By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Cindy Perry, left, was sworn in tonight as the new president for the Albion Rotary Club for the next year. She succeeds Kelly Kiebala, right.
GAINES – The Albion Rotary Club, now in its 91st year, marked the “changing of the guard” tonight with a new president and other leaders sworn in.
Cindy Perry is the new president, succeeding Kelly Kiebala. Perry works as the director of health education, wellness and outreach for Orleans Community Health. The Waterport resident has been a member of Rotary since 1999 and spearheads the club’s annual golf tournament, which is scheduled for July 18 this year.
Kiebala joined the club in 2007, back when she was president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. The Medina resident is the executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, based in Batavia.
She was praised for her continued commitment to the Albion Club. The Rotary Club uses money raised from the golf tournament, a fishing derby, St. Patrick’s ham dinner, hot dog booth and other fund-raisers to give scholarships and support other community causes.
Kelly Kiebala is presented with a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition for her year of service as Albion Rotary Club president. Ed Fancher, a past president, presents the award to Kiebala during a meeting tonight at The Village Inn.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Collaboration with Genesee County Health Dept paying off
ALBION – Orleans County expects to save $130,000 annually in the cost of transporting pre-school children with disabilities to early intervention and supportive health programs.
The county approved a five-year deal on Wednesday with the Genesee ARC for busing children, ages 3 to 5, to program sites in and out of county. The county was able to group its busing needs with Genesee County’s, and that joint application drove down the costs for both counties, said Paul Pettit, director of public health for both counties.
Orleans has been working with Ridge Road Express for its transportation, while Genesee has hired Attica Bus Services. The counties are obligated to work out the transportation for children with disabilities, ages 3 to 5, according to a state law.
Counties list the service as one of the “9 for 90” state-mandated programs that stress county budgets. The nine programs consume more than 90 percent of most counties tax levies, according to the New York State Association of Counties.
Orleans and Genesee’s transportation contracts expire this summer. Genesee ARC will start Sept. 1.
The contract calls for Orleans to pay $38.83 per child for each round trip within the county, and $214.63 for daily trips outside the county with another $61.25 for a bus aide for a round trip. Those costs are “significantly less” than what Orleans has been paying, Pettit said.
Genesee and Orleans have been sharing a public health director since October in a shared service initiative, the only one of its kind in the state. Legislature Chairman David Callard praised the initiative for yielding savings to taxpayers.
The two-county effort has yielded another benefit: a free staffer for the next two years. The two counties submitted an application to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention for a public health associate fellow. The application was approved and a public health specialist will be placed in the two counties the next two years.
Orleans had applied for the associate the previous two years, but was denied. Pettit believes the collaboration with Genesee gave the counties a stronger application this round.
“We’re able to essentially get some free help over the next two years,” he told Orleans legislators.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse was built in 2010 at Point Breeze next to the Oak Orchard Harbor. It will be included in the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend on Aug. 17-18.
POINT BREEZE – I climbed to top of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse yesterday for the first after the party in honor of Point Breeze winning the “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
The lighthouse was constructed in 2010, following a dedicated fund-raising effort for nearly a decade. It’s not a massive stone lighthouse like the one in Barker, but I think the new wooden lighthouse is a great symbol of hope. The lighthouse project was the second in this generation in Orleans County that rallied community dollars to build something new. It followed the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s campaign for a new education enter.
I think the Extension and Lighthouse projects encouraged Swan Library and Hospice of Orleans County to go public with their new projects – the new library in Albion and the hospice residence, which both opened last year.
Visitors are welcome to climb the stairs to reach the top of the 35-foot structure.
The new lighthouse topped $200,000. That project, and the community support to make it happen, has me optimistic we can rally support for a bronze statue in Albion in honor of the quarrymen who built these canal towns.
The 35-foot lighthouse is a replica to one that toppled in 1916 after a storm. The Oak Orchard Lighthouse has become an iconic symbol for the county and the Point. It is featured on the cover of the county’s new tourism guide.
The site includes a small museum and gift shop. Visitors are welcome to climb the stairs to reach the top of the lighthouse. An LED light is on at night from April 1 to Nov. 1.
Volunteers staff the site on Friday evenings, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The site is available for other events. To schedule a tour or for other information, contact volunteer Larry Albanese at (585) 230-7829.
The lighthouse includes a modern LED light that is lit at night from April 1 to Nov. 1.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Ninandré Bogue is painting quarrymen mural for Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers – Nin Bogue referenced century-old quarrymen photos and his own feel for local Medina sandstone to create a scene of workers in a quarry. The mural will be placed on the side of a building at Waterman Park on Main Street in downtown Albion.
LYNDONVILLE – Ninandré Bogue wanted to live in a community with a sense of history. The Amherst native and his wife, a Southtowns native, picked Lyndonville.
For 13 years he has worked full-time as a professional artist, often returning to Erie County suburbs to paint murals inside big houses.
His latest project involves a 20-foot-long mural that will be mounted on the side of a building on Main Street in Albion. It will depict immigrant quarrymen from a century ago working in a local quarry. The project is sponsored by the Albion Rotary Club and also includes support from the Orleans County Tourism Department and matching funds from the Rotary district.
“With the quarrymen, this project connected to me,” Bogue said in his studio today. “I saw people and the history to it.”
To get a feel for the quarries, an industry that peaked a century ago, Bogue looked a historic photos provided by Holley Historian Marsha DeFillipps. She has a stack of photos of Holley and Hulberton quarry workers.
The pictures were in black-and-white so Bogue studied the local reddish-brown Medina sandstone to know the color of the stone. He had to fill in other gaps.
“I’ve had to use my imagination,” he said.
Nin Bogue wants to honor the quarrymen from generations ago who worked in local quarries.
He expects to finish the mural possibly today, with it soon to be installed on the Albright building on the north side of Waterman Park, about a half block south of the canal. That park is also targeted as a site for a bronze statue of a quarryman.
Albion also is working to install $50,000 worth of street-scape improvements, which will include bike racks, potted trees and flowers, interpretive panels and a public art project where 12 new benches will be painted in Albion heritage themes.
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce also is working on public art project, where 75 palettes painted by artists are being showcased in local businesses.
Bogue, 46, believes artists can help draw tourists and spending to downtown business districts.
“Art gives hope and hope is a very powerful thing,” he said. “We should embrace sculptures, gorgeous gardens and picturesque scenes. It will open the door to tourism.”
For more information about Bogue, check his website at www.bogueartstudios.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
POINT BREEZE – An Albion family visited Point Breeze today and couldn’t pass up the chance to skip rocks in Lake Ontario. Sophia Dash, 2, and her cousin Amelia Sanchez, 9, took turns tossing rocks in the water.
Amelia’s brother, Carlitos Sanchez, 12, was good at getting the rocks to jump in the water – to the delight of his sister and little cousin.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Orleans County has stepped up its welfare fraud investigations in recent years and is poised to double those efforts.
“We can’t ignore it,” Legislature Chairman David Callard said about welfare fraud. “We have to deal with it. People need to know in Orleans County that we’re serious about it.”
The county has been increasing the recovered dollars in welfare fraud and “avoidance,” welfare that is sought but isn’t approved because the applicants aren’t eligible for the benefits, said Tom Kuryla, the Department of Social Services commissioner.
In 2009, the county recovered $37,000 in welfare fraud, and prevented $352,000 in benefits from going to people who weren’t eligible for welfare, he said.
The numbers have steadily increased since then. In 2010, there was $40,000 recovered and $1,245,000 prevented. In 2011, $76,000 was recovered with DSS avoiding $1,358,000 in ineligible benefits, Kuryla told legislators today.
Last year, the lone welfare fraud investigator recovered $85,000 and DSS prevented another $1,598,000 in ineligible benefits.
Kuryla said the DSS’s lone fraud investigator has 50 caseloads and responds to another 40 to 50 inquiries a month. That is a heavy caseload, Kuryla told legislators.
The Legislature approved his request to not fill the position of a recently retired child support specialist, and instead hire a second fraud investigator. District Attorney Joe Cardone also endorsed a second fraud investigator.
“It would more than pay for itself,” he said about the position.
He noted the recent case of a woman who accessed $40,000 in childcare benefits when she didn’t send her child to daycare, instead keeping the money for herself. The alleged crime was detected and she was charged with fraud.
Kuryla said DSS will be better able to investigate people on welfare long-term, who may be claiming a disability is preventing them from working. DSS also wants to check people using emergency housing assistance in hotels. Those people may not be aggressively pursuing other less costly housing.
Kuryla doesn’t begrudge needy people from accepting welfare on a temporary basis, but he said fraud “is breaking the backs of taxpayers.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard gives Narby’s Superette and Tackle owner Sharon Narburgh a hug today following a ceremony when the Point Breeze community received a trophy and check for $25,000 after winning the “Ultimate Fishing Town” competition.
POINT BREEZE – When Orleans County tourism promoters go to trade shows, trying to hook anglers into coming to the county, Orleans can now boast something few have achieved: The title of “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
Point Breeze won the fourth annual title after nearly two months of voting on-line through the World Fishing Network. Point Breeze topped 700 other fishing communities in the U.S. and Canada for the crown.
Representatives from the WFN are in the county today. They presented a trophy and a $25,000 check to Carlton town officials to promote the fishery.
“This can help us to stand out,” said Sharon Narburgh, owner of Narby’s Superette and Tackle.
A boater travels up the mouth of the Oak Orchard Harbor earlier today.
She has been in business for 48 years at the Point, and traveled to numerous fishing and trade shows. The lake and tributary fishing in Orleans is already popular, and a key economic stimulator for the community, Narburgh said.
But she believes the area and the fishery can be better utilized, to boost the economy for the community.
She is on a committee that will decide how to spend the $25,000 in prize money. The money will be in a Carlton town account and won’t be touched for any other purpose besides the fishery, town officials said. The victory also includes promotional videos and other free publicity about the area from the World Fishing Network.
WFN airs throughout North America. The Ultimate Fishing Town host Mariko Izumi said Point Breeze will be heavily promoted to fishing enthusiasts. She presented the trophy and check to local officials after going a charter boat with Buc-A-Roo Charters this morning. She and a film crew are also visiting Brown’s Berry Patch, The Bridges, the Waterport Dam, the Archer’s Club and Albion’s historic downtown and Courthouse Square.
The World Fishing Network presented a $25,000 grand prize to promote the fishery at Point Breeze. Pictured, from left: Carlton Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery, Narby’s Superette and Tackle owner Sharon Narburgh, and Carlton Town Board member Joyce Harris.
“I am just beaming with pride,” State Sen. George Maziarz said during a celebration at Gene and Joette Haines’ lakeside home next to the lighthouse. “It takes a combined effort. You did a great job, Point Breeze.”
The local victory followed last year’s winning effort by Olcott, giving two southshore Lake Ontario communities the honor. Maziarz believes the two victories will draw more attention to the Lake Ontario fishery.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said the “Ultimate Fishing Town” is good news for the community that has been stung by a struggling economy. Last week Worthington Cylinders said it would close next year in medina, eliminating 174 jobs in Medina. JP Morgan Chase also is closing its Albion mortgage servicing unit, cutting 400 positions in September.
A look at the Oak Orchard Harbor from the top of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.
Hawley presented a citation to Carlton town officials for the win in the fishing contest. County Legislature Chairman David Callard and Legislator Ken Rush also presented a proclamation to Carlton and Point Breeze leaders, praising their “pride, passion and enthusiasm.” Callard said the county will keep working to promote the fishery.
The Point Breeze win was aided by fishing enthusiasts from Olcott. Three of them attended today’s celebration.
Margaret Murray of Olcott said Point Breeze’s win will shine more light on the south shore fishery.
“The neighbors on the southern shore are working together to grow economically as a tourist area,” she said. “We have wonderful fishing opportunities here.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Elizabeth Meyer, 17, of Medina served milk punch to Orleans County legislators and other attendees of today’s County Legislature meeting, including Legislature Chairman David Callard, right.
Elizabeth is the 2013-14 Niagara-Orleans dairy princess. She was assisted by her father, Larry, in serving the milk concoctions. Mr. Meyer is well acquainted with local farmers. He is the county director for the Farm Service Agency.
His daughter, who will be a senior at Medina High School this fall, has worked the past three years at Gasport View Dairy, feeding calves. She said she enjoys watching the animals get bigger.
She delivered a speech to county legislators about agriculture, praising farmers for their mechanical knowledge, their effort financial management and environmental stewardship.
Legislator Ken Rush, R-Carlton, then a read a proclamation from the Legislature, declaring June “Dairy Month.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am
POINT BREEZE – The fishing community at Point Breeze spent two months reeling in a prized catch: The title of “Ultimate Fishing Town.”
Today the community will celebrate the award at 11 a.m. by the lighthouse. Representatives from the World Fishing Network will join locals during a presentation at the Point.
The Orleans County fishing community topped 700 others in on-line votes to win the title that comes with $25,000 to spend on promoting the fishery.
Point Breeze is already well known for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and cohoes. A committee will discuss how to spend the prize money, to entice more anglers to fish at the Oak Orchard River, Lake Ontario and other tributaries.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Town will show off renovations to Town Hall, honor citizens
Photo by Tom Rivers – Brian Napoli, Ridgeway town supervisor, stands outside the town hall, which was recently upgraded. Ridgeway will have an open house Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the building, 410 West Ave.
MEDINA – The town is inviting the public to come see renovations to the town hall on Saturday, and also to help mark Ridgeway’s 200th birthday.
The celebration will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon at 410 West Ave. Ridgeway actually reached its bicentennial last year, when contractors were working on the town building. Now that the work is complete, the town wants to show off the town hall, and mark its 200th birthday.
State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, are expected on Saturday with formal proclamations in honor of the bicentennial. County Legislators Dave Callard and Lynne Johnson also are expected to help celebrate the milestone.
Town Supervisor Brian Napoli will present honorary citations to the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company for their work in the community and to historian Richard Nellist.
Mary Woodruff became the first woman ever to serve on the Town Board when she was appointed in March 2012. She was then elected to councilwoman last November. She will also be recognized on Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said $90 million that was targeted in cuts to the agency that serves people with disabilities has been restored by the state Legislature. He addressed supporters of The Arc of Orleans County on Monday when quad-amputee John Robinson visited as part of his bike ride across the Erie Canal.
ALBION – For three months State Assemblyman Steve Hawley has been railing against the state’s plan to chop $90 million in funding from programs that support people with disabilities.
The money has been restored due to bipartisan efforts in the state Legislature, Hawley told supporters of The Arc of Orleans on Monday.
Grass-roots advocates from throughout the state pressed the state to restore the funding for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.
Hawley and sate legislators said the $90 million in cuts, which was approved in the current state budget, can be made up for through management efficiencies or an influx of cash.
The state’s tax revenue is exceeding projections for the year, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently announced. Hawley also said the $90 million came partly at the expense of offering tax incentives to Hollywood movie producers. One of those producers called him to say the industry would film in New York without the incentives.
“Many of the individuals who receive assistance through these programs are among the most vulnerable in our society, and we have a responsibility to provide them with the care and support they need,” Hawley said. “During the budget process, I spoke out against these cuts and supported an amendment which could have restored the funds at that time. I had genuine concerns about the impact it would have on the providers and those receiving care.”
The $90 million funds programs state-wide for disabled residents. The money will allow The Arc of Orleans to “protect existing service levels,” said Kellie Spychalski, agency executive director.
She praised Hawley and state Sen. George Maziarz “for their steadfast work on behalf of the thousands of children and adults with disabilities throughout New York State.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Carolyn Ricker, owner of Bindings Bookstore in Albion, has organized a “Where’s Waldo” event for July that highlights 23 Albion businesses.
ALBION – A fictional character will write a chapter for Albion businesses next month, when shoppers are urged to visit merchants to find Waldo.
The elusive character, with black-rimmed glasses and striped shirts, will be at 23 Albion businesses from July 1-31. If shoppers can find him in 10 spots, they will be eligible for prizes and coupons.
Each participating shopper will receive a passport with addresses of businesses in the game. If shoppers can find Waldo in 20 spots, they will be eligible for the grand prize. Mayor Dean Theodorakos will pull the name from a basket on July 31. The winner receives a six-volume deluxe set of Waldo books.
Carolyn Ricker, owner of Bindings Bookstore, organized the event. The passport with a list of participating businesses is at her store at 28 West Bank St. She said the promotion is a great summer vacation activity, and a way to support local businesses.
Waldo’s American publisher, Candlewick Press, is teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and 265 independent bookstores all across the country, including Bindings Bookstore, for some hide-and-seek fun while promoting local businesses.
For more information, call Bindings Bookstore at 585-283-4498.
Responds to shutdown by Medina manufacturer in 2014
Press release, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley
MEDINA – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, lamented the loss of 174 jobs through the announced closure of the Bernz-O-Matic manufacturing plant in Medina.
Worthington Industries, owners of Bernz-O-Matic, indicated that local employees would have the opportunity to transfer to the company’s plant in Wisconsin, which served as little consolidation for proud local residents, Hawley noted. The assemblyman has reached out to Worthington Industries Chairman and CEO John McConnell to discuss the best ways to mitigate the economic damage in Medina.
“The news of Bernz-O-Matic’s closure is heartbreaking for the people employed at the plant, their families and all of us across Orleans County,” Hawley said. “Our immediate priority must be to help those affected find new work here in our community as quickly as humanly possible. I offer my deepest regrets to all of Bernz-O-Matic’s employees and pledge my full support in working through this difficult time.”
Coming on the heels of Chase Bank’s call center closure, Hawley lamented the job-killing policies forced on Western New York by out-of-touch lawmakers at the Capitol.
“How many more local jobs must be lost; how many more local families have to suffer before the Capitol lawmakers see the destruction that New York ’s anti-business climate causes?” Hawley said.
“Runaway taxes, overregulation and regressive policies have run countless job creators out of our community, yet legislative leaders continue to repeat the mistakes of old that have left our hardworking families out in the cold,” he said. “It’s time to open our eyes and change our courses before Western New York ’s families are forced to watch another company take their jobs across state lines.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Ryan Lubba was the “Strawberry” during the June 8 race in Albion.
ALBION – A record field of runners, 274 in all, is allowing Strawberry Festival race organizers to share more money with three local missions.
The 5-kilometer and 8-kilometer races on June 8 drew the biggest field of runners since the race started more than two decades ago. The race features a runner dressed as a strawberry. If runners can beat the strawberry – this year 2007 Albion grad Ryan Lubba wore the outfit – they win a prize.
This year’s race included 100 “day-of” registrations that pushed the number of runners to a record high.
The race is organized by the recently formed “Albion Running Club,” which is headed by local runner and businessman Brian Krieger. (He was the Strawberry two years ago.) The club includes many members of the Albion Free Methodist Church.
The 5k and 8k course started at the Orleans County Courthouse, and wound through the canal neighborhoods, with the last stretch of the race following the Erie Canal towpath and ending at the Courthouse Square.
With the record number of runners, the proceeds from this year’s race outweighed the committee’s expectations. The group shared $2,100 in proceeds with Care Net of Greater Orleans and the Community Kitchen at Christ Episcopal Church, plus funding to help a local group from the Free Methodist churches in Albion and Brockport go on a missions trip to Haiti.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2013 at 12:00 am
Sinner led organization during time of growth and change
MEDINA – Jim Sinner, CEO of Medina Memorial Hospital and its parent organization Orleans Community Health the past 15 years, resigned on Monday.
The board of directors has hired HealthTech Management Services to manage the hospital and healthcare organization, an agreement that could be as short as six months or as long as three years, with chances to extend the relationship beyond this initial contract.
HealthTech will provide interim management support, help assess the hospital’s current operations and identify options to assure “a strong strategic future for continued healthcare services in the Orleans County region,” according to a statement from the hospital.
Sinner resigned to pursue other career opportunities, said Bruce Krenning, the board chairman.
“The board appreciates Jim Sinner’s 15 years of service to Orleans Community Health and wishes him the best,” Krenning said.
Orleans Hub will post more information, including an interview from the interim CEO, soon.
