Hatchery
Borner retires after 3 decades at Randolph Fish Hatchery
BY DEB EVERTS
RANDOLPH
—
As area
waters are stocked with prime trout for this year’s fishing season, longtime Randolph Fish Hatchery manager Rich Borner is ready to step into retirement April 23.
Borner, who holds the rank of Fish Culturist 3, and his staff have always taken great pride in the fish they raise for the sportsmen and sportswomen of New York state to enjoy. He said one of the most rewarding parts of his job has been working with the fish, but it’s also been rewarding to see people enjoy them.
“You work hard all year long, producing the product then stocking the fish,” he said. “The rewarding part is seeing kids and adults catch what you have worked so hard to produce.”
The facility keeps a healthy population of brown, rainbow and brook trout well-stocked in Western New York’s streams and lakes,
including waters in Allegany State Park and Cattaraugus, Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie and Wyoming counties.
The hatchery also transfers fish to the Rome, Caledonia and Catskill fish hatcheries and as far away as Lake Ontario. Spring trout stocking began mid-March and runs through early June. “It’s been a good season, so far, with no cancellations,” Borner said. “Stream levels have been good this spring with just a couple of days of high water.”
As part of New York state’s Trout Stream Management Policy, the hatchery continues to raise fewer fish to achieve less crowding in the tanks, which results in bigger, healthier fish. Borner said the hatchery strives for a nine-inch fish, and all their fish have met the target this year. He said the rainbow trout they were stocking April 10 were almost 12 inches.
Fall has always been Borner’s favorite time of year because that’s when
the hatchery fish culturists strip, fertilize and incubate roughly 5.3 million eyed eggs. Randolph keeps a portion while the rest are sent to other hatcheries in the state. The trout are raised in indoor culture tanks called the nursery, and after about three months of age, they are transferred to harvest ponds until they reach the required size. Giving tours of the facility is part of the staff’s job. Borner said they get to share their passion and experience working with the fish, as well as their knowledge of the facility, with people.
ORIGINALLY FROM Pendleton, where he grew up, Borner resides in Perrysburg. Other than a brief assignment at Seneca Lake, he has lived and worked in Western New York during his whole career with the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources.
Borner graduated from Finger Lakes Community College with an associate’s degree in Natural Resources Conservation in 1988. He embarked on his profession that same year when he started as a fish and wildlife tech in Region 8, working at the
Seneca Lake Trout Derby.
Looking back on his 36year career in state service, Borner bounced around on various seasonal jobs for the DEC, including a summer assignment at Lake Ontario to do a creel census.
and Wildlife division, with his strongest interest in the wildlife unit. After working for the wildlife unit out of Buffalo, he got an interview in December 1992 to work at the Randolph Fish Hatchery, where he got a job as a fish culturist.
bit of both happy and sad.
“I’m excited for the next chapter, but it’s hard to leave a job that you still love coming to,” he said. “It’s time to enjoy some other things.”
Buying a new car is no small task. When shopping for a new car, it’s easy to let details like the color of the vehicle and creature comforts like connectivity take control of the transaction, but buyers also know how important the bottom line can be. Next to a home, a car might be the most expensive item many consumers ever purchase. In fact, according to Cox Automotive, the average transaction price of a new vehicle in the United States in early 2023 was just over $48,000. A lot of money changes hands at car dealerships every day, so buyers can undoubtedly benefit from learning or relearning the lingo that surrounds such transactions.
• Annual percentage rate (APR): The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that APR is the cost consumers pay each year to borrow money. This includes fees and buyers should know that APR is different from the interest rate. Drivers can negotiate a lower APR, and the CFPB notes that it can benefit buyers to compare the APR on competing auto loans.
• Balloon payment: The balloon payment is a large sum that is due at the end of some auto loans. Many drivers will pay a predetermined amount each month during the terms of the loan. Once that loan reaches maturity, they then own the car outright. With a balloon loan, buyers still make monthly payments, but when the loan reaches maturity they must make a balloon payment in order to take full
As he eases into his retirement, Borner is looking forward to fishing with his grandchildren and enjoying turkey hunting, but he will miss the area and being at the hatchery with his crew.
“We interviewed fishermen coming off Lake Ontario and were looking at their catch for the day,” he recalled. “We took lengths and weights of the trout and salmon they were catching and entered it into a data sheet.”
ownership of the vehicle.
When he first started working for New York, Borner chose a career in the Fish
BORNER WORKED his way up through the ranks under managers Gary Sickles and Jon Mellon, finally becoming hatchery manager in 2011, a position he has held for 14 years. Retiring from a career he has loved for so many years is bittersweet for Borner. He said it’s a little
JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” (JOHN 14:6)
NOW THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY. AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. (2 COR. 3:17, JOHN 8:32). RED HOUSE Memorial Chapel 8077
“The staff I’ve had working for me the last few years has been exceptional. They’re good people. I’ll also miss the stocking part of the job and the egg-take this fall, but I’ll probably stop in, now and then, to bother these people,” he said with a grin.
Derek Weishan will serve as acting hatchery manager until a new manager is officially selected. Located at 10943 Hatchery Road, the Randolph Fish Hatchery is open to the public daily, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. People can visit the grounds for free, and school group tours are available upon request. To learn more, call (716) 3584755. For stocking updates, call the Randolph Stocking Hotline at (716) 358-2050.
INDEPENDENT BIBLE BELIEVING FELLOWSHIP WORSHIP TIME SUNDAYS 10:30 AM For Ministry Info: (716) 945-5607
NON-DENOMINATIONAL BIBLE BELIEVING FELLOWSHIP ..Where Jesus is The Way, The Truth,The Life WORSHIP TIME SUNDAYS 10:30 AM For Ministry Info: (716) 945-5607
• Capitalized cost reduction: The online financial resource Investopedia notes that a capitalized cost reduction is any upfront payment that reduces the cost of financing. This can include a cash down payment and a trade-in vehicle.
• Closed-end lease: Individuals considering leasing their next vehicle will likely come across this term. Car and Driver notes that a closed-end lease is one that gives the driver leasing the vehicle the option to buy it at a set price at the end of the term or walk away without any financial liability (damage or modifications to the vehicle upon returning it may result in charges). Leases typically are closedend, but it’s still best that drivers confirm that prior to signing on the dotted line.
• Dealer preparation fees: The lending experts at Capital One note that dealer preparation fees are the charges a dealership issues to prepare a car for transfer to the buyer. These fees might cover the cost of washing the vehicle and additional services before buyers take it off the lot. Capital One notes these fees average between $100 and $500, and buyers should know that they are negotiable.
• MSRP: This familiar acronym stands for “Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.” The MSRP is the total of the base price plus all of the options listed on the window sticker of the vehicle.
• Prepayment penalties: Prepayment penalties penalize drivers for paying off a loan before it reaches maturity. Though the vast majority of drivers who finance the purchase of a vehicle will not have prepayment penalties in their agreements, buyers with lower credit scores might. Anyone with such a penalty in the terms of their agreement should try to negotiate it out of the deal.
• Extended warranty: Car and Driver warns that most extended warranties offered by dealerships cover very little, so buyers should read the terms carefully before purchasing an extended warranty. Extended warranties offered by manufacturers tend to be more useful to buyers.
• Term: The term refers to the length of the purchase or lease agreement. Many leases feature terms between 12 and 36 months, while purchase agreements can feature terms as long as 72 months (six years). Knowing the lingo before buying a new car can increase the chances drivers get a good deal on their next vehicle.
Photo by Deb Everts
After his career of more than 30 years at the Randolph Fish Hatchery, manager Rich
Borner retired April 23. He is shown at the hatchery holding a brown trout.
BY KELLEN M. QUIGLEY
LITTLE VALLEY — The Cattaraugus County Legislature formally congratulated the village of Cattaraugus on its recent award of $10 million as the Western New York winner of the eighth round of the state Downtown Revitalization Initiative program.
In congratulating Cattaraugus on behalf of the legislature, Chairman Andrew Burr said it is the first village in the Western New York economic district to be awarded the $10 million grant.
“Every other recipient (in Western New York) prior to this has been a city of substantially higher population,” he said.
“This is a really tremendous achievement for the village of Cattaraugus, and something we can all be very proud of.”
The $10 million award would go toward helping Cattaraugus revitalize the infrastructure, support local business and enhance the overall quality of life for residents and visitors.
“The village of Cattaraugus is deeply honored to receive the Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, a transformative investment in our community’s future,” Mayor Anthony Nagel said in a statement.
The village seeks to transform its historic, red brick Main Street into a communal gathering place where the natural beauty, cultural heritage and smalltown character converge to foster economic growth and enhance quality of life.
“Our state’s downtowns unite friends and families, and these investments will only help reshape neighborhoods to become more vibrant destinations for shopping, dining and living,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
The village aims to become a regional attraction for dining and lodging, using its industrial rail heritage to encourage outdoor recreation on its trails that will attract visitors and new residents to stay and enjoy the welcoming nature of Cattaraugus.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to Governor Hochul
for recognizing the potential of our village and making this significant investment,” Nagel said. “With this grant, we are committed to preserving our heritage while fostering a stronger, more vibrant future for generations to come.”
The village of Cattaraugus — along with the villages of Westfield and Angola, which both received $4.5 million — will now begin the process of developing a strategic investment plan to revitalize their downtowns.
A local planning committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI and NY Forward grant funds in revitalization projects that are poised for implementation, will advance the community’s vision for their downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state’s investment.
ELSEWHERE IN the county, the Department of Public Works is anticipating a busy construction season with the legislature’s authorization of spending for several road projects.
The nearly $574,000 bid from Legend Excavating of Cassadaga was accepted for the Mansfield Culvert No. 45 replacement project on Toad Hollow Road over a tributary of Little Valley Creek. The project is completely state funded and subject to the state Department of Transportation’s approval.
For the same project, the legislature also authorized a $99,000 contract with GreenmanPedersen, Inc. of Buffalo for additional construction support and inspection services.
A contract with Popli Design Group of Penfield at $287,000 was also authorized by the legislature for consultant design services for the Yorkshire Culvert No. 7 replacement project on McKinstry Road over McKinstry Creek.
Another contract at $100,000 with Erdman, Anthony and Associates, Inc. of Buffalo was
BY KELLEN M. QUIGLEY
LITTLE VALLEY
— Breakout country and Americana band Flatland Cavalry will perform during this summer’s Cattaraugus County Fair, the second of two grandstand concerts.
Hailing from Lubbock, Texas, Flatland Cavalry will play in front of the grandstand on Wednesday, July 30, with special guest John Hollier. Tickets are on sale now.
This year’s county fair runs July 26 through Aug. 2.
One of the “most dynamic presences in country music”
(Rolling Stone), Flatland Cavalry is in the midst of a highly successful year following the release of their acclaimed album, “Wandering Star,” last fall — their first project in partnership with Interscope Records.
Of the album, No Depression praises, “They just don’t make them like Flatland Cavalry anymore… a collection of songs that feel timeless right out of the gate, warm and twangy with full-bodied
Flatland Cavalry to play second Cattaraugus County Fair grandstand concert July 30
arrangements.” American Songwriter declares, “offers an upward glance that radiates within each of its 13 songs…it provides a bounty of bright light.”
Following the release of “Wandering Star,” the Nashville and Texas-based band was nominated for Group of the Year at both the 2024 and 2025 ACM Awards, earned their first RIAA Gold certification for “A Life Where We Work Out” feat. Kaitlin Butts, made their sold-out headline debut at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and had songs featured on two major movie soundtracks: “Twisters” and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.” Additionally, since their 2015 debut, Flatland Cavalry has earned six No. 1 singles at Texas Country Radio, garnered over 500 million streams across platforms, had their track, “Mountain Song,” featured on the hit show “Yellowstone” and toured relentlessly, including countless soldout headline shows Louisiana-born and Nashville-based, John Hollier
is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who shares honest stories over a backdrop of gruff heartland rock with a twist of country soul. First making a splash
in 2019, he’s gone from accompanying stars such as Carly Pearce and Cassadee Pope to generating over 1 million streams independently and packing
A guide to various types of home awnings
Homeowners recognize that upgrades can improve the functionality and comfort of their homes.
Improving outdoor spaces has proven particularly popular of late. The National Association of Home Builders reports that outdoor living has been propelled to the top of homeowner wish lists. Plus, a recent survey conducted by the New Home Trends Institute found connection to the outdoors/nature and outdoor entertaining ranked high among desired home designs.
One way to make outdoor spaces more accommodating is through the installation of awnings. Many homeowners would like to enhance their homes with awnings but do not know where to begin. Learning about the various types of awnings can help homeowners determine which option best suits their needs.
Fixed awnings
Fixed awnings are stationary on a building’s exterior. While the awnings are generally stable, they can be damaged by snow or wind. It’s key to find an installation expert to make sure the awning is installed correctly so that it can withstand weather and other issues. It’s also important to know that fixed awnings remain in the same position and orientation, so its best to know exactly where to place it beforehand.
Retractable awning
Retractable awnings are the most popular type of awnings because they can be extended when necessary to keep a space cool or protected, then rolled or folded up when not in use. These awnings are advantageous because they can be retracted when bad weather hits to prevent damage.
Motorized retractable awning
Motorized retractable awnings offer the utmost convenience. Standard retractable offerings require a handle or hand crank to manually extend or fold up the awning. Motorized awnings can be operated with a sensor, remote or even motion trigger. Even though they cost more, they’re a favorite among homeowners.
Areas of use Awnings can be installed in various locations.
Patio awnings are much preferred because of their large coverage area, which typically spans entire patios. Door awnings are installed above the exterior door of an entryway to protect visitors and occupants from precipitation and to improve the home’s look. Window awnings can add additional shade and privacy. There also are side awnings, which are essentially wall-like
structures that run across a patio, garden or balcony for wind or sun protection. They’re also utilized to improve privacy.
Homeowners can choose from various types of awning materials, including fabric, metal, glass, and others. Working with a reputable awning company is the best way for homeowners to peruse possible products and find awnings that will suit their needs.
houses as a solo artist. He introduced himself on his self-titled, full-length debut, “Hollier,” in 2022.
“I’m trying to tell a story,” he said on his website.
“I’ve done a lot of growth as an artist, as a writer, and as a person. I wanted this record to be raw and show some scars, but I also wanted it to have subtle moments. I hope people hear the honesty in these songs and the performance.”
Tickets to see Flatland Cavalry and John Hollier at the county fair are now on sale. All tickets are sold only through etix.com. Tickets are $45 for the track or $35 for the grandstand, plus $12 gate admission. Seating is assigned for the grandstand, and track tickets are standing only. Other main grandstand events announced by the fair so far include
Photo courtesy Flatland Cavalry
Country and Americana band Flatland Cavalry will perform to the Cattaraugus County Fair grandstand on Wednesday, July 30, with special guest John Hollier.