By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – One of Marcus Miller’s Jersey cows is pictured at his farm on Thursday.
RIDGEWAY – Six weeks. That’s how long it would normally take to build a milking parlor, to put in the piping, the steel, the refrigeration system and all of the pieces.
That’s been Brent Snyder’s experience. He is the owner of Trapper Creek Enterprises in Attica, which installs milking systems.
Snyder and his team worked with Marcus Miller to put in a system in four days. Today Miller expects to milk his herd of 45 Jersey cows for the first time at his farm since a fire Jan. 6 destroyed his milking parlor.
“You’re not going to find somewhere else where there is a fire and 2 ½ weeks later you’re back milking,” Snyder said at Miller’s farm on Thursday afternoon.
Marcus Miller, left, and Brent Snyder are pictured inside the milking parlor on Thursday. The parlor needs hoses, and some finishing touches. Miller expects he’ll be milking his cows at the site today.
Miller is close to being back in business. On Thursday afternoon, he was waiting on some rubber hoses and the inflations used on the milking units.
He’s been working at a frenetic pace since his milking parlor was destroyed in the fire. Miller and the Amish community torn down that parlor on Jan. 6. Within a few days a new building was erected – the same size at 42 by 70 feet.
Miller, 34, needed milking equipment. He went to a farm in Barker that was no longer milking cows. Miller and his friends used some of that equipment and he bought some new pieces to create a working Swing 10 Paraket Stall milking parlor. Miller will be able to milk 10 cows at a time on each side of the parlor.
He is a member of the Upstate Niagara Cooperative. Officials from the cooperative will be at Miller’s farm this morning, testing his rebuilt system.
Some of Marcus Miller’s Jersey herd has remained at his farm on Fruit Avenue. His milking cows were moved down the road while Miller’s parlor was rebuilt. This picture was taken on Thursday afternoon.
Here is how the site looked on Jan. 7, a day after the fire.
Miller’s neighbor on Fruit Avenue, Jim Smith, has been milking Miller’s cows since the fire. Smith, a dairy farmer, is not Amish.
Miller said many of his neighbors have pitched in to help him get his farm going. He estimated about 60 different people have helped rebuild the milking parlor and get the farm back on-line.
“It’s not what I have done,” Miller said. “It’s what everyone else has done.”
Cows tend to be creatures of habit. Miller is looking forward to getting them back at his farm and settled into a schedule.
“They’re ready to come home,” Miller said. “They like a routine and I’m ready to get back into a routine, too.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Downtown Albion is decorated for the holidays in this file photo.
ALBION – Orleans County saw its sales tax revenue jump 6 percent in 2014, an $883,457 increase, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
State-wide, sales tax was up 3.00 percent, from $26.74 billion in 2013 to $27.54 billion in 2014. Orleans had the biggest gain among the four rural GLOW counties.
Genesee County had a slight decrease, down 0.16 percent or $62,107, from $38,057,036 to $37,994,929.
Wyoming County’s 2014 revenue was almost identical to the 2013 sales tax. The county increased by 0.13 percent or $22,255, going from $16,831,191 to $16,853,446.
Livingston County saw a sizable increase, growing 2.97 percent or by $899,100, from $30,229,388 to $31,128,489.
Orleans saw the most growth of them all, increasing 5.96 percent from $14,819,904 to $15,703,362.
While Orleans saw the biggest rate of increase, the county still lags in sales tax per capita. Wyoming County, with 42,155 residents, has almost the same population as Orleans with 42,883 residents, according to the 2010 Census.
However, Wyoming collects about $1.1 million more in sales tax than in Orleans. The sales tax is an indicator of the economic health of a community, and the money also reduces pressure on property taxes and helps pay for government services and programs.
In Wyoming County, the per capita for sales tax was $399.80 in 2014. In Orleans, the county averaged $366.19 per resident. The sales tax also includes money spent by visitors.
Livingston and Genesee do far better than Orleans and Wyoming. Livingston, population 65,393, has a sales tax per capita of $476.02, while Genesee County (population 60,079) has a per capita for sales tax at $632.42, about $266 more than in Orleans.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2015 at 12:00 am
College pursues $20 million-plus expansion, adding buildings and scholarships
Photos by Tom Rivers – The clock leading to the entrance of GCC in Batavia is pictured with the Conable Technology Building at left. A new “Student Success Center” will be built in front of the clock at what is now a parking lot. GCC in May expects to start site work for the building, shifting the parking lot.
College supporters and staff, including President Jim Sunser at right, gather for the campaign kickoff Wednesday for the college’s biggest building effort since it started in 1966.
BATAVIA – In 1965, a year before Genesee Community College officially started, Carl and Bernice Yunker took up the challenge to help create the college.
They talked to neighbors and friends, and local town and county officials. The idea wasn’t popular. People worried their taxes would go up with a new community college.
The Yunkers and other GCC supporters were able to convince the public to back the effort. The Yunkers’ son, Craig, observed his parents a half century ago and their push to make GCC a reality.
He is taking a turn in the spotlight now, working to rally friends and neighbors, and the general public on behalf of GCC. The college is planning a $20 million-plus project, its most ambitious since its beginning.
Craig Yunker, managing partner at CY Farms in Elba, addresses a campaign kickoff for GCC on Wednesday at the college. About $4 million of a $5 million goal has already been raised
Yunker is the chairman of the fund-raising campaign that seeks $5 million in donations from the public. Donors have already stepped forward with $4 million.
“This campaign will change this college,” Yunker said during a campaign kickoff on Wednesday evening with about 100 GCC supporters. “It will propel it for the next 50 years.”
The college in the spring expects to start site work on two buildings – a 9,000-square-foot “Student Success Center” and 43,000-square-foot “College and Community Event Center.”
GCC also is working to raise $1 million for scholarships. That endowed fund will allow GCC to offer financial help to 80 to 100 local students each year.
Jodi Gaines, CEO and founder of Claims Recovery Financial Services in Albion, is heading the fund-raising efforts for GCC in Orleans County. She said the college is an important asset for the local business community. It gives many residents a chance to improve their skills as they pursue careers and higher education.
GCC has campus centers in Albion and Medina, and four others in the GLOW counties, in addition to the main campus in Batavia.
“GCC and Orleans County have a very good and longstanding partnership,” Gaines said.
She has assembled a campaign team for Orleans County that includes Joe Martillotta and CRFS employees Jessica Downey and Jackie Gardner. Gaines welcomes more help to raise money for the campaign. There will be a kickoff for the campaign in Orleans County next month. Those details are still being worked out.
The college has grown to 7,200 students with 398 full-time staff and 284 part-timers. GCC President James Sunser said the college needs more classrooms. Right now GCC has 56 square feet of instructional space per full-time-equivalent student, which he said is much lower than the 80 to 100 square feet ratio present at other SUNY community colleges.
“Space at Genesee is extraordinarily limited,” he said.
GCC plans to add 15 to 20 new classrooms, labs and other instructional space to house new programs, including food processing, agri-business, heath sciences, STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics) initiatives, expanded tourism and hospitality, enhanced mathematics and language arts tutoring and lab support, and on-site bachelor’s level courses in collaboration with other colleges and universities.
Rather than just add new classrooms, GCC is proposing a Student Success Center that would provide a clear, one-stop destination for students and first-time visitors to GCC, and “second-career” students.
The building would include student support services to boost student achievement and retention. The vacated space for some of these services at the William W. Stuart Forum will be renovated for classrooms.
Bob Boyce, president of the GCC Foundation, addresses the crowd at the campaign kickoff inside the William W. Stuart Forum. The Foundation has set a $5 million fund-raising goal.
The new “College and Community Event Center” would be next to the college’s athletic fields. The building would include classrooms, coaching facilities, food service facilities and a wellness center.
The building would have public floor space that could be used for student gatherings, trade shows, community exhibitions, athletic competitions and charitable events.
New York State will pay $10 million towards the $20 million-plus projects. Genesee County, the college’s host county, has committed $7 million.
The College Foundation is trying to raise $5 million, with $1 million of that going to scholarships.
Yunker urged the community to support what he called “a transformational project.”
“We have important work to do,” he told campaign supporters and volunteers. “We accept the challenge the Foundation has put to us and we will raise the $5 million and bring this vision to reality.”
To see a campaign video for the project, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the State Assembly for about two decades, was arrested today on public corruption charges and accused of using his position to obtain millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.
The speaker is accused of accepting $4 million in bribes and kickbacks.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley issued a statement calling on Silver to resign.
“Speaker Silver owes it to his legislative colleagues, the State of New York and his tens of thousands of constituents to step down as speaker,” Hawley said. “Speaker Silver owes the public an explanation for his actions, and it would be outrageous and irresponsible to allow him to continue his Assembly duties while he faces a possible indictment for corruption charges.
“It is time for members of the Assembly Majority to do the right thing and elect new leadership that will serve our state with a greater sense of honor and dignity. We have important business to conduct as public representatives, and the upcoming budget negotiations deserve our utmost attention. Silver’s resignation would allow us to continue the people’s business.”
Hawley made his comments after Silver turned himself in to the FBI this morning following an investigation about incomplete financial disclosures required by state law.
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, said in a statement that it’s “imperative” Silver step aside as speaker.
“His resignation as speaker is in the best interest of the Assembly, of the state and the best way for us to conduct the business that we are elected to do. We cannot afford this distraction with the important business before the Assembly and the people of New York state.”
Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, said Assembly Democrats support Silver.
“I am continuing to support the speaker and I would say that the members, overwhelmingly in the conversation that we just had, are continuing their support,” Morelle said at a news conference. “There is a strong feeling, as I think we should all reflect on, that there is a presumption of innocence and we have every confidence that the speaker is going to continue to fulfill his role with distinction.”
Assemblyman David DiPietro, R-East Aurora, also called on Silver to resign.
“Speaker Silver, D-Manhattan, is appearing in court today on bribery and fraud charges. Does this surprise anyone?” DiPietro said. “It’s more of the New York City corruption issues being brought to Albany. The people deserve better than this. You cannot expect Silver to negotiate in good faith with anyone. He must step down effective immediately. This chamber can’t afford any more embarrassment by this man.”
Common Cause of New York issued this statement with Silver’s arrest:
“The arrest of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver by federal authorities for undisclosed income further reveals the crucial role the Moreland Commission played in bringing corruption in New York State government to light,” said Executive Director Susan Lerner. “This sad development underscores, yet again, the sorry state of ethics enforcement in New York.
“These circumstances make it particularly egregious that the statutorily mandated Review Commission which was supposed to have been appointed by the governor and legislative leaders to review and evaluate the performance of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics and the Legislative Ethics Commission was never named. Common Cause/NY supports requiring New York’s Legislature to work full-time for New Yorkers along with strict limits on outside income.
“In the meantime, New York State needs stricter disclosure laws requiring elected officials to fully open their books to public scrutiny and a wholesale overhaul of ethics laws and enforcement. New Yorkers deserve a Legislature that does not function under a persistent and permanent ethical cloud. Common Cause/New York urges the U.S. Attorney and Speaker Silver to do everything possible to facilitate an early trial to resolve these troubling charges.”
MEDINA – Two Medina residents were arrested today and jailed on drug charges, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported.
Shine
The arrests were made following a 2-month-investigation into the sale and distribution of crack cocaine in the Village of Medina, the Task Force reported.
The Task Force, the Orleans County Multi-Agency SWAT Team and the Medina Police Department executed a search warrant at 125 Starr St., lower apartment.
The following were arrested:
Andre D. Shine, 31, of 125 Starr St., lower apartment. He was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (a class B felony) and four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (class B felony).
He was arraigned in the Town of Ridgeway Town Court by Justice Joseph Kujawa. Shine was committed to the county jail without bail, due to a previous criminal history, the Task Force reported.
Major
Shine is to appear in Town Court at 1 p.m. on Jan. 28.
Amanda L. Major, 24, of 125 Starr St., lower apartment. She is charged with one count of both criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, which are class B felonies.
Major was arraigned by Ridgeway Town Justice Joseph Kujawa and remanded to county jail on $20,000 bail.
She is due back in Town Court at 1 p.m. on Jan. 28.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Sheriff Scott Hess
ALBION – Scott Hess, Orleans County’s sheriff for nearly 12 years, intends to retire after Dec. 31, ending a 31-year career in law enforcement.
Hess said today he won’t seek re-election as leader of the Sheriff’s Department. Prior to being sheriff, Hess was police chief in Albion for five years. He worked with the Albion PD for nearly 20 years.
“I’m looking forward to my next challenges in life,” Hess said today.
He has led the Sheriff’s Department with technology upgrades, including improvements in the dispatch operations. Hess also oversees the Orleans County Jail, which recently received more than $1 million in upgrades, staving off pressure from the state for a new jail.
Law enforcement agencies in the county also created a SWAT team under his watch.
Hess praised the law enforcement officers for their commitment to the community. He also said the county has made the resources possible for upgrades in the department.
“It’s been a collaboration with others,” Hess said. “I really can’t take any of the credit. We’ve accomplished many things working with the legislators and staff.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A pastor accused of incest and sexual abuse against three of is grandchildren denied the criminal activity today during his trial.
Roy Harriger, 71, took the stand a day after three of grandchildren detailed abuse by their grandfather. Harriger’s son Robert also testified on Wednesday that his father abused him from when he was a young boy into his teen-age years.
Two of Harriger’s other grown children also say their father was sexually abusive when they were children, District Attorney Joe Cardone said in court today.
“You deny all of this?” Cardone asked Harriger.
“Absolutely,” Harriger responded.
Harriger, a former pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville, denied all of the allegations, including accusations from Cardone that Harriger had sexual relationships with several other women, including one who he allegedly had a child with.
Harriger said he has been faithful for his entire marriage to his wife Darlene. They have been married for more than 50 years.
Harriger said his son George orchestrated the accusations.
“Is it your position they are saying these things because of problems with your son George?” Cardone asked Harriger.
“Absolutely,” he responded.
Harriger’s daughter Joy Fanale spoke in defense of her father, saying he was never abusive to her. Fanale was 24 when she was in a near-fatal car accident on May 1, 2001. She and her daughter, then age 4, moved in with her parents during her recovery.
One of Harriger’s grandsons alleged the grandfather abused him and Fanale’s daughter. But Fanale’s daughter, now 18, testified this morning she was never abused by her grandfather.
“He lied,” she said about her cousin.
She said she was never left alone with her grandfather back in 2001. Harriger is accused of abuse in 2000 and 2001. The granddaughter said her mother was always home when they moved in while Fanale recovering from her injuries, except when she went to a doctor’s appointment. When she went to an appointment, she took her daughter with her or the daughter was in school, the granddaughter said.
Fanale said she sometimes left her daughter alone with Harriger or Mrs. Harriger.
George Harriger, one of the pastor’s sons, has alleged abuse by his father, and he also says Fanale told him their father abused her. But Fanale said she never said that to George.
The case shows a divided family, with Harriger’s wife and one daughter supporting him, while his three other children are estranged from Harriger. Cardone pointed that out in court.
“Is Joy the only child you talk with?” Cardone asked Harriger.
“Yes,” he responded.
Testimony resumes Friday morning at 9:30 with closing arguments expected later in the day.
Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said on Wednesday he was dismissing three misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child due to statue of limitations.
However, the felony charges – course of sexual conduct and incest – remain. Harriger could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
ALBANY – The New York State Corrections Officers Benevolent Association is pleased to announce that the website, paladium.net, has been deactivated.
This case made headlines just last week. The lawsuit, which was filed earlier month, alleged that a website hosted by Host Europe GmBH and maintained by Alan Munn of New York and Germany published the names and addresses of New York State pistol permit holders in violation of the New York State Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (NY SAFE) Act.
The case sought the removal of the website, paladium.net. The site, more specifically the section entitled “New York State Pistol Permit 2010 Database” listed the names and address of pistol permit holders. The suit cited that the publication of such details constituted an unwarranted invasion of privacy, and seemingly targeted corrections officers, by stating “many male C.O.’s, security officers employed by security businesses, former police officers and parole officers seem to have a permit.”
The attorney for the case, Lawrence H. Schaefer, of Sheehan Greene Golderman and Jacques, was notified on Tuesday morning by counsel for Host Europe GmBH that site has been deactivated on the server. The webpage paladium.net should not be available on the Internet any more. Host Europe GmBH will monitor the account for the coming weeks to see if Mr. Munn attempts to bypass their measures.
“We are very pleased with the quick resolution and would like to thank Host Europe GmbH for their responsiveness and cooperation in this matter,” Schaefer said.
NYSCOPBA is still proceeding in its suit against Alan Munn.
“We are extremely pleased that this website has been deactivated,” stated Michael Powers, NYSCOPBA president. “It served no worthwhile purpose and in fact it caused a serious concern for the safety of our members. Our members are dedicated to keeping all New Yorkers safe and they should be afforded the same courtesy.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Ridgeway Town Supervisor Brian Napoli talks with reporters after dissolution was defetated on Tuesday. Napoli said the town can find cost savings for the village through shared services
MEDINA – With residents casting a decisive blow against dissolving the village, Medina Mayor Andrew Meier and town leaders from Shelby and Ridgeway say they will work towards cooperation to reduce the costs of government in the community.
Meier pushed dissolution, seeing it as a way for a more efficient government for the Medina area, while also bringing in much-needed state aid.
The dissolution plan was fiercely opposed by the leaders from the two town governments, as well as village employees and many village residents. The referendum – “Shall the Village of Medina, New York be dissolved?” – was defeated, 949-527. By law, the issue can’t be voted on again for at least four more years.
Meier said the village faces the same challenges after the vote as it did to start the day.
“We still have a declining tax base, a shrinking population and climbing costs,” he said shortly after the results were announced. “Our sustainability predicament remains.”
Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said he looks forward to seeing proposals from the two towns on how to reduce government costs in the Medina community.
Ridgeway Town Supervisor Brian Napoli said he wants to have serious talks with the village and Shelby town officials about shared services. He believes that cooperation among the municipalities can reduce taxes for village residents.
“The residents (through this vote) told us they want us to look at shared services,” Napoli said in the Senior Center, where many village and town officials, and other residents were gathered to hear the results of the vote.
David Stalker is a member of the Ridgeway Town Board who lives in the village. He sees the village is struggling and needs some help.
“We’ve been ready and willing to talk,” Stalker said about the Ridgeway officials.
He was among the group that waited for nearly 1,500 ballots to be counted, by far the most of an village vote in at least a generation.
Election Inspector Judy Szulis announced the results at 10:35 p.m. The polls closed at 9 p.m.
Stalker was like many of the residents who worried about the fate of the Fire Department and Police Department if dissolution had passed.
“I like having them and knowing they can be there in 3 minutes,” he said.
That was a common refrain from voters interviewed by the media on Tuesday. Residents said they don’t like their high taxes, but they said they didn’t want to lose a responsive police force and fire department.
“Taxes you can deal with, but the proper time for emergencies can’t be compromised,” said resident Peter Kaiser, 31.
He was one of several residents who wasn’t able to vote because he wasn’t registered. He said he assumed he could vote as a village resident, but he wasn’t recorded as registered by the Orleans County Board of Elections.
Tracy Cody had the same situation. She lives in the village, but unbeknownst to her, she wasn’t registered to vote.
She also owns land outside the village in Ridgeway. She went to the polls on Tuesday, concerned her town taxes would go up if dissolution went through. She also didn’t like the uncertainty with the police and fire department.
She supports the idea of one government for the community, with the two towns merged and a village dissolution to follow. She thinks consolidating the two towns is the first step.
“Combine everything into one,” she said.
It was a busy day for election inspectors with nearly 1,500 people voting at the Senior Center. Election inspector Norma Huth is at left wth inspector Judy Szulis at right.
Mayor Meier and supporters of OneMedina see merger of the two towns and elimination of the village as an ultimate goal for the community, providing a streamlined government, more state aid and a stronger political voice.
OneMedina saw dissolution of the village as a first step, but folding the village services into the towns, different taxing districts and an LDC for sewer services proved confusing to many people.
One woman, a life-long Medina resident at age 74, said there were too many unknowns if dissolution had passed.
“Everything is so unclear to everybody,” said the woman, who declined to give her name. “It’s been back and forth with the facts and there’s been too much fighting.”
Crystal Petry, 22, is a Shelby volunteer firefighter who lives in the village. She voted against dissolution. She said the Medina Fire Department, which includes paid firefighters, is critical to western Orleans County. She also thought it was unfair to residents in Shelby and Ridgeway outside the village who faced tax increases if the referendum had passed.
“There’s other ways of going about doing it,” Petry said. “Give the towns a chance.”
Steve Seitz, a Shelby town councilman, said Shelby welcomes the village officials for ongoing dialogue about sharing services.
“Hopefully we can get back to the table,” Seitz said.
Meier said he was encouraged by the 527 “yes” votes, 36 percent of the total. The 527 tops the number of people who voted in the last village election. Only about 400 voted last March.
He said dissolution could loom again because of the difficult situation the village faces. It has limited options for boosting revenue to pay for the services the community values so much. Meier said the village shouldn’t just raise property taxes. The $54 rate per $1,000 of assessed property (village, town, county and school taxes) is one of the highest in the state.
Election inspectors Mary Ann Arder, left, and Norma Huth count ballots. It took about an hour and half to record all of the votes.
Residents and businesses can save significant money in taxes just by moving outside the village and avoiding the village’s $16.44 tax rate. Dissolution would have chopped the overall rate by about $6 per $1,000, saving $420 for a village property owner with a house assessed at $70,000.
“Sometimes it takes time for people to warm up to this kind of transformational change,” Meier said. “We voted tonight. I can’t say if this will be the last vote on the issue. This is a conversation that will continue for years to come.”
He noted a vote to abolish the village court failed in its first vote but sailed through the second time in 2010.
Village Trustee Mark Irwin supported dissolution and was disappointed to see it be rejected. He noted a strong push from the dissolution foes – “They preyed on peoples’ misunderstanding.”
A dissolution plan would have preserved existing village services, realized $277,000 in efficiency saving and $541,000 in additional state aid.
“Right now the ball is in the towns’ court,” Irwin said.
Meier said he looks forward to seeing the ideas and plans from the two towns.
“I think we really need to figure out what the towns’ proposal are,” he said. “They have said, ‘There are better ways, there are better ways.’ All eyes are on them to follow through with what they said.”
The 1,476 who went to the polls on Tuesday is about half of the people who were eligible to vote. The village has 6,065 residents, according to the 2010 Census. Judy Szulis, an election inspector, was pleased by the big turnout.
“We’ve had people come out who had never voted before in a village election,” Szulis said. “There have been a lot of new faces in here today, which is a good thing.”
