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For final concert, Albion elementary chorus teacher picks cowboy classics

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Linda Logan, a music teacher in Albion for 34 years, directed her final concert this evening, leading 117 students in the third and fourth grade chorus.

Logan and many of her students wore western and cowboy outfits. The sang folk song and cowboy medleys, including “Shoo Fly,” “Old Dan Tucker,” “Home on the Range,” “Git Along Little Doggies,” Grandma’s Feather Bed” and others.

“These are songs every kid should know,” she said before the concert.

Logan said she tried to pick fun songs throughout the year. She thanked her students and their parents, many of whom she taught a generation ago.

Boy Scouts will honor Bob and Eric Brown

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2015 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – Eric Brown, right, and his son Harrison served as starters at the Pinewood Derby in Albion in March 2014.

BATAVIA Two brothers in Carlton, who have worked together for years at a fruit farm and running an agri-tourism retail store, will be honored next week by the Iroquois Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Bob and Eric Brown run Orchard Dale Fruit Farm. For more than three decades, the Brown family also ran Brown’s Berry Patch before deciding to close that retail operation this year.

Eric has been an active Scout leader. His two sons, Harrison and Jeffrey, are Boy Scouts.

The family has hosted many Scouts over the years at events at Brown’s Berry Patch, giving them wagon rides and letting them get a taste of farm life.

Bob and Eric will both be presented with “Distinguished Citizen” awards from Orleans County as part of the 40th annual Boypower dinner on May 28 at Genesee Community College.

“Bob and Eric are both being recognized for their years of community service,” said Jim McMullen, the Scout executive for the five-county Council. “They’ve done a tremendous amount to support the local economy with their businesses and they’ve boosted the quality of life in Orleans County.”

That Boypower dinner is a fundraiser for the Iroquois Trail Council. For more information, click here.

Distinguished citizens will also be honored from Genesee, Livingston, Wyoming and Niagara counties. The featured speaker will be Gale A. Buchanan, a leader in the field of scientific agricultural research and former chief scientist for the United States Department of Agriculture.

Holley’s Top 10 recognized by Board of Education

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 20 May 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Kristina Gabalaski – Holley Middle School/High School Principal Susan Cory (middle) poses with Class of 2015 valedictorian Emily Radford (left) and salutatorian Nicole Boyle (right). Members of the Holley Class of 2015 Top Ten were honored during the School Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening with the Soaring to New Heights Awards.

HOLLEY – The Holley Central Middle School/High School was a bustle of activity Tuesday evening during the annual school budget vote. In addition to voting, several other events were held including a concert and the monthly School Board of Education meeting.

The Holley Central School Music Department held its annual chicken barbecue in the Middle School/High School Dining Hall and elementary music students presented their Band and Chorus Spring Concert.

The Holley PTSA held a free ice cream social between 4-6 p.m. in the foyer, where voting was taking place and the Scholastic Book Fair was open into the evening.

During the Board of Education meeting, Holley’s Top Ten graduating seniors were recognized with the Board’s monthly “Soaring to New Heights Award.” That recognition goes to people for giving of their time and abilities to benefit Holley schools.

Emily Radford is the valedictorian and Nicole Boyle is salutatorian. Other Top 10 include Jessica Skehan, Taylor DeSimone, Leah Baker, Tessa McArthur, Mikayla Hargreaves, Jade Underwood, Cole Quiter and Andrew Rowley.

“I’m really proud of this group,” Board President Brenda Swanger told the students. “I feel thrilled for all of you.”

Also during the meeting, Superintendent Robert D’Angelo and board members discussed the reorganization of the district’s Building and Grounds Department.

D’Angelo received permission from the Board to move the B-Shift Coordinator position out of the organizational chart and create the position of Director of Facilities.

Board member Sal DeLuca, Jr. expressed concerns that the buildings currently are “… not being taken care of as they should be taken care of,” and proposed that a Director of Facilities once hired, should have input on how the Buildings and Grounds Department is organized and run.

Albion voters approve $14M capital project and $33M school budget

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2015 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Kelsee Soule, a member of the Albion FFA, puts a special sauce on the chicken barbecues that were prepared today. The FFA had 1,300 meals ready as part of a school budget vote tradition.

ALBION – Albion voters in a wide margin approved a $14.3 million capital project in a vote today. The school budget also sailed through.

The capital project includes work at the three school buildings as well as the bus garage. It was approved in a 313-55 vote.

The project will address numerous maintenance issues, infrastructure upgrades and safety improvements

The $14,370,548 project will be 91 percent covered by state funds. The district has its 9 percent share, $1,286,000, already in a local reserve fund, school officials said.

The project would replace half of the roofs, upgrade parking lots, improve drainage on athletic fields, resurface the track, and add some exterior lighting and utilize more LED lights.

The District Office, currently housed in what was intended to be a temporary metal building in the 1964, would be demolished and those offices would shift to existing space at the middle school.

At the high school, the 1,200 high school lockers that are less than 9 inches wide would be replaced with 800 lockers that are a foot wide. The bigger lockers would allow students to better store their thick backpacks and winter coats.

The capital project would also include stronger doors at school entrances and card access controls.

The fire alarm would be replaced with a new system at the elementary school, which would also see a relocated flag pole to the front of the building, HVAC upgrades, additional exterior lighting, and a new playground on west side.

The elementary school would also receive a shading system on the south side to reduce solar heat gain in the warmer months.

The work at the elementary school adds up to $5,249,261.

The capital project also will replace some single-pane windows in the middle school with more energy-efficient windows, upgrade the sound booth, improve the boiler and heating system, add exterior lights to northeast side of the school, widen the sidewalk by bus loading zone and replace decaying steel hand railing with aluminum ones.

The middle school work would cost an estimated $5,730,265.

The high school library would also be repurposed with new technology to meet the needs of the 21st Century.

The high school track would also be resurfaced and better drainage would be added to the football field.

The high school improvements would cost an estimated $2,851,885.

The capital project would also include work on the bus garage, adding an emergency generator, and new doors and lighting at an estimated $539,137.

The proposed $33,240,940 budget passed in a 313-55 vote. The budget reduces spending by $310,111 and the tax levy will drop by 1 percent to $8,355,939.

A proposition to spend $460,000 for buses passed 314-51. The proposition for $680,411 for Hoag Library passed 241-125.

There were two candidates for two five-year terms on the Board of Education. Incumbent Marie Snyder received 311 votes and Chantelle Sacco received 292.

Governor, Task Force push to streamline farming regulations

Posted 19 May 2015 at 12:00 am

Press Release, Governor Cuomo’s Office

ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced new initiatives to streamline regulatory burdens currently placed on farmers in New York. The first-ever “Strategic Interagency Task Force on Lessening Obstacles to Agriculture” identified new opportunities for improving the regulations for pesticide registration and certification without compromising current environmental protections.

Additional regulatory changes for the benefit of New York agriculture as a result of the Task Force will be rolled out in the coming weeks.

“This administration remains committed to supporting farmers and cutting red tape to make it easier for agricultural businesses to grow and thrive in New York,” Cuomo said. “Through this task force, we are implementing commonsense solutions that will improve business for our farmers and maintain this state’s strong commitment to protecting the environment.”

The Task Force is comprised of leadership from state government and representatives from the agriculture industry. It met five times during 2014, working together to develop recommendations to streamline the regulatory process for the state’s robust agricultural economy to grow. During these meetings, farmers identified concerns on a variety of current regulations and posed them to the task force, which responded with the following solutions:

Easier Pesticide Registration Process

In response to feedback from farmers, the Department of Environmental Conservation improved its pesticide product registration processes by scheduling pre-application meetings with registrants, reducing potential delays. It has also improved notification of new pesticide registrations to applicators and distributors.

Faster Recertification Process for Pesticide Applicators

Farmers using pesticides are required to be certified as private pesticide applicators and take either continuing education courses or a recertification exam every five years to remain current. The DEC now tracks applicator certification status in a new database, which improves the renewal notice process. Later phases will allow farmers to view and update their own information online.

Simplify Categories for Pesticide Applicators

New York State has seven private pesticide certifications. To make it easier for farmers to diversify the commodities they grow, the DEC now allows an applicant to request to switch their category, in most cases, and will propose consolidating the categories to simplify certification requirements.

“Based on these recommendations, the Department of Environmental Conservation has identified actions that will reduce the regulatory burdens on farmers and help them use approved products without weakening environmental protections,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. “Farmers are excellent stewards of the environment and we will continue to work with the agriculture community to promote New York’s agricultural economy and natural resources.”

Jeff Williams, New York Farm Bureau’s Public Policy Director, said the Task Force was able to “look for common sense solutions.”

“Changes to the pesticide approval and certifications processes will create greater efficiencies while maintaining a high level of standards in this state,” Williams said. “New York Farm Bureau appreciates the leadership of Gov. Cuomo’s administration, including the efforts of the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Agriculture and Markets, and the work of the entire committee. We look forward to even more regulatory changes to support New York’s farmers.”

Medina budget passes with 89% approval

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2015 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – Residents gave overwhelmingly support today for a proposed $34,802,870 budget that increases spending by 0.94 percent but keeps taxes the same.

The budget passed 376-46. That’s an 89.1 percent approval rate.

The budget maintains existing programming and will increase enrichment offerings in the elementary and middle school.

The district will have a new member on the Board of Election. Brian Koch had the second-most votes with 264 of the five candidates seeking three-year terms on the board.

There were three open positions. Two incumbents were re-elected with Ann Bunch getting 305 votes and Renee Paser-Paull receiving 246.

Two other candidates were not elected. Former board member Virginia Nicholson received 209 votes and Danielle Class, 147.

School budgets, propositions, BOE candidates all on ballot today

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2015 at 12:00 am

The five school districts in Orleans County will ask for the blessing of local voters today for school funding, candidates to serve on the Board of Education and several other propositions, including library funding and new buses.

Here is a snapshot of each district:

Albion proposes $14M capital project and budget that cuts taxes

ALBION – The school district is proposing a $14.3 million capitol project on Tuesday that will address numerous maintenance issues and infrastructure upgrades.

The project includes work in the elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as the bus garage and athletic facilities.

The $14,370,548 project for building reconstruction, energy and safety improvements will be 91 percent covered by state funds. The district has its 9 percent share, $1,286,000, already in a local reserve fund, school officials said.

Residents will also vote on a proposed $33,240,940 budget reduces spending by $310,111 or 0.92 percent. The tax levy would drop by 1 percent to $8,355,939.

The budget vote also includes propositions to spend $460,000 for buses and $680,411 to be collected for Hoag Library.

There are two five-year positions up for election in Albion. Marie Snyder is seeking re-election while John King is not. Chantelle Sacco is seeking the other position and is unopposed.

Voting for the project, budget and other propositions will be from noon to 8 p.m. in the elementary school’s Conference Room A near the community entrance in the back of the school.

Holley school budget holds tax levy steady; Write-ins will determine one BOE position

HOLLEY – The school district is cutting its budget by about $1.7 million to $23,300,000. The budget keeps the tax levy unchanged at $6,741,780.

Residents will vote on the budget, Board of Education candidates and other propositions from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Holley Middle School/High School Foyer.

The proposition authorizing the purchase of school buses includes the purchase of two full-size school buses, one wheelchair bus and one 30-passenger school bus at a total cost not to exceed $355,000.

The proposition in support of the Community Free Library authorizes the district to raise $108,072 to be used in support of the maintenance and operations of the library in Holley.

In addition, residents will be voting on three Board of Education seats, with one to be decided by write-in votes. The three-year terms of office of current board members Mark Porter, John C. (Jack) Welch and Anne Winkley expire on June 30. Winkley and Porter are seeking re-election. No candidates submitted petitions for the third seat.

Kendall budget doesn’t increase taxes

KENDALL – Kendall residents will vote on a $15,065,842 budget that increases spending by 1.6 percent but keeps the tax levy unchanged.

Proposition 2 would create a school bus replacement reserve fund not to exceed $100,000 annually.

Proposition 3 would allow the purchase of school buses to replace existing vehicles at a sum not to exceed $250,000.

Proposition 4 would allow the creation of a capital improvement reserve fund not to exceed $5 million. Propositions 2, 3, and 4 will have no additional taxes if approved, the district said.

Proposition 5 is the election of one, five-year term member to the Board of Education. Current School Board President Nadine Hanlon is the incumbent and is seeking re-election. She is the only candidate for the open seat.

The vote will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Kendall Elementary School gymnasium.

Lyndonville proposes 5.4% tax cut

LYNDONVILLE – The school district’s proposed $13,253,892 budget increases spending by 0.5 percent, but taxes would be cut by 5.35 percent or by $250,000 to $4,416,578.

Other propositions include $90,653 for Yates Community Library (up from $84,637) and authorization to purchase one 66-seat bus at a maximum $105,000.

Three people are running unopposed for three-year terms to the Board of Education: incumbents Ted Lewis and Michelle Dillenbeck, and Kelly Cousins.

Voting will be from 1 to 9 p.m. at elementary library.

Several candidates seek BOE in Medina; No tax increase

MEDINA – Residents will vote on a $34,802,870 budget that increases spending by 0.94 percent but keeps taxes the same.

The budget maintains existing programming and will increase enrichment offerings in the elementary and middle school.

The budget includes vehicles purchases, which used to be a separate proposition. Taking those out of the regular budget would show a $25,124 decrease compared to the 2014-15 budget, said David Boyle, the district’s interim business administrator.
Medina is the only district with a surplus of candidates for the Board of Education.

The district has five candidates seeking three terms that are three years each. Ann Bunch, Carol Heiligenthaler and Renee Paser-Paull all have terms up for election. Bunch and Paser-Paull are seeking re-election while Heiligenthaler, a former board president, has decided against another term.

Three other candidates – Danielle Class, Brian Koch and former board member Virginia Nicholson – are on the ballot.

Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. in the Board Room at the District Office.

Voters pass Kendall budget, propositions

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2015 at 12:00 am

Nadine Hanlon re-elected to Board of Education

KENDALL – Kendall residents gave strong support for a $15,065,842 budget today. The spending plan passed 172-50.

The budget increases expenditures by 1.6 percent but keeps the tax levy unchanged.
All of the propositions passed with wide margins of support.

Proposition 2 creates a school bus replacement reserve fund not to exceed $100,000 annually. It passed 180-40.

Proposition 3 allows the purchase of school buses to replace existing vehicles at a sum not to exceed $250,000. It passed, 174-46.

Proposition 4 allows the creation of a capital improvement reserve fund not to exceed $5 million. It passed, 174-47.

Kendall residents also re-elected Nadine Hanlon, the current Board of Education president, to another five-year term. She was unopposed and received 199 votes.

Albion honor grads feted at convocation dinner

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers – Elijah Martin shakes hands with members of the Albion Board of Education during Monday night’s academic honors convocation dinner, when 33 students were recogizned for graduating with grade point averages at 90 or higher.

Each honor grad received a certificate noting their achievement.

HOLLEY – Albion Central School honored 33 students who will graduating with cumulative grade point averages at 90 percent or higher. The students and their families were treated to dinner on Monday at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Bill Lattin, an Albion graduate and a former Albion art teacher, was picked to address the students. Lattin recently retired as county historian. He did that job for 36 years and also worked 40 years as the part-time curator at the Cobblestone Museum.

Lattin urged the students to have open minds and not let differences get in the way of their work and service.

“Don’t be rigid in your thoughts,” Lattin said. “Let your mind be expansive.”

Bill Lattin addresses the honor grads during Monday’s program.

He urged the students to take time to enjoy simple pleasures in life, which could be smelling the peonies flowers.

When Lattin worked at the Cobblestone Museum, the organization held several ribbon-cutting ceremonies for buildings that were rededicated or relocated and saved. Lattin always invited Congressman John LaFalce. There was at least one Republican on the Cobblestone Board who didn’t want to see LaFalce, a Democrat, invited to the ceremonies. But Lattin insisted the congressman be welcomed.

LaFalce attended the celebrations. In 1993, the Cobblestone Musuem tried to get the Cobblestone Universalist Church from 1834, a central point of the museum, declared a National Historic Landmark. State officials said the museum would need the support of its congressman. Lattin made a call and LaFalce backed the effort. The Cobblestone Church is the lone National Historic Landmark in the county.

“Don’t burn your bridges,” was Lattin’s advice to the students. “Don’t be afraid especially in politics to reach across the aisle. We need more of that today.”

Nita Bela, one of the honor grads, is congratulated by Michael Bonnewell, superintendent of Albion Central School.

Lattin was thanked by Margy Brown, the Board of Education president, for working with students though the years on many service learning projects.

The students were praised for their years of hard work in the classroom. Many juggled their school work with busy schedules with extracurricular activities and part-time jobs.

Kyler McQuillan is graduating number 3 in the class. He is thankful he doesn’t have to give a speech at commencement. Kyler’s advice to students: “Do your work.”

Kyler McQuillan is congratulated by his parents, Brenda and Sean McQuillan. Mrs. McQuillan presents her son with his honor cord.

Kyler often stayed up late to get his homework done and to study, often after soccer and tennis matches. He insisted on getting enough sleep so his body wouldn’t wear down.

He will major in chemical engineering at the University at Buffalo this fall. He said Albion offers rigorous courses that helped him gain acceptance at UB’s engineering program.

Kyler took advanced placement classes in calculus, chemistry and physics at Albion, classes he needed to get into the UB program.

Dyer Benjovsky kept up his grades while playing golf, hockey and tennis. He took AP classes and also earned 38 college credits while in high school.

His advice to students: “Do your homework.”

He said the honors students had a friendly rivalry, pushing each other to excel in the classroom. He is headed to UB to study aerospace engineering.

Morgan Seielstad is congratulated by Albion Board of Education members Dean Dibley, Margy Brown and Marie Snyder, left.

Students who are graduating with a cumulative grade point average at 90 percent or higher include:

Andrea Aman, Drake Arnold, Jayne Bannister, Nita Bela, Monica Benjovsky, Theodore “Dyer” Benjovsky, Alex Bison, Mallory Broda, Adryan Cheeseboro, Peiyi “Aaron” Chen, Madyson Coville, Amanda Covis, Nicholas Ettinger, Morgan Ferris, Laura Flanagan, Brittany Francis, Elijah Martin, Sara Maxon, Kyler McQuillan, Sara Millspaugh, Dakota Monno, Justice Nauden, Kellie O’Hearn, Charlyne Olick, Carol Pritchard, Cristal Quintana Aragon, Ryan Reed, Kerry Rice, Morgan Seielstad, Jacob Squicciarini, Gabriell Struble, Benjamin Vanacore and Crystal Zayac.

3 arraigned for felony crimes in county court

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2015 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Three people were arraigned in Orleans County Court on Monday for crimes that included driving while intoxicated, drug sales and offering a false instrument.

An Albion woman, 71, was charged with filing a false instrument after allegedly putting false information on her pistol permit application.

Elsie Biaselli of East State Street was remanded to county jail on $5,000 bail. She is currently on probation and has pending welfare fraud charges, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.

Biaselli has a prior conviction of promoting prison contraband for allegedly smuggling illegal drugs in to inside Attica Correctional Facility, where her grandson was an inmate. Biaselli was sentenced to five years on probation in 2013.

She could face up to four years in prison for offering a false instrument.

A Hamlin man was arraigned on four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Joel E. Johnson, 31, of Fox Hollow Street was arrested in March following a three-month investigation into the sale and distribution of cocaine in Orleans County and the Town of Hamlin, the Orleans County Major Felony Task Force reported on March 6.

Law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence and seized over 20 grams of cocaine, a quantity of prescription hydrocodone pills, over $1,100 in cash, and scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia. He is in jail on $5,000 bail.

Jeremy Smith, 30, of Lydun Drive in Albion was arraigned for DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Smith has a prior felony DWI in 2006 and a prior misdemeanor DWI in 2002, Cardone said.

Smith has posted $5,000 bail.