Photo by Derek Reiner/Supportive Care of Orleans: Gilbert Cain of Medina, a volunteer at Supportive Care of Orleans (Hospice), was honored this week by the New York State Office for the Aging as an outstanding community service volunteer.

ALBION – Gilbert Cain has volunteered for Hospice (now known as Supportive Care of Orleans) since June 2015. This week, in celebration of the annual Older New Yorkers’ Day, Cain was recognized by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and director of the New York State Office for the Aging, Greg Olsen, in a virtual ceremony.

Because Cain does not have access to the internet, Supportive Care of Orleans streamed the broadcast for him at their Conference and Counseling Center on the Hospice grounds on Route 31 in Albion.

Hospice patients and family members are amazed all Cain does at the age of 85. He has mastered the hospice residence volunteer meal service position and now trains new volunteers. He won the 2018 Hospice of Orleans Volunteer of the Year Award for outstanding volunteer service. In 2019, he provided more than 700 hours of service.

“Gil is the kind of volunteer who takes time to learn people’s favorite foods and makes certain those foods are available,” said Derek Reiner, manager of Development and Public Relations at Supportive Care of Orleans. “Gil has been known to deliver spaghetti dinners, lemon pie and special donuts to patients at all hours of the day and night. Gil donates holiday meals prepared by Tops and Wegmans for residence patients and their families. He works at least six shifts per week in the Martin-Linsin Hospice Residence. Gil also participates in hospice fundraisers and is a friendly, welcoming face around the campus. We can’t wait to welcome Gil and all of our volunteers back to campus once the pandemic ends.”

Cain retired from Lipton’s after 38 years, where he worked as a distribution analyst. In addition to volunteering at Hospice, he is an active volunteer in his church.

Cain would tell others that volunteering is a great way to keep your mind and body busy.

“Volunteering and giving to others is a great way to lift your spirits and feel rewarded at the end of the day,” he said.

Return to top

Provided photos: John Mignano, left, and David Pollock both recently retired after 25 years as corrections officers in the Orleans County Jail.

ALBION – Two leaders among corrections officer sin the Orleans County Jail were recently retired on their retirements. John Mignano and David Pollock both worked 25 years as corrections officers and were lieutenants.

Lt. Michael Christopher sent in the following in the following information about Mignano and Pollock.

John Mignano

John Mignano started full time on Oct. 1, 1990 and retired on June 29, 2020. He was promoted to rank of sergeant after five years as a corrections officer and then was promoted to lieutenant on February 2000.

He was in charge of ordering cleaning materials and inmate products for many years. He took pride in having a clean jail and personally supervised it on the administrative level on a nearly nightly basis.

He is also known to have received over a dozen funny nicknames over his career from staff and inmates. He plans on spending a lot of time with his two young grandsons and has always been an avid German Shepherd owner.

He also is a big Harley Davidson owner and follower often going to Sturgis, South Dakota for the bike rally. He and his wife Janet have frequented the Full Throttle Saloon that was a popular TV series for a few seasons. Interestingly, they have become friends with owners Michael and Angie Ballard.

David Pollock

David Pollock started full time as a corrections officer on Aug. 22, 1995. He retired on Sept. 12, 2020. He was promoted to sergeant in March 2000, and then was promoted to lieutenant in January 2002.

He was also certified NYS instructor, most notably an excellent firearms instructor. He took the most pride in being very precise on facility paperwork, organization, documentation and storage.

He and his wife Sharon plan on spending time with their very young and newly born grandchildren from both his son and his daughter. Interestingly his wife retired from her job the day before his last day.

His retirement decision was made much easier knowing he would get to spends lots of time with the grandchildren and his wife. They spend a lot of time going to craft shows and toy train shows together and both are animal lovers. Dave has a huge hobby of collecting train sets, post cards and is a huge world history buff.

Both John and Dave had farewell parties on June 29th and Sept 10^th, respectively.  The parties were put on by the Orleans County Sheriffs Employee Association Local 2966.

Many current and former employees attended both parties. Both had pizza, wings, cakes and laughs.

Superintendent Scott Wilson, Sheriff Christopher Bourke and Undersheriff Michael Mele attended both parties and presented both with recognition plaques and certificates of appreciation.

Union Vice President Michael Christopher presented both with plaques for their 25 years of service to Orleans County. Christopher has started a 25-year Orleans County employee recognition wall at the jail and in 911 dispatch. The two retiring lieutenants make it seven officers on the 25-year jail wall.

Return to top

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) recently testified in a virtual Zoom New York State Department of Labor public hearing regarding an upcoming decision on resetting the overtime threshold for farm laborers.

Concerned with the rashness of the actions attempted to be taken on this issue, during a pandemic, Hawley suggested that a delay in the decision-making would be most advantageous for farmers and their farms, and that the state should be doing as little as possible to interfere with their already modest margins.

“As someone with farming experience myself, I can tell you that however well-intentioned the lowering of the overtime threshold is for the farm workers, the actual farm employers themselves won’t be able to sustain these changes; certainly not in the economic world we’re living in right now,” Hawley said. “The last thing New York needs to be looking to do is strangle our farms and our farmers into submission.”

Hawley said during his testimony on Monday, “Why would we want to increase costs for our agricultural producers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic economic calamity? Workers are considered family; average wages are $13/hour. In many cases, housing and food are provided. Even during good economic times, implementing mandatory increased labor costs for agriculture is a bad idea. Farmers have little to no control over prices they receive for their product, and with variations in factors like weather, long hours are necessary.”

In a closing note, Hawley said, “We need to protect New York state’s number one industry: Agriculture. [We should] delay the implementation of lowering the overtime threshold.”

Return to top

MONTOUR FALLS – Tyler Harrington, a Medina firefighter, is among 21 graduates from the state’s Recruit Firefighter Training program at the Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls.

The graduates hail from 14 fire departments and represent the Academy’s 79th Recruit Firefighter Training class. The typical 11-week residential program provides extensive fire service training in an environment similar to a full-time fire department.

However, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the training was adapted to accommodate remote learning for the classroom-based portions and to ensure the practical training conducted on-site was done so safely. Upon graduation, all recruits will become full-time firefighters in their respective fire departments when they return home.

“As we continue to move forward in this new world, it’s more important than ever we continue to provide critical training to the first responders out there every day helping communities stay safe and secure,” said Patrick A. Murphy, commissioner of the NYS Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “Achieving firefighter certification is no small task, and to have reached this goal amid a global pandemic is all the more impressive. I congratulate these recruits on a job well done and wish them nothing but the best as they begin their careers in public service.”

During the 11-week program, recruits participate in more than 500 hours of training in both classroom and practical settings. Classes focus on areas such as emergency vehicle and pump operations, flammable gas firefighting, basic rescue technician skills and foundational firefighting training and operations.

Recruits also participate in daily physical fitness training in preparation for the Candidate Physical Ability Test. Upon completion, graduates will have received national certification from the National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications in Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Hazardous Materials Operations.

Return to top

ALBION – Ashley Ames, an incoming senior at Albion in 2020-21, is part of the first ever virtual American Legion Auxiliary Girls State.

Ashley Ames

Ashley is one of 400 young women selected to attend the 79th American Legion Auxiliary Girls State session. The program started June 28 and continues until July 12.

As part of the annual program, outstanding students are chosen from their local high schools to spend a week learning about the inner workings of state, local and county government.

This premier leadership conference is designed to provide practical insight into the workings of the government, promote youth civic engagement, instill a sense of pride in America, and empower the next generation of women leaders, providing them with a network that lasts a lifetime.

Ashley is active in many ways at Charles D’Amico High School in Albion, including Student Council, the school newsletter, drama, concert and marching band, Pride Alliance, National Honor Society, and the Close Up club.

Madison Nardi of Kendall High School also has been picked for the program. Gina Fox of Albion was chosen as an alternate.

“The ALA Girls State experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young women across our state and while we couldn’t hold the program in person, our team worked hard to ensure that this cohort of High School Juniors get to learn some of the important principles of democracy and about the American Legion Auxiliary ” said Jennifer Farley, American Legion Auxiliary Girls State chairman. “Our hope is that after attending the virtual ALA Girls State, the girls will be inspired to participate in the democratic process, volunteer in their communities and be filled with patriotism and pride.”

ALA Girls State:​ The American Legion Auxiliary’s marquee Girls State program, first presented in 1937, is one of the most respected and coveted experiential learning programs presented in the United States.

The program epitomizes the ALA’s mission to honor those who have brought us our freedom through our enduring commitment to develop young women as future leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. The young women become knowledgeable of the democratic process and how our republic form of government works at the state and national levels.

To learn more about the Auxiliary’s mission, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org​.

For more on the Girl State program, click here.

Return to top