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Pulling For History

img 7714-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Just like the old days: The restored grader is put to work during a demonstration at the Altamont Fair. It was made by Climax Road Machine in Marathon, N.Y., north of Binghamton, a factory that ran from 1887 to 1890. Andrew Tinning plans to display the horse-drawn grader in June at the Gas-Up in Gallupville, and in August again at the Altamont Fair.

img 7717-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Period piece: “Little Winner,” the antique road grader restored to its former glory by Andrew Tinning, looks right at home in front of the also restored village train station, now home to the Altamont Free Library. The grader will be at the station at least through April 9 when, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Judith Wines will give a presentation called “Tours and Trains in Altamont.”

img 7712-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Rallying round the antique grader restored by Andrew Tinning, second from left, holding a whip, are, two grandsons of Casper Wagner, the grader’s original owner — Merlin E. Wagner at far left, and Bernard H. Wagner, at far right. The grader, which Tinning discovered, forgotten and neglected, on property behind his house on Dunnsville Road, was originally used to groom Guilderland’s roads before it was used for ditching at the Wagner farm. At center, is Steve Oliver, Guilderland’s current highway superintendent. Next to him is Judith Wines, the director of the Altamont Free Library, now housed in the village’s historic train station. The grader originally arrived in Altamont by train.

Jewelry sale to defray costs of fighting cancer

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Published on Friday, 01 March 2013 17:58

By Michael Koff

GUILDERLAND — The Westmere Fire Department is holding a jewelry sale to help a gem of a little boy — Cooper Lare — who is battling a rare form of cancer.

The sale is on March 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Westmere’s new firehouse at 1741 Western Ave. The Silpada jewelry party will raise money for Lare, whose father is Guilderland Center’s past chief, Josh Lare.

Josh Lare and his wife, Cristen, took their son to the Albany Medical Center emergency room on Veterans Day for what was found to be a rare cancer — Rhabdomyosarcoma, that had caused a large tumor to grow in his stomach.

Because of the escalating costs of chemotherapy treatments and other medical costs that insurance can’t pay, the fire department is stepping up.

“So please bring your hearts and show how much the community cares about Cooper,” said Westmere Chief David Szary. “All of the proceeds will go straight to help Cooper. We hope to see everyone there.”

If you cannot attend on March 9, there is a website to purchase jewelry, which will go to help the Lares: www.mysilpada.com/shelly.melius; donors must mark “Cooper Lare” as the host so that all the money can go straight to him.

Editor’s note: Michael Koff is the first vice president of the Westmere Fire Department, and is also the staff photographer for The Altamont Enterprise.img 7404-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Westmere Fire District’s new station, approved by the public with a $5.27 million bond vote in March 2010, now stands on Western Avenue in place of the 15,000-square-foot firehouse built in 1956. The new 22,000-square-foot firehouse has six bays built to accommodate large, modern trucks. The original contractor, DooleyMack Co. was fired and the work was finished by independent contractors. An open house and grand opening ceremony will be held on April 27 in conjunction with a statewide initiative to recruit new volunteer firefighters.