NYS Department of Motor Vehicles

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C–Batavia) today commented on the Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) announcement of new Gold Star Family license plates.

The new plates will give qualifying family members a meaningful way to honor the service and sacrifice of their fallen loved ones and will be offered alongside the existing Gold Star Mothers license plate.

Assemblyman Hawley’s bill, A.2334, has long supported efforts to waive registration fees for Gold Star parents and family members who apply for commemorative plates. He welcomed the unveiling of the new plates and thanked DMV Commissioner and former state Assembly colleague Mark Schroeder for his work in making them available to Gold Star Families across New York. Hawley also said he plans to amend his bill to ensure the DMV includes this new plate when waiving registration fees for eligible Gold Star Families.

Qualifying family members can order the new plates now by visiting the DMV’s website.

“I’m proud to see the DMV take this important step supporting our state’s Gold Star Families and my legislation and providing them with another way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Hawley said. “One of my goals as an assemblyman has been to ensure these plates are accessible and affordable for qualifying families. This announcement marks real progress, and I look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Schroeder and my colleagues in Albany to make sure Gold Star Families will be able to obtain these plates for no registration fee.”

Power outages near 4,000 in county

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke has issued a travel advisory urging no unnecessary driving due to many downed trees and wires causing unsafe conditions throughout the county.

“Please exercise extreme caution when traveling, and only travel if necessary,” Bourke said in a press release sent at 1:55 p.m.

Additional information will be released when the travel advisory is lifted, he said.

“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with keeping our roadways safe,” the sheriff said.

National Grid also reports the number of customers without electricity is up to 3,740 as of 2:35 p.m. That is about 19 percent of National Grid’s 19,724 customers in Orleans County.

Drivers dodge garbage cans, recycling carts on windy day

Photos by Tom Rivers: It’s a bad day to be garbage day with powerful winds knocking over the recycling carts and garbage cans. Drivers needed to dodge a recycling cart and toppled cans on East Park Street in Albion.

National Grid reported at 10:45 a.m. that the number of customers without electricity in Orleans County has increased to 2,147. That was up from 564 just after 8 a.m.

The biggest outages are in the Kendall area. National Grid expects that power to be restored there by 11:45 a.m. and the rest of the county back on line by 3 p.m. today.

A high wind warning is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday with southwest winds at 35 to 45 mile per hour and gusts up to 75 mph.

These garbage cans blew into South Clinton Street in Albion after being emptied by Modern Disposal.

Provided photo: A crew works to restore electricity in Barre on Route 98 this morning around 8 a.m. This is in between the Barre fire hall and East Barre Road.

Powerful winds have knocked out electricity to 564 National Grid customers after 8 a.m. today.

National Grid said the power should be back on in the affected areas by 11:30 a.m.

A high wind warning is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday with southwest winds at 35 to 45 mile per hour and gusts up to 75 mph.

National Grid reports the following outages by county:

• Orleans 564 out of 19,724 customers
• Genesee: 1,228 out of 27,513
• Erie: 1,724 out of 288,213
• Niagara: 177 out of 83,683

Photo by Celeste Morien: This Turkey Vulture is shown in the Oak Orchard Swamps.

BASOM – The annual Christmas Bird Count that was scheduled for Dec. 29 has been pushed back a week due to the powerful winds forecast for Dec. 29.

Those winds, with gusts that could reach 70 miles per hour, make it unsafe for people to be out in the wooded areas, said Celeste Morien, the county compiler.

Last year, 41 counters found 70 species and just over 12,000 individual birds.

The Oak Orchard Christmas Bird Count began in December 1968. The National Audubon Society has been sponsoring Christmas Bird Counts since their inception.

The bird counters will instead be out on Monday, Jan. 5. They will be equipped with spotting scopes and binoculars from dawn to dusk.

The Oak Orchard count is centered on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge at the Orleans and Genesee County line on Route 63. Count volunteers follow routes staying inside a designated 15-mile diameter circle.

Press Release, National Grid

National Grid is increasing staffing and extending evening and overnight work shifts as the company prepares for a severe weather system that is anticipated to begin Sunday evening and continue through Tuesday morning across Upstate New York.

Weather forecasts are predicting heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and wind gusts that could approach 70 mph.

We anticipate large portions of Upstate New York to be impacted, including the shorelines of Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the Genesee Valley, Central New York, Tug Hill, Mohawk Valley, Capital and Adirondack regions.

Additionally, the company has secured external resources to support potential power restoration efforts. The company also has activated its comprehensive emergency response plan.

Customers are reminded to keep safety a priority with the following reminders:

• If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
• Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.
• Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642- 4272. In a medical emergency, always dial 911.
• Stay tuned to local news outlets or the National Weather Service for storm updates, weather alerts
• Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices.
• If the power is out, use flashlights or other battery-powered lights. Do not use candles, which can pose a fire hazard.
• Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
• Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors, and others who may need assistance during an outage.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a flood watch and a high wind warning for Orleans County.

The flood watch is in effect from 1 p.m. today through Monday afternoon with flooding possible from excessive rainfall. The excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

The flood watch includes Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. Widespread rainfall totals of 1-1.5 inches are expected within the watch area, the Weather Service said.

A high wind warning also is in effect from 4 a.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Tuesday with southwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph.

The high wind warning includes Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming and Chautauqua counties.

“Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines,” the Weather Service said. “Widespread power outages are expected. Shallow rooted trees in a saturated ground will be more susceptible to falling. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”