Holland Land Office Museum

An Alden man is being held in jail without bail after being accused of trying to steal a historic long gun yesterday from the Holland Land Office Museum, 131 West Main St., Batavia.

An observant witness spotted a person leaving the museum with the long gun hidden under a trench coat and followed the suspect's car, phoning the dispatch center with a license plate number, description and direction of travel.

Taken into custody at the intersection of West Main and Oak streets shortly after 1:30 p.m. was Frank J. Bieniek, 55, of 962 Virginia Drive, Alden.

The gun is valued at more than $3,000.

Bieniek is charged with grand larceny 3rd and criminal possession of stolen property 3rd.

The case was investigated by Officer Matt Flemming and detectives Kevin Czora and Todd Crossett.

Bieniek will be arraigned and receive a bail review in City Court at 11 a.m., Monday.

(initial report)

A 15-percent reduction in the Holland Land Office Museum budget could mean a serious cut in programs or hours of operations, Board President Bob Turk told the county's Human Services Committee on Monday.

"A 15-percent cut would make it really hard to keep the museum going," Turk said.

The proposed budget provides about $39,000 for operations at HLOM.

Currently, the museum is staffed by one full-time director -- currently, Interim Director Jeff Donahue -- and a part-time staff member.

The loss of more than $6,000 in funding will mean the museum will likely need to cut its part-time employee, who provides essential support, both in terms of hours of operation and fundraising programs, that help keep the museum going, Turk said.

A 7.5- to 8.5-percent budget cut would be less damaging, he said.

Legislature Chairwoman Mary Pat Hancock, who sat in on the meeting, suggested that the museum board tap into its reserves.

"I understand you have a fund reserve," Hancock said, adding that the county has sometimes had to use its reserve funds, too.

Legislature Hollis Upson, who sits on the HLOM board, said the board has generally not considered the fund balance as something to use for operational expenses, but if it could be construed as a one-time measure, perhaps they would.

"It should be considered a survival tactic in extraordinary times," said Hancock.

Turk said he wants to find ways to keep the museum open more often, including starting a lecture series and other special events.

"I feel that the museum belongs to the community and I want to draw as many people into the building as possible because it's their building," Turk said.

There was no apparent support from legislators at the Human Services meeting for decreasing HLOM's budget cut.

The county budget must be approved by Dec. 8.

The Holland Land Office Museum's ninth annual Wonderland of Trees opened Friday evening with a gala that included food (even a chocolate fountain), a silent auction, a chance to vote on your favorite tree and an opportunity to mingle with friends and neighbors.

About 40 local businesses and organizations participated in sponsoring trees this year, and the themes are quite creative.

The Christmas trees will be on display at HLOM through Jan. 8.

The following is a statement from Marilyn Warner (Drilling) regarding her resignation from the director's position at the Holland Land Office Museum:

Several of you, my friends, have called to ask why I so abruptly submitted my resignation to the board of the Holland Land Office museum. There are many reasons, but two I would like to make public.

I was married on July 31st , moved to Wyoming County and am now raising my two college-bound daughters along with my husband’s three young children. John and my girls are my primary responsibility and I am truly looking forward to focusing on our expanded family and less time on outside work duties. As you know, the job as director of the Holland Land Office Museum included many nights and weekend engagements.

Equally as important is my dedication to the creation of the honorary International Peace Garden in Batavia and the many opportunities it brings for the financial future of the Museum and the tourism industry in Genesee County. Due to the support of the County Legislature and the Chamber of Commerce, a small core of volunteers has now developed a nonprofit group known as the Friends of the Peace Garden Legacy Genesee, which will allow us to fundraise and write grants for the project.

We are working with the International Peace Garden Foundation and the BiNational Tourism Alliance to be included in regional and cross-border marketing plans for the anniversary of the War of 1812. The current leadership of the Museum recently requested that my energies on this project be spent as a private citizen. My resignation will allow my continued involvement in this exciting venture.

I have also been offered several development consulting opportunities that I have not been able to pursue due to my work obligations and time constraints operating the Museum.

I am very proud of the many accomplishments I orchestrated during my year as the Museum Director. Working with then-assistant director Emily Conable, we took to the task of reorganizing the Museum collection and repositioning the marketing program to focus on the land Purchase and its significance to the development of New York State. This winter’s temporary exhibit highlighting rare surveying equipment and the spring women’s exhibit featuring Genesee County females “ahead of their time” attracted many new visitors from throughout the eight-county region.

The Museum interior took on a new appearance as pieces of the collection are now regularly rotated from storage to displays. New marketing pieces were created and unique low-cost marketing techniques were implemented. Most important are the many collaborative community relationships that have been built during these months, especially with Genesee Community College, the county historians and key partnerships with the Chamber, Richmond Library and GoArt.

The Holland Land Office Museum is a vibrant, exciting treasure in Genesee County and it has been my honor to serve as its director.

The magnolia tree outside the Holland Land Office Museum is in full bloom.

With a nod of approval (no official vote could be taken) from the Legislature's Human Services Committee today, Marilyn Drilling and Barb Toal are ready to push forward with plans for a peace garden next to the Holland Land Office Museum.

They need to raise $55,000 in the next 11 months, and Drilling said a key component of the fundraising campaign will include a dinner with Terry Anderson as the keynote speaker.

Anderson, who was held captive in Lebanon for more than 6 years, from 1985 to 1991, hasn't visited his hometown of Batavia in 19 years.

He didn't want to make it 20, said Drilling, executive director of HLOM, and he agreed to support the peace garden effort at no cost to the organizers.

"Who better to talk about peace than a man who spent so much of his wonderful life behind locked doors," Drilling said.

The dinner is planned for Sept. 9.

The county owns the land next to the museum and must approve any new use of the strip of real estate hard against the Tonawanda Creek. To grant approval, the Legislature must receive a finished plan, which includes at least the potential of approvals from the City of Batavia and the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as contract language from County Attorney Charles Zambito and final engineering plans.

Without that, the Human Services Committee couldn't even poll members for consensus, but it was clear there were no objections from members for pushing forward with the project.

"Of all the people I've heard talk about it, I don't think I've heard anybody say they're not in favor of it," said Hollis Upson. "It's very interesting the amount of outpouring and number of volunteers who support it. It's been vary contagious."

Drilling is concerned that without a sense that the county supports the project, it will impede fundraising, which needs to proceed now.

There are 20 countries with official Peace Gardens, which is an international effort to promote and recognize peace among nations. The Peace Garden Foundation promotes the effort and was founded by current president Paula Savage, a resident and native of Batavia. The Batavia garden would be an honorary, not official, member. It would feature the 20 flags of the countries with official gardens.

Each country would be represented by its flag, and flag poles would be sold for donations of about $2,500 each, according to Drilling.

Drilling sees the peace garden as a natural extension of HLOM, helping to bring in tourists.

Toal, who chairs the local Peace Garden Committee, said it's a natural fit for Batavia and the strong interest in the region from War of 1812 enthusiasts.

Batavia, she said, served as a key defense in stopping the British advance after Buffalo was destroyed. Many tourists interested in the War of 1812 make the trip to Batavia, she said, and the peace garden at HLOM would be an appropriate destination point.

No county funds would be used in building and maintaining the peace garden, which is why, Drilling said, it's important to get started on fundraising now.

I happened to stop by the Holland Land Office Museum today and found a number of trees already ready for Saturday's opening of the Wonderland of Trees. Several local organizations and businesses already have their trees in place and decorated.

Emily Conable, daughter of the late Barber Conable, the legendary former congressman from Batavia, has been named assistant to the director of the Holland Land Office Muesum.

Initially, Conable will be overseeing the "History's Heroes" programs, which is aimed at school children, and drama productions -- "bringing history to life," said Director Marilyn Drilling.

"She's very good at that," Drilling said. "She's done a lot of re-enactments, has great friends in New York City and just all across the globe, so we're thrilled."

Drilling said Conable has worked 21 years at Genesee Country Museum. She's also been active in producing historical programs at Alexander Central Schools.

"She's just delightful," Drilling said. "She really has a passion for history."

Patrick Weissend is leaving his post as director of the Holland Land Office Museum to become a brank manager for the Bank of Castile in Medina. Supporters of  the museum, its staff and board members gathered at the museum last night to give Pat a festive send off and to thank him for his hard work and dedication.

Patrick Weissend, after 11 years as director of the Holland Land Office Museum, is changing jobs. He is joining the Bank of Castile as branch manager in Medina.

His 11-year-term puts him well ahead of the three-year average for museum directors in New York, but said the Bank of Castile offer was a great opportunity.

"I've been here for 11 years," Weissend said. "I love it here. It's a great place to work and great place to be and a great place to grow, and this opportunity came along and it can be like the opportunity of a lifetime that I can't pass up.  It's not something I applied for -- well, I did apply for it eventually -- It kind of just fell into my lap, so I had to take advantage of it."

Weissend, a Stafford resident, said he will continue to live in Genesee County and stay involved in community activities, as well as getting more involved in the Medina community.

Prior to becoming a historian, Weissend was an accountant.

The personnel committee will meet soon to discuss finding a successor, Weissend said. Meanwhile, he has three more weeks as director with HLOM.

"I have this feeling of both sadness and this feeling of excitement," he said. "You know, the sadness at leaving this place, which has become such a part of my life. In a sense, I enjoyed being Pat from the Holland Land Office Museum. It's weird that I'm not going to be that person any more. It's kind of like gone away, that person that I was, and now I'm going to be a new person. A lot of people have been reacting, shocked, shocked that I'm leaving. Some of my board members didn't believe me. Even my own mother said, 'I thought you would be there forever.'"

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the line up for the 2009 Summer Program. The program, for children 7 to 13 years old, consists of sixteen different sessions based on local history. The program is sponsored by The Bank of Castile and the Kiwanis Club of Batavia.

Registration is now open and available on the Museum’s website at www.hollandlandoffice.com or a flyer is available by calling the Museum at (585) 343-4727. The class will fill up fast, so sign your child up today!

Jell-O, the jiggly treat that has delighted billions of happy childhood days, is the number one thing that helped put Genesee County on the map, according to historian and Holland Land Office Museum direct Pat Weissand.

Americans love Jell-O. In fact, Americans eat more than 300 million boxes of Jell-O every year and about 160 products are sold under the Jell-O name.   Jell-O is as much a part of Americana as baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet. By proclamation of the state governor, it is the official state snack of Utah. Residents of Utah eat more Jell-O per capita than anyone else.

Jell-O is an American icon. Since the early days of the company, Jell-O has mastered the technique of successful advertising campaigns. They used well-known artists such as Rose O'Neil, Maxfield Parrish, Cole Philips and Norman Rockwell in their print advertising; Jack Benny, Lucille Ball and Kate Smith in radio advertising and Bill Cosby in their television marketing campaigns.

Wikipedia says powered gelatin was patented 40 years before it was dubbed Jell-O in LeRoy, N.Y.

Gelatin has been well known and used for many years. It was popularized in the Victorian era with spectacular and complex "jelly moulds". Gelatin was sold in sheets and had to be purified, which was very time-consuming. It also made gelatin desserts the province of the relatively well-to-do. In 1845, industrialist Peter Cooper (who built the first American steam-powered locomotive, the Tom Thumb), obtained a patent (US Patent 4084) for powdered gelatin.

Forty years later the patent was sold to a LeRoy, New York-based carpenter and cough syrup manufacturer, Pearle B. Wait. He and his wife May added strawberry, raspberry, orange and lemon flavoring to the powder and gave the product its present name in 1897.

Whether invented in LeRoy or LeRoy was merely the launching pad for one of America's most commercially successful food products, Jell-O has contributed much to life and fame for Genesee County.

Tim Rivers disagrees.

Maybe Jell-O is famous, cute and conjures warm fuzzies about childhood (especially when dolloped with whipped cream). But Jell-O hasn't had the same long-lasting local impact as the muckland in Elba and Byron.

The muck is listed No. 21 in things that made Genesee County famous. The 7,000 acres of muck stretches into Orleans County in Barre and Clarendon. The dark, highly organic soil brought hundreds of hard-working immigrants to the community in the 1920s and 1930s.

...

Unlike Jell-O, the muck is still here, still producing crops, still creating jobs, still unleashing human potential. There are 10 farms today working the muck and those farms continue as community cornerstons. Torrey, Bezon, Yunker, Halat, Starowitz, Vigneri, Mortellaro, Panek, Smith and Shuknecht remain, tilling the soil, planting seeds and harvesting crops.

Well, nothing like a little controversy to close out a months-long instructive and entertain journey through Genesee County history. 

Though, Tom left out another key point: The local ball club ain't called the Jell-O Dogs!

If you've never visited the Jell-O Museum, it's worth the time. Here's the museum's Web site.

A few months ago, Philip produced this video: