County seeks to highlight “Every Child Matters” and domestic violence awareness

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Courthouse dome is shown last October when it was lighted up in purple in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The dome will again be lighted in purple from Oct. 2 to Oct. 16 for domestic violence awareness.

The courthouse top also will be illumined in orange from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 for “Every Child Matters Day,” which is recognized on Sept. 30 across Indigenous communities. The day is a time to reflect on the truths of U.S. and Canadian boarding school histories, honor survivors, and commit to healing, reconciliation and education, Orleans County legislators said in a proclamation.

Orleans County Legislator Don Allport on Tuesday presents a proclamation in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. He presented it to Kelley Ortiz, senior caseworker; Cyndi Stumer, deputy commissioner of the Orleans County Department of Social Services; and Judianne Gearing, supervisor in DSS.

Legislators said that while 90 percent of domestic violence cases go unreported, 265 cases were reported to the Orleans County Domestic Violence Unit in 2024, 249 cases were reported in 2025 and 248 cases so far this year from Jan. 1 to Sept. 1.

“Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior that may include physical, emotional, psychological, economic, or sexual abuse, perpetrated by an intimate partner over another, to establish and maintain power and control,” the proclamation states.

Domestic violence is the major cause of injury to women, resulting in more injuries to women then auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined, legislators stated.

“Domestic violence is a serious crime that affects people regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, age, gender, education, employment status, physical ableness, marital status, or childhood history,” the proclamation stated.

Legislator Allport also presented a proclamation about “Every Child Matters Day” for Sept. 30 to DSS caseworker Isabella Gibbs and DSS Commissioner Shirley Mazourek.

The proclamation states that beginning in the early 1800s and lasting well into the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children were removed from their families and communities and placed in more than 500 government and church-run Indian boarding schools.

“Many endured the loss of culture, language, traditions and identity, and many children never returned home,” the proclamation stated. “These schools caused intergenerational trauma that continues to affect Indigenous peoples, families and communities today, while Indigenous nations, families, and cultures continue to demonstrate resilience, strength and survival.”

Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 to honor survivors of residential and boarding schools, remember the children who never came home, and recognize the enduring impacts of these institutions.

“The Orleans County Department of Social Services will continue to collaborate with Tribes and Indigenous-led organizations to guide this work in culturally responsive and respectful ways; and commits to listening to Indigenous students and families to guide ongoing efforts toward healing, equity and belonging,” the proclamation states.

The County Legislature also issued a proclamation that declared October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.” Legislator John Fitzak presents the proclamation to the county IT team that includes secretary Lily Kiebala, computer specialist Dan neary, senior computer specialist David Janus, system engineer Zach Reed, system engineer Don Mack, and IT director Ryan Woolston.

The Legislature and IT department encourage people to monitor your accounts, be conscientious of what you share online, keep computer software up to date, create unique passwords and change them regularly, install anti-virus programs and firewalls, and use mobile devices safely. Those are ways you can protect yourself from phishing, viruses, malware, and loss of sensitive data, they said.

“Maintaining the security of cyberspace is a shared responsibility in which each of us has a critical role to play, and awareness of computer security essentials will improve the security of Orleans County’s information, infrastructure and economy,” the proclamation states.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is raising concerns that New York State’s new Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) program excludes seniors and other New Yorkers who did not file a 2024 state income tax return, including individuals who may not have been required to file one.

New York State began mailing POWER rebate checks on Sept. 21, with eligible taxpayers receiving $100, $150 or $200. The checks are being distributed automatically based on 2024 tax returns rather than being provided as a tax credit.

State law requires recipients to have been full-year New York residents in 2024 and to have timely filed a 2024 New York State income tax return. The law also establishes income limits and requires that the taxpayer is not claimed as a dependent.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance specifically states that individuals who did not file a 2024 New York resident income tax return will not receive a POWER rebate check. There is no application process for a non-filer to simply apply for the payment.

“If we’re going to spend $1 billion on energy relief, we should make sure it reaches the people who need it most, including seniors who aren’t required to file a return,” said Hawley. “I support rebate checks for families struggling with utility bills. Checks arriving this fall won’t make next winter’s bill affordable. Without the long-term changes to our energy system that our Conference has called for, this is a Band-Aid on a problem Albany still needs to fix.”

For more information on the POWER rebate program and eligibility requirements, visit the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance at tax.ny.gov.

Press Release, U.S. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference demanding passage of her legislation to curb President Trump’s costly trade war with Canada. This comes less than a week before a sweeping import ban on Canadian dairy products, alcohol, and motorcycles is set to take effect.

Senator Gillibrand’s legislation, the Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act, would repeal all tariffs levied under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and refund Americans for all duties paid under this authority. This includes President Trump’s 50% tariffs on Canada as well as his forthcoming import ban on Canadian goods.

“President Trump and Republicans promised to lower costs and make life more affordable, but they’ve used their total power in Washington to make life more expensive than ever,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Let’s be clear: the latest tariffs and impending import ban on Canadian goods are a bad deal for New York families. I’m doing everything I can to halt these tariffs and lower costs for New York families.”

President Trump’s trade war with Canada is driving up prices and harming New York families. Canada is one of New York State’s largest export markets for both goods and services, and the state imports more than $20 billion annually from Canada. Already, New York families have spent over $5,500 more due to President Trump’s tariff chaos and other reckless policies. The new 50% tariffs on Canada are projected to cost businesses and households across the U.S. up to $10 billion annually.

Senator Gillibrand introduced the BAD DEAL Act last week alongside Senator Peter Welch (D-VT). Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also cosponsor the bill, and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives in August.

Senator Gillibrand has opposed President Trump’s tariffs since the start of his administration and worked tirelessly to get the American people their money back. Last year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump’s Tariff Tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. In March, she and her colleagues introduced the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act to exempt small businesses from another set of Trump-imposed tariffs and refund what they had already paid.

The full text of the BAD DEAL Act can be found by clicking here.

Charles Howard remains revered figure for Santas portrayers

Photos by Tom Rivers: This group recently visited Albion to help plan for the three-day celebration in August when several hundred Santas and other enthusiasts of the Charles W-Howard Santa School will be in town to celebrate the 90thanniversary of the Santa School. From left include DeAnn and Phil Wenz, the Santa Claus for Santa’s Village Theme Park in Dundee, Illinois for 35 years; Jane Holland, granddaughter of Charles Howard; and Chris Parada, a Santa portrayer at the Christmas Cottage in Lockport and general manager of the palace Theater in Lockport. Parada also has owns the New York Santa Claus Suits & Equipment Co., which makes Santa suits in the same style designed by Charles Howard.

ALBION – The Albion community may be doing some double-takes in August when 300 to 400 people, many resembling Santa Claus, are expected to be in town as part of a 90^th anniversary celebration for the Charles W. Howard Santa School.

Howard ran the school from 1937 with his last class in 1965. He passed away on May 1, 1966. The school continues in his name, now run by Tom and Holly Valent in Midland, Mich.

The chief organizers of the celebration were in Albion recently to identify sites and create itinerary for the visitors.

This photo shows Charles W. Howard with a Santa at Christmas Park in Albion. Howard operated the Park and a school for Santa Claus in Albion until his death on May 1, 1966.

The three-day celebration will be from Aug. 6-8. Most of the event will be based at the Palace Theater in Lockport, which has 1,100 seats and close access to hotels and lodging. The Palace is also run by Chris Parada, a graduate of the Charles W. Howard Santa School. Parada portrays Santa each Christmas season at Lockport, greeting about 10,000 children annually since 2010.

Parada is teaming up with Phil Wenz, who worked more than 35 years as a professional Santa, more than 200 days a year, at the Santa’s Village Theme Park in Dundee, Illinois. Wenz continues his passion as a historian for the Santa community, and holds a special reverence for Charles Howard and his impact on shaping how Santas should look and act.

Wenz commended the Albion community for embracing the life and lore of Howard, especially since a Santa convention in Albion in 2015. About 200 people attended that event.

Since then, there have been two large-scale murals celebrating Santa and Charles Howard, as well as a bronze statue of Howard as Santa. The State Department of Transportation also put up signs on Route 31 dedicating the section of 31 in Albion as the “Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway.”

Those are all must-see spots for the visitors, Wenz said. He also said Howard’s gravesite at Mount Albion Cemetery and the world’s largest apple pie tin at the 4-H Fairgrounds should be on the list. Howard led the effort to bake the world’s largest apple pie in 1929. That record would be broken, before being set again at the fair in 1977 with a 21,210-pound pie. That enormous pie tin is on display at the fairgrounds.

“This won’t just be Santa oriented,” Parada said about the August event. “It will be a celebration of the community and this area.”

Parada and Wenz will be debuting a theatrical performance that helps tell the story of Charles Howard and his impact, and how he went from being an apple farmer to the Macy’s Santa Claus. He was in the Thanksgiving Day parade from 1948 to 1965, appearing on national television.

Parada said he has already heard from people from Israel, Australia, Canada and many states who want to be part of the celebration and learn more about Howard’s life in Albion.

“This is like the Holy Grail to so many guys,” Parada said about Howard’s hometown. “We’re dealing with people from all over the United States.”

The gathering won’t be a Santa convention like Albion hosted in 2010 and 2015. There won’t be any courses taught on how to portray Santa.

Wenz and Parada said the event will focus on the 90 years of the Santa School, with an opportunity to learn more about Charles Howard and the Albion community.

They urge Albion and Orleans County to try to tie into the event with other promotions and activities to welcome the visitors.

The two also want to help with fundraisers for a museum and welcome center in the works for the Santa School. The Albion Betterment Committee is working on that project at 128 North Main St.

Parada praised the Betterment Committee for taking the lead on the museum and many other projects highlighting Charles Howard and the Santa School.

“It’s about believing in your community and your family,” Parada said. “That’s what Charles Howard was all about.”

Provided photo: Grace Goodrich is shown with her miniature horses.

Press Release

MEDINA – Grace Goodrich is a Medina High School senior that competed as part of the Orleans County 4-H Hippology and Horse Judging team in June.

Coached by Jann Davis, that team consisted of Grace Goodrich, Aubree McAdoo and Morgan Aina. They placed 5th in horse judging, and Grace placed 4th in the individual horse judging portion of the competition.

The top 4 seniors in this competition get to move on to the 4-H Horse Judging Nationals Competition in Louisville, Kentucky this November to represent New York State.

Grace earned this by judging 6 classes, some in hand and some riding classes. She wrote notes on all of the classes she watched and then placed the horses in each class from 1st to 4th using her horse knowledge. Her placings were then compared to a team of four professional horse judges. She then needed to give oral reasons (without the use of her notes) on four of those classes individually to the same professional judges.

While in Kentucky for the competition, the 4-Hers will get to tour the Kentucky Horse Park, Churchill Downs and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.  The total expenses to cover this trip will be close to $1,000 (to cover registration, food, incidentals).

Her coach, Jann Davis, has organized a basket raffle fundraiser that will be held at the Orleans County Fairgrounds Trolley building on October 3 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.  For more information or to donate a basket or gift card, contact Jann at 585-205-1531.

Animal control officer says squirrels aren’t furiously stacking pine cones like a year ago

Harry Papponetti

ALBION – It was about a year ago when Harry Papponetti, Albion’s animal control officer for more than 30 years, made a grim prediction: the area would be facing a brutal winter.

Papponetti noticed squirrels were furiously stacking pine cones a year ago. The animals seemed to know something, he told the Village Board.

The board members smiled and chuckled at Papponetti, not quite taking him seriously back then.

But Papponetti proved right. The area fell into winter’s grip in early November and it didn’t let go for several months, as the area was bombarded with snow and then fell into a deep freeze in January and February.

During Wednesday’s Village Board meeting, with Papponetti now holding a reputation as a wise prognosticator, he was asked what he expects is in store this winter. Papponetti said he has been observing squirrels and they seem much more care-free this year. They aren’t so determined with their pine cone stacking and collecting of nuts.

Papponetti predicts a milder winter this go-round.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Reinhard Rogowski, left, and Craig Lacy have been actively involved in the Medina Historical Society since joining – Lacy in 2000 and Rogowski in 2011. Here, Rogowski holds a dark room light, while Lacy is holding a gadget used to take seeds out of raisins, both items found in the museum’s collections and belonging to Lacy’s father-in-law, Henry Pollard. The Historical Society is actively seeking new members.

MEDINA – Preserving history for the future is a major initiative for the Medina Historical Society.

And now they are asking for help to continue that mission.

Last year the Historical Society conducted a campaign for new members, with a goal to exceed 100. They accomplished that, but since then, membership has dropped in half and the plea is out again to please consider buying a membership and help preserve Medina’s history. A membership costs $15 for an individual or $20 for a family.

Georgia Thomas is a long-time board member of the Medina Historical Society and supports all its functions, including Ale in Autumn on Saturday.

She stresses the importance of “preserving the past for the future.”

She cites Levan Merritt who in 1841 built the home at 406 West Ave., which was eventually acquired for a museum.

“Mr. Merritt loved trees and noticed the lack of trees in his village,” Thomas said. “He set about to plant trees in the village, such as the big, beautiful trees which grew on West Avenue. He made sure Medina had trees for shade and beauty.”

Thomas went on to say that preserving the past assures future generations know how we evolved and who started us.

The Medina Historical Society is a treasure trove of memorabilia, such as a War Room with a large lithograph of the Civil War. It is one of only 16 in existence, Thomas said.

Recently, longtime member and former president Craig Lacy shared information about a dark room camera and a gadget from the 1890s used to seed raisins, which had belonged to his late father-in-law, Henry Pollard.

Reinhard Rogowski is currently president of Medina Historical Society, an office he has held since he joined 15 years ago. Lacy joined in 2000 and has served as president for four or five years, and is now vice president and treasurer.

The Medina Historical Society was founded in 1971 by village historian, Ceil White, who held early meetings at her home on East Avenue. Seven years later, an opportunity arose to acquire a permanent home at 406 West Ave.

Merritt’s home was acquired by the village of Medina in 1958 and two years later the town of Ridgeway acquired it, and converted the house to their town hall.  In 1979, the town purchased the rear lot in order to build a new larger, modern town hall. The village agreed to the sale of the lot, with the stipulation the Merritt home be leased to the Medina Historical Society for $1 a year, with the Historical Society responsible for its upkeep.

According to Ed Grinnell’s “Medina – Here’s to Our Heritage,” membership in the society regularly averaged between 70 to 100.

Rogowski is personally inviting everyone to consider purchasing a membership.

“Your support keeps the doors of your museum open and ensures the rich history of Medina is shared, celebrated and remembered for generations to come,” Rogowski posted on “Memories of Medina.”

He invites people to attend meetings on the last Monday of the month at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Meetings start at 7 p.m. in September through November and January to May and always feature a speaker. This month’s speaker is Pembroke history teacher Greg Kinal.

“We have several great presentations coming up,” Rogowski said. “This is a plea for membership, not money.”

The museum is open the first Saturday of the month from May to October or by special request. He suggests people consider the Historical Society when will planning or making a memorial to a loved one.

Checks may be mailed to Medina Historical Society, 406 West Ave., Medina, 14106. Membership forms are available in the Medina Bugle, on their Facebook page or at a meeting the last Monday of the month.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Students in Kamie Feder’s art class at the Albion Middle School have sketched out this mural design for the bathrooms at Veterans Park at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street. The mural will be 9 feet high and 36 feet long.

ALBION – The bathrooms at Veterans Park will soon have a patriotic painting on the outside. Students in Kamie Feder’s eighth-grade art classes plan to be on site working on the mural next Monday through Wednesday.

The Albion Village Board approved the project on Wednesday. Kamie Feder attended the meeting with two of her students, Eli Patten and Blair Daggett.

The mural shows a bald eagle, a silhouette of a soldier saluting, red poppy flowers, the American flag, and the message “Lest We Forget.”

Blair Daggett, an Albion eighth-grader, shows people at the Albion Village Board meeting a rendering of the mural planned for Veterans Park.

In recent years, Feder and her students worked on a flower-themed mural at the former bathrooms at Bullard Park and also revamped a canal-themed mural on the Albion fire hall.

“That turned out beautiful,” Mayor Tim McMurray said about the murals with all the colorful flowers. “I have no doubt this will turn out the same.”

The forecast shows warm and sunny days next week. Feder expects to be on site with students from Monday through Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to about 1:45 p.m. each day.

File photos by Tom Rivers: Miranda Starr portrayed George Beach, who was born in 1842 and died in 1902. He was active in a pharmaceutical business and manufactured iron goods in Medina. This photo was taken from Boxwood at Night on October. 5, 2024.

Press Release, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery

MEDINA – Boxwood at Night is back. The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery in Medina are excited to announce the fifth annual event will be on Saturday, October 3.

Tickets cost $20 and there will be two time slots – 7 to 8 p.m. or 8 to 9 p.m. The time slots are when you can enter. Once you are checked in, you are welcome to stay until the event ends at 9:30 p.m.

This is a popular fall event, so get your tickets before they sell out.

“It’s going to be a very special night and we are excited to put on this event for the community,” said Robby Klino, president of the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery.

Guests walk through the spectacularly lit cemetery at their own pace, stopping along the pathway to enjoy storytelling by docents, artwork, music and performances in a relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere.

Shawna Baldwin portrays Harriett Davey and reads a passage from Edgar Allan Poe, the famous writer who died in 1849, the year Boxwood opened. 

Returning artists, musicians and performers include Jen Scott, Amirah Hicks, Orleans County String Band, The Vine church choir, Mike Zelazny, Stacy Steverson and Jenna Papponetti. New to the lineup this year include Megan Furness and the Jim Steele Band with friends. Some special lighting effects provided by the extraordinary Paradise Fest NY.

“We have more lighting and entertainment than we have ever had before,” said event co-chairwoman Nicole Bensley.

Boxwood at Night is the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from previous years have been used to restore the chapel – including the beautiful stained-glass window, to create a Potter’s Field memorial that will hopefully be done in time for the event, and to begin the restoration of the caretaker’s office.

Tickets are available during business hours at the English Rose Tea Shoppe and Thistle Ridge – both places are on Main Street in Medina. Tickets will also be available at the Canal Village Farmers Market in Medina on Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As an added convenience, you may also purchase tickets using a credit card by going online (click here).

Raffle tickets will also be available to purchase at the Farmers Market booth and again at the event.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO Art!

Press Release, Orleans County Chamber of Commerce

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Chamber Awards, recognizing local businesses, organizations and individuals whose leadership, service and contributions continue to make an impact throughout Orleans County.

This year’s award recipients are:

• Business of the Year: Watson Construction Group
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Bill Bixler
• Phoenix Award: Dance Theater
• New Business of the Year: EH Collectives
• Community Service Award: Shannon Blount / Cat by Cat Inc.
• Agricultural Business of the Year: Panek Farms
• Businessperson of the Year: Brian Christiaansen
• Small Business of the Year: J L Thom CPA
• Hidden Gem: Marti’s on Main

The recipients will be formally recognized during the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce 28th Annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 5, at White Birch Golf Course, 1515 N. Lyndonville Road in Lyndonville.

The annual celebration brings together members of the local business community, community leaders, organizations and residents to recognize the people and businesses helping Orleans County grow and thrive.

Each award highlights a different form of impact, from entrepreneurship and business growth to agriculture, community service, longevity, and investment in the future of Orleans County. This year, we are also presenting The Walsh Hotel & Taproom with the People’s Choice Award from our Inaugural Taste of Orleans event.

The Chamber congratulates each of this year’s recipients and looks forward to bringing the community together in November to celebrate their accomplishments.

Tickets for the 28th Annual Awards Ceremony will be available soon.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to watch for ticket announcements and additional event details through the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce website and Facebook page.

Amber Hofmeister has appeared in several scary flicks

Provided photos: (Left photo by Bianca Cruz) Amber Hofmeister, who goes by Amber Brooke in her film career, stars in the 75-minute film, “Sick & Twisted Tales.” Medina Theatre will host a red carpet and premiere of the film on Nov. 7 at 603 Main St.

MEDINA – It may be a first-ever event in Medina: a red carpet entrance to see a premiere of a film.

The Medina Theatre at 603 Main St. will host the film screening on Nov. 7. The red carpet will be outside on the sidewalk leading to the theater. “Sick & Twisted Tales” will start at 7 p.m. and the film features Amber Hofmeister of Medina, who goes by Amber Brooke in her film and modelling career.

August Lee Geitner, Amber Hofmeister’s husband, took the photo for the film’s poster which shows a movie theater, Miller Cinema 6. Amber Brooke (Hofmeister) of Medina plays the role of Valeri, left, and Clifton Taylor is Victor Mortis. 

Hofmeister, 38, made her film debut in 2021. She appears in horror films, and has become a star and sought-after person at horror com events. She will be appearing at the New Jersey Horror Con this month. Next month she’ll be in Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ohio for either filming or conventions.

She said she has enjoyed scary movies since she was 5 years old.

“When I was young loved horror films,” she said. “I got addicted to thrill of being scared and what will happen next. A thriller makes you think.”

Her film credits include: Friday the 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines, 2:59, Amityville Barbi, Aversion, Birthday Bash, Black Sheep, Fragmented Mind, McKinsey Manor Massacre, FRACTURED, Awake in the Dark, Sick and Twisted Tales with more in the works. (Click here to see some of her credits listed on IMDb.)

She also has appeared in television ads in Western New York for William Mattar and Evans Bank.

The new film was shot in York, Pa. Hofmeister didn’t want to give away too much of the plot for Sick & Twisted Tales. She does kill someone in the film, but she said most of the action and dialogue could be considered more of a comedy.

The Nov. 7 event will include a question and answer segment with Hofmeister and the film’s director, Tom Smith.

Hofmeister’s husband, August Lee Geitner, designed the film’s poster, did behind-the-scenes photography and also plays a dead body in the film. Geitner is the guitar player for the band, Until I Wake.

Tickets for the Nov. 7 film will become available on Oct. 1 on the Medina Theatre website or at the door on Nov. 7. The cost is $10 a ticket. There will also be posters and Blu-rays of the film for sale.

“I thought it would be cool to bring something different to the town,” Hofmeister said about the red carpet and film showing. “ People should enjoy the movie. I don’t think it’s that scary. It’s more of a comedy. You’ll laugh more than anything.”

ALBION – A Rochester man who was found passed out in a car with drugs in his backpack was sentenced today to six months in the Orleans County Jail, plus five years on probation.

Malcolm Power, 21, pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on June 17 to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree.

Today he was sentenced by County Court Judge Sanford Church. The judge declined to only sentence Power to Probation and instead gave Power the maximum sentence in a plea agreement.

In other cases:

• Tony Thompson, 59, of Albion was arraigned on eight counts of drug charges for allegedly selling crack cocaine in the Village of Albion. Thompson was arrested on May 12.

Today he was arraigned on four counts each of criminal possession and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.

He was released on his own recognizance because the crimes aren’t bailable offenses.

• An inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility was offered a plea agreement where he could face four additional years in state prison for allegedly introducing dangerous contraband into the men’s prison in Albion.

James Kaiser, 51, allegedly had the precursors to make methamphetamine and also allegedly possessed 5.25 grams of meth.

He is charged with three counts of promoting prison contraband in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

If he pleads guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, he would face up to four more years in prison. He next appears in court on Oct. 14 to consider the plea offer.

Kaiser is currently serving a sentence of 3 years, 6 months for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Press Release, NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA)

ALBANY – Today, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) announced the results of a historic statewide membership endorsement process for Governor of New York, with an overwhelming majority of participating members voting to endorse Bruce Blakeman.

The vote was conducted directly among NYSCOPBA’s statewide membership, marking the first time in the organization’s history that its members have been given the opportunity to participate in a statewide gubernatorial endorsement vote. The final tally was 1,478 members voted and 95 percent of participants voted in favor of the endorsement, a resounding message.

“This is about more than an endorsement. This is about the members of NYSCOPBA having a voice and using it,” said NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers. “For the first time in our organization’s history, we took this decision directly to our statewide membership. We didn’t make this decision behind closed doors. We didn’t make it in a small room with a handful of people. We put it in the hands of the men and women who work inside New York’s correctional facilities every single day — and they spoke loud and clear.”

NYSCOPBA members understand the challenges facing New York’s correctional system because they experience those challenges firsthand. Staffing shortages, mandatory overtime, officer safety, compensation, benefits, and the future of the state’s correctional system directly affect correctional officers and their families.

“The people who work in our prisons know what is happening inside those facilities better than anyone,” Summers said. “They see the staffing shortages. They work the mandatory overtime. They deal with the safety issues. They walk into dangerous situations every day and are expected to keep order and protect both staff and incarcerated individuals. Their voices deserve to be heard when decisions are made about the future of corrections in New York.”

Based on the results of the statewide membership vote, NYSCOPBA is formally announcing its endorsement of Bruce Blakeman for Governor of New York.

The endorsement comes with a commitment from NYSCOPBA to continue pressing for action on the issues its members identified as priorities, including staffing levels, officer safety, mandatory overtime, compensation, benefits, and the long-term future of corrections in New York.

“Bruce Blakeman, this endorsement represents the voice of our membership,” Summers said. “We are ready to have the hard conversations about what it will take to rebuild a correctional system where officers are properly staffed, properly supported and able to do their jobs safely. We want to work with you on the issues that matter to correctional officers and their families.”

The union emphasized that the membership vote represents the beginning of its engagement with the gubernatorial campaign, not the conclusion of it.

“Today we are sending a very clear message: our members want a seat at the table, and they want their voices heard,” Summers said. “This endorsement is not the end of the conversation. It is the beginning. We will continue to fight for the men and women who protect New York’s correctional facilities every day, and we will hold every elected official accountable for how they address the challenges facing our profession and our correctional system.”