Susan Howard appeared before me when I was Orleans County Court Judge hundreds of times over the course of two of my three decades on the bench. She was one of the most active attorneys in Orleans County.
She was consistently well prepared and professional. She handled a wide variety of cases, but her career has been mostly devoted to criminal prosecution. As first assistant to District Attorney Joseph Cardone, she handled felonies, taking them to trial whenever justice demanded. She is a fine trial attorney. Her work ethic, intelligence and knowledge of the law were always evident.
Susan has a polite and kind demeanor, but she has demonstrated great toughness when it was called for. She has dealt with some dangerous characters boldly and without fear. Is I see it, this combination is the best of all worlds.
I served as Orleans County District Attorney and I know what is required to do the job. Susan has what it takes, and I am confident that she will make a fine District Attorney. I am happy to endorse her candidacy without reservation.
She is motivated by her desire to contribute to the county she has called home her entire life. She will not let you down.
It is very sad that speeches given by our president, Joe Biden, seek to divide the people of this great country by repeatedly banging the “anti-MAGA,” fear-the-threat-to-our-nation white supremacy drum.
It is disingenuous on his part to demonize white conservatives and Republicans who, in his opinion, harbor a deep sinister hatred for people of color. Talk about smearing half of the American population.
I pivot now to the article in the Orleans Hub that covered the huge fundraiser held by residents to support Saul Harrison, an Albion man who has cancer. Photos show nearly one thousand residents—of all ethnic and racial origins in Orleans County—rallying to donate to this man’s family in a time of need. Perhaps our president should be shown this Hub article, as this truly is indicative of America that I know and love.
Biden’s own words at Howard University last May might be a chilling statement that ironically reflect his own need to divide America: “There are those who demonize and pit people against one another. There are those who would do anything and everything, no matter how desperate or immoral, to hold onto power.” Enough said.
Christine Bronson
Crossville, TN
Formerly a Barker resident and teacher at Medina HS
NYS has a mature economy. The boom years are eloquently portrayed in articles by the County Historian. Processors and manufacturers have moved on to states offering various advantages.
If one examines the demographic distribution of earnings it becomes quite clear that an imbalance exists in this state. I will use South Dakota as an example given it is the destination of a Clarendon resident and I have experience there.
South Dakota is fiscally balanced. Seventy percent of the population earn their income through self employment or employment in private enterprise. In stark contrast, NYS is exactly opposite. The majority here earn their living from funds derived of taxes, fees, grants etc. I encourage you to contemplate that for a while. Consider all of the individuals in your circle and how their earnings are originated. Teachers, prison guards, municipal employees, even garbage collection.
All of it is just a redistribution of wealth not new generation. It is fiscally unstainable and yet also self perpetuating. How unusual is it to find one of these earners to vote for anything that would negatively affect their earnings.
Please don’t misinterpret my point. These are integral positions in our society and who does not seek to better themselves? However we must be cognizant of this precipitous decline in balance. It should, at least, be considered every time a new social worker is added for mental health treatment, a grant for a new fire truck or a high school stadium; the examples seem endless. To quote Llewellyn Rockwell “Someone, somewhere, sometime has to pay.” Furthermore, when governing bodies are comprised mostly of these wage earners, the decision making tends to flow with the philosophy of “budget increase” and “spend it or lose it.”
This State has many great attributes. One has only to be removed from it a short time to appreciate the diverse topography, moderate climate and bounty of produce. If we disagree on everything else, perhaps we can at least begin there. I remain optimistic and hope to convey a more mindful approach by decision makers.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina needs a bigger fire hall and a new ladder truck, but the costs are overwhelming for a village of about 6,000 people when nearly the entire costs falls on village taxpayers. This photo from last March shows the ladder truck from 1996 barely fitting into the fire hall. The village is moving forward with a new ladder truck at $1.7 million that will be taller. It won’t fit in the current firehall. The new truck will be ready in about two years, giving the village sometime to get an addition done. However, that addition and repairs to the existing fire hall are projected to be around $6 million.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 January 2024 at 9:58 am
It doesn’t take a genius to see Medina is set up to hit a fiscal wall. The day of reckoning has arrived. The village faces a major expense for a new fire truck and an addition to the fire hall.
The village has a bustling downtown, many manufacturers and a strong sense of pride and civic involvement. It should be able to afford an upgrade to its fire hall and fire apparatus. But Medina is in Orleans County, where the village gets crumbs of the local sales tax.
The village in 2024 will get $160,160 in the county’s sales tax that will likely be close to $25 million. That is less than 1 percent of the total. The county has kept the total sales tax share to the four villages and 10 towns at the same level since 2001 – $1,366,671.
Since then the sales tax revenues have more than doubled. Wal-Mart and many chain stores came to the community, boosting the sales tax. Internet sales are taxed. Prices have gone way up, leading to a higher sales tax, but still the villages and towns haven’t got any of that increase.
The county says it has expenses and can’t afford to give up a little more of that sales tax, even if a lot of that money is generated by the work of the villages and towns. The county has acquired a former bank in Albion for the treasurer’s office for $250,000. It bought the former GCC site for probation and the district attorney’s office for $975,000, and 25.7 vacant acres near that property for $500,000. These purchases came without any public input. They weren’t talked about for years, with a clear need long established like the ladder truck and fire hall addition in Medina.
Medina is one of the county’s shining successes. It is a Hallmark movie scene with its many well-attended events, including the very popular Parade of Lights. The county loves to brag about Medina, showcasing the village in tourism brochures and with economic development outreach.
But the county can’t budge with the sales tax.
Medina is in a tough spot. It has committed to a $1.7 million purchase for a new ladder truck. The current 28-year-old truck often is out of service due to malfunctioning parts. The village should have replaced it about a decade ago. It has asked and begged for more sales tax from the county but has been rebuffed.
Medina has no choice but to move forward on the ladder truck. It’s an important truck in responding to calls in Medina, and also on mutual aid in nearby towns. The village will be paying $159,000 annually over 20 years for the new ladder truck. (Medina also has a 32-year-old fire engine in need of replacement.)
The village also must do an addition of its fire hall to accommodate a taller ladder truck. The current size is smaller than a typical ladder truck and would need to be specially ordered at a high price tag. The fire hall addition and repairs to the current fire station from the 1930s would be about $6 million, according to projections from an engineering firm.
The village is looking to scale back the building project, and residents are speaking out about the high taxes in the village. They assume the village is spending too much – that it’s the village’s fault.
The problem is a lack of revenue to help offset the local property taxes. If Medina’s local sales tax share had been doubled, like the county’s, since 2001, that would give the village another $160,060 – enough to cover the annual debt service for the new truck without putting more on the village taxpayers.
I thought the county legislators would be alarmed last March when Medina’s villages taxes crossed the $20 per thousand threshold. Medina’s tax rate went from $18.85 to $21.15 per $1,000 of assessed property. Albion is close behind at $19.13. These tax rates are way out of line compared to villages and small cities in neighboring counties. The City of Batavia for example just released its 2024-25 budget with a $8.96 tax rate. It receives $7,783,469 of the Genesee County sales tax.
As the village tax rates continued to climb and fire trucks got older, I thought for sure the Orleans County legislators would realize their stinginess with the sales tax (when many other counties share 50 percent with towns, villages and cities). But the county remains iron-clad in opposition to freeing up any more for the villages, even when they wrestle with critical equipment purchases while the county pursues projects that don’t seem so essential.
Orleans County isn’t the only one giving the Village of Medina the shaft. The state has kept Medina’s AIM amount at $45,523 the past 15 years. The state gives $715 million annually to cities, villages and towns through Aid and Incentives to Municipalities. This is a small amount of the state sales tax share given back to municipalities to help them with their costs of delivering services. Nearly all of the $715 million goes to cities, even ones smaller than the Village of Medina get much more.
Medina, population 6,047, receives $45,523 or a per capita of $7.53. The City of Mechanicville, population 5,163 in Saratoga County, gets $1,649,701 for a per capita $319.52. The City of Salamanca in Cattaraugus County, population 5,929, gets $928,131 in AIM funding or $156.54 per capita.
What a difference it would make for the Village of Medina, which operates very much a like a city, if it was getting Salamanca money from the state. The Orleans Hub has railed about this disparity for years but our state legislators don’t have news conferences or put out press releases on this issue.
The Village of Medina’s biggest obstacles to success: Orleans County and New York State.
Clearly, America was made great again in large part by a Republican President from Illinois. President Lincoln’s crusade for social justice ended when the Union Army defeated the Confederates and ended the Civil War. About a dozen states had attempted to secede from the Union to protect the “freedom” of slaveholders to maintain slavery. Lincoln was assassinated for his commitment to American ideals.
In the approximately 160 years since then, the United States has moved steadily forward. It confronted much of its’ shameful past and became arguably the greatest country on the planet. Coming to grips with that past is one of the things that defines America’s greatness. But it is not the only one.
Others include our leadership roles in two world wars, standing up to totalitarian regimes in the Soviet Union, North Korea, Cuba and communist China, and being instrumental in creating the United Nations. The list is a long one.
Whether the tyrants were fascists such as Hitler, or Mussolini, or communists such as Stalin, Mao or Castro, the United States has been there regardless of the party our President belonged to.
The Presidents of the later 20th century responded affirmatively to calls from leaders such as Martin Luther King. Jr. and Gloria Steinem for desegregation, equal rights under the law, and greater rights for females. They acted in a manner consistent with our history generally, and the 14th and 19th amendments, in particular, as well as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I suspect Presidents Washington, John Adams and Jefferson might have applauded them.
Reagan, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, McKinley, Truman, Roosevelt and others have answered the call. Being there for a nation such as Ukraine has plenty of historical precedent.
While we have made our share of mistakes, America has slowly—but surely—moved toward greater heights with the passage of time regardless of the political party our President came from.
Hopefully, we won’t “pull the plug” on a major thorn in Russian dictator Putin’s side after the Ukrainian people have sacrificed so much already.
As far as I can tell, America has never needed to be made “great again” as it never ceased to be great after Lincoln led us through the Civil War.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has introduced legislation called “Unborn Child Support Act,” (H.R. 7052), which she claims, in her press release would take a “solid next step in ensuring 5th and 14th Amendment constitutional protections for the next generation of citizens, preborn boys and girls.”
Granting 5th and 14th Amendment rights to the unborn would also mean providing federal benefits to unborn citizens of immigrants even though their parents are not entitled to benefits. Furthermore, it would prevent the deportation of pregnant immigrant women since the unborn is a U.S. citizen.
Seriously, this legislation would restrict the freedoms of women. Women could be ordered to follow a certain diet or face child abuse charges. If a woman smokes or drinks alcohol that could be considered child abuse.
Pregnancy would prevent treatments for other life threatening conditions such as melanoma, or breast cancer since treatment would be toxic for the unborn. Women who seek medical help with pregnancy would have to know that their most personal medical information will have to be shared with law enforcement.
In Ohio a woman, whose water broke at 21 weeks and was told that her fetus was not viable, was charged with abuse of a corpse. If Ms. Tenney’s legislation passes every miscarriage will be investigated as murder. Ms. Tenney’s legislation will be the end of privacy for women. If you value your privacy, I urge you to vote for the Democratic candidate.
On Jan. 18, 2024, Donald Trump on Truth Social asserted that “All US Presidents must have complete & total Presidential immunity, or the authority & decisiveness of a President of the United States will be stripped & gone forever.”
As the US Circuit Court, the second level of appeal, is very likely to rule against his immunity request, he is now focused on the US Supreme Court which will be the final arbiter/decision making body.
At the end of his message he added, “Hopefully this will be an easy decision. God bless the Supreme Court.”
Is complete and total immunity good for the country? Is Trump on the right track here in asking that Presidents have this kind of power?
Republicans make a big campaign issue about border security and immigration policy every election cycle. Let’s face it, there is a crisis at our Southern Border. But Republicans are not interested in trying to find solutions.
In 2006, in 2013, in 2018 and 2022 when bipartisan proposals were being talked about Republicans backed out of the deal. In fact, Republicans have proposed a budget this year that would eliminate 2,000 Customs and Border Protection agents. This past December, Mr. Biden proposed $13.6 billion to bolster security at the southern border which includes significant funds for Border Patrol agents, Immigration judges and other border security measures.
Furthermore, President Biden has bolstered support for Central America to reduce migration from those countries. Republicans have again refused to even consider the legislation. Forbes reporter Stuart Anderson wrote that research from the National Foundation for American Policy demonstrates that “Biden administration’s humanitarian parole programs have been far more effective in reducing illegal entry than the Trump administration’s enforcement-only policies.”
If Republicans actually cared, they would have at least talked or debated the legislation President Biden proposed. Instead, they decided it is far more valuable to demonize foreigners and blame Democrats than to work on solutions, (which we pay them to do), and resolve the crisis. If the issues of border security and immigration are important to you, and I hope they are, then you have to vote for Democrats.
First, we had the birther lies about Obama and now it’s Nikki Haley is foreign and can’t be elected either. Trump lies all the time, but this is the first time I can remember that he’s recycled a lie.
Chumps, losers, criminals, bigots, bullies, racists, are flocking together. Generally, I could care less personally about the fools – people are people – but the really bad one’s can vote. And the one thing we know for sure is that Trump has not taken back his promise that in his second term he would: pardon himself, get retribution, and will not stand with our allies.
I look closely at Fox and they didn’t bother to report that Trump’s attorney admitted Tuesday to the DC District Court in his next term President Trump position is that he could order “Seal Team 6 to kill his political rivals.” It’s sickening and Trump and that cult’s members say things about the law which in any other era, or in an ordinary criminal matter, would be rejected as nonsense. When it comes to him they are accepted to perpetuate the lie.
So many generations of wonderful men and women of all political stripes have come together for democracy and the Rule of Law. Now we have no choice but to add MAGA to the list of criminals, racists, and Nazis who have no rightful place among us.
I wonder if even history will be able to figure out if the bubble of outrageous lies reached out and swallowed unwitting people or if people in MAGA were already warped and ready to destroy their country and its place in the world given the opportunity.
What I do know is that the Rule of Law is not about hurting people. That stalking and harming people is wrong. That murdering political rivals is never right.
The rules of law are there to prevent unfair destruction of individuals and property; and the norms of relations with our allies are there to prevent war. Those are the truths that always have, and always will, protect us.
The MAGA cult continually demonstrates it has become the new evil in the world. A person either can stand up for what is kind, right, and time honored or can live in and leave this world in their own special hells bearing MAGA’s stain.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The wall facing the top of the stairs on the second floor of the County Office Building includes a photograph of David Bellavia receiving the Medal of Honor from former President Donald Trump. The wall for Medal of Honor recipients was unveiled on March 23, 2022, but the other four recipients of the medal haven’t been included. This is how the wall looked last week.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2024 at 2:56 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature nearly two years ago unveiled a wall for Medal of Honor recipients from the county. On the day of the unveiling only one of the five recipients was included: David Bellavia. He received his medal on June 26, 2019 at the White House from President Donald Trump.
Bellavia is the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest military medal. He was honored for his acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. Bellavia led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit.
Four others in the county also have received the prestigious medal. County officials at the time of the wall’s debut said they wanted to coordinate with the families of the other recipients about a public recognition for those honorees. It’s been nearly two years and still only Bellavia is on the wall.
David Bellavia, a Lyndonville native, was joined by many high-raking officials, including former Congressman Chris Jacobs, when the wall for Medal of Honor recipients was unveiled nearly two years ago.
County officials should move fast to get the other Medal of Honor recipients on the wall. It’s long overdue. A public recognition program could happen close to Memorial Day in May. It would be ideal to have descendants of the honorees there, but the county shouldn’t push this off in perpetuity if relatives can’t be tracked down.
The wall should include all five honorees, dating back to 1869. The current display is a slight to the other recipients and the public.
Former Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard researched the four other Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County. He shared the following details in previous columns and presentations when he was historian:
Pictured include from left, in front: SSgt. William Simpkins, Jr., Sgt. George Buske, Sgt. Stanley Moody, TSgt. Forrest Vosler, Sgt. Ralph Burkart, and Sgt. Edward Ruppel. Back row: Capt. Merle Hungerford, 2Lt. Walter Ames, 2Lt. John Henderson, 2Lt. Woodrow Monkres, and 2Lt. Warren Wiggins.
• Forrest Vosler of Lyndonville was assigned as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II with the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group stationed out of England. On Dec. 20, 1943, Vosler’s fourth combat mission. The plane was under fire and had two engines knocked out with the aircraft windmilling out of control.
When a fellow aviator was knocked unconscious, Vosler maneuvered himself into the tailgun. Another 20-mm shell hit the aircraft, sending shrapnel into Vosler’s chest, face, and eyes. He continued to deliver defensive fire upon German aircraft until the attacks subsided. Nearly out of fuel and losing altitude quickly, the crew jettisoned every piece of equipment to lighten the plane.
Vosler, severely wounded and floating in and out of consciousness, begged the crew to throw him out of the plane to reduce weight. As the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing. A passing Norwegian trawler quickly picked up the crew and transferred them to a British rescue vessel. One of Vosler’s eyes had one of his to be removed, and the other required extensive surgery.
• John E. Butts of Medina is the only one of the five Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County who received the honor posthumously. He was recognized for his heroic actions near Cape La Hague, France in World War II.
John Butts was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of valor in the Normandy invasion in June 1944.
Butts was in command of four squads in Easy Company of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Division charged with driving towards St. Colombe, France. On June 12, 1944, 2nd Battalion progressed so quickly towards their objective that the remainder of 9th Division thought the 60th Infantry was lost. In fact, 2nd Battalion had pushed forward through heavy German resistance and established a bridgehead at the Douve River. Butts was wounded twice, first near Orglandes on June 14th and then at the Douve River just two days later; he refused medical treatment on both occasions in order to remain with his men.
On June 23, 1944, the 60th Infantry led the 9th Division’s advance from the Cotentin Peninsula as part of the breakout from St. Lo. While moving towards Flottemanville-Hague, Butts and his men encountered a German stronghold atop a hill, well defended with tanks, machine guns, and mortars. Butts was struck in the stomach by machine gun fire while progressing towards the objective. Pulling himself into the shelter of a nearby hedgerow, he planned a flanking maneuver with his Sergeants.
One squad was to progress up the left flank, another up the right flank, and the third was to remain in reserve. Holding one hand over his midsection and the other grasping his carbine, Butts charged the hill alone. The might of the entire German stronghold fell upon him directly, Butts falling approximately 10 yards from his objective. The distraction allowed the two flanking squads to outmaneuver the Germans while the third squad hit the hill head-on.
Awarded on July 19, 1945 by President Harry Truman, John Butts’ Medal of Honor citation references the two painful wounds he received in the days leading up to the deadly assault on June 23, 1944. His citation concluded by stating, “By his superb courage, unflinching valor and inspiring actions, 2d Lt. Butts enabled his platoon to take a formidable strong point and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion’s mission,” President Harry Truman said in the citation for the medal, which was awarded on July 19, 1945.
• Thomas Wilbur Kates, born in Shelby on May 7, 1865, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion, a nearly two-year uprising led by the Yihetuan (or Boxers) against foreign imperialists in China.
Kates accepted enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps at New York City on July 21, 1899. Pvt. Kates and other Marines were dispatched to China on June 18, 1900, where they remained through October 10, 1900. According to his citation, Kates was awarded the Medal of Honor “…for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 1st Regiment (Marines), in action in the presence of the enemy during the advance on Tientsin, China, 21 June 1900. Private Kates distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”
Maj. Waller wrote in a letter dated July 6, 1900, that “…of the men I wish to say, while all in the engagements we participated in, behaved in such a manner as to bring forth the highest praise from the foreign officers…Cpl. Thomas W. Kates.”
He continued, “…the specifically distinguished of these being Corporal Kates and Privates Campbell and Francis, with the Colt gun.” According to the Report of the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps dated September 29, 1900, these three men remained with Lt. Powell, holding a position with an M1895 Colt-Browning Machine Gun until all but Campbell and Powell were gunned down. They destroyed the gun to prevent it from entering enemy hands before they commenced their retreat.
• Charles D. Harris, who fought in the Civil War, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Apache Wars in 1869. The specifics of the engagement and the actions that warranted the awarding of the medal remain shrouded in mystery. After the war, Harris returned to Albion and lived a quiet life until his passing on September 6, 1895. He is buried at Mount Albion Cemetery.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Former Orleans County Historian Matt Ballard speaks on Oct. 29, 2019 during a dedication of a graveside marker for Charles D. Harris. He received a new headstone at Mount Albion Cemetery, following the efforts of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Medal of Honor Historical Society.
I hope people realize their surroundings when living at the recovery center on Butts Road in Albion, especially with young children.
I have lived on Butts Road since 2018 and since then I have seen numerous coyote sightings going back 3-plus years, either in my side woods between my house and the railroad tracks, on the south side of my house in those woods or even in the back woods.
These coyotes have come out during their normal mating season, to different points of the winter and even during the summer. One sighting I have is a coyote coming out at 10:47 in the morning in August! I also found a deceased deer that was a product of a pack of coyotes.
I have pictures of them coming within 10 feet of my house to within 100 yards of my house. I’m highly concerned about mothers taking their young children on those planned hiking trails, or even the playground, always have to worry would happen if a coyote is hungry. I have contacted the DEC about the sightings and they told me they can’t do anything unless a child is physically harmed.
I have tried to convey this concern as well as putting this recovery center next to a railroad underpass that for a week last September had two accidents and three near-miss impacts literally within a week, as an example.
Hub Editor Tom Rivers recently suggested the excellent idea that the county create a task force to come up with ideas to increase sale tax revenue. As part of the task force work, I suggest the hiring of a consultant to look into luring computer data centers to the county.
In Loudoun County, Virginia where I live, the county has data centers. In 2023, the Loudoun County government received 663 million dollars in data center tax revenue.
Listed here are only a few data centers the county/task force should contact: Microsoft, AWS, Google, ViSA, COPT, Evoque, Cogent, Equinix.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2024 at 11:28 am
Sales Tax Task Force needed to pump up revenue in Orleans County
Orleans County, despite recent gains in its sales tax revenue, ranks last among small counties in per capita sales tax.
Among counties with 50,000 people or less, Orleans took in $560 per capita in 2022, or $22.5 million in a county with a population of 40,148.
Other similar-size counties bring in much more sales tax, key revenue that can offset property taxes and allow local governments to provide more services or tackle infrastructure and other projects.
Essex County in northeastern New York, for example, has fewer people than Orleans with 37,314. Yet the county’s sales tax collections hit $41.0 million in 2022. Its per capita sales tax of $1,099 is the highest among counties under 50,000 people.
Data from U.S. Census Bureau and State Comptroller’s Office, with per capita calculations by Orleans Hub.
Closer to Orleans, Wyoming County has nearly the same population with 40,338. But Wyoming’s sales tax is $2.3 million more in 2022 – $24.8 million compared to $22.5 million.
Orleans County has experienced a big increase in sales tax revenue in recent years, jumping 27 percent or by $4.8 million from $17.7 million in 2019 to $22.5 million in 2022.
That increase, partly fueled by sales tax on internet purchases, has helped the county tackle capital projects, especially culvert and bridge projects, while staying below the tax cap.
The county keeps 94 percent of the overall amount and shares 6 percent with the 10 towns and four villages.
But why is Orleans lagging compared to other smaller counties? That is a question our local officials should wrestle with. If Orleans could match Wyoming, that would be $2.3 million more to offset property taxes. Orleans Hub posted a story on Jan. 3 that Orleans has the highest effective property tax rate at 3.40 percent, compared to a state average of 1.62. That rate is determined by taking the median household tax and dividing by the median home value. In Orleans, that is $3,445 divided by $101,400.
In Wyoming, the median property tax is $3,114, more than $500 cheaper than in Orleans. The effective tax rate in that county is 2.62 percent. Wyoming benefits from the presence of Letchworth State Park and the county has numerous signs directing people to the park.
Orleans County should step up its signage directing people to Lake Ontario and other attractions. The County Legislature should share more of the sales tax with towns and villages so they have more incentive to improve their signs and offer more amenities to bring people into the community and to stay longer. The county hasn’t increased the sales tax share to the towns and villages since 2001. Many of those municipalities have continued to upgrade parks and try to improve the quality of life despite no increase in the sales tax.
The Legislature was smart to create a full-time tourism director position and boost its efforts with sportsfishing promotion. But the numbers show there is more work to be done. The county needs a sales tax task force that looks at the successes in these other smaller counties, and seeks to replicate them here.
The task force should include representatives from villages, towns, the county, the Chamber of Commerce and others in the business community. The county should put out an RFP for an impartial consultant to help brainstorm ideas, look at the other counties for inspiration and come out with a better system for sharing the money.
At the very least, let’s do a “Shop Local – and lower your taxes” campaign. The Chamber could take the lead with that.
More sales tax means more revenue to offset our high property taxes, and also reflects a more dynamic local economy with people spending more at businesses in Orleans County. Everyone would win if we can make bigger strides with sales tax, especially if the county shares more of the money with the villages and towns. It would knock down our tax rates and create more job opportunities.
The village of Albion put in a new splash pad at Bullard Park that opened in 2022. The splash pad has been popular among local families, and draws people from outside the community. It is part of about $800,000 in Bullard Park improvements that also include an amphitheater, pavilion with bathrooms and a walking trail.
At the 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Dec. 24, at St. Joseph’s, an older gentleman was having a medical issue. About 10 minutes into Mass, an ambulance was called when it became apparent that the man was having difficulties.
Ten more minutes went by, with no sign of any ambulance. The prayers for intentions were read, the gifts brought up, and the collection was taken up. At this point, I’m guessing 30 minutes had gone by. A call was made to the Albion Police Department.
It’s my understanding that the ambulance called for was coming from Murray. There was a second Monroe ambulance sitting at Taco Bell. Again, it’s my understanding that the Albion Fire Department wasn’t called nor was Mercy Flight, or the second Monroe ambulance to assist. Perhaps 40 minutes had passed, with still no ambulance in sight.
I believe they showed up as Communion started, so possibly 45 minutes had gone by? It’s my understanding that a call was made by the officers to get the ambulance at Taco Bell over there. I may not have the timing right, nor who made the calls, but as anyone attending a Catholic Mass knows, you don’t need a watch to know how many minutes have passed in relation to the rites. Since I was sitting with my new friend holding his hand, waiting for the ambulance, I only have this to say to the Town Board members who voted for the contract with Monroe Ambulance – shame on you!
Shame on Monroe Ambulance for not calling for assistance. Think about that the next time your father, grandfather or any relative goes to church services. Where do you want your ambulance to come from? Down the street, around the corner, or from the furthest point possible?
With that being said, thank you to Pete Sidari, Jay Kovaleski, the Albion police officers, Father Dick Csizmar, and Fran Dibley, who spent most of Mass outside in rough weather waiting for the ambulance. I am so glad all of you were there to help.
And to my new friend, I hope you are well, and I’ll expect to see you in the back pew.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Ashley Jackson, left, and Michelle Waters from Tree House decorated a light pole on Main Street in a candy theme. They are shown on Dec. 5. Waters said driving around Albion with her 5-year-old daughter and seeing the decorated posts made the holiday season more fun. “It feels like something from the Gilmore Girls.”
Editor:
So that’s a wrap, Christmas is over. Or is it? That is not the end of it my friends!
Look how beautiful our village looked this year with a few lights and lots of community members!
We have Christmas trees lit up on the Orleans County Courthouse lawn. All the light poles have been decorated by families who adopted a light pole for Christmas. They are all different and all of light poles are beautiful. All of them designed with love!
We had Christmas caroling every week with hot chocolate and cookies offered at Hearth and Home real estate. Our last caroling event was at Hospice. Never have I had the feeling of true Christmas as I have had this year.
Some of the churches in our historic Courthouse Square opened their doors for the Hometown holiday. I wasn’t aware of the beauty that is right there. The stained glass, the art, the warm welcome feeling you get when you walk into these wonderful places of worship.
There was a fantastic Tea with Mrs. Claus, complete with sweet treats, some presents, and some wonderful stories about the big man himself – like did you know meatloaf and mashed potatoes are his favorite food after his long trip? You even got to take home a beautiful antique tea cup.
Then there also was Christmas Rock painting at the Hoag Library, some great gifts were made while munching cookies and listening to Christmas music at this fun event! A fantastic residential light decoration contest, I’m happy I wasn’t a judge for that as there are so many homes that look totally amazing! Way to step it up Albion!
There was also a window decoration contest for the businesses. But there is more, lots more to do to make our community a destination for holiday fun! Next year it will be bigger than ever! Bring Christmas back to Albion is so proud of all of you for making this happen. We are starting the planning for next Christmas already. Come and hear some of the plans for Christmas 2024. We have our first meeting of the year at the Hoag library on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.
We need you. Please come join us! I can’t help feeling that Charles Howard is smiling as he looks down on us from the heavens above. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Lori Laine
Kent
Mike and Faith Smith from the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen decorate a Christmas tree for the OK Kitchen. The tree included ornaments listing the many organizations and sponsors that volunteer and support the kitchen located at Harvest Christian Fellowship.
