Lyndonville/Yates

75 students at Lyndonville bring Joseph to stage this weekend

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2024 at 10:24 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Noah Fox plays the role of Joseph in Lyndonville’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Here he is singing about his coat of many colors. Fox is one of about 75 students in the cast, crew and pit orchestra for the production.

Shows are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday at Stroyan Auditorium, 25 Housel Ave. Tickets are $5 at door or can be purchased online (click here).

Fox, a junior, made his debut in Lyndonville musicals last year when he was The Tinman in the Wizard of Oz.

“There are many emotional songs,” he said about Joseph. “It should be fulfilling for the audience. People are really pouring their hearts out on the stage.”

Elizabeth Whipple, a senior, plays the role of the narrator, helping to explain the scenes and story. She also gives high-energy performances with the cast.

She tells how Joseph is one of 12 sons of Jacob. Joseph is his father’s favorite and Jacob doesn’t hide his feelings for Joseph, giving him a multi-colored coat.

That causes jealousy and anger from Joseph’s 11 brothers. They become more bitter when Joseph has a dream suggesting he will one day rule over them.

Amber Grabowski plays the role of Reuben, one of the brothers. They pretend to be saddened by Joseph’s departure, and tell their father he was attacked and killed. They sing, “One More Angel in Heaven.”

Joseph wasn’t killed by his brothers. He ends up taken to Egypt to be a slave for the wealthy Potiphar. Mrs. Potiphar, played by Laci Giarla, makes advances to Joseph, who rejects them. However, Potiphar sees the two together, jumps to the wrong conclusion, and throws Joseph in jail.

Joseph wins make the respect of Potiphar by interpreting a dream that helps the country build up supplies and food to withstand a famine.

The cast sings “Go, Go Joseph” as Joseph is encouraged to follow his own dreams.

Maximus Hilton is Potiphar and sings in an Elvis style, “Song of the King.” He describes his dream involving seven fat cows, seven skinny cows, seven healthy ears of corn, and seven dead ears of corn.

In interpreting the dream, Joseph declares that Egypt will see seven years of plentiful harvests, followed by an equal period of famine.

Joseph is the second musical performed by Lyndonville since a partnership ended with Medina after 2022.

Last year Lyndonville performed The Wizard of Oz and that showed Lyndonville, the smallest school district in the county, that they could pull off a full-length musical on their own.

Elizabeth Whipple, the narrator in Joseph, said last year’s show gave the Lyndonville students added confidence they could produce a top-quality musical.

She said she is grateful Lyndonville offers the program with so many dedicated teachers and staff working with the students.

“It’s been so fulfilling for many years,” Whipple said. “It’s a safe space for everyone. The friendships built here will last for years.”

She said Joseph brings a strong message of forgiveness, and to be grateful for what you have before it’s too late.

The cast of 75 is mostly students in grades 7 through 12. Director Jennifer Trupo for the second year has elementary students in the show. There are 17 in grades 5-6 in the chorus.

Trupo said the musicals bring together many students from different backgrounds and interests.

“Theater makes such a big change in people,” she said. “I’m proud of these students. The grow so much and they really love each other.”

Lyndonville topped in voter turnout for village elections with 25%

Photos by Tom Rivers: Village of Medina election inspectors count 488 paper ballots after the polls closed at 9 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Senior Center. It took about 1 ½ hours to count the votes. The election inspectors included Norma Huth, front right, and Mary Ann Ander, Judy Szulis and Linda Deyle.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 March 2024 at 3:47 pm

Voters turnout was up in two out of the three villages that held elections in Orleans County compared to their most recent elections.

Lyndonville had the highest percentage of voters cast ballots at 25.4 percent, followed by 14.3 percent in Medina and only 3.3 percent in Albion. (Holley, the other village in Orleans County, has its election in June.)

  • Albion: 3,160 registered voters, 105 voters – 3.3% turnout
  • Lyndonville: 552 registered voters, 140 voters – 25.4% turnout
  • Medina: 3,419 registered voters, 488 voters – 14.3% turnout

Medina in recent years has had unopposed candidates and typically drew less than 100 voters on election day.

In Medina, the turnout was only 1.2 percent in 2022 with 39 voters out of 3,389. The three candidates were all unopposed.

Last March’s election two trustee candidates were unopposed with Jess Marciano getting 53 votes and Diana Baker, 49.

Judy Szulis, one of Medina’s election inspectors, was pleased to see a steady flow of people during the nine hours of voting on Tuesday. She said she saw many new people at the polls, including younger adults.

Medina had seven candidates on Tuesday for three positions. Marguerite Sherman was elected mayor with 330 votes, and new trustees were elected with Debbie Padoleski receiving 267 votes and Mark Prawel, 198.

Medina’s biggest turnout in recent memory remains Jan. 20, 2015 when nearly 1,500 people voted to determine whether the village should be dissolved. There were 949 “no” votes that day and 527 that said “yes.”

Voters who ventured to the polls on Tuesday were battered with chilly weather and some blasts of snow.

A year ago in Lyndonville, two candidates ran unopposed with Kimberly Kenyon receiving 19 votes and Terry Stinson, 23.

Tuesday there were only two names on the ballot for three positions on the Village Board. But write-in campaigns helped bring out 140 voters. John Belson was re-elected mayor with 66 write-in votes. Danny Woodward Jr. was on the ballot and was re-elected trustee with 94 votes. He also got 33 for mayor. Anne Marie Holland also was re-elected as trustee with 62 as a write-in.

The election was quieter in Albion on Tuesday compared to two years ago when the village had three people running for mayor and four candidates for two trustee positions. More than 700 people voted in that election.

Albion only had two names on the ballot on Tuesday for trustee, but two people mounted write-in campaigns, and one was successful in getting elected.

Greg Bennett, was endorsed by both the Democratic and Republican parties. He led all candidates with 87 votes. William Gabalski also was elected with 44 votes as a write-in, nipping Jeff Holler, who had the line Republican line and received 38 votes. Faith Smith was close with 36 write-in votes.

Belson stays as Lyndonville mayor; Holland and Woodward re-elected trustees

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2024 at 11:07 pm

LYNDONVILLE – John Belson will be back for another term as Lyndonville mayor after being elected today with 66 write-in votes.

John Belson

No candidate for mayor appeared on the ballot with the election determined by write-in votes. After Belson’s 66 votes, Danny Woodward Jr. received 33, with Steve Vann at 10, and Patrick Whipple and Larry Wolfe at 1 each.

Belson had the signatures needed to file a petition to be on the ballot but he thought the deadline was Feb. 13, not Feb. 12. He was a day late in filing the petition.

Ann Marie Holland, a current trustee, also made a mistake in filing the petition a day late. She was elected as a write-in with 62 votes.

Danny Woodward Jr., a current trustee was on the ballot, and received the most votes with 94.

There were two trustees up for election.

Steve Colon was on the ballot and received 38 votes. Justin Edwards received 26 write-in votes, with Roy Holland and Steve Grabowski each receiving 1.

The new terms start April 1.

Belson, in an interview last month, said the village has made big strides recently, with investments on Main Street, from a new Dollar General to Robert Smith’s transformation of three buildings in the downtown which are used for a hotel, the Webber Kitchen Collaborative and additional office space. Belson also said the village has upgraded its sewer system, and now should look to replace some of the 100-year-old water mains.

Belson is a Kodak retiree who has a part-time job delivering auto parts for Carquest in Medina. He previously was the Yates town supervisor.

Tractor-trailer driver died Monday after going off Countyline Road in Yates

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2024 at 3:20 pm

Provided photo

YATES – A tractor-trailer driver went off the road and died Monday in Orleans County, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office said today.

Lebert Z. Cleveland, 59, of Lancaster was southbound on Niagara-Orleans County Line Road at about 2:50 p.m. when he left the east shoulder of the roadway, causing some lawn damage and coming to rest in a front yard.

Cleveland was pronounced deceased after being transported to Medina Memorial Hospital. Medina and Lyndonville firefighters both performed CPR on Cleveland, who was taken by ambulance, said Jeff Gifaldi, chief deputy for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

There is no cause of death yet, but an in-vehicle camera shows the driver went unconscious prior to driving off the road, Gifaldi said.

Next up at Lyndonville concert series: E-YAH-Pah-Hah Wind Quintet performing Native American music

Posted 24 February 2024 at 5:52 pm

Provided photo: Pictured from left include Scott Horsington, clarinet; Darren Pulley, oboe; Kae Wilbert, bassoon; Maggie Warren (not pictured), French horn; (pictured on French horn Heather Melnick), and Susan Walders, flute.

Press Release, Lyndonville Presbyterian Church

LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Presbyterian Church will present the third in our musical series on March 9 from 3 to 4 p.m. with music from Native American composers arranged for wind instruments and performed by the E-YAH-Pah-Hah Wind Quintet, led by Kae Wilbert of Albion.

Their name means town crier, and the group was born out of the desire to bring the message of classical Native American composers to the public and especially to youth.

Formed in 2023, the quintet first performed at Camp Asbury in Perry, a United Methodist Camp where the group began realizing their goal of exposing youth to Native music. The gift of their lyrical name came from 82-year-old Rosalie Jones, a nationally acclaimed choreographer of Native American Contemporary dance from Cree lineage.

Ms. Jones collaborated with Dr. Ballard, a Cherokee composer of one of the pieces, and with the quintet to choreograph a dance piece. This work was premiered at a performance at Ganondagan Seneca Art and Culture Center.

On October 8, 2023, the quintet performed the pieces at Ganondagan during Indigenous People Day’s Weekend. The Ganondagon Seneca Art and Cultural Center brings programing about the Seneca people to the greater Rochester community. E-YAH-Pah-Hah has now performed at other venues including the annual Democratic Party dinner in Albion.

We are blessed to bring you this unique performance with regional musicians. Help us spread the message and embrace sharing Native American culture and music with our communities. Please join us for an hour of rare entertainment. Admission is $10 at the door, and proceeds go to the church’s capital drive.

In Lyndonville, mayor will have to do write-in campaign

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 February 2024 at 8:57 am

Belson admits he made mistake in filing petitions, thinking the deadline was today

John Belson

LYNDONVILLE – Tuesday was the deadline to file petitions to run in the March 19 village election which includes the mayor and two trustees.

At 5 p.m. on Tuesday, only two people turned in petitions signed by at least 25 village residents. Danny Woodward Jr., a current trustee, and Steve Colon will be on the ballot running for trustee.

The big surprise was no petitions were turned in for mayor. John Belson, the mayor since 2016, said he made a mistake and thought the deadline was today. Ann Marie Holland, a current trustee, also missed the deadline on Tuesday, thinking she had until today.

Both had petitions signed and intended to turn them in today. However, now they will have to run as write-in candidates to be re-elected.

Belson said this morning he will run as a write-in. He said the village has made big strides recently, with investments on Main Street, from a new Dollar General to Robert Smith’s transformation of three buildings in the downtown which are used for a hotel, the Webber Kitchen Collaborative and additional office space. Belson also said the village has upgraded its sewer system, and now should look to replace some of the 100-year-old water mains.

“We’ve done a lot with the village,” he said. “We’re on our way back.”

Belson is a Kodak retiree who has a part-time job delivering auto parts for Carquest in Medina. He previously was the Yates town supervisor.

Holland also confirmed she will be running as a write-in for trustee.

Lyndonville teen emerges as a top billiards player

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 February 2024 at 8:23 am

Jake Jackson will compete in ‘Battle of the Junior Champions’ next month in Georgia

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jake Jackson, a ninth grader at Lyndonville Central School, lines up the billiard balls on the pool table in his parent’s garage, where he practices every day after school. He recently qualified for the Joss Northeast 9 Ball Tour Final in August at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, making him the youngest ever to compete in this ProAm event.

MEDINA – Jake Jackson is not an average teenager.

Jake, who will be 15 on Feb. 9, doesn’t play video games and doesn’t constantly have his phone in hand. The son of Roger and Terah Jackson of Mill Road attends church regularly, excels in Boy Scouts, enjoys fishing, works out three days a week and maintains a 90 average in school.

One of his passions is playing pool and Jake is one of the top youth players in the country.

Jake has recently qualified for a prestigious billiards event in Villa Rica, Ga. in March, called “The Monica Web Battle of the Junior Champions.” Monica Web is a champion pool player. Only the top 20 players 18 and under from the USA and Canada are allowed to qualify for this event. Sponsored by the Billiard Education Foundation, the young players are required to keep high grades in school, have good manners and observe a dress code when competing.

Most of the kids competing here are home-schooled, Roger Jackson said, and practice 10 hours a day. He said a tournament can last 12 to 18 hours.

Jake grew up around a pool table, as his father used to compete in the sport. Roger said he played in one Pro-Am event for fun and won some local competitions in Buffalo and Rochester. They had a pool table in the garage and Jake was only 5 when he would come out and watch his father practice.

“He couldn’t even reach the table, yet,” Roger said.

Provided photos: (Left) Jake Jackson’s fascination with pool started when he so young he could hardly see over the table. (Right) Jake Jackson eyes the ball during a tournament last year. The ninth-grader at Lyndonville Central School hopes to become a professional pool player.

When he got big enough, Jake would play occasionally, but never took it seriously. He hadn’t touched a pool stick in a number of years when, at the age of 12, his parents took him to Curly’s in Lyndonville one Friday night for a fish fry.

“There were a bunch of fishermen in town for a fishing tournament, and Jake beat them pretty badly,” Roger said.

“I thought it was just beginner’s luck,” Roger said. “But watching him practice at home, I realized he was a natural.”

That prompted him to buy a regulation-size pool table, where Jake practices every day. His father said he soon couldn’t beat his son.

Jake has competed and won twice at a fundraiser for the Variety Kids’ Telethon at Bison Billiards at Eastern Hills Mall. He will compete there Saturday for a $5,000 first prize.

In August, Jake will be in the Joss Northeast 9 Ball Tour Final at Turning Stone Casino in Verona. He will be the youngest player ever to compete in this ProAm event, which has $40,000 in prizes.

Jake said his father has taught him a lot of the fundamentals, and he has learned from watching YouTube and reading his father’s books on billiards.

In his first big tournament in Philadelphia, Jake finished an impressive third. Last year, he beat the world champion in one game.

Roger is a mechanic at Medina Central School’s bus garage, and Jake’s mother owns Sal de Coiffure on Maple Ridge Road, but they still find time to take Jake to his competitions on weekends, going to Buffalo, Rochester, Utica, Philadelphia and last summer, making the trek to Kentucky.

The family would like to find a sponsor for Jake’s trips, and anyone who would like to contribute may do so on Jake’s Facebook page through Messenger. Or donations may be dropped off at Salon de Coiffure.

Jake hopes after outgrowing the Junior Tour, he can become a professional pool player.

Lyndonville Presbyterian hosting esteemed pianist on Saturday

Staff Reports Posted 24 January 2024 at 4:41 pm

Provided photo: Priscilla Yuen will perform Saturday at Lyndonville Presbyterian Church in a fundraiser for the congregation’s capital drive campaign.

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonille Presbyterian Church will host a concert from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday for the community featuring pianist Priscilla Yuen.

This is the second concert in a three-part series at Lyndonville Presbyterian.

“Her appearance is a rare opportunity for rural communities to experience artists who usually perform in larger city venues with high price tickets,” said Martha Mitchell, the church pastor. The tickets are $10 at the door with proceeds going towards the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church’s Capital Drive Campaign.

Yuen has enjoyed a rich and varied career as a soloist, collaborator, teacher and administrator. Currently a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music, she regularly supports instrumentalists and vocalists from across the Eastman community as they prepare for recitals, competitions and recordings. Additionally, she serves on the piano faculty at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

As a collaborative pianist, Yuen has performed at colleges and universities across the United States, as well as at venues such as the Kennedy Center and New York City’s Yamaha Hall. Since 2016, Ms. Yuen has performed extensively across the country with Eastman faculty trombonist Mark Kellogg.

Gary Simboli of Albion kicked off the concert series with his show, Accentuate the Positive. The third in the series will be on March 9 at 3 p.m. with the E-Yah-Pah-Hah Woodwind Quintet, led by Kae Wilbert of Albion. They will be performing contemporary Native American compositions. The ensemble features Kae Wilbert on bassoon, Susan Walders on flute, Maggie Warren on French horn, Scott Horsington on clarinet and Darren Pulley on oboe. The quintet performed last October at the Native American celebration at the Seneca Art and Culture Center at Ganondagan. Tickets are $10 at the door.

There will also be a musical event with a ham dinner, music and dancing held at the Ridgeway Fire Hall. Gary Simboli will entertain during dinner and a dance band will follow for dancing after dinner. Those tickets are $25 and can be obtained by calling (404) 667-0753 or (716) 795-9426.

Yates overrides County Planning Board and approves moratorium on farm labor housing

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2024 at 8:46 am

Town also approves moratoriums to update laws on solar projects, short-term rentals and wind energy

YATES – The Town Board last week approved a six-month moratorium on applications, approvals, and construction of farm labor camps or housing beyond what is required under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law.

This has been a contentious issue in the town the past year with H.H. Dobbins wanting to build a new 30-bed labor camp on Route 63, north of the village.

The town has pushed back on the project saying workers in Dobbins’ apple packing facility aren’t technically farmworkers. Yates officials say farm labor housing should be reserved to workers directly on farms.

Dobbins sued the town, and a State Supreme Court justice sided with Dobbins. Yates has appealed that decision.

The town doesn’t have a problem with workers from orchards owned by Dobbins staying at the new farm labor housing. Dobbins, however, wants the housing to be available for both workers in its orchards and at the packing house, which serves about 50 different local farms.

Dobbins also wants the housing to be available year-round. Yates officials said it could be used 10 months a year to reflect the seasonal nature of farm work.

Yates, following last week’s vote, will now take six months to review its law “to analyze and determine potential appropriate revisions and amendments,” the board said in a resolution last week.

The Orleans County Planning Board on Dec. 21 recommended denial of the moratorium, and the board said it didn’t want to weigh in on an issue in litigation.

The Town Board faults the County Planning Board for its rationale, and not making a decision based on the merits of the of the referral. Local municipalities refer some projects to the County Planning Board for an advisory opinion.

The local municipality can override the county opinion but needs a super-majority vote. In Yates’ case, that is at least four yes votes on the five-member Town Board. That board voted to override last week on Jan. 8 and criticized the county’s handling of the referral, citing litigation between the town and Dobbins.

“This is not a basis of proper review by the County Planning Board, as it does not address potential County-wide impacts,” the Town Board stated. “This proposed Local Law is of general applicability and the County Planning Board’s focus on a particular application or litigation matter is inappropriate and exceeds its jurisdiction under the statute.”

Town Supervisor Jim Simon said the town will work with the agricultural community, including a representative from the State Department of Agriculture and Markets, to update the local law for farm labor housing.

Simon said the town supports agriculture, and farmworkers. He noted there are 238 beds at 12 different farm labor housing sites in the town that are all approved by the Orleans County Health Department. Those 238 are the second most of the 10 towns in the county, which has 1,603 beds for farm worker housing. Carlton has the most with more than 400.

Dobbins is seeking to build a 30-bed housing site that would be 104 feet by 40 feet. With more delays from the town’s court appeal, and now a proposed moratorium, Dave D’Anniballe, the company controller, said last month it could be 2025 or later when the housing could be fully utilized. Dobbins should be able to get started on the labor housing in 2024 but would only have use of it for harvest workers from August to November, D’Anniballe said.

He presented a packet of information to the Planning Board last month that included a letter signed by 31 farmers against the moratorium and the plan to change the local law, requiring at least 51 percent of workers to be at a single farm.

Chad Kirby, president of the Orleans County Farm Bureau, also sent a letter in support of the Dobbins labor housing, specifically the option to have housing that serves more than one farm. Kirby said other family farms may need to share housing, or may need to rent space because they cannot afford to build their own.

In addition to reviewing the town law on farm labor housing, Yates approved six-month moratoriums to review and update its law on short-term rentals, solar projects and wind energy facilities and alternative energy systems.

Simon, the town supervisor, said Yates needs to update its laws in response to changes in all three industries.

The town will have public hearings when it presents changes to the local laws later this year.

Yates working to complete town-wide reassessment of 1,800 properties

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 January 2024 at 9:58 am

YATES – Town Assessor Patricia Laszewski is pushing to complete the first town-wide reassessment in Yates in five years.

There are 1,800 properties in Yates, and Laszewski will be assigning market values to all of them. The values will likely be up for most of the properties. Laszewski said the real estate market has stayed hot, although there are fewer properties for sale right now.

Laszewski led Ridgeway and Shelby through town-wide reassessments in 2023. She has retired from the two towns and remains with Yates in a part-time role.

Ridgeway and Shelby have appointed Julie Cecchini to be their new assessor. She was the assessor clerk in those towns.

Laszewski said Yates property owners will have the opportunity to challenge their assessments through a grievance process in the spring.

Town Supervisor Jim Simon said the reassessment schedule and grievance procedure will be highlighted in an upcoming town newsletter.

The towns in Orleans County used to be on the three-year cycle for doing the town-wide reassessments. Some towns held off in 2022 and 2023, thinking a hot real estate market would slow down. Some towns also have had changes in their assessor and have put of a full town-wide reassessment.

In 2023, Carlton, Kendall, Ridgeway and Shelby all completed full reassessments, at least four years since the last one.

Homeowner evaluated for smoke inhalation at hospital after fire in Lyndonville

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 January 2024 at 9:58 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

YATES – Firefighters check a trailer after a fire this evening at 11089 Roosevelt Highway in Yates. The homeowner, Donald Snider, was taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester to be evaluated for smoke inhalation.

Snider told firefighters he was sleeping when he awakened to smoke in the trailer, which he recently moved to.

The fire caused the most damage to bathroom and bedroom, said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director. Fire investigators want to speak with Snider to hear more about the beginning of the fire. Niederhofer said the cause was accidental, and remains under investigation.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 7:30 p.m. Lyndonville Fire Chief Mike Heideman said Lyndonville were assisted at the scene by Ridgeway and Medina firefighters. They were able to limit the fire from spreading throughout the structure.

“They did a really good job stopping the fire,” he said.

Route 18 was closed to traffic between Route 63 and Marshall Road.

Firefighters were able to keep the fire from tearing through the entire structure.

Yates seeks 4 moratoriums to update laws on short-term rentals, solar, wind and farmworker housing

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2023 at 9:00 am

YATES – The Yates Town Board wants to impose four moratoriums so the town can update local laws on short-term rentals, solar, wind and farmworker housing.

The town is seeking a 180-day period where Yates won’t process applications or issue permits for projects in the moratoriums.

“I find a lot of our local laws are outdated,” Jim Simon, the Yates town supervisor, said at last week’s Orleans County Planning Board meeting.

The Planning Board recommended the town proceed with moratoriums on wind, solar and the short-term rentals, but the board voted against moratorium on farmworker housing.

One Planning Board member, Bruce Kirby of Gaines, said all four efforts from the town “are major examples of NIMBY.” Kirby said the town seems to be trying to thwart development in those four areas.

“This is insanity,” he said.

Simon said the town is halting development with the updated laws. Yates will allow projects in all four areas, but Yates will have clearer regulations, he said.

With the moratorium on farmworker housing, the Planning Board cited ongoing litigation between the town and H.H. Dobbins, which operates a farm and also packing house, the latter serving about 60 different farms. Dobbins wants to build a housing facility with 30 beds on North Lyndonville Road (Route 63). Yates says the workers on the farm can stay there, but the town contends employees in the apple packing house technically are not farm workers.

A State Supreme Court judge sided with Dobbins, but the town has appealed that decision.

Yates is now looking at a local law for farmworker housing that it says will align with standards from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. The town wants to require farmworker housing have at least 51 percent of the workers in the housing be from one farm.

Many in the agricultural community, including the Orleans County Farm Bureau, have pushed back on the proposal, saying it would limit farms from sharing housing or one smaller farm from renting space from another.

The Orleans County Planning Board wants to stay out of the matter. The town can proceed with the moratorium with a super-majority vote, which would need at least four yes votes from a five-member board.

With wind, solar and short-term rentals, the issues are big topics in other communities.

Gary Daum, a Planning Board member from Yates, said the state continues to incentivize solar projects, and there are now several under development in the county, but none yet in Yates.

“It changes all the time,” Daum said about solar. “Our governor every day signs new bills.”

Simon said he is concerned about fires with the battery-storage facilities for solar, and that’s among the issues Yates wants to address in its law.

Yates will be looking at regulations for residential, commercial and industrial systems, whether roof and ground-mounted.

Court rules Dobbins can build housing for workers on Rt. 63

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 December 2023 at 4:43 pm

Town of Yates appeals State Supreme Court decision, seeks moratorium to modify local law for farm labor housing

Photos by Tom Rivers: Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon said the Town Board is seeking the moratorium to clean up outdated language in the local law about farm labor camps. He is speaking during Thursday’s Orleans County Planning Board meeting.

YATES – A State Supreme Court justice has sided with H.H. Dobbins & Son in the Lyndonville company’s effort to build housing on North Lyndonville Road (Route 63) for workers for its apple farm and its packing house.

Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso on Nov. 8 made his ruling in favor of Dobbins in a lawsuit against the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board in Yates. The judge also backed Dobbins in its request to make the housing year-round and not just seasonal.

Yates on Nov. 14 filed a notice of appeal from attorneys Charles Malcomb and Aaron Saykin, Hodgson Russ LLP lawyers working for the town.

Brian Napoli, the Planning Board chairman, said state Agriculture & Markets has struck down local laws deemed too restrictive to agriculture. Napoli supported the board’s decision to deny the Yates request due to litigation between the town and Dobbins.

The ruling from Caruso rescinds and annuls the ZBA interpretation dated June 29 regarding “whether farm labor camps may be occupied by H2B workers who pack apples?”

Dobbins employs foreign workers through the H2B program for the packing house. Foreign workers who work directly on farms come through visas through the H2A program.

The ZBA opposed the 30-bed housing because the H2B workers don’t just work for Dobbins. They also pack apples for about 50 other farms.

But the judge said the labor camp “may be occupied by H2B workers, and any other workers, who perform fruit packing operations and/or field work.”

Yates, besides appealing the judge’s decision, also seeks a moratorium on farm labor housing, and wants to amend the local law to say the housing must used by at least 51 percent of workers at one farm.

The town doesn’t have an issue with farm labor housing when the housing is used for people who are doing farm work for the farm that owns the housing. But Yates officials say H.H. Dobbins Inc. owns and operates a packing house that serves many farms, not a single entity.

Yates attorneys, in court filings, describe the packing house as a “factory” that shouldn’t be included under farm labor housing. Judge Caruso ruled the packing house employees should be considered farm workers and eligible for the housing.

Dobbins operates a farm and the packing house. H.H. Dobbin & Son LLC owns a fruit orchard and the 30-bed labor camp would be used solely by those workers from June through the end of November.

H.H. Dobbins Inc. owns the packing house, which utilizes the H2B program with foreign workers. That operation plans to use the housing from the end of November through May.

There are workers for the orchard from February through May, and Dobbins officials say they want the housing to be shared by workers from both operations during those three months.

The Orleans County Planning Board considered the town’s request for a moratorium on farm labor housing during its meeting last Thursday. The board ultimately voted to deny the referral from the town, with members saying they didn’t want to weigh in on an issue in pending litigation.

Jim Simon, the Yates town supervisor, said the town currently has more than 200 beds of farm labor housing. The town isn’t trying to block farm labor housing. It just wants to update the law which he said currently “has a lot of old language, etc.” That law was last updated in 2003.

He said the Town Board plans to work with the ag community to modify the regulations.

“We will work with farm for a good law,” he said.

Gary Daum, a member of both the county and town planning boards, said the town is seeking to address questions about the current regulations in place. He said he values Dobbins as an important local employer in the town.

Dave D’Anniballe, controller at H.H. Dobbins & Son LLC, said the town is seeking to change the law while Dobbins has already submitted a plan.

“We’re concerned the town is trying to move the goal posts while the kick is on the way,” he said.

Dobbins applied for the housing on Jan. 4, 2023 and still is in limbo on moving forward with a building that would be 104 feet by 40 feet. With more delays from the town’s court appeal, and now a proposed moratorium, D’Anniballe said it could be 2025 or later when the housing could be fully utilized. Dobbins should be able to get started on the labor housing in 2024 but would only have use of it for harvest workers from August to November, D’Anniballe said.

He presented a packet of information to the Planning Board that included a letter signed by 31 farmers against the moratorium and the plan to change the local law, requiring at least 51 percent of workers to be at a single farm.

Those farmers disputed a characterization from Town Board members that the labor camps are like “barns.” The farmers said new farm labor housing facilities have modern kitchens, cable TV, wireless internet, flat-screen TVs, high-efficiency heating and numerous energy-efficient windows to let in natural light.

Anna Shuknecht, a senior loan officer for Farm Credit East, sent in a letter supporting Dobbins in its push to improve the housing for the foreign workers. Dobbins packs 1.1 million bushels of apples, with Orleans County farms representing 75 percent of the farms served by the packing house. Dobbins has 71 employees overall including local workers.

Maureen Torrey, a farm owner in Yates for 30 years, said in a letter to the town that she is “quite disturbed” by Yates proposed moratorium on applications, approvals and construction of farm labor camps. The moratorium holds up investment in the housing and sends a discouraging message to the farm community, Torrey said.

She said many different visa programs allow for farm labor programs with the stays ranging from three to 10 months, and those programs are regulated by the federal government. The labor housing also is regularly inspected by local and state government officials.

Torrey said many farmers have formed cooperatives and work together for marketing and packaging of farm commodities – fruit, vegetables, dairy products and grain.

Chad Kirby, president of the Orleans County Farm Bureau, also sent a letter in support of the Dobbins labor housing, specifically the option to have housing that serves more than one farm. Kirby said other family farms may need to share housing, or may need to rent space because they cannot afford to build their own.

Lyndonville Lions recognize annual holiday lights award winners

Steve Vann from Lynwood Avenue won for Best Use of a Single-Color Display.

Posted 25 December 2023 at 7:39 am

Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions presented their Annual Holiday Lights awards on Wednesday to the Town of Yates residents.  The three village awards were handed out to Darlene Hartway from the Webber Cafe on Main Street in Lyndonville.

The Webber Cafe was selected as the Best First Time Display.

Dan and Shirleen Woodward, who have been displaying holiday light decorations for several years, won for Best Repeat Display. They reside on Garland Street in the Village of Lyndonville.

The awards for non-village residents went to the Seaman family on North Lyndonville Road.  They received the award for the Largest Display of Christmas Inflatables. The Seamans decorate every year with the help of their son.

Mr. and Mrs. James Hydock from Roosevelt Highway were awarded the Best Holiday Color Display.

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Feigl from Platten Road were awarded the Best Newcomer Award for their decorations.

The Lyndonville Lions would like to thank the many town residents who decorated their properties for the holiday season.  Your hard work and commitment to Christmas decorations is truly appreciated and enjoyed by all. In closing, the Lyndonville Lions would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

County approves $1.6 million bridge replacement on Angling Road in Yates

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2023 at 9:12 am

YATES – The Orleans County Legislature on Tuesday accepted a $1,580,192 bid to replace the bridge over Johnson Creek on Angling Road in the Town of Yates.

CATCO, a construction company from Alden, submitted the low bid for the project. Construction is expected to start in the spring, said John Papponetti, the county’s commissioner of public works.

The project will be funded 80 percent by the federal government, 15 percent by the state through Marchiselli funds and the remaining 5 percent from the county.