Hanlon and Wilson both went ‘above and beyond’ in 2013

Photos by Tom Rivers – Scott Wilson, the Orleans County jail superintendent, and Nadine Hanlon, the clerk of the Legislature, were both named employees of the year for 2013.

ALBION – Two Orleans County employees were recognized for going “above and beyond” the duties in their jobs, earning both “Employees of the Year.”

The county’s Employees Assistance Program picked an Employee of the Year from a pool of 12 employees of the month. Nadine Hanlon, clerk of the Legislature, and Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson were both honored.

Scott Wilson, the jail superintendent, was picked employee of the month in May. He was instrumental in $1 million of construction renovations and improvements at the jail last year.

Five years ago Orleans County officials worried the state was going to force construction of a new $30 million jail in Albion, a cost that would fall squarely on county taxpayers. The jail on Platt Street, built in two stages around 1970, was crowded and falling into disrepair mainly due to water infiltration.

The state Commission of Corrections gave the county the option of upgrading the Platt Street site. Wilson has been jail superintendent since 2011. The facility has been steadily been improved under his watch, with projects requiring careful coordination on his part due to the presence of inmates and staff.

The project was substantially complete by the end of the summer, but Wilson continued to go “above and beyond,” said Jack Welch, the county’s personnel director.

Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson, left, and Orleans County Chief Administrative Officer Chuck Nesbitt stand on a new roof on top of the county jail in this file photo from August. The roof is part of more than $1 million in upgrades at the jail.

Wilson added about 50 video camera s to the jail at no county cost. Those cameras improve the safety for inmates and staff, Welch said.

Wilson also swayed the Legislature to change a policy, having inmates’ medical costs and prescriptions be billed to their private insurance companies if they have insurance. Before, the county always picked up the tab.

Wilson also works with DSS to see if inmates in the jail are on Medicaid. Their medical costs can then be billed to Medicaid, rather than directly to the county. Welch praised Wilson for being “proactive in reducing the jail’s operating costs.”

Wilson has worked 15 years at the jail, starting as a part-time corrections officer. The Lyndonville native worked his way up to sergeant, lieutenant, shift commander and then jail superintendent. Before working at the jail, Wilson served in the Army, including a tour in Desert Storm.

“There is still a lot of work to do,” he said about the jail.

Hanlon, the Legislature’s clerk the past seven years, was recognized as employee of the month in December.

She works with all of the county departments in her role as Legislature clerk, and also helps prepare the agenda for the Legislature’s twice-a-month meetings.

She worked with the Youth Bureau to plan and promote a “Family Fun Night” on Oct. 17, a first time event in Orleans County. Nearly 200 people attended the game night at the fairgrounds. It occurred the same night as the massive fire in Albion at Orleans Pallet.

Nadine Hanlon is shocked when she was awarded “County Employee of the Year” today by Legislature Chairman David Callard, center, and Jack Welch, the county’s personnel director.

The game night gave families a chance to “unplug” from the TV and computers. Hanlon also worked with the departments in the county to set up displays about the services they offer in the county during the game night.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to get families together,” Hanlon said about the event. “This year we have plans to make it bigger and better.”

Welch said Hanlon and Wilson were both recognized because they took on big projects after they had already won the employee of the month.

“When the good stuff floats to the top you have to acknowledge it,” he said.

The following were named employees of the month between October 2012 and September 2013:

Thomas Ashbery in computer services, October; Janet Cheverie, Department of Social Services, November; Nadine Hanlon, clerk of the Legislature, December; Sandra Pszyk, mental health, January; Troy Phillips, buildings and grounds, February;

William Culverwell, buildings and grounds, March; Jeannine Larkin, DSS, April; Scott Wilson, Sheriff’s Department, May; Patrick McGurn, computer services, June; Maria Garcia, mental health, July; Patricia Urquhart, mental health, August; and Ryan Woolston, computer services, September.

The last time two people were named employee of the year was in 2001 when Sharon Ludwick and Jim Niederhofer shared the honor.

Lyndonville teen advances to Nationals in Alabama

Abigail Feldman

LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville girl was named the Distinguished Woman of New York during a competition at SUNY Albany today.

Abigail Feldman, 17, won the title and advances to the national competition in June in Mobile, Ala. She won while competing with seven other high school seniors from the state.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking but it was such a rush,” Abigail said by phone from Albany.

The Distinguished Young Woman formerly was called the Junior Miss. Abigail’s sister, Margaret, won the Orleans County title for Junior Miss in 2009. Their mother Christina competed in the Junior Miss when she was a high school senior.

“My family has been involved in it and I’ve heard nothing but good about the program,” Abigail said.

Orleans County no longer runs the Junior Miss or Distinguished Young Woman program. Abigail competed in the state event as an at-large candidate. She would like to stir interest in restarting the program in Orleans County.

She didn’t have the experience of going through the competition before today’s state event. But she said she had an advantage in going to a small school district.

“Others had a lot of preparation,” she said. “Being in a small community adds to my confidence and gives me people skills.”

Abigail won the title based on the cumulative scores for scholastics, interview, talent, fitness and self expression. She also won the scholastics award.

For her talent, she played “Flight of the Bumblebee” on the marimba. The daughter of Timothy and Christina Feldman is undecided on her college choice.  She listed sociocultural anthropologist as a career goal.

Abigail won two scholarships at today’s competition. She will be gone for two weeks in June for the national program. The finals will be June 26-28, which falls during Lyndonville’s graduation.

Provided photo

Marisa Hanlon, a junior at Kendall, finished second in Sunday’s district competition for the American Legion Oratorical Contest.  That is good enough to advance tothe zone competition on Feb. 8 in Mount Morris.

Hanlon, 16, won the Orleans County contest last month and advanced to the district event in Kenmore. She was joined by American Legion leaders Larry Montello, left, of Medina and Charles Eberhardt of Holley. Frank Berger, a Legion member from Medina, also attended Sunday’s competition with Hanlon.

She had to deliver a memorized speech about the Constitution that was between 8 to 10 minutes and then give another 3 to 5 minute speech about an amendment.

Provided photo – Sheriff Scott Hess presents a certificate of achievement to Deborah Hughson, who has worked 35 years with the Sheriff’s Department.

Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steven Smith

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess and members of his office staff honored Deborah A. Hughson, the Sheriff’s Confidential Secretary and Civil Supervisor, for completing 35 years of service with the Sheriff’s Office.

Hughson joined the Sheriff’s Office as a clerk on Jan. 8, 1979 under then Sheriff David M. Green. In November 1996, she was promoted to Sr. Civil Clerk and in January 1999 to Administrative Deputy Clerk. On Jan. 1, 2002 she was elevated to her current position. Debbie has served under four different sheriffs and she is the longest tenured current employee in the Sheriff’s Office.

On Wednesday Sheriff Hess presented her with a Certificate of Achievement and a congratulatory letter in recognition of her “35 Years of Dedicated & Faithful Service to the Sheriff’s Office and the County of Orleans.” She was also feted with a celebratory cake.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Marisa Hanlon, a junior at Kendall, delivers a speech about the Constitution during today’s Orleans County Legislature meeting. Hanlon last month won the county’s American Legion Oratorical Contest. She will compete in the district competition on Sunday in Kenmore.

Participants have to deliver 8- to 10-minute memorized speeches about the Constitution. Hanlon spoke about how the Constitution excluded African-Americans and several amendments were needed for African-Americans to have equal rights.

Legislature Chairman David Callard is pictured in back listening to Marisa. Her mother Nadine Hanlon is the Legislature clerk. She is pictured at right.

Marisa is president of the Student Council in Kendall, plays varsity soccer, is a member of 4-H and is a dancer. She serves on the Orleans County Youth Board as a youth representative.

Photos courtesy of Nicole Gramlich – Nicole Gramlich, a former drum major for the Albion marching band, is the trombone section leader for the Syracuse Marching Band. She is pictured at Yankee Stadium for last year’s Pinstripe Bowl.

SYRACUSE – An Albion native will be on the field for the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 in what is typically the country’s most-watched television event.

Nicole Gramlich, 19, will join the 200-member Syracuse Marching Band for a pregame show at the MetLife Stadium outside New York City.

Gramlich is a sophomore at Syracuse, majoring in child and family studies. She is on a pre-med track. Despite a busy course load, she has made time for marching band and also the Sour Sitrus Society, a student-run band that performs at Syracuse basketball games.

Gramlich has traveled to several big cities with the marching band, including Houston, Texas for Syracuse’s bowl game last month at Reliant Stadium.

“I had no idea I would be able to travel so much with the band,” said Gramlich, who is the trombone section leader.

Nicole Gramlich, right, said she has made many close friends through the Syracuse Marching Band.

The former drum major at Albion needed to learn a new technique for marching band at Syracuse because it is a field band with choreography. Syracuse has a national reputation for its band. The group will join with the Rutgers band for the pregame show at the Super Bowl.

Gramlich said the Syracuse band is “extremely excited” to be a part of the Super Bowl.

With the Sour Sitrus Society she is in the front row at basketball games, helping to create an energetic atmosphere for one of the country’s top college basketball teams.

She said the band is a close-kit group.

“If I wasn’t in the band I wouldn’t have met some of my best friends,” she said. “I just love band so much. It’s given me so many opportunities.”

Provided photo – Sheriff Scott Hess, left, congratulates Sergeant Michael Christopher for 20 years of service to the Sheriff’s Department. Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson is at right.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department

ALBION- Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess recognized a member of his staff today for 20 years of service with the Sheriff’s Department.

Sergeant Michael D. Christopher joined the Sheriff’s Department as a correction officer on Jan. 4, 1994 under then Sheriff David Green. Christopher was promoted to sergeant in May 2011.

This afternoon Christopher received a certificate of achievement and a congratulatory letter from Sheriff Hess. Christopher also was feted with a celebratory cake.

Provided photos – The Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming Workforce Investment Board honored Claims Recovery Financial Services as the business of the year in Orleans County. The company employs about 600 people in the county and is looking to fill another 150 positions. CRFS President Cecelia Raines, left, is pictured with Carol Miller, director of Orleans County Job Development Agency.

BATAVIA – A four-county organization that tries to match residents with job opportunities honored Claims Recovery Financial Services as its “Business of the Year” in Orleans County.

CRFS has grown to 600 workers in Orleans County and is adding 150 more as part of an expansion into the former JP Morgan Chase site in Albion.

The Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming Workforce Investment Board recognized the company during an awards luncheon last month. The company was praised for providing jobs to so many residents

The company specializes in claims, helping banks and investors to recover money with foreclosed properties. CRFS employees work with attorneys, county clerks, utility companies and investors from all over the country. CRFS works to recover past-due interest, unpaid principal, unpaid taxes and unpaid insurance on houses.

Robert McElwain is honored last month at the GLOW WIB annual meeting as the program participant of the year. McElwain, a truck driver, is pictured with Cindy Troy from Orleans County Job Development Agency.

The GLOW WIB also honored Robert McElwain as the program participant of the year in Orleans County. McElwain came to Job Development requesting CDL Training.

He had recently lost his job in construction due to a lack of work. He earned his CDL and became a truck driver. He bought his own truck and works and leases for a local company.

The WIB also recognized Shakeyla Dennis, who was involved in the youth program through Job Development. She earned her GED. Last summer she applied for the Summer Youth Employment Program and was hired and placed at Medina Memorial Hospital, working in Records. The hospital hired her full-time after the summer.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Wendy Wilson, president of the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, is pictured at the indoor courtyard of the Martin-Linsin Residence at Hospice of Orleans.

Hospice of Orleans Executive Director Mary Anne Fischer, left, is pictured Hospice Director of Development Marsha Rivers, Lake Shore Savings VP Nancy LaTulip and Wendy Wilson.

MEDINA – Business First honored 25 “Women of Influence” recently and the Buffalo publication picked the president of a local winery as one of the honorees.

Wendy Wilson is president of the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery. She is treasurer of the Niagara Wine Trail. She won an entrepreneurial award from Business First, which honored 25 people for their roles in business and community service.

She has helped to diversify LynOaken Farms into a multifaceted business with a winery, retail store, U-Pick operation and heirloom orchard. LynOaken also packs its own apples and delivers them to 80 stores.

Ten years ago, Wilson left a career in Miami, working in the import-export business to join her family at LynOaken Farms. She runs the winery and spearheads the marketing and customer contacts for the wine and store delivery businesses.

She was nominated for the Business First award by Margot Bittner, owner of the Winery at Marjim Manor in Appleton.

Each of the honorees was awarded $1,000 to be donated to an organization of their choice by by Lake Shore Savings.

Wilson picked Hospice of Orleans. Nancy LaTulip, vice president for the bank, was in Albion this week to present the check.

“I like the work that they do,” Wilson said about Hospice. “They take care of some of the most important times of people’s lives.”

Leonard Oakes also sells Blanc d’Orleans. The winery gives $1 of each sale to Hospice. Wilson presented the agency with a check for $1,111, the proceeds for Hospice from the wine sales.

Provided photo

ALBION – A junior at Kendall won this year’s American Legion Oratorical Contest. Marisa Hanlon competed Saturday against winners from all five school districts in Orleans County.

Students needed to deliver an 8- to 10-minute speech without notes about the Constitution. Hanlon and second-place winner Zach Shaffer of Albion advance to a regional competition on Jan. 12.

Participants are pictured after the event on Saturday at the Albion Middle School. The group includes, from left: Mikaela Cherry of Medina, Jacon Wachob of Lyndonville, Emily Radford of Holley, Jonathan Price of Kendall, Marisa Hanlon of Kendall, Zach Shaffer of Albion, and Paul Fulcomer, commander of the American Legion in Orleans County.

Photo by Tom Rivers – John Burris, left, started Burris Cleaning Service in 1991. He is pictured in front of “The Vac Van” with his employee Mark Proietty.

ALBION – The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle put a call out to its readers, seeking their favorite businesses for a variety of services and products, including the area’s best carpet cleaner.

When the votes were counted, an Albion business won a Silver Award in the 2013 Rochester’s Choice Awards.

John Burris started Burris Cleaning Service in 1991 when he was 21. Burris has one employee, Mark Proietty. They do about 80 percent of their work in Monroe County near the city of Rochester.

The business is based from Burris’s home on Route 98, just north of the bowling alley.

Burris said he is grateful the business has built a following and a good reputation in the Rochester area.

“We do things other cleaners won’t do,” he said. “We vacuum everything before we clean and the carpet is dry before we go.”

Burris has attained master certification in the industry for cleaning carpets, upholstery and oriental rugs. The 1988 Albion graduate travels to see customers in “The Vac Van.”

For more on Burris Cleaning, click here.

Flansburgs, Paneks and Southcotts all recognized

Photo by Tom Rivers – The Flansburg family includes, from left: Ben, Sara, Barry, Carolyn, Amanda and Chris. They were presented with a “Friend of Extension” award on Tuesday.

KNOWLESVILLE – They are dependable, year after year, finding new ways to help 4-H and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

These three families – the Flansburgs, Paneks and Southcotts – should not go unappreciated or publicly recognized, said Ed Neal, president of the board for the Cooperative Extension.

On Tuesday the organization presented “Friend of Extension” awards to the three families. Neal said they all help in their own ways, and have been critical to the success of Extension, 4-H and the annual fair.

Barry and Carolyn Flansburg met as kids and became friends through the fair. Their children joined 4-H and showed animals at the fair, earning many blue ribbons. Now that their kids are grown, Barry and Carolyn are still a presence at the fair. Barry announces the very popular grease pole competition.

The Flansburg children are stepping up as leaders in the community. The three – Ben, Chris and Amanda – are co-owners of BCA Ag Technologies. They work with local farmers in precision agriculture, mapping fields and using GPS, Autosteer and other technology to boost yield and improve soil health.

Chris, 23, has joined the board of directors at the CCE. His sister Amanda, 23, is the newly elected president of Orleans County Farm Bureau. Ben is an officer with the Barre Fire Company. He also met his wife, the former Sara Dresser, through the fair.

“The Flansburgs are always here,” Neal said.

Michael Southcott and his wife Barbara donate countless hours to the Extension. Their daughters were active in the 4-H horse program. Mrs. Southcott was a leader in the Horse Program Development Committee, helping to organize clinics, classes and shows.

Mr. Southcott was a leader of the fund-raising campaign for the new Extension Education Center. That project was paid off this year.

The Panek family – Jim and Kerry and their children – have donated resources, time and money to the Extension.

Neal cited the example of the Paneks allowing a 4-H Lego League Club to use several rooms at an onion packing facility in Albion. The club is able to store Lego robots and supplies so the three teams don’t have to pack up after every meeting.

Alan Panek refurbished the big metal pie pan that was used to make the world’s largest apple pie in 1977. The pan needed repairs and Alan took care of it. It is prominently displayed at the fairgrounds.

Alan’s wife Guin is a former Extension employee. Katie Panek, now Katie Klotzbach, also worked for the Extension. Both of those former employees remain supportive of the Extension programs. Those two and Kerry Panek volunteer as evaluators for 4-H projects, helping to get youths ready to exhibit at the fair.

The family also has been a generous buyer in the 4-H market auction program.

The Extension generally awards two “Friend of Extension” awards each year, but Neal said the organization made an exception this year, wanting to recognize three families with years of commitment to Extension.

(The Southcotts and Paneks were unable to attend Tuesday’s annual meeting to accept their awards.)