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‘Kindness Counts’ – Oak Orchard first-graders donate food and money to pantry at St. Peter’s
Photos by Ginny Kropf: First-grade teacher Allison Woodburn and some of her students check out the food pantry at St. Peter’s Church during their visit on Wednesday. From left are Alex Moore, Xander Say, Caleb Martin, Emily Caraballo, Jason Wetherbee and Damien Swartwood.
MEDINA – The Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Church got a big boost on Wednesday with the annual visit of Angela Woodburn and Miss Gross with their first-grade class from Oak Orchard Primary School.
Eighteen students and their teachers and aide Lily Strickland walked from the school to St. Peter’s Church on West Avenue, wearing backpacks full of food items to donate to the food pantry.
It has become an annual tradition for the class to visit the food pantry, bringing food items and monetary donations for local residents in need.
The visit is part of the class’s community service project, called Kindness Counts, teacher Allison Woodburn said. As part of the project, students are encouraged during the school year to bring spare change from home to support a classroom initiative focused on helping others.
This year’s donation was a record-breaker for the class.
“We are thrilled to share that the students raised an incredible $336.50 for the food pantry, the highest total ever,” Woodburn said.
Diane Mazur, a volunteer at St. Peter’s food pantry, helps Azalya Elliott and Emily Caraballo select canned goods for a food basket.
After the donation period ends, the students take part in meaningful lessons about money. They learn the names and values of coins, count the total amount collected and discuss how the funds can be used to make a positive impact in their community, the teacher said. Throughout the project, the class reflects daily on the quote, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
“Our goal is to inspire students to lead with love and compassion in all they do,” Woodburn said.
Together, the class created a list of needs and wants for the pantry. Families were invited to meet Woodburn at Aldi’s on Friday afternoon to shop for the items. With the remaining funds, they purchased gift cards to Aldi’s, which will allow the pantry to continue meeting needs as they come up.
When the class at arrived at St. Peter’s on Wednesday morning, they were greeted by Diane Mazur and Denny Dubai. Head of the pantry, Robin Dubai, had a conflicting appointment and couldn’t be there, but Mazur, her sister, and Denny, her husband, filled in for her.
Diane Mazur, a volunteer at the Emergency Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, accepts a donation from Rylee Davis and her teacher Allison Woodburn. The first-grade class makes an annual visit in support of the food pantry.
At the pantry, the children presented Mazur with the gift cards, unloaded their backpacks, learned how to stack canned goods in the pantry and choose food for a family.
In return, Mazur and Dubai presented the children with bottles of bubbles and donuts to take back to school with them.
The students were Cyrus Bloom, Emily Caraballo, Cameron Cologgi, Rylee Davis, Azayla Elliott, Logan Foss, Quinten Mack, Caleb Martin, Tahlia Mendoza, Ryder Molina, Alex Moore, Xander Say, Magnolia Schroeder, Wrenyn Sheehan, Royal Spencer, Damien Swartwood, Jason Wetherbee and Ivy Wroblewski.
Robin commented the next day on the children’s visit, saying what a boost it gives the food pantry. She is very appreciative of the class and other grades who have done things for the pantry, including the Student Council at Wise Junior High School, who is donating peanut butter and jelly.
“That couldn’t come at a better time, as we just learned our supplier is out of peanut butter and jelly,” Robin said.
Robin said she also worries about the children whose families are struggling and wonders if they will have enough food during the summer.
Robin has been heading the food pantry for 30 years and always welcomes volunteers to help out.
Mrs. Woodburn’s first-grade class from Oak Orchard School unload the food items from their backpacks, which they donated to the food pantry.
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OONA members oppose data center at STAMP, citing ecological threat to Oak Orchard, huge tax incentives to company
Editor:
We, the members of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association, are writing to voice our opposition to Project Double Reed, a hyperscale data center at the STAMP industrial site in Alabama, NY.
We are a group of neighbors living near Point Breeze, a beautiful, peaceful area where the Oak Orchard River flows into Lake Ontario. As a center for tourism, recreational boating, and world class fishing, our neighborhood is an important contributor to the economic health of Orleans County, generating around $30 million in annual economic activity.
The mission of our group focuses on local issues – efforts to improve and protect our community. Therefore, although a large number of strong arguments against the data center can be and have been made, we will focus only on two with the largest local implications: 1) the data center will increase the risk to the health of the river, a river that is already ecologically impaired, and 2) the data center will likely impose a financial burden on our members.
The river is a fragile ecosystem and is already considered by the NYSDEC to be impaired with phosphorus, a material that is key for the formation of the large, smelly, unsightly algae blooms. The current plan is for STAMP to pump treated sewage (which inevitably contains phosphorus) into a tributary of Oak Orchard Creek at Oakfield, where it will ultimately make its way to our community.
High phosphorus levels can lead to explosive algae blooms, and possibly to the ecological “death” of the river from oxygen depletion. Why is the data center important to this process? The data center is key to completing an electrical substation that will bring hundreds of megawatts of power to STAMP, power that is needed for a full buildout, with many companies and potentially a huge increase in wastewater (high-end estimates of perhaps millions of gallons per day) that is destined for our neighborhood.
What about the economic issues? The data center will consume unfathomably large amounts of electricity. The expectation is that the center will apply for and be granted low cost “hydropower” rates. As many reputable publications have noted, the inevitable result of this infrastructure buildout will be higher rates for ordinary ratepayers and businesses.
A second economic factor involves the astronomically high tax abatements offered to the data center, around $470 million, or about $3.9 million per job created! Less tax paid by the data center will result in an economic burden – either increased taxes or reduced services – for ordinary citizens and businesses. Please note that the corporation benefiting from the low electric rates and the tax abatements – a Fortune 50 company that has a soft commitment with STAMP – is one of the richest on the planet.
We stress that the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association is not anti-growth or anti-jobs. We enthusiastically support local businesses and sensible, smart economic growth initiatives. Our area needs more good jobs. In our view the proposed data center at STAMP is neither sensible nor smart. We do not support its construction.
The Members of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association
Point Breeze
(Submitted by Dave Giacherio, Recording Secretary of OONA)
‘Green energy’ projects, including those at STAMP, put strain on natural resources
Editor:
In response to a recent letter I would like to clarify that the Plug Power project at the STAMP site has been on pause since January 2024 due to financial difficulties and nothing to do with the Inflation Reduction Act being under attack.
I, as a lifelong Republican, felt it necessary to address this. I would also like to encourage area residents to search out info on how Data Centers require massive amounts of electricity to power servers and cooling systems. Cooling data centers can be water intensive, potentially impacting local water resources.
I believe the age-old rule of supply and demand will factor in here and our electric rates will increase. I would also encourage local residents to search Silicon, a critical component of solar cells and see that it is far from a green energy process from extraction (open mining) and production which involves the use of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource.
It’s my belief that most of these so-called green energy projects are far from it and must be researched prior to accepting what some people might tell you. Back in the day between 1976 and 1992 a consumer advocate show, hosted by David Horowitz, was on TV his closing statement was “Stay aware and informed and don’t let anyone rip you off.”
If someone is telling you how great green energy is remember David Horowitz quote and do research!
Scott Carlton
Medina
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2 county programs get national laurels
Major Felony Crime Task Force and Tourism Department both cited by National Association of Counties
Press Release, Orleans County government
ALBION – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson today announced that two Orleans County programs, the Orleans County Tourism Advertising campaign and the District Attorney’s Major Felony Crime Task Force, have been recognized with a 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
“As I have always said, Orleans County has very talented people doing amazing work on behalf of our residents and national awards like this show others outside our area recognize that as well,” said Johnson. “Our Tourism Department and District Attorney’s Office are clearly second to none.”
Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more.
Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits and not against other applications.
“The Achievement Awards shine a spotlight on the hard work and innovation happening in county governments across the nation,” said NACo President James Gore. “This year’s winners highlight the dedication and creativity of county leaders and our teams to building thriving communities and providing the best possible services to our residents.”
The Tourism Department was recognized for its 2024 advertising campaign that used significant in-house resources to develop marketing campaign across multiple platforms.
“Our Tourism Department, led by Dawn Borchert, may be small with two-full and two part-time employees, but we still produced creative and effective marketing campaigns that competed with large tourism organizations that have budgets to hire outside ad agencies,” said Johnson. “Tourism is a major driver for our local economy and these marketing efforts are showing a demonstrable impact.”
The District Attorney’s Office was recognized for its Major Felony Crime Task Force, whose purpose is to combat the increasingly complex and destructive issues of drug abuse, trafficking, related violence and major felony crimes. The coordination of various law enforcement agencies within the county and outside of it, form a united front against this growing problem.
“We applaud District Attorney Susan Howard and all those involved in the Major Felony Crime Task Force for maximizing law enforcement resources to fight serious crime and keep our communities safe,” said Johnson. “Not only has this been an effective tool in fighting drug crimes and related behaviors, it also is a great example of how coordination across multiple entities at the local level can produce significant results.”
The Tourism Department and District Attorney’s Office will be recognized for their NACo awards at this coming Tuesday’s meeting of the Orleans County Legislature.
N-O League honors Track Players of the Year
Contributed Photos – Wilson’s Savanna Jones and Roy-Hart’s Braden Ricker have earned Niagara-Orleans League Track and Field Players of the Year honors. Jones is a three-time N-O All-League meet champion in both the 100 and 200 sprint events. Ricker is a two-time champion in both the 100 and 200..
Banquet honors Lyndonville’s student-athletes
Contributed Photo – Highlighting this week’s annual Lyndonville High Athletic banquet was the presentation of a number of special awards. The recipients of those awards and the awards they received included, from left, Ty Holmes (U.S. Marines Award), Brody Hazel (Mike Fuller Memorial Award), Emma Freas (Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award), Addison Dillenbeck (GR League Scholar-Athlete, Tri-Athlete Award, “Bub” Meland Award, Alfred Schmitt Memorial Award, Paul Howell Memorial Award, Ted Hettig Memorial Award, Coaches Award, Stan Sherwood Award), Natalie Rath (Harold Dix Jr. Memorial Award), Maddox Smith (Harold Dix Jr. Memorial Award) and Lane Woodworth (Paul Howell Memorial Award).
In addition to the special awards the banquet included the presentation of a number of team awards. By team those recipients are as follows:
Girls Volleyball: Most Valuable Player – Addison Dillenbeck, Most Improved Player – Sarah Corser, Queen of the Court – Hannah Fox
Girls Soccer: Most Valuable Player – Alexa Robinson, Coaches Award – Isabella Groves, Most Improved Defensive Player – Abby Alexander, Most Improved Offensive Player – Arnie Sturtevant, Hustle Award – Lilly Raduns, Outstanding Defensive Player – Brooke Robinson
Boys Soccer: Most Valuable Player – Brody Hazel, Scholar-Athlete – Juan Alberdi, Outstanding Offensive Player – Colton Smith, Unsung Hero – Michael Alexander, Most Improved Player – Barrett Alexander, Outstanding Defensive Player, Jesus Reyes-Rosario, Rookie of the Year – Amir Zimmerman, Coaches Award – Chanse Amsdill and Austin Fonda
Girls Basketball: Most Valuable Player – Addison Dillenbeck, Most Improved Player – Hannah Fox, Outstanding Defensive Player – Alexa Robinson, Coaches Award – Lilly Raduns, Heart and Hustle Award – Isabella Groves
Boys Basketball: Most Valuable Player – Lane Woodworth, Defensive Player of the Year – Juan Alberdi, Most Improved Player – Lyric Raduns
Wrestling: Most Outstanding Wrestler – Ty Holmes, Most Improved Wrestler – Chanse Amsdill, Coaches Award – Shannon Withey
Baseball: Most Valuable Player – Colton Smith, Most Improved Player – Juan Alberdi, Coaches Award – Thomas Blake
Softball: Most Valuable Player – Arnie Sturtevant, Most Improved Player Brooke Robinson, Coaches Award – Emma Freas, Bandaid Award – Isabella Groves
Track and Field (boys): Most Improved Player – Devin Dix, Coaches Award – Aidan Allen
Track and Field (girls): Most Improved Player – Violet Ostrander, Coaches Award – Alyssa Prine
Medina will host Albany Symphony, fireworks on July 2 to celebrate Erie Canal’s 200th
Provided photos: Medina’s Canal Basin will host the Albany Symphony and other programs on July 2. The symphony will begin its concert at 8 p.m. with fireworks to follow.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina on July 2 will be hosting the Albany Symphony as part of a day-long celebration of the Erie Canal’s bicentennial, a day that will be capped with fireworks.
The New York Power Authority and NYS Canal Corp. have set five concerts from the symphony from July 2-6, events that will feature the debut of commissioned compositions.
Clarice Assad
At Medina, the symphony will perform outdoors in the Canal Basin beginning at 8 p.m., and play a composition by world-renowned, Brazilian American composer Clarice Assad. Her composition is on a “Sound Capture Journey,” as she began crafting a new orchestral work on the theme of the sound of nature and the environment and along the Erie Canal.
Assad visited Medina in March and she and others recorded sound snippets from around Orleans County, collecting personal stories about local connections to nature, the environment, and individual sense of place.
Assad’s composition will be performed by the Albany Symphony as the centerpiece of the “Water Music New York: More Voices Festival” on July 2. The free day-long event commemorates the bicentennial of the Erie Canal and celebrates the waters that connect everyone through local food, arts, music and outdoor fun.
The festival promises a special appearance by Orly the Ox, the Orleans County Bicentennial mascot, and concludes with a fireworks show. There will be yoga, face painting, wildlife displays, artisans, a history talk about the Medina Sandstone and the Erie Canal, performances by the popular local bands, and other activities.
The concert series continues July 3 in Utica, July 4 in Seneca Falls, July 5 in Fort Plain and July 6 in Schuylerville. M & T Bank is a sponsor of the events.
“As we reflect on 200 years of the Erie Canal and contemplate its next century of use, we’re focusing on revitalization, recreation, arts and culture,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton. “This partnership with the Albany Symphony Orchestra embodies all those themes by bringing people together at Canalside communities for free and inclusive concerts that celebrate the unique aspects of the communities where they are taking place.”
The themes for the original compositions include environmental justice on July 2, immigrant communities on July 3, women’s rights on July 4, Indigenous stories on July 5, and Black experience on July 6.
“As the Erie Canal nears its third century of operation, we are so excited to embark on a grand new adventure with our wonderful partners at the New York State Canal Corporation,” said Albany Symphony MusicDirector David Alan Miller. “In anticipation of the Erie Canal’s momentous bicentennial season, we have engaged five brilliant composers who have immersed themselves in five gorgeous canalside communities and have created visionary new works for our orchestra and community collaborators exploring the vibrant history and culture of our great state.
“We cannot wait to celebrate with thousands of residents and visitors at free daylong festivals that include delicious food, fun outdoor activities, historical explorations, and family-friendly arts, culminating in fabulous orchestra concerts featuring these dazzling new works. It is our hope that our music will spark dialogue, expand perspectives, and inspire everyone to experience and cherish the beautiful canal system that flows through our state and is so much a part of New York State’s past, present and future.”
Click here for more information on the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival.
Conservative Party chairman decries ‘shady tactics’ from Shelby town supervisor
Editor:
This is my response to the Shelby Town Supervisor. Plain and simple we had a set date for interviews just like Shelby. Neither you, nor the Republican-endorsed candidates, or your town chairman made an effort to make intent. The Conservative Party-endorsed Republicans made their intent early and came for an interview on the set date.
I am the Chaiman. I do not tell my committee who to vote for. I make it clear to the candidates that they are not guaranteed an endorsement and it’s up to the committee interviewing them not me who gets endorsed.
I also make it known that everyone in the room is elected conservative party committee, and no one is there who does not belong there. I accept whoever they endorse. I make it clear that if a candidate seeks or takes the Working Families Party endorsement, (Communist Party) we will pull their endorsement.
The candidates that came before us were totally qualified. How is that? They attended meetings and workshops for years. They knew what was going on. They had documentation and FOILS to back up their case. They presented themselves as conservatives, not one bit liberal as you accuse, sir. Just like you did when you came and then governed the opposite.
Your town is a mess. It’s not made up. “Nothing to see here” is insulting. These candidates have better things to do than run for public office. It’s being done because they are at ends wit. Are you to blame for all of it? No, but the tactics you are using are out of the Democrat Party playbook, so you have that backwards.
Mr. Supervisor, we endorsed you before. We gave you the benefit of the doubt because you had a great resume but from what has transpired over the last two years, I can guarantee you, had you come again you would not have gotten the endorsement. The Republicans may endorse incompetence and shady tactics, but the Conservative Party does not do that. How can I say these things, well here’s why.
I wasn’t going to publicly bring this up but here’s how it went. After we did our endorsements, about when the petitions were about to circulate, I got a phone call from your town Chairman asking me about interviews. He acknowledged that it was late and was wondering if there was still a chance.
I explained that it was too late and petitions were made up and about to be circulated. He let me know Mr. Heminway was a Democrat that changed parties. I have news for you, most of the Republicans in this county are Democrats (RINO’s) and you can tell by the way they govern and the tactics they use but that’s for another letter.
About another week or so goes by and I get another phone call from your chairman asking me if I can just sign a paper authorizing you and the other candidates that he endorsed, no interviews, no nothing, just put his guys in because “he doesn’t want to have to deal with our endorsed candidates in November in the general election.”
I can tell you the conversation got real tense after that. Can you imagine calling another party’s chairman and asking him to screw over his committee, his candidates and make a complete fool of himself to do him a favor or as I call it tamper with the election.
The total disrespect and delusion of this man that I thought was friend and we had endorsed before having the gall to make such a request. I repeatedly told him during the conversation that I could not believe he could even ask such a thing, I could not believe it.
He blamed you for the phone call Mr. Supervisor and the other candidates. He said you were on him to call me and ask me this. I told him I would never ever do what he was asking to my committee, my candidates and my party, repeatedly. Mr. Supervisor, that is not corrupt? That is not shady? You expect me and others not to believe what is being said about you when a tactic like that was used on me?
Oh, it wasn’t over yet, your town chairman hadn’t finished convincing me he had lost his mind, in my opinion, oh no. The petitions start circulating and I get a call from my Shelby committeeman stating that he had been to a house and the registered conservative would not sign his petition because your town chairman had been there with a conservative and already got a signature for you and the candidates so they could be on the conservative line. Yeah, kind of twilight zone.
He even went to the Board of Elections in which they shut him down completely. Only my secretary and I can authorize the Conservative Party-endorsed candidates, and I would never as I made it clear ever risk my reputation to conspire to rig the election in favor of incompetence and inexperience.
To be clear the Shelby chairman never offered me anything to do that, but it burned his bridges at both ends with me and the Conservative Party and he won’t be welcomed back. Some people should never be entrusted with power because it turns them into monsters. So, there you have it. On June 24th please vote for the Conservative Party-endorsed candidates, James Heminway, Larry Waters and re-elect Ed Zelazny because Shelby deserves better.
Paul Lauricella
Conservative Party Chairman
Medina Lions Club presents awards and scholarships, welcomes new president
Photos courtesy of Medina Lions Club: from left include new Medina Lions Club president Mark Irwin, Melvin Jones Award recipient Carol Bellack, and Jason Cogovan, the Lion of the Year.
Press Release, Medina Lions Club
MEDINA – The Medina Lions Club recently celebrated the end of the 2024-2025 program year with a fantastic turnout at the Junior Wilson Sportsman’s Club. The evening was filled with joy and excitement, as we gathered to honor many of our esteemed members.
Pete Kaiser installed the 2025-2026 board members, ensuring a smooth transition of leadership. The president for the upcoming year is Mark Irwin, who is taking the reins of the club for the second time, a testament to his proven leadership and commitment.
Carol Bellack, a true pillar of our club, was awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones Award, the highest honor a Lion can receive. Her dedication to managing our poinsettia sales and her seven-year tenure as the Club secretary are truly remarkable. She is an inspiration to us all.
Jason Cogovan was honored by outgoing president Thomas Robinson as the Lion of the Year. Jason is genuinely committed to the Medina Lions and assists in various areas, including the Medina Medical Loan Closet, Medina Lions Park cleanup, and the community yard sale, among others.
Our outgoing president, Thomas Robinson, concluded the evening by presenting the Lions Club scholarships to Josephine Pollock and Sofia Gagliard.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Thomas for his leadership and look forward to his continued support as a valuable resource to the Lions! GRRR!
Thomas Robinson, the club’s outgoing president, presents scholarships to Josephine Pollock and Sofia Gagliard.
Job Corps students, left in limbo, say program makes huge difference in their lives
‘This hurts a lot of people, and overall the economy. Because you have a bunch of people going home without a job, homeless and about to be not beneficial to society or themselves.’ – Unique Weeks
Photos by Tom Rivers: These Job Corps students include from left: Sienna Jack of Rochester, Unique Weeks of Bronx and Austin Show of New Hampshire and later Holley.
SHELBY – On May 29, the federal Department of Labor made an announcement that has threatened 99 Job Corps centers around the country, including the one in Orleans County in Shelby.
The DOL put those centers on “pause,” effectively shutting them down, claiming the centers were not successful – graduation rates were too low and incidents of violence too high.
DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced the 99 Job Corps would be suspended by the end of June. She said the centers haven’t been fulfilling their mission.
The DOL said the graduation rate nationwide at the centers is at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student a year at $80,284. The average cost per graduate is $155,600, according to the DOL.
The National Job Corps Association countered that the DOL skewed the data, using information from 2023 when centers were still impacted by Covid restrictions.
Job Corps is currently operating at about half of its capacity because the DOL hasn’t allowed centers to do their own background checks on students. Since the DOL took over that duty in March, students haven’t been admitted.
The Job Corps graduation is historically closer to 60 percent, not the 38.6 percent from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024, the association said. Job Corps said that prior to Covid restrictions in 2020, the average cost per Job Corps graduate was $57,312.
Three Iroquois Job Corps students and two of the center’s leaders spoke with the Orleans Hub recently.
Unique Weeks, 24, is from the Bronx. He recently completed the carpentry program and was planning to do the advanced training program at the Grafton Job Corps in Massachusetts. His younger brother also just started in Job Corps.
Weeks said he will try to find employment as a carpenter now that the advanced training program has been put in limbo.
He was working a “dead-end job” at a 7-11. He arrived at the Iroquois center on a cold day in Feb. 21, 2024. It was snowing.
Weeks learned to appreciate the setting of the Iroquois Job Corps in a wildlife refuge.
“It’s peaceful, it’s quiet,” he said. “It’s very therapeutic for city kids.”
Austin Shaw, 21, has been in the electrical program at Job Corps the past year. The New Hampshire native was living in Holley when he rode his bike to the center for a tour. He has embraced the program, on a path to a career after being homeless and making money stealing copper. He was slated for the advanced training program in Westover, Mass.
Shaw said he is grateful for all the training at Job Corps, which was at no charge to him. The students have access to power tools and other equipment, under the watchful eye of committed instructors.
“This place gave me discipline,” he said. “I was nervous and my life was chaotic. I was homeless and a copper thief.”
He said he will go back to New Hampshire and try to find a job or perhaps join the Navy. “I don’t really know,” he said.
He said the center is safe with very few fights. The incidents cited in the media and the DOL report “make it out to be way worse than it actually is.”
Sienna Jack, 19, of Rochester has been at the Job Corps for four months in the painting program. She said she will return to live with her family.
She said the Job Corps program has a 60-year track record of success.
“This is a free program that’s been around a long, long time,” she said.
Eric Seppala, left, is the center director of the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby and JT Thomas is the director of operations.
Eric Seppala is director of the Iroquois center. He started as the security manager. He said the center has to “over report” incidents, including fender benders and damaged Chromebooks.
Job Corps has a “zero tolerance” policy for violence. Any incidents and the student misbehaving is out of the program.
The center was scrambling in early June to help students earn as many credentials as possible. Many won’t be able to fully complete their training program, based on the DOL order, but Seppala said they can still earn credentials such as being a flagger at a work or construction site, operating a fork lift, knowing customer relations, and other skills including OSHA credits.
Many students also are working towards earning their high school diplomas.
A lawsuit has paused the Job Corps directive from the DOL until June 25. The DOL ordered the 99 centers to close by June 30. The directive told the centers to send all students home by June 6. Although the lawsuit “paused” that order, Iroquois leaders said many students had already gone home by June 6.
The local Job Corps set up a “transition team” to help students get their paperwork in order, create resumes for job searches, and also to connect many with their Department of Social Services in their home counties. Many of the students were homeless before enrolling in Job Corps.
“We’re trying to give them every tool they need,” said JT Thomas, the director of operations and a 17-year employee at the Job Corps.
Thomas started at the Job Corps as a teacher, helping students with reading and to earn their high school diplomas. He was the academic manager before the operations director.
The following question and answer interview was conducted at the Iroquois Center on June 4:
Question: If you were the reporter what would you be asking about the Job Corps program?
Austin Shaw: I would be asking why are we really closing? What benefit does it provide to close all of this? Because we are giving people, who otherwise have little or no opportunities – people like me who were thriving off of copper theft or people that were in very bad home environments – a free opportunity.
We’re always being told to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, make something of yourself. Well, we came here to do that. Now look what just happened. People can’t do that anymore. And that is the real question. What benefit is there to closing this? Would you rather your tax dollars go somewhere else?
Unique Weeks: I think it will become like the college situation. It was free and now it’s not. People won’t be doing it because they won’t be able to afford it. There are plenty of trade schools that can do it already, but they are somewhat unattainable or they require a certain amount of years done. This one (Job Corps) you can come without your high school and still get a trade done and get your education.
Maybe they don’t want to give that to people for free. Maybe they want people to pay for it. But they are endangering society by that because they are taking away people’s livelihoods and the opportunities to get jobs. There may be more jobs but there is not a lot of people who can take them because they refuse to train them and there are few schools that do this inside of a school.
In 2024, there were more people going into trade schools than any other. This generation, they are calling us the blue-collar generation right now. This hurts a lot of people, and overall the economy. Because you have a bunch of people going home without a job, homeless and about to be not beneficial to society or themselves.
Austin Shaw: They’re back to where they were at the start. Even the wealthy states, and I’m from a wealthy state in New Hampshire, there is that underbelly of people who can’t get out of that. The average trade school there is like $3,000 to $4,000. That’s a substantial amount of money.
Sienna Jack: My biggest comment would be you’re taking away opportunities for people, especially the underprivileged people of color, the young students. You have to look at the homeless population and where do those kids go.
Question: JT, what have you enjoyed about your career here?
JT Thomas: The success of the students. The students come in with pretty much nothing. They tell you their stories. When I was their high school instructor, one of their projects was to write a story about themselves. The obstacles they had to overcome just to get to the center is impressive. My first speech to them is, ‘You guys inspire us to do our jobs.’ They inspire us. They are overcoming everything. They may say Job Corps does it for them, but Job Corps is just an avenue for them to do what they can do. We’re just there to support them. It’s the students that do it.
When they say only 38 or 40 percent graduate, these are kids who are coming from being homeless and from the streets. If you have 10 students come here, and 4 or 5 students get a job making more than I do, and people don’t see that as a success? All these other students would be on the streets still or on social programs. People would be paying for them. They would either be in jail, homeless or living off of local or state programs.
It’s the students that we are here for.
‘The students come in with pretty much nothing. They are overcoming everything. They may say Job Corps does it for them, but Job Corps is just an avenue for them to do what they can do. We’re just there to support them. It’s the students that do it.’ – JT Thomas
Question: Eric you’ve been here for how long?
Eric Seppala: It’s about 6 ½ years. Before that I worked in a store and before that I had 22 years as a Genesee County deputy sheriff, and as a night supervisor and afternoon supervisor.
Question: Why Job Corps for you?
Eric Seppala: I was familiar with the program. Years ago they had us as law enforcement come out and we’d be here on pay days for students because they were paying them in cash. They would have one of us out here. We would escort the guy who was getting a considerable amount of cash and bring it back for all the students.
I knew what the program was and it’s close to home. When I had a chance to really look into it, I was really interested. It’s the way it changes peoples’ lives, the students. We’ve had them come from literally living under a bridge for four years and they come here and are as rough and as awful as you can be and by the time they leave a year later, they are walking out and they’re stepping into a job making $25 an hour as an apprentice.
Two years later you hear about them getting their journeymen’s papers and they’re making $40 an hour and they’re doing fantastic. Now it’s not every student but our students do do that. Our students leave here and they’re able to go to work and provide a better living for themselves and their family. That’s what this whole program is about.
Question: How did you tell them the news, that the government was viewing this as a failing program?
Eric Seppala: What they did is they played with the numbers. They pulled one year that was a bad year. They talked about there being 500 sexual assaults in one year. Well there’s 125 Job Corps sites, so that’s maybe 4 per center. We don’t have that many. We have very few.
You compare these numbers to where these kids come from and it’s so much safer.
That Transparency Report (from Department of Labor) was a bunch of garbage. The numbers in there were skewed. They did whatever they could to make it look worse.
A significant incident here, if someone knocks over a $5 plastic dispenser for napkins in the dining hall, that is a significant incident because it is government property and we have to report it.
JT Thomas: An adult student who is 18 or 19 they can leave the program, but if they leave without putting a pass in, that is an unauthorized exit and a significant incident report.
Question: Why do you think they (DOL) presented the report like they did? Are they against Job Corps?
Eric Seppala: If you look at the whole thing, with first of all them pausing the students from coming in. They stopped the background checks. They stopped them from coming in, and then the next thing that happened is this Transparency Report. Then the next week there are articles about how bad the Job Corps is.
They shut off our students. Then with every student we lose the cost-per-student goes up because we have the same staff in place.
Question: If Job Corps can continue through a court injunction or by Congress, how hard will it be to restart this program and bring students back?
JT Thomas: Every student going home is filling out a needs report. We’re getting all their contact information. If there is a restart, we have told them we will call them back. We will do that if we are given the opportunity.
Eric Seppala: Unless they get rid of the ban on the background checks, it wouldn’t matter. We would have students for up to a year but there wouldn’t be new students coming.
Question: Do you know how many graduates each year for all the Job Corps?
Eric Seppala: When we’re running almost full our numbers are close to 35,000 to 40,000.
JT Thomas: Since the inception of Job Corps, there have been over 3 million graduates.
Question: This center would normally graduate how many?
JT Thomas: It depends on our on-board strength because they have been taking some things away. Last year we had about 150 to 160 on the list of students who graduated or who were graduating. It varies with that. We’ve had 200 to 300.
Question: Would you do two graduations a year?
JT Thomas: We used to but we haven’t since Covid.
Eric Seppala: It’s one and it’s in August. It’s open for students who graduated during that previous year and ones who are on center and who are going to. Last year we had 48 or 50 who walked in it. Once they leave here, I understand it’s hard for them to come back especially for our New York City students but they are welcome to come.
Question: Do you know how many Orleans County students you have?
JT Thomas: That varies. We have room for non-residential students. We have about 8 to 10.
Question: And those would be Orleans and Genesee?
JT Thomas: We have Niagara too.
Question: Where do most of the students come from?
Eric Seppala: Rochester is probably our biggest area. The way it’s broken down is Cassadaga (in Chautauqua County) they’ve been given Buffalo. Ours starts in Niagara County. So we have Niagara County, Orleans, Genesee and we go east to Wayne County. We also get students from New Jersey and New York City. We have partners that we work with that are recruiting down in New York City and New Jersey who are coming here for our trades. They try to connect them to a Job Corps with those trades.
Question: Do you feel like this is the end for Job Corps or it will work out?
Eric Seppala: We’re fighting for it.
JT Thomas: I’m optimistic. Schumer has been a supporter. Gillibrand has been a supporter. Tenney has been a supporter. All of our people have been supportive. Our community is supportive.
For our Congress, we just hope they continue the support.
Question: It must have been difficult to see that report, for how Job Corps was presented?
Eric Seppala: I was reading it and after the second paragraph I could tell it was lies and manipulation. The National Job Corps Association has put out a rebuttal to it.
They are trying not to be political because this is a program for everybody. It’s not a Democratic program or a Republican program. We want everybody to support it because it’s a great program.
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Trump’s violates Constitution with treatment of immigrants, legal residents
Editor:
President Trump issued the Alien Enemies Act on March 15, 2025. The reason for issuing the Alien Enemies Act, according to the White House proclamation, was an invasion by the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang directed from Venezuelan government. (Note, if we are being invaded by Venezuela why did the Trump administration send troops to Los Angeles?)
The Administration alleges that the gang is engaged in “undermining public safety and supporting the Maduro regime’s goal of destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas, including the United States.”
Mr. Trump’s own intelligence disputes these claims, meaning there is no supporting evidence for the Alien Enemies Act. Mr. Trump is using this act to detain and deport citizens of foreign countries especially citizens from Central and South America or Africa, (except white Africans), without due process, in violation of the Constitution.
The immigration officers used to detain and arrest immigrants use full military tactical gear and facial coverings to hide their identities like a secret police force. The reason given for the masks is to avoid being doxed by bystanders.
But they are operating more like a secret police force of an authoritarian regime. For example, they targeted legal residents Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk for their constitutionally protected free speech in opposition to Israelian action.
Further, despite a court order preventing the deportation of alleged migrants to a prison in El Salvador, they were deported without due process; also, in violation of the Constitution. Recently, agents have detained and handcuffed officials without a warrant for doing their mandated oversight, in violation of the Constitution.
Contrary to official explanations, video and audio recording show that the officials were not interfering with agents’ official duties. These violation of the Constitution should concern all citizens.
William Fine
Brockport
Some Shelby candidates mislead and spew political rhetoric
Editor:
It appears Washington political tactics have arrived in the Town of Shelby. The far left liberal agenda of attack, mislead, and accuse has arrived in Shelby.
Never in my life have I seen a Conservative Party chairman endorse a life-long liberal Democrat without even giving the Republican-endorsed candidates an interview, let alone endorse the other two liberal candidates.
I thought being a Conservative or Republican meant core values of truth, honesty, respect. But as is apparent by the political flyers and Facebook posts, that is not part of their plan.
Mr. Zelazny voted against joining with Orleans County in fighting the advancement of the STAMP plant (resolution 74-23). He also voted 3 times to give a raise to the town clerk who he rents farm land from. He also voted against the Town Code of ethics law holding elected official to high standards. (Why is that?)
Mr. Zelazny refuses to publicly state his family will not allow a mine to open on his family property. Is that because he knows he just needs a board majority to overturn the protective overlay? Mr. Zelazny can make all the false accusations he wants. He can make political video character assassinations against me, it doesn’t matter.
Mr. Waters falsely accused councilman Schiffer of tax evasion. No need for evidence, just make it public and let the news travel. Doesn’t matter if it’s true. No need to apologize, damage is done.
The statements on Mr. Heminway’s political flyers and rhetoric are pure fiction. If you attended the candidate debate, you witnessed everything he said was “Medina”, “Medina”, Medina”. Not once did he stand up for Shelby.
If you want to know the truth come see me at town hall, or get ahold of me, I’ll answer any questions you have. I am not going to slander or falsely accuse anyone. Do I want you to vote for the endorsed Republican candidates, yes, but the important thing is to vote on June 24th. It’s a right many veterans fought for you to have.
Scott Wengewicz
Shelby Town Supervisor
