By Orleans Hub Posted 30 September 2023 at 3:00 pm
Let’s go on an adventure together….on a New England and Canada Cruise!
I LOVE AUTUMN!!! I get so excited when the leaves start to change and everything around me comes alive with brilliant color! We tend to take it for granted around here….but, we’re so lucky because there are places that don’t get to enjoy it the way we do! While I was born and raised here and am spending my retirement years here, I also lived in central North Carolina for a number of years in between. Yes, the leaves did change and it was nice, but it was no comparison to the vibrant colors we get here. In fact, we had to drive a few hours to the Blue Ridge Mountains to see the real beauty of autumn. But here? We get it! I remember suggesting to my mother that we might want to go “somewhere” to see the fall colors. She would always respond with “Why? I can see autumn at its best right from my own back yard or on a short drive through the country side.” She was right, but there is something about seeing it in the mountains or with different views.
St. John, New Brunswick, Canada had the best sightings of fall foliage on our cruise. It wasn’t full peak season, but still quite nice.
So, in October 2015, a friend and I went on a New England and Canada Cruise with the hopes of seeing the beautiful fall foliage that the New England and Canada coastal views had to offer. While it was a WONDERFUL cruise, it didn’t provide the colorful views we expected…..we missed hitting the peak foliage season by about a week! UGH!!!
The cruise began in Boston and our first port stop was Portland, Maine. We didn’t purchase an excursion package for this port. We just wanted to wander around and eat lobster. It was the perfect port to do that – the ship was docked just a block from the downtown area. We walked around the fishing docks, visited a fish market, rode a Pedicab (a bicycle pulling a two seat cart) along a few of the streets, ate lobster at The Portland Lobster Company, and took lots of photos! It was a gorgeous day for walking and we really enjoyed this port a lot!
Our second port was Bar Harbor, Maine. Unfortunately, heavy fog prevented us from going ashore – it is a tender port, meaning passengers get transferred from ship to shore by small tender boats. The fog was so thick that the boats couldn’t operate safely. So, the captain pulled up the anchor and we headed on to the next port.
Fishing boats in Portland, Maine back from a morning of work gathering lobsters and other fish for the markets.
The next port was St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. We took a double decker hop-on-hop-off bus tour. The bus was “Pepto-Bismol” pink and quite fun to tool around the city in. We enjoyed a beautiful park and a police museum and several other cool things to see and do. It was another gorgeous day, but very little fall colors!
Our final port was Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. We, again, took a “Pepto-Bismol” pink hop-on-hop off bus tour to see the sights. One of my favorite parts of Halifax was a dahlia exhibit in a public park we stopped at – lots and lots of different dahlias growing in beautiful displays to walk through. It was another stunning fall day and we enjoyed this port very much.
When we returned to Boston, we took a city bus tour before going to the airport to head home.
The Queen Elizabeth Bandstand in the public park in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The cruise we took was with Royal Caribbean. Most of the major cruise lines have similar cruises that stop at these and other ports along the New England and Canadian coast. They are awesome cruises and well worth the time and expense to do. Find one that fits your budget and go…..just don’t go solely for the purpose of seeing fall foliage! Peak season is usually only a couple of weeks and is a moving target – difficult to plan ahead to be there at the exact right time. But, go with the goal of seeing these amazing ports and “hope” for some fall colors and you won’t be disappointed at all. We weren’t….well, maybe a little, but it was such a great cruise that we didn’t mind the absence of fall colors all that much.
Visit my blog post at https://thoughtsbykim.com/2015/10/23/fall-cruise-adventure/ for more photos from this wonderful adventure.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2023 at 8:50 am
Total currently more than $4 million above limit that will be funded by state
Photos by Tom Rivers: The north end of Main Street in Medina is pictured earlier this month.
MEDINA – A committee in Medina faces a difficult challenge of trying to narrow $8.7 million from 22 potential projects for Medina’s NY Forward grant of $4.5 million.
The state will ultimately decide which projects are awarded funding. The Medina committee could just send the $8.7 million in projects to the state, and let state officials decide. But the local group, which met on Tuesday evening, wants to try to get the number down to $6 to $6.5 million. The state would then make the final cuts. (There is also a chance some projects may pull out of the process after the list is submitted to the state. That is why Medina is willing to send a list over $4.5 million.)
“We’re not doing our job if we don’t whittle it down,” said Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, a member of the local planning committee.
The group is working to finalize a list and prepare detailed project descriptions to send to the state. The draft of the plan should be complete by mid-November with the final document sent to the state by mid-December. The state is then expected to announce which projects are approved for funding and at what amount possibly by February or perhaps in the spring.
The committee and the state will give greater priority to projects that are transformative to the downtown, that can catalyze other investments and benefit other businesses. They will also determine if the property owner is “ready” and can make the project a reality, said Kimberly Baptiste of the Bergmann engineering, architecture and planning firm. She is assisting the Medina committee in putting together the plan to submit to the state.
The committee said all of the projects submitted are very worthwhile and meet the goal of the NY Forward program of making the downtown more live-able and attractive.
The committee put out a survey to the community and the responses tended to put public projects as higher priority than privately owned initiatives.
A $500,000 request from Lee-Whedon Library to help with an addition was the top choice in the community survey.
A request from the owners of Avanti Pizza for $600,000 to help develop the second and third floors of their building received the least support among the community.
But that doesn’t mean the Avanti project should be dismissed from consideration. That building is on the main corner in downtown Medina. Avanti’s has been a key part of the downtown for nearly 20 years.
Avanti’s is among several projects that would add residential and office space on the upper floors in the downtown, spaces that are currently underutilized.
The committee agreed on Tuesday it should be the one to help narrow the projects, rather than sending all 22 at projects at $8.7 million in requested funding for the state. The committee debated whether some projects should be considered higher priority if they are on Main Street, rather than a block or two away. And should projects be ranked higher if they are facing the Erie Canal waterfront?
The group will try to determine a rationale for eliminating some projects to get the total down in the $6 million to $6.5 million range.
“I’d like to see us trim it down, rather than the state trim it down,” said committee member Tim Elliott, who is also a member of the Medina Village Board.
These are the 22 projects with their requested funding from NY Forward in parentheses.
Canal Basin Parking Lot (Multiple Options)
ALTERNATIVE A ($2 million) – This alternative is the most transformative, with significantly expanded green space, pedestrian pathways, and gathering areas. This alternative includes 53 parking spaces.
ALTERNATIVE B ($1.5 million) – This alternative expands the green space area along the canal and enhances pedestrian connections to the waterfront. This alternative includes 71 parking spaces.
ALTERNATIVE C ($1 million) – This creates a multi-functional pedestrian promenade space at the rear of the Main Street buildings that can be used for seating, outdoor dining, and temporary events. This space can also accommodate loading and deliveries. This alternative includes 45 parking spaces.
ALTERNATIVE D ($500,000) – This alternative creates a small pedestrian plaza area at the north end of the East Center Street alleyway which can accommodate gathering and outdoor dining. The rest of the basin is kept as is. This alternative includes 83 parking spaces.
Canal Village Farmers Market at 127 West Center St. ($300,000) – This project will renovate the existing building at 127 West Center Street to create a year-round space for the Canal Village Farmers Market. Expanded vendor space, public restrooms, a visitor center, and green space will also be included on the site.
Canal View Bar/Tasting Area at 135 East Center St. ($100,000) – This project will create a bar/serving area with an exterior patio overlooking the Canal Basin in the rear of the Modern Mercantile building.
409-413 Main St. ($200,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 409-413 Main Street into 3 new one-bedroom apartments and 1 new two-bedroom apartment.
Knights of Columbus Building Accessible Community Space ($150,000) – This project will make facade improvements to the Knights of Columbus building and install a lift at the rear entrance to make the 200-person community event space on the second floor ADA accessible for public use.
424 Main Street ($250,000) – This project will create 4 new apartments on the upper floors of the building at 424 Main Street. The commercial units on the ground floor will also be renovated.
433 Main Street ($300,000) – This project will create a new two-bedroom apartment on the upper floors of the building at 433 Main Street.
Community Arts Workshop and Gift Store at 509 Main St. ($150,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 509 Main St. to create a community arts and crafts workshop and gift store.
Bunkhaus Apartments at 511 West Ave. ($100,000) – This project will renovate the Bunkhaus Hostel to create 4 one-bedroom apartments targeted for short- and long-term rental housing for professionals, snowboards, and/or tourists.
Author’s Note Bookstore at 519 Main St. ($200,000) – This project will create a two-bedroom apartment unit on the second floor for short- or medium-term rental, targeted at artists. The basement of the building will also be renovated to create an event space to be used for book clubs, workshops, etc., or by other community groups.
521 Main Street ($150,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 521 Main Street into a new one-bedroom apartment and two Airbnb units.
Walsh Hotel Redevelopment at 525 West Ave. ($550,000) – This project will complete renovations to the upper floors of the Walsh Hotel as part of a larger project to create 22 studio and one-bedroom apartments.
Arenite Brewing Company at 339 Main St. ($400,000) – This project will create a microbrewery and tasting room with outdoor seating overlooking the canal at 339 Main Street.
Avanti Pizza Upper Floors Renovation at 500 Main St. ($600,000) – This project will renovate the upper floors of the Avanti Pizza building into a mix of residential and office space.
Hart House Hotel Renovations at 113 West Center St. ($500,000) – This project is the last phase of a larger project to upgrade the Hart House Hotel with a formal lobby, café, spa, outdoor event space and gastropub.
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library at 620 West Ave. ($500,000) – This project will create an addition on the library with new tutoring rooms, meeting rooms, and quiet rooms for community use. The existing library building will also be renovated to create an expanded children’s area and new entry.
Medina Theatre Renovations at 601-611 Main St. ($150,000) – This project is the first phase of a larger project to upgrade the Medina Theatre. This project will renovate the existing marquee and facade, make cosmetic improvements to the theatre, and prep the building for a future restaurant and conference space.
Downtown Wayfinding Signage ($250,000) – This project will install a system of directional, informational, and interpretive signage at key locations and destinations to guide visitors throughout downtown.
Public Lot Connectivity Improvements Description ($1 million) – This project will improve the public parking lot at the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets with better circulation, shade trees, and improved connectivity to the Canal Basin and Main Street businesses.
East Center Street Alleyway Improvements ($400,000) –This project will enhance the alleyway that connects the Canal Basin across East Center Street to the public parking lot. The alley will have landscaping, lighting, seating and signage.
Canal Basin Park Gateway Signage ($150,000) – This project will install two large, gateway signs at the Mill Street entrance to the Canal Basin (off Main Street) and at the East Center Street alleyway entrance to the basin.
Small Project Grant Fund ($300,000) – The Small Project Grant Fund would provide support to downtown business and property owners to implement smaller-scale projects like façade improvements, window replacement and other repairs.
The committee met Tuesday at the Medina district office boardroom and reviewed the survey findings from the community. About 200 people took the survey in-person or online, giving their opinion on how to prioritize the funding. Kimberly Baptiste of the Bergmann engineering, architecture and planning firm led the committee in reviewing the results.
With the survey from community members (taken by 180 online and 35 in person), high priority was given, in descending order, to the library, farmer’s market, Knights of Columbus, small grants for multiple businesses, East Center Street alley, public parking lot, Canal basin signage, arts workshop at 509 Main and Medina Theatre.
Projects given medium priority from the survey respondents (in descending order) include way finding, Author’s Note, Arenite Brewing, Canal View Bar, Hart House Hotel, Canal Basin lot ($1.5 million option), Canal Basin lot ($2 million option), 521 Main and 409 Main.
The projects ranked as low priority in the community survey (in descending order) include the Walsh Hotel, 424 Main, Basin lot ($500,000 option), Bunkhaus, Basin lot ($1 million option), 433 Main and Avanti Pizza.
The two parking lots – at Canal Basin and behind Main Street on East Center, would total $3 million of the $4.5 million grant if pursued at the full proposal, Baptiste, the planning consultant, said scaling those plans back to just repaving the lots likely wouldn’t get funding from the state. The NY Forward program wants to add beautification and other elements to make the parking lots better.
During last Tuesday’s meeting, Joe Cardone attended and make a pitch for the Medina Theatre, one of the first buildings seen on Main Street when people enter from the south. He wants to add a modern digital marquee with LED lighting. He said it would be a vast improvement at a gateway into the business district. However, the current village code doesn’t allow digital signage in the historic district. Mayor Sidari said the village is looking to modify the code for signage.
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, the top vote getter in the community survey, also isn’t currently in the target area for the NY Forward grant. It is adjacent to the area. The boundaries can be changed to include the library, Baptiste advised the committee.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 September 2023 at 7:26 am
Event includes big basket raffle at East Shelby Fire Hall
Photo by Ginny Kropf: From left behind table, Laura Marek, Stacey Knights Pellicano and May Zelazny talk to a volunteer, Christine Griffin, during the 2022 Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run. The fundraiser is scheduled this year on Oct. 7.
MEDINA – The Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run will celebrate its 35th year on Oct. 7 when the annual event takes place at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall.
The fund was formed when the families of Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli, who both died from cancer, decided to combine their individual fundraisers into one.
Since then, the Knights-Kaderli Fund has assisted local families battling cancer with transportation costs, prescription drugs, nutritional supplements, medical supplies and household bills, to the tune of $40,000 to $50,000 a year, according to Mary Zelazny, Kaderli’s daughter. That adds up to almost $1.5 million.
This year the walk/run will resemble the more casual family atmosphere of the earlier years, said Knights’ daughter, Stacey Knights Pellicano.
“This is our favorite time of year,” Zelazny said. “We look forward to being with all of our supporters. If you have ever participated in our event, you understand the energy of that day. It gives us hope and unites participants. We know the community will show up to support their neighbors who are living with cancer. Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli were known for their spirit of community and we are honored to remember them in this way.”
Registration is at 10 a.m. and the walk will begin at 11 a.m. at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall. The event will continue as an untimed walk/run so registrants can participate in a leisurely walk with family and friends or set their watches for a 5K run.
As always, participants and the community are invited to support the basket raffle. Lunch will be served immediately after the race and guests may eat outside under the pavilion. Participants are also reminded to take photographs and post on Facebook and Instagram for some fun prizes. Tag #KnightsKaderli5K.
For more information or financial assistance, contact Mary Zelazny at (585) 746-8455, Melissa Knights Bertrand at (716) 983-7932 or Stacey Knights Pellicano at (716) 998-0977.
Online registration for the event may be made by clicking here.
Direct donations may be made through PayPal and a credit card (click here for more information) or through Venmo @knightskaderli.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2023 at 4:50 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – A barn from the early 1900s burned this afternoon in Barre. The barn is owned by Frank and Cynthia Stumer at 4715 Oak Orchard Rd.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 3:38 p.m. The property is next to the Barre fire hall on Route 98.
The fire also damaged a garage next to the barn. No one was injured in the blaze.
“I just loved that barn,” said Mrs. Stumer, who is deputy commissioner of the Department of Social Services for Orleans County. “I’m just devastated. We had plans of renovating it.”
Several local fire departments responded to the scene. The cause is under investigation.
Firefighters use a saw to cut open the garage door.
The fire spread from the barn to a garage, causing extensive damage.
Albion firefighter John Papponetti, left, and Steve Miller of the Medina Fire Department get water on the back of the barn.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
BATAVIA – Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Health have identified Genesee County as having a high average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter).
Radon can build up to dangerous levels in your home, which can occur in new homes or older homes.
“Radon can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, cracks in basement walls, holes, joints, dirt floors, sump pump holes, suspended floors and in the well-water supply,” stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Any house that has contact to the ground has the potential for radon to enter the home. That is why training contractors and code enforcement officers about the risk of radon is important.”
On Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m., the Genesee County Health Department will be hosting George Schambach, the Vice President of the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologies, Inc., and President/Owner of Professional Home Inspection Service to implement a training for all contractors and code enforcement officers. This training will be held at the Genesee County Emergency Management Office on 7690 State Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.
Topics will include:
Radon Measurement
Radon Mitigation
Radon Abatement and
Health Risks of Radon to Construction Personnel
This training is free of charge and open to Genesee County and those outside the county as well. Any contractor or code enforcement officer interested in attending can contact Allysa Pascoe at 585-344-2580 x5508 to register. For more information on radon or other GO Health programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org.
Provided photos: (Left) Pumpkins can be decorated with simple natural elements like this one designed by Master Gardener Kristina Gabalski. (Right) Master Gardener Lisa Lancaster with her big pumpkin and a scarecrow – ready for fall!
Posted 29 September 2023 at 1:09 pm
Contributed by Katie Oakes, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Coordinator
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County CCE Master Gardeners will host the first-ever PumpkinPalooza pumpkin contest at this year’s Medina Lions Club Scarecrow Fest on Oct. 14.
The contest welcomes entries from the public in three categories – Biggest Pumpkin (by circumference), Best Decorated Pumpkin, and Best Carved Pumpkin. Master Gardener volunteers will be on site to judge the entries, and there will be prizes for each category winner.
Pumpkins can be dropped off at the side door of the Lartz building (close to the pie plate) between 9 and 11 a.m. Judging will be immediately after drop-off closes, and winners will be announced at 2 p.m. All participants must collect their pumpkins at the close of the Scarecrow Fest at 3 p.m.
The Highway Department decorated a pumpkin for the annual Family Game Night.
The idea for the contest came to Master Gardeners Lisa Lancaster and Erica Joan Wanecski while they were sitting at the Master Gardener table at the Canal Village Farmer’s Market over the summer.
They were handing out gardening information and free seeds when a customer came up to share his experience growing a giant pumpkin the previous season. Erica and Lisa wondered how many other gardeners or creative decorators might want to showcase their own masterpieces in the community.
They decided a friendly pumpkin competition was the perfect way to allow the public to display their works of art or gardening prowess. This will be the first pumpkin-themed event for the Master Gardeners, and if it goes well, they’d love to see it continue as an annual tradition.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing people’s creativity, in decorating and also in carving, ” said Lisa Lancaster, chairperson of the event for the Master Gardener program. “Pumpkins are such a universal symbol of autumn that this is a way to celebrate the season even more!”
It seemed a natural fit to host the Pumpkinpalooza event in conjunction with the Medina Lions Club Scarecrow Festival on the second Saturday of October. The Scarecrow Fest is hugely popular, with hundreds of local families showing up to make their own scarecrow.
When Katie Oakes, coordinator of the Master Gardener volunteers in Orleans County, reached out to Jim Hancock, co-chair of the event for the Lions Club, to ask if they would allow the Pumpkinpalooza as an add-on to their traditional festival, the answer was an emphatic “yes!” from the board.
“We’re hoping to draw some new people and reach a wider audience,” explained Erica Joan Wanecski, chairperson of the Master Gardener program. “The more activities that are present at the Scarecrow Fest, the longer people will stay and the more fun they will have! We’re hoping the Pumpkinpalooza can benefit everyone.”
Anyone entering a pumpkin in the category of “Biggest Pumpkin” must be able to transport the pumpkin themselves – there will be no equipment available to move large pumpkins. One prize will be given to the winner of each category – winner need not be present to win. Please contact Katie Oakes at 585-798-4265 ext 125 or klo54@cornell.edu with any questions on Pumpkinpalooza or the Master Gardener program.
ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday charged Angel L. Marrero, 46, of Rochester following a 3-month investigation into multiple burglaries on Orleans County’s eastside.
Between June 28 and July 5, Marrero is alleged to have entered and stole property from three homes within the towns of Murray and Clarendon.
Marrero has been charged with 3 counts of Burglary 2nd Degree, class C felonies; 3 counts of Grand Larceny 4th, class E felonies; 2 counts of Criminal Mischief 4th, and 1 count of petit larceny, class A misdemeanors.
Marrero is also allegedly facing additional charges in Monroe County for drug and weapon possessions. Marrero this morning was arraigned in Orleans County CAP court in the county jail, where he is being held on $40,000 bail.
The investigation was conducted by Investigators Brian Marsceill, Kevin Colonna and Devon Pahuta with the assistance of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and Rochester Police Department.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Renee Lama listens to David Kusmierczak on Monday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library for a book-signing and discussion about her new 390-page book, “Last Call: Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. A History of the Service Industry in Medina.” Lama will be signing copies of the book from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Author’s Note bookstore in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2023 at 9:19 am
Photos courtesy of George Lama: Renee Lama speaks on Monday’s during a presentation about her new book.
MEDINA – Renee Lama worked about a decade collecting information and stories about Medina’s restaurants, bars and hotels.
The exhausting effort chronicles Medina history going back 150 years. The project grew to a 390-page book, “Last Call: Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. A History of the Service Industry in Medina.”
She held her first public event on Monday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library as the featured speaker for the Medina Historical Society.
About 80 people attended and Lama sold six cases of books.
“I was so happy with the turnout and that so many people are interested in the book,” she said. “I have been wanting to share my findings with everyone for so long. I am glad that I finally can.
There are some pretty cool stories in there!”
She will be back in Medina again on Saturday at the Author’s Note bookstore from 1 to 3 p.m.
About 80 people attended the book discussion on Monday, which was the monthly featured program of the Medina Historical Society.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 September 2023 at 4:06 pm
John Sansone joins Susan Howard in bid to replace Joe Cardone, who is retiring after 2024
Photo by Tom Rivers: John Sansone is shown on Sept. 11 at the Courthouse Square when he attended the 9/11 memorial service.
ALBION – A long-time attorney who has worked in Orleans County announced today he will be running to succeed Joe Cardone as Orleans County district attorney. Cardone is retiring after 2024 following more than three decades in the role.
John Sansone announced his candidacy today. Sansone lives in Lockport. He is married to Maria Sansone, formerly Maria Obes of Holley. They have been renovating her Holley childhood home and are excited to move to the home on East Avenue.
John Sansone
Sansone has worked as an attorney for 28 years, including as Holley’s municipal lawyer since 2001. He also is Clarendon’s town attorney, and previously served as town attorney for Kendall and Murray.
He worked for the Orleans County Public Defender’s Office from 1998 to 2001 and has been with the District Attorney’s Office since 2007. In that role he has been prosecutor for felony jury trials and misdemeanor jury and bench trials. He has presented cases to the grand jury, participated in criminal investigations, charging decisions and case reviews.
Sansone, 56, also said he works closely with law enforcement and victims of crimes, performs discovery compliance.
“It would be an immense honor to serve as your District Attorney because the residents and communities of Orleans County deserve a seamless transition at the top of law enforcement,” Sansone said in a statement to the Orleans Hub. “Keeping our communities safe, especially in the current climate, is priority number one. The only way to effectively accomplish that goal is to fairly hold people accountable for their actions. To do that requires tireless preparation, extensive effort, a tenacious attitude, outstanding legal skill and tested trial experience. That is the only proven recipe for success in difficult cases.”
Susan Howard, who also works in the DA’s office with Cardone, also is running for DA next year. She and Sansone are both Republicans. Howard is an Orleans County resident.
Sansone touted his experience and commitment to justice. He has been lead prosecutor in the Niagara County Attorney’s Office for 22 years and won an award in 2019 as the Best AFC (Attorney for Children) in Niagara County.
He is currently special prosecutor for Kendall and Ridgeway in Orleans County and town prosecutor for Newfane and Pendleton in Niagara County.
Before becoming an attorney, Sansone worked as a reporter for The Union-Sun & Journal in Lockport, covering courts and the “crime beat” in Niagara County, as well as reporting on the Niagara County Legislature.
Provided photos: From left include Lutheran Pastor Craig Rhodenizer, United Methodist Pastor Timothy Schultz, Presbyterian Pastor Martha Mitchell, volunteer Laura Campbell, volunteer DeAnn Diermyer, and Lyndonville Area Foundation Treasurer Russ Martino.
Posted 28 September 2023 at 1:50 pm
Press Release, Lyndonville Area Foundation
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Area Foundation donated $4,000 to assist the Lyndonville Yates Ministerial Association to operate the LYFE – Lyndonville Yates Food Emergency pantry.
The pantry is located in the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church and has been in operation for about 30 years. This community ministry is supported by volunteers and donations from the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, Lyndonville United Methodist Church, Yates Baptist Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Our Lady of the Lake, Foodlink and by the generosity of private donors and caring citizens.
The food pantry and other services that LYMA offers such as the Foodlink drive-thru distribution events have grown over the years and supports about 75 families monthly, said Pastor Martha Mitchell. She attributes this to the quality of products that are offered and the consistency and availability of the pantry.
With an industrial-sized refrigerator and freezer, the pantry allows them to offer an assortment of cold and frozen food items along with canned and boxed food, personal hygiene items and even diapers.
The pantry is open to local residents from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 107 North Main Street, Lyndonville. Pastor Mitchell said that they can always use donations of food staples like canned soup, macaroni, ketchup, mustard, cereal, pancake mix, syrup, canned chicken and hamburger helper.
If you can donate your time or would like to drop off food items to support the pantry, please contact Pastor Mitchell by calling the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church at (585)765-2838 or stop in during the normal pantry hours and introduce yourself. They are always looking for volunteers!
The pantry includes an industrial-size refrigerator and freezer, as well as shelves for food.
Press Release, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
With a potential and avoidable government shutdown looming, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today broke down how, if the House GOP does not set aside their differences to pass the Senate’s short-term agreement and prevent a catastrophic government shutdown, the ripple effects will be felt by families and local economies across New York.
Schumer emphasized that all through the weekend, Senate Democrats and Republicans worked in bipartisan good faith to reach an agreement on a continuing resolution that will keep the government funded and avert a shutdown. He said that every single congressional Republican, but especially those serving New York, should think long and hard about the local communities and families they represent before ignoring the Senate’s bipartisan continuing resolution to keep the government open.
If not, Schumer said the House Republicans will be the ones responsible for sending America down an easily avoidable and politically disastrous path that ends with New Yorkers paying the price.
“We cannot afford to let the extreme fringe views of the House Republican Conference risk a government shutdown and needlessly hurt New York families. From Syracuse to the Southern Tier to Suffern, New York House Republicans have a responsibility to their constituents to stand up to House leadership and work in a bipartisan way to fund the government,” said Senator Schumer. “This is not an abstract issue – If the House GOP refuses to embrace this bridge towards cooperation and away from extremism, the government will inevitably shutdown, causing disruptions for millions of New Yorkers to services they rely on, while thousands of federal workers could be furloughed.”
Schumer said according to Congressional Research Services, over 50,000 federal civilian employees currently reside in New York, on top of thousands of military servicemembers who live and work on military installations across the state.
These New Yorkers will feel the impacts of a shutdown immediately, with many working in departments or agencies that will close as soon as the government shuts down. The senator cited specific agencies—that because of the shutdown—would not be able to serve New Yorkers as they should.
Schumer detailed the specific ways a government shutdown will hurt New York:
Servicemembers On NY Military Installations Will Work Without Pay, While Civilian Employees On Bases Will Be Furloughed: If the government shuts down, the majority of DoD civilian employees working on military installations such as Form Drum, West Point, and Watervliet Arsenal will be furloughed and go on unpaid leave immediately. Additionally, 41,624 active duty and reserve personnel across New York will be expected to show up for work, serving their country without pay.
No Pay For TSA Agents, Potential Delays, And Longer Wait Times For NY Travelers At Airports: If the government shuts down, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at airports across NYS – such as Buffalo Niagara International, Albany International, and Syracuse Hancock International – will be working without pay. Approximately 95% of TSA workers would continue to work without pay, including frontline Transportation Security Officers, Canine Handlers, • Federal Air Marshals, Transportation Security Inspectors, Explosives Experts, Intelligence & Vetting Analysts, cybersecurity specialists and more. Schumer says many TSA workers cannot afford to go without pay because of the transportation costs to get to work, and impacts workers’ families who depend on their paycheck. Additionally, Schumer warned that a shutdown will cause significant delays and longer wait times for the 84,613 people who fly through New York airports every day, as there were during previous shutdowns, with hiring and new training freezing and exacerbating shortages.
Over 418,000 NY Women, Infants, And Children Could Lose Access To Vital Nutrition Assistance: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)—a program that serves nearly half of babies born in this country—will be immediately jeopardized if the government shuts down. This includes 89,717 women, 241,198 children, and 87,169 infants across NYS who would soon start being turned away at grocery store counters, with a federal contingency fund drying up after just a few days.
Nearly 2.9 Million NY Households At Risk Of Losing SNAP Benefits: Nearly 2.9 million households across New York State are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but their benefits will be jeopardized if the shutdown goes beyond October.
Undermine Food And Workplace Safety: The Food and Drug Administration could be forced to delay food safety inspections for seafood, meats, fruits vegetables, and other products putting extra pressure on restaurants and grocers. Similarly, OSHA would be forced to limit workplace inspections and New Yorkers who are owed back pay for their hard work would face delays due to the majority of Department of Labor investigations being suspended.
Disruption to Proposed Major NY Investments and Jobs: Implementation of key provisions from the CHIPS and Science Act that are now spurring massive historic job growth across New York will be delayed by a shutdown. These provisions were enacted last year to bolster the domestic supply chain and bring manufacturing back to the U.S. from overseas. Delays in this funding, from programs like the CHIPS semiconductor incentives, Regional Technology Hubs program, and NSF STEM training and education investments, would have dramatic consequences for the economic growth being seen in New York and across the country. Programs meant to bring funding to regions across the country focused on AI, chips, quantum computing, and more, would be halted and awards for world class manufacturers and research institutions in NY and across the nation would be delayed.
NY Infrastructure Projects Could Be Delayed Awaiting Federal Review: Infrastructure projects awaiting review across New York could be delayed awaiting EPA and DOI environmental reviews along with severe disruptions to the permitting process across federal agencies. This also impacts small town infrastructure projects awaiting federal investment as no USDA loans or grants would be made for modernizing utilities infrastructure in rural New York.
Extreme Lack Of Security At The Northern and Southern Border: Without a funded government, critical Border Patrol agents and CBP officer hires aimed at alleviating serious staffing shortages at our northern border and local ports of entry would not be onboarded during the month of October or longer, crippling efforts to bring increased security to the border. With this kind of major disruption, border agencies risk losing these new hires altogether from their recruitment pipelines, setting back efforts to bring order to the border. Nearly 80% of our border enforcement personnel would be working without pay for the duration of the shutdown, further demoralizing frontline personnel facing extremely difficult conditions. Additionally, deployments of our most effective technology to interdict fentanyl and contraband at ports of entry where the vast majority of drugs enter the U.S. would be delayed during shutdown, setting back our long-term efforts to combat lethal opioids.
Severely Limited Childcare Services And Elective Healthcare On Military Installations: The extent to which childcare services operate during a shutdown are at the discretion of each NY military installation, but in general, critical mental health services, recreational activities, sporting events, and other services not deemed as essential do not continue during shutdowns. Additionally, elective surgery and other elective procedures in NY DoD medical and dental facilities are likely to be discontinued during a shutdown.
Millions In Loans Halted For New York Small Business Owners: New York Businesses seeking loans from the Small Business Administration will have to wait for the shutdown to end, as processing for most SBA lending programs – including 7(a), 504, and the microloan program – will stop operations entirely while the agency’s employees are furloughed during a shutdown. These programs provides $1,298,267,900 in funding to small businesses in New York every single year. NY businesses looking to hire new employees during the shutdown will also run into problems, due to federal E-Verify access – an internet-based system that allows businesses to determine their employees’ eligibility to work in the United States – being suspended. During a shutdown, federal contractors across NY will face stop-work orders and delayed payments for all projects, including work that has already been completed – putting a significant financial burden on the state’s small contractors.
Slashed Tourism Across New York’s National Parks and Historic Sites: Hotels and Main Street businesses will lose critical tourism dollars while national parks and historic sites are shuttered. If the government shuts down, people will be canceling reservations and leaving their rooms empty, when they would otherwise be filled with tourists. Over 16 million tourists visit national parks in New York every year and could be turned away or unable to fully access parks, monuments, and museums if the government shuts down.
Significantly Limited Housing Assistance for NY Families: During a government shutdown, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program that provides loans for families to buy homes will cease entirely, leaving New Yorkers struggling to access critical assistance for homeownership. A government shutdown would take an even harder toll on New York’s rural families, as the USDA would be forced to stop processing housing loans, which provide close to $110 million in funding to help over 950 families in rural New York communities buy homes every year. The FHA program that serves NY seniors who need to draw on their home equity to cover living expenses and medical costs will also be suspended. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides housing subsidies, vouchers, and multi-family assistance contracts, will stop operations completely in all 50 states. A shutdown also risks funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides heating and cooling assistance to millions of households, just as the weather starts to turn towards frigid temperatures across New York.
NY Farmers Left High And Dry: New loans to NY farmers and ranchers will halt, marketing assistance loans will pause, and technical assistance will stop due to Farm Service Agency offices closures, all of which create hardship for farmers who are in the middle of their harvest season, as well as those planning for next year’s. Schumer said these farm loans provide $53,347,000 in funding for farmers in New York every year. Critical payments that our farmers depend on, through initiatives like the Conservation Reserve Program, Dairy Margin Coverage and the Agriculture Risk and Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC) programs, will also not be made, nor will post-disaster payments. These USDA services and post-disaster payments are especially vital to the NY farmers that were severely impacted by this past May’s deep freeze, which hit vineyards, orchards, and farms across Upstate New York.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a video press conference to discuss the cost of a government shutdown to New York. Gillibrand is calling on Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans to work with Democrats to fund the government and stop jeopardizing Americans’ livelihoods.
“A shutdown would mean that kids go hungry, troops don’t get paid, and the work of the critical federal agencies that make sure our food and water are safe goes undone,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It would have wide-ranging and long-lasting effects across our economy. We can’t afford to have it happen. I’m urging Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans to stop playing games with Americans’ livelihoods and work with Democrats to keep the government working.”
A government shutdown would be catastrophic for New York’s working families. Over 70,000 federal employees in the state – as well as at least 30,000 service members – would be furloughed or forced to work without pay indefinitely.
More than 400,000 New Yorkers who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), including nearly 330,000 infants and children, would be at risk of losing critical food assistance and going hungry.
A shutdown would also hinder or prevent the Food and Drug Administration from conducting food safety inspections; the Environmental Protection Agency from conducting drinking water inspections; and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from conducting workplace safety inspections – putting the health and safety of all Americans at risk.
The IRS could partially shut down as a consequence of a government shutdown, which would lengthen wait times for individuals seeking assistance.
A shutdown may also delay passport processing, disrupting New York’s tourism industry because of passport and visa backlogs, and force the National Park Service to turn away visitors at national parks, monuments, and related historical sites. This would affect tourism revenues in New York from sites like the Statue of Liberty and the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site in Buffalo.
BATAVIA – Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Health have identified Genesee County as having a high average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter).
