By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Health officials set up in the lobby at Medina Memorial Hospital today to share information about the dangers of smoking.
Nola Goodrich-Kresse, a public health educator with the Orleans County Health Department, and Jen Srock, an outreach coordinator for Community Partners with the Orleans Community Health, were at the table as part of the Great American Smokeout.
The jar in the front left represents a year’s worth of tar from smoking that end up in a smoker’s lungs. The other jar shows teeth in tobacco juice.
Orleans County has one of the highest smoking rates for adults in the state. It is one of nine counties with a rate at 25 percent or higher. The state average is 16.9 percent.
Health officials will make reducing the county’s smoking rate a priority, Goodrich-Kresse said.
The county Health Department recently submitted a community health assessment to the state, which includes strategies for combatting tobacco use and other high-risk behaviors. That assessment will be reviewed by the state Department of Health.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2013 at 12:00 am
BARRE – The Town Board wants to hear from residents in two proposed water districts.
Town officials have been working on the two districts for most of this year. The board has applied for federal grant and loaning funding for the two projects.
There is a final piece before the districts can be finalized: a public hearing. Barre has held several informational meetings about Water Districts 6 and 7. On Tuesday at 7 p.m. there will be a final public hearing on the projects.
Water District 6 is by far the bigger project. That district covers 39,150 feet or nearly 8 miles. It includes 127 parcels on Route 98 between West Barre and Gillette roads, Gillette Road between 98 and Eagle Harbor Road, Drake Island Road, Eagle Harbor Road between Gillette Road and the end of Water District 5, and Root Road.
The project is estimated to cost $1,731,000. The town has applied for a $337,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development. The remaining costs would be financed over 38 years.
Parcel owners would pay $635 in annual debt costs, plus an average of about $300 for water usage.
District 7 would cover 11,850 feet or about 2 miles on Eagle Harbor Road between Route 31A and the townline, Route 31A between Eagle Harbor and Long Bridge roads, and Long Bridge Road from Route 31A to about 500 feet north.
That project would serve 19.5 housing units. The construction is estimated at $692,000. The town is seeking a $311,400 USDA grant.
Property owners in the district would pay $867.75 in annual debt service plus an average of $300 for water usage annually.
The majority of residents have supported the projects, saying it will solve their woes with inadequate water quantity and poor quality, town officials said.
The hearing will be at the town hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
Provided photo – Marsha Rivers, development director for Hospice of Orleans, receives a symbolic turkey from Albion Tops Manager Rick Wartinger. The grocer is donating a full, pre-cooked Thanksgiving dinner to the Martin-Linsin Hospice Residence.
Press release
Hospice of Orleans
ALBION This Thanksgiving will be the first at the Hospice of Orleans Martin-Linsin Residence, which opened last December.
But for the terminally ill patients who live there, it will likely be their final opportunity to celebrate this very special holiday with family and friends. With the help of Hospice staff and volunteers and a Thanksgiving dinner donated by Tops Market of Albion, they’re planning to make it a memorable one.
End-of-life has a way of doing that: Inspiring people to make the most of the time that they have remaining together. In early September, residents of the eight-suite “home away from home” began looking forward to the holiday season, starting with “Turkey Day.”
Long before the leaves fell from the multicolored maples on the Hospice campus, Martin-Linsin patients were discussing menus, dreaming up decorations, and comparing notes about favorite recipes from years gone by.
While patients enjoy nutritious meals prepared daily at the nearby Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center, the residents requested a feast of a fancier sort.
“What we’d really like is a proper Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmin’s,” said 97-year-old Nora.
So Hospice turned to Tops. Martin-Linsin is well-equipped to provide patients with a “home away from home” when their own home is not suitable for the level of care they need. However, the facility lacks a commercial-grade kitchen where food can be prepared from scratch by state-certified personnel. The arrangement with The Villages allows Hospice to receive and reheat ready-made meals.
Tops offers heat-and-eat food for its customers. So when Hospice of Orleans approached its nearly-next-door neighbor about serving the folks at Martin-Linsin, Store Manager Rick Wartinger promptly replied, “Yes! What kind of pie would you like with that apple or pumpkin?”
The fresh turkey dinner features a fully cooked Butterball bird, herb stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, turkey gravy, sweet potato casserole, cranberry orange relish and, of course, a 10-inch piemake that pumpkin, please!
Hospice personnel will pick up the complimentary meal, valued at $74.99, around 11 a.m. next Thursday, warm it up for the recommended two hours, and serve the grateful residents.
“This is my first Thanksgiving with Hospice as well,” said Marsha Rivers, director of development and community relations since June of this year. “Hearing the affirmative reply from Tops just added to what I’ve already been overwhelmed and blessed to witness: When it comes to taking care of each other, the Orleans community comes together.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2013 at 12:00 am
DPW strings lights on trees at State Street Park, with Main Street planned for Monday
Photos by Tom Rivers – Ben Lacy of the Medina Department of Public Works strings lights on a tree at State Street Park today.
John Fike, left, and Ben Lacy of the DPW get a tree ready for the holidays. They used a bucket truck to string lights on two trees in the park today. The DPW is scheduled to hang the lights and decorations on Main Street on Monday.
The Main Street lights won’t be turned on until before the Parade of Lights starts at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30. About 40 lighted floats are expected for the fifth annual parade.
The DPW will also set up a 30-foot-high tree by the Santa House in Rotary Park next week. That tree will be lighted in a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. before the parade.
Medina has many activities planned for Nov. 30, its seventh annual Olde Tyme Christmas celebration. New to the event will be a 5-kilometer run at 9 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2013 at 12:00 am
A new leader has been appointed for Oak Orchard Health, a healthcare organization with sites in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport and Warsaw.
Jim Cummings, the new CEO, is familiar with the community. He was an executive at Lakeside Health System since 2006.
Cummings
“It is with great pleasure and excitement that the board announces our hiring of Jim Cummings as the next CEO at Oak Orchard Health,” said Karen Watt, the OOH board chairwoman. “He will begin in this position by the middle of December and is enthusiastic and appreciates that he is joining a truly gifted and extraordinary staff.”
As an executive at Lakeside, Cummings first served as vice president of human resources, then senior vice president, and finally interim CEO.
Watt said Cummings keenly understands the health care needs and issues of our region. He provided executive leadership for all aspects of strategic planning, executive and physician recruitment, compensation, benefits administration, employee relations, organizational development, volunteers, and oversight of Lakeside hospital operations starting in 2011.
“It is my honor to have been selected to serve the community by leading Oak Orchard Health through this turbulent, yet exciting time of transition in American health care,” Cummings said. “Oak Orchard has a 40-year history of providing affordable quality services to families and individuals who might not otherwise have access to care. It will be my job to ensure that this important resource is well-positioned to thrive into the future and to continue to provide the community excellent preventative and primary care services.”
Prior to Lakeside, Cummings held a series of executive positions at Corning Hospital over a 26-year period. Corning Hospital is a 99-bed acute care facility with high volume outpatient services, 550 employees, and is an affiliate of Guthrie Healthcare System.
While employed by Corning Hospital, Cummings was vice president of human resources and vice president of operations. For the five years prior to that, he held various management positions at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Elmira.
“Jim Cummings clearly stood out from among the 85 applicants for the president and CEO position, as a person that both intimately understands health care administration and is keenly committed to the Oak Orchard service area and patients,” said OOH Board member Dave Jewell. “There is no question but that we are placing Oak Orchard in very capable and caring hands.”
Robert Q. Hendershott served as interim president and CEO for Oak Orchard since August 2012.
“Under Bob Hendershott’s experienced guidance, Oak Orchard has very considerably strengthened its management and other systems,” Watt said. “He has helped build an excellent executive team, and is handing over the organization in fine condition.”
Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) criticized Gov. Andrew Cuomo today on the House floor for continually delaying hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in New York.
Collins was speaking in support of legislation to limit the ability of the Obama Administration to regulate fracking. The Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act, which Collins voted for, prevents the federal government from imposing new and burdensome fracking regulations on states.
“In New York we are already facing significant challenges in regards to fracking at the state level. We do not need additional, burdensome federal regulations like those proposed by the Obama Administration, which are over-the-top and step all over the state’s authority to regulate this type of activity,” Collins said.
“Federal ‘one size fits all’ regulations are designed to wrap fracking efforts in endless red tape which will do nothing but slow job creation, decrease domestic energy production and increase the cost of business.”
It is estimated that, if finalized, the new regulations being proposed by the Obama Administration will cost $345 million annually or $96,913 per fracking well.
“States should control their own destiny when it comes to fracking,” Collins said. “In New York, I remain baffled as to why Gov. Cuomo continues to cater to the state’s fringe anti-business interests by upholding the moratorium on fracking. Across the border in Pennsylvania, the economy is growing leaps and bounds because they are taking full advantage of their strategic location along the Marcellus Shale. It is sad that New York is squandering this same opportunity.”
The Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act also places parameters on a current Environmental Protection Agency study related to fracking and potential impact on drinking water resources. The bill’s provisions will help ensure the EPA study produces an objective evaluation.
“There is a real and legitimate fear that the bloated bureaucracy at the EPA will once again produce an open-ended, biased and non-transparent study,” Collins said. “For any study to be helpful to both decision makers and scientists, it needs to contain an objective risk assessment.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Middle School drama program is performing “Through The Looking Glass,” a sequel to “Alice In Wonderland.”
A cast of 24 students, plus six in the stage crew, will present the show at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, plus a noon show on Saturday. Tickets are available at the door of the middle school auditorium.
Jules Hoepting plays Alice, while Matilda Erakare is the Red Queen. The flowers in the top photo are played by Alexis Maines, left, and Analys Torres.
Dalton Wilkins is the white king, Kate Krieger plays the white queen, and Evan Allen is the red king in a cast that includes sixth through eighth graders.
Hailey Bader, left, plays Tweedledum while Riley Seielstad is Tweedledee.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2013 at 12:00 am
KENDALL – A Kent man was killed in a accident on Route 18 in Kendall at about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday night.
Joshua Lunn, 25, was traveling westbound on Route 18 when he attempted to pass a westbound vehicle, state police reported. Lunn lost control of his pickup truck and left the south shoulder striking several trees.
Lunn was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was transported by Kendall Ambulance to Medina Memorial Hospital where he died. State Police are continuing an investigation of the accident.
Lunn was owner of the Grease Lightning business at 102 East Bank St. in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Town property owners won’t be hit with an increase in town taxes in 2014 after the Town Board approved a $1,894,758 budget.
The town will collect $696,051 in property taxes, the same amount as in 2013. Residents will see their tax rates dip slightly. If you own property in the village, you’ll pay a $2.846 rate per $1,000 of assessed property, which is down from a $2.849 rate.
Outside village property owners will pay $4.25 per $1,000 of assessed property, down from $4.29 per $1,000. The fire protection rate will also dip from $1.171 to $1.167.
The budget was approved last week in a 3-2 vote. Town Board members Tim Neilans and Matt Passarell both voted against it, saying there were more cuts that could have been made. Town Supervisor Dennis Stirk and councilmen Jake Olles and Dan Poprawski voted for the budget.
Contributed Story Posted 20 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – The Orleans County YMCA has honored two volunteers for their work on projects and fund-raising for the organizations. Y Executive Director Jeff Winters, center, recently presented awards to Travis Phillips, left, and Dan Fisher. Both were named “Volunteer of the Year.”
Phillips oversees the Y’s Program/Membership Committee, which spearheaded the Medina Mud Run, a 5k mud race in September that had 78 runners. Fisher led the YMCA Membership segment of the Y’s Capital Campaign. Fisher’s team tripled their fundraising goal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Village Historian Neil Johnson gives a talk today about the iron fireman that once was on top of the Hose Fire Company in Albion for three years before a Rochester Fire Company took it in 1890. Several fire companies stole the Iron Fireman from each other before it found a permanent home in Honeoye Falls.
ALBION – They have a dedicated following, drawing at least 20 “groupies” for local history lectures. But after December, Neil Johnson and Dee Robinson won’t be giving regular talks at Hoag Library.
A tight budget has prompted the library to cease some of its programs. Johnson and Robinson were almost cancelled in June but the Albion Rotary Club contributed $1,000 towards programming. That money kept the historical talks and some other programs going until December.
The library is trying to stretch its programming budget. That has resulted in some cuts.
Johnson gives a monthly lecture called “Take a Bite out of History.” He does it the third Wednesdays each month over the lunch hour. Robinson, the Gaines town historian, gives a “Tea with Dee” historical talk on the first Tuesdays each month.
They are each paid $65 for a talk, which includes their hours of research for the programs. The library has additional advertising costs for the events. The Friends of the Library pays for the refreshments for the programs.
Johnson spoke today about the saga of the 5-foot-high iron fireman that fire companies stole from each other during through 1880s until 1891, when it was finally placed in Honeoye Falls atop a building, where it still stands high in the air.
The Albion Hose Company took the fireman from Lockport in 1887 and then placed him at the top of a 75-foot-tower, where the current Perfecto Cleaners building stands at the end of Platt Street.
The iron fireman was taken in 1890 by Rochester firefighters who were in town for a firemen’s convention.
Johnson’s final scheduled lecture will be next month on Dec. 18 at 12:15 p.m. He will talk about Christmas locally during the Civil War.
Robinson likes to tell stories about women’s history. She will share about the food traditions and popular presents during Christmas 100 years ago. That lecture is scheduled for noon on Dec. 3.
“I’ve really enjoyed it,” Robinson said. “It’s fun to research people.”
Both said they will continue to research local history. Johnson is trying to develop a web site with Albion history. He may put 30-minute videos on a site that is under construction.
The library is feeling a financial pinch as it pays the debt for a new library. Hoag’s budget for debt payments jumped from $64,961 in 2012 to $141,000 this year.
The library eliminated one position and cut back its programming budget from $12,000 to $2,000 to try to lessen the impact on taxpayers. The library’s budget increased from $658,908 to $678,978 in 2013. The increase would have been more without the programming and staff cuts.
Besides the new library, Hoag still has the former Swan Library mansion. That site costs about $20,000 to maintain with utilities plus insurance each year.
Library President Kevin Doherty said two prospective buyers are interested in that site. County officials had talked about making the site a local museum, but the two other buyers are also showing interest in the property.
“It won’t be immediate when we sell it,” said Susan Rudnicky, library director.
She expects the building will have to be put out to bid if the county doesn’t move on the museum idea. Library officials say they will be happy when the site has a different owner.
“Right now it is a drain on the library,” Rudnicky said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The garlands, wreaths and banners went up in downtown Albion today. The Albion Department of Public Works and the Orleans County Highway Department took care of the task.
Wayne Krull (top), a OC highway worker, hangs some of the decorations on West Bank Street using the county’s bucket truck.
The village DPW plans on stringing the lights on a big evergreen tree next to the former Swan Library on Wednesday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Christmas and holiday decorations went up on Main and Bank streets in downtown Albion earlier today. We had some photos in the daylight earlier on Orleans Hub.
I stopped back in the evening and I think the decorations – the banners, wreaths and garlands – are looking good.
I’m glad they’re up a little early, too. I took the top photo from near a parking space on North Main. In the bottom photo, I climbed up the steps to the lift bridge. Unfortunately, there was an obstruction right in front of the bridge. I’ll try to get other pictures of the local downtowns decorated at night in the coming weeks.
Contributed Story Posted 19 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
LYNDONVILLE – State Sen. George Maziarz was the guest speaker Monday for the Young Entrepreneurs’ Class at Lyndonville Central School. Maziarz spoke about business development in Western New York.
In addition to the Young Entrepreneurs’ Class, Lyndonville is offering a career exploration program for students this school year.
