the strength of the wireless signal in their parking lots so more people can access the internet, especially in the library off hours.
Bindeman also said the libraries have been helping people fill out the Census. Orleans County has lagged behind other nearby counties in Census participation. Bindeman said Nioga funding from the state is partly tied to the local population count. He urged county legislators to help promote the Census.
“Anything you can do to get the word out,” he said. “If you go down (in population), our funding also goes down.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 September 2020 at 9:14 am
Orleans County’s elected federal representatives have issued statements about President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) urges the U.S. Senate to confirm Barrett.
“Today the President fulfilled his constitutional obligation and put forth his nomination to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Ginsburg,” Jacobs said on Saturday. “Judge Amy Coney Barrett is highly qualified, well-respected and has a record of upholding the Constitution. While the House of Representatives has no formal role in the confirmation process, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to give Judge Barrett a fair, swift, and respectful consideration.”
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said she will ‘vehemently oppose’ the nominee.
“President Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court represents the further degradation of our democracy and the continued politicization of our judiciary,” Gillibrand said. “Even if this process had been legitimate, Barrett’s anti-choice views, opposition to the Affordable Care Act, and hostility to immigrant rights and civil rights make her completely unfit to serve on the Supreme Court. I vehemently oppose Barrett’s nomination and will vote against her confirmation.”
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted his concerns about Barrett serving on the Supreme Court.
“Make no mistake: A vote for Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote to eliminate health care for millions of Americans and to end protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions in the middle the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats are fighting for Americans’ health care.”
We can all relate to that pit in the stomach feeling when it seems our prayers have fallen upon deaf ears. It is the subject of Garth Brooks’ song, “Unanswered Prayers.” How could this message possibly be positive? Let’s think about this.
How many times have you wished so hard for something to happen only to be disappointed when it doesn’t? Sometimes we try to reason with a Higher Power to make things happen. If your wish is granted you will never ask for anything again. I think we all have tried to make that deal before.
The last time I tried to make a deal with “The Highest Power” was when little Weezie’s eyes started failing. I attempted to make a deal with God in order to save her sight. The outcome was not perfect and not what I prayed for, however this Unanswered Prayer allowed me to witness what resilience was by watching her adjust to her new normal.
At a time when I was dealing with my own illness, her lack of sight afforded me much insight into how I could use her fighting little spirit as a beacon of inspiration and an example of what it means to marshal on and never give up on living your best life, even when the odds seem insurmountable. She was meant to thrive and inspire and I was meant to be inspired. The lyric declares that just because you do not hear an answer from “above” does not mean they don’t care.
Many times the answer is in the unanswered. Maybe there is a lesson to be learned or a better path. Perhaps you have a dream for your future and you pray hard to make it happen. Many times it seems the prayer has gone unanswered, but it is possible it is leading you down a better path. It is that old saying, “Everything happens for a reason.” We may not always know the reason right away.
That is where faith comes in. Faith that things will be as they should be. Current situations have all of us praying a lot lately. Instead of praying for outcomes, it may be wiser to pray for patients and tolerance. Maybe you are trying to make a bargain because you or someone you love is suffering. Bargains are made out of desperation which we all feel at times. A bargain is a give and take kind of thing. Instead resolve to simply give because what you will take away will be priceless.
The more you give, the more you open yourself up to hope. Only then can you be thankful for the gifts in your life and the possibilities. Look back at times in your life that you felt the world would end if circumstances did not go your way. The world did not end and I bet something special came out of if. It may not have even been tangible, but perhaps a change in mindset that led you on a better path. All too often some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
Share your Unanswered Prayers that were gifts and visit my blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com and catch up on Weekly Photo Perks and past Sunday Posts. Like and share your comments.
‘Throughout this pandemic our members have put their own health and the health of their families at risk going to work each day serving the people of New York.’
Press Release, New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association
NYSCOPBA has learned that Governor Cuomo has deferred the contractually required 2% wage increase for the third time since the Covid pandemic began in March.
The raise, which was originally scheduled to occur in April, and was originally delayed to October 1, now has been pushed back until January of 2021.
This once again is a slap in the face to the brave men and women in law enforcement and those on the front lines who are tasked with keeping order in our state’s prison systems and our mental health facilities. Throughout this pandemic our members have put their own health and the health of their families at risk going to work each day serving the people of New York.
We understand the dire fiscal crisis facing the state but they should honor the commitment they made to our members. They face some of the most dangerous working conditions in the state and deserve to be fully compensated for the work they do.
From the first day of this crisis we have had to fight DOCCS and the State for the basic needs to protect our members while they continued to go to work. NYSCOPBA needed to purchase masks for staff that the state initially refused to supply. They wouldn’t initially acknowledge the need for basic protection for our members which was extremely troubling.
We advocated for the suspension of dangerous practices like transporting inmates and inmate visitations, to minimize the spread of the virus. In the meantime, over 1,000 members contracted the virus and several died as a result.
Our members are continually ignored and forgotten by the Governor, majority members of the State Senate and Assembly. They all enjoyed significant raises at the beginning of the year and now are denying hard working state employees a miniscule 2% raise.
It is the blue collar union workers that helped navigate us through this crisis, not our elected leaders in Albany.
Our union will continue to advocate on behalf of our membership, who have been essential in getting us through this crisis. We will do everything in our power to make sure the state honors its commitment.
By Kim Pritt, Contributor Posted 26 September 2020 at 6:00 pm
Let’s go on an adventure together … to Kentucky!
A grave monument at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, KY – I’d love to know the story behind this one!
I had several adventures in mind as I thought about this edition of “Travel Thoughts By Kim” and had pretty much decided on one in particular. But, a new friend suggested I check out a travel blog he enjoys – “Tennessee Crossroads” – and while I was skimming through it, it kept reminding me of my trip to Kentucky last year. Yeah, I know, it should have reminded me of Tennessee, right? Well, I’ve been to Tennessee a few times, but it has been many years ago, now, so memories are a bit faded. I want to do a visit to Tennessee, again – in fact, I had considered a trip to the Memphis area this spring (I still have “cry on Elvis’ grave” on my bucket list) and I had a trip to Nashville booked for this November. But, unfortunately, this year resulted in a lot of cancelled plans. So, Tennessee will have to wait. No, reading through that travel blog really got me reminiscing about my time in Kentucky, so that’s what I want to share with you this time.
In 2019, I was able to spend time in the last three states that finished off my “visit all 50 states” bucket list item. Kentucky was my # 48…..Colorado and New Mexico wrapped up the list in September and October. I went to Kentucky the last week in August. I thought it was going to be a “check the box” trip – didn’t think there’d be much to do or see there. But, I was so wrong! It was a 5 day trip – two travel days and three full days to explore. In that time, I put 460 miles on my rental car and traveled another ~150 on a bus tour and still wished I had more time to do more! I absolutely loved Kentucky and everything I did while I was there. Let me try to condense all the wonderful things I crammed into three days into one short story for you all.
I decided to fly into Louisville as my base for the trip. I stayed at the Radisson, Louisville North in Clarksville, Indiana which is just across the Ohio River from Louisville. So, I drove across a huge bridge between Kentucky and Indiana over the Ohio River at least twice every day. Across the parking lot from the hotel was a dinner theater – Derby Dinner Playhouse. I checked out their web site and found their current production was “Million Dollar Quartet” – the story of the night of Dec 3, 1956 when Sam Phillips got Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis together for the first and only time for a jam session and made Rock and Roll History at Sun Records. I was exhausted after a long day in airports, but couldn’t resist – I went and saw a totally awesome live performance that blew me away!
One of many Rickhouses at Willett Distillery – a rickhouse is the building where the aging process occurs at all the distilleries
Louisville, itself, didn’t impress me much – it is a huge city with lots of traffic and a bit hard to get around. I’m not much of a big city kinda girl, so I was a bit out of my comfort zone, but that’s OK – it was just the base for my exploration. I did do a little driving around the city with no particular goal in mind and found some cool things to look at – including a really cool historic water tower, Thomas Edison’s home, and Louisville Slugger Field – all of which were great photo ops, but I didn’t take the time to explore further. But, the rest of the trip…..WOW!!!
Day one started with a stop at Cave Hill Cemetery right in the heart of downtown Louisville. It was really odd to find this huge and absolutely stunning park-like cemetery in the middle of a busy city. I love old cemeteries – especially ones with so much history, character, and beauty. Cave Hill didn’t disappoint. Established in the mid-1800s, it has rolling hills, lakes, streams, abundance of nature, and lots and lots of stunning statues and memorials – some of the most unique and elaborate I’ve ever seen.
It is also home of Louisville’s National Cemetery for veterans. I planned to just do a quick drive through and find the two most famous residents – Colonel Sanders and Muhammad Ali – and move on to the next stop on my Day One Agenda, but it was all so gorgeous and there were so many photos I felt compelled to take, that I ended up spending over two hours there. I could have easily spent another couple hours if I didn’t have admission tickets to the Ark Encounter to get to. If you’re ever in or near Louisville, do yourself a favor and spend some time in Cave Hill Cemetery – you won’t regret it. For now, be sure to click the link at the end of this article that will take you to my blog post with the photos I took – so amazing!
Barton Distillery is home of the World’s Largest Bourbon Barrel
After my wonderful morning at Cave Hill Cemetery, I drove about an hour and a half to Williamstown, KY to visit the Ark Encounter. The Ark Encounter sits on 200 acres and is a 510 foot long, 85 foot wide, and 51 foot high replica of Noah’s Ark with life-like exhibits of how life on the biblical ark would have been like. What an awesome experience. It was absolutely fascinating to go through and includes a small zoo with many of the animals that would have been on Noah’s Ark. And, you can even ride an actual camel while you are there! Definitely a must see – but, don’t cut your time short – it’s an easy 4 or more hour visit. I didn’t include the nearby Creation Museum – maybe on another trip.
Day two was devoted to an eight hour Bourbon Tour. It was an expensive tour – they pride themselves on small focused groups with detailed, informative tours and it was so worth the price. The tour I was on was in a large SUV with me and three young guys from Australia and the guide. We had so much fun – the guys treated me like their long-lost aunt – and I learned a lot about Kentucky and bourbon. I’m not a bourbon/whiskey drinker, but thought the distilleries would be interesting and how can you go to Kentucky without doing something along the Bourbon Trail?
It was a wonderful tour and I actually got a new appreciation for bourbon. We traveled about 150 miles in eight hours and visited five distilleries (two unscheduled additions our guide made to make our tour a bit nicer) – Maker’s Mark, Willett, Heaven Hill, Barton, and Jim Beam – and the day also included a nice lunch at a beautiful Country Club. I learned that “all bourbon is whiskey, but all whiskey is not bourbon” – there is a very strict list of requirements by law to be able to put the word “bourbon” on a whiskey label and that 95% of the world’s bourbon is made in a triangle area in Kentucky that I toured that day. The distilleries were stunning and so interesting – I’m really glad I spent the day with my three new young friends from Australia tasting bourbon. Be sure to click on the link at the end of the article that takes you to the Bourbon Trail blog post for tons of information about Kentucky and the distilleries – so fascinating.
I did a lot of driving and saw a ton of stuff on Day Three. I started out just down the street from my hotel in Clarksville, Indiana. I saw signs for Falls of the Ohio and, since I love waterfalls, I had to check it out. I discovered it wasn’t a waterfall, after all. It was a series of rapids caused by lime stone tables along that section of the Ohio River resulting in the world’s largest exposed fossil bed and it was awesome! The photos I took nowhere near do it justice….so beautiful! From there, I went to Churchill Downs where I took the walking tour and learned all about the history of the famous horse track – very interesting. I capped my time at the Downs with a stop in the bar for a Mint Julep – I was told it was against the law to go to Churchill Downs without having one, so……hahaha! It cost me $12 for the experience – I had a couple sips and left the rest. It was actually pretty good, but oh-so very strong and I had a long drive and day ahead of me, so thought it was best to just say I tried one and move on.
Mounted Police Horse named Albion in the Mounted Police exhibit at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY
After Churchill Downs, I started out on a little over an hour and a half drive to Lexington with plans to go to the Kentucky Horse Park and whatever else grabbed my attention along the way. The first side trip that caught my eye was Frankfort – the capital of Kentucky. Frankfort is a lovely little town with an amazing capital building and the home of the original Bourbon Ball candy.
I couldn’t resist a stop at the Rebecca Ruth Candy Museum to get some of her historic Bourbon Balls and other sweet treats. It seems that Ruth Booe is the Mother of the Bourbon Ball and started a candy business with her friend, Rebecca, in 1919 and kept it going until 1964, when her son took over the business.
Back on the road, I saw signs for Historic Georgetown and knew I had to check it out. It was a quaint little town with lots of charm and shops. I finally made it to Lexington and the Kentucky Horse Park, where I took a horse and buggy tour led by two gorgeous Clydesdale horses. Definitely worth the long drive. On the way back to Louisville, I found a highly recommended “hole in the wall” BBQ restaurant out in the middle of nowhere – Red State BBQ – and had the best beef brisket dinner I’ve ever had! For sure this place can be the poster child for “don’t judge a book by the cover” and one you really should put on your “to do” list if in the Lexington area! Also, venturing out beyond Louisville gave me the joys of seeing the absolute beauty of the great state of Kentucky – rolling hills and miles and miles of horse farms, board fences, and the deepest blue grass I’ve ever seen in my life.
I really loved Kentucky and hope I can go back, someday, to see more of their gorgeous state. My only regret? Underestimating it and not planning more time while I was there.
Provided photos courtesy of Cobblestone Museum: The Cobblestone Universalist Church was erected in 1834 on Ridge Road, just east of Route 98. It is the oldest cobblestone church building in North America.
(Editor’s Note: This is the seventh article in a series about historic Childs in the Town of Gaines. The hamlet of Childs lies just north of Albion at the intersection of Routes 104 and 98. In 2019, Childs was selected to be on the Landmark Society of Western New York’s “Five to Revive” list. In 1993, the federal U.S. Department of the Interior declared the Cobblestone Museum in Childs a National Historic Landmark, the first site in Orleans County with that distinction.)
By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Society & Museum Director
In 1833, the First Universalist Society was organized at Fairhaven (now Childs) and a building committee consisting of John Proctor, Joseph Billings, and William W. Ruggles was selected. The First Universalist Church just east of the four corners in Childs was built by John Proctor in 1834 and given to the congregation.
Built in the Federal style, the Universalist Church represents the oldest cobblestone church in North America. Bricks were used for lintels and the sills were fashioned from wood. Masons used the depressed hexagonal or “Gaines Pattern” of mortar embellishment.
The inscription on the front of the church reads, “ERECTED BY THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY: AD 1834. GOD IS LOVE.”
In 1960, the State Board of the Universalist Church declared the Childs church abandoned and had considered selling it. Church services were no longer held there, and in fact, the church had been converted into a cabbage storage facility.
To avoid potential demolition by commercial interests, the Cobblestone Society Museum was formed and purchased the building. It was during this time, in the 1960s, that the museum carefully repaired and restored the interior and exterior.
In July of 1964, thanks to a generous donation from John Brush, the church’s tower was reconstructed and installed in the same location as the original tower.
The interior of the church is arranged to look as it would have in the 1880s and is included in public tours offered at the Cobblestone Museum. Here, “Elderberry Jam,” a local fiddlers group, entertains a full house crowd in 2019.
Weddings continue to be held in the church, just like they would have in the earliest days in Childs.
In 1993, the Cobblestone Church, parsonage and District School #5 were designated the Cobblestone National Historic Landmark District, the highest distinction recognized by the National Department of the Interior. The latter two sites will be presented in future articles.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 September 2020 at 7:06 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – A fast-moving fire devoured a barn on West Shelby Road late this afternoon. The barn is owned by Darrel Barnes. The fire also badly damaged a workshop and apartment owned by Barnes.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 5 p.m. Barnes had removed a section of the barn and was burning some of the old wood. He said the fire sparked to the barn and quickly spread. He tried to put it out with a hose, but the fire quickly engulfed the barn in flames.
“I couldn’t believe all of a sudden it was whoosh,” he said. “I couldn’t put it out.”
Barnes said no one was injured in the fire.
Shelby, Medina and several other fire companies were at the scene, using tankers to haul water to put out the flames.
Orleans County fire investigators were also on the scene to confirm the cause.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 September 2020 at 4:42 pm
Orleans had 9 confirmed cases this week
Orleans County is reporting 3 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, making it 9 new cases this week and 314 total since March.
The 3 new cases are residents of Carlton and Gaines. One of the individuals is in the 20s, another in the 40s and other is in the 60s, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
The individuals were not on quarantine prior to testing positive. There are also 4 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Genesee County received 2 new positive cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the total to 8 this week and 299 since March.
The two new positive cases reside in Bethany with one of individuals in the 20s and the other in the 50s. The individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also is reporting 3 more recoveries and they have been released from mandatory isolation.
Genesee also has 6 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Genesee also is reporting 1 resident is hospitalized due to Covid.
To see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here.
• State-wide data: Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that there 908 positives cases on Thursday out of 94,818 test results reported to the state or 0.95 percent.
“New Yorkers’ ability to stay vigilant and conscientious toward their fellow citizens is critical as we continue to battle Covid-19 throughout the state,” Cuomo said. “That mindset—that I wear a mask not just to protect myself, but to protect you as well—is what will get us through to the other side.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 September 2020 at 4:13 pm
No tug-of-war or parade, but still lots of fun
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Waylon Peet carries a Kendall flag while he and the senior class make their entrance on the soccer during a homecoming celebration this afternoon at Kendall Central School.
The seniors won the homecoming competitions.
There will be a drive-in movie at the school parking lot this evening from 6 to 9 p.m. to cap the week.
Each class from the junior high, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors had a representative compete in different events, including the hula hoop.
Kendall normally has a pep rally in the gym for homecoming but the rally was moved outside to the bleachers and the soccer field.
The pep rally included observing a moment of silence for Richard J. Gilman Jr., who would have been a senior this year. He died on April 18, 2018 due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Zack Barrett, a sophomore, had the longest soccer kick during one of the events. The school added more events and didn’t do some favorites, including the seniors vs. teachers in tug-of-war due to Covid-19 concerns.
Carol D’Agostino, the high school principal, welcomes students to the homecoming rally. She urged them to spread out – and have fun.
“It’s different but it’s good,” she said about the homecoming week activities. “It’s just good to have some fun.”
The Kendall classes won’t be doing a parade this year for homecoming. They still did hall decorating and dressed up for spirit days with different theme. Instead of the parade, each class had space in front of the school for s display about a movie genre.
“We know it’s not like usual,” D’Agostino told the students. “But we’re real excited to have a homecoming at Kendall.”
Joe Nettles, a senior, was speedy while bobbing for apples and then having to sprint. Only one kid could use the bobbing tub.
Seventh- and eighth-graders are spread out on the soccer field for the homecoming rally and competitions.
